Foxtrot looked up at the building at the building that she once called home. It was an unremarkable structure, easily lost amongst the grand architecture of Canterlot. To Foxtrot however, it was a place filled with fond memories for when she was a filly. This was the house where she grew up, with many happy times with her father. Not so with her mother. Foxtrot could not recall any memory of her that she could describe as ‘happy’. If truth were told, Foxtrot could not give a satisfactory answer to why she here. She owed her mother nothing, especially after being cut off after defining her by entering the royal guard.
And yet here she was, walking up to the front door after being summoned by letter.
She raised a hoof and tapped on the door, which opened gently. It was unlocked, which raised some suspicions from Foxtrot. Pushing the door wide open, she called out for her mother. When no reply came, she moved into the main room of the building.
Her former home was not that bigger than her cottage, but it was utterly lifeless. Dingy colours, no decor of any kind and a good layer of dust covered almost all surfaces. The air was stale, adding to her uneasy feeling.
making her way over to the unused fireplace, Foxtrot stared at a blank spot on the mantle piece. Even now she could see the picture that once occupied the space in her mind's eye. A family photo. Foxtrot as a young filly, flanked by her parents and smiling. Twinstar smiling was a rare sight these days.
“What are you doing here?”
Foxtrot turned to see her mother entering from the kitchen, wearing one of her trademark looks of bemusement and contempt.
“You summoned me,” Foxtrot retorted in a calm yet cold manner.
“No, I didn’t,” She snapped back.
“Yes, you did,” Came Foxtrot’s firm response. “You had Midnight Snow deliver me a letter.”
“Midnight Snow?” Twinstar said quizzically. “I have not seen him in months, nor did I give him a letter for you, as I would give you anything. This must be some kind of joke on his part.”
Midnight did that!?! Foxtrot thought. No. No, something dosesn't fit right with that.
“Clearly, there has been a misunderstanding,” Foxtrot stated calmly. “If I'm not wanted here, then I shall take my leave.”
Foxtrot turned and moved towards the door.
“So you found a way to promoted then,” Twinstar remarked, which caused Foxtrot to stop and look back at her. “Landing yourself an alicorn and all.”
“What in Equestria do you mean?” She asked, not liking where this was going.
“Not a bad move on your part, shacking up with him,” -A slight grin appeared on her lips- “Perhaps you did learn something from me after all.”
“I Have Not Shacked Up With Him!” Foxtrot snapped angrily.
“Oh please,” -Twinstar waved her hoof around in small circles- “Why else would you volunteer to be his chaperone? Eh?”
Foxtrot grew angrier and should have left there and then, but for once, she wanted to put her mother in her place.
“Princess Celestia herself asked me to be his chaperone.”
“And when she finally unveils him to the world as a prince, you will almost certainly be promoted,” Her mother shouted back. “Oh yes, your plans Foxtrot.”
“Prince? What are you talking about?” She said confused by her mother’s rambling. “There are no such plans for Midnight.”
“Which only shows how little you know. Still, that's nothing new for you, isn’t it.” Twinstar spat venomously. “You have as much magical potential the that Twilight Sparkle and yet you went into the Cadets!”
“Oh, not this again, mother,” She exasperated.
“You had a place at Celestia’s school just waiting for you,” Twinstar continued, ignoring her. “But no, you had to be like Echo, that damn fool.”
“Don’t speak ill of father,” Foxtrot practically demanded. “He was a great stallion.”
“He was a damn fool, who brought on his own demise! And you're too stubborn to release this!” Twinstar shouted back. “And I regret having to marry him.”
“How can you say that! How can you say that about a stallion you once loved? How can…”
Foxtrot’s rant was brought to an abrupt halt one of the most unnatural sounds she had ever heard. Twinstar was laughing, wholeheartedly. It's took her a few moments to regain her composure.
“Love him!?!” She stuttered, still giggling. “Don’t make me laugh. Our marriage was arranged by our parents and I was only willing to go with it to keep them quiet. I never loved Echo Whiskey, I’ve never loved any-pony.”
“I don’t believe you,” -Foxtrot pointed an accusing hoof at her- “You laid with him, mother. Otherwise, I would not be here.”
“I never laid with you father!” Twinstar shouted coldly.
Foxtrot was reduced to a dumb silence. “W…w.what!?!”
“You heard,” She snapped colder than ever. “I was already carrying you before I’d meet Echo. That's why our marriage was arranged, to avoid a scandal.”
“YOU LIE!!!” Foxtrot screamed with tears of rage swelling in her eyes.
“ECHO WAS NEVER YOUR FATHER!!” Twinstar shouted, matching her daughter's volume. “Before I became a Dr, I had to do certain ‘favours’ for my male superiors in order to get positions I wanted. But I grew to careless and I wound up having you, biggest mistake of my life. It set me back years.”
“NOO!!” Foxtrot shrieked, tears now running down her cheeks.
“Yes, Foxtrot! Accept it!” She shouted, moving towards her. “I mean look at yourself! You don’t bare a resemblance to him at all!!”
“No!”Foxtrot said backing off, as her mother drew up close.
“You are little more than the bastard child of one of my former bosses, never to rise above the rank of private!” She spit out every bitter word, straight into Foxtrot’s face. “And to me, you have been nothing but a distraction and great disappointment and I would not shed a tear if I were never to see you again!!”
She stared menacingly into Foxtrot’s, who eyes were overflowing with tears. Twinstar watched her daughter turn and flee out the door without saying another word.
She took in a deep breath in order to regain her composure, before turning her head towards the bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. “She’s all yours, my queen.”
An evil indigo eye glimmered through the gap in the door. “Very good, Twinstar.”