Author's Note

Third chapter, coming up! Thanks guys, for all the faves and likes! I'm happy that you enjoy the story so much! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter too...and the next one, of course. Keep Calm and Brony on!

The Adoption of Royalty

Dante had gotten up early. He had that dream again; the one where he finally meets his parents and they reject him. He shot up out of bed in a cold sweat. He put his hand to his head and ran his fingers through his long messy sandy mane. He tossed off the blanket that covered him, and he headed to the bathroom. Turning on the shower water, he stripped off his pajamas AJ had given him and stepped into the shower, lathering his coat of fur with the soap. He then rinsed it off and put some shampoo in his mane and tail, letting it rinse as he dug in deep to get all the crud and sweat out of it. Dante watched the soap and shampoo rinse off, then turned off the shower water. He reached out and took a towel to dry off before stepping out of the shower. He went into his messenger bag to look for spare clothes, and found some jeans and a hooded shirt. He put on a pair of boxer briefs, some socks, then the clothes he had. He then put on his boots and laced them up.

Just as he finished brushing his mane and tail, AJ had called him down. She had yelled from downstairs, "Dante! Soup's on! Breakfast time!" In that cute southern accent of hers. Dante was incredibly grateful to have a friend like her; always honest to ponies, even if it downright hurts. Not to mention sweet and caring in so many ways. If Dante was around her age and she didn't have a colt-friend, he might've even asked her out. He fixed the bed, which was a mess from his tossing and turning, and went downstairs to the kitchen/dining room. He sat down and thanked AJ for letting him stay the night. AJ simply smiled and said, "Ain't no problem at all, Dante. You're always lookin' after others, so ah might as well return the favor, don't ya think?"

He nodded, thinking how true that was. Afterwards, he helped AJ with a few errands. Her first job for him was to deliver some apples. She said specifically, "Okay, sugar-cube. Sugar-cube Corner recently bought a big order of apples. Bring it there, and don't leave until they pay. If they pay more than the given amount take these bits and give them change. Got it?" He nodded, grabbed the wagon that was behind him, and pulled. It was heavy, but he grew strong from all the workouts he dealt with as a kid. He even managed to get to Sugar-cube Corner in around 30 minutes.

He knocked on the door and waited. Some Gryphon tried to take the apples, but a quick roundhouse kick to the face made him think otherwise, and so he ran away. Then, Mrs. Cake answered the door with her baking mitts on. Exclaiming as cheerfully as could be, Dante said "A huge order of apples, fresh and from Sweet Apple Acres, for the Sugar-cube Corner! That'll be around...45 bits!" Mrs. Cake thanked him for his enthusiasm and payed fifty five bits instead, so he gave her the change of ten bits, and dropped off the apple shipment there. He took the wagon back, and suddenly, he stopped. His ear flickered as he heard the sound of rustling bushes. He turned his head and looked, but the bush ceased all movement.

He shrugged, and continued a bit more...until that sound appeared again. He put the wagon down and raised his guard. A Gryphon jumped out of the bushes ready to tackle him, but he turned and swung his fist, slamming it against the Gryphon's beak. He flew into a tree. He grunted in pain, and as Dante moved closer, two more Gryphons came out of nowhere and tried to down him. He dodged one clawed fist and ducked under another, causing the two to knock each other out. They started to get back up, but Dante jumped towards a tree and kicked off it, spinning as he kicked Gryphon number 3 hard and square in the face.

As he landed, Gryphon number two tried grabbing him, but Dante rolled underneath and bucked him in the back. Gryphon number one still laid there, rubbing his jaw. Dante slowly walked towards him, and the Gryphon backed up, until he was stopped by the tree behind him. Dante stood right above him, and kicked him once in the face. The Gryphon was instantly out cold. With that over, Dante took the wagon, and made it back to Sugar-cube Corner. AJ asked why he took so long, and Dante had to explain the ambush. When he was done, AJ simply nodded and said, "Yep. Sure does sound like the Gryphons to ambush someone like that." She then added, "Ah'm surprised, though. The Gryphons are tough. Yet, they couldn't land a knuckle on ya..." Dante simply shrugged and said, "Luck, I guess?"

AJ shrugged as well, then looked shocked as though she nearly forgot something. "Oh, ah almost forgot! Dante, the Regal Sisters came by and asked for ya earlier. I told them that you were out, but if they liked, they could get comfortable while they waited. They're in the livin' room now." Dante cocked his head sideways and had a confused look on his face form. Why would the Regal Sisters want to talk with him? Unless it had to do with the stealing of bits. But that was for a good cause, being that the Orphans and homeless needed it more than those rich snobs in Canterlot. But, he decided to hear them out. So, he walked inside, and sure enough; there they were, sitting on the couch. They turned to look at him when he walked inside, and Princess Luna smiled. Celestia did the same. Dante did the right thing, and bowed respectfully. But Celestia got up and put a hand on his shoulder. She smiled at him warmly and said, "No need for that...nephew..." That shocked the living daylights out of him. He straightened and looked at Celestia. Luna then got up and walked towards Dante as well. She took out some papers and showed them to Dante. He looked them over and saw...they were adoption papers.

Dante just couldn't believe it! The Regal Sisters were actually thinking of adopting him? At first, he thought it must've been a prank, until he watched Luna fill out the forms. That's when he realized they were dead serious. Finally, after a few minutes, Luna handed him the papers. All he needed to do was sign his name, and they'd get custody of him. He'd finally get a family, a home, everything he never had as a baby growing up in a homely Orphanage. He took the ink and quill, and dipped the quill into the ink. He moved his left hand to the signature line, and signed it. He handed Luna the papers, and she cheered excitedly. She even tackled him in a bone crushing hug. He laughed and hugged Luna...no, hugged Mom, back. Then, as he let go, Auntie Tia came up and said, "And don't worry about the homeless and the Orphanage issues. We'll help fund your cause. We could possibly tax the rich a bit more. And if they don't like it, too bad, I guess. It's for a good cause."

Dante's life has just gotten much...much...better...