//------------------------------//
// Episode 15: Friends are The Family You Can Choose 
// Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: Future Incursion 
// by Captain_Cosmos 
//------------------------------//

“Oh my Faust. Haven actually tried adopting you girls?” Light asked Sky.

“Yeah. She did. That crazy lady seemed to have it in her head that mom had abandoned us, heck, she persisted with trying to adopt us even AFTER she was told, repeatedly, that mom was on her way.” Sky responded.

“Thank our lucky stars Mom was with Pipp. We might not be here now if it weren’t for Pipp’s connections with the judge.” Sprinkle said.

“So, what did mom do to Haven for this stunt?” Lightning asked.

“Got a restraining order. Now that crazy lady isn’t allowed anywhere near any of us.” Sky responded.

“Good.” Lumber said. “And what did Pipp and Zipp do to her? I mean not talking to them first? I think we all know the message that sent.” He said.

“I imagine they blocked their mom on Social Media for one.” Sprinkle replied. “Not sure if they went no contact period but it’s possible.” She mused.

“Serves her right.” Trail said. “How could she do that to her own kids and another mom’s?”

“Some ponies are just all kinds of stupid.” Light said.

All the kids nodded in agreement. It was mid afternoon when Sparkler, Sky, Sprinkle, Pipp, and Zipp returned from Zephyr Heights. While they were gone, Sunny had gone to Canterlogic to talk to Phyllis, the company’s CEO, and ask for her help in finding a way back home for the time travelers.

When Sparkler returned, Sunny took her directly to Canterlogic to meet with Phyllis, who was considering the challenge. Leaving Izzy, Pipp, and Zipp to watch the kids. The kids were all outside sitting and talking and Izzy, Pipp, and Zipp were sitting in the kitchen, watching them through the window. Well, most of the kids were outside, Sparkler had taken Flurry with her to the meeting with Phyllis precisely because of what almost happened that morning.

Izzy sighed. “And here I thought Haven was a good pony. For real, what kind of pony tries to adopt a pair of fillies without any proof that they are either orphans or proof of abandonment?” She asked.

“The kind of pony that let being queen go to her head.” Pipp responded. “Seriously, we’re lucky Raven has a conscience.” She said

“We’re lucky Trevor’s the judge in charge of finalizing adoptions.” Zipp said. “For real. What in the hay was mom thinking?”

“Sounds to me like she wasn’t.” Izzy commented.

At that moment, Pipp’s phone lit up and showed Pipp that she had a text. She looked at it. “Hm. Raven just texted me.” She read what the text said.

Raven: Check your mom’s Ponybook page. You’re not going to believe what she just posted.

Initially Pipp didn’t want to see anything of her mother, but curiosity got the better of her and she logged in and went to her mother’s page…and her jaw dropped. “Oh you have GOT to be kidding me!” She said.

“What?” Izzy and Zipp asked.

Pipp showed them the screen. And what they saw also made their jaws drop.

“Well I just had the most deplorable day ever!

My two five year old daughters Sky and Sprinkle were just stolen from me by a criminal mare and a corrupt judge Frankfort! Frankfort called me to his office in the courthouse and essentially ordered me to give my two young daughters to a complete and total stranger! This is the worst possible thing to happen to a mother! I implore everypony to rise up in protest and help me get my daughters back!”

“Oh my flanking Faust. Our mom is actually legit insane!” Zipp exclaimed.

“Do ponies actually BELIEVE that?” Izzy asked.

Pipp started tapping a number on her phone. “Some ponies believe anything on the net Izzy.” She explained. “I’m gonna call her.”

The phone rang, and soon their mom picked up. Pipp put the phone on speaker.

“Pippy, I assume you’re calling to apologize for berating your mother earlier?” Haven asked.

“I will not apologize for helping my friend get her children back from a crazy lady. I saw your post just now, mom, what in the hay is WRONG with you?!” Pipp asked.

“What? A mare can’t desire to give foals a home?” Haven asked.

“That’s not the point mom!” Zipp growled. “The point, is that you tried to take two kids away from their legal mother. And you even have the audacity to lie about it. TWICE!”

“I was merely trying to make sure foals weren’t abandoned.” Haven responded.

“They WEREN’T abandoned! A magical accident separated them against their will!” Pipp shouted. “You need to take down that post, and DROP THIS. Sky and Sprinkle are staying with their rightful mother and nothing you do or say will change that.”

“You really expect me to drop it? Their mother is irresponsible and doesn’t deserve kids.”

Zipp, Pipp, and Izzy’s jaws dropped. “You are INSANELY lucky Sparkler didn’t just hear that.” Pipp said.

“And if any parent is irresponsible it’s you!” Izzy shouted, which Pipp and Zipp were surprised by. Izzy ignored it. “First of all, you lied to everypony about your ability to fly and taught your kids that it was ok to do that. Secondly, you try to take a pair of daughters from a mother and have the nerve to lie about it on the net and third, you didn’t talk to your two REAL daughters before trying to adopt. Do you have ANY idea what kind of message that sends to them? It tells them that you don’t love them anymore!” Izzy growled. “All that to me makes you not just a bad parent, but a bad queen as well!”

Pipp and Zipp both stared at Izzy in absolute shock. Izzy was normally the optimistic one and tried to stay positive. So to hear her chew their mother out…

“…How dare you! You dare call my parenting and leadership into question?!” Haven exclaimed after a second of silence.

“Yes. I do dare. Because you’re apparently short a brain cell if you think what you’re doing is ok. How would you feel if I came along and decided to adopt Pipp because you SEEMINGLY abandoned her, even if I have no actual proof?” Izzy asked.

Pipp blushed like mad. She knew Izzy was just using her as an example, but still. …If Izzy was part of mom’s generation I wouldn’t mind her adopting me…

“I would throw you into the dungeon of course!” Haven growled.

“Oh I’ll bet. And I can guarantee that if Sparkler had your job. You would absolutely be sitting in a cell right now. Just something to think about. If you, a MOTHER, try to break up a family again, think about what the OTHER mom would think and think about how you would feel it it was reversed. Don’t do to other moms what you wouldn’t want done to you!”

With that, Izzy hung up the phone. Zipp and Pipp continued to stare at Izzy in amazement. “Whoa. What the hay was that?” Zipp asked.

“That was me standing up for my friends.” Izzy stated. “I hate it when somepony does something like what Haven did.” She said.

Pipp was about to say something, before she got a text. She read it, checked her mom’s profile page, and was amazed to find that her mom had actually taken down the post. “You must’ve really scared her Izzy. Because she took down the post.” Pipp said.

“Good. Let’s not tell Sparkler about this.” Izzy proposed.

“Ditto that.” Zipp said. “I doubt the reminder that she has a restraining order against her would stop her from flying back to Zephyr Heights and smashing mom’s face in.”





Meanwhile, Sunny, Sparkler, and Flurry walked out of Canterlogic Headquarters after a very successful meeting with Phyllis, but despite her agreeing to help Sparkler and her family find a way home, Sparkler wasn’t smiling, for Phyllis saw fit to apologize to her for her son Sprout nearly killing Melody. It took all that Sparkler had not to explode in rage at the mare upon hearing what happened.

Sunny glanced at Sparkler nervously. “So…great that Phyllis is helping eh?” She asked. “She’ll dedicate an R&D team to the task and with any luck they’ll come up with something soon…” She said, trying to get Sparkler’s mind off Sprout.

“The sooner the better. Because apparently this place is full of crazy ponies.” Sparkler muttered.

“If it makes you feel any better, Sprout was probably going off his law enforcement training, and he has since been discharged. So he’s not a threat anymore. Hehe.” Sunny responded.

Sparkler nodded. “Let’s just get back to your place, after nearly losing my kids to a crazy queen, and then learning Melody was SO close to dying on the same day…I’m not sure how much more I can take.” She said.

“Actually, Hitch was wondering if you could meet him in the Sheriff’s office after the meeting. He says it’s urgent.” Sunny told Sparkler.

“Alright. Sure, I can go to the Sheriff’s office.” Sparkler responded. She whipped out her phone and quickly group texted her kids letting them know where she was going and why she wasn’t back yet. “I feel like I should start paying you Pipp Izzy and Zipp for all the foalsitting.” Sparkler commented.

“Don’t even think about it Sparkler.” Sunny said. “Money’s tight for you so you should focus that on feeding your kids.” She said. “Oh, speaking of, there’s a new restaurant that opened up here a few days ago. They might be hiring.”

Sparkler nodded. “I’ll definitely take a look. Thanks Sunny.” She responded. Hopefully the pony in charge of the restaurant will be understanding if the Canterlogic team calls me in. After giving Sunny a quick goodbye, Sparkler and Sunny took off in different directions.





“Ok Apple Brittle. Think you’re ready to get out there on patrol on your own?” Hitch asked his new Deputy.

“Yeah! Ah’m ready to get out there!” Apple Brittle responded cheerfully.

“Good. Than go out there and make me proud.” Hitch responded.

“Alright Hitch!” Apple Brittle responded as the stallion hurried out the door, eager to prove himself.

Not ten seconds after, Hitch heard Apple Brittle gasp. “Sparkling Medley?!” He exclaimed.

Confused, Hitch trotted outside…to see Apple Brittle staring in utter shock at Sparkler, with Flurry on her back. “Hey Sparkler.” Hitch said before turning to Apple Brittle. “You alright Deputy Brittle?” He asked.

Apple Brittle blinked. “Ah’m standing mere feet away from a living legend! A friend of mah ancestor Applejack!” He exclaimed.

Sparkler blinked. “Oh, you’re a descendant of Applejack? It’s nice to meet you…Apple Brittle, was it?”

Apple Brittle smiled and nodded. Hitch could tell Brittle was gonna pop soon. “Ok Deputy, go out on patrol. She’ll be here a while maybe so you can fanboy over her later.”

Apple Brittle nodded and scurried off. Sparkler just smiled and shook her head. “That’s two descendants of my friends I’ve now met.” She commented.

“And one of them is descended from a Guardian of Harmony.” Hitch commented.

“Guardian of Harmony? That’s what Twilight and her friends are called?” Sparkler asked.

“Yeah. But I can’t say anything more than that. I imagine too much information would cause a time paradox.” Hitch said.

“I’d be quite surprised if there’s not already a time paradox.” Sparkler responded. “So, Sunny said you wanted to see me?” She asked.

“Oh, right, yes. I have something to show you. Mind walking with me?” Hitch asked.

Sparkler nodded and the two of them went for a walk. “What’s the living situation like with you and your family?” Hitch asked. “Like how big is your house?”

“We live in a castle.” Sparkler said simply. “We moved in with Twilight some months ago.”

“Hehe. Well the house has to be big for you to have so many kids eh.” Hitch commented.

“Yeah. Hehe.” Sparkler responded. “So where are we going?”

“Somewhere I think you’ll really appreciate.” Hitch responded.

They continued walking for a few minutes, before they came up to a building on a street. Sparkler raised an eyebrow. “Are we going to visit somepony?” Sparkler asked.

“Nah. That house is vacant…or rather, WAS vacant.” Hitch reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a set of keys, holding them out for Sparkler.

Sparkler, putting two and two together, gasped. “Hitch?…” She asked.

“The lighthouse is too small to handle more than a dozen occupants to live together comfortably. And, well admittedly there’s no house in Maretime Bay that can pull that off. But this is the biggest vacant house we could find, it’s got four bedrooms, two bathrooms, basically everything needed to support a large family…more comfortably than squeezing everypony in the lighthouse.” Hitch explained.

Sparkler glanced at the keys, then at the house, and then at Hitch. Her mind was racing. “How much did it cost?” She asked.

“Maretime Bay is loaning it to you and your family for the duration of your stay. The mayor was very understanding. Once I told her exactly what was going on. Don’t worry though, she’ll keep it under wraps.” Hitch explained.

Sparkler sighed, both in relief and somewhat in worry. “Thank goodness…although I can’t help but worry. It’s been smooth sailing for me and my family since we were catapulted here aside from this morning’s attempted kidnapping. It’s almost too good to be true how lucky we’ve been.” She said.

“Got a feeling something is gonna go horribly wrong?” Hitch asked.

“Exactly.” Sparkler said. “Like, we’re gonna succeed in making a way back, but then we discover that the stars aren’t aligned for it to work and won’t be for Faust knows how long…we could be stuck here forever…” Sparkler gulped. She was not enjoying that thought, and what it brought with it.

Hitch saw Sparkler’s mood change, and gave her a reassuring smile. “Hey, I’m sure everything will work out and you’ll get back to your time.” He said. “After all, you once said a pony called you a legend. That might mean that you DID get back to become that legend.”

“But it also might mean that my story in 1003 ended and now it’s meant to continue here.” Sparkler countered.

“Well, let’s not lose hope that you’ll get back. After all, Flurry should get back to her parents as soon as possible.” Hitch smiled towards Flurry. “Anyway, back to the house, Maretime Bay does have a few stipulations. They would like you to keep the house as is unless changes are necessary. Such as replacing damaged furniture. You are responsible for the cost of damages. In short, you are guests in this house, act like it.” He explained.

“Guests in the house, act like it.” Sparkler repeated as she took the keys. “Understood Hitch.” She said.

Flurry smiled and giggled, before she poofed away suddenly. Sparkler heard the pop and saw the smoke and she groaned. “I swear to Faust if a crazy pony tries to adopt Flurry…” She said as she whipped out her new PonyPhone and called up the tracker, not even a second before she started looking for Flurry, she and Hitch heard a scream. "PEGACORN!”

Sparkler and Hitch whirled their heads to look down the street to see a red earth pony stallion bolt away. They saw Flurry flapping her wings in a hover. Hitch couldn’t help but chuckle as they saw Flurry clearly spit at the fleeing pony. “She really doesn’t like Sprout.” He commented.

Sparkler winced. Sprout being the name of the pony that almost killed Melody. “What makes you say that?” She asked.

“More often than not, whenever she’s teleported away, she usually ends up wherever Sprout is and she spits on him and says no to him. Probably as revenge for tranquilizing Melody.” Hitch explained.

Sparkler smiled widely when Hitch said that. “She really likes her cousins.” She said as they rushed over to get Flurry.

Sprout, meanwhile, was hiding behind a barrel, having ducked behind it to get away from the tiny furry monster that was the white Pegacorn. He watched as Hitch and…ANOTHER PEGACORN?! Rushed up to the smaller Pegacorn. He growled. “Where are all these pegacorns coming from?!” He asked. “Grr. Doesn’t matter. If they won’t stop coming, I’ll MAKE them stop coming…” Sprout rushed off, a plan forming in his mind…

To be continued…