Dusk's family were riding in Ponyville's local balloon. They were on their way to Cloudsdale, to attend a reunion of the members of Flash's family.
"Wow!" Starlight gasped, taking in the unique architecture. "Cloudsdale is incredible!"
"It's really something, alright." Dusk agreed.
"The ol' ancestral abode." Flash smiled. "My dad used to live here, 'til he decided to try his luck down below. If he hadn't done that, he wouldn't have met mom, and I'd've never been born."
"And what a tragedy that would have been." Twilight nuzzled him.
"Got any airsick bags on this flight?" Dusk asked Spike.
"Fresh out, I'm afraid." Spike chuckled.
The balloon soon landed at the location of the reunion. The family disembarked, and were greeted by the entirety of Flash's family. There was pegasi of all sizes and colors. Dusk and Starlight's paternal grandparents, Bold Sentry and Nightengale, were pleased as always to see their grandchildren.
"Just look at you, Dusk." Nightengale cooed. "You've become such a handsome young stallion!"
"Thanks, grandma." Dusk blushed.
"And you, Starlight." Bold smiled. "Still the prettiest little filly I've ever seen."
"Aw, grandpa!" Starlight giggled.
"You two have done a great job with our grandkids." Nightengale told Twilight and Flash. "If only you could bring them to visit more often."
"Sorry, mom." Flash shrugged. "Being royalty is busy work."
"Relax, Nightey." Bold put a hoof around his wife. "They're here now, aren't they?"
"Yes, we are." Twilight nodded. "I wouldn't have missed this for anything."
"You really are a dear, Twilight." Nightengale smiled.
The kids were introduced to family members from far and wide. There was one shifty-eyed pegasus whom Flash was trying to direct them away from. The pegasus trotted over, to Flash's disgust.
"Hey there, cousin." He smiled. "Aren't ya gonna introduce me?"
"Kids, this is my cousin, Quick Buck." Flash sighed. "There, introduction done, now let's move on."
"Aw, come on." Quick protested. "Why ya gotta be like that, cuz?"
"Kids, you go on ahead." Flash urged.
"Okay." Dusk shrugged.
Once he was sure they were far enough away, Flash turned to his cousin.
"You know exactly why I 'gotta be like that'." He seethed. "I won't expose my kids to a double-dealing shyster like you."
"I ain't like that anymore, cuz." Quick said solemnly. "I've given all that up. Now I run a little fruit an' veg cart in Baltimare. I really am sorry for what I said about Twilight, way back when. I just wanna get to know your family, that's all."
"Ohh, fine." Flash groaned. "But if I get even the slightest hint of you pulling an angle, you'll be sorry."
"Got it." Quick nodded, as he wandered over to Dusk and Starlight. "Hey there, kids!"
"Hi." Starlight smiled. "I'm Starlight."
"And I'm Dusk." Dusk added.
"Nice to meet ya." Quick nodded. "So, you kids behaving yourselves back home?"
"'Course we are." Dusk nodded.
"Thanks to that pop of yours, no doubt." Quick smiled. "He always was a good pony. Better then me, that's for sure."
Flash smiled. It seemed Quick really was being sincere. Satisfied, he trotted away, leaving them to it.
Dusk and Starlight continued to meet and greet family members, marvelling at the sheer distance some had flown. Just as they were taking a snack break, a large pegasus descended.
"Sorry I'm late." He declared.
Dusk stared in awe. The new arrival was the biggest pegasus he had ever seen. He was like a winged version of Big McIntosh, shaggy fetlocks and all, though his coat was gray, his mane was long and black (with a muzzle to match) and his Cutie Mark was of two crossed swords. His eyes were a distinctive teal.
"Iron Hooves!" Flash smiled. "Glad you could make it!"
"I wouldn't miss this for the world!" Iron smiled. As he approached, Dusk noted that he was even bigger then Big McIntosh. "So, these are the little guys I've been hearing about?"
"Yep." Flash nodded. "Dusk, Starlight, this is my cousin, Iron Hooves."
"Hello." Dusk smiled.
"Hi!" Starlight added.
"Nice to see you." Iron nodded.
"So, where's Gusty?" Bold asked.
"Visiting her folks." Iron replied. "She's due to have our foal in a couple of months, you know."
"Remember to keep us informed." Nightengale smiled. "This family could always use more adorable foals!"
"Iron here is a royal guardspony, just like I used to be." Flash declared.
"What's it like?" Dusk asked.
"Mostly boring stuff, like standing around." Iron shrugged. "But it has it's moments. Like just last month, a gang of Diamond Dogs tried to break into the jewel vault, and I fought off a whole bunch of 'em solo."
"Wow, really?" Dusk gasped.
"Hoof to Celestia." Iron smiled, showing off a cut on his leg. "Even got the scars to prove it."
"That's awesome!" Dusk smiled. "You must be the best royal guard ever!"
"Nah." Iron shrugged. "'Course, that's nothing compared to that little skirmish my platoon had with a bunch of Changelings out near the border. Now that was a battle. Those Changelings were tricky; Always shifting shape, but we got 'em in the end. Why, I remember two of 'em tried to sneak on me, but... pow! I gave those overgrown bugs a couple of mule kicks they wouldn't soon forget!"
"Wow..." Dusk gasped in awe.
Flash was a little put off by Dusk's show of enthusiasm.
"You know, I did some pretty neat stuff when I was a royal guard." He told his son. "This one time, I tackled a stallion who was trying to steal from the Crystal library-"
"Yeah, that's great, dad." Dusk said with disinterest. "Did you do any other cool stuff, Iron?"
"Did I ever!" Iron chuckled, literally taking Dusk under his wing and leading him away. "Why, this one time..."
Flash, dejected, trotted over to Twilight.
"Looks like Dusk's got himself a new hero." He sighed.
"Oh, come on, Flash." Twilight chuckled. "You know Dusk looks up to you."
"It doesn't seem like it right now." Flash declared.
"So he's taken a liking to Iron Hooves." Twilight shrugged. "He is quite a remarkable pony..."
"Don't remind me." Flash growled.
"I still think you're the greatest, daddy!" Starlight hugged him.
"Thanks, Starry." Flash smiled.
"And Dusk thinks so, too." Twilight nuzzled him. "You're his father, and you'll always be his favorite stallion."
"I guess you're right." Flash smiled, nuzzling his wife back. "Thanks, Twi."
After lunch came the games. The family started to get a round of hoofball going.
"Back when I was your age, I was a pretty good hoofball player." Iron told Dusk.
"Really?" Dusk asked.
"Yep." Iron nodded. "Pretty much unbeatable."
"We'll see about that." Flash stepped forward. "You and me, cuz. One on one."
"You got it." Iron smiled.
"Flash, what are you doing?" Twilight asked warily.
"Just a little friendly competition between family, dear." Flash stated. "That's all."
Flash and Iron got into position. Bold blew a whistle, signalling the start of the game. Flash got the ball, directing it towards Iron's goal. Iron managed to snatch the ball from him, however, and kicked it into the opposite goal.
"Way to go, Iron!" Dusk cheered.
Flash, overcome by jealously grit his teeth.
'Time to get serious.' He thought.
The second time around, Flash slipped the ball away from Iron and scored. His face lit up with pride when he saw Dusk cheering. Not to be outdone, Iron scored in the next round, beginning a back-and-forth match of goals on both sides. Both Flash and Iron grew more and more competitive, fiercely going for the ball.
It all came to a head in the seventh round; Iron snatched the ball, dashing wildly for the goal. Flash rounded the field, trying to reclaim it. In the same instant Flash leapt for the ball, Iron kicked it, sending it right at Flash's head. The crowd gasped as Flash went down. Twilight immediately rushed onto the field to help her husband.
"Flash, are you okay?" She asked.
"Twilight?" Flash gazed at his wife through unfocused eyes. "I didn't know you had a twin sister.."
Flash lapsed into unconsciousness.
"Looks like a mild concussion." Nightengale noted. "Let's get him indoors."
Flash's aunt Flighty, who was hosting the event, helped carry Flash into her house. Inside, Flash was placed on her couch, and a wet cloth was applied to his sore forehead. Twilight, Dusk, Starlight and Iron stood watch over him, while the others returned to the reunion. Five minutes later, Flash woke up.
"Ohhh." He groaned. "What happened?"
"That'd be me, cuz." Iron said sheepishly. "I got a little carried away back there."
"You weren't the only one." Twilight glared at Flash.
"Yeah, dad." Dusk agreed. "What was going on back there? I've never seen you act like that before."
"Well, I..." Flash racked his brains for a suitable cover story. Twilight looked at him earnestly, silently urging him to tell the truth. "I was jealous, okay?"
"Jealous?" Iron asked. "Of who?"
"Of you." Flash admitted. "Dusk was so interested in you, and thought you were so great. I just... wanted to be a hero in his eyes, like you."
"You didn't have to go to all that trouble, dad." Dusk smiled. "Because you're already my hero."
"I am?" Flash asked.
"Sure you are." Dusk nodded. "Iron's cool, and everything, but you're my dad. You'll always be my hero."
"Thanks, son." Flash smiled, giving his boy a hug. "Now, what say you and your sister get back out here and have some fun? Show everypony here what you can do."
"You got it, dad." Dusk smiled.
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Starlight added.
Iron watched the kids leave.
"You did a fine job raising those kids." He told Flash. "Hopefully, I'll be half as good a dad as you are."
"I'm sure you will." Flash smiled. "You should all come and visit us in Ponyville after the foal's born."
"Will do, cuz." Iron smiled.
As Iron walked out, Flash got to his feet.
"Feeling better?" Twilight asked.
"In more ways then one." Flash chuckled.
The prince and princess stepped outside. They watched as Dusk and Starlight played Hoofball with their cousins. Flash smiled contentedly, his faith in his son's positive view of him restored.