The boy in the corner
Twilight took a deep breath, put her best smile and entered to the orphanage ready to one of her many tasks as Equestrian Princess: go visit the less fortunate to give them a light of hope. Twilight loved this job, always gave her the opportunity to know interesting ponies and it was a new way to explore the Magic of Friendship.
“Good morning Princess, I’m glad you could make it” greeted the headmistress of the institution, a little motherly-like earth pony a little chubby but full of energy. “My name is Foster, Ms. Foster. Would you like to come in?”
“Nice to meet you Ms. Foster, thank you” said Twilight entering happily to introduce herself to the kids.
It was a funny morning, spending it playing with the children, helping Ms. Foster in everything she could and such. But all good things come to an end, so before she go, Twilight had to help to serve lunch to the kids. It was then when she found Trixie helping serving as well.
“Trixie! What you’re doing here?”
“Community service, Your Highness” explained Trixie annoyed to see Twilight. “You know how it works: they catch you directing a small betting circle and send you here. However, would you mind to help? There’s a lot of children here”
Twilight nodded and did as she was asked for.
At the end both mares ended up tired but satisfied resting in a corner.
“Now seriously, what are you doing here Trixie?”
Trixie frowned.
“Much for Trixie’s disgrace, I’m your extra-official escort; seriously, you got a castle would you mind to have your own guard as well please? Anyway, your big brother was tired that Flash Sentry always volunteered to be your escort in this missions so he convinced my boss to send me instead”
“What? How dares he?” Protested Twilight. “Besides Flash and I are just friends!”
“I don’t fucking care idiot, go complain with somepony who actually gives a shit about you!”
And just like that Trixie left leaving a very offended Twilight behind; and the worst part was that there was nothing Twilight could do about it. By Royal Decree, Princess Luna authorized all her soldiers, such as Trixie, to be as disrespectful as they wanted with the other three Princesses of Equestria, something that Luna thought that was very funny but not the other Princesses for some reason…
Sitting on a table far from Twilight Trixie took a deep breath to leave as soon Twilight does and finish that annoying mission (damn Shining Armor) when she noticed a young unicorn colt who was next to her. He was white with bluish purple mane, and was apart from the rest of the children for some reason. Trixie smiled to him.
“Hello there boy”
The little unicorn gasped a little surprised and turned to Trixie making her raise an eyebrow in surprise. His face was abnormally flat, a tiny nose, his eyes a little to close to each other, covered with a big pair of glasses that had a very high graduation. But what surprised Trixie the most was his smile, a big friendly smile that she hadn’t seen in anypony, not even children.
“E-llo!” The colt said to her with his mouth half full.
Trixie relaxed and kept smiling to the colt.
“Ey boy, how are you?”
“Ff-in, thank-u”
“Good to hear it, what’s your name little one?”
“Piuy!” He said proudly. “Piuy Shouy. U? U?”
“Trixie” introduced the blue mare.
“Tisi! U Tisi, me Piuy”
“That’s right! I Trixie and you Piuy”
The kid nodded furiously and continued eating. Trixie looked at him with tenderness for a while when she felt the presence of Ms. Foster behind her.
“Oh, hi!” Said Trixie. “Sorry if I bothered you, is only that I saw this kid and I thought…”
“Don’t apologize dear” said the headmistress. “I’m glad that Pure Soul had made a new friend, right Pure?”
The kid giggled happily and hugged Trixie, it was a tremendous hug and the blue unicorn thought he was going to crush her ribs, but that didn’t bothered her and returned the hug with a playful smile.
“Frend, Tisi my Frend”
“Exactly, Trixie is Pure’s friend” said Trixie.
Ms. Foster sat with them while watching the other kids from there, alternating with several glances to Pure, who finally finished eating and practically presented the empty plate right at the older mares faces.
“Luk, luk, I finsh!”
Ms. Foster kissed him on the forehead and showed him the playground.
“Excellent Pure, you can go play now”
The kid obeyed happily taking a ball he found and began to throw it to the wall energetically.
Trixie was staring at him.
“Why is he apart, Ms. Foster?”
“You saw him”
Trixie nodded.
“He has Down syndrome, and? He’s very cute, why do you keep him apart?”
“Because not all the ponies have a good heart as you, miss Trixie. And even if you ended up here by your questionable way to earn life, you’re still a good person, that’s why he allowed you to approach. I don’t know much about the subject but I can tell you that most of the ponies are very cruel and Pure is more sensitive than other kids because of his problem. He reacts too violently if he gets mad”
Trixie looked at him while he kept playing with the ball.
“It must be hard, with the other kids of the orphanage and school I guess”
“I don’t send him to school” said Ms. Foster. “Can you imagine that? This kid took years to learn how to speak, to be potty-trained and such. He needs personalized and constant attention and that’s something public schools cannot provide him”
“And nopony ever thought in adopting him?”
Ms. Foster looked sadly at Pure who was keeping with his game alone but smiling.
“No, in most of the cases the ponies who come here look at him and comment how cute is he but in the bottom of their heart nopony wants to take care of a special kid like Pure. And I’m pretty sure that’s why he was abandoned on the first place”
That comment moved something inside Trixie. How could this happen to this boy?
“Do you mind if I join him? He seems alone”
“Go ahead but I warn you he is too brusque on his playing, that’s why most of the time the other children don’t play with him. In fact, spend the rest of the day with him if you can… he really liked you”
Trixie nodded and ran to the playground to join Pure Soul, who seemed delighted to have another pony to play with, he smiled more than ever and threw the ball even harder than before. A couple of times he hit Trixie but she didn’t mind that much.
But what surprised Trixie the most was when she threw the ball and he caught it at the first effort, and that excited him a lot. That little achievement meant too much for him.
“Okay Pure, let’s continue, how many times are you going to catch the ball?”
And the kid of course that accepted the challenge, it was very exciting for him. Nine times he was able to catch the ball and that made him really proud of himself.
When it was time to go, Trixie said good bye to Pure with a huge smile. She even forgot about her mission guarding the little brat of Sparkle.
“Omorow, omorow?”
“Eh? Sorry Pure I don’t understand?”
“Omorow, omorow?” Insisted Pure.
“Pure, dear, I swear I don’t get what you want”
The kid frowned in irritation.
“O-M-O-R-O-W? O-M-O-R-O-W?” He asked slowly.
Ms. Foster came to rescue:
“He’s asking you if you can come to visit him tomorrow. But sorry Pure, Ms. Trixie only came for today”
It disappointed Pure but Trixie shook her head confidently.
“You know Pure? I’ll come tomorrow only to see you” she smiled.
The little unicorn hugged her again, and one more time he almost crushed her but Trixie didn’t mind, then Pure went upstairs to sleep. Ms. Foster thanked Trixie’s gesture and said good bye leaving the blue mare alone with her thoughts.
Trixie returned home on the center of the red district, a big and luxurious mansion that was her greatest pride, but somehow that night it just felt empty. She originally purchased to brag her money, showing to everypony who was the greatest bounty hunter in Canterlot, but again that night it just felt empty, awfully empty.
Trying to not to think about it, she dedicated to her favorite hobby: count her money until she fell asleep.
At the next day, like grabbed by an invisible force, Trixie found herself at the orphanage again where she was received by a very surprised but pleased Ms. Foster.
“Is so good to see you again Miss Trixie, Pure will be happy to see you again”
“Trixie made a promise, right?” Smiled the blue mare.
“I know but between us I don’t think that he remembers, because of his condition. You know”
Trixie preferred to remain in silence but she was pretty sure that Pure remembered, apparently Ms. Foster had good intention but also had no idea how to deal with a foal as Pure. Neither Trixie but again, she knew Pure remembered she made a promise and she won’t break the colt’s heart.
“Anyway, Trixie has nothing to do until night so that’s why I’m here”
Ms. Foster didn’t ask more and guided Trixie were Pure was helping her to sweep. Pure’s sweeping was clumsy and didn’t seem to help that much but he was happy to cooperate.
“Since I don’t send him to school, Pure helps around in the mornings, he’s very diligent, right Pure?”
The kid looked up to Ms. Foster and then his eyes stopped at Trixie’s, and before she noticed, he wrapped her on one of his powerful embraces. Trixie was delighted and happily returned the hug.
“Tisi! My frend Tisi!”
“I made a promise to you, right Pure?”
She stayed with Pure the whole morning, but at noon when all the other foals arrived from school she had to leave.
“Thank you again for coming Miss Trixie. Pure Soul enjoyed himself”
“Ms. Foster, how old is he?”
“Nine years old, it’s a shame we can have him until he has fifteen, then he’ll be sent to another place”
“Why do you think he’ll be here by that time?”
“I told you Miss Trixie, a lot of ponies come and comment how cute is he but nopony really wants to take care of an especial foal as Pure”
The days keep passing and turned into weeks, and Trixie visited Pure Soul almost daily, and of course he was delighted to see her so as Ms. Foster. A couple of times he got angry and bit her but at the next day when Trixie arrived Pure received her with his every-day happiness and an apology.
“Soyi foy bite you Tisi”
“Is just that he is a bit too temperamental” commented Ms. Foster.
“I guess so, what do you want to do Pure?” Trixie asked to get everything back to normal.
That day when Trixie left, she was really thoughtful. After all this time she finally made a decision.
The blue mare entered to a library and began to look when finally found a very peculiar book:
DOWN SYNDROME: CAUSES AND CHARACTERISTICS
Parents manual
On her way home, Trixie passed in front of a small café where she was noticed by some friends:
“Trixie!!” Called the Lunar captain, Black Swordsman. “Trixie right here! Would you like to join us? Trixie!”
“Come on, we haven’t had the chance to talk since the Gala!” Called Black Swordsman’s wife and co-captain, Lighting Flash.
“Trixie!!” Called their daughter, Yui.
At the end Trixie decided to join them. It was a nice afternoon to spend it with friends but Trixie seemed strangely distracted and thoughtful.
“Something on your mind Trixie?” Finally asked Black.
The leader of the Undercover Police sighed a little depressed.
“I’m that obvious?”
“A little” smiled Lighting. “Want to tell us?”
Trixie shrugged.
“I guess so, but it’s a little too complicated and long to explain. Never mind, guys, how did you ended up adopting Yui? Was it hard, fast? How was it?”
The little unicorn filly answered her question:
“With us it was something especial: they found me wandering in the forest with no memories of my past, the only thing I could remember was my name. After that…”
“Yeah, it was strange” remembered Black Swordsman. “I remember well: we were on our honeymoon in a cottage we rented and knew nothing about foals. But still we took her with us and somehow we ended up being a family”
“She was unconscious at first but when she opened her eyes she began to call us mama and papa” said Flash a little nostalgic. “Just like that”
“They offered to take with the authorities to find my real parents but they couldn’t” explained Yui. “I don’t know, we kind off… meant to be together.
Trixie understood, or at least she thought she did.
“But officially we adopted her just recently when we passed from outlaw mercenaries to the captains of Princess Luna” chuckled Black Swordsman.
“So what happened to you Trixie? Why are you asking about Yui?” Asked Lighting Flash calmly.
Trixie shrugged again.
“I don’t know, I guess I had to ask. However… I was thinking in… oh forget it, I must go”
And after put some bits on the table she left.
Half way out Black called her:
“Ey Trixie, you have our support! We know you’ll be a great mom!”
Trixie smiled to her friends and finally she went to her mansion.
Still thoughtful, she opened the book:
Down syndrome: when the doctor told me that my daughter had Down syndrome I got depressed, I didn’t want to know anything about anything, I was just thinking what I did wrong; why was God punishing me?
But I slowly realized how selfish I was being. Sill today I’m still surprised how much my dear teaches me: to celebrate every small victory, to smile no matter what… to forget the failures and concentrate only on the good things. She’s an example of effort and perseverance, and I’m not afraid to admit that love doesn’t count chromosomes.
—Smiling Sunshine—
PD: currently she’s studying on a regular school with curricular adaptations and haves a part time job at Donut Joe’s chain.
Trixie raised an eyebrow, interesting introduction.
The Down syndrome is a condition caused by an error during the cells division on the process of meiosis. One of the pairs of chromosomes (21th) ends up with an extra chromosome originating the syndrome.
The basic symptoms include generally affected development, mental disability on different levels, low muscle-tone, tongue too big and width for the mouth cavity…
“Oh, so that’s why he haves problems to speak!”
Down syndrome is commonly associated with heart diseases, visual and digestive problems…
Trixie spent the whole night reading, and before she realized it was morning already. Still thinking in Pure Soul, she took a deep breath and ran to see her boss: Princess Luna.
The Princess of the Night was checking on some documents when somepony knocked the door of her office.
“Come in!” Luna called.
Trixie entered, looking much more serious than the usual.
Luna raised an eyebrow, it wasn’t common to see the commander of the Undercover Police but she happily received Trixie.
“Hi Trixie, why can I do for you my friend?
Luna stared to the floor for a while but finally looked at Luna’s eyes and after another deep breath she spoke:
“Princess Luna, I know this is unusual and endangers my position as undercover agent but I need your help. Please Princess Luna, I need a document that corroborates my position working secretly for you. I swear this is for a good cause and the pony I shall present it has nothing to do with the underworld, yes, I already checked on her”
Luna made her sit and offered her a glass of water.
“First of all try to calm a little and what if you tell me from the beginning why do you need such thing”
Trixie obeyed and began:
“It all started when I was escorting Sparkle while visiting that orphanage”
For the next hour Luna listened to Trixie’s tale seeming genuinely surprised but also touched. At the end the Princess of the Night was as thoughtful as Trixie was.
“Do you realize, Trixie Lulamoon, the great responsibility you’ll have if I authorize this, right? Taking care of a foal is a great challenge itself, not to say a kid with a disability”
“I know, in the old days Trixie wouldn’t even think about something like this, but now that I have a formal job and a good position I think Trixie is ready. Before this all started I spent my days counting my money, but in the bottom I always felt alone and Pure Soul awoke something inside me. And Trixie cannot just sit and watch how he’s constantly left aside because of his condition. He needs somepony to believe in him so he can reach his full potential. Princess Luna, help me”
Luna sighed.
“I can’t give you what you ask me Trixie. Your formal job as you call it depends of secrecy and you’re too valuable for me and my soldiers. Bu…”
Trixie let escape a few tears.
“After all I’ve done for you?!”
“Let me finish” said Luna. “But what I can do is go talk that Ms. Foster in person and answer for you. If I give you that document you’re asking somepony could take it and that would be the end of the Undercover Police and bring you a lot of troubles for you and Pure”
Trixie froze.
“So that’s a yes?”
Luna nodded happily.
“Even if you don’t want to admit it, Beatrix Lulamoon, you’re an excellent pony, you just made some stupid mistakes but a good pony on your heart and I know you’ll be a great mom for Pure. But promise me that you’ll ask for help whenever you need… okay?”
Trixie smiled crying in happiness.
“Of course!”
“Very well, let’s talk with Ms. Foster… but before we go we better go shopping, don’t you think? Now that you’ll be a mom I think you need some things to take care of a colt”
“Oh, don’t worry Princess Luna, Trixie can do it on her own”
Luna shook her head:
“Trixie: it’s been a while since anypony have ask me for help. After the Nightmare Moon incident everypony is just too afraid of me. But now I have the chance to do something good for a pony and as you said, you’ve done a lot for me. Since you command my Undercover Police we’ve dissolve several criminal organizations from the inside, consider it my way to thank you”
Trixie thanked the gesture and let Luna be. They spent the morning buying decorations, new furniture, clothes, toys and such; and accommodated everything on Trixie’s mansion. So at the afternoon Trixie lead to the orphanage ready for the time of trugh.
“Hello again Miss Trixie” greeted Ms. Foster. “To see Pure I suppose”
“In fact Ms. Foster, Trixie is here to speak with you. Can we move to your office?”
Ms. Foster showed Trixie the way and the both mares entered, just to see Princess Luna was already waiting for them.
“Eh, what’s going on here?” Asked Ms. Foster.
Trixie smiled confidently.
“Well Ms. Foster, Trixie is here to officially adopt Pure Soul”
“Okay, I imagined it was something like that” said the headmistress. “What I don’t get is what’s Princess Luna doing here”
The blue alicorn placed her hoof on Trixie’s shoulder.
“Oh, you see Ms. Foster: I am here to support Trixie Lulamoon. You see: she may pretend to be a bounty hunter but here’s the truth…”
What happened next wasn’t easy, but it worth it.
First Ms. Foster called Pure Soul to her office saying she had a surprise for him:
“Urprise, what urprise?” Asked Pure.
The headmistress combed his mane.
“Oh Pure, I have great news for you: there’s a young mare who likes you and wants to be your new mommy.”
That surprised really Pure whose eyes widened by the amazing news.
“Ommy, I have a ommy?”
“That’s right Pure Soul” said Trixie approaching. “From now on I’m your new mom. But only if you want to of course”
Again Trixie felt how he almost crushed her ribs because of the tremendous embrace that was the hardest until now. Pure was delighted, crying in happiness.
“TISI! MY OMMY TISI!”
“Yes my darling, from now on we’ll be together forever”
But it was a slow process, they couldn’t go live together from the very beginning. First they started with weekends for Pure to start to get used to Trixie’s house, then alternate weeks and finally mother and son were together at once.
“Good night Pure” said Trixie kissing her son’s forehead. It was unbelievable, her son, it was odd to even think those words but they were true: she had a son. A son!
“Tisi!” He said hugging her.
“Careful Pure, you’re hurting mommy” Indicated Trixie. “I’ve told you darling: control your strength, okay? Now try to get sleep quickly, remember I told you I have a very special pony to introduce you but first I need you to sleep, we’ll meet on your dreams”
The colt giggled and closed his eyes while Trixie left the room and went to hers. It would be a great challenge but being Star Swirl’s granddaughter, Trixie knew there was nothing she couldn’t deal with.
And speaking of Star Swirl, once Trixie fall asleep she found herself walking on the Realm of Dreams in paths not even Luna knew, to find the old wizard.
“Grandpa!”
“Oh, my cute little granddaughter” said Stars Swirl bowing. “What brings you to the dreams of your old folk?”
“Oh, it’s a long story grandpa. Let’s say our family has just grown”
“What you mean?”
“I adopted a colt”
“What?! But those are wonderful news my cute little granddaughter! I really want to meet him and teach him everything I know”
“Then follow me to his Realm of Drams. His name is Pure Souls, and even with all his problems his soul is pure and full of love to share”
The old wizard raised an eyebrow but decided to follow his granddaughter to know the last of his Great and Powerful Legacy.
Author's Note
Okay ladies and gentleman, this is it. Precisely a year ago I published this story on FanFiction (in Spanish of course). I’m an especial education teacher and I originally wrote it in honor of my students, who mean a lot for me. In fact Pure is based in several of them and he’ll make several cameos on Chaos: the Age of Spike on a future.
I hope you liked it and please think about them this March 21, International day of Down Syndrome.
Read ya’ later!!
