The crystal castle of Ponyville was radiating with such a postivie energy, it couldn't quite be contained.

In fact, it wasn't, and the bouncing purple foal inside the castle was a testament to that fact and she hummed to herself in glee. She was so excited, she couldn't help but jump around, just like her Aunt Pinkie! This was how you show happiness and excitement, right?

Unfortunately for her, she couldn't mull on that thought further as her father, Sunburst, pulled her close to him and fiddled with the bow holding up her hair in a ponytail, "Astrid, dear, please stay still! I don't want you to mess up your mane!" Astrid huffed and pushed herself off her father, only succeeding in pushing away her upper body as her lower body stayed in her father's iron grip.

"Daaad! It's fine, letmego!" Sunburst reluctant granted his daughter's wish, and he released her out of his grip. His wife, Twilight Sparkle giggled as she trotted next to his side.

"Sunburst, leave her be, she just excited to meet her family," she nuzzled his cheek endearingly, "Plus, she looks adorable as she is. Sunset will be overjoyed just to see her!" Sunburst side but leaned into his wife's nuzzle, smiling softly as his daugher, who had begun hopping around and gigglign again.

"I know, Twilight." The couple's ears perked as they heard the main doors open, and their daughter gasped in joy.

"Mom! Dad! They're here! They're herethey'reherethey'rehere!" She started to sprint towards the main hall only to be caught midsprint by her mother's magic grip.

"Slow down, Astrid," Twilight chuckled as Astrid continued to run in place as though she were still moving, "They're not going anywhere!"

After settling her daughter down gently on the ground and ensuring her that she wouldn't sprint off again, they family moved toward the main hall together, accompanied by their daughter's excited jabber as she skipped alongside her parents. Approaching the main hall, Sunburst's hooves pricked with apprehension as they moved closer.

It had been so long since he last seen his sister, Sunset. The last time they saw each other was when he foals were born, and it wasn't exactly her best hours, especially after what turned out of her… former lover.

But Sunset had sent a letter, and extended a wish for help from her brother, and Sunburst needed to help. Luckily Twilight was just a willing and they immidiately sent back correspondence, and insisted to pay for any expenses Sunset may have needed to get the castle.

It was scary, seeing his sister in so much pain the last time he saw her. Sunset was normally so confident, and so… well, full of herself. But after being tricked by Sombra, and for so long, she was devasted. Sunburst knew she loved her kids, her letters had only ever expressed as much, but he knew it was hard for her to provide for herself and her foals alone. But, after a long time of a nomadic lifestyle alongside her kids, Sunset was finally returning back to her family, and was happy to do so.

Sunburst could only hope she was truly happier…

Approaching the main hall, Sunburst's ears perked at the sound of 2 different voices happily chirping their thoughts freely in the chamber.

"Wooooah, mom, it's so pretty! Look at the lights, look at the windows, OOH, OOH, LOOK AT"

"Uuuugh, Mystic, stop yelling so much! We see! Mom sees! You don't need to yell!"

"Shut up, Luster! It's pretty in here, and your nagging isn't gonna stop that!"

"You shut up! I'm only telling you you shouldn't be yelling cause we haven't even met the princess yet!"

"Girls, please!"

Sunburst's ears perked at the familiar voice and he couldn't fight the tears that pricked his eyes as they finally saw their guests come into view.

"Sunset!" The mare in question could only chuckle in amusement as her brother wrapped his hooves around her neck, pulling her into a tight, but warm hug, "It's been so long!"

"I know Sunny, I'm sorry." Sunset Shimmer giggled as she held up a hoof to recriprocate her brother's hug, using his childhood nickname out of habit. "I just needed some space, you know? But… I really missed you, Sunny."

"I did too, Sunset!" Sunburst only laughed in response, hugging his sister even more as tears sprung to his cheeks, "I wasn't sure if you were ever going to visit, you know?" He sniffed as he wiped away his tears, "Plus, I finally get to formally meet my neices and nephew!" Sunset giggled and she pointed behind her brother, to where his wife and her two daughters were chatting together.

Actually, it was more as if Twilight were being accosted by the two precoucious fillies. The pink filly, Luster Dawn, had taken to crawling up on Twilight's back and began insepcting her wings, as the cream filly, Mystic Dawn, had chosen to excitedly gabber to her aunt, eyes glistening as she looked up at the princess.

"Wow, it's really you, Princess Twilight! Are you really our Aunt?! Where are your clothes?! And where's your crown?! Oooh, your mane looks soo pretty!" Luster sniffed and pointedly interrupted her overly excited sister.

"Slow down, Myst, you can't just ask somepony where their clothes are. They aren't even clothes, they're jewelery. Don't you know how heavy it is? Tell her Princess Twilight, isn't that jewelery really heavy"

"Er- girls, please!" Twilight tried to interfere before a fight broke out, but Mythic interrupted, clearly unfased by her sister.

"Oooh, why are you getting so fat?! Are you eating a lot? Or are you just gaining weight?"

"Oh!" Twilight blushed but smiled softly. She looked to her husband who grinned at her, "Well… actually, I'm"

"Myst you can't just ask somepony if they're getting fat, either!"

"Shut up, Luster!"

"I'm not wrong, Myst!"

Twilight sighs as the two girls begin arguing over each other, exchanging childish insults to each other over her, Luster Dawn sitting on her back and Mystic Dawn stomping her hooves on the ground as she they argued.

Sunburst tried not to laugh at their antics as Sunset just looked deeply tired of her daughter's banter. "Luster, Mystic, please," Sunset stepped forward and grabbed Luster with her magic, lifting the pink filly off of the princess' back. Luster, undetered, only continued to bite back sourly at her sister.

Suddenly, Sunburst was acutely aware that there were only two fillies in front of him. Didn't Sunset have triplets? And where was his own daughter, who was so excited to meet her aunt and cousins?

—

Off to the side, outside of Sunburst's line of vision, sat the third foal, his name was Oscuros Dawn.

Shyly, he wrapped his tail around his legs and hunched his back, ignoring his mother's warnings about his posture ot appear as small as he possibly could.

Oscuros didn't know these ponies… not in the slightest. Apparently, they were his aunt and uncle, one of which was a princess (he was still trying to wrap his head around the fact) but… he just didn't know them. He didn't know anything about them!

Since he and his sisters could remember, their family lived a nomadic lifestyle. Sunset didn't like to stay in one place often, nor did she like to let her children stay in one place either. It was a tiring life, but Oscuros liked it. It was just him and his family, alone on the road together.

And now, according to Sunset, they were going to stay in the castle? To have a permanent home?

He wasn't sure what to think of it. He only ever knew travel, only change. And now he was expected to stay here until he was ready to live on his own? Maybe, somewhere deep down, he wanted someplace to call home. Maybe there was a longing for a domestic life with his mother and sisters, to have friends, and to go to school.

But to stay with a couple of strangers, regardless of relation, was just too much for him. And, despite a deep longing, he did crave the adventure that his family's nomadic lifestyle instilled in him. Luster and Mystic were way too excited to just leave that behind… part of him was resentful of them for being so carefree.

Stuck deep in his brooding thoughts, Oscuros was much to distracted to take notice of the shadow creeping up on him. It crept closer and closer, the foal none-the-wiser to it's ever looming presenced until,-

"HI, HI!" Oscuros squeaked in terror, taking to crouching on the ground and covering his eyes from the sudden terror. It had crept on him like a predator and jumped up and down all around him in excitment, "Are you my cousin?! Are you really gonna stay with us?! Please say yes, please say yes!"

Oscuros peaked over his hooves and made the eyes of a purple filly, tan splotches covering her body in various spots on her body.

"I- I don't know," Oscuros muttered, "I… I guess." As the filly's eyes glowed even more in response, Oscuros found himself regretting his silent admittance.

"Ah!!! Aaaaahhh! OmigoshomigoshomigoshomigoshOMIGOSH! Really?!?" Hooves gripped his shoulders and Oscuros could only yelp as he was pulled into a tight hug as his 'cousin' blabbered on ,"I'm so excited!! I'm Astrid Comet, but you can call me Astrid!" She pulled away and studied his face closely, smile still plastered onto her face, "I love your mane! It's sooo pretty! Oooh, and your eye markings! They look so cool, and- and also-" Astrid cut herself with a loud gasp as her eyes trailed onto his tail.

Instinctively, Oscuros pulled his tail away from her prying gaze, all too aware of the mocking that would soon come after. Too often foals had jabbed and mocked him, scorning his 'rat tail' and calling him a dirty little rodent. He didn't want his apprent cousin to start bullying him now, at least, not this soon. He pinned his ears against his heads, all too ready for the familiar jeers and laughts.

But to his shock, she just squeeled and jumped around in joy again.

And, much to his shock, he finally saw her tail for the first time.

It… was just like his…

In his shock he, once again, didn't notice her sneak up on him and pull him into another crushing hug. But this time, he didn't really mind.

"EEEEE!" Her offending squeal did make he reconsidered though, but her next words melted his heart and he couldn't fight the smile that sneaked onto his face, "We have the same tail! We're gonna be the BEST of friends!"

Oscuros Dawn… maybe he wouldn't mind living in Ponyville for the foreseeable future…

__


lmao, this has been done for weeks, I just took forever to write the story
just some insight on how The Dawn triplets and Astrid began living together. Also, at this time, Twilight was pregnant with Piers, hence why she isn't around.