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// A Year in the Life 
// Story: Sparkle Dash Family:  TMP Stories 
// by ssjgokillo 
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The Sparkle Dash Family

Prompt # 360: A year in the life

Disclaimer:  I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

        A year.  One whole year.  That’s how long it had been since Twilight and Rainbow Dash had adopted Scootaloo.  Since that day many things had happened to the newly forming family.  Rules were set, boundaries were pushed, feelings were hurt and love was shared.  They had adventures as grand as trying to reform Discord, to the smaller ones like nursing each other while sick.  Much had changed for the family that had formed around Scootaloo.

        The year had seen the family grow in love and understanding.  There had been fights and trials just as often as there had been hugs and laughter.  It was not easy being in such a diverse family, especially not one filled with such vibrant personalities.

        Celestia couldn’t help but wonder at what point this had all started.  At what point had the plans she had for her faithful student taken such a sharp turn away from their original path?  Not that she was disappointed in the least with the way things had turned out.

        She had hoped back when she first saw Twilight Sparkle’s potential as a filly that someday the studious unicorn would stand by her side, a princess in her own right.  Twilight had passed every test and overcome every obstacle, some that would have even given Celestia pause.  She had all the makings of a princess already.  She only needed that one final push.

        Then Twilight showed Celestia that even though Celestia was the teacher Twilight had surpassed her in one area.  

        Twilight had fallen in love.

        Not only had Twilight fallen in love but it was a deep, resounding love.  It was a love so strong that even Celestia felt its magic, not needing her niece to confirm it.  When she had first read Twilight’s letter announcing her newly formed relationship with Rainbow Dash she had seen the beginning of the end of her plans.  Still, she had hoped that Twilight would be willing to go through with the final phase of her training.

        A few months later Celestia had received another letter.  This one was tear stained and she had immediately feared the worst.  When she had read the letter however, all she felt was shock.  Her student was begging her to pull some strings on her behalf, to allow her and Rainbow Dash to adopt an orphaned filly that they knew.

        Of course no such thing needed to be done, but Twilight had been worried that the fact that her and Rainbow Dash were not married would halt their plans to adopt the filly.  Celestia had of course spoken to the matron of the orphanage on her student’s behalf, but there had been no need.  Celestia had received another letter the next week, stating that Twilight was now the proud mother of a young filly named Scootaloo.  She could practically feel Twilight’s smile beaming from the letter.

        That had been the true end of her plans even if she hadn’t seen it back then.  Each new letter, no longer talking about friendship but of the joys of family, was another growing sign that when the time came Twilight would not be willing to accept what was clearly her destiny.

        There were letters of hardship.  Letters that told of young Scootaloo’s hesitance at accepting Twilight as a mother.  There was pain in those letters, as Twilight tried to do all she could to become the mother she felt the filly deserved.  There were letters that told of fights; fights between each of the family members that left them all hurting until their reconciliation.  There had been one particular letter where Twilight was certain that she was going to lose two of her loved ones to the feather flu.

        Celestia had also been given a glimpse into the happier aspects of her student’s familial life.  Birthday parties for both Scootaloo and Spike thrown by Pinkie Pie.  The day Scootaloo’s flight lessons had begun.  Hearts and Hooves Day being spent embraced by a cyan wing.  

        Then came perhaps the happiest letter of all.  It was the shortest, containing only four words.

        She called me mom!

        The power of the happiness that letter held could have easily defeated Discord himself had he chosen to be a problem.  That particular letter still sat nearby on Celestia’s desk, a quick reminder of the good the world held.

        Even after that Celestia had not seen that her plan had failed.  Perhaps she had been blinded by the prospect of having her student by her side throughout the eons.  So she had finally sent Twilight the book, with the unfinished spell of Starswirl the Bearded.  Twilight had done just as Celestia had anticipated and had eventually finished the spell, proving she was ready.

        So Celestia had met her in that magical subspace of harmony.  She had sang of Twilight’s accomplishments and had told Twilight that her destiny was upon her.

        And Twilight had declined.

        Celestia had been shocked at the time.  The lavender mare hadn’t even given it a second thought.  She had apologized and thanked Celestia for the opportunity and the chance of a lifetime but had explained that she could not be a princess.  She had far too many things she cared about that required her attention.  She might not have been the Element of Loyalty but there was no way she would leave her family for anything.  Even for the chance to become an alicorn.

        Celestia had been stunned but understanding of Twilight’s decision.  When she returned her student to her home she was greeted with the sight of a pony dogpile, as Twilight instantly found herself buried beneath orange and blue feathers and purple scales.  

        Celestia had seen then what she had been missing from the letters.  The eternal bond that held these four together, one that would not be broken for anything.

        So Celestia’s plans changed.  She did not regret her student’s decision, only waited to put her new plans into action.  A year had passed since Twilight and Rainbow Dash had adopted Scootaloo and Celestia was still waiting.

        Until today.

        The letter appeared in its customary spiral of green smoke.  She quickly caught it in her magic and unrolled it, reading it in anticipation.  

        Rainbow Dash asked me to marry her and I said yes!

        Your student and friend,

        Twilight Sparkle


        So the time had finally come for Celestia’s new plans to be put into action.  After all a wedding between ponies such as this deserved the royal treatment did it not?

        Celestia rolled the scroll back up and set it on her desk next to the other one Twilight had sent her months ago.  One year had passed for the wonderful family she loved.  She knew that many more still lie ahead.