//------------------------------//
// Episode 45: Summoned by the Map 
// Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: Season Two 
// by Captain_Cosmos 
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“Do you have to leave so soon?” Twilight asked her siblings.

“I’m afraid we do.” Cadence replied. “Things are busy at the Crystal Empire at the moment, with trying to get ready for the holidays and all. We could only get two days away.”

“But don'tcha worry Twily. We’ll be back for Hearth’s Warming.” Shining commented.

Twilight smiled. It was morning in Ponyville, and Shining, Cadence, and Flurry were due to return to the Crystal Empire. “Great! It’s always a blast to have you here.” She replied.

“Well, I wouldn’t say ALWAYS.” Sparkler pointed out. She had come with Twilight to see them off.

Shining sighed, he got what Sparkler meant. “Yeah…again, I’m sorry about that Sparkler. Not my finest moment.” He admitted.

“You’re just lucky my…I mean, our son, didn’t have any nightmares last night.” Sparkler replied. Remembering that Kicker was Twilight’s son as well, much to her joy that she finally got to say it. “If he had a nightmare because of you I would definitely be coming after you.”

“And I would not have stopped her.” Twilight added. “She’s serious when it comes to Kicker.”

That got a giggle out of the four of them. “Speaking of that little bundle of joy.” Cadence said. “Where is he? I wanted to say goodbye to our new nephew.” She giggled and pranced in place like a little filly. “Ooh that feels good to say.”

Twilight and Sparkler chuckled. Yes, with Kicker being Twilight’s son, that made Cadance and Shining his aunt and uncle and Flurry Heart his cousin.

“I’m not sure he realized it yet.” Twilight replied. “But I think we may want to ease him into it.”

“Yeah.” Sparkler agreed. “And as to where he is, last night tired him out so I decided to let him sleep in.” She explained. “But don’t worry. He’ll know who his family is by Hearth’s warming.”

“Good.” Cadence replied. “He deserves all the family he can get.” She shivered, remembering what they had been told of Kicker’s past.

“Ain’t that the truth.” Twilight replied. “Thankfully he can now put all that behind him.”

“Yeah. Thankfully.” Sparkler responded. At that moment, something slammed into her, and she felt a tiny pair of hooves, and a pair of wings, wrap around her neck.

Sparkler let out a giggle, Flurry was clinging to her again. “Flurry.” She lit her horn, encased Flurry in her magic, and moved her to in front of her. The whole time, Flurry was giggling. “You just can’t keep your hooves off me can ya.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she sensed your magic and locked onto it when she teleported the day before yesterday.” Cadence said.

“Sensed my magic?” Sparkler chuckled. “Is that it?” She looked at Flurry and smiled. “Did you lock onto my magic to find me the day before yesterday?”

Flurry just kept on giggling. Sparkler just chuckled and levitated Flurry into Cadance’s hooves. “Sorry I attracted your daughter. I didn’t realize I was gonna be a Flurry magnet.” She told Cadence and Shining.

“Eh, we lose her all the time. I’m pretty sure the Crystal Empire has a new game called Where’s Flurry by now.” Shining replied with a chuckle.

“Thank Faust Sunburst is willing to run around and help us find her when she gets loose.” Cadence added.

“How often does that happen?” Sparkler asked.

“More times than we’ll ever admit.” Shining replied with a chuckle.

At that moment, the horn of the Crystal Express sounded, signaling that it was time to go.

“Ah. That’s our cue.” Shining commented.

“Have a safe trip back.” Twilight said. “Tell Sunburst we said hi.”

“We will.” Cadence replied.

“Hey Sparkler, could I talk to you for a sec?” Shining asked, gesturing away from Cadance and Twilight.

Sparkler giggled and nodded. Predicting what Shining was about to say. She and Shining moved a little ways away from their mares and Shining got serious. “Ok. So you’re not evil, I understand that now.” Shining said in a hushed voice. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t come after you if you hurt her in any way.” He said.

“Oh I’m sure you will captain. But don’t worry. I’ll be the best marefriend I can be.” She promised.

“I sure hope so.” Shining replied.

“Shiny, you better not be threatening her!” Cadence called out.

“It’s only the classic big brother threat. I’m obligated to make it.” Shining responded. He turned back to Sparkler. “So we have an understanding?” He asked.

“Yes we do.” Sparkler replied.

“Good.” Shining said.

With that, they returned to their friends and after final goodbyes, and prying Flurry off Sparkler one last time, Cadence, Shining, and Flurry left on the Crystal Express.

After the train disappeared in the distance, Twilight and Sparkler left Ponyville Station together and headed into town.

“So. Shall we head back to my house to see if OUR son is up?” Sparkler asked Twilight, giggling and bouncing next to her.

Twilight chuckled, this was the happiest she had ever seen Sparkler. “You like that don’t you.” She inferred.

“It’s everything I could ever want.” Sparkler replied. “I’ve got a loving marefriend that doesn’t give two bits about me being an Alicorn, I’ve got friends who also don’t care about my wings. And to cap it all off, I’m a mother to a foal. This is all my dreams coming true Twi!” She squealed in joy.

“You’ve certainly come a long way from when we first met.” Twilight said, smiling at her marefriend.

“And I have you to thank for it.” Sparkler replied. “Well, I guess my parents can take some of the credit cause they suggested I come to Ponyville in the first place, but you remember what I was like when I first got here.”

“Yeah, I do.” Twilight replied. “And I vastly prefer you as you are now as opposed to when you first got here.”

Sparkler nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Me too. Seriously Twi, I owe so much to you…I just don’t know how I can ever adequately express how grateful I am to have you in my life, in any capacity.” She said, her eyes glistening.

Twilight saw the glistening in Sparkler’s eyes and smiled warmly at her. “You deserve to be yourself, Sparky. Those featherbrains in Saddle Arabia seriously missed out on having a great friend in you.” She rested a wing upon Sparkler’s back and pulled her close. “And the mares there missed out on an awesome marefriend. Though I guess I shouldn’t complain about that.” Twilight added with a chuckle.

Sparkler couldn’t help but laugh as she nuzzled Twilight in the cheek. “Should I say that there was those one or two mares that caught my eye back in school? But I never acted on those crushes because…well, ya know.” She said with a blush.

Twilight giggled and squeezed Sparkler gently. “I suppose that’s good news for me because now I have you all to myself, but I’m not happy about that. Because you didn’t deserve that kind of treatment.” She said.

“You are absolutely right. She didn’t deserve it.” A new voice responded.

Sparkler and Twilight turned to the source of the new voice and saw Candy come up beside them, magically holding a coffee. “Morning Sparkler, Twilight. How’re you two doing this fine winter day?” She asked, giving them both a smile.

“We’re doing great.” Twilight replied.

“Absolutely phenomenal!” Sparkler added. Sliding out from under Twilight’s wing and fluttering her own excitedly.

Candy chuckled. “I see somepony’s high on the happies.” She commented.

“Been like this all morning.” Twilight responded.

“Can you really blame me?” Sparkler asked. “Not only did my friends throw me the best birthday I ever had yesterday, on that same day, I officially became a mother, and now have an awesome marefriend who‘s raising OUR son with me. I’ve never felt so alive!” She said.

Twilight and Candy laughed. Candy was thrilled to see Sparkler so happy after all those torturous years in school. It was like she was an all new pony. Of course moving to the friendliest town on the planet would be the answer.

Twilight meanwhile was just glad Sparkler was able to move on from her past and open up about her wings. She was no psychologist like Candy, but she still knew that thirteen years of emotional abuse like Sparkler’s would have a lasting impact on anypony. And while she was certain there were still some parts that Sparkler hadn’t told her about, she knew for a fact Sparkler was healing. I’ll never stop being proud of my favorite Alicorn. She’s come so far in such a short time.

At that moment, something unexpected happened. Twilight noticed Sparkler’s Cutie Mark was flashing. Twilight felt something inside her. And glanced at her own cutie mark to see that it too was glowing. She gasped. Oh, My, GOSH! Her excitement skyrocketed.

Sparkler stopped smiling when she felt something strange, something was going on with her Cutie Mark. She turned her head and saw her Cutie Mark flashing. She raised an eyebrow.

Candy raised an eyebrow as well, confused as to what was happening. “What’s with the flashing Cutie Marks you two?” She asked.

“Twilight? You know about this?” Sparkler asked her marefriend.

“Oh yes I do.” Twilight said with a giant smile on her face. “The Cutie Map is summoning us. Which can only mean one thing.” She explained

Sparkler’s eyes widened. This topic had come up before between her and Twilight, but she didn’t think it could actually happen to her. “A friendship mission.” She concluded.

“Right you are Sparkler!” Twilight exclaimed excitedly. She lunged forward and wrapped her forelegs around Sparkler. “Come on!” With a quick flash of her horn, Twilight teleported the both of them away, leaving behind a confused Candy.

“What in Celestia’s name suddenly got Twilight all excited?” She asked.





Twilight and Sparkler reappeared in the Castle of Friendship’s throne room, where they saw the table had activated, and their Cutie Marks were floating over it. Twilight beamed and fluttered her wings in excitement as she practically bounced over to the table. “Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh! This is exciting!” She turned to look directly at Sparkler. “Your first Friendship Mission! Isn’t this exciting Sparkler?”

“Yeah.” Sparkler replied. “Super exciting.” She walked over to join Twilight by the table. “So where’s the map sending us?” She asked.

Twilight glanced at the map, and smiled when she saw where they were headed. “Ooh! We’re going to…Griffonstone. Fun!” She said.

Sparkler glanced at the map and quickly found Ponyville, she noticed that it was some distance away from Griffonstone. “Hm…this isn’t gonna be a day trip. We’d have to spend at least one night away from here.” She observed.

“You don’t mind us sharing a bed do you? Is that going too fast?” Twilight asked.

Sparkler blushed like mad at that. “…I don’t mind sharing a bed with you.” She said. “But I’m not ready for…that thing, yet. I’d rather just stick to cuddling and kissing if ya don’t mind.” She said.

“Sure. No problem.” Twilight replied.

Sparkler smiled and shook her head. “And I was actually thinking about something very important we should talk about.” She explained.

“What’s that?” Twilight asked.

“Is Kicker gonna come with us or not?” Sparkler asked.

Twilight’s smile faded as her excitement was brought down as she remembered that she and Sparkler were mothers now. “Right. We’re mothers now.” She said. “I nearly forgot.”

“We can’t very well do that now can we?” Sparkler commented. “How safe would you say Griffonstone is for a foal?” She asked.

“Not safe at all.” Twilight replied simply. “Not without us keeping a close eye on him, which these friendship missions regretfully don’t allow to the degree necessary.” She said with a sad sigh.

Sparkler nodded. She was afraid of this, the possibility this mission would take them away from Kicker for a bit. “I was afraid you’d say that.” She said.

“Do you think he’ll be ok without us for a few days at most?” Twilight asked. “How’s his PTSD looking?”

“He’s having fewer nightmares lately. And he had his first successful night without me there last night. That said, I don’t think that’s cause to just run off on a business trip. Do you think the Map would mind if one of us stayed behind?” Sparkler asked.

Twilight bit her lip, she wanted to say one of them could stay behind to watch their son, but nopony had ever refused a friendship mission before, and she really didn’t want to find out what happened if somepony did. “I’m not sure what would happen if one of us refused to go, and I REALLY don’t want to find out.”

Sparkler sighed. “Then we have to think of something. I’m sure my parents wouldn’t mind sticking around for a few days to watch him, but if he were to have a nightmare…” She gulped.

Twilight’s mind raced. Thinking of what they could do to mitigate the chances of Kicker having a panic attack. “Hmmm…well, I know our friends will be willing to help if needed. And I’m sure Luna would keep an eye on him in the dream realm if we asked.” She said.

Sparkler nodded…then another idea came to her. “And maybe Candy could stick around while we’re gone. She’s been really good with Kicker during their therapy sessions. If anypony other than us could calm Kicker down it would probably be her.” She said.

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go get everything ready.” Twilight beamed and started bouncing out of the room. “Our first Friendship Mission together and YOUR first Friendship Mission ever! This is so exciting!” She exclaimed.

Sparkler couldn’t help but chuckle as she followed her adorkable marefriend out of the room. “Yes Twily, it is exciting.” She said. Despite the downside that she would have to leave Kicker behind, she really was looking forward to this.

To be continued…