//------------------------------// // Finding Family // Story: Facing Your Demons // by Naryyn //------------------------------// “The bond of family is the strongest known throughout the universe. Even through the hardest of times a family’s love will not break apart easily.” “Fluttershy are you ready to go?” Rainbow Dash said to her friend, “Let’s hope we can find him here.” The two pegasi were standing outside of Las Pegasus. The last lead they had gotten on Heart Throb, Fluttershy’s father, brought them here. After two months of searching for him Rainbow Dash was starting to get homesick but Fluttershy would not give up. “Yes Rainbow Dash I’m ready albeit a little nervous. What if we don’t find him here?” "Then we keep searching I’m sure we will find him soon.” “But we have been looking for two months I’m starting to think we will never find him.” “We will Fluttershy, there aren’t very many places we haven’t looked so keep your hopes up.” “I will, let’s get started.” Fluttershy said before starting the town. Rainbow Dash looked after her, please let him be here, I don’t think she can keep this up for very long. Shaking her head she ran after Fluttershy to start their usual methods of searching. The process they had used was to go into local businesses of whatever town they were in at the time and ask everyone if they had ever met Heart Throb. This usually didn’t work but occasionally they would find a pony who had run into him at one point. While they did this Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy would joke around and keep each other happy. The first several buildings they stopped at in Las Pegasus had no results but when they entered the hotel, Radiant Spectrum, they hit the jackpot. “Sure I know Heart Throb.” the pony at the reception desk said, “He owns this hotel.” Fluttershy instantly burst into a massive smile, “He does? Can we see him?” “I’m sorry but Mr. Heart Throb won’t be in until Monday but you are welcome to stay until then for only twenty bits a night.” Fluttershy’s smile faded a little but she didn’t say anything. Rainbow Dash looked at her friend and grinned, “Come on Shy it’s only three days, let’s stay and have some fun.” “You’re right! We don’t have to look anymore!” and with that she pulled sixty bits from her saddle bag and handed it to the receptionist. “When he gets here can you call us and let us know?” “Sure,” the receptionist pushed two keys across the desk, “here are your keys and enjoy your stay.” “Thanks.” they both said in unison, grabbing their keys and heading to their room. "Can you believe it Rainbow Dash? I'm finally going to meet my father!" Fluttershy walked excitedly a little bounce in her step, "After all this time searching we actually found him, I'm so glad I'm not really an orphan." "It's wonderful Fluttershy I am so happy for you. We should celebrate, how about we go out on the town and just let loose?" Fluttershy smiled, "Sounds good maybe we can get a little gambling in too. I have always wanted to try my hoof at it in an actual casino." "Sounds like a plan to me let's go after we put our stuff in our room." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two nights later Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were sitting in their room looking at a sizable stack of bits on the table. "I still cannot believe you won five-thousand bits at the poker table!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed for the sixth time that night. "I mean you were playing against professionals! Did you see the look on their faces when you cleaned them out? It was priceless." "Yes I did Dash, I guess I'm just gifted at the game." Fluttershy blushed. "No buck you're gifted! I'm surprised your cutie mark isn't for poker instead of animals!" Fluttershy yawned, "I guess animals came first, now can we get some sleep? I want to make sure I'm well rested for when I meet my dad tomorrow." "Yeah I guess you're right it is getting pretty late and tomorrow is going to be a big day." With one last look at the coins they both got into their respective beds and fell asleep. A tapping on the door woke them up the next morning with headaches from the previous night's escapades. Dash groaned and rolled out of bed, "Hold on! I'll be there in a second!" She nudged Fluttershy, "Wake up I think he's here Shy." The yellow pegasus' eyes flew open and she ran into the bathroom. She came out a few seconds later looking like she normally does. "You really gotta teach me how you do that Shy." Dash said before pulling the door open. A deep blue pegasus with a flowing tri-colored mane stood on the other side of the doorway. His eyes widened as he looked at her and he took a few steps backward. Dash hardly noticed this though and asked, "Are you Heart Throb?" "R-Rainbow Dash is that really you?" He asked before backing all the way into the wall opposite of the room. He glanced quickly down the hallway noticeably nervous. Dash narrowed her eyes, "How do you know my name? Have you been spying on me?" "N-no I have not. I'm so sorry, yes I am Heart Throb and I know your name because I...gave you that name." Dash's mouth fell open and she slammed the door shut before falling heavily on her rump. She started shaking her head in disbelief while Fluttershy just stood there with no expression on her face. Tapping came from the door once more and Fluttershy hesitated before opening it. Heart Throb glanced at Fluttershy before looking and Rainbow Dash, "I'm sorry Rainbow Dash this must be such a shock for you but I haven't seen you since you were born" Dash stood up, "A shock?! I'm not even here because you're my father! I didn't even know that! I'm here because she is your daughter!" She pointed at Fluttershy. She blushed when he looked at her, "I-I'm Fluttershy, It's nice to finally meet you." Heart Throb stared, "No...no it can't be, they told me you died in birth with your mother. After all this time I finally get to see my long lost daughter again and not only that, I find out the baby I thought I lost is actually alive and traveling with her sister? The reality of the situation finally hit Fluttershy and she gasped, "Rainbow Dash and I are sisters? He didn't tell me I had a sister! He only told me who my parents were, not that Dash is my sister!" He nodded, "You two are actually non-identical twins, when Rainbow Dash was born I didn't know your mother was carrying twins. I left the room with her and was later told that you and your mother died." Dash frowned, "If that's true how come you left me in an orphanage?" "I was so broken up over your mother's death that I was deemed unfit to take care of you. You have to understand that I didn't want this for you but I had no say in the mater." He moved forward and pulled his daughters in for a hug with tears in his eyes. "We can finally be a family like it was always meant to be." Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash started to cry as well as they hugged their new found family. Breaking the hug Dash wiped her eyes, "We have a lot to catch up on so I'll go make some tea." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As the day went on they told each other all about their lives and the things they had done. When the moon started to rise and the daylight faded, they had decided that they would all live in Ponyville together and that they would leave the next day.