A Hearth's Warming Story; Limestone Daphne Pie Saves Hearth's Warming

Chapters

%Closer to the Heart%
Together Again
The Train Kept a Rollin'
Spanish Castle Magic
Ode to My Family; No Need to Argue
Introduce Yourself; Right On!
Crash Course in Family Surgery

%Closer to the Heart%

“I’ll go check.” Spike hopped off his seat at the lunch table at hearing the postal pony’s whistle.

“Check to see if we have any responses to the invitations we sent out.” Twilight called to him as he exited the room and ran down the hallway.

“Will do!” His voice echoed off the crystal walls as he charged out the front doors of the castle. Spike got to the mailbox quick, wanting to bring Twilight good news. The postal pony was waiting for him.

“Here’s the mail for the princess.” The mailbag hit the ground with a dull thud as he dropped the satchel he was carrying off his back.

“All of this? Geez, that’s a lot!”

“I’ll stop back tomorrow to pick up the carry bag.” The delivery pony tipped his hat to Spike and continued on his route. Spike literally dove into the mail bag to fish out anything that looked even remotely interesting. After a few seconds of searching, he popped back up to the top of the pile so as to read more carefully what he’d picked.

“Let’s see now; advertisement, advertisement, subscription offer to Trot & Canter magazine, timeshare offer in Las Pegasus for no bits down… a-ha!” Spike had struck gold. Buried in the mess of fan mail, catalogs and other stuff was an RSVP Twilight had been waiting for.

He was about to make a beeline back to the castle but remembered he had to actually bring in all the mail. As best as he could, Spike struggled to drag the heavy mail bag up the long walkway to the front doors and then inside. He huffed and puffed, dragging his burden all the way back to the dining hall, finally plopping it by the doorway.

“You got one.” Spike rejoined Twilight and Starlight at the table, handing off the RSVP and flopping into his seat.

“Let’s see who this one is from.” Twilight was eager to see which pony had responded. Twilight had all the RSVPs from her close friends saying they and their families would be in attendance but she was still missing two responses. She had made sure to send invitations to both Scootaloo and Apple Jack’s cousin Babs in Manehattan, making sure all the CMC members were in attendance.

Using her magic, Twilight held up the envelope to read who it was from. “It’s from Firelight Glimmer; your dad up in Sire’s Hollow.” Twilight was glad to finally get a response. Starlight suddenly had an anxious look on her face that didn’t go unnoticed by Spike.

“Hey, what’s up, Starlight?”

The unicorn gave a weak smile, trying not to let on. “Oh uh, it’s nothing, Spike.”

Twilight opened the envelope eagerly and read aloud. “Dear Princess Twilight, thank you for the gracious invitation to the coming Hearth’s Warming holiday celebration at your castle. I regret to inform you,” Twilight’s tone took a noticeable down turn as she continued. Starlight bit her lower lip, ready for the crash and burn.

“That I will be unable to attend due to a prior commitment. My most sincere apologies for disappointing you and your guests.” Twilight was almost not sure if she’d read the letter correctly. She looked up at her protégée, sitting with a sheepish look.

“Starlight, your father had somewhere else to go? But, you’d be here with us. Why would he turn down the chance to spend the holiday with you and all of us here?”

Starlight had dreaded that question. It would just lead to more uncomfortable questions she really didn’t feel like answering right then. She was caught in a bind and really didn’t know what to say.

“Well it’s… really… kinda hard to explain. I mean, it’s partially why it was hard for me to get back into the holiday spirit again. It’s not been the happiest season for my family, that’s all.” Starlight hoped that would be enough. Of course Spike pressed on, curious to a fault.

“In, like, what way?”

Twilight could instantly see Starlight’s expression harden.

“You don’t have to say if it bothers you, Starlight. There’s no reason for us to pry. Right, Spike?”

“Oh, sure.” Spike was thankfully quick on the uptake.

Starlight was grateful for Twilight’s understanding but was disappointed by her father’s answer that he chose not to join them. She had a good idea why he didn’t want to, though she wished he had chosen to attend.

“It’s not that. It’s just my dad, he… he’s just not into the holiday for different reasons. I enjoyed spending the previous holiday with Trixie. We got to do a magic show together and celebrate Hearth’s Warming. I’d like to spend this year here with you and your family but I’m just not sure I can convince my dad to show.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Spike offered eagerly.

“That’s sweet of you to offer, but no, there’s nothing you or Twilight could do to help me. But I will promise Twilight this.” Starlight faced her mentor, a bit of determination shining in her eyes. “I’ll do everything I can to get him to be here.”

“I know you’ll try your hardest to convince him. Just tell him how much we all want to meet him and share in the festivities. Mention that Ponyville is going to put on a Hearth’s Warming Day show; that might entice him.” Twilight wanted all her friends and families to celebrate together. They had faced a lot of challenges as friends recently and she had hoped to get everyone together like a big family reunion, even if most of the ponies weren’t actually related.

There were still a few weeks’ time before Hearth’s Warming and Starlight had a few things to take care of in the school before she could go visit her dad again. She could take her time and organize her thoughts beforehand without falling into her old faults of yelling or tears when they disagreed. She had to show her maturity in dealing with this subject. She didn’t want to let Twilight down.

The day before Hearth’s Warming, Starlight took an early morning train ride to her old home town of Sire’s Hollow with a bouquet of flowers and a second invitation Twilight had given to her to deliver in person. She had a brief visit to make before heading to her foalhood home, something she’d neglected to do for a while. Right on the outskirts of the town was the local cemetery. Starlight headed back the quarter-mile or so down the road to it.

Walking up to the gateway, Starlight saw that several plots already had holiday wreaths or flowers adorning the headstones of loved ones in remembrance. After a few minutes of searching, she found the spot and sat down next to the marker, placing the flowers beside it. Starlight looked down at the cold granite slab in quiet reflection of times not long ago before finally saying something.

“Hi mom,” Starlight quietly began what she’d planned to say. “Sorry for being away for so long. Things got… you know… a little crazy in my life for a while there. But I wanted to tell you that I actually made some new friends who helped me out a lot when I was in trouble. I think you’d like the place where I’m at now. I actually have the position of a student counselor. Can you believe that?”
Starlight could still recall her mom’s voice, all of them sitting together at the dinner table as a family. Even though she missed and longed for those times, she knew it wasn’t going to happen. She had a purpose for this visit. Rather than linger on the past’s pain and gloom, this year she was going to show her dad the good time he deserved.

“I know you loved dad a lot, I remember seeing you two carrying on like teenagers. How you two would dance around living room to one of your old records playing on the phonograph; those thoughts really make me smile. But dad… he’s still not… adjusting so well, mom,” she confided.
“I made a promise to my friend, Twilight, that I would convince dad to visit her castle for the holiday. If there ever was a time I wanted him to enjoy himself, it’s now. He’s been by himself for a while and needs to start living again.”
She gave a small kiss to a forehoof and then touched the headstone. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, mom. I love you.” She got to her hooves, giving the stone marker a last look before departing.

Wish me luck. She sighed a little, ready to take on this next challenge, no matter how hard it was going to be.
Starlight headed back to town, relieved to find that horrible steel gate with the annoying pre-recorded greeting at the town’s main entry way was gone and replaced by something more appropriate. She paused to look at a bronze plaque affixed to a large rock with the greeting: ‘Welcome to historic Sire’s Hollow’ emblazoned on it. Maybe this was the ‘sign’ she needed. Her dad and Sunburst’s mom must have come to some amicable agreement to accomplish this. Perhaps her dad was going to be more amenable to her request.

She passed by her old foalhood school and some of the local businesses that were still hanging on that hadn’t yet been gentrified by the Sire’s Hollow Development Committee. At one small corner store, she picked up a nice wreath for the front door of her dad’s house, sure his abode could use some seasonal touches. Down two streets and a left onto Sycamore Lane to her foalhood home, same as it ever was. The only difference between it and the neighbor’s homes was that her dad’s home had no green wreath on the door or holiday accoutrements adorning the building at all. It was as if the holiday didn’t exist here. Starlight was going to fix that straightaway.

She used her magic to hang the wreath on the front door, giving a little splash of holiday color to the dwelling. Just as she remembered, the extra key to the front door was still in the same hiding spot; under the red painted rock in the small flower bed.

“Dad? Are you home?” Starlight slowly opened the door and called out, not sure if he was awake yet. It was almost nine in the morning and he was an early riser as well so he should have been awake. Suddenly, there was a thunderous crash of metal pots and pans from the kitchen, followed by some muffled grumblings about not being able to find the baking tray. Starlight called again.

“Dad? I’m home.” Another crash of pots and pans came from the kitchen as her father’s head poked out from around the corner.

“Starlight? Sweetie, is that you?” The glare from the bay window in the living room blurred his sight. Starlight got her jacket off and closed the door behind her, wanting to help him in the kitchen.

He laughed with joy at her unexpected early arrival. “Hey, this is a nice surprise! You’re early!” He got to his hooves and eagerly embraced his daughter, giving her a small peck on her cheek as he hugged her. Starlight, too, was glad to see her dad.

“Sorry for not visiting more often, dad. The school had me tied up for most of the semester and-”

“Say no more. I understand completely.” Firelight stopped her, smiling. He didn’t need to hear reasons why, only that his daughter was busy with her career and doing her job was all that mattered. “You are working for the Princess of Friendship now in her school. There’s nothing more important than that.”

“Well, today was the last day for the students as they’re heading off for home. Twilight didn’t need me hanging around today so I got to come see you earlier than expected.” Starlight started collecting up the pots and pans off the kitchen floor, finding the baking trays he was looking for in the back of the cabinet. She used her magic to pass them up to him, sensing him take them from her with his magic to place the trays on the counter above her. She stood back up.

“Oh, getting to play a little hooky with the headmare’s permission, eh?” Firelight gave her a joking little jab in the ribs, getting her to smile a little more.

“Not likely. Twilight’s a good friend and knows how hard I’ve been working at the school so she thought I deserved a little ‘me’ time.” Starlight moved the last pots off the counter and put them back on the stove.

“Well, this is great! We’ll celebrate the holiday together like always plus we’ll have a whole extra day together to talk!” Firelight was happy to have his daughter come for an extended visit. She always had interesting stories to tell about the students of the school.

“Actually,” Starlight began slowly, not sure how he might react to the subject matter, “there was something I did want to talk with you about.”

“Sure, sweetie, we can talk away while we make those spiced cookies you like so much.” Firelight was in mood to bake, even more so now that Starlight was here. Before Firelight could get his apron on, Starlight presented him with the gilded invitation from Twilight to spend both Hearth’s Warming Eve and Day as guests at her castle along with Twilight’s family. He was unprepared for this. Clearly his daughter had an ulterior motive to see him today.

“Dad,” She spoke slowly and gently, wanting to broach the subject carefully. “Why did you turn down Twilight’s invitation to spend the holiday with her and her family?”

“Oh, it’s very generous of Princess Twilight to invite me but I wouldn’t feel right intruding in that new life you’ve created. I love hearing of it and how well it’s going for you when you visit. It’s not really-”

“Dad, it would mean the world to me if you said yes. You don’t even have to stay overnight if you don’t want to. But I’d like it very much for you to stay for dinner and meet my friends and their families,” Starlight began. Firelight knew where this conversation was going. He wasn’t comfortable with it and was maybe a little exasperated by it. He got busy getting his apron on.

“Sweetie, the best holiday celebration for me is getting to see you and spend time with you. Like we always do.” Firelight got the eggs and milk out of the refrigerator, planning his next steps.

“Right. That’s why I want us to join Twilight and her family. I’m sure we’ll have some time together but we can also share the holiday in one big group too. All of my friends’ families are going to be there. They haven’t met each other either, so it’ll be like first introduction all around. You’d have so much fun getting to know everypony there. Trust me.”

That did make it a bit more bearable for him. Firelight had first thought everypony there knew one another and he would the odd pony out. But since it would be first introductions for all, then it might not feel so awkward to attend. Starlight could see just by his facial expression that he was wrestling with this idea of attending. She added an incentive she knew he could not resist.

“You know, we’ll get to make something to bring so everypony can enjoy it. Part of the invitation states we have to bring something we traditionally had for Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner.” That was it. She could see the light go on above his head, his mind snapping to attention at the prospect of baking for others.

“Really? How many ponies do you believe will be there?” He was already thinking of what he wanted to make, shining on to the idea of going more with each passing second.

Gotcha! She knew she had him on the hook but played it cool, not letting on that she was pleased. “Oh, something like forty ponies if everypony shows up.” Her dad suddenly looked alarmed.

Baking enough for forty ponies? That’s a lot to make! Firelight felt momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of ingredients and time it would take to do any of his recipes. Starlight gave him the final nudge he needed, sure to gently tweak his sensibilities.
“Oh, that is, if you think you couldn’t make enough for everypony, I guess we could go to the market and buy some-”

“Are you suggesting that the three time champion cake baker of Sire’s Hollow’s Summer Sun Festival’s bake-off is incapable of making enough to feed a party?” Firelight cut her off, aghast that she would even suggest something so gauche. Buying something was out of the question, certainly not for a party at Princess Twilight’s castle. Starlight played up to his indignation, narrowing her eyes and went for the drama to playfully mock him.

“Oh no I’m not suggesting, I’m telling the three time champion cake baker of Sire’s Hollow’s Summer Sun Festival’s bake-off he’s incapable of making enough for this party.” She pointed a forehoof at him, as if daring her dad to pick up the gauntlet being thrown down.

“Well then, Ms. Glimmer,” He reared back a bit, playing off her drama as if insulted by her insinuation. “That sounds like a challenge. I think I and my rolling pin are up to the task.” Starlight laughed a little in relief at their silly familial role-playing.

“I’m sure you are. That’s partially why I came home early. You’re going to need help getting it all done.” Starlight was relieved that it didn’t take too much time to get him to attend Twilight’s party. The harder subject she wanted to talk about with him could wait till later. She had gotten him to agree to accompany her so that would do for now.

“Bring something we traditionally eat at Hearth’s Warming dinner, eh?” Firelight tapped his chin with a forehoof, contemplating what would be appropriate to bring to such an auspicious occasion.

“Actually, I have something suggested for us to make.” Starlight retrieved the recipe given to her from her carry bag, altering his culinary plans. “We are contributing to the second course of the dinner. My friend Pinkie Pie is bringing something called ‘rock soup’ that she and her family traditionally have every year. She gave me the recipe for ‘rock bread’ for us to make, it’s supposed to be a bread like what was eaten a long time ago.”

He took the recipe from her, magically holding it up to his face to read the ingredients. It wasn’t complicated to make, only the volume required would make it difficult. He made some quick mental calculations on how much was going to be necessary.
“We need to get to the market and get a whole cart-load of ingredients if we’re going to do this.”

Starlight was ready and excited to help him. “I have a whole purse full of bits to pay for it so let’s not waste any more time.”

Firelight saw the gleam in his daughter’s eyes; the joy of the holiday season shining in them like he remembered when she was a little filly. It brought warmth back to Firelight’s heart to have her here and get to work together. He felt reinvigorated. He would make her proud and wouldn’t disappoint the princess; it obviously meant everything to his daughter.

“Then I suggest we get moving. We’ve got one day to get it done and there’s lots to get ready. The sooner the dough gets made, the sooner it’ll rise and be ready for baking.” He hurried off to his bedroom to get his jacket and wallet.
Starlight was so relieved to have her dad coming with her to Twilight’s party. She would make sure to show him the best time he’d had in a very long while. She couldn’t wait to get started.

Author's Note

Like a lot of fans of MLP, I had a bit of hard time with Starlight Glimmer's backstory. I felt it needed some other catalyst; another reason why she went down the path she did. Just hating cutie marks and the loss of one friend just didn't 'feel' like enough so I came up with an idea with this first chapter. This is all purely my Head-Cannon but I thought it might add some weight to Starlight's history.

Together Again

Grand Pear checked his pocket watch again. It was a few minutes past eleven on this all important Hearth’s Warming Eve day. He had spent the better part of the morning mustering up the courage to do this, having avoided it for so many years. He wasn’t sure what he’d find but was sure it would be peaceful.

Tottering up the small hillside, he made for the wrought iron fencing up ahead of him, sure it was the place he was looking for. He came closer, the headstones now visible on the ground, marking each plot. From afar, the iron fencing surrounding the small parcel of land looked whole but upon arriving at the Apple family grave site, Grand Pear could see its state of disrepair and how it was rusting away, almost to the point of dilapidation. Respectfully, he stepped inside the fenced off sanctified ground, a bit of unease in him. He felt like he was trespassing.

Some eight previous generations of Apple family members were buried on the family farm plot, but Pear Butter was the only Pear family member allowed burial alongside her husband. He read the names on the headstones as he passed by. Most of the names he did not know but one or two he did, lending a sense of great gravity to what he wished to accomplish today.
This day was far too important to him. It was long overdue to start making things right. He arrived at the spot he sought out, finding some of the marker’s engraving covered by the wispy layer of snow that had fallen last night.
Grand Pear brushed off the white powder with a hoof, reading the names of his daughter and son-in-law on the marker. He sighed wearily, missing his only child and upset with himself for the decisions he’d made in anger and in the heat of the moment. He placed the small bouquet of flowers by the grave marker, recalling the sound of their voices from that fateful night long ago...

“Pear Butter, enough of this nonsense! We’re moving, and you’ve got to stick with your family!” Grand Pear growled at his child, putting his hoof down.

“But,” she softly objected, “the Apples are my family now, too.” Bright Mac, hearing Pear Butter defy her father’s wishes, came to stand beside her and put a foreleg around his one true love in unquestionable support. Grand Pear was shocked and infuriated by her defiance.

“You can’t be serious?” He angrily stepped right up to her, pointing a hoof in Bright Mac’s face. “Are you choosing to be an Apple, over being a Pear?” He saw his daughter begin to cry.

“Are you making me choose?” Her voice quavered. She could not believe her father was forcing such a decision. Bright Mac stood stunned.

“Yes, I am.” Grand Pear would brook no insolence from his family members. He demanded their loyalty. He was sure Pear Butter would fall in line, like a good daughter.

“Then, yeah, I guess I am.” She tearfully stood up to her father, refusing to give up her heart’s desire just to please him. Grand Pear could not believe what he was hearing. His own daughter was saying ‘no’ to him? Well then if she wished to betray his love and choose another family to be loyal to, so be it.

“Fine!” He yelled at her, stomping off to return home and finish his packing. As he left the clearing, he could hear Pear Butter sobbing at the breaking of family ties but he blocked the sound out of his ears, refusing to acknowledge his own stubbornness.

All he had left now were the memories and the haunting feeling of having abandoned his child when he should have been there for her. As he stood there in the silence of memory, the soft crunching of snow beneath approaching hoof steps caught his ear.

Granny Smith came hobbling up the hillside, a holiday wreath in one hoof as she made her way to the family gravesite. She got to within a few yards of the site before recognizing Grand Pear standing in front of the same marker she’d come to visit.

She stepped inside the fenced off area to stand beside Grand Pear and silently lay the wreath on the marker, like she had done for many years.

“Wasn’t expectin’ ta see you here today.” Granny Smith croaked, breaking the silence between them. She was pleasant to him, aware he’d never been to this place in all the years since.

“I wanted to come and pay my respects to your son, Bright Mac, and to Pear Butter. It’s been a long time coming.” Grand Pear made sure to show Granny Smith respect for her family, mentioning her son by name. Both elderly ponies looked down at the marker before them, thinking of their lost loved ones.

“He was a good and honorable pony, that boy of yours. I wish I could’ve gotten to know him better.” Grand Pear confessed to his old rival.

“Pear Butter was such a loving, caring mama to all three of her children. I wish you could’ve seen her with them when they was young n’ all.” Granny Smith could see how broken up inside Grand Pear was over the loss of his daughter and for never having given Bright Mac a chance to show he was a good husband and father.

“Forgive me, Pear. Forgive me,” he begged softly, still grieving for his daughter, remorseful for having valued his pride more than his child. Granny stepped closer to him and put a foreleg around his shoulders, showing how she understood his pain.
“You... you know what the worst thing about that whole dumb feud was?” He looked at her, seeing in her eyes how much she missed her son was the same as much as he missed his daughter.

“What’s that?”

“I… I can’t even remember what it was we were squabbling over to begin with.” His confession was the most brokenhearted thing Granny could’ve imagined him saying. She gave him a small pat on the shoulder, trying to let him know that it was all in the past and he should not linger on old thoughts.

Grand Pear shored up his emotions, getting a handle on himself and trying not to let the sorrow tinge his intentions. “But I’m going make things right, starting today. No more waiting and wondering about the ‘what ifs’ or ‘why nots’.”

“How’s that again?” Granny was not sure what Grand Pear was going on about.

“I might have been away from my grand-foals for their growing up but I’m going to make it up to them, if it’s at all possible. There’s something I brought,” Grand Pear pointed to the saddle bag he was wearing. “I think they need to see. They deserve to know more about their mother’s side of the family.”

“Well,” Granny rubbed her chin, contemplating. “It’d be a good first step in bringin’ them closer to the Pear family, not to mention talkin’ ‘bout somthin’ that we ain’t never talked about ever.”

“How’s that grand-stallion of mine doing? Does he remember anything about what happened to his parents? He was a pretty young pony to have gone through all that.” Grand Pear had only heard from second hand sources of what had transpired and wanted to get the truth from Granny Smith.

“Well, he was busted up pretty bad inside about it. When he finally got home, he was a wailin’ and a cryin’ something awful. He couldn’t talk about it. He didn’t eat a scrap of food for more than a week, didn’t leave his room for more than a month. I had to hire some help for the farm in the meantime.” Granny explained gently. “He went real quiet like; barely talkin’ to anypony for more than a year, not speakin’ more than a word or two for answers.”

“So how did Big Mac manage to get through it? It was such a traumatic experience for him.” Grand Pear did not recall seeing or hearing anything wrong with Big Mac when last visiting in the fall.

“I ain’t really sure how. It was just, one morning Big Mac came out of his bedroom, came down to the kitchen for breakfast and then went out to the barn to take care of his chores. Nopony said nothin’ about it to him or asked any questions. It was as if it never happened.”

Grand Pear understood how it must have devastated Big Mac and offered some help. He handed Granny a business card from his saddle bag for an individual in Ponyville he thought would be helpful.

“This might be somepony who can help. I lost my wife a few years after moving to Vanhoover with my family and I fell into a bad depression. With the help of a special kind of doctor, she helped me to work through my grief and find closure. Dr. Fox gave me this card of a fellow specialist that lives in Ponyville whom I could see if I needed to.”

Granny read the card’s printing aloud. “Dr. Wolf; certified Clinical Psychologist and Curative Hypnotherapist.”
At first, she didn’t really understand what this doctor was about but recognized a part of the title: Psycho. She took offence at the perceived implication.

“What’re you tryin’ ta say, Grand Pear? You sayin’ Big Mac is off his rocker, or somethin’? You sayin’ he’s crazy?”

“Granny, you’ve got it all wrong,” he wasn’t expecting her reaction. “I just wanted to offer a suggestion of somepony who might be good for Big Mac, in fact for all three of our grand-foals, to talk to about their parents. That’s all.”

It took a few seconds for Granny to understand what he meant and realized he was just trying to help. He was as worried about the three of them as much as she was.

“Would it be too much to ask if I could spend some of today with them? I know it’s the holiday and all, but I thought today would be a good day to share with them what I could.” He hoped this would be possible, he did so want to share some time with them.

“We’ve been invited by the princess to her castle to spend the holiday with her and her family. Apple Jack is a good friend of the princess after all. Maybe we can ask her if it would be alright if y’all came along.” Granny didn’t want to say no to him but knew she couldn’t just show up with another guest in tow.

The two elderly ponies headed back to the barn on Sweet Apple Acres where the rest of Granny Smith’s family awaited her return. All three Apple siblings were surprised to see Granny Smith returning from the family plot with Grand Pear alongside her.

“Grand Pear Pear!” Apple Bloom called out to her grandfather, overjoyed to see him again. She leapt out of the wagon and ran over to him, giving her grandfather a huge hug.

“Hello Apple Bloom. It’s wonderful to see you again.” He hugged his granddaughter back. Apple Jack and Big Mac were just as happy to see him too.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Grand Pear!” Apple Jack, too, jumped out of the wagon and joined in on the hug.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Apple Jack.” Grand Pear held onto her as well, relishing in the love they shared with him. He looked around at who was standing close by and watching.

“And who are your guests? I’ve never met them before.”

Apple Bloom did the first introduction. “This is our cousin, Babs, from Manehattan. She was invited along with us to spend the holiday at Princess Twilight’s castle.” Apple Bloom turned to her cousin.

“Babs, this is my Grandpa, Grand Pear. He’s my mama’s daddy.” Apple Bloom was beaming with pride to have her grandfather with them today.

“It’s delightful to make your acquaintance, Babs.” Grand Pear gave her a big grin and Babs joined in on the hug.

“Aaay, how you doin’? Nice to meet more of da family durin’ da holidays, ya know what I’m sayin’?” Grand Pear chuckled a little when hearing her thick Manehattan accent.

“I’m doin’ fine, Babs.” He tried to pick up her accent, making her smile with his impersonation. A realization suddenly popped in her head, turning to face Apple Bloom.

“Wait, so like, if he’s ya Granfatha’ an’ all, does that make him my…” Babs tried to figure out the family linage. “My great-uncle once removed or somethin’?”

“Don’t dig too deep into it, Babs.” Apple Jack saw how confused Babs looked when trying to figure out the relationships between their families.

“Oh, and who might your other guest be?” Grand Pear was curious about the quiet unicorn mare who had been waiting off to the side with Big Mac.

Apple Jack made the next introduction. “This here’s Sugar Belle, Big Mac’s steady girlfriend.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. So nice to meet more of Big Mac’s family.” Sugar Belle was very polite and proper with her first meeting of her beau’s grandfather.

“The pleasure is all mine, miss. That Big Mac must be some special pony to catch the eye of a lovely unicorn such as yourself.” Grand Pear’s old-world charm made Sugar Belle titter, a little embarrassed by the praise.

“Granny informed me you are all headed to the princess’ castle. I probably should have stopped by the farm sooner to see what your holiday plans were. I was hoping we could all sit together and share some of our family’s history. I’d like very much to hear more about your branch of the family tree, Babs.” Grand Pear spoke from the heart, wanting to reconnect with his grand-foals and make new connections with family members he never even knew he had.

“Aw, shoot! It ain’t a problem, Grand Pear. Twilight would be glad to have another guest for the holiday celebration.” Apple Jack thought it a great idea to have him join them. What would the holiday be anyway if there wasn’t somepony else from the family to share it with?

“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose on the princess.” Grand Pear thought it awful impolite to just show up with an uninvited plus-one.

“I’m pretty sure Princess Twilight wouldn’t mind at all. She always has an ‘open door’ policy for her friends.” Apple Bloom backed up her sister. None of the Apples seemed to think this would pose any problem and that was a relief for him to hear. He was going to get the Hearth’s Warming gift he wanted; spending time with them and sharing what he remembered about their mother.

“Well then,” Granny chimed in. “It’s settled. Let’s get goin’ ‘cause I got a hankerin’ for some o’ that bean dip I spent three days makin’ for this here shindig. The more we stand around jawin’ away, the longer I gotta wait.” She climbed up the wagon steps to the front seat, eager to start the celebrating.

Apple Jack took Grand Pear’s two saddle bags from him, putting both in the back of the wagon along with the rest of their things. He handed her the last item he’d brought along, catching Apple Jack’s curiosity.

“What’s this?” She studied the diminutive oak cask she held in her front hooves, wondering what it could be. Whatever it was, it was old. She could tell by just the aged appearance of the wood and the dust embedded in the grain. She could hear some sort of liquid sloshing around inside.

“Something I’ve been holding onto for fifty years and felt it was time to share with everypony.” Grand Pear’s answer didn’t really tell Apple Jack what it was but it really didn’t matter. She placed it among the rest of the stuff they had loaded up for the party. Apple Bloom hopped up in the back of the wagon as Apple Jack lent a hoof to help Grand Pear up.

“Please, take my seat, Grand Pear. I’d like to walk next to Big Mac today, most of all.” Sugar Belle felt very kindly towards the elderly pony and wanted him to be comfortable for the ride. Besides, it gave her the chance to show off a little at being Big Mac’s girl in front of other ponies of Ponyville.

In the back of the wagon along with the overnight bags were the eight apple pies, a huge assortment of baked apple treats and three big jars of Granny’s special holiday fixings of nine layer bean dip. It had taken almost three days of steady cooking with both Granny and Sugar Belle to make it all. Both Apple Jack and Apple Bloom had pitched in by jarring the dip to keep it fresh. It was, as Apple Jack put it, the dog-gone best batch of dip Granny had ever made. Just a little heat to simmer on the stove for a few minutes would make it perfect for eating.

“Gracious me! Just how big is this party the princess is planning to have? There’s enough food in here to feed a family for a month.” Grand Pear was stunned by the sheer amount they had made.

“There’s a whole bunch of ponies gonna be there. All my friends and their families are joinin’ in for the fun and food. It’s gonna be the best Hearth’s Warming ever!” Apple Jack made no bones about how she was looking forward to this.

“I’ve never met royalty before. This is going to be quite the experience for us all, I must say.” Grand Pear felt somewhat under prepared to meet such high ranking ponies of Equestria.

“C’mon, Big Mac! Let’s get this show on the road!” Granny hollered and gave a loud whoop.

“Yee-haw! Time to celebrate!” Apple Bloom shouted, eager to start having a good time after so much hard work in preparation.

“E’yup!” Big Mac reared back on his hind legs, excited to spend time with his family and full of joy for the holiday. With Sugar Belle by his side he practically swaggered as he pulled the wagon, his family carrying on behind him in excitement of the coming party.

Author's Note

For this story I liked having all the CMC's present including Babs. I like her toughness; she can add some Manehatten muscle to the group. Having Grand Pear there was important to me as I wanted as wanted to touch on the story of Bright Mac and Pear Butter and do a scene that was a little bit of a deeper moment of reconciliation between Grand Pear and Granny Smith.
My desire for the beginning chapters of this story was to include all of the immediate family members who could not be at Twilight's party; though honestly it's my 'head-cannon' about what happened to Starlight's mom and no pony really knows.

The Train Kept a Rollin'

Sunburst paced the floor of the parlor room, waiting for his dad to be done with his last bit of business this morning. It was getting late and he wanted to be at the train station before his mom and sister got there. The moment of truth was nearly upon him and would either succeed or blow up in his face. He was hoping for the former but was already preparing himself for the latter.

Bosley entered the parlor room with the morning tea and biscuits, placing the tray on the coffee table.
“Anything else, Master Sunburst?” Sunburst finally stopped his pacing, consumed with the ‘what ifs’ and ‘if nots’ of his plan going wrong.

“Oh, no, Bosley. Thank you. I’ll be fine. He shouldn’t be that much longer.” Sunburst was glad to have something to nibble on while waiting. Bosley had made him a mug of his favorite tea, helping to calm his nerves.

“If there’s nothing else today, sir, I would ask you to pardon me for the day. I was planning to catch the earliest train to Balimare and I’d like to miss as much of the holiday rush as I can.”

“Of course. You have a great day off and Happy Hearth’s Warming, Bosley.” Sunburst was glad to let their help go for the day. It was time to celebrate and be with loved ones.

“Thank you, sir.” Bosley turned to leave but paused just as he was about to slide the door closed behind him. “Oh, and Master Sunburst, sir,” Sunburst looked up from his cookie.

“Yes?”

Bosley gave him a sure nod of confidence and a quick smile. “Good luck with it, sir.” He left Sunburst momentarily confused.

“Luck with…?” Sunburst did not understand what he was referring to at first but caught on that his family’s long time help was aware of the new dynamics of their home.

“Wait, how did you…?”

Bosley’s smile grew a little more at Sunburst’s surprise. “You don’t work for seventeen years with one family and not know when the employer’s son is up to something he doesn’t want his parents to know about.” He gave Sunburst a quick wink and slid the parlor door closed.

“Well, at least somepony is rooting for me. I hope this all works.” Sunburst finished off the biscuits and tea, trying to stay focused on what he was going to do. He rechecked the overnight bags stationed by the front door. On a side table near the door was what Sunspot was going to bring as an offering.

He’d simply gone out to that gourmet store located up around the block from his house and ordered the best entrée he could buy. The aroma of the delicately prepared food could not be missed.

The door to the office opened and out came his dad and another business associate, heading down the hall towards him and talking about the final details of their arrangement.

“I’ll get these in the mail on the way home. They’ll be on the client’s desk by Thursday at the latest, sir.” The younger business pony shook hooves with Sunspot, glad to get yet another development project underway with the new financing.

“Sounds good. Have yourself a good holiday.” Sunspot walked his client to the front door, clapping him on the back.

Sunburst checked the time on his wristwatch again. He had to get his dad going on their way to the train station; the train was due in only twenty minutes and he was pretty sure his mom and sister would be at the station by now.

“Son, is everything alright? You look kinda stressed this morning.” Sunspot could see the tension on his son’s face, as if anticipating some disaster or tragedy. Sunburst gave a nervous laugh.

“Oh, no, nothing like that. It’s just I’m a little nervous about being with Princess Twilight and her family in a more social situation with my family.” His dad could relate. No pony wanted to look foolish or be embarrassed by their relations.

“Trust me, my boy, I’ll make sure I don’t put you on the hot seat. You can be sure your ol’ dad will be the consummate professional,” Sunspot swore, aware of what this meant for Sunburst.

“We’d best get moving, dad. The train is going to be arriving soon and-” Sunburst was hurrying to get his coat on and his carry bags strapped on, eager to get moving.

“No need to rush, son.” Sunspot waved off his son’s jumpiness. He had the situation well in hoof. “It’s all taken care of.” Sunspot casually slipped on his best long winter coat and hat in preparation for the coming snow.

There was a honk of a horn from outside, alerting Sunspot to the arrival of their ride. “Ah, the cab is here. Now we can get going.” Sunburst paused in getting all his carry bags strapped on as a knock came from the front door. He opened it and found the cab driver standing there, waiting.

“Sunshine Cab Service. We’re there when you need us.” The cabbie recited his company’s slogan for the umpteenth time today, clearly tired from all the times of reciting it and driving so many fare takers on one of his busiest days.

“The bags are right here. We’ll be waiting in the cab.” Using his magic, Sunspot took the dinner platter he was bringing from off the table and headed out the door, confident and assured of his preparations for today. Sunburst followed after him, still carrying his own bags and putting them in the trunk of the cab.

The ride to the station was brief, with the cab driver pulling them right up to the steps of the train platform. Sunburst was first out of the cab, scanning about the station area to see where his mom and sister could be. From the crowd of ponies he picked out Starlight and her dad at the far end of the platform, waiting for the same train. He and Starlight made eye contact, nodding to one another.

“Have yourself a good holiday, sir.” The cabbie returned the change for the fare to Sunspot as he got the last bags out of the trunk.

“Keep it. Happy Hearth’s Warming to you, my good pony.” Sunspot was always extra generous around the holidays, making his driver smile at receiving a tip that was twice the cost of the fare.

“Thank you, sir!” He looked somewhat stunned by the amount.

Sunspot looked around the station area, seeing his son slowly walking towards the platform stairs and scanning the crowd of ponies who were awaiting the next train.

Sunburst kept looking about, scanning the faces in the crowd, trying to find his mom and sister in the throng. It was tough; the platform was crowded with ponies who were all shuffling about and dragging their possessions around as they sought out a place to sit and wait.

“Where’s that brother of yours? He was supposed to meet us here already. Where could he be?” Stellar Flare was losing her patience. The train was soon to arrive and they hadn’t found Sunburst yet.

“I have an idea.” Nova looked around for a good vantage point and found a porter’s cart and garbage can to stand on so as to elevate her view. She wound her way across the platform to the cart, bounding up onto the lid-covered can to scan above the heads of the crowd. Down at the end of the platform she thought she saw her brother. She started to wave to him, catching his attention. But totally unexpectedly, there was her dad walking up the steps right behind Sunburst, both of them now aware of her standing above the crowd.

“Dad?” She wasn’t expecting to see him here today. She thought he was going away for the holiday. Sunburst and her dad made their way across the platform trying to get to her.

“Nova, get down from there.” Stellar Flare tugged at Nova’s leg, not wanting to deal with her behavior right now. There was little time left and she still didn’t see Sunburst.

“I found him. He’s heading this way; dad’s with him too.” She was actually happy to see her dad was here with them, wondering if he was coming with them to the party at the castle.

“Who’s with your brother?”

Stellar Flare wasn’t sure she’d heard her daughter correctly. It sounded like Nova said her dad was here with Sunburst. This was not what she wanted to hear on this all-important day of hers.

In less than a minute, Sunburst and his dad met up with his mom and Nova, standing near the ticket booth.

“Sunspot, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to Manehattan for the holiday with some of your business friends?” Stellar Flare was cool and distant, chilly as the snow on the ground. Sunburst sighed when hearing his mom’s tone.

“Me? What are you doing here? I thought you were going to your sister’s house with Nova for Hearth’s Warming?” Sunspot was confused by this sudden meeting, having heard otherwise of Stellar Flare’s plans from his son last night. Quickly, the two parents realized what their son had been up to.

Both of them confronted him. “Was this your idea all along, son? Having your mother and I run into each other here at the station?” His dad demanded. Sunburst blushed.

“And you were never going to tell us?” Stellar Flare could not believe her son. After all the work they had done preparing the meal for the party, finding him here with Sunspot was unconscionable.

“Maybe it was. If I had told either of you that I wanted the other to come with me to the party, would you have joined me?” He then turned to face his mom.

“Would you have let Nova go with me or would you have made her stay home if dad was coming along to the party?” Stellar Flare couldn’t answer, thinking of how her daughter might have reacted to not being allowed to attend and meet the princess because her father would be there. He then looked at his dad, who had a most embarrassed expression on his face.

“How about you, dad? Would you have gone with me if I said mom and Nova were going as well or would you still have gone to Manehattan?” Sunburst could hear the train approaching. The timing he had been counting on was perfect. He would force them to choose if he had to, the train’s arrival made sure of that. Even if his parents refused to spend the time together, he would still go and take Nova along with him. He wasn’t going to let the princess down or let his sister down this holiday season if their mom and dad wanted to be a couple of stubborn old nags.

Sunburst thought it would have been obvious to his parents to why he went to such lengths to get them here at the station without them knowing. “All I wanted this year was to have my family together for this one special holiday celebration. It’s important to me to have both of you there and I really wanted to introduce you to Princess Twilight and her friends. We haven’t had a Hearth’s Warming Eve together as a family since I dropped out of magic school.”

Nova tried not to listen, even though she was silently agreeing with everything her brother was saying and really couldn’t look her parents in the face. Sunspot looked down at his daughter.

“Sweetie? Do you feel the same as your brother?” Sunspot never thought his daughter would have been this upset. She’d seemed to be so mature and holding up so well under the stress of the change.

“I hate having to spending the day in two places! Why can’t we be together anymore?” She finally blurted out what she’d been bottling up silently for the past eighteen months. It felt wrong; it felt bad to have to be apart. Why couldn’t they be a family? It hurt even more during the holiday time.

“The best gift from you both would be to put aside the bickering for one day and just try to get along so we can be together as a family for a little while. Please!” Sunburst implored, this day being what it was and where they were going and whom they were going to see.

The train was entering the station, it was down to the last few seconds. Sunburst disliked having to go to such lengths, but he knew his parents too well. Only when confronted with the decision would they make one as a couple, their attitudes being more about posturing and bellicose words between them than actual disdain for one another. The two parents looked daggers at each other.

Finally Stellar Flare gave her husband that I’m willing to try for the kids’ sake if you are too look, biting her lower lip and with a bit of desperation in her eyes. She wanted to go and make her son proud. If it meant ‘playing nice’ for a while, then it couldn’t hurt. Sunspot gave her a nervous nod of yes and a half-shrug, in that I’ll try for the kid’s sake to get along response. It meant a lot to him to be there for Sunburst and he too wanted his son to be proud of his dad.

“Alright, son. For you and your sister, we’ll do this. We promise to be on our best behavior.” Sunspot solemnly swore, making sure his son understood his seriousness.

“A consummate professional?” Sunburst added to make sure his dad meant it.

“To the last, my boy.” Sunspot did mean it. His son did not have to worry.

“I’m sorry, Nova, sweetheart,” Stellar Flare raised her daughter’s head to look at her, seeing Nova’s chin quiver slightly and tears forming in her young eyes. “We haven’t been thinking of you or your brother. We haven’t made this easy.”

“I just want everything to go back to the way it was before!” Nova pleaded. Both Stellar Flare and Sunspot felt bad that their children have to go through the holiday season like they have to choose one parent or the other and hopefully not make somepony feel bad or neglected. Here was the chance to give them that familiar sense again, even if it was for only for a little while.

“All aboard!” A conductor yelled out and the mass of ponies on the platform began filing into the cars, jostling their way down the isles to available seats.

“All set?” Sunburst collected up his bags and was about to head for the car, turning to see if his family was following after him. Sure enough, his sister was frantically getting her carry bags on and hurrying after him while his mom and dad followed after Nova. He smiled at the sight of them, thankful that this had worked out the way he wanted. Further on down the platform he spotted Starlight and her dad getting on the train a few cars ahead of them. He and Starlight had wanted to share the ride to the Ponyville station together as a group but it looked like that wasn’t going to happen. But that really didn’t matter. Sunburst knew they’d catch up at the station and then go as a group to Twilight’s castle, maybe even sharing a cab ride.

For now, he and his family would share the train ride and talk about who they might meet at the Princess’ home. Sunburst reiterated those who he knew for sure would be there with Nova filling in details about the princess and her friends from what she read in her copy of the princess’ friendship journal. The talk and excitement of anticipation brought them closer together.

“This is great! I’ve got a whole bunch of questions I want to ask Princess Twilight when I see her. I’ll never get another chance like this again.” Nova’s enthusiasm was impossible to miss. Her brother decided to set some ground rules on his sister before they got to the castle.

“Remember, sis, we’re guests of the princess. You can’t get all fangirly around her; you’ve got to act mature. Don’t embarrass me or mom and dad, alright?” Nova chafed under his edict. What gave him the right to tell her how to behave?

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be cool around her. You don’t have to worry.” She tried to wave off his concern, but that just made Sunburst more suspicious.

“I mean it, Nova. No freaking out when meeting her or her friends. Understood?” Sunburst covered all the bases, fearing she would lose it at meeting such well known ponies. Nova called for back up.

“Mom, make Sunburst stop telling me-”

“Just behave yourself, Nova. Make us proud of how well you act around your brother’s friends.” Stellar Flare cut her off, aware of her daughter’s predilections. She knew her son was right. Nova was a big fan of the princess and she could easily get overly excited with this meeting. She trusted Nova to behave herself. Stellar Flare only hoped her trust was not misplaced.

Spanish Castle Magic

“Thank you, sir! Happy Hearth’s Warming to you folks!” The cab driver was grateful for Sunspot’s tip, not expecting the short trip from the station was going to pay off so well.

Sunspot liked to do that; seeing his generosity making other ponies smile. The six of them stood at the edge of the walkway that led up to the castle doors.

“Starlight, this is where you live?” Firelight was astounded by its magnificence, seeing it for the first time up close.

“It’s even more awesome then I imagined!” Nova was giddy with delight. It was like walking in a dream for her.

“It’s truly something to see!” Sunspot was very impressed. Pictures and vivid descriptions didn’t do it justice.

“I can’t believe we’re actually here!” Even Stellar Flare caught some of her daughter’s excitement. This was a thrill of a lifetime. Not many ponies ever got to spend the holiday with royalty.

“C’mon, everypony. Follow us.” Starlight and Sunburst led them on up to the door, both of them enjoying watching their families have that ‘first time’ experience of actually stepping inside Princess Twilight’s home. Everypony had it on the first visit; the castle had a tendency to overwhelm its visitors with its size and crystalline construction.

Starlight leaned over to speak into Sunburst’s ear. “I’m glad they decided to be with us today. You must be proud of them.”
“I am. I wanted to share this with all of them. I’m happy your dad came today, too. I know how much you wanted him to see where you live now.” Sunburst kept one eye on his family as they walked up to the door, grinning at the sight of his sister’s wide-eyed expression of mind-blown awe.

Starlight opened the double doors of the castle for them, the foyer of the castle now coming into view as they stepped through the doorway. For the first-time visitors, it was something unimaginable. The castle was decked out in resplendent holiday decorations. The length of the grand entry hall was adorned with garland and red ribbons. An enormous string of flickering multi-colored crystals hung from four opposing points on the walls to meet at the chandelier that hung from the center of the ceiling. The whole inside space seemed to twinkle and glimmer from hundreds of little colored lights. A truly magical spectacle to see.

From out of one of the side rooms came the party’s official maître d’ and guest greeter, carrying his clipboard and ready to check in his guests.

“Greetings and salutations! Happy Hearth’s Warming everypony!” Spike was glad to have more to do and was taking his role very seriously. He was decked out in a white collared shirt, red bow tie and black jacket with long tails. He had a job to do and was going to make Twilight proud.

“Hi, Spike. Happy Hearth’s Warming.” Starlight was glad to be here with him too.

“Hello everypony. My name is Spike and I am your official Hearth’s Warming celebration host-dragon for the evening. We have a wonderful evening planned ahead so if everypony will follow me upstairs, we’ll get all of you situated in your rooms and the food to the kitchen for any preparation you might need.” Spike read his practiced greeting off his clipboard, having spent most of last night trying to come up with something sufficiently official sounding.

“Lead the way, my good dragon.” Sunburst encouraged, eager to introduce his family to his hostess and the other guests. Spike led the small group of guests up to the second floor, telling them all about the evening’s celebration and the festival planned in Ponyville for the following day.

Even the second floor hall and guestroom entryways were adorned with garland and a small wreath with a small card on the bedroom doors to indicate what family slept where.

“Stellar Flare and Sunspot, this is your guestroom. Let me know if there is anything you might need that is currently not on hand.” Spike opened the door for them, lugging in their bags. Sunburst’s parents were duly impressed by the room’s accoutrements. It was as luxurious as one could expect as a guest of royalty. Standing in the room, anypony could get the feeling they were in a magical place.

“You get my room to stay in, dad.” Starlight took him to a room across the hallway and opened the door. With a quick spell casting, Starlight commanded the candles to light, making the room a warm and welcoming environment.

Firelight plopped his bags down by the bed, somewhat surprised by the look of her room. He had half-expected it to look something like her old room back home. But it wasn’t. It was clean and orderly, the clothes away in the dresser drawers, bed made up and the area rug clean.

Even Starlight’s workspace and study area was tidy. Her spell-books and scrolls were all neatly stacked up or bundled in a cubby for safekeeping.

“Okay, what’s going on here?” Firelight turned around to look at his daughter.

“What do you mean?” Starlight hadn’t a clue what her dad meant. But he had a smile on his face.

“Who are you and what have you done with my daughter? This is not her room. At least, not the kind of room I remember her having.”

“Oh, that! I like my room like this now. It suits me better.” Starlight liked showing it off. Firelight looked around the room more closely, picking up details about his daughter he might have missed during their conversations. Above her dresser was a mirror, affixed along the perimeter of the glass were six photographs.

“Are these your friends?” Starlight came to stand beside him.

“That’s a picture of me with Rarity, one with Fluttershy, a picture of me trying to bake with Pinkie Pie,” She pointed to each photo, putting a face to the names she had mentioned when talking with him. Firelight enjoyed hearing how his daughter had so many friends now.

“Who’s the one in the wizard’s cap? A friend of Sunburst?” He didn’t recall her telling him about another magician pony friend.

“That’s Trixie. You remember me telling you about her, right? She and I went on that terrible road trip, trying to get to Saddle Arabia to do those magic shows…”

“Oh, that’s her!” He was glad to finally put a face to the pony from Starlight’s story. He thought it quite the humorous tale of adventure for his daughter to have experienced. Even better that it didn’t sour the friendship she had with Trixie after the whole plan fell apart. He couldn’t help but laugh a little when recalling the story.

“You’re not still laughing at that story, are you?” Starlight couldn’t believe it was that entertaining to her dad after this long. That was so many moons ago.

“Sorry, it’s just a really funny story, that’s all.” He got his snickering under control and added pensively. “Memories to last a lifetime, I’m sure.”

Starlight was happy to share a little more about the supportive group of friends she had now. She knew how much he worried about her, though she wished he didn’t.

“You two joining us or are you alright on your own?” Spike poked his head in the room, checking to see what was taking the Glimmers so long to drop off their stuff.

“Give us a second, Spike.” Starlight used her magic to carry aloft the pans of bread ready for baking. “Let’s get these in the oven downstairs but keep your jacket on. There’s something else I want to show you.” Out in the hallway, Spike led them back to the stairwell while continuing his instructions.

“Everypony with a contribution for this evening’s meal should follow me to the kitchen, where we have an ample number of stoves at your disposal. Otherwise, you are encouraged to help yourself to the appetizers and mingle with the other guests.”

As Sunburst walked down the flight of stairs and into the main hallway of the castle with his family, he could already see his sister was thrilled beyond belief to be here and dumbstruck at getting the chance to meet Spike. He could only guess how she was going to react when meeting Twilight. He hoped she wouldn’t get all fangirly on Twilight or her friends. He’d made her promise.

“For her close friends,” Spike mentioned to Sunburst, getting his attention away from his thoughts, “she’s arranged for a special gathering in the lounge tonight for a private gab session and slumber party.”

Nova couldn’t believe what her day was turning into. Now she was going to get to hang out with the princess and her close friends on top of it all at a slumber party! She was going to get the chance to ask every question she’d ever wanted to ask the princess. She had almost twenty-four hours to slip them in any conversation she could manage.

Spike pointed out the various rooms for the guests to spend their time relaxing in. “On this side of the hallway we have the livingroom as well as the lounge and on the opposite side is the castle’s library, ballroom and dining hall. The library, lounge and living rooms have their own fireplaces to sit by and have lots of comfortable seating for all.”

Sunburst recognized Twilight’s friend Apple Jack sitting with what he guessed was her family in the livingroom. They were all huddled together looking at something in one elderly pony’s lap. In the lounge area, Starlight spotted Pinkie and what she thought was her family sitting with two other ponies she didn’t recognize.

“Through here, please.” Spike held open the kitchen door for them, allowing easier access to the workspace where Twilight and her mom were busily making more appetizers. Twilight looked up from her work, seeing who was entering the kitchen.

“Starlight! Sunburst! I’m so glad you made it!” Twilight trotted right over to greet her guests. “Happy Hearth’s Warming you two!” She hugged each of her friends tightly. She stepped back a little, allowing them more room, waving them in to join her and her mom. “Come in! Come in!” Both Starlight and Sunburst were both glad to be here and nervous as heck to have their families in tow. All three parents first placed their meal offerings on the counter space before bowing to the princess of Equestria.

“Your highness.” Stellar Flare bowed with such practiced grace and fluidity, denoting her well-honed upper-class etiquette. Her husband, daughter and Firelight Glimmer did likewise, showing proper respect. Both Starlight and Sunburst groaned with embarrassment. Twilight just had to deflate their expectations a little.

“Oh, pbthh, on that! There are no princesses here today, only ponies!” Twilight’s loud raspberry took the tension right out of the room, leaving her guests a bit confused.

“You must get that an awful lot, sweetie,” Velvet commented. She had first witnessed the Pie family do the same thing at their first meet with her daughter a few hours ago.

“I’ve gotten used to it, mom.” Twilight didn’t mind, it was just part and parcel with the job.

“Dad, you don’t have to be so formal with my friend.” Starlight reached down to raise her father to his hooves, wanting him not to look so square right then.

“Twilight isn’t that kind of princess, mom and dad. She likes informality when away from her royal obligations.” Sunburst was just as red-faced as Starlight, wishing they’d told their families ahead of time about this one tiny detail. His family got up, both his mom and dad clearly unsure of what so say or how to act. Nova silently moved up alongside her mom, getting closer to Princess Twilight. Her whole body seemed to be buzzing in excitement.

“Oh, I’m sorry… princess?” Stellar was not sure how to address a princess informally, suddenly looking painfully clueless.

“How about just calling me Twilight? That’s easier for everypony to remember.” It never ceased to amaze Twilight to see anypony’s reaction to her being ‘normal’ around them. She guessed there was always going to be that mystique of her being a ‘princess’ that caused some to stumble when speaking with her.

“Forgive me, Twilight, I was not made aware of your preference.” Firelight spoke up first to address his daughter’s friend and mentor.

“You must be Firelight Glimmer.” Twilight could tell by his polite and formal manner, not to mention his streaked aqua-marine colored mane and tail, that this was Starlight’s dad.

“Ta da!” Starlight weakly announced him to Twilight, still a little embarrassed. “I promised you I would wrangle him into attending. I keep my promises.”

“Twilight, this is my mom Stellar Flare and my dad, Sunspot.” Sunburst made the introduction, saving his mom from any further embarrassment.

“A pleasure to meet you both.” Twilight could see they were still a bit nervous, getting used to being here with her and her family. She looked down at the filly standing next to Stellar Flare.

“And who might you be?” Twilight could see the stars in the young pony’s eyes as Nova looked up at her.

“Twilight, this is-”

“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Princess Twilight, I totally love your friendship journal! The stories and lessons you and your friends told are so awesome! I’ve read my copy so many times! I can’t get enough of it!” Nova lasted but a few seconds before devolving into a quivering mass of fangirl. But Twilight didn’t mind.

Sunburst’s folks were mortified by Nova’s behavior. Stellar Flare planted a forehoof to her forehead in frustration while Sunspot cringed to the point where he had to look away. Sunburst finally found his voice.

“Nova! What did I tell you? I thought you were going to be cool around Twilight and her friends!” He’d thought she would’ve lasted longer, as had her mother. But the pressure must have been just too great for Nova to contain.

“If you have your copy with you, I’ll sign it if you’d like.” Twilight gave Nova a quick distraction so as to allow her mom to introduce herself to the guests.

“Twilight Velvet; very nice to make your acquaintance.” She shook hooves with all of them, grinning.

“My pleasure and Happy Hearth’s Warming to you and your family.” Firelight was all smiles when meeting the princess’ mother.

“An honor for us both.” Sunspot was relieved to discover both the princess and her mother seemed very approachable ponies and hoped the other guests were the same.

“I’ve got my journal right here!” Nova tore through the carrying bag she kept with her at all times to find her most treasured item, presenting it to Twilight with great enthusiasm. Twilight used her alicorn magic to take the journal from her young fan. She always had a quill and ink bottle handy in the kitchen for scribbling down notes or whatever when she might need to.

“What to say… what to say…” Twilight tapped her chin with the tip of the quill, contemplating her words over the open journal. With a quick glance at Nova, who waited with bated breath, she began to write. She’d thought she’d give her fan a real thrill.

“To Nova, Thanks so much for coming to my Hearth’s Warming celebration. I hope you and your family have a wonderful time while visiting the Castle of Friendship. Your good friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight made sure to use the big sweeping style of script for the signature, even adding a twinkling ‘star’ at the end of her name as a personal touch.
When Nova received the journal with Twilight’s personal message and signature, she was euphoric. Nova actually fell over onto the floor, clutching the journal to her chest and squealing gleefully. Her family was again embarrassed but everypony else only smiled at watching Nova lose her mind with happiness.

“That’s some super-fan you have there, Sunburst.” Starlight watched her best friend squirm uncomfortably at the sight of Nova’s behavior.

“Well I’m glad to help give somepony an extra special Hearth’s Warming gift.” Twilight thought it adorable how Nova was so thrilled and how Sunburst winced at seeing his sister freaking out.

“Okay! Okay, Nova! That’s enough. You got the autograph you wanted. Time to reel it in and settle down. Be cool, remember?” Sunburst spared his parents having to correct Nova, trying to recover some semblance of cordiality in front of Twilight and her mom.

“Do they always react like this, Twilight?” Velvet watched as Nova managed to keep it together enough to regain her composure, her mother and father clearly upset with their daughter’s outburst.

“Meh, to some degree. Thanks to Cadence, I’ve gotten better at handling situations.” This particular run-in with a fan was quite alright. It was for a good friend’s little sister, so how could she not want to please her guest?

“If you need an oven, Twilight made sure there were plenty to use.” Velvet stepped aside to show how her daughter had accommodated everypony who brought something to share.

“Let’s get the bread in and baking. We’re due up with the second course of tonight’s meal.” Starlight wanted to get going with the next part of her reason for bringing her dad with her today.

“If either of you would like, we have warm cider on the stove ready as well as chilled on tap,” Velvet offered, but Starlight was hustling the bread into the oven as quickly as she could and moving her dad out of the kitchen. The oven was hot and in went the bread, to be ready in about an hour’s time, plenty for Starlight to do what she had been planning to do for many moons.

“If it’s alright with you, Twilight,” Starlight closed the oven door, all eight loaves fitting on the two racks inside. “I’d like to show my dad the inside of the school. He’s never seen it before.”

“That’d be perfect. We’ve got some time before everypony else arrives and we’re ready to sit down to eat, so a tour of the school would be a good idea.” Twilight was happy to accommodate her guest.

“You really should see it. Twilight took myself and her father on a tour when the school first opened. It’s quite breathtaking.” Velvet remembered the grandeur of the school’s architecture and how she and her family were impressed by it.

“Sounds good to me.” Firelight was looking forward to it already.

Starlight was glad that Twilight and her mom agreed that she should show her dad the school. It would give them some alone time to talk like she wanted.

“Let’s get going, then. I want to be back in time to check on the bread.” Starlight set the timer on the stove, an added precaution in case she was late getting back.

“We’ll keep an eye on it, so you two take your time.” Velvet waved their concern away with a hoof and a smile.

“Thank you, Velvet. We shouldn’t be too long.” Firelight followed after his daughter, waving to Velvet and Twilight as he exited.

“He seems like a very nice stallion. I’m happy she convinced him to attend.” Twilight couldn’t help smiling. She had been planning this for quite a while and so dearly wanted everypony invited to be here. To see her guests happy and excited to be here filled her heart with joy.

Starlight slung her parka on quickly, leading her dad to the front door of the castle. Before they got into the day’s festivities, she wanted to show off one last place. She’d brought him pictures to look at but they didn’t convey the whole impact.

Author's Note

Hey everypony! Here is the fifth chapter of this story I've been working on. IT's the set up for the next chapter which I'm most excited to showcase. I've always wanted to do a scene of Twilight dealing with fans; imagining how I'd probably react if I were a young pony and meeting my favorite heroine for the first time and up close.
Since I wasn't able to find anywhere a floor-map of Twilight's castle I came up with own idea; I gave the castle an 'upstairs' for the bedrooms and the rest of the castle we see more of as the 'downstairs'. If anypony out there has such diagrams of the inside layout of Twilight's castle, or knows of where to find them, please let me know.

Ode to My Family; No Need to Argue

“Starlight, darling!” Rarity exclaimed. “Where are you heading off to? We just got here.” She was momentarily surprised to have Starlight open the door just as she and her family got to the entrance.

“There isn’t any trouble, is there? I did want to introduce my family to you.” Fluttershy appeared from behind Rarity, fretting over Starlight’s apparent departure. Both girls had their families right behind them, all curious about who it was their daughters were speaking to. Starlight stepped back, allowing them to get inside and out of the falling snow.

“No, no. Nothing like that.” Starlight and her dad watched as eight more guests filed in through the doorway, covered in snow. Each of them shook of the fluffy whiteness, eager to get out of the cold and out of the damp jackets they wore.

“Oh, and whom might this handsome stallion be?” Rarity turned on the charm, never one to be without a quick compliment.

“Dad, these are my friends Rarity and Fluttershy, and,” Starlight looked behind them to the six other ponies unraveling themselves from their outside garb, “I guess these are their families.”

“Firelight Glimmer; a pleasure to meet my Starlight’s close friends.” He shook hooves with the two young mares, noting Rarity’s winsome manners and Fluttershy’s retiring demeanor.

“Allow me to introduce you to my father, mother and sister. Family, this is my friend Starlight Glimmer and her father.” Rarity stepped aside for her folks, getting her color-coordinated parka, hat and gloves off.

“Hondo Flanks; nice to meet you, Firelight.” Her dad was all smiles when meeting Starlight and Firelight.

“Cookie Crumbles; wonderful ta make your acquaintance. How ya doin’?” Cookie followed close on the hooves of her husband, glad to meet another party-goer. She was looking forward to impressing another pony with what she and her daughter had come up with, sure she had the best entrée for them to dine on.

“Hello!” Sweetie Belle chirped brightly, greeting Starlight’s dad for the first time with a wave and a big smile.

Firelight gave her a wide grin. “Very nice to meet you.”

“My darling baby sister, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity concluded her introductions while Fluttershy began with her family introductions.

“Mom, dad, this is my friend Starlight Glimmer and her dad, Firelight. Starlight, these are my parents and my brother Zephyr Breeze.”

Firelight went through the same motions again, shaking everypony’s hoof and trying to make sure to remember their names.

“August Shy; and this is my wife, June. We’re very glad to meet more of our daughter’s friends and their family members. We’ve been looking forward to this celebration for some weeks.” Fluttershy’s folks were very friendly when meeting the Glimmers for the first time.

“Likewise. I’ve had the opportunity to visit Cloudsdale and found it to be a most enjoyable place.” Firelight had taken Starlight’s mother there for their honeymoon, discovering the world of pegasus ponies to be unlike anything they’d seen before.

Zephyr Breeze slid right up next his parents, extending a hoof to greet both Firelight and Starlight for the first time.
“Zephyr Breeze’s the name, mane restoration and stylin’ is my game!” Zephyr’s glibness, cheesy grin and loosey-goosey deportment made Firelight and Starlight chuckle a little. He was such a stark contrast to his sister and parents. It was pretty clear to Starlight that Zephyr wasn’t the ‘demure and retiring’ type of personality like his sister.

“We don’t mean to greet and run, but I was planning on taking my dad over to the school to show him around before dinnertime.” Starlight gently pulled at her dad’s foreleg, urging him to cut the conversation short. There would be time for small talk at dinner and afterwards.

“That sounds like a marvelous idea, Starlight. Perhaps after dinner I should take my parents on a tour as well. I’ve never had the chance to.” Rarity, too, had not shown or told much to her parents about her time as a teacher at the School of Friendship.

From one of the side rooms off the main hallway came Spike, huffing and puffing his way over to where they stood. He hadn’t meant to be derelict in his appointed duty.

“Sorry! So sorry! I was caught up in a conversation with Twilight and her mom that I didn’t hear the door open.” Spike fumbled to get his clipboard upright and begin, once more, his prewritten greeting and introduction, this time with a bit more flair.

“Greetings and salutations! Happy Hearth’s Warming everypony! My name is Spike and I am your official Hearth’s Warming celebration host-dragon for the evening. We have a wonderful evening planned ahead so if everypony will follow me upstairs, we’ll get all of you situated in your rooms and the food to the kitchen for any preparation you might need.” The entourage followed after their maître d’ up the staircase.

“We’ll catch up with you folks in a little while.” Firelight again felt his daughter pulling at his foreleg, anxious to show him whatever it was inside the school. Finally, he and Starlight got out the door with her shutting it solidly behind them.
Starlight kept her dad engaged in small talk about the various students she’d helped as they walked over to the entryway, the school now vacant as the student body were home for the holiday.

“Wow! Now this really is something.” Firelight was mightily impressed with what he could see of the school’s architecture through the snow that covered parts of it. It was quite the engineering feat. The school had been constructed into the hillside with two cascading waterfalls on each side of the entryway, each now frozen over and giving the water a crystal-like solidity. He could almost imagine how lush and green this place must look in the springtime.

Starlight cast the correct counter-spell to undo the spell Twilight had cast on the school to keep it locked up and secure when not in use. Once inside, Starlight commanded the candles to light, bringing the entire school into view. Firelight’s eyes went wide in awe upon seeing the inside for the first time.

“Impressed?” Starlight saw how her dad’s mouth fell open as he looked about the entryway’s hall.

“Boy, am I ever!” He laughed a little in wonder, looking all around. Together they slowly strode down the grand hallways of the school. Firelight listened to her explain what the school was all about and stopped along the way at the various classrooms, pictures and artifacts that hung on the hallway walls, admiring them and commenting on the many different cultures and backgrounds where they were from, and the diverse student body it represented.

“I’m so proud of you, Starlight. You know your mother would be too.” Starlight blushed a little, happy he was seeing she had turned her life around and found a better path to follow.

They stopped at a hallway intersection, a stairwell with a small side hallway and a staircase leading to the second floor.
“One last thing to show you before we head back, dad.” Down the little hallway to a pair of double doors she led him, stopping to open the doors for them both.

“Wait, what’s this?” He paused at the doorway before going in, reading her name and title aloud with pride.

“Starlight Glimmer; Student Counselor.” Using his magic, Firelight took out a handy tissue from his coat pocket and gave the brass plaque a quick hot breath or two, then proceeded to buff the nameplate.

“Da-a-a-d!” She groaned, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, you’re not going to deny your Papa a bit of parental pride, are you? Frankly, whoever is doing your building maintenance isn’t keeping up. This plaque was covered with smudges.” He gave her a cheesy grin, seeing her plant a forehoof to her forehead.

Finally, Starlight got him to go inside the office with her. Firelight was not sure what he’d see. The entire school was so richly designed and adorned that surely his daughter’s office would be the same.

But instead he thought the difference rather striking. Her office was fairly unspectacular; very businesslike with all the trappings a pony would expect to find in a guidance counselor’s office. The books and scrolls neatly and orderly put away on shelves, a large comfortable couch for her office visitors to sit on, a simple pine wood desk and leather chair for herself and a large antique nautical floor globe of the world resting in an oak tripod stand. There were several display cases as well that contained various knick-knacks and interesting tchotchkes she’d collected along with some of the posters from her former bedroom now residing on the walls. Even her old guitar was here, resting in one corner, should a student have the urge to express themselves musically about what they were feeling.

One unique and very touching keepsake Firelight discovered was the very first kite he and Starlight had ever made together as a project when she was very young. Battered and tattered as it was and no longer able to be flown, she’d nonetheless hung onto it since her foalhood and now had the kite hanging from her ceiling along with a few of her newer flying creations.

“Well, what do you think?” Starlight asked, as her father hadn’t yet said anything. Silently, he took a few more steps around the room, looking at all the various items scattered around the office space that made up parts of his daughter’s personality. It all seemed very fitting and somehow very representational at the same time. Only one word really came to mind when summing up what Firelight observed. Balanced.

“It’s wonderful, sweetie. It’s got ‘you’ written all over it.” He gave it his nod of approval. They slipped off their coats, tossing them onto a nearby chair.

“You really have made a new life for yourself here in Ponyville. I couldn’t be any happier or prouder of you then I am right now.” He meant it with all his heart; his daughter had made a successful future from her troubled past and was on the high road to happiness and contentment.

“I’m really glad you feel that way, dad. It means a lot to me to show you I’ve turned myself around. I just don’t understand why you didn’t want to see all this and meet my friends.” She sat him down on the couch, wanting to talk seriously with him.

“I… I just didn’t want to embarrass you in front of your friends by being here.” Firelight didn’t really know how to explain himself, unsure how Starlight would react.

“What, you mean how you were bowing to Twilight earlier? That’s nothing.” She couldn’t think of what could possibly cause him to be so reluctant.

Hesitantly, Firelight withdrew from a vest pocket a small folded packet of paper. “The princess, your mentor, sent me a letter along with the invitation. In it she… she told me what happened between you and her.” Starlight looked down at the folded letter in his hoof and she pulled back slightly from him, cringing at what he might have been privy to. Her dad had mentioned during her first return home that he knew something about ‘how hard things were for her when she’d left home’. But she’d never really suspected to what extent.

“How… much did she tell you?” Starlight bit her lip and hoped for the best but feared the worst. Something in her gut told her she’d best be ready for the worst.

Firelight almost couldn’t look at her. “All of it,” he confessed. “About the village, the unmarking ceremony with that phony Staff of Sameness. Even…” Firelight trailed off, unsure if he should say more, now seeing his daughter’s growing unhappy expression.

“Even that, as insane as it sounded when I read it and even more now when I think about it, the whole escapade of you traveling through time with Twilight, seeing all those terrible future outcomes of Equestria and how you were about to destroy the world! Just hearing myself telling you this, I still cannot believe it actually happened!” He was as equally astonished by the power of her magical abilities as he was upset by her misuse and abuse of such power. It was the worst thing Starlight could’ve imagined. Her dad knew every horrible truth.

“Starlight, sweetie, I didn’t know what to think when I first read the letter.” Now it was Starlight who couldn’t look him in the face, feeling disgraced and ashamed that her father knew the depths of her troubled past. “After the fourth or fifth time reading it, all I could think of was; where did I let you down? How could I have failed teaching you right from wrong? Somehow I had missed the warning signs that my daughter was lost and needed me. I am so thankful the princess was there to help you when you needed it the most and I couldn’t be.” Firelight’s head hung low, feeling terrible for what his daughter had gone through alone.

“But the truth is, I…. I guess I did a pretty poor job as a parent of raising my daughter to be a good pony, so I didn’t want you to feel ashamed by having me here.”
It shattered Starlight’s heart to hear her dad shoulder the blame of what had happened on himself. She couldn’t let him do that.
“No, dad, no! Don’t do that! It wasn’t your fault!” She buried her face in his shoulder, his forelegs holding her close as she cried. Firelight held her, gently kissing the side of her head, wanting to let her know it was alright.

“It wasn’t your fault! It was me! I did all those awful things! I have to live with the knowledge of what I did to my friends! I’m the one who’s sorry! I let you down! I let mom down! I was a horrible daughter!” Starlight tearfully confessed. She had to finally get it all out. If this poison lingered in her heart any longer, it would forever taint any chance of her and her dad moving on.

“I was angry that Sunburst got his cutie mark before me! I was angry that he got to go to magic school and I didn’t! I was angry for being the last pony in school to get her cutie mark; angry at how the others teased me relentlessly for being blank-flank. And…” Starlight paused, now at the precipice of the darkest cliff in her heart, about to leap off into the blackness.
“And I was just… so angry at mom for leaving us like that! I hated her so much and for so long because of it!” It came crashing out of her, like a dam that had been building pressure and not allowed release for a long time. Firelight wept for her, hearing how long Starlight had hid her foalhood pain. He pulled her a little tighter in his embrace, choking back his tears.

“I’m so sorry, Starlight. I’m sorry for everything! If I could go back and fix any of that for you, I would in a heartbeat.” The two of them held onto eachother for dear life, finally expelling this long-held dead weight of anger, guilt and self-doubt from their hearts. After seemingly long minutes, Starlight finally drew back from his embrace, wanting to look at him.

“You might not believe this, but in spite of all these moons since and all the tremendous help Twilight and her friends have given me, I still feel like I’ve lived through the worst kind of self-inflicted tragedy. I have to look at myself in that mirror over my dresser every day and tell myself it’s in the past; that it doesn’t rule my future.”

“But it’s something that’s haunting; it’s something that’s always on my mind. Even being a counselor here at the school and helping the students or Twilight with the various activities when I can, it’s always in the back of my mind. It’s the last thing I think of when I go to bed at night and it’s the first thing I think of when I get up in the morning. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be that way for the rest of my life.”

“I only wish you didn’t have to. I always knew how much the loss of your mother hurt but never knew what to say it to make it hurt less.” Firelight remembered the silent meals sitting together at the dining table, watching his child silently struggle with the loss of a parent and the teasing from the other classmates who antagonized her daily.

“Then I pushed you away when you did try to talk. I made it so hard for you. It just took me so long to figure out that you were trying to help.” Starlight was getting it all out of her. The more she let go the freer of her past she felt. Speaking of her mom still elicited the same look of anguish on her dad’s face.

“I know you’re still missing her too, dad. And I know it hurt you just as much as me when she left us. But… it’s been a number of moons since and I don’t want to see you alone forever.” For Firelight, it was as if the pain of his wife’s death was only yesterday.

Starlight gently insisted. “You’re not disgracing or dishonoring mom’s memory if you want to go out and date again; I remember mom and she wouldn’t want you to be lonely.”

This was not necessarily what he had wanted to spend their alone time talking about. His expression hardened a bit at how his daughter seemed to be able to see through to his heart, getting to the root of his pain.

“Don’t think I can’t tell you’ve been using the Sire’s Hollow Historical Preservation Society as another distraction for yourself from missing mom. I know how you operate when unhappy; pile on more work and diversions so you don’t think about it.”
“Starlight,” he groaned, turning his head away from her, uncomfortable by her insistence at discussing this. They’d already made a major step forward in clearing up old feelings. Why would she want to continue this conversation if it bothered him so much?

“There’s something else I want to share with you; something Twilight told me about one of her friends from school.” He sighed but listened. He had respect for his daughter’s words; she was responsible for helping others through their tough moments in life. He turned back to look at her again.

“Twilight had a classmate when she first was at Princess Celestia’s school of magic. Her name was Moondancer. She was kinda’ shy and quiet. She’d tried making friends with her peers but gave up when she thought it was just too hard and not worth the effort. Instead, she just withdrew from everypony around her and lived for her reading and studying. She stopped trying to make friends. It took a lot of effort from Twilight to convince Moondancer to reconnect with her old friends again. Once she did, she became so much happier and open for new friendships too.” She looked into his eyes, wanting him to truly understand what she was trying to tell him.

“I just don’t want to see you burying yourself in the endless books and scrolls and ledgers of running the print shop so much. It’s not the same as making new friends and interacting with other ponies. Putting down the books and trying new things is a good way of maybe finding a new special somepony to be with.”

Firelight had to explain to her that love is not so clear cut as she might think. He decided to play a bit of tough love with her for a moment. “Let me ask you this,” he said.

“I see you and Sunburst have reconnected after all this time. I remember how inseparable you two were when you were little, playing that board game you two loved so much. He seems to have made good for himself. You two any closer to dating anytime soon? I thought he would’ve made some sort of hint about his interest by now.”

He got the reaction he wanted from her, a touch of scarlet appearing on her cheeks and a sudden look of discomfort as she rolled her eyes again.

“Da-a-a-a-d!” Starlight groaned.

“Does he make you feel all fluttery inside when you’re with him?” he persisted, talking in his teasing voice.

“Quit it!” she insisted. He had made his point.

“It’s because you can’t talk about it with me, sweetheart, is why it’s so hard for you to understand. More than anything, Starlight, I want you to find yourself a stallion that makes you feel the way a mare like your mother made me feel.” Firelight hoped he could get her to understand, this being a topic they’ve never discussed before.

“I remember how you and mom were crazy for each other and watching how you always seemed to make her laugh. I always thought you two really were soul-mates.” Starlight remembered more of the innocent times from her youth, recalling her mom and dad happily together.

“I’m not sure what you can call it. It’s just something that’s not quantifiable by any logical measure. You just feel it between you and the one you love. When you have that feeling in your heart, when you feel it from the one you can’t be without, then maybe you could understand the feeling I had for your mother.”

Starlight tried to understand what he meant. It’d been so long since she’d seen her mom and dad together and perhaps she’d not really given enough thought to how intimate their relationship was.

“She never did get the chance to tell how we met, did she?”

“No, she had only hinted about it when I was little but never really said much. I remember she used to write a lot.” It was still something Starlight had wondered about from time to time.

“That was before she helped me so much at the office. When I first met your mother, she was just one of the innumerable struggling poets and writers attending classes at the local secondary school. She and her classmates were all trying to create that next great work or play while I, in the meantime, was apprenticing with your grandfather in the printing shop.”

“One day, I got to read her poetry when she stopped in to have a small selection printed so she could give them out to her fellow writers. We started talking when she came to pick up her order a day or so later.” Firelight could see Starlight was intrigued by this small piece of their family’s history.

“I was so smitten that purely as a way to impress her, I would secretly print her poetry so she could have copies made for free. It was like she had a personal printing press to share her works with. Every time she came in to pick up an order, we got to talk more. It was the only way I could see her, at first. Your grandmother knew what I was doing but kept quiet about it. She would always shuffle the money around in the accounts when ordering supplies to cover for me.”

“Dad, you total sneak! That’s so romantic! Was mom curious about you and what you did? I mean, she couldn’t just waltz into the shop and start looking around and ask questions.” Starlight could only imagine how her dad must have been so head over hooves for her mom way back when.

“Believe it or not, on one of our earliest dates she actually helped me set up a press for one of her single page poems. She thought it was ‘neat’ that I could set the lettering right-to-left with the typeset backwards correctly. It took her nearly half-hour to do one paragraph. I did the other three in about ten minutes. She called me a showoff.” Starlight laughed a little at the love story her dad was retelling. Firelight was glad to share this with her, letting Starlight know more about her mother.

“Oh, sure, everything was going great until one day your grandfather checks the books, finds the petty cashbox was again empty and the amount of supplies being used up was notably more than the work coming in. I’d been dipping into the cashbox in order to take you mother out on some small dates to a local eatery or to a show. I wasn’t earning enough to treat her the way I wanted to. When your grandfather caught me, I got a good earful of how I was wasting the shop’s paper and ink to print some foolish girl’s nonsensical poetry that wasn’t going to amount to anything.”

Starlight laughed more, clapping her front hooves together at hearing about her dad getting in trouble. Firelight didn’t mind looking a little foolish for her, revealing a side of himself that might be reflected in his daughter.

“So busted!” She couldn’t imagine her dad stepping out of line for any reason. He was so level-headed. But love does make fools of anypony so it wasn’t a total surprise.

“Geez, you should have heard him yell at me, but I didn’t care. Once I got to understand your mother’s writing and the way she saw things, I could see how wonderful it was to read.”

“So what happened afterwards? Did he kick you out of the house or something?” She wanted to hear more of this story
“Fortunately no. But he did cut off my pay to prevent me from helping your mother out. He felt that the learning of the trade was ‘payment’ enough for a while, until I had ‘smartened up’ as he put it.” Starlight was enjoying the tale. She’d never knew of the drama he had in courting her mom.

“But you should have heard him change his tune about your mom when he learned one of the collections of her poetry I printed found its way to an editor at Royal Publications in Canterlot.”

“I remember her showing me the new first-edition copy she kept for herself.” Starlight recalled how proud her mom was when showing it to her, as if it were a trophy of some kind. She could even recollect that signature smell of residual benzene from the binding process still lingering on the new pages.

“They wanted to reprint them in a collection of new artists. Your mom said yes but it came with a request. She asked for our family’s printing shop to get a percentage of the printing contract to make the books, so as to keep the print presses running and to reimburse your grandfather for the ink and paper when making her first run of collections.”

Hearing how her mom had gone to such lengths to help her dad was something truly unexpected and wonderful to learn. “So, did grandpa finally grow to like mom?”

“He did. It took a bit of time but he eventually came around to her. I continued to date her while learning the printing business. Soon I took over the shop’s daily running and that allowed your grandfather to retire. Now I was on my own running the shop, I could provide a life for myself and your mom. Within six months after taking over the business, I popped the question to your mom.”

“After we got married, she got to write a little more poetry and had a small second collection published with another book compilation. But she was spending more time helping me run the business and being a mom for you than being a poet. So her writing sort of fell by the wayside to manage the bookkeeping at the shop.”

Starlight loved hearing that story, she’d never known of how they met. She could see how her dad’s love for her mom was deep and a bit more complex than maybe she’d initially believed or understood.

“I’m really touched you shared that with me. I never knew any of that. There was real magic between the both of you. I believe with all my heart you have that magic still. As my Hearth’s Warming present, I want you to promise me you’ll at least try to go out and meet new ponies. You have so much potential to offer that any mare would be lucky to date you.”
She could see by the look in his eyes that he was teetering at whether to make her holiday wish come true or not. Wanting to please her by saying yes and giving in but still hesitating after telling her the story of her parent’s courtship and the lingering ache when remembering his beloved wife.

Starlight made a final plea. “Do this for your pumpky-wumpkin, daddy. Please?” She did it. She had used the most intimate pet name from her foalhood her dad had made up for her. The one he used when he comforted her when she was sick or when she was upset over some bad incident at school.

For Firelight, it was strange to be in this situation; being on the receiving end of guidance from his daughter. He was used to being the one giving the advice.

“How could I say no to my little silly-filly?” He also went to the vault of pet names to call her, choosing one of his favorites.
“You’ll try?” Starlight was so happy to hear him finally be willing to give friendship a chance again.

“I’ll try. I give my word.” She gave him a super-tight hug, knowing her dad was going to make an effort to grow beyond his self-imposed bounds. Seeing her smile again was the best gift she could give him.

“Well,” he cleared his throat, choked up from all this emotional blathering and now trying to regain a bit of dignity. “If my word was all you were asking for this year, sweetie, then perhaps you didn’t want this.” From his coat pocket he presented to her a small rectangular gift box. She took the gift from him, incredibly curious as to what it could be. He always had a good sense of her likes and she couldn’t honestly remember ever getting a bad gift from him.

“What is it?” Her eyes went wide, like any child on Hearth’s Warming morning when they were opening gifts.

He winked at her. “You’ll see.” Excitedly, Starlight slid off the small red bow from around the box and opened the lid, finding a small weathered-looking black book inside. She flipped it out of the tray and opened the cover.

Firelight watched with a bit of joy at seeing his daughter’s reaction to his present. She drew a long breath, surprised and even a bit shocked to find this in her hooves now. She reread the title page, staring at the author’s name. Light From Above; a collection of poems by Starshine Glimmer.

“I thought you’d like to have it. I found this stored upstairs in the attic while packing away the stuff you’d left behind from your old bedroom. This was in a box marked ‘mom’s office stuff’.” He had wanted to give her this gift but had decided it was better given in private.

“It’s… it’s… it’s moms poetry book.” Starlight almost couldn’t say it. It seemed too unbelievable to see. It was the original book her mom had written the first drafts of her poems in that she had sold.

“Read the dedication page.” He hoped she was ready for what she would find.

Quickly, Starlight flipped to the correct page. She read the words of the dedication and thought she was going to lose it. She could imagine her mother’s voice speaking the words: This collection is dedicated to my beloved newborn daughter, Starlight. May she shine as brightly as her name and share her heart with all those whom she loves.
Starlight was overwhelmed by the gift. It was like having a piece of her mom back and in her hooves. It brought Starlight instantly to tears, hugging her dad for giving her this precious reminder to hold onto.

“Thank you for this gift! I love you so much, dad!”

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, Starlight. I love you too.” He held her again, feeling her tremble a little from the feeling of reconnecting with her mother after so many years. Both father and daughter were filled with the holiday spirit of love for family. Starlight felt closer than ever to her parents, even if her mom wasn’t there to celebrate with them.

“We’d best head on back to the castle. I’m sure the bread is almost done and we really should be proper guests of the princess.” From off her desk he took the box of tissues, passing some to Starlight. It wouldn’t look good if they should return to the festivities with teary eyes. Starlight gave a huge blow of her nose, getting the grossness out. The loud honk made her dad chuckle.

“Sounds like an elephant’s call in here,” he joked with her, getting Starlight to smile once more. Both of them felt so much better after this heavy but most-important talk of theirs. Getting it all out now made them feel freer to enjoy the holiday without the burdens of the past weighing them down. As Starlight and her dad slipped their coats back on, something caught Firelight’s eye in a display case he must have missed the first time. He took a closer look through the glass, not really sure if the object he was looking at was genuine.

“What in all of Equestria…?” Firelight couldn’t believe what he was seeing. On the back wall of the display case hung the medal of his country’s highest award for bravery with a picture of the medal being awarded to his daughter and her friends by the two princesses. Right below the picture was a personal letter of thanks from the princesses as well.

“Oh, that. It’s nothing, really.” Starlight tried to downplay its magnitude but her dad was just flabbergasted by it. His daughter had been holding out on him.

“Nothing? Nothing? Are you kidding me?” He could not believe how nonchalant she was being about it. This was epic! He recited the message off the letter.

“I, Princess Celestia, do hereby award to Starlight Glimmer Ponykind’s highest award for bravery. For having defeated Queen Chrysalis, freeing the captured princesses and releasing the Changelings from the queen’s control, Starlight Glimmer shall henceforth be recognized as a heroine of our land with the receiving of Equestria’s Pink Heart of Courage medal.”

He actually laughed with joy when seeing this, overwhelmed with knowing his daughter was a hero pony of their country.
“Starlight, when did you get this? I mean, I remember reading about the emergency in the local paper afterwards but didn’t know you were caught up in it. What happened? Who else was with you? How did you do it?” He peppered her with questions. Out of all the stories she’d told him about when she visited home, not once had she mentioned anything about this.

“It’s, uh,” she rolled her eyes up and away, not really sure how to answer that so off-the-hoof like he was asking. “Kinda complicated, dad. It might take some help explaining all the details and stuff.”

Upon a closer look, there were two others in the picture he did not recognize. He squinted more, trying to discern more details. “Starlight, who are those…. I’m not sure what to call them… Beings? Creatures? Individuals? That are standing next to you and Trixie?”

“Umm, like I said, it might take some help explaining the details.” Starlight could only imagine what his reaction to hearing the story would be.

“Before this evening is over, you are going to tell me all about it.” He insisted, trying to assert a little fatherly authority.

“Oh, I’m sure it’ll make for real interesting dinner conversation.” She was being a little sarcastic, as if all the things to talk about at dinner her dad would want to hear about the most terrifying thing she’d ever been through.

Author's Note

Well, here's the latest chapter and I must confess that this is, so far for this story, my most favorite part. I always knew that from the moment Starlight reconciled with Twilight there was still one scene of reconciliation that had to be done; that of Starlight and her family. It absolutely broke my heart to learn Starlight had been a 'latchkey kid' and had lost her mom when she was young (possibly, we don't know for sure since its not come up yet). I could only guess how hard it must be for single parents to raise kids these days and Starlight's story allowed be to explore that angle a tiny bit.
I really wanted this to be a deeply emotional scene for father and daughter; that moment of each sharing their inner feelings and fears they'd held back on. With the sharing can come the healing; the strengthening of family ties and better understanding of those whom the characters called their family. Forgiveness is divine, I once heard somepony say.
I also wanted to come up with some kind of background and/or family history about Starlight's mom and dad. Since her dad seemed to be into the history of Sire's Hollow and was an avid reader as well, I thought it would nice to have him have a small business related to his interests. Like many other writers on this site, I was deeply influenced by a favorite song of mine that seemed to fit this part; having the right mood and enhancing the drama (well, at least I thought it did). The 'No Prize' for figuring out the song is part of this chapter's title.
Please leave any comments you have about this part and what you thought of my take on such a moment in the MLP timeline. Thanks! :twilightsheepish:

Introduce Yourself; Right On!

“I’ll be good. I promise.” Nova tried to convince her brother and parents, looking somewhat hangdog for having gone off like the fangirl she was for Princess Twilight.

“Are you going to keep it together?” Sunburst repeated his demand.

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Nova recited the ‘Pinkie Promise’ she’d learned from the friendship journal to her family.

Suddenly, the very creator of said promise came hopping into the kitchen to check on the soup that was cooking away on the stovetop. Sunburst could already see his sister was gearing herself up to go all ‘super-fan’ on Pinkie as well.

“Oh, hi everypony! Happy Hearth’s Warming!” Pinkie chimed in her sing-song way. She bounded over to say hi to them. “C’mon, Sunburst! Introduce me to your family!” She grinned from ear to ear, thrilled to meet more guests. Sunburst would try again.

“Mom, dad, this is Twilight’s good friend Pinkie Pie.” He waved them over to say hello. His parents seemed more at ease with meeting Pinkie.

“Steller Flare Blaze; wonderful to make your acquaintance.” Stellar Flare was much more comfortable at first introductions. Sunspot was quick to follow on his wives hooves in shaking Pinkie’s hoof and passing along a business card to her. Having ‘legendary’ customers would add to his reputation.

“Sunspot Blaze, a pleasure to meet another of Sunburst’s friends.” He was as ‘professional’ as ever, never to miss a chance. Pinkie took the card from him, delighted in receiving it.

“Thanks. I’ll add it to my collection of business connections.” She then tucked it away in her incredibly bouncy red curls of mane hair that topped her head. Both of Sunburst’s parents watched in amazement as the card slowly disappeared into the mass of hair.

“Oh, hi there! And what’s your name?” Pinkie spotted Nova standing there next to her mother, clutching her journal tightly and grinning in excitement of meeting yet another of the famed heroines of Equestria. She practically trembled in excitement.

“Nova!” She managed to squeak out in a tiny voice, her excitement barely under her control.

“Would you like me to sign you journal?” Pinkie was more than happy to, seeing the young filly clutching it close to her chest.

“Okay!” Nova could barely sputter, at the frayed ends of her control on her enthusiasm. She passed the journal to Pinkie who then dug around inside her mane curls to suddenly whip out a quill and ink pot to use.

“Where did that come from?” Sunspot quietly asked his son, astounded by Pinkie’s ability to simply make appear whatever she need from her hair.

“How does she keep that in her mane? Magic?” Steller Flare added to the questions, wondering at this.

All Sunburst could do was shrug and shake his head, completely mystified by this.

Pinkie signed Nova’s journal with a small personal message of holiday wishes right next to where Twilight had signed.

“There! Hope you like it!” Pinkie passed it back to Nova and watched Nova’s face light up with the joy of her autograph. Nova just couldn’t hold her excitement in any longer.

“Oh Ms. Pinkie Pie, I love all the friendship lessons you wrote in the journal! Me and all my friends learned so much about friendship and baking too! We’ve read them all, like, a million times!” Nova practically yelled in excitement, prancing wildly in place. Pinkie, wanting to give Nova a thrill, played up to her fan’s excitement.

“Really?! A million times?! No foolin’?” Pinkie started bouncing up and down on her hooves, joining in on Nova’s high pitched tone.

“Yes! Yes! Oh yes! We all love them! They’re so much fun to do!” Nova was so caught up in her exhilaration of meeting Pinkie that she completely missed her parents and her brother’s looks of embarrassment. Seeing Nova so excited only fueled Pinkie’s desire to make it even more exciting for Nova.

“Really? Are they the most super-duper, ultra-funniest, fantabulous friendship lessons there are in the whole wide world?!” Pinkie now was hopping up and down, grinning and getting Nova even more over-the-top excited. The young filly practically screeched her reply.

“Oh, gosh, yes! It’s the funniest, greatest friendship lessons there are! I love every one of them!” Nova was hopping up and down too, unable to keep it together any longer, going full-on ‘fangirl’ with Pinkie.

“Nova! What did we just talk about? I thought you were going to keep it together!” Sunburst tried to reign in his little sister, she was quivering in excitement. Sunburst’s parents groaned in frustration of dealing with their daughter’s behavior. Velvet could only smile and chuckle softly to herself at how much the young filly was a fan of her daughter and Twilight’s friends.

“Oh, don’t be mad, Sunburst. We’re just having fun. Tell you what, why don’t I take her to meet every pony else here. I’m sure she’d want to meet Rarity and Applejack too.” Pinkie watched as Nova’s eyes went wide with delight at hearing she could meet the rest of the fabled ‘Protectors of Equestria’ and have Pinkie as her personal chaperone to do so.

“Really?!” Nova squealed, as thrilled as she was already, this was going to be something she would brag about for months to her friends.

“Maybe I should join you. I don’t want her to cause any problems with the other guests.” Sunburst was always cautious when it came to letting his little sister go off on her own, especially today. No telling what mischief she could get into.

“Sure! C’mon, I’ll introduce to my family too!” Pinkie was already bounding for the kitchen door and holding it open for them. Nova moved so fast to stand right beside Pinkie, eager to get more autographs for her journal. Sunburst followed after them, listening to Pinkie tell about her family.

“My family’s rock farm is w-a-a-a-ay out to the south-west of Ponyville. Most of the times it not much fun but-” Pinkie couldn’t wait to tell them all about her family, so high on the holiday sprits of sharing and joy.

The kitchen door swung back and forth on its hinges as the trio headed off and in hurried Twilight with another empty tray, needing a refreshment of ordurves from her mom.

“How’s going in here? Is every pony able to get their dish ready?” Twilight spotted the tray on the center counter, prepped by her mom.

“Here you go, sweetie. We’re doing fine in here. I’ve got my next batch of vegetable dip chilling in the freezer and Granny Smith’s bean dip all warmed up on the stove. I’ve got it covered.” Velvet made sure to assure her daughter, aware of her tendency to go, as her brother often referred to it as all Twily-nana. Family code speak for Twilight getting completely panicked over some detail and obsessing over it needlessly.

“Fortunately your friend, Pinkie, saved us from any more of our daughter’s unfortunate behavior. I hope Sunburst can keep her from bothering any of the guests.” Sunspot was much more easygoing about his daughter’s devotion to her fandom, but it always seemed to come out at the worst times.

“That daughter of mine!” Steller Flare groaned with a small shake of her head, wishing her daughter would behave more grown up at such social functions.

“Perhaps I should keep an eye on her as well. If you ladies will excuse me,” Sunspot knew his son would have his hooves full with Nova, and being here with his friends there was a good chance Sunburst would get distracted.

“Do you need any help? I have a free second.” Twilight watched as Sunburst’s mom quickly got her entrée unwrapped and in the oven, getting the timer set.

“Oh, no, but thank you…Twilight,” Steller Flare still found it a little difficult addressing a princess of Equestria so casually, “I think I’d better keep an eye on Nova as well.”

Velvet had the next tray of appetizers ready for her daughter, enjoying her time in keeping Twilight’s party humming along. “I’ve got my eyes on your friend Starlight’s rock bread so everything covered in here.”

“Please join everypony else and enjoy yourself. This party is just getting warmed up.” Twilight watched Steller Flare check the timer on her stove before heading for the kitchen door.

“I will. I have to keep an eye on all my family. Sometimes I think I have three children on my hooves.” She pulled a wry smile, mother humor perhaps skidding on by the princess and over to Velvet. She got the message. Velvet gave a small laugh and smile.

“Check the living room first. I think that’s where the Pinkie’s family is sitting with my dad.” Twilight re-checked two pots boiling away on the stove, making sure every in was going cooking as planned.

Steller Flare took her leave of her hostess in pursuit of her family, making sure none were acting out of line or troublesome.

“I’m so excited for tonight, mom. Pinkie and I have been planning this for so long and it’s all going off perfectly. Especially with you helping out, there’s no way anything could go wrong with this party.” Twilight was so glad her mom was here with her. She may be the new leader of Equestria, but she was still mom’s helper in the kitchen when it came to holiday mealtime prepping and planning.

After last year’s debacle of trying to make a magical pudding mix and having it go wild, Twilight realized she wanted something a bit more ‘traditional’ and safe this year.

“I’m glad I could help out.”

In to the kitchen trotted Starlight from the hallway. “How’s the bread baking?” She went right over to her oven to check the timer once more.

“Rising just right and looking good. It’ll be perfect when done.” Velvet assured her, keeping an eye on the roasting stuffed peppers of Windy’s that were almost done.

When Twilight stepped around the center island in the kitchen to check one of the pots simmering on the stovetop, she saw the telltale signs of upset by the puffy redness around Starlight’s eyes.

“Starlight, are you okay? Are you upset over something?” Twilight got Starlight’s attention away from the baking bread. Starlight only smiled and unexpectedly reached out to hug Twilight tightly.

“Thank you for inviting him. He needed this. I needed this.” Starlight spoke softly in Twilight’s ear, so grateful to Twilight for throwing this party. Twilight looked up at her mom, a bit confused by Starlight’s sudden embrace. Velvet only shrugged and smiled, thinking it must be the holiday spirit. Twilight didn’t question why Starlight was so overcome by the moment.

“Wha-? Oh, um, okay. I’m glad I could do some-”

“Twilight! You got any more of those appetizers ready? They’re a big hit and we need some more in the living room, stat!” Starlight let go of her friend as Spike came barging through the doorway, announcing in that happy melodic tone of his, all while holding open the door to the kitchen. When the two close friends turned to look at Spike they could see out into the hallway behind him. Firelight Glimmer was standing there talking and laughing with Sunspot Blaze, Rarity, Zephyr Breeze and Hondo Flanks about something. It made both Twilight and Starlight happy to see this, for different but significant reasons. Sunspot trotted up behind Spike who was still standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Excuse me, every pony, would our hostess have a quiet room close by I could use for a moment? I’ll be as quick as I can.” He was already pulling out a couple of Palomino pencils from a vest pocket, a look of slight embarrassment for putting his hostess so suddenly on the spot.

“I know there’s a study room down the hall, the last door on the left, you could use. It’s small, if you don’t mind.” Twilight recalled from a recent cleaning out she done. Starlight nodded, remembering the room she’d seen Twilight clearing out before she departed for Canterlot.

“Thank you. I promise I will be quick. Just have to crunch some numbers for a client.”

“There’s some time before we sit down for the first course so don’t rush.” Twilight smiled and waved off any worry he might have. He gave a polite nod of gratitude before heading off down the hall with Rarity and Zephyr Breeze right behind him.

“I guess you can take the pony out of the office but you can’t get the office out of the pony, even at Hearth’s Warming.” Velvet’s quip made Twilight and Starlight laugh a little.

“Guess not.” Twilight wondered how any pony could be so driven to work even on a holiday.

“That just means more appetizers for us!” Spike was crazy for Velvet’s cooking, silently wishing Twilight’s mom would visit the castle more often.

“Typical Spike; always thinking of his stomach first.” Starlight mocked him playfully, smirking slightly. Spike took no offence.

“Hey, I don’t ever get eat this good. When it’s around I like to stock up on it.” He patted his stomach, a satisfied smile on his face for already having put a way a tray’s worth of snacks, then hiccupping as a result. “Besides, being host dragon for a party is a lot of work. I need to keep my strength up.”

“I’ll give you a hoof with the next tray, seeing how some dragon keeps making them disappear before any pony else gets to have some.” Using her magic, Starlight levitated one of the trays up high and out of Spike’s reach. Twilight did likewise, making sure Spike couldn’t get to it.

“Good idea.” Twilight lead the way out of the kitchen with Starlight right behind, keeping the trays away from Spike’s scrambling claws as he looked up and could smell which ones they were.

“Oh-h-h! The ones with the apple butter and fruit toppings! I love those!” The two girls were moving too quickly to allow him any chance of snatching a sample.

“Oh Spike!” Velvet called sweetly to her adopted son, showing him a third tray she had kept apart from the rest, aware of his love of her cooking. Spike charged right over, spotting his favorites on the tray.

“Thanks, mom!” He hugged Velvet tightly before diving in, chomping happily away.

“Now don’t eat them all, Spike. We still have supper to come.” She loved to spoil her children during the holidays like this.

Starlight headed for the living room, seeing her dad, Twilight’s dad, Fluttershy and her parents all sitting with Pinkie, her mom and dad and Sunburst’s sister Nova.

“You take care of the guests in here, I’ll check on the lounge where Applejack and her family are sitting.” Twilight headed for the doorway next to the living room, ready to serve her guests.

Starlight was so glad to see her dad sitting with the other guests, getting out of his comfort zone and meeting new ponies. This was the best Hearth’s Warming eve she could remember in a really long time.

Twilight walked in on the Apple family in the middle of Grand Pear’s storytelling about the Pear family, getting his audience to laugh at his tale.

“I have some more appetizers and refreshments for any pony who wants some.” Twilight momentarily interrupted the conversation as she brought the platter to rest on the coffee table in front of them. Sweetie Belle and her mom, Cookie Crumbles, snapped up some immediately as they were listening and learning more about Rarity’s friends.

“Yum! You’ve made the best snacks, Twilight! I could eat these all night!” Sweetie Belle chomped down three more of the loaded crackers, smiling as she did and enjoying the company.

“Thanks, Sweetie Belle. Please,” Twilight addressed the elder pony who sat on the couch surrounded by the Apple family, “continue with what you were telling every pony.”

“Like I was sayin’, you should have seen him run from that bull like he did! He was stuck up in a tree for hours, waiting for me or his mother to come and shoo that old bull away from the tree.” Grand Pear was glad to share his family’s history, seeing them all smile and laugh at the story he told. He flipped the page in the photo album over to the next group of pictures.

“Pear’s brother still lives up in Vanhoover nearby. Your uncle Red,” he addressed Applejack and Big Mac, “has his own pear orchard there and does a good job supplying the north-west area with his pears. Pretty soon, he’ll have an orchard that’ll rival mine. His daughter, your cousin Forelles, has a farm just west of Neighagra Falls. She specializes in growing and shipping organic produce for those high-brow Manehattanite ponies.” Grand Pear was proud at how good his son has done for himself. Decades of hard work had made their family prosperous and the Pear family orchards were a match with what Granny Smith had accomplished with Sweet Apple Acres.

The thee Apple family members and his grand-stallion’s new wife sat around him as they passed the old photo album between them to look over the fading black and white pictures. Twilight stepped a little closer to look as well. Grand Pear flipped to the next page of pictures and Granny let out a small sigh of recognition.

“Oh, and there’s Pear Butter! She looks just like I remember her!” Granny could recall the sound of Pear’s voice like it was just yesterday.

“That picture was taken only a week or so before she met that son of yours, Granny.” Grand Pear chuckled a little, recalling how Bright Mac had acted the first day they’d met, confessing he’d accidentally knocked over the Pear farm’s water tower in a rush to meet Pear Butter.

“Oh, I’d forgotten how you’ve got your mama’s eyes, Applejack, and Apple Bloom’s got a mane and tail as fiery colored as her Pa’s.” Granny touched the page with the photo of Pear Butter, recalling those fond memories.

“I sure do wish I could remember more of Ma and Pa, but I was just too little back then.” Applejack could sort of recall what their voices sounded like, but it was just too far in her past. She looked up to see Big Mac staring at the picture of their mother with the strangest expression.

“I would have loved to have met them. Big Mac talks fondly of your mother and her love of guitar music.” Sugar Belle leaned in a little more to look at the picture of her husband’s mother, seeing the family resemblance Granny spoke about.

“Hey, Big Mac, are you okay?” Applejack wondered about the strange way her brother was staring so intensely at the picture of their mom. She reached around Grand Pear and tried to get her brother’s attention by giving him a small shake. But it was if he was in some kind of trance or something because he didn’t even acknowledge her nudging his body. His breath started to come in quick, shallow pants and he suddenly shuddered, like he’d been hit with jolt of electricity. It got all of their attention away from the photo album.

Big Mac quickly pushed away the photo album and clumsily tried to get up from his spot on the couch, urgency in his movement to get away.

“I… I don’t wanna’ look no more at them pictures.” He almost tripped over Sugar Belle’s hooves as he tried to move away from his spot on the couch next to Grand Pear. His insistence on getting up and away from them became more imperative, as if suddenly fleeing the space. Applejack reached out with her foreleg, confused by his behavior.

“But… Big Mac, it’s just pictures of Ma & Pa. Don’t you want to see the-”

“I said I don’t wanna’ look no more!” Big Mac half-turned around and practically yelled at his sister, fear in his eyes at the request to stay. Suddenly aware of his raised voice, he ran out of the living room, bumping into Twilight as he hurried passed.

“What in tarnation’s wrong with him? I ain’t seen him upset like that before.” Applejack could not imagine what had gotten him a state like that.

“Was it something we said?” Sweetie Belle had seen Big Mac upset before but this was unlike any previous time. The look she saw in Big Mac’s eyes; fear like nothing she seen.

“I’d better go see what has him so upset. If you’d please excuse me.” Sugar Belle got up from her spot on the comfy couch, exiting into the hallway and looking about for her husband. Spike suddenly emerged from the library, holding above his head a tray of empty cider mugs and was about to head back to the kitchen when Sugar Belle stepped right over to him.

“Oh, Spike, did you see Big Mac go by a second ago?”

“I saw something rush past the doorway to the library but don’t know if it was him or not. Excuse me, Sugar Belle.” Spike had to get back to the kitchen and get the next tray of drinks for the guest.

Sugar Belle had to put herself in his horseshoes for a second. Where does he go when he gets upset or angry? Either go work on some equipment in the barn or find the quietest place he could find to be alone.

Since they weren’t home on the farm, she figured he would want to be in the quietest place he could find here in the castle.

Up the staircase to the second floor and down the guest bedroom hallway she quietly moved, the carpet silencing her hoofsteps as she went. After only a minute or so of looking, she found him sitting in a small out cove in front of a large bay window just at the end of the hallway. She approached him slowly, seeing his head resting up against the glass.

The cool glass pane against his skin was comforting and soothing as he desperately tried to silence the sounds in his head, the sounds of roaring thunder and driving rain in his ears, and worse, the yelling and the sound of that voice crying out…

It was rushing back to him now from that dark place, as clear as was happening right in front of him again, like in the nightmares. He could still hear them; screaming… screaming… screaming! Why won’t they stop screaming?!

He pushed his head harder against the glass pain, concentrating his mind on silencing the sounds and images that were unexpectedly summoned from his looking at the old pictures. A tiny creak from the floorboards alerted Big Mac to someone close by who was interrupting his solitude. He opened his eyes, discovering Sugar Belle standing just behind him when seeing her reflection in the glass.

“Big Mac,” she took a step closer and spoke so softly, “what’s wrong?” He didn’t answer right away, only waving her closer to him. She came to stand next to him and he took her in his forelegs, silently holding her close to his body, now resting his chin on top her head. Sugar Belle could feel his body trembling as he held her. She was very concerned just then, seeing and hearing him act so out of character like that.

“Is… is something bothering you?” She would wait for his answer, never demanding it right away. He would say what he had to say in his good time, she had to be patient. The silence was defining as she did, a bit of fear gnawing at her stomach.

“Nope.”

Through help of her new sister in laws, she was learning how to interpret his tone and words when he did talk; which ‘nope’ really meant ‘no, I don’t want talk about it’ or ‘I want to talk about it but I don’t know how or I’m afraid to’.

His breathing calmed and steadied while the tremor of his body slowly fading away, as if by her mere presence magically kept what was bothering him away.

It probably wasn’t as long a time as she thought but it just felt so much longer because it was her husband who was in need. Only when he felt himself centered once more did Big Mac let go of her and address her directly. She looked up at him to gently stroke his mane, brushing it away from his face with a free forehoof.

“Sugar Belle?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get upset in front of you an’ all those nice guests like that.” He chose his words carefully, making sure to be understood.

“It’s okay.” She assured, wanting him to say more but aware he still wasn’t the talkative type. Surprising her, he actually did say more.

“Remember this past spring when you took me to meet your folks up in Neighagra Falls?”

“Oh, of course. My folks were so glad to finally meet you. They really took a shine to you, especially my mom. She loved the way you ate everything she made to eat.” A small chuckle escaped her with a smile, getting him to smile a little too.

“I like your Ma and Pa, they’re real down-to-earth kinda ponies, makin’ me feel at home like they did.”

Sugar Belle was so glad he and her folks clicked like they had. She knew even before they’d met, he would win them over. But as quickly his smile came, it faded from his mouth.

“I have a confession to make.” That got Sugar Belle’s attention.

“What is it?” She gulped down the little lump of anticipation in her throat.

“I…” He tried to get it out, trying to call on the courage to tell his true love. “I don’t…remember what happened to my folks.”

Sugar Belle blinked a few times, stunned, not sure if she heard him correctly. “What?”

“I don’t remember what happened to my folks; it’s like one day my Ma or Pa were there and then the next day they weren’t. I can’t explain it.”

Sugar Belle wasn’t sure what she was hearing. How was that possible? How could he not remember what happened?

“Why?” It was the only question she thought he’d answer without sounding like she was demanding more. He only shook his head a little.

“Ever since I was just a lil’ colt, I can remember some things ‘bout my folks real well and some things I just can’t. I…I don’t know why in’ heck it is, but I can’t. When I’d try hard to think, there was this lil’ lightnin’ bolt that’d come down from somewhere and hit me right here,” he took up her forehoof and placed it over his heart, “and made me hurt real bad for doing so. Then, one day I stopped trying to think about them so much, and that lil’ lightnin’ bolt never came to hit me again,” His head drooped low with his eyes closed, “until I looked at them pictures.”

“Oh, Big Mac!” She reached up to hold him, wishing his heart not be heavy or his mind full of dread on such a joyous eve as this. “Is there anything I or any pony else can do to help? Please tell me.”

“Will you stay here with me for a lil’ longer? Please?” He didn’t have to worry, she understood him.

“I’ll stay as long as you want me to.” She watched his gentle smile return again as she held him close, feeling him rest his chin atop her head, and able to make whatever was bothering him seem to fade away with just her embrace. Big Mac felt so lucky to have her.

“It’s nice an’ quiet up here; lookin’ at the snow fallin’ outside.” They look out the large pane of glass, watching the snow coat everything outside in a fluffy white blanket. “We can be alone for a little bit up here. I reckon the party’s not goin’ to end anytime soon.” He thought this the perfect opportunity for them to have some alone time and away from every pony.

They’d been cooking and preparing for this party all week and in constant motion since six a.m. this morning. This was the first moment all day they had for some alone time. Snuggling together in front of the window, feeling their heartbeats together in the stillness of the early evenings light helped bring about the magic in their hearts and the holiday spirit return. After a few minutes of quiet togetherness, Sugar Belle had to ask.

“Do you want still want to tell every pony tonight?” Oddly enough, he actually snickered.

“E’yup.” There was a definite twinge of excitement in his response, eager to wait for the right moment to spring the news.

Even being this far away from the festivities downstairs, the newlyweds could still the next group of guests come roaring through the front doors and give a thunderous holiday greeting to all in earshot.

===================************======================

“Anypony want another snack? I’ve got more here.” Starlight announced, gliding in to the living room as she levitated the tray down on the coffee table, allowing the guests to enjoy more of Velvet’s creations. She apparently came in on the middle of discussion as everypony seemed to be focused on Pinkie Pie’s mom and dad.

“Thanks!” Both Sweetie Belle and June Shy scooped up a few more of the treats.

“You were about to say, Igneous.” August Shy took another sip of his tea, curious to learn more about the Pie family’s tradition.

“And so it was that the Choosing Stone doth say unto us on the anointed day: Thou shalt love and taketh Cloudy Quartz as thy wife and it was so.” The words, so solemnly spoken and deep with conviction, echoed with a faith solid as the family patriarch’s name.

“Indeed it was. The Stone decreed my love unto him, for this I was chosen of all the eligible mares.” Cloudy Quartz looked onto her husband of so many moons now, her undying and unwavering love for him who had given her four lovely daughters.

“It sounds like a wonderful tradition; passed down from one generation to the next.” June Shy loved to hear family history like this. Knowing more about her daughter’s friends more made them feel closer.

“Well, I suppose it must cut down on the whole dating issue.” Night Light pondered the idea of a magical stone picking out who some pony had to marry, even if they’d never met before. Would it do a better job?

“So, wait, the parents don’t get a say in the deal?” Hondo Flanks was a bit mystified by the whole thing.

Both of Sunburst’s parents had never heard of such a tradition and looked to their some for some explanation. But Sunburst couldn’t, the best he could do was shrug and give a small shake of his head, silently saying with a ‘don’t ask me, it’s the first time hearing it myself’ kind of look.

“A Choosing Stone you say, eh?” Firelight’s voice had that signature lilt to it that Starlight instantly recognized, aware of what he was going with this. She was quickly got back to her duty of collecting cider mugs.

“Perhaps you could try-” He started to ask his daughter as she made a beeline for the archway out to the hall.

“Don’t even think about it, dad.” She did not want a reprise of the conversation they had in private about her dating life and why she hadn’t gotten together with Sunburst yet.

She was heading for the kitchen when the front doors of the castle were thrown open by a small entourage of ponies who charged in, the cold blowing snow billowing in after them.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming every pony!” The foursome belted out, so loud that they probably could’ve heard them all the way in Canterlot. One of them gave the front door a quick kick of their hind leg, slamming it shut with a bang that echoed off the walls. Spike came charging out of the kitchen to greet the next group of guests and make a proper introduction, trying to wipe his mouth clean and get his clipboard right-side up. He came to a skidding stop right in front of the new guests, panting slightly.

“Hello every pony. My name is Spike and I am your official Hearth’s Warming celebration host-dragon for the evening. We have a wonderful evening planned ahead so if every pony will follow me upstairs, we’ll get all of you situated in your rooms and the food to the kitchen for any preparation you might need.” Spike reiterated the greeting once more, having repeated it so many times already and practicing, he hardly needed the cue card he’d written up.

“Wow! These are some digs your friend has, Dashie!” Bo Hothoof lowered Scootaloo down from off his shoulders, the two parents awed by the grandeur and festive decorations the castle was adorned with, the interior walls awash in festive red and green colors and decorations.

“It’s more spectacular then I could have imagined!” Windy Whistles simply gushed, so overwhelmed by being here for the first time.

“Mom, Dad, please remember what we talked about on the way here.” Rainbow Dash knew they’d be excited to be here, but she was making sure they kept it together. This was the first time meeting any of her friends or their families and she wanted them not to embarrass her or Scootaloo.

“Don’t worry, Rainbow Dash, I’m here to make sure it all goes perfect and to chronicle it for every pony.” Dash’s perennial sidekick was helping today as well, handling some of the desert items her mom had made along with their entrée offering for dinner tonight.

“I know you will, squirt.” Dash watched her click off a few pictures, momentarily blinding Spike in the process at the flash went off right in front of his eyes.

“Hey, you made it! Hi Scootaloo!” Starlight came right over to meet the final scheduled guests arriving.

“Hi Starlight! Happy Hearths Warming!” Scootaloo grinned from ear to ear, thrilled to be here to celebrate. Dash did the formalities of introduction in her own ‘unique’ way.

“Mom and dad, this is my good friend Starlight Glimmer; she was student counselor but is now Head Mare for the school. Starlight, these are my parents.”

“Bo Hothoof, a pleasure to meet you.” Bo first extended a friendly wing in greeting but quickly recovered by switching to a forehoof. Starlight only smiled, understanding the gaff.

“Windy Whistles, and so glad to meet more of my daughter’s friends.” Rainbow Dash’s mom was bubbly and bright with the holiday cheer, ready to celebrate.

“I’ll take our bags and coats to our room so you three can get dinner ready for every pony.” Bo was already reaching for their coats and hats, ready to get the drudgery over with and start partying. Spike lead the way.

“Right up these steps, sir. I’ll show you to your room.” Spike helped with the baggage, leading Bo up the stairs and keen to get Rainbow Dash’s family situated. He had to get back to helping out running the party.

“Follow me to the kitchen. There’s plenty of space for doing any last minute prep you might need.” Starlight and Rainbow Dash made some quick introductions along the way with the three Pie sisters heading back to the lounge with Babs Seed in tow.

“Rainbow Dash! Scootaloo!” Pinkie cried joyously upon seeing the new guests entering the kitchen. She reached out and administered another of her bone-crushing hugs on her friend. Dash felt the breath squashed out of her as Scootaloo watched on, grinning at the sight of holiday cheer between good friends.

“Gack! Hi, Pinkie! Happy Hearths Warming!” Dash managed to wheeze, turning a slightly deeper shade of blue from the lack of oxygen. Scootaloo snapped a quick picture, wanting to keep for posterity the holiday cheer between such good friends. Finally, the pink earth-pony released her friend, holding Dash up by her cheeks.

“Isn’t this going to be the bestest, most funfest holiday we’ve ever had to share together? It’ll be legendary! We get to have dinner all together and have lots of deserts and get to make s’mores together around the fire later and-!” Pinkie raved on in her excitement.

Rainbow Dash was still recovering unable to answer. Fortunately, Windy came to the rescue, introducing herself as her daughter gasped for breath.

“You must Dashie’s good friend Pinkie Pie, right?” By the squeaky voice her daughter described one of her friends having, Windy was pretty sure of being right.

“Yes and I’m ever so happy every pony I know is at long last here to have fun and be together and have the best Hearth’s Warming celebration ever!” Pinkie practically shouted, embracing both Rainbow Dash again and Scootaloo as her joy for the holiday simply exploded out of her like her infamous party cannon.

“Twilight Velvet; very nice to make your acquaintance.” She made sure to wipe her hooves before shaking each of Rainbow Dash, Windy Whistles and Scootaloo’s hooves, she having been working with her daughter to keep things moving here in the kitchen all afternoon.

“Let’s get your entrée ready so you can join the other guests.” Starlight led Windy around the long island counter to the opposite side where the ovens were warmed up and ready. Velvet took a few steps back to give them room.

“I only need to do the final cooking of them so it shouldn’t long.” Windy popped open the oven door and slid in the four trays of stuffed peppers into the oven, setting the timer and temperature.

“My daughter, Twilight, is somewhere around here and should be-” Velvet was cut off as a lavender pony came hurrying in through the kitchen door.

“Those toasted flatbread slices with roasted tomato you made earlier are a big-” Twilight caught herself mid-sentence, spotting the new guests. “Sorry! I should’ve been listening for your arrival.” She hurried over to meet her guests. Pinkie finally released Rainbow Dash from her clutches.

“Twilight, this is mom. Mom this is my friend, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash was as laidback with her introduction as could be. Windy was a little nervous, meeting a princess for the first time.

“Wonderful to meet you, Pr-” she caught herself, “Twilight. We’re just so grateful to spend the holiday time with so many important ponies in my daughter’s life.” Twilight made Dash’s family feel right at home.

“Oh, pbthh on that. No ‘important ponies’ here today. Only good friends, families and lots of holiday cheer.” Twilight’s festive and upbeat mood helped Windy relax. Bo Hothoof came hurrying into the kitchen, spotting his wife talking with the Princess of Friendship.

“Your highness, I’m-” Bo was about to head for the floor, bowing to Twilight, eager to show proper respect for a princess of Equestria but stopped about half-way down. “Oh, wait, you told me I shouldn’t-” Rainbow Dash planted a forehoof to her forehead, seeing her dad do the exact opposite what she’d instructed.

“Da-a-a-d! I told you on the way here; no bowing or any of that ‘royalty stuff’. Twilight’s not into all that and wants us to chilax.” Rainbow Dash couldn’t hide her frustration, groaning how she’d been embarrassed again by her dad. He quickly recovered.

“Sorry about that. I never met a real princess before.” Bo confessed sheepishly, seeing his daughter now red-faced from his mistake. But Twilight waved away any concern.

“Not a problem. Just make yourself at home and join in the party.” Twilight made sure they were not under any pressure here to treat her any differently than any of the other guests.

She could see both of Dash’s parent relax, the pressure off and able to be themselves. “There are lots of appetizers to snack on until dinner is ready so help yourself to any refreshments.”

“C’mon, I’ll introduce you to some of the other guests.” Rainbow Dash was leading her parents out of the kitchen with Scootaloo right behind them.

Ding! The timers went off on the two ovens baking the loaves of rock bread Starlight had set. When she and Velvet opened the doors to the ovens, the whole kitchen quickly filled with the heavenly aroma of warm baked bread. Starlight was grinning wide at the sight of her successful baking.

“How’d they come out?” Twilight and Pinkie tried looking over the counter to watch her mom and Starlight reveal the first loaves.

“Oh-h-h, they look perfect!” Starlight was so excited at how good her baking came out, wanting to impress the other guests to her skill. It may have been Pinkie’s recipe, but it was all Starlight and her dad’s success in making it happen. She couldn’t wait for dinner.

“We’ll let them cool on the racks before trying to get them out of the pans to slice up.” Both Velvet and Starlight used their unicorn magic to move the loaves to the collection of cooling racks on the rear counter behind them. Starlight actually found herself wondering if she had made enough. After going out just once to help Twilight serve some refreshments, and seeing just how many hungry ponies there were she wondered if she’d made enough.

“They smell scrumptious, Starlight!” Pinkie squealed, sure now that her mom’s rock soup would have a perfect accompaniment. She rechecked the rock soup on the stove, all six pots. Each pot had within the bubbling liquid one of the Pie family’s traditional soup rocks, one for each generation of Pie family having passed it down to the next. Each was simmering away nicely and Pinkie began carefully screening off the ‘raft’ on the very top of the liquid. The consommé was almost ready, giving a quick taste test. She lowered the heat on burner.

“We’ve got less than three minutes ‘till it’s ready.” Pinkie announced as she slipped the lids back on the pots.

“I think we’re done with the appetizers, Twilight. The first course is just about ready for us.” Twilight was glad her mom could stop making more of them. She and her mother had been working since dawn. She wanted her mom to have some time with the other party-goers.

Velvet slipped off the apron, thankful to be done, draping on the back of a chair close by as she exited the kitchen. “I’ll help you and Pinkie serve when it’s time to so for now, I’m joining your father in the living room.”

“I’ll keep an eye on the food cooking in here.” Pinkie was in her element, fun and games aside when it came to cooking or baking.

“We’ll bring back the trays and cider mugs. We’re going to need them for dinner serving.” Twilight and Starlight once more used their magic to levitate the empty trays off the counter and headed out on a last roundup.

In the library, Starlight walked in on a running conversation by her friends, each of them was ‘one upping’ the other on which mom had made the best entrée for tonight’s dinner.

“Yeah, I’m sure your mom’s parmigiana is pretty good, Sunburst, but it’s nowhere near as good as my mom’s stuffed green peppers.” Rainbow Dash bragged on. “My mom has this secret recipe for her tomato sauce she uses on the rice and vegetables before baking the pepper. When you take a bite of it, it’s like you’re eating a slice of pure heaven. It just absolutely melts in your mouth!”

Rainbow Dash made it sound awfully good but Sunburst’s little sister, Nova, seemed unconvinced.

“Not possible!” She pouted, defiant of the pegsus pony’s claim. “My mom’s dish is hoof down the best! Parmigiana tops stuffed peppers any day of the week!”

“I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that. I just made the bread for the soup.” Starlight lowered her tray to the coffee table, collecting up the small plates and cider mugs.

“I’m sure it’s going to be perfect for the soup Pinkie and her mom made,” Sunburst made Starlight smile a little, hearing his support of her cooking efforts.

“We only have a few minutes before we have to sit down for the first course so you might want to start making your way to the dining hall.” She levitated the tray up and to her side, heading back for the kitchen, eager to get the soup ladled out for serving and her bread sliced up.

Twilight gathered up the mugs and plates from around the living room and was about to head back to the kitchen when she spotted three more empty mugs on the small table near where Apple Bloom was sitting with all three of Pinkie’s sisters.

She headed over to collect them, entering in on part of a story Apple Bloom was retelling. Twilight listened briefly as she magically moved the glassware onto her floating tray.

“… and then, me an’ Big Mac found this when we were plowin’ up one of the fields on the far end of the farm this past summer. I didn’t know what it was so I figured you might be able to tell me.” Apple Bloom presented a small black rock from her carry bag to the three Pie sisters, all of them curious to see what it was. Near the center of the rock was the impression of a small bug-like creature, as if the shape were engraved into the stone.

“I was doin’ some readin’ up about what it might be. And I know it ain’t a lump of coal, or an onyx gem or one of them geode stones.” Apple Bloom had written down some notes she’d taken from the book of geology she’d taken out from the Ponyville library and brought with her.

Maud took the rock from Apple Bloom, examining it closer with a magnifying eye loop she carried with her at all times. In a few seconds, the doctor of geological studies told her findings.

“What you have found, Apple Bloom, is fossilized exoskeleton imprint of an ancient sea creature called a Trilobite.” Apple Bloom had never heard of that before.

“A tribble-what?” Apple Bloom didn’t quite understand the word Maud had used.

“A Trilobite.” Maud explained more. “A sea creature from a long time ago in out world’s past. I learned of them during my study of plate tectonics while in school.”

Limestone Pie added more. “The land that Sweet Apple Acres is on and most of the surrounding farmland too, was probably the bottom of a sea many thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of years ago or longer.” Marble Pie nodded with her sister’s statements.

That was truly astounding for Apple Bloom to hear, imagining the land covered by water. Twilight, too, found what the Pie sisters said about this part of Equestria once being under water a long time ago incredible to believe. Maud returned the small fossil back to Apple Bloom.

“But… how’s that possible? It’s dry land, right? How could Sweet Apple Acres have been under water? Does that make the ground better for growin’ crops in ‘cause it was under water?” Apple Bloom looked down at the small fossil in her forehoof, trying to imagine what the area must have looked like all those eons ago.

Maud appreciated Apple Bloom’s interest in geology, seeing the spark of scientific curiosity ignited within her cousin. “I can loan you one of my schoolbooks that explains plate tectonics if you want to read more about it. You might find it interesting.”

“Really? That’d be great, Maud.” Apple Bloom retrieved the library book she’d started reading but found the subject somewhat difficult when trying to understand some of the essential concepts.

“Actually, there was somethin’ in this book I wanted to ask about ‘cause it was explainin’ about soil layers and though you could help.” Apple Bloom flipped through the chapters to the paragraph on a bookmarked page, wanting to ask Maud about some terms she had trouble pronouncing. The three Pie sisters briefly look amongst themselves; all of them pleased to have made another connection with, perhaps, an extended part of family they’d come closer to in recent years.

The small, satisfied smile on Maud’s face was all Limestone Pie needed to see and understand that her sister thought Apple Bloom was cool; she ‘gets’ what their family was about. For the tough, no-nonsense earth pony, this trip off the family rock farm wasn’t going to be as bad she’d thought and had griped about all the way here.

“Um-hum!” Marble Pie nodded and quietly gave her approval to the silently shared opinion. The normally very shy sister of Maud seemed genuinely welcoming of their cousin being part of their lives.

“Why the sudden interest in rocks, kid? I thought your family were all about farming.” Limestone wondered what might have brought on the sudden interest. Apple Bloom looked up from the book.

“Big Mac an’ Sugar Belle are runnin’ the farm now ‘cause Applejack is spendin’ most of her time teachin’ at the School of Friendship. So, I figured I could help out by learnin’ up more ‘bout what’s in the soil and what makes it good for growin’. Maybe it’s time for me ta’ step up an’ pitch in more.”

Maud was flattered that Apple Bloom had come to her for answers about the fossil and share with them. “That’s a very worthwhile reason to study up on Edaphology. It would certainly apply to your family’s farming.”

“Every little bit of knowledge help, kid. Keeps you one hoof ahead of the rest and your farm profitable.” Limestone knew from experience the cost and work it took to run a farm, it was tough.

“There’s a chance I might have to do some field research for my university in the springtime. If you aren’t busy on the farm, you could join me as my field assistant if you like.”

“I sure would! I’d think that’s a great idea! Knowin’ more ‘bout the ground will make me a better farmer someday.” Apple Bloom was eager to show her interest in a new subject, especially if it helped out her family.

Twilight was very happy hearing and seeing the holiday magic bringing families closer together like this. “The first coarse for tonight’s meal is only a few minutes away so your four might want to start heading on down to the dining hall shorty.” The alicorn hostess headed for the hallway, wanting to get every pony corralled towards the other end of the castle and seated at the dining table.

“Okay, Twilight.” Apple Bloom felt her stomach grumble slightly, saving her appetite today for the big meal they were going to have together.

“We will. Thank you, Twilight.” Maud was looking forward to this evening’s meal, getting to spend time with her family after being away on so many field trips. She hoped tonight would be a night for them all to remember.

Crash Course in Family Surgery

Click-Clack! Click-Clack! Sunburst listened to the rhythmic noise of the train wheels on the tracks as he traveled back home to Sire’s Hollow from his flat in the Crystal Empire. He was on his way to visit his mom and little sister.

In his pocket was the gilded invitation from Princess Twilight, still undelivered to his mother due to his procrastination. Sunburst knew he should have visited sooner, but, as his mother had always taught him, not without a plan.

Confidence, Sunburst, Confidence! The plan’s in hoof and it is going to work for sure! He was determined to attend the party; he wanted to demonstrate his appreciation to the princess and show he was a loyal friend.

He could arrange the meeting but could not foretell the outcome of it. All he felt he had going for him was the confidence that both his parents would be reasonable enough to accommodate this one thing. Then, suddenly, that confidence dissipated.

“Fat chance of that happening,” he mumbled, looking out the window at the passing countryside. But this year it was going to be different. This year, he was going to give them all the best Hearth’s Warming present possible, that was sure to bring them all together. He was going to present it in person to his mom, certain she would be thrilled. But Sunburst had one stop to do before seeing his mom and that was visiting his dad at his residence in Cypress Estates on the other side of town.

“Next stop, Sire’s Hollow! All out for Sire’s Hollow next!” The conductor called out as he walked up the aisle of the car. Sunburst sighed, preparing himself mentally to tackle this difficult task. The train began to slow down, entering the station and finally stopping at the platform with a shudder. With his overnight bag slung over his back and the gilded invitation handy in the secret pocket of his cape, Sunburst followed the other ponies out the car and onto the platform. First step of the plan, get to his father’s house across town and set things in motion.

The walk gave him time to think more about his family’s situation and how fractured it now seemed to be. Sunburst didn’t know if his dad had made holiday plans for himself and was even going to be available.

“He’ll attend; seeing it’s an invitation from the princess, he’d change his plans.” Sunburst told himself. “He’d do it just to help me out. But how would mom feel about all of us being together. Nova probably wouldn’t care either way. She’d just fall over in shock at knowing she was getting to visit the princess.”

Sunburst reached the intersection of Dartmoor Street and Wensleydale Avenue, crossing the street and heading up further the avenue and away from the down town area. The green spaces between the residences quickly grew as the houses became more and more upscale. He reached the stately grounds of his father’s current residence, on loan to him from a business partner. This was the first time Sunburst was seeing this place. His father had been staying in an apartment in Sire’s Hollow when he last visited.

“This is it; number four hundred seventy-four. The Chateau-Sur-Mare.” Sunburst checked the house number on small placard on the stone marker by the walkway, confirming he had the right place. He was in awe of its appearance. He headed up the walkway to the main entrance of the palatial residence, the structure being a sterling example of High Celestian architecture. The nearly two hundred year old stone structure was once the most expensive and opulent in the area. Now the super mansions and sprawling villas that have cropped up in the past decade or so had made the once regal and majestic home seem antiquated and out of step with the modern Equestrian world.

Using his magic, Sunburst pulled on the door bell rope, hearing the chimes jangling from the other side of the door. The front door opened and Sunburst was surprised to find a familiar pony there.

“Oh, Master Sunburst, please come in.” His family’s long-serving butler opened the door for him, pleased to see Sunburst and bidding him entry.

“Hello Bosley. Happy Hearth’s Warming to you.” Sunburst handed him his coat and hat, looking around the grand foyer and its majestic old-world hand carved wood features. Bosley hung the hat and coat up in the coat closet.

“Thank you, sir. Your father is in the office down the hallway; it’s the last door on the right. Shall I get something for you, sir? Some hot tea?”

“No, thank you, I won’t be staying long.” Sunburst headed down the hallway, hearing his father’s voice from the other side of the door. He gave the door a quick knock before entering.

“Dad, you busy right now?” He stepped in, finding his dad finishing up some paperwork with another business associate. “Oh, sorry, I can come back later.” He tried to back out of the room but his dad waved him in, grinning at the sight of his son.

“No no, my boy! We’re finishing up here.” Sunspot finished signing the contracts and passed them to his business partner who sat across from him, filing his set of copies away in the desk drawer.

“Make sure the construction company has the release forms to break ground on the new site and add that they’d best have a full pony crew there from day one. We’re on a tight schedule and can’t afford delays.” Sunspot’s associate nodded.

“Anything else?” The pony in the blue blazer signed the contracts before slipping them into a briefcase.

“Nope. We’ve got things underway so let’s call it quits early and get on with the holiday fun.” Sunspot looked over at his son, seeing Sunburst smiling back at him, eager to spend time together.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll get the message sent out today before everypony leaves for the day. First thing Wednesday morning, I’ll make sure the crew will be at the site.”

The two entrepreneurs shook hooves. “You have yourself a happy Hearth’s Warming, Jonesy.”

“You too, sir.” Not wanting to waste time and eager to end the day before lunch, Jonesy gathered up the site plans and his briefcase, heading for the door. He gave Sunburst a quick nod of greeting as he left the room in a hurry.

Sunspot gave his only son a huge hug. He hadn’t seen him for almost six months. He’d missed Sunburst. “How are you, son?”

“I’m doing fine, dad. I’m surviving.” Sunburst put his plan into motion. “I’m sorry for not stopping by earlier, I got caught up in a few emergencies back in the Crystal Empire so I was unable to get away.”

“Well, I’m just glad you visited, son. I’m sure you’re aware that things have been a little tense between your mother and myself lately. I could use some good company for the holiday.” Using his magic, Sunspot retrieved the brochure from off his desk to show what he had planned for his holiday.
“Hey, how about the two of us hit Manehattan for the holiday celebration? We can catch a train this evening and spend Hearth’s Warming in the big city. There’s always great things to see and do together there, right?” His dad was obviously eager to show him a good time, like always, wanting to make lasting memories together.

“Well,” Sunburst began slowly as he withdrew the invitation from the hidden pocket in his cape. “I think I have something you’d might want to change your plans for.” Using his magic, he passed it to his dad.

Sunspot opened the envelope and took out the invitation, his eyes going momentarily wider at the sight of the elaborate gilded inscription. Sunburst watched his dad’s eyes silently read the invitation and how his dad’s mouth fell open when reading the return address.

“Son,” Sunspot gasped in surprise and delight. “You’re friends with the Princess of Friendship?” He hadn’t known his son’s circle of friends was this impressive.

“Well, more like acquaintances. We’ve only hung out a few times. Did you know that my friend Starlight Glimmer is the princess’ protégée? She’s going to be there too, along with her father.” Sunburst knew his dad had no gripe with Firelight Glimmer like his mom did. He got on well with Starlight’s dad and was probably glad to know somepony who was going to be there.

“Really now? Anypony else I might know going?” Sunspot looked over the impressive invitation once again.

“Probably not. It’s going to be Princess Twilight and her family along with her friends and their families as well. We’re all supposed to stay in the Castle of Friendship with them.” Sunburst pointed out the line in the invitation to his father. “See?”

“Staying? Overnight in the castle? With the princess?” Sunspot reread the invitation, double-checking. Sure enough, his son was right. This was quite something.

“Yes. Hearth’s Warming Eve and the morning thereof. We’re having dinner and breakfast with all the guests.” Sunburst could tell his dad wasn’t going to need convincing. This was easy.

“Son, this is one of those once-in-a-pony’s lifetime opportunities to have. If I’m going with you, we have to put on the best presentation possible. What’d I always tell you about making good impressions?” Sunburst sighed a bit, being asked to reiterate a lesson his dad had taught him long ago.

“You only get one chance to make a good first impression.”

Sunspot nodded. “That’s right. And something like this could lead to big things for you, my boy. You never know what pony you may run into at these social gatherings. The next ‘big thing’ of your life may be initiated at a function like this and could lead to a whole slew of new opportunities for you.”

His dad was the master of the ‘shake the hoof and hand a business card over’ kind of self-promoting, he’d never miss any chance to increase his circle of connections. Being outgoing and approachable was how his dad met his mom; at a company party when they worked together at the same office.

“Dad, I’ve only met her friends a few times. It’s not like I’m super-tight with her group of friends. I only know them through my friendship with Starlight,” Sunburst tried to explain. “It’s just going to be a first time meeting with their families.”

“Nonetheless, my boy, we’ll still make the utmost effort to look good and make the right impression.” Sunspot patted his son on the back, glad to be spending time with his son and helping him show the best possible side of himself among his peers and others.

“Well, here’s the catch.” Sunburst was going to take a bit of wind out of his dad’s sails. “If we attend, then we have to bring something to the party that we would serve for our family’s Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner.”

Sunspot was not fazed by the request. “No problem. I’ll hit up that gourmet shop in town while taking care of a few loose ends today and be back here a little after lunch time.”

“I still have a little shopping to do and I was planning to visit mom and Nova back at the house today as well.” Sunburst returned the invitation to its envelope and slipped it back into the small hidden pocket in his cape. He congratulated himself for completing phase one of his plan; getting his dad to attend the party.

“How about we meet back here for dinner and you spend the night. We’ll go together tomorrow afternoon to the Princess’ castle.” Sunspot collected up some mail from off his desk that had to go out as well as the list of gifts he had not yet gotten for his son and daughter.

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll meet you back here in a few hours.” Sunburst was already heading for the door, eager to get the second phase of his plan into motion. “Save me some wrapping paper to use when I get back!” he called to his dad as he hurried down the hall.

Bosley already had Sunburst’s hat and coat in hoof, standing by the door ready for him. Sunburst got the coat on as fast as possible and got out the door.

“Your father dines at six sharp, Master Sunburst. Please do be back in time,” Bosley reminded his employer’s son.

Sunburst paused only for a second to turn and answer before galloping off to his mother’s house. “I remember, Bosley. I’ll be back later. I have to get to my mom’s place right now.”

The pony-servant watched his young master run headlong down the street and right into the carriage and taxi traffic, nearly getting hit twice as he charged across the street against the cross-walk light. He shook his head, wondering about the haste with which Sunburst was carrying on.

Sunburst had a schedule to keep and he had to stay on time. He was cutting it close, catching a glance at the clock tower in town as he paused briefly at one stop light at the crossing of both Mane Street and Gallop Way. Down four streets and over three more to reach the shortcut on Mullholland Drive and then the left fork onto Sire’s Hollow Lane.

His foalhood home was just up ahead, the fifth house on the left, just as he remembered. It was noticeably bigger than the other homes on the street; a third anniversary present from his dad to his mom after he became a partner at the firm he worked at. The holiday decorations were up, adorning the home with green garland and a wreath on the front door. A string of glowing multicolored crystal lights hung along the fascia of the house. Sunburst sighed to himself, seeing the familiar sight once more.
Home again, number two-three-seven Sire’s Hollow Lane. Nostalgic pangs swept through his heart about his foalhood neighborhood, only to be shuttered by reminding himself why he was here. Phase two of his plan for attending Princess Twilight’s party.

“Mom, are you here? I’m home,” Sunburst called out, opening the front door a bit more, hearing the holiday music playing on the phonograph and the lights on in living room. He stepped inside the house, looking around at the decor. His mom and sister had done a great job decorating the inside with garland and red ribbons. His mom always made sure the dining room table had a unique centerpiece for the candles and miniature flagpole. He couldn’t help but catch that warm, fuzzy feeling of home holiday joy.

“Sunburst? Is that you?” Stellar Flare called back from down the hallway. She hurried back up and spotted her son standing on the front door landing, home early. He smiled upon seeing her and she hurried down the hoof-ful of steps to embrace her first born.

“Welcome home, Sunburst! Happy Hearth’s Warming!” Stellar Flare gave him a kiss on his cheek. She hadn’t heard from him in months, and had missed him. She was decked out in her favorite holiday sweater, her present from him two years go. “How are you?” She stepped back to look at him. “Are you eating enough? You’re as thin as a rail.”

“That’s because I don’t have your good cooking to eat anymore,” he said, cleverly sidestepping a potential argument. Maybe he was living off of hay-cakes, cheese logs and donuts, but at least he wasn’t starving to death.

“You really ought to visit more often, dear. How can you ever get ahead in this world on an empty stomach? We’ll get you something to eat.” Stellar Flare was leading him by a foreleg to the kitchen, getting him to sit down in his old seat at the table.

“I’m doing fine, mom. It’s nothing to worry yourself about.” Sunburst was willing to let his mom ‘mother’ him a little; she was always wanting to keep him fed and worrying about his health. He watched his mom whip up a quick sandwich for him, going on about the meal plan she had for the three of them for tomorrow night. Sunburst didn’t tell her yet, wanting to get the right words together in his head first. She passed the plate with his lunch on it over to him, adding a hoof-ful of potato chips to the side as well as a glass of milk. Sunburst chowed down as his mom told him about her plans as of late for the Sire’s Hollow Development Committee and about her latest tiff with his father.

“Of course, your father,” she muttered in a sour voice, “is undoubtedly going out on the town for the holidays. Probably heading off to Manehattan with a bunch of his rowdy business friends.” Stellar Flare was using her magic to stir the tomato sauce that was simmering in a pot on the stove. Her stirring become more vigorous and agitated when speaking about Sunburst’s dad.

“Actually, mom,” Sunburst had consumed the sandwich in only five bites, his stomach having had only a tiny bowl of oatmeal this morning to go on. “There’s something I think that might brighten everypony’s holiday plan.” His comment caught Stellar Flare’s curiosity.

“Oh really? Like what?” She saw the rather sly look to her son’s expression, as if he scheming something.

“First, where’s ‘princess’ Nova? In her room?” Sunburst’s comment about his little sister made Stellar Flare frown a little.

“Please don’t tease her about that; you know she’s a big fan of the princess.” Sunburst bit his lip, trying not to smile. He knew his mom did not appreciate his sense of humor.

“I won’t, I won’t.” Sunburst took it back. “I should go see her and say hi. I think she’ll want to hear this too.”

Down the bedroom hallway he quietly crept, hearing his sister’s voice coming from her room. With silent hoof-steps, Sunburst slid right up to her ajar bedroom door, listening. He could see through the small opening of the doorway his sister standing on her bed, adorned with those plastic pegasus wings and a faux gold plated plastic crown on her head that looked conspicuously like a copy of Princess Twilight’s Element of Magic crown. He listened to her speak to her ‘subjects’; the collection of stuffed animals arranged in a semicircle on the area rug in front of her bed.

“I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, do hereby decree that hence forth all schools shall be closed early for Hearth’s Warming celebrations and not reopen for two weeks after.”

Sunburst slapped a forehoof over his mouth, trying not to laugh at his sister’s ‘royal proclamation’ over her subjects and how she imitated the cheering crowd noise of her enraptured audience.

“Thank you, thank you my faithful subjects. No need to cheer so much, I know I’m the greatest princess in all Equestria.” She continued her roleplaying, much to Sunburst’s secret amusement. He had heard enough. As quietly as he could, Sunburst slipped back down the hallway to the end, intent on letting his sister hear him coming. He clomped his hooves noisily on the wood floor of the hallway, heading down towards her room again.

“Hey, Nova, you in there?” Sunburst called to her. He heard a loud commotion coming from her room, which sounded like Nova trying to hide what she’d been doing from him. He knocked on her door, hearing the last bit of her getting things put away before he entered.

“Can I come in?”

“You can come in now,” Nova announced. Sunburst pushed open the door to her room, seeing her now seated at her desk, schoolbooks open and appearing to be hard at work on her homework. Sunburst wasn’t fooled but he played along.

“Ah! Keeping up with your schoolwork, very good. Mom and dad will be glad to see that.” Sunburst looked around her room, seeing that her stuffed animals were once more on her bed and she no longer wore her pegasus wings. But he did spot one thing a little bit off about her appearance, and so he decided to have some fun with her.

“Of course I’m doing my homework. What else should I be doing? I’ve got to keep my grades up, don’t I?” Nova put on a false air of studiousness and diligence.

“Oh, I’m sure you’re doing fine in school.” He sat down on her bed, watching her keep at her homework. “But maybe you should take some time out to enjoy the holiday time off. You only get one Hearth’s Warming celebration vacation from school a year and I know you enjoy the roleplaying you do so much.”

Nova could tell he was trying to get to her by mentioning one of her favorite secret pastimes.

“I don’t do that. Only little foals do that kind of stuff. I’m too big to play ‘dress up’ and act all silly.” Sunburst used his magic to pick up a small mirror off her dresser and brought it in front of her face as she sat at her desk.

“Oh, really now. Then what do you call that on your head, ‘Princess Twilight’?” he teased, as she looked up at her reflection. Sunburst snickered a little, seeing her face redden with embarrassment of being caught. Fuming, Nova tore the plastic crown off her head.

“How long were you going to sit there and let me go on like that?” She growled at him.

“Long enough for you to embarrass yourself and look silly. Mission accomplished!” Sunburst couldn’t stop laughing. Nova had had enough of him being in her room already.

“Mom! Sunburst is bothering me!” She hollered at the top of her lungs to their mother in the kitchen.

“Sunburst, stop bothering your sister!” Stellar Flare yelled back.

“Why don’t you get out of my room? I’m busy right now.” Nova turned back to her books, annoyed at her brother for his intrusion.

“You’ll want to join me in the kitchen with mom. You might want to hear what I’m about to say. It may be of interest to you,” he said, with just enough allure in his voice to catch Nova’s interest. She slowly turned her head to face him again.

“Like what?” She raised a suspicious eyebrow at him, wondering what kind of trick or dumb joke was trying to pull on her and their mom. He smiled a little more.

“Trust me, you’ll want to hear.” Sunburst got up from her bed, heading for the door to return to the kitchen. He looked back at Nova as he exited her bedroom. “Well, what are you waiting for? A personal invitation?”

Nova, half-suspecting her brother was playing some sort of trick on her, slowly rose up from her chair to follow after him.
“This better be good,” she groused, simmering in resentment from his teasing. Down the hallway and into the kitchen, Nova took her seat at the kitchen table, only really half-interested in anything her brother had to say.

“I thought you were not going to tease Nova?” Stellar Flare saw her daughter’s unhappy expression from Sunburst’s antagonizing. She gave her son a most disapproving look.

“Sorry, couldn’t help myself. I’m sorry.” Sunburst felt a little bad about his teasing but he knew himself well enough to know he’d probably do it again another time. He tried to look remorseful but was having trouble hiding his smirk.
“Anyway, I have something to show you both. I think this will certainly bring about a happier holiday mood.” Using his magic, Sunburst produced from the same hidden pocket of his cape the gilded invitation he’d shown his dad only an hour or so ago. He passed it to his mom to read.

Stellar Flare was impressed by the ornate appearance of the invitation but was astonished by who had sent it. Sunburst watched with a bit of delight as his mom silently read the invitation. Her reaction was much the same as his dad’s, her mouth falling open in surprise.
“Sunburst!” She gasped. “You’ve been invited to spend the holiday with Princess Twilight and her family?”

“No, I and my family have been invited by Princess Twilight to her castle to spend Hearth’s Warming Eve and the following day with her and her family,” he corrected. “Check again.” Stellar Flare did and her surprise grew.

Nova practically leapt out of the chair to look at the invitation her mom held aloft.

“No way! It’s gotta be a fake!” Nova was sure this was the prank Sunburst was trying to pull on them. She scrutinized the signature at the bottom of the invitation intensely. The signature looked absolutely identical to that on the title page of her beloved copy of Princess Twilight’s friendship journal and she could see the signature had been made with an impression from an ink quill on the card. This was no fake. Nova actually flinched in shock at the realization.

“It’s… it’s not a fake!” Nova yelped, her young mind blown away. “But, how… who… when?” she stammered, first looking at her mom, then at her brother, then back at her mom again. She was unable to understand how this was at all possible. How did her big brother know Princess Twilight? Not only that, how could he never tell his own sister, a huge fan of the princess, that he knew her personally?

“This is incredible!” Stellar Flare practically rejoiced at the news. This was the greatest stroke of luck, that her son was close friends with the Princess of Friendship. Her son’s success with his friendship quest had undoubtedly elevated her son among his peers.

Nova couldn’t believe it. Her brother really was friends with the Princess of Friendship and this actually was from the princess. She suddenly decided her brother might be worth bothering with after all.

“Oh, dearest brother Sunburst, how I would be ever so grateful if you would allow me to-” Nova’s syrupy-sweet voice could’ve given a pony cavities just by hearing it. Sunburst saw right through her.

“Oh cut it with the schmoozing act, Nova, we’re all invited to Princess Twilight’s castle.”

“Wait, what’s this?” Stellar Flare read on further, finding an unexpected condition in the invitation. “I would ask everypony to share with my family and I one item traditionally served at each family’s Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner.”

“Really?” Nova thought that it was an interesting request.

“But, how many guests has the princess invited?” Stellar Flare suddenly realized the sheer volume that was going to be necessary.

“If my guess is right and I’m remembering what her friends told me about their families, I’d say somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty-five to forty-five guests will be there.” Sunburst’s rough estimate left his mom and sister stunned.

“That’s a lot of guests.” Nova wondered just who was going to be there besides her favorite heroines. Who would she meet?

“By Celestia, that’s an awful lot of cooking to do!” Stellar Flare slapped a forehoof to her head, momentarily overwhelmed by what she would have do to feed forty or so guests.

“That’s the reason I came home early this year; to help out with our contribution.” Sunburst didn’t understand why his mom seemed upset with him all of a sudden.

“Why didn’t you bring this to me sooner? If I had known in advance, I could have made a plan of what to make. Now what am I supposed to do on such short notice?” Stellar Flare felt this golden opportunity to impress the princess was now in jeopardy from her son’s lackadaisical thinking.

“That was a pretty bone-headed move, bro.” Nova got in a bit of retaliation for his teasing earlier, her mom’s chastising of Sunburst giving her cover.

“I know I should’ve visited sooner, but… I wasn’t sure what to do about, you know…” Sunburst tried to dance around the horribly big elephant in the room. “Our… situation now.” Everypony in the room seemed momentarily uncomfortable
.
“Besides, it’s not just you, mom. Everypony’s family attending has to do the same thing. It’s so we can all share something about our family’s traditions.”

Stellar Flare sighed, upset at being put so on-the-spot by her son and yet still understanding why he was so hesitant. She would not hold it against him.

“Alright, Sunburst. I suppose you had your reasons to stay away. I guess the real issue now is what to decide to make.” Stellar Flare did want her son to look good in front of his peers and being there with him with the best possible offering made sense. She paced back and forth on the kitchen floor, trying to think of what she could come up with to feed so many ponies.

“I’ve got it!” She clicked her front hooves loudly together as the idea struck. Her children turned to look at her.

“What?” Sunburst wondered about the grin his mom suddenly had.

“I know what I’ll make. You two went crazy for my vegetable parmigiana I made a few holidays ago, right? Both of you raved about it for a week after.” Stellar Flare remembered the glowing accolades they had given her for the awesome meal. She quickly went to the refrigerator, checking if she had what she needed to make her signature dish. She did not.

“Mom, that’s perfect! You make the best parmigiana, hooves down!” Nova cheered, sure her mom’s cooking would wow those at the dinner party.

“Can you do it, Mom? You think you can make enough for everypony?” Sunburst was hoping she could. From a kitchen cabinet drawer, Stellar Flare whipped out a small notepad and a quill, quickly making her list.

“Alright team, here’s the plan!” She took command of the situation, shifting into crisis mode. Her children snapped to attention, aware that when it came to the making of a holiday meal, mom was all business.

“You,” She pointed the quill at Sunburst. “You’re going to the market to get these ingredients for me and another bottle of olive oil. Get the fresh mozzarella cheese from behind the counter, not the cheap stuff in the plastic package off the shelf. This has to taste the best. And be back here in under an hour; there’s lots of tomatoes to peel and we need time to have the sauce cook.”

Her son took the list, slipping it into the secret pocket of his cape. “Got it! Anything else to get while I’m out?” Sunburst felt he was almost in the home stretch, his mom now on board and ready to take on the challenge.

“A fresh baguette; we’ll need to taste test the sauce as we go. We’re going to make the best dish anypony will have for Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner.” Her confidence was infectious and now both Nova and Sunburst were feeling inspired to pitch in and outshine.

“I’m on my way!” Sunburst took off, trying to get his coat on and get out the door at the same time. He had to get to the market quick, wanting to initiate the third part of his plan; having something to bring to the party. He had all afternoon to help out before heading back to his dad’s place for supper with him. Things were moving in the right direction.

Sunburst took less than forty-five minutes to get what his mom needed from the market and get back to the house. His family was already hard at work in the kitchen as the aroma of the oil, fried garlic and fresh tomatoes cooking away on the stove perfumed the space.

“I got everything you wanted on the list but I had to get two smaller bottles of the oil you wanted; they were out of the regular size.” He plopped the two bags of groceries on the counter next to the sink, watching Nova peel the tomatoes and cut them into chunks.

“Good. You can start by getting the cheese in the refrigerator and helping your sister get the tomatoes ready. We’re going to have to use both big stewing pots to make enough sauce.” Stellar Flare continued to chop up the ingredients as her son got the rest of the vegetables out of the bags and into the sink for washing.

Sunburst got right to it, getting the produce ready and lined up on the counter next to the cutting board his mom was chopping on. The blade of his mom’s knife moved up and down with steady repeated strokes through the line of vegetables, each ingredient cut to practiced and precise sizes. She would make this her culinary masterstroke. The siblings worked away like a well-oiled machine; cleaning the tomatoes, peeling them and cutting them up.

With the holiday music playing on the phonograph in the background and the three of them chattering away, the bustling work helped bring them closer together. The more they worked, the more Sunburst felt his plan was succeeding. He got to tell them about what Princess Twilight’s castle looked like and who was going to be there.

“Now, I’ve never met their families, mom. I only met the princess a few times as well as her friends. I’m not really part of their inner circle. I only know them because Starlight is the princess’ protégée.”

“Is Firelight Glimmer going to be there?” She paused only for a moment in her work.
“Of course he is. Starlight was invited too.” Sunburst could see his mom’s expression take a somewhat sour look at the thought at spending the holiday with the Glimmers.

“So, the moms and dads and brothers and sisters will be there too?’ Nova wanted to get the story right as something tucked away in the back of her mind was now suddenly made very relevant.

“Well, I suppose so. I know Princess Twilight’s brother is going to be there, and that means Princess Cadence will be there too.”

Stellar Flare was thrilled to know her family was going to spend the holiday with the royalty of Equestria. The bragging rights to her friends were going to be most satisfying.

“Why, is there a problem?” Sunburst wondered about Nova’s sudden interest in who else was going to be there. She tried not to let on.

“Oh, no, I was just curious.” Nova quickly returned to crushing the tomato chunks in the pot into puree. She remembered something rumored around her school; about a small group fillies from the Ponyville area. A friend of a friend of a friend of Nova’s had told her about three supposed sisters of the princess’ friends who were helping young ponies find their Cutie Marks.

What an unbelievable opportunity this could be for her. Not only could she meet the Princess of Friendship and her fellow Equestrian heroines whom she idolized. But there was also the chance to meet these so-called ‘Crusader’ fillies and find out if the rumor was true. If it was, then, all the better. Perhaps in one night alone, they could help Nova acquire her Cutie Mark. How awesome of a Hearth’s Warming gift would that be!

“Nova? Are you even listening?” Sunburst waved a hoof in front of her face. Nova snapped out of her daze.

“Wha…? You say something?”

“I asked if you were done crushing those tomatoes yet. Mom needs to add them to the rest on the stove.” Sunburst wondered about her sudden absentmindedness.

“Oh, yeah, I’m done with these.” Using her magic, Nova passed the pot over to her mom as Sunburst placed another pot of tomato chunks in front of her. She only half listened to what her brother was talking about as she crushed the next batch, lost in her thoughts again.

“I was planning on having dinner at dad’s place and spending the night there. I know he’s all alone and thought it would cheer him up some. I hope that’s okay with you.” Sunburst hoped his mom would be understanding about his not wanting his dad to feel left out or ignored.

“That’s very considerate of you, Sunburst. I’m sure he’d like the company.” His mom still spoke dispassionately whenever the subject of his dad came up. Sunburst wished they would just talk their problems out. He didn’t know why it had gotten to such a state between them.

“It’s only fair, mom. It’s the holiday after all. I love dad just as much as I love you.” Sunburst saw how her stirring of the tomato sauce on the stove slowed when the subject of his parent’s trial separation came up. It hurt him to see them so angry at one another. Even Nova tried to look like she wasn’t listening, humming to herself and clearly not wanting to get in between her mom and her brother should this conversation escalate out of control.

“I just don’t know why you two are so mad at eachother all the time.” Sunburst wished it could be like it used to be, the four of them together as a family. Stellar Flare sighed at his confusion.

“One day, when you’re married and have a family, you’ll understand why. For now, let’s get the sauce done and simmering on the stove. There’s still more to do.” She returned to her steady stirring of the sauce, making sure it didn’t stick to the pot.

Sunburst knew his mom was avoiding the subject but would not press her more. The day was moving forward and the next twelve hours were going to make or break his plan of creating the best Hearth’s Warming celebration his family had ever experienced.

Author's Note

Chapter 2 of this story: I wanted to include Sunburst in this story as well as his family too. I liked the idea of Sunburst having a little sister, Nova is somewhere between 9 to 12 years old, to add some depth to his family life. His dad, Sunspot, is shown in briefly in 'The Cutie-Remark Pt.2' episode but no information was given. So, for fun I decided to fill out some personality background for him and put him in the story too.

Additionally, I wanted to present a difference in the kind of homes and up-bringing between Starlight and Sunburst. Whereas I wanted Starlight to have a working/middle-class type background, I wanted Sunburst to come from, if not upper-class, then certainly upper middle-class wherein his parents could afford hired help. As well, I wanted to have his family situation to be strained and he and his sister are caught in the middle between two parents. Starlight only having her dad and Sunburst parent's at a point of not living together was something I thought might be a nice contrast.