The Forgotten Family

"You died." Mythic said. The brother Rarity had just spent the past week trying to find had just confessed to killing his sister. There was total silence in the room as everypony present was shocked into silence.

The silence was broken as a guard limped into the room shaking. "We tried to stop him, your highness. He was just too strong." the guard said falling to the floor.

"MYTHIC!" Shining Armor's authoritative voice caused Rarity and Twilight to jump. "What have you done?" Mythic smiled.

"Sorry, Captain. Your soldiers just wouldn't let me in. Something about a princess meeting they said. Besides they needed a little training, sir." Mythic said.

"Mythic..." Shining Armor began, "You can't just come beat up my guards because you feel like it."

Mythic snapped off a serious salute. "Sorry, Captain. Won't happen again, sir." He said in a militaristic fashion.

Twilight spoke then, her voice full of anger. "Mythic," she said "how dare you." Mythic looked at her as if seeing her for the first time.

"Excuse me?", he asked. "How dare I, what? Accuse that mare," he pointed a hoof at Rarity. "of being an imposter? I know I killed my little sister. My parents may have been awful, but they would not have lied to me about that..." he stopped as he realized something. "Why are you crying?" He asked Rarity.

Rarity was sitting in the floor, tears streaming down her face. "Mythic..." Her voice was quiet and cracked slightly when she spoke. "I'm your little sister. I don't know if I can prove it... but I am."

Mythic considered her for a moment before stepping closer. He was the largest unicorn Rarity had ever seen, and he was the second largest being in the room. His eyes seemed to look right through her. "Changelings." was all he said.

Shining Armor and Twilight both stepped in front of him then, everypony else too shocked to move. Shining Armor spoke first. "She helped us fight off the changelings. Besides, she's been around for a long time."

"It's true," Twilight said. "She wielded the Element of Generosity, against Nightmare Moon, a few years ago." Princess Luna winced slightly at her old name before nodding.

"It's true." said the midnight blue alicorn. "She has been our friend for a long time now because of it." Mythic looked at all of the ponies in the room, his eyes finally resting on Princess Celestia.

"What do you have to say?" His voice lacking any of the respect Princess Celestia was accustomed to.

Princess Celestia smiled as she walked to stand directly in front of Mythic. She stopped just in front of him before studying his eyes. "I believe," she said. "that you don't want this to be your sister. You already went through the pain of losing her once, so you don't want to have to go through it again." The look on Princess Celestia's face lost some of it's intensity as her expression warmed. "This is your sister, Rarity, Mythic. Trust me."

Mythic nodded before looking at Rarity, his expression changed to one of remorse. "I'm sorry." he said. "I knew our parents were awful, but I didn't know they would..." he trailed off again. Suddenly he slammed a hoof on the floor. "I'm so stupid!" he yelled.

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Whatever for?" she asked.

He looked back at her. "Our parents. They've been trying to find me for a long time now. I've always avoided them but, now it makes sense. Think Rarity, why would they go to the trouble of hiding my existence from you, and your existence from me, just to tell you eleven years later? Then they ran off in the middle of the night and never explained why!"

Rarity was shocked. She had no idea how he knew all of this. "What?" was all she could say.

Mythic grunted in frustration, realizing he was the only pony in the room who knew what he was getting at. "I found out they left in the middle of the night, with no plans... I have contacts watching them," he explained "So I went to Manehatten. Then I started following you when I realized you were looking for me." Rarity nodded catching on. He knew everything that had transpired because he had been following them since Manehatten.

"That was you on the train?" Twilight asked. Mythic nodded. "You saved us? You thought we were fakes!"

Mythic rolled his eyes. "Yes, but I wanted to learn who you were working for. I honestly didn't think you were really my sister." He stopped short looking at Rarity. Everything was still and silent for one moment. After that moment was up, Rarity felt as if her bones were being crushed. Her brothers forelegs wrapped around her middle as he lifted her into the air. "You're really my sister." he said quietly. "I've missed you so much. I thought I killed you I'm so sorry." He was crying by this point but, he did release her. "Sorry." he said. "I just... I'm glad you're alive..." he smiled mischievously. "and dating royalty? Good for you." he said.

Rarity and Twilight both began blushing. "I still don't understand though, whatever is the matter?" Rarity asked.

Mythic wiped away his tears as his calm expression returned. "The matter, dear sister, is that our parents wanted to find me, when they couldn't they told you about me, then they must have fed you some of your old memories, enough to find me anyways. Then they couldn't risk facing Captain Armor," he motioned towards Shining Armor. "so they told you the roadblock they ran into."

Rarity slowly put the pieces together. "I still don't understand. Why is this a bad thing?" she asked.

Mythic shook his head and pointed towards the door he had come in. "Because that cult? The ones who have been trying to turn me into the next King Sombra? Our parent were the founding members." As Mythic spoke two cloaked figures walked into the doorway.

Rarity shivered as she realized what had happened. Her parents were the cultists. They had tried to force Mythic to do their bidding and he had refused. When he ran away, taking Rarity with him, they had followed and attacked him. After the incident at the hotel, they had wiped her memories of her brother and told him that when he pushed her out the window he had killed her. Then they tried to find him again later, and were unsuccessful. Believing his sister was dead, he must have seen no reason to return.

When her parents could not find him again, they decided to use Rarity as bait. They had all fallen for it, and she realized this as the two figures in the doorway removed their hoods revealing, "Mother, Father. Still not dead?" Mythic asked, his tone the same as if commenting on the weather.

Mythic stepped between the two unicorns and his friends. "Not quite there yet, son." Their father said.

Mythic smirked. "I can arrange that." The malice in his voice sent a chill up Rarity's spine. Her brother had just threatened their father, and she was sure he would deliver.

"How ungrateful are you?" Their mother chimed in. "All of you children, you're useless." Rarity wanted to cry again. This can't be happening she thought. these are not my parents. "Seriously," she said, gaining the attention of the room. "We have one child that's a walking disaster, one that won't obey, and now one that's apparently a filly-fooler. We must be cursed as parents."

Pure rage. That was the best way to describe how everypony in the room felt. "How dare you!" Everypony was shocked that it was Princess Celestia yelling angrily. "First, your youngest daughter is by far one of the kindest ponies I have ever met." Had Sweetie ever met Celestia Rarity thought to herself. "Second your son is probably the finest soldier in Equestria" she was advancing on the short, plump ponies as she spoke. "And last of all, how dare you insult love, in any form. I've never, never tolerated anypony insulting the way my little ponies love each other." Celestia was now standing before the two cultists towering over them. "Now, you have a choice to make. You can flee now or you can surrender. If you flee, we will find you, and we will arrest you."

The two ponies stood their ground, despite how livid the princess was. They ignored her and looked back to Mythic. "How did you figure us out?" His mother asked.

Mythic scowled. "I only told three ponies where I was going, and I don't think Octavia would betray me. Especially when she knew that Rarity would be with me."

Mythic began to glow, and an unnatural wind began to blow around his body sending his mane billowing around him. Rarity recognized this show of power, she had only ever seen Twilight do it alone. She had also seen the combined power of Cadence and Shining Armor create a similar effect.

Mythic smirked. "I knew you guys were behind it, and I still didn't want to believe it. I was going to disappear and leave you be, but now?" The wind picked up as his power grew more intense. "Now, I'm going to hunt down your little club, and I'm going to bury it. You've put my little sister in harm's way one too many times."

Their parents faces looked passive, not even a hint of fear showing. Princess Luna began to speak. "You should surrender now." she said. "You can't possibly hope to defeat the seven of us."

The cultists (Rarity could not think of them as anything else anymore) looked to one another, nodded, and disappeared in a flash of light. Rarity wished she could teleport as she fell to the floor. Twilight was at her side immediately, holding her closely.

Mythic's aura dispersed as he stared at the spot where the cultists stood. "Monsters." he said. Everypony in the room, aside from Rarity, nodded their assent.

Rarity could not contain herself any longer. Her parents may have been distant all her life, but they had never showed such contempt for their own children. She began to cry quietly into the soft fur of her marefriend. Twilight cooed sweetly to her as she cried, nopony in the room wanting to intervene. After all none of them knew what to say to make her feel better.

After Twilight was able to calm Rarity, everypony gathered together in the center of the room. "So," Cadence said. "what are we going to do about this?"

Mythic snapped his head up. "I'll deal with it." he said. "They're my parents, my problem."

"You'll need help." Celestia said. "You've been their goal for years, you can't go alone."

"Agreed, I'll go too." Shining Armor said. Cadence shot him a look. "I'm sorry, but he needs me." Shining explained to his wife. "After all, I think he'd do the same for me." Cadence sighed, then nodded silently.

"I would." Mythic said.

"I'm going too." Rarity said causing everypony to look at her. "I've come this far, I'm not about to lose my brother to my parents."

"What about Sweetie Belle?" Twilight asked.

"Who?" Mythic asked.

"Your other little sister." Twilight said.

"I have another little sister?" Mythic smiled.

Rarity nodded at him as Luna spoke. "We have been keeping an eye on her... aside from needing a friend, she is alright. We can continue to keep an eye on her if you'd like."

Rarity nodded. "Thank you, Your Majesty." she said.

"If you're going, I'm going." Twilight said smiling at her.

"Sibling outing, huh?" Shining Armor said. The other ponies laughing slightly at his joke.

"I'll go too." Cadence said. Princess Celestia shook her head.

"Somepony needs to be here for the crystal ponies." Celestia said. Cadence huffed slightly but nodded at the other princess.

"What do we know?" Shining asked Mythic.

"I know their order is called Mythlisombratic, I know where a couple of their officers are, and I know who their leaders are." Mythic replied, not even attempting to hide his distaste at the mention of his parents.

"That's all?" Luna asked. Mythic just sighed and nodded. "Well, I believe you should at least wait until tomorrow to head out, maybe make a plan tonight, then leave tomorrow morning."

"One more thing," Rarity said. "in my dream, the message," she looked at Mythic. "that was from you wasn't it?"

Mythic nodded. "I thought even if you were an imposter, if you were one of the legendary seven, it would be beneficial to see what you were capable of." Rarity nodded.

"I wish I could help." Celestia said, sounding uncharacteristically somber. "The crown is a heavy burden in such trying times."

"If you need any help feel free to ask us." Luna said.

"Well, Twilight," Cadence said, a mischievous smile on her lips. "Do you and Rarity need one room, or two?" she asked.

They laughed as Twilight and Rarity blushed brightly. "One." Twilight mumbled, causing everypony to laugh louder.

Mythic suddenly approached the lavender alicorn, stooping to be eye-level with her. After a moment of studying her nervous face he smiled. "I can think of worse ponies for my sister." he said with a light chuckle.

"I have a question." Twilight said. "Octavia said you picked her accent in your years together, but you sound like anypony else. Why is that?"

Shining laughed. "The Royal Guard will kinda beat that out of a pony." he said.

"Alright everypony," Celestia said. "Maybe it's time to retire for the night?"

Mythic shared a look with Shining. "Actually I think me and Capt- I mean Prince Shining Armor, should stay up a bit and make a game plan." Shining Armor nodded his agreement.

"Well, I think I should get ready for the evening court." Cadence said walking to the doors. "Don't leave tomorrow before I get to tell you goodbye." she called over her shoulder, knowing she wouldn't have to worry about it.

"We should return to Canterlot." Princess Luna said. "We wish you luck, and we'll keep a close eye on young Sweetie Belle." Rarity nodded her thanks at the princess as she walked out the doors.

"I should probably return too." Celestia said wrapping her wing over both Twilight and Rarity. "I'm happy for both of you." she said before walking out the door.

"We should go to bed," Twilight said to Rarity. "If I know Shining Armor as well as I think I do, he'll want to head out early."

"Goodnight you two." Shining Armor called to them as they walked away.

Rarity paused in the doorway. "Mythic?" she called.

Mythic looked at her and smiled. "We'll catch up tomorrow I promise." he said.

Rarity smiled and nodded. She turned around and began to follow her marefriend to their bed. She had the feeling that even though there was still work to be done on their adventure, she had reached some form of closure. She leaned into Twilight as she walked. "We finally found Mythic." she said.

Twilight giggled cutely. "Yes, we did." she said.

"Thank you." Rarity whispered. Twilight's only response was a kiss on Rarity's lips.

It was just a quick peck on the lips but, Rarity thought it was the best kiss she had shared with her. She would definitely sleep well tonight.

"Thank you." Rarity said one last time as they entered their room, Twilight seeming to know which one was theirs without being told.

As Rarity snuggled under Twilight's wing she felt a lot of things, but the most important things were the ones that lulled her to sleep. She may have lost two parents on their journey but, she had gained an amazing marefriend and a great big brother.