//------------------------------//
// Episode 2: Truths 
// Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: The Bond In Our Genes 
// by Captain_Cosmos 
//------------------------------//

The train came to a stop at a station near KiliHima Village. The doors opened, and out stepped Sparkler, Fleur, and Fancypants, who had insisted on coming.

“I’m surprised you’re willing to be seen in a rundown quiet town.” Sparkler commented to Fancypants.

Fancypants cleared his throat. “Yes well, you are my sister-in-law it would seem. So I figured you would want both your siblings there for support.” He said. “Plus…I kinda am getting that urge to act like the big intimidating brother to deter ponies from messing with you.” He admitted.

Sparkler chuckled. “You sure came around quick to this.” She said.

“I trust that my wife would not lie about something like this.” Fancypants responded. “If she says you are her twin sister. That is good enough for me to consider you family.” He responded.

Sparkler smiled. She was glad that Fancypants was accepting. “So Fleur never hated me back when I first refused the crown because she was my sister. What’s your reason since you didn’t know?” Sparkler asked.

Fancypants chuckled. “I have an actual brain and understand that laws do not require Alicorns to be royalty. You are free to live your life your way.” He said. “Although…I do have my hopes that you understand what you’re getting into being engaged to a princess.” He added.

Sparkler rolled her eyes and smiled. “Yeah. I have come to terms with the fact that I’ll be a princess Consort, but that does not mean I will have ponies bowing to me. Least of all family.” He said.

“Understood Sparkler.” Fancypants responded.

They continued their walk to KiliHima Village in silence, aside from the occasional complaint from Fancypants about unkept roads, to which Sparkler had replied. “The most remote place in the universe does not get that reputation with kept roads.”

At least, that was what Sparkler had said, until the three of them came up to the top of a dune and Sparkler saw something she hadn’t been expecting. KiliHima village was under construction. Sparkler blinked. “The heck?” She asked.

“Something wrong?” Fleur asked.

“KiliHima Village has major construction going on…that never happens.” She responded. “Did the village get a major budget increase all of a sudden?”

They saw a paving pony approaching, probably making a better path to the next town. Sparkler just stared at the construction. “Ok, something’s DEFINITELY up.” She thought. She pondered what it could be.

“I’m sure your parents know what’s going on.” Fleur offered. “We could add it to the list of topics to talk about.”

Sparkler blinked, then nodded. “Yeah. Yeah let’s do that.” She said. It’s just full of surprises lately. She thought.

And so they resumed their journey to their destination. All around Sparkler could see construction crews going to town. Bringing in materials that had never been used in town before. For real, it’s like Somepony’s took over the town and is renovating it.

Soon, Sparkler led them to her parents’ house. After taking a second to compose herself, she knocked on the door.

Inside, Aurora heard the door knock and opened it to reveal her daughter. She smiled widely. “Sparkler! Hello!” She exclaimed. She hugged Sparkler. “What a wonderful surprise. We weren’t expecting you to show up. What brings you here?” She asked.

“Is dad home? I need to talk to you two about something important.” She said. Now I don’t feel so bad that I’m about to drop two surprises on you. She thought.

“Oh, Dad’s in the kitchen.” Aurora responded happily. That’s when she noticed the two ponies kinda standing away from them. “Oh. You brought company.” She said.

Sparkler nodded. “Yeah. This is Sir Fancypants, and his wife, and MY sister, Fleur De Lis.” Sparkler responded. Putting an emphasis on my to send a clear message to Aurora.

Aurora’s smile faded as Fancy and Fleur walked up and held out their hooves. “A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Aurora.” Fancypants said.

Aurora shook hooves with them, but stared at Sparkler. “F-Fleur is your sister?” She asked.

“Twin, biological sister.” Sparkler responded. “And that raises some questions that I have for you and dad.” Sparkler said.

Aurora gulped, and nodded. “Uh, sure…sweetie.” She said. Oh boy this is going to be a mess. She thought.

Aurora let the three in and led them to the kitchen. Where Thundercracker was sipping some soda. He saw the four ponies enter and he smiled. “Ah, Sparkler. This is a pleasant surprise.” He said. “How are you?” He asked.

“Been better. I’ve been on a quest for answers.” Sparkler responded. She gestured to Fleur and Fancypants. “This is Sir Fancypants, and his wife and my twin biological sister Fleur De Lis.” She said.

Thundercracker’s smile faded, while Fancypants nodded his way. “A pleasure to meet you Mr. Thundercracker.” He said

Thundercracker nodded, but stared at his wife, who nodded. Aw crud. She knows.

“Mom, dad.” Sparkler said, getting to the chase. “Am I adopted?” She asked.

Aurora and Thundercracker looked at each other, before Aurora sighed. “Yeah.” She said. “You are sweetie.” She said.

Sparkler sighed. Least they didn’t try to lie again. “Ok. So then would you two mind explaining to me why you NEVER THOUGHT TO TELL ME?!” She demanded. “You two had a long time to tell me, and you never did!” She growled.

“Sparkler, breathe.” Fleur interjected. “Yelling won’t do anything.” She said.

Sparkler took a deep breath. She and Fleur had talked on the train that this would be a no shouting conversation. “Why.” She asked. “Why did you hide it from me?”

“We uh…never got around to it?” Thundercracker responded.

Sparkler deadpanned while Fancypants and Fleur facehooved. The three of them could tell that was a really lame excuse. “Really dad? That’s the answer you’re going to give?” She asked.

“…It’s the short of it.” Thundercracker admitted. “Want the long version?” He asked. Sparkler nodded in response.

“We wanted to tell you.” Aurora responded. “We really did. But we were afraid.”

“We had decided to tell you when you were ten when we knew for sure you were smart enough to understand.” Thundercracker said. “But then the bullying started.”

“We were afraid of adding to the emotional pain you were going through. Thinking your own birth parents didn’t want you.” Aurora said. “And the first date debacle only scared us even more.”

“You guys are seriously using my school years as the reason you didn’t tell me?” Sparkler asked.

“Yeah…we know it’s probably not a good reason.” Thundercracker responded. “But it’s the best one we have.”

“We’re sorry for not telling you sweetie. We just didn’t want you to feel more unwanted than you already were.” Aurora said.

Sparkler stared at her parents, not saying a word, before she sighed. “Under any other circumstances I would call horsecrap on that. But I can’t argue against logic. Had I known at any point during my school years. I might have just ran away trying to find my birth family.” Sparkler said.

Aurora and Thundercracker chuckled a little. Sparkler nodded. “Alright fine, I forgive you. If only because I’m about to get some petty revenge. You have two more grandkids and Twilight and I are engaged.” She said, smiling at them.

Thundercracker’s and Aurora’s eyes widened and their jaws dropped. “Two more grandkids?”

“And you and Twilight are engaged?!” They said.

Sparkler nodded. “Yep.” She said. “Surprise.” She said.

Thundercracker and Aurora stared at Sparkler for a second, before they just burst out laughing. “Alright. Guess that makes us even.” Thundercracker said.

That got everypony chuckling. Sparkler sighed in content. Well at least I know the truth now. She thought as Aurora began grilling Sparkler for details about the engagement and the adoption of her own kids. While Thundercracker and Fancypants got into an Apple Cider bottle. Overall, it was a good outcome.

To be continued…