Everything belongs to Hasbro and Shinzakura and his wonderful story All American Girl
for the All American Girl June contest
Twilight Sparkle, Duchess Shetland , Bearer of the Element of Magic, Archmage of the realm of Equestria, Protege of Sol Invictus Princess Celestia and a dozen other lesser titles, was content. Not for the titles, not for the power No, she was content in the fact that whatever tragedies had occurred, she had been blessed with something she believed to be beyond any magic or science between the two worlds. She had been given a daughter to raise and care for and love.
Twilight Sparkle was a self-admitted social basket case outside of her family. Twilight Velvet and Nightlight, her deceased mother and father, had always been supportive of her studies. Her early admittance to Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns was a big boost to House Sparkle, so boys and the drama of fillyhood were mitigated by freak-outs about homework assignments and library hours.
The eldest son of the Sparkle clan was Twilight’s polar opposite. Even as a young colt, Shining Armor was a social butterfly. He had friends from across the whole spectrum of Canterlot, from the sons and daughters of other minor and a few major noble houses to the grounds keeper at the local park. The Sparkle house was filled on a regular basis with members of the hoofball team, the R.G.O.C.C. (Royal Guard Officer Cadet Corps), the Astronomy club... Twily often hid on the stairs to eavesdrop when they came. Shining Armor was an Alpha stallion in every sense of the word, and the one role he took with the most passion, the most importance, was big brother.
“B.B.B.F.F. and his friends were Twilight’s social life up until she moved to Ponyville.
The tales of the Elements of Harmony were now part of the canon that made up Equestrian culture, and the bearers themselves now trotted within the power centers of two worlds. The journey to the present had come from a seed that a big brother had planted long ago: that he would always have time for his little sister, and family would come first.
As time had passed, the circle of friends had expanded from “plus ones’, then colt friends, proceeding to fiancés, and finally, husbands and children. Family first and always.
Twilight’s dedication to family was so strong, she had ripped the multiverse apart to find Rarity’s firstborn and her missing niece, Sandalwood, A.K.A. DJ. It had been over 35 years ago when Sandalwood/ DJ had been foalnapped, caught in a magic storm and catapulted across the multiverse, arriving on “Human earth” as a 4 week old infant filly.
DJ had been found and raised by Matt Martinez and his wife. When the little filly had arrived on human earth, they had raised her as a human child. A bit pony shaped, but human, with a human mindset.
Twilight had taken 15 years to find DJ. She would have taken 1500 more years of searching for Rarity if necessary, because family came first.
Shining Dawn was unusual for a filly of two years old. She was taller than her mother. She had a fine charcoal colored coat of fur, a contrast which complimented the Clover starburst cutie mark on her flanks and graceful spiral horn that grew from her brow. Shining Dawn looked to be a normal teenaged unicorn filly, if you overlooked the saddle of purple chitin with insect wings growing out of her back. Yes, she was very unusual indeed. She was a hybrid of a unicorn and a changeling, or a “pepsis”, as Queen Chrysalis had dubbed them. They were to be her ultimate warriors that would bring Equestria to its knees.
"Where are we going, mother?" the pepsis asked, Is this where you live?, Is this where I’ll live? Why are there two bathrooms?”as she stole glances at the hallways of Canterlot Castle. The ultimate warrior overwhelmed by the painting in the hallway and the fire evacuation diagram.
Like mother, like daughter, thought Twilight, revelling in the near constant barrage of questions.
The team from John Hopkins Equiniatric Medical had arrived 24 hours after the attack that had mostly leveled Ponyville General. Twilight had recovered from the bio weapon that Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis had set off, which had killed hundreds and nearly destroyed half the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. The human medical team had found her and her daughter free of the affliction, and this had been confirmed by the pony medical staff. Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity were also showing signs of rapid recovery, but were going to be kept in quarantine a little while longer till the medical teams were sure they could give them a clean bill of health.
The moment Twilight was told both her and her daughter had cleared the quarantine shield, she called over a human soldier whom was was on guard duty for the medical team. Twilight began rattling off a long list of things she wanted done. yesterday! The marine PFC made a noble effort trying to keep up with the archmages constant instructions and request ,trying to list what the unicorn required. At the same time he attempted to relay through his squad radio. What the equine equivalent of a General officer needed to tell the president. He was a little uncomfortable.
Relief came in a short burst of static “ Kilo one two this is palace guard six advise the alpha mike she is cleared for the south gate escort is standing by over.”
The young Marine blew out a sigh of relief, “roger palace guard six this is kilo one two out.”
“well ma'am they are expecting you at the castle’s south gate. Do you need me to get a car, or err.. a Chariot or something?
Twilight gave him a warm smile “ Thank you for all your help private,I will be recommending a commendation for your work today. “ she turned toward her daughter “Shining Dawn dear, come over here I need you close to me for the teleport.”
Shining walked up to her mother’s side and placed her head across Twilight withers, the unicorn smiled, lite her horn and they disappeared in a flash of magenta light.
Swiftwing a pegasus with the Royal Equestrian Army stood with his human partner as part of the new SOP human and Equestrian forces would be working combine operations whenever possible the current crisis had shown that combined forces had better results than strictly one species units. Human earth forces were already used to dealing with different countries and cultures and the technological advances they had brought to the equstians were a three hundred year jump. Magic on the other hand had styimed the humans. War games had shown that the ponies were not push overs and magic was just as much a force multiplier as air support and the ponies could do both at the same time.
“So Sergeant Swiftwing how did you get pulled for PSD?” asked corporal Degraffe.
“ I have worked the Palace detail before first contact, to be chosen to work with the Archmage is a great honor. She is a living hero of equstria .” countered Swiftwing.
“Wow,no shit?” Cpl Degraffe blurted out
Swiftwing sighed,’ What is it with these humans and profanity’ “The archmage is also Royality so I will ask you to keep your language clean and respectful during this assignment.”
Corporal degraffe winced at the rebuke “Sorry, soldier mouth is a hard habit to break.”
“Just keep it professional Cpl. now since you asked me why did you get this assingment?”
“oh that's easy, I’m one of the few girls assigned to the new unit so I guess it my job to watch her when she has to go to the bathroom.” she finished with a snort.
Swiftwings rebuttal was cut short by a flash of magic.
“Your Grace SGT Swiftwing and Cpl Degraffe we will be your escort for the day per her Highness’s orders.” said Swiftwing Introducing himself and killing any debate about the need to have extra security. The sgt tilted his head “ I was not told a member of the Flutter delegation would be accompanying you?”
Twlight’s eyes widened “Queen Imago is here?”
“Yes your grace, she is being escorted by Colonel Pipsqueak” replied Swiftwing
Maggie would be the best person to talk to about her new daughter,and Cadance she would have to speak to Cadance as soon as she could. The guards thought her daughter was from was from Dream Valley. ….No. she had a daughter and she was not going to hide it.
“Shining Dawn is my daughter, before you ask its complicated but those are the facts, she is with me and I expect you to act accordingly.” she said with a finality.
Swift wing had more than enough experience not to question that tone in the archmages voice “ Yes your grace, this way please ,we will show your to your office per your instructions.”
Progress through the hallway was slow because Shining Dawn was staring google eyed at every little detail, even stopping to smell each and every flower arrangement in the many vases that lined the hall. and the questions a non stop flood of questions.
“Is this where you live? Is this where I’m going to live? How many vases are in the palace? Why are those two guards following us?”
Twilight smiled, ‘Like mother like daughter’
"We're going to my office, dear. I have a lot to catch up on. The quarantine and took me out of what was going on, and while I have been idle, Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis have been very busy."
"And now we are going to take the fight them!" Shining Dawn finished.
Twilight giggled. Oh Shiny, she has your spirit.
"Yes dear, and I will need you to tell me anything you know about what both Nightmare moon and Chrysalis are planning and who they are working with on human earth."
Shining Dawn went from happy to hurt puppy in a second. "I...I .. Blood armor made me hurt people, kill others. my own brothers and sisters were starved and murdered before my eyes.. Ghino di Tacco " the young hybrid began to shudder.
Twilight wrapped her daughter in a hug, making note of the term ‘people’ and the names in her daughters confession. "I love you! You are my daughter! No pony is ever going to take you away from me! You were forced to do bad things. I understand, you can tell it all to me.”
The tears in Twilight's eyes began to leak down her cheeks. “You can help end this terrible war. I love you. remember,no matter what you did in the past, I am your mother and I will be there for you." Shining relaxed into her mother's embrace, sobbing, two mares sharing a moment in the middle of a hallway.
"Your Grace?" a pegasus guard, part of the now constant security detail, interrupted the moment of family bonding. The female human Marine from the newly formed CSAU unit in battle rattle complete with M-4 and body armor glared at her pony counterpart.
Twilight composed herself. "Thank you, you’re right. [this should be conducted within the safety of my chambers."
Shining Dawn reluctantly broke the much needed hug and tried to appear stoic. She had to be brave and strong. Faust and Screwball had said it would be her job to protect Twilight from the coming danger. Shining Dawn relaxed as she felt the whispers of the hive mind. other changelings! They were close, very close, four soldier caste drones, three doors up on the right side with orders to.....
NO!
"Wait here, mother," commanded Shining Dawn.homing in on the thoughts of the hidden assassins, she teleported in a flash of magenta fire.
Shining Dawn reappeared in the office of the archmage and immediately blasted an] ornately carved chest. The chest did not explode into wood splinters, but burst into green spell fire that knocked the changeling out of his disguise and across the room. "You and your brothers return to the hive, or I will kill you where you stand!" she shouted across the hive link at the drones. A lamp, a chest of drawers, an ottoman and a bookshelf wrapped themselves in fire and four changeling drones began to circle the intruder.
"We are of the hive. You are of the hive. Why do you interfere with the mission?" the four said in unison across the link.
“I am Shining Dawn, daughter of Twilight Sparkle, and you will not harm her or her kin! I am a pony, and you have received your last warning. Leave now!" Shining took up a combat stance and flared her wings in open challenge. The changelings bared their fangs and flared their wings. Challenge accepted, thought Shining. The four changelings lunged at her at once.
Shining Dawn smiled. "You’re safe now, mother,” she said.
Twilight looked at her pepsis daughter with an eyebrow raised. "Where did you go? You just stopped in your tracks, said "wait here”, and teleported.
Shining Dawn sighed. "There were changelings hiding in your office. I eliminated the threat." Twilight opened the door to her office and was greeted with a sight out of one of those human horror films DJ made her watch. Blood and green ichor stained the walls and ceiling of the archmage’s office. If there were changelings now, they were in the form of scattered parts painting her once pristine office. The pepsis smiled with a child's enthusiasm.
"Did I do good, mommy?"
Author's Note
Edited and revised thank you to all the Proofreaders and editors. Your gentle touch and encoragement made this first time a joy than you all.
so tell me about yourself
An alternative office was found while the castle staff cleaned up the crime scene that was the office of the archmage.
The room was tastefully opulent as any in Canterlot castle. Which is why the occupants were lying on the floor on beat up and worn cushions. Between them a plate of half eaten snacks a half empty tea pot, eight empty twenty ounce bottles of coke, two I-pad tablets and ream of paper strewn about the room. Twilight was going to learn everything about her new daughter.
"So Shining, tell me about yourself." said Twilight.
Shining Dawn thought to herself she was born a tool, one of dozens of eggs but unlike most changelings she had emerged from her egg an adult filled with knowledge of war, deception and harsh discipline. She knew what she was, but no idea who she was. Shining Dawn had no memory of a childhood
" I.. " she stuttered
The singular idea of an individual was still a foreign concept, she was half insect. She began, as best she could, but sounded more like an A.I..than a pony.
" I became aware a few moment before I hatched, It was dark and I knew I had to free myself. tthe others called to me in my mind. "break free" they told me as I burst from my cocoon. I was met with acceptance for a short time, than my queen looked into me and deemed me a failure.. My brother, Blood Armor offered to end me."
Twilight was appalled! " End you ?, as in kill you, for what reason?"
"He said I was defective. I had to much of you and him in me." the dejected pepsis mumbled.
Twilight was torn, she wanted to just soothe her daughter's many scars, but with all the information she was inadvertently dropping , Twilight the archmage and Knight Elemental of Equstria needed that information just as much as Twilight, the mother, wanted all the hurt to disappear. "Shining, you want to be more like a pony right?"
The pepsis nodded her head. "I want to be more like you and my father Shining Armor. I have some of his memories not like a day for day journal but glimpses and feelings of thing and ponies. Like when we arrived here at the castle, I thought I should be scared of the soldiers. I still look mostly like a changeling .she sighed, When Sgt Swiftwing stepped forward. I got this feeling that he was a good pony and he would never hurt me.. even when he called me a "blunt horned prancy who couldn't buck his way out of a paper bag. Whoa! where did that come from?" Shining Dawn's head shot up with a puzzled look on her face.
Twilight tilted her head her jaw dropping. Sgt Swiftwing was one of the most seasoned drill instructors in the royal guard he had been part of the cadre that Shining Armor had trained under Her daughter had a memory from her brothers experience. Twilight had a eureka moment.
"This groundbreaking Shining!" Twilight squealed in delight." Almost all genetic research has been banned in Equsteria due to a series of eugenic experiments done hundreds of years ago."
Strangely enough Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony were the current generation of that legacy
Our friends on human earth have been moving forward under very strict controls.
They have made leaps and bounds in genetic research such as gene therapy for diseases and cloning organs and bones for transplant. Genetic memory has only been a theory and believed to be nothing more then a left over gene string that could be traced to a start point.
Do you have others? Do you remember our parents? What Impressions do you have of Cadance? The adorkable researcher had a fire burning now, one she had not felt in a long time. She was in full "egghead mode" as Rainbow Dash would call it.
" That memory appeared to come from a strong emotional response." Twlight's horn lit up, "Let me get a photo album and see what other impressions you have?"
Twilight and Shining Dawn meticulously went over the Sparkle family album mixing explanation with revelation,Shining had strong reactions to a number of the family photos. Shining dawn recognized Twilight deceased parents but most of the general memories like pictures of birthdays,and holidays did little to expand the nature of changeling genetic memory.
"And this was the day Shiny was promoted to lieutenant, any impressions? Twilight asked.
Shining Dawn was studying the album like a textbook before a final exam. Her early training as a soldier of the hive had instilled the need to look at details. They were essential for a successful infiltration. Her focus was more on how to be more like her pony heritage. "Do all pony families have a mother and father, and we’re they brother and sister like you and my father? "
One of the greatest minds of Equstria went completely blank. "What? er yes....no. not like that!" twilight gasped.
Shining flattened her ears sensing her mother's distress. "I'm sorry" she turned her head down and away from her mothers perplexed gaze.
Twilight quickly recovered "No, sweetie it's just that.. that was a big question. " she began," Most pony families consist of a male and female pairing, although in the past ponies formed extended family herds which consisted of a stallion and several mares, but that practice went out of centuries ago. Same sex couple are more common now and inter-species couples of ponies with zebras,donkeys and griffons are rare, but not unheard of. When we made contact with human earth.Your cousin DJ didn't even know of our existence .She believed herself to be alone on human earth. Now pony- human couples are now becoming more prevalent. Your cousin DJ, who was raised on earth is married to a human male, as is my good friend Lyra who is the Ambassador to human earth. Siblings are not suppose to marry or engage in sex. It's not unlawful in Equesteria, it's just considered immoral behavior. Some of the noble houses, well, there are nasty rumors of incestuous relations to keep the bloodline pure, to breed an heir to the title, but nothing has been proven. Yes. I am your mother and will always love you, and you have both my brothers, and my DNA in you, but were not a "traditional" family in the current understands of blood relations. I did not give birth to you... that makes you ,extra special, because you are my adopted daughter, which means, I love you even more because we chose to be family." Twilight finished her lecture with a gentle smile.
“Ok, i think i understand. said Shining Dawn, “ The hive is all one family with just the queen mother as the only one who can lay eggs. I know that humans and ponies have sex to produce offspring, My brother and the human Chrysalis made me work for had sex with me, but there was no emotional attachment .I get more love energy from smile mother than anything I ever did with them.”
Twilight strained at keeping her best Celestia poker face. Inside she wanted to core a mountain like an apple. This beautiful soul still full of so much innocence after what she had been through.
“Wow ,your grandmother and grandfather at least waited till I was nine before a had the sex talk” sighed twilight.
“Why?” asked asked shining.
Twilight was saved by a knock on the door, “Come in” she sighed with relief.
“Your grace, Princess Cadance request that you and your daughter join her in her private chambers.” said Sgt.Swiftwing.
Thank celestia thought twilight, maybe Cadence can help me be more objective. “Thank you sergeant, we will be right with you.” Twilight then spoke to shining dawn, “ Shiny we are going over to talk to Princess Cadance. She was Shining Armour's wife, that makes her my sister in law and your aunt. It will be very emotional for her. If it gets to be too much for you ,let me know I know you can feel others emotions, and it may be very intense considering the relation between her and my brother. “
“I’ll do my best mother.” said Shining dawn as she rose from her cushion.
‘I know you will sweetie, I know you will.” replied Twilight.
