"Midnight Blood, you are hereby accused with treason to Equestria. How do you plead?" asked Celestia, frowning in disappointment. Hopper looked up to the princess of sun hatefully. It was his loyalty to his father that lead him through this path, and he wasn't going to stop now.

"I plead gui.."  

"Wait! Celestia, let me show him something before his trial! He is a confused colt." begged Rainbow Dash, flying through the doors of the royal courtroom. Looking upon the unicorn's mother, she nodded, knowing it was time he knew.

"Come with me, and I'll show you the truth." the cyan pegasus told him. Irritated, he followed Rainbow Dash, flanked by royal guards. In the royal waiting room, sat Princess Twilight Sparkle and her brother, Shining Armour.

"Are you sure about this Rainbow? Do you think they're ready?" queried the princess of magic. The pegasus nodded, and stood facing her son and Shining.

"Well, Hopper... Sombra isn't your father. On the night of Twilight's coronation, everypony was really drunk. Me and Shining went into a private chamber, and well... Nine months later, I had a handsome foal that looked like his father." explained the reluctant mother, pausing every few words to keep her calm.

"What!?" shouted Hopper and Shining. They turn to face each other, orbiting around one another to find similarities. Hopper shook his head, this just couldn't be true. Shining Armour loved Princess Cadance, and he wouldn't dream of having a foal with anypony else. Would he? Granted that anything was possible with a little alchol, but Shining was a responsible drinker.

"Shining, I know it's hard to believe, but I used a spell to make sure. Cloud Hopper Dash is your son." Twilight explained, hoping her brother didn't go into shock. Shining shook his head nervously.

"What would Cadance think?" he muttered, clearly unsettled at the thought of his wife knowing he's had a foal with another mare. They let him pace around for a while, but they all stopped when they heard a loud boom as doors flew open. The doors revealed Celestia, followed by Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Hopper looked his step mother in the eyes, as she had obviously been listening in on their conversation.

"Well, this case has been settled. Cloud Hopper, you are pronounced not guilty!" rejoiced Celestia. The princess of sun recieved many odd looks, being that she had confetti in her mane and a icing moustache.

"Shining, may I have a word with you?" asked Cadance as she trotted over to Shining. Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed his ear with her magic and dragged him off into her chambers. The other ponies waited patiently as they heard shouting, screaming, and then the sound of a shattering vase. Princess Celestia had made herself more presentable while everypony was waiting for the fight to end. The door creaked open as Cadance reappeared, and she closed the door behind her.

"Cloud Hopper Dash..." she called smoothly. Gulping, Hopper walked up to the princess of love. He was scared what she was going to do, and was shocked when he was embraced by pink hooves.

"Welcome to the family!" cheered Cadance. Struggling for air, he removed himself from the crushing bear hug.

"Thanks, I guess. You arn't mad?" asked Hopper as he rubbed his mane. Rainbow Dash walked up besides him.

"Of course not! Cadance was only angry that Shining Armour went to the after party without her!" she giggled, as the princess embraced her as well.

After lots of hugging and laughing, Shining Armour finally exited his wife's chambers. He edged his way over to the nearest exit, but was stopped by Rainbow Dash.

"Hey! You're not leaving without having a little fun with our son!" she commanded, pointing her hoof in the direction of spoken unicorn colt. Not even replying, he walked up behind his son. Deep in concentration, Hopper was trying to use his telekinesis to lift a statue of a swan. Firing up his horn as well, Shining assited his son, their combined magic turning a distinct shade of royal blue. The young unicorn was exhilerated, and he did a little dance. In a burst of inspiration, Hopper galloped to the gardens. He was followed by Shining Armour, who was the first pony to notice something. Cloud Hopper lacked a cutie mark. How something so important could be missed nopony knows, but Shining Armour was blinded by a flash of light. When he got his sight back, his son's flank was no longer blank. To his pride, his flank was adorned with three clouds, all connected by a rainbow. It looked as if his mother had bounced at full speed on those clouds. Finally, looking at his surrondings, Shining found himself staring into the sky, with his own son bouncing around on the clouds!

"Mom, look at me!" he shouted as she exited the castle, her mouth agape.

"My son.... My son can walk on clouds!" she exclaimed in shock. Rainbow Dash swelled up with pride upon seeing her son's cutie mark. She leaped into the sky, racing her son around the sky. Laughing, leaping, and creating rainbows, the two were having a blast.

"Mom, I think I found my special talent." Hopper said happily. Rainbow Dash agreed, and looked down to check on Shining. He looked okay, and he was motioning for them to land.

"Race ya to the ground!" shouted Rainbow as she shot for the ground. Hopper laughed as he jumped into empty air, a cloud appearing under his hooves each time he did. It took him a few seconds longer than his mother, but he made it down back to his father.

"Hopper, that was great! I called you and your mother down to eat some dinner before you guys go home." he told his son, feeling oddly proud of his colt that he just met.

"Maybe, just maybe, I can get used to him being my son..."

The End! Next Chapter: Epilogue Estimated time remaining: 4 Minutes