Out of the cold

by Flash Magnus

Rating: everyone
Tags: Alternate Universe, Other, Romance, Original Character, Slice of Life, Cloudkicker, Raindrops, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 14643

in the dark of an alley, a lonely filly hides from the horrors of society, until a mare arrives and lights her way to happiness

inspired by Autum Breeze's "Wings, a Horn and Hooves"

It was a cold evening in Ponyville, a cold wind was blowing from the north and ringing the bells on the doors of the shops...
The streets were semi-deserted... hardly anypony wanted to venture outside, each pony was at home with his family enjoying a nice cup of tea in front of the fireplace...
But not everyone was lucky enough to have a house or a family with which to shelter from the cold... 
huddled in a cardboard box, at the end of an alley hidden from view, there was a little Pegasus filly...
The filly was alone... she didn't have a house or someone to stay with, and the few times she tried to ask for some charity, she was brutally rejected...
In the darkness of that alley, away from everything or from everyone, the little filly cried... cried because she was hurt, because she was cold, or simply cried because no one seemed to care...
In her eyes, no one would ever help her or make her feel safe...
But fate has decided differently...
At that moment, a gentle mare was heading for the filly alley, determined to change things...

Published 2021-05-24 18:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2023-03-31 17:44:29 UTC

Chapter 1: A filly in the snow

It had been a long day for Raindrops, her boss had given her the task today to prepare a storm for that night... after work, Raindrops said goodbye to her colleagues and headed home...
As she flew in that freezing night, a movement and a sound made her ears prick up...
As she approached the noise site, Raindrops understood... the sound was that of a cry... the cry of a desperate filly…

With a strong heat in her heart, the yellow mare decided that she would find out what had happened and would do what she could to help the filly...

Summer Breeze was huddled under a pile of newspapers as she cried and remembered the last words she had heard... "disappear brat, the next time you show up here, a month in the hospital won't be enough for you to recover!"

She was just hungry... she knew that stealing was wrong, but there was nothing else she could do…

she had no money and the only way to get food was that...
As she held her head in her hooves, a noise made her raise her ears... hoofsteps... "oh no... no no no no no... nopony could have found me... and now what do I do?"
The filly was in a panic... somepony was following her, and when it did it was never for good intentions... for all she knew it could be a murderer, a thug or a rapist, whatever it was, it didn't matter anymore, it was coming...
The filly couldn't move... she was paralyzed with fear... the only thing she managed to do was curl up into a ball and sob even louder...

As Raindrops approached, the volume of sobbing increased...
When she finally reached the source she found a pitiful scene…

The little filly was curled up like a ball under a pile of newspapers and was shivering violently, both from the cold and from the terror...
When the young mare approached her, she began to squeak and stammer in terror... "P-please d-don't hurt me..."

Raindrops came even closer and put down a wing on the shivering filly... "Oh, poor little filly..."
What? Wasn't the older mare here to harm her? "Huh?" The still trembling filly raised her head slowly and looked into the eyes of the intruder she feared so much…

The look she received was one of pure kindness and concern... no one had ever looked at her like this... "Quiet filly, I’m not here to hurt you... I'm Sunshower Raindrops but can you call me Raindrops or Rainy, what's your name?"

The filly was still scared, but a feeling was growing inside her that she hadn't felt for a long time now... a glimmer of hope and trust...
Stammering a bit, the filly answered the question: "M-my name is Summer Breeze, b-but you can only call me Summer..."

Raindrops moved closer to the filly... "Okay Summer, if you don't want to tell me it's okay, but what are you doing in this alley?"
The filly looked at her curiously
"Well, I didn't want to sleep out there so I found a place to stay, even if it's not much..."

Summer started shaking and decided to sit down... maybe she would be able to recover some heat from the newspapers…
Raindrops frowned at the answer… slowly an idea started to make its way into her mind, but it was too horrible to think about… what if the filly was an orphan?

"But why aren't you home? Your parents will be worried..."
At the word parents, the filly's ears went down confirming Raindrops' fears and with a sad look, she began to cry in silence...
"I-I... I..."
Summer could not finish the sentence but it was clear that the subject had brought back bad memories…

As the filly sobbed again, she felt warmed by a gentle presence... the older mare had stretched her wings and she wrapped her in a solid embrace...
"Oh little one, I'm sorry..."
As she hugged the filly, Raindrops slowly started to pass a hoof into her mane... like her mother did when she was little...
The filly opened her eyes... no one had ever done such a thing for her...
Summer began to feel a little warmth in her broken heart after a long time... she decided to trust and hug her back...
after so many years it was the best thing that had ever happened to her... even if for a short time, had someone who cared about her…

While was sobbing, she hugged her back and buried herself in the mare's chest as she was gently rocked...
"Shhh... shhh... Hush little one... I'm here now... let it all go..."
Raindrops began to whisper to calm the filly as he rocked her...
The two remained in that situation for a few minutes when they finally broke away from the embrace…

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't want to cry on you, it's just that you were so kind... no one has ever done it for me..."
Raindrops felt a strange sensation, a voice in her head telling her to hug the filly and never let her go again, as her heart filled with love and concern…

Summer was expecting a look of contempt and disappointment from the mare, but what she got was very different... when she looked at her again, Raindrops had that sweet, worry-filled smile again that had already made her heart warm once...
"Hey don't worry… it's nothing… rather, I seem to understand that you don't have a place to stay for the night, right?"

The filly nodded slightly and bowed her head as her ears dropped...
Once again her loneliness came out and spoiled her good times...
Raindrops placed a hoof under the little girl's chin and made sure to look into her eyes...
"This is not good... I can't let you sleep out here in the cold... would you like to come home with me? I'm sure my partner wouldn't mind having you as a guest..."

The filly lit up as if struck by lightning...
Did she really hear those words or was it all a hallucination of the cold?
Summer couldn't speak for the emotion...
"D-do you mean that r-really? It's not a joke?"
The yellow filly still didn't want to believe it…

"Sure little one... it's not a joke... cross my heart,
Hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"
Summer could no longer contain herself... before Raindrops could say more, the filly jumped on her and hugged her with all the strength she had…

While she was crying for the joy she managed to stammer a thank you to her rescuer...
As they broke away from her hug, Raindrops motioned to the little to get on his back...
"Come on filly, let's get out of here, you’ll sleep in a cozy bed tonight... get on my back"

Summer Breeze climbed onto the back of the older Pegasus and held tight to her neck as they headed for the cloud house...

Author's Note

Sorry if the grammar and syntax are not very correct but I'm not English and I don't have an editor to help me with the stories ... it's the first time I've published something of my own so if you have any suggestions I gladly accept them

Chapter 2: Safe from the storm

The house of Raindrops and Cloudkicker was not very far from the center, but being a cloud, it was quite high, and high meant cold…

While Raindrops flew she could feel the filly squeezing more and more against her as she shivered… she could feel her temperature and it was definitely too low to be normal…
"Hey little girl, I know it's cold but hold on… ok? soon we will arrive…"
The filly nodded and did her best not to let go…

As promised they arrived a few minutes later…
Summer Breeze was now shaking violently…

Raindrops saw the filly's state and decided to hug her to warm her up a bit...
"We arrived baby, now let's go in we warm up a bit okay?"

The filly nodded as she was lifted by Raindrops into a warm embrace...
As they walked through the door, Raindrops called her partner...
"Honey, I'm home, we'll have a guest tonight!"

A purple Pegasus with a blond mane came out from behind a door...

While it was snowing outside and the cold began to be felt, Cloudkicker was in the kitchen baking a delicious muffin pan...
After all, they were her mare's favorite dessert... she remembered well their first date right in a muffin shop…

After getting lost in her thoughts, a familiar noise and voice brought her back to consciousness...
"Honey, I'm home, we'll have a guest tonight!".

Raindrops was back, and there was someone with her... since she didn't know who the guest was, she adjusted her mane for a moment and got rid of her kitchen apron…

After a few seconds, she opened the door and went to meet the two ponies in the corridor...
When he came out of the kitchen, he saw a rather strange scene:
Their host was a filly that looked like a photocopy of Raindrops, Except that her mane was two-tone and she didn't have a cutie-mark…

At the sight of her, the filly huddled behind Raindrops as she continued to shiver from the cold…

Sure, she had trusted Raindrops, but she was still afraid of other ponies...
Cloudkicker noticed that the filly looked uncomfortable and decided to break the ice…
"Hi little filly, I'm Cloudkicker, what's your name?"
The yellow filly backed away slightly, but then she braced herself and answered the mare...
"M-my name is Summer Breeze..."
As she spoke she felt the comfortable touch of Raindrops's wing against her back and decided to be less suspicious...

Raindrops noticed that the filly was feeling uncomfortable and placed a wing on her back to comfort her… that filly must have been through terrible things…
"Hey, little girl, why don't you go and warm up by the fireplace while kicky and I make dinner?"

The filly looked at her with a faint smile as she nodded...
After Summer sat down by the fireplace Raindrops and Cloudkicker moved into the kitchen...
Cloudkicker spoke first…

"So Honey, why did you bring that filly here?"
Raindrops saddened at the thought and started talking...
"I was walking home when I heard somepony crying... I started looking for the source and I came to this dark and cold alley... in there, at the end of the alley, in a big cardboard box, there was this terrified filly"

Cloudkicker was listening and had a confused expression...
"Honey, I know she might be scared and a little cold, but why didn't you take her to her parents?"

Raindrops's gaze darkened even more...
"When I arrived she was terrified of me, she started begging me not to hurt her as she closed herself up...
Who knows what happened to make her react like this... poor filly...
After that I explained that I wouldn't hurt her, she started to open up and she told me she was alone and she didn't have a place to spend the night, so I told her she could stay with us… okay for you right? I'm not sure she'd be safe with the storm out there…"

The purple mare made a confused grimace…
"What do you mean when you said that she was alone? don't tell me that..."
Raindrops looked at her and Cloudkicker quickly realized that her suspicions weren't groundless…

"She's an orphan... if that's what you wanted to ask"
Cloudkicker couldn't believe what she had just heard, and while she was sad about the situation of the filly, she was also proud of what her mare had done... not everyone was welcome to welcome someone in distress…

"Honey... I don't know what to say... what you did is wonderful... Besides, that little filly would not have survived the storm of tonight if she stayed out there..."

Cloudkicker hugged Raindrops and turned to the muffin pan...
"I'm going to offer our little guest a snack"
With some muffins on a saucer, she walked over to the filly curled up in front of the fireplace...

"Hey Summer, since we're going to take a while to prepare dinner, would you like a chocolate muffin for a snack?"
The filly whirled towards the purple mare... she was about to say something but her stomach answered for her... she hadn't eaten for a day and a half now and her belly gave a loud growl…

Cloudkicker giggled slightly and Summer's cheeks turned red...
"I think your stomach has already decided..."

Cloudkicker chuckled and set the plate next to the filly and crouched next to her...
While the filly ate Raindrops she walked over and stood next to Cloudkicker...
"So, How long have you lived out there?"
The purple mare asked in a gentle voice…

Summer looked up at her and decided to tell the two mares a little about her life...
"For about two years... I had been in an orphanage before, but the matron was cruel and we were punished for anything... after he threatened to leave us fasting for a month, I decided to run away... after two years of wandering around Equestria I decided to stop in Ponyville..."
The filly stopped to take another bite from her muffins

"I thought I would find some abandoned house where shelter as in other cities... but when it started to get cold, I realized it was wrong... if Raindrops hadn't found me, probably tomorrow I would not be around anymore..."
the yellow filly lowered her head and placed it on her hooves while the two mares exchanged a knowing look…

Without saying anything, they both gathered the sad little filly in a hug...
Summer didn't feel anything like that from t a long time ago... as she basked in the warmth of the embrace, bitter tears began to flow from her eyes and she soon began to cry...
No one had ever stopped to see how she was or if she needed help, yet these two mares had it done…

"Thanks for letting me spend the night here..."
Raindrops smiled and slightly ruffled the filly's mane...
"Don't worry honey, but don't think it's just for tonight..." Summer's eyes widened in shock.
"What? Won't you send me away tomorrow?" She asked with a glimmer of hope in her voice...
Summer Breeze didn't want to hope... all her time on the streets had taught her that hope could really be a bad thing... but, at that moment, she decided to open her little broken heart and start hoping again...
Maybe after a long time, she had found someone to take care of her...
"No honey, we won't send you away tomorrow, you can stay with us for as long as you want..."Cloudkicker said ruffling her mane to the little girl...
Summer froze... she couldn't believe her ears...
"I-I don't know what to say... thank you... thank you very much... everyone I've met has always chased me away... I don't like it being alone..."
The filly burst into tears and hugged the two mares…

After a few minutes, the three mares broke the embrace and while Cloudkicker headed for the kitchen, Raindrops decided to cuddle the little girl a little more...
"Hush now little one... You are not alone… we are here for you now..."

As she hugged her, she felt that the filly was still cold despite having spent the last few minutes hugging her in front of the fireplace...
She had to solve the situation or Summer would get sick...
As she watched her mare cook, she came to an idea…
"I noticed you're still cold… how about taking a nice hot bath while Kicky prepares dinner?"

As soon as Summer heard those words she lit up... it had been a very long time since she last took a hot bath...
While she was still in Raindrops' embrace, the filly nodded happily…

"I don't even remember the last time I took a hot bath... thank you very much..."
Raindrops smiled at the filly's comment and put a hoof on her shoulder as they headed for the bathroom...
"don't worry little one... now let's get warm"

Summer smiled, for the first time after years, she felt accepted and liked...

While the filly sat waiting, Raindrops filled the tub and stirred the water to distribute the heat evenly…
Summer Breeze was a bit confused… couldn't understand how clouds could hold water…
"Summer, the water is ready… do you need a hoof for something?"
Raindrops’ voice made the filly relax and she nodded slightly...
During her time on the street, Summer had received many blows, and the most recent had torn a muscle in her shoulder…

"Er... Raindrops, could you help me with my mane later? I would like to do it myself but my shoulder hurts…"
Raindrops nodded and a bit of curiosity and a lot of concern prompted her to ask a question…
"Summer? Are you ok? Are you hurt?"

Summer felt a knot in her stomach... it was the first time she had confessed an injury, she had never trusted anypony for these things, but Raindrops and Cloudkicker looked like two gentle mares, so she decided she could trust...
"Promise that don't you get angry if I tell you?"
The yellow mare nodded and promised
"I promise I will not get angry, whatever you did..."
Summer nodded and sat on the mat in front of the bathtub looking at the ground…

"This morning I was hungry... I hadn't eaten for about a day... while I was wandering through the alleys I saw this stallion with a sack full of Zap Apple and since they were the only edible things I asked him if he could give me one..."
The filly shivered at the memory of that morning…

"But he has reacted badly... he told me to disappear and not be seen again, but I was really hungry, so I tried to steal one... he caught me and kicked me... I landed on a wall and from that moment my shoulder hurts... Then you know how the rest went…"
Raindrops walked over and gently placed a wing on her back…

"Don't worry, you're safe now… nobody's gonna hurt you while you're with us… ok?"
The filly smiled and nodded... after a few seconds, she took the initiative and slowly entered the tub... the sensation she felt was indescribable... her muscles began to melt from the heat of the water... she had never felt so good, so he decided to relax a bit before starting to lather...

As Summer relaxed in the hot water, Raindrops began to take a closer look at the filly... with everything that had happened she hadn't paid much attention to it, but the filly looked like her photocopy…

Her coat was the same shade of yellow and her mane and tail were cyan... even though she was almost like her, the mane was of two different shades of cyan...
Sometimes fate plays strange tricks...
While she was lost in thought, she heard an intrusion, and a voice called her back to reality…

"Raindrops, could you help me? I can't lather my wings and head..."
Summer was ashamed of having to ask for help for such things, but the situation didn't allow for alternatives...
Raindrops smiled at the filly and started to help her...
Noticing that Summer was a little ashamed, he decided to reassure her…

"don't worry... there's no problem getting help when you're injured..."
The filly sighed and let those skilled and kind hooves soap herself...
"You know, it's just that I feel so useless... I don't have a cutie-mark and I don't have a family... all I'm doing is just being a burden to others..."

Raindrops felt a warmth coming from within... Her instincts told her to jump into the tub and hug the filly to comfort her but limited to massages and kind words...
"I don't want to hear from you anymore that you are useless... even if you don't have a cutie-mark it doesn't mean not knowing how to do anything and being useless to society... it just means that you have yet to discover your special talent, and you have all the waist in front..."
Raindrops had finished lathering her and helped her rinse off...
When Summer got out of the tub, Raindrops wrapped her in a warm towel... the heat emanating from that object was fantastic…

"Hey, Raindrops... thank you... nopony has ever made me feel so important... sooner or later I will be able to repay you and Cloudkicker for what you are doing for me..."
Raindrops walked over to the filly and gently ruffled her mane...
"Don't worry baby, it's nothing... Besides what we are doing falls into the things for which no payment is necessary..."

Raindrops quickly hugged the filly and motioned her to follow her towards the stairs...
"come on, now let's go... I'm sure Kicky will have prepared a great dinner..."
the filly smiled and together they reached the lower floor...

While Raindrops and Summer Breeze were still upstairs, Cloud kicker was wandering around the kitchen trying to figure out what to prepare for dinner...

she wanted to give the little filly something warm and good that would make her feel better... even if she didn't want to admit it, she knew the filly's situation very well... just her, about eighteen years ago, she was in the same situation... orphaned and homeless, until a kind couple of unicorns welcomed her into their home and treated her as if she was their daughter forever... that day, those two ponies had saved her life... and now she had the opportunity to do the same with Summer…

After a few minutes, Cloudkicker understood what she had to cook: daffodils soup... it was a simple dish, but it was the first thing her mother had prepared for her after welcoming her...
as soon as she remembered the taste, he began to cook it, hoping it would be as good as that of his mother…

the minutes passed and just Cloudkicker turned off the stove, two sets of footsteps made their way from upstairs...
when her partner and the filly appeared she called them…
"Girls, dinner is ready!"

As they headed to the table, Cloudkicker made a point of filling the filly's plates more... it
seemed he hadn't eaten that muffin in a long time before as an appetizer…

soon the two mares and the filly were seated to enjoy the delicious hot soup...
Summer was a little unsure of the contents of the bowl, but it gave off an inviting smell…
"Um… Cloudkicker, what did you cook?"
Cloudkicker smiled at the curious filly…

"it's daffodils soup, little one... My mother always made it for me when I was sad or down for something..."
the filly smiled and tasted the steaming dish…

the taste was delicious... it was by far one of the best things he had ever tasted...
"Wow... this soup is awesome... it's by far one of the best things I've ever eaten... Thanks for making it for me..."

Cloudkicker smiled and walked over to the filly and ruffled her slightly the mane...
"I'm glad you like it... after all, it was also my favorite dish when I was a little filly..."

the two mares and the filly continued their dinner until bedtime…
Summer Breeze yawned...
"Looks like somepony needs a good night of sleep..."

Summer could barely keep her eyes open but still managed to nod...
Raindrops and Cloudkicker's house was not small, but it didn't have a guest room…

"Unfortunately we haven't a guest room, but we have a second bed in our room... Would you like to stay with us?"
The yellow filly did not understand much but managed to mutter a consent...
"Mkay..."

While she waited for the hosts to fix the bed, Summer moved to the fireplace as the comfortable embrace of sleep dragged her into the darkness...

Raindrops and Cloudkicker moved into their room to make a bed for the little filly... after a long time on the streets, the only thing she needed was love, a healthy meal, and a warm place to call home... in this situation, the two mares had decided to help the filly, providing her with everything she needed…

Cloudkicker had taken the situation very seriously... after all, she had been through it too... now she was about to confess her secret to the mare she trusted more...
"Um... Rainy, there's something I should tell you..."
the yellow mare looked at her curiously...
"Tell me, I see something is bothering you..."

Cloudkicker sat down on the floor and told her the whole story...
"Well, I lied about my origins... Stardust and Radiance are not my real parents... you see, when I was 6, I was in the same condition as Summer... I was living on the streets of Canterlot desperately hoping to find something to eat or a place to sleep... until when two fantastic unicorns found me... I was in very bad condition... if they hadn't found me I probably wouldn't be here today..."

Cloudkicker stopped for a moment and sighed...
"They gave me everything I needed... they gave me a home to return to and a family to love... when you brought that little filly home my heart broke... well here I want to help her... I want to be there for her like my foster parents did for me... would you be her mom with me?"

Raindrops hugged her mare with tears in her eyes... she had no idea what she was going through... she even met her parents, but this never came out...
"I didn't know you went through something like this... but me, a mother? What if I'm not good? What if they kick me out of work and we all end up on the street? Alone I will never make it..."
Cloudkicker smiled and walked over to her partner... with a quick kiss on the lips he dissolved all her worries…

"But you will not be alone... we will be together, and together nothing can stop us..."
Raindrops smiled and took security…

"So yes, let's do it... that filly deserves to have two parents who love her, and if her parents were stupid enough to abandon her, then worse for them... we have a fantastic filly who will be like our daughter, whatever happens..."

She was very sorry for what she had discovered and also for the fact that she had never told her, but now a more important question had arisen... both had decided to be there for the filly, not only as guests but also as a family…

Raindrops hugged Cloudkicker and finished fixing the bed for the filly...
"Come on now, let's go... we have a filly to take care of..."
The two mares hugged each other briefly and then headed for the hall where a spectacle of tenderness…

The filly, overwhelmed by all the events of the day, had fallen asleep in front of the fireplace, with what looked like a serene smile on her face...
"Oh, Celestia... she fell asleep..."
Cloudkicker smiled, walked over to the filly, and took her by the scruff to place her on her back…

even after moving the filly continued to sleep as if nothing in the world could disturb her...
Raindrops looked at the scene and smiled too... this would probably have been one of the best night’s sleep for their baby guest... couldn't wait to make it permanent…

Cloudkicker and Raindrops took the filly upstairs and gently laid her in the newly made bed...
"Goodnight my little filly... I hope you have some good dreams..."
Cloudkicker leaned over the sleeping filly and she kissed her on the forehead, then went to bed with her mare…

for the first time in years, Summer fell asleep peacefully and with a full belly...

Chapter 3: A place to call Home

The wind blew cold and strong from the north... the closer the night got to its peak, the more the temperature dropped...

a shiver of cold went through the filly's back…
despite having blankets the house was cold enough to make people not used to living in the clouds feel cold…

Rubbing her eyes lightly and shaking a little, Summer Breeze did not remember well what had happened the night before, she just knew that she had had a fantastic dream: someone had found her and brought her home, making her feel loved…
at least she thought it was a dream until she noticed where she was…

she was in a bed, not in her usual alley and, a few steps from her, there were those two mares who had welcomed her...
"Damn how cold..." Summer was trying in every way to warm up without waking anyone, but her attempt was in vain…

Trying to get more pillows to cover herself, Summer did accident so a vase dropped...
"Little girl, those pillows are not very good blankets..."

Cloudkicker was sleeping, when a rustle, a thud, and groans of discomfort woke her up...
in a corner of the room, there was Summer Breeze who was trying to use pillows as a blanket... this event made her smile, but still, she decided to do something more for the filly...
"Little girl, those pillows aren't great blankets..."
as the purple mare whispered, Summer jumped like a cat scared and started stammering apologies…

"S-sorry... I didn't want to wake you up... it's just that I'm cold and the blanket doesn't warm me enough..."

as she approached the filly, Cloudkicker smiled happily... she liked Summer's spirit... the more time passed with her, the more he reminded her of her years as a filly...
before she realized it, Summer, in the throes of a half panic attack, hugged her and started to whimper…
"P-Please... Don't send me away... I don't want to go back out there... I didn't want-"

Summer Breeze, she didn't have time to finish speaking that she found herself tightly in the mare's embrace …
the heat she gave off was just fantastic...

"Shh... Shh... Quiet baby... I won't send you away just for trying to get warm..."
Summer couldn't believe it... in all her short life, she had always been seen as a nuisance... and now, a mare who had met a few hours cared for her... maybe the ponies in this town were different as everyone said…

"I see that you're not used to the temperature... let me guess, you've never been on a cloud at night, right?"
the filly shook her head slightly as she continued to shiver…

"Well, then tomorrow we will go and buy a nice blanket, ok? a friend of mine knows a very good seamstress... but for tonight what do you say if I'm next to you and I'll warm you up? Only if that's okay of course..."
Summer couldn't ask for better...

"No one had ever done anything like this for me before..."
The filly nodded as Cloudkicker moved onto the bed with her...
in less than a second, Cloudkicker wrapped a wing around the filly and covered the rest with her tail to make her feel warm and safe more than ever...

"No problem little one... I would do anything to keep you safe..."
Summer Breeze was upset... no one was ever been so kind and thoughtful to her... everything Cloudkicker was doing made her think of her as some sort of mother, even though she had known her for a few hours... this all seemed right in a way... but still she had to ask... she had to know because this mare was doing all this for her without wanting anything in return…

"Um… Cloudkicker… can I ask you something?"
The purple mare looked at the filly and smiled...
"Sure honey, whatever you want..."
"Um... why are you and Raindrops doing all this for me?"
The filly's question was so profound that it reminded the purple mare of what had happened a long time ago…

"Well here it is baby, to explain it I'm going to have to tell you a story, okay?"
The filly nodded and got into the listening position…

"This is the story of a purple Pegasus filly, a little younger than you...
The little filly was all alone in the streets of Canterlot during the winter months…

She didn't have a place to go or a family to be with...
she was too scared to do anything and stood there in an alley crying, waiting for her time to come and stop suffering...

the filly dreamed of having a family that loved her but unfortunately, it was not so... her biological parents were criminals who maltreated her until you have not had the bright idea to get killed... see little one, that was the only good thing that they did for the filly...
While the filly was desperate for hunger, a couple of unicorns was passing by and heard her cry…
The two unicorns found the filly dying and decided to take her home with them...
They gave her a hot meal and a warm bed to sleep in...

The filly was so scared from everything that she didn't even speak... it took a year for the filly to talk to them... as time went by the two unicorns and the filly bonded so much that they decided to become a family and adopted the filly as their daughter...

the filly she wanted to do something to repay what her new parents had done for her, but they kept saying that there was no need... they said that all they needed was the happiness of the filly... they said they loved her and if she was happy then they too were…

the filly could only be happy... now she had a family, she had friends and had enrolled in school...

she discovered that she liked to learn new things and loved arranging clouds...
so it was that one fine day while she was having fun freeing the sky, a white flash enveloped her and a mark appeared on her side...

until that moment she did not understand the meaning of her name, but from that moment on she understood who she was... she was Cloudkicker, and her purpose was to brighten the days of others..."

Summer Breeze was flabbergasted... she couldn't believe that the gentle purple mare had been an orphan too...
"So you were the filly of the story?"

Cloudkicker smiled at the question and gently cuddled the yellow filly...
"Sure, the purple filly of the story was me... and as for the question you asked me earlier, my answer is that helping you is a way to repay my parents for what they did for me, and then you and I are very similar... from what I saw you are a very strong filly, just like I was, that's why I want to help you... I love you, little one... now but sleep, tomorrow will be a long one day..."

Summer Breeze understood... now she knew she wasn't the only one who had gone through everything that had happened to her... and now she knew she would never be alone…
now she had a place to call home, someone who would console her if got hurt and someone who would celebrate her triumphs…

After a long time, she understood... Home is that place where your heart resides, and Summer Breeze's heart was together with Raindrops and Cloudkicker...
before it slipped in the arms of Morpheus, she pressed herself even more against the breast of the gentle mare...
"Thank you for all you're doing for me... I love you..."
Cloudkicker smiled at the sweet phrase of the filly and kissed her on the forehead...
"I love you too... goodnight my little one"

Then the sweet embrace of sleep caught her too and she fell asleep with the filly gripped between her hooves...

While Cloudkicker and Summer Breeze slept happily embraced, Raindrops got up from the bed and, in the kindest way possible, she covered the mare and filly with a blanket...
"Goodnight Girls... I hope this becomes permanent..."
With a smile on her face, Raindrops lay down on her bed and fell asleep...

A ray of sunshine entered from the window, lighting up the room...
Cloudkicker slowly began to open her eyes…

As soon as she became aware of the situation, she smiled and looked at the sleeping filly between her hooves... she could feel her small chest rise and fall with a rhythm slow and regular and on her face, she had an expression that conveyed serenity…

Cloudkicker felt a tug in her heart when she saw the scene... that tug, it began to turn into a feeling, a feeling of maternal love…
The purple mare had no intention of waking up the sleeping filly, so she stayed cuddling her until she got up on her own…

While Cloudkicker was cuddling the still sleeping filly, Raindrops woke up and decided to go and prepare breakfast... she had decided that to surprise the little filly, she would do her specialty: Pancakes with chocolate chips and caramel...

Summer Breeze had always been used to waking up in pain, lying on a pile of newspapers and the cold, but this time something had changed...
While the filly still kept her eyes closed, she noticed the warmth and softness in which she was waking up… it felt like the softness of a bed, a real bed, not a couch or a pile of newspapers…

Slowly she opened one eye and what she saw surprised her... she was really in a bed, wrapped in a protective embrace by a purple mare...
The purple mare of what she thought was just a dream...
Before she could open her mouth, the mare spoke…

"Good morning sleepyhead, my favorite filly slept well?"
This sentence confirmed to the filly that it wasn't a dream... but Summer still had doubts about what had happened... she didn't clearly remember the night before...
"Y-are you real? It wasn't just a dream, wasn’t it? I don't want to go back out there..."

The filly was still uncertain about the reality of the situation, but when Cloudkicker held her in her wings all doubts vanished...
"Sure girl, it's all real, don't worry, I'm here, you're safe now..."

The filly couldn't believe her ears... with the speed of lightning, Summer returned the purple mare's embrace while an expression of pure serenity appeared on her face... not one of those forced smiles, but a simple, genuine smile, a smile that expressed eternal gratitude...
"I... thank you..."

The filly buried herself in the chest of the purple mare while she was gently cuddled...

After comforting the little yellow filly, Cloudkicker continued cuddling her to make her feel better... after all those years alone, much more than cuddling would be needed to bring the filly to see life differently from the desolation of the streets, but in the meantime, it was a good start...
While holding the filly, he noticed that her feathers were all ruffled, and many were broken...
"Summer, there is something I wanted to ask you... if then it's no good then I leave it alone..."

The filly looked at her confused and nodded...
"Huh-uh tell me"
"Well here... I saw that your wings are very neglected... has anyone ever taught you how to preen them correctly?"
Summer shook her head...
"No... nopony ever taught me how to do that..."
Cloudkicker wasn't surprised by this answer... after all, neither she has any idea of preening when her parents found her...

The purple mare smiled and looked into her eyes...
"Well, what do you say if I teach you? When you understand how to do it correctly you should do it at least once a day, and most importantly, do not do it in public... other ponies may find it inappropriate..."
Summer Breeze enlightened at the proposal... once again she felt that she was important to someone…

The filly nodded and hugged Cloudkicker tightly…
"Thank you thank you thank you, I love you Cloudkicker!"
The purple mare smiled...
"Me too baby, me too... now come here and let's give your wings a good smoothing..."
When the filly approached, Cloudkicker wrapped her with a wing and carried her with her back against her stomach...
Having made sure that the filly could see what she was doing, Cloudkicker slowly began to adjust feather by feather...
"See little girl, to smooth the feathers well, go with your teeth to the root of the feather and slowly slide towards the tip, taking care to don't mess with the others..."

Summer Breeze couldn't concentrate much on the explanation, the feeling of being preened by someone else was priceless... when the purple mare breathed, Summer could feel her warm breath flowing through the feathers... the feeling was so wonderful that she remained in a trance until Cloudkicker finished...
"Hey baby, I'm done... do you understand how to do it yourself?"
Summer was abruptly brought back to reality by the question...
"Uhh... there I... I didn't follow much... the feeling was so good I was about to fall asleep... sorry..."
Cloudkicker chuckled lightly at the filly's phrase...
"I guess it was the first time someone did it for you, right?"
The filly nodded
"So don't worry, being preened by someone is one of the most beautiful things a pegasus can experience..."

Cloudkicker pulled the filly to her and gently ruffled her mane...
To Summer's embarrassment, her stomach decided to speak for her again, signaling that she was hungry...
"I'm not the only one who is hungry, how about we go downstairs to see what Raindrops has prepared? I smell very inviting…"
The filly smiled and nodded happily
"Yeeeee… um, Cloudkicker, could you carry me on your back? My shoulder still hurts..."
Cloudkicker walked over to the filly and helped her up...
"Sure, everything you need for you to be well"

Trotting gently, the couple went downstairs where a fantastic breakfast awaited them...
Raindrops had given the best of herself: she had cooked a mountain of Pancakes accompanied by strawberries, apples, and cinnamon, with a glass of apple juice for each...
Summer could not believe her eyes... in all her life she had never seen this lots of food up close…
"Wow… Is this all for me?"
Raindrops smiled, walked over to the filly, and stroked her as he sat next to her...
"Sure little girl, everything on your plate is yours... after all, you don't have to have eaten much when you were out there, so I'm going to fix it and make you feel better... starting from this mountain of Pancake..."

Summer could no longer hold back... she hugged both mares and began to cry with joy...
"Thank you very much... in this short time you have made me feel loved as if I had a real family... I wish you were my parents..."
As soon as Summer noticed what she had just said, she turned red with embarrassment...
"S-sorry... I d-not..."
Summer couldn't finish the sentence as she found herself tightly in a hug from the two mares…

Cloudkicker spoke first...
"Hush now little one... no need to apologize... we don't mind, and indeed... Raindrops and I talked about it last night, and we decided that we would see if we could adopt you... but only if it suited you…"

Summer stayed with her mouth wide open in amazement
"R-really? Do you want to adopt... me?"
Summer couldn't believe it... it sounded too good to be true... the filly looked at Raindrops for confirmation of what she had just heard…

"Sure little girl... from the first moment I saw you, I knew I had to do something, then when I brought you here me and Cloudkicker we immediately fell in love and decided to give you a second chance... if you want we will be your new mothers..."
Summer almost fainted... the emotions were just too much... she had always been rejected and treated like a nuisance and now these two mares wanted to adopt her… it seemed too good to be true…

"I-it's not a dream, isn’t it?"
Summer looked uncertainly at the two mares...
They both shook their heads slightly... it was all true...
Summer jumped forward and held them in a hug...
"Thank you... I don't know what to say... you are the best ponies in the world..."
Cloudkicker and Raindrops embraced the filly and, as she cried for happiness between them, they turned to each other and exchanged a kiss...
Summer's crystalline voice broke the previous silence…

"S-So... now you will be my Moms?"
Cloudkicker smiled at the filly and rubbed her nose...
"Sure darling... and you'll be our little filly"
Summer smiled and hugged the purple mare tightly... as she enjoyed the embrace, a wandering thought crept into her head...
"And if someone wants to take me away? I don't want to leave you... I'm afraid..."

Raindrops came up and placed a wing on the back of his new daughter...
"Don't worry, today we will go to the mayor and we will put everything on paper... this way if someone takes you away they will be guilty of kidnapping and he will have to deal with two very pissed-off mothers..."

After her little speech, Raindrops nodded to Summer...
"Now let's go, I don't think those pancakes eat themselves ..."
The filly and the mares stood up and as Cloudkicker and Raindrops made their way to the table, Summer asked one last question…

"I know it might be stupid, but can I call you Mama Rain and Mama Kicky?"
Following the question, Summer blushed a little and waited for the response of her new Mothers...
Raindrops and Cloudkicker giggled and nodded kindly... Raindrops walked over to the filly and helped her to sit down...
"Sure darling, whatever you want..."

Summer smiled and dove into the Pancake Mountain in front of her...
The two older mares smiled and joined her for breakfast...

Chapter 4: Ponyville errands

While the newly formed small family was preparing to go out, the weather outside was getting worse with the advance of the day...

the snowstorm that had been scheduled last night was giving the best of themselves and showed no signs of stopping…

Inside the house of clouds, Summer gazed enchantedly out the window...
"Mama Rain, don't you think the storm is a bit strong?"
The yellow mare walked up to the filly and smiled...
"Of course she is strong, Summer... you must know that this is a level 3 storm and it is necessary for winter to arrive properly"
The filly smiled fascinated by the explanation and looked back out the window...
"Wow... someday I want to be able to make one too..."

Cloudkicker smiled at the scene and walked over to Summer and Raindrops...
"Summer come here a moment please..."
The filly turned and ran to her other Mum...
"Yes, Mum?"
Cloudkicker wrapped a red scarf around her neck and a hat of the same color on the head...
"Sure, the storm is fantastic and will allow us to play in the snow in the future, but if we go out now without covers we will just freeze, understand?"
After fixing his hat, Cloudkicker rubbed his new daughter's nose and smiled…

Summer smiled back
"Thank you Mum Kicky, I love you..."
The filly hugged her mother and hugged her...
Raindrops walked over and joined in the embrace for a moment, then turned away and walked to the door…

"Come on now girls go, or we'll be late by the mayor..."
Summer Breeze Cloudkicker and then came to the door and along the yellow mare came out of the building…

the wind was blowing hard... for experienced flyers like Raindrops and Cloudkicker it wouldn't have been a problem, but for the little filly, it would have been another matter…

"Mama Rain, can I ride on your back? I don't know if I can fly in this wind…"
while waiting for an answer the filly shivered…
"Sure baby, come here"
Raindrops helped Summer up and made sure she held tight…
"Are you okay baby? Hold on tight ok?"
The filly nodded and hugged Raindrops's neck tightly
"Ok so... first stop, Carousel Boutique!"
Cloudkicker nodded and they started flying towards the shop...

When the little family arrived at the shop, the scene they found in front of them was surreal... a dozen mannequins were adorned with the best clothes they had ever seen… while they were distracted by all those clothes, a white unicorn with a purple mane appeared from a door…

"Hello and welcome to the Carousel Boutique, what can I do for you?"
Cloudkicker walked over and started talking to the unicorn mare...
"Hello, I'm Cloudkicker, they are Raindrops and our daughter Summer, you must be Rarity I suppose?"

The white unicorn nodded "Sure honey, it's me, what can I help you with?”

"That's Miss Rarity, I needed some winter clothes for my filly, and my friend Rainbow Dash told me they're very good..."
In the name of Rainbow Dash, Rarity lit up and smiled at her new clients…
"Call me Rarity, miss is for clients only and not friends, plus a friend of Rainbow Dash is also my friend…"

Rarity walked over to Summer and gave her a big smile...
"So you are Summer, nice to meet you, I have some sweaters that would fit you perfectly... would you like to come and try them?"

Summer felt the center of attention and she didn't like this at all... when Rarity did approach, she squeaked and hid behind Raindrops's legs…

The yellow mare noticed it and bent down to whisper in her ear... "Baby, don't worry... she won't hurt you, she just wants to make you try on some clothes ok?"

The filly was not yet convinced and while Rarity looked at the scene with a sweet look and asked her mother a question…

"But Mama Rain, what if she wants to take me away?" Summer looked her mother in the eye with a slightly frightened look…

Raindrops put a wing on her back and comforted her...
"Don't worry, she won't take you away, plus if you're not sure to try them on her own, Mom Kicky will accompany you ok?"
The filly with new confidence nodded and walked over to Cloudkicker with the clothes the unicorn mare had handed her…

While Cloudkicker and Summer went into the dressing room to try on the sweaters, Raindrops sat down next to Rarity and apologized for the little girl's behavior...
"Please forgive her Rarity, she comes from a difficult situation and doesn't trust other ponies very much..."
Rarity smiled and nodded...
"Don't worry, I'm used to weird filly things... after all, my little sister does more disasters than anything else... but if I can ask, what do you mean with ‘difficult situation’ ?"
Rarity looked curiously at the yellow mare…

Raindrops sighed and answered the question...
"When I say that Summer comes from a difficult situation, I mean that until yesterday she was an orphan and a homeless..."

Rarity's face contorted in an expression of regret...
"Oh poor dear..."

Raindrops continued to tell...
"Last night, on my way home from work, I heard a noise in an alley, and I found her crying under a pile of newspapers... after comforting her and having them explained that I would not hurt her, I took her home... me and my partner, Cloudkicker, we gave her food and a place to sleep... Since Cloudkicker has a similar past, she immediately empathized with her, and we decided to adopt her..."

Rarity smiled and congratulated the mare...
"I think it's one of the best things I've ever heard... congratulations, Summer looks like a good filly... I'm glad after what you told me that has passed has found a house to stay in… sorry if I get in the way, but are you and Cloudkicker married?"

Raindrops was briefly surprised by the question, but then she answered very quickly...
"Uhh, No... we haven't taken that step yet... but I think to give Summer a little more stability we could do it soon..."

Raindrops and Cloudkicker hadn't thought much about marriage, not because they didn't love each other but because they still didn't have a valid reason to think about it... but now that Summer had entered their lives, they had one more reason to think about it...

Her thoughts were interrupted by the crystalline voice of Summer, who was happy with what she was wearing...
"Mama Rain, look at me... isn't that great?" Summer smiled as she showed off followed by Cloudkicker... She was wearing a matching set of sweater, scarf and hat, the same color as her mane…

Raindrops walked over to the filly and smiled… "wow honey, you are really adorable..." Summer smiled and then she turned to Rarity...
"Miss Rarity, you are the best stylist in the world..."

Rarity smiled at the filly's comment... first she looked at her with fear and then she saw her as the best stylist in the world…

"So Rarity," asked Cloudkicker "how much do you do we have to for that suit?"

Rarity sat down and put a hoof on her chin...

Normally the suit would have cost 50 bits, but given the sympathy she felt for the filly and the approach of heart's warming, she decided to take a small discount…

"Normally the suit would cost 50 bit, but as heart's warming eve is approaching and Summer is a really nice filly, I think 35 bit is enough..."

Cloudkicker and Raindrops gasped... they weren't expecting a discount...

Cloudkicker thank Rarity and then approached her to whisper something in her ear…
"Thank you so much Rarity, but there is one more thing I have to ask you… could you make a blanket with the Wonderbolt symbol for Summer? Since she is not used to living in the clouds I wanted to get her an extra blanket, but having a personalized one would be a perfect gift for heart's warming… would it be possible?"

Rarity nodded and squeezed Cloudkicker's hoof...
"Sure, no problem... she should be ready in two days... good luck with Summer... fillies can sometimes become real tornadoes..."
Cloudkicker chuckled and greeted Rarity...
"Thank you so much Rarity... see you soon..."

As she headed out of the shop, Summer and Raindrops also said goodbye, then walked all together towards the town hall...

after a few minutes of walking, the infamous building began to appear in the snow...

the storm was intensifying and it was about to reach its peak...
Summer Breeze, still on her mother's back, admired the snowy landscape...

Raindrops turned to check if the filly was okay...
"Hey honey, how are you? It's not too cold isn’t it?"
Summer turned to her mother and smiled… "It's cold but it's the right cold... this sweater is fantastic... thanks for taking it for me..."
Raindrops smiled at her daughter and turned, starting to walk…
"You're welcome baby, we'll do everything to make sure you're okay..."
Hearing this statement, Summer smiled and squeezed even more on her mother's neck...

Slowly advancing through the snow, the three ponies finally arrived at the town hall...

Even though there weren't many people on the street, the town hall was well populated... many ponies were working to coordinate the actions to be taken after the storm and many others carrying out their work...

When they entered, Cloudkicker helped Summer to get down from the Raindrops's back and then they started to head to the adoption office...

as they approached the door, Summer became more and more agitated... although small, there was a possibility that the two older mares were not eligible for adoption... she had seen this happen many times... and almost always the foal in question was sent back to the orphanage...
At the very thought of it, Summer began to sweat...

Cloudkicker, noticing the growing agitation of the filly, approached her and as they walked he placed a soft wing on her back...
"Don't fidget, you'll see that everything will be fine"
Summer immediately felt comforted by that loving gesture... one of the many that made her feel safe when she was with Cloudkicker and Raindrops...
But still the doubt remained, and she had to do something to get him out...
"And if they say no? I don't want to go away... I don't want to lose you... you are the best moms in the world..."

Cloudkicker stopped and hugged the filly tightly...
"I'm glad you think so... thank you very much..."

Raindrops joined the hug as they waited their turn…

The little family was released from the embrace only when the voice of the assistant mayor brought them back to reality "I'm sorry to interrupt, but are you Sunshower Raindrops and Cloudkicker of the Thunder clan?"

Raindrops stood up and nodded
"Yes, we are, is it our turn?"

The unicorn mare nodded
"The mayor is waiting for you... good luck with the baby..."

At the comment of the beige mare a blush flared up on Summer's cheeks... from the tone it almost seemed that everything would be fine...
As they entered the room the mayor welcomed them...

"Welcome to my office... please sit down..." as there were only two chairs, Summer sat down with Cloudkicker as he gently hugged her... after they settled down, the mayor started talking again "so, you are here to adopt a foal quite right?"
Raindrops nodded and looked at her partner with the filly in her arms...
"Yes Madam Mayor... my partner and I would like to adopt this young filly, if there is no problem"

The mayor nodded and adjusted his glasses...
"Perfect... but first to proceed with the paperwork I would like to ask you a few questions to verify your eligibility, okay?"

Cloudkicker and Raindrops nodded as a trickle of anxiety infiltrated their minds...
"Okay miss mayor"

The mayor took a list and began their conversation...
"To qualify you need three things: a steady job, a home you own, and last but not least a lot of love to share... do you think you can meet these requirements?"
Cloudkicker smiled at the last statement... love was one of the few things that even in the worst of catastrophes would never be lacking...

"Yes madam, both Raindrops and I work in the meteorological patrol as deputy commanders under the leadership of Rainbow Dash, we live in a standard Cloudominium and although we don't have a free room for Summer at the moment, we will buy a module as soon as possible to add it..."

The mayor ticked his list and turned the page, but first she smiled and looked at Cloudkicker who hugged sweetly the filly she would have liked to have adopted…

"Regarding the third requirement, there is no need to ask... I can see from the way you are embraced that there is an abundance of love..." said the mayor with a smile...

"Now, changing the subject, little filly I should ask you some questions... if you don't want to answer I can always check my documents, but I'd rather hear it from you okay?"

Summer was slightly anxious... she didn't want to make a bad impression on the mayor, so she picked up strength and started talking... plus the mare she considered her mother was there with her...
"O-ok, what do you want to know?"

The mayor gave the filly a sweet look... it was nice that an orphaned filly of her age found a family... usually ponies tend to adopt only the smallest foals…

"So baby, first of all, I would like to know your name, then I also wanted to know what orphanage you were in, because if Cloudkicker and Raindrops came directly here it means that for one reason or another you ran away, and if a foal runs away, it means that that orphanage is not a nice place... so if some ponies there had hurt you, would you help me bring him to justice?"

Initially, Summer was frightened by the speech... the mayor immediately realized that she had run away, but instead of bringing her back, as she thought she would if she found her, she had asked for a hand in catching those ponies who mistreat foals…

With Cloudkicker who hugged her, Summer braced herself and emptied herself...
"My name is Summer Breeze and I am eight years old... before I was homeless I was in the Sunny Day orphanage in Vanhover, but there it was terrible... they always gave us very little food and they didn't allow the pegasi to fly and the unicorns to use magic... I don't want to go back there..."

While the mayor searched for something among her papers, Summer still pressed against Cloudkicker…

"Ah-ha found it... you must know that when a foal is inserted into the system, all its files are shared with the other orphanages and with the adoption offices of the country so as not to have problems even in case of transfer... so here are your documents Summer..."

Fortunately, the system organized by the princess worked perfectly, otherwise, they would have had to wait days or weeks before they had something...

"Well well... then we said Summer Breeze, here we have your birth certificate, a hoofprint for confirm, and your identity card... to confirm that it is really you, you have to put the hoof on the ink and then on this sheet, okay?"

Summer nodded and did everything she was asked...
"One last little question, do you want Cloudkicker and Sunshower Raindrops to be your tutors?"

Summer was just waiting for that question...
"Yes I do... even though we have known each other for a short time they treated me like no one had ever done in my life... they gave me a hot meal and a place to sleep, they comforted me when I was sad and reassured when I was scared... for the first time in my life I felt part of a family, I felt loved, I felt happy... and I wish that would never change, so yes, I do"

The beige mare she smiled…

"Then we can proceed with the oath and the signing of the documents... Cloudkicker, Raindrops, do you swear to love and respect this filly as if she were your own daughter?"

The two youngest mares answered in unison "yes we swear it!"

"And do you swear to provide for her medical assistance and civil education until she reaches the age of majority and reaches economic self-sufficiency?"

Once again the mares responded enthusiastically...

"Yes, we swear it!"

The mayor made her sign next to the foal's print and then stapled the papers and handed them to her

"So congratulations Moms, you can welcome your new daughter Summer Breeze, who with this action will also gain membership in the Thunder clan..."

Summer, Cloudkicker and Raindrops were so happy with what they heard that they forgot to breathe...

Recovering from the initial shock, Summer broke all common-sense rules and ran to hug the mayor...
"Thank you so much for allowing Cloudkicker and Raindrops to adopt me..."

Mayor Mare stood there with a stupid smile on her face as she watched the filly embrace her… "don't worry baby, this is a part of my job and it's also my favorite... But now I think you should go... your mothers are waiting for you..."

The mayor pointed to the two mares behind her...
As Summer ran towards them, neither of them could hold back the tears... now it was official, they had a daughter…

Cloudkicker smiled and she came up with an idea to celebrate…
"Honey, do you like hot chocolate?"

Summer nodded as they started to head for the door...
"Yes... once three fillies saw me and offered me a cup... it was one of the best things I've ever had..."

Cloudkicker grabbed Summer by the scruff of the neck and she leaned gently on her back…
"So how about we go to Bon Bon and get some?"
Summer hugged her mother's neck and nodded happily…
"You're the best, Mom"

Chapter 6: Red Hearts and Frozen Wings

A few days after the great storm, Summer and her two mothers, Raindrops and Cloud Kicker, decided to take advantage of the snowy weather and go for a walk. As they strolled along, the filly frolicked and played, reveling in the cold, crisp air.

Suddenly, they came upon a frozen lake, its surface glittering invitingly in the sunlight. "Look, moms, can we skate on the lake?" Summer asked eagerly.

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker exchanged a glance. "I don't know, Summer…" Raindrops said hesitantly. "It looks pretty cold and slippery. Maybe it's not safe…"

"But I wanna try!" Summer protested…

Cloud Kicker smiled. "Well, we could at least test the ice to see if it's thick enough…" she suggested. "But we'll have to be careful… very careful…"

They cautiously stepped out onto the ice, testing each step as they went. Summer giggled and spun around, her hooves sliding across the slick surface.

But as they neared the center of the lake, there was a sudden cracking sound. The ice beneath Summer's hooves gave way, and she plunged into the icy water with a shriek.

"Summer!" Raindrops cried, her heart in her throat. Without hesitation, she dove into the water after her daughter, struggling to keep her head above the freezing water.

Cloud Kicker watched in horror as the two of them flailed and splashed, unable to get a grip on the slippery, icy surface.

It was a terrifying few moments before Raindrops finally managed to grab onto Summer's coat and haul her out of the water. The filly was unconscious and barely breathing, her body limp and cold.

"We have to get her to the hospital" Cloud Kicker said, her voice shaking. "Now."

They raced through the snow, their hearts pounding with fear, until they finally arrived at the hospital. Nurse Scarlett RedHeart was waiting for them, her gentle face filled with concern.

As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Raindrops quickly carried Summer into the emergency room, with Cloud Kicker right behind her. A nurse rushed over and quickly took over, asking them a series of questions about what happened.

Raindrops explained that their filly had fallen into the frozen lake and had been underwater for several minutes before she was able to pull her out. The nurse nodded sympathetically and assured them that their daughter was in good hooves.

Cloud Kicker felt tears welling up in her eyes as they were escorted to the waiting room. "What if we lose her?" she whispered to Raindrops, unable to control her emotions.

Raindrops put a comforting wing around her. "We won't lose her," she said firmly. "She's a fighter, just like her moms."

They sat in silence for what felt like hours, waiting for any news about Summer's condition. Eventually, a doctor came out and called their names. They jumped up, ready to hear what he had to say.

"Your daughter is stable, but she's still in critical condition" the doctor said gravely. "She's breathing on her own, but we have her on oxygen just in case. We're monitoring her closely and doing everything we can to keep her comfortable."

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker felt a small sense of relief knowing that their daughter was still alive, but they couldn't shake the feeling of fear and anxiety. They were led to Summer's room, where she was hooked up to various machines and monitors.

Nurse RedHeart entered the room, a warm smile on her face. "Hello there, I'm Nurse RedHeart," she said kindly. "I'll be taking care of your daughter while she's here."

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker introduced themselves and thanked her for her care. They sat by Summer's side, holding her hooves and talking to her softly, hoping she could hear them. Nurse RedHeart brought them blankets and pillows and told them to get some rest, assuring them that she would keep a close eye on their daughter.

As they settled in for the night, Raindrops couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt wash over her. If only they had been more careful, if only she had paid closer attention, maybe they wouldn't be in this situation. She looked over at Summer, who was still unconscious, and promised to do everything in her power to make sure she recovered

The following morning, Summer stirred in her hospital bed, her eyes fluttering open. She groaned as she tried to sit up, but Raindrops was there in an instant, placing a hoof on her shoulder.

"Take it easy, honey. You've been through a lot," Raindrops said softly.

Summer looked around, noticing for the first time the sterile hospital room she was in. "Mommy? What happened?" she asked, her voice raspy.

"You fell through the ice on the lake…" Cloud Kicker explained, her eyes filled with tears. "You were unconscious when we found you, but Raindrops pulled you out of the water and saved your life…"

Summer's eyes widened, and she turned to Raindrops, a look of gratitude on her face. "Thank you… it’s the second time that you save my life…" she whispered.

Raindrops smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Summer's face. "Of course, kiddo. I'll always be here to protect you."

As Summer continued to recover, Nurse RedHeart became a familiar face, checking on her condition regularly and adjusting her treatment as needed. She quickly became a source of comfort for the worried mothers, too.

"How's she doing?" Raindrops asked the nurse one morning as she came in to check Summer's vitals.

"She's making good progress," Nurse RedHeart replied, smiling. "Her body is responding well to the treatment, and we're optimistic about her recovery."

Raindrops breathed a sigh of relief, feeling some of the tension in her body release. "Thank you for taking such good care of her," she said gratefully.

"It's my pleasure," Nurse RedHeart replied, patting Raindrops' shoulder. "I can see how much you and Cloud Kicker care for her, and I want to make sure she's well taken care of."

As the days passed, Summer's condition continued to improve, much to the relief of her mothers. They were overjoyed to see their daughter returning to her usual self and were grateful for Nurse RedHeart's excellent care. They had created a makeshift home in the small hospital room, bringing in a few of Summer's favorite things from home to make her feel more comfortable.

One day, as they sat by Summer's bed, Cloud Kicker turned to Raindrops and said, "I can't believe how lucky we are. We almost lost her."

Raindrops nodded in agreement. "I know. It's a miracle she's even here with us."

Summer, who had been dozing, stirred at the sound of their voices. She blinked her eyes open and smiled weakly at her mothers. "Hey, you guys," she said softly.

Raindrops leaned over to give her a kiss on the forehead. "How are you feeling, kiddo?"

"I'm okay," Summer said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just a little tired."

Cloud Kicker stroked her daughter's hair gently. "You rest now. We're not going anywhere."

As Summer drifted off to sleep once again, Nurse RedHeart entered the room, carrying a tray of food. "Good news, ladies," she said cheerfully. "Summer's vitals are looking great, and we may be able to release her in a few days."

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker exchanged a look of relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Nurse RedHeart," Cloud Kicker said. "You've been amazing."

Nurse RedHeart smiled warmly. "It's my pleasure. You three have been the highlight of my week. It's not often we get to see such a strong, loving family bond like yours."

As the days passed, Raindrops and Cloud Kicker remained by Summer's side, taking turns to watch over her and making sure she had everything she needed. It was a difficult time, but they were grateful for each other's company and the comfort of their small but cozy hospital room.

On the fourth day, Summer was finally cleared to go home. She had made a full recovery, and Nurse RedHeart was pleased with her progress. Raindrops and Cloud Kicker were grateful for the care their daughter had received and thanked Nurse RedHeart for all her help.

As they prepared to leave, Nurse RedHeart gave Summer a special gift - a small, stuffed pony toy to remind her of her time at the hospital. Summer hugged the toy close and promised to take good care of it.

"Thank you so much, Nurse RedHeart," Cloud Kicker said, smiling warmly at the nurse. "You've been so kind and patient with us."

"It was my pleasure," Nurse RedHeart replied. "You're a wonderful family, and I'm glad I could help."

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker helped Summer into her jacket and made sure she was comfortable for the trip home. As they walked out of the hospital, Summer clung to her new toy and looked up at her mothers with a big smile.

"I'm so glad to be going home," she said, her voice filled with relief. "But I'm also going to miss Nurse RedHeart. She was really nice to me."

"I know, sweetie," Raindrops said, nuzzling her daughter's mane. "But you can always come back and visit her. And we'll make sure to thank her properly with a nice card and some flowers."

As they stepped out of the hospital, the warm sun of the early afternoon greeted them. Summer took a deep breath of fresh air, relishing the feeling of freedom after being confined to a hospital room for four long days. She stretched her legs and let out a contented sigh.

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker looked at each other with a mix of relief and joy. They couldn't believe they were finally leaving the hospital with their daughter. The weight that had been crushing their hearts since the accident slowly lifted off their shoulders, replaced by a newfound sense of hope and gratitude.

"Let's go home," Cloud Kicker said, nudging her wife's shoulder.

Raindrops smiled back, taking Summer's hoof in hers. "Yes, let's go home."

As they walked towards their home, they talked about everything they would do to make Summer feel better. They would bake her favorite cookies, make her hot cocoa, and watch her favorite movies together. They couldn't wait to see her smile again.

When they arrived home, Summer was welcomed with a big surprise. Her friends had come over to cheer her up and celebrate her return. Pinkie Pie had organized a small party in her honor, complete with balloons, streamers, and a cake with Summer's name written in big letters on top.

"Surprise!" Pinkie Pie shouted, bouncing up and down.

Summer's eyes widened, and a huge smile spread across her face. "You guys! What are you doing here?"

"We came to celebrate your return, silly!" Rainbow Dash said, flying over to give her a hug.

Applejack and Fluttershy followed, both with small gifts for her. Rarity had brought a new dress for her to wear, and Twilight Sparkle had brought a stack of books to read together.

Summer was touched by their kindness and felt grateful for their friendship. She hugged each of her friends, thanking them for coming to see her.

After the party was over and her friends had left, Summer felt tired and went to bed early. Raindrops and Cloud Kicker tucked her in, kissing her on the forehead before leaving the room.

As Summer drifted off to sleep, she thought about everything that had happened in the past few days. She felt lucky to have such amazing mothers who had stayed by her side every moment of the day. She felt grateful for Nurse RedHeart's care and kindness, and for her friends' support.

The next few days were filled with recovery and therapy. Summer had to undergo physical therapy to help her regain her strength and coordination. Nurse RedHeart came over every day to check on her progress and make sure she was comfortable.

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker spent most of their time with her, reading books, playing board games, and watching movies. They wanted to make sure she didn't feel alone or bored during her recovery.

One day, while they were playing a board game, Summer spoke up. "Mom, mom, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, sweetie," Raindrops said, putting down her game piece.

"I was thinking," Summer said, looking down at the board. "What would have happened if you weren't there to save me?"

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker exchanged a glance, both knowing what was going through their daughter's mind. "Well," Cloud Kicker said, sitting down next to her. "We would have done everything in our power to find you."

"And even if we couldn't," Raindrops continued, "we would never stop loving you. You're our daughter, no matter what happens."

Summer nodded, feeling reassured by her mother's words. She hugged them tightly, feeling grateful for their love and support.

Over the next few days, Summer continued to make progress. She started walking on her own, and
even though she was still a little shaky, her mothers were proud of her. They encouraged her every step of the way and made sure she was taking her medication and following the doctor's instructions.

Despite Summer's physical progress, her mothers noticed that she was still struggling emotionally. She seemed quieter than usual and would often retreat to her room, not wanting to talk or play with her toys. Raindrops and Cloud Kicker were concerned and wondered if their filly was experiencing any trauma from the accident.

One day, while they were all in the living room, Raindrops gently broached the subject. "Sweetheart, we've noticed that you haven't been yourself lately. Is there anything you want to talk about?" she asked.

Summer hesitated for a moment before finally nodding her head. "I'm scared," she admitted. "I don't want to go near any water, and I keep having nightmares about falling through the ice again."

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker exchanged a look of concern before Cloud Kicker spoke up. "It's okay to be scared, honey. But we don't want you to let your fear control you. We're here for you, and we'll help you overcome it."

Summer looked up at her mothers, tears in her eyes. "But how?" she asked.

Raindrops sat down next to her daughter and put a comforting hoof around her. "Well, we could start by talking to Nurse RedHeart. She's a wonderful therapist, and she might be able to help you work through your fear."

Summer nodded, and the three of them made an appointment with Nurse RedHeart for the following week.

During their therapy session, Nurse RedHeart helped Summer identify her feelings and understand why she was feeling scared. They also worked on relaxation techniques to help her cope with her fear, such as deep breathing and visualization.

After several sessions, Summer began to feel more in control of her fear. She still felt a little uneasy around water, but she was able to face her fear and even went on a short boat ride with her mothers.

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker were proud of their daughter and grateful for Nurse RedHeart's help. They knew that Summer still had a long way to go, but they were confident that with time and support, she would be able to overcome her fear and enjoy life again.

As they cuddled up together that night, Summer looked up at her mothers and smiled. "Thank you for being here for me," she said.

Raindrops and Cloud Kicker smiled back at their filly. "We'll always be here for you, no matter what," they said in unison.

Summer closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and loved in the embrace of her two mothers.

Chapter 5: The Blizzard

The sweet aroma of hot chocolate filled the room as Summer Breeze took a sip of the warm drink. She let out a contented sigh as she snuggled closer to Cloudkicker and Raindrops, feeling safe and loved.

Outside, the storm continued to rage, the wind howling and the rain pouring down in sheets. But inside, the three ponies were warm and cozy, enjoying each other's company.

"I'm so glad we found you, Summer" Cloudkicker said, nuzzling the filly's mane.

"Me too," Raindrops agreed. "You're such a sweet and brave little thing."

Summer blushed at their praise, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. She had never felt so loved and cared for before, and she knew that she had found her forever home.

As they chatted and laughed over their hot chocolate, they heard a knock at the door. Cloudkicker got up to answer it, and when she opened it, she found Rarity standing there, drenched from the rain.

"Hello, darlings!" Rarity said, stepping inside. "I was just passing by and saw the storm, so I thought I'd come in and wait it out with you."
"Of course, Rarity," Cloudkicker said, gesturing to the empty chairs. "Please, join us."

As they sat and chatted, the storm showed no signs of stopping. It raged on outside, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling. But inside, the new family and their friends were happy and safe.

When it came time for lunch, they all decided to stay put and order food from the sweet shop owners. As they ate, Summer Breeze met Lyra, Bon Bon, and their daughter, Tootsie Flute, who was just a little older than her.

Tootsie was shy at first, but soon warmed up to Summer, and the two became fast friends. They giggled and chatted, sharing stories and dreams.

Tootsie Flute and Summer Breeze were sitting on a pile of blankets in the corner of the room, giggling and whispering to each other. They had become fast friends over the course of the day, and they were enjoying each other's company.

"I like your mane," Tootsie Flute said, looking at the pink strands in Summer Breeze's mane.

"Thanks," Summer Breeze replied, blushing. "I like your mane too. It's so pretty and curly."

Tootsie Flute smiled, feeling flattered. "Thanks. My mom says it's my best feature."

"Your mom is Lyra, right?" Summer Breeze asked, remembering what Cloudkicker had told her earlier.

"Yeah, that's her," Tootsie Flute said, nodding. "And my other mom is Bon Bon. They own the sweet shop downstairs."

"That's so cool!" Summer Breeze said, her eyes lighting up. "I love sweet treats."

"Me too!" Tootsie Flute exclaimed, her eyes widening. "I can show you all the best ones."

Summer Breeze's face lit up with excitement, and she leaned in closer. "Yes, please! That would be amazing."

The two Fillies spent the next hour talking about their favorite sweet treats and playing games.
They played a game of "I Spy" where they took turns describing objects in the room and guessing what the other was describing.

Tootsie Flute giggled as she described a lamp in the corner of the room. "I spy with my little eye, something that is yellow and has a shade."

Summer Breeze looked around the room, trying to find the object. "Is it the lamp?"
Tootsie Flute nodded, grinning. "You got it! Your turn."

Summer Breeze looked around the room, trying to find something that was hard to guess. She spotted a tiny ladybug on the windowsill and pointed to it. "I spy with my little eye, something that is red and has black spots."

Tootsie Flute looked around the room, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "Is it the ladybug on the windowsill?"

Summer Breeze's eyes widened in surprise. "You're really good at this!"
Tootsie Flute shrugged, feeling proud of herself. "I play this game a lot with my mom and my other mom."

Raindrops and CloudKicker sat in the sweet shop with Lyra and Bonbon, sipping on hot chocolate while Summer and Tootsie Flute played in the corner.

"I can't believe we're all parents now," CloudKicker said, a smile on her face. "It feels like just yesterday we were running around Ponyville causing trouble."

Lyra laughed, nodding in agreement. "I know what you mean. It's amazing how much life changes when you have a little one to take care of."

Bonbon nodded, looking over at her daughter. "Tootsie Flute is my pride and joy. I don't know what I'd do without her."

Raindrops smiled, looking over at Summer. "I feel the same way about Summer Breeze. She's become such an important part of our lives."

Lyra looked over at Summer and Tootsie Flute, watching as they played together. "I'm so glad they've become friends. Tootsie Flute doesn't have many friends her own age, so it's nice to see her playing with someone."

Bonbon nodded, a worried look on her face. "I worry about Tootsie Flute sometimes. She's so shy, and I'm afraid she'll have a hard time making friends."

Raindrops reached over and put a hoof on Bonbon's shoulder. "Don't worry. Tootsie Flute is a sweet and kind pony. I'm sure she'll make plenty of friends."

Lyra smiled, feeling grateful for the support of her friends. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot to hear that from you."

CloudKicker leaned back in her chair, feeling content. "You know, I never thought I'd be a parent. But now that I am, I can't imagine my life without Summer Breeze."

Raindrops nodded, a smile on her face. "Being a parent is hard, but it's also the most rewarding thing in the world. Watching your child grow and learn is an incredible feeling."

Bonbon looked over at the two mares, feeling grateful for their friendship. "I'm so glad we all have each other to lean on. Being a parent can be tough, but it's easier when you have friends to help you along the way."

The four friends sat in comfortable silence, watching as their daughters played together. They knew that life would be full of ups and downs, but as long as they had each other, they could get through anything.

As night fell, the power went out, plunging the room into darkness. Summer Breeze felt a pang of fear in her chest, but then she felt a warm breath on her cheek. It was Cloudkicker, who had leaned in close to her.

"Don't worry, little one," Cloudkicker whispered. "We're here with you, and we'll keep you safe."

Summer Breeze relaxed into Cloudkicker's embrace, feeling safe and loved. Raindrops lit some candles, casting a warm glow over the room.

Lyra and Bon Bon sat close together, holding Tootsie Flute between them. Tootsie had fallen asleep, exhausted from the day's excitement.

The group sat in silence for a while, enjoying the warmth and companionship. Summer Breeze listened to the rain tapping against the window and the wind howling outside, feeling grateful for the love and safety she had found.

Eventually, the storm began to calm, and the power came back on. The group shared a meal together, then said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

As Summer Breeze snuggled with her two mothers in their bed, she felt a deep sense of contentment. She had found a family that loved her and friends that cared for her.
She knew that no matter what life threw her way, she would always have their love and support. And with that thought in her mind, she drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and happy.

Author's Note

after a long time, i'm back Fillies and Gentlecolts