A Secret Unveiled

The last vestiges of the setting sun disappeared over the horizon, the copper hues giving way to a dusty purple scattered with the occasional glitter of a faraway star. The distant skyline stood silhouetted against a velvety sky, the golden dusk enveloped by the twilight sky.

A figure stood still in the dark shadows of an alleyway, patiently waiting for the masses of local citizens in front of her destination to dwindle.

The mysterious pony cradled a small bundle, curled with it's tail between its forelegs, snoring faintly.

As the mare looked upon the double story estate, she brought out a notebook from the dresses of her coat, checking the address of House Sparkle once more. It was a family of minor nobility, they had a colt of five years old and were well respected among the nobility as astronomers preferring to be known for their own deeds rather than achievements of their ancestors.

They would be a perfect family for her foal.

The anonymous mare held the precious parcel close to her chest one last time, tucking a slip of paper between the warm blankets, 'Twilight Sparkle', and dropping a kiss under the foal's horn, disrupting her silky navy mane with her two unique streaks of pink and purple, staining her blanket with tears.

"I'm so sorry..."

Upon the close contact, the lavender foal shuffled slightly, before opening her eyes to reveal bright, magenta orbs similar to her mother's, she gave a small giggle, reaching out to the one pony she loved most.

To her obvious confusion, her caretaker looked away, choking on a sob before levitating her to the doormat in front of the intimidating, green wooden door, stepping away from her and leaving a trail of liquid behind her shivering body.

"I- I love you..."

As the alabaster mare took the second step away from her foal, her little filly let out a adorable whine, one of innocence and confusion, expecting her beloved mother to turn tail and surprise her, but no such thing happened, the mare, reaching the end of the street and about to turn the corner, was stopped by a heart shattering wail, one of pure sadness and misery.

Hearing this, the white mare let her tears collect into a puddle beneath her, sparing one last look at her distressed foal, her hood fell to reveal a long, spiraling horn and a ethereal, multicolored mane, she galloped around the corner, leaving part of her heart in shambles.

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"Honey! Can you check the door? I think I heard something!" Twilight Velvet called to her husband while being preoccupied with feeding her colt, Shining Armour.

"On it sweetie!" Night Light trotted towards the front of their house, turning the handle in his blue aura.

Swinging the emerald green door open, he was met with... Nothing.

"It was just those pranksters next door again Velv-" The stallion was interrupted by a small whimper.

As he looked down at his hooves, he noticed a small blanket. Tugging on it, he revealed...

"Great Celestia!" He picked up a lavender foal, navy mane parted by a small violet horn, beautiful, shimmering magenta eyes producing tears streaming down her muzzle, trembling and reaching towards the end of their street longingly, as if searching for something.

"Velvet! I think you need to see this honey!" Night Light called, trying desperately to calm down the troubled filly to no avail, her violet orbs darting all around, still reaching out to the alleyway directly opposite them, whispering frantic cries of "Mama! Mama!"

"What is it Nigh-" The silver mare's words caught in her throat as she saw the trembling ball of fur in her husband's telekinesis, not even acknowledging the 'Clop, Clop' of Shining Armour's hooves following his mother.

The mare hurried towards her husband and regarded the small filly with a pitying gaze.

"Twilight." The small colt stated, oblivious to the glares he was receiving from both his parents.

"Shining Armour! It is very disrespectful to call your mother by her first name!" Night Light scolded his son.

Eyes widening in surprise, Shining quickly backtracked, "No no no, I meant her name!" before pointing to the slip of paper on the front porch with the two words written on it and wet with tears.

"Twilight Sparkle" Velvet read. "Looks like we've got a new member of our family, We'll complete the adoption process tomorrow." Finishing with an air of joy and shutting the front door behind them.

They neglected to see the mare shivering and watching the exchange in the alleyway across from their home, who was gone in a flash of teleportation, leaving behind her only child.