"Thanks for the day out Vinyl!" the little filly said, bounding back into the orphanage. Vinyl sighed, sad to have to leave the excitable little foal in the orphanage once again. She kicked the ground with a hoof, knowing that even with the royal blessing her and Octavia were still treated like freaks. She slowly shuffled back home, and pushed the door open with a hoof.
"Heya Vi, you have a good day?" Octavia called from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I spent the day with Sparky." Vinyl sighed dejectedly.
"What's up?" Octavia said, trotting to her wife's side. "Are you okay Vi?" Vinyl leaned on her wife, and started sobbing. Octavia embraced her, and they stayed like that for a few minutes. "Oh Vinyl, what's wrong?" Octavia asked, wiping the tears from Vinyl's muzzle.
"I just wish we could help her..." Vinyl sobbed. She didn't want little Sparky to be in the orphanage, all alone, she wanted her by her side.
"I know, I know, we just have to wait. It'll all be OK soon enough..." Octavia said. She knew how Vinyl loved the little filly, and she had her own reasons. She walked Vinyl to the settee and laid her down. She could see that there was only one way that Vinyl would ever come out of her 'dark place'. She mapped out her plans for the next few days very carefully...
Two days had passed and Vinyl was still upset. Octavia had made up her mind. Sparky was coming home with her even if Celestia herself was opposed. She steeled herself for the upcoming task. As she approached the orphanage pangs of fear shot through her. She had spent a long time in the Ponyville orphanage, as there was nowhere else to go. Her father had disappeared before she was born, and her mother had moved in with another stallion when she was 5 years old. The stallion didn't want anything to do with a 'little brat with a talent for scraping strings', and her mother had almost thrown her at the orphanage in her rush to please the repugnant construction worker. The rest of her story, she had almost erased from her memories. The other foals beating her, the teacher ignoring her... It was a bad time for little Octavia Bowstring. She took a deep breath and took the plunge, taking her first steps back into the orphanage for almost 19 years. She walked down the familiar corridors to the matron's office.
"Well well well, if it isn't the little cellist come to flaunt her superiority." said a very nasal voice behind her.
"Buck you Scrubs, I have no time for this." Octavia said, brushing off the disgusting little stallion. He had spent the best part of his life in the orphanage too, but this time he had been put there forcefully after almost killing his little brother Snips. There was no youth offender institute in Equestria, and so her had been put in isolation in the orphanage.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" he said, grabbing her mane with his magic. "You're gonna have a nice chat with your old friend Scrubs about how much of a little lesbian freak you are..." Octavia's rear legs had been strengthened by standing with her cello for hours on end, giving her a buck to rival even Big Mac. Scrubs released her mane as he was launched backwards, into the guard assigned to keep an eye on him. The guard didn't even blink, he just grabbed the little scum bag by his ear and dragged him back into solitary confinement, which he had only just received parole from. The guard had obviously heard his little outburst, and had come to investigate. Octavia pushed all thoughts of Scrubs from her mind and walked to the administration office.
"Hello, how ma- Oh, hello Octavia, fancy seeing you here!" said the receptionist.
"I've come to inquire about a certain filly, Sparky?" Octavia asked, not knowing any more that the name of the filly Vinyl doted over.
"Oh yes, somepony already seems to have an interest in her, though." said the receptionist.
"I know, but I think that Vinyl wouldn't know how to navigate the system as well as me. We're married." Octavia said to the kindly old mare. The receptionist nodded, and brought out the paperwork for the adoption.
"Okay, let's get the ball rolling. I wouldn't suppose you had a character witness on hand for both you and Vinyl to sign the statement, would you?"
"Would the princesses' blessing count?" Octavia asked, determined not to let Vinyl or Sparky down. The mare nodded, and taking a pencil in her mouth filled in the reference box with three words. 'Royal sister's approval.'. "The surname is Scratch for the both of us." The mare filled in the rest of the form, and they walked to the executive office to get approval for the adoption. The rest of the process went smoothly, with the 'Caremonger', as everyone lovingly called the boss at the orphanage, pushing things through. The next day, Octavia brought Vinyl with her to the orphanage.
"Why are we going to the orphanage 'Tavi? I though you hated the place." Vinyl remarked.
"Wait and see Vi, wait and see..." Octavia said, pushing the door open with her hoof. They entered the orphanage, and Octavia led the way straight to the dormitory, where Sparky's things were missing.
"Sparky's gone!?" Vinyl exclaimed, shocked to her core. She had let the little filly go, without even a proper goodbye...
"Hey Vinyl, why's you shouting?" chirped a voice from behind Vinyl. Vinyl span round and grabbed Sparky in a hug.
"I thought I's missed my chance to say goodbye to you..." Vinyl said, smiling at the little filly with teary eyes.
"You don't have to Vi, she's coming home with us." Octavia said, grinning. Vinyl's face lit up, and she almost went through the roof because she jumped so high. Sparky looked confused, but she realised that Octavia was married to Vinyl. Matching earrings, duh. She facehoofed. "Yes, I am Vinyl's better half Sparky, I hope you can adjust to living with her." Octavia said, noticing the audible crack that Sparky's hoof made upon contact with her face. She reached down and scooped the little filly up in her forelegs. Sparky grinned sheepishly. Octavia laughed, and put the filly down. Vinyl had finally succumbed to gravity and was stood next to them by this time. Her smile looked as if it was about to split her head in half.
"Let's go kiddo!" she said, wrapping a foreleg around Sparky. They went to sign the final piece of paperwork, then headed home. Vinyl was carrying Sparky's bags with her magic and Octavia was chasing after Sparky as she bounced around the road. The other residents of Ponyville laughed at the endearing sight. They arrived home, and Vinyl took it upon herself to show Sparky her new home...
(A/N: Hope you enjoyed, comment about who/what you want to see happen next in either this or the main fic.)
