Shortly After the Events of "Winter Wrap-up"...

Twilight looked over the town with pride. The new vest was proof she had done her job well. She wouldn't take this responsibility lightly. Sniffing, she inhaled the fresh smell of daisies, dew, and freshly cut grass. Sighing with satisfaction, she turned back to her friends who were all talking about something. She smiled. Her friends had been such a great support to her during this whole thing, they really helped. Suddenly, she remembered something. She hadn't seen Tinder Spark at all during Winter Wrap-up, where was he?

Amareica...

I knocked on the door, and stepped back, the box containing the gift in my one hoof. Technically, I shouldn't need to knock, but I still felt inclined to. It was the proper thing to do. My mom had always taught me to be respectful, and I always followed her advice. I had left a note explaining where I was on the door to my house, that way anypony who needed me would know where I am. I smiled as the door began to open, revealing the mare of the day. Her white coat and blue mane looked like they had just been done, not surprising. When she saw me, she gasped and wrapped her forelegs around me, giving a slight chuckle as she did.

"Happy Birthday mom." I say with a smile, returning her hug. She sniffs, and we pull apart. There are tears in her eyes, and I know she's glad to see me. I'm glad to see her too. I promised myself, and her, that I would always visit on important holidays like this one. Other ones included Hearts Warming, Father's Day, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day. She urges me inside and I comply, where I find my father. Unlike my mom, His brown coat and black mane look undone, he wasn't one for looking civilized all the time. I smile and give him a high hoof, and he chuckles as he pulls me into a stallion hug.

"Tinder my boy, it's good to see you bud." He says as he releases me.

"Good to see you too dad." I say with a slight chuckle. I look back over to my mom, who is watching us as we bond. I smile and hold out my hoof, inviting her into the group hug. She smiles and wraps her forelegs around me and my dad, and we hug her back. I love my family, I was so glad I was able to see them.

A few Miles Outside of Ponyville...

Twilight read the note aloud, which had been taped to Tinder's door.

Gone to Amareica for a special event. Be back tomorrow.

- Tinder Spark

"So, he's going home?" Pinkie asked. Twilight shook her head.

"Then why would he come back tomorrow?" Pinkie nodded, taking this in.

"Well, only one way to find out for sure, let's go meet him there!" Rainbow shouts as she leaps into the air, flapping her wings. Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack agree, but Twilight isn't so sure. If he left a note, didn't that mean he wanted to be alone? Maybe this was a holiday solely for soldiers? They wouldn't be welcome then. Still, there was no way to know for sure. She tells the girls to follow her to library so they can find a map.

Amareica... One hour later...

I sat down to the meal my mom had prepared for us. It wasn't as big as something in Ponyville, certainly not prepared by a professional chef, but the fact it was my mom's made it better still. I preferred a home cooked meal to fast food or restaurant food any day. My mom and dad asked about what my new life in Ponyville was like, and I asked how things were going here. I told them about my new friends, the ones who accepted me regardless of my gruesome injury, and how they made sure to include me in everything. I talked about Rainbow Dash, how she was a gifted flier, and was one the most athletic mares I had ever seen. Pinkie, how she was always so positive, hyper, and never was grim about a situation. Then there was Fluttershy. Sweet, kind little Fluttershy. I told them how she was gifted with animals, and always cared for her friends. Rarity, and her astounding abilities in creating formal wear, and how she was never selfish with her belongings. And Applejack. Strong willed, persistent, determined Applejack. The farm she worked on, the amazing apple products she made, and of course, how she always was honest, even if it made her look bad.

"So, you've told us about five of the representatives, what about the one of Magic? Twilight Sparkle?" My dad asked. I blushed slightly. My mom noticed and smiled, placing her hoof on mine.

"Go ahead Tinder." She said. I sighed.

"Remember the last thing Galaxy told me before she died?" I asked. My parents frowned, knowing that it was still a hard day for me to re live. They nodded.

"I... I think I found her..." I say, eyes trained on the table.

"She's like her in so many ways... Smart... Kind... Caring... Loves reading... And when she smiles... Everything feels like it's gonna be okay..." I smile and continue staring at the table. I feel my mom rub my hoof, and she tells me she sounds like her. I look up, she's smiling. As is my dad.

"I'm glad you found somepony that makes you happy Tinder." There's a knock on the door, although I'm not exactly sure why somepony would visit us. Especially today. My mom gets up and walks over to the door, and who is standing there surprises even me. It's the girls. Pinkie instantly rushes in, uninvited, and starts shooting off questions left and right, just like she had when she first met me.

"Pinkie! Stop!" I shout. She immediately responds and calms down. She hops up and down giddily though, and starts to ask about my parents, although too quickly to decipher what she's saying.

"Pinkie! That's enough!" Twilight shouts. Pinkie instantly backs down, although she appears shocked by Twilight's outburst. Twilight gives a sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry about that, I think we're making a bad first impression. I'm Twilight Sparkle, and this is Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and that's Pinkie Pie." The girls say hi and Twilight continues.

"We're friends of Tinder Spark, we were just wondering if he was here?" My mom smiles and invites them in. Twilight shakes her hoof as the others look around, and my dad just stands next to me with a smug little grin.

"What?" I ask. He raises his eyebrows a few times.

"She IS a pretty mare Tinder." He says teasingly. I chuckle and shove him. Over the next couple of hours, we celebrate my mom's birthday by talking, and by Pinkie's insistence, a couple of party games. But once the clock hits 5:00, me and my parents start to walk out the door in dead seriousness.

"Where you guys going?" Pinkie asks as she shoves a piece of food into her mouth. I look up to my mom. There are tears in her eyes, and she appears heartbroken. My dad holds her hoof, and comforts her, and she nods at me. I sigh. I turn back to my friends and see their confused looks.

"My mom's birth isn't the only thing that happened today..."

Meadow Of Memorial...

4 Years Ago...

I sat at his grave... Staring... Wishing that it was me... Why him? Why not me...

"Tindy?" I hear from behind. Turning around, I see Galaxy walking towards me. The blue coated, and light blue maned mare stares at me with concern. I sigh and hang my head.

"Hey Gala..." I say sheepishly. She sighs and sits next to me, and begins to stare at the grave of my brother.

"Tindy why do you do this to yourself? It wasn't your fault."

"So everypony says." I shake my head as a few tears come out of my eye. Galaxy wraps her forelegs around me and kisses my cheek. I wrap one for leg around her, and she lays her head on my shoulder. There we sit, with her comforting me with her presence.

Present Day...

I stand by his grave, wondering how it came to this. How had I let myself fall to that point? Still, I was sad. Standing at Sand Staff's grave always made me upset. My own brother... gone... The same brother who would play catch with me and dad all the time, the one who would help me train... dead. My mom was next to me, trying to keep from bawling. My dad had his foreleg wrapped around her, and kissed her on the cheek. Behind us, the girls stand in awe, devastated to see the family once so full of life, happiness, and love, now stricken with tears, silence, and sadness. I sigh and sit, watching as the wind blows petals of the flowers that surround his grave. My mom's birthday was the day Sand died, and the same day I came home wounded and barely alive. It was a happy day soiled by tragedy and loss.

"Still feels like yesterday he was just beginning to walk..." My mom says with a shaky voice. She can't hold back anymore, and her head falls into my dad's chest as she begins to sob softly. My own eyes are stained with tears, as are my father's. The girls walk up to us and try to comfort us, and for the most part are somewhat successful.

"Really makes ya stop an' think bout' what we take fer granted back in Ponyville..." AJ says as she observes my brother's grave. I sigh and nod. Back there, the worst a relative could suffer was a non serious disease or a stomach ache. Here... they could die in an instant. Fluttershy and Pinkie comfort my parents while Twilight sits next to me. She places her hoof on mine, and I look into her eyes. She just looks at me, but I know she's telling me that she's here for me. I nod and look back at his grave as my family and friends share his loss together.