//------------------------------// // Chapter I // Story: The Parent Map: TLC Timeline // by AizakkuHorooee //------------------------------// On the way home from Rainbow Falls, Starlight Glimmer is with me on the train. “Thanks for making the time, Starlight.  I wonder where you three are going next,” I say. Starlight pulls out a map filled with strings on top.  “Well Sunburst, with Rainbow Falls done, Trixie, Discord and I will be on our way to Vanhoover.  That’s where we’ll start Day 3 of the Autumnal Nationwide Tour.” “Uh… that spells ANT.” Starlight laughs.  “Exactly what I told Trixie.  She insisted she started with a vowel for the name of this nationwide tour… and make the abbreviation gutterproof.” “But I don’t think it works that way anyway.  Fall doesn’t even have an adjective form like Autumn does, does it?” “Well, if you don’t count the ‘-ish’ suffix, then no.”  Starlight suddenly pauses and looks around.  “Can you keep what I’m about to say between the two of us?” she whispers. “What are friends for?” “Last spring, Aita taught me something he learned from Carve, so I gave that a shot with Trixie.  And now, we can send each other letters.” “Wait, really?  I thought she just did show magic.” “That was until I taught her transfiguration.” “So, who’s Aita?” “Aita’s a juvenile changeling that lives with me, Spike and Twilight.” Suddenly, the train screeches to a stop, meaning that we’re already at the Crystal Empire. “Oh!  That’s our stop!”  I exclaim. “...but the most powerful thing that happened was when he dreamt about Areola and a discharge brought her back to life.” As Starlight and I casually walk home, Starlight explains all the crazy stuff Aita has been through.  I double take when she tells me about the most powerful thing Aita did. “Sumnus Revivia?  How did he do that?” “Let’s just say it was combination of REM, electricity and magic.” When Starlight and I arrive at my house, my new mailbox next to the main entrance is already packed.  Starlight elbows me in response. “You must be popular, Sunburst.” “Oh that?  A-All of that’s junk mail, I’m sure,” I reply, taking all the mail inside as the two of us walk in. Starlight doesn’t seem convinced, tilting her head and pointing to the mail.  “Not all of it.  I recognize the seal on one of those.” I quickly sift through each one until I see what she’s talking about.  “Alright, junk, junk, junk, junk- wait…”  I recognize that too.  I facehoof.  “Sire’s Hollow?  Oh no…” “Is this about my dad?” “Actually, no.  My mom constantly writes to me asking me what I’m gonna do for myself now that I’m on my own.  I mean I already have a good calling; you saw it when we first caught back up the other spring.” “I know that, but how come you never addressed it to her?  I mean look at the pile.” I look where Starlight points.  Letters are almost touching the ceiling there are so many piled.  Without a book on horn, I realize just how high the letters are piling up. “Oh my!  How did I not notice I had this many since I last responded?!?” “When was the last time you responded to her?” “I don’t know!  I just know it was shortly after I moved here.” “Sunburst, at least leave her an update on what’s going on in your life.  This pile wouldn’t be so big if you just let her know you were a crystaler.  That’s a great calling with a gargantuan responsibility, and it’s something well worth sharing.” “Fine.  I’ll grab some parchment.” I trot across the room and take out a piece of scroll paper and a quill and bring them to my desk. Dear Stellar Flare, A.K.A. Mom, I just got back from watching one of The Great and Powerful Trixie’s tours in Rainbow Falls, and I never realized how much you wrote to me since I moved to the Crystal Empire.  Well, I’m a crystaler now, which is a significant responsibility where I live.  My long-time friend Starlight was hoping if I gave you an update, maybe we could get past all of this “planning” now that I have a calling for myself.  And I couldn’t agree more.  I won’t mind if you just want to talk, just please no more plans. Yours truly, Sunburst. “Is it ready?” Starlight asks. “Ready as it will ever be.” I give Starlight the letter, who rolls it up and uses one of the Crystal Empire seals I have to keep it from unravelling.  That’s when it happens. Starlight’s horn briefly flashes, prompting the scroll to burn into the air and out an open window, likely to be sent to Mom.  “There.  It’s on its way,” says Starlight.  “When do you think you’ll get a response?” “Any time, really.  With how frequently Mom writes, that could be in a matter of a few minutes.” “Even with the hope of otherwise happening, just be ready, Sunburst.  In the meantime, I’ll contact Trixie and let her know you’re home.” Starlight grabs some fresh parchment, takes the quill I used and walks into the other room. As soon as Starlight is out of my sight, a letter arrives through the same window and materializes.  It has the same Sire’s Hollow seal from the pile of letters.  When I finish reading it, I let out a frustrated yelp.  “Why does it ALWAYS have to be about plans?!?” Starlight pops her head back into the room, clearly concerned.  “Did it not work?” “Of course not!  I… I don’t know what else to do!  I can’t even have somepony over without Mom writing to me about the future!  What am I gonna do?!?” Starlight puts a hoof under her chin.  “What if you went to my place for a while and tried to recoup, step back and relax?  You don’t get much of a chance to visit anyway.” “But isn’t that just running away from my problems?!?” “Absolutely not.  You seem pretty heated at the moment.  I totally understand how it feels.  But you won’t be able to think if you’re constantly flustered with Stellar Flare’s constant stream of mail.” I sigh in conceit.  “Fine.  I’ll go find a train schedule.” “Actually, why don’t I take you?  It’s much faster that way.  Let me just tell Trixie and Discord to go on without me.” Before I can ask if Starlight is sure about this, she grabs another piece of paper and takes it into the other room.  Soon after, she returns with the finished letter to seal, then sends the letter on its way. “Ready Sunburst?” I nod and let Starlight wrap her hoof around me as she prepares to teleport.