Star Chaser galloped through the door and happily threw her saddlebag against the wall.

"Welcome home, Starry!" Moonlit welcomed as Star gave a smile. "How was school?"

"It was great!" Star beamed. "I met a new friend today!"

"Really? Who?"

"Her name is Rain Kicker!" Star Chaser beamed.

"That's great, sweetie!" Moonlit responded as she flew over to the stairs.

"Melody! Tighty will be here soon!" She called as a small gasp was heard.

"TIGHTY!" Melody remarked as she flew down the stairs and onto a seat at the table. Since Melody was younger, she got out of school right after lunch.

"Looks like somepony's happy," Platinum Shavings said as he ruffled Melody's mane. Melody laughed in response.

"Well, of course I am! Tighty and I have been close ever since I was born!" Melody then fluttered her eyelashes. "I also can't wait to meet his very special somepony!"

Platinum laughed. "I'm excited to meet her, too."

"Same!" Star Chaser agreed.

Melody then gave the eye flutter to Star. "I also can't wait till you get your special somepony!" Melody giggled as she saw her sister's cheeks heat up. "It would be so cute!"

Star raised an eyebrow. "And what about yourself?"

Melody giggled again in response. "I already have my first date planned."

"Uh, you still have years to go, sweetie," Moonlit chimed in as Melody took a piece of paper out of her saddlebag.

"Oh well. I think every mare should have a dream for a first date." She then unrolled the paper, revealing some writing. "I'm going to keep it in my saddlebag, just in case I need to make reference to it one day."

Star picked up the paper and looked over it. It showed that Melody wanted to go to somewhere beautiful like Canterlot, and watch the sunset. She also wanted to go to the fanciest restaurant in town.

"So... what do you think?" Melody questioned.

"It sounds interesting. If it were me, I would add a nighttime flight with the stars."

"Ooh! And dancing in the sky!" Melody snatched the paper back. "I'm adding that." When she finished writing, she looked Star in the eye. "So... you're implying you want to date a pegasus?"

"What? How did you draw that conclusion?"

"Well, you mentioned a nighttime flight." Melody started fluttering her eyelashes again. "Only pegasi could fly. That means that you want to date a pegasus!"

"And why is this so important for you to know?"

"So I could play matchmaker!" Melody answered as she giggled.

"I'm still young, Melody."

"I know. I'm talking about when you're a mare. Then there's no excuse why I shouldn't be getting you with another pegasus!"

Star playfully rolled her eyes. "Okay-"

She was cut off by the doorbell.

"Oh my gosh! They're here!" Melody remarked as she dashed for the door. "I'm so happy to see you ag- What?!"

Standing in front of the door was the mailpony. "Well, I'm happy to see you, too!" He said as he handed Melody a package.

Melody's cheeks flushed a faint shade of red. "Oh... goodbye!" Melody said as she closed the door. She then looked over the package, letting herself get rid of the embarrassment. "Mom, why did you order a wing stretcher?"

Moonlit took the package from her daughter. "I found this in an ad, and figured it seemed like a good and easy way to stretch my wings." Moonlit then opened the package. "I'm going to have to start using this tomorrow..." Moonlit added on, mostly to herself. She then put the device by the wall and continued clearing the table.

After thirty minutes of waiting, a familiar face walked through the door.

"Hey!" Tight Screw greeted as he entered.

"Tighty!" Melody Heart almost tackled him with a hug. Tight Screw gladly returned it.

"I'm happy to see you again, Melly." He greeted as he hoof-bumped his sister. Star Chaser then joined into the hug.

"I've missed you, Tighty!" Star greeted as he hoof-bumped her as well.

"I'm also happy to see you, Star." Tight Screw then motioned towards the door.

"There is somepony I want you to meet." As he said that, a young mare walked through the door. She had a light orange coat, along with light blue mane that almost fell over her dark blue eyes.

"Ooh! Are you the special mare?" Moonlit asked as she put an arm around Tight Screw.

"Y-yes." The mare hesitated for a moment, obviously a little nervous. "I am Cipher Splash."

"Nice to meet you, Cipher!" Moonlit broke from her sort-of-hug and walked over to Cipher. "I am Moonlit Skies."

Cipher gave a smile and held a hoof out to shake Moonlit's. "It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Moonlit."

Platinum Shavings walked up to Cipher. "Do you want to take a seat, Miss?" He asked as he gestured towards the table.

"Of course, sir." Cipher took a seat down at the table, with Tight Screw taking a seat next to her. The rest of the family filled up the empty seats at the table.

"I should introduce myself to you, Cipher. I am Platinum Shavings."

"Nice to-"

"My name is Melody Heart!" Melody interrupted, taking Cipher's hoof. "We're going to have so much fun together!"

"Hello, Melody!"

"I'm Star Chaser." Star greeted as she took Cipher's hoof.

"It's nice to meet you, Star!" Cipher greeted as she saw Platinum carrying a saucer over.

"I made your favorite, Tight," Platinum said as Tight Screw grinned.

"Really? Thanks, dad!"

"No problem." Platinum responded as he lifted the lid. The smell of a fancy salad filled the air, along with the finest carrots and asparagus.

"This looks delish!" Cipher said, laying her napkin on her lap.

Platinum started passing the food out, which gave them all a little time to talk.

"So... how did you two meet each other?" Moonlit asked.

"Well, I helped fix something in Cipher's apartment." Tight Screw said as Cipher nodded.

"I honestly grew a small crush on him from just first glance." Cipher giggled a little at the memories. "I invited him to lunch, and hoped to become friends."

"That was when I started to fall for her. I realized how much of a fun, pretty, and sweet mare she was." Tight Screw chimed in, giving an affectionate glance to Cipher. "We became good friends for a week, since it took me that long to tell her my feelings."

"And now..." Cipher paused for a moment, trying to give dramatic effect. "We're together!" Cipher then pulled Tight Screw in for a hug.

Melody fluttered her eyelashes. "You two are so cute!"

"I second that." Moonlit said as she gave Cipher's mane a quick ruffle. "Welcome to the family, Cipher."

Cipher's eyes grew wide. "Wait... you already consider me part of your family?"

"Of course we do, sweetie!" Moonlit answered as she got a more serious look on her face. "Do you not want to be accepted into another family just yet?"

Cipher shook her head. "Of course not! I'm happy you consider me part of your family!"

Moonlit smiled. "Great!"

The rest of dinner went by pretty fast. Everypony had questions for Cipher, including her family. She seemed pretty closed-mouthed about her family, but nopony had the desire to confront her about it. Star looked outside and saw the moon rising.

"Tighty?"

"Yes, Star? Is it that time of night?"

Star Chaser giggled. "Yes, Tighty. Can Cipher Slash tag along, too?"

Tight Screw gave a quick chuckle in response. "Of course she can." Tight then turned to Cipher. "Star Chaser and I used to go outside most nights and look at the stars. Would you care to join us?"

Cipher gave a small smile. "Certainly."

The three walked out to the backyard. The stars were beautiful to gaze at. To Star Chaser, each one told its own story.

"Cipher Splash, do you have any beliefs about the stars?" Star Chaser questioned as Cipher pondered for a minute.

"I don't think so. Why?"

Star nervously rubbed her leg, afraid what Cipher would think. "Well, I believe that the stars are like beings; that they look down on all of us. I also believe that they are happy when they are most visible, and sad when they are least visible."

Cipher paused for a moment. "You sound nervous, Star. Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't think this is something to be nervous about. That is a very nice belief system to have. Nopony knows the truth about the stars." Cipher giggled a little. "When I was a filly, I believed in stranger things."

"Really?"

"Yes." Cipher paused for a moment, looking at the brightest star. "I believed that there was an alicorn lying on the bottom of the sea, controlling the waves. Nopony believed it would ever be true. I then realized myself that a pony could not survive underwater forever."

Star sat for a moment. "That is definitely interesting."

"Indeed." Tight Screw added on. "Cipher is pretty unique, don't you think, Star?"

"Yeah. Unique, but in a good way."

Cipher giggled. "I know. We're all different from each other, though."

"Yes, we are." Tight Screw responded as he nuzzled Cipher's cheek.

Star Chaser gazed off into the stars. She felt like they had her future stored in them; the good and the bad.

"Oh! I think we better be getting home, dear." Cipher said as she stood up. Tight Screw stood up after her.

"You're right." Tight then looked to Star. "Do you want to follow us inside, Starry?" He questioned as Star stood up.

"Of course!" She said as she followed the two.

The three walked through the back door as Tight Screw spoke up. "It's about time for Cipher and I to head home. I have something big to work on tomorrow."

"Alright, sweetie." Moonlit responded. "What do you have to work on?"

Tight Screw pondered for a second. "I'm not sure. The mare only said that it would take quite a bit of effort."

"Alright, then. Bye, you two! Feel free to drop by the house anytime!" Moonlit said as everypony waved the two goodbye.

"Oh, and son, don't work too hard. You remember when I hurt my hoof years ago." Platinum Shavings said as Tight Screw looked back.

"Of course, dad. See you soon!" Tight responded before leaving the house with Cipher Splash. After the two had left, the house was flooded with an almost eerie silence.

Melody knew she had to break it. "I'm so happy for those two!" Melody flapped up into the air. "I already feel like Cipher's my second sister!"

Star smiled as she remembered talking to Cipher outside. She was such a sweet mare, and very understanding of Star's beliefs. "Same with me!" Star responded as Melody jumped up and down.

"We should invite them over for dinner again next week!" Melody said as Moonlit giggled.

"The two have to work, Melody. We will invite them over for dinner some other time, though." Moonlit told her daughter as her glance shifted to the clock. "Oh, my! Look at the time!" She moved Melody towards the stairs with her wing.

"Oh, bedtime already?!"

"Yes. You have another day of school tomorrow." Moonlit then looked over at Star. "The same goes for you, Starry."

"Fine!" The two said at the same time, trotting up the stairs.

Star shifted under the covers, trying to find the perfect position to sleep. When she found it, she found herself thinking about the next day. She was happy that she already had a friend; and another "sister". Well, Cipher acted like a sister to Star. Star closed her eyes, and took flight into dreamland.

Author's Note

Tight Screw and Melody Heart seeing each other again.

And this is Cipher Splash. (Yes, she is a canon pony.)