“Sometimes, you can’t have the family you want. Even if you’d give anything for it.”
For Sunburst, risen from obscurity to Court Wizard of the Crystal Empire, life has taken an incomparably good turn. Shining Armor and Cadence have almost become a second family to him, and Princess Flurry Heart like the daughter he never had.
Hoops, by contrast, has lived life on his terms since day one. With flight school behind him, his career in the professional leagues ought to be all but guaranteed—if only the pros would let him in already.
And when Sugarcube Corner burns down, it should not affect either of them.
Yet, when façades start to fracture, their connections to Ponyville's model family will threaten even the most sacred bonds. Before long, Sunburst, Hoops, and the Cakes will all have to decide if the past can be buried again, or if the old, comfortable stories just aren't enough anymore. In only one way, they are all alike: To get what they want, they are all willing to risk shattering every life around them—and maybe even their own.
Original story concept co-developed with Astro Brony and Obabscribbler. This story would not exist without them.
Special thanks to my beta readers: Luna Farrowe, Neighrator Pony, Chaotic/Sojourner, and AShadowOfCygnus, whose encouragement and guidance made publishing this a reality.
Cover art by UrbanQhoul.
18 Chapters:
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Chapter 1 - Bachelors [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Feb 1st, 2018
2,246
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Chapter 2 - Ashes and Aspersions [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Feb 10th, 2018
3,480
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Chapter 3 - What is Hidden [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Feb 16th, 2018
5,736
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Chapter 4 - Viva Las Pegasus [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Feb 23rd, 2018
5,070
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Chapter 5 - What Happens in Las Pegasus... [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 13th, 2019
4,953
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Chapter 6 - A Bitter Balance [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 13th, 2019
5,626
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Chapter 7 - More Than Meets the Eye [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 13th, 2019
4,819
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Chapter 8 - The Breaking Point [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 23rd, 2018
7,378
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Chapter 9 - Lonely Roads [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 31st, 2018
7,463
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Chapter 10 - To Reach Out [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Apr 7th, 2018
5,529
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Chapter 11 - Spent and Beset [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Apr 14th, 2018
3,678
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Chapter 12 - The Echo of Absence [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Apr 20th, 2018
6,608
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Chapter 13 - Coffee and Rum [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Apr 28th, 2018
7,464
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Chapter 14 - Unexpected Confidant [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
May 5th, 2018
7,372
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Chapter 15 - An Overdue Greeting [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
May 12th, 2018
5,355
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Chapter 16 - If the Heart Remains [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
May 18th, 2018
4,290
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Chapter 17 - Fathers [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
May 18th, 2018
5,528
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Epilogue [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
May 18th, 2018
1,662