The next morning, at the Crystal Empire, a mail pony went over to Sunburst’s house and knocked on his door. Suddenly, the door opened and Sunburst walked out before seeing the mail pony. He cleared his throat, “Morning, Sunburst.”
“What? Oh! Hi!” Sunburst chuckled nervously, “You know, no matter how many times I read it, Houyhnhnm's Guide to Magical Arcana never gets boring.”
“If you say so. I've got another letter for you. From Sire's Hollow,” the mail pony said, giving Sunburst the letter. “Mm-hmm. Sure thing,” Sunburst said, taking the letter and then gave the mail pony a carrot in return before leaving.
Sunburst then placed the letter with the others and continued reading, until he heard something shimmering, “What's this? Could I be experiencing the cerebration transmogrification effect described in chapter seventeen—?” He then landed on the ground with his cape over his head, until he turned and saw his cutie mark glowing, “Wow! My cutie mark is glowing! I’ve never experienced this before! It must be a friendship mission! I better pack my bags!”
When Sunburst arrived in Ponyville, he trotted up to Twilight’s castle and knocked on the door. The door opened revealing Twilight and Spike. “Oh, hello, Sunburst. Welcome to Ponyville,” Twilight said. “Thank you,” Sunburst replied. Thomas suddenly saw Sunbursy at the door, so he got up and rushed over to him for a hug, “Uncle Sunburst!”
“Hey, little guy. How’ve you been?” Sunburst said, returning the hug. “I’ve been good,” Thomas said, and then Sunburst ruffled his nephew’s hair. Twilight then placed Thomas on her back as they started walking over to the cutie map, “Since Fluttershy’s on business with Dr. Fauna with her animal sanctuary, I’d volunteer to foalsit Thomas for a little while.”
“Cool. Anyway, Princess Twilight, what an honor this is! I-I mean, it is, right? I'm called for a friendship mission?” Sunburst asked. “You sure are. And it must be a special one. Nopony outside of Ponyville has ever been called before,” Twilight replied. “Has Spike ever been on one?” Thomas asked. “You and Spike have been on one together, sweetie,” Twilight replied. “Oh, right,” Thomas said.
They entered the room and saw Starlight staring at the cutie map as Thomas walked up to her, and hugged her leg while giggling as she raised it up. Starlight then chuckled and magically placed him on her hoof to hold him, and then let him play with her mane. “Hey, Starlight! You mean we've both been called? This is great!” Sunburst said. Starlight was somehow depressed, “Yeah... Great...”
“Aren't you excited? You and me on a mission together!” Sunburst said, walking over to Starlight as she groaned. “I'm... sorry. Are you not excited to go on a mission with me?”
“No. Uh, no! I mean, yes. Heh. Totally excited about us going together. Just... not so excited about where,” Starlight said, pointing at their cutie marks at their destination.
“Sire's Hollow?” Sunburst asked disappointingly. “Yep. Home,” Starlight said. Sunburst suddenly felt deflated with disappointment, “Oh. Great.”
Twilight knew how they felt, so she came up with an idea, “Why don’t you bring Thomas with? He could try to cheer you both up while he sticks with you.”
“Are you sure? Our parents might...” Starlight was cut off by Thomas hugging her chest and giving her the puppy eyes. Starlight and Sunburst nodded in agreement. “I got his bags all packed up,” Spike said, bringing them over.
Meanwhile, on the train, Starlight and Sunburst sat in the passenger’s coach while Starlight looked out the window in depression and held Thomas against her chest on her hooves stroking his shoulder to keep him comfy while he had his nap.
She then sighed, “It's not that I don't want to go home. It's just that whenever I do, my dad treats me like a filly. Like nothing's changed since I was a foal.”
“Huh,” Sunburst said. “I know. I'm a horrible daughter,” Starlight said, leaning back against her seat and laid her nephew on her tummy while he laid on her hooves. “N-No, no! My mom actually does kind of the same thing,” Sunburst said. “Really?” Starlight asked as she sat up again.
“I don't even have to go home. She sends me letters constantly asking about my plans for the future,” Sunburst said, as he began imitating his mother. “She’d be like this, "You're a grown-up pony, Sunburst! You need a plan"!” He then sighed, “I haven't been home in a while either.”
“Hmph. We'll just have to explain to our parents that we're on an important friendship mission so they can't bother us, or probably scare or embarrass this little sweetie,” Starlight said, looking at her sleeping nephew.
“Do you really think that will work?” Sunburst asked. “Nope!” Starlight said. Suddenly, the train stopped at the Sire’s Hollow train station, and then Starlight, with Thomas on her back, and Sunburst began to walk over to the entrance of their town.
“Well, I hate to say it, but it’s probably good to be home,” Sunburst said, as they passed through the entrance of their town. Thomas saw a marketplace with a produce stand, appliance stand, jewelry and beauty stand, and a gardening stand consisting flowers, and then saw a bakery, a fancy public restaurant, a spa, a few houses and apartments, a schoolhouse, a park, and a bookstore.
While walking through the town, Starlight managed to get Thomas a snack from the produce stand, which were apple slices and peeled carrot sticks that she prepared for him. “Essence?” Ever Essence asked, who wore a brownish gray tuxedo. “Essence of what?” Sunburst asked. “You tell me,” Ever Essence asked, as she sprayed it into Thomas’s face, making him cough and blinded. “What is it?” Starlight asked, as Sunburst sniffed. “Uh... chocolate maybe?”
“Not chocolate maybe. Chocolate definitely! And all of the benefits with none of the drawbacks. All products sold in this marketplace was committed by the Sire’s Hollow Development Committee,” Ever Essence said. “We’re good, but thank you,” Starlight said. “Maybe Auntie Rarity might like one,” Thomas said, pointed at some that smelled like flowers. “We’ll take some, whatever he likes,” Starlight said.
After making their purchase, they moved on to the bookstore, and they saw two librarian ponies showcasing a few books for sale.
“Welcome to our newly declared bookstore with a section that’s now a site of historical significance by the Sire’s Hollow Preservation Society. How can we help you?” Raspberry Latte asked. “We’re just wondering how things have been since the last time we’ve ever been here,” Starlight said. “But could we buy some children’s books for my nephew?”
Minty Mocha nodded, “Of course. We have the finest brands of children’s books for any age or gender. You may pick what you want.”
Starlight and Sunburst both nodded and went to pick out some of the children’s books for Thomas, and then made their purchase. They got Thomas novels, storybooks with pictures, and new volume based books of legendary folktales or mystical or mythical fantasies, which he enjoys, including Daring Do’s new book.
“Okay, so things are now being developed by a Sire’s Hollow Development Committee and preserved by a Sire’s Hollow Preservation Society, but can somepony please tell me what is happening?” Starlight asked. Suddenly a voice appeared, “I'll explain it to you, sugarplum!” They turned around and saw a unicorn stallion with grayish purple fur, a combed and curled moderate and pale light grayish aquamarine mane and tail, brown eyes, and he wore a pale light grayish yellow tuxedo shirt, a crimson red vest with bronze buttons, and a pale light grayish greenish yellow tie, and his flank had a cutie mark of a small ball of fire.
Starlight sighed depressingly, “Hello, dad.” Suddenly, Firelight walked over and squished her cheeks together, “You are just as cutesy-wutesy as ever!”
“Dad! Quit it!” Starlight said, stroking her face. “Guess she was right about the filly thing, huh?” Sunburst asked Thomas as he nodded. “What is going on?” Starlight asked. “Oh, just a father wanting to preserve our town's rich history for his little pumpky-wumpkin!” Firelight chuckled. “Dad, you promised no "pumpky-wumpkin"'s in public!” Starlight hissed with her teeth gritted. “Sorry, chipmunk cheeks,” Firelight whispered. “You’re preserving the whole town? You can’t preserve the whole town! That’s crazy!” Starlight said.
Thomas nodded in agreement with a shy look while he hid underneath his Auntie Starlight by hugging her right hind leg and using her tail to shield him while Sunburst stroked his hair.
“That's exactly what I told him!” another voice said. It was a unicorn mare with brilliant orange fur with very pale apple green splotches on her legs, a perfectly brushed mane and tail with three shades of moderate scarlet, brilliant chartreuse green eyes, and she wore a cyan bead necklace and a grayish blue scarf and a silver hairband, and her flank had a cutie mark of a spiral inside a sun. “I said, "Firelight, you're crazy!" Can you honestly believe that?” Stellar Flare asked.
“Mom?” Sunburst asked. “Our village needs the same thing you do, Sunburst – a clear plan for the future,” Stellar Flare said, as she tried to cut his beard with some scissors. “That's why I started the Sire's Hollow Development Committee. And I've got plans for this little town. Big plans!” She then walked away with a huge scroll, until Firelight stepped on it. “Listen here, Stellar Flare! I'm not gonna let you turn half of our historical heritage into Las Pegasus!”
Stellar Flare rolled up her scroll and walked over to Firelight, “And I'm not gonna let you turn half of it into a museum!” Firelight and Stellar Flare started growling at each other’s noses.
“W-Wait. Are you two fighting over this?” Starlight asked. “Like having a friendship problem?” Sunburst asked. “Oh, there's no problem,” Stellar Flare replied. “Because there is no friendship!” Firelight replied.
“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea,” Thomas said. “It’s okay, honey. You’re not involved with any of this,” Starlight said, looking down at him, then nuzzled with him. Stellar Flare and Firelight suddenly saw him hiding behind his Auntie Starlight’s hind leg and underneath her tail, before Stellar Flare looked down at him and placing her hoof onto his cheek, making him blush bashfully. “Hi there!” she said.
Thomas softly whimpered with a small squeaky sound. “Sorry about my nephew. Thomas is very shy when meeting others, but it’s best if you keep his distance so that he knows you’re not trying to scare him,” Starlight said. “Well, kind of a timid little chipper, isn’t he?” Firelight asked, while ruffling Thomas’s hair, as he continued to hide underneath his auntie’s tail and hug her leg. “Thomas? It’s okay, honey. They just want to meet you,” Starlight said. Stellar Flare then gently stroked Thomas’s hair, before she gently lifted him up with her hoof and held him against her chest for a quick hug, and then handed him back over to Starlight.
“Okay, look. Sunburst and I were called here to do a job, and it looks like you two are it,” Starlight said. “You mean your success depends on us?” Stellar Flare asked. “Uh...” Sunburst said. “And you have to hang out with us the whole time you're here?!” Firelight asked. “Um...” Starlight said.
“Well, I'll hear what you have to say. But every plan I've made for this town is perfectly reasonable,” Stellar Flare said. “Good luck convincing me my preservation efforts don't make sense,” Firelight said. Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst both sighed.
“Auntie Starlight, Uncle Sunburst, where are we going to sleep?” Thomas asked. “Just hold on, sweetheart. We’ll think of something,” Starlight said.
They checked on some parts of the town again, while checking on the bookstore again. “So, we can just keep or rent a few books from here?” Starlight asked. “Yes,” Raspberry Latte said. “And we can bring them back on the due date as always?” Sunburst asked. “Yes,” Minty Mocha said. Firelight then chuckled, “Isn’t she adorable?” He then chuckled again.
“You can call them... mm... "smells". But I call them essence!” Ever Essence said, as she sprayed another sample of essence in Thomas’s face, until he coughed and then rubbed his eyes. Starlight then sniffed it, “Smells fruity.”
“I know,” Ever Essence said. “Here, sweetheart,” Starlight said, with a wet towel for Thomas to gently wipe his eyes with.
A baker pony named Cracked Wheat made a huge loaf of bread for them to try out, “One hundred percent ancient pony grains! Just like the town founders ate! Hope you like crust!”
Starlight then took a slice and let Thomas try some, until he started enjoying it, and it made her smile as she gave the baker her bits for the bread, “We’ll take it.”
“Got butter?” Thomas asked, as he, Starlight and Sunburst laughed together.
Later on, Starlight and Sunburst came back over to the water fountain with Thomas on Starlight’s back, and they met up with their parents.
“So, maybe my preservation efforts were a little bit over the top,” Firelight said, as the wagon wheel broke from Cracked Wheat’s wagon.
“And maybe I’ve been trying to turn some things of the town into a shopping mall,” Stellar Flare said. “Well, whatever direction the town takes from now on, how about we work together on it?” Firelight asked. “Deal!” Stellar Flare said, as they both shook hooves.
“You know, Sunburst, you should move closer to Ponyville. After this success, I’m sure the Princess of Friendship will want to send you on more missions,” Stellar Flare said. “That’s not how it really works,” Sunburst said.
“When we solve a friendship problem, our cutie marks are supposed to glow like before,” Starlight said, and Thomas nodded in agreement. “Aw, don’t be disappointed, puddin’. Your papa will work this out for you,” Firelight said. “But... my papa wasn’t called by the map in Twilight’s castle. I was,” Starlight replied.
“How are you going to explain this to the princess? What’s your plan if she fires you from friendship quests?” Stellar Flare asked. “Mom! She doesn’t—! It-It’s not—!” Sunburst stammered. “Use your words, Sunburst,” Stellar Flare said.
“I guess you two weren’t the problem we were sent to solve after all,” Starlight said. “So now you don’t know why you’re here?” Stellar Flare asked. “So you’re here for a extra long visit?” Firelight laughed, “You can stay in your old room, punkie wunk! It’s just like you left it!”
Starlight had a sudden flashback about her old bedroom, as some posters had skulls on it, and Thomas felt the same way she was feeling until he hid underneath her chest. “We need to find the friendship problem now!” she whispered to Sunburst.
“Now, I know you have your little job to do, but Stellar and I know the town a lot better than you two,” Firelight said. “That's right! Neither of you have been home in ages. You're gonna need our help to succeed!” Stellar Flare said. “I guess that makes sense...” Starlight said, until Firelight and Stellar Flare chuckled. “I already have some ideas!” Stellar Flare said. “Me, too!” Firelight said.
Firelight tapped and wrote on the chalkboard about the history of the town, leaving Starlight unamused while she was holding Thomas on her hoof as he sat on her lap leaning against her. “Okay! Now that I've explained how Sire's Hollow was founded, we can start to explore all the possible friendship problems that might have developed over time,” he said.
Starlight inhaled, “I appreciate the history lesson, Dad, but I need to find the problem now. In the present.”
“Aw, now, hon-bun. How are you gonna do that without all the backstory, huh? Oh! Of course I know how hard it is for you to sit still and focus, soooo... would it help you pay attention to hold on to your bwankie?” Firelight asked with a plate full of cookies and milk for her, as she growled in frustration.
Sunburst and Stellar Flare walked around the town for the friendship problem. “Now, you've had a little setback. But don't worry. I know exactly what you need to do,” Stellar Flare said. “Make a plan?” Sunburst asked.
“Already got one! Step one – interview the suspects. Step two – use your talents to solve the issue. Step three – get the Princess of Friendship to send you on more missions!” Stellar Flare explained. “Mom! It does not work like that!” Sunburst said. “Uh-huh,” Stellar Flare said, until Sunburst growled and went off while Stellar Flare walked over to another problem.
“Starlight? Sweetie? I found a really old town bylaw that nopony agrees on. Apparently, we're not supposed to prance or canter after dinnertime. Could that be the problem? Silly-filly?” Firelight called out.
Starlight popped her head out from behind the fountain with Thomas snuggled up against her chest while gently and firmly grasping onto her neck while she held him after seeing her father walk away, “Whew!” They suddenly saw Sunburst crawl backwards. “What are you doing?” Starlight asked.
Sunburst sighed, “Hiding from my mother. She started making up friendship problems for me to solve.” Starlight scoffed, “My dad won't even let me talk to anypony in case they're "strangers". I'm a grown mare!” Thomas suddenly whimpered while hugging his aunt. “What’s wrong, honey?” Starlight asked. “They’re scaring me!” Thomas replied. Starlight had a look of concern as she hugged him against her chest and rubbed his back. Sunburst sighed, “We're never going to find the friendship problem with them around, let alone solve it. Now that Thomas is afraid of them and their behaviors around us both.”
“Let’s hide in there! Quick!” Starlight said, as she and Sunburst took Thomas and went into the private section of the bookstore. “Okay, as long as they don’t see us, we’ll solve our friendship problem on our own, without our parents noticing,” Starlight said. “I hope so. I don’t know how long Thomas can hold it,” Sunburst said, looking at Thomas shaking and whimpering in Starlight’s chest fur, as she comforted him.
“There you are! But what are you doing in here?” Firelight asked, until he gasped. “Is the friendship problem in my favorite section of the bookstore?” Starlight and Sunburst groaned while Thomas made an “eep” sound.
The three walked out with Starlight still holding Thomas in her hoof, and Firelight reading from the history book, “...And then, I thought the best way to look for a friendship problem in the present...”
“Dad!” Starlight said while Thomas covered his ears with one against her chest and his hand on the other. “...was to look back in our town history even farther!” Firelight concluded, as Starlight made an angry groan.
“Sunburst! Oh, finally! Now, I know you don't want me to make up a problem, but what if I start one?” Stellar Flare asked. “That's not how this—!” Sunburst said before Stellar Flare cut him off. “I mean, nopony ever became a success by following all the rules, right?” Sunburst nickered angrily, as Starlight placed Thomas on her back and hid him underneath her mane. Stellar Flare then turned to Firelight, “How are things on your end?”
“Couldn't be better! New leads and such!” Firelight replied.
“Guys...?”
“We really are providing excellent assistance, aren't we?”
“Guys!”
“I dare say our children should be grateful for our help.”
“Guys!”
“We don't want your help!” Starlight and Sunburst said angrily with Thomas hiding underneath Starlight’s mane and their parents looking at them with shock and concern.
“I'm sorry. You don't want our help?” Stellar Flare asked. Firelight nervously chuckled, “That's... That's ridiculous! What reason could you possibly have for that?”
Starlight’s horn lit up to mute Thomas’s ears, “Because you're driving us crazy!” Stellar Flare and Firelight were shocked, until Stellar Flare got confused, “Oh, really? And just how am I driving you crazy?”
Sunburst gritted his teeth, and then emptied his cape with papers, “By always coming up with plans! I don't need a plan! I mean, maybe I do, but it'll be mine, not yours!”
Stellar Flare then replied while choking up, “Well... I'm sorry for trying to help!” She then ran off crying. Starlight then walked over to her dad after handing her nephew over to Sunburst as she kept the spell onto him and then got angry at her father, “And you're not any better! I'm not a filly! I'm a grown pony with a job to do, and I'll do it on my own!”
“Well. I'll let you get to it then,” Firelight said as he took his books and trotted off. Thomas felt concerned for their behavior and then began shedding tears in his eyes. Starlight took him out of her mane and sat down on her haunches and held him against her chest against as he rested himself underneath her neck. “Oh, great. Now we have to find a way to smoothen things up with our parents until we find the friendship problem... unless...” Starlight said. “Unless... our relationship with our parents might be... or is the friendship problem,” Sunburst said. “You don’t think that’s it too, do you?” Starlight asked. Thomas rubbed his eyes and nuzzled her chest fur while stroking her mane as more tears shed his eyes.
“Oh!” Starlight groaned with frustration, and then leaned back and collapsed towards the ground with Thomas laying on top of her belly but his head rested on her chest and underneath her neck. “Why couldn’t we have been sent to stop a war or something?!” She then comforted Thomas while feeling frustrated.
Starlight then sat up and then went to go talk with her dad while Sunburst went to go talk to his mom. Thomas sat down by the fountain and hugged his Snuggle Bear teddy.
Starlight met up with her dad at the house, and saw him reading while writing on the chalkboard. “Dad?” she asked. “Hello, Ms. Glimmer. How is your friendship problem search going? I only ask as an interested observer, since I know you are an adult who's capable of doing things without help from anypony else,” Firelight whimpered before beginning to cry while sitting down, until Starlight walked over to him and hugged his head against her chest. “Actually... I think Sunburst and I figured out what it is,” Starlight said. “So Stellar and I weren't really helpful after all,” Firelight said. “Well, actually, we haven't solved it just yet, but we were wondering if you two would like to come with us for something?” Starlight asked.
Stellar Flare checked on the fragrances, and coughed after spraying one in her face, before seeing Sunburst walking over, “Did you come by to be driven crazy by more of your mother's plans?”
“No, I came to apologize,” Sunburst said. “Well, it's going to take more than an apology to make up for telling me you don't want my help finding your friendship problem,” Stellar Flare said. “Oh, I'm not sorry for that. Starlight and I already figured out what the problem is,” Sunburst said. “This is a terrible apology,” Stellar Flare said. “Well, if you come with me and help fix it, I'll give you a better one,” Sunburst said.
Later on, the four ponies with Thomas in Starlight’s hoof as she was holding him against her chest.
“Usually, Twilight or one of our other friends gets called to a place with a friendship problem to fix,” she said. “But Starlight and I realized we came here to fix a friendship problem we already had,” Sunburst said. “And maybe brought our nephew along just for a little road trip.”
Thomas blushed bashfully and nuzzled with his aunt’s cheek, before she put him down on the ground for a moment.
“I'm sorry I've been avoiding coming home, Dad. But you can't keep treating me like a foal,” Starlight said. “You just need to understand that I’ve grown up and moved on from other things.”
“I'm sorry, sugarbun,” Firelight sighed. “I just know how hard things were for you when you left home. I guess I wanted you to feel safe, like... when you were young.”
“Dad, I know I've made some mistakes, and I'll probably make a bunch more. But I learn from them. I think that's what growing up is,” Starlight said, as she hugged her father.
“I'm sorry I never told you how much your plans bothered me, and I know you just want me to succeed. But I need to do that on my own,” Sunburst said. “I remember how lost you were when you flunked out of magic school. I thought as long as you had a plan, you'd never feel that way again,” Stellar Flare said. “You don't have to worry, Mom. I need to find my own way. And I definitely don't feel lost anymore,” Sunburst said. “But whatever you come up with is also fine by me.”
After Sunburst hugged his mother, he and Starlight saw their cutie marks glowing, meaning their mission was a success. Thomas then smiled softly while hugging his plushie, until Starlight levitated him up and then held him against her chest for a hug. “Dad, if you promise to not treat me like a little filly and more like an adult pony, I promise I’ll come visit you more,” she said. “Whatever you say is fine, honey,” Firelight said.
“And I’ll never come over to visit either if you still plan to drive me crazy,” Sunburst said. “That's lovely of you to say, dear. But you know, Firelight and I can always visit you whenever we want,” Stellar Flare said. “Thank you, Mom,” Sunburst said, until he and Starlight, with Thomas on her back left for the train station to go back to Ponyville. Thomas looked back and waved goodbye at their parents as they waved back.
“Did you have a good time, honey?” Starlight asked. “Yeah. I’m sorry I got scared though,” Thomas replied. “It’s alright, sport. These things happen to those who’re a little shy,” Sunburst said. “How about if we read together on the ride home?” Starlight asked, as Thomas nodded and then went over to board the train.