I had that dream again.
It's a really scary dream, one where I find my parents only to realise one isn't really a pony at all.
In this dream, I'm part demon.
Maybe it's left-over guilt from the whole Iron Will incident, or maybe some small remnant of vampire fruit bat.
Somehow, I know it's neither.
All I know is that I don't know.
Hm. Maybe Discord is wearing off on me.
Maybe that's why I have these dreams.
It's wrong, of course, but there's nothing bad about pretending, right?
No, you're right, I shouldn't lie to myself.
You see, I think I know why I have this dream, but it's too scary to even think about.
Maybe I should talk to Luna. She could probably tell me.
Oh, but what if she's busy? It wouldn't be very nice to interrupt her.
I could ask Rainbow to check on her.
But what if she's busy, too?
It's funny – not ha-ha funny, but weird-funny – how this didn't start until the night after we destroyed the Tantabus. Not the night, but the night after.
That would be… let's see here… two weeks ago.
Maybe I should clarify – I never knew who my parents were, so naturally I've always dreamed about what they were like.
But the thought of one of them being evil is completely new to me.
I don't like it. Not one bit.
The irony isn't lost on me, not by a long shot. An Element of Harmony, having an evil ancestor? It sounds absurd.
But what if it's true? It certainly explains some things, like my Stare, but it doesn't mesh with my personality.
Or I could be making connexions where none exist. Maybe I'm thinking too much.
Yeah, that's it. I'm just over-complicating things.
I haven't told any of my friends about the dream yet. Maybe during our next outing.
I jolt upright, gasping for breath.
Oh, dear. I actually felt that.
I shake my head, trying in vain to shake the image out of my mind.
I just dreamed about my own birth.
Alright, that's too much. I need to talk to Luna, now.
As if on cue, a swirling column of midnight blue smoke materialises at the foot of my bed before coalescing into the Lunar Princess herself.
“Hi, Luna,” I greet her thankfully. “I take it you witnessed my latest dream?”
She nods. “It was… admittedly hard to watch.” I detect some hidden meaning to her words, but I can't quite grasp it.
After a brief awkward silence, I tentatively ask her, “Um, could… could you tell me what these dreams are all about?”
Pain inexplicably flashes across her face. “I… suppose I can't hide the truth from you any longer. You might want to stay in bed. This will be a lot to take in.
“As you could very well guess, I was very lonely after I was forced to banish Solar Flare to the sun as punishment for her… insurrection. To ease that loneliness, I was constantly seeking out a… fling… with somepony new every single night.
“One night, I met up with another mare who, after our moment of passion, hooked me up with a rather handsome stallion, who I met up with a few days later. It wasn't until he… forced himself upon me, that I realised his true nature. Of course, I sent him to Tartarus afterwards, but the damage was done.
“A few weeks later, I found out I was carrying his child – the child of a demon. I never once considered an abortion, for I believed I could raise her to be good. So, I carried her to term.
“When she was born, I was surprised at how mundane she looked. She looked like any normal pegasus.”
“Um, sorry to interrupt, but I don't see how this has to do with me,” I admit. “I mean, I'm really sorry you went through all that, but…” There's no need to finish my sentence – I can see the understanding in her eyes.
Luna sighs. “Can you guess what I named my daughter?”
Realisation dawns on me – and with it, horror. “That filly was…?”
Luna nods slowly. “You are that same filly, Fluttershy. I raised you for several years in secrecy, until it was time for you to go to Flight School.
“Unfortunately, I had a bit of a problem. I couldn't be seen with you, or else many unwanted questions would be raised. So, under the cover of darkness, while you were asleep, I left you at the Cloudsdale Orphanage. I erased your memory of me beforehoof, so that you wouldn't brag about being a daughter of a princess. I… thought it was best for you at the time.”
If I had been standing, I would have collapsed onto the floor. As it is, I end up letting my head fall back onto the pillow.
Once the majority of my shock wears off, I feel compelled to start asking questions. “But why wait so long to tell me all this? We brought Celestia back, defeated Discord, repelled the changeling invasion, stopped King Sombra, and witnessed Twilight's ascension. What took so long?”
Pain once more breaks out on Luna's face. “I was too caught up in my duties as a princess to really get around to telling you, so I sent you those dreams instead. I assumed they would suffice.”
“But you weren't in them,” I point out.
“I… wasn't quite willing to expose myself like that. I'm sorry.”
Several minutes pass before I respond.
“So, I'm really part demon?”
Luna stays silent long enough that I'm afraid she won't answer.
“He told me he went by the name of Sweet Succour. At the time of the assault, I found out he was none other than the vile Orcus.”
The moment that name leaves her mouth, bile rises in my throat, and a chill runs down my spine as I freeze up.
She must have noticed, because she breathes a sigh of relief. “It seems my fears were unfounded.” She nuzzles my neck, and I immediately calm down. “How could such a loving daughter as you have such a vile and hateful father as Orcus?”
I tentatively whisper into her ear. “Could… I have my memories back?”
It takes her a second too long to decide. “Of course.” Her horn glows as the tinkling glass of her magic surges forth. She presses the tip of her horn to my forehead, and I realise the instant before contact that this is the same spell Twilight used to break Discord's influence over me and the other Elements.
“Momma, why do some ponies hab wings, and othews hab howns, and some don't hab a hown ow wings?”
“Well, you see, there are three different kinds of ponies. Pegasi only have wings. Unicorns only have a horn. And Earth ponies don't have either.”
“Why?”
“Because pegasi came from the sky, and unicorns and Earth ponies came from the ground.”
“Why do you hab wings and a hown?”
“Because I'm an alicorn.”
“What's a awicown?”
“An alicorn is a very special kind of pony. Alicorns are princesses, representing all three kinds of ponies at once.”
“Am I a awicown?”
“No, you're a pegasus.”
“Am I stiw a pwincess?”
Momma chuckles. “Yes, you are. You're my little princess.”
“Momma, do I hab a dadda?”
Momma hesitates. “Well, yes, all ponies have daddies.”
“Whewe is he?”
“He's… in a very far away place.”
“Is he coming back?”
“No, he's not.”
“Why?”
“Because Daddy did something very, very bad, and Momma kicked him out for it.”
“Oh. Momma?”
“Yes, love?”
“Was I a baby?”
“Yes, hone. Why?”
“Whewe did I come fwom?”
“Why don't you wait until you're older? I don't think you're quite ready for that yet.”
“Okay!”
“Fluttershy! Where are you?”
I giggle happily. There's no way she'll find me under here!
“Are you in the closet?” A door opens, then closes. “Nope.”
I giggle again. I'm winning!
“Huh, that's weird, I hear giggling. I wonder where it's coming from.”
I clap a hoof over my mouth in an attempt to muffle the giggles still pouring out.
"Is it behind the curtains?”
A swish of fabric, then, “No, not here either.”
Another giggle escapes my throat.
“Is she under the bed?”
Before I have a chance to react, Momma's face is blocking my field of vision, and I squeal in a mix of defeat and pleasure.
“Found you!”
I nuzzle Momma's navy blue muzzle, purring happily.
“I wub you, Momma.”
“I love you too, honey.”
These scenes and others flash through my mind, one after another.
It seems like hours, but I know from past experience that it's only a few seconds.
“Are you satisfied?” she asks once the spell runs its course.
For the first time tonight, I smile at her. “Thank you… Mother.”
The term of endearment obviously surprises her, but she smiles wider than I've ever seen.
“You're welcome, honey.”
“Could you stay with me tonight? I… kinda… want you around.”
“I… suppose I could spend a few hours with you.”
She snuggles next to me in my bed, and I bury my face into her chest.
Her embrace quickly lulls me to sleep even as a smile creeps onto my face.
Warm sunlight streams onto my face, and my eyelids twitch against it.
I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Suddenly the events of last night crash into my mind. I fall backward and cuddle under my covers, whimpering into my forelegs.
“Luna… Momma… I'm scared!”
No-one answers.
I wonder briefly if I should tell my friends, but immediately decide against it.
I shake my head clear, and trot into my bathroom, only to stop in my tracks when I catch a glint of myself in the mirror.
I can't help but stare at myself. My irises have a faint yellow tint along their inner edge, and my pupils are now triangular in shape, though it's far from obvious with my eyes fully adjusted to the daylight.
The next thing I notice is the two bony nubs growing out of my head, just above my temples, small enough that I could easily hide them under my mane.
A faint scent of brimstone brushes my nose, fluctuating with my breath. Curious, I suck in a lungful of air, and let it all out at once. The smell immediately strengthens, confirming my suspicions. Interestingly enough, though the scent is on my breath, I can't taste anything unsual.
Aside from a patch of scales on my withers, I notice no other changes to my anatomy. All in all, the changes are mild and thus quite easy to cover. The only problems are my eyes and the brimstone on my breath.
Obviously, I can't go out with my friends without doing something about my eyes and breath, but as long as I keep my distance from others, I should be able to pass for normal in public.
Just in case, though, I brush my mane over my new hornlets and toss a pair of sunglasses into my saddlebags before taking care of my animals, who either don't notice my transformation or don't care.
Once they're all fed, I take a deep a breath, and walk into town.
Right before I enter the town square, I take off, flying just high enough to clear Town Hall, and then I soar until I finally land at the door of the castle.
I knock once, and almost immediately I hear Twilight's voice: “Come in, Fluttershy!”
I put on my sunglasses, and open the door slowly. It doesn't take long for me to see Twilight sitting at her throne, sipping at a cup of tea while reading the Ponyville Express. In the smaller throne next to her, Spike is reading a Power Ponies magazine.
“Um, Twilight?”
“Yes?”
“Could… you have Spike send a letter to Princess Luna? There's something I want to talk to her about.”
“Oh, uh, sure. Spike?”
He hops up onto his feet, and pulls out a parchment and quill. “Can do, Fluttershy!” he says with a flourish. “Just tell me what to write!”
“Um, actually, I… I'd like to write it myself… if you don't mind.”
He quirks his eyebrow and shrugs, but he nonetheless passes the parchment and quill off to me.
Using my front hooves to hold the paper down, and with quill in mouth, I write:
Dear Princess Luna,
I'm coming over to Canterlot to discuss an incident that happened between the time of your visit last night and the time I woke up this morning. You'll see what I mean when I get there.
Your daughter,
Fluttershy
Once I'm satisfied, I roll the parchment into a scroll and give it back to the little dragon.
“Alright, Spike, you can send it.”
“On it.” He takes a deep breath and breathes out a green flame, sending my letter out to Canterlot Castle.
“Well, I better get ready. Don't want to keep her waiting.”
Before I have a chance to turn around, Spike burps out another scroll.
“‘Dear Fluttershy, If this is what I think it is, then we have no time to lose. I'm sending out my chariot to pick you up immediately. It should arrive at the castle shortly. With Love, Luna?’” He stares at the paper for a moment, looks over at me, and back at the paper.
After several more seconds of silence, he says, “What the hay? Why did she say love? And why are you wearing sunglasses?”
I take a few seconds to contemplate my answer. Deciding to tell a half-truth, I take a deep breath. “If I tell you a secret, you both have to Pinkie promise not to tell anyone, okay?”
“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” they chorus.
“Okay, well… oh, how do I say this… you see, Luna's my m– ”
I'm interrupted by a knock at the door.
I sidle over to the door, and poke my head out.
There, sitting in front of the entrance, is a black, gothic carriage pulled by two thestrals.
“Well, I guess this is it,” I say to myself. To the thestrals, I say, “Do you know?”
One shuffles uncomfortably, the other simply nods.
“Know what?” Twilight asks.
“Remember: you Pinkie promised.”
“Of course.”
“Luna's my mother.”
Without waiting for a reaction, I close the door and climb into the carriage, which immediately takes off for Canterlot.