> A Homecoming To Remember > by deadpansnarker > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > "I'm home...!" > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was with a hop, a skip and a joyous flap of her new wings that Twilight Sparkle the alicorn made her way up the familiar path to her parents’ house in Canterlot. She’d briefly toyed with the notion of saying ‘hi’ to her old friend Moon Dancer after arrival, but decided to catch up with the glasses-wearer and the rest of the gang at a later date. I’m sure I won't forget. It’s not like she’ll still hold a grudge when I missed her party that one time ages ago and became a social recluse afterwards… right? In any case, the journey there had been an arduous one because as far as flying was concerned, Twilight was still on metaphorical training wheels. Rainbow Dash’s lessons are going well, but those painful crash-landings have got to stop. Also, I'm so grateful to Spike for taking over as temporary substitute mailmare for Derpy. That has to be the first mid-air collision she’s been in that wasn’t entirely her fault… Twilight shook her anxiety-ridden head vigorously, trying to remove all lingering doubts. Negative thoughts never helped anypony, and with her new form now came extra responsibilities she’d have to be fully prepared for. I can’t let Princess Celestia down. She entrusted me with this awesome power, and I have to prove myself worthy of it. The ex-unicorn firmly resolved, whilst knocking on the door in a certain way so her parents knew who it was. At least there are two ponies here who’ll always believe in me no matter what. It’s been so long since I’ve seen my folks, I’m positive they’ll greet me with open hooves. And won’t they be surprised when they see my new look... Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat… Twilight was halfway through her special knock, before the door was flung open by none other than Twilight Velvet and Night Light together, almost as if they’d been waiting there for her all along. “Mum! Dad! You’re home!! I’m so happy! I have big news…” Twilight eagerly spoke, whilst wildly gesticulating to the feathered adornments on her back. She was expecting, in no particular order: Hugs, kisses, congratulations, many, many questions, perhaps a pre-baked celebratory cake in the oven... (although, Pinkie had already more than covered her in that department). ...What she actually got was blank stares, lowered eyebrows...  ...and a firm rebuke from, of all ponies, her own mother. “Twilight Velvet Sparkle!! We are both very disappointed in you, filly! How could you possibly agree to such a thing, without consulting us first?” “Y-Yes! How could you… well, what your mum just said.” A stunned Twilight didn’t quite know how to respond to that pointed accusation. She’d expected some kind of significant reaction from her parents, but nothing resembling this.  Plus there was the fact that this ‘shock’ news didn’t seem much of a surprise to them at all. “W-What… you know already? H-How can this be?” “Knew about it? Knew about it?! It’s all everypony for miles around has been talking about! The milkmare arrives this morning…’did you know about your daughter?’ The newspaper lands on our doorstep: guess what every story is inside? We go for a walk to get some fresh air,  we can’t move for ponies shaking our hooves and offering us hugs. I tell you, Twilight: our lives have been turned upside down the last twenty-four hours more than you could possibly imagine!” “Your mother’s right! We haven’t had a moment to ourselves since then. It’s got to the point where we can’t even take the garbage outside, without some eager colt wanting our autograph! We’ve even had offers of turning our home into a ‘Twilight Museum’, where ‘guests can tour the birthplace of the first unicorn ever to be organically transformed into an alicorn, snacks provided.’ I tell you Twilight, those twin sales stallion were so slick, I almost made me and your mother homeless overnight!” Twilight’s mouth fell open more and more at the unwanted attention her parents had been subjected to since her ascension, and didn’t quite know what to say in her defence. “I-I’m so sorry… I-I never knew it would be like this for you… I thought you’d be p-proud…” It was at this juncture Twilight Velvet and Night Light stopped complaining and glanced at each other guiltily, almost as if their somewhat harsh words had been taken out of context. ‘Oh sweetie, we are! It’s just such a huge change, that’s all. For every one of us! We’ll just have to get used to it, just like you adapted so quickly to becoming the saviour of Equestria!” Twilight Velvet wasted no more time, but rushed over to give her daughter the most loving of embraces. “You brought Celestia and Luna back together, defeated Discord, saved Shining Armour’s wedding day, restored the Crystal Empire… how can we possibly not be the proudest parents in the entire world?” Night Light soon joined the huddle, and before she knew it Twilight was flanked on both sides by a pair of affectionate and apologetic parents. “B-But you just said… you were very d-disappointed in me…” Twilight struggled to maintain her composure, through tears of relief and happiness. “Oh, sorry, that was my fault. I should’ve chosen to express myself more clearly.” Twilight Velvet smiled as she attempted to clarify her original remarks. “What I actually meant was…” “...You know how your mother likes browsing through her photo albums. And now, with your bigger size, sharper horn, wings ‘n’ all, a lot of the older ones look…” “... Out-of-date! Thank you, dear!” Twilight Velvet scowled at her husband for unnecessarily finishing off her sentence. “That’s why I said I wish you’d asked us first! We could’ve prepared everything earlier, without having to rush around once you’d arrived!” “R-Rush? P-Prepared?! What do you mean? I have to be back in Ponyville later, to help Rarity select my dress for the Princess ceremony tomorrow!” Twilight didn’t know whether she was coming or going, as plans were made involving her without prior approval. “Hmm? Oh, is that all? Don’t worry about it, darling: I’ve already spoken to Celestia and got the ceremony pushed back by a few days!” Twilight Velvet smiled up at her daughter, as though this answer gave the alicorn the reassurance she needed. “ As soon as I told Celestia what we had planned, she couldn’t stop laughing. Said she didn’t want you to miss it for the world, and it was of far greater importance than a mere crowning. What a kind and understanding teacher you have! We’re so glad we sent you to her school!” “More important than me becoming a Princess…?” pondered Twilight, still completely lost as to what was going on, and what Celestia had agreed to on her behalf. “...And what exactly do ‘we’ have ‘planned’?”  “Why, we’re going to retake all the photographs from when you were a unicorn, to reflect the majestic way you appear now!” Night Light beamed, before whispering gently in his daughter’s ear. “Please do this for your mother. It’d mean the world to her. It’s all she’s been talking about all night. I promise it’ll be over soon.” “...We'll start here in the dining room, and recreate our last meal together before you moved out. Then we can gradually make our way around Canterlot: The local library which you loved, the sidewalk where you fell and lost your first tooth, that sort of thing. What about our days out, though? We’ll have to get tickets for Appleloosa, Fillydelphia, Manehattan… Cadence can help us out with the ones where you were ‘tucked in’ for the night… and your brother surely won’t say no to a few tastefully-done tub shots…” On and on Twilight Velvet droned, reciting by memory all the images from the past she wanted redone, and as Night Light gazed at his daughter sympathetically a single solitary word broke through Twilight Sparkle’s usually verbose and articulate egghead. ...Help.