Twilight Sparkle’s ears pricked up as she heard knocking at the castle door before it opened slowly. Excitement fluttered in her chest as she turned to trot toward her son. Dusk Star smiled brightly at her, and Twilight welcomed him with a warm embrace. “It’s so good to see you,” She murmured. “It’s been too long since we’ve done this.”
 
“It definitely has,” Dusk smiled and leaned into his mother’s embrace. “With everything that’s been going on with Firework’s family, and now with another foal on the way, I’ve hardly had a moment to myself. I’ve missed this.”
 
Twilight nodded somberly. “I know how hard these past few years have been on you two. But I’m glad you’re as excited as I am…both for my grandfoal and our plans tonight!” The alicorn moved back to pull a wagon loaded with cookies, punch, bug spray, and some blankets and pillows toward them. “Ready to go?”
 
“Ready as ever!” Dusk grinned widely and followed his mother. “You always seem to have a plan,” he smirked. “What is it tonight?”
 
“Actually, I thought you could choose tonight. I know how it feels for everything to spiral out of control….” Twilight’s eyes glistened sadly, as if reminiscing. “And since you’ve had so little of that the past few years, I wanted to give you a little control back, even if it’s over something as silly as this. So where do you want to go?”
 
“Hm…” Dusk pondered for a moment. “I know a field on the outskirts of Ponyville with a wonderful view. It’s where I proposed to Firework, actually, so it’s always had a special place in my heart. What do you say, Mother?”
 
“That sounds lovely.” Twilight smiled warmly. She held the door for her son and pulled the wagon behind her.
 
“This looks like a good spot,” Twilight pulled out a blanket from their wagon and spread it on the grass. She offered a cookie to Dusk, who happily took it.
 
Anxiety nibbled away at Twilight’s thoughts. Something inside her told her it was time…he needed to know the truth. “This is a beautiful view, you’re right. Breathtaking!” She sat beside her son and poured herself some punch.
 
“It really is,” Dusk poured his own cup of punch and gazed up at the sky, taking a bite out of his cookie. “Firework sure thought so the night I proposed. He wouldn’t admit it, but this is one of his favorite places to be.” He chuckled, then grew sober.
 
“In fact, I’m sure he’d love to be here now. He’s been through a lot lately. The loss of his sister, our scare with his overdose, the detox…” Dusk took a deep breath. “And while we’re both excited for our new foal, the pregnancy has been hard on him. On both of us.”
 
He looked to Twilight. “I’m sorry, that was a lot…”
 
“Don’t apologize,” Twilight put a wing over Dusk’s back. “I know you’re struggling, but I want tonight to be relaxing for you.”
 
She felt Dusk’s shoulders soften and he sighed. “Thanks, Mother. You always know just what to say.”
 
“Parents should be that way,” Twilight murmured, taking another cookie from the plate, and noticing Dusk wince. “At least…I know I strive to be.”
 
Painful memories of Flash and his negligence toward Dusk flickered through her mind. She pushed them away and followed Dusk’s gaze to the stars. “Oh, there’s Orion’s belt!” She lifted a hoof to point at the constellation.
 
Dusk looked up and followed where her hoof was pointing. “Oh yes! I see it! And over there,” he pointed just below it, “is Canis Major. Sirius sure is shining brightly tonight.”
 
Mother and son spent a few moments watching the stars in silence when Dusk sighed. “I hope Moonbow thinks as highly of me as I think of you, Mother. I hope both of my children will. I hope…that both of them know I love them.”
 
Twilight’s throat tightened. “You’re a wonderful father, Dusk. Don’t let anypony tell you differently. You’re nothing like Flash.” She pressed closer to him. “I just wanted you to know.”
 
“Thank you, Mother. I just hope they think so too. I hope neither of them ever feel unloved, like…like I did.” He leaned into Twilight’s warm body and gazed up in silence for a few minutes.
 
“Do you think Father is up there?”
 
Twilight felt her heart skip a beat. There was no denying it now…it was time to tell Dusk the truth. She took a shuddering breath. “He can’t be. Dusk, he’s…your father’s still alive.”
 
“W…what?” Dusk turned towards his mother with a puzzled look. “He can’t be. He was shot by a cannon during training. Gal saw it herself-“
 
“Dusk,” Twilight interrupted him. “Flash is dead, yes.”
 
“Then…what are you-“
 
“But Flash was not your father.”
 
“What? How? You would never…”
 
“I did.” Twilight’s head hung shamefully and a tear rolled down her cheek. “I had an affair.”
 
Dusk’s mouth dropped open in surprise, but he quickly closed it. “You…you did?”
 
“His name is Silver Script. He was just a normal pegasus, but when I befriended him, before Flash and I got married, he made me feel…safe. Loved. He gave me a place to vent about the struggles of my and Flash‘s engagement, which were plentiful. Flash was away for the guard when it all happened. I was so desperate to feel genuine love and affection from somepony…anypony…one thing led to another, and I found out I was pregnant. I told Flash it was his child when he returned, but he’d been gone for longer than I’d been pregnant, so he put the pieces together pretty quickly. I told Silver Script about the pregnancy and we both decided it’d be best if we ended our affair and let Flash raise you…as his son. But…I know now we made the wrong decision.” Twilight’s voice was shaking, but the massive weight off her shoulders made her sigh with relief. “I should have told you the truth right from the start. It’s my fault you felt unloved. I tried to make Flash see, but he just wouldn’t listen…he didn’t see you as his son, because you weren’t. That’s why he always spent more time with Gal.” Twilight wiped her eyes. “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry.”
 
“Don’t be sorry, Mother…please don’t cry. I’m…relieved to hear that, actually. I’d always assumed I’d done something to him or just wasn’t good enough…at least now I know why he treated me like he did.” Dusk put his hoof on Twilight’s. “Thank you for telling me. It’s good closure. I can finally move on now…I don’t have to spend every day wondering where I’d gone wrong.”
 
Twilight sniffled and looked at her son with pain in her eyes. “Flash was a horrible father. He shouldn’t have made you suffer for my mistake. But…Silver Script and I are still in touch. I can give you his address if you’d like? I’m sure he’d love to finally meet his son. Have a chance to be a father to you. I know it can’t make up for all those years of neglect from Flash, but…”
 
Dusk placed a hoof on her shoulder. “I know, Mother, but that was in the past. Silver Sc-my father sounds like a wonderful stallion. I would love to meet him.”
 
Twilight grinned. “Well, then. I’ll give you him and his husband’s address and I’m sure he’ll be delighted to meet you!”
 
Dusk smiled, tearing up. “Thank you, Mother.”