Wallflower was awoken not to the tender touch of her wife encased around her, nor was it to the heavenly music resounding through the castle—though, both were also the case—but it was to a panicked scream from down the hall.
She quickly sat up. “What was that?”
“It sounded like Even!” Sunset ignited her horn and was gone in a red flash.
Wallflower followed, galloping out the door. She came to a halt at the landing. A couple guards had already assembled, summoned by the cry. Above, floated Even, a bright light emanating from him. His younger siblings looked equally as scared.
“What's happening?” he cried.
Sunset tried to soothe her son. It didn't seem to be working.
"What?" he yelped.
"It's okay, Even. It's completely natural. Just relax and let it happen.”
Though it felt against his instincts, Even knew he could trust his mother. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and let the feeling take him. Before he knew it, he was back on the floor and everything seemed returned to normal.
Even looked up to see his mothers brightly smiling. His siblings looked at him in wonder. Though, they seemed to be looking at a particular part of him. “W-what just happened?”
Sunset nuzzled him. “A beautiful and wondrous thing.”
Even followed is siblings' gazes, eliciting a gasp. “I have a butt-mark?” he pranced in excitement, “I have a butt-mark!”
“Probably shouldn't put it that way...” Wallflower winced.
“BUTT-MARK!”
---
Celestia viewed her eldest grandchild with pride.
“I got a butt-mark!” Even shouted, waving his rump under everyone's noses.
Wallflower stood off to the side with her wife, nudging her gently. “Whatcha thinking?”
Sunset sighed, shaking her head. “Seems like just yesterday he was this little bundle in our arms. Now, look at him.”
Wallflower looked on sadly. “They grow up quickly, don't they? What did you say his cutie mark meant?”
“That he's musically gifted.”
“Well," she laughed, "we knew that. I mean, look at his mom.”
“Yes, but he needed to know it. I guess in playing that yovidaphone, he figured it out.”
---
Celestia saw her family to the train station.
“Promise you'll come visit us soon?” Stardust pouted.
“I promise” the grandmother smiled, “Just a few more days here, then back to Canterlot to see how Blueblood is carrying on. Then, I'm off to spend some more time with you.”
“Yay!” Honey grabbed her tightly.
Sunset shared in the hug. “Thanks for everything, Mom.”
“No problem, sweetie” she nuzzled her daughter. “Now, you all enjoy the rest of your trip.”
Wallflower helped the children into the car. “We will.”
The children waved to their grandmother as the train pulled away from station. With the Crystal Empire soon far behind them, they settled in for the long trip.
“You've never been to Manehatten before?” Rose sounded shocked.
“It was years ago” Sunset explained, “I was just a small filly. Mom had brought me so I wouldn't be in the huge castle alone. I spent most all my time in the hotel. And, even though we went out, I have no memory of it.”
“So, we'll all be seeing the city for the first time” Even said.
“That's correct.”
Stardust sat up. “What're we gonna do there?”
“Well,” she laid out travel brochures, “the museums and historic sites are a definite must. Aside from that, it's whatever.
“We have a long ride ahead of us. Why don't you go through and see what you might want to do?”
The children happily pouring through the literature, the parents settled back and enjoyed the show.
Sunset smiled, spying the diamond necklace around Wallflower's neck. “You ready for this?”
“Another fifteen years?” Wallflower grinned, “Sure. Couldn't be nearly as bad as the first. As long as I've got you, might as well be a hundred.” Their noses pressed together.
“I'll remember to check back with you after a hundred years to see what you still think.” She started to lean in for a kiss, but a little ball of fur got in her way.
Honey held up a flier for the zoo. “I wanna see the animals!”
“That sounds like fun” Wallflower smiled, “What else did you find?”
Even showed a poster. “They're holding an open-air concert in the park.”
“The Wonderbolts are performing” jumped Stardust.
Rose flipped through a magazine. “I'd like to see a musical.”
“That all sounds very exciting!" Sunset turned to Wallflower, "What does mommy say?”
Wallflower took her wife's hoof, gently nuzzling her. “I love it all. Whatever we do, we'll make it an adventure.