Motherly Dashby Void StreakChaptersPrologueMeeting everyponyInspection5 years laterPrologueRainbow Dash awoke to the sound of her alarm clock ringing but instead of looking at the time she unconsciously picked it up and dropped it in the glass of water that sat on her bedside table. Her sleep was interrupted yet again by a knocking on her front door. Grumbling she muttered "What can a pegasus do to get her sleep these days" as she slowly slipped out of bed and traipsed downstairs to her front door while silently cursing whoever woke her up. Opening the door her sleepy face turned to as she looked at a seemingly empty cloud garden. "I swear if it's those knock, knock flyers again I'm gonna do something we both regret" she shouted that last part. She was about to shut the door when she heard a yawning sound. Looking down, her jaw dropped. Lying on the cloud floor was a small cloud basket with a blue, pegasus foal. The tiny colt opened his eyes to reveal yellow orbs which started to fill with salty tears as he started cry. Rainbow Dash, who didn't know what to do in this situation picked the basket while saying "Shhhhh Shhhhh, don't cry" looking around one last time to see nothing out of ordinary, she took the wailing foal inside. Trotting inside her kitchen, she placed he basket on the counter top. As she examined the inside of the basket to see a little brown bear, a light blue dummy and what appeared to be a note. The foal was only dressed in a nappy that looked as if it had been put on him in a rush thankfully it was clean. Trying to calm the sobbing foal she gave him the bear but that did little to calm him down "Oh why won't you stop crying?" dash said frantically. All of a sudden she heard a knock which she nearly missed. Not wanting to leave the crying colt she gingerly picked the foal up and carried him to the door all the while trying to console him but no avail. The door opened to reveal Fluttershy, Rainbow's longest friend. "Oh thank Celestial you're here. He just won't stop crying" she exclaimed. Instead of asking where the foal came from, Fluttershy took him from Rainbow and started to hug him while singing softly into his ear. After his crying slowed to a blubbering whimper, she then told Dash "I think he's hungry, Do you have any foal milk?" Dash just shook her head; slumping her shoulders. "Where did he come from?" She then asked. Rainbow sighed and explained how she found him on the doorstep. "Oh you poor thing. Did you find a note?" She gasped "Oh yeah I completely forgot. I didn't read it." Rushing to the table, she unfolded the note and read out loud. To Rainbow Dash, I have left my son with you because my wife passed away giving birth to him and I cannot look after a kid. I know I am a terrible father but I have heard about your heroic feats and I believe you are the best possible pony to raise. Per my late wife's wishes could you please call him Void Streak. "That's all it says. It's not signed or anything" Dash said while looking down at the now sleeping foal. "Well first lets head to my place where I have foal formulary from when I do foalsitting jobs then we'll have to tell the police" Fluttershy told Dash who agreed and they started to leave. *** As they flew over Ponyville Void started to cry again which caused Rainbow to mutter "Not again" Fluttershy cooed "shhhh, it's okay little Void we're nearly there now" however this did nothing to quell the young colts sobbing and by the time they touched down outside Fluttershy's cottage, Rainbow Dash could already feel a headache coming on. They rushed inside the small house all the while trying to avoid stepping on any small critters that littered the floor. Fluttershy went into the kitchen where she grabbed a fresh milk bottle and filled it with foal formula she then went over to the kettle and filled it with water and started to boil it. While it was wasted boiling she told Rainbow Dash "while I'm making this why don't you go to the police station and tell them er that's if you want to of course" Rainbow rolled her eyes while she flew through the window. Flutters by then poured the water into the milk bottle and then placed the lid with the teet onto the bottle and shook the milk. She then squeezed a bit onto her hoof "Owch!" she yelped pulling her hoof away she then turned to the foal who let out a little giggle when she yelped in pain "just a little while longer and then we can fill your tummy up" She squeezed the bottle which revealed that the milk had cooled down enough. Smiling she said "open up" as she place the teet into the hungry foals mouth. Just as he started to gulp down the milk greedily Rainbow Dash walked back in accompanied with two surly looking Policestallions, their hivis jackets glinting light along with a kind, caramel, unicorn mare, who was wearing a suit. She introduced herself "Hello my name is Sunbreeze and I am with Foal Protective Services, You must be Fluttershy" while holding her hoof out to shake. Fluttershy, who was hiding behind her mane meekly shook it. Sunbreeze awkwardly nodded before gazing towards the pegasus colt lying Fluttershy's hooves "This must be young Void Streak. He's a greedy one isn't he. Well first things first because the foal was left on a doorstep he will be considered as being abandoned which is a criminal offence, so I'll let officers Cuffs and links take over from here" The two officers stepped forward "Miss Dash because you were the pony who found the foal I'm going to ask you a few questions" Cuffs, who was a grey earth pony. Rainbow nodded "First question do you know who left the foal?" "No and I don't even know anyone who was pregnant" "Do you know why they left the foal to you?" "Other than what it says in the note, no" "Did you see anypony acting suspiciously or walking away from your house?" "No and it's a cloud house so there's nowhere for anypony to hide either" "OK well that's it for now, we'll be in touch later but without any further information there's nothing we can do" Cuffs said before leaving. After the two officers left Rainbow Dash asked Sunbreeze "What's going to happen now?" Sunbreeze sighed "the law states that if you were the intended pony that the foal is left to then you may gain temporary custody however you will have to apply for full custody. If you don't want to keep the foal or you don't gain full custody then the foal will have to be sent to an orphanage" Looking down at the foal, she knew that she didn't really want a foal but she knew in her heart that she couldn't let him be dumped at some orphanage "I'll take the foal" Sunbreeze visibly brightened at this ad said while pulling out a clipboard from her saddlebags "just sign here please and I'll be in touch with an inspection date" Dash nodded and signed. When the FPS worker left, she turned to Flutters and said "What am I getting myself into"... Author's Note I'm hoping I got the process of making baby milk right. I have never looked after a baby before so if I make a mistake, don't hesitate to correct me Meeting everypony"Maybe we should take him to see our friends if you want" Fluttershy suggested as she took the now empty bottle from Void. She then lifted him into a sitting position and started to burp, releasing several large belches. "OK, let's head to Twilight's first, we can pick up a few books about looking after foals" "Oh I didn't think you liked reading other books that weren't Daring Do" "I don't but desperate times call for desperate measures" Rainbow said before heading to the door with Fluttershy in tow. *** All the way through town they had been getting funny looks from passers by. Much to Rainbow's dislike Fluttershy told her that they were walking so they didn't disturb the now sleeping foal who was lay in a cloud stroller that Dash managed to put together. When they knocked on the large, golden castle doors, Spike answered "Oh hey Fluttershy, hey Rainbow Dash. What's that?" he asked pointing a claw at the stroller. "We'll tell you when we're inside" Dash spoke up, not wanting to explain the situation twice. "Follow me, Twilight's in the library with Starlight" As they walked through the grand, crystal hallways, Rainbow heard a tiny yawn and looked down to see Void open his yellow eyes. I hate to admit it but you do look a little cute she thought to herself. When they entered the large, sprawling library, Twilight greeted "Hi Fluttershy, Hi Rainbow, what bri- is that what I think it" she exclaimed, pointing her hoof at the blue foal that Fluttershy took out the stroller. "Oh my gosh, he looks adorable" both Starlight and Twilight said peering down at Void, who was in Fluttershy's hooves, Rainbow merely rolled her eyes. "Where did he come from?" Twilight asked, still poring over the newborn. "Well that's the thing, we don't know" after seeing the confused expressions on both unicorns faces, Rainbow explained how she woke up to find the foal on her doorstep along with what the FPS worker and the police officers said. "Could I borrow some books about foal care?" Rainbow asked "Sure, Spike can go get those" Twilight said as the drake started to collect books of the shelf. Starlight then spoke up and asked "What made you say yes? You don't seem like the sort of pony to take care of a foal er no offence" Rainbow sighed as Fluttershy squirmed uncomfortably "let's just say I know what it's like to be raised in an orphanage. The thought of being unwanted" Rainbow shuddered as she spoke. Twilight looked at Dash in thought, wanting to ask questions but thought against it. "Here's the books" Spike announced as he dropped them on a table making a loud bang causing both Fluttershy and Twilight to scold him as Void rolled over, still asleep now in his stroller. Rainbow let out a sigh of relief as she spoke "that was a close call. Well thanks for the books we're going to go and see Pinkie Pie next" *** As per usual, when they entered Sugar Cubed Corner Pinkie Pie burst out from seemingly nowhere as she yelled "Hi Fluttershy Hi Dashie what's brings you in today and OH MY GOSH THAT IS THE CUTEST FOAL IN THE WORLD, well maybe not as cute as Pound cake and Pumpkin Cake who are REALLY cute but but still-" Pinkie spoke at unnatural speed. Rainbow who was now getting annoyed shouted "PINKIE! slow down you overwhelming the poor thing". Indeed the foal was staring at pinkie as if she was unnatural. All of a sudden her nose crinkled as a foul stench started to fill the room. "Ew, what is that smell?" Dash asked, covering her nose with her hoof. Pinkie giggled while pointing at the now brown, stained nappy that adorned his flank. "I think some pony's made a stinker" "There is no way I am cleaning him" Rainbow stated outflattely while crossing her arms. "Oh I can clean him but you will have to clean him at yourself at some point" Fluttershy spoke up timidly but Rainbow merely grumbled. As she was changing him Void started to smiling evilly before letting loose a waterfall of pee which inconveniently struck Rainbow Dash right in the face. "HE PEED ON ME!" Dash shouted trying to wipe away the urine that was slowly staining g her face yellow all the while Void was laughing surprisingly louder than Pinke who was rolling all over the floor eyes streaming with tears. "He did that on purpose" pointing am acussatory hoof at the conniving foal. "Oh Rainbow it was an accident, he's only a foal" Fluttershy said with a miniature smile. Rainbow grumbled under her breath that sounded like a lot like accident my flank *** After they finished at Sugar Cube Corner, they decided to head to Carousel Boutique next. Walking in they heard Rarity’s usual sing song voice announce “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, how can I help? Oh hello Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy AND OMG IS THAT A FOAL, HE’S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!” She shouted scooping the foal into her hooves. The Colt looked uncomfortable at having Rarity holding him up in the air. “Rarity you’re traumatising the poor kid” Rainbow scolded. Rarity looking embarrassed gave Void back to Dash “Ahem yes erm sorry about that. Why do you have a foal?” She then asked. Rainbow once again explained the situation, wondering how many times today she would need to repeat the story. Rarity’s reaction was the same as everypony elses. She then asked Dash “So is he yours to keep?” Rainbow replied uncertainly “I’m guessing so once I’ve passed the inspection and everything else” “This is simply fabulous Rainbow, little Void could have playdates with Sweetie Belle” she admonished. “Er Rarity I hate to burst your bubble but isn't Sweetie Belle ten?” She asked. “Yes” she answered not seeing the problem. “I highly doubt that she would want to spend time with a newborn foal who cant walk or talk.” “Nonsense” Rarity exclaimed waving her off. Rainbow then slowly backed away with Fluttershy and Void in tow saying “Well we best get going we still need to meet up with Applejack” they then quickly left before the unicorn could invite herself along. *** When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, they found Applejack bucking apple trees in the orchard. Turning around she noticed Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. She started walking over to them, when she noticed Void Streak sitting on Rainbows back. Not believing her eyes she rubbed and looked again to see the same blue colt. Before she could say anything Rainbow quickly told her “Before you ask I found him on my doorstep, so I am now taking care of him.” Applejack then asked jokingly “Are yah sure thats a good idea; ah mean yer like a big kid yerself” “Haha very funny” she replied sarcastically “But seriously, how do you take care of a kid” she asked her worried that she would make bad parent. “What do yah mean, sugarcube?” “I mean you’ve been taking care of Apple Bloom nearly, your entire life. How did you do it?” Rainbow asked. Applejack sighed “Everything came naturally to me, I had Granny Smith helping me but more importantly, I grew up” she told her. She then added, seeing Rainbow’s face full of nervousness “And i’m Sure that your own parents will be able to help you out” Rainbow looked down at her hooves sniffing and wiping her eyes. This made both Applejack and Fluttershy feel uncomfortable, they only ever seen their friend cry once and that was when her pet tortoise went into hibernation. Fluttershy comforted her by hugging Rainbow finally Dash sniffled “Sorry guys, it’s just that my parents have…moved on” “Ah’m sorry sugarcube I know how yer feel. Don’t worry me and our friends will help you take care of Void Streak. You are not alone, remember that” Applejack told her sympathetically. “Thanks guys” she replied, wiping away her final tears. Suddenly Applejack said “Oh shoot I’d better get going otherwise ah’ll be late picking Apple Bloom up from school. Hey why don’t yah join us, ah’m sure, Scootaloo would be happy to find out that she has a little brother.” *** They arrived just in time for the colts and fillies to be let out from school. The cutie mark crusaders spotted them and made their way over to them. “Hi, Rainbow Dash” Scootaloo greeted. “Hey squirt, guess what I have somepony who wants to meet you” she told the eager filly. “Really who!” Shouted Scootaloo. Rainbow slowly revealed Void Streak and said “meet your little brother” This instantly made Scootaloo stop in her tracks as her face fell “Oh” was all she could say. Rainbow was surprised; she expected Scootaloo to be jumping in joy. Before she could say anything, Sweetie Belle had noticed the colt and had screamed “HE’S ADORABLE! What’s his name?” She asked. “Void Streak” she told the two excited fillies “Where did he come from” Apple Bloom asked. Rainbow decided that it was best to tell them a slightly different story to what had actually happened, instead of telling them that he had been abandoned she instead settled on telling them “A friend of mine, was unable to look after him, so i’m now his new mum” she explained. While Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom was happy for Dash, Scootaloo was not. She felt that the colt was going to take all of her attention away from her. *** After they introduced Void Streak to the CMC, Rainbow decided that she was going to head home, when she arrived she found a letter from the FPS telling her when the inspection was due as well as a list of items she was going to need. InspectionRainbow Dash looked down at the list while she walked through the town. The list stated that she would need: a cot, a pack of formula milk, foal clothes, nappies, a blanket and several milk bottles. The first place she decided to stop by was the Carousel Boutique, walking inside she greeted, “Hey Rarity.” “Hello Rainbow Dash, what brings you and little Void Streak to my shop.” Rarity asked while stroking the foal's blue mane, making Void give a little giggle. “Are you able to make some clothes for Void?” Rainbow asked. “Of course, darling, put him on the table, so that I can take his measurements.” Rarity said, patting a spot on a clean wooden table that was in the corner of the room. Rainbow took the foal and placed him in the indicated space on the table, while Rarity went to find her measuring tape. Returning with her magic full of supplies, she started to measure the colt. However, if she thought that, Void would make it easy for her, she would be poorly mistaken. The foal squirmed and attempted to pull at the measuring tape causing Rarity to release a frustrated groan. “Please do excuse my shoddiness, I don't typically make foal clothes.” she apologised but was disappointed to find Rainbow Dash laughing her head off. Rolling her eyes Rarity asked, “Instead of laughing could you be a dear and hold him while I measure him?” “Sure Rares,” She said, taking hold of the squirming foal’s hooves. After taking, his measurements, Rarity instantly got to work. “How long is this going to take? I have places to be.” Rainbow asked irritable. “Rainbow, please have patience, this shouldn't take long,” she said. After five minutes of waiting, Rainbow exclaimed, "While you're making that, I'm gonna head into town and pick up the rest of everything, that I need." Rarity merely rolled her eyes at the departing pegasus. *** Walking into town, Rainbow was glad to find a foal supplies shop. The store sold everything that a foal could need, with stock ranging from blankets to different types of prams. Rainbow walked over to the section that contained the foal milk and gapped at all the different brands that sold formula. "Why are there so many different types?" Rainbow asked herself in astonishment. She didn't even know where to start. It was at that moment, when a voice asked, "Hello there dear, do you need any help?" Rainbow turned around to see an elderly, orange, earth pony mare, holding a basket filled with various supplies. Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief and replied in slight embarrassment, "Yeah, this is my first time buying formula, and I don't know which one I would need." "Really, well my name is Honey Due and I am more than happy to help. How old is your foal?" She asked with a warm smile, peering down at the small colt, who was currently fast asleep. "Thanks, the name's Rainbow Dash and he's a newborn," Rainbow explained, happy that somepony was able to help her. She then asked, "Does he have any allergies or other eating disorders?" Rainbow rubbed the back of her head, awkwardly, "I'm not sure. To be honest, I don't know much about him, I found him on my doorstep" "That's terrible. Well until you get a confirmed diagnosis, I recommend using Happy Foal Milk. I've used it with all of my children and grandchildren and they all grew up big and strong. You'll soon realise that Happy sells a lot of different foal supplies." She explained holding up a yellow container with a picture of a smiley face inside of a sun, the words Happy emblazoned in large, gold letters. "Thanks, now I just need the actual bottles," she said, looking down at the list. "Those are just this way, have you got a steriliser yet?" She asked while showing Rainbow to the milk bottles. "What's that?" Rainbow asked. "A sterilizer is what cleans your milk bottles, If you don't sterilize your bottles then they could become a breeding ground for bacteria." She explained. "Oh," Rainbow muttered, she was beginning to question, if she was the right pony for the job; she was worried that her lack of knowledge could potentially harm her foal. "Here we are" Honey exclaimed, showing the different array of milk bottles, she then added, pointing to several large boxes that contained sterilizers, "We can also get a steriliser while we are here too." Rainbow decided to get a pack of six medium-sized, blue milk bottles that had a picture of lightning bolts on them. She then also picked up a steriliser. "Now all I need are nappies," Rainbow said. She followed Honey to, the aisle that sells nappies, similar to the foal formula, there were many different brands. Rainbow then spied a jumbo pack of eighty newborn Happy Nappies. "You read my mind," Honey joked as Rainbow picked the pack up off the shelf. Analysing the list, Rainbow said, "That should be everything." They then headed to check out where she gazed in shock at the total price, "SEVENTY ONE BITS!" She shouted in shock, "That's scandalous." Honey laughed, "Taking care of foals isn't cheap." She then held her hoof out and said, "It was good meeting you Rainbow Dash, but I need to head home." Rainbow shook her hoof, saying "Thanks for this, I couldn't have done this without you." "Aw shucks, well goodbye, I'm sure we'll bump into each other again," Honey said before, they both went their separate ways. Waving one last goodbye, she then started to head back towards Rarity's, where she hoped that the clothes were ready for her. *** “Are the clothes ready yet?” Rainbow asked, walking into the store to find Rarity working on her sewing machine. “Yes, they are right here. And Rainbow, please do get more patience.” Rarity said, pointing to a pile of foal clothes. “Thanks,” Rainbow said, however, it was at this moment that Void Streak started to cry. Rainbow, picked the wailing foal up and held him in her arms, “Shhhhh, what’s the matter?” Rarity couldn’t help but smile at the heartwarming scene, thinking about how much Rainbow had matured over the years. She then suggested, “I think he might be hungry.” Rainbow took out one of the new milk bottles that she had bought and went to make Void some foal milk. After mixing the formula and the hot water, she squirted a tiny bit onto her hoof and winced at the heat. She reassured the sobbing colt, "Not long now, just need to wait for it to cool down." She started rocking Void from side to side, calmly shushing the crying child. "What's up," she asked upon noticing Rarity's look of amazement. "Oh nothing, It's just that I never expected to see you acting so motherly." She stuttered in shock. Rainbow didn't know what to say to that, so instead she went to check on the milk and was happy to feel that it was much cooler. She placed the teat into the foal's mouth and was delighted to see that he had quietened down and was hungrily devouring the milk. "So what do you need to do next?" Rarity asked quietly, so as not to disturb the foal while he was eating. "I just need to set up his crib," Rainbow whispered, staring down into Void's golden eyes. She couldn't help but think that the foal did look cute. "So when is the inspection?" "Tomorrow morning," Rainbow grumbled, unhappy at the fact that she was going to have to wake up early. Noticing that the milk bottle was empty, she sat the colt up and began lightly patting his back, in between his wings, causing Void to release several large belches. Happy that the foal was now fed, she packed everything away and then told Rarity, "Well I'd best set off and build this crib before it gets too late." Rainbow exited the store as Rarity was waving goodbye, Rainbow returned it with a wave of her own before launching into the sky towards home. *** After arriving back home Rainbow walked into the kitchen and started to set up the sterilizer, she then placed the milk bottles in their allocated cupboards before walking to the cupboard under the stairs, where she kept her spare clouds. Grabbing a pile of clouds, making sure that they were the comfiest that she had, she took Void, who was still inside of his cloud pram, into her bedroom. She began to mould the clouds into the shape of a basic cot, once it was in the perfect shape, she then added a thick layer of cloud to the bottom of the cot, forming the mattress. She then positioned the cot so that it was next to her bed and where she could easily see and reach into the cot without having to move much. She then picked up the sleepy colt and placed him onto a cloud changing mat. Her nose crinkled at the smell that was being emitted from the nappy that he was wearing. Her face morphed into a look of disgust, removed the nappy before grabbing a foal wipe and then beginning to wipe his bottom. Once his bottom was cleaned, she then breathed a sigh of relief, happy that, he hadn't peed on her or worse... She then placed a clean nappy around his bottom half before putting a blue foalgrow onto him. She then placed him into his cot, where she put a light blue blanket on him. After this was done, she fell into bed herself, however, it hadn't been five minutes before her eyes snapped open at hearing the sound of Void crying. Groaning, she knew that it was going to be a long night... *** Rainbow woke up to the sound of knocking, looking around at her alarm clock, her eyes went wide as realised that she had overslept, "Nononono," She repeated to herself as she hastily jumped out of bed and quickly whisked Void, who was already awake and was happily speaking to himself in gibberish, out of bed before running to the front door, to find Sunbreeze standing on the other side. Rainbow quickly apologized, "I am so sorry, I've been up all night and I've only just woken up." Sunbreeze gave her a warm smile and said, "I can tell, there's no need to worry, taking care of a foal can be very tiring." “So what’s gonna happen?” Rainbow asked, while mentally scolding herself for not getting up earlier. “Well, we’re just going to have a look around to see if your house is suitable for a foal and if everything is in order then we can go to the courthouse and get those adoption papers signed,” she explained with a smile. Rainbow jokingly said, “You make it sound so easy.” Sunbreeze nodded, “it's a piece of cake.” Rainbow then led her into the living room, where she examined the corners of the coffee table along with several other potential hazards. Smiling, she jotted some notes down onto a clipboard. Rainbow silently cursed herself for not properly tidying up. They then went from room to room, each time Sunbreeze wrote something down onto her clipboard after inspecting a piece of furniture. Finally, they entered Rainbow’s bedroom where Sunbreeze couldn’t help but marvel at all the trophies, that lined the display cabinets. She then asked, “What did you win all these for?” “From different races,” Rainbow explained, her chest puffing out in pride. “Impressive,” she exclaimed before examining the cloud cot, she tested how much cloud was used along with the structural integrity. Happy, she made one final note on the clipboard before turning to Rainbow Dash. “I must say, I am impressed at how you have used clouds for your cot and pram.” Sunbreeze acknowledged. “Thanks,” was all that Rainbow could muster. Sunbreeze then announced, "Well we had better get down to the courthouse" Rainbow gave a confused look and asked, "What do you mean?" Sunbreeze gave her a happy smile and told her, "Rainbow Dash, I am happy to say that you passed with flying colours, pun intended." Suddenly Rainbow Dash jumped into the air shouting, "YES!" while doing a celebratory dance, causing Void to give little giggles. *** Rainbow Dash was sat in the stand inside of Ponyville courthouse, which was actually a large room inside of the town hall. Her friends were sat in the back, cheering her on, to the judge's dismay. Judge Justice then cleared his throat, before asking Rainbow Dash, "Do you think that you are capable of looking after a foal?" Rainbow hesitated but then after mulling it over, looking towards the colt that was in Sunbreeze's arms, she confidently replied "Yes, your honour, I do." "And will you, take care of Void Streak and keep him safe?" Without any hesitation, Rainbow said, "Yes, your honour." Banging his gavel Justice announced, "Then with the power invested in, I hereby declare Rainbow Dash as the rightful parent and guardian of Void Streak. Court is adjourned." Judge Justice departed to his chambers while Pinkie Pie shouted, “ADOPTION PARTY!” They all laughed and left for Sugar Cube Corner. 5 years laterFive years later The pegasus colt clenched his eyes shut, He was absolutely determined not to be woken up by his mother. The colt sighed dreamily as his mother, finally left him alone, however, his slumber would only last five seconds as he suddenly gasped awake as a bucket full of cold water splashed onto his head. With cold water dripping down from his drenched mane, he glared at his mother, who stood over him with a mischievous smile, she then said, "Rise and shine, Void, you have a big day today. It's your first day of school." He crossed his hooves and grumpily mumbled, "You made me wet." Rainbow laughed and exclaimed, "Well get up, the first time that I tell you to and I wouldn't need to pour water over you." Void Streak pouted before jumping out of bed and following his mother downstairs to the kitchen. The house is still the same as five years ago aside from pictures of Void Streak at different stages of his life, such as when he first learned to walk and when he spoke his first word. Rainbow couldn't help but smile as she passed these pictures, her little colt had come a long way from when she first found him on her doorstep all those years ago. Void Streak asked, "Can we have pancakes for breakfast?" "Of course, my little lightning bolt." She said, planting a kiss on his forehead, which Void Streak groaned at. Void Streak clapped as Rainbow flipped the pancakes, giving the room a sugary smell. As Rainbow Dash set the pancakes on the table, Void Streak’s eyes lit up with excitement. The stack of golden-brown pancakes, glistening with melted butter and syrup, made his earlier grumpiness melt away. He eagerly dug in, the first bite making his ears twitch with joy. Rainbow chuckled, watching him. "You’re eating like you're preparing for a race. Slow down, kiddo. You don't want to give yourself a stomachache on your first day of school." Void Streak swallowed quickly and grinned, his mouth still half-full. "But I need all the energy I can get! I want to be faster than everypony else at school." Rainbow's heart swelled with pride. Void was definitely her colt, already thinking about speed, competition, and being the best. She tousled his mane affectionately, causing the damp strands to fall over his eyes. "That’s the spirit! But trust me, you’ll want to save some of that energy for later. The school day can be pretty long." Void nodded but kept devouring his breakfast, practically inhaling the last pancake before Rainbow could even finish hers. "Alright, lightning bolt, let’s get you ready." She stood up, stretching her wings as she led Void to the bathroom. "Don’t forget to brush your teeth. You’ve got syrup all over your face." Void ran to the sink and grabbed his toothbrush, his wings fluttering in excitement as he scrubbed away. Rainbow, leaning against the doorframe, smiled at how quickly her colt was growing up. She still remembered the tiny, fragile foal she had found on her doorstep. Now, he was a lively, confident colt, full of curiosity and determination. It made her both proud and a little nervous, knowing that sending him off to school meant letting him face the world on his own, at least for a few hours each day. She shook off the thought. "He'll be fine", she reassured herself. "He's got this." After finishing up in the bathroom, Void ran to his room to grab his new saddlebag. Rainbow had made sure it was as cool as possible, with lightning bolt designs and his name embroidered on the side. He slung it over his back with a grin. "Do you think it makes me look awesome?" Rainbow looked him up and down, then ruffled his mane. "You look more than awesome, you look like a future Wonderbolt. But hey, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First, we need to get you through your first day of school." They walked out of the house together, stepping into the clear morning sky. Void jumped off the edge of the cloud house, flapping his small wings enthusiastically. He wasn’t quite as fast or as skilled as his mother yet, but Rainbow had been training him since he was old enough to hover, and it showed. He swooped around the house, spinning in circles before catching up to her. "Hey, race ya!" Void challenged, speeding ahead. Rainbow chuckled and easily caught up with him, matching his pace with barely any effort. "I thought you said you wanted to save your energy for school?" Void glanced over at her with a smirk. "Just a warm-up!" They continued to fly side by side, the wind rushing through their manes. Rainbow couldn't help but feel a surge of pride watching her son zip through the air with such confidence. He was a natural flier, just like her. She wondered if the teachers at school would recognize his potential right away. As they neared the schoolhouse, Rainbow spotted several other young fillies and colts walking with their parents. The sight of all the little ones gathering for their first day made her heart tighten. For the first time, it really hit her that Void Streak was going to be away from her for hours at a time. "Would he make friends? Would the other kids be nice to him? What if..." "Mom, look!" Void’s voice cut through her thoughts. She followed his gaze to see a familiar orange pony waving at them. It was Honey Due, the elderly mare who had helped Rainbow when she was first adjusting to motherhood. Standing beside her was a young colt, about Void’s age, with a golden coat and a wild mane. He looked shy, hiding slightly behind Honey Due, but his eyes lit up when he saw Void. "Good morning, Rainbow Dash!" Honey Due greeted with a warm smile. "And Void Streak! I bet you’re excited for your first day." Void nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! I can’t wait to meet everypony and show them how fast I can fly!" Honey chuckled, giving her grandson a nudge forward. "Well, this here’s Starburst. He’s starting school today too. Maybe you two can look out for each other." Void grinned and waved, "Hey, wanna race?" Starburst blinked, looking a little unsure. "Uhh, I’m not very fast." Rainbow laughed, stepping closer to Honey Due. "Don’t worry about it, Void just gets excited about racing. I’m sure you’ll have fun." The bell rang, signalling that it was time for the school signalling. All around them, parents were saying goodbye to their foals, offering hugs and encouragement. Rainbow crouched down to Void’s eye level, brushing a bit of his mane out of his face. "You ready, kiddo?" Void Streak nodded confidently. "Yep! I’ll be the fastest in class, just like you said!" Rainbow smirked. "I know you will. But remember, it's not all about speed. Listen to your teacher, make some friends, and most importantly, have fun." Void smiled brightly and gave her a quick hug. Rainbow wasn’t expecting it, and for a moment, she just froze, savouring the unexpected gesture. When Void pulled away, he was already bouncing on his hooves, eager to join the other foals. "See ya later, Mom!" he called as he ran towards the schoolhouse, Starburst following closely behind. Rainbow stood there for a moment, watching him disappear into the building. Her heart swelled with a mix of pride and a little bit of sadness. This was a huge step for Void, and she knew he would be just fine. But it didn’t make the moment any easier. "You're doing great, you know," Honey Due’s voice broke through her thoughts. Rainbow turned to look at the older mare, who was smiling kindly at her. "Raising a colt on your own ain’t easy, but look at him—he’s a confident, happy little guy." Rainbow smiled, feeling a little better. "Thanks, Honey Due. It’s hard sometimes, but he's worth it." Honey Due nodded, then glanced towards the schoolhouse. "They grow up fast, don’t they?" Rainbow chuckled softly. "Too fast." They stood there for a moment in comfortable silence, watching as the last of the colts and fillies disappeared into the school. Rainbow Dash felt a sense of peace wash over her. Void was in good hooves, and she knew he would handle whatever came his way—just like she had. With a deep breath, Rainbow spread her wings and prepared to take off into the sky. There was still a whole day ahead of her, but she was already looking forward to hearing about Void’s first day when she picked him up later. "See you later, Honey Due!" she called as she soared into the sky, feeling the wind rush through her feathers. Life was changing, but for the first time, it felt like everything was exactly where it should be.
PrologueRainbow Dash awoke to the sound of her alarm clock ringing but instead of looking at the time she unconsciously picked it up and dropped it in the glass of water that sat on her bedside table. Her sleep was interrupted yet again by a knocking on her front door. Grumbling she muttered "What can a pegasus do to get her sleep these days" as she slowly slipped out of bed and traipsed downstairs to her front door while silently cursing whoever woke her up. Opening the door her sleepy face turned to as she looked at a seemingly empty cloud garden. "I swear if it's those knock, knock flyers again I'm gonna do something we both regret" she shouted that last part. She was about to shut the door when she heard a yawning sound. Looking down, her jaw dropped. Lying on the cloud floor was a small cloud basket with a blue, pegasus foal. The tiny colt opened his eyes to reveal yellow orbs which started to fill with salty tears as he started cry. Rainbow Dash, who didn't know what to do in this situation picked the basket while saying "Shhhhh Shhhhh, don't cry" looking around one last time to see nothing out of ordinary, she took the wailing foal inside. Trotting inside her kitchen, she placed he basket on the counter top. As she examined the inside of the basket to see a little brown bear, a light blue dummy and what appeared to be a note. The foal was only dressed in a nappy that looked as if it had been put on him in a rush thankfully it was clean. Trying to calm the sobbing foal she gave him the bear but that did little to calm him down "Oh why won't you stop crying?" dash said frantically. All of a sudden she heard a knock which she nearly missed. Not wanting to leave the crying colt she gingerly picked the foal up and carried him to the door all the while trying to console him but no avail. The door opened to reveal Fluttershy, Rainbow's longest friend. "Oh thank Celestial you're here. He just won't stop crying" she exclaimed. Instead of asking where the foal came from, Fluttershy took him from Rainbow and started to hug him while singing softly into his ear. After his crying slowed to a blubbering whimper, she then told Dash "I think he's hungry, Do you have any foal milk?" Dash just shook her head; slumping her shoulders. "Where did he come from?" She then asked. Rainbow sighed and explained how she found him on the doorstep. "Oh you poor thing. Did you find a note?" She gasped "Oh yeah I completely forgot. I didn't read it." Rushing to the table, she unfolded the note and read out loud. To Rainbow Dash, I have left my son with you because my wife passed away giving birth to him and I cannot look after a kid. I know I am a terrible father but I have heard about your heroic feats and I believe you are the best possible pony to raise. Per my late wife's wishes could you please call him Void Streak. "That's all it says. It's not signed or anything" Dash said while looking down at the now sleeping foal. "Well first lets head to my place where I have foal formulary from when I do foalsitting jobs then we'll have to tell the police" Fluttershy told Dash who agreed and they started to leave. *** As they flew over Ponyville Void started to cry again which caused Rainbow to mutter "Not again" Fluttershy cooed "shhhh, it's okay little Void we're nearly there now" however this did nothing to quell the young colts sobbing and by the time they touched down outside Fluttershy's cottage, Rainbow Dash could already feel a headache coming on. They rushed inside the small house all the while trying to avoid stepping on any small critters that littered the floor. Fluttershy went into the kitchen where she grabbed a fresh milk bottle and filled it with foal formula she then went over to the kettle and filled it with water and started to boil it. While it was wasted boiling she told Rainbow Dash "while I'm making this why don't you go to the police station and tell them er that's if you want to of course" Rainbow rolled her eyes while she flew through the window. Flutters by then poured the water into the milk bottle and then placed the lid with the teet onto the bottle and shook the milk. She then squeezed a bit onto her hoof "Owch!" she yelped pulling her hoof away she then turned to the foal who let out a little giggle when she yelped in pain "just a little while longer and then we can fill your tummy up" She squeezed the bottle which revealed that the milk had cooled down enough. Smiling she said "open up" as she place the teet into the hungry foals mouth. Just as he started to gulp down the milk greedily Rainbow Dash walked back in accompanied with two surly looking Policestallions, their hivis jackets glinting light along with a kind, caramel, unicorn mare, who was wearing a suit. She introduced herself "Hello my name is Sunbreeze and I am with Foal Protective Services, You must be Fluttershy" while holding her hoof out to shake. Fluttershy, who was hiding behind her mane meekly shook it. Sunbreeze awkwardly nodded before gazing towards the pegasus colt lying Fluttershy's hooves "This must be young Void Streak. He's a greedy one isn't he. Well first things first because the foal was left on a doorstep he will be considered as being abandoned which is a criminal offence, so I'll let officers Cuffs and links take over from here" The two officers stepped forward "Miss Dash because you were the pony who found the foal I'm going to ask you a few questions" Cuffs, who was a grey earth pony. Rainbow nodded "First question do you know who left the foal?" "No and I don't even know anyone who was pregnant" "Do you know why they left the foal to you?" "Other than what it says in the note, no" "Did you see anypony acting suspiciously or walking away from your house?" "No and it's a cloud house so there's nowhere for anypony to hide either" "OK well that's it for now, we'll be in touch later but without any further information there's nothing we can do" Cuffs said before leaving. After the two officers left Rainbow Dash asked Sunbreeze "What's going to happen now?" Sunbreeze sighed "the law states that if you were the intended pony that the foal is left to then you may gain temporary custody however you will have to apply for full custody. If you don't want to keep the foal or you don't gain full custody then the foal will have to be sent to an orphanage" Looking down at the foal, she knew that she didn't really want a foal but she knew in her heart that she couldn't let him be dumped at some orphanage "I'll take the foal" Sunbreeze visibly brightened at this ad said while pulling out a clipboard from her saddlebags "just sign here please and I'll be in touch with an inspection date" Dash nodded and signed. When the FPS worker left, she turned to Flutters and said "What am I getting myself into"... Author's Note I'm hoping I got the process of making baby milk right. I have never looked after a baby before so if I make a mistake, don't hesitate to correct me
Meeting everypony"Maybe we should take him to see our friends if you want" Fluttershy suggested as she took the now empty bottle from Void. She then lifted him into a sitting position and started to burp, releasing several large belches. "OK, let's head to Twilight's first, we can pick up a few books about looking after foals" "Oh I didn't think you liked reading other books that weren't Daring Do" "I don't but desperate times call for desperate measures" Rainbow said before heading to the door with Fluttershy in tow. *** All the way through town they had been getting funny looks from passers by. Much to Rainbow's dislike Fluttershy told her that they were walking so they didn't disturb the now sleeping foal who was lay in a cloud stroller that Dash managed to put together. When they knocked on the large, golden castle doors, Spike answered "Oh hey Fluttershy, hey Rainbow Dash. What's that?" he asked pointing a claw at the stroller. "We'll tell you when we're inside" Dash spoke up, not wanting to explain the situation twice. "Follow me, Twilight's in the library with Starlight" As they walked through the grand, crystal hallways, Rainbow heard a tiny yawn and looked down to see Void open his yellow eyes. I hate to admit it but you do look a little cute she thought to herself. When they entered the large, sprawling library, Twilight greeted "Hi Fluttershy, Hi Rainbow, what bri- is that what I think it" she exclaimed, pointing her hoof at the blue foal that Fluttershy took out the stroller. "Oh my gosh, he looks adorable" both Starlight and Twilight said peering down at Void, who was in Fluttershy's hooves, Rainbow merely rolled her eyes. "Where did he come from?" Twilight asked, still poring over the newborn. "Well that's the thing, we don't know" after seeing the confused expressions on both unicorns faces, Rainbow explained how she woke up to find the foal on her doorstep along with what the FPS worker and the police officers said. "Could I borrow some books about foal care?" Rainbow asked "Sure, Spike can go get those" Twilight said as the drake started to collect books of the shelf. Starlight then spoke up and asked "What made you say yes? You don't seem like the sort of pony to take care of a foal er no offence" Rainbow sighed as Fluttershy squirmed uncomfortably "let's just say I know what it's like to be raised in an orphanage. The thought of being unwanted" Rainbow shuddered as she spoke. Twilight looked at Dash in thought, wanting to ask questions but thought against it. "Here's the books" Spike announced as he dropped them on a table making a loud bang causing both Fluttershy and Twilight to scold him as Void rolled over, still asleep now in his stroller. Rainbow let out a sigh of relief as she spoke "that was a close call. Well thanks for the books we're going to go and see Pinkie Pie next" *** As per usual, when they entered Sugar Cubed Corner Pinkie Pie burst out from seemingly nowhere as she yelled "Hi Fluttershy Hi Dashie what's brings you in today and OH MY GOSH THAT IS THE CUTEST FOAL IN THE WORLD, well maybe not as cute as Pound cake and Pumpkin Cake who are REALLY cute but but still-" Pinkie spoke at unnatural speed. Rainbow who was now getting annoyed shouted "PINKIE! slow down you overwhelming the poor thing". Indeed the foal was staring at pinkie as if she was unnatural. All of a sudden her nose crinkled as a foul stench started to fill the room. "Ew, what is that smell?" Dash asked, covering her nose with her hoof. Pinkie giggled while pointing at the now brown, stained nappy that adorned his flank. "I think some pony's made a stinker" "There is no way I am cleaning him" Rainbow stated outflattely while crossing her arms. "Oh I can clean him but you will have to clean him at yourself at some point" Fluttershy spoke up timidly but Rainbow merely grumbled. As she was changing him Void started to smiling evilly before letting loose a waterfall of pee which inconveniently struck Rainbow Dash right in the face. "HE PEED ON ME!" Dash shouted trying to wipe away the urine that was slowly staining g her face yellow all the while Void was laughing surprisingly louder than Pinke who was rolling all over the floor eyes streaming with tears. "He did that on purpose" pointing am acussatory hoof at the conniving foal. "Oh Rainbow it was an accident, he's only a foal" Fluttershy said with a miniature smile. Rainbow grumbled under her breath that sounded like a lot like accident my flank *** After they finished at Sugar Cube Corner, they decided to head to Carousel Boutique next. Walking in they heard Rarity’s usual sing song voice announce “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, how can I help? Oh hello Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy AND OMG IS THAT A FOAL, HE’S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!” She shouted scooping the foal into her hooves. The Colt looked uncomfortable at having Rarity holding him up in the air. “Rarity you’re traumatising the poor kid” Rainbow scolded. Rarity looking embarrassed gave Void back to Dash “Ahem yes erm sorry about that. Why do you have a foal?” She then asked. Rainbow once again explained the situation, wondering how many times today she would need to repeat the story. Rarity’s reaction was the same as everypony elses. She then asked Dash “So is he yours to keep?” Rainbow replied uncertainly “I’m guessing so once I’ve passed the inspection and everything else” “This is simply fabulous Rainbow, little Void could have playdates with Sweetie Belle” she admonished. “Er Rarity I hate to burst your bubble but isn't Sweetie Belle ten?” She asked. “Yes” she answered not seeing the problem. “I highly doubt that she would want to spend time with a newborn foal who cant walk or talk.” “Nonsense” Rarity exclaimed waving her off. Rainbow then slowly backed away with Fluttershy and Void in tow saying “Well we best get going we still need to meet up with Applejack” they then quickly left before the unicorn could invite herself along. *** When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, they found Applejack bucking apple trees in the orchard. Turning around she noticed Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. She started walking over to them, when she noticed Void Streak sitting on Rainbows back. Not believing her eyes she rubbed and looked again to see the same blue colt. Before she could say anything Rainbow quickly told her “Before you ask I found him on my doorstep, so I am now taking care of him.” Applejack then asked jokingly “Are yah sure thats a good idea; ah mean yer like a big kid yerself” “Haha very funny” she replied sarcastically “But seriously, how do you take care of a kid” she asked her worried that she would make bad parent. “What do yah mean, sugarcube?” “I mean you’ve been taking care of Apple Bloom nearly, your entire life. How did you do it?” Rainbow asked. Applejack sighed “Everything came naturally to me, I had Granny Smith helping me but more importantly, I grew up” she told her. She then added, seeing Rainbow’s face full of nervousness “And i’m Sure that your own parents will be able to help you out” Rainbow looked down at her hooves sniffing and wiping her eyes. This made both Applejack and Fluttershy feel uncomfortable, they only ever seen their friend cry once and that was when her pet tortoise went into hibernation. Fluttershy comforted her by hugging Rainbow finally Dash sniffled “Sorry guys, it’s just that my parents have…moved on” “Ah’m sorry sugarcube I know how yer feel. Don’t worry me and our friends will help you take care of Void Streak. You are not alone, remember that” Applejack told her sympathetically. “Thanks guys” she replied, wiping away her final tears. Suddenly Applejack said “Oh shoot I’d better get going otherwise ah’ll be late picking Apple Bloom up from school. Hey why don’t yah join us, ah’m sure, Scootaloo would be happy to find out that she has a little brother.” *** They arrived just in time for the colts and fillies to be let out from school. The cutie mark crusaders spotted them and made their way over to them. “Hi, Rainbow Dash” Scootaloo greeted. “Hey squirt, guess what I have somepony who wants to meet you” she told the eager filly. “Really who!” Shouted Scootaloo. Rainbow slowly revealed Void Streak and said “meet your little brother” This instantly made Scootaloo stop in her tracks as her face fell “Oh” was all she could say. Rainbow was surprised; she expected Scootaloo to be jumping in joy. Before she could say anything, Sweetie Belle had noticed the colt and had screamed “HE’S ADORABLE! What’s his name?” She asked. “Void Streak” she told the two excited fillies “Where did he come from” Apple Bloom asked. Rainbow decided that it was best to tell them a slightly different story to what had actually happened, instead of telling them that he had been abandoned she instead settled on telling them “A friend of mine, was unable to look after him, so i’m now his new mum” she explained. While Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom was happy for Dash, Scootaloo was not. She felt that the colt was going to take all of her attention away from her. *** After they introduced Void Streak to the CMC, Rainbow decided that she was going to head home, when she arrived she found a letter from the FPS telling her when the inspection was due as well as a list of items she was going to need.
InspectionRainbow Dash looked down at the list while she walked through the town. The list stated that she would need: a cot, a pack of formula milk, foal clothes, nappies, a blanket and several milk bottles. The first place she decided to stop by was the Carousel Boutique, walking inside she greeted, “Hey Rarity.” “Hello Rainbow Dash, what brings you and little Void Streak to my shop.” Rarity asked while stroking the foal's blue mane, making Void give a little giggle. “Are you able to make some clothes for Void?” Rainbow asked. “Of course, darling, put him on the table, so that I can take his measurements.” Rarity said, patting a spot on a clean wooden table that was in the corner of the room. Rainbow took the foal and placed him in the indicated space on the table, while Rarity went to find her measuring tape. Returning with her magic full of supplies, she started to measure the colt. However, if she thought that, Void would make it easy for her, she would be poorly mistaken. The foal squirmed and attempted to pull at the measuring tape causing Rarity to release a frustrated groan. “Please do excuse my shoddiness, I don't typically make foal clothes.” she apologised but was disappointed to find Rainbow Dash laughing her head off. Rolling her eyes Rarity asked, “Instead of laughing could you be a dear and hold him while I measure him?” “Sure Rares,” She said, taking hold of the squirming foal’s hooves. After taking, his measurements, Rarity instantly got to work. “How long is this going to take? I have places to be.” Rainbow asked irritable. “Rainbow, please have patience, this shouldn't take long,” she said. After five minutes of waiting, Rainbow exclaimed, "While you're making that, I'm gonna head into town and pick up the rest of everything, that I need." Rarity merely rolled her eyes at the departing pegasus. *** Walking into town, Rainbow was glad to find a foal supplies shop. The store sold everything that a foal could need, with stock ranging from blankets to different types of prams. Rainbow walked over to the section that contained the foal milk and gapped at all the different brands that sold formula. "Why are there so many different types?" Rainbow asked herself in astonishment. She didn't even know where to start. It was at that moment, when a voice asked, "Hello there dear, do you need any help?" Rainbow turned around to see an elderly, orange, earth pony mare, holding a basket filled with various supplies. Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief and replied in slight embarrassment, "Yeah, this is my first time buying formula, and I don't know which one I would need." "Really, well my name is Honey Due and I am more than happy to help. How old is your foal?" She asked with a warm smile, peering down at the small colt, who was currently fast asleep. "Thanks, the name's Rainbow Dash and he's a newborn," Rainbow explained, happy that somepony was able to help her. She then asked, "Does he have any allergies or other eating disorders?" Rainbow rubbed the back of her head, awkwardly, "I'm not sure. To be honest, I don't know much about him, I found him on my doorstep" "That's terrible. Well until you get a confirmed diagnosis, I recommend using Happy Foal Milk. I've used it with all of my children and grandchildren and they all grew up big and strong. You'll soon realise that Happy sells a lot of different foal supplies." She explained holding up a yellow container with a picture of a smiley face inside of a sun, the words Happy emblazoned in large, gold letters. "Thanks, now I just need the actual bottles," she said, looking down at the list. "Those are just this way, have you got a steriliser yet?" She asked while showing Rainbow to the milk bottles. "What's that?" Rainbow asked. "A sterilizer is what cleans your milk bottles, If you don't sterilize your bottles then they could become a breeding ground for bacteria." She explained. "Oh," Rainbow muttered, she was beginning to question, if she was the right pony for the job; she was worried that her lack of knowledge could potentially harm her foal. "Here we are" Honey exclaimed, showing the different array of milk bottles, she then added, pointing to several large boxes that contained sterilizers, "We can also get a steriliser while we are here too." Rainbow decided to get a pack of six medium-sized, blue milk bottles that had a picture of lightning bolts on them. She then also picked up a steriliser. "Now all I need are nappies," Rainbow said. She followed Honey to, the aisle that sells nappies, similar to the foal formula, there were many different brands. Rainbow then spied a jumbo pack of eighty newborn Happy Nappies. "You read my mind," Honey joked as Rainbow picked the pack up off the shelf. Analysing the list, Rainbow said, "That should be everything." They then headed to check out where she gazed in shock at the total price, "SEVENTY ONE BITS!" She shouted in shock, "That's scandalous." Honey laughed, "Taking care of foals isn't cheap." She then held her hoof out and said, "It was good meeting you Rainbow Dash, but I need to head home." Rainbow shook her hoof, saying "Thanks for this, I couldn't have done this without you." "Aw shucks, well goodbye, I'm sure we'll bump into each other again," Honey said before, they both went their separate ways. Waving one last goodbye, she then started to head back towards Rarity's, where she hoped that the clothes were ready for her. *** “Are the clothes ready yet?” Rainbow asked, walking into the store to find Rarity working on her sewing machine. “Yes, they are right here. And Rainbow, please do get more patience.” Rarity said, pointing to a pile of foal clothes. “Thanks,” Rainbow said, however, it was at this moment that Void Streak started to cry. Rainbow, picked the wailing foal up and held him in her arms, “Shhhhh, what’s the matter?” Rarity couldn’t help but smile at the heartwarming scene, thinking about how much Rainbow had matured over the years. She then suggested, “I think he might be hungry.” Rainbow took out one of the new milk bottles that she had bought and went to make Void some foal milk. After mixing the formula and the hot water, she squirted a tiny bit onto her hoof and winced at the heat. She reassured the sobbing colt, "Not long now, just need to wait for it to cool down." She started rocking Void from side to side, calmly shushing the crying child. "What's up," she asked upon noticing Rarity's look of amazement. "Oh nothing, It's just that I never expected to see you acting so motherly." She stuttered in shock. Rainbow didn't know what to say to that, so instead she went to check on the milk and was happy to feel that it was much cooler. She placed the teat into the foal's mouth and was delighted to see that he had quietened down and was hungrily devouring the milk. "So what do you need to do next?" Rarity asked quietly, so as not to disturb the foal while he was eating. "I just need to set up his crib," Rainbow whispered, staring down into Void's golden eyes. She couldn't help but think that the foal did look cute. "So when is the inspection?" "Tomorrow morning," Rainbow grumbled, unhappy at the fact that she was going to have to wake up early. Noticing that the milk bottle was empty, she sat the colt up and began lightly patting his back, in between his wings, causing Void to release several large belches. Happy that the foal was now fed, she packed everything away and then told Rarity, "Well I'd best set off and build this crib before it gets too late." Rainbow exited the store as Rarity was waving goodbye, Rainbow returned it with a wave of her own before launching into the sky towards home. *** After arriving back home Rainbow walked into the kitchen and started to set up the sterilizer, she then placed the milk bottles in their allocated cupboards before walking to the cupboard under the stairs, where she kept her spare clouds. Grabbing a pile of clouds, making sure that they were the comfiest that she had, she took Void, who was still inside of his cloud pram, into her bedroom. She began to mould the clouds into the shape of a basic cot, once it was in the perfect shape, she then added a thick layer of cloud to the bottom of the cot, forming the mattress. She then positioned the cot so that it was next to her bed and where she could easily see and reach into the cot without having to move much. She then picked up the sleepy colt and placed him onto a cloud changing mat. Her nose crinkled at the smell that was being emitted from the nappy that he was wearing. Her face morphed into a look of disgust, removed the nappy before grabbing a foal wipe and then beginning to wipe his bottom. Once his bottom was cleaned, she then breathed a sigh of relief, happy that, he hadn't peed on her or worse... She then placed a clean nappy around his bottom half before putting a blue foalgrow onto him. She then placed him into his cot, where she put a light blue blanket on him. After this was done, she fell into bed herself, however, it hadn't been five minutes before her eyes snapped open at hearing the sound of Void crying. Groaning, she knew that it was going to be a long night... *** Rainbow woke up to the sound of knocking, looking around at her alarm clock, her eyes went wide as realised that she had overslept, "Nononono," She repeated to herself as she hastily jumped out of bed and quickly whisked Void, who was already awake and was happily speaking to himself in gibberish, out of bed before running to the front door, to find Sunbreeze standing on the other side. Rainbow quickly apologized, "I am so sorry, I've been up all night and I've only just woken up." Sunbreeze gave her a warm smile and said, "I can tell, there's no need to worry, taking care of a foal can be very tiring." “So what’s gonna happen?” Rainbow asked, while mentally scolding herself for not getting up earlier. “Well, we’re just going to have a look around to see if your house is suitable for a foal and if everything is in order then we can go to the courthouse and get those adoption papers signed,” she explained with a smile. Rainbow jokingly said, “You make it sound so easy.” Sunbreeze nodded, “it's a piece of cake.” Rainbow then led her into the living room, where she examined the corners of the coffee table along with several other potential hazards. Smiling, she jotted some notes down onto a clipboard. Rainbow silently cursed herself for not properly tidying up. They then went from room to room, each time Sunbreeze wrote something down onto her clipboard after inspecting a piece of furniture. Finally, they entered Rainbow’s bedroom where Sunbreeze couldn’t help but marvel at all the trophies, that lined the display cabinets. She then asked, “What did you win all these for?” “From different races,” Rainbow explained, her chest puffing out in pride. “Impressive,” she exclaimed before examining the cloud cot, she tested how much cloud was used along with the structural integrity. Happy, she made one final note on the clipboard before turning to Rainbow Dash. “I must say, I am impressed at how you have used clouds for your cot and pram.” Sunbreeze acknowledged. “Thanks,” was all that Rainbow could muster. Sunbreeze then announced, "Well we had better get down to the courthouse" Rainbow gave a confused look and asked, "What do you mean?" Sunbreeze gave her a happy smile and told her, "Rainbow Dash, I am happy to say that you passed with flying colours, pun intended." Suddenly Rainbow Dash jumped into the air shouting, "YES!" while doing a celebratory dance, causing Void to give little giggles. *** Rainbow Dash was sat in the stand inside of Ponyville courthouse, which was actually a large room inside of the town hall. Her friends were sat in the back, cheering her on, to the judge's dismay. Judge Justice then cleared his throat, before asking Rainbow Dash, "Do you think that you are capable of looking after a foal?" Rainbow hesitated but then after mulling it over, looking towards the colt that was in Sunbreeze's arms, she confidently replied "Yes, your honour, I do." "And will you, take care of Void Streak and keep him safe?" Without any hesitation, Rainbow said, "Yes, your honour." Banging his gavel Justice announced, "Then with the power invested in, I hereby declare Rainbow Dash as the rightful parent and guardian of Void Streak. Court is adjourned." Judge Justice departed to his chambers while Pinkie Pie shouted, “ADOPTION PARTY!” They all laughed and left for Sugar Cube Corner.
5 years laterFive years later The pegasus colt clenched his eyes shut, He was absolutely determined not to be woken up by his mother. The colt sighed dreamily as his mother, finally left him alone, however, his slumber would only last five seconds as he suddenly gasped awake as a bucket full of cold water splashed onto his head. With cold water dripping down from his drenched mane, he glared at his mother, who stood over him with a mischievous smile, she then said, "Rise and shine, Void, you have a big day today. It's your first day of school." He crossed his hooves and grumpily mumbled, "You made me wet." Rainbow laughed and exclaimed, "Well get up, the first time that I tell you to and I wouldn't need to pour water over you." Void Streak pouted before jumping out of bed and following his mother downstairs to the kitchen. The house is still the same as five years ago aside from pictures of Void Streak at different stages of his life, such as when he first learned to walk and when he spoke his first word. Rainbow couldn't help but smile as she passed these pictures, her little colt had come a long way from when she first found him on her doorstep all those years ago. Void Streak asked, "Can we have pancakes for breakfast?" "Of course, my little lightning bolt." She said, planting a kiss on his forehead, which Void Streak groaned at. Void Streak clapped as Rainbow flipped the pancakes, giving the room a sugary smell. As Rainbow Dash set the pancakes on the table, Void Streak’s eyes lit up with excitement. The stack of golden-brown pancakes, glistening with melted butter and syrup, made his earlier grumpiness melt away. He eagerly dug in, the first bite making his ears twitch with joy. Rainbow chuckled, watching him. "You’re eating like you're preparing for a race. Slow down, kiddo. You don't want to give yourself a stomachache on your first day of school." Void Streak swallowed quickly and grinned, his mouth still half-full. "But I need all the energy I can get! I want to be faster than everypony else at school." Rainbow's heart swelled with pride. Void was definitely her colt, already thinking about speed, competition, and being the best. She tousled his mane affectionately, causing the damp strands to fall over his eyes. "That’s the spirit! But trust me, you’ll want to save some of that energy for later. The school day can be pretty long." Void nodded but kept devouring his breakfast, practically inhaling the last pancake before Rainbow could even finish hers. "Alright, lightning bolt, let’s get you ready." She stood up, stretching her wings as she led Void to the bathroom. "Don’t forget to brush your teeth. You’ve got syrup all over your face." Void ran to the sink and grabbed his toothbrush, his wings fluttering in excitement as he scrubbed away. Rainbow, leaning against the doorframe, smiled at how quickly her colt was growing up. She still remembered the tiny, fragile foal she had found on her doorstep. Now, he was a lively, confident colt, full of curiosity and determination. It made her both proud and a little nervous, knowing that sending him off to school meant letting him face the world on his own, at least for a few hours each day. She shook off the thought. "He'll be fine", she reassured herself. "He's got this." After finishing up in the bathroom, Void ran to his room to grab his new saddlebag. Rainbow had made sure it was as cool as possible, with lightning bolt designs and his name embroidered on the side. He slung it over his back with a grin. "Do you think it makes me look awesome?" Rainbow looked him up and down, then ruffled his mane. "You look more than awesome, you look like a future Wonderbolt. But hey, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First, we need to get you through your first day of school." They walked out of the house together, stepping into the clear morning sky. Void jumped off the edge of the cloud house, flapping his small wings enthusiastically. He wasn’t quite as fast or as skilled as his mother yet, but Rainbow had been training him since he was old enough to hover, and it showed. He swooped around the house, spinning in circles before catching up to her. "Hey, race ya!" Void challenged, speeding ahead. Rainbow chuckled and easily caught up with him, matching his pace with barely any effort. "I thought you said you wanted to save your energy for school?" Void glanced over at her with a smirk. "Just a warm-up!" They continued to fly side by side, the wind rushing through their manes. Rainbow couldn't help but feel a surge of pride watching her son zip through the air with such confidence. He was a natural flier, just like her. She wondered if the teachers at school would recognize his potential right away. As they neared the schoolhouse, Rainbow spotted several other young fillies and colts walking with their parents. The sight of all the little ones gathering for their first day made her heart tighten. For the first time, it really hit her that Void Streak was going to be away from her for hours at a time. "Would he make friends? Would the other kids be nice to him? What if..." "Mom, look!" Void’s voice cut through her thoughts. She followed his gaze to see a familiar orange pony waving at them. It was Honey Due, the elderly mare who had helped Rainbow when she was first adjusting to motherhood. Standing beside her was a young colt, about Void’s age, with a golden coat and a wild mane. He looked shy, hiding slightly behind Honey Due, but his eyes lit up when he saw Void. "Good morning, Rainbow Dash!" Honey Due greeted with a warm smile. "And Void Streak! I bet you’re excited for your first day." Void nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! I can’t wait to meet everypony and show them how fast I can fly!" Honey chuckled, giving her grandson a nudge forward. "Well, this here’s Starburst. He’s starting school today too. Maybe you two can look out for each other." Void grinned and waved, "Hey, wanna race?" Starburst blinked, looking a little unsure. "Uhh, I’m not very fast." Rainbow laughed, stepping closer to Honey Due. "Don’t worry about it, Void just gets excited about racing. I’m sure you’ll have fun." The bell rang, signalling that it was time for the school signalling. All around them, parents were saying goodbye to their foals, offering hugs and encouragement. Rainbow crouched down to Void’s eye level, brushing a bit of his mane out of his face. "You ready, kiddo?" Void Streak nodded confidently. "Yep! I’ll be the fastest in class, just like you said!" Rainbow smirked. "I know you will. But remember, it's not all about speed. Listen to your teacher, make some friends, and most importantly, have fun." Void smiled brightly and gave her a quick hug. Rainbow wasn’t expecting it, and for a moment, she just froze, savouring the unexpected gesture. When Void pulled away, he was already bouncing on his hooves, eager to join the other foals. "See ya later, Mom!" he called as he ran towards the schoolhouse, Starburst following closely behind. Rainbow stood there for a moment, watching him disappear into the building. Her heart swelled with a mix of pride and a little bit of sadness. This was a huge step for Void, and she knew he would be just fine. But it didn’t make the moment any easier. "You're doing great, you know," Honey Due’s voice broke through her thoughts. Rainbow turned to look at the older mare, who was smiling kindly at her. "Raising a colt on your own ain’t easy, but look at him—he’s a confident, happy little guy." Rainbow smiled, feeling a little better. "Thanks, Honey Due. It’s hard sometimes, but he's worth it." Honey Due nodded, then glanced towards the schoolhouse. "They grow up fast, don’t they?" Rainbow chuckled softly. "Too fast." They stood there for a moment in comfortable silence, watching as the last of the colts and fillies disappeared into the school. Rainbow Dash felt a sense of peace wash over her. Void was in good hooves, and she knew he would handle whatever came his way—just like she had. With a deep breath, Rainbow spread her wings and prepared to take off into the sky. There was still a whole day ahead of her, but she was already looking forward to hearing about Void’s first day when she picked him up later. "See you later, Honey Due!" she called as she soared into the sky, feeling the wind rush through her feathers. Life was changing, but for the first time, it felt like everything was exactly where it should be.
