Luna got off the train at the Trottingham station. The train hissed as steam clung to the platform like a low fog. Two guards stayed by her sides as the princess exited the train car, ready to protect their monarch by any means necessary. Although Luna wore a pair of reflective sunglasses and a dark trench coat, she was still easily recognized. Ponies murmured when they say the diarch pass by, wondering what business she had in town. Luna had a regular taxi waiting for her. She remained silent as she sat down in the middle of the taxi’s pleather seat to accommodate for her guards, which sit at either side at her.
No one spoke, even to give the chauffeur directions since he had been directions when he had been assigned to this task. Luna had her head turned to the side as they passed from the business center of Trottingham into the suburbs. There was somewhere specific she needed to be.
The party remained silent as they came to a halt in front of a home which really didn’t seem to be special in anyway. It had a simple brick construction and a tan exterior paint that didn’t make it stand out much. The flowers growing in the planter boxes were the very definition of garden variety. All in all they're was nothing at first glance that would give anypony the impression that anypony strange or important lived in this home.
The tax driveri, Squeaky Wheels, wondered what was so special about this home that he had to tell no pony about their trip here. Could Princess Luna be having a secret lover? Or maybe the pony that lived her was a part of some covert operation. Eventually the thought of the extra money he was receiving made any suspicion be pushed out of his mind.
One of Luna’s guards stayed with the cab, making sure he waited for luna to finsih her business as instructed, while another came with Luna up to the doorstep. Luna pressed her hoof to the doorbell, causing the bell to sound inside. With in a moment a red earth pony with a steel grey mane opened the door.
Her eyes widen and her mouth stood agape for a moment when she saw who what on her doorstep. “Y-Your m-majesty....” She said when she was recovered enough to give a polite bow.
“Hello Katana....” Luna said as she tried to keep her face stern although she truly was anxious.
Katana seemed confused about Luna’s knowledge of her name “M-My M-majesty how..”
Luna quickly raised her hoof to silence the confused mare. “It is of no importance of how I know your name. I have come here to talk about you daugther.” she said as she removed her sunglasses with magic, and tucked her into one of the inside pockets of her trench coat.
Katana seemed to suddenly understand, and said “Perhaps you should come inside.”
That statement made Luna’s guard wary, but Luna nodded and with a polite thank you the alicorn entered the humble home. Katana offered the princess a seat in her living room in one of the best seats she had available (a puce green recliner).
As soon as she was seated Luna thanked Katana again before being offered tea by the seemingly over polite mare. “That sounds wonderful thank you.” Luna said with a bright ,but nervous, smile.
As soon as she was out of Luna’s eyesight, Katana let her countenance show how nervous she was.She tried to keep she hooves steady as she put the kettle of water on to boil. She had feared this day for fifteen years, that someone might take her only child away. Her daughter, her lovely, beautiful daughter, was special. Her daughter, Shadow Saber, was an alicorn.
Meanwhile Luna had begun to look at the living room’s decor, specifically the family photos, form which she drew an interesting observation. “Do you have a husband?” She asked to the mare in the other room, as she undid the belt of her trench coat.
“N-No.” Katana said as she let her voice quiver just a moment.
“I see,” Luna said ,noting the mares uneasiness, as Katana entered the room again. “So...how-how did shadow come into your life?”
“I-I always wanted a child....” Katana said as sat across from Luna in the matching love seat. “B-but I could never find a stallion that wanted to....partner up with me.” She shyly hung her head and let her hair fall across her face. This statement confused Luna. Katana was a very attractive mare, relatively. She didn’t seem someone that no stallion would want. “Well anyways, I tried to adopt but I was a single mother that made sharp instruments until the shop closed.” For the first time Luna’s eyes laid on the others mares cutie mark. It was of a beautiful curved sword crossed by what appeared to be it’s ornamental sheath. Luna deduced that she must have been an weaponsmith.She then turned her attentions back to the mares words. “But one stormy night somepony knocked on my door. When I opened it I only saw the tail end of a black cloak fleeing in the night. I looked down to see if they had left anything on my doorstep and there she was, my precious little Shadow sleeping like a rock.” Luna smiled a little, even though it was her in the night, forced to abandon her filly on a stranger's doorstep for the sake of pride, the thought of Shadow as a baby again brought back found, but felting memories. “There was a note with her to if I recall correctly it said. Love and take good care of my little Shadow...W-who who’s is she?”
Luna took in a deep breath before saying. “Mine,” Katana seemed surprised at this obviously requiring an explanation of how this happened. “A-apparently I had fallen pregnant withthe child of a lover I had before I was imprisoned in the moon. While I was there it would seem the pregnancy was suspended for the duration of my exile. When I was return to my original state, I was expecting once again. I became secluded from the public during that first year of my return partially due to the fact that I was pregnant with Shadow and her father was long dead...” She sighed and turned her head away. “I-I must say that I did her a great wrong. Instead of letting her grow up with me in Canterlot. I let my sister push me into giving her up. D-does she know? D-does she know that s-she was....” Luna’s voice trailed off. she was going to finish of her statement with ‘abandoned’ a word which had begun to cut her straight to the heart. She ending up just trying to not let her eyes well up with tears, as the words choked in her throat.
“I-I think she’s always known.” Katana said. Perversely, she was able to relax when seeing the alicorn’s sadness and regret. Perhaps it’s because she felt able to let some of her emotions out. “She only actually confronted me a few months ago.”
“W-what did you tell her.” Luna asked as she raised her head to look into Katana’s eyes.
“The truth,” Katana said simply and calmly before continuing . “I told her That I didn’t know who her birth mother was and that she would always be my daughter.”
“I-I want to tell her....” Luna said as she turned away again, not wanting to look Katana in the eye. “I-I want her to tell her who she really is...I want to show her that I could be the kind of mother that...that.. well the kind of mother like you, Katana...”
“L-like me?” Katana stammered as a flatter blush spread across her face.
“Yes.” Luna said with an affirming nod. “I-I abandoned Shadow. Y-You were always-always they're for her... I-I don’t want to take her away from you, but I don’t want her to live in spite of me either...”
“So you want her to bring her to Canterlot so she can see the life she was born into.” Katana said as she gave a comforting smile to the princess. “I understand, and I think Shadow will too.” She had actually always regretted that she couldn’t provide the young alicorn much. She often found herself being frugal out of habit even when she was able to find a odd job and money was a little less tight for their small family. It took countless weeks of begging on Shadow’s part for Katana to opt for getting shadow contact lenses instead of bifocals to treat her astigmatism.
Suddenly the sound of an opening door came form the main entrance hall caused both mares to stand from their seats. “Mom there royal guards outside. What's going-” The youthful voice of Shadow paused for a moment when she say Luna standing in her living room “on....”
All Luna could do was smile as she saw the young mare, the filly she had brought into this world over fifteen years ago stood in front of her. Shadow was a spry looking youth with to well preened wings at her side, and a needle like horn on her head. Her park purple fur matched her birth mothers tone for tone. Her slik black and dark blue mane was done in a long pony tail which she slung over her shoulder.Her tail was also done in the same style but was cut short so that it didn’t drag across the ground. She had bangs that were short enough not to conestly drape into her eyes, but long enough that she felt she could hide behind them if she was feeling extremely shy.
“Shadow honey,” Katana said, suddenly filling with glee. “This is Princess Luna,”
“H-how do you do.” Shadow said as she blushed nervously She spread out her wings while low bow. “N-No one at school will even believe this.” Shadow said under her breath.
Luna forced all of her royal willpower into keeping a calm facade. “I see that your mother has taught you manners.”
“That she has.” Shadow said as she slowly raised herself from the bow. Her head was about at the level of Luna’s neck. She gulped shyly and turned to Katana with a deep red blush.
The room fell into awkward silence as the two alicorns began to consider what to say to one another. Shadow had been always curious about Alicorns. During one summer Shadow dragged her mother to the library, everyday for a whole week so that she could learn all she could about early equestrian history and the reign of Luna and Celestia. She had so many questions she wanted to ask Princess Luna but found herself in awe at the sheer presence of her that she could only glance up at her for a moment, shyly.
Fountenly Katana was able to break the silence by saying. “I better go check on the tea. I believe there was something you needed to talk to Shadow, right your majesty?”
“Yes yes of course...” Luna murmured as she broke her stair away from her daughter's eyes.
Shadow blushed suddenly and turned her face away, She wants to talk to me? She used on of her hoofs to stroke her sheeny ponytail. She tried to shyly hide her embarrassed blush by hiding her face in her chest fur and bangs
As Katana left Luna gave a sigh and looked back at her daughter. How do I tell her...? She thinks. She then takes in a deep breath before saying “H-have you wondered who your birth mother is?”
Shadow nodded and keeping her face away from Luna’s,So-so nervous....
“Have you ever considered that you might be royal?” Luna said nervously as she hoped with all her heart Shadow might accept her.
Shadow’s eyes lit up as she looked into Luna’s face. Her two friends and her had always joked about her being a princess but she never considered it much of a possibility. “A-are you saying...”
“Yes Shadow...” Luna said softly as she began to step closer to the young alicorn. “I-I am your mother.”
Shadow looked down again and softly said. “T-this is impossible...”
“Come with me to Canterlot.” Luna said as she gently lifted her daughters muzzle to look into her eyes. “I-I can be the mother I never was...”
“I-I-I” Shadow stammered and seemed unsure. She looked towards the kitchen entrance where Katana was standing with a tea tray balanced in her mouth. “C-Can my mother m-mom, I-I mean Katana, come with us?”
“I suppose if she wants...” Luna said as she turned towards Katana as well. Unsure how her presence would affect the way she was going to bond with her daughter.
Katana smiled but, when she set the tea set down on the flimsy looking coffee table, she said. “I think that you two should spend some time alone. After all it’s been years scene you two have been together.” Shadow bit her lip and hung her head a little. Katana noticed this and came over to Shadow and nuzzle the young mare she was allowed to raise. “Hey, you remember that I said you’d always be my daughter right?” Shadow nodded and nuzzled into the surrogates shoulder, fearing that if she spoke now her voice will crack. “I meant that, now your go to canterlot and your spend some time with your birth mother.”
Tears welled up in all the ponies eyes as Shadow nuzzled back her mother intensely and said. “I-I love you mommy...”
Luna turned away a little, as new wave of guilt washed over her as she saw how much. affection Shadow had for Katana. “H-How long should it take you to pack your things?” Luna asked as she begun to do up her coat again.
Shadow sniffled a little as she broke away. “I-I dunno maybe forty-five minutes?”
Luna then smiled softly and gave a nod. “I’ll tell the driver will be ready to leave in a hour or so then.”
And with that comment Shadow also gave a smile still dazed at how surreal this all was. this was a whole new life. This was stepping out into a brave new world.
