Sunset walked up and stood beside Twilight. She looked at the same distant point on the horizon that Twilight did. "Are you sure?" she asked sympathetically.

Twilight nodded her head. It was the only sign she was even aware of anyone or thing was around her. She just kept looking at where Flash had disappeared from her sight.

"She could be lying," Sunset said.

Twilight shook her head. "This is Princess Celestia," she replied; annoyed that Sunset would even hint at such a thing.

"You can tell the truth and still lie," Sunset returned flatly.

That got Twilight to finally stop staring off after Flash and turn to face Sunset. "What do you mean?" she asked on the verge of anger.

"When I was in Equestria with Flash; the night Princess Luna took you two to the Nexus; she told me Celestia didn't want you and Flash together because she thought it could compromise your role as a Princess . . ."

"Princess Celestia already told me as much," Twilight interupted.

Sunset was trying to be gentle. She knew how Twilight cared for Flash and she didn't want to hurt her. But she also felt the stakes were too high to be overly sensitive. "What I was getting to is, she could have told you he was going to die. And he is. We all will. Everyone and everything dies Twilight. So, sure, that is the truth. But by not saying when, she could be letting to infer that she meant soon and in conjunction with what we're dealing with now. That's what I meant by lying by telling the truth."

"I still can't believe that. That would be horribly manipulative and cruel."

Sunset sighed and shrugged. "One thing I've learned over time; anyone is capable of anything if they believe it's for the greater good." Sunset gave Twilight a half smile and put her hand on her shoulder. "Come on; I need to get you 'home'."

************************************************************************

On the way to Sparkle's house, Spike filled Twilight in as much as he could. He told her about Sparkles brother, parents, past accomplishments, mannerisms, favorite foods, drinks, TV shows, music, and the like. It was a lot to cram in but there were enough similarities that it wasn't overwhelming. Sunset just drove. She knew Twilight needed to focus on what Spike was telling her. Also she needed to just keep her head clear to focus on the threat that was out there.

Eventually they came to Sparkle's house. Sunset stopped and let Twilight and Spike out. Twilight asked if Sunset was going to come in but Sunset declined. She wanted to get home and work on a game plan. Twilight nodded and said she understood. She turned around and started walking up to the house.

She stopped when she heard Sunset drive off. She was alone now. Completely alone. The first time she came here she had Spike. The second time she was with her human friends. Now here she was, completely alone. Yes she had A Spike beside her; but it wasn't HER Spike. More than that, she was walking in on someone else's' life. A someone who had her name, parents who had her parents' names, and a brother who had her brother's name. In an odd way, that sameness made her feel even more alone.

"You got to go in sometime," Spike whispered to her.

Twilight nodded and went to open the door. Before she could though, the door opened up and before her stood a woman she had never seen before but knew instantly.

"Mom?" Twilight was overcome by emotions at seeing Sparkle's mother. This was a human but she looked exactly the way a human version of her mom would look. Automatically she felt all the things she would have felt at seeing her own mother.

"Twilight darling, where were you? I know it takes you longer to get home now that you're going to school at Cantorlot; but you still should have been home a while ago. Your farther and I were getting worried; especially with the . . . ,uh, well, murders. Come in now sweetie." Mrs. Sparkle took Twilight by the hand and brought her inside.

Twilight was surprised by how different yet how familiar the house looked. She had never been here but this seemed exactly like what her parents would have if they lived here. The furniture, fixtures, decorations, wallpaper, it all seemed like it belonged.

"Well, look who finally made it home."

Without thinking, without even looking, Twilight replied, "Sorry Dad." As she finished she turned around and saw Sparkle's father. Her father. She smiled a bit. "I, I forgot how handsome you could be."

"Oh no. Flattery will get you no where young lady." Mr. Sparkle teased Twilight. He had planned on getting giving her a much harder time, but he quickly mellowed at the sight of his daughter. "But I can't blame you for trying."

"Like I said, sorry Dad, and Mom. I was just hanging out with my new friends and we lost track of time. Sunset brought me though."

"Very well," Mr. Sparkle said. "Just, with everything going on, we're a little more concerned than usual."

"Maybe she has a boyfriend," Shinning Armor said as he was coming down the steps.

"Shi, don't tease your sister like that!" Mrs. Sparkle scolded. "She's really come out of her shell recently. She doesn't need your teasing."

"Well, uh, actually," Twilight started but she felt Spike paw at her leg. She looked down and knew he was trying to tell her to stop but she thought this was the perfect time to tell her (not hers' but Sparkle's) parents about Flash. She looked back up and said, "I do."

"WHAT?" all three of them gasped in unison.

"His name is Flash Sentry. He's a really great guy. He's a musician I met at school." Twilight looked from her brother to her mother to her father trying to read their expressions.

Shinning Armor smiled a broad, wicked smile. "Well, looks like Twily didn't just come out of her shell mom; she blew the whole thing up."

Twilight blushed.

"Well," Mr. Sparkle started, "This is something then. Hmm. I'm not happy you've fallen for a musician but I'll reserve judgement until we meet the young man. And we will meet him Twilight."

"Yes sir," she responded shyly.

"We'll talk more about this later." Mrs. Sparkle said. "Now go up and get ready for supper."

"Yes Mom." Twilight started off up the stairs and stopped. She turned and looked at all her "family" down below and smiled. "I just want to say, I love you all." She then turned around and went up stairs.

Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle looked at each other. Mr. Sparkle sighed. "Our little Sakura
is growing up," he said.

************************************************************************

As Sunset drove past the bus stop on her way out of the city she saw something that caused her to slam on the breaks. She turned the car off and jumped out (luckily no one was behind her).

"You?" she said in shock.

Adagio smiled from the sidewalk at Sunset Shimmer. "Mind if we talk?"