“So what now?” Applejack asked Twilight after the chuckling had died down.
“I don’t know. So much has changed since she was born.” Twilight nodded to the little filly in her forelegs.
“Well, you know what they say about the plans of mice and ponies.” Applejack nodded in agreement.
“The mice are making plans?” Fluttershy asked. “I wonder why they didn’t tell me?”
“All joking aside,” Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy out of the corner of her eye, “Why can’t she just come live with you in Ponyville?”Everypony gave Rainbow Dash a questioning look. “Come on and think about it. You said it yourself that it pained you to leave her here while you moved to Ponyville. Why not just move her to Ponyville?”
“I don’t know, Dash. It’s just not that simple.”
“Not that simple! You just pack her things and move her in with you at the library.”
“I think what Twilight is sayin’ is that everypony’s lives will be disrupted if she moves Twinkle Star to Ponyville.”
Twinkle Star looked up at Twilight, “But I want to move with you to Ponyville.”
“Are you sure, sweetie? You would be leaving all your friends behind.” Twilight looked down at her daughter.
“Mommy, I only have Ruby for a friend, and she spends half her time in Ponyville now. Everypony else acts too yucky to make friends with.”
“Ok, what about school?”
“With you and Dad and Uncle Shiny and Miss Cadence, I a’ready know more than everypony else my size. ‘Sides, everypony else picks on me because you know Princess ‘Lestia.” Twinkle Star looked up at her mom with pleading eyes. “Please, Mommy?”
“Well, first we would have to talk to Grandma and Grandpa about you moving in with me.”
“We think it would be a splendid idea.” The group turned around to see Twilight’s parents standing just outside of the door to the house.
“Are you sure? You have said that you enjoy having her here.”
“Twilight, every time you leave little Twinkle sits at the window crying until it is time for bed. On the days you are to come home, she gets up so early and starts bouncing around the house singing that her mommy’s coming home.”
“You do?” Twilight looked down at her daughter. She looked up at Twilight with her big round eyes and started nodding her head quickly.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”Twinkle Star exclaimed while nodding her head.
“Ok, you had better stop that, or your head will pop off.” Twilight used the old parenting trick. Twinkle Star immediately stopped nodding her head and held it with her forelegs, just to make sure that it wouldn’t pop off.
“Ok, well that settles that. I hope Princess Celestia won’t get mad for us moving Twinkle Star to Ponyville.”
“Now why would I get mad about a mother moving her daughter in to live with her?” In a bright flash of light, Princess Celestia appeared next to the group. With her arrival, everypony bowed down to her except Twilight, who smiled at her personal teacher, and Twinkle Star, who ran and hugged the Princess’s foreleg.
“Princess ‘Lestia!” The little filly exclaimed as she hugged the princess.
Princess Celestia scooped her up and hugged her back. “I’m glad to see you too, Twinkle Star.”
Twilight asked as the group got up. “Princess Celestia, what are you doing here?” She started, then after a pause, “Not that you aren’t welcome.”
“Word had just reached me that Twinkle Star was lost in the city, but I see that everything has worked out just fine.” The princess said as she put the little filly down. “Now then, about your decision to move Twinkle Star to Ponyville.”
“But you just said that you wouldn’t get mad about a mother moving her daughter in to live with her.” Applejack stated.
“No, I wouldn’t, but moving her to Ponyville will change your plans with Star Shine, Twilight.”
“I know, but I don’t want to leave Ponyville, but Star Shine’s apprenticeship is just about up and he’ll be getting a post soon and if I move Twinkle Star now, she will need to start school. I don’t want to leave Ponyville, but I want to see Star Shine on a more regular basis again. Oh, what to do, what to—” Twilight’s rambling was stopped when Rarity shoved a hoof into Twilight’s mouth.
“Thank you, Rarity,” Rainbow Dash started clapping slowly
“You’re welcome. Just please don’t expect me to do it again, ever,” Rarity said as she took her hoof out of Twilight’s mouth and started shaking it to remove Twilight’s drool with a disgusted look on her face.
“Sorry about that, everypony. I just don’t know what to do.”
“Twilight,” Princess Celestia cut Twilight off before she could start rambling again, “all things will work out if you just give them time. For now, however, I think we have a birthday party to plan.”
“Yes, mine!” Twinkle Star cheered.
“Oo, a birthday party! I know just what to do!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, then standing on her back hooves, she started listing off party items, “first, we’ll need a cake, and streamers, and don’t forget the balloons! Do you think I have time to go get my party cannon?”
“What, don’t you usually carry one with ya?” Applejack asked.
“That one’s broken, remember Twilight cut the fuse.”
“Sorry Pinkie, but remember Canterlot City Charter section 248 paragraph 7, no loud parties.” Twilight reminded her. Both Pinkie Pie and Twinkle Star moaned in disappointment.
“Well then, you might want to brace yourselves for this.” Princess Celestia said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. After everypony in the group covered their ears, she spoke in the Royal Canterlot Voice, “By royal decree, Twinkle Star, daughter of my personal student Twilight Sparkle, shall be allowed to have a loud party for her fifth birthday, so says Princess Celestia, Co-Sovereign of Equestria.”
After their hearing returned, Twinkle Star hugged the princess’s foreleg once again. “Thank you Princess ‘Lestia.”
“You’re welcome, my dear.”She smiled down affectionately at the little filly. Suddenly, her eyes went wide and she looked down at her other foreleg, where Pinkie Pie had it in a death grip
“Yes, thank you, princess!” Said pink pony said.
“You’re, ah, welcome.” The princess sounded very unsure, and slightly worried.
Suddenly, a flash of blue light blinded everypony. When they could see again, Princess Luna was standing near the group. “I heard the Royal Canterlot Voice being used, is everything OK?”
After Luna’s arrival, the party plans kicked into full gear. After a quick trip to Sugar Cube Corner Aided by Luna, Pinkie Pie brought back a new party cannon, along with a huge selection of pastries courtesy of the Cakes after they found out about Twinkle Star. One pull of the pull cord later, and the Grand Royal Ballroom was decorated for the party, which Princess Celestia allowed them to use after Twilight Velvet voiced her concerns about a cannon of any type going off inside her house.
The rest of the girls spent the rest of the day searching Canterlot for a gift for Twinkle Star, until Fluttershy pointed out that they had no clue what the little filly liked.
After that revelation, they headed back to Twilight’s home, begged her to include their names on one of the gifts Twilight got her daughter, then busied themselves helping Twilight Velvet with dinner.
After some small talk, and some embarrassing stories about Twilight’s foalhood, the guests were all given beds to sleep in for the night.
The next morning started out with some more small talk over a breakfast of massive proportions, the likes of which would give the Apple family reunion buffet a run for its money. Breakfast was interrupted by a knock on the door.
When Twilight Sparkle answered the door, Ditzy Doo in her mailpony uniform stood on the other side. “Hey Twilight, I have a letter for you.” Ditzy said as she handed Twilight an envelope.
“Thank you, Ditzy, but how did you know I was here and how did you find here?” Twilight asked as a group of curious ponies gathered around the door.
“Well, I tried to deliver it yesterday, put no one was home. Then delivering Magnum and Pearl’s mail, Spike informed me that you had come home to Canterlot. So after I got permission from the Postmaster, I hopped on the first train to Canterlot. I remembered where your parents lived from when I was younger.”
Just then, Twilight Velvet pushed her way up to the door. “Delilah Doo, is that really you?” She said with surprise in her voice.
“I don’t really go by that name any more, Mrs. Velvet.” Ditzy said downcast.
Twilight Velvet rushed out the door and gave Ditzy a big hug. “Oh, Delilah, we all thought you had died.”
Pushing back away from Twilight Velvet, Ditzy fixed her with her most serious, underped expression. “Yes, Mrs. Velvet, Delilah is dead. She is the past that didn’t want me. Ditzy is the pony who I am now. Ditzy is need, She has friends and a beautiful daughter. So Ditzy is who I am now, or Derpy Hooves if you prefer, I haven’t totally decided which one I want to go with yet, maybe I’ll just stick with both, let everypony else decide.”
“Alright. . . Ditzy, but I will be down some time to visit with you and get your side of what happened.”
“Just let me know when you’re coming and I’ll have the muffins ready. You and your family always were the kindest to me. Tell Shining and Cadence I said hi.” She turned around and started to head back towards the street when Twilight Sparkle called for her to hold up.
“Look, Ditzy, if you are free for the rest of today, we are holding a birthday party for my daughter, Twinkle Star. You’re welcome to join in.”
Ditzy looked at Twilight and cocked her head to one side.“So, little shy-beyond-all-belief Twilight actually found a stallion. I thought something looked different about you when I first saw you in Ponyville. It would be my honor to come to your daughter’s birthday party. When and where is it at?”
“Grand Royal Ballroom of the Canterlot Palace in a few hours. You’re more than welcome to come in and have some breakfast with us, too.
“Any muffins?”
Twilight chuckled, “Of course.”
“Then count me in.” Ditzy said as the two mares walked back into the house and joined everypony else who had already returned to eating.
Before Twilight returned to the table, she opened the envelope that Ditzy had gone out of her way to deliver. After reading the letter inside, Twilight gave a sad half chuckle and returned to the table. Twilight Velvet, seeing the expression on her daughter’s face, looked at her daughter with concern.
“Twilight, what’s wrong?” She asked
“It’s a letter from Star Shine. Walking Stick had decided to start his final tests, so he won’t be free until after next week, when he gets his own post.” Twilight’s voice was an odd mixture of happiness, sadness, pride, and fear.
“Well, that there is wonderful news, ain’t it?” Applejack asked.
“Yes, I guess.” Twilight said in that same odd voice.
“Hey,” Rainbow Dash sided up next to her and put a foreleg over her shoulders, “it’s like Princess Celestia said, everything will work out if you just give it time.”
“I guess you’re right, Dash.” Twilight said, her voice much more calm now.
“Of course I am! I am Rainbow Dash, after all.”
“There it is.” Applejack commented as the girls chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Twilight’s dad asked as he entered the dining room.
“Nothing, but about time you got up, dear.” Twilight Velvet said as she walked over and nuzzled her husband.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to Twilight, “Hey, Dad, you haven’t been properly introduced yet. Girls, this is my dad, Orion. Dad these are my friends from Ponyville, Applejack—”
“Howdy.” Applejack tipped her hat.
“—Rarity—”
“Hello.”
“—Pinkie Pie—”
“HI!”
“—Rainbow Dash—”
“Hey.”
“—and Fluttershy.” Fluttershy’s greeting was barely audible.
Twilight Velvet shook her head slightly, “I just got a sudden case of déjà vu.”
“Gesundheit,” Rainbow Dash said to Twilight Velvet. The rest of the girls and one stallion chuckled. “What’s so funny?”
“Don’t worry my dear,” Orion said to Rainbow Dash, “We’ll forgive you this one faux pas.”
“You’ll forgive me for what now?”
“It means—oh never mind. Déjà vu is a felling that you’ve done something before.”
“Oh.” Realization hit Rainbow Dash like a ton of bricks.
After breakfast, which included one very energetic Twinkle Star literally flying into her mother’s forelegs, the whole group headed off to the palace to start the day long party.
After about a half hour, “Happy Birthday little Twinkie!”
“Uncle Shiny, Cadence!” Twinkle star ran and leaped into the forelegs of her uncle.
“Hey, you two, I was worried that your duties would keep you away,” Twilight said as she walked over and hugged her brother and his girlfriend.
“And what, miss the birthday of my most favorite niece?” Shining Armor said as he nuzzled Twinkle Star.
“But Uncle Shiny, I’m your only niece.” Twinkle Star giggled.
“Then did I lie?” Shining asked, to which Twinkle Star giggled a no.
After putting his niece down so she could play pin the tail on the pony with Pinkie, Shining Armor scanned the room. “No Star Shine, huh.”
“Walking Stick started his final tests.”
“Already? Normally it take’s seven years before the final tests are given. Leave it to my sister to fall for a stallion with as much magic as her.”
“Oh I don’t know about that, I seem to remember that she used to be able to get the ice cream out of a freezer that had been locked.” Princess Cadence looked at her sternly.
“He he, what can I say, I was a filly who liked her ice cream.”
“Hi, and welcome to the party!” Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared between the new comers in a shower of confetti. They were shortly joined by the rest of the Ponyville ponies.
“Girls, this is my BBBFF, Shining Armor.”
“Big brother best friend forever. Gosh Twily, I had forgotten you used to call me that.” Shining Armor chuckled.
“And this is the best foalsitter around, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” Twilight said with a flourish.
“Please, just Cadence will be fine.”
“And these are my friends from Ponyville. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Ditzy Doo, and Pinkie Pie.” The girls just nodded at the mention of their name.
Cadence leaned over to her boyfriend, but said loud enough so that everypony could hear her, “Wow, you were right. Alright, the next time we go out is on me.”
Twilight gave Shining Armor a glare. “What, I was the one who believed you had made friends.” He defended himself.
Twilight rolled her eyes, “Anything for a free lunch.” She said as the rest of the group laughed.
Cadence nudged Shining Armor, who looked at her with a questioning look, then with a look of realization, “Oh, hey everypony, mom, dad, sis, Cadence and I are engaged.”
“Congratulations, my boy!” Orion said as he gave Shining Armor a pat on the back.
“Oh, my little colt is getting married!” Twilight Velvet started crying.
“About time,” Twilight said, to which Shining Armor replied by grabbing her head and messed up her hair with his hoof.
During the course of the day, the princesses made an appearance, as did Donut Joe, and Polly. Ruby Scepter made an appearance to give Twinkle Star her gift, and to inform her that she was moving to Ponyville to go to school in a quieter community. Both fillies squealed nearly loud enough to deafen everypony when Twinkle Star told her that she may move to Ponyville too.
It was early afternoon that Twilight found her daughter sleeping on a bench along the wall of the room. Covering her with a blanket she found nearby, she returned to the remaining guests to inform them that the guest of honor was down for the count. After a round of aww’s, they started to clean up, despite Twilight’s assurance that she and her parents could handle the mess.
After the cleanup, Twilight’s parents gathered up Twinkle Star and her presents and headed back to their house while Twilight and her friends headed off to Donut Joe’s bakery, Orion’s treat.
After they each had gotten a pastry and found a table to sit at, Twilight sighed. “So, I guess its now time to decide, isn’t it.”
“Ya mean about Twinkle Star?” Applejack asked.
“If she moves in with me at the library, I won’t have as much time to hang out with you girls.” Twilight started weighing the pros and cons until Rarity put a foreleg over her shoulders.
“Twilight, darling, I think you have already come to a decision and are just mulling it over right now.”
“Yeah, we all know how this conversation will end, sugarcube.”
“Oh yes, I think that would be the best solution for everypony involved.” Fluttershy spoke up.
“Yeah, and after you get her moved it we can have a welcome to Ponyville party for her,” Pinkie Pie said excitedly.
“Oh no, it would be too soon after her birthday party. I don’t want her to come to expect a party every week.” Twilight put her hoof down on the table with a little force to emphasize her point.
After a moment of silence, Rarity spoke up, “I always did think you would make a great mother some day.”
“Yeah, but who knew she had already had practice,” Rainbow Dash interjected as the rest of the group laughed.
After the laughter died down, Twilight cleared her throat, “Well then, just to make it official, I’m moving Twinkle Star to Ponyville with me.”