Symbiosis

Ponyville’s orphanage did not have the depressed tone other such places possessed. With much of Ponyville’s official duties run by princess Twilight the late Mayor Mare had turned her attention to urban development and renewal. The Safe Stall Orphanage had been given a full renovation and a well developed city funded escrow account had provided a sizable and stable amount of money to keep the orphanage running. While many ponies felt the building should not exist, it was always home to a few foals of any given age, Celestia’s family unit laws often removed foals from ‘Unqualified Parents.’

The building itself was a large, L shaped, three floor building with a large playground attached to the building. A series of pillars formed a decorative entryway and supported part of the upper structure on the short side of the L and plenty of nicely grown plants surrounded the building or grew along its walls. As they walked up to the entrance Rainbow whistled, “They really fixed this place up since Scoots lived here.”

“They really did. I think she had something to do with it.” Twilight commented as she opened the door with her magic, gesturing for her pegasus friend to enter, “Lady’s first.”

Rainbow smiled happily and trotted inside, Twilight following along and moving to the office, knocking three times on the door. A fairly old unicorn stallion opened the door, green mane in a tangled mess, “I’m sorry miss but I am busy with- Oh! Princess Twilight, thank goodness!”

Twilight frowned his tone suggested something was wrong, and the large amount of paint splashed across his blue coat made it clear what. “Problem foal?”

“Oh you have no idea! But that isn’t the problem I need official help with I… Haven’t sent for help yet. I’m sorry! My name is Emerald Gleam, I assume that you have come for your own reasons but I had a filly run away this morning to try and find her older sister…”

Twilight held up a hoof, “The minute I get back to the castle I will put some guards right on it. Please write a description of her and her sister, along with any known residence and I will have copies made.”

Emerald sighed in relief, using his magic to wipe some of his tangled mane from his eyes, “Thank you very much your highness. I have already written that down. I was going to send it to the Equestria Daily to get a missing foal ad put through.” His eyes widened in surprise as he noticed Rainbow Dash standing just behind Twilight, “Oh! Lady Dash, I’m sorry i didn’t see you I was just so worried.”

Dash shook her head, “It’s no big deal. A filly’s safety is more important than me.”

“Thank you,” Emerald pushed his door all the way opened and took a seat behind his small paperwork covered desk, “I hope you two didn’t find a poor abandoned foal on a quest. We are far from full at the moment but it always breaks my heart to see newcomers.”

Twilight and Rainbow trotted up and took seats in the two chairs facing his desk. Twilight smiled, “Well then you will be happy to know we have come to take one off your hooves!”

Emerald frowned slightly, “Really? Are you sure you can raise a foal safely? Your occupations are quite perilous.”

Rainbow nodded, “Yeah we have our share of danger, but anypony we adopted would be living in a castle filled with guards and servants.”

Twilight nodded in agreement, “Also there would be three to four very angry alicorns ready to… correct anything which hurt him or her.”

Emerald nodded, his frown vanishing. “I suppose that is true. How long have the two of you  been a couple? Did I miss Pinkie’s party for the two of you? That would be a shame.”

Rainbow beamed happily, “She’s been my marefirend for about um ten minutes now.”

Emerald raised an eyebrow, “And the two of you want to adopt?”

Twilight cleared her throat, “Actually I want to adopt. I was talking with Celestia and I believe I will miss out on an important experience if I don’t have a foal while I am still relatively young. Dash volunteered to help me raise one since the law requires a couple for financial reasons and we have agreed to date and form a stable family for the foal if at all possible… And the more I think about it well… I think we will be a solid couple.”

“We have been best friends for like 97 years you know.” Dash added.

Emerald folded angled his hooves together, resting his elbows on his desk. “True… I believe I can make an exception in your case. Normally anypony wishing to adopt must provide proof of a stable home or relationship, but well, Princess of Friendship, Knight of the Realm and Element of Loyalty.” He smiled and sat back in his chair waving a hoof in a go on gesture, “Looking for anypony in particular?”

Rainbow opened her mouth to speak but closed it and looked at Twilight, “You mentioned something about a gem?”

“I have an enchanted gem I intend to use to help me find a pony with the qualities I think would be best in a foal. I am hoping to adopt as young as possible… and I am dead set on adopting an earth pony.” Twilight informed.

“Huh? Why?” Rainbow asked, looking quite stunned.

“Because of earth pony longevity.” Twilight answered quickly.

“But we won't get to teach the little guy or girl to fly! Or do magic.” Rainbow protested.

“Scootaloo couldn't fly and you loved her.” Twilight stated.

“I… yeah… but…” Rainbow sighed, “You’re right. I just had a fantasy of teaching our foals to fly one day.” Rainbow tapped her hooves together.

Twilight’s heart went out to Rainbow, “Dash… Tell you what. If our relationship works out, we will have one of our own. I am sure I can find a spell for that. We can teach that one.”

Rainbow perked up at the idea and was about to speak when Emerald cleared his throat, “So you are looking for a younger earth pony. We have three… well two at the moment…”

Twilight stood up, frowning deeply. What if the one which ran away is the only one compatible? “You didn’t tell me that the runaway was an earth pony. How old is she?”

“She will be three years old next Wednesday… The poor little thing can’t remember her parents but is aware that she had a sister. I say had because she is buried in the town cemetery. Unfortunately when I told her that her sister had died well…” Emerald sighed, “I always tell little ones the same story, that their parents, siblings, or what have you had to go away to a far away land which needed heroes. Copper thought this meant her sister left her behind to go on an adventure and ran off.”

“How long has she been missing?” Twilight asked.

“Since this morning. She left a note… you can't read it, she can’t write yet.” He smiled faintly.

Rainbow got to her hooves, “Twilight, I like the sound of her.” She grinned and stretched her wings, “I’ll go and find the little adventurer, you look at the other two. I won’t be long. What’s she look like?”

“Copper has an orange coat, purple eyes, a light blue messy mane with a pink stripe, and a dark blue diamond pattern on her forehead which her mane mostly covers. She’s pretty quick for a filly, she could have gotten quite far by now.”

Dash flexed her wings with a  grin.

Emerald grinned feebly, “Right, sorry look who I’m talking too.”

Twilight tapped a hoof to her chin, “I know it can't be read, but maybe the note she left has a clue about where she went.”

Emerald’s eyes lit up as he sorted through the papers on his desk, “That’s brilliant! It did have a few drawings, oh why didn’t I think of that?” After a few minutes he pulled a crudely crayon scribbled page from the stacks of papers atop his desk, “Ah here it is!”

Twilight hummed and took the note in her magic, holding it up to ‘read’. It was covered in squiggles which looked like words, and even a few real misspelled words. However the drawing of a forest and a ruined castle got her attention instantly. “Emerald, do you tell the foals stories about the Everfree Forest?”

“Yes I do, their favorite one is actually about how you and the Elements battled Nightmare moon at-”

Twilight turned to rainbow, “She’s gone to the castle of the two sisters. See this drawing?”

Rainbow nodded, “Yep. That looks nothing like it… but well she’s never seen it. I’ll check the path to the castle.”

Emerald hummed, “Her full name is Copper Autumn, she’s been missing since about eight this morning so she shouldn’t be at the castle yet. I wouldn't be surprised if she was halfway there yet.”

Rainbow galloped out of the room. Twilight smiled, “I’m sure she will be back safely soon. In the meantime may I see the other two?”

“Of course! Just… don’t mention you are looking to adopt. It breaks their hearts when they are not picked.” Emerald informed as he stood up and moved to the door, “The younger foals have the ground floor. If you will follow me.”

~~

Rainbow Dash leaped into the air snapping to her full speed with a loud crack, her rainbow trail blazing behind her as she made a direct line for the path to the old castle. The castle of the two sisters had been declared a historical preserve many years ago and as such had been maintained but not rebuilt. This meant a path through the dangerous forest was also maintained, but it was still quite dangerous and tourists were to travel it without a guide at their own risk.

It took Rainbow seconds to reach the path’s beginning, the many miles covered in the blink of an eye by Equestria’s fastest flyer. Of course when looking for somepony on the ground there was such a thing as being too fast. As she reached the path’s beginning Rainbow slowed down to a pace just a bit faster than a gallop and descended to the path flying just under the tree tops along the packed earth trail.

Rainbow hadn’t flown for long before she noticed a few small hoof prints in the dirt. Dropping down to the ground she inspected the prints. “Not to old… the edges haven't crumbled yet.”

The filly had to be close, no more than five minutes away. Rainbow galloped down the path every few moments calling, “Copper?”

After the fourth call Rainbow heard a muffled young sounding vice call something back. Galloping around the bend in the path Rainbow came face to face with a tiny filly. She matched the description, orange fur, blue and pink mane and tail, her hair a sort of spiky mess. The amusing thing was the filly had a poorly made wooden sword held in her mouth, and a copper bottomed saucepan for a helmet plopped on her head at a rakish angle.

Copper gave Rainbow a little wave hello and turned around, continuing to walk up the path looking quite adorably determined.

Rainbow fell into step along side the little pony, “Hey there. Going on an adventure? You know you have the guy at the orphanage awfully worried.”

The filly mumbled something Dash couldn’t make out around her toy sword.

“Didn’t quite catch that.”

Copper took the sword out of her mouth and held it in a hoof, doing her best to walk on three legs as she spoke, “I’m gonna beat up Nightmare Moon and save my sister.”

Rainbow resisted the urge to d’aww at the filly’s determined and overly dramatic expression. “Nightmare Moon huh? What makes you think she has your sister?”

“Cuz Mr. Gleam said she went on an adventure, and she’s been gone forever!”

“And you think that Nightmare Moon is responsible?”

Copper nodded. “Cuz she isn’t in the moon no more.”

Rainbow smiled, “Copper… I don’t want to break your heart, but Nightmare Moon doesn't have your sister. She’s been defeated.”

“I know stupid! That's why I’m going to save her.” Copper said with a glare.

“No, I meant that Nightmare Moon was defeated, along time ago. By me.”

The filly stopped walking and looked at Rainbow for a few moments, “Realy?”

“Yeah! Don’t you recognize me?”

“No.”

Rainbow blinked in surprise, “Come on! Rainbow mane, pegasus, fought Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Tirek.”

Copper pursed her lips for a moment clearly thinking quite hard before smiling, “You’re Rainbow Dash! You can help me save my sister!” Copper excitedly hopped from hoof to hoof before starting to gallop down the trail, “It can't be much further, come on!”

Rainbow smiled wider then frowned deeply. She would have to explain to the adventurous little thing what really happened to her sister. Sighing sadly Rainbow took off, easily flying alongside the young earth pony. “Hey Copper… I can't help you save her.”

“Yes you can! You’re Rainbow Dash!” Copper beamed.

Dash swore her heart punched itself, “Copper do you know what death is?”

She nodded, “Yes… I saw a bird hit the window once. It didn't move and Mr. Gleam said it was dead.”

Dash bit her lip, took a deep breath, “Mr. Gleam didn’t want you to be sad so he told you your sister had left to become a hero… But… well… she died.”

Copper stopped running, “She’s dead?” Her eyes slowly began to fill up with tears. “Like mommie?”

Damn it Twilight we are taking her home! Rainbow silently vowed as she landed and pulled the filly into a hug, “I’m sorry Copper…”

Copper cried for a few long minutes before asking angrily amid sobs, “What killed her? I’ll hit it with my sword!”

Rainbow held her close, “I don’t know. He didn’t tell me. But I’ll tell you what kid, if you come back to the orphanage with me I’ll find out and then we can get Princess Twilight and if it’s something you can hit with a sword we’ll go give it a good smack ok?”

“R-really?” Copper asked looking up at Rainbow.

“Really. If you still want to.”

“Ok.” Copper sniffled.

Rainbow held the filly tightly in her forelegs and jumped, flapping to take off, “Let’s fly back. If you hold out your front legs you can pretend you are flying on your own.” Dash said attempting to cheer the filly up as she flew her to what Dash was determined would be a stop before taking Copper home.