Two weeks after the Friendship Games, as Twilight Sparkle begins to blossom in the new environment of Canterlot High School, her brother invites her to an old favorite of theirs growing up — Sweet Snacks Café.
But mixed in with the taste of milkshakes is the need for closure and understanding, as the happy changes in Twilight's life belie the sour path it took to get to them — and the responsibility Shining Armor feels in laying that path.
Cover art by daOtterGuy, who pre-read the story along with The Sleepless Beholder and Avery Day. Written for the Bean's Writing Group prompt "Visiting a candy shop". Special thanks to TCC56 and Dewdrops on the Grass for their suggestions on Shining and Twilight's favorite milkshake flavors.
In continuity with Together from Canterlot to Canterlot, set under two weeks before the start of that story.
Featured on 4/6/23-4/8/23!
really cute story!
I adore the Sparkle siblings.
"Big Brother Best Friend Forever song intensifies"
This is the kind of sibling relationship I wish I could've ever had with my siblings. Talk about getting along well, and being respectful about actually listening to each other. I thought that part especially was meaningful, that both of them allowed the other to say everything they needed to rather than diving in to interrupt after hearing just one aspect of it and ripping stuff to pieces. How many times would I have loved that same kind of respect, especially at Twilight's age?
I thought there were a lot of great character insights here too, especially regarding Twilight's anxiety, but I also like the little details, like that she had had a crush on the most popular girl in school. (Who I presume was Fleur.) It's just plain adorable, picturing Twilight with a goofy grin on her face, doodling away at a picture of her crush.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, absolutely beautiful, fantastic character work Eileen.
Dang it, you're making me hit my monthly emotional limit too soon!
Aww, this was cute.
I love the sibling dynamic with Twilight and Shining, honestly we should have gotten this as a short or focus in Equestria Girls; cause dealing with Cinch and all of that... you ain't gonna move on that easily.
But I do love how you handled it, I think it works really well. Solid job!
Happen to know a similar story like this one for a particular video game film that just wrapped up its filming after many set backs its had since first being announced 8 years ago. Btw, I can tell the good witch Azura is a owl house reference!
Oh?
Loved this during the pre-read, and love it even more now that it's finished. Excellent work with this, and thank you so much for sharing it!
Not Myceneighan?
In any case, great exploration of a little-considered aspect of Friendship Games. This talk needed to happen, and I’m glad it did. Also, great use of ladybugs at the end. The mental image of a little Twilight all but physically dragging Shining into bug hunts is truly delightful. Thank you for a lovely read.
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Heh. Would consider it, except I was making a specific reference there.
Shining Armor is a good guy and a good big brother. Not flawless, but he tries his best, and that best is quite a lot.
Also, it totally makes more sense for Shining to have the ladybuy phobia!
Great work on this story.
Stories like this just remind me of all the missed opportunities in canon. This is the sort of scene that we should've seen in the animation. Thank you for filling that gap.
I wish we could've had a scene like this—one more example of EG's lost potential.
That was a good story.