Chapters (Location: Sweet Apple Acres. Time: 3:09 p.m)
Applejack was just doing her regular job, bucking the trees. Not much else to it. It was kind of an off time. Cider Season was over, and winter wasn't for a bit. She looked right, Big Mac was there, doing the same. Life was repetitive for the Apples, but it wasn't boring. Sometimes there were Timber Wolf attacks. Sometimes just a friendly visit.
"E-excuse me, are you Applejack?" a timid mail carrier asked.
"Ah sure am, what's the mail t'day?" she asked.
"I-it's about your parents." he handed her the letter and flew off.
"Mail's here!" Applejack yelled, drawing the rest of the Apples to her.
"Looks official." Apple Bloom said, "Is it about Ma and Pa?"
"Yeah." Applejack opened the letter.
Dear Apple Family,
We regret to inform you there was a bombing at your parent's army base. Both are assumed dead, but only your mother's body has been found. We are sorry for your loss.
From,
The Army of Equestria
"Ma and Pa are... dead?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Ah'm sorry, sugarcube." Applejack replied.
(Location: Sweet Apple Acres. Time: 9:30 a.m one week later)
Applejack sat under a tree, as a soft breeze ruffled her mane.
"Applejack?" a familiar voice called.
"Pa?" Applejack asked, "Pa! Hey every pony! Y'all gotta see this!"
(Location: Rainbow Drop's home. Time: 11:00 a.m)
The Rainbow family is big, but is very tiny compared to the Apple family. There's Rainbow Dash's cousin, Northern Lights her brothers, Prism Strider and Spectrum, her mother, Rainbowshine, her aunt, Rainbow Drop, her cousin, Q.T Prism, and her father, Rainbow Strike.
When Rainbow Dash was young, her parents left for the army, leaving their children in the care of their Aunt Rainbow Drop. They missed a lot of their lives, like their first day of school, cutie marks, and graduations.
Sometimes, Rainbow Strike and Rainbowshine are supposed dead, but they come out alive. Rainbow Dash gets really scared when that happens, and always tells her parents not to do that again. But they always do, and that worries worries their family.
Then there was the day they actually did.
"Aunt Rainbow Drop, what's wrong?" Rainbow Dash asked. Though she'd moved out and had her own life, she still spent time with her aunt.
Rainbow Drop handed the mare a slip of paper. She read it over.
"They're coming home, right?" Rainbow Dash asked, "Right!?"
"I'm sorry. They're certain this time." Rainbow Drop sobbed.
"They can't be..." Rainbow Dash said, "They never are!"
She didn't get an answer, only sobs.
"Do they know?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"No." Rainbow Drop said.
(Location: Ponyville Graveyard. Time: 2:30 3 weeks later)
"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo said, "This is the thing I fear most."
"It was the only thing I feared." Rainbow Dash said.
Scootaloo hugged the rainbow maned pegasus. "Don't worry, your sister is here to help you get through this." she said.
"Then I'm glad I have such an awesome sister." Rainbow Dash squeezed the young filly, "And I'm glad it's you."
(Location: Doo Household. Time: 11:40 a.m)
Dinky hasn't seen her sister for two years, but that's going to change. Today, sparkler is coming home. Tomorrow, is the Sisterhooves Social.
"I just don't have the time, Dinky." Sparkler said, "I have to meet with my friends, for the whole day."
Dinky watched as her sister left the room.
"But I love you..." Dinky said, and she knew Sparkler hadn't heard, "I thought you loved me..."
She looked at the door, hoping Sparkler would come back. Apologize, and agree to go to the Sisterhooves Social. But it didn't happen. Dinky didn't spend any time with her sister, the one day she was back. Dinky, was broken.
(Location: Pleasantry Forest. Time: 11:00 p.m)
"I failed..."
(Location: Wonderbolts Arena. Time: 13 years ago)
"I'm going to be a hero to all, just like you, Daddy!" Lightning Dust said, "Will you come back next time?"
"Of course I will, baby girl." Shade Dust said, "I always will."
"I love you, Daddy." Lightning Dust hugged her father.
(Location: Pleasantry Forest. Time: Present Day)
"You didn't come back..." Lightning Dust choked, "I couldn't inspire all those ponies, like I said I would. I failed you. I failed Mom. I failed everypony."
The wind rustled Lightning Dust's mane.
"Stop, Dad." she said.
(Location: Dust Residence. Time: 13 years ago)
"Your father..." the military officer said, "Is dead."
"He can't be!" Lightning Dust said, "He said he would come back!"
(Location: Pleasantry Forest. Time: Present Day)
"You were always there for me, and now..." Lightning Dusts voice trailed off, "It's hard, Dad. They see me as a bad pony for my past. Can I change, Dad? Can I become a better pony?"
The wind ruffled her mane once more.
"Can I be like you?"
(Location: Gilda's childhood home. Time: 14 years ago 3:00 a.m)
Gilda slowly got out of bed to answer the door. When she opened it, a stallion stood over her.
"Your mother sadly won't be able to return today." he said.
"But today's my..." Gilda realized, before trailing off.
"I'm sorry, kid." he said, before leaving.
(Location: Gilda's childhood home. Time: 8:00 p.m)
Gilda blew out the candle. It was stuck into a cupcake. There were no others there.
"Happy birthday... me." Gilda said sadly.
"Happy birthday, Gildy." Someone came from around the corner.
"Mom!" Gilda ran to her mother and hugged her.
"Fooled you." she said.
"Mom, never do that again, please." Gilda said.
"I promise."
(Location: Griffin Town Graveyard. Time: Present day)
"You died soon after that." Gilda said, rain soaking her, "I miss you. You were the only family I ever had. There was Rainbow Dash, but now... things aren't working out. I wish you were here, Mom. I love you."
(Location: Canterlot Graveyard. Time: 7:51 a.m)
"Mom, Dad, we're sorry." Flam said.
"We couldn't continue your dream." Flim said.
"Your dream for us to be happy."
"Not the one about winning the war."
"But still..." Flim said.
"We feel like we failed." Flam sniffled.
"We just want you to know..."
"We're sorry." They both finished.
They looked at each other and sighed.
"Let's see where life takes us, Brother." Flam said.
"Let's." Flim said, and together they left.
(Location: Streets of Manehatten. Time: 16 years ago, Midnight)
Little Sunset Shimmer cried. Her mother had died when she was born, and now her father... She didn't want to think of it.
She picked up a teddy bear with her magic. Who would throw this thing out? She slowly put it into her saddlebags.
The cold caused Sunset to shiver.
"Excuse me, little filly?" a regal voice said. Sunset Shimmer looked up and saw a goddess.
"Princess Celestia!" she bowed.
"You have much magical talent, would you like to study it, under me?" Celestia looked the filly in the eyes.
"Yes!" Sunset Shimmer cheered.
"Alright, if I can speak with your parents..." Celestia said.
"Daddy died, in the war." Sunset Shimmer said.
"Well, then you really need a home." Celestia put the filly onto her back.
Home... Sunset thought. She smiled, and felt the breeze in her mane. Sounds... nice.
(Location: Tadpole Household. Time: 8:00 a.m)
"What're we gonna do today, Dad?" Snails asked.
"I was thinking we could go into a nice part of the Pleasantry Forest, and get to know each other some more." Reed said, "After all, it's a very nice day, and what kind of father would I be if I didn't get you outside?"
"You're already a good dad, Dad." Snails said, hugging his father.
"I know, you tell me every day."
(Location: Pleasantry Forest. Time:12:00 p.m)
"This has been a great day." Snail said, laying down in the grass.
"It certainly has." Reed said.
"Did you two have fun?" a voice said from behind them.
"Mom!" Snails said, running to the mare.
"Lilly!" Reed said.
"Hey there, you two." she said.
"Mom, you're home early!" Snail smiled.
"Does that upset you?" she asked.
"No!"
(Location: Twist Household. Time: 5:09 p.m)
"I can't believe Daddy isn't coming home..." Twist said, "He said he would."
"I'm sorry, baby." her mother said, "Maybe next time."
Twist leaped into her mother's hooves. "I miss him." she said.
"I do, too." Twist's mom heard the knock, "Can you get that?"
"Sure." Twist left her mother's side, and opened the door.
"Special delivery for Licorice Twist." the mailstallion said.
"That's me!" she smiled.
"This is for you." he pushed the box in front of her.
"Thanks!" she closed the door.
"I wonder what this is..." Twist asked. Her mother smiled as Twist opened the box.
"Did somepony order a father?" he asked.
"Daddy!" Twist hugged her father, "I missed you!"
"I missed you too, Twist."
(Location: Rainbow Dash's house. Time: 9:00 p.m)
"Rainbow Dash, how long until my dad gets back?" Scootaloo asked the older mare, who was also her legal guardian, and has been for a couple months.
"Not for seven months, squirt." Rainbow Dash replied.
Since Rainbow's family and Scootaloo's family were such good friends, it was obvious Scootaloo would come live with Rainbow Dash after her mother died, and her father was still fighting in Afponystan. After all, Rainbow Dash's parents were in that war.
"Oh..." Scootaloo said, looking down at the floor.
"Come on, squirt, don't be like that." Rainbow Dash sat down next to her almost sister, trying to look her in the eye.
"I miss him." Scootaloo said.
"I know, Scoots." Rainbow Dash hugged the filly, "You got school tomorrow, how about you go to bed?"
"Alright." Scootaloo trotted to her own bedroom.
(Location: Ponyville school house. Time: 11:00 a.m)
"Alright class, now we're going to learn about Nightmare Moon." Miss Cherilee said, "Can anyone tell me what Nightmare Moon is?"
There was a sudden knock on the door. When Miss Cherilee opened, nopony could see who it was, but there was a lot of whispering.
"Class, I'd like you to meet-" Miss Cherilee started, but Scootaloo cut her off when the stallion walked in.
"Dad!" Scootaloo smiled, tears began streaming as she ran towards him.
"Scootaloo!" he smiled.
"Daddy, I missed you. I haven't seen you in two years." she sobbed.
"I know, and I'm sorry." he said.
"Aaaaw." Sweetie Belle smiled.
Scootaloo hugged her father. Everything was fine. Everything was perfect.
(Location: Fluttershy's cottage. Time:12:56)
"Oh my, Angel Bunny." Fluttershy said, "It's that time of the year again. Come now."
The rabbit jumped onto Fluttershy's back, and settled down to sleep.
"I hope our mother's are happy to see us." Fluttershy said, before stepping outside the door.
(Location: Outskirts of Ponyville. Time: 1:03)
"Hi, mom. Hi Ms. Bunny. It's been long." Fluttershy addressed two stones.
Angel Bunny pranced over to the smallest, and laid down in next to his mother.
"I've taken good care of Angel, Ms. Bunny." Fluttershy said, "But you'll always be his mother. I miss you two."
Fluttershy sat down in front of her mother's grave, staring at it.
"Fluttershy, I know how much you like Rose Bunny, and now that she just had babies, I decided to give you this." she presented Fluttershy a small bunny.
"Oh, mom." Fluttershy said, "He's so cute! I'll call him Angel. Angel Bunny."
"You served Equestria well, Mom."
(Location: Lulamoon Residence. Time: 16 years ago)
"You wanna know why your father is never home!?" the mare screamed, "It's because you're a disgrace, and he doesn't want to see your stupid little face!"
"Mommy stop!" Trixie yelled, "Daddy loves me!"
"He hates you! You can't even do magic!" the mare started hitting Trixie.
"Stop!" Trixie sobbed, "Mommy it hurts!"
"You're a disgrace!"
"Mommy!"
"Spark Trigger!" Trixie's father walked inside.
"Daddy help!" Trixie cried.
"Spark Trigger, what are you doing!?" Trixie's father pushed her mother out of the way, and picked Trixie up.
"You know that foal is worthless, Rapid Fire, that's why you're always gone!" Spark Trigger said.
"Spark Trigger, what is wrong with you?!"
(Location: Middle of nowhere. Time: Present day)
"All those years ago..." Trixie said, "All those years ago... you could protect Equestria... and me. Thank you, Dad. I love you."
All her father did was stand still.
"And I miss you." Trixie said, wiping tears from her eyes before she trotted away from the stone in the ground.
