Sprout was in a room in one of the lower levels of Canterlogic HQ late at night. He was groveling to himself as he drew on a piece of paper. “Grah. More of them come every day. It’s the beginning of the end of Earth Pony society as we know it.” He mumbled. “Grr. Not if I have anything to say about it. No sirree. Once I put my plan into action Pegasi, Unicorns, and PegaCorns will become a thing of the past! Mwahahahaha!” He laughed maniacally.
At that moment, the door opened and an older mare entered the room. “Oh Sprouty! There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Phyllis said.
Sprout rolled his eyes. “Ugh. Not now mom! I’m busy.” He said.
“Doing what?” Phyllis asked.
“None of your business mom.” Sprout responded.
Phyllis frowned. “Why so grumpy Sprout? Are you still bitter over losing your job?” She asked.
“I wouldn’t have lost it if it weren’t for those Pegasus and Unicorn menaces!” Sprout growled. “THEY did this to me!”
Phyllis shook her head. It seemed Sprout still thought the other tribes were the enemy. “Ok Sprout, I know I always said the other tribes were our enemies, and if that was ever the case, it’s not the case now. They’re our friends.” She said.
“That’s just what they want! For us to trust them and let our guard down before they turn on us and attack!“ Sprout exclaimed. “They may have everypony else fooled, but not me!”
Phyllis sighed. She could tell she wasn’t going to get through to Sprout tonight, but she could do something else. “Well, it’s late, the building is closed, so we need to go home now.” She said.
“I’ll lock up shop mom.” Sprout responded, he didn’t want to leave in the middle of planning.
“Sorry Sprouty, new security policy, the CEO or Head of R&D are the last ponies to leave and lock up.” Phyllis responded.
“What? You don’t trust me?” Sprout asked.
“It’s not that Sprout.” Phyllis said. “Recent endeavors warrant this new policy. So come on.” She said sternly.
Sprout rolled his eyes. “Ugh. Fine.” He said. He got out of his chair and followed his mom out. Doesn’t matter. I’ll be back tomorrow.
Elsewhere, in the house Sparkler and the kids were occupying, Light had woken up to go to the bathroom. As he passed Sparkler’s room, his one batpony ear, which was on his right side, pointed to the door, picked up whispering from the other side. Light stopped, curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to listen to what was clearly Sparkler whispering. “Hey Twi…it’s the 14th…”
On the other side of the door, Sparkler laid in bed, her horn glowing to project light, and she was holding her Twilight Cutie Mark Mane Pin…and looking at it through tear-filled eyes. “Six months. Six months ago we got together…and six months ago we adopted our first child…Time went by so fast…if only it hadn’t taken me and the kids and thrown us 1,019 years ahead…we’d be together to celebrate it…” Sparkler let out a sigh. “I’m doing everything I can to get us back home. Somepony’s already offered to help us find a way. And I promise I won’t rest until we get home…”
Sparkler continued on, eventually descending into a silent crying. Never the wiser that somepony heard that. Light, however, was confused as all heck from where he stood. 1,019 years ahead…are Dark and I living with time travelers? He thought.
“Light?” Came a hushed voice that only Light’s hyper hearing could hear.
Light turned to see his bro Dark standing there. With a concerned look on his face. “Something wrong?” Dark asked.
Light glanced at the door, then at her brother. “We need to talk.”
…
“Ok, so why did you want us to talk out here?” Dark asked as the two bat ponies softly landed on the porch of the house. “And why were you standing outside Sparkler’s room?” He asked.
“Curiosity got the better of me. It sounded like she was up…and Dark, our foster family might be time travelers.” Light said.
“Time travelers?” Dark asked.
“Yeah. Sparkler had said that they’re from 1,019 years in the past. And they’re not here of their own free will.” Light said.
“So…are they trying to find a way home?” Dark asked.
“Wouldn’t you?”
“…Yeah, I would.”
“You realize what this means for us right Dark?” Light asked.
“If we don’t find a family before they find a way home, Sparkler’ll have to send us to an orphanage.” Dark said. He wasn’t an idiot, and neither was his brother. They both understood what would happen if Sparkler became unable to be their foster parent. And they didn’t like it one bit.
“What do you think we should do?” Dark asked.
“Do you want Sparkler as a mom?” Light asked.
“You kidding?” Dark asked. “She and her kids are fun to be around, plus she doesn’t care what we look like. We might not get that lucky again.”
“So, we convince Sparkler to adopt us then and take us with her back to her time?” Light asked.
“Sounds like a plan.” Dark agreed. They bumped hooves, confirming their plan. In the past few weeks, Sparkler had certainly won them over because of her willingness to stand up for them despite their appearance. Plus she was willing to learn about their condition and ensure she could properly care for them, something they always suspected their birth parents weren’t willing or able to given the story they were told. As far as they were concerned, Sparkler and her kids were their only shot at having a family.
“Should we mention how we heard they were from the past or do we let them tell us?” Light asked.
“We’ll see what ends up happening.” Dark responded. “Honestly? I doubt they’ll be very happy if they learned we eavesdropped on them.”
“I wonder if they were ever going to tell us…” Light mused.
“I’m sure they would’ve. Eventually.” Dark responded. “I mean, Sparkler doesn’t seem the kind to just up and leave without saying a word.”
“Right.” Light said as they snuck back into the house and back to bed.
When the sun rose, everypony in the house was up, and in the kitchen. Sparkler was busy making pancakes for everypony. She heard the ding from the microwave, indicating Flurry’s milk was ready. “Hey, can somepony start feeding Flurry? Her milk is ready.” She asked.
“On it!“ Dark and Light both said on the spot. They rushed to the microwave, got the milk bottle, and proceeded to feed Flurry her breakfast.
Sparkler smiled as she flipped several pancakes at once. “Thanks Light and Dark.” She said.
Crystal watched the two and noticed them acting a little off. Is it just me or are those two a bit TOO eager all of a sudden? They’d never volunteered to feed Flurry before. And they did so today before anypony else could breathe a word.
Spike meanwhile was munching on some gems. “Oh boy, it’s awesome this place has gems!” He exclaimed.
Melody chuckled. “Why do dragons like gems so much?” She asked.
“We just do.” Spike responded.
Everypony was talking amongst themselves. Sparkler continued to make pancakes, until her phone rang. She smiled as she opened yet another aperture of magic and answered the phone, holding it to her ear. “Go.”
“Is this Sparkling Medley?” The stallion on the other end asked.
“Yeah this is Sparkling Medley. Who am I talking to?”
“Night Shade. Head of research and development at Canterlogic.”
“Oh, good morning. What can I do for you?” Sparkler asked.
“Are you able to come into Canterlogic today? I’d like to meet in pony and discuss where we’ll start trying to find a way back to your time.” Night Shade responded.
“Oh. Oh yeah. Sure. I can come in. What time do you want me there?”
“As soon as possible. I hear you’re kinda in a hurry.”
“Oh yeah. Yeah I’d very much like to get home before any other crazy ponies try to hurt or adopt my family.” Sparkler said with a chuckle.
Night Shade chuckled as well. “I’ll let the receptionist know you’ll be coming.” He said. “See you soon Sparkler.” With that, the connection was cut.
Sparkler nodded and pulled up the text app. She opened the group chat she had with Zipp, Pipp, Sunny, and Izzy.
Sparkler: Just got called into Canterlogic. Anypony available to watch the kids for me?
Pipp: I can watch them! I’ll be right over!
Sunny: Me too! Izzy’s going to Bridlewood today to get some stuff from her old cottage, said I didn’t need to come so I have time to kill.
Sparkler: Thanks you two. I’ll take Flurry and Spike with me. But the rest of them will still be here.
Sparkler then sent a text to her legally adopted kids (meaning not Light and Dark.) About the plan, then put her phone away and finished making the pancakes. She plated them and gave the plates to her kids. “Alright everypony, bon appetit, I gotta go into town to do some stuff, I’ll be taking Flurry and Spike with me.” She said.
Spike had JUST finished reading the text and nodded. “Sure thing Sparkler.
Light and Dark nodded. “Is there anything you’d like us to do while you’re gone?” Dark asked.
“Nah, just have fun with Pipp and Sunny.” Sparkler responded.
Ok, now I KNOW something’s up. Crystal thought. Light and Dark were being extra helpful all of a sudden. And they never volunteered for anything. Now, Crystal wasn’t a fool. She knew that there were a lot of kids in the house so Light and Dark not offering to help wasn’t a big deal, either somepony else would beat them to it or mom would ask them outright. Today though, they volunteered to feed Flurry, and offered to do any chores mom might’ve wanted done. Do they want something and think buttering up to mom will help?
Sparkler meanwhile also found it a tad strange for the two twins to ask for chores to do. Seeing as how they’d never done that before, but she shrugged it off. Eh, Melody was the same way at first. Thanks to THAT incident. With that, she ate her breakfast, grabbed Flurry and Spike, and left the house, leaving the kids with Sunny and Pipp, who came by only ten minutes after they agreed to foalsit.
To be continued…