//------------------------------//
// A Morning Trot 
// Story: The Ties that Bind 
// by the7Saviors 
//------------------------------//

With no pegasi controlling the weather this far outside the Equestrian mainland, the cold winter was slowly and naturally beginning to give way to a still somewhat chilly spring. It had all but stopped snowing, though the remaining snow covering the land had yet to melt.

The day following Sunset's story marked somewhat of return to normalcy for the three fillies. After a warm breakfast by the fireplace, Trixie had chosen to pick up her studies again while Twilight and Sunset opted to take a trot outside of the cottage. It was during this trot that Twilight told Sunset about her worries regarding her family.

"So you really think these mysterious ponies..." Sunset trailed off, unable to finish the sentence for fear of upsetting her friend. Thankfully Twilight understood and gave melancholy sigh as she nodded.

"I want to say that I wish I could remember but honestly, I'm still not sure I want to know," she said, keeping her eyes on the snowy path. She gave a slight shudder that had nothing to do with the cold air, "what I do remember terrifies me, but I know I can't keep avoiding the issue forever."

She turned to Sunset and flashed her a hopeful smile as she continued, "I was actually hoping you and Trixie could help me find out more about what happened to them - when we get the chance I mean."

"If we get the chance, sure," Sunset replied with a reassuring smile of her own. She then frowned and looked ahead of her, "If your family is still out there, they probably miss you as much as you miss them," her frown deepened, "and if they're gone..."

"If they're gone," Twilight finished, hanging her head, "then I might as well consider you, Trixie, and Uncle Scroll my new family."

Sunset froze in her tracks.

"W-What?" she stammered, taken aback, "what are you talking about? Don't you have any extended family?"

"Just an uncle who I haven't seen since I was a newborn foal," Twilight answered. She shook her head slowly, "from what my mom told me awhile back, him and my dad had a violent falling out years ago and he moved somewhere outside Equestria - near the griffon territories I think," she shrugged, "I have no idea where he is now."

"And that's it?" Sunset asked worriedly, "you don't any other family?"

"Not that I know of," Twilight said with another shake of her head, "my family may have been of minor nobility, but it was starting to die out as a house long before I was born - or that's what my dad told me anyway."

"Wait, you're nobility?" Sunset exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, right," Twilight stopped and gave her a sheepish grin, "I mentioned it to Trixie, but I never told you."

"No," Sunset replied, still a bit stunned, "no you didn't."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much," Twilight said dismissively as she began trotting forward again, "like I said, my family was well respected back in the day, but it's since died out to the point that my immediate family and uncle are the only ones left... if they're still alive that is."

"Huh," Sunset responded thoughtfully. She shrugged and turned to the lavender filly with a warm smile, "well, if you ever need help finding out about your parents or brother, I've got your back, and I'm sure Trixie will say the same."

Twilight gave her another grateful smile as they continued along the sparsely forested path. They maintained a companionable silence as they observed the white scenery. Leafless, snow covered trees on either side of the two creaked and groaned in the slight breeze that blew by. 

Twilight watched with a raised eyebrow as a squirrel poked its head out of one of the trees and eyed them warily. After a minute it seemed to nod its head in affirmation of... something, and disappear back into the tree.

"Maybe Trixie was onto something after all," Twilight muttered to herself.

"what was that?" Sunset asked curiously.

"Nothing, Sunset," Twilight said with a quick shake of her head, "don't worry about it."

Sunset raised an eyebrow, but shrugged it off in the end. The path ahead of them curved slightly and they soon came across a low bridge resting over a small river. They both silently agreed to take a rest by the river and made their way over to the bridge.

"You know," Twilight mused aloud as they sat near the edge of the bridge, "it's nice to just be able to come outside and relax once in awhile."

Sunset nodded before turning to Twilight with a look of bemusement, "don't you and Trixie come out here all the time?"

"We never make it this far," Twilight said with a small chuckle, "Trixie always manages to rile up some wild animal nearby and get us chased all the way back to the cottage."

Twilight and Sunset shared a small laugh before turning to stare out at the river. After a moment Twilight spoke up.

"Hey, Sunset?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever miss them?" she turned to face Sunset, "your caretaker from the orphanage and the other orphans, I mean. I'm assuming you weren't there by yourself... were you?"

"No, there were others there with me, and of course I miss them," she answered with  wistful sigh. She look off into the distance, as though lost in a memory, "I never even stopped by before I left Canterlot."

Sunset turned to Twilight to see her wearing a disapproving frown.

"Hey, don't look at me like that," she said raising her hooves defensively, "I had a lot on my mind at the time!" she lowered her hooves and hung her head, "and besides, I didn't know if Celestia knew I had left or if she had anypony out looking for me... so I just hightailed it out of the city as soon as I escaped the castle."

Twilight's disapproving frown softened and she nodded in understanding.

"I guess you're right," she replied, "it's just sad though, not being able to say goodbye."

"Yeah," Sunset agreed, "yeah it is."

"Do you think you'll ever go back?"

Sunset was quiet for a long time and Twilight could tell she was mulling it over. She turned her gaze back to the river, content to let the orange filly think about her answer.

"Well..." Sunset finally began, "you're planning on going back as soon as you get the chance, right?"

Twilight continued to stare out at the slow moving stream, as she though about her own answer before giving a slow thoughtful nod.

"Yeah," she said without turning to Sunset, "I think I'm gonna have to if I want any real answers."

"Then..." Sunset replied hesitantly. After a second she shook her head and looked back to Twilight with a determined expression, "then I'll go with you."

Twilight finally turned to Sunset, her eyes widened in surprise.

"You don't have to do that, Sunset," she said, "if the Princess catches you-"

"I already told you I'd help you find out about your family," Sunset cut in sharply. Her conviction faltered for a moment, "to be honest, I really don't want to go back, but I do want to see Summer Breeze and the others at least one more time."

She schooled her features and looked at Twilight again, "If you go back to Canterlot, I'll be right behind you."

Twilight's shocked expression fell away and was replaced by a thankful smile as she hugged the the older filly.

"Thanks, Sunset," she said quietly, "that means a lot ot me."

Sunset gave an awkward chuckle and patted the lavender filly on the back.

"just... do your best to avoid the castle when we go, alright?"

Twilight pulled back and nodded.

Sunset shivered and swept her gaze across her surroundings.

"Well I think that's enough nature for today," she gave Twilight a questioning glance, "want to head back?"

Twilight nodded her affirmation and the two fillies began their trot back home.