Two ponies were walking down a dirt road, one pink and one purple. All along the road were various rocks and trees of every shape and size. As they proceeded down the road, the trees became less and less common. The purple pony held a nervous expression.
“Twilight?” Pinkie asked. “Are you all right?”
“Oh I’m just fine Pinkie,” she responded. “It’s not like I’m incredibly nervous because I’m meeting your family for the very first time or anything, oh no. I’m just bubbling with glee.”
“Well that’s good to hear. Knowing you, I thought you would be worried about such a little thing like meeting my family. Then you would become more nervous with each step you took. And then you would think that you had to prove to them that you deserved to stand by my side. But thanks for dissipating my fears Twilight.”
“Pinkie, that’s exactly what…”
“Hey look, we’re here!” Pinkie interrupted. Up ahead was an open field with rocks in it. Behind the rocks was a wooden fence surrounding a small house, a silo, and a windmill. Three ponies were hard at work in the fields: a brown earth pony with a hat over a gray mane, a light gray earth pony with an even darker gray mane, and an amethyst pony with a light gray mane and tail. A large wagon sat in between the three.
“Hi everypony!” Pinkie shouted. All three ponies looked up at her and smiled. Twilight and Pinkie approached them.
“Hello Pinkamenia,” the brown pony said. “The trip wasn’t too taxing I hope?”
“Nope, not at all,” Pinkie turned to Twilight. “Twilight, this is my dad, Clyde Pie.” The brown pony took off his hat and bowed.
“And my sisters: Blinkie Pie.” Pinkie pointed at the amethyst pony.
“Hello,” Blinkie said. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And Inkie Pie.” Pinkie pointed to the last pony. Said pony shied away and mumbled something that sounded like a hello.
“Family, this is Twilight.” Every member of Pinkie’s family smiled.
“Hello,” Twilight said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
“Likewise,” Clyde said. “Pinkie, would you mind going inside and helping your mother? And could you two move this haul into the silo? I need to talk to Twilight.” Pinkie vigorously nodded and ran into the house. Inkie attached the wagon to Blinkie and the two walked towards the silo. Clyde turned his attention to Twilight. Twilight nervously shuffled her hooves.
“Mr. Pie,” she began. “I just want you to know that I care for Pinkie just as much as you do and…”
“Oh I’m well aware of what you and my daughter have been up to,” he said. Twilight blanched. “And I know what you’re probably assuming right now. Right now, you think you have to win my approval so that you can keep seeing my daughter. You think that you have to prove something to me. Does that sound about right?” Twilight just stared at him.
“Relax, dear,” Clyde laughed. “I’m not a walking cliché. As long as you make my daughter happy, then you’re alright in my book.” Twilight gave a sigh of relief.
“However,” he continued. Twilight became tense. “it’s not my approval that you have to win over.”
“Then whose do I have to…” Before Twilight could finish that thought, the sound rumbling reached her ears. Both Clyde and Twilight looked towards the sound. On Clyde’s face was a smile while Twilight’s face held confusion. Off in the distance a black spot was approaching them. The sound of two ponies running together echoed in the field, but all they could see was that one black spot. As it got closer, Twilight took in the details. What looked like a large black pony with yellow eyes was approaching them. His mane was long and unkempt. The pony seemed to be heading towards them. When he got closer, Twilight’s eyes widened. This pony, for some reason, had eight legs. He stopped in front of the two and towered over them. Twilight moved herself between Clyde and the giant and her horn lit up.
“Don’t worry Mr. Pie,” she said. “I’ll keep you safe from…”
“Grandpa!” two voices shouted. Both Inkie and Blinkie tackled the eight legged pony to the ground. All three of them tumbled into a laughing mess. Clyde walked towards the pile of ponies.
“Hello father,” he said. “It’s good to see you again.” Clyde’s daughters untangled themselves from the pony and they all got up.
“Clyde,” the pony said. “Are you too old to give your father a hug?” The pony wrapped four of his legs around Clyde and Clyde attempted to return the hug. When the pony let go, he turned his attention to Twilight.
“And who is this?” he asked. He lowered his head and faced Twilight.
“Father,” Clyde began. “this is Twilight. Twilight, this is my father, Sleipnir.” Twilight gawked.
“H-Hello there,” she stuttered. “My name is Twilight Sparkle. It’s nice to meet you.” Sleipnir smiled.
“Is this the one that’s…” Clyde, Inkie, and Blinkie all nodded. A bellowing laugh came from Sleipnir. The laugh seemed to make the planet itself shake. Twilight struggled to stand. “Oh, he is going to have fun with you.” Twilight’s face, again, acquired a confused expression.
“Who are you talking about?” she asked. All four Pie family members matched her expression.
“You mean she hasn’t talked about her Granny Pie?” Sleipnir asked.
“The one who taught her everything she knows about laughter?” Clyde’s head tilted.
“The one whose opinion matters the most to Pinkie?” Blinkie blinked.
“The one who she usually always talks about when the topic of family is brought up?” Inkie raised an eyebrow. Twilight tapped her chin.
“She has brought up Granny Pie before,” she said. “She said that Granny was important. I always assumed she meant grandmother. I didn’t know she was talking about…” Pinkie rushed out and stood between her family and Twilight.
“Hi Grampy!” she said hugging Sleipnir. “Granny Pie is coming! My spine was shuddering, so he should be here any second!” As she finished her statement, the skies darkened. Lightning fell from storm clouds and thunder rolled. All of the Pie family was looking to the sky with smiles on their faces, Twilight followed their example and looked up. The clouds rushed down to the ground and all of their eyes followed it. The clouds landed a few feet away from them and formed a creature. The creature stood up on two legs. It was a bipedal creature with dark purple tights wrapped on its legs. It was wearing a shirt that was a slightly lighter shade of purple. Across the creature’s waist was a belt with a golden ring in its center. At the creature’s shoulders was a bluish deep purple cloak held by another golden ring. At the top of its head was long black hair. A smile was on its face as he opened his arms.
“Granny Pie!” Pinkie yelled. Both her and her sisters approached the creature and embraced it a hug. Pinkie reached for its nose and pulled it off its face. “I got your nose!”
“Well,” it said with a male voice. One of his hands covered Pinkie’s face. He then ripped his hand away and Pinkie’s face was on the hand’s palm. Twilight stared in horror. “I’ve got your face!” Everyone except for Twilight laughed. The Pie sisters broke off the hug and stood around him.
“Twilight,” Pinkie’s face said. “this is my Granny Pie.” Her body gestured to him as she was talking.
“A-as in grandfather?” she trembled. Pinkie’s head shook side to side. The creature put his hand where Pinkie’s face would have been. When he moved it away, Twilight was greeted by Pinkie’s smiling face.
“Nope,” she shook her head. “This is my great grandmother, Granny Pie Loki!” Loki took his nose from Pinkie and reattached it onto his face.
“I…but…how…” Sleipnir walked to Loki and brushed his head along the Loki’s chest. With his left hand, Loki pet Sleipnir. Clyde put his hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. On his face was a gentle smile.
“Remember how I said it wasn’t my approval you needed?” Twilight gave a weak nod. “My grandmother over there, it’s his approval you need. Best of luck.”
Twilight then did what any rational pony would do: she fainted.