Fluttershy's friends stood in the hospital room as nurse Redheart looked over the mare until she turned to look at them. “She simply had a panic attack from the looks of it. Is this her first time having one?” Nurse Redheart asked curiously.

“No but then again, she's never had one this bad either.” Twilight replied softly as she looked over at the sleeping mare again.

“We'll keep her here under observation for a couple of hours, just to make sure nothing is wrong.” The earth pony replied as she walked past the five and turned to face them. “You all should get some rest. It looks like this has been a busy day for you all.” She added before she left the room.

“One of us should stay with her so they can tell the others when she wakes up.” Twilight suggested after a few moments of silence between the five.

“Oh, Oh! Me,me,me!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she hopped up and down in place.

“Yes, I agree. It should be the one who doesn't have any prior engagements to attend to and has plenty of free-time on her hooves.” Rarity added with a thoughtful expression.

“Me! Pick me!” The hyperactive mare exclaimed as she waved her front hooves frantically in the air between hops.

“Yeah, somepony who don't have a job they need to be doin on a daily basis.” Applejack added now as well as she looked at Rainbow Dash and smirked.

“Me! Pick me!!! I have nothing to do and don't have a job to do at all!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she continued to hop up and down waving her front hooves with each hop.

The four mares then turned to look at Pinkie Pie and smirked at her. “What do you think, Pinkie? You want to stay here and make sure Fluttershy sees a friendly face when she wakes up?” Twilight asked as she looked at the mare who up till this point was hopping up and down and waving her hooves frantically.

The mare's face suddenly became serious as she pulled what looked to be a notebook from nowhere and began to look through it. “Hmm, I don't know. Let me see if I have a slot open.” She said as she looked through the notebook.

A collective set of sounds which could be none other than the sound of hooves colliding with foreheads could be heard as the four stared at the party mare with annoyed expressions for a moment before they began to file out the hospital room and left the party mare without her knowledge as she continued to scan the contents of her notebook.

--------------------------------------------------

With nothing better to do, Twilight parted ways with her friends and decided it was about time she visited Scootaloo's parents. Though she didn't want to get them involved, it was inevitable now... wasn't it?

This thought halted the Alicorn in her tracks. Just why was she going so far for this young Pegasus? She could have very easily made up something by now in order to alleviate Scootaloo's worries. She doesn't even have to go to Scootaloo's parents even. With her vast magical knowledge, she could easily create a fake document and present it to the filly.

Even with Scootaloo being more knowledgeable than she lets on, there's no way she'd be clever enough to know the difference between the fake and the real thing.

So why? Why was she still pursuing this, even now? So what if the young filly wonders if she's really related to her parents. Things like these happen all the time and in the end, the colt or filly's worries are put to rest once the parents wise up and explain things to them.

“Why? Why am I still trying to find out something that isn't even that big a deal?” Twilight asked herself aloud as she walked through the neighborhood towards the young filly's house. The Alicorn couldn't explain it. It was as if some unseen force was attempting to force her to continue this pointless search for answers that the parents could easily provide.

No.

It was more than that. Twilight wasn't blind, she saw the blatant concern in her former mentor's eyes when she asked about Scootaloo's birth certificate. Did she know something? Maybe her mind was just playing tricks on her or maybe there really is something up regarding Scootaloo's parents.

She didn't know why but she had a feeling that all the pieces of this puzzle would fall together once she spoke to the filly's parents. Or maybe it was her fond hope that they would.

Regardless of either of these reasons, she stood before Scootaloo's house now. “No point in turning back now.” She remarked aloud as she reached a hoof forward and knocked on the front door.

A few moments passed and the front door opened up revealing a female earth pony mare. “May I help you?” The mare asked causally, obviously not realizing who was standing before her at first before it set in moments later at which point her eyes snapped wide in shock and realization. “P-Princess! Forgive me! I did not realize it was you at first!” The mare exclaimed as she bowed deeply before the mare.

“It's alright. May I-”

“Honey, who is it?” A male voice resounded from inside the house which cut the Alicorn off at which point the mare snapped her head to look behind herself.

“It's Princess Twilight!”

“The Princess?! Are you sure?!”

“Yes! She's standing right in front of me!”

The loud sound of hurried hoof-steps raged towards the Alicorn and mare's location until a male earth pony stood next to his wife. “Princess Twilight! You honor us with your presence!” The stallion exclaimed before he bowed deeply along side his wife.

Twilight blushed deeply as she witnessed this. She still wasn't used to being refereed to as a princess by Ponyville's residents to begin with and all this flattery was making her feel rather uncomfortable. “Please. Just call me Twilight. May I come in?” The Alicorn replied after a moment's silence.

“O-Of course!” The couple said almost simultaneously and motioned for the mare to follow them inside.

Once inside the Alicorn got a good look around the household. Family photos lay adorned along the walls of the house. Each one with Scootaloo present in it. Once Twilight entered the living room of their home, the mare beckoned Twilight over the couch. “P-Please make yourself at home, Princess! I'll go prepare some tea for you!” The mare exclaimed and quickly trotted off to the kitchen.

“That's not...” Twilight began to say only to trail off due to the mare leaving the room in such a hurry.

“I must say, if I had known royalty was going to be visiting us today, I would have freshened up the house more.” The stallion remarked with a deep blush as he sat down on a couch adjacent to her.

“It's okay, really.” Twilight replied with a light smile as she looked back at the stallion whom fidgeted in his seat uncomfortably.

An awkward silence ensued between the two for a time until the mare reappeared, carrying a tray of cups with hot tea in them over to the two, set the tray on the desk in between them, and sat down next to her husband. “So, what brings over her royal highness to our humble home?” The mare asked in the most polite tone the Alicorn had ever heard spoken towards her.

Twilight levitated a cup of tea over to her mouth, took a sip, and let out a soft sigh before she spoke. “Well, it's about your daughter.” She said casually as she looked at them.

“Did something happen to Scootaloo? Is she okay?” The mare asked her tone becoming a little more worried and panicked with each word she spoke.

“She's just fine.” Twilight replied casually much to the relief of the mare who let out a sigh upon hearing these words.

“Speaking of our daughter, let me just say that we are honored to have you as her mentor.” The stallion spoke up to which the Alicorn nearly choked on her tea.

“Ahem, I'm merely helping her hone her skills. I'm afraid I don't have a personal pupil of my own as of yet.” Twilight remarked in the most calm manner possible despite the statement startling her. “In fact, I'm helping two other fillies at the same time hone their skills in other fields as well. It's my fond hope that through my teachings, they will one day discover their special talents.” She added as she placed the tea-cup on the tray and smiled at them.

“Oh, I see. Regardless, we are grateful to you for taking your time to help our daughter.” The stallion said and though his voice sounded mildly disappointed, he never showed any sign of this on his facial features as he spoke.

“Well then, did you want to ask us something about Scootaloo? She's not in any kind of trouble is she? I swear, I've lectured that filly a thousand times over about those 'crusades' she and her friends often go on and-”

“No,no,no. It's nothing like that!” Twilight said in a mildly panicked tone cutting off the mare mid-ramble.

“Oh? Then what seems to be the problem, Princess?” The stallion asked curiously.

The Alicorn took a deep breath and began to explain the situation in full to the couple whom listened intently...

---------------------------------------------------

The farm mare shouted angrily before she turned about for what seemed like the one-hundredth time this week and walked away from a stallion who seemed to be coming over to get a piece of Rainbow Dash's flank.

“Just how many stallion did ya buck before ya decided to go steady with me Rainbow?!” Applejack exclaimed with a glare at her fillyfriend whom gave an annoyed glare back.

“Hey! Don't look at me! I stopped recognizing faces after the tenth one showed up almost a week ago!” Rainbow Dash retorted angrily as she walked next to Applejack towards the family house. “I know I brag about being the best in town but I've never been this popular before!” She huffed a few moments later.

“Well, it looks like yer reputation precedes ya then.” Applejack remarked bitterly and sighed. “Ah certainly hope that's the last of them.” she added with a sigh.

“You and me both.” Rainbow Dash remarked and sighed heavily herself. “I'm gonna head off and take care of some clouds. Today is supposed to be sunny skies and those clouds don't seem to get the hint.”

“Alright. I'll see ya later then, honey.” Applejack replied as she leaned over and locked lips with the cyan blue Pegasus before she took off for the skies.

SOMETIME LATER...

“And that's the last one!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she bucked the cloud out of the sky and let out a sigh of relief as she wiped sweat off her forehead. It was then she noticed a familiar face on the ground which was waving at her.

“Ugh, what does he want?” Rainbow Dash thought to herself dismally as she descended to the ground and landed a few short feet from the stallion. “I thought I told you I was off the market, Swashbuck.” She said rudely as she looked at him with a mildly annoyed expression.

“Well yes, you told me that a week ago. It's not uncommon for a stallion to one to come and have a friendly chat with a friend now is it?” Swashbuck remarked with a nervous smile.

“Your idea of a 'friendly chat' is slamming your dick into them while you brag to them about your job as a construction pony.” Rainbow Dash deadpanned at the stallion. “So if you aren't here to try to get under my tail, why are you here?” she asked with a suspicious glance.

The stallion cleared his throat uncomfortably before he replied. “Well, I couldn't help but notice the stallions trotting over to apple acres on a daily basis and was admiring just how popular you are in Ponyville.” He remarked with a coy smirk.

“And your point is?” Rainbow Dash asked with a glare.

“Well, I was thinking that I might be able to do something about that.” He said as he smiled a little wider.

“Really?!” The cyan blue Pegasus exclaimed in surprise at first until she remembered just who this stallion was and narrowed her eyes at him. “What's the catch?” She asked suspiciously.

“Oh nothing much...” He remarked casually as he walked past her until his face was dangerously close to hers. “Just become, my mare.” He said as his expression changed to a sneer.

Rainbow Dash immediately recoiled from the stallion and glared at him, her expression becoming instantly pissed off. “Your mare?! Did you have clouds stuffed in those ears when I told you that I was dating Applejack?!” She exclaimed as she pointed a hoof at him.

“Oh come now Rainbow Dash. I know you well enough to know you like cock too much to go steady with a foal-hole licker.” Swashbuck remarked as he walked up to the mare his cocky grin becoming wider if possible.

“Yeah Well, you don't know me as well as you think you do then! No deal, Swashbuck!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed and took off from the ground.

“I'll make you my mare yet, Rainbow Dash. Even if I have to send every single stallion in Ponyville after you in order to drive that wedge deeper between you and that foal-hole licker you call your fillyfriend.” Swashbuck remarked aloud as the cyan blue Pegasus flew off though she never heard these words...

----------------------------------------------

Scootaloo's parents exchanged nervous glances at one another after hearing the Alicorn's explanation. “Is something the matter?” Twilight asked as she noticed this unease between the couple and herself.

“Well, you see...” The mare began only to trail off.

“The fact is, Princess. We only adopted Scootaloo when she was but an infant foal.” The stallion added and sighed.

“So you both aren't her biological parents?” Twilight asked her expression and mind going into mild shock upon hearing these words.

Wait, mild shock? Why wasn't she completely blown away by this new set of information?

“Yes, I'm infertile you see. Me and my husband were visiting the Canterlot adoption clinic at the time in hopes of adopting a son or daughter of our very own. We were shocked that a newborn filly was there in the first place.” The mare remarked aloud.

“Yes. Even the staff couldn't fully explain how she got there. She didn't even have a birth certificate on record with them. And every infant foal and filly who was admitted to the adoption clinic has one even if the mother requests to not be mentioned as the birth mother according to them.” The stallion added and sighed again.

“The only thing they knew about the filly was her name. Strange, I know. We felt sorry for the filly, being left in a place like this and decided to adopt her and take her as our own.” The mare said after a few more moments of silence between the three.

Something didn't add up and that more than anything, was unsettling to the mare. Was it the fact that Princess Celestia showed signs that she may have known something? But if that was so, why didn't she outright tell the Alicorn that Scootaloo was adopted in the first place? “Why would the princess keep something like this from me if she knew?” Twilight asked herself softly.

“Princess?” The stallion asked curiously.

“N-Nothing. Thank you for telling me this. I need to be going now though. I have uh, princessly duties to attend to.” The Alicorn lied as she stood up and walked towards the door.

“Um Princess? What should we tell Scootaloo?” The mare asked suddenly which caused Twilight to stop.

“Nothing. The last thing we need is Scootaloo becoming even more depressed. She's already feeling out-of-place as it stands. Telling her this will only cause her more grief and uncertainty.” Twilight remarked wisely before she opened the door and left the house without another word.

“I thought that talking to Scootaloo's parents would solve her problems, not cause more.” Twilight remarked aloud with a thoughtful expression, clearly unaware of a certain party mare charging straight for her...

“Ow... Pinkie! What in Equestria is your deal?!” Twilight exclaimed with an annoyed glare at the pink puffy maned mare.

“Well, Fluttershy woke up and she was asking where everypony was and then I told and then she asked me to go find you guys and tell you she's okay and then I came here and-mmm,mmmph!” Pinkie Pie began to ramble on only for the Alicorn to zip her mouth up via magic and let out an annoyed sigh.

Pinkie Pie sat in place for a few moments as she comically began to claw at her zipped up mouth as if to try and pry it open before Twilight spoke. “I get it Pinkie. Lets go back to the hospital.” She said and unzipped the hyperactive mare's mouth.

“I need to go and get our friends! I'll meet you there Twilight!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed no sooner her mouth was unzipped and dashed off before the mare could utter a word to stop her.

The Alicorn let out a sigh and decided to put her current dilemma to the side for the moment and see her friend.

------------------------------------------

“Oh Twilight. I'm happy to see that Pinkie got the message to you.” Fluttershy remarked softly as the Alicorn stepped into the hospital room.

“Oh I got it alright and I have the bruise on my side to prove it.” Twilight joked aloud as she brandished the mild bruise from the hyperactive pink mare's skull when it collided with her side.

Both mare exchanged light laughs for a time before Twilight sat down in one of the chairs and looked at her. “So how are you feeling?” She asked in a concerned tone.

The yellow Pegasus's smile vanished upon hearing this question and gave a long-winded sigh. “I'm feeling just fine if that's what you mean.” She replied with a frown as she sat up in her bed and looked over at her friend.

“I know you're no element of honesty but come on Fluttershy, something had to make you have a major panic attack.” Twilight replied with a stern glance at the Pegasus.

Fluttershy let out yet another long-winded sigh before she spoke. “It's about Discord. I don't know how to explain it but I just know something bad has happened to him.” She said her voice quivering with worry and concern as she spoke.

Twilight looked at her friend and knew she wasn't just spouting off unfounded concerns but despite this she attempted to console her friend. “Oh come now, Fluttershy. This is Discord we're talking about remember? Tirek doesn't have a chance against him.” She said as she reached over and placed a hoof on the Pegasus's as she smiled at her.

“I guess you're right...” Fluttershy replied though her voice sounded far from certain.

“He'll be showing up any day now and brag about how he made Tirek beg him not to send him back to Tartarus before he sent him back there anyways.” Twilight continued which at the very least caused a weak smile to edge onto her friend's face.

“I suppose your right. After all, that's why Princess Celestia choose him right?” Fluttershy remarked as she looked at her friend only to notice the worried expression the Alicorn now showed. “Is something the matter Twilight?” She asked curiously as she looked at her.

“It's just that I went over to Scootaloo's parents expecting this situation to be resolved but instead I find out she's been adopted. Before this even happened, I noticed that Princess Celestia's face became really concerned, as if she knew something, when I asked about looking up Scootaloo's birth certificate in the Canterlot archives. I don't want to believe that she may know something but didn't tell me but...” Twilight replied only to trail off and let out a sigh.

Once again, the yellow Pegasus's face became nervous upon hearing this but this time, Twilight caught on as she narrowed her eyes at the mare. “I noticed that every time I mentioned Scootaloo and her parents, you would always tense up and get really nervous. At first, I thought this was you just being well, you. But now I now see there's more too it than that. You know something, don't you?” she inquired with a suspicious glance.

At first, Fluttershy seemed to be going into yet another panic attack as her breathing suddenly sped up but only at first. The mare closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let out it before she opened them and looked at Twilight with a serious expression. “I know who Scootaloo's real parents are. I've known since the first day she was born.” Fluttershy remarked as she noticed Twilight's expression become one of disbelief as she stared.

“N-No way... You're her mother?!” Twilight blurted out in shock.

“What? No!” Fluttershy exclaimed with a deep blush on her face before she sighed once more.

“Then who?!” Twilight exasperated with an annoyed expression now.

“Tell me Twilight. Did you ever really question how I knew about you and brother having sex that night?” Fluttershy asked as she looked at the Alicorn with a dead serious expression.

“Well now that you mention it... how did you know? And what does this have to do with Scootaloo?” Twilight asked looking completely bewildered as to why Fluttershy would bring up this topic now.

“Well, to be honest, I kind of assumed that was what you were going to tell us when you began to talk about walking to your brother's bedroom in the dead of night during our sleepover...” Fluttershy began to say only to trail off.

“I still don't see what this has to do with Scootaloo and who her parents are.” Twilight remarked with a confused expression as she waited for the Pegasus to continue.

“The reason I knew you had sex with your brother is because...”

I can only assume that Scootaloo was conceived on the night you spoke of...

Fluttershy's words seem to ring through the room as the Alicorn's brain seemed to freeze once these words had reached it.

“Yes, Twilight. You're Scootaloo's mother.” Fluttershy finished as she looked at the Alicorn, her expression seemingly frozen in pure shock.

It remained this way for a few moments longer until Twilight's brain managed to unfreeze itself at which point Twilight's shocked expression became a combination of disbelief and anger. “If Discord put you up to this, it's not funny! I don't know how you knew of me and my brother having sex but I'm pretty sure I'd remember carrying a foal for a full term of pregnancy and giving birth to her!” Twilight exclaimed aloud.

Fluttershy let out a sigh upon hearing her friend's outburst. “I know it's hard to believe and I know why. After all, Princess Celestia made sure no pony in the Canterlot Hospital would remember you ever having a foal.” Fluttershy continued though this only seemed to agitate the mare further as she glared at the Pegasus.

Twilight scoffed at this response still not believing a word of it. “Right, as if Princess Celestia would do something so drastic. Besides, if she wiped everypony's memory of this ever happening, then how do you remember?” Twilight inquired with a glare. This had to be an overly thought out joke she and Discord thought up. It just had to be.

“I'll start from the beginning then, it all started when Rainbow Dash convinced me to come with her to the hospital to visit the wonderbolts...”

----------------------------------------------------

“But I'm not even a fan of the wonderbolts...” Fluttershy remarked meekly as she walked along the halls of Canterlot Hospital along side of her fillyhood friend.

“Come on Fluttershy, I need a pal to back me up here. I don't know which room they're in and this is like my only chance to see them in pony.” Rainbow Dash remarked as she turned to look at the yellow Pegasus and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“Why not ask the receptionist pony?” Fluttershy suggested softly.

“You really think they would tell me where the wonderbolts were at? They probably have tons of fans flooding in asking for their room number on a daily basis! No, we're going to have to find them the old-fashioned way! I'll search down this hall and you search that one.” Rainbow Dash replied and without so much as letting the shy Pegasus let out a squeak to object, darted down the hall leaving her alone.

With a soft sigh, Fluttershy began to search down the other end of the hall only to find herself hopelessly lost less than ten minutes later in her search for the elusive room the wonderbolts were staying in.

Fluttershy was about to ask for directions when a sudden pained cry caught her attention just a few doors down the hall from where she stood. Curiously, the Pegasus walked down the hall and noticed a door had been left barely open. The pained cries of a mare could clearly be heard coming from this room now.

“Almost there Twilight, just one more push!”

Came a voice that Fluttershy immediately recognized as Princess Celestia's. Moments later, the sound of a newborn crying foal could be heard emitting from the room.

“Look at her Shiny... our daughter.”

Twilight's voice could be heard saying as the Pegasus risked a closer look as she edged the door open a little more, hoping it wouldn't make a sound as she looked into the room. Though Fluttershy didn't recognize the lavender mare or the white stallion with a shield cutiemark, she did recognize Celestia who stared on as lavender mare held a newborn orange filly with a purple mane and tail in her arms.

The Alicorn then gently lifted the now sleeping foal from Twilight's arms. “What will you name her?” She asked softly.

Twilight was silent for a time before she finally spoke. “I'll name her... Scootaloo. It's the name I always told myself I would name my first-born daughter.” Twilight replied as she smiled at her mentor.

“Very well. I will see that she is taken care of.” Celestia said as she began to turn around.

Fluttershy immediately noticed this and quickly hid herself just outside of the door before the Alicorn could turn around and see her.

“Wh-What?”

Twilight's voice asked aloud in a confused tone as though she didn't understand what was happening.

“I'm Sorry Twilight but if word got out that this foal was born out of an incestuous relationship between you and your brother... the results would be disastrous for you and your family, I would be forced to dismiss you as my pupil, and Shining Armor would lose his post as head of the royal guard due to the scandal.”

Celestia's voice replied though it sounded deeply saddened now.

“Do you honestly think that we would let you walk out of here with our daughter only to never see her again?”

Shining Armor's voice spoke up, the anger and fury of his words carrying an air of threat to them.

“No, I suppose not. Forgive me.”

Celestia's voice replied and in the next moment, Fluttershy's eyes widened in surprise as a bright light began to emit from the crack in the door for a few moments and vanish. It was then that she hard hoof-steps.

In a panic, Fluttershy's hooves left the ground and she darted through the air around the corner of the hall praying that the regal sister hadn't seen a single hair of her tail or mane.

More hoof-steps...

They seemed to be getting closer now...

Princess Celestia stopped and turned her head to look in the spot that Fluttershy was standing.

“Hmm, I must have imagined it then.” She remarked aloud and continued to walk down the hall with the young orange filly suspended in her magic as she walked past a door and down the hall.

Meanwhile inside the room, Fluttershy's heart felt as if it was going to burst from within her chest as her chest heaved up and down very quickly now.

--------------------------------------------------------

“I didn't leave that room for the rest of the day and was eventually discovered by a night shift pony who showed me the way out.” Fluttershy finished as she looked at Twilight who still looked as if she didn't believe a word she was saying.

“This... isn't an overly thought out cruel joke by you and Discord... is it?” Twilight said shakily after a few moments.

“No, Twilight. I would never joke about such a thing.” Fluttershy replied as she looked at her.

Without warning, the Alicorn stood up and began to walk towards the door to the hospital room. “Twilight?” The Pegasus asked curiously.

“I need to do some research on this Fluttershy. If what you say is true, then Celestia used a memory alteration spell on me and my brother. I'll be back later.” Twilight said and without another word left the hospital room and began to make her way towards the exit only to see her friends walking in at this moment.

“Howdy Twi. How is...” Applejack began to ask only for the Alicorn to trot right past her as if she hadn't heard a word and left the hospital. “Now that's just plain rude.” She remarked with a annoyed glare.

“She seemed as if something was on her mind though. I wonder what it could have been?” Rarity remarked with a curious expression.

“Well, I'm sure it was important or she wouldn't leave Fluttershy alone like she did.” Rainbow Dash added before the four walked to see the yellow Pegasus.