//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Road to Us // by BoredAuthor817 //------------------------------// Sunset reviewed the lists again. Traveling to an alternate world was much different than to the next town over. Specifically, and something she was grateful for, was that she didn't have to worry about clothes beyond what they would wear entering and exiting the portal. An aspect she appreciated all the more when her three-year-old approached her, buck naked. “I pooped!” he proclaimed triumphantly. Sunset's fears were quickly alleviated when she saw he was clean. “Very good, Honey!” she smiled, “Now, where are your clothes?” The toddler pointed in the direction from whence he came. “Okay,” she took his little hand, “let's see about getting them back on you.” On the walk to the bathroom, she glimpsed of another streaker. “Stardust Glitter! Put your clothes back on!” The six-year-old stood in her bedroom doorway, arms crossed, a pout on her face. “No fair!” she protested, pointing to her younger brother, “How come he gets to run around naked?” “Honey doesn't get to run around naked” Sunset explained, “We're on our way to put his clothes on right now, and I suggest you do the same.” She sighed inwardly. She was in for a time explaining to this one how was appropriate to be without clothes in Equestria, but not in this world. “Told you.” The older sister rolled her eyes as she turned a page of her book. “Rose, are you all set?” Without looking up from her book, Rose pointed to the small backpack at the foot of her bed. “All right there.” “Good. Where's your other brother?” “In his room. Where else?” “Right...” With her youngest looking a little less like a wild-man, Sunset went off to see about her oldest. “Even,” she knocked on his door. Silence. “Even!” Sunset entered the bedroom. Amidst the mess, she found the young teen on his bed, headphones on, air-drumming to his tunes. He jumped when he noticed his mother's presence. Sunset folded her arms. “I trust you're ready to go?” “Kinda” he replied, “I have my bag packed.” “What about this place?” she gestured to the room, “I asked you to tidy it up.” There was, at least, one corner of the room which was clean: the one where he kept all his instruments. “Why?” the boy asked, “It's not like I share it with anybody.” “You'll be sharing it with insects and rodents, if you're not careful.” “Then we'll just make a call to Auntie Fluttershy. Really, mom, s'not that big of a deal.” “It will be a big deal if you don't have any clean socks or underwear.” He smirked. “Commando is always an option.” “Not when you don't have any pants.” That seemed to have stumped the teen. Sunset eyed Even's empty laundry basket. “Clean up. We'll do laundry when we get back.” Even sighed. “Okay.” Sunset turned to return to her lists. “Make it quick. We're leaving as soon as Mom gets home. Also,” she pointed to the MP3 player on the bed, “that stays here.” --- Wallflower entered the residence with joyful announcement. Instantly, the sound of little feet came galloping down the hall and into her arms. She wrapped herself around them and generously bestowed her love upon her two youngest. “All set to go?” she greeted Sunset. “Just about. A few last-minute things. Plus, you need to change. Your clothes are on the bed.” “Yeah, Mommy,” Honey said, tugging at Wallflower's suite jacket, “this is a family trip, not a business trip!” “I hear you, I hear you!” Wallflower teased, kissing his little nose. “Just give mommy a few minutes. Okay?” Rising to her feet, she gave her wife a proper kiss, much to the disgust of the young ones. --- As Wallflower locked up, Sunset waited in the minivan with the kids. With her wife in and seat belt on, she backed out of the driveway. Wallflower turned to her brood in the back seats. “You kids all excited to go to Equestria?” “Yeah!” Stardust and Honey cheered, much to the discomfort of their older siblings. “Are we really gonna be ponies?” Stardust asked. “Yep” Sunset replied, glancing into the rear view mirror, “Everypony there is one.” “But, there're other creatures there too, right?” asked Even, “Not everybody is a pony.” “True. But, I'm a pony, your mom's a pony. All humans here are ponies over there.” Even folded his arms in a huff. “I'd rather be a dragon.” “Dragons are cool!” yelled Honey. “There are more to just those ponies than meets the eye” Rose schooled her brothers. “You have the three tribes: Earth, Unicorn, and Pegasi. Three different groups living and working together in harmony. “But, Mommy Flower was born in this world. While Mommy Sunny was born in Equestria. Same with Even.” “How come I wasn't born in Equestria?” Stardust asked. “By the time the rest of you all came along, we had already moved to Canterlot City” Wallflower explained. Stardust turned to her brother. “Do you remember living there?” Even shook his head. Sunset checked the road before turning. “He was only two when we moved. While we're there, we'll show you the house we lived in.” “And everyone here has a pony double in Equestria” Honey said. “Yes” Sunset chuckled. “Do you think we'll see Mommy Flower's double?” Stardust asked. “Possible” Wallflower shrugged. “Though, probably as likely as seeing Mommy Sunny's double here.” Even leaned forward. “Do you think we'll come across our doubles?” “Highly doubt it” Sunset chuckled, “You kids are one of a kind.” “Are we gonna see Grandma while we're there?” asked Rose. Sunset's shoulders dropped slightly. “I hope so. I told her we were coming. But, with our visit coinciding with the Annual Princess Summit, it's hard to make it work. However, if we can't see her this trip, she said she'll come over here once it's done.” She pulled into the Canterlot High School back parking lot and found a spot to park the van in the shade. As the pack jumped out the vehicle, Sunset took a moment to glance at the wooded area behind the school. She smiled as she felt an arm snake around her own. “Funny how this is were it all started, huh?” Wallflower asked. “Yeah,” Sunset sighed, “seems like so long ago.” “We've come a long way, haven't we?” Sunset smiled, interlacing their fingers. “Yep.” They marched their way around the building. Along their journey, they came upon the Alumni Garden. Here, again, Sunset stopped for a brief moment. “This is the garden you helped design,” Rose said, “right, Mom?” “I worked with the designer” Wallflower clarified. She smiled, pulling Sunset closer. “It's also the garden that brought us back together.” Stardust thought she'd gag as she watched her parents share a kiss. “Enough with the mushy stuff! Let's. Go. Get. Ponified!” “Pony-fried!” echoed Honey.