//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: A Checkup/Equestria’s First Thanksgiving // Story: Eric Sparkle and the Locket of Prophecies // by Skywalker215 //------------------------------// The next day, after breakfast, Twilight and Eric were headed for the train station. She lowered herself, then he climbed on her back. “Mommy, why are we going to the train station?” Eric asked. “We’re going to Canterlot Hospital, for an appointment,” Twilight replied. “Why is that?” Eric asked again. “I thought about it yesterday and I figured it would be best for you to get a shot for pony flu,” said Twilight. “I haven’t had a shot for anything since I was two,” Eric replied feeling uneasy. “Getting a shot only hurts for a little bit, you don’t need to worry,” Twilight said reassuringly. They got their train tickets and went onboard. One hour went by and they reached Canterlot station. They soon made their way to the hospital, once there, they went to the front desk in the waiting room. “My son, Eric Sparkle to see Dr. Radiant Hope, we have an appointment.” Twilight said. “She’ll be available in about fifteen minutes,” the receptionist replied. Fifteen minutes went by, Twilight and Eric were guided to the treatment room. Soon Radiant Hope came in, she had a pinkish purple coat with arctic blue eyes and mane, and a caduceus for a cutie mark. She also wore a brown cloak and was around the same age as Princess Cadance. “Radiant, it’s been a long time,” Twilight said. “Indeed, my my, you’re Eric Sparkle,” Radiant said shifting her focus. “I’m guessing you read the newspaper? How do you know my mommy?” Eric asked. “I met her sometime after I graduated from medical school, she was around your age, and yes, I also heard about what you did yesterday,” Radiant replied. She began with using her stethoscope, checking Eric’s heartbeat and breathing. “Do you want to try out my stethoscope?” She asked. “Sure,” Eric replied as he then listened to his and Twilight’s heartbeats. As soon as he returned it to her, Radiant got out a tongue depressor and said, “Open wide, please.” She looked in his ears, then checked his reflexes. Once the check up completed, she proceeded to give Eric his pony flu shot. He held Twilight’s hoof as Radiant placed a gentle restraining spell on him, then gave him the shot, she put a bandage on his arm and gave him a lollipop. “Thank you, Radiant,” Eric said as he then gave her a hug which she returned. “You’re welcome, Eric,” Radiant replied. Having left the hospital, Eric had an idea upon remembering one of his favorite holidays. “Mommy?” he asked. “Yes, sweetie?” Twilight replied. “There’s a holiday on this month of November known as Thanksgiving in the world I came from, it’s about celebrating what we are thankful for and there’s feasting, for me, Ted and his family, we had veggie pot pie, egg and cheese omelettes, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and plenty of desserts, such as pumpkin pie, it’s also a day off from school same with the day after.” “That sounds nice,” Twilight said. “That got me an idea about maybe celebrating it here in Equestria,” Eric replied. “There wasn’t anything like it before, and it’s a great idea, let’s go talk to Princess Celestia about it, while we’re here,” Twilight said. Once at the castle, they met up with Princess Celestia. “Hi, Twilight, hi, Eric, good to see you once more,” she said. “Hi, Celestia, hi, Luna,” Eric replied. They told the two sisters everything Eric knew about Thanksgiving. “Great idea, Eric. Tia and I will announce the introduction of Thanksgiving and send word to the other cities straight away,” Luna said. “Thank you, princesses,” Eric replied. After helping the Apple family at Sweet Apple Acres, Eric and Twilight were headed back home. “Mommy, can we get some ice cream?” he asked. “Sure, sweetie, you’ve earned it,” Twilight said. Eric got two scoops of chocolate, while Twilight got one scoop of vanilla oat swirl. “Thank you, mommy,” Eric said. “You’re welcome, sweetie,” Twilight replied. Two and a half weeks passed and it was the last Thursday of the month, Equestria’s first Thanksgiving had begun, Eric came home after a few hours of flying with Rainbow Dash, and it was 4 pm. Everypony in town was making preparations, setting their tables, sending invitations out to family members elsewhere, and importantly, making the veggie pot pies and the other foods. At the Castle of Friendship, Twilight and Storm had sent out invitations to everyone in the Sparkle family and even one for Flash Sentry. In the Crystal Empire, Flash Sentry, upon receiving Twilight’s invitation, had also sent invitations out to his family. Cadance and Shining Armor also got their invitations, they left their advisor in charge, then they and Flash went to board the next train. Back in Ponyville, it was ten minutes till five, the table was set, the food was placed on it, with the desserts on the counter. Eric was especially excited about seeing his grandparents, uncle and aunt, for they would arrive any minute. It wasn’t too long before somepony knocked on the door, Storm opened it revealing, Night Light, Twilight Velvet, Shining Armor, Cadance, and Flash Sentry. As usual, Twilight and Cadance greeted each other with their little rhyme from years past. “Good to see you again, Storm,” Night Light said. “Same here, to both of you,” Storm replied. “Hi, Eric,” Twilight Velvet and Night Light said in unison. “Hi, Grandma and Grandpa,” Eric replied as he gave them a big hug. “Eric!” Cadance said. “Hi, Aunt Cadance. Hi, Uncle Shining,” Eric replied as he gave them a hug. Soon, there was another knock on the door, revealing six unicorns. It was Twilight’s and Shining Armor’s aunt Starshine and uncle Valiant Knight, cousins Stardust and Moonshadow, and Flash and Storm’s aunt and uncle, Stargazer and Scarlet Dusk. Starshine’s coat was white and her eyes were blue, her mane and tail were blue-green, and her cutie mark was two four-point stars with beams. Valiant Knight had green eyes and a silver coat with a black mane and tail, and a knight helmet as a cutie mark. Stardust’s coat was cyan, her mane and tail were lavender, her eyes were maroon, and her cutie mark was a glittery cloud. Moonshadow’s coat was medium blue, his mane and tail were black with red streaks, his eyes were brown, and his cutie mark was a full moon. Stargazer’s coat was indigo and his eyes were golden, his mane and tail were light gray, and his cutie mark was a telescope. Scarlet’s coat was pale lavender and her eyes were cyan, her mane and tail were pink with white streaks and her cutie mark was a red half sun. “It’s good to see you again, Aunt Starshine and Uncle Valiant,” Shining Armor said. “Eric, this your great-aunt Starshine and great-uncle Valiant Knight, and your cousins, Stardust and Moonshadow,” Twilight said to her son. “Good to meet you all,” Eric said. “Come over here and give us a hug,” Valiant replied. Eric also gave hugs to Moonshadow and Stardust. There was another knock on the door, Flash opened it, revealing two pegasi, and two earth ponies. They were his parents and sister with her husband. “Twilight, Eric, these are my parents, Kimono and Lancer, my older sister, Misty Sky and her husband, Iron Cross,” Flash said. “It’s great to meet all of you,” Twilight said. “Good to meet you too, Twilight,” Misty replied. Kimono’s eyes were greenish-yellow, with a lavender coat, her mane and tail were a darker shade of purple, and her cutie mark was two paper lanterns with flowers on them. She also had kanzashi sticks in her mane. Lancer’s eyes were sky blue and his coat was metallic gold, his mane and tail were orange, and his cutie mark was two crossed lances. He and Kimono were around the same age as Twilight’s parents. Misty’s eyes were hot pink and her coat was light neon blue, her mane and tail were lavender, and her cutie mark was a mist cloud. Her husband’s eyes were lavender and his coat was rust colored, his mane and tail were tan, his cutie mark was the iron cross symbol. Misty and Iron Cross were roughly the same age as Shining Armor and Princess Cadance. “Alright, everypony is here, let’s go eat,” Twilight said. While everyone ate, Eric wanted to get to know Flash and Storm’s family. “Kimono, where are you from?” he asked. “I was born and raised in a city called Neighgasaki, then when I came of age, I moved to Canterlot, and that’s where I met Lancer, he was a royal guard,” Kimono replied. “Flash takes after me, I was his inspiration for being a guard, whereas Storm wanted to be a magic tutor, before he became the Knight of Friendship,” Lancer added. “So Twilight, where did you find Eric?” Starshine asked. “I found him in an alley on my way home from Sweet Apple Acres two months ago, and my friend, Discord sent him here from another realm.” Twilight replied. Everyone was either catching up or getting to know each other, for those who haven’t met each other before. Stargazer and Scarlet Dusk were entertaining everyone with some of their stories. After a lot of chatting and dinner being finished, the desserts were placed on the table; pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread, along with chocolate cream pie. Soon after everypony was finished with dessert, they turned into the guest bedrooms, while Spike, Twilight, Storm, and Eric went to their three separate rooms. “I’m glad that Princesses Celestia and Luna made Thanksgiving an official new holiday to Equestria, this was a great idea, Eric, thank you for the great time today,” Twilight said as she hugged him. “You’re welcome,” Eric replied as he got into bed. “Good night, Eric,” Twilight said as she kissed him. “Good night, Mommy,” Eric replied sleepily. The next morning, Spike had cooked breakfast for everypony. Soon after breakfast was finished, Eric decided to go with Storm on a stroll through town. While strolling through town, they came up to Lyra and Bonbon. “Hi, Eric,” the two mares said in unison. “Hi, Lyra, hi, Bonbon. Storm and I are just walking around town,” Eric replied. “Good to see you again, Lyra and Bonbon,” Storm said. Eric and Storm kept strolling around town, from the spa to Sweet Apple Acres, meeting up with Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Fluttershy along the way. Once at the farm, they met up with Applejack. “Hi, Applejack,” Eric said. “Howdy, Eric,” Applejack replied, “I wasn’t expecting to see you ‘till later today.” “Hi, Applejack,” Storm said, then gave her a hoof-bump. “Good to see you, Storm,” Applejack replied. Hours later after the friendship lunch, Eric and Twilight saw off Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flash Sentry as they left for the Crystal Empire, along with the rest of the Sparkle family who returned to Canterlot, same with Flash and Storm’s family.