Trixie's Plotby AdrianJNovelleChaptersChapter 1 - SuspicionChapter 2 - Into the Frying PanChapter 3 - The Undying TruthChapter 4 - The Final ConfessionChapter 1 - Suspicion"What a great performance, Twilie!" Twilight's mother applauded. "You and your magic never cease to amaze me." "If it weren't on your butt, I'd say that magic is your special talent!" exclaimed her father. Twilight blushed mildly. "Thanks, Mom and Dad," she said. "How long are you two gonna be in Ponyville?" "Oh, just for the night. We leave in the morning," her mother answered. "It's been a while since we've seen you, and we didn't wanna miss your performance." "Are you going back to the motel now?" "We are, Sweetie. It's been nice seeing you!" The family shared a group hug before Twilight's parents started on their way to the motel. As they walked, Twilight got a glimpse of her father's cutie mark. Of course she had seen it time and time again throughout her childhood, before she moved to Ponyville, and of course she was aware that it was never changing and always a part of him. But never before had it ever stuck out at her like it did now. "Hey-" she started to speak, but her parents were already out of earshot of her. Twilight knew that she had seen a cutie mark extremely similar to her father's before. She felt as if she had just seen it. But where? Who bore her the mark on her father's flank? Then, it hit her. Trixie. Twilight's pupils shrunk in her eyes. "No way!" she said to herself aloud. She traced her memory back to when she first saw Trixie, and then to the fight she had with the Ursa Minor, while Trixie was stripped of her strange attire. Her cutie mark was clearly revealed. And it looked just like her father's. "Hey, Trixie!" Twilight saw the unicorn hurrying off in the distance, tripping on her own hoofing as she stumbled to an escape. Twilight used a teleportation spell to catch up to her. "Trixie, wait up!" Trixie stopped in her own tracks. "What do you want, Twilight Sparkle? Haven't I done you enough favor considering all the humiliation I now feel as a disgrace to the ponies of Ponyville? So, what do you want? Another apology?" Twilight shook her head. "No, listen- can I see your cutie mark for a sec?" "My cutie mark?" Trixie asked. "Why do you want to see my cutie mark?" "Are you apologetic or not?" snarled Twilight. Trixie sighed, and, with her magic, removed her cape, revealing her pleasantly blue body and shiny, light-blue tail, cutie mark and all. Twilight studied it for a moment. It was nearly an exact replica of her father's. "Finished yet?" Trixie asked, suspending her gown in the air with her magic. "Yeah," Twilight answered. Trixie redressed herself. "Why did you need to see my cutie mark again?" "I'll explain on our way to the Library. Mind staying in town a little longer, Trixie?" "I...I guess not. I was just gonna flee to the Everfree Forest and live out the rest of my life hiding from the public in eternal humiliation for being an inferior unicorn, but I guess I can spare some time." "Great. Follow me!" On their way to the Library, Twilight explained to Trixie that she wanted to do some research on pony biology and genetic inheritence. The reason: Trixie and Twilight's father had nearly identical cutie marks. Twilight had a theory, but she needed literary proof. "Hey, Twilight, hey-...Trixie?" Spike greeted the two ponies. "Hey, Spike," Twilight greeted in response. Trixie made no remark. "Twilight, what's she doing here?" Spike asked. "I need Trixie for the moment; she's going to help me conduct some research on something very important." "Y-you're not replacing me a-are you?" Spike stuttered. "Of course not, Spike: you're my number one assistant! Speaking of which, could you fetch me that book on pony biology and genetic inheritence?" "Absolutely!" Spike bowed, grabbed the ladder, slid it to his desired destination, climbed it, retrieved the book from the topmost shelf, climbed down, and handed the book off to Twilight, who used her magic to levitate it and bring it to her pedastal. "Now then." She started flipping through the pages. "Trixie." "Hmm?" Trixie asked, approaching Twilight from behind. "What do you remember of your childhood?" Trixie pondered that inquiry. "I just remember growing up with my dad and my brother," she said. "Nothing specific. I didn't really spend a whole lot of time with them - or anypony actually. I was too focused on studying magic and becoming the greatest and most powerful unicorn in Equestria." "I see...did you have a mother?" "Well, of course, 'cause I was born, but I don't remember her face. I don't even remember meeting her. I never knew my mother." "Fascinating...and what can you tell me about your father and your brother?" "Um..." Trixie tried to remember, but she seemed to be extremely forgetful of her past. "I'm sorry, Twilight, but I simply can't tell you anything. My memory's all fogged up." "That's okay. It's hard to remember things from your early to late childhood." "Am I being of any use, Twilight?" "Not really...but, uh...okay! I found something!" Twilight pointed to a paragraph in her book. "It says here that, as studies have shown, it is likely - but not certain - that offspring ponies will share the special talent of their parents. That makes sense, considering the Apple Family. All those ponies have cutie marks with pictures of apples and apple-related things on them. And their special talents all revolve around apple-related activities." "What are you getting at?" Trixie asked. "Haven't you noticed that the two of us share special talents in magic?" "Well...now that you pointed it out to me, I can see that. We are both great with magic...you just...more than me." "And, did you also know that your cutie mark and my dad's cutie mark are nearly identical?" Twilight left the pedastal, and climbed the stairs to her nightstand and retrieved an old framed picture with her magic, bringing it downstairs as she descended the staircase. "What? That's preposterous, Twilight! Your father and I aren't related in any way." "Oh, yeah?" Twilight asked snidely, showing Trixie the portrait of her parents, both of her parents' cutie marks in clear revelation. Trixie's pupils shrunk. She raised her cape over her flank and kept switching between looking at Mr. Sparkle's cutie mark and hers. "That's quite a coincidence," she said. "The odds of your father and me sharing cutie marks and not being related are one in a billion, even with my special talent being magic." "I don't think it's a coincidence," Twilight pondered. "Really? Then what do you think it is? An anamoly?" "You know what I think, Trixie?" Twilight asked, putting the portrait back where she found it. "I think you're my sister." Chapter 2 - Into the Frying Pan"Sisters? Mois? And you? And-...I-...just-...I-...how?!" Trixie scrambled for her words. "Well, I'm no sexologist," Twilight began, with surprising calmness. "But I am a bibliophile. And I think the answer to your question can easily be explained with books." "Books? What can books explain?" "Everything, if you look hard enough," Twilight answered gaily. "It's why I love books and reading so much: you get to explore the world and learn about anything you can imagine." "But what kind of book could ever explain how we're sisters...assuming we are?" "A very special kind," Twilight grinned intently. "One which can't be found in my library. Or any library. At least, not while the author is living, anyway." Trixie played along with Twilight's guessing game. "Oh, I give up!" "A diary!" Twilight exclaimed. "A diary?" Trixie scoffed. "Do ponies even keep those anymore?" "Rarity does. And so does Pinkie Pie. And Rainbow Dash. And..." Twilight leaned in towards Trixie's ear. "So does Spike." "Huh? Did you say something about me, Twilight?" Spike inquired. "Uh, nope! Nothing!" Twilight put on a huge grin. She ridded of it quickly. "Anyway, yes, ponies do still keep them. And I'm pretty sure someone in my family keeps a diary which will explain a thing or two." "Well, it certainly wouldn't be my mother, since I don't know a thing about her." "I wasn't gonna suggest her," Twilight mumbled. "Oh. Who then?" "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." "Princess Mi Amore Ca- who in the hoof is that?!" "My sister-in-law," Twilight answered. "Your sister-in-law...what would your sister-in-law know?" "Princess Cadence may not be a parent, but she is my brother's wife, and, more importantly, a childhood friend." She started pacing. "I'm sure she's kept a diary for years, and even if she hasn't, I don't doubt that she remembers the part of our lives which we don't remember simply because our brains weren't completely developed. If there's anypony who knows, it's her...well, her and my father...and possibly Shining Armor as well..." Twilight paused and turned back to Trixie. "How badly do you wanna spend the rest of your life in desolate humiliation, Trixie?" "Mmm, not very." "Would you care to journey with me to Canterlot?" "Now?!" "No, in the morning." "Oh. Yeah, sure, I guess I could tag along." Twilight smiled. "Great." "Where am I supposed to sleep, though?" "Are you allergic to dragons?" Spike gasped. "Twilight!" "I'm kidding, Spike." She giggled softly. "I know the perfect place for you, Trixie." Trixie raised an eyebrow. It was...discomforting, to say the least, for Trixie. But she managed to spend the night with Twilight. Twilight was certainly more open and mature about it than Trixie, who groused about it all night. But she said not a word of it the following morning. "So, where to go to Canterlot?" she asked, resuming the conversation from the previous night. "Good morning, Trixie," Twilight said, almost sounding sarcastic as she made her bed. Trixie scoffed. "I'm not treating you like a sibling until it has been proven to me." "We shared a bed last night," Twilight remarked. Trixie did not reply immediately. "My argument still stands." "Does not. Anyway, we take the Friendship Express to Canterlot, just like always." Twilight started downstairs, Trixie following her as the lesser unicorn put her attire back on. "Do you really need that garb?" Twilight asked when she noticed the unnecessary clothing. "What? This? It's part of who I am." "It's also kinda childish since you're going to be walking through the streets of Canterlot." Trixie sighed. "Very well." She abruptly dismissed her clothes with her magic as Twilight opened the door. "Wait, Twilight! What about me?" Spike asked, hurrying to the doorway as the supposed sisters began their egress. "You stay here, Spike. We won't be gone long. I promise." Spike frowned. "Aww, okay." "Consider this your vacation time from being my number one assistant." "But...I already completed my list of things to do during my vacation from last time." "I'm sure you'll find other things to do. I have five friends who like you: go play with them. Find a ball and play Fetch with Pinkie Pie." "That's a- wait, seriously, she'll do that?" Twilight giggled. "Only one way to find out." Spike stood there, puzzled, as Twilight closed the door behind her, Trixie kept waiting right outside. The girls then strolled through Ponyville with the upmost casualty, Twilight leading the way to the Friendship Express. "I do not understand why we couldn't just teleport here," Trixie whined when they arrived. "Hmm...you know, me neither," Twilight said. Trixie scoffed. They waited patiently for the train to arrive, which, fortunately, was not a long time to wait. They boarded, and promptly sat next to each other. "Um, Twilight?" Trixie asked. "Yes~?" "What if it turns out you're right, and we really are sisters?" "What of it?" "Are things gonna be different between us? Are you gonna start telling me you love me and stuff like that?" "We'll see. But you're certainly not gonna be allowed to spend the rest of your life in humiliation. I won't let that happen to my sister." Trixie was warmed by Twilight's words. "You know...for all the trouble I've caused while I was in Ponyville the two times I was since I became the Great and Powerful Trixie...you sure don't hold a grudge against me." "Your mind was corrupted by the Alicorn Amulet, Trixie, you had no control over that." "What about the first time?" "That was Snips' and Snails' fault." "Oh, stop being so modest." "I'm not being modest; I'm being honest: putting the blame where it belongs, Trixie. You may have bragged about defeating one, but it was Snips and Snails who disturbed the Ursa Minor." "What about before my mind was corrupted? I didn't just find the Alicorn Amulet lying around on the ground. I bought it." "Well...I guess I have to admit that you were responsible for that. But I'm still not holding it against you." Trixie grinned. "You're a good friend, Twilight." Twilight grinned back. The train finally arrived at Canterlot, where Twilight and Trixie hopped off and strolled all the way to Canterlot Castle. There they asked directions to locate Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. The Princess gave them their instructions, the girls then following them perfectly. They arrived at the suite of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. All they had to do was knock. "Are you ready?" Twilight whispered to Trixie. "I've got an eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach, Twilight," Trixie mumbled back. "Like we shouldn't be doing this." "Me too...but it's the only way to find out if we're related. Shining Armor is way older than me, and, come to think of it, aren't you older, too?" "I think so." "That's why we're here...Do you want me to do the honors?" "No no, I got it." Trixie knocked on the door to the suite. Shining Armor answered. "Yes? Oh, Twilie! Come on in!" He opened the door wide to let the girls in. "Who's your friend?" "This is Trixie," Twilight answered. "As in the Great and Powerful Trixie." "T-T-Trixie?" Shining Armor stuttered. "Hello, Shining Armor," Trixie said darkly. She knocked him to the ground. "What are you hiding?" Chapter 3 - The Undying Truth"Hiding? I'm not hiding anything," Shining Armor whined. "Likely story," Trixie protested, hovering over him. "Honey, what's going on here?" Princess Cadence asked, entering the room. She noticed Trixie and gasped. "Trixie! N-no! It can't be!" Twilight stepped closer to her brother and her sister-in-law. "I could ask you two the same thing." "It's...not important." "Not important, huh? Then why not let Trixie and me in on it? What's going on? What are you ponies hiding?" Princess Cadence frowned and walked over to Twilight, towering over her. "It's a long story," she said. "Trixie and I have time." "And I won't begin until you let go of my husband." Trixie got off Shining Armor, and helped him up to his hooves. Princess Cadence sighed. "It's about your father, Twilight. A forgotten memory. A concealed secret. And a questionable sexuality." She seemed to have paused. "Go on," Twilight said. "Do you know why you and I are so distant in our ages, Twilight?" Shining Armor asked. "And how I already had my cutie mark and graduated from school by the time you came along?" "I just figured Mom and Dad took a while with me." "They did," Shining Armor rubbed the back of his neck. "But...there was also a child born between us. And she's standing here with us." All eyes turned to Trixie. "Her?" Shining Armor and Princess Cadence nodded. "So, you are my flesh-and-blood sister!" Twilight exclaimed to Trixie. Shining Armor shook his head. "Not exactly, Twilie. You see, after I was born, and long into my childhood, Mom, who was the working pony at the time, had to go on a long business trip to Manehattan. Dad...he didn't like being alone. So he spent a lot of his time around other mares to fill in the gap that Mom usually filled. Unfortunately, he got a little too comfortable. He ended up falling in love with one of them, and the next thing we know, the mare was pregnant. Nine months later, this little filly joined the family." Shining Armor pointed right at Trixie. "Mois?" she asked, putting her hoof to her breast. Shining Armor nodded. "Yup. After you were born, we got another letter from Mom, and she said that she'll be a while longer. Dad was devastated. He became very scared. So he said farewell to the mare he met - I don't even remember her name - took you and me, tried to raise a normal family, and pretended like nothing happened. That was...easier said than done. While you were a little girl, Trixie, you were very curious about your mother and why you never heard about her and never saw her. Dad lied to you day after day about her. He kept coming up with excuses and very elaborate stories, even though all the while, he was simply avoiding her, because, for all it matters, you were just a mistake. You were a bastard child, and if you weren't so gifted at magic, I'd imagine your fate would've been worse than it was." "I don't remember any of that!" Trixie exclaimed. "That's another thing - how come I don't remember anything? I know that early childhood memories are impossible to remember, but if all this was happening for years, I should at least remember some of it." "Isn't it obvious?" Shining Armor asked. Trixie scoffed. "No!" "Dad used his magic to blank your memory of nearly everything that happened. That was way back when magic was his forte, much like it is yours today. He left bits and pieces, so it seemed like simple memory loss, but not enough for you to really understand what had gone on. All the lying, the fornicating - everything under those terms was blanked from your memory so you wouldn't become curious and, well...prevent this very conversation from happening. The three of us hoped this day would never happen. I guess our luck finally ran out." "The three of you?" Twilight inquired. "You, Dad, and Mom?" "Him, your father, and me," Princess Cadence replied. "I was let in on everything when I started foalsitting you. Your mother finally returned from her business trip, and the first thing your father did was insist on having another child. That's where you came along, Twilight. Your mother quit her job so she could take care of you, and instead, guilty out of his mind, your father insisted on finding work instead. During my briefing, Shining Armor and I swore never to tell anyone about this, for fear it would slingshot back to us and end up causing lots of avoidable and unnecessary trouble, especially if your mother ever found out." Shining Armor clenched his teeth. "Ooohhhh, what Mom would do if she found out Dad had Trixie..." He shook his head. "I doubt she'd forgive him. There is no excuse for such an act." Both Twilight and Trixie were paralyzed. "So...who knows about all of this?" Twilight asked. "Just me, Cadence, Dad, and now you and Trixie," Shining Armor answered. "Just us and Dad now. And, though we swore ourselves to secrecy, I guess we knew deep down that this wouldn't be a secret forever. From the moment Trixie got her cutie mark, we knew we would end up in hot water. We forgot about it from time to time, but, somehow, it never completely escaped our thoughts...another reason why Dad blanked your memory, Trixie." "I'm guessing me getting my cutie mark was included in what was blanked of my memory," Trixie retorted. "You got it," Shining Armor replied. "Too much evidence was revealed with your cutie mark. It looks way too much like his to simply be a coincidence. So the most precious moment of your young life had to be taken away from you in order to prevent Dad's dirty laundry from being discovered. Believe me: he tore himself up after he blanked your memory, Trixie. He was not happy with himself. He wasn't until long after Mom got back from her trip. I think after Twilight was born did he finally calm down and be happy, figuring that since he had a second child with Mom, he would be in the clear for the rest of his life, and he wouldn't have to worry about this matter anymore." "How did Twilight's mom never find out about me?" Trixie asked. "You were taken to a foster home. We knew it was perfect because the family's mother had passed away, and they had an older brother. It was an exact replica of the family you were losing. Anything about your father or me you remember is not actually about your father and me, but is about your foster father and foster brother." "I hardly remember them." "That was not Dad's doing. He left you alone after that. He didn't try to further sabotage his horrible deed. He hoped and prayed that what he had blanked of your memory was enough to have you assume that your childhood was spent entirely with the folks who took care of you after Dad gave you up. Mom never met you. She doesn't even know you exist. Well...when she went to see Twilight's show, and happened to see you in the audience (which I doubt), she knows you exist, but would not at all recognize you because she knows absolutely nothing about you. As far as she knows, you don't even exist." "What about my real mom?" "We don't know what happened to her," Princess Cadence continued for Shining Armor. "Once Twilight's mother returned from her trip, your father lost complete contact with her in an effort to ensure that the two mares never even looked each other in the eye. If they ever met, there's no doubt that he would've been found out by his wife, and...I can't imagine how horrible your life would have been if that had happened. He did it all to protect you two. As fate would have it, you two met, connected the dots, and now you all know the big secret that's been haunting this family for years." "Dad went on about blanking your real mom's memory, Trixie," Shining Armor began. "But he never acted upon it. He felt that blanking her memory would just be a step too far and would cause too much damage. It would just be easier to avoid contact altogether. Since the problem never came back until now, I guess his plan worked. We lost track of your real mother, but, as far as we know, she's alright. We doubt anything happened to her that would bring any real pain to you. She's probably married to another stallion by now, and has kids of her own which were not accidents." "So...my entire life...was an accident?" Trixie started to tear up. "Hey," her brother approached her and put his hoof on her shoulder. "Dad loved you, Trixie. It was your foster father, we believe, who turned you into a braggy maniac. Had he not gave you up to them, you'd be just like Twilight - even more than you are right now! Your father loved you! You were the most beautiful foal he had ever seen, and though you were more outgoing than Twilight, everything that he loves about Twilight, he saw in you as well. Trust me, giving you up was not easy. It killed him on the inside. But he did it to protect you. He never forgave himself for what he did. And it was his love of you, Trixie, which made his life so painful. In one way, he resented his actions, but, at the same time, he also didn't resent you, and that's probably the hardest part of it." "My dad...loved me?" Both Shining Armor and Princess Cadence nodded. "More than anything except me and Twilight." Trixie started crying. Twilight approached her and gave her an affectionate hug. "Thank you, Twilight," Trixie uttered through her tears, though she did not return the hug. "You too, Shining Armor...Princess Cadence..." "Our pleasure, Trixie," Shining Armor replied. "I think that if you connected enough dots to come to us and know that we're keeping secrets," Princess Cadence began. "You deserve to know the truth." Trixie wiped away her tears, Twilight retracting her hug. "So...what does this mean between Twilight and me? Are we sisters?" "Sorta," Princess Cadence answered. "You're half-sisters, which is anyone who was born from one of the same parents. You and Twilight have the same father, but not the same mother. Therefore, you two are half-siblings." "What about Dad?" Twilight asked. "What are we gonna do now that we know everything that has happened with him?" "Well," Princess Cadence began. "As I see it, there are two things you can do: you can either go to him, let him know that you found out - you don't even have to mention that we told you - and see what he says, or you can just go home and pretend that nothing happened. If I were you...I'd tell him. I think he deserves to meet his daughter again." "Can we both go?" Trixie asked. "Of course." Trixie looked right at Twilight, signaling nonverbally that she desired her company. Twilight nodded, both mares said goodbye to Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, and then made a polite egress from their suite. Chapter 4 - The Final ConfessionTwilight knocked on the door to her parents' house in Canterlot, Trixie in hiding by crouching under the window against the wall. "Yes? Oh, hello, Twilie!" He gave his daughter a hug. "What brings you to Canterlot?" "Dad...can we talk...in private?" Twilight asked. "Um...sure," Mr. Sparkle suddenly started to lose enthusiasm as he slowly backed away into his home to make room for Twilight to enter. "Right this way." "Hey, Twilie!" Mrs. Sparkle greeted her beloved daughter. "Hey, Mom," she greeted back, with less enthusiasm. Mr. Sparkle and his daughter entered the master bedroom, Mr. Sparkle closing the door behind him as to make sure no words left the room and reached the large ears of Twilight's mother. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" he asked. "I know about Trixie," was all Twilight had to say. Mr. Sparkle's pupils shrunk in his giant eyes. "She's right outside," Twilight continued. "I didn't want Mom to see her: I wanted you to see her first." "I...you know?" "I know everything, Dad." "How do you?" "You raised a smart daughter...or, should I say, two smart daughters. And an honest son." Mr. Sparkle grunted. "I knew I should've blanked Shining Armor when I had the chance!" "Shh!" Twilight put her hoof to her mouth. "That would've been the wrong thing to do. You did the right thing by trusting him. Trixie and I connected the dots, and all Shining Armor and Princess Cadence did was tell us the truth instead of pussyfooting with us. I would've felt greatly disrespected by my elders if they had not told me and Trixie what we wanted to hear." Mr. Sparkle sighed. "Your mom can never know about Trixie." "I think she has too, Dad...if she hears about all the sacrifices you made, and all you went through to make sure Trixie was safe and healthy and happy and that you felt guilty about her birth despite how much you love her...I think she will be accepting of it. Trixie and I were accepting because we were confronted and told the truth when we asked for it. Mom will never ask for it. You'll have to bring the truth to her. But I know Mom. She raised me - you raised me. I think it's in her best interest to know." Mr. Sparkle considered it, but he was still quite hesitant. He shook his head. "How would I break it to her, Twilight?" "Just don't say anything: let Trixie do the talking. She's a wonderful pony - beyond all the insanity she obtained from her foster family - and I'm sure she will minimize the pain you'll feel by letting Mom know that you fornicated." "Well...it's just that I-" "Sh-sh-sh-sh...don't think about anything. Just let Trixie spill it to her, and have her do the talking. Jump in when you know the time is right." Mr. Sparkle still had doubts about this. But he knew that his daughter would persist if he did not give in. "Alright," he said. "May I go see Trixie first?" "She's right outside." Mr. Sparkle and Twilight left the bedroom, Twilight going to visit her mother for a moment as Mr. Sparkle exited the house to greet Trixie. "Oh~" he began. "Look how much you've grown!" "Hey...Dad," Trixie mumbled, not used to addressing this particular man as 'Dad.' Mr. Sparkle gave Trixie a warm hug. "I've missed you so much, Trixie." "I missed you too, Dad." "Now, there's someone else you have to meet...Are you ready?" "Ready as I'll ever be." Mr. Sparkle took a deep breath, and then he and his firstborn daughter reentered the house. There was Mrs. Sparkle and Twilight seated together on the couch at the far end of the living room. "Twilight," Mrs. Sparkle began. "Who's your friend?" "This is Trixie," Mr. Sparkle answered for his daughter. "And she's...more than just Twilight's friend." "Oh? How's that now?" Mr. Sparkle sighed. "Do you remember your trip from way back when?" "You mean my business trip?" Mr. Sparkle nodded. "Well...while you were gone...this little filly came into my life." Mrs. Sparkle did not reply. "My name is Trixie Lulamoon," Trixie began. "I was conceived with another mare while you were away. My father feels extremely guilty for what he did while you were gone. He made sure I was a happy, healthy foal, but then gave me up to a foster family. I spent most of my life with them. I don't even remember being this stallion's child. But I am fortunate to be his daughter. I know I would not have received such a pleasant fate from a pony who tells me that I was nothing but a mistake." "I feel terribly about it," continued Mr. Sparkle. "I spent all this time living in fear that you would one day stumble upon the truth...my daughters have convinced me that it is better that I just say it right to your face: I cheated on you - once and only once - while you were off in Manehattan...I know I won't ever receive your forgiveness, but-" Mrs. Sparkle raised a hoof, and rose from the couch. She approached her husband, but spoke not a word. "Are you mad at me?" Mrs. Sparkle shook her head. "I'm not mad." "Are you disappointed? 'Cause I've learned that-" Mrs. Sparkle shook her head again. "I'm not disappointed, either." She sighed under her breath. "I was gone for...how long?" "Months and months..." Mr. Sparkle paused. "Three years." "I was gone for far too long. You know, I quit that job at the risk of throwing this family into debt because I was so frustrated of how demanding my job was to you and Shining Armor. You were lonely, you missed me, and you got so used to being alone that you did the unthinkable. But...I have to forgive you...because I know that if I don't...you won't forgive me...for what I have put you through." Tears trickled down the cheeks of both ponies, as they united in a hug. "I'm sorry, Dearie." "Me too, Sweetie, me too." It was a long moment before they retracted their hug and kissed. Mr. Sparkle's spirit suddenly returned to him, now that his secret was out and his wife was fine knowing that she was cheated on. And Mrs. Sparkle was fine having finally apologized to her husband, and repaying the debt she desperately seeked to repay since she took her extended business trip to Manehattan. "Now," she said, turning to Trixie. "You're my husband's daughter?" Trixie nodded. "I am, Mrs. Sparkle." "Oh, please, call me Mom." "I am...Mom." Trixie blushed. "You are one beautiful little foal," she said warmly. Trixie smiled. "Thank you." "And I am honored to call you my daughter, even though I am not the mare who birthed you. You may have been a mistake biologically, but your inaguration into the Sparkle family is no mistake to me." Trixie's smile grew. Mrs. Sparkle returned to her husband. "I just have one question, though." "What is it, Sweetheart?" "How did Trixie get the surname Lulamoon?" "Lulamoon was her mother's mareden name: Luna Lulamoon. Probably explains why her cutie mark looks like a crescent moon." "Well, not anymore. Now, Trixie, you are Trixie Sparkle." Twilight lunged to Trixie in a hug. "Welcome to the family, Trixie!" Trixie Sparkle Trixie thought to herself. Yeah, I like the sound of that. Indeed I do. Author's Note *Mareden in case you couldn't tell, pony-talk for maiden.
Chapter 1 - Suspicion"What a great performance, Twilie!" Twilight's mother applauded. "You and your magic never cease to amaze me." "If it weren't on your butt, I'd say that magic is your special talent!" exclaimed her father. Twilight blushed mildly. "Thanks, Mom and Dad," she said. "How long are you two gonna be in Ponyville?" "Oh, just for the night. We leave in the morning," her mother answered. "It's been a while since we've seen you, and we didn't wanna miss your performance." "Are you going back to the motel now?" "We are, Sweetie. It's been nice seeing you!" The family shared a group hug before Twilight's parents started on their way to the motel. As they walked, Twilight got a glimpse of her father's cutie mark. Of course she had seen it time and time again throughout her childhood, before she moved to Ponyville, and of course she was aware that it was never changing and always a part of him. But never before had it ever stuck out at her like it did now. "Hey-" she started to speak, but her parents were already out of earshot of her. Twilight knew that she had seen a cutie mark extremely similar to her father's before. She felt as if she had just seen it. But where? Who bore her the mark on her father's flank? Then, it hit her. Trixie. Twilight's pupils shrunk in her eyes. "No way!" she said to herself aloud. She traced her memory back to when she first saw Trixie, and then to the fight she had with the Ursa Minor, while Trixie was stripped of her strange attire. Her cutie mark was clearly revealed. And it looked just like her father's. "Hey, Trixie!" Twilight saw the unicorn hurrying off in the distance, tripping on her own hoofing as she stumbled to an escape. Twilight used a teleportation spell to catch up to her. "Trixie, wait up!" Trixie stopped in her own tracks. "What do you want, Twilight Sparkle? Haven't I done you enough favor considering all the humiliation I now feel as a disgrace to the ponies of Ponyville? So, what do you want? Another apology?" Twilight shook her head. "No, listen- can I see your cutie mark for a sec?" "My cutie mark?" Trixie asked. "Why do you want to see my cutie mark?" "Are you apologetic or not?" snarled Twilight. Trixie sighed, and, with her magic, removed her cape, revealing her pleasantly blue body and shiny, light-blue tail, cutie mark and all. Twilight studied it for a moment. It was nearly an exact replica of her father's. "Finished yet?" Trixie asked, suspending her gown in the air with her magic. "Yeah," Twilight answered. Trixie redressed herself. "Why did you need to see my cutie mark again?" "I'll explain on our way to the Library. Mind staying in town a little longer, Trixie?" "I...I guess not. I was just gonna flee to the Everfree Forest and live out the rest of my life hiding from the public in eternal humiliation for being an inferior unicorn, but I guess I can spare some time." "Great. Follow me!" On their way to the Library, Twilight explained to Trixie that she wanted to do some research on pony biology and genetic inheritence. The reason: Trixie and Twilight's father had nearly identical cutie marks. Twilight had a theory, but she needed literary proof. "Hey, Twilight, hey-...Trixie?" Spike greeted the two ponies. "Hey, Spike," Twilight greeted in response. Trixie made no remark. "Twilight, what's she doing here?" Spike asked. "I need Trixie for the moment; she's going to help me conduct some research on something very important." "Y-you're not replacing me a-are you?" Spike stuttered. "Of course not, Spike: you're my number one assistant! Speaking of which, could you fetch me that book on pony biology and genetic inheritence?" "Absolutely!" Spike bowed, grabbed the ladder, slid it to his desired destination, climbed it, retrieved the book from the topmost shelf, climbed down, and handed the book off to Twilight, who used her magic to levitate it and bring it to her pedastal. "Now then." She started flipping through the pages. "Trixie." "Hmm?" Trixie asked, approaching Twilight from behind. "What do you remember of your childhood?" Trixie pondered that inquiry. "I just remember growing up with my dad and my brother," she said. "Nothing specific. I didn't really spend a whole lot of time with them - or anypony actually. I was too focused on studying magic and becoming the greatest and most powerful unicorn in Equestria." "I see...did you have a mother?" "Well, of course, 'cause I was born, but I don't remember her face. I don't even remember meeting her. I never knew my mother." "Fascinating...and what can you tell me about your father and your brother?" "Um..." Trixie tried to remember, but she seemed to be extremely forgetful of her past. "I'm sorry, Twilight, but I simply can't tell you anything. My memory's all fogged up." "That's okay. It's hard to remember things from your early to late childhood." "Am I being of any use, Twilight?" "Not really...but, uh...okay! I found something!" Twilight pointed to a paragraph in her book. "It says here that, as studies have shown, it is likely - but not certain - that offspring ponies will share the special talent of their parents. That makes sense, considering the Apple Family. All those ponies have cutie marks with pictures of apples and apple-related things on them. And their special talents all revolve around apple-related activities." "What are you getting at?" Trixie asked. "Haven't you noticed that the two of us share special talents in magic?" "Well...now that you pointed it out to me, I can see that. We are both great with magic...you just...more than me." "And, did you also know that your cutie mark and my dad's cutie mark are nearly identical?" Twilight left the pedastal, and climbed the stairs to her nightstand and retrieved an old framed picture with her magic, bringing it downstairs as she descended the staircase. "What? That's preposterous, Twilight! Your father and I aren't related in any way." "Oh, yeah?" Twilight asked snidely, showing Trixie the portrait of her parents, both of her parents' cutie marks in clear revelation. Trixie's pupils shrunk. She raised her cape over her flank and kept switching between looking at Mr. Sparkle's cutie mark and hers. "That's quite a coincidence," she said. "The odds of your father and me sharing cutie marks and not being related are one in a billion, even with my special talent being magic." "I don't think it's a coincidence," Twilight pondered. "Really? Then what do you think it is? An anamoly?" "You know what I think, Trixie?" Twilight asked, putting the portrait back where she found it. "I think you're my sister."
Chapter 2 - Into the Frying Pan"Sisters? Mois? And you? And-...I-...just-...I-...how?!" Trixie scrambled for her words. "Well, I'm no sexologist," Twilight began, with surprising calmness. "But I am a bibliophile. And I think the answer to your question can easily be explained with books." "Books? What can books explain?" "Everything, if you look hard enough," Twilight answered gaily. "It's why I love books and reading so much: you get to explore the world and learn about anything you can imagine." "But what kind of book could ever explain how we're sisters...assuming we are?" "A very special kind," Twilight grinned intently. "One which can't be found in my library. Or any library. At least, not while the author is living, anyway." Trixie played along with Twilight's guessing game. "Oh, I give up!" "A diary!" Twilight exclaimed. "A diary?" Trixie scoffed. "Do ponies even keep those anymore?" "Rarity does. And so does Pinkie Pie. And Rainbow Dash. And..." Twilight leaned in towards Trixie's ear. "So does Spike." "Huh? Did you say something about me, Twilight?" Spike inquired. "Uh, nope! Nothing!" Twilight put on a huge grin. She ridded of it quickly. "Anyway, yes, ponies do still keep them. And I'm pretty sure someone in my family keeps a diary which will explain a thing or two." "Well, it certainly wouldn't be my mother, since I don't know a thing about her." "I wasn't gonna suggest her," Twilight mumbled. "Oh. Who then?" "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." "Princess Mi Amore Ca- who in the hoof is that?!" "My sister-in-law," Twilight answered. "Your sister-in-law...what would your sister-in-law know?" "Princess Cadence may not be a parent, but she is my brother's wife, and, more importantly, a childhood friend." She started pacing. "I'm sure she's kept a diary for years, and even if she hasn't, I don't doubt that she remembers the part of our lives which we don't remember simply because our brains weren't completely developed. If there's anypony who knows, it's her...well, her and my father...and possibly Shining Armor as well..." Twilight paused and turned back to Trixie. "How badly do you wanna spend the rest of your life in desolate humiliation, Trixie?" "Mmm, not very." "Would you care to journey with me to Canterlot?" "Now?!" "No, in the morning." "Oh. Yeah, sure, I guess I could tag along." Twilight smiled. "Great." "Where am I supposed to sleep, though?" "Are you allergic to dragons?" Spike gasped. "Twilight!" "I'm kidding, Spike." She giggled softly. "I know the perfect place for you, Trixie." Trixie raised an eyebrow. It was...discomforting, to say the least, for Trixie. But she managed to spend the night with Twilight. Twilight was certainly more open and mature about it than Trixie, who groused about it all night. But she said not a word of it the following morning. "So, where to go to Canterlot?" she asked, resuming the conversation from the previous night. "Good morning, Trixie," Twilight said, almost sounding sarcastic as she made her bed. Trixie scoffed. "I'm not treating you like a sibling until it has been proven to me." "We shared a bed last night," Twilight remarked. Trixie did not reply immediately. "My argument still stands." "Does not. Anyway, we take the Friendship Express to Canterlot, just like always." Twilight started downstairs, Trixie following her as the lesser unicorn put her attire back on. "Do you really need that garb?" Twilight asked when she noticed the unnecessary clothing. "What? This? It's part of who I am." "It's also kinda childish since you're going to be walking through the streets of Canterlot." Trixie sighed. "Very well." She abruptly dismissed her clothes with her magic as Twilight opened the door. "Wait, Twilight! What about me?" Spike asked, hurrying to the doorway as the supposed sisters began their egress. "You stay here, Spike. We won't be gone long. I promise." Spike frowned. "Aww, okay." "Consider this your vacation time from being my number one assistant." "But...I already completed my list of things to do during my vacation from last time." "I'm sure you'll find other things to do. I have five friends who like you: go play with them. Find a ball and play Fetch with Pinkie Pie." "That's a- wait, seriously, she'll do that?" Twilight giggled. "Only one way to find out." Spike stood there, puzzled, as Twilight closed the door behind her, Trixie kept waiting right outside. The girls then strolled through Ponyville with the upmost casualty, Twilight leading the way to the Friendship Express. "I do not understand why we couldn't just teleport here," Trixie whined when they arrived. "Hmm...you know, me neither," Twilight said. Trixie scoffed. They waited patiently for the train to arrive, which, fortunately, was not a long time to wait. They boarded, and promptly sat next to each other. "Um, Twilight?" Trixie asked. "Yes~?" "What if it turns out you're right, and we really are sisters?" "What of it?" "Are things gonna be different between us? Are you gonna start telling me you love me and stuff like that?" "We'll see. But you're certainly not gonna be allowed to spend the rest of your life in humiliation. I won't let that happen to my sister." Trixie was warmed by Twilight's words. "You know...for all the trouble I've caused while I was in Ponyville the two times I was since I became the Great and Powerful Trixie...you sure don't hold a grudge against me." "Your mind was corrupted by the Alicorn Amulet, Trixie, you had no control over that." "What about the first time?" "That was Snips' and Snails' fault." "Oh, stop being so modest." "I'm not being modest; I'm being honest: putting the blame where it belongs, Trixie. You may have bragged about defeating one, but it was Snips and Snails who disturbed the Ursa Minor." "What about before my mind was corrupted? I didn't just find the Alicorn Amulet lying around on the ground. I bought it." "Well...I guess I have to admit that you were responsible for that. But I'm still not holding it against you." Trixie grinned. "You're a good friend, Twilight." Twilight grinned back. The train finally arrived at Canterlot, where Twilight and Trixie hopped off and strolled all the way to Canterlot Castle. There they asked directions to locate Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. The Princess gave them their instructions, the girls then following them perfectly. They arrived at the suite of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. All they had to do was knock. "Are you ready?" Twilight whispered to Trixie. "I've got an eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach, Twilight," Trixie mumbled back. "Like we shouldn't be doing this." "Me too...but it's the only way to find out if we're related. Shining Armor is way older than me, and, come to think of it, aren't you older, too?" "I think so." "That's why we're here...Do you want me to do the honors?" "No no, I got it." Trixie knocked on the door to the suite. Shining Armor answered. "Yes? Oh, Twilie! Come on in!" He opened the door wide to let the girls in. "Who's your friend?" "This is Trixie," Twilight answered. "As in the Great and Powerful Trixie." "T-T-Trixie?" Shining Armor stuttered. "Hello, Shining Armor," Trixie said darkly. She knocked him to the ground. "What are you hiding?"
Chapter 3 - The Undying Truth"Hiding? I'm not hiding anything," Shining Armor whined. "Likely story," Trixie protested, hovering over him. "Honey, what's going on here?" Princess Cadence asked, entering the room. She noticed Trixie and gasped. "Trixie! N-no! It can't be!" Twilight stepped closer to her brother and her sister-in-law. "I could ask you two the same thing." "It's...not important." "Not important, huh? Then why not let Trixie and me in on it? What's going on? What are you ponies hiding?" Princess Cadence frowned and walked over to Twilight, towering over her. "It's a long story," she said. "Trixie and I have time." "And I won't begin until you let go of my husband." Trixie got off Shining Armor, and helped him up to his hooves. Princess Cadence sighed. "It's about your father, Twilight. A forgotten memory. A concealed secret. And a questionable sexuality." She seemed to have paused. "Go on," Twilight said. "Do you know why you and I are so distant in our ages, Twilight?" Shining Armor asked. "And how I already had my cutie mark and graduated from school by the time you came along?" "I just figured Mom and Dad took a while with me." "They did," Shining Armor rubbed the back of his neck. "But...there was also a child born between us. And she's standing here with us." All eyes turned to Trixie. "Her?" Shining Armor and Princess Cadence nodded. "So, you are my flesh-and-blood sister!" Twilight exclaimed to Trixie. Shining Armor shook his head. "Not exactly, Twilie. You see, after I was born, and long into my childhood, Mom, who was the working pony at the time, had to go on a long business trip to Manehattan. Dad...he didn't like being alone. So he spent a lot of his time around other mares to fill in the gap that Mom usually filled. Unfortunately, he got a little too comfortable. He ended up falling in love with one of them, and the next thing we know, the mare was pregnant. Nine months later, this little filly joined the family." Shining Armor pointed right at Trixie. "Mois?" she asked, putting her hoof to her breast. Shining Armor nodded. "Yup. After you were born, we got another letter from Mom, and she said that she'll be a while longer. Dad was devastated. He became very scared. So he said farewell to the mare he met - I don't even remember her name - took you and me, tried to raise a normal family, and pretended like nothing happened. That was...easier said than done. While you were a little girl, Trixie, you were very curious about your mother and why you never heard about her and never saw her. Dad lied to you day after day about her. He kept coming up with excuses and very elaborate stories, even though all the while, he was simply avoiding her, because, for all it matters, you were just a mistake. You were a bastard child, and if you weren't so gifted at magic, I'd imagine your fate would've been worse than it was." "I don't remember any of that!" Trixie exclaimed. "That's another thing - how come I don't remember anything? I know that early childhood memories are impossible to remember, but if all this was happening for years, I should at least remember some of it." "Isn't it obvious?" Shining Armor asked. Trixie scoffed. "No!" "Dad used his magic to blank your memory of nearly everything that happened. That was way back when magic was his forte, much like it is yours today. He left bits and pieces, so it seemed like simple memory loss, but not enough for you to really understand what had gone on. All the lying, the fornicating - everything under those terms was blanked from your memory so you wouldn't become curious and, well...prevent this very conversation from happening. The three of us hoped this day would never happen. I guess our luck finally ran out." "The three of you?" Twilight inquired. "You, Dad, and Mom?" "Him, your father, and me," Princess Cadence replied. "I was let in on everything when I started foalsitting you. Your mother finally returned from her business trip, and the first thing your father did was insist on having another child. That's where you came along, Twilight. Your mother quit her job so she could take care of you, and instead, guilty out of his mind, your father insisted on finding work instead. During my briefing, Shining Armor and I swore never to tell anyone about this, for fear it would slingshot back to us and end up causing lots of avoidable and unnecessary trouble, especially if your mother ever found out." Shining Armor clenched his teeth. "Ooohhhh, what Mom would do if she found out Dad had Trixie..." He shook his head. "I doubt she'd forgive him. There is no excuse for such an act." Both Twilight and Trixie were paralyzed. "So...who knows about all of this?" Twilight asked. "Just me, Cadence, Dad, and now you and Trixie," Shining Armor answered. "Just us and Dad now. And, though we swore ourselves to secrecy, I guess we knew deep down that this wouldn't be a secret forever. From the moment Trixie got her cutie mark, we knew we would end up in hot water. We forgot about it from time to time, but, somehow, it never completely escaped our thoughts...another reason why Dad blanked your memory, Trixie." "I'm guessing me getting my cutie mark was included in what was blanked of my memory," Trixie retorted. "You got it," Shining Armor replied. "Too much evidence was revealed with your cutie mark. It looks way too much like his to simply be a coincidence. So the most precious moment of your young life had to be taken away from you in order to prevent Dad's dirty laundry from being discovered. Believe me: he tore himself up after he blanked your memory, Trixie. He was not happy with himself. He wasn't until long after Mom got back from her trip. I think after Twilight was born did he finally calm down and be happy, figuring that since he had a second child with Mom, he would be in the clear for the rest of his life, and he wouldn't have to worry about this matter anymore." "How did Twilight's mom never find out about me?" Trixie asked. "You were taken to a foster home. We knew it was perfect because the family's mother had passed away, and they had an older brother. It was an exact replica of the family you were losing. Anything about your father or me you remember is not actually about your father and me, but is about your foster father and foster brother." "I hardly remember them." "That was not Dad's doing. He left you alone after that. He didn't try to further sabotage his horrible deed. He hoped and prayed that what he had blanked of your memory was enough to have you assume that your childhood was spent entirely with the folks who took care of you after Dad gave you up. Mom never met you. She doesn't even know you exist. Well...when she went to see Twilight's show, and happened to see you in the audience (which I doubt), she knows you exist, but would not at all recognize you because she knows absolutely nothing about you. As far as she knows, you don't even exist." "What about my real mom?" "We don't know what happened to her," Princess Cadence continued for Shining Armor. "Once Twilight's mother returned from her trip, your father lost complete contact with her in an effort to ensure that the two mares never even looked each other in the eye. If they ever met, there's no doubt that he would've been found out by his wife, and...I can't imagine how horrible your life would have been if that had happened. He did it all to protect you two. As fate would have it, you two met, connected the dots, and now you all know the big secret that's been haunting this family for years." "Dad went on about blanking your real mom's memory, Trixie," Shining Armor began. "But he never acted upon it. He felt that blanking her memory would just be a step too far and would cause too much damage. It would just be easier to avoid contact altogether. Since the problem never came back until now, I guess his plan worked. We lost track of your real mother, but, as far as we know, she's alright. We doubt anything happened to her that would bring any real pain to you. She's probably married to another stallion by now, and has kids of her own which were not accidents." "So...my entire life...was an accident?" Trixie started to tear up. "Hey," her brother approached her and put his hoof on her shoulder. "Dad loved you, Trixie. It was your foster father, we believe, who turned you into a braggy maniac. Had he not gave you up to them, you'd be just like Twilight - even more than you are right now! Your father loved you! You were the most beautiful foal he had ever seen, and though you were more outgoing than Twilight, everything that he loves about Twilight, he saw in you as well. Trust me, giving you up was not easy. It killed him on the inside. But he did it to protect you. He never forgave himself for what he did. And it was his love of you, Trixie, which made his life so painful. In one way, he resented his actions, but, at the same time, he also didn't resent you, and that's probably the hardest part of it." "My dad...loved me?" Both Shining Armor and Princess Cadence nodded. "More than anything except me and Twilight." Trixie started crying. Twilight approached her and gave her an affectionate hug. "Thank you, Twilight," Trixie uttered through her tears, though she did not return the hug. "You too, Shining Armor...Princess Cadence..." "Our pleasure, Trixie," Shining Armor replied. "I think that if you connected enough dots to come to us and know that we're keeping secrets," Princess Cadence began. "You deserve to know the truth." Trixie wiped away her tears, Twilight retracting her hug. "So...what does this mean between Twilight and me? Are we sisters?" "Sorta," Princess Cadence answered. "You're half-sisters, which is anyone who was born from one of the same parents. You and Twilight have the same father, but not the same mother. Therefore, you two are half-siblings." "What about Dad?" Twilight asked. "What are we gonna do now that we know everything that has happened with him?" "Well," Princess Cadence began. "As I see it, there are two things you can do: you can either go to him, let him know that you found out - you don't even have to mention that we told you - and see what he says, or you can just go home and pretend that nothing happened. If I were you...I'd tell him. I think he deserves to meet his daughter again." "Can we both go?" Trixie asked. "Of course." Trixie looked right at Twilight, signaling nonverbally that she desired her company. Twilight nodded, both mares said goodbye to Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, and then made a polite egress from their suite.
Chapter 4 - The Final ConfessionTwilight knocked on the door to her parents' house in Canterlot, Trixie in hiding by crouching under the window against the wall. "Yes? Oh, hello, Twilie!" He gave his daughter a hug. "What brings you to Canterlot?" "Dad...can we talk...in private?" Twilight asked. "Um...sure," Mr. Sparkle suddenly started to lose enthusiasm as he slowly backed away into his home to make room for Twilight to enter. "Right this way." "Hey, Twilie!" Mrs. Sparkle greeted her beloved daughter. "Hey, Mom," she greeted back, with less enthusiasm. Mr. Sparkle and his daughter entered the master bedroom, Mr. Sparkle closing the door behind him as to make sure no words left the room and reached the large ears of Twilight's mother. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" he asked. "I know about Trixie," was all Twilight had to say. Mr. Sparkle's pupils shrunk in his giant eyes. "She's right outside," Twilight continued. "I didn't want Mom to see her: I wanted you to see her first." "I...you know?" "I know everything, Dad." "How do you?" "You raised a smart daughter...or, should I say, two smart daughters. And an honest son." Mr. Sparkle grunted. "I knew I should've blanked Shining Armor when I had the chance!" "Shh!" Twilight put her hoof to her mouth. "That would've been the wrong thing to do. You did the right thing by trusting him. Trixie and I connected the dots, and all Shining Armor and Princess Cadence did was tell us the truth instead of pussyfooting with us. I would've felt greatly disrespected by my elders if they had not told me and Trixie what we wanted to hear." Mr. Sparkle sighed. "Your mom can never know about Trixie." "I think she has too, Dad...if she hears about all the sacrifices you made, and all you went through to make sure Trixie was safe and healthy and happy and that you felt guilty about her birth despite how much you love her...I think she will be accepting of it. Trixie and I were accepting because we were confronted and told the truth when we asked for it. Mom will never ask for it. You'll have to bring the truth to her. But I know Mom. She raised me - you raised me. I think it's in her best interest to know." Mr. Sparkle considered it, but he was still quite hesitant. He shook his head. "How would I break it to her, Twilight?" "Just don't say anything: let Trixie do the talking. She's a wonderful pony - beyond all the insanity she obtained from her foster family - and I'm sure she will minimize the pain you'll feel by letting Mom know that you fornicated." "Well...it's just that I-" "Sh-sh-sh-sh...don't think about anything. Just let Trixie spill it to her, and have her do the talking. Jump in when you know the time is right." Mr. Sparkle still had doubts about this. But he knew that his daughter would persist if he did not give in. "Alright," he said. "May I go see Trixie first?" "She's right outside." Mr. Sparkle and Twilight left the bedroom, Twilight going to visit her mother for a moment as Mr. Sparkle exited the house to greet Trixie. "Oh~" he began. "Look how much you've grown!" "Hey...Dad," Trixie mumbled, not used to addressing this particular man as 'Dad.' Mr. Sparkle gave Trixie a warm hug. "I've missed you so much, Trixie." "I missed you too, Dad." "Now, there's someone else you have to meet...Are you ready?" "Ready as I'll ever be." Mr. Sparkle took a deep breath, and then he and his firstborn daughter reentered the house. There was Mrs. Sparkle and Twilight seated together on the couch at the far end of the living room. "Twilight," Mrs. Sparkle began. "Who's your friend?" "This is Trixie," Mr. Sparkle answered for his daughter. "And she's...more than just Twilight's friend." "Oh? How's that now?" Mr. Sparkle sighed. "Do you remember your trip from way back when?" "You mean my business trip?" Mr. Sparkle nodded. "Well...while you were gone...this little filly came into my life." Mrs. Sparkle did not reply. "My name is Trixie Lulamoon," Trixie began. "I was conceived with another mare while you were away. My father feels extremely guilty for what he did while you were gone. He made sure I was a happy, healthy foal, but then gave me up to a foster family. I spent most of my life with them. I don't even remember being this stallion's child. But I am fortunate to be his daughter. I know I would not have received such a pleasant fate from a pony who tells me that I was nothing but a mistake." "I feel terribly about it," continued Mr. Sparkle. "I spent all this time living in fear that you would one day stumble upon the truth...my daughters have convinced me that it is better that I just say it right to your face: I cheated on you - once and only once - while you were off in Manehattan...I know I won't ever receive your forgiveness, but-" Mrs. Sparkle raised a hoof, and rose from the couch. She approached her husband, but spoke not a word. "Are you mad at me?" Mrs. Sparkle shook her head. "I'm not mad." "Are you disappointed? 'Cause I've learned that-" Mrs. Sparkle shook her head again. "I'm not disappointed, either." She sighed under her breath. "I was gone for...how long?" "Months and months..." Mr. Sparkle paused. "Three years." "I was gone for far too long. You know, I quit that job at the risk of throwing this family into debt because I was so frustrated of how demanding my job was to you and Shining Armor. You were lonely, you missed me, and you got so used to being alone that you did the unthinkable. But...I have to forgive you...because I know that if I don't...you won't forgive me...for what I have put you through." Tears trickled down the cheeks of both ponies, as they united in a hug. "I'm sorry, Dearie." "Me too, Sweetie, me too." It was a long moment before they retracted their hug and kissed. Mr. Sparkle's spirit suddenly returned to him, now that his secret was out and his wife was fine knowing that she was cheated on. And Mrs. Sparkle was fine having finally apologized to her husband, and repaying the debt she desperately seeked to repay since she took her extended business trip to Manehattan. "Now," she said, turning to Trixie. "You're my husband's daughter?" Trixie nodded. "I am, Mrs. Sparkle." "Oh, please, call me Mom." "I am...Mom." Trixie blushed. "You are one beautiful little foal," she said warmly. Trixie smiled. "Thank you." "And I am honored to call you my daughter, even though I am not the mare who birthed you. You may have been a mistake biologically, but your inaguration into the Sparkle family is no mistake to me." Trixie's smile grew. Mrs. Sparkle returned to her husband. "I just have one question, though." "What is it, Sweetheart?" "How did Trixie get the surname Lulamoon?" "Lulamoon was her mother's mareden name: Luna Lulamoon. Probably explains why her cutie mark looks like a crescent moon." "Well, not anymore. Now, Trixie, you are Trixie Sparkle." Twilight lunged to Trixie in a hug. "Welcome to the family, Trixie!" Trixie Sparkle Trixie thought to herself. Yeah, I like the sound of that. Indeed I do. Author's Note *Mareden in case you couldn't tell, pony-talk for maiden.
