Chief Quill couldn’t stop smiling as he and Nosey met with the District Attorney put on the case to prosecute Sparky and Misty. He started the day with the address from Princess Celestia, and the fact that there was now a warrant for Silver-Mane’s immediate arrest on sight put him in a good mood the rest of the day.
The District Attorney, a gray furred stallion with glasses, was looking over the paperwork from the case file. And was asking questions about certain things. “So, it says here that Thunder Kicker was recently gender and species swapped and is now an Alicorn filly going by Melody Sparklehearts?” He asked.
“Yeah. There was a magical accident that changed her gender and species.” Quill responded.
“But her adoptive parents have assured us that she’s still the same foal.” Nosey added.
“I’ll have to double check with the parents tomorrow to make sure. Can’t have a charge thrown out because of something presumably out of the parents’ control?” The DA asked.
“It was out of their control, yes.” Quill said.
“I see.” The DA replied. “I’ll make sure the judge has all the appropriate documentation to have a clear view of the case.”
“Standard procedure of course.” Nosey commented.
“Three counts of murder, two counts of foalnapping, one count of arson, one count of assaulting an Alicorn, child endangerment, child abuse, and at least a few other charges. Yikes, this is enough to put them away for a good two decades at least.” The DA commented.
“Assuming we can prove their guilt.” Nosey said.
“Based on the amount of evidence against them, there’s no way they’re getting out of this.” Quill said confidently.
“Especially with the additional action of pressing charges against them for assault.” The DA said.
“Huh?” Nosey and Quill asked, confused.
“They’re charged with assaulting an Alicorn. Even if Ms. Medley isn’t a princess she IS still an Alicorn so that law applies. In that law, if a pony attacks an Alicorn, assault charges are automatically pressed against them.” The DA explained. “So couple that with the nine plus other charges and they’re looking at VERY significant jail time.” He finished.
Nosey and Quill glance at each other, both realizing the DA was right. This put a smile on Nosey’s face. “Be sure to bring that up tomorrow.” Nosey said.
“Standard procedure.” The DA responded.
Sparkler, Autumn, and Flash snuck along back roads and alleyways as they headed towards Twilight’s parents’ place, after Sparkler sent a horn pulse ahead to make sure it was ok of course. Upon confirmation that Autumn did indeed know Melody’s parents through many more photos of them with Autumn and her husband, the response was a bunch of horn pulses saying to bring her over immediately and that Twilight would go fetch the kids, who would probably want to meet Autumn. Sparkler, along the way, explained everything that happened to Kicker in the last three years up til she adopted him. Autumn listened, and was appalled. “They not only murdered my husband and our friends, but they also foalnapped that sweet little colt and kept him as a prisoner for three years?!” She nearly shrieked.
“Yep.” Sparkler said. “Day after tomorrow is their trial for their crimes. It’s what brought us here in the first place.” She explained.
“Bless your heart for getting him out of there Sparkler.” Autumn said. “I can’t believe anypony would do that to a foal!”
“Imagine the shock after finding him eating from a dumpster in an alleyway. It’s insane there are ponies like that…though I shouldn’t be surprised. Kilihima village in Saddle Arabia is full of insane ponies.” Sparkler replied.
“Pardon?” Autumn asked. Confused.
“Don’t worry about it.” Sparkler said quickly. She didn’t want to unload on a pony who had no need to know.
Autumn nodded, not wanting to pry. “So, anything else I should know before I see Kicker?” She asked.
“He is a she, and she goes by Melody Sparklehearts now.” Sparkler said. “Also she’s an Alicorn with 5 Alicorn siblings.” She added.
Autumn’s mouth went agape. “What?” She asked.
“You’ll see when you get there. But whatever you do, act like Melody’s siblings were always there, because that’s what they remember.”
“Uh…ok?” Autumn agreed, still confused as to what was going on.
“We’ll tell you the full story when we get there. But the important thing is that Melody is ultimately alive and well.” Sparkler assured Autumn.
“Ok.” Autumn responded. She had questions of course, but for now, the knowledge that Kicker…or Melody, was alive and well brought her solace.
After a few minutes, the trio came up to Twilights' parent’s house. Near immediately they heard barking coming from the front door, and scratching. Autumn giggled. “Their dog must be happy you’re here.” She told Sparkler, thinking the dog belonged to the owners of the house.
Sparkler smiled as she lit her horn. “Actually, Maddy is our dog. She lives with us in Ponyville.” She responded.
Autumn’s smile vanished, and was replaced with a look of confusion. “Wait, did you just say—“ that was as far as she got before Sparkler he opened the door and out came a little ball of fur that crashed into Autumn started barking and licking her face.
Sparkler grabbed Maddy in her magic immediately and pulled her off Autumn. “Maddy! Relax. Give the mare some space.” She told her.
Autumn shook her head clear to stop the spinning, and took a good look at the dog, her jaw dropped. “Maddy?! Is that you?!” She exclaimed.
Sparkler lifted an eyebrow while Maddy was still going crazy in her magical grip. “Wait, you know Maddy?” She asked.
“Yes. She used to live with Melody and her original family. I thought she’d died along with Melody’s parents.” Autumn explained.
“What?!” She glanced over at Maddy. “Maddy, is that true?” She asked, unbelieving that Maddy could’ve possibly been living with Melody and her original family three years ago.
Autumn quickly reached into her saddlebag and pulled out the picture that she had brought to give to Melody. “She’s the same dog as in this picture.” She said.
Sparkler looked at the photo, and aside from the fact that she was smaller, she was definitely looking at Maddy! Oh my Faust, Is THAT why Maddy took a quick liking to Melody?! She recognized her scent! “Sweet Biscuits! I can’t believe it!” She exclaimed. She smiled after a second and glanced at Maddy. “That must be why you took a liking to Melody. You recognized her, didn't you.” She mused.
Maddy simply barked happily and licked Sparkler’s face. Sparkler laughed. “Just wait until Melody here’s about this.” She said.
“Sparkler! There you are!” Came a new voice, Sparkler turned to see Velvet at the door. “Had a little run in with a mob of fans I hear?” She asked as she went in for a hug.
Sparkler smiled and set Maddy down, Maddy bolting back to licking Autumn’s face, and allowed herself to be hugged by Velvet. “Yeah. But now I can’t complain. Nice to see you again, Velvet.”
“Good to see you too dear.” Velvet responded. She glanced at the new pony. “Is this Autumn?” She asked.
Autumn managed to calm Maddy back down before she smiled and held out her hoof. “Yeah. That’s me. I’m Autumn Apple. It’s nice to meet you.” She said.
Velvet took Autumn’s hoof and shook it. “Nice to meet you too. Melody’s going to be excited when she meets you.” She said.
“Feeling’s mutual. I’m just glad she’s safe with a new family.” Autumn responded.
Velvet nodded and gestured all of them in, Flash elected to stay outside to stand guard. “Nightlight got stuck at work. He’ll be around later—“ Velvet was interrupted by a gasp.
At that moment, Sparkler got struck by a flying little ball of fur. She grunted at the impact before feeling hooves around her best they could. “Spawky!” Cried an unfamiliar voice.
Sparkler glanced down to see Flurry Heart hugging her. She chuckled. “Hey there Flurry. How’re…wait, Flurry did you just talk?” She asked, her brain registering that the new voice came from Flurry herself.
“Yep. She’s talking now.” Velvet responded happily.
“Spawky!” Flurry cried again. Hugging Sparkler to no end.
Sparkler smiled widely. “Aww! That’s amazing Flurry!” She exclaimed, hugging the little Alicorn back. “You have a beautiful voice.”
“She’s a cutie. That’s for sure.” Autumn responded.
Velvet nodded, and nudged her head to the kitchen. “Would either of you like something to drink?” She asked Sparkler and Autumn.
“I’m good, thanks.” Sparkler responded.
“Me too.” Autumn said.
“Alright then. How about we just talk then? I for one and dying to hear how you know Melody Autumn!” Velvet said excitedly. “I would’ve hated if that little filly grew up not knowing a thing about her original parents outside this whole crime business.” She said.
“That would’ve been a dreadful thought for sure.” Autumn commented as they made their way to the living room.
“Indeed. Sparkler, are you and Twilight SURE you can take Flurry for a couple of days?” Velvet asked Sparkler.
Sparkler smiled. It was kinda last minute but through several letters, she and Twilight had agreed to watch Flurry for a few days so that Flurry could spend time with her cousins. And since they were going to be in Canterlot, a pony named Sunburst brought Flurry to Canterlot. Sparkler initially was skeptical because of the LAST time they watched Flurry, but ever since her dad taught her and Twilight the Forbearance Spell, they now had a defense against a magical accident via sneezing so she welcomed the chance for her kids to play with their cousin.
It means they’ll have a nice little distraction while Twilight, Melody and I deal with the trial. She thought as she nodded towards Velvet. “Yeah, we can take her.” She said.
“If you’re sure.” Velvet responded. “Now, story time!” She sing-songed.
Autumn chuckled. “I knew her parents. We were all friends back in school…” She started. Telling her story.
A little bit later, Twilight approached her parents’ house with her six kids. Sky asking some questions. “You said you’d be around later. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t later. So what’s up?” She asked.
“Trust me you guys. It’s going to be worth it. Mom found somepony who I think you’ll all want to meet.” Twilight responded.
“Who is it?” Crystal asked.
“You’ll see.” Twilight said. Not wanting to spoil the surprise.
The group walked past Flash, who smiled, and entered the house. “We’re home!” Twilight called in.
“We’re in the living room sweetie!” She heard her mom reply.
Not waiting for their mother, the sextuplets raced to the living room and saw their other mother, their grandma, and another mare that none of them knew. They all stopped and stared at the mare in confusion. “Mom? Who’s this?” Trail asked.
Sparkler smiled. “Hey kids. Let me ask you. Does the name Autumn Apple ring any bells with you? Does this mare look familiar to you?” Sparkler asked. She wasn’t counting on any of them remembering Autumn, but there was always a chance.
“Apple? As in Applejack’s family?” Lightning asked.
Sparkler nodded while Crystal took a good long look at Autumn. She did find something familiar about the mare’s appearance. “You look familiar.” She told the mare. “I can’t put a hoof on it but I feel like I’ve seen you before.”
“Yeah. You have.” Autumn responded, following Sparkler’s guidance to pretend like she had met all of the sextuplets before. “The last time I saw you was three years ago.”
“Guys, Autumn was a friend of your parents. A VERY good friend.” Sparkler announced.
All six sextuplets gasped. “You knew our parents?!“ Melody, Sky, Trail, Lightning, and Lumber exclaimed.
“That’s why you look familiar!” Crystal said. “We HAVE met you before!”
Autumn smiled and nodded. “Yes. I knew your parents. We were best friends way back when. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you all again. I thought you were gone forever. Especially you Melody.” She said, looking at Melody. “It’s horrible what those monsters did to you.” She said.
“Ha. Thank mom and mommy Twi for being crazy enough to adopt all six of—wait, what did you say to Melody?” Trail asked. Glancing at his sister.
“Was she hurt at the orphanage?” Sky asked.
Velvet, Sparkler, and Twilight jumped a little. Uh oh.
“Orphanage?” Autumn asked. “She wasn’t in an Orphanage. She was foalnapped and treated like—oh…” Autumn stopped when she saw the looks of horror on the adult’s faces. “I said too much didn’t I.” She said, realizing that she made a mistake.
Crystal raised an eyebrow as she looked at her mothers. “Mom? Mommy Twi? What REALLY happened to Melody?” She asked bluntly, getting the sense they didn’t have the right details.
“Yeah…were you really foalnapped Melody?” Lumber asked Melody.
Melody and her mothers glanced at each other, before Sparkler sighed in defeat. The jig was up. “I’m sorry we tried to hide this from you. We didn’t want you to have to hear this.” She said.
“I was taken by a pair of ponies who murdered our parents and burned our house down, I was treated like their servant for three years before escaping and ending up in Ponyville.” Melody told her siblings.
All five Siblings’ jaws dropped. “What.” They all said in disbelief.
“They were MURDERED?!” Lightning asked.
“They burned our house down.” Sky said.
“And they actually did that to you?!” Crystal finished.
Melody gulped and nodded. “Yes?” She could see that her siblings were angry, and getting angrier by the second.
All five siblings’ grumbled and their manes turned to literal fire and their fur coats turned white hot, making the surrounding ponies jump back in fear.
Twilight, after registering what was happening, lit her horn and blasted fire suppressant. Putting out the fire that was their manes. The fire suppressant put out the flames and when Twilight poofed all the foam away, Melody’s siblings were back to normal, but were still mad.
“Please tell me those monsters are gonna get what’s coming to them!” Crystal screamed in rage.
“We’re here for their trial, which is in two days. They’ll most likely be convicted and sentenced.” Twilight quickly explained.
“Good!” Lumber shouted. “I hope they are thrown into jail for life!”
“Or killed. Just like they killed our parents!” Lightning suggested.
Velvet cleared her throat. “Ahem, Autumn didn’t you bring something for them?” She asked, trying to steer the conversation to a more happy note.
“I did. Yes.” Autumn responded.
That seemed to calm the sextuplets down. As they all turned back to Autumn. “You brought stuff?” Trail asked.
“Yeah.” Autumn responded. “I brought a few things that I thought you should have.” She reached into her saddle bag and pulled out the photo she showed Sparkler earlier. She put the photo down for the sextuplets to see.
“Mom and dad…” Melody said. Recognizing her birth parents.
“And…hang on, is that Maddy?” Lumber asked, pointing to the dog in the picture.
Maddy, who had been sitting patiently on the couch. Barked happily and hopped off the couch and ran up to start licking the faces of her owners. Sparkler smiled. “I’m not sure how, but someway, somehow, Maddy followed your scent, and it led her to Ponyville.” She explained.
Melody, who was the first to see Maddy, smiled as she looked at the puppy again. “That’s why you wanted me to play with you!” She exclaimed, remembering how they met.
Maddy barked happily. Confirming that yes indeed, she was the same dog as in the picture. Melody laughed as she hugged Maddy, her family’s dog. “You’re awesome Maddy!” She exclaimed.
“Yeah!” Her siblings agreed as they hugged the dog as well.
The rest of the room went aww. It was an adorable scene. After a moment, Autumn reached into her bag again. “I also have something for Melody. Something her parents made for her.” She said.
Melody heard that and smiled. “What is it?” She asked.
Autumn smiled and pulled out a stuffed bear that she hoofed to Melody, who took it. “Now, I should say that your parents made one for all of you, but I was only able to save Melody’s. The rest were all lost in the fire, but tap the tummy. You’ll like what happens when you do.” She explained.
Melody nodded, set the bear down on the floor, and tapped the tummy. What happened next was something none of the sextuplets were expecting.
“Hi there Kicker. It’s mommy and daddy.” Came a mare’s voice from a hidden speaker in the bear.
“Mom…” Lumber whispered.
“We just want to say that we love you very much. And no matter what. We’ll always be with you. Even when you grow all big and strong. We’ll still be with you. To the end.” The mare said.
“And remember that you’ll always have somepony to turn to. Be it us, or any of your future friends. You are never alone. Always remember.” Came a stallion’s voice, followed by the two speakers saying in unison.
“Friendship is magic. And it will never fade away.”
With that, the message ended. The whole room was silent. The sextuplets’ eyes were watering. They were smiling. It may not have been the same, but it didn’t need to be said that they missed hearing their parents. Melody took the bear and hugged it tight. “Thank you.” She told Autumn. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome Melody. I’m so glad fate brought us together again.” Autumn responded.
Melody nodded. Before looking at Autumn. “What were they like?” She asked. Clearly referring to her parents.
“Yeah. Come on Ms. A, were our parents cool?” Sky asked.
The adults all chuckled. They could see the questions coming from a mile away. Autumn smiled. “Yes Sky. They were cool. Oh the stories I could tell…” Autumn responded. Before beginning one of those stories.
Eventually, Nightlight returned, and after hearing about Autumn, he and Velvet insisted that she stay for dinner. Claiming that a family friend of their grandkids was a friend of theirs. And so, for the first time, the sextuplets got to hear stories about their late parents. All the while, Sparkler and Twilight were smiling. They were glad that their kids had an avenue from which to learn about their heritage.
To be continued…