~Narrator's POV~
I opened my eyes to the sound of rain against the window. I let out a small yawn and looked out the window. Large heavy rainclouds cast over the mountain as well as the dark forest nearby. I must have fell asleep on the whole train ride from Trottingham, we must be nearing Ponyville very soon.
A pink Unicorn mare with blonde mane and tail and blue eyes, that was sitting across from me, straightened her tie and looked at me with a warm smile, "Nervous?"
I glanced at the Unicorn for a second, who was the head mistress of the orphanage in Trottingham: Ms. Starlight Stream, then returned my gaze back to the window.
This is the seventh family, this year, that has applied to adopted me and my younger sister together. But as soon as they meet us, the previous applicants always something wrong with me. They loved my sister, Apple Lily, but Lily always stuck by my side, telling the applicants that she would never leave me. That's when adoption got tricky...
So to answer Ms. Starlight's question, no. I am not nervous. I'm just waiting for this applicant to take one look at me and withdraw their application. That's what I've grown used to, since living in Starlight's Home for Gifted Youngsters...
My pet, Robin, lifted the lid of my saddle bag and raised one of her tentacles at me in pleading. I closed the bag and reached my hoof inside the bag to pet Robin, "Ephainafl ah naIIIIor hai..."
Robin calmed herself and fell asleep. Ms. Starlight looked at my saddle bag and frowned at me, "Ipsywitch, I told you to only bring the essentials with you. You shouldn't have brought that thing with you."
I raised my head at her, "Robin is part of my family. Wherever I go, she goes."
Ms. Starlight leaned back against her seat and let out a tired sigh. She looked out the window for a second, then looked at the pale blue Unicorn filly sitting next to her, "Nervous, Lily?"
The Unicorn filly looked at her and quickly nodded her head, "Very nervous. So many thoughts are rushing through my head at once. What if they don't like us? What if we don't like them? What if we're gonna stay at the orphanage until we come of age? What if we never find the right family?!" Her head spun in panic.
I raised my hoof and reached over, "We'll be fine, Lily. I'm sure they will like us. Seventh times the charm, right?"
Lily looked at me and she smiled at me, calming down from her small anxiety attack. I know I'm being pessimistic in my previous statement, but I have to try to be optimistic for Lily. She suffers from terrible anxiety and she needs somepony to anchor her down, and that Pony has to be somepony she trusts. Which is me.
After I calmed my younger sister down, the train conductor walked into the cart and called in a clear voice, "Next stop: Ponyville. Last call to Ponyville."
Ms. Starlight nudged Lily and waved her hoof at me, "Come on, girls. This is our stop."
With that, Apple Lily, Ms. Starlight and I leaped off the seats and started grabbing our bags from the top shelves. Since Lily and I couldn't reach, Ms. Starlight had to use her magic to grab our luggage. Eventually, the Friendship Express came to a stop at an old, but well built and looked after train station. The doors opened and Ms. Starlight, Lily and I were pushed onto the platform by the other Ponies. Luckily, the rain has stopped and the sun was shining through the clouds.
Standing on the platform, waiting patiently, were four Earth Ponies. A mare, a stallion, a young colt and a filly.
The mare's fur coat was a pale gamboge color with curly brilliant gamboge mane and tail and turquoise eyes. Her mane and tail were tied in a low ponytail with a light blue band, with very long bangs. Her Cutie Mark was a jar of what looked like jelly or butter.
The stallion was strongly built and had a friendly smile. His fur was a pale yellow with a red mane and tail that reached to his shoulders. His eyes were green and he wore a Stetson hat. His Cutie Mark was of an shining, open green apple. A mcintosh by my guess.
The colt was older than me, must be in his young teens. His coat was a brilliant amaranth red with brilliant orange mane and tail like the stallion. His eyes were green and he wore a plow-like collar around his neck. His Cutie Mark was similar to the stallion's; a green apple.
The filly was about the same age as me or my sister. Her fur was a light orange and her mane and tail were a light yellow color. Green eyes, and her mane and tail were tied in low ponytails with a red band. She had no Cutie Mark yet, like me and me sister. Finally something in common.
This ponies looked like they were related to each other. Strong resemblance to one another. I wasn't sure if I should feel welcome or nervous. By the smile on Ms. Starlight's face, I should be happy to see them.
Ms. Starlight walked over to the family and waved her hoof, "Hello there. Pear Butter and Bright Mac I presume?"
The family turned the us and waved with a very warm and friendly smile. "Ms. Starlight Stream, I take it." The stallion, Bright Mac, guessed, "Welcome to Ponyville."
"I hope the ride wasn't too bad." The mare, Pear Butter, smiled.
Ms. Starlight giggled as she walked toward the family, "A little bumpy, but nothing we can't handle."
Apple Lily and I followed closely behind Ms. Starlight, as she got into conversation with the two adult Ponies. The filly and the colt walked up to me and Lily and smiled at us.
The filly was the first to speak, "Howdy-do. Welcome to Ponyville. I'm Applejack." She gestured to the colt, "And this is my big brother, Big McIntosh." Then she asked, "What are your names be?"
Lily smiled and introduced, "Pleasure to meet you, Applejack and Big McIntosh. Name's Apple Lily." She gestured to me, "And this is my big sister, Ipsywitch."
Upon hearing our names, Applejack raised a brow at us, "Apple Lily? Ipsywitch?"
Lily raised a hoof to her chin, "Well, my sister's name really isn't Ipsywitch. That's just a name she adopted." She smiled and put her foreleg over my shoulders, "Her real name is Wijick McIntosh."
Big McIntosh's eyes widen at the sound of my real name. I leaned away from my sister with a small blush, "Lily!"
"Those sound like apple names." Applejack noticed, "Were you part of the Apple Family, by any chance?"
I regained myself and shrugged, "We don't know. We lost our family when we were very small. All we remember are flames and shouting."
Big McIntosh turned to Applejack and asked, "Didn't we have an uncle, named Wijick McIntosh, that perished in a fire in Trottingham?" Applejack thought for a second and nodded.
Apple Lily smiled, "What a coincidence! We just came from Trottingham!"
Big McIntosh and Applejack stared at us with wide eyes and gasped. Applejack turned to Pear Butter and gently nudged her in the shoulder, "Mum! You're not gonna believe this!"
Pear Butter looked at Applejack, "What is it, Applejack?"
"You remember our cousins from Trottingham that perished in a fire a few years ago?" She asked her mother.
Pear Butter searched her memories. Bright Mac turned to his daughter and nodded, "Yeah. That was my twin brother that perished in that fire. Why do you ask, AJ?"
Applejack pointed to me and Apple Lily, "Don't these two look familiar?"
Bright Mac and Pear Butter looked at us and narrowed their eyes. After a few seconds of staring, Bright Mac's eyes widen, and he dug into the strap of his hat. He pulled out a folded piece of paper and unfolded it. He looked at it and looked at me and Lily. His eyes welled up with tears and her threw his forelegs around Lily and myself.
Ms. Starlight smiled, "Would you look at that. Love at first sight." Then she picked up her bag and waved her hoof, "Well, I see things are doing well here. I'll be on my way back to Trottingham and start the next adoption. Hopefully, Mrs. Minty is doing alright in keeping things in order."
With that, Ms. Starlight took the next train back to Trottingham. Once she was gone, Pear Butter, Bright Mac, Big McIntosh and Applejack lead us through the town of Ponyville and into a large apple orchard, with a large red barn and a cozy farmhouse, named Sweet Apple Acres.
Inside the farmhouse, Apple Lily and I met another Earth Pony mare named Granny Smith. Her fur was a light green and her mane and tail were a faded white color, tied in a bun. She wore a shawl around her shoulders and her Cutie Mark was of an apple pie. She recognized us in seconds and welcomed us back to the Apple Family with open hooves.
After our little family reunion, it was time for me and Lily to pick rooms and unpack. Lily picked a room that was lavender, covered in old plushies and comfortable. My room was more to my liking, which was green with vine designs. A writing desk and bookshelf. A comfortable bed against the corner close to the door and a chest of drawers. Another desk with a mirror and a long bench under the window. It was perfect.
Lily and I spent most of the day unpacking and getting comfortable in our new assigned rooms. Once unpacked and we made ourselves at home, it was time to eat. And let me tell you, Lily and I were starving. And we had quite a meal that evening.
I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring us...
