//------------------------------//
// Her Family 
// Story: From Sky to Earth 
// by RaijingtheClockworkPony 
//------------------------------//

	The pair walked along the quite road into town, Fluttershy's head resting on Soarin's shoulder. They listened to the sounds of the birds chirping as they slowly made their way. Fluttershy sighed softly into Soarin's coat. 

"Pinkies been really excited about this all week. She really wants to meet you."

Soarin' smiled a little. "Really? She seemed like a fun mare, a little... weird but fun. I actually wanted to ask you about this party. It isn't going to be too big or too much, right?"

The yellow mare lifted her head and looked at the mare slightly embarrassed. "Well... it’s not the smallest party she's ever had..."

Soarin' stopped waling for a moment and felt a small chill run up his back. "How small is small for her?"

Fluttershy stopped after a couple of steps. "Well she says that small for her is... um, thirty ponies." She saw Soarin's face fall and his eyes widened. "But I talked her down to just thirteen ponies, aside from us."

Soarin's face relaxed a little and he took a sigh of relief. "So... who is it that I will be meeting?"

Fluttershy walked over to the stallion and thought for a moment. "Um... let’s see I talked Pinkie down from the entire town and tried to make it just us and my other closest friends but she thought that since you and I were coming as a couple that they rest of them should do so as well."

Soarin' felt his heart drop a little. Fluttershy continued as she placed a small peck on his cheek. "So I said that would be fine. So Pinkie is bringing her friend Pokey Peirce, Applejack is bringing her coltfriend Caramel, and Rarity is bringing Spike along as her date."

Soarin' stood there for a moment as he tried to remember what Fluttershy had told him about her friends. "Spike is the... dragon that has a crush on Rarity, right?"

The mare nodded. "Yes. I don't think they are dating at the moment, just going as friends for tonight. Let’s see I think after we told Applejack and Rarity their sisters wanted to come. We couldn't tell them no after they started to beg. So we told them they could."

Fluttershy smiled up at him for a moment. "They then asked if their friend Scootaloo could come as well since she is such a huge fan of you and the other Wonderbolts."

Soarin' let out a small groan. "Please tell me that's all."

Fluttershy gave a sheepish grin. "Not quite. I invited Derpy and Dinky along as well. Dinky did promise to get you that pie recipe after all."

Soarin' grinned at the thought of that little filly. "I guess that's alright. I think that's all thirteen you mentioned."

Fluttershy did a quick mental count. She nodded as they tallied up and smiled at him. "Yeah. I guess it is." A slight pause as she bit her lip. "Soarin', I want to tell you something. These ponies are the closest thing I have to a family. They have helped me through some very tough moments in my life. They have been my sisters for the longest time and I really love them."

Soarin' gave her a quick kiss. "If they mean this much to you... well, if they're your family then they're mine as well."

Fluttershy pounced on him and locked his lips with hers. They stood there for a moment holding each other in a loving kiss before Fluttershy broke away and blushed. "We still need to get to the party. We're the guests of honor after all."

They set off down the road and reached the edge of the town. Fluttershy and Soarin' drew some looks as they walked down the streets. Only once did they get stopped and it was but a small filly with a bright blue coat. She asked for an autograph from Fluttershy and Soarin' and walked away with a large smile. 

Soarin' watched the filly for a moment. "Does that happen to you often?"

Fluttershy looked over to see the playful grin on his face. "Not too often. Happened a lot after I left the modeling business but not too much anymore. She was really sweet."

On the thought of sweets Soarin' looked up the streets and spotted a building that bore a remarkable resemblance to gingerbread. He pointed to it with an amused smile. "What's that building? Looks... well, edible."

Fluttershy followed his hoof and grinned. "That's where we're heading. That's the Sugarcube Corner, best bakery in all of Equestria."

They made their way up the street and up to the door of the delicious looking establishment. Fluttershy waited for a moment as she watched Soarin' lift his hoof to knock on the door then he stopped.

He looked over at her, his ears drooping in worry. "What if they don't like me?"

Fluttershy couldn't help but smile at the foal like look on his face. She gave him a kiss on the cheek to calm him. "You are the sweetest stallion I have ever known, and I'm not saying that because were in front of a bakery."

She saw Soarin' bite his lip as his worry deepened. She placed her hoof on his and nuzzled him. "They will love you because I love you. If they don't then it won't matter because I will still love you no matter what."

Soarin' felt warmth spread throughout his body as he looked into the turquoise eyes of hers. He nodded and knocked on the door. He swore he heard what sounded like a loud party noisemaker that grew louder for a moment. The sound stopped as soon as the door opened and a bright pink mare lunged out and grappled both of the ponies standing there in a bone crushing hug.

"I'm so glad you two could make it! I knew you would show up because you’re the special guests and the special guests always show up! Come on in the rest haven't gotten here yet but Spike and Rarity are already here."

She began to drag the pair inside, despite their best attempts to get a breath of air. After a few moments they were releases and had glasses of punch put into their hooves. Soarin' too a look around the building and his eyes fell onto the couple walking towards them. 

A snow white mare with a deep purple mane smiled at him. He noticed a golden necklace with a large heart-shaped ruby set in the center. "A pleasure to meet you Mister Soarin', I can't say how wonderful it is to know that Fluttershy can find such a strapping stallion whom she can call her own."

Soarin' took her out stretched hoof in his and gave it a light shake. "You're Rarity, right?"

The mare smiled at him. "Got it in one. This is Spike, my date for the night."

The dragon gave him a small wave. "Hiya. So you and Fluttershy huh? Where'd you two even meet?"

As Soarin' told Spike about the blind date Fluttershy pulled Rarity to the side. "Hey, where's Twilight? I thought she would come over with you and Spike."

Rarity glanced over at Soarin' and Spike for a moment before she answered her friend. "She said she wanted to send a report to Celestia before she came over." She leaned over so she could whisper. "To be honest I think she's a little upset that she won't be able to have her friend to meet us tonight."

Fluttershy noticed her friend roll her eyes at the mention of Twilight’s friend. "You don't believe her about her pen pal?"

Rarity gave a tiny shrug in response. "I don't know. She only recently told us about this stallion she has apparently been writing to. I think she just didn't want to show up to a couple’s party without a pony to come with."

"Dash is coming alone."

The seamstress gave a deadpan look to the yellow mare. "Darling, she has never once even looked at a stallion or a mare in that way. I wouldn't be surprised if she never settled down."

Fluttershy sighed a little. She wished she could tell Rarity about Dash's insecurity's but she had promised to hold up. "I think she just needs to find the right pony. Who knows, it may happen soon."

Rarity grinned a little. "I would love to meet the pony that tames Dash’s wild nature. It would be a task worthy of a medal and the highest honors in Equestria."

Rarity and Fluttershy rejoined the two males just as Soarin' finished the story. "Then she kissed me and that was the end of our first date."

Spike gave a quick glance at Rarity then leaned in to whisper to Soarin'. "Got any tips to help me impress Rarity?"

Soarin' and Fluttershy started laughing as Rarity dragged Spike away by the spines on the side of his head. Pinkie came bounding over to them and landed with a small pop in front of the pegasi. 

"You two ready to meet my friendliest stallion friend?"

The stayed silent for a moment as Pinkie reached behind her and pulled a stallion in front of her. Soarin' stood there for a moment confused and he could have sworn that the stallion had simply not been there a second ago. He was starting to become worried by this pink earth pony.

"This is Pokey Pierce!"

"Pinkie, I already met Pokey."

Soarin' barely heard Fluttershy next to him as he looked the stallion over. He was dark blue with a white and grey mane. His cutie mark appeared to be a fastening pin of some sort. The stallion held out his hoof with a shaky smile. 

"Nice to meet you Mister Soarin'..."

Soarin' took the hoof and gave it a firm shake. "Nice to meet you too. You're Pinkies coltfriend?"

Pokey looked over and discovered that Pinkie was bouncing away towards the door. "Well... I would say yes but I don't think she knows that we are. I've been trying to tell her but she keeps doing random things or insisting I help her with baking." 

Pokey noticed the questioning look on the Wonderbolt's face. "Yeah she gets kinda crazy sometimes. You get used to it after a while. I'm certain you've noticed something she's done."

Soarin's mind went to the fact she knocked on his front door in a giant balloon. "Yeah... I've noticed."

The pair of stallions looked over towards the door as a small crowd of ponies walked in. Leading the group was a one unicorn filly with a light gold mane. Dinky ran up to him and hugged him tightly. 

"SOARIN'! It's so good to see you again!"

Soarin' tried his best to pry the small filly off of him as three other ponies quickly surrounded him. They were all talking at once and for a moment Soarin' looked anywhere he could to find help. Fortunately that help came in the form of Fluttershy.  Her voice was raised to an almost ‘inside voice’ level.

"Girls! Stop that right now."

In an instant the talking stopped and all four of the fillies formed a small line. Soarin' gave Fluttershy a silent 'thank you' as she walked over to the fillies. 

"Please don't yell or crowd Soarin' like that. I'm certain that he would love to answer your questions but give him some time to meet the rest of the ponies here."

The fillies sighed and agreed. Soarin' was lead over to the rest of the crowd and was introduced to all the ponies quickly. He shook hands with Applejack and Caramel, received a salute and a cocky smile from Rainbow Dash, a smile and a small hello from Twilight, and a warm smile from Derpy. He had barely finished the welcomes and congratulations when Dinky and the fillies dragged him away to a table to ask him questions.

As Soarin' entertained the younger ponies Fluttershy walked back to Rarity. She tapped her friend on the shoulder to get her attention. 

"Hey Rarity, I wanted to ask you something."

The white mare looked over and gave her friend a warm grin. "Of course, anything darling."

Fluttershy pointed at the purple dragon that had wandered over to the table with Soarin' and the fillies. "You mentioned that he was your date for the night. Are you two really dating or was this just so he could come along? I mean not that you two couldn't be happy together..."

Rarity quickly looked around then moved in close to her friend. Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke. "Well not at the moment. We talked it over a lot and we agreed to wait until after he's gone through the dragon version of "earning his cutie mark", if you catch my meaning. This way we both avoid the negative stigma of the age gap and the fact he's a 'baby' dragon."

Rarity's face broke into a wide grin. Her voice broke with excitement and it rose a little. "I think we may be perfect for each other. He's simply the sweetest and kindest gentledrake I have ever met. Granted I've only met a few dragons in my life but he's so far ahead of the rest that I don't think any dragon can compare."

Fluttershy smiled with her friend and gave her a hug. "That's wonderful! You both make such a nice couple.”

Rarity nodded. "Thank you."

Fluttershy took a glance over to see Soarin' and the youngest members of the party following him. She giggled at the sight of Dinky standing on his back and had her head resting on his mane. 

"Hey Fluttershy, can you please take them for a moment. I wanted to talk to Dash for a minute."

A small collection of groans voiced the fillies and Spikes opinion of this decision. Soarin' quickly reassured them that he would be back in a little bit and talk with them more. Fluttershy mentioned food and that was all it took to get their attention.

Dinky hopped down from Soarin's shoulder and stopped for a moment. "Mister Soarin'?"

"Yeah?"

"I didn't get the pie recipe... I'm sorry."

Soarin' chuckled. "It's okay. Maybe you could ask Applejack for the recipe for me since she's here. Make sure you have your mother help you as well okay?"

The excited filly nodded and ran off to join her friends and Fluttershy at the food table. Soarin' turned and spotted Dash sitting at the farthest table from the main party. He walked over and sat down next to her. 

She glanced at him then took a sip from a glass of punch in front of her. "Sup."

Soarin' shrugged. "I was forced into a game of fifty questions and Dinky used me as her personal chair. So... I'm feeling pretty good at the moment."

Dash rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"

Soarin' motioned to the party. "I wanted to check up on a future Wonderbolt and to ask you why you were over here by yourself."

Dash shrugged. "Not my type of party I guess. What's it matter to you?"

"Wonderbolts help each other out. You and Spitfire seemed to have shared that idea literally a month or so ago." Dash looked at him again and saw the concerned look. Before she spoke he held up his hoof to stop her. He lowered his voice. "Come on, what's eating you?"

Dash pointed at the party. "It's a couples party and I'm the third wheel. Every other pony here could find somepony to bring, but the one I wanted to come with doesn’t swing my way."

Soarin' followed her gaze and saw it was directed at the orange mare he knew was Applejack and her coltfriend Caramel. He looked back and noticed the look she was giving them or rather Applejack as the cowmare walked over to talk with Derpy and Pinkie.

"I didn't know you were—"

"I'm bi actually. Everypony just assumes I'm gay for some reason. Is that an issue?"

Soarin' was surprised by the sudden venom in her voice. "No, heck most of the mares in the Wonderbolts are bi... come to think of it so are most of the stallions as well. Maybe it's a stunt flyer thing."

Dash laughed at his observation. "I bet." Her tone sobered quickly. "I confessed my feelings to AJ but she turned me down. She didn't feel that way and only swings with the stallions."

Soarin' patted her on the shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that. If you want Fluttershy and I can hook you up with some pony."

Dash gave him a dirty look for a moment and then they both burst into laughter. They continued to laugh for a minute until a loud squeal stopped them. They both leaped to their hooves and spotted the mare making the noise. Twilight was running towards the door and at the stallion that was standing there. 

Soarin' rushed to get a better look at the stallion as well. Twilight was blabbering to the stallion. The stallion was of a light brown color with a sky blue mane. His eyes were a pale blue hence the nick name he had earned since he emerged.

Soarin' felt his jaw drop and he smiled a moment later. "Ol' blue eyes! What you doing here?"

The stallion looked over at the Wonderbolt and a wide grin appeared on his face. "Soarin', you blue daredevil! I got a letter telling me of a wonderful little party and decided to join in."

The rest of the party quickly gathered around the stallion. Rarity asked the question that was on everyponies mind. "May I be so bold as to ask who you are?"

The stallion smiled at her and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, excuse me for not introducing myself. I'm Flank Sinatra."

He held the smile and looked around the room at all the ponies, and the one dragon, as the room remained silent. Soarin' felt his fur rise a little in anticipation. Always a calm before the storm. The jaws of the room collectively dropped, save for Twilight's, Soarin's and Flank's. 

Derpy was the voice of the group this time. "You mean THE Flank Sinatra? The number one singer in all of Equestria and the only stallion to top the charts six times in one year, Flank Sinatra?"

The stallion just smiled at them calmly. "Yeah."

Rarity turned to the lavender mare standing next to the music star. "Twilight you never told us your correspondent was a star singer."

Twilight just shrugged. "None of you really seemed that interested in talking about him. Besides if I told you I was writing a famous singer would you have believed me?"

Rarity lifted her hoof to gesture with and had opened her mouth but stopped before she said anything. She chuckled a little. "Well... I guess not. So this makes our second celebrity at this party."

Flank looked over at Soarin'. "So what are you doing here anyways? I thought you and the other 'Bolts had a show in Manehatten and needed to get ready."

Soarin' answered the question by pointing to the banner hanging over the food table. It had been painted in large blue and yellow words that read: Congratulations Fluttershy and Soarin'!

The stallion nodded. "Huh..." He looked over at Twilight. "You should have told me it was a party for them being a couple. I would have brought them a gift too."

She looked at him confused for a second. "Too?"

He reached behind him and pulled a small bouquet of roses. She gasped and almost all the mare, and fillies, in the room let out a collective 'Awww'. Pinkie let out an aggravated sigh. 

"Twilight! You should have told me he was going to surprise you and be all romantic. Now I need to get a banner for you too! Come on Pokey, we have a banner to make!"

"What?"

The surprised Pokey was dragged into the back of the store a moment later by the bouncing mare. As the couple disappeared the party returned to full swing. The ponies talked about this and that for a few minutes.

Fluttershy gently pulled Soarin' aside from the main group. Soarin' caught Dash leaving the party out of the corner of his eye and wanted to convince her to stay but focused on the mare in front of him. 

"How do you know Flank so well?"

Soarin' gave a small shrug. "As a Wonderbolt you get to travel all over Equestria. We have had a lot of shows in Las Pegasus over the years and we had Flank help us in a few shows. He hung out with us before the shows and we got talking. He's a pretty nice guy when he's not partying with Spitfire or the rest of the team."

Fluttershy leaned on him and gave a low hum in response. Pinkie reappeared with a rather sheepish grin, followed by a bouncing Pokey. The pair hung a series of banners across the room, one for each of the couples, one for Dinky and Derpy, and a final one for the Crusaders. Pokey gave Soarin' a big grin as he put in the tack for the banner that read: Congratulations Pokey and Pinkie!

Mere moments after the banners were finished being hung music was put on and just about every pony moved to the dance floor. Quickly the couples stopped to watch Twilight and Flank as they moved across the dance floor with a fluid grace. Soarin' watched them in amazement, as their precision was rival to that of the Wonderbolts on a good day. 

The party formed a small circle around the dance floor as the music reach its height. Just before the music ended Fluttershy noticed that the singing that was going along with the music wasn't coming from the phonogram in the corner. She tapped the Wonderbolt the moment she realized where it was coming from. 

"Soarin' he's singing to her."

Soarin' pointed to the couple on the dance floor. "Kissing her too."

Fluttershy glanced over to see Flank holding her friend in a dip with his lips locked to hers. They stayed like that for almost a minute before either of them realized that the music had stopped.

Rarity spoke in an amused tone. “I think you were doing more than writing to him.”

They quickly stood up, Twilight blushing furiously as Pinkie gave them a loud wolf whistle. The party began to wind down as it moved on into the evening. The first of the party to leave was Rarity carrying a sleeping Sweetie Belle and a barely awake Spike. A few minutes later Applejack and Caramel left with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. Pinkie and Pokey disappeared at some point into the upper floor of the bakery after Pinkie claimed they needed to make a "confetti run." 

Soarin' found himself at the food table getting something for himself and Fluttershy when Flank walked up to him. 

"Were the lucky ones, you know that?"

Soarin' gave him a raised eyebrow. Flank continued by pointing at the mares they were both with as they chatted. "We're both lucky to find mares that don't care about what we do or that we are famous. They love us for who we are. Not every celebrity can get that."

Soarin' nodded and smiled at Fluttershy. "Yeah. I guess we are kinda lucky. Hey, how did you meet Twilight anyways?"

Flank took a sip from the cup he was holding. "I was just a colt when my parents signed me up in the pen pal program at my school. I got my first letter a month later and found out I was writing to a filly in Canterlot, from Celestia's school no less. At first I thought she was some stuck up over privileged filly but as we sent letters back and forth I found she was a nice filly that grew into a wonderful mare. She was there every step of my life, every trial and every happy moment, always willing to listen and give me advice. She was the first pony I told about my record deal outside of my family."

Flank looked over at the mares and caught Twilight's eye. He winked at her and it caused her to blush. Flank returned his attention to Soarin'. "We first met at my very first show. I got her a ticket and sent it to her. She watched from backstage and we talked for hours and walked through the streets until we found a nice spot in the park and watched the stars."

Flank to another sip of his drink then set down the cup. "We haven't gone public yet and after what happened to you I'm even more worried than I was before. I don't want her to feel any pressure from the paparazzi. I mean in your case Fluttershy felt the pressure before and was somewhat used to it but Twilight hasn't."

Soarin' looked at the singer for a moment then gave him a reassuring grin. "I could give you advice but I think you should talk to her about it. She can help you much better than I can."

Flank gave Soarin' a thankful smile. "I think I will. Thanks."

The brown unicorn walked over to Twilight and started talking to her. Fluttershy walked over to Soarin' and placed her head on his shoulder. 

"It's getting late. I sure hope there's a big, strong stallion willing to walk me home."

The Wonderbolt chuckled a little. "Well, I hope I fit that bill."

The pink maned mare kissed him on the cheek. "You certainly do. Come on, I don't want the animals getting worried."

As the couple left the party they saw Twilight and Flank hugging each other with large smiles. The streets of Ponyville were quiet and the country road even more so, save for the chirps of the crickets in the grass. They walked with their heads resting on each other nuzzling as they walked. The journey to the cottage was much too quick for either of them as the darkened form of the tree cottage came into view. 

It was at the front step that they pulled part. Fluttershy opened the door and turned to Soarin'. "This was wonderful. I hope you enjoyed the party."

Soarin' nodded. "It was nice. They all were really nice and fun to be around. I can see why they are family to you."

A moment of silence passed between them. Fluttershy took a step closer to the stallion. "Thank you for walking me home. That was really sweet of you."

Soarin' moved closer and got a small whiff of the soft scent from her mane. "It was my pleasure. Needed to make sure you got home safe."

Fluttershy and Soarin' just stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. Soarin' rubbed the back of his neck. "Well... I guess I should get back to Cloudsdale."

The yellow mare placed her hoof on his chest and drew close enough for him to feel her breath on his lips. "Please stay."

A moment later Soarin' pressed his lips to hers. They slowly moved into the home and closed the door without breaking the kiss. Their tongues wrestled for long, wonderful moments before they broke away.

Fluttershy nuzzled him gently. "You don't mind if we sleep together in the same bed, like we did at your house, do you?"

Soarin' answered her with another kiss. This one lasted only a fraction of the one before. They walked up the stairs and into the bedroom that Soarin' had served her breakfast in only a few short weeks ago. They moved onto the bed but Fluttershy didn't get under the covers. She sat on the bed and motioned for Soarin' to move closer.

Soarin' didn't waste a moment and moved up to her. They locked lips and Fluttershy moved her hooves to the sides of Soarin's head, pulling him closer to her as their kiss intensified. Soarin' moved closer and moved Fluttershy onto her back. His hoof began to wander down her body and stopped at her flank. He began to slowly massage her flank with his hoof as his other caressed her mane. 

"Soarin', wait."

The hoof on her flank stopped and immediately removed itself. Soarin' looked down at her and saw the hesitation on her face. 

"I... I'm not ready for this."

Soarin' moved to the side of the bed. He sat there facing away from her as she sat up. "You're mad aren't you?"

Soarin' turned to her and felt a pang of guilt at the fearful look in her eyes. "No. I'm not mad. My parents raised me so that if a mare said no then it meant no. If you're not ready then I can wait till you are."

The mare moved close to him. "I want to take this slowly so we both know what we want. Let's get some sleep, okay?"

Soarin’ moved close to her and hugged her tightly. “You don’t need to explain yourself to me. I understand.”

She pulled away slightly. “I want to. I really do but I just don’t feel comfortable with taking this relationship that far yet. I’m sorry.”

Soarin’ gave her a small kiss on her forehead. “Don’t be. When the time comes we will be.”

The Wonderbolt and the yellow mare cuddled under the sheets. They began to drift off to sleep when Fluttershy’s soft voice broke through the silence and darkness. 

"I love you."

"I love you too."