//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: A Revelation // Story: Together Again and Forever // by Wahtiff //------------------------------// Night Light was mostly silent on the way home, something uncharacteristic of the normally peppy and cheerful unicorn stallion. Twilight had to admit, while they were all silent, there was something about her father’s silence that made her uneasy. Even Shining and Cadence were casting glances towards Night Light, who walked with his head down and a brisk pace, leading the four of them towards the house. Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, Twilight spoke, “Dad? I’m sorry.” Night Light came to an abrupt stop, surprising everypony. Slowly, he turned his head to look at Twilight. “For what?” Twilight gulped at his stern tone, “F-For what I did. I killed her. I didn’t know-“ “Twilight,” He turned, stomped up to her, and clapped his hooves on her shoulders fiercely. Twilight flinched, waiting for the storm, “You have nothing to be sorry for.” “Huh?” Twilight met his gaze, surprised to see a soft look on his face. “You didn’t know, and even if you did, that doesn’t mean you are to blame.” Night Light gave her a sad, but reassuring smile, “Even if you were blame, I’d forgive you.” Twilight felt her eyes well up for the umpteenth time that day, and she slowly slid into her father’s embrace, crying softly. For a few moments, they stayed like that, with Shining and Cadence looking on with sad smiles of their own. “However…” Her dad suddenly spoke again. “However?” Twilight asked, speaking for everypony else. Night Light broke away from their embrace, and looked at her with eyes full of seriousness, sadness, and…guilt? “There’s something you should know, that ALL of you should know.” Night Light addressed the three of them. “What is it?” Cadence asked. Night Light sighed, “We never wanted you to know, and I doubt that it isn’t high treason by itself, but now that she’s gone, Twilight, I feel that you especially should know something about me and your mother.” Twilight said nothing, for when she opened her mouth to ask, Night Light stopped her. “I’ll show you when we get home.” ...….. The old unicorn led all three of them up to his study, and with all of them watching, he lifted the rug on the floor to reveal a hidden hatch. Opening it with magic revealed there to be several documents, obviously of high importance and secrecy, inside. “Dad,” Shining warily asked, “What’s this about?” “Something that happened,” Night Light said, fishing around inside with one hoof, “While you were away at that one magic campout in elementary school.” Shining’s eyes narrowed in thought, “The only thing I remember happening while I was gone at the time that involved Twilight was her birth. I remember when I came home the day after I received your letter, and saw her in mom’s hooves.” Twilight blushed in embarrassment. Her brother had been really caring and overprotective of her in those years and she remembered it well. Next to her, Cadence smiled knowingly, but frowned when Night Light stopped his search, holding up a folded piece of paper. Walking up to Twilight, he held the paper out. Twilight nervously reached for it, but Night Light stopped her, “Twilight,” he said, laying a hoof on hers, “just know that Velvet and I hated keeping this secret from you and your brother, and all I ask is that no matter what, just know that we still love you, that SHE still loves you.” Twilight was confused, but she nodded anyway, gently taking the paper from her father’s grasp. Using her magic, she unfolded it and hovered it close to her face so she could read the small print. Shining and Cadence looked over her shoulders. Their eyes went wide, and Twilight’s heart, deep as it was, sunk even lower. Tender Heart Orphanage, Crown City of Canterlot, Kingdom of Equestria: Archive Copy Certificate of Adoption Name: Twilight Sparkle Age: Two Months? Gender: Female Race: Unicorn Biological Parents: Unknown Event of Canterlot Custody: Miss Tender Heart found the young foal abandoned on the doorstep of the orphanage soon after the sunset of the 24th, with only the name Twilight Sparkle written on a piece of paper attached to the basket in which the foal was sleeping. This certifies that upon adoption, Night Light and Twilight Velvet will obtain custody of Twilight Sparkle as her legal guardians and be fully responsible for her upbringing, education, wellbeing, and legal welfare as her adoptive parents. Furthermore, as the prospective guardians are nobility, Twilight Sparkle will receive full privileges of the unicorn nobility of House Armor upon acquisition of her Cutie-Mark with the exception of title inheritance in accordance with ancient unicorn law. Signed, Miss Tender Heart, orphanage matron Lady Twilight Velvet, adoptive mother Lord Night Light Armor, adoptive father Mr. Fine Print, City of Canterlot public lawyer and witness There were three seals next to the signatures: the City of Canterlot seal, approving the document; Fine Print’s legal firm’s seal, signifying that he had borne witness; and the third was for House Armor, showing commitment to the agreement and its terms. Twilight, knowing that her family’s seal was one-of-a-kind and was kept locked away at almost all times, therefore knew that the House Armor seal was most definitely legitimate.  Even if someone had gotten hold of the seal, a special enchantment put on all seals made it nigh-on impossible to commit forgery and identity theft in that fashion. There was long, long silence. Twilight’s breathing quickened, and her pupils dilated to pinpricks as the contents of the document in her hooves were permanently engraved into her mind. Behind her, Shining and Cadence looked at the document, then at one another, and finally at her. Cadence slowly brought her hooves up to cover her mouth and stifle a cry, and Shining’s jaw dropped so low that it could’ve fallen off. Twilight, on the other hand, was close to having a heart attack of her own. “I-I,” Her voice was a whisper, and she finally found herself looking away from the adoption form and at Night Light, “I-I’m adopted!?” Night Light looked down, shamefully, and nodded sadly. Twilight would’ve been lying if she said that all of her earlier anger towards Velvet had ebbed away, and now she turned it on her father, her ADOPTIVE father, as she marched up to him- her wings spread threateningly- and yelled in his face. “Why!? Why didn’t you tell me!?” She could feel tears running down her cheeks once more, and seeing Night Light flinch at her reaction only served to increase her guilt, but she didn’t care. She was mad, and she wanted answers. Everything. Her whole life, her heritage, her own family line and reputation, EVERYTHING was a lie! Her father was not her real father! Her mother had not been her real mother! And… Twilight heard a gasp behind her, and she turned to Shiny, who had just come to exact same conclusion: Her brother, her BBBFF was not her real brother! At that point, Shining was as mad as Twilight, and both of them glared daggers at Night Light. Behind them, Cadence took a step back, knowing what the siblings were like when they were both angry. “Why did you keep this a secret from us!?” Shiny growled, “From ME? From TWILIGHT? Why!?” Night Light was weakened under the gaze of both his son and his adoptive daughter, but he still managed to give a firm answer, “Listen to me, you two, it was a mistake to NOT tell you, but we were afraid!” “Of what!?” They both snarled, simultaneously. “We were afraid of what it would do to you, Twilight,” Night Light said, almost pleading, “and Shining, you are worse at keeping secrets than she is! No doubt you would’ve handled it, but we were afraid of her knowing anything about her adoption before now.” “Plus,” Night Light looked away, unable to meet their gazes directly anymore, “we wanted you to be happy with the thought of a sister by blood, not by adoption.” “You should’ve told them.” Everypony turned to Cadence, who was not happy but also not glaring at Night Light. Instead, she spoke with a reasoning tone to her father-in-law, “Even if you were afraid, they had a right to know.” Night Light nodded in agreement, “Now I know, we’ve always known, but we just couldn’t find it in us to tell you two.” He finally looked up at Twilight, “Twilight, please understand, I’m sorry that we kept this secret from you for so long. I really am. If I could go back, I would’ve made myself tell you sooner.” Twilight felt her anger start to drain away. Night Light was being honest, she could see that, and she began to think back to her whole life, where both of her parents, adoptive or otherwise, had been there for her- supporting her when she became Princess Celestia’s student, encouraging her when she had moved to Ponyville to continue her studies, they had been there for all of it. Adoptive or otherwise, Night Light had been her father for her whole life, and Twilight Velvet had been her mother. She thought back to what her father had said only moments before, “…all I ask is that no matter what, just know that we still love you, that SHE still loves you.” Turning to Shining, Twilight shared a glance with her still-angered adoptive brother that sent the message to him loud and clear. Almost immediately, Shining started to cool off as well. Cadence, the expert of love herself, came up and wrapped a foreleg around him, pulling him close and nodding to Twilight. Twilight walked up to Night Light…and hugged him, “I forgive you…dad.” Night Light stiffened when she called him ‘dad’, but he was quick to return the hug whilst silently crying. After awhile, Shining and Cadence joined in, wrapping their arms around the other two, and they all silently embraced one another in a group hug. After while, though, Twilight once again broke the silence, “Tell me.” “What?” Night Light released her, and looked at her questioningly. “Tell me the whole story,” Twilight said, “about my adoption, about my real parents, everything you know.” “I don’t think-“ Night Light was cut off with a sharp glare from his son and daughter-in-law, and he was quick to rethink his last statement, “Very well. Let’s go down to the living room, and you may have the full story- or at least as much as I know.” ……. Once they were all settled- Shining Armor and Cadence on the couch, and Twilight and Night Light facing each other in large chairs- the old unicorn recalled the long-ago memory. “It was late in the evening, just after sunset.” He began, “We had run out of some ingredients for a dinner the next evening with some other nobles, and Velvet insisted on going out and getting them by herself.” He paused, sighing deeply, “Despite what she told me, I knew she was lying, but I never was able to get the full story from her and Miss Tender Heart.” Twilight nodded, “Go on.” “She returned an hour later, speaking like a madmare and dragging me out the door. She told me of how she just so happened to stop by the orphanage for a visit. She loved foals so much, and felt sorry for the ones without anywhere to call home. I mean that mare donated more money to the place than anypony else I know.” “What did she find?” “Apparantly, if her story was to be believed, you.” Night Light nodded to her, “Of course, how she found you was obviously not true. She found you at the orphanage yes, but she didn’t just stumble across you like a bit in the street.” Twilight tilted her head, “Was her lie that obvious?” Night Light looked at her incredulously, “Are you kidding? Even though you weren’t her blood daughter, you could’ve fooled me with how terrible you, along with Shiny, are at keeping secrets.” Shining and Twilight looked at one another, and for the first time that day, they actually laughed. Cadence only smiled and shook her head, nuzzling her husband’s neck gently. Night Light continued, “She was bad at lying, but she COULD hold her tongue, and I never got the real story from her, or how she REALLY came across you out of all the foals in that place. All I know is that she dragged me straight to the orphanage to see you for myself and the second I saw you in that crib,” he smiled, “I felt blessed.” “We both wanted to adopt you straightaway, and for the first time, placing a seal on a legal document never felt so…right.” He closed his eyes, still smiling at the memory, “Velvet held you, and I remember when your eyes opened and you smiled at us both, calling us ‘mommy’ and ‘daddy’. At that point, we were both adamant on keeping you for our own, and Velvet had grown so attached that she refused to let even ME hold you the whole way home. We made preparations for setting up a room for you, and we decided to send Shiny a letter telling about your ‘birth’.” Her dad sighed, sadly, his smile vanishing, “Velvet was dead-set on telling him that you were related by blood, and no amount of reasoning could get her to change her mind. I finally, reluctantly, promised her that I would not tell either of you as long as she lived.” He looked up, “Now that she’s gone, I guess I could finally tell you, though I wish I hadn’t had to keep it a secret for so long. I’m sorry, Twilight, and Shining, I’m sorry to you as well.” “Twilight forgave you,” Shining said, “so that means I can, too, and Twilight?” “Yeah?” Shining smiled, raising a hoof, “No matter what, siblings?” Twilight smiled, leaning over and bumping hooves with her brother, “Always, BBBFF.” Cadence sighed, happily, “I’m glad that’s resolved. It’s one thing if romance ends, but family, I can never accept that.” “I agree, but I want to know one more thing.” Twilight looked at Night Light. “Yes?” “What about my real parents? My mother? My father? Any blood siblings? Who were they, why did they put me up for adoption,” she lowered her gaze, “and WHERE are they now?” Night Light gazed at her with pity, “I wish I could tell you, Twilight. I believe Velvet knew something, but of course she wouldn’t say. However, she did say one thing and one thing only.” “What was it?” Twilight asked, her dejection at her father’s earlier words turning into excitement at his final statement. Night Light looked around, as if someone was listening in, and leaned forward, “Velvet didn’t think something like this would happen, but she said that if it did, you should start searching for your real mother. As to who or where she is, I have no clue.” She WANTS me to start searching for my real mother? How? Why? Seeing the look of confusion in Twilight’s eyes, Night Light simply said, “Now that she’s gone, we had long ago agreed that you deserved to find and reunite with your real mother, your real family.” Twilight nodded, and then stood up, wiping what few tears remained in her eyes, “Then I guess I might as well get started, shouldn’t I?” Night Light’s eyes widened, “Are you sure? You’re not angry, but willing to find her as soon as possible?” Twilight nodded, “Yes, if only to get the truth as to why my real family abandoned me in the first place. But even then,” Twilight hugged her father one last time, “I’ll still call you my father.” Night Light returned her hug, “Thank you, Twily, so much.” ……. Because the next train back to Ponyville left in an hour, Twilight was forced to bid goodbye to her father, brother, and sister-in-law before she left the house and began her journey towards the train station. She could’ve flown, being an alicorn of course, but at the moment, she preferred to remain grounded. Besides, it gave her a chance to think about planning her next move. Where am I even going to find a LITTLE BIT of info on my real family, specifically my mother? I have no clue where to look, where to BEGIN! She tried thinking back to the conversation with her father. Before she left, she had asked them if there was even a birth certificate with her name on it anywhere, but her father had shook his head. She told herself that even if her foster parents DID have a certificate, it would’ve told the same story about herself that she’d known for years- that she was the blood child of Night Light Armor and Twilight Velvet. Think, Twilight, think! There must be someplace to start! The orphanage? No, that wouldn’t work. They’d probably be as secretive as Velvet had been, especially to her. Twilight thought back to Night Light’s words, “I was never able to get the full story from her or Miss Tender Heart.” What about the law firm? They had to tell the truth, especially in court, but then again Fine Print had only bore witness to the signing of the adoption papers, so he would be no help. What else did he say? Wait a minute, what was that he said before he showed me the adoption form? Before we arrived at home? “We never wanted you to know, and I doubt that it isn’t high treason by itself…” What had her father meant by ‘high treason’? Sure, he would’ve long ago agreed that telling her of her adoption would’ve destroyed Twilight at a young age, but going so far as to breaking a promise to his mother wasn’t usually exaggerated as treason. Does he know something I don’t? Overriding that thought completely was a new idea that came to her, and a grin formed on her face. ‘high treason’- betraying those of the highest authority. That definition alone caused Twilight to stop in her tracks, an idea starting to form in her head, and direct her gaze in the opposite direction of the train station- -and towards the towers of Canterlot Castle. A castle, which was the home of the only pony that Twilight knew who had not only the highest authority, but a wide expanse of knowledge concerning Canterlot’s oldest families. That’s it! Twilight immediately took off, her wings carrying her all the way back to her fillyhood home. She arrived at the same moment that Cadence and Shining were leaving, themselves. Twilight distinctly remembered that they had planned on taking care of some business in Canterlot before returning home… Cadence’s eyes widened, as Twilight walked up to them, out of breath, “Twilight, is something the matter?” “You two are visiting Princess Celestia, aren’t you?” “Yes,” Shiny nodded, “her day-court is in session right now. Why?” “Can I come with you two? I won’t bother you during your business with her, but I need to speak with her as soon as possible.” “What about your train home?” Shiny asked. “Forget it. My friends’ll understand. The princess might have information that I want.” Their eyes widened as the meaning sank in, and Cadence smiled, draping a wing over her back with a mischievous smile, “I know she had a couple of hours spared for after court ends today, and I ALSO know that she prefers not to have guards outside who could eavesdrop on her and any conversations with guests…” Shiny shook his head, but he was smiling, “If you’re sure, Twilight.” “I’m sure.” Cadence kissed her on the cheek, making Twilight blush and Shiny laugh, “That’s the spirit!” As they headed towards the castle, Twilight knew that she must’ve had a grin from ear-to-ear because every time her siblings looked at her, their smiles seemed to grow brighter as well under the cloudy sky. Princess Celestia knows so much…maybe she knows something. Even if she has only a list of birth records, or something small like that, it will be enough of a lead.   Twilight then looked up towards the sky, Somehow, someway, I will find my mother at least and learn the truth.