"That was intense-" Stone chuckled as Starry and he cantered away from the slack-jawed pegasus ponies in the street. The mare didn't see why it might have been intense, even if Canterlot was a place of masks and lies, there was a direct nature of the ponies who lived there. Maybe she was the right pony to take her father's place, but she would always be kinder than her father, especially to the ponies she cared about.

"Maybe-" She countered pleasantly ", But if I'm going to make a splash, I might as well start big."

Stone smirked at her and gently bumped her flank with his. Starry yelped and gave a playful scowl, which only caused his smirk to grow. They walked, passing ponies on the street until they reached a collection of manor houses that Starry knew to be owned by lesser nobility and Elite in Canterlot. A few ponies outside the houses watched them, a couple waved, and Starry nodded back, all smiles and waves.

"Which on is your Uncles'?" Stone asked, peering at the houses with a mix of confusion and disgust, " They all look the same to me."

"He's jus a couple down," Starry muttered, pointing down the road to one home that looked similar to the others, but more loved. There was chaos in the garden, vines growing over fences and reaching up the bricks of the manor. Starry couldn't help the smile that crossed her face.

There weren't many memories of being able to go to her uncle's home, her Father didn't enjoy going, but the ones she had were some that she held dear to her heart.

She could easily recall playing with Nova and Thunder in the garden, playing games of jungle adventures and expoditions to the Crystal Empire, hosting tea parties in the foyer and pretending she was the mistress of the home. It was a time of childhood bliss and wonder, good memories that she would look back on for the rest of her life.

"Here it is-" She sighed as the stopped at the open front gates, resting a hoof over her heart.

"You look reverant-" Stone chuckled, lowering his head and taking the suitcase from her magical grasp.

"I missed this place..." She smiled as she started towards the home, almost dancing up the stairs to the front door. Stone followed close to her tail, watching to not step on her dress. Starry was quick to knock on the door, grinning as she practically pranced in place. Stone smiled at her, setting the suitcase down and wrapping his wing around her.

"I can tell." 

Starry turned, smiling softly at him ", They're going to love you."

The stallion let out a dry laugh, lowering his head to hers ", How do you know?"

"Because I love you-" She pressed a hoof to his chest ", And if I love you? They will love you."

She pressed a kiss to his forehead, and the door opened. Unlike the many times she had kissed Hoverstep outside of her home before her father opened the door, Starry didn't jump away from this little kiss. It felt right.

The lunacorn mare glanced up and grinned as she saw her uncle standing before her, a smile on his thing face.

Jimbia was a tall and thin lunacorn, much like his twin brother, but rather than the dark galazy blues, he sported nebulous dark purple hair streaked with lighter shades. His pale russet fur looked healthy, clean and tidy as if he had been pampering all day, and his bright blue eyes gleamed with joy she had never seen in her father. 

The lunacorn stepped forward and wrapped the two in a hug, Starry quick to return it and Stone hesitating before placing a hoo on Jimbia's back.

"You're here!" Jimbia bellowed, never a quiet pony, " I'm so glad you came! We've been cleaning all week and set the guest room up incase you decide to stay!"

"Uncle-" Starry started with a laugh ", We have things-"

"Nonsense! Supper and whiskey before bed!" The lunacorn laughed ", I'll pay your train fair in the morning, so noo need to worry about that!"

Starry shot a look to Stone, apologies written across her face as her uncle lfted their bag and started into the house.

"Aria!" Jimbia shouted ", Starry is here! And she brought her friend!"

"Fiancee, uncle-" Starry interrupted as she stepped into the eching foyer with Stone, keeping herself uncer his wing ", We've been engaged for five days now."

Five days and her birthday, but she wasn't interested in that. One year older and she didn't feel any different. Her ears pricked up as she heard the fluttering of feathered wings above her. Starry grined as a pegasus mare landed in front of her uncle and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Her aunt, Aria Bliss, was one of the most beautiful mares that Starry knew. Aria was a pale grey with even lighter spots along her body, and her long teal mane streaked with pink and sky blue was always kept in a bun utop her head. And like always, Aria wore a crown of flowers, with some scattered in her tail.

The feathered pegasus smiled and trot to her neice, wrapping her in a hug, she smelled like roses and sugar.

"Starry, darling," Aria whispered to her, pressing her muzzle against Starry's ", It's so good to see you. We've missed you dear. You should have come to us-"

Starry leaned into her aunt, sighing and resting her head on the older mare's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Auntie-" she whispered ", I wasn't thinking, but I managed. Stone saved me."

Aria glanced up, turning her gaze to Stone River with the gaze of a mother to her foal's partner.

Stone shuffled, drawing his wing back to his side and tipping his head to the older pegasus ", Your home is lovely, ma'am."

"No need to suck up to me, young stallion," Aria smiled, reaching out with her wings, drawing Stone's face to her own, and pressed her snout to the end of his. Stone didn't jerk back like Starry had expected him to, but leaned in so their noses brushed.

"You are welcome in this home-" Aria smiled, drawing back "- Even when my husband registers that you're going to marry our niece."

Stone chuckled and turn to look at Stary ", She's worth anyone's wrath."

"That she is," Aria nodded as a blush crossed Starry's face ", Come. Sit. Supper will be ready soon."

Aria turned and cantered towards the parlor, stretching her wing over Jimbia's back to lead him with her. Starry followed, turning back to Stone with a smile.

"She likes you-" She beamed.

Stone laughed, shaking his head and cantering to meet her ", I like her too."