A couple of sketches of some of my main cast's parents!

Poly!6 is of course the cornerstone upon which this entire AU relies. The six of them love each other in a variety of ways, simplified into a singular polycule. They live in Canterlot and Ponyville due to personal and professional needs, but always spend the holidays in Ponyville Castle as one big family.

Trixcord! Ever since To Where And Back Again I have been riding this train. The Lord of Chaos and his Lady, the Great and Powerful Trixie. I see these two being an accident mostly, Discord loves to be the center of attention, and he gets that performing in Trixie's magic shows. He adores Fluttershy, but he also values being around someone he can be mean with, and Trixie is happy to cut back. They enjoy long debates about 'real' magic that whip up into shouting matches and magical duels. Their strange friendship turns into a strange romance over a few too many glasses of wine in an evening, which turns into a strange little child. At first, Discord runs from the responsibility, the stability they would need from him, and the mistakes he'd made in the past - however, a stern word from Fluttershy soon sets him straight, and he returns to Trixie and their child with his tail between his legs and a bouquet of flowers in his claws. Despite their strained start, you will find no family happier in Equestria.

Vinyl Scratch and Octavia is no ground breaking ship, however you cannot deny them. In my AU, Octavia is a professor of musical theory, and her classes are frequently crashed by her wife who finds joy in contradicting her at every corner. Vinyl knows the line, let it be known, after so many years together and so many mistakes, she is acutely aware of how far she can actually push, and Octavia knows how far she can do the same. Vinyl is mute and deaf, and communicates in something known as horn-language - somewhere between Morse code and hieroglyphics, made with pulses of magic and small illusions.

Duke Blueblood was one of the most eligible bachelors in Canterlot, although his personality left a lot of potential matches running for the hills. However, when Blueblood decided to settle down and produce heirs - especially important during this time of change in the ruler of Equestria, and the entire way their royalty would work - one mare won out. Royal Ribbon is under no illusions of love, only that she proved the best match. She has no real love for Blueblood either, her love is for the status afforded to a Duchess, and the influence she wields in Canterlot now.