At their father’s “revelation” about the train, the twins looked at each other in amazed disbelief, sitting up in their seats to get a good look at the train’s tracks from out the window.
Buttons relaxed into the seat with a smile on her face, her lilac eyes closed as she cradled a sleeping Thimble to her chest in a bundle. The girls laughed along with their father with Cotton sticking her tongue out at the passenger who told them to settle down.
An hour later, the train lurched to a stop at the large city of Canterlot. The expensive-looking decor of the train station was much more grand than the small station back in Ponyville. Buttons woke and stood up excitedly at the closed train doors.
“Canterlot station!” the conductor pony shouted. The doors swished open and several ponies boarded and exited the train. Among those boarding was none other than Stitches. The young unicorn looked much bigger. He carried a dark brown saddle bag and wore his signature grey and white bow tie.
“Oh, my handsome colt!” Buttons cried, happy tears beginning to track down her face as she wrapped her son in a tight hug, careful not to squish the now awake foal.
Stitches chuckled, his voice obviously deeper. “Moooom,” he groaned playfully and somewhat embarrassed. “I missed you too but you’re going to suffocate me.”
Buttons let go with a laugh and wiped her tears away. The girls took their turn and gave their older brother a hug.
“You look fatter,” Cotton teased.
“Yeah, well you’re still short, shorty,” Stitches returned playfully, tousling her mane with his hoof. He stopped and placed a kiss on both Cotton and Ribbon’s cheeks as well as Thimble’s head. He turned to his father and wrapped a leg around his neck.
“Good to see you again, Dad,” Stitches said, a smile on his face as he pulled back to look at Written. “I’m so excited to get this vacation started. This semester was a difficult one.”