The whistle of the wind and her own blood roaring in her ears were Thunder's only companions as she flew, when she had first heard Discord's words she felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She had watched to scream at them bright flashes of anger mixing with her wild panic, she barely even realized that she had taken off until she was already leaving Ponyville behind heading deep into the Everfree Forest. The urge to run pounding through her with every beat of her heart but her wings were beginning to tire cause they were still not very strong. Thunder landed on the forest floor and looked around, she doubted anyone would find her in here. She had been told stories of the dangers in this forest from cockatrice, an odd snake-like creature with a chicken head who could turn you to stone with a glance to timberwolves, enchanted creatures who were made of wood and leaves that hunted in packs like actual wolves.

Thunder sighed closing her eyes as her panic beginning to ebb but her thoughts were still swirling through her mind like a hurricane. "Why didn't they tell us up front?" an angry voice whispered in her ear, sounding a little bit like Rainbow Dash, "We spent all this time with them and yet they didn't seem even inclined to MENTION it?" the voice was nearly roaring in outrage a suddenly blast of dark magic took a chunk out of one of the Everfall trees, causing Thunder to jump, trying to get control of her temper taking deep breaths. "Discord wanted too..." a gentle second voice replied timidly, sounding a bit like Flutterfly "They were probably just afraid... it's not like they were trying to keep it from us, they were very kind to us, Luna helped us when we were having trouble sleeping and Discord DID come to spend some time with us and we did have a good time..." the second voice timidly tried to reason. "But they didn't want to tell us, we heard her, Princess Luna-um...whoever she is, didn't want to tell us, who knows how long she would've kept it a secret?!?" the angry voice returned with a vengeance pushing the timid voice aside with ease. Thunder pressed her ears to her head in frustration listening to her thoughts go from angry to understanding and back again, tears burned in her eyes it was hard to know if they were angry tears or upset tears but they burned like fire behind her closed lids.

"Are you alright?" Thunder jumped in surprise hearing a strange voice looking up to see Zecora a zebra with five rings on her right foreleg and a similar set of ring around her neck and a grey stylized sun on her flank as her cutie mark. Thunder had heard of her in passing from Twilight and a few other ponies around town she was known for her wisdom and unusual remedies.

"Oh...uh no it's alright ma'am" Thunder mumbled quickly wiping her eyes as she sat up "Just a lot going on..." she looked away chewing at her lip secretly wanting some sort of comfort but then noticing for the first time that she had torn her costume she hoped that she could fix it before Rarity found out.

"It's okay to say you have a weak spot, not every pony can be strong all the time, come on back to my house and we'll talk about it" Zecora smiled gesturing for Thunder follow, waiting until the dark blue mare started walking until she lead the way to her tree home, opening the door and allowing Thunder to walk inside before following her inside closing the door behind her.

"...and then I just flew away, I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help it I didn't think I know, but I don't know WHAT to think, I mean I like them both but I don't know what to do..." Thunder sipped from a cup of tea that Zecora had made for her as she told her problem.

Zecora had listened in patient silence as Thunder led her through her emotional rollercoaster, explaining how she met the other element bearers, their fight with Charlie the dragon all the way to hearing Discord spill the secret which had led her to Zecora, the only time she openly smiled was when she talked about her little adoptive sister Red Comet, who from Thunder's words, seemed like a bright little filly.

"Well maybe you should give them a chance to explain their side of the story, I'm sure they didn't mean any harm, they were probably just trying to protect you" Zecora said thoughtfully as finished her story. "They probably wanted to get to know you a little better and you them before telling you so that it wouldn't come as to much of a shock" the zebra advised straightening a little as she studied the conflicted Pegasus. "They obviously want to have some sort of bond with you or they wouldn't have bothered to see you at all, just remember you aren't the only one that nervous about this, you might have to get to know your parents but they have to get to know their foal too" she gave Thunder a small kind smile.

"Well...I suppose hearing their side of the story would be the proper thing to do" she glanced down at the table in shame "I shouldn't have run off..." she repeated to softly nudging her empty tea glass back "But what...what if it's like I pictured it would be?" her voice came out in a tight squeak but thanks to the quite of the tree house Zecora heard her easily.

"Is anything? It might not be as good as you can picture it in your head, but now you don't need to picture it at all now you can finally experience it and that's more than most ponies like you can say" Zecora replied sagely taking the cup and setting it aside "It may be scary, maybe even terrifying but isn't a little fear worth it? Isn't it better to have tried and made some mistakes than to have not tried at all?" the zebra inquired with a curious gaze.

Thunder chewed her lip in thought digesting Zecora's words and her own conscience before she nodded slowly "Yes, you're right it's silly to avoid something because a daydream" Thunder stood dipping her head to Zecora politely "Thank you ma'am for the tea and listening to my troubles if you ever need my help don't hesitate to ask" the mare added with a small shy smile as she headed for the door.

"Nothing is silly in a world where anything is possible, some just don't have their eyes open enough to see it" Zecora opened her down allowing the dark blue mare to go first before following, intent on making sure she made it out of forest without running into some sort of trouble.

"Right..." Thunder mumbled looking up at the stars and sighing "It's just...so much has been happening all at once, I don't know how much more I'm going to be able to take I just fell like I'm going to crack under all this pressure, first as an element bearer, and now as some sort of chaos child I don't know what the others keep their heads with all this weight holding them down" Thunder waited until Zecora pointed her in the right direction and then started walking with her.

"Well just because you were made of chaos doesn't mean that it is all that is to you, you are after all we all have parents and they don't affect what we are, not completely, but you keep forgetting one key thing" Zecora led her through the trees with practiced ease "You aren't alone in this, you have friends and family, ponies all around that would stand beside you and help you bare the weight of your problems and even help you overcome them, you may have felt alone once Thunder Mist, but with friends likes those you won't have to worry about that anymore." Zecora stopped at the edge of the Everfree nodding for Thunder to continue without her and turned back heading toward her tree house again.

Thunder stepped out of the shadows of the trees and into Ponyville, several ponies were still out getting candy eager fillies Featherweight and Rumble waving to her as they spotted her. She waved back with a small smile, she always had a weak spot for fillies, they were a bit easier to talk to compared to older ponies but they weren't in a talking mood anyway, eager to get home so they could eat as much candy as they could with the time they had left before bed. Thunder looked around wondering where she might find her parents. She didn't have to wonder long however because Luna's escorts spotted her and trotted over, easily parting the crowd.

"Miss Thunder Mist" the one on the left greeted her both of them nodding politely before the one on the left continued "Princess Luna would like to speak with you, if you'd like" they looked at her uncertainly and Thunder realized that they must be just as surprised as her with this new information, if they knew at all that is, "She seemed very upset when she asked us to look for you, do you know what could be wrong?" The guard asked quietly.

"Well...uh, Discord said something he shouldn't have and I sort of ran away before we could talk about it" Thunder began to awkwardly explain what had driven her away the guards eyes widening at the tale. They quickly bowed low to the ground making Thunder shift uncomfortably "Uh...Y-You don't have to do that" She mumbled not quite sure how to respond to this sudden show of respect "Lets go see Princess Luna-er..." she cleared her throat awkwardly "let's go" she mumbled feeling a relieved that they finally stopped bowing to led her down the street, flanked on either side of her.

They walked through the streets heading toward Twilight's castle, Thunder was already beginning to regret telling them the whole story, not that she faulted them for their behavior, it was part of their jobs but she wasn't used to being treated as if she were important. They reached the castle in silence and lead her inside, keeping watch for any threats but Thunder doubted anything would happen. Thunder felt the panic rising in her throat as they walked deeper in the castle but remembering Zecora's words she continued forward despite the effort it took to do so until the guards stopped outside a door, standing on each side of it at attention. Thunder glanced at them nervously before taking a shaky breath and pushing the door open.

Thunder could see Luna pacing inside the other element bearers were trying to soothe her, even Pinkie seemed oddly serious, Thunder cleared her throat softly wetting her lips at Luna stared at her silently. Thankfully Red was able to break the tension, Red leapt at Thunder crying out in joy that her sister was alright and soon after the others joined her all talking at once.

"I'm so sorry" Twilight apologized, blaming herself harshly for her part in this whole situation.

"Wish I could've seen you flying like that!" Rainbow encouraged shoving Thunder's shoulder with a hoof floating a bit off the floor with her wings.

"I'll have to treat you to a spa day dear, I'll set something up tomorrow" Rarity smiled in an attempt to comfort her.

"When should I plan the party?" Pinkie cheered, clearly already thinking about what to do for her newest wild party.

"You need anything my doors always open" Applejack reassured with a smile.

"Are you alright?" Fluttershy mumbled shyly barely managing to be heard over the others.

Thunder blushed at all the attention she was receiving and quickly assured them that she was fine but her eyes never left Luna as she spoke, after letting them fuss over her for a few more seconds she gently nudged them aside to walk over to her newly discovered mother. The entire room went still and silent as mother and daughter stared at one another. The silence continued for a few more seconds before Luna pulled her into an embrace letting out a choked sound as she attempted to hold in her sobs. Thunder stiffened in surprise at first, not excepting the gesture of affection, but the warmth and love radiating from the embrace shockingly made her smile.

"This isn't how I wanted you to find out, I wanted to tell you so bad but I was so scared" Luna spoke softly resting her chin on Thunder's head blinking rapidly to stop the tears from falling. "I don't expect you to call me Mom or anything and I know that things might be a little awkward for a while, but if you'll have me I'd love the chance to try to be your Mom" the last few words came out in a strained whisper Luna's fear clear in her voice.

Knowing Luna was just as scared as she was strangely put Thunder a little more at ease, she listened to Luna's words and felt her own tears burning her eyes remembering the small filly she had been desperate to know why she had been given away and her birth parents, her adoptive parents had been kind to her but they could never fill the hole in heart from her own desire to understand, and yet here it was, the one thing she craved more than anything else in the world. "I...I wouldn't mind calling you Mom..." Thunder mumbled shyly "If that's alright with you, I mean uh...it might be a little weird at first but life can't be a daydream" Thunder gave Luna a shaky smile "I know we'll have a lot of things to work out but I'm willing to try" she might have said more if Luna hadn't suddenly clutched her to her chest with her forehooves sobbing openly now, but this time from relief and happiness.

"Hey wait!" Red moved the front of the group a confused scowl on her face "Does this mean I get a new mom too?" she looked around at the ponies as they began to laugh "What?" she questioned, unsure what was so funny.

"I'll tell you later" Thunder chuckled Luna releasing her so she could pull the filly into her side to ruffle her mane "For now...we should get out of these costumes, I kind of tore mine when I took off" Thunder rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly looking at Rarity "b-but I'm going to fix it!" she added quickly hoping the unicorn wouldn't be upset but thankfully Rarity waved away her concern, understanding she hadn't meant to destroy it but was simply swarmed by her own panic. Thunder knew that she'd still have to talk to Discord but she felt as if she had already overcame a hurdle, many still lay ahead but as the first one was always the hardest.

Author's Note

here's the next chapter, we'll be seeing angry nobles and some Daddy Discord bonding time :D