//-------------------------------------------------------// Rise of Friendship -by xCrossx- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Adoption //-------------------------------------------------------// Adoption It was a dark night, the stars having dimmed heavily and the moon is darkened tonight, having waned into a new moon. Very unusual, but the heavens are not controlled, especially with King Discord ruling, so no one freaks out. After all, it's probably just Discord's latest "prank." But it's not, and tonight is no ordinary night at all. A bright flash lights up the sky, then everything is dim again. On the ground, in the middle of a farmer's field, lies a wailing white foal with quad-colored flowing hair. Moments pass and another flash. Next to the first foal is a dark blue one with flowing hair like the night sky. The lights in the sky wink out while colored stardust swirls in the sky, calming the foals as they are wrapped in a viel of magic before being teleported to the doorstop of the farmer who owned the field they were born on. As the magic and stardust  dissipate, their cries return in force, waking the couple and their workers inside the small house. The married owners open the door and gape at what they are greeted with: two abandoned foals with magical manes. These are very special childeren. But where are their parents? You, whispers a male voice in their heads. They glance at each other to confirm that they both heard it. They stare at the foals and wonder what to call them. Princess Celestia... a female voice says as they look at the white filly.  ...and... Princess Luna...[/] she adds when they turn to the blue filly. They gape at the names... and the titles! *Keep them safe until destiny calls, the male says before the foals' hair turns to more natural pink and blue, respectively.* They gape at each other for a moment before bringing in the foals and nurturing them. They know that they harbor the only thing that can stop Discord, and he would wipe them out if he ever finds out. They will protect them until their magic returns. They will help the coming rulers of Equestria. //-------------------------------------------------------// Cutie Marks and Wings //-------------------------------------------------------// Cutie Marks and Wings Over the next several years, the couple raided the foals as their own, managing to care for them while hiding them from others and still running their farm. The two girls have hit the age where they wonder about the world around, and they have asked a lot of questions. "What is that?" Celestia asks, pointing a wingtip at one of the worker's flank. "That, dear, is a cutie mark," answers her mother. "What's a cutie mark?" asks Luna as she spins to face her mom, looking up with wide, cute eyes. "It's a mark that appears when you find out what you're special talent is." "Oh. When will we get ours?" "When you are older, you will learn what makes you special. Then you will have your cutie marks." They nodded and ran back to their rooms to play games. A few days later, after talking to themselves all day, they asked their parents at dinner, "Why do we have wings?" "Because you are pegasi," they answer with practised ease. They glance at each other, having meant to be the only one to answer. "But you two don't have wings." "We are Earth ponies; we are good with plants, not the sky." "Then how did we get wings if not from you?" "On of our ancestors must have been pegasi whitout us knowing." They nod and eat the rest of their dinner in silent pondering. Its not until much later that they do anything noteworthy again.