Shared Bonds

The sun shone brightly over Ponyville as a white mare trotted out from her home. Locking the door behind her, she blew parts of her dark blue bangs from her eyes and looked ahead. She began her walk, trotting along happily as she headed towards the main square. Many ponies passed her by as she walked, some nodding to her in greeting, others smiling to her. She returned their greetings as she continued, passing by Sugarcube Corner.

“HEEEY STEL~!”

The white unicorn jumped a bit, turning to see a salmon-colored stallion trotting towards her from the shop. She smiled, turning towards him. “Hello, Marz! How’ve things been here?” she greeted. “Aaahh things have been great! I’ve recently gotten an order from the next party that my parents are planning!” he responded as his horn ignited with a bright green aura, levitating a list over.

“Forty sets of sandwiches, a bowl of salad that’s big enough to serve the whole party, a few gallons of different berry punches, a couple rubber chickens on the side, and an array of treats and delicacies!” he read quickly, beaming. Stella, on the other hand, looked at him with wide eyes and lowered ears. He looked back at her, his smile still wide. “Marz, are you sure you can handle that on your own? That sounds like a lot..” she asked, concerned. He waved a hoof before responding.

“Pfft, this is nothing~!” he remarked, turning a bit to show off his cutie mark, it being a strawberry mascarpone sandwich. “This is my thing, after all~! Besides, I always love a challenge!” he finished, grinning determinedly. Stella smiled, nodding to her friend. “I understand. I’d offer to help but…I’m unsure of my own cooking abilities.” she admitted, chuckling as she turned and looked towards the square.

Marz snickered, patting her shoulder. “I’m sure you can cook! We’ll just have to give it a try one day~!” he said happily. She smiled in return to him, nodding. “I look forward to it! However, I need to get going now…nice seeing you, Marz!” she called, starting to trot away. Her friend waved and called his farewells, heading back inside the shop.

As she continued towards the square, a familiar purple form came into view, followed by a pale orange form, both sitting next to each other under one of the many umbrellas placed at the tables. Stella shifted to a gallop as she neared the table, smiling as the two forms looked up to her.

“Mom! Dad!”

The young unicorn hurried up to her parents, both ponies embracing her. Her mother, Princess Twilight Sparkle, was a unicorn like her before she reached ascension. Her father was the esteemed Flash Sentry, originally one of Princess Cadance’s guards before marrying Twilight. He now is the Captain of Twilight’s guard. While Twilight and Flash primarily stay in Canterlot, they come to Ponyville often to both visit old friends of theirs and to visit Stella. Stella took over the Library once she was old enough, and her parents stay there when they visit.

Today was the first visit in a long while. Twilight and Flash were called away to the Crystal Empire for a month due to Cadance giving birth to her second daughter, Skyla. Stella walked close to her parents as they caught up.

“So what all did you and Dad do?” she asked curiously. Twilight smiled to her daughter as she answered. “Aunt Cadance needed some time to recover, and Uncle Shining had too many of his own duties to tend to. Your father and I took over the royal duties for the past month.” the alicorn explained. Stella nodded, thinking to herself. “Wonder if I’ll ever meet Skyla...”

As they walked, they passed many shops and stands as they entered the Ponyville Marketplace. Amongst the stands was the familiar Sweet Apple Acres fruit booth, being run this time by Applejack and her daughter Honeycrisp. The older, orange mare glanced up, her green eyes lighting up as a smile crossed her face. “Well how ‘bout that! Look who's come'on home! Howdy Twi!” Applejack joyfully exclaimed, trotting over to the trio. Twilight chuckled to herself, glad to hear the same old friendly country accent, one she hadn't heard in weeks. “Hey, Applejack! How’ve things been on the farm?” the princess asked with a smile, her kindness beaming.

“Oh fine, fine. Recently we had to repaint the barn after Cameo and his friends tried to be ‘Cutie Mark Crusader Barn Painters’.” she responded, rolling her eyes a bit with an annoyed chuckle.

As the older ponies caught up, Stella and Honeycrisp chatted about a myriad of different things. “How’s Applebee been? I haven’t seen her in a few days.” Stella asked, looking over to the earth pony mare. Honeycrisp raised a hoof to her lower lip in thought, her blue-green eyes looking to the sky above as she pondered. “Last 'ah checked she’s been helpin' Topaz out. He’s been needin' help collecting those gems of his since his ma' got that huge dress order.” she replied after a moment’s thought passed.

Stella snickered a bit. “You sure it’s not just an excuse for her to spend time with him~?” she asked, smirking. The honey-colored mare laughed, shrugging a bit. “Could be for all 'ah know! ....Yep, probably.” The young mares burst into a hushed, mutual spurt of laughter.

Both groups continued their chatting for a few moments amidst the busy marketplace. After some time had passed, minutes feeling like seconds between friends, they said their goodbyes and the three ponies continued on their way.

It was getting to be about noon as the family sat down for lunch. “So Stelly,” her father asked. “How have things been here in Ponyville?”

Stella grumbled a bit at her pet name, taking a sip from her juice before answering. “Well, things have ran smoothly at the library. Uncle Spikey, Aunt Huffy, and Aquamarine visited, as well!” she started. Her mother looked over, wings opening a bit as her ears perked. “Oh? While I was away, too..” she said, pouting a bit as her wings drooped slightly before quickly trying to correct her stance, looking to her daughter. “How was he?”

“Oh, he and Aunt Huffy are doing fine.” Stella nodded, smiling. “They had to move from their cave in the Everfree now that Aquamarine is older, but he told me to tell you not to worry.”

Twilight grinned sheepishly, ears and wings drooping a little. “R-Right …where are they living now?”

“Well, this should make you happy. He told me that Princess Celestia had found a cave in the mountain behind Canterlot. It’s big enough to fit all three of them, so Uncle Spikey pretty much lives next door to you now!” she answered happily, quickly shoving a hoof to her mouth in the realization that she hadn't weaned herself of pet names either, blushing slightly. Twilight’s face lit up at this news, wings fluttering excitedly for a moment. They finished their meal, and was about to move on when-

“FATHER!”

The three ponies looked over to the owner of the voice, but no sooner had they turned that a bright yellow-orange pegasus galloped over, rushing past Twilight and Stella in such a hurried manner she was near a blur. She instantly ran up to and nuzzled against Flash, tears of joy streaming from her eyes.

“Father! You’re here! I-I thought we lost you forever but you’re here!” she cried, nuzzling close to him. All three reacted in shock at the word “father”, Flash and Twilight’s wings flaring open. Flash looked pale as a ghost as the blood drained out of his face, Twilight’s eyes were wide saucers, and Stella's mood quickly chilled to a freeze. Besides the happy sobs of the mystery mare, there was pure silence.

Stella Nova slowly looked over this mare, seeing some similarities between her father and her. The coat, the wings, and the mere fact that this mare constantly called him her father made Stella’s coat bristle as she glared at him, her thoughts going wild. “This mare…has my father been unfaithful!? Either that or this mare is insane!!” thoughts of infidelity ripped through her mind, her anger threatening to cloud her judgment.

Twilight however remained calm. Shocked, but calm. She too looked this mare over, and while she saw similarities to her husband in this mare, she also saw traits of another pony she once knew. Her eyes widened slightly. “No…it can’t be…”

The pegasus opened her eyes, showing bright, near ice-blue irises. “Mother never told me you’d be in this world..! I’m so happy to have found you!” she exclaimed, nuzzling into him again.

That was all Twilight needed.

Taking a breath, the purple alicorn cleared her throat, catching the mare’s attention. “Excuse me, but...who is your mother..?” she asked. The yellow mare seemed to not have noticed her, her head tilting a bit. “M-My mother..?”

Twilight nodded, wings folding back down. The mare wiped her eyes, soon smiling as she turned to Twilight.

“My mother is Sunset Shimmer~!”