The Derpy I Know And Love

CHAPTER FOUR

A Family Outing.

“Ok,” said Twi to her little family. “we are running late.  We have to hurry to catch the train for Canterlot.”

“I think we have everything,”  said Bubbles looking at everypony’s saddlebags. “Muffin, stay up with your sister.  Let’s go dear.”

“Princess Celestia  offered a suite in the castle, just in case it is too crowded at my parents.”

With that they all went out the door.  Only to find Princess Luna’s cart being drawn by two of Luna’s bat-winged pegasi.

“Our lady, Princess Luna, sent us to make your trip to Canterlot quicker and easier.”

Bubbles leaned into Twi and whispered.

“These guys give me the creeps.”

“Then we are doing our job.” Said the guard with a wink and a smile.

Bubbles was shocked that they heard her.

“Worry not,” said the guard, “our mistress commanded to treat each of you as we would her.”

“Please get in so we can go,” said the other guard.

The little family climbed in to the cart, there was one large seat where Princess Luna would sit.  Twilight suggested that Sparkler sit there and hold Dinky in her lap.

“Ready gentlecolts,” said Twilight.

The guard spread their wings ran forward for about 10 feet then there was a rush of wings and they were climbing a gentle angle.  Bubbles spread her wings instinctively.  But stayed planted on the cart.  Twilight leaned over to whisper to her fiancée.

“I can think of something else you could do with those wings!”

“Twilight! In front of the children!” giggled Bubbles.

One of the guards turned and spoke.

“I would not mind hearing what you would do.”

“Holy Horseshoes!” said Bubbles.

The guard laughed and turned his head back to what he was doing.

“Mommy!” exclaimed Dinky, “can you fly this high?  This fast?  It is so cool!”

“Yes Muffin, mommy can fly this high and fast,  even more.  The ponies pulling us are weighed down by the cart and our weight.” Then Bubbles turned addressing the guard, “And they know better than flying too fast with children aboard.”

Bubbles winked at Dinky and with that Bubbles jumped into the air, raced ahead of the cart.  Then climbed quickly to a greater height, then plunged straight down past the guard.  She was lost in the clouds.

“Mommy!” screamed Dinky.  Trying to pull away to look where she had gone.

“What is wrong Muffin?” said Bubbles gently landing in the cart from behind.

“Was that necessary?” asked Twi, a little cross.  Sparkler was thinking the same thing.

“I am sorry my Dear.” She said meekly, “it is hard for a pegasus to stay grounded while they are in the air.”

“Do it again! Do it again!” Giggled Dinky.

“No! Don’t do it again!” said both Twi and Sparkler.

After a pause;

“Although, it was about as flashy a move as Rainbow Dash would do!” Then Twi softly said, nuzzling  her fiancée.  “Sorry, I did not mean to speak to you like that.  I was only concerned, I did not realize that I was engaged to Rainbow Dash.”

“You better not be!  Now that everypony knows the way you swing!”

They both chuckled.  Dinky continued to take the trip in wide wonder, but truth be told, Sparkler was about as excited as her sister.  Twilight was use to flying, being an accomplished hot air balloon pilot.

They arrived at Canterlot train station, where their bags had been sent ahead the previous day, in about a quarter of the time the train would have taken.  Instead of getting there in the late evening, they were there about lunch time.  Twilight thanked the guard and ask them to tell the princess that they would be thanking the princess in person a bit later.  With that they shot off into the sky toward the castle.

“What do you say we get some lunch?  Asked Twilight.

“Oat burgers and hay fries!”  squealed Dinky.

“Ok, because it is your first trip to Canterlot,” smiled Bubbles, “you can have some junk food.  But!  You are going to have a good meal tonight at Twilight’s parents.  Deal?”

“Deal, mommy!”

“I sure love that little Muffin!” said Twi to her fiancée.

“You better!  You’re stuck with her!”

“If you are worried about me spoiling her, then you have nothing to be concerned about.” Said Twi, “but my parents!  I’m afraid it is going to take weeks to get her back inline when we are done”

Bubbles laughed as they walked toward the nearest Mac Donkey’s.

After eating, the group started to walk to the castle.  Dinky was amazed that Twi could keep Dinky’s drink floating in front of her without Twi even looking.  Suddenly she got a strange look on her face.

“Mommy?”

“Yes Muffin,” replied Bubbles.

“If Twilight is going to be my mommy too, do I still call her Twilight?”

Twilight stopped, turned to face the little filly.

“What do you want to call me?”

“If I call you mommy you would not know who I am talking to.”

“That is a very intelligent statement!” said Twi.  Dinky blushed at the praise.  “What do you want to call me?”

Dinky thought, looked at Bubbles, Sparkler and back to Twi.

“Would it be ok if I call you mom?”

“Muffin, you don’t know just how happy it would make me if you called me mom.”

With that, Twi levitated Dinky over to her, Dinky squealed with glee!

“Mommy! I’m flying, just like you!”

Twilight caught her and covered her little face with kisses.

“I love you so much, Muffin!” said Twi.

“I love you too....mom!”

Because of her duties, Sparkler had been to Canterlot several times.  She was a guest with a prominent family to the Royal Wedding, the Wonderbolts Derby and even the Canterlot Garden Party.  She had got to attend many High Society Functions.  She was know by sight to Fancypants, Jet Set, Upper Crust, Hoity Toity and other members of the Canterlot Elite.

But to be having a private audience with the princesses was giving her a thrill.  She had interactions with, on a professional level, Twilight Sparkle from her daily goings.

Only now she was starting to realize just how important this quiet, reserved pony was.  She had heard her mother speak of always wanting to meet Twilight.  She always felt that her mom had some kind of crush on the purple pony, which turned out to be true.  After all, she was a very important pony.  More important that she appeared to know or she just did not care.

Sparkler at first did not know what to think about her mother crushing on a mare, even an important mare like Twilight.  But now the time she had spent in the company of Twilight, she started to understood the explanation that Twilight had given at the announcement party.  Twilight did not love her mother because she was a mare, and her mother did not love Twilight because she was a mare.  They are two ponies very much in love with each other, the fact that they were both mares did not appear to enter into the equation.  It was also a plus that Twilight had opened her heart and home to Dinky and even to herself.

She felt genuine affection for this mare who’s love of her mother could not be doubted.   Sparkler had always tried to shield her mother from ponies who would try to take advantage of her perceived disability.

To her most dearest surprise, Twilight did not see a googly-eyed simpleton.  But a very special and intelligent pony that she accepted as an equal.  Especially after getting her purple rump kicked three times in a row by her mom at chess.  The only reaction by Twilight was a huge kiss.

Yes, this is a pony she could love.

“Twilight.”

“Yes Sparkler?”

“I don’t feel right calling you mom, but I think because of our situation, Twilight seems too formal.”

“My closest friends call me ‘Twi’.  I dearly hope I can count you as one of my close friends.  They are all special ponies and I see in you the heart and spirit as great as any one of the five.”

“I would love that, Twi.” Sparkler blushed, she realized that Twilight had just put her on the same footing of her five friends.  Each pony a true hero and pony of impeccable character.

And now she was on the way for Twilight to introduce her and Dinky to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.   She was feeling about as giddy as a school filly.