The Mane 6 sat in the spa which quickly filled with water in the tub. They sighed as the warmth soothed their muscles and minds. They'd been hard at work all day getting ready for Princess Cadance and Shining Armor's visit. A banner had been put up reading Welcome Newly Wed Royal Couple that had been adorned with hearts on either end of it. They would be arriving tomorrow and all of the ponies in town were looking forward to it.
Twilight just hoped that everything would be alright and that Shining Armor wasn't being too hard on himself. Her friends were starting to move on from their pain at least, even if not everypony was forgiving them right away. Twilight admitted to herself, despite forgiving them, she now felt a little shaken as the time they all walked out on her went through her mind as well. A small bit of anger was in her heart still, but she pushed those feelings down as best she could.
They are your best friends, she reminded herself. You will always have your ups and downs, this was probably the lowest point, and there might be another one like it. But we will pull through, because we share a special connection through the Elements of Harmony.
She knew it was true. They’d been connected since the day they all got their cutie marks.
"Everything looks good for the welcome and now we can just wait until they arrive," Twilight said.
"Indeed, my outfit is ready as well," Rarity said proudly. "Pity none of you wanted to wear anything."
"We didn't have to when Celestia came to Ponyville for that little social gathering," Applejack reminded her.
"Yeah, if we didn't need to wear anything for her then, we probably don't for Twilight's brother and new sister-in-law!" Rainbow Dash agreed.
"The baking is all done too!" Pinkie said. "Wish I could eat em right now! But Mrs. Cake said no!"
Twilight forced a smile, remembering how Pinkie took a bite out of every pastry and treat there the day before the parasprites invaded. That pony almost always thought with her stomach, and her very silly party loving brain.
“You can’t eat them before the guests arrive, Pinkie,” Twilight said.
"Well, Applebloom and Big Macintosh both agreed to be a part of our Siblinghooves Social," Applejack said.
"Too bad none of my siblings are close enough!" Pinkie lamented. "Hey I got an idea! I could be Rainbow Dash's sister for a day!"
She pulled the Pegasus closer and hugged her tightly. Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth.
"Please tell me Zephyr Breeze isn't coming," she asked Fluttershy.
"Oh um, he said he's actually busy," Fluttershy said. "Getting his stuff moved back into our parent’s house... again."
Rainbow sighed in relief. "Guess I can come after all."
Pinkie smiled and hugged her tighter, nearly choking her. "Good! Honorary sisters for a day!”
“You know, we’re kind of all sisters in hoofs!” Rainbow said. “Being the whole guardians of harmony!”
“I bet Scootaloo would have liked to be your honorary sibling for a day as well,” Applejack said looking at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow chuckled. “Probably. You know she is pretty cool for a filly. I wouldn’t mind having somepony to call a younger sibling. But I’m good doing this with Pinkie. Not like we have to fly together, right?”
“Didn’t plan on that in our game,” Applejack said.
Spike looked at Twilight. She was like a big sister to him, he’d always considered her that. Shining Armor was like a big brother to him as well. But he was a dragon, they were ponies. They could never be full siblings cause of that. Sometimes Spike wished he’d been born a pony, as Twilight’s real little brother. Of course, if that was the case his whole life would probably be different. He wouldn’t be Twilight’s Number One Assistant and probably going to school somewhere else, either to Celestia’s school or something else. Spike just didn’t know. He sighed.
They finished their relaxation at the spa, and Rarity came out looking nice and lovely as she usually did.
“Feels good to actually look beautiful again,” the white unicorn said.
“I know,” Spike gazed at her with hearts in his eyes. “You are always beautiful Rarity!”
“Thank you Spike,” Rarity gave him a smile.
…
Twilight and Spike returned home and checked on the guest bed they’d gotten out for Shining and Cadance when they arrived as the sun set.
“Okay, I don’t think we’ll need to worry about sound proofing spells since we don’t have a spare bedroom for them to…” Twilight cut herself off.
“For them to what?” Spike asked unsure of what she meant.
“Nothing,” Twilight said. “Something you’ll learn about when you’re older. Let’s just have dinner. They’ll be here tomorrow.”
…
Rainbow Dash flew to her parents’ house in Cloudsdale. She hadn't been there in a while, since her parents tended to stay in the cloud city while she spend most of her time in Ponyville. It was partly cause, she missed them, they were her Number One Fans after all, ever since she'd been a filly. Of course, whenever they cheered for her, she felt really embarrassed and as such made up her mind to not tell them when she did become a Wonderbolt. Their overenthusiasm would embarrass her in front of the whole crew when she became one. But right now, she needed somepony that would treat her differently.
She worried though, would even her parents be mad at her? Maybe, but she had to tell them at some point, rumors would likely reach them eventually... Rainbow just hoped that that wouldn't be the case when she became a Wonderbolt. Good thing her parents were bigger fans of her then the Wonderbolts and didn't keep track of their daughter’s favorite flight team. Bow Hothoof, her father who’d given her her signature rainbow mane, and his wife Windy Whistles were ecstatic to see their daughter as she stepped onto the clouds outside their home.
"Rainbow Dash!" they greeted enthusiastically.
"Hey Mom, Hey Dad," the Pegasus said politely.
"We're so happy to see you!" Bow greeted. "It’s been so long! You really need to visit more often! How's our future Wonderbolt doing? Did you…"
Rainbow Dash blushed. "No not yet,” she answered honestly before her ears drooped. “And afraid I’m not doing the best I suppose."
Windy put a hoof to her mouth. "Oh, what's wrong dear? Is Zephyr Breeze giving you trouble?"
"No," Rainbow said before proceeding to tell them about the events in Canterlot.
They were shocked and her mother put a hoof over her mouth as she heard the whole event.
"I can get it if you're disappointed in me," Rainbow Dash said. "Everypony has been so far. Some even threw rocks or other stuff at me."
"We are disappointed in you," Bow answered. "But we see that you are very sorry as well. We weren't there but we heard about the invasion and are glad you and all your friends made it out unharmed."
He pulled her into a hug.
"We love you as your parents, and your biggest fans," Windy said. "But even we know you aren't perfect. Everypony makes mistakes. But your father is right, we are glad you and all your friends are alright."
Rainbow Dash nodded. "No thanks to me this time though. Lots of ponies had their houses damaged or love drained right out of them."
Windy put a hoof on her. "But they are alive at least. You helped rebuild some of those homes as well. You'll get your chance to shine again soon, I'm sure. Come on, lets make your favorite dinner while you're here!"
Rainbow chuckled. She ate with her parents and thanked them for their support. Once they were done, Rainbow Dash flew to her house over Ponyville.
…
Rarity was also at her parent’s house, which she had moved out of a couple years ago when she first began her fashion business. Her parents did wear clothes often, unlike most ponies.
"I know what I did was wrong,” Rarity told them as tears flowed from her eyes. “Sweetie Belle could have been hurt along with all the other ponies presents. I'm the worst big sister in all of Ponyville!"
She put a hoof to her head dramatically.
"You're not," Sweetie Belle said. "You just make a few mistakes here and there. We all do every now and then."
"Yes, but you learn from them," their mother, Cookie Crumbles said. "And you both can grow more beautiful from them. Just like cooking, it takes time to perfect an art."
Rarity sighed. Her mother and father were both rather patient ponies, and could eat just about anything. Even breakfast that was burnt and inedible to other ponies. Her standards were higher than theirs though and she could only tolerate the best. "I don't know if I have though."
"Just try dear," Cookie Crumbles said hugging her.
"Indeed, you made a mistake my love," her father Hondo Flank told her. "But it is quite an honor to be selected to make a princess’s wedding dress.”
"And Sweetie Belle is just fine," Cookie agreed. "Right Sweetie?"
The filly nodded. "And I did have fun being a flower filly for Princess Cadance... twice! Of course it was scary the first time when the invasion happened. But I also danced with Spike at the party and we had a good time!"
Rarity smiled, recalling the brief dance and time she'd had with Fancy Pants as well. His wife Fleur had been injured fighting off some of the changelings so he had to come alone and she'd been more than happy to fill in for her as Fancy's dance partner for the night. Though she did wish she had a stallion of her own. Hopefully that would happen sooner or later, she'd find her Prince Charming and live happily ever after.
She'd been eager for that, and even taken the bouquet as Princess Cadance threw it, shoving the other bridesmaids out of the way. She felt another small surge of shame, there were times when her vanity and selfishness came out like when she'd neglected Sweetie Belle, and Twilight. That had happened twice now, with Rarity choosing to be at the Upper Class Party rather than Twilight's Birthday, and most recently with the wedding. But it was thrice if she counted the time she and all her friends fought over the ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala. She really needed to work on not putting her work and fashion creations before her friends and family.
"Thank you for understanding all of you," she said.
"We love you Rarity," her father said. "And we are very proud that you actually got chosen to be a royal dress maker even just briefly."
"You always dreamed of that when you were a filly," her mother said. "This is one big step toward becoming the designer for Celestia herself."
"We'll see," Rarity said. "I am honored that I got to do that. But I can't let that get in the way of my friendships, or my family. I'm going to do better in the future and try to never neglect those things again for the sake of fashion!"
They smiled at her.
"That's our little filly, a creator of beautiful things with a heart just as beautiful," her father said kissing her forehead.
Rarity smiled. "Thank you, Father, Mother. I needed this today. We maybe different from each other but I love you both."
…
Applejack sat at the dinner table with her family. Granny Smith made Apple Pie for desert and she was looking forward to it.
"How is everything with you and your friends Applejack?" Granny Smith asked.
"Everything’s just dandy!" Applejack said. "We got together at the spa and relaxed once we were done.”
"Nopony gave you trouble today?" Big Macintosh asked in concern.
"Nah," Applejack shook her head.
"You know, you could always press charges on those whipper snappers that attacked ya yesterday!" Granny Smith said. "You may have messed up but two wrongs don't make a right! We really could use a Sheriff around here you know! Somepony whose job it is to enforce the law rather then having us civilians enforce it ourselves!"
"It’s okay Granny," Applejack said.
"No, it’s not! I know you messed up but that was no reason to have stuff thrown at you!" Apple Bloom objected.
"Well if anypony else attacks me, I'll send them to Canterlot with a darn good charge," Applejack promised. "Don't worry. Me and my friends are done feeling sorry for ourselves. We've wallowed long enough."
It was true. Applejack felt she still needed to do something good to make up for her past mistake, to Twilight in particular. Next time there was something bad happening, she vowed she'd be there for her friend.
"So, how was school Apple Bloom?" she asked her younger sister hoping to change the subject.
"Fine," the youngest apple said. "Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are still jealous that me and my friends got to be Royal Flower Fillies!"
"Those two uppity fillies need to have some good spankings," Granny Smith said. "Filthy Rich should spend more time with his daughter! Maybe he could shape her to be a better pony. Can never figure out why he married that wife of his. Spoiled fits her to a tee, but don't tell any of this to anypony else!"
They all laughed. Things were getting back to normal between them and their families. Applejack just wished her parents were here enjoying their time together as well. But she was grateful to be part of a such a great family, and have such a wonderful band of friends. Now tomorrow they’d have visitors coming.
…
Little did they know though, another set of visitors were coming. A group of changelings led by one with bright red eyes moved through the orchards, finally coming to Ponyville.
“Just you wait Twilight Sparkle,” Captain Trikar said as he saw the Golden Oaks Library. “You will soon pay for ruining our queen’s plan.”