//------------------------------// // Family Ties // Story: Dafaddah's Box of Chocolates // by Dafaddah //------------------------------// Submitted as part of the September Group Challenge of The Wirters' Group Prompt:) I didn't tell you I'm related to... Family Ties by  Dafaddah *** Twilight Sparkle and her favorite six friends were having a picnic. She was pretty proud of herself because this time she had included Spike in her friend tally, which she often didn’t, leading to some angst and a few rather costly anger management sessions for the little dragon. “Hey Spike, take out the cake, please.” Spike reached into the large basket he had laboriously dragged all the way from the treehouse. From it emerged a beautiful Sugarcube Corners Cream Cake, pre-cut into six perfect pieces. Spike looked down and started to cry. SIX PIECES! Darn, she’d done it again! “Eh, Spike, I thought we’d share a piece.” Spike looked at her, one eye twitching. “Oh, yeah. Sure, Twi.” The other ponies each eagerly grabbed their pieces and began eating noisily. “What’s the occasion Twilight? asked Pinkie Pie. “For some reason my great-aunt Tarantella decided to send me a gift certificate for a cake. I think it had something to do with the dancing lessons she gave me before my birthday party.” “She taught you that dance you did all night long, sugarcube?” asked AJ. “Naw! Her dancing was kinda weird. She just grabbed me tight and swung me around for a few hours. I didn’t learn a thing, but it made her real happy.” Everypony looked away. “Hey, maybe I should buy myself a cake!” said Pinkie, eyes wide. “Munfh. Why munfh a cake munfh self?” said Raibow Dash, crumbs falling all over Spike as she munched. “Because silly, I’m my own great aunt,” replied Pinkie Pie. “I know I will regret asking, but how is that possible Pinkie?” asked Rarity. “Well, You know that my sister Pumpkin is a lot younger than her husband, right?” All the ponies nodded. It had been quite the scandal. “But did you know that my sister is her own grand-ma?” said Pinkie. “Now, how in tarnation is that possible?” said AJ. “That’s because our ma married my sister’s step-son,” said Pinkie. “Now I’m confused,” said Twilight.” “Actually it was the justice of the peace at their weddings who was confused,” said Pinkie. “Come again, sugarcube.” “It’s simple really. My sister and my ma got married to a stallion and his son,” replied Pinkie. “A four way marriage? I heard that happens in the boonies,” commented Rarity. “No, silly, they didn’t all get married together. They all got a bit drunk the night before the wedding and the brides switched veils by mistake. He he, that was one of my BEST parties EVER!” “I still don’t get it,” said Twilight, feeling a headache coming-on. “They got the two couples confused. My ma married the colt, and my sister married the stallion. So I’m the stallion’s, sister-in-law. Therefore his son is my nephew. But my nephew is married to my mother, so he is my step-dad. And I’m my step-dad’s aunt, so ipso fatso, I am my own great aunt-in-law!” There was stunned silence, except for Rainbow Dash. “So, next week Pinkie’s buying the cake?” she enquired. “Yeah. Great idea,” said Rarity. “Twilight, I have a question.” said Fluttershy quietly. “Oh, yeah? What is it?” asked Twilight Sparkle. “What would have happened if it was a mother and son and a father and daughter that got confused on their wedding day?”