“Alright kids. Ready to play?” Sprinkle asked.
“So, what are we doing again?” Light asked in return.
“Playing a game. It’s called Soccer.” Melody said.
“A game we play all the time back home.” Lumber explained.
“Ooh. Neat.” Dark said.
“Yeah. And you know what else is neat? We can FINALLY do a 6 on 6 game of Boys V girls!” Crystal exclaimed. “Before, the girls had to rotate out.”
“Well now we have an even number with Spike.” Light said.
“Exactly!” Trail responded.
“Alright. Everypony ready?” Lightning asked. “If so, PLAY BALL!” He exclaimed as he bucked the soccer ball into the air. And the game began.
“Remember guys! Fair game and go easy on Light and Dark!” Sparkler called out from the back porch.
It was a beautiful summer evening and Sparkler and the 2022 gang decided to have a little outdoor cookout. So Hitch was busy operating the grill that he had brought with him and making something called “Veggie Hotdogs”. Meanwhile, Izzy had dragged Sunny over to act as commentators for the game, and the rest were sipping on Sparkler’s famous lemonade.
Pipp beamed at Sparkler when she took a sip. “Sparkler, you absolute GENIUS! This lemonade is fantastic!” She said.
“Thanks Pipp.” Sparkler responded.
“Seriously, imagine if this was a menu option at the Medley Deli.” Winter commented. “It’d probably be the most popular drink by a landslide.”
Sparkler chuckled. “You mean I haven’t told you my recipe?” She asked.
“You never did.” Winter said. “Seriously Sparks, I know you’re immortal so taking a secret to the grave won’t be an issue. But why are you so stubborn about that?” She asked.
Sparkler laughed. “What? A girl can’t have secrets?” She asked.
“They can.” Night Shade said. “But why would you keep such a delicious drink a secret? You could make a fortune.” He said.
Sparkler laughed. “I’ll tell you what I tell everypony who says that.” She said.
“You don’t need to make an absurd profit.” Bender said.
“And that would be a LOT of bits just sitting around.” Foxtrot added.
Sparkler blinked at her two great grandsons before she giggled. “Yeah. That’s exactly it.” Sparkler said.
“Thought so.” Hurricane said. “You always tell us whenever we ask about it.”
“Why’d we keep asking though?” Bender asked. “You’d think we’d get the message the first few times.”
“SOME of us did.” Winter said. “But you and Flappy Jack kept asking.” She told Bender.
That got a round of laughter from everypony. Apple Brittle smiled at Sparkler. “So. Whatcha gonna do when you get home?” He asked.
“Tackle Twilight, kiss her senseless, and be glad that she’s now not going to go off the deep end.” Sparkler responded.
“Off the deep end?” Flappy Jack asked.
“Yeah.” Sparkler responded, shivering. “When Night Shade and I went to Detrot, we saw a glimpse of a future where the kids and I never returned. Twilight drove herself to being put in a mental hospital because she was going insane trying to get us back.”
“Yeesh.” Apple Brittle said. “That ain’t good.”
“Especially when magic vanished. When that happened…Twilight lost the will to live.” Night Shade explained.
Everypony bit their lips. “Yikes.” Winter said.
“Yeah. But now that we have a functioning Timegate….hang on a second.” Sparkler stopped, realizing something.
“What?” Night Shade asked.
“Night Mare said she preserved the magical signatures of all the remaining Alicorns at the time. But there were only 5. There should’ve been six.” Sparkler explained. “Does anypony know the name Fleur Dis Lee?” She asked.
“Yeah. We know her.” Twinkle responded. “She’s your sister.” She said.
“Well if Night Mare never collected a magical signature from Fleur, I wonder what happ—“ Sparkler stopped as her brain registered what Twinkle just said. “MY SISTER?!” Sparkler exclaimed in the Royal Canterlot Voice in absolute shock.
Everypony within the property heard it and stopped everything. All eyes turned to Sparkler, and Sparkler just stared at Twinkle. “Twinkle.” She said. “What’s this about Fleur Dis Lee being my sister?” She asked
Twinkle’s Siblings’ eyes turned to Twinkle, who’s own eyes widened. Crap! Spoilers! Twinkle thought as she quickly realized what a MASSIVE mistake she just made. “Uh, I meant sisters in Alicornhood?” She responded, trying to play it off. Even though she knew it was futile.
Sparkler sighed, she could tell Twinkle was trying to misdirect her. “Ok, all great grandkids, in the house, now.” She said sternly.
The great grandkids all gulped and followed Sparkler inside.
For the moment, nopony heard a word, after a few moments, the Royal Canterlot Voice blasted through the walls. “FLEUR DIS LEE IS MY BIOLOGICAL SISTER?!” Sparkler shrieked.
Melody and the kids all had their eyes wide at that revelation. “Whoa. Seriously?” Sprinkle asked.
“The hay is up with that?” Light asked.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Sparkler was pacing back and forth. Her head was spinning. She’s my sister this whole time? And she never SAID anything?! A flurry of emotions raged within her. Anger, surprise, confusion. “This is why she never hated me as a noble isn’t it. This is why she was on my side. I’m her FAMILY!” She growled.
“I really hope this doesn’t cause a time paradox.” Winter commented. “Nice going Twinkle.” She said.
“I’m sorry. But in my defense, it was REALLY easy to mess up.” Twinkle defended.
“All you had to do was NOT say she was my sister. No, actually, thank you Twinkle for sharing that with me. Now I have something to do when me and my kids get back.” Sparkler said.
Winter sighed. “Well no going back now. We just have to hope that whatever time paradoxes come about aren’t too bad.” She said.
“You're seriously worried about time paradoxes right now?” Sparkler asked.
“Sparkler, you weren’t supposed to know Fleur was your sister yet. Eventually you are, but this is too early.” Winter explained. “Time doesn’t like it when you step off the path chosen for you.” She said.
“I wasn’t supposed to know I had a biological sister yet? What sense does that make?!” Sparkler asked. “This whole time I had a biological sister, and not ONCE did she tell me. Explain why that would be set in time.” Sparkler said.
“It’s just how it is.” Foxtrot said.
“And we can’t tell you anything more.” Sparkle said. “We wish we could, but we can’t.”
Sparkler sighed and facehoofed. What her grandkids were saying made sense, but it still hurt. Fleur Dis Lee, you have some SERIOUS explaining to do. As do mom and dad for that matter. She thought. This one revelation started up a bunch of questions. Was she herself adopted? Was Fleur? Who were their real parents? Why were they split up for so long?
After a few moments of no one saying anything, Sparkler decided to drop it for now. “I’m gonna have a few talks with certain ponies when I get back. But for now. Let’s try NOT to have any more slip ups.” She said.
Her grandchildren nodded in agreement, and they all went back outside. And of course everypony gathered around to hear what the hay Sparkler unleashed the RCV for. To say the KIDS were all surprised would be an understatement.
On one hoof, Time Paradox incoming. But on the other, Fleur, Mom, Dad. You three better have a hay of an explanation as to why I never knew I had a sister. Sparkler thought as Hitch finished the Veggie Hotdogs and they all had dinner.
To be continued…