“Wha–? What is this??” cried a stunned doctor. Within his dark blue hooves was a newborn foal, crying loudly and drowning out the murmurs and gaps filling the room. Nurses looked on behind the doctor with a twisted emotion between fear and curiosity. Heavy breathes dragged themselves out of a mare's body resting upon a bed. Her eyes were glazed over from the task of giving life to the world, but still she could see; she saw something she could not understand. A great silver stallion left the room in a hurried trot, his ghostly white aura dissipating from the door handle a moment later. For what could be considered forever by small colts and fillies, only the cries of a newly birthed pony could be heard.
The scarlet unicorn mare walked uncomfortably to her home with a wrapped bundle upon her back. This small package shifted and squirmed of its own accord, but the wrapping held fast. Only a small mouth of light brown was visible under the cloth. The mare approached a luxurious abode, matched only by the row of similar imposing estates that ran down along the road further on. Large oaken doors adorned with carvings of complexity to signify some kind of important were shut before her. She kicked her right fore-hoof against the door, glancing around nervously as if being in broad daylight was a terrible idea. Sounds of a babbling foal came from the mouth of the bundle.
“Shh, quiet you,” she hushed, turning her around this way and that, certain some pony would appear any second to arrest her for a crime she did not commit. A loud groan came from the doors as they began to slowly part. The mare hurried inside with one last look around. The doors closed, almost catching the mare's tail between them as they shut with an equally loud moan. A silver unicorn stallion with a sleek black mane looked at her with accusation hanging out of his eyes.
“You failed, it seems,” he calmly stated, but his glare told of annoyance. His eyes closed and a sigh loosed from his muzzle as he turned his back to her. “Lavish Luster... a respected mare who was able to win my heart with her impeccable ability to find opportunities. Coupled with my own astounding talent at mediation and negotiation, we have accumulated great wealth. We live in Canterlot, within an area devoted to the most wealthy and respected of nobles. The palace is but a moment's gallop away. You have everything you could possibly need, but still you fail me.” Serenity lost out and irritation set in, unsettling the air around Lavish. “The first failure was bad enough, but now you dare return to my home with your mistake! Need I remind you? Do you need to be educated again on how your mistake will ruin us both!?” The ground seemed to shake. A whimper was heard from the bundle on Lavish's back.
“I... I'm sorry, dear. I tried. I truly tried to find somepony to take it, but not even those who live on the streets would agree no matter how much I offered!” Her words became hurried and sweat began to drip from her forehead. “There is simply no answer to our dilemma.” She hung her head dejectedly, mentally cursing her fortune for what could be the hundredth time. She looked up to see her husband in front of her with a warm smile on his face.
“Perhaps not to our problem. But there is an answer to my problem.” A raised eyebrow from Lavish earned her a broader smile. “I thought it may come to this so I brilliantly thought ahead. Just close your eyes, my dear, and everything will be alright.” His horn began to emanate a ghostly white magical aura. Lavish did as she was told. She had always trusted him and things always worked out in the end. It would be the same now. “When you wake, everything will be fine... for me.” Just as her eyes were about to shoot open in alarm, she felt herself fall to the floor with her mind fogging. She could hear two gurgled sounds – one noise an amused chuckle, the other high-pitched whining.
There was no way to tell how much time had passed, but when she did awake, the cold breeze of the night air blew around her. It took her a few seconds for her eyes to fully adjust, but one thing was certain. A warm bundle of cloth with a mouth lay next to her, slowly expanding and compressing. She took a look around her. The first thing she noticed was she could see the sky. The second thing she noticed was that she was alone, save for the foal next to her. Lastly, she became aware of where she was. Three charred walls were around her and the stench of unclean roads pelted her nostrils. Back Alley she thought. That was where they had been graciously deposited by whatever thugs her husband had hired. It was not a dangerous place, but it was a dark neighborhood used by shady ponies in businesses the Princess was likely aware of, but frowned upon.
The wind rustled something she hadn't seen on her first scan of her surroundings. A note fluttered in place, pinned to the cloth of the sleeping foal. Thought it was night, the moon provided ample lighting. A shimmering red aura encompassed the note and pulled it close for her to read. Although the script was not his own, Lavish could easily tell whom the words belonged to.
L.L.-
It was fun while it lasted. Our arrangement with the doctor to keep his memory uncertain was beginning to be a hindrance on my funds. Speaking of doctors, this appears to be his birth certificate attached and what an interesting name your foal has. I had some friends sever any and all of our connections so please do not show up at my abode for I have no desire to call the guards to take away a mad stranger at my doorstep. You may not have noticed yet, but I did leave a small bag of bits for you on your right. Do be careful and I wish you the best of luck.
As she finished and without taking her eyes off the note, her hoof felt the ground next to her right. A soft jingle confirmed what was in the letter. The situation was not entirely hopeless at least. The paper clipped to the back of the note unfurled and an official document for her mistake looked back at her. At the top, this thing's name was printed in big, bold letters for the world to see. Blank. Cute she thought sarcastically. The document clearly designated her as the mother while the father was labeled as unknown. A nasally yawn reminded her of the burden she now had to carry alone. The foal burrowed its way out of the bundle of cloth and snuggled close to her side, a dumb smile on its face. Lavish couldn't help but feel contempt for this abomination. It had ruined her life.
And now she found herself needing to at least keep it alive. Should a dead foal of its kind be found, an uproar would be sure to follow and inevitably she would be linked with it, ruining any chance of her having a future. Lavish looked down at the disgusting creature.
She recalled the tales of history before the land was named Equestria. Its kind were around back then, causing nothing but strife. Nopony would believe one would ever seen again. It had no wings. It had no horn. This thing that had caused a torrential downpour of misfortune to her life was called an earth pony.
