Prologue: Who Am I?
Mrs. Cherilee walked into the single classroom of Ponyville elementary and looked out over her students. Most of her little ponies were looking forward to a bright new day of school. A few, like Scootaloo, Rumble and Button Mash were restless, looking froward to the day being over, even though it had just begun.
“Good Morning class,” She called, a smile on her face.
“Good Morning Mrs Cherilee,” The class replied, a few stragglers calling later than the others.
“So, today we are going to begin working on a very special project before we move into family appreciation day in a couple of weeks,” Cherilee started, “Your all going to be doing research about your families and giving a presentation in front of the class. Please make sure you be sure to include any influential or historically significant members. Also, we would like to make arrangements for at least one member or your immediate family to be in attendance for Family Appreciation Day.”
Class continued as usual for the rest of the day, with Mrs. Cherilee focusing on Science and Math that day. Once the school bell rang, the students ran from the small classroom like rats deserting a sinking ship. A particular trio of students left together, headed towards the club house at Sweet Apple Acres that served as their base of operations.
“This project is gonna be so much fun,” Applebloom drawled, “I bet I can get all kinds of information from Granny Smith and Auntie Golden Delicious. There’s got to be lottsa famous apples in our family tree.”
“Oh, please,” called a certain stuck up, pink Earth Pony, “My family is way more famous and influential then your Podunk hillbilly family would ever think to be.”
“And let’s not forget the poor, orphan chicken,” said her partner in crime, a steel grey Earth Pony filly with glasses and pearls, “No family, no history, can’t even fly. Let’s see her make a presentation out of that.”
As the cruel fillies walked away laughing, Scootaloo froze in her tracks, tears streaking their way down her muzzle. Even though Rainbow Dash called herself her sister, they weren’t really family and Scootaloo wouldn’t be able to use her. Before she knew it, she found herself hugged by her best friends.
“Don’t let those two get to you, Scoots,” Sweetie Belle said, using her hooves to rub the space between Scootaloo’s stubby wings.
“Yeah, there’s got to be some way to find out infermation fer ya,” Applebloom chimed in.
“But how,” Scootaloo asked, leaning into the embrace, “Ms. Tenderhoof doesn’t have any information in my file at the orphanage and nobody around town even remembers the day I was left there as a foal.”
“Ah know,” Applebloom cried, “Ah think Twilight might be able to help you. I over heared her talking to mah sister the other day. She said that she found an old spell that helped Spike find out who is folks were. Maybe she’ll be able to use it for you.”
“You think so,” Scootaloo sniffed, trying, and failing, to regain her tough filly attitude, “I mean, she’s a big important princess now.”
“Not so important that she stopped doing Twilight Time with us,” Sweetie said with a smile, “Come on, lets got to the castle and see what she can do to help.”
A hopeful smile on all their faces, the three fillies made their way through town to the Palace of Friendship. Coming up to the front gate, the trio were lead inside by Twilight’s new butler, Major Domo. As he guided them through the castle to the throne room, he poignantly ignored the snickers and laughs coming from behind him. Arriving in the massive throne room, Major Domo opened the door and called out to everyone inside.
“Misses Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo to see her royal highness Twilight Sparkle.” He shouted before motioning the girls to enter. As soon as they crossed the threshold, he closed the door behind them.
All eyes in the room turned to the three fillies. They would have felt more self-conscious if it was anyone important, however the only ones there were Twilight and her friends, the other Elements of Harmony.
“Sweetie Belle? Girls. What brings you here?” Rarity asked, a teacup held in the field of her magic.
“We had a favor to ask Princess Twilight, if she’s not too busy,” Sweetie Belle replied sheepishly.
“I always have time to help you girls,” Twilight replied with a smile, motioning for the girls to come closer, “And how many times do I need to tell you, I’m just Twilight. You don’t need to keep calling me princess or highness all the time.”
“Thank ya kindly, Twilight,” Applebloom replied, “See we were hopin’ you’d cast that fancy schmancy spell you cast for Spike so he could find his folks for Scootaloo. We got a big project from Mrs. Cherilee and Scootaloo aint not gonna be able to complete it without some serious help.”
“What kind of project would need something like that, girls?” Twilight asked.
“Well…we have to research special or influential members of our families,” Scootaloo said, bracing herself for denial, “And since I’m just some flightless orphan with no history whatsoever-“
“Enough of that squirt,” Rainbow Dash called, “I mean, I may not be blood, but I might as well be your big sister. That’s got to count for something.”
“Not to Mrs. Cherilee,” Scootaloo said, her ears flat against her head and her muzzle pointed at the ground, “She’s gonna hold everybody to the same level. Which means since I haven’t been adopted, I can’t use you Rainbow Dash.”
“Well, that’s just not fair,” Pinkie Pie said, her mane deflating, “You’ve got a super special awesome pony who treats you like a big sister and five amazing aunties. How can Cherilee not count that.”
“Because those pain in the plots Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon complained.” Applebloom said before receiving a glare from her sister.
“Applebloom, where in tarnation did you learn to talk like that?” Applejack asked, glaring at the little filly.
“I heard Big Mac say it before,” She replied scratching the back of her head, “It’s true though those to make everyone’s lives horrible.”
“Regardless, darling, it is not good for a lady such as yourself to use that kind of language,” Rarity said, before glancing at Sweetie Belle, “And I had better not hear you use that kind of language young lady.”
“Twilight…”Fluttershy said, tapping her forehooves together, “I know you might think this is cheating…but Scootaloo really needs your help.”
“Your right, Fluttershy,” Twilight said, charging her horn and facing Scootaloo, “Now, this won’t hurt a bit.”
Flinging a small burst of lavender magic at the orange Pegasus filly, Twilight focused on the special spell she had created to help her Draconic son find out if he had any blood relatives. Before long, the corona of purple energy leapt off of Scootaloo and splattered across the Cutie Mark Table. Before long, two symbols begun to begin to rise out of the tabletop. The first was a crystalline quill pen and inkpot. The second drew gasps from the older mares, especially from Fluttershy who promptly passed out.
Rising next to the Cutie Mark of what the girls assumed was the crisp image of a crystal sword thrust through a golden crown. The Mane 6 knew this Cutie Mark all too well. It was the Cutie Mark of the Tyrant of the Crystal Empire, The Shadow King of the North, Sombra. Summoning a quill and inkpot with her magic, Twilight scribbled a quick letter and sent it off with a burst of magic.
“What was that?” Scootaloo asked.
“We know who your father is,” Rainbow Dash said, “But how is a little up in the air.”
“The how is easy,” Pinkie Pie started, earning curious glances from the ponies around her, “See when a mommy and daddy love each other very much they give each other a super special hug that makes a baby!”
“Pinkie!” Shouted Rarity and Applejack, “Fillies present!”
“Ah, please sis,” Applebloom said, waiving off her sister’s protest, “We’re 14 summer old. Mrs. Cherilee taught us all about sex months ago.”
“I think what she meant, darling, was how was Sombra able to have a child when the Crystal Heart blasted him out of existence.” Rarity said, fanning herself with a conjured bamboo fan.
In a flash of green energy, a letter floated to the tabletop with Celestia’s personal seal.
“What’s it say, Twi?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“We’ve all been called to Canterlot,” Twilight answered, “The girls included. Everybody get packed. Celestia’s private train is arriving in an hour.”