Five pairs of teenage eyes looked the older woman over. Each of them ran through possible scenarios in their heads. Scootaloo was afraid that this woman would reject her for everything that she had done as part of Anon-a-Miss. Sunset was afraid that she was possibly Incognito herself and that her grandmother could see through her. Aria could see that her grandmother's soul burned with a fire and determination that rivaled her own. Adagio felt a kindred spirit within her grandmother. Sonata recognized a prankster that would put Pinkie Pie to shame.
"Mother," Celestia said in an effort to break the tension, "is daddy around?"
"The Commander had to run to the store," Andromeda replied as a yellow Corvette pulled in the driveway behind Luna's Camaro, "here he is now."
The girls turned and watched as a stocky barrel chested man got out of the yellow car. He was wearing a leather jacket with a name patch sewn onto the right breast. On the right shoulder was an American flag and on the left shoulder was a round blue patch with only a single word in red: NASA.
"Oh it's good to see my girls," he said embracing both Celestia and Luna in a hug. He even embraced Raven as if she was one of his daughters. He then looked at the five teenagers.
"Welcome to Mission Control," he said to them warmly, "let's get inside before we all freeze out here."
With that hey held the door open until each of them had gone inside. The interior walls of the house were decorated with paintings of photographs that had been taken by the Hubble Telescope. On the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room sat a model space shuttle. In the center of the living room sat the largest Christmas tree that any of the girls had ever seen. Both Scootaloo and Sonata couldn't help but stare at the tree with their mouths gaping open. Celestia and Luna's father took the opportunity to pop a piece of caramel candy into each of their mouths. The reaction from both girls caused the other three to laugh.
"Hurricane, dear," Andromeda said, "don't ruin their appetites before dinner."
"Someone had to get a laugh out of them after you scared them." Hurricane replied.
"I did not scare them." Andromeda answered.
"Maybe just a little." Scootaloo said. With that, everyone in the room couldn't help but laugh.
Hurricane went to a nearby closet and retrieved several gift wrapped packages. He looked at the name written on it and stepped up to Scootaloo.
"If everything that Tia told me is true then you must be Scootaloo," he said handing her the gift as Andromeda came over and wrapped her arm around her husband.
"Go ahead and open it," they both said. Scootaloo looked at the gift in her hands then she looked at both Hurricane and Andromeda before she looked at Celestia.
"Shouldn't we wait for Christmas before we open any gifts," Celestia said.
"Nonsense," Hurricane said, "these are to make up for all the birthdays we've missed."
Scootaloo tore into the wrapping paper, wrapped up inside was a brand new scooter. It was the lightest scooter that Scootaloo had ever held.
"It's made out of aircraft aluminum," Hurricane said, "and I'm told that that paint is the same type they used on the SR-71."
"Thank you," Scootaloo said trying (and failing) not to cry. Hurricane next moved over to Sonata and handed her a package.
"From what Luna tells us," Andromeda said, "you are Sonata, and you love tacos."
Sonata's eyes went wide as she opened her gift. It was composed of two parts, the first part was an at home taco making kit, the second was a cookbook dedicated to her favorite food.
"I love it," Sonata said, "thank you!" Next Hurricane and Andromeda stepped in front of Adagio. She found that her gift contained an autographed book about astrophysics. Adagio was barely able to contain her excitement. Aria was next and she found herself the proud owner of a new sketchbook and a set of professional grade pencils and inks.
"And that leaves Sunset," Andromeda said finally as she held out a gift wrapped box to Sunset. Sunset cautiously opened the wrapping paper, almost taking her time. Inside she found a simple brown box with no markings on it. What she found inside the box took her breath away. A brand new motorcycle helmet and the motorcycle license manual for their state.
"Thank you," Sunset on the verge of tears, "I don't know what to say."
"You got her a motorcycle helmet," Celestia said in disbelief, "how did you even know?"
"We also talk to Raven," Andromeda said, which caused Luna to noticably blush.
"Why did you call this place 'Mission Control'," Scootaloo asked as she put her new scooter down.
"That's simple," Hurricane said, "I used to fly the space shuttle."
"Let's show you girls to your rooms and then we'll eat dinner," Andromeda said, "I hope that you are all hungry, I spent most of the day cooking dinner."
"Mother, you shouldn't have," Luna said in response.
"I did so because I wanted to," Andromeda said, "I rarely get a chance to show off my culinary skills. You should visit more often."
Hurricane led the girls upstairs, both Sunset and Sonata were each given their own rooms since they were the oldest, Aria, Adagio and Scootaloo found them selves sharing the largest guest bedroom. They even had their own bathroom, Sunset and Sonata had to share one with Celestia, Luna and Raven.
Dinner consisted of roasted prime rib with au jus, homemade mashed potatoes, biscuits, fresh green beans and candied carrots, and a warm apple pie for dessert.
After dinner, the adults all retired to the living room and spent the evening catching up on what was happening in their lives, while the five teenagers retreated to the bedroom that the three youngest of them shared.
"Grams and Grandpa are so cool," Sonata said.
"I'll have to agree," Sunset said, "I knew that Grandpa had been in the Navy, but I didn't know that he had flown the shuttle!"
"I guess that we'll just have to get used to having such an awesome family," Aria said as an alarm on Sonata's phone began to go off.
"Ooh, I gotta go call Pinkie," Sonata said as she silenced her phone and went to the opposite side of the room.
"You're awfully quiet Scootaloo," Adagio said, "what's on your mind?"
"Nothing," Scootaloo said, "I may have found what I've been looking for."