The Family
The white house sat surrounded by a wrought iron fence and a lush garden. Over the entrance, the iron arched to allow visitors in. A couple walked under the vaulted iron, a cyan mare leaning heavily on her amber stallion. The two were obviously in love. The husband opened the door and held it for his wife. Through the open doorway the laughs and sounds of children could be heard. Over the door a sign hung identifying the building simply as the "Ponyville Orphanage".
The two ponies knew their way around the building, they had done this walk many times in the last few months. But today was more important than all of those times. They made their way to the office located on the second floor. They waited for the administrator to show them to the correct room. When he arrived, he did so with a smile and a three inch binder. He sat with them going over the discussions they had had over the last months. When he had told them everything they needed to know, he guided them down the hall to a brightly lit room furnished with two couches facing each other with a coffee table between them. The couple sat down together. "Wait here," the suited pony said. before leaving the room.
The couple was in each other's arms. The wife looked to her husband and asked with watery eyes, "What if she doesn't like us? What if the reports were wrong?"
"Don't worry about all that, I'm sure they know what they're doing here," replied the husband. Each of them was worried that the hours of planning and deliberation could all be for naught. All the sleepless nights, all the faces to which they had said "No". All the test and interviews and screenings. Months of planning and work about to be put to the test. They hugged each other on the couch, each knowing that it had not been easy to get to this point.
The door creaked open and each of their eyes shot to it. They dropped their arms faster than two schoolchildren caught by their teacher. They shuffled nervously as the administrator led the little pink pony ahead of him through the door. He bent down so he was at the same level her, "Pinkie, I'd like you to meet Carrot Cake and Cup Cake." The couple smiled nervously and waved. Pinkie didn't look up from the carpet. "Why don't you go and talk with them. I'll go get some sweets and tea." She didn't move until he led her by her hoof to the empty couch.
The three sat in silence even after the administrator left. Mrs. Cake leaned in close to the pink filly, "Pinkie, my name's Cup Cake and this is my husband Carrot Cake. We just wanted to ask you a few questions, talk for a bit, if that's alright?" Pinkie nodded slowly. "What do you like to do?"
She barely looked up but answered in a tiny voice, "I like to have fun."
"That's good, having fun is nice. What else do you like?"
"I like playing with toys."
"Do you have a favourite toy?"
She looked up even more, almost level with the table, "I like the pretend kitchen. Every day at playtime I make everypony lunch. I like to make cupcakes." Mrs. Cake looked at her husband and smiled. Pinkie's eyes went right back to the floor.
Mr. Cake took his chance, "Do you have any friends?"
Even though her head was down, they could tell her eyes had just lit up, "Lots of friends. I'm friends with everyone."
"You should see her out in the play yard!" intruded the administrator as he entered back into the room carrying a tray loaded with sweets and a teapot. "Whenever someone new arrives here, Pinkie is always the first to go and say hello. And whenever someone leaves, she always has the longest goodbye." The little filly was blushing.
The suited pony placed the tray on the coffee table. The tray had cookies, cupcakes and candy on one half, teacups and teapot on the other. "Can I have one?" Pinkie asked the Administrator.
"Don't ask me," he replied, "ask them," he motioned to the Cakes.
She looked to them, asking the question with her eyes. "Of course you can have one dearie. Have as many as you'd like." She grabbed a pink-frosted cupcake. She smeared it across her face trying to eat it as fast as she could.
"Pink is my favourite colour," she explained.
As Pinkie munched on the cupcake, taking as big bites her small size would allow. The Administrator whispered to Mr. Cake just loud enough so that Mrs. Cake would hear as well. "Feel free to ask it now."
"Uhh, Pinkie?" Mr. Cake asked.
"Yes?!" she looked up enthusiastically, crumbs and icing covering her face.
"How would you like to come and spend some time with us?"
She paused, trying to comprehend the question. "You mean leave here?"
"Well yes, but just for a little bit. Like a week, and if you like it you can stay longer!"
Her eyes started to water, "But what about all my friends here?"
"You'd be more than welcome to come and visit any time you wanted," said the Administrator.
She wiped the tears from her eyes, "That'd be nice."
"They haven't even told you the best part yet. Tell them Mrs. Cake."
"If you came with us, you'd be staying in a bakery! You could help us bake every day!" Her eyes lit up, the Administrator knew that look.
"Really? Actual baking, with an oven and spoons and bowls?"
"Every day!" chimed in Mr. Cake.
"That'd be nice," she said still sniffling and wiping the frosting from around her lips. "Can I make some cupcakes? With pink frosting?"
"Of course you can." the two said in unison.
That morning, two ponies entered through the gates of the Ponyville Orphanage. That afternoon, three left.