Dinner at the Sparkle Household
It had been about two weeks since Princess Twilight Sparkle and Lieutenant Flash Sentry had officially become a couple. Things were running rather well for them, especially when Flash’s wing had almost healed.
One day, Twilight was reading when there was a knock at the door. She stood up and walked over to the door, revealing…
“Special delivery!”
It was Derpy with a mailbag around her neck. She dug through it and pulled out a letter, handing it to Twilight. Then the light gray Pegasus mare flew off to her next destination, only to run into a beehive.
“Bees!” she cried, and flew away, a beehive on her head and angry bees buzzing after her.
“That silly Derpy,” sighed Twilight, “I’m surprised she hasn’t been sacked from her job yet. Or rather, at all.”
The light purple alicorn opened the letter and read what was inside:
“Our dearest Twilight Sparkle,
We hope that you accept this invitation for a little dinner tomorrow. We rarely get to spend time with our daughter even more now since you’re a princess and we have a lot of catching up to do.
Signed,
Your loving parents Twilight Velvet and Night Light (a.k.a. Mom and Dad)”
“Ooh, my parents want to see me and Shining Armor!” Twilight cried excitedly. The last time she saw her parents was at her coronation and she was excited. “Flash! Come out here, quick!”
“On my way!”
Flash came into the library, wondering what Twilight was so excited about.
“My parents are inviting us to dinner!” she squealed.
“Oh, that’s great, Twilight,” said Flash, but his excitement didn’t really last.
“What’s the matter?”
“Your parents might not remember me all those years ago,” said Flash, “what will they think of me, especially since I’m now among the Royal Guard?”
“I’m sure they would love to meet you again, Flash,” said Twilight reassuringly.
“They would?”
“Of course,” Twilight smiled, “you’re not just my coltfriend – you’re my hero.” And she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Meanwhile at the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor had just received a letter as well.
“Our dear son Shining Armor,
We hope you’ll accept this invitation to dinner tomorrow night so we can spend some time with our son and daughter-in-law.
Your loving parents, Twilight Velvet and Night Light.”
“Cadance,” Shining Armor called to his wife, “would you mind coming here, please?”
“What is it, honey?” asked Princess Cadance.
“We’ve been invited by my parents for a dinner tomorrow.”
“Really?” Cadance asked in surprise.
“Indeed. It’ll be great to see them again.”
“I wonder if Twilight and Flash will be coming as well?”
“I hope so,” said Shining Armor, “it’s been ages since the whole family’s been together.”
The following morning, a train pulled in at Canterlot railway station. Twilight and Flash were the first ones off.
Flash was wearing a dark blue tuxedo and Twilight wore a dress similar to hers at the Grand Galloping Gala a couple of years back, only it was modified to accommodate her wings. Both were designed by Rarity for tonight’s occasion.
“You look lovely, Twilight,” Flash complemented.
Twilight blushed red as Big Macintosh’s fur. “Why, thank you,” she giggled, “and you look dashingly handsome.”
Flash blushed a bit as well, but said his thanks.
Minutes later, another train pulled in, and from one of the coaches stepped out Shining Armor and Cadance. Shining Armor had on his suit from his wedding with Cadance the year before, while his wife had her blue gown from when Ms. Harshwhinny made her visit to the Crystal Empire when it was chosen to host the Equestria Games.
“Well, look who’s come too,” said Shining Armor, motioning to Twilight and Flash.
“Hi, B.B.B.F.F.!” Twilight called, waving excitedly.
Then she and Cadance ran up and hugged each other, and then did their special little dance.
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybug’s awake!” they sang, “Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”
It was their secret tailshake from when Twilight was a unicorn filly and Cadance was her foalsitter. It was still funny to them even after all these years, even though Flash watched in confusion; he’d never known the two composed princesses to act so silly.
“So, Flash,” said Shining Armor, “how’s your wing doing?”
“Huh? Oh, yes,” the light orange Pegasus replied, breaking out from his confusion, “much better than it was two weeks before.”
“Glad to hear that,” said Shining Armor, “and by the looks of it, you’ll be back to work in a few days. Good thing you’ll get to join in this reunion.”
“I’m glad too,” said Flash, “but I’m worried about what yours and Twilight’s parents will think of me.”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Shining Armor, “I bet they’ll be glad to meet the one who helped their daughter all those years ago again.”
Flash felt a little better.
Before long, the quartet arrived at the house of Twilight and Shining Armor’s parents.
“Woah!” exclaimed Flash, marveling at the size of the house, “You must be very rich to live in a mansion like that!”
“Got that right,” said Shining Armor. Twilight then knocked on the door. After a second or two, the door opened.
“Yes, how can I help you?” a male voice asked.
Twilight and Shining Armor knew that voice very well. Standing on the doorway was a light gray unicorn stallion with a black mane and tail with light brown streaks, brownish-green eyes, and his cutie mark was a serving tray. He also wore a neat back suit with a bowtie.
“Hello, Serving Platter,” said Twilight. Serving Platter was the Sparkle family’s butler.
“Is that you, Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor?” the butler asked.
“It is indeed, Platty,” Shining Armor said as a friendly tease. Cadance resisted the urge to break out in giggles.
“Your parents have been expecting you,” said Serving Platter, “please come in.”
The interior of the house looked very fancy. Flash was very amazed at what he was seeing; so amazed, he nearly knocked over a vase. Luckily, Twilight used her magic to prevent it from being shattered.
“Sorry,” Flash said sheepishly.
“Don’t worry about it, Flash,” smiled Twilight, “it happens.”
At that moment, two unicorns entered the room. One of them was a light gray mare with a moderate purple mane and tail with light gray streaks, light arctic blue eyes, and her cutie mark was three purple stars. Her husband was a grayish azure stallion with a dark monastral blue mane and tail, moderate amber eyes, and his cutie mark was a yellow waxing crescent moon with a smaller white waning crescent moon inside.
“Mom! Dad!” Twilight ran to the two unicorns and they embraced her in a hug.
“How’s daddy’s little princess?” Night Light said affectionately.
“I’m doing great,” Twilight beamed, “I also brought somepony I’d like you to meet.” She motioned for Flash to come forwards.
“Mom, dad, I’d like you to meet my coltfriend, Flash Sentry.”
“Erm, hi.” Flash felt nervous as he waved to Twilight’s parents.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Flash,” said Twilight Velvet.
“Thank you, sir- Ah! I mean, madam!” Flash hastily corrected himself.
Twilight quietly chuckled a little at Flash’s goof.
“You might not remember,” she said, “but Flash was the one who helped me find you when I was lost.”
“Well, in that case, it’s good to see you again, Flash,” said Night Light.
“Likewise, Mr. Sparkle.”
The six ponies were soon headed towards the dining room. Flash held the door open.
“After you,” he said to Twilight.
The light purple blushed, said her thanks and walked in. As soon as Shining Armor ad Cadance walked in as well, Flash followed in, only to smack his face into the doorframe.
“D’oh!”
Twilight tried her best to stifle a giggle; she’d seen this before.
“Are you alright, Flash?” Shining Armor asked.
“Oh yeah,” the light orange Pegaus replied, “I've had worse.”
Soon the six were sat at the table, waiting for the food to be brought out.
“So,” said Shining Armor, hoping to strike up conversation so he wouldn’t eat the table out of boredom, “what’s new with you, mother and father?”
“Nothing, really,” said Twilight Velvet, “although last month, Serving Platter’s mother passed away.”
“Oh no,” said Cadance, “how’d she pass on?”
“Breast cancer from what he told us,” said Night Light.
“That’s terrible,” said Twilight.
“But still, it’s not too late to prevent breast cancer,” Night Light continued.
“Yeah, but it’s dreadful losing someone you’re close to,” said Flash, and with a quiet mutter, he added, “I know how that feels…”
“So,” said Twilight Velvet, “when will we be expecting some grandfoals?”
The four guests looked at her with shock and embarrassment; Flash nearly choked on his soup, Twilight’s face flushed red as an apple, and Shining Armor nearly fainted.
“Isn’t it much too early to be thinking about that?” asked a sheepish Cadance.
“Agreed,” said Flash, “and besides, Twilight and I have been dating for only two weeks.”
“Sorry about scaring you like that,” said Twilight Velvet, “I just get curious and impatient sometimes.”
“That… that’s fine, mother,” Shining Armor moaned, still feeling slightly disoriented.
“Well, anyway, Flash,” said Night Light, “why not tell us a little bit about yourself?”
“Well,” Flash began, “when I was a colt, my parents got divorced and I went to live with my dad in Canterlot.”
“Oh, that’s really sad,” Twilight Velvet said sympathetically.
“How did that happen?” asked Night Light.
“Dad wanted me to be a Royal Guard like him,” explained Flash, “but mom thought that kind of life was too dangerous. They kept on arguing until they divorced because of it.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say a Royal Guard’s life is dangerous,” said Shining Armor, “however, there are some risky moments. You remember when the Changelings invaded mine and Cadance’s wedding, right?”
“I remember,” said Twilight, “at the time, you had the Royal Guard protecting Canterlot from the threat of Chrysalis, and yet, she was living under our noses disguised as Cadance.”
“Not to mention she tricked everyone and turned Twilight’s own friends, as well as Shining and Princess Celestia, against her,” added Cadance.
Twilight squirmed at that memory; even though her friends, brother and then-mentor had apologized for not believing her, it still struck her as a painful memory. Flash put a hoof around the light purple alicorn in comfort.
“It’s alright,” he said comfortingly.
“Thanks, Flash,” Twilight smiled before hugging her coltfriend.
“Dessert is ready,” Serving Platter announced later that evening. Behind him was a cart with some chocolate ice cream cake.
“Let me help you with that,” offered Flash.
Then there was trouble; Flash got up a little too quickly, and tripped on the back of Shining Armor’s chair.
“Whoa!” cried Flash as he tumbled straight towards Serving Platter, causing the tray to go flying into the air…
“Incoming!”
…all over the Sparkle family at the table! No one had been injured, but the family was covered in chocolate ice cream cake, and so were Serving Platter and Flash.
“Whoops,” Flash said sheepishly, “sorry…”
“Sorry?! You utter klutz!” Night Light snapped, “Do you have any idea how hard the chefs worked to prepare this cake?!”
“Night Light, please…” Twilight Velvet muttered quietly.
“Not only that,” her husband continued, “but you’ve ruined our new tablecloth and my best suit! Next time, try to watch where you’re going!”
He stormed off in a sulk.
Oh dear, thought Flash, I must’ve touched a nerve, and I didn’t mean to!
Before Shining or any of the three mares could say anything else, Flash raced off.
“I’ll have a word with father,” said Shining Armor, getting out of his seat.
“Poor Flash,” said Twilight sadly, also leaving her seat.
Not wanting to sit and wait for two conflicts to be resolved, Cadance and Twilight Velvet decided to clean up however much of the mess they could.
Twilight caught up with Flash in the hallway.
“Are you alright?” she was with concern.
“No,” Flash said sadly, “I messed everything up, and now your parents probably have a bad outlook on me now.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” said Twilight, “it was an accident that could’ve happened to anypony.”
“I’m really sorry about this, Twilight,” said Flash, “I just wanted this night to be perfect for you, but I messed it up so badly.”
Then to his surprise, Twilight licked his face.
“You had a bit of frosting on you,” she said with a slight giggle, “but you taste delicious, I could eat you up. Of course, that’d be cannibalism, which is highly frowned upon in society.”
Flash gave a chuckle; already, Twilight’s cheeky comment had cheered him right up.
Soon the young couple made their way back to the table.
“How did it go?” asked Twilight Velvet.
“I still feel bad about what happened,” said Flash, “but at least Twilight cheered me up.”
“I just hope dad still isn’t too upset with him,” said Twilight.
“I wonder how Shining Armor is getting on with talking to him,” added Cadance.
At that moment, Shining Armor and Night Light came back in.
“So… how’d it go?” asked Twilight. She was hoping her father was not still angry at Flash, even if it had been an accident.
“I told father that he had no right to snap at Flash even if things got messy,” said Shining Armor, “and I told him that it was an accident and he admits he got a little bit carried away.”
“I just wanted everything to go right,” Night Light confessed.
“I know what that’s like,” said Twilight, looking over at Cadance.
Night Light turned to Flash. “I’m sorry for calling you a klutz, Flash,” he said, “I just wanted tonight to go without any problems.”
“It’s quite alright, sir,” said Flash, “I was just as upset.”
“Why don’t we make another cake?” suggested Twilight.
And so the six ponies set to work preparing a second cake. They had given the chefs the rest of the night off so they could do it as a family.
Before long, the cake was ready.
“This is a very delicious cake,” said Flash, “I’m glad I got to help make it.”
“And I’m glad we had the pleasure to meet you again, Flash,” said Night Light, “despite a few… erm, missteps, of course.”
After dessert, the group retired to the living room and began looking through a family album. Some of the pictures showed Twilight and Shining Armor when they were younger.
“Is that Shining Armor when he was a baby?” Cadance giggled.
“Huh? Who was a baby again?” asked Shining Armor, acting like he didn’t know.
“That was him,” Night Light chuckled, pointing to the picture Cadance was talking about. The picture showed a baby Shining Armor playing with his food, a bowl of spaghetti.
“I never knew he was like that when he was little,” said Flash, trying to stifle his laughter.
“Aww, widdle Shinig Awmow beating the big, bad spaghetti monstew,” Twilight said in a teasing manner.
“Oh yeah? Well, who’s that?” grinned Shining Armor, pointing at another picture. The picture he was pointing to had a filly Twilight (without a cutie mark) dancing on a table singing into a wooden spoon with a lampshade on her head.
Flash gave a snort of laughter. “Really?” he said with a snicker, “What was she thinking back then?”
Twilight’s cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as she glared at her B.B.B.F.F.
“What?” he said with a chuckle. Twilight just rolled her eyes.
Before long, it was time to go. The two couples stood outside the door saying their goodbyes to the parents.
“We had a great time tonight,” said Shining Armor.
“I hope we can do it again sometime,” added Cadance.
“It was also lovely to see you once again, Flash,” said Twilight Velvet.
“Thank you,” said Flash.
With a last wave of goodbye to the parents, the two groups set off for the train station.
Our recent family get-together didn’t end as expected, but even when things seemed like they’d be going nowhere, our family bonds came through and we still enjoyed ourselves.
Author's Note
Serving Platter is inspired by Rowan Atkinson's character Edmund Blackadder, Esquire from Blackadder the Third. He will one day make a re-appearance in Royals, Friends and Lovers.
There's references to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the 2005 film with Johnny Depp), Shrek 2, The Little Mermaid, The Simpsons, and of course, Equestria Girls. Can you spot them all?
Yep, Derpy's brief scene was met with catharsis; to quote BoCo from Thomas and Friends - "Don't make the bees angry. They might sting you!"
I felt it worth mentioning that Shining Armor and Princess Celestia had apologized to Twilight for not believing her as a response to those accusing Celestia for being hypocritical. I mean, Shining Armor didn't get the flak as well so what's the point of blaming Celestia for every "little" problem?
