Fluttershy stared through the frosted up window, anxiously waiting for any sign of her little cousin - the cousin who she hadn't known existed until last summer. She glanced back at Discord was lazily spread out on a fluffy pink cloud sipping a mug of hot cocoa, though it was the mug that was disappearing rather than the liquid. "Discord, it's already dark and Violet's still not back yet. The blizzard's getting worse by the minute and I'm worried she's gotten swept up in the storm. You know she still getting used to having her wings back."
Once the truth about Violet's origin was cleared up, Celestia had returned Violet and Fluttershy's childhood memories that had been taken away from them all those years ago, feeling she owed the cousins that much. Fluttershy and Violet spent the entire afternoon of that day recalling funny moments from her childhood in Equestria that she hadn't been able to remember until now, even a memory involving Rainbow Dash getting her head stuck in a rabbit burrow when they were five. "I was trying to perform a loop-the-loop." Rainbow had said, embarrassed by the memory.
Discord paused and locked eyes with her. "Violet's sixteen Fluttershy, she's probably doing what teenagers do these days. Y'know, hang out in the mall or the bowling alley to escape the-" he gulped nervously. "snow - but my point is that Violet's probably found someplace to shelter from the storm. She's not dumb y'know," he said, taking another sip of his drink.
"I know that, but you know that it's not like her to be this late. I think we should go look for her."
Discord snapped out of his relaxed mood with his jaw dropped. Beads of sweat started to form on his forehead while he wrung his fingers. "Y-You mean, o-out in the snow?" he stammered.
Fluttershy was already finishing putting on her coat and hat, ready to go look for Violet. "We don't have to go outside on foot, you could just teleport us to her. I'm just putting on my coat just in case." Discord relaxed a little and sighed. He snapped his fingers and a thick woollen coat appeared on his body with the hood up over his head, with two cut out holes for his horns to go through. "Okay, but can we compromise first. I care about Violet like she's my little sister, but I don't want to get a cold. Once we find her, then we come straight back home - deal?"
Fluttershy cringed her nose in confusion. "But...I though you couldn't get sick - not including the Tazelworm incident, I mean - everyday pony illnesses?"
Discord stammered again, sensing Fluttershy was catching on to his white lie. "Uhh, perhaps we should find our little Violet."
Before Fluttershy could say anything else, Discord snapped his talons and teleported them to wherever Violet was located.
"Gah!" The young pegasus couple was startled awake by the sudden flash of light. Violet yelped as she was awoken from her sleep.
"What's this Violet, you and your colt having a party without us?" sniggered a voice.
Violet frowned, recognising that voice.
"Discord! What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"Yeah, what are you doing in my house?" Comet asked, not exactly thrilled about the unwanted guests standing in front of the crackling fireplace.
Violet suddenly felt herself being tackled by another familiar someone. "Oh thank Celestia you're okay Violet. I was so worried that you got caught in the storm. You nearly scared me to death, young lady!" Fluttershy cried, smothering her cousin with hugs and kisses.
Comet pulled Fluttershy off his girlfriend, to give her some air. "Miss Shy, she's fine. What are you two doing here anyway?"
"We came looking for Violet, it's dark outside if you hadn't noticed." Discord explained, pointing to the dark, frosty window with his thumb. Both Violet and Comet immediately looked towards the window. Seeing the black night outside the window through the many white flakes, Comet turned around to look back at the clock, reading that the time was 11:15pm.
"Oh my gosh!" he whirled his head around to the older couple. "I'm so sorry, we kinda fell asleep a little while after I brought Violet inside."
Violet nodded at her colt friend. "It's true, I almost went down in the storm, when Comet found me and brought inside. I'm sorry if I scared you Fluttershy." Violet explained, adding an apology at the end.
Fluttershy smiled at the teenage pegasus. "Apology accepted," she turned her head to look at Comet, who still had his wing wrapped around Violet. "Thank you for helping my cousin."
"Please, it was nothing." Comet turned to Violet. "I suppose this concludes our unexpected date then. I'll see you around again sometime in the future."
Violet smiled sweetly at him. "I look forward to it," she then pecked him on the lips.
"Gag! We're still here you know, you lovebirds!" Discord protested, playfully sticking his tongue out.
Everypony chuckled. Violet got up from the couch and returned her scarf to her neck. "Goodbye Comet," she said, waving her hoof.
"Goodbye Flower, see you next date."
Discord then snapped his fingers and the small family disappeared, leaving Comet alone in his living room.
"He called you 'Flower', what was that all about?" Discord asked cheekily, hanging up his coat on the coat rack.
Violet blushed, walking into the living room. "It's just a pet name, get over it!"
"I never said I had a problem Violet." he responded.
Violet stopped mid step, glancing back at the draconequus. "I know that. Just stop embarrassing me."
"I think it's time you head off to bed Violet." Fluttershy said, acting like a nurturing, but strict mother.
Violet pouted. "Come on Fluttershy, I was asleep for hours at Comet's place. I can't possible go to sleep now. Right now, I want to know what we are going to do for Hearths Warming. After all, I fail to see any tree in here," she said, waving her hoof as if to encompass the entire living room. "and Hearths Warming is two weeks away!"
Fluttershy chuckled. "I don't think we should worry about that, I talked with Twilight yesterday and she said that the Mayor is hosting a Hearths Warming Party in the Town Hall on Hearths Warming Day, I think Pinkie is helping out with the decorations along with Cheese Sandwich."
Violet giggled. "Pinkie must be pretty ecstatic about decorating the entire town, though she has been pretty busy. She might be a little tired out."
Discord cocked an eyebrow at her in surprise that Violet had even suggested such a thing. "Tired?" he stifled a laugh. "That's a first, Pinkie's a ball of energy."
Violet shrugged. "Even Pinkie needs a break every now and again."
"What about Cheese, I thought he was also a "super duper party pony" like Pinkie," Discord said, flexing his fingers in air quotes.
"Well that too -" Violet's brow furrowed as she thought about something that had been nagging her for a longwhile. "Fluttershy, will I get a chance to meet the rest of my family. Surely we both can't be orphans."
Fluttershy's face fell and she glanced at Discord briefly, the draconequus just shrugged clueless to whatever answer his love was searching for.
The yellow pegasus gulped and put a hoof to Violet's shoulder. "The thing is Violet, I haven't told my parents about you yet. My Mom, Celestia help me I don't know how she's going to react. If she sees you here in Equestria, she's going to wonder where her sister is and well..."
Fluttershy trailed off as Violet hung her head in sadness, but also anger that the rest of her family had no idea of her existence. "You must understand Violet that our mother's were Identical twins. If your aunt finds out that her twin is dead...I don't know if she could handle that pain. She was so stressed from the grief and worry after the departure, she miscarried my baby brother."
Discord and Violet stared at her in shock. Fluttershy felt a few tears fall down her cheeks as Discord scooped her up in his arms. "Oh Fluttershy, I'm sorry. My little butterfly, don't cry." he spoke tenderly stroking her mane to console her.
Violet gaped at Fluttershy. She had another cousin, one that she was never ever going to meet. "Fluttershy, I-I didn't know..."
Fluttershy wiped her eyes. "I know..." she whispered.
Violet gulped down her fear and guilt. "Fluttershy, I know exactly what it feels like and as it appears that we have both been affected by the decision, I understand completely. But I'm tired of being hidden away from my own family and there's no greater pain then not having family around at Hearths Warming."
Discord stared down at the pegasus in his arms. "She's got a point you know."
"It's not going to be easy, but I think it would be better if your Mom gets answers, that'll relieve the pain."
Fluttershy sighed, realising that Violet was right.
"Okay, you're absolutely right. I'll take you to my parents house tomorrow." she said, smiling a little.
Violet beamed brighter than the Sun.
Discord cleared his throat. "What about me?"
Fluttershy turned around to look her coltfriend in the eyes. "I think it's best if you stay home."
"Why? Are you afraid of what your parents are going to say when they see that their only daughter is dating the Lord of Chaos?" he hissed, annoyed.
"DISCORD!" Violet snapped, slightly ticked off. "Fluttershy means that it's a private family affair that we need to acknowledge, just us two. We are in no way excluding you."
Discord cleared his throat, embarrassed. "Right, sorry girls. I should've known better to assume you were cutting me out."
Fluttershy stepped towards the draconequus and Discord felt his heart beat quicker as she approached him. "You know we would never exclude you this close to Hearths Warming. That's not what the holiday is about."
The butter yellow pegasus fluttered up and kissed him passionately on the lips. "Ahem?" Violet coughed, blushing with embarrassment. "I'm still here you know,"
"We know," the couple said, cheekily grinning at her embarrassment.
Violet rolled her eyes. "Yup, new family, but they never fail to embarrass me."
Fluttershy and Violet stood at the front door of a cloud home. Both mares exchanged nervous glances as Fluttershy reached out a hoof for the doorbell. She hesitated for a moment, before turning to Violet. "Perhaps you should wait out here until I call you. I'll do the talking." Violet nodded, holding her treasured scarf against her neck. The cousins were standing outside the door to Fluttershy's foal hood home.
Violet faintly recognised the house having been there before on a visit when she was young. The teenage pegasus stepped out of sight between the front window and the door. Fluttershy raised her hoof up and rung the doorbell. The doorbell chimed from the inside and both mares could hear hoof steps approaching the door. The door opened and a middle-aged stallion with a green coat, white mane with a thick moustache stood in the doorway. His eyes widened when he saw his daughter. "Fluttershy!" he exclaimed, wrapping his forelegs around her. Fluttershy hugged him back, smiling sweetly.
"Dad, it's so good to see you." she said, pulling back from the hug. "Is Mom home? Because, there's something we need to talk about."
Cloudy Skies nodded. "Yes, of course your mother's home," he whirled his head around and called. "Rose, darling. Fluttershy's here, she wants to talk to you!"
An older female voice called back. "Fluttershy?" Violet heard another set of hoof steps approach the door and an older mare with short red hair that was starting to grey, wearing a jade necklace and glasses. "Fluttershy!" the mare gasped when she saw her daughter. "It's so great of you to visit us. Come on in, you must be tired."
Fluttershy followed her parents into the house and into the kitchen, where Mrs Shy or Rosey poured Fluttershy some camomile tea. Fluttershy held up her hoof. "Mom, there's something we need to talk about. It's about Aunt Posey."
The china teapot clattered onto the kitchen table and some tea spilt on the table cloth. Mr and Mrs Shy stared at Fluttershy in shock. "S-sweetheart, h-h-how did you know about Posey? Princess Celestia removed your memories!" Rosey stammered.
"I know she did, but she gave them back when...well, until recently I've had somepony else stay at my house."
"Somepony else?" Cloudy Skies asked, looking nervously at his wife and daughter.
"Yes...see; last summer, somepony arrived in Equestria unexpectedly and I let her stay at my cottage. I brought her with me today."
"You brought her with you?!" The Shy's gasped. Rosey looked ready to faint.
"She's waiting outside." Fluttershy climbed out of her chair and called: "You can come on in Violet,"
"Violet!"
The teenage pegasus nervously walked through the front door and into the kitchen as if in slow motion. Rosey gasped and a single hoof flew to her mouth to hide her shock, though her wide eyes gave away the emotion. Cloudy's jaw dropped when he saw the niece he hadn't seen since she was a little foal. "Violet-Rose," they said in unison.
Fluttershy stood proudly next to Violet and faced her parents. "Mom, Dad, you remember Violet-Rose don't you."
Violet shyly waved at her stunned Aunt and Uncle. "Hi,"
Rosey stepped down from the table and slowly approached her now grown up niece. Violet couldn't believe it. This was her mother's twin sister she was meeting for the first time. "Violet, is it really you? What are you doing here?!"
"I...I've come home."
"Home!" Rosey shrieked at a volume that was unusual for her. "Violet, do you know what would happen if the Queen finds out that you're here! Does my sister and her husband know you're here?!"
Violet and Fluttershy hung there heads. Rosey noticed and her face fell. "What? What's wrong?"
Violet gulped. "They...um...my parents...let's just say they are..." she trailed off before regaining her voice. "We lived happily in the Human World for a few years, until I was eleven. My Father was killed in a battle."
Cloudy and Rosey gasped. "No...not Danny!"
"I'm afraid so,"
Rosey suddenly felt a jab of panic. "What about my sister! Where's Posey! Is my sister here too!" she cried. Fluttershy and Violet's hearts broke for the mare.
"Aunt Posey, I regret to inform you that...you're sister is gone."
"What?"
"She was murdered by Queen Chrysalis when I was thirteen and I was left a homeless orphan moving from city to city and sleeping in alleyways." Violet choked back a sob.
Rosey shook her head. "No...no...no...no! You're lying! Not my sister!" she then let out a wail and collapsed to the floor. Fluttershy and her father picked her up and lead her over to a comforter and sat her down in it.
"How!" Cloudy demanded.
"Another gateway opened and Aunt Posey found it. She closed it but was trapped in Equestria. Chrysalis was waiting at the gate and she...well..." Fluttershy explained, quietly sobbing to herself.
"NOOOO!" Rosey cried, her glasses slipping down her tear stained muzzle.
"Rose, dearie. Your sister may have just stopped Chrysalis from invading the Human World." Cloudy said, trying to console his wife.
"Aunt Rosey, Uncle Cloudy, I arrived in Equestria by pure coincidence and have decided to stay here as I have no home back in the Human World. I've been living with Fluttershy for six months, but I wanted to have my entire family with me for Hearths Warming, including you both."
"It's true. That's why I brought her here, Mom and Dad." Fluttershy finished the explanation.
"What about Chrysalis? Aren't you worried she'll come back. Last time she attacked during the wedding of Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armour."
Violet shook her head. "I don't think we'll need to worry about Prissy Queen Chrissy anymore. I expelled her from Equestria using my powers, remember the Rainbow of Light."
Cloudy and Posey looked at each other, mouths agape, then back at their niece. Rosey sighed deeply, smiling and weeping tears of mixed emotional joy and sadness for her lost sister. It seemed that the reality set in faster than expected and she had excepted. "You are your mother through and through Violet. My sister would've been so proud of you. Last time we saw you you were only four, now you're all grown up."
"How old are you now Violet?" Cloudy asked, beaming with happy tears.
Violet grinned, wiping away a few stray tears. "Sixteen,"
"Sixteen! My how you've grown!" The stallion exclaimed.
Fluttershy herself felt a few stray tears leak from her eyes, drenching her fur. "Mom, are you okay?"
Rosey smiled weakly at her daughter. "I'll be fine, I felt that my sister was gone years ago, but I never let go of her memory. How could I forget my only twin. Will we be seeing you two on Hearths Warming."
Violet and Fluttershy breathed sighs of relief. Everything was going to be okay. "Actually Mom, there's going to be a Hearths Warming Party in the Ponyville Town Hall, do you think you'd be able to make it?"
"We would love to attend," The Shy's said.
Violet beamed brighter than before. "That's great! I'll have my friends and family together for Hearths Warming after two years of being alone. Oh, there's so much I have to tell you."
"We look forward to hearing it."