The Best Week of My Life: Day One

The excitement that filled the SUV could be felt by Kisho, and Betty in the front. The four young children sitting in the seats behind them growing more excited as their SUV crested the hill of an old driveway. At the top of the hill a massive 3 story house came into view. Standing outside the windowed patio that lead into the house, garage, and backyard pool was an older couple. As soon as the SUV came to a stop all four of the children in the back quickly unbuckle themselves. Three rush towards the older couple, Kisho and Betty's two daughters, and their nephew. The last one follows behind, less enthusiastic about getting a hug. By the time Betty can reach the group her two daughters are wrapped up in a hug with the older mare as the older stallion appears to be giving her nephew a noogie. She allows this to play out for a few seconds before speaking. "Hey mama." The older mare finally loosens her grip on the two fillies as she and Betty embrace for a moment. "Thank you so much for doing this." The older mare's smile is bright behind her set of wrinkles. "It's our pleasure Betty. We were very excited when you called." Meanwhile the older stallion finally stops ruffling Betty's nephew's mane so he can approach the three adults. "Why don't you two come on inside for lunch? We've got plenty of food for sandwiches." Betty shakes her head. "I'm sorry dad. We have to get going if we want to catch our flight." The two embrace for a moment before Kisho steps forward, and bows his head to the older stallion. "I am very thankful for your kindness Mr. Danins. Betty and I have been planning this trip for some time now." The older stallion outstretches his hoof, which Kisho shakes quite firmly. "Baw. It's nothin' Kisho. You know we love getting to spend time with our grandkids." Asuka and the three other children hurry inside with their bags while the adults talk outside. They enter through the patio into the house, and rush down to the basement where they already knew they would be sleeping this week. Asuka is nine years old at the moment. She's here with her eight year old sister Hiari, her 10 year old cousin Nar, and his 10 year old friend Juno. The group quickly works to pull out the couch bed, and lay out another old mattress on the floor. The order of who sleeps where is established, and the group sets down their things before heading back upstairs. By the time the group is upstairs Betty and Kisho have come inside to say goodbye to their daughters. They hug for a few seconds before the two parents depart, leaving their children in their parent's care. Seconds after the car pulls away Asuka's grandfather turns to them to ask "Who's hungry?" It comes as no surprise to Asuka to see her cousin, and his friend so ready to eat. The meal of sandwiches and chips is filled with conversation as Asuka's grandparents eagerly question the children on how their summers have been going. Asuka has been reading a bunch of books she liked. Hiari was talking to her extended family in Neihghpan. Nar had learned how to use roller skates, and he and Juno had been spending pretty much the entirety of their summer together. According to Juno, the two had been working on some sort of 'secret project' which caused Nar to quickly shush him. After the meal the group heads into the living room to watch TV, and pester the grandparents with all sorts of questions. Though it was more of a distraction for the children as they were forced to wait 30 minutes. Thirty minutes later Asuka is in the basement bathroom changing into a swimsuit she'd brought with her. She exits the bathroom to find her sister having done the same. Eager to get out of the somewhat creepy basement the two head up the stairs, through the hallway, and into the patio. Asuka and Hiari turn to their right to head towards a screen door which leads to a rather large pool area. "Cannonbaaaaaaall!" Asuka opens the door to witness the form of Nar slam back first into the deep end of the pool. He stays under for about 5 seconds before surfacing with a loud "AAAAAAAAOOOOOOWW!" prompting laughter from Juno, who appeared to be wading in the shallow end of the pool. Asuka steps into the pool from the shallow end. The cool water slowly rising up to her shoulders until she dips her head under for a moment. Though the water itself wasn't all that cold it might as well have been water from the Frozen North for Asuka. A shiver is sent all throughout her body, but she keeps most of her body under the water. Unlike her cousin, she preferred to get acclimated to the cold slowly. Jumping headlong into the coldest part of the pool was not something Asuka had any interest in doing. Glancing to her left Asuka can see her grandparents sitting at a glass table underneath a tent to keep them out of the sun. She looks to her right to find Hiari sitting in the corner of the pool with her eyes fixated on Nar and Juno, who appeared to be beating each other with pool noodles. She seemed to have a particular interest in Juno. Seeing no reason to get involved in the fated pool noodle duel Asuka instead wades over to the side of the pool where a bag full of pool toys has been laid out. She finds a pair of goggles, and gently places them over her eyes before grabbing a set of diving toys. Asuka tosses the toys into the shallow end of the pool, and proceeds to dive down after them like a great white shark after it's pray. Alas the inert diving toys stand no chance against their assailant, and Asuka is able to collect all five toys in rapid succession. However, when she comes back up it would seem she has become the pray. The shadow of two pool noodles appear on the water in front of Asuka. She looks back in time to be struck on the head with two pool noodles. The foam does little to harm her, but it is quite annoying. "Hey!" Asuka pouts. She is whapped once more by the two colts. Again, she pouts. "Stop it!" Yet her pleas are ignored, and the assault continues. The pool noodles come down once more, only this time they don't connect with Asuka's head, or snout. It would seem Asuka's benevolent protector had finally decided to step out of the shadows, and aid her in her time of need. Hiari held TWO pool noodles, and with one motion taunted the two stallions to attack her further. *Insert Battle of the Heroes here* Thus, the great pool noodle war began. The two colts swing their weapons in a totally choreographed set of motions. I.E just swinging them back and forth. Asuka's sister Hiari holds her own pool noodles up to block the onslaught of attacks heading her way. She needs help, and Asuka knows it. Asuka may not be a fighter, but she's willing to stand up for her family when she needs to. Asuka grabs a squirt gun made partially of pool noodle, and quietly fills it with water. She approaches the two much as an assassin would approach their target. Without warning the squirt gun is flung into position, and a stream of water rushes towards Nar, crashing into his mane. "She has backup!" He shouts as he attempts to block the water with his weapon. BAP. Another noodle connects with the side of his head. Juno attempts a grand overhead slash with his pool noodle, but Hiari sloshes out of the way, and taps him on the snout with a noodle. Juno feigns an exaggerated cry. "They got me!" To which Nar turns around to grab his friend. "No! They're too strong! Retreat!" The two are quick to swim away to the deep end of the pool with Juno going to lounge on the ladder leading out of the pool. Nar picks up his pool noodle, and turns to face Hiari. "It's over Nar! I have the high ground!" Hiari holds one noodle as she points it to the colt floating in the deep end. Nar lowers his head slightly before shouting "You underestimate my power!" "Don't try it!" Nar surges forwards through the water with a battlecry. A pool noodle slaps his front, and back left legs. He quickly turns over onto his back, and feigns a pained scream. hiari watches while pretending to be rather upset. "You were my cousin Nar! You were the chosen one!" The floating Nar shouts back with what almost sounded like genuine anger. "I HATE YOOOOOU!" He then proceeds to go silent. After spending more than half of their day in the pool the children and grandparents retire inside the house for the night. Tonight's dinner is pizza, which is devoured rather quickly by the children. Following dinner the family+Juno congregates in the living room, where they proceed to play a few board games, and Nar is once again noogied by his grandfather who proceeds to tell him about how 'full of bologna' he is. At the end of the night the grandparents retire to their bedroom, and the children head downstairs for the night. Hiari and Asuka get the couch bed, while Nar and Juno take the floor mattress. With the two colts with her Asuka feels much safer in the basement, and after a few minutes of hushed whispering, and laughter she falls asleep.