Nightshine's Incredible Journey

“You want to do what?!” Spoiled Rich shouted at her husband.

Filthy Rich responded, “Dear, she’s an orphan and so is Short Stroke. We have more than enough bits to care for them and Diamond Tiara all at the same time.”

Spoiled Rich rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Please. Why in the world would I ever want more foals to care for?”

“Darling, if we do this I’ll personally care for Nightshine.” Filthy Rich whispered. “You’d only have Honeycomb and Short Stroke.”

Spoiled raised her eyebrows and cocked her head sideways. “You? I don’t see you as the sentimental type.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Look, darling, I don’t see the reason for adopting orphans. It just seems impracticable.” She shook her head. “And unless I’m mistaken, one of them is a hideous bat-pony.” She shuddered.

“How dare you! She’s a parentless orphan for Celestia’s sake!” Filthy snapped at his wife.

“How dare I?!” Spoiled lurched back and threw her hooves out to each side. “Have you thought of how a batpony will affect our stance in the community?! We’ll lose respect! We’ll become infamous! And most of all, the Rich family name will be dragged through the mud by those rapscallions!

“They’re all orphans who don’t have any parents and are down on their luck! They need love and compassion, unless they’ll be stuck at that dreadful orphanage forever!”

“You... love them?” Spoiled spluttered.

“Of course I do!” Filthy was so close to giving his wife a kick to the face. “Don’t you understand we can do something for them?!”

“Don’t you dare tell me when I can or can’t do something!” Spoiled got up in Filthy’s face and pressed her muzzle against his. “I already have to deal with Diamond Tiara, and she’s recently become more of a nuisance than those pathetic orphans!”

“She’s right though. You treated her like an accessory for so long in trying to turn her into you.” Filthy Rich calmed down and pushed his wife towards the wall. “You have no place in the Rich family with that attitude of yours.”

“No place?!” Spoiled Rich was aghast with her husband’s words. “And you think of yourself as the perfect father? Ever since you signed that deal with the Apple Family, you’ve gotten soft, and forgotten about your contempt for the common pony!”

“Don’t you dare bring Applejack and the Apples into this!” Filthy grabbed Spoiled by her neck and glared into her eyes. “No-one is perfect, that much is true. But I won’t allow you to be a blemish on our family’s rich and vibrant history!

“Uggh! Sometimes, I wonder why you were even born!” She broke away and stomped off towards the gallery. “You know that meeting you have this weekend?! You’re not going to it! You’re not to leave this mansion!” as she slammed the door to her room.

“You’re not the boss of me! You never will be, you spoiled cow!” Filthy chased after his wife.

Unbeknownst to them Diamond Tiara was upstairs looking down at her parents scared to say anything. She quickly and silently tiptoed out of the house and ran to school.

A few hours later….

“Alright! Have a nice day!” Cheerilee waved her hoof as the foals ran out of her schoolhouse. She saw Diamond Tiara run off with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, talking about the adventures that they planned to have.  Cheerilee could only smile, thinking about how hard it must’ve been for Diamond Tiara. The tension between her parents had been getting stronger with each passing day and it would soon lead to a divorce and then a fight between Filthy and Spoiled over who should raise her.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked over their shoulders with their new friend as Filthy Rich greeted them. ”Oh, hello. You must be Diamond Tiara’s new friends,” he said.

”Yep! We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Applebloom approached Filthy, who rubbed the back of his head.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you all.” He began to sweat around his forehead.

“Dad? Are you alright?” Diamond took note of Filthy’s body language.

”Darling, is it alright if I talk with you alone?” He gently pulled her close.

”It’s alright.” Sweetie Belle nodded.

“Yeah! We’ll catch up back at the treehouse!” Scootaloo added.

”Sure, girls. I’ll see you soon.” Diamond waved the Cutie Mark Crusaders as they all darted off towards their clubhouse before turning to face her father. “So, what’s wrong, Dad?

“Darling, a few hours ago, I came across three courageous little foals who need new homes.”

“You mean orphans?” Diamond asked.

“Yes. I talked about adopting them with your mom.” Filthy sighed and hung his head. “She didn't take it too well.”

“I heard the whole argument from upstairs.” Diamond nodded and replied with quiver in her tone. “You and mother were really going at each other’s throats; almost to the point where I thought you were going to break up with each other.”

”Yes. This little dispute can’t be settled through our views alone.” Filthy Rich nodded. “So, why not let you decide? Would you like to have a brother or a sister?”

“Yeah! I would love to have a sibling!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed excitedly.

”That’s wonderful  dear.” Filthy looked around the place for the three orphans. “But first, I need to find them.”

Pinkie Pie was bouncing down the streets of Ponyville with the other foals as Honeycomb drooped her head down, trying to avoid being looked at. Nightshine turned to Short Stroke who was taking in all the sights and sounds as they went down the road.

“Hey, Short Stroke, I need to tell you something.” She tapped on the back of his shoulders.

“Yeah?” He turned to face her.

“I heard you back in sugarcube corner,” Nightshine said.

“You did?” Short Stroke’s eyes went wide.

”I just want to say thank you. But you didn’t have to do that.” She gave a nod and giggled.

“I know, I know. But… I can’t imagine being adopted before you. It just wouldn’t feel right.” Short Stroke shook his head.

“Hi, Miss Cheerilee!” Pinkie Pie bellowed, breaking both Nightshine and Short Stroke’s concentration. “We were just coming to see you!”

“Really? I was coming to see Diamond Tiara about her parents.” Cheerilee examined the towns ponies in the streets before looking down at the three orphans. “Oh my. I didn’t know you had children.”

“No, silly billy.” Pinkie laughed. “They’re not mine. They’re runaway orphans. And believe me, it’s a long story.”

“So… if they’re orphans, could I maybe...” Cheerilee struggled to get the last part of her sentence out. She let out a gulp and said, “...adopt one of them?

Pinkie Pie let out a long gasp. “You will?”

“I would adopt all of you if I could.” Cheerilee thought to herself, looking down at the three of them. She then turned over to see Honeycomb digging through the ground, finding buried flowers. “Hello there. What are you doing?”

Honeycomb looked up at Cheerilee, caressing the flower that she had dug up. “I’m looking for flowers.”

“You like flowers as well?” Cheerilee asked, watching Honeycomb gently brush some of the dirt off of the leaves.

“Yes. I love flowers.” Honeycomb nodded and showed her the clean flower. “I love them more than anything else in Equestria.”

“And what do you like most about them?” Cheerilee asked.

“Well, they’re really pretty.” Honeycomb took back the plant and found some more in the same hole. “I have a dream to own my flower shop.”

Cheerilee wrapped her hoof around Honeycomb and began to tousle her mane. She slowly pulled the filly into her fur as Honeycomb nuzzled it smelling Cheerilee’s scent.

“I’m sorry, but we’re in an itsy-bitsy bit of a hurry. Are you going to adopt?” She fished the adoption papers from her mane.

“Yes. Yes I will.” Cheerilee opened her saddlebags and retrieved a quill. She used it to write down her signature on the paper, underlining her name and giving it a full stop.

”You…  you want to be my mommy?” Honeycomb’s eyes shot wide open as a smile plastered itself onto her face.

“Yes, little Honeycomb. You can call me mom.” Cheerilee hugged Honeycomb.

“I...I don’t know what to say.” Nightshine walked up to Honeycomb and shook her hoof.

“I’m so happy for you, Honeycomb!” Short Stroke gave her his own hug and stroked her mane. “You’ve got your own mommy!

The three foals all hugged each other for a while before they broke it up and let Honeycomb walk off with Cheerilee to her new home.

“So, is it ok I call you mommy?” Honeycomb asked as she walked down the streets with Cheerilee.

“Of course. As long as you don’t mind me calling you my wittle honey.” Cheerilee smiled and playfully winked at her.

”Now it’s our turn.” Nightshine smiled as she watched Honeycomb and Cheerilee turn a corner into another street.

“Yeah! I can’t wait!” Short Stroke bounced up and down on his hooves.

“There you are!”

That voice made both Nightshine and Short Stroke freeze up. They knew that voice perfectly. The spite in her tone, the pitch she was speaking in, and the sound of a unicorn’s horn lighting up. All indistinguishable features of Serenity, the unicorn who worked at the orphanage and held a tight grip on the other orphans.

“No no no no no no no… Not now!” Short Stroke groaned as he turned to face Serenity.

“You two get your sorry flanks over here this instant!” Serenity yelled.

“Hi! Are you new to Ponyville?” Pinkie Pie jumped right in Serenity’s face. “My name’s Pinkie Pie, and these are my two friends, Nightshine and Short Stroke. I’m working to get these two sweet little angels adopted.”

“That’s exactly the reason I’m here.” Serenity used her magic to move Pinkie Pie aside. “My name is Serenity and I’m here to bring these orphans back to where they belong.”

“What?!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “B-But, you can’t do that! You clearly said that we had plenty of time to find them parents!”

“I did. A few hours is plenty of time.” Serenity scowled and approached Nightshine and Short Stroke. “But judging by the fact that there are two foals left, it’s safe to say that you failed in your task. Now I’m taking them back to the orphanage; where they shall face strict punishment for their escape.

“Actually…” Nightshine slowly stepped forward. “I’m the only one that you need to take back. Short Stroke already has a home here in Ponyville.”

“Oh really?” Serenity cocked a brow. “With who?”

“The Cakes. Mr and Mrs.” Nightshine pointed over to them.

“Nightshine? What are you doing?!” Short Stroke whispered in her ears.

“Don’t worry about me, Short Stroke.” Nightshine whispered back. “I promised that you’d get adopted and you did. You don’t need me anymore.

“But… But… The orphanage is no place for a friend like you!” Short Stroke tried desperately to protect Nightshine.

“Let’s face it. Nopony wants a bat pony for a foal.” Nightshine sighed and took Serenity’s hoof before she was forcefully lifted up in the mare’s magic. “You’ll see me again soon, Short Stroke. And when that happens, I promise that we’ll be the best of friends.”

“Such fitting words for a reunion destined to fail.” Serenity took Nightshine away. “Good day, Short Stroke, Miss Pie.”

“No…” Pinkie Pie shed a tear as she watched the last of the orphans being taken away right before her eyes. She wanted to do something, but knew that she would go to prison if she intervened.

“She needs me… Just as much as I need her.” Short Stroke began to cry as he reached out for his friend. Pinkie came over and hugged the colt close to her. He rubbed his face into her fur as he choked, “Nightshine, I need you, You need to get adopted as soon as possible. Please…” Pinkie held the colt close to her chest speechless and feeling ashamed in her failure.