//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 // Story: My Dearest Dusk // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// Envelopes fell through the mail slot of the Shine household, which fell into a basket on the floor beside the door. Minutes later, a blue unicorn mare took notice of this and used her magic to see what they had gotten for the day. “Let’s see… junk, junk, one for Star, another for him, one for me, bill, bill, bill, junk… Hm? What are these?” As she separated the mail, two letters caught her attention. Both had a Royal seal, and both had the names of her children. Putting the unimportant mail away, she broke the seals of both letters and scanned through them. With a smile, she trotted upstairs to her husband’s study. After knocking on the door, she said, “Hey Star, you have a moment?” She heard a frustrated sigh from behind the door, “Hold on Moon, let me finish this sentence here.” There was the sound of muffled scratching before she heard hoofsteps coming to the door. It opened up to the gray stallion, his just as gray mane with violet highlights was in a mess. “Yes, what is it?” She levitated the two notes over to her husband, “It’s from the kids, and they want to tell us something over dinner.” Star Light took a look at both of the letters, examining them closely. He noticed one key difference between the two that nearly made his heart stop, “Um… hon? Did you read Dusk’s entire letter? It says that Solaris is coming too.” “What!?” she snatched the letter back into her aura. Sure enough, at the very end of the note was exactly what her husband had described. “But, why would he come here? Solaris has never stepped inside of this house before, why would he be doing so now?” “I don’t know,” Star told her, “but like Gleaming’s, he was talking about telling us something important, too. I hope it’s nothing serious.” “What time is it now?” The gray unicorn looked over his shoulder at the antique clock on the wall. “One forty – and they’re coming around at the same time at seven. So by the looks of things, we still got some time on our hooves.” “Okay then,” Moon Light put a hoof to the side of her head, trying to think. “We still have our good china in the closet, along with the crystal -- that is if it’s still intact. But what do we do for dinners though? Do we need to get something from the market?” “How about I take care of the groceries,” he said as he walked out of the study and down the stairs. “Besides, I need a break from writing anyway. Perhaps I could come up with something for tonight.” “I’ll come with ya,” the blue unicorn said, getting the bag of bits. “When we’re cooking for royalty, we’re going to need all the help we can get.” “Won’t argue with that logic,” he commented, as he looked around the rooms downstairs. “And we might have to straighten this place up a bit too, now that I think about it.” _*_ Hours of shopping, cleaning, cooking, preparing the table, breaking a crystal wine glass, going out to buy another one, and double checking if the house was spotless later, the Shines were ready. Or at least, they hoped they were ready. Outside of the house on Skyline Avenue, a carriage slowed to a halt. Out of it stepped a white unicorn with a blue mane, a pink alicorn, and two Crystal Guards. “Thanks for the ride,” Crescendo complimented, giving their driver some bits. “Oh, no problem, your Highnesses,” their driver said, taking the money before looking up to the house. “Are you sure this is where you guys wanna be?” Gleaming nodded, “Yes, this is the place. Now I think it’s best for you to be on your way.” “Well… if you say so,” the taxi driver said before pulling the carriage away onto the streets of the capital. The Prince of Love glanced at his wife, who he could tell was trying to maintain her excitement. “So,” he said, “still can’t wait to tell them the news?” She smiled and replied, “I just wait to see the look on their faces when we tell them.” “Tell them about what?” They looked up at the orange sky above them to find two, very familiar alicorns descending to the sidewalk in front of them. The Crystal Guards saluted, but the white unicorn was the first to go up to the younger Prince. “Dusk!” “Gleaming?” The lilac Prince suddenly found himself wrapped around in the forelegs of his older sister. “What are you doing here little brony?” she asked, nuzzling the side of his neck. “I was going to ask the same,” Solaris commented. “What are you two doing here as well?” “Hey uncle,” Prince Crescendo smiled. “We’re here to have dinner with Gleaming’s parents.” “That’s funny,” Dusk said, after his sister released him, “we’re here to have dinner with mom and dad, too.” “Ha! What incredible luck.” the pink alicorn trotted up to the pony he used to foalsit. “Since you two are here, maybe it’ll make it easier for us to tell all of you the good news.” Before either Dusk or Solaris could ask what Crescendo was talking about, the door to the Shine’s family home opened up, revealing a blue unicorn behind it. “Dusk, Gleaming,” Moon Light beamed, both of her children rushed up to their mother, exchanging greetings, hugs and nuzzles. “How’s it been, you two?” “Are they here?” the platinum unicorn stuck his head through the door, in which he too received the same hello as his wife had. “Hey dad,” Dusk said. “I’ve missed you,” Gleaming added. “Well, hello to you two again,” the Prince of Love said as he walked up the steps. “I haven’t seen either of you since the wedding.” “Hey Crescendo,” Star Light shook his hoof. “Nice to see you again as well.” Then they heard the sound of somepony clearing their throat. They looked at the one pony who either parent hadn’t given a welcome to. “Oh, forgive us, Prince Solaris,” the husband bowed, quickly followed by his wife. “We were so caught up with our children that we didn’t notice you were there.” “I understand,” Solaris nodded, bidding them to rise. “Out of curiosity, have any of you heard about what happened in Day Court today by any chance?” “How could we?” Moon Light said. “We were so busy getting everything ready that we didn’t have time to ask anypony what’s been going on today.” “And we just got here,” Gleaming added. “Why? What happened in Day Court?” “Dusk and I will tell you later,” the Solar Prince said. “Well now, shall we all go in?” Crescendo and Gleaming followed the parents into their home while the Crystal Guards stood at attention at the front door. The last to enter were Solaris and Dusk, but before they did so, Solaris turned to the young Prince. “Do you think you’re ready to tell them?” “I… I hope so. I mean, with my older sis and her husband being here too, there’s no telling what’s going to happen next.” “Maybe things will be easier with the Prince of Love dining with us. Even if your parents find some fault in this new relationship, perhaps my nephew can help educate them a little.” “Even so,” Dusk shifted from one set of hooves to another, “now that the family is together, I really hope that they don’t see me any differently, as if I’ve changed.” “Like how you’ve received your wings?” Solaris pointed out. “Now come on, we have a dinner to attend.”