Author's Note

A new chapter! In only a couple of weeks too!

Hey all, this would have been posted Friday. Eastern Standard time. But sadly me and the gf got Covid of all things. We are fine. Really don't noticed it much but the occasional cough.

You will notice in this chapter a great deal has changed from the original. But the main story plot has remained the same. I hope you enjoy the revamped chapter.

ANNOUNCEMENT.

Once Chapter 3 has been posted, the old book will be deleted from my page. I don't believe it should be kept around to confuse other new readers, and as I look at it, it often gives me pain to see how badly I was doing back then. Thank you for your Understanding.

Well that's it for now, thanks for reading. Please leave a like and a comment if ya can, I love hearing from you guys.

Peace!

Complications of Youth

The sound of foals screaming and laughing in the playground filled the afternoon air. Their joy and youthful exuberance belied the humbleness of their lives. The morning had brought heavy rain, that still lingered in the air even now, and held a slightly muggy weight that did nothing to deter their enthusiasm as they chased each other about the recently rebuilt playground equipment.

Star Shine looked longingly at her favorite, the monkey bars, knowing because of the morning rain that she would not likely get a chance to play on them again since they were still wet from the painting that was done late yesterday afternoon. The humidity did nothing to speed the drying process, thus denying her of this final pleasure.

She would miss them terribly.

But even knowing that she was never going to be able to see them again also filled her with an odd sense of joy. She was getting adopted this week!

Her heart soared at the thought.

The white filly almost danced into the air at the renewed thought spreading warmth in her cheeks and bringing tears to her eyes. She had beaten the odds! Her wings fluttered excitedly.

It wasn't like foals didn't get adopted. But colts were the ones more sought after than fillies were. The reason was apparent even to her young mind. At twelve years old she was painfully aware of how few male ponies there were out there in the world. It wasn't exactly as if they were a rare sight, but if you looked into a crowd you could easily spot the disparity between sexes at a simple glance.

In school, they had been told that the average ratio between mares and stallions across the nation of Equestria were somewhere around four to one. In some places it got as high as nine to one, should a pony venture out to countries such as Prance, that number increased again. It had always been like that, according to her history teacher Mr. Born. Much of it was blamed upon the almost rampant battles and campaigns of war before all the ponies had finally unified. Since then, they had never been able to catch back up. There had been gains of course, but it seemed like it was going to take several millennia before that disparity was redressed.

Thus, since the early days of Equestria, mares have always outnumbered stallions.

This had led to stallions taking a more passive role in the day to day life of ponies as a whole. Mares had become far more protective of their male counterparts, often discouraging more aggressive and dangerous career paths. It was deemed too risky to let that portion of the population risk themselves, instead pushing them to more light work, should they want to work at all.

It was cruel to think of them as a commodity, but reality didn't give them much of a choice in this. Because of that, colts were often the first and fastest to get adopted. The encouragement to raise them in good solid herds was even sponsored by the government itself, by Princess Celestia's own decree! All of that had helped pull them back from the brink of societal collapse, or so Mr. Bone had said. This has brought the current ratio to what it is today.

These days, while rare, you could now find stallions taking up careers in industry, a place that had been dominated for years by mares, and even the military. Though not in any official combat capacity. It was all so complicated and she barely understood half of the reasons that had been given.

Still, her mind refocused on the fact that she was being picked up tomorrow, and she had hoped to have one more play at the bars. Sadly it seemed not to be. Though she was holding out for a park wherever she was to go to live. And her own room.

The giddiness threatened to claim her again. Her own room!

One of her white ears flicked, the sounds of an argument brewing intermixed with carousing sounds of play, drew her attention to the picnic tables set up near the building where they all lived . Turning she saw the majority of the colts currently residing in Manehattan's Orphanarium, standing in a crescent around one particular foal. The longest staying resident of the orphanage.

Orion Falls.

The thought of his name made her fur rise on end. He had been here since she had first arrived two years ago, and rumors spoke of him being here long after her departure. At first glance he wasn't a bad looking colt, though his coloring wasn't something to catch the eye. At eight years he was unusually tall for his age, topping her by at least four inches, but otherwise fairly normal for a pony.

Where she was solid white like a cloud, he was black as tar. Instead of wings, he bore a single curving horn on his forehead. Many unicorns had winding patterns in their horns, and he was no exception, save for the strange way the concentric patterns that had formed. There seemed to be no real reason for it other than some lines formed into swirls that somehow still connected to each other. Pretty. But eye wrenching for those who first see him.

His orange mane held no few brown strands intermixed throughout that gave it a warm, fire-like quality. Like embers in a pit. His long ears poked out of the often uncombed mass, he seemed to forget often about doing more than run a quick brush through the tangled mass. It was lazy and he really should take better care of his appearance, but unlike his fellow pony, Orion tended not to be as fastidious about his appearance as others.

More to the point, he had proven that he was in fact, not a morning pony.

Often he would walk out of his shared room, with the entire tangle of mane sticking up as if a large dog had licked him furiously in the night. It was a hilarious sight that had caused her and many others to giggle.

His glare would cut the shared mirth short.

That was what gave her the shivers. His eyes were unlike any foal she had ever met.

Gray like the metal that made up a policemare's short sword that she had once seen, they also shared that familiar hard feeling. It was a disconcerting look, set in an otherwise foallike face.

But it wasn't his eyes or his terrible mane and tail keeping skills that made her and the others avoid him, they had even made efforts to ignore it, but his attitude was as horrendous as his bed head.

Rude was not in it. He would often go off on other foals for merely being in his way when they came home from school. Rumors swirled that he projected that attitude to everypony, including teachers! There had even been a fight, or so it was said. The details had been hidden but Orion had spent a month confined to one of the solitary rooms.

Worse, he was not ashamed! He had walked out of there grumbling about being put back in with the rest of the "inmates". That had been so offensive that it had earned a glare from even Star, and a week doing chores for him on top of being sent to his room early for the duration by Miss Sapphire.

Watching the group, it was easy to see what was happening, or what was beginning to happen as she spotted Swift Charge heading it up the cluster of five.

At thirteen Swift was short and lithe, expected considering the pegasi were the smallest of the three races. There were of course exceptions, but overall they had always been small. Like her, he was white as well, with a platinum blonde mane where hers was yellow, they could have been twins in the right light. Those soft golden yellow eyes of his often made her heart flutter. He would no doubt be a mare killer when he was older, so long as whoever he set his eyes on didn't know him for the utter flankhole that he was.

Her mouth twisted at the word, she never did like swearing never mind doing it in her own head.

Two earth pony brothers separated just shy of a year, took to his orders easily enough.

Boulder, no secondary name had ever been given, was the older of the two. Though his younger brother, Rocky Jester, was the same height.

Both were near identical copies of one another as well. Dark brown, almost black, manes with brown non-descriptive fur. Though Boulder had a white streak down the middle of his face and his left forearm was wrapped in the same. She had never seen that before on a pony.

From what Miss Sapphire had said, it was a recessive trait not seen in most ponies in this day and age. A hold over from ponies of a different culture entirely. Still that bluff face was rather appealing. To bad he was dumb as the stone he was named after.

Rocky however, was the more intelligent of the two, with blue green eyes that always seems to hold a joke in them. He was often trying to make others around him laugh.

The brothers had arrived last year and fell easily in with him, becoming his lackeys with little prompting. Swift was a smooth talker if nothing else. Still they didn't seem to share the pegasus colt's distaste for Orion, so it was strange to see them side against the black pony so often.

Their arrival had been quiet, if not Rocky's mouth. Star had tried to get them to open up but all they ever did was either deflect with mumbles, or just stare at her blankly till she went away.

Still the fact that they fell so easily into the role of bully supporters bothered her.

Swift himself seemed to have taken a personal grudge with Orion. She did not understand why since he had arrived around the time she had, and now he had dragged others into his animosity for the black unicorn.

The other two colts, unicorns themselves, who were barely six and stayed mostly out of the way of everypony, merely watched and did not say a thing. They had arrived less than a month ago, during the month of Jubilee. Rumor was their herd died to griffon raiders when the Winter Wrap-up for the coming spring had begun.

They always stared wide eyed at everything around them, often jumping at the most muted of sounds like He Himself was upon them.

Her heart had gone out to the pair, and she had decided she would help guide them as they grew, at least till they were eventually adopted. In that moment, her cutie mark blossomed upon both of her flanks. A bright star shining on what looked like a path through trees.

Star instantly knew what it had meant. A guiding light for those lost. She was to help ponies find their way in life. The party was the best thing to happen to her. Or so she had thought.

Less than a week later, an offer of adoption had been submitted, and Miss Sapphire had given her the details on her would-be family. Her mark had come later than normal but not outside what anypony would expect. She had feared that she might never find her destiny, trapped as she was in the orphanage.

More arguing, Swift wasn't smiling anymore and Lazy Rain was swiftly leaving her seat where she had often perched, attempting to catch Orion's eye.

For some reason that Star could not fathom, that filly had somehow formed a crush on the abrasive colt.

Should she intervene? Rumors floated in school and here that he had an absolutely nasty temper. She began to walk toward them. Perhaps she could guide them to a peaceful solution, guiding was her special talent afterall.

Approaching she started to pick up sentences. Angry sentences.

"...how could you not be mad?! Or intimidated?!" Arms shaking at the annoyed colt. Swift was scowling at Orion viscously

"Mad? At you?" The unicorn's voice always had this mature air to it, as if he knew so much more than anypony else and could prove it if challenged. Which was likely true considering she had heard from several others that he was the smartest colt in the orphanage.

"Yes!" Swift hissed back. Fists now held against his sides.

"Pfft no! Same goes for you trying to be intimidating. You couldn't intimidate a rabbit, let alone me. No, mostly I'm just annoyed. Annoyed at you for thinking you could actually insult me. Hornhead? Really? That's the best you can do?"

Star blinked in surprise. Calling somepony a Hornhead was a very bad insult.

Orion had turned in his seat, planting both hooves to the outside of the bench, his right hand holding the book he had been reading in an iron grip.

"You...you!" The white pegasus trembled.

"Look idiot, you're the one that came over here and started shit. Not me. You only have yourself to blame for looking like the moron here. Now why don't you buzz off before you make a bigger fuckhead of yourself." He waved his hand dismissively, turning away.

"Your herd didn't want you!" Screeched Swift.

Orion turned back and gestured around them. "Dude, I'm gonna go with you being blind, and maybe mentally impaired, cause no one is willfully that retarded. The majority of us are here because something happened to our families. Whether natural or unnatural." He shook his head. "Go away, Swift, go toss yourself in a trash can. 'Cause ya trash."

The pegasus shook with rage, Star increased her pace. But it was too late.

At a shout from the pegasus, Rocky moved forward, an almost apologetic look on his face as he reached to grab Orion.

It happened far too fast.

The book that had been held so tightly in his hand swung up and cracked the poor earth pony right in the eye, sending him hooves over head into the ground. He didn't get up.

She wanted to shout in surprise, but instead her voice was seized by terror, what was happening?! Boulder had leapt over his brother, anger painting his face as he swung a balled up fist aimed square at the now standing colt's nose.

The sound of a branch breaking, and he fell back clutching at a bent forearm as he joined his sibling in the dirt.

Swift never even got to flap his wings once.

Boulder and Star, both screamed.

Azure's afternoon was swiftly going downhill as one of the most boring afternoons in the history of afternoons. She yawned into her hand.

Everything was going smoothly.

Foals were out in the yard playing. No pony looked to be getting bullied as was common with the recent influx of orphans this summer. Ponies will always establish a hierarchy, it was much easier to determine in their youth than it would be later in life, but it was often less antagonistic.

But even the bullies were quiet today. A good thing.

Star Shine's paperwork had gone effortlessly. Her new herd had all the necessary information to file the day they applied.

Even the assigned class had all been done beforehand, before they even applied. A room had been stuffed with furniture and clothes, and now we're filing their petition for their new addition to be approved of by the local government. The city's attorney, Honey Rain, was on her way this afternoon to finalize the paperwork.

Tonight was Star's last evening in Manehattan's Orphanarium, a bittersweet day. Miss Sapphire had already organized a going away party for the little filly this evening.

It was an amazing afternoon, looking to be a heart filling evening, and it was so Celestia bucking boring.

Not for the first time she eye'd the latest issue of Mareopolitan that had come in her mail this morning. And not for the first time she chastised herself for considering it.

"No. No! You know what'll happen the moment we pick that up. One article will turn into twenty and before we know it the afternoon will be gone! It'll be six and Star Shine will suffer for it." She sighed. Then began to smile to herself.

Star Shine's cutiemark almost certainly would be sending her down a similar path to Azure's. Though maybe instead of administrative, she would be more hands on. That would be good.

She had most certainly lucked out that her purpose manifested when it did.

The Path family was known far and wide as a very charitable herd. Often hosting events to help those in need. Truth be told they had taken an interest in her last month when they had begun to help those two unicorn colts settle in.

They had actually brought the pair in themselves, but felt they were ill equipped to handle the mental care that they would need in order to help them.

There was already a scheduled set of therapy sessions set for the two. To assess the damage and to see what needs to be done to bring them back to Harmony.

Star Shine however had shown such passion to help them adjust, that not only had her mark arrived in spectacular fashion, but in front of them when they had been about to leave.

A very lucky filly indeed.

She picked up her coffee, the only true friend she had in this world, and for a moment just mused at what it would be like to have a foal of her own with such promise. With a sour grimace she took a sip, she still had not enticed a stallion or a herd in that direction.

The twin shrieks of terror and pain startled her so badly she dropped her coffee all over her desk. Soaking Star Shine's paperwork entirely.

"Bucking Tartarus!" She yelled in panic, before grabbing a towel with a brief cast of 'Capesso'. "Dammit this is ruined," she groaned as she mopped up as much of the black liquid as she could.

"What happened? Who screamed?" Cloudy Sapphire stormed into the office from the supply closet. She must have been taking inventory again.

They never really got enough of anything from the city.

Her shrill, slightly warbly voice still made Azure wince internally every time she heard it. She would have hoped that after three years she would have gotten used to it, but that had proven untrue as she gritted her teeth at the unpleasant noise.

It was a voice to make dogs howl and cats yowl. It was also likely the reason she was still herdless. Poor mare, and at her age.

"No dammit, that wasn't me. Star Shine's paperwork is going to have to be redone however," she sighed dejectedly.

Miss Sapphire stared at her flatly. "Are you not a unicorn?"

"Yes I am, no I do not know the charm spells to remove liquid from paper. Plus my skill with magic in general is rather limited. I never went to the more prestigious schools to learn, my family couldn't afford it." She ineffectually blotted the paper trying to salvage the thoroughly ruined parchments.

"Oh….sorry." Cloudy said sheepishly. "Wait, never mind that!" She snapped, remembering what had drawn her from the backrooms. Spinning around, she ran toward the large bay window on the second floor of the orphanage. "Where did that scream come from!?"

Dumping the now ruined paperwork into the bin, Azure stood and made her way over to her employer at a much calmer pace. Eyes scanning the play yard.

"It sounded like a colt, likely fell from a tree again." She mumbled.

It happened often enough, and usually meant a bruise and somepony walking tenderly for a bit. But as she started her visual search she couldn't help but notice all the foals staring in one direction.

Their little faces were painted in fear.

A gasp from Miss Sapphire drew the shorter mare's attention to what had captured her attention. Azure's mouth dropped in shock.

The recent two little colts were running and stumbling away from the picnic tables, crying in absolute terror.

On the ground, laying still, was Rocky Jester. His right eye slowly swelling, taking on a purple hue, a book laying near his head. His brother was writhing on the ground clutching his left arm and screaming at the top of his lungs, the arm bent back at an unnatural angle.

Before the pair stood Orion Falls, face contorted in a rictus snarl of rage as he pummeled Swift Charge's face in. Blood flew with each blow as he held the poor colt by the throat. "Oh buck me….Orion…. No no no no!" She screamed leaving her employer, still gaping out the window, running out the office and down the steps.

He had had enough of their shit.

He had avoided confrontation as much as possible. There had been a couple of incidents. The colt from science class spilling his project all over him being one such case. The chemical components had been thankfully benign except for a slight burning irritation, but smacking him like he was a bitch had drawn the line.

In retaliation he had hit the fool so hard with a backhand that he broke his nose. A month's worth of detention was worth it. He hadn't been bothered since. He couldn't remember the reasoning behind why the fucker had antagonized him to begin with. There was the verbal shouting match he had with Principal Struck as well. But that hadn't devolved into anything more than that.

In the back of his mind the more logical side of him was screaming at him to stop. But it was Lizard Brain that was in full control now. And Lizard Brain had ordered all prisoners to be executed at dawn, with extreme prejudice.

So he was setting about doing just that.

The day had started out so well too. He had first finally managed to get his hands on some mechanic manuals on airships. He was enjoying his time out in the sun despite the muggy heat. And Lazy Rain was only annoying in presence, not of the mouth.

It was a good day.

Then Swift Charge had to come and fuck that all up.

Swift was an angry colt that had been clear as crystal when he had first arrived two years ago. Orion had yet to determine what set him off so badly, but he was often the victim of his venting, and it took everything in him not to lash out.

But it was easy to know the cause of today's aggression. He must have been passed over for adoption. Again.

Swift has been crowing about it and strutting about like the cock he was all last week. Orion hadn't paid any attention as he didn't care. So it must have been a severe blow if he was being this dickish.

He wondered at what had caused the potential adopters to back off. Likely it was his charming personality.

None of it mattered to him though. He had been on the receiving end more than once of his verbal abuse, ignoring it. But trying to sick his little lap dogs on him had been the last straw. And of course Lizard Brain decided to activate and all hell had broken loose, the tiny part of his mind still screaming at him to stop.

The sudden push of magic forcing him away brought his attention back to the present. There was a distinct lack of throat in his hand, he squeezed his hand in the air reflexively.

His ears picked up crying, and he slowly blinked in surprise as he took in his surroundings, red slowly fading from his vision.

"Oh I went way too far…." A duh echoed in his now still mind.

The other kids in the yard had beat a hasty retreat to hide behind playground equipment and trees that were scattered around the yard. Lazy Rain wasn't even looking at him, instead having her head buried in her hands.

Maybe with this she'll finally stop hovering around him.

His gaze drifted downward, he had gone farther than he realized.

Rocky was out cold, his right eye had completely swollen shut now, and his brother, oh he actually felt bad for breaking Boulder's arm like that. The poor kid was still howling.

How had he not heard that?!

The worst was Swift. The colt was being held gently in a field of red magic. That magic belonged to Miss Azure Dream. It had always struck him funny that the mare was blue all over, but her magic and eyes were as red as wine.

She was frantically dabbing at what was left of the poor colt's face. The steady breathing was a good sign, even if there was the occasional fount of blood and ragged cough.

He'll be fine.

She turned to look at him in horror.

"What were you thinking?!" Her scream echoed into the still yard, mixing with the cries of fearful foals.

He doubted he could offer up the Lizard Brain defense and be accepted.

Azure waited impatiently as the flying ambulance made it's circuit before landing on the street outside the orphanage. Even with the advances of communication, jarred dragon flame specifically, it still took time for them to make their way there.

Honey Rain had been turned away when she had arrived an hour ago. In the confusion and panic of early afternoon, Star's adoption paperwork had been forgotten. So with nothing to do, she headed back to her office. Fortunately she had accepted the vague excuse of an accident having happened, and would likely tell no tales about what had happened here.

The massive four wheeled white carriage swept low along the cobblestone street. The large red cross pattern giving a clue as to who and what they were. It always amazed her that pegasi we're capable of moving fast enough to get something so awkward into the air, helped by the little stubs of fixed wings attached between the wheels.

All hospitals were required to have a landing and take off strip for those aerial ambulance teams.

She had spotted them from the bay window of the receiving room, hastily she exited the orphanage to greet them and guide them inside where they were needed.

As she watched the hard iron banded wheels begin to bounce off the stones, her mind wandered.

After today, it was imperative that she learn first aid skills, both mundane and magical. At least spells that dulled pain. She had to listen to the poor trio of colts groan in agony for the better part of an hour.

Orion had gone quietly into the isolation room. He never spoke a word, but there was regret on his face. Her heart went out to him.

According to Lazy Rain and a few others, the bullies had only been quiet, but active. Swift had instigated, but Rocky and Boulder were the ones to attack.

This hadn't been his first incident, but unlike the others this one crossed a line where there was no quick way back.

"Cloudy Sapphire?" One of the MTs asked, startling her. Focusing on them, she was glad to see that there were three of them, not counting the air team of four pegasi that pulled the air carriage.

"Ah, no. My name is Azure Dream. Her assistant." Well she was one of them, the others were on holiday. She quickly opened the door to allow them entry. "They're in here."

It didn't take them long to get gurneys under them, though they ultimately decided to leave Rocky there with a cold compress over his eye and a brief healing spell to reduce the swelling.

"Make sure he gets plenty of rest and use this," she pressed a packet into her hands, likely medication, "if his pain should spike. But it seems to be a simple black eye and nothing I have scanned indicates worse."

Azure helped the woozy colt up, and led him back to his room as the MTs continued their work on the other two. He was quick to lie down, sleep claiming him before she had even made it out the door.

They had kept him awake just in case there was something else that was wrong. He had been hit very hard.

Placing the medicine for him in the medical office she returned to the receiving room to find both Boulder and Swift strapped to their gurneys. The former whimpered as they adjusted the sling to accommodate his broken forearm.

The latter must have lapsed into unconsciousness, an IV drip in his arm. His face was a mass of bandages.

"Are they going to be okay?" She asked tentatively.

"A simple break on the earth pony. He should be released with a cast in a few days. The pegasus...well he is gonna take a little longer. He has mane thin fractures on the bone structure of his nose and left eye socket." She paused, adjusting a strap before the two were moved away toward the ambulance. "Miss Dream, it is clear these colts were assaulted. I am going to have to file a report on this. Whom, and more importantly, why?"

Azure hesitated only for a moment. Before relaying what she knew. She tried to paint it in a better light, but it was hard considering the grievous injuries the three had received.

"An eight year old colt did all of this..." She murmured. "You understand that the report I have to file will be sent out to many agencies. This is rather serious, and the CFP will want to know about this."

The blue mare's heart stuttered. "The CFP!"

The Council of Foal Protections was anything but, the organization got its start three hundred years ago when Princess Celestia first enacted her Herd First initiatives.

At the time Equestria was suffering from a low birthrate epidemic. Part of the sweeping reforms she implemented was prioritizing and even rewarding herds that adopted parentless foals.

The group acted with almost no government oversight, or any kind of check against their practices. They had the Church of Sol's backing and that was worse, as neither group has any official capacity within the nation.

Their motto, 'No foal left behind, no family torn in two,' was as hollow as the promises they made every year to help more. It was whispered that bits went in and never came out.

When they did do their due diligence, it was their way, with often disastrous results.

Fillies, and very rarely colts, that caused trouble often came back from one of their rehabilitation facilities traumatized to the point of being incapable of functioning. It took months before they could sleep a night without screaming themselves awake again.

No pony could ever say what actually happened to them. The foals were too scared to say a word against them.

For unicorns, it was worse.

The organization was run almost entirely by themselves, and they took umbrage with anypony that managed to paint their race in a negative light. Especially their own.

For Orion it would be an inconceivable fate. She shuddered at the implications.

"Is there any way you can delay? Even for only a day?" The unintended rhyme did little to lift her sour mood. Judging by the glare on the mare's face it did just as little.

"I would be remiss in my duties if I did such a thing. You should be ashamed to even suggest it." Ah, a follower of Sol. She wished she could take back her words, that would go into her report as well.

"I am sorry, I understand." A pit formed in Azure's stomach. What were they to do?

"I would be repenting if I were you, if you truly wish to apologize." The MT shook her head. "I should be going. Expect a visit soon. Sun guide you."

With that they left, and her hopes with them.

Swiftly she raced back inside.

Cloudy Sapphire watched Orion through the one way mirror. The frown that had creased her features had been there for over an hour now. This whole situation had her wound up tight with worry. The colt himself sat in the corner of the room on the floor. He had gone in calmly, but the moment the door closed, the black furred foal had picked up both chairs in his magic and shattered them on the walls.

It had been an effort for him, his horn barely coming to life in a wavering gold and black glow. He had panted heavily as he made his way over to the corner and sat down. With his knees drawn up and head hanging between, he had not moved a muscle since.

Cloudy suspected he felt supremely guilty over his role in the events. Between her and Azure, they had investigated what had happened between him and the others from amongst the rest of the foals. Only two being reliable sources of information.

Star Shine had said she heard arguing and was actually going to attempt to calm things down between the colts.

Lazy Rain backed up her observation. The poor filly had been trying again to talk to the unicorn, and had witnessed the start of the events. Swift really did take the loss of being adopted hard.

The insult Orion had used that caused them to attack was rude, but not what one would think was terrible. But for a young foal it might be the worst insult imaginable. "What does 'fuck' mean?" It wasn't the first time he had used that term, and she vaguely remembered hearing a griffon using something similar at the city's docks when she was little. But she still had no idea what it meant, though she had her suspicions.

But it begged the questions about where he had learned it, and why he did so.

Orion Falls often spoke with a maturity that could only be found in ponies twice his age. His language was wildly colorful, especially his insults.

The door behind her opened up disturbing her from her musings.

"Well?"

"It's not good, Miss Sapphire. Rocky is okay, he is in bed now. But both Boulder and Swift are on their way to Manehattan General. The MTs will be filing a report with both the guard, and the CFP…." She trailed off, worry leadened Azure's words.

The earth pony mare hissed in vexation.

"I was afraid of that," Cloudy sighed heavily, at a loss as to what to do. If the CFP got ahold of him, he may actually die. His stubbornness and flat refusal to bend on what he thinks is right will either shatter in their care, or he will be one of those that just didn't come back.

It was a fear she had since the moment he stepped hoof into her orphanage. He had been antagonistic and aloof from the very beginning. The two years since had shown little change.

Orion avoided others like he feared catching something. Instead he chose the company of books in quiet corners of the library. Reading some very advanced titles.

He never played with anypony. Never made friends in the slightest even when others worked so hard to get in his good graces, like Lazy.

"All it took was a...a brawl like this... pointless." She rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"To be fair Ma'am, this wasn't the first time, and he has shown great restraint up till now. We both know this was particularly bad." Azure defended.

It was particularly bad. Swift and his clique had started in on him that very morning during breakfast. It was clear now why Orion had been so hesitant to leave the library.

The young pegasus wasted no time in setting in on him the moment he stepped out the door.

Lazy Rain had attempted to steer the colt in another direction, but to no avail. Orion had had enough and fired back and they attacked him for his trouble. He was all over Swift before the poor colts' wings had a chance to get him away from danger. According to every foal out there, it had happened in seconds. At first she believed they had exaggerated, but given the extent of damage she was not so sure anymore.

"Great restraint or no, it is very likely come morning the CFP will be on our doorstep with a dozen guards and a warrant. The court will likely side with them easily in this case." She turned from her watch of the colt. "There is little you and I can do to stop this."

"There has to be something!" It was a shout, a whisper of one but still a shout. "You and I both know what awaits him if they take him away."

"No, we don't. But….we suspect. I just don't…." She trailed off. Thoughts whirling in her head in a desperate attempt to find a solution.

"Daisy!"

It had been a couple of months since she last spoke to her friend by mail, Daisy Evergarden. Their last subject of conversation had been Orion.

Daisy had actually offered to take him in. Much in part to his academic capabilities. He was extraordinarily intelligent despite the more belligerent behavior would suggest.

She wanted to give him an opportunity to get a higher education than what was available to him in Manehattan. But the timing always seemed off when it came to sending him away so nothing ever came of it.

As the idea fermented in her mind, hope blossomed in her heart. But a tinge of doubt remained. There was no way to know if she had room for him, but there was little choice now.

"There is a chance. White's Orphanarium in Canterlot. Daisy Evergarden, the Directress that manages it, has offered to take him in a few months ago. This may be the only opportunity he has." As she spoke Azure's eyes widened with astonishment. Cloudy had never mentioned her friend's offer.

No pony said anything as they turned to look at him again. He had not moved, but his little hands were clenched into fists.

"We will need to leave tonight. As late as possible. He and I will take the train out. Would you mind watching over the little ones while I'm gone? It shouldn't be more than two days. And Dawn is supposed to be back tomorrow." Dawn Dew was one of the other caretakers under her.

"Yes, I can do this. I wish I could go with you, but one of us needs to be here. Plus you know Mrs. Evergarden better than I." The regret in her voice spoke volumes.

Her assistant actually liked Orion despite his aggressive nature. She would often find her speaking to him in the library, explaining things to him that most foals already knew.

That was another thing. As surprising as how smart he was, he was somehow ignorant of the world almost entirely when it came to social cues and history. But she chalked that up to where he came from. Growing up on the street would do that to a pony she supposed.

Still they had formed a bond of sorts, not friendship but a bond nevertheless, and Cloudy was loathed to break that up.

"I'm sorry Azure, if there was a better way or we had more time…" her half formed consolation drifted off without a response. They stood awkwardly.

"Right, well then, I must make sure the foals get dinner. If you need help packing please let me know." The blue mare smiled, a smile that did not touch her eyes, and made her way out the door.

Cloudy turned once again back to the one way mirror, and squared her shoulders.

"Stupid stupid stupid!"

It had been a reigning mantra in his head for the better part of two hours. Intermittently interrupted with "dumb fucker" and "they were just kids you ass".

He had been berating himself and his loss of self control. He should have known better after all. Now three colts were likely on a trip to the hospital, one beaten to near unrecognizable mush. But at the same time, the idea of them making him their bitch just pissed him off even more. So when the assault had finally come, he just ended up letting loose years of frustration and anger on them. And that was the problem. His total lack of self control. It has gotten him into trouble more than once. That and his desire to avoid pain.

His ears perked up and turned toward the door as he heard the tell-tale sound of a latch being lifted.

Orion looked up as Miss Sapphire entered the room, stern look upon her teal green face. Her blue eyes betrayed her worry.

"They gonna be okay?"

She started. The question had either not been expected, or she hadn't expected him to say anything at all.

"Yes," she said hesitantly, "Rocky is here. His injuries were minor compared to the other two. Both Swift and Boulder had to be taken to the emergency room by the MTs. Their injuries….are more severe."

".....how screwed am I?" She blinked again before replying.

"A report is being filed with the guard and the CFP, and likely a few other agencies. We will likely be getting a visit from the first two tomorrow morning." She said slowly. It was clear she was gauging his mood.

"Well shit. Really fucked it good didn't I?" He hung his head. He was going to go to pony juvie.

"I'm not sure what that means. But yes, you are in trouble." She sighed. "There is a solution. You don't have much choice to accept, but I suspect it will be easy to do considering the alternatives."

His head jerked up, gray eyes eyeing her warily.

"And that is?"

"Canterlot. I have a friend there who runs an orphanage of her own. She is aware of your situation. Last we spoke she offered to take you in. I should have taken her up on the offer months ago but I was hesitant to move you." She glanced at the shattered remains of the two chairs. He blushed in embarrassment, like many things in his life, he just couldn't help himself. "Still, you have an opportunity now. Go pack your things, we leave at midnight."

She turned, opened the door and left, leaving it open.

Orion sat there a moment more, collecting his thoughts. He had no real choice in the matter. Stay and go to juvie, or leave and go to a new location where he would likely cause more problems if he didn't reign in his temper. It was no one's fault but his own anyway. He landed himself in this mess. All to avoid pain.

"Okay, so all I have to do is bottle it all up until I can safely let loose where I won't get in trouble. Simple right?"

It was not so simple. He had always been short fused, and given his current situation it had only gotten worse. His grandparents had attempted to curb that violent nature with little success.

Standing he dusted off the simple brown pants he wore and adjusted the tanned shirt. He had no choice but to lock down his temper as hard as he could. Or at least find an appropriate outlet. If he didn't, he would ruin this chance as well. And he had a feeling there wouldn't be another one.

It hadn't taken Orion long to pack. Sadly he would have to leave the manuals he had managed to get behind. But other than a spare set of iron shoes and five sets of clothes he didn't really have much. Orphan's can't afford luxury items.

He mostly just sat, trying to think things through. He couldn't keep going like this. The decision to keep others at arm's length had, at the time, been a wise choice. But that had made him an oddity.

He hated kids, and he was one. But that self isolation that he enforced on himself also made him a target. No matter the people, no one liked the strange or weird. And while adults are often more forgiving, even understanding, kids just don't have the rationale to understand that some people are weird.

He would have to change, though he wouldn't be able to do a one-eighty. But he had no choice in this.

The clock in his room chimed midnight and he gathered his things. With one last look he shut the door on his bedroom. A bedroom that was no longer his.

Miss Sapphire was waiting for him in the foyer at the foot of the stairs. No sign of Miss Dream. Just as well. She'd likely cry and he would feel even worse than he was already.

"Do you have everything?"

"Didn't have much to begin with, so yeah." A flash and a peal of thunder quickly followed. That wasn't ominous in any way. Though rain was called for tonight. He was grateful that he remembered to pack his raincoat.

Without any further words they set out. The sky threatened but nothing fell.

"Wonder how long that's gonna last…"

Looking up he could see between flashes of lightning showing pegasi flitting amongst the clouds, last minute adjustments before they let loose. He shook his head at it all, despite knowing for a few years that they could do that, it still didn't take away the awe he held for it. The idea of casually controlling weather patterns by hand was as bizarre as waking up and finding he had a horn on his head.

They made a beeline from the orphanage doorstep and into the city proper. She constantly checked to make sure he still followed behind her. To be honest she was setting a very fast pace. He cursed his short legs as he was practically running to keep up.

Buildings passed by quickly, the shadows of night hiding most of the red brick and iron fenced features unless the sky lit up.

It puzzled him at first as to why she was keeping to the shadows so much, till he realized that they were essentially escaping the city ahead of the law. That made the shadows seem even more dangerous, anyone could be hiding within them, the guard being only one.

"How long does it take for bureaucracy to work here?" It was a question he had asked himself a couple of times. All the books he had read on the subject had not given any specifics on that question.

His musings were cut short as he quite literally ran into Miss Sapphire's backside with a grunt.

Looking past her he noticed that they had arrived at the train station. He had only seen it once before when he first arrived in Manehattan as he and his escort had passed it by coach. It was just north of the airship docks that he had arrived at two years prior.

The squat but long red brick structure seemed to sit like a toad in the dark despite being well lit. The lamp posts outside glowed a steady yellow. The crystal gems they used in substitute of an open flame fascinated him.

However, none of that was why she had stopped.

Outside the station were ten or so guards. They were in front of the building and patrolling the street as well. Looking into the dark with suspicious eyes.

"Oh shit…." He whispered.

Miss Sapphire just grunted and mumbled something about a plan B. Carefully the pair turned around as to not attract their notice and made their way back down the street, hooking a left instead of heading back the way they had come.

Orion was more alert than before, pushing his buzzing thoughts of what ifs and idle speculations to the back of his mind as he kept checking behind them.

Twice they had to alter course due to a patrol. In the dark, even with well lit streets, the city had become a warren of passage ways. It made it difficult to predict where a group of them might sprout up. Every time, Cloudy Sapphire would tsk quietly and frown worriedly.

After an hour he realized they were actually making their way outside the city and began to stare at her in worry. Was she planning to walk all the way to Canterlot?

From what he had seen in most of his geography books, the city was a good two week away just walking it. It wasn't something he was looking forward to doing and he was not sure his body would be able to keep up. Then again, he may have no choice with the furtive glances she kept shooting back at him, and more often, behind them. Whatever had her so upset was likely something he didn't want to contemplate.

Suddenly she stopped at a moderately large, two story brick home. They had come to what he would call the suburban area of the city. There were many like the one before them, but each had a yard of their own, fenced off with iron and brick. At the side of the house was a large carriage that was black as the night.

"Wait here." She whispered, then marched up and began to pound on the large door as if the hounds of hell were coming.

"Why not ring a gong on top of it." He grumbled from where leaned against a mailbox.

The door violently swung open and from the darkness of the foyer came a burly earth pony mare. "What in Tartarus do ya want!? Do you know what time it is?!" She bellowed.

Orion snuck up and peeked around the side of Miss Sapphire and had to grin a little. The mare was tall, as seemed usual for female ponies of her race, and had raven black hair. Her yellow fur stood in sharp contrast and, with the dark night shirt she wore, made it easy to see the pale yellow side boob that threatened to spring free with each shake of her fist.

He couldn't help the grin from slowly growing wider on his face. It has been awhile since he has seen this much tit-flesh. Ponies were a bit prudish, which was a surprise considering how much fur they had.

"Fuck me she's got some big ass knockers."

"I am so sorry for the trouble. I know it's late but as I understand it, you will take fare at any time of day." The Directress spoke quickly. "I am willing to pay extra but I need passage to Canterlot. Now." She finished in a rush.

The yellow mare was silent, blinking slowly as she came awake. "The flyer does say that...fine. Double the usual rate as you will be waking up me and most of my herd." Miss Sapphire didn't even try to negotiate as she dug into her purse. "But why not use the train? It doesn't take nearly as long and it runs regularly."

Without missing a beat, "It's broken down. Something about a twisted track or something I'm not sure, as I am not...whatever it is they are."

The mare just snorted. "Clearly. I'm Yellow Tracks by the way. Give me a bit to rouse the others and make sure the foals will be taken care of." She eyed Orion, who had not stopped looking at her tits, she grinned. "Got a good eyeful there colt?"

"Orion!" Cloudy screeched at him in a hushed whisper as she dolled out the bits into the tall mare's waiting palm.

His grin just stretched wider. "Hey she's got nice boobs, how the hell am I not supposed to appreciate that?" He fired back, chuckles threatening to erupt in his voice.

Yellow Brick just chortled. "Bold this one. You're gonna be trouble when you get older. Wait here." She walked back inside chuckling to herself.

"We will speak of this later!" Miss Sapphire hissed at him.

Thunder boomed again overhead as the first drops began to fall.

Pounding on the foyer door brought Azure down from her room just after two in the morning. Still in her nightgown she wrapped a housecoat around her, barely managing to knot the thing properly.

She was groggy and in no mood to deal with a late night drop off, but she would do her duty nevertheless.

Opening the door, she came fully awake as her heart sank.

On the stoop, in the pouring rain, stood Velvet Backwater. With at least two dozen of the Guard behind her.

"Good evening, Miss Dream. I'm here to pick up Mr. Falls." Venom dripped from every word. A smile adorned her lips, heat in her eyes. "We received word of what transpired here this afternoon, and the council and I have decided it was best to remove him before he did something else egregious."

She made to shove past Azure but she held her ground. "You have no warrant!" She had to buy as much time as she could.

"Oh! Silly me, but of course I do. I'm sure you know Gavel Hammer." The blue mare nodded her head, a sinking feeling in her gut. “Well he was kind enough to be willing to come in late this evening and sign this for us." With a curt hand, she practically shoved a warrant into her face.

The document was official. There was no way she could challenge it without a lawyer present, and before she could offer more protest, Backwater and the guards forced their way past her into the orphanage.

It didn't take them long to find he wasn't there, and waking up the foals in fright as well.

"Where is he?!" Velvet hissed in her face.

"I-I….." she swallowed hard, "I do not know. He was here when we all went to bed tonight." It was hard to lie to this mare's face, especially when a guard was holding her arms tightly. It was absolutely against the law, but she doubted anything would come from a complaint.

The guard's grip tightened.

Another guard, it was only now that she noticed they all bore the Church of Sol's crest, a sun held by two hands, burst into the room.

"Ma'am! The Directress is also missing!"

Backwater gaped at them. "What did you say?" She said quietly, barely heard even by Azure over the din of rainfall on the roof.

"She is not located in the facility. We suspect she left sometime before our arrival."

The councilmare practically shrieked in anger. She spun around on her hooves to glare at her.

"Did you know anything about this?!"

"I had no idea." She managed to belt out without stuttering.

Velvet stared at her for a little longer before snorting. "We are done here. You, will be hearing from us." She turned away and marched out the door of the reception room. "Notify the guard that he is loose, have them double the patrols, and somepony find out…" her voice trailed off as she walked away.

Azure Dream sagged to the floor, unable to keep her legs under her any longer. She could hear the younger foals crying as the older ones attempted to calm them, but she was not yet strong enough to provide her own comforting words.

She looked out the window as rain fell and lightning flashed.

"Please be safe…."

Thunder was the only response she received.