//------------------------------// // Chapter 40: Box // Story: Ponyville Days // by Cirrus Sky //------------------------------// After the high drama of the last holiday, this celebration went off without a hitch. All the family, Luna and Celestia included, exchanged gifts and ate a meal. They watched films and talked together. As the day came to a close the conversations split into groups. There was a conversation between Celestia and Velvet as they moved dinner plates and serving dishes to the kitchen. Shining and Night worked on the washing and loading some to the dishwasher, talking away about future plans. With Firefly, Luna and Twilight playing pool in the basement, Rainbow and Dath were free to talk. “Hey kid, want to chat with your old man a little?” Dath looked across at Rainbow, they had been half-heartedly watching sports on TV, a re-run of an air race they both knew the result of. “Sure Dad.” Rainbow flicked the TV off and sat around to talk with him. “It isn't anything bad right?” She looked a little worried, a request to talk like that wasn't common. “Nothing to worry about Rainbow, not at all.” Dath looked around a moment, checking no one was within hearing or sight. Then, sure they were alone, he pulled a something from his pocket. It was an old compass case; round leather and about the size of a pocket watch. Rainbow had seen it before, her father always carried it around. A family heirloom. “I was thinking, you're a grown woman now and I realised you've got a pretty serious relationship.” Dath opened the case. “I figured it when we were in that forest looking for her.” Looking up from the case he grinned at Rainbow. “So you'll probably need this.” He reached out to her, something small in his hand. “Is this seriously what I think it is?” Rainbow blinked and took the ring he held out. It was a simple thing, white gold with a little cerise stone held in place by tiny lightning bolt shapes. Rainbow held it almost reverently. “Grand-gram's engagement ring.” Dath said. “My dad used it, I used it. You can too.” He chuckled. “We mostly got different ones after though. Your mom would never have let me get it altered to fit her, ' too much history to go chopping it about.' were her exact words.” “Heh, yeah. I can see Twilight agreeing with her.” Rainbow looked at the ring, she was surprised not to feel freaked by the idea of proposing to Twilight. In fact she had a warm thought about how to do it, where to do it and how her girlfriend would react. “So there it is. You'll know when it is needed.” Dath smiled. “I'm proud of you, you know?” “Thanks dad.” Rainbow stood to put the ring carefully into the inner pocket of her jacket, the bomber jacket was hanging on the chair behind Dath. Safely stowed away. Rainbow sat down to give her father a hug. “Now I just have to not get too excited and jump ahead right?” “Tell me about it! My mom handed it over and suddenly every moment I wanted to ask!” Dath laughed with Rainbow. Wondering how even a year ago they were still estranged and so far apart. He was glad, happy, to give the heirloom to his daughter to continue the family tradition. To invite another amazing woman to join their family. -*- “I thought I was the one who hustled at pool.” Luna grumbled from the couch as Twilight beat Firefly again. “This is my family pool table.” Twilight answered back. “I found it a great tool to unwind after a few stressful days.” “Would it be wrong to take her out to bars for actual hustling?” Firefly racked the cue and took a seat beside Luna. “We would make a killing.” “I will not be party to illegal activities.” Twilight was setting up another game. She didn't expect to play against them again, but it was her habit to have it set up after finishing. “Besides, everyone local to me knows I can beat them with one hand behind my back.” “Seriously?!” Luna snorted a laugh. “How?” “Rainbow and Applejack are really competitive against each other, their pool games ended up dominating our nights out. So I dared them to try against me, with one hand tied behind my back. If I won they would stop.” Twilight grinned and took the space between her aunt and her girlfriend's Mom. “I won. AJ first, then Rainbow. To prove it wasn't a fluke.” She giggled. “It is all just math after all.” “That doesn't rule out the city...” Firefly mused. Patting Twilight's shoulder to reassure her. “Joking.” “I got that.” Twilight smiled back. “Rainbow is the same when she jokes.” “You know, I'm glad she met you Twilight.” Firefly said, putting an arm around the girl in a hug. “I was worried she would be really lonely.” She sighed. “Lying in a hospital bed, I realised that I'd hardly spoken to her for years and there I was escaping fate by the skin of my teeth. I did know she had friends at the least. I am so happy that she has a partner like you.” Twilight dipped her head to hide a blush. “Thanks.” She squeaked. “I love her.” It was easy to say, and Firefly clinched her closer. Luna smiled and nudged her niece softly. “We're all happy for you Twilight, the whole family.” Luna was using every opportunity to call Twilight her family, happy with the new situation and claiming her niece. Twilight was getting used to it, she was still a little unsure but all her family was happy with it so no feelings were getting hurt. This holiday visit had been a great idea after all. -*- With the holiday season passed the little family unit back home in Ponyville, it was back to work. Rainbow still had a lot of ambitions for the airfield, with the emergency flights running so well and helping the area, she was wondering again about getting a flight school on site. Not to mention the new museum plan for Spectrum's collection of old planes. With her Mom in the control room and her dad curating the history, she had the support and skills needed for further expansion. The scholar of the household was busy too. Accepting her past, her parentage and looking to the future. Twilight had begun a new research project for a new thesis. Something that drew on her own family and the revelations at the close of the year. Something that looked into families and their function, how things were affected by adoption and what those adopted felt about themselves and the family unit. There was a real chance to help others with their own situations, to shed some light on situations and emotions that were hidden in the past by societal demand and bureaucratic requirement. With information so much easier to come by, by accident or design, Twilight knew that more research was needed. With her unique insight she'd go a long way to fill the gaps. -*- Even with plenty of work to do daily and for the future, Rainbow could always see the ring in her minds eye. She had hidden it away so Twilight couldn't stumble upon it, such a sign of future plans that her egghead would go into a spin. But she knew exactly where it was and the image was prompting her to ask the question. After all, Rainbow loved Twilight and she wanted the whole world to know. Maybe she would have to ask sooner rather than later