The Orphan

  Maple Syrup grew up knowing from early on how she had been left on the steps of the the orphanage. Matron Mare was always honest with her when she questioned her origin, even if it got repetitive after a while. She was also remarkably patient with her horde of screaming foals.

     Maple's sixth birthday was rapidly approaching, and this weekend there were a couple of appointments scheduled. Couples would often make appointments to get to know some of the foals; Matron also used that time to get to know the prospective parents as much as they were getting to know the foals, although she usually didn't tell the couples that part. She was always a very careful mare, making sure the families would keep the foals safe. Despite her caution, once or twice in her time taking care of abandoned foals, she had dealt with foals not fitting with their families, and returning to her care. It broke her heart every time, so she took as many steps as she could to keep it from happening.

     "Are they coming soon?" Maple asked excitedly. Matron was surprised that nopony had snatched Maple up. She was a kind, even-tempered filly whose soul purpose on this earth seemed to be bringing sweetness and joy into this world. Sometimes that was true even literally so; cooking up sweet concoctions was Maple's specialty when left to her own devices.

     "Soon enough, my dear. Soon enough." Matron smiled at the bouncy filly. She had a special fondness for this one.She tried never to get too attached, since it was obviously her goal to have them leave her care, but she was smitten with this filly.

     Three of the older colts ran thought, giving Maple a ruffle on her long silky mane. "Hey Sticky," one of them asked, "are you coming to play?"

     Sticky was a nickname given after one morning when Maple had managed to make something -- Matron never had figured out what, and Maple seemed not to remember, herself -- that was so sticky, so viscous, it took three baths and two bottles of shampoo to get it all out.

     "I'll be right there!" She called after them, smoothing down her mane.

     "Go on, I'll call you if they come, don't you worry." Matron promised, and gave Maple a sage smile. "Go have fun."

     With a flurry of giggling, and a spring in her step, Maple bolted after the colts, with fast little hooves. Despite her size, she was fast.

     Matron shook her head with mock exasperation. "I wish I was that young again..." She turned and returned to her desk to tend to the paperwork the orphanage generated.

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     It didn't take long for Maple to find the colts kicking a ball around. Noticing her arrival, they stopped. One of them stood on the ball with one hoof.

     "What do you want to do, Sticky? It's your turn today." The blue colt, named Blue Disk said. He was the oldest of the foals at the orphanage. His friends, Pea Pod and Sound Blast where looking expectantly at the filly.

     "I don't suppose you want to play hide and seek, do you?"  She grinned, issuing a challenge.

     The colts laughed, unmistakably accepting the challenge. They didn't think she could find all three of them. The odds were against her, but it didn't matter. She pawed at the ground, tossed her head excitedly, and whinnied. She stooped down, covered her eyes with her hooves, and started counting.

     "One.... Two..." She started to count, pausing to add, "You can't hide outside the Home!" The Home was their name for the orphanage. To them, it sounded better, more welcoming that way. At the least it was less depressing. That rule didn't make it easy, though. The property was big, especially for a foal. The place even had a small stretch of forest behind it which was great for hiding. If the colts went out there, she'd never find them... and neither, maybe, would Matron. That's why Matron had told them that one of the "inexorable rules" -- she found out inexorable meant unchangeable, and it quickly became one of her favorite words -- for any of their games. "No leaving the property."

     "Twenty eight, twenty nine, and thirty! Ready or not!" She called, standing up and seeking signs of her targets. Her ears swiveled, trying to catch the slightest sound. "Here I come!"

     It wasn't long before Pea Pod was found. He was hiding under the crawl space beneath the stairs. Sound Blast was easier than that even. He was hiding in a knot in a tree, which she'd often used as a hiding spot. She hadn't checked there first because she thought it was too obvious. He cursed under his breath and returned to "base" at the center of the playground. Still at large was Blue Disk.

     He was a bit harder to find. He may have been larger than the other two, but he was crafty and surprisingly flexible. Furthermore, she knew there was no guarantee he was outside. Indoors was fair game, though Matron preferred for the children to play outside. When Maple was reasonably sure that she had checked all of the outdoors, she decided to head in to look. She found him in plain sight, right in front of a door. She moved slowly and quietly over and put her hoof on him triumphantly. "Got you!" She said with a grin.

     He jumped a little before he put a hoof to her lips. "Quiet! I'm trying to listen."

     Maple realized that there were voices inside the room.

     "I don't know, Matron. We've interviewed him twice, and I just don't feel he's a match for our family." Maple peeked in past Blue Disk, and she could see a couple that she recognized as the some one that visited last week to interview with him. Her expression was sour.

     "He seems too... I think the right word is 'rambunctious'. I'm worried he wouldn't be gentle with our Daisy Luck." She was referring to their three year old filly, who was a very happy filly. She was always giggling and prancing around joyfully. Maple stole a glance at her friend, but was too engrossed in the spectacle of this conversation and quickly turned her attention to the conversation again.

     "Blue Disk is a very sweet colt. He looks tough, but honestly he wouldn't hurt a fly." Matron said softly, trying to persuade the mare whose name eluded Maple at the moment. Maple couldn't see Matron from her vantage, but she could hear the rustling of sheets. "I can assure you that he'd be exceptionally gentle with Daisy Luck. I know him very well." Her hoof came into view, holding out a file which Maple could see read 'Blue Disk'. Matron kept strict records of behavior; the good, the bad, the mature and immature. She wanted to give couples a candid summary of the child they were looking at, recorded over the time that child had been there. Maple knew for a fact that Blue Disk was rarely in trouble. He acted tough, but under the surface he'd always just been protective.

     Maple noticed that she was alone. Blue Disk had left, and was now half way down the narrow hallway. Maple stole one last glance at the mare, thought a couple of nasty things about her, and turned to follow her friend.

     "Are you alright?" She asked, concerned. She cared for her friend a lot, and given what he had just heard, she didn't blame him for being upset. It seemed like fewer and fewer foals were getting adopted lately. Maybe couples were getting pickier? Some of the foals had taken to saying that those of them that were left were just rotten, no-good children, but Matron had shot down those rumors with a reaction that bordered on furious. Still, they all thought it from time to time. Nobody can constantly be positive.

     He stared forward quietly as he exited the Home, and walked past his friends. He continued in that manner until he was standing at the gate. Their view was nice at the worst of times and spectacular at the best. It was on the outskirts of Canterlot. You could see into the city when the light was right, and the sunset would shimmer off the buildings like a preview of the stars to come.  Now though, the sun was just brightness, hammering down on them in a way that, given the mood, felt almost oppressive. Maple wasn't going to let him suffer alone, so she joined him silently.

      "Do you want to talk about it? I'll listen if you need somepony." She said softly after a tense minute or two.

     Blue looked down at her, giving her a soft smile. "It hurts, sure, but hey, that just proves they wouldn't have been a good family for me, right?"

     Such wise words coming from him, she thought. Maple nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. I'm glad you can see it in a positive light." She bit her lip. "Do you think... is it because we're getting older? Does that make them less willing to give us a home?" She was scared of more rejection. She'd met a dozen parents and up till this point, none had been interested. She worried the meeting today would end roughly the same way. It never got any easier.

"You know Matron doesn't want us to say that." He glared at her the way a big brother would. "But don't worry Sticky, I'm sure you'll find a home. I'm positive, in fact." He gave her mane a ruffle.

     She gave a smile in return, and pushed him away, to stop messing up her mane.

     "Maple!" A voice called, Maple turned and saw Matron beckoning her over. "It's time!"

     The little filly's heart was in her throat as she galloped away. "I'll be right back!" She called over her shoulder.

     "Good luck!" Blue called after her.

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     When Maple entered the interview room, two ponies stood waiting for her with nervous smiles. The mare was pearly white, with lovely red curls on her head, and large loopy curls in her tail. Elegant was a word Maple hadn't quite learned yet, but it would have fit. The stallion, in stark contrast, was burly, stone grey and had a teal mane. He stood beside his partner, whom Maple assumed was his wife.

     "Hello." Maple greeted them warmly, with a bright smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

     Matron entered with her, offering the two ponies drinks, held out on a tray in her magic. They accepted, and she placed one at each of the seats at the table. She motioned for them to sit.

     "This is Maple, she's a little ball of joy." Matron said, giving Maple a pat on the head. "No, really, I think she's made of joy. I'll let you get to know one another, if you need anything I'll be right outside." She gave a little bow and left with the click of the closing door.

     After a couple of awkward seconds, the stallion spoke up. "What do you like to do in your spare time?" His voice was gruff. She thought it seemed like his voice was an angry river kicking up boulders.

     She had been taught during tough questions like this to pause a moment, and not to reply in haste. After collecting her thoughts, she said, "Well, I enjoy playing outside, and I'm learning how to read. Black Beauty is my favorite right now." She put her hooves in her lap now that she was sitting.

     The stallion who's name she didn't even know yet made a dismissive sound. His wife looked expectantly at Maple, who certainly noticed and responded with a nervous smile.

     "What do you guys do for fun?" Maple asked, thinking this was a perfectly harmless question. "Oh, dear, we're socialites." She smiled. "We go to parties and mingle with the crowd." It was then Maple noticed the obviously expensive necklace around the mares neck. She didn't know what it was, but it sparkled like a million little stars, the jewel was bigger than one of the mares eyes.

     "That sounds like fun, I like parties." Maple replied with a reluctant smile, she sensed this was probably not the best interview she'd ever received. They seemed to be more involved in their social life, than family life. Regardless, she bit her tongue.

     "It is, darling." More flashy things were catching Maple's eyes on the mare, a ring around her hoof, that also seemed to glimmer with some mysterious inner light like it was full of stars. Her clothes were glossy and begged to be touched, but Maple didn't dare. "To the point, though, we're interested in knowing if you'd like to be part of our family." She continued, waving a hoof with a flourish. It jingled as she moved it.

     Again, she took a moment before answering. "I would very much like to, but... I'd really like to know your names." She said sheepishly. She realized she probably should have mentioned it sooner, but they seemed to have been engrossed in their own contributions to the discussion to the point that she hadn't gotten the opportunity.

     "Oh, dear, of course, how rude of us!" The mare replied giggling. "We introduced ourselves to Matron and I dare say we forgot we hadn't introduced ourselves to you. I'm Satin Silk, and this is my husband Igneous Boulder." She patted her husband on the shoulder. He lived up to his name. He didn't seem to even jiggle as he was patted, and his face bore that same stagnant expression it had through the entire interview thus far.

     "It's a pleasure to meet you both. I would really like a family..." but, she thought to herself, maybe not this one.

     "Fantastic, then it's settled!" She cried happily as she launched herself at her husband. Most stallions would have fallen to the floor, but Igneous lived up to his name yet again, and didn't move. "Let's make it official!"

     At the commotion, Matron returned. "Is something wrong?" She asked. She quickly relaxed, however, when she saw the mare smiling to her still stoic husband. Then, her eyes fell on Maple. The little filly's face was obviously full of dread.

     "Maple, sweetheart, why don't you give us a little time... I'll get this all sorted out." Maple nodded thankfully and rushed out of the room leaving the door ajar.

     Once she had left the room, she ignored her better judgment and stayed behind to listen; she knew it wasn't right, but she couldn't curb her curiosity. She trained her ears to listen.

     "We'd like to adopt her!" Satin Silk said, nearly bursting with enthusiasm. Maple raised an eyebrow, she'd never seen a mare more enthusiastic about adopting a foal in her time there.

     "That's a very sudden decision. Usually we have couples visit at least four separate weekends. Why do you like her so much?" Matron asked trying to be reasonable but not lose this chance. After all, maybe they really did just hit it off, and Maple could have just been nervous.

     "She likes Black Beauty." Igneous replied.

     Matron waited patiently for a continuance, but got nothing from either. Her eyes widened a bit and she stuttered on the next words.  "I guess that's a start...  Why don't you come back in a week and get to know her better before you make a big decision that will change three lives forever?" Matron asked softly. Matron couldn't put her hoof on it, but something about this couple made her uncomfortable, and she wasn't going to risk Maple, or any of the others, to a family she herself wouldn't want to live with.

     Satin Silk waved her hoof dismissively. "Puh-shaw. It's perfectly alright dear. We've got a big home, enough bits to support her, get her everything she could ever want, and enough maid staff to tend to her every whim."

     "That's lovely, but that isn't what she wants." Matron said, becoming less diplomatic.  "She needs a family to love her, and she needs to love her family. She wants to never come back here again. She doesn't care about bits, or toys." Matron stood. "I'm tremendously sorry, but this interview is over. I appreciate you coming to visit her, but I must regretfully say that I don't think you'd be a good family for her." Matron hated turning away a couple that truly did possess the means to give a child a wonderful home where she would want for nothing, but without attentive, loving parents, that was just luxurious homelessness. Home wasn't in a castle, home was with ponies that love you. That was the lesson she taught the children.

     Maple watched from the crack, and thanked Celestia that Matron had gotten the heebie-jeebies too.

     The couple stood with indignation. "She doesn't care about bits or toys because she's never had bits or toys. Fine, though, we'll take our business elsewhere."

     Matron mumbled to herself as they passed her. "See, that's the problem, I'm not running a business..."

     Maple moved quickly to the other side of the hallway, so as not to be caught eavesdropping. She looked up from the chair foals usually sat waiting for interviews to end. The couple walked by her without so much as a second glance at her. "Goodbye," She said weakly. They ignored her completely.

     Matron stopped beside her. "I'm sorry." She huffed. "I just don't think they had your best interest at heart." She gave Maple a little kiss on the forehead. "Maybe next week."

     She always said that when an interview didn't go well.

     Maple nodded and decided to go for a walk. She didn't know why but she didn't really feel like playing right now.

     She passed the others, but they were in their own little worlds. Matron had always let Maple walk farther than any other pony there. Of course, that wasn't strictly stated. Technically, she was bound to all the same rules as everypony else... but Matron would from time to time just not notice her wander off. She often enjoyed being able to leave the property and see the world of which she wanted so badly to be a part.

     She told herself she wouldn't cry. She focused on walking, one hoof after the other. She kicked a pebble as she went, and her mind began to ease making her feel more relaxed, as kids so easily do. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she forgot to watch where she was going and nearly ran into a post. That little reality check brought her back to her senses, and she looked around to get her bearings. She knew where she was almost instantly. Her mind had obviously been on auto-pilot and had just taken her down one of her most common strolling paths. She turned down a side alley that she knew was the quickest way back home. It was a route she often took. She heard stories about how nopony ever did that in cities like Manehattan, but couldn't figure out why. Ponies were kind and always looked out for one another.

     Something made her stop in her tracks, though. It wasn't the alley that made her nervous. It was something else. Something pressed at her instincts, telling her she wasn't safe, that she needed to run. The smell of blood hung in the air. Maple knew the smell, one of her 'sisters' had fallen and gotten a nasty cut, which bled despite applying pressure and bandaging it. Even then, the smell had made her want to run as fast as she could. She figured it was just the way ponies felt about blood.

     This was a lot stronger than when her 'sister' had cut herself. This almost made her feel sick. She brought a hoof to her nose and tried to stop the smell, as she fought her instincts and looked around, trying to find the source. After all, a pony might be in danger, and ponies looked out for each other.

     A few steps further in, she saw a figure partially obscured by the shadows, dark as night standing over a lump on the ground. It didn't take her more than a moment to know she'd seen something she shouldn't have.

     She whimpered, stifling a scream, and tried to take a step backwards. Her hoof hit something small, making a surprising amount of racket. The figure's head turned to her, and all she saw... maybe all she remembered seeing... was blue eyes. There was something in them... something she'd only read about. She could have sworn she was looking at a predator... but it was obviously still a pony.

     She let out a little gasp, threw her stealth to the wind, and turned on a dime. She ran as fast as her little hooves would carry her. Hearing a snap from behind her only caused her to pump her legs faster. All she could think was that she had to get home. She had to get where it was safe, and tell Matron.