Fraternal

by Melody Song


Care to Explain?

"Daring, these are my parents, Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles." Rainbow introduced, the two's earlier argument forgotten. "Mom, dad, can we talk?" she asked the couple.

"O-of course honey. Come on." Windy turned and led them to a cloud house. Daring pulled the hood back up to avoid being seen. Rainbow walked beside her.

"I'm sorry." They whispered at the same time, and both smiled.

"I shouldn't have accused your parents like that Rainbow. It was wrong."

"Well, I shouldn't have gotten so mad about it, you don't know anything about them. I also probably shouldn't have mentioned Scoot, I should have known you'd be jealous."

"Not jealous...just a little angry." Daring corrected. Rainbow smiled at her again, then led Daring into the house.

"What are you doing here Rainbow?" Bow asked. Rainbow took a breath.

"I just got back from an adventure with Daring, she and I have been on a few before. During this one, we started to notice how similar we both are. We're the same age, have almost the exact same personality, and even look alike. Then Daring had a dream about something from her past, and I was in it." Rainbow began. "We were thinking that maybe you two knew something about it."

Bow and Windy looked at each other, then nodded. Windy stood up and flew out of the room.

"You're right Rainbow, we do know something." Bow sighed. He looked at Daring, who stared right back. "Daring, can you please take off that cloak?"

Daring tugged it off, revealing her olive green outfit. She then reached for her saddlebags and pulled out her pith helmet, placing it over her mane. Bow smiled softly.

"I swear, you're your mother's double." He said softly.

"What? Mom doesn't look anything like her." Rainbow objected. Bow shook his head.

"Windy's not your mother Rainbow." Rainbow's eyes widened.

"No way."

"He's telling the truth Rainbow." Windy responded, coming back with a picture. "I'm not your mother. She is." Windy held out a picture and showed it to them both.

The picture was of Bow Hothoof standing at an alter, gazing into a mare's magenta eyes. She had a orange coat that seemed almost golden. Her mane was gray and black, with just a hint of purple. The mare was wearing a white gown, and standing between the mare and Bow was a priest. They saw too, that next to Bow, was Windy Whistles. She was wearing a emerald green dress with gold lining.

"Who is that? Why does she look like Daring?" Rainbow asked.

"That, is Firefly Dash." Windy replied, smiling down at the picture. "She was Bow's first wife. And your mother."

"Both of us?" Daring asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or is Rainbow your daughter and I'm Firefly's?"

Windy did a double take, blinking.

"Daring, Windy was my best friend when we were foals. That's why she's the best mare in this picture. Firefly is the mother of both of you, yes." Bow answered. Daring cocked her head.

"Then what happened to her? And why didn't Rainbow know who she was?"

Bow sighed and took the picture from Windy.

"Your mother was very determined. She was a descendant of General Firefly, and lived up to it, too. She was a Wonderbolt, just like Rainbow. I imagine that's where Rainbow got the talent. But your mother was the Captain of the team, unlike Rainbow. I'm sure by now, you've realized how you two are related."

"Fraternal twins." Daring replied immediately. "It's the only way we can be the same age, have the same birthday, and be so alike but look so different."

"Wait, what does fraternal mean?" Rainbow asked, and Daring sighed.

"It's another way to say twins that don't look alike."

"Got it. Sorry to interrupt dad."

"It's alright Rainbow. Now listen."

Bow continued his story, looking down at the framed picture instead of the girls.

"After Firefly gave birth to you, she returned to Wonderbolt training, the second you two could survive without her. Firefly was devoted to her team, but she was also devoted to her foals. She made time for you, no matter what. I remember one time she even brought you to practice with her. As I recall, Rainbow enjoyed the trip more than Daring." he looked up at them and smiled for a brief moment.

"So what happened?" Rainbow asked

"Firefly had never been the type of pony to admit something was wrong. You were about two when she got sick. I had no idea anything was wrong until a Wonderbolt came to the house to tell me Firefly had collapsed during practice. She was alright, but replaced by her Co-Captain so she could recover. Firefly took the time she was cooped up in the house to spend time with you both. She was around to hear your first words, watch you take your first flight, and more."

"But in the picture of me taking my first flight, mom-er-Windy, is in the photo." Rainbow said, stumbling over what to call the mare.

"Firefly was getting weak, she could hardly keep up with you two. I would often tag along with her and Bow when they took you two out, to keep an eye on you. The picture of your first flight was taken by Firefly, while I handled you." Windy explained.

"Firefly grew weaker until one day...she just stopped breathing." Bow continued. "Windy moved in here to help me care for you. After a while, it became something more."

"After you gave me up. That's what the dream was about. You were talking to each other about giving one of us up." Daring said.

"Yes, we were discussing taking you to your Uncle. I didn't know if Windy would stay with me if she was forced to take care of foals that weren't her own. Windy didn't know my intentions, of course, to make her stay. But either way, one of you had to go, I couldn't raise two foals, even with Windy's help. Gallant True is Firefly's brother, and we knew we could trust him. I took you down while Windy distracted Rainbow. He said he knew some ponies that would take good care of you. Did they?"

"Sort of. After I got my cutie mark they only really cared about the bits I brought back." Daring replied.

"I wouldn't have given you up if I'd known-"

"It's okay. Even Gallant doesn't know they did that. I'm an adult now, they only wanted my bits when I was young." Daring explained.

"Are-are you two okay with knowing this? I know I'm not your real mother, but...would you forgive us?" Windy asked them.