Chapter 7: Chicago

It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Aaron, Smolder, Marissa and Liam had their bags prepared for the flight to Chicago. Smolder was watching the portal that led to the Treehouse of Harmony. Then it started reacting. Then Sandbar, Ocellus, Yona and Silverstream came out, wearing the medallions that can change them into humans.

"Sorry, guys," Sandbar said. "We had to get fitted into the outfits for this wedding. Although, I wonder why Rarity didn't want us to change into humans for the wedding attire."

"Well, you all made it before the transport gets here to pick us up," Smolder said. "You pack your winter gear?"

"Yeah, we did," Ocellus said. "Oh, and by the way..." Ocellus then handed Smolder her winter gear for her dragon form. Her signature winter cap, her earmuffs, her striped scarf, her mittens and her winter boots.

"Thanks," Smolder said, changing back into her dragon form and putting on the winter gear. "In case it snows in Chicago, I better be prepared."

"Good call," Marissa said. "It might snow this weekend, so it'd be best to have your winter gear in hand." She then looked at the five Equestrians. "Wait... one's missing." Just then, there was a thump in the closet under the stairs. Then the closet door opened and out came Gallus, wearing his armor.

"Sorry I'm late," Gallus said, trying to take off his armor. "I was just finishing up work. Good thing I went to Canterlot Boutique to pack up my tuxedo."

"I'm not sure that our suits are gonna be appropriate for us to wear when we're in human form," Silverstream said.

"Yona wondering why that not happened," Yona said.

"I talked to Twilight about that and she said all we have to do is put on our suits and dresses for the wedding, then use the medallions to change us into humans," Gallus said. "Thus, the clothes we wear in our true forms will change as well to suit our human forms. Including shoes and bottoms as well."

"Ohhhhh!" Sandbar, Yona, Ocellus and Silverstream all said in unison. Then Marissa handed suitcases for the rest of the Young 6 to put their suits and dresses into them. They then put their wedding attire into the suitcases just as a car horn came in.

"The transport's here," Liam said. "Go ahead and change."

Smolder transformed into her human form. The rest of the Young 6 put on their medallions. Smolder got confused about Ocellus and asked, "Why are you putting on a medallion? You're a changeling."

"My shapeshifting might disguise me, but it can't protect me from the cold weather," Ocellus said. "So, I better go as a real human." She then tapped her medallion and became a human. It was the same human form she had when she was in disguise. "I tried out the medallion just to see what I'd look like as a human."

"Good call," Smolder said. Then the rest of the Young 6 activated their medallions and became human as well. Then they grabbed their bags and headed for the door.

Aaron, the Young 6, Marissa and Liam arrived at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. They stopped at the Chili's that was there before they could go and get their luggage. Of course, Sandbar, Ocellus, Yona and Silverstream got vegetarian meals. When they were done, they went to the luggage claims to pick up their luggage.

"I can't believe we're in the same airport where they shot that one scene from the first three Home Alone movies," Smolder said.

"Hopefully, we won't sleep in like the McCallisters did when we go back to Orlando," Gallus said.

"That was because their alarm clock lost power," Aaron said. "One by the strong winds, and the other because the dad unplugged it and forgot to reset it."

"Alright, everyone," Marissa said. "The rest of the family should be here, soon."

Gallus then looked around and he saw someone. He then said, "I think I see Reggie." Then Aaron, the rest of the Young 6, Marissa and Liam looked over and saw where Gallus was looking. They did see Reggie, along with Aunt Zoe, Uncle Jerry, and Aaron's grandparents.

"There you are," Aaron's grandma said. "Oh. And I see you brought all your friends, Aaron."

"There isn't a world ending monster coming, is there?" Aaron's grandpa asked.

"Nope," Aaron said. "Well, we hope not. We've already had our last tango with villains last summer."

"Good call," Aaron's grandpa said. "Alright, let's get to the hotel." Then they eventually got their stuff and headed for the transport that will take them to the hotel they're going to be staying in.

When they got to the hotel, Marissa had given Aaron, the Young 6 and Reggie card keys to the suites they're going to be sleeping in.

"Okay, kids, here's how it's gonna go," Marissa said. "Boys in one room, girls in the other. And we made sure that the two had joining rooms."

"Thanks, Aunt Marissa," Aaron said.

"Enjoy your stay here," the manager said. Then the Blazer family and the Young 6 headed for the elevators. They went up to the top floor where everyone who was going to attend the wedding was going to stay. Aaron, Gallus, Sandbar and Reggie went into one room, Smolder, Yona, Ocellus and Silverstream went into another that was connected to it by a joining room, Zoe, Jerry and Aaron's grandparents went into a room across from the girls room, and Marissa and Liam went into the room across from the boys room.

"Wow," Reggie said. "Aunt Marissa sure got it big here."

"She sure did," Aaron said. Sandbar and Gallus tapped their medallions and changed back into their true forms. Gallus then saw the kitchenette in the hotel room.

"Wow," Gallus said. "We even got a kitchen."

"All the rooms got kitchens," Aaron said. "Grandpa is gonna head over to a nearby grocery store to pick up some supplies for Thanksgiving dinner."

"Sounds tasty," Sandbar said. Just then, there was a knocking at the connecting room door. Aaron then walked towards the door and on the other side was Smolder, in her true form.

"Looks like all of them have kitchens as well," Smolder said.

"So, Aaron, you gonna get some Basketball practice in tomorrow?" Gallus asked. "You're gonna need to stay in shape."

"I'll get practice after Thanksgiving," Aaron said. "Tomorrow, I got... other plans."

"What?" Smolder asked. "What is it?"

"It's... personal," Aaron said. He then headed for the bathroom. "I'm gonna get into the tub." The rest of the Young 6 entered the room and they got suspicious.

"Something's up with him," Smolder said.

"You thinking of following him tomorrow?" Ocellus asked.

"It would be nice to see all the sights while we're following him," Silverstream said.

"Yona would love to see places of this city, too," Yona said.

"Why is she talking like...?" Reggie asked before remembering something. "Oh, right. Equestrian yaks aren't used to our language which is why they speak broken English."

"Medallion help Yona speak proper language when Yona in disguise," Yona said. Then there was a knocking at the door. Then the Young 6 changed back into their human forms. Sandbar walked towards the door and opened it.

"Alright, kids, we're already ordering pizza," Marissa said. "Where's Aaron?"

"Bathroom, about to take a bath," Silverstream said.

"Well, I know what he likes," Marissa said. "Meat Lovers with extra sausage for him, Smolder, Gallus and Reggie, and I'm guessing vegetarian for the rest of you?"

"Yes," Sandbar, Yona, Ocellus and Silverstream said in unison.

"Okay," Marissa said. She then walked off towards the other rooms.

The next morning, Gallus and Sandbar were both asleep in the foldout bed and Reggie in the main bed. Gallus and Sandbar were both in human form. Aaron was supposed to be with him, but he wasn't there. Gallus then woke up.

Gallus yawned and looked around. He then said, "Oh. Right. Hotel in Aaron's hometown." He then noticed that Aaron wasn't in bed and went wide-eyed. He then shook Sandbar awake.

"Huh? Wha...?" Sandbar asked. "What is it, Gallus?"

"Aaron's not here," Gallus said.

"What?" Sandbar asked, noticing that Aaron was gone as well. Gallus then ran over to the connecting room door and knocked on it. The door opened and Smolder was on the other side, in human form, wearing a T-shirt and pink and magenta striped pajama bottoms.

"What is it?" Smolder asked, grumpy.

"Aaron's gone," Gallus said.

"What?!" Smolder asked, wide eyed. The other girls came up to the door, all in human form and pajamas as well.

"How long has he been gone?" Ocellus asked.

"Don't know," Gallus said. "He could be anywhere by now."

"Could you keep it down?!" Reggie's voice came in. "I'm trying to sleep!"

"Aaron's not here," Sandbar said.

"What?" Reggie asked.

"I better find him," Smolder said, heading over to her phone and bringing it to the group. She then opened up the tracking app on her phone and typed in Aaron's phone number. She tracked Aaron's phone to a certain location. "It says that he's in... a cemetery?"

"A cemetery?" Sandbar asked. "Why would he be at a cemetery?"

Reggie then got a realization and said, "Oh. I know why." The Young 6 looked at Reggie with a raised eyebrow.

At a cemetery North of the hotel they were staying in, Aaron was standing in front of a gravestone. The gravestone had words that were very personal to him, and the rest of his family.

Veronica Amelia Blazer
Daughter... Sister... Mother...
Born: Aug. 12, 1987. Died: April 28, 2013.

Aaron placed a single red rose right in front of the gravestone. Aaron stepped back and continued looking at the gravestone with a sad expression.

"Hey, Mom," Aaron said. "Sorry I couldn't... visit you last year." He then sighed. "I... I met someone. You would love her. She... she helped me out when I was... lost. And I returned the favor when she brought me home. I just wish you could've met her. I made the best of friends after I met her. And..." He then got on his knees. He let out some tears. Just then, a hand grabbed his left shoulder. Aaron quickly turned his head and he saw Smolder behind him. The rest of the Young 6 and Reggie were behind her as well.

"Reggie told us why you'd be here," Smolder said. "I understand why."

"I know what it's like," Gallus said. "Losing a family that loves you is a hard thing."

"It sure is," Silverstream said.

"But you should know that you are not alone," Ocellus said. Then the Young 6 gave Aaron a group hug, Smolder hugging him from the front.

"Thanks, guys," Aaron said. "I'm... I'm glad you're all here."

"You needed some support from your friends," Reggie said.

"And, we let Marissa know you were here," Smolder said. "She knows how emotional you get when you're here."

"Thanks, Smolder," Aaron said. "Thanks for being here, you guys."

"So, is there any place where you go after this?" Ocellus asked.

"Well, I could use a bit of distraction," Aaron said.

"How about we go bowling?" Reggie asked. "There's a bowling alley near our hotel."

"Then let's get going," Aaron said. Then they all headed away from the gravestone, but Smolder stayed to look back at the gravestone.

"Don't worry, Miss Blazer," Smolder said. "Your son is in good hands." She then walked off to follow the others.

Aaron, the Young 6 and Reggie returned to the hotel after they did their bowling. Marissa walked up to Aaron and hugged him.

"I know you miss her, Aaron," Marissa said. "We all miss her."

"I know," Aaron said.

"We were all there for her, Marissa," Smolder said. "He needed it."

"Well, how about we all prepare for tomorrow's dinner," Marissa said. "We all must get the proper supplies. Smolder, why don't you come with? You could help my dad prepare for tomorrow?"

"Meh, alright," Smolder said. "I could use some extra credit for Home Economics."

"What's Home Economics?" Gallus asked.

"Cooking class," Aaron said. "She's got a famous TV Chef for a teacher. And grandpa wants to meet him when we head back to Orlando."

"You're cooking?" Sandbar asked, looking at Smolder.

"None of the other extra curriculars didn't seem that interesting," Smolder said. Then she and Marissa headed down the hall with Aaron's grandpa following. Aaron, the rest of the Young 6 and Reggie went back to their hotel rooms.

Author's Note

VOTING TIME!!

Okay, the wedding is coming up very soon. Aaron and the Young 6 will be heading back to Orlando after the wedding. Liam and Marissa will be heading off to a place in Europe for their honeymoon. But where will they be going. That's where your votes come in. Pick which destination where they'll be honeymooning while Aaron and the Young 6 go back home.

Option 1:

Paris, France

Option 2:

Rome, Italy

Option 3:

Athens, Greece

The most votes get to be where they will go. Only one vote per commenter. See you all next time.