Chapter 8 A Good Home

Perspective: Rose

After our tender little moment together, Mathew and I start to head back to town. We need to get to my truck as quickly as possible, or we chance someone seeing him. I wanted to try to hold him, to hide him of course, but he was too darn excited to hold still. I don't blame him though, a first flight like that would have anyone just as excited... or terrified. I guess we should do something special, but what do you do for a pony? Can they eat sweets? Do you buy sweets for something like this?

"Hey Mathew," I ask slowly, trying to hide the fact that I have no idea what to do, "this is a pretty big... thing. You flying and all."

"Uh-huh.... sure.... is." He says as he glides around me.

"So... we should.. celebrate?" I didn't mean for it to come out as question, but I'm so lost on this one. If it was a normal kid getting an A or winning some kind of contest I would know what to do. But flying... I have no clue. Mathew lands in front of me and gives me the biggest smile he can muster, practically standing on the tips of his hooves.

"Can we get pie? Please." He asks, leaning forward enough to nearly fall over.

"Pie?"

"Apple pie!" He adds, stepping forward.

"Uh.... sure..."

"YES!" He leaps into the air and throws hiss legs out in excitement. He grabs my arm and begins to pull me along as he talks about all the pie he's going to eat. I laugh along but.... yeah, we need to get him some pants. Especially with him flying now.

When we make it to the edge of town I notice how little activity there is. Now, it's a small town, but there's always something happening. Cars driving by, people checking out the local stores, elders sitting out to enjoy the sun, but not today. For some unknown reason the streets were empty. Mathew doesn't seem to notice, or care, but I make a small detour to see if somethings happened.

We take an alley to Main street and look around. Like before there isn't a soul in sight. There's even a truck still running with the doors wide open! What is going on...

"I don't think they're open." I spin around to find Mathew, reared up, looking into the window of a diner. I was about to tell him to hide, when I noticed that there wasn't anybody in the diner. "Think they're on break?"

"I don't think so... stay right here while I check inside." I say before stepping through the front door, a bell chiming above. "Hello?" I call out as I walk down the row of booths and counter seats. Unfinished meals dot a few of the tables as timers go off in the kitchen. I make it to the back of the diner where I take a look into the kitchen, finding it empty.

"Uh... Rose..." Mathew mumbles as he steps inside.

"Mathew, I thought I told you to stay outside." I say as I jump the counter and try to find... anyone.

"Uh.... I think you should..."

"Here." I say as I slide open the dessert cabinet and pull out a pie. "Go nuts while I try to figure this out."

".... whatever you say." He says as he runs over and jumps up onto the seat. I can't help but laugh a little when he shoves his face into the apple pie and begins to devour it. I shake my head and continue looking for anyone here. The kitchen is empty, as well as the small office in the back. What could have happened to make everyone disappear like this? I step back out and lean against the counter. Trying to think of what to do.

"Can you pass the whip cream?" Stephanie asks.

"Sure." I respond as I- "Stephanie!? Where did you come from?"

"Church. Whip cream-"

"What happened here? It's like a ghost town. Where is everyone?!"

"At church." She deadpans as she looks over to Mathew, who's licking the crumbs off of the pie pan. "So much for pie-"

"What do you mean they're at church?! Why are they there? Start talking missy!" I demand as I lean over the counter to get in her face.

"Well, I think everyone saw Mathew flying around and wanted to question it. But then they ran into Ben..."

"... oh dear God."

--o-0-o--

Perspective: Ben

"What was that thing flying over your church?" One of the towns folk asks me, making me laugh.

"Dude, you need to chill and take that negative energy elsewhere." I tell him, making the crowd of people groan again.

"Ben, focus. There was a little blue thing flying around here. What was it?" I look to the other person and try to think of the best, logical answer.

"Hmm... *gasp* You... You all need to get in here as quickly as possible!" I yell as I throw the double doors open and begin to pull people into the sanctuary.

"What is it Ben? Did you remember what it was?" A towns lady asks eagerly.

"What? Look, I didn't see the angel flying around. But we need to get you all baptized and saved for the rapture." I say happily, getting a collective groan of joy from all the new found church members. I knew today was going to be a good day.

--o-0-o--

Perspective: Rose

"Okay, so we only have a hours to get out of here and hide Mathew before people start looking elsewhere. We can't go to the farm, can't go back to the church.... hmm, where can we go?" I ask aloud as I pace about the diner. We can't go too far, I still have to tend to my fields, not to mention hiding a kid isn't going to be easy.

"Why don't we ask her? She seems to be just as worried." Mathew suggests. I look out the window and nearly faint as the worst possible woman walks through the door.

"Oh my word... is that what everyone is looking for?"

"Stacy Mouldouth." I practically growl as she walks over to Mathew and inspects him closely.

"Uh.... hi?" Mathew greets as Stacy takes a seat beside him, never taking her eyes off.

"Oh my word... what is it?" She asks slowly.

"His name is Mathew, and he's my little pony." Stephanie corrects, adding a little bit of sass in her tone.

"He's.... your pony. Stephanie I think you need to stop watching so much tv and come back to the real world. Ponies don't talk-"

"I talk, and I'm a pony. I'm just not her pony." Mathew adds, getting an upset look from Stephanie.

"Can I talk to you outside Stacy?" I ask before leaping over the counter. She starts to protest until I grab her arm and forcefully drag her out. I take her out of site of the children before letting go of her. "OK, here's the deal-"

"How dare you grab me like that! I am not one of your farm animals to man handle! I.... am a lady."

*Eye twitch*

"Look lady, the government is searching for Mathew and I'm trying to keep him hidden-"

"Why would you want to hide him from the government? They could probably take better care of him then you could."

*Eye twitch*

"Do you see what he is? Do you know what they would do to him? Probably lock him up in a cage and do all sorts of test on him. Do you want to be the one responsible for ruining that kids life?" She leans over and looks back into the diner, biting her lower lip as she thinks about it.

"He does seem a bit of a softy. I guess that wouldn't be the best answer, not now at least. Where is he from? Is there anyone else looking for him? How long has he been here?" I tell her all the main details. The lightning, finding him and Stephanie together, the Government boys, his memory loss, all the major details. By the end of it, she finally agrees with me to hide him.

"Good, then you're going to hide him in you place until the two government boys are gone-"

"My place? What are you talking about, why my place?"

"Because you're the fricken town mayor and your husband is the town sheriff! If you can get him on board with this, he'll have the best chance of staying off their radar."

"And then what?"

"And then.... I don't know. We'll cross that bridge when we get there." I say as I step away from her. She lets out a sad sigh as she step towards me, softening her face a bit.

"Rose, don't repeat what happened last time. Look, I'll take him in for now, but you really need to find him a home, a good home. Somewhere safe and nurturing. A farm... well, like you said, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I'll go tell him that he's coming home with me. You just go and make sure that no one comes looking for him at my place. Now... anything I should know about him?"

"Uh.... he just learned to fly."

"And..."

"And... he can't remember about his past, so don't try prying. He gets fairly upset about it."

"Well no duh he gets upset. I swear Rose, sometimes you can be so brutish."

"Well excuse me miss high and mighty. Some of us have to work for a living without getting to depend on our husbands!" I defend, getting her to roll her eyes.

"Anyway, lets get him over there while everyone is distracted with Ben.... I'll give you a moment to say goodbye."

"...... goodbye?"

"Yes, Rose, given your past I don't think you're the best candidate to be a foster parent. He needs stability, and-"

"I can be stable!" I yell as I step towards her. She just raises an eyebrow to me shifts her stance a bit. "Oh don't you try and act all high and mighty missy! I don't care what you think, I am perfectly capable of taking care of Mathew." I tell her, the tone in my voice rising a bit.

"Rose, no you're not. You have a farm to tend to. A big farm. Just what exactly will he be doing when you're out working?"

"Well.... plenty of stuff-"

"And what about education? Di you finish school yet? What happens when he needs help with math, or science, or-"

"I still got my GED from Cuesta community college! I know my stuff!"

"What about when he's crying because he cut his knee?" she asks, a small smile forming on her lips.

"He wouldn't cry from some little cut-"

"But if he did? Not everyone is as devoid of emotions like you are Rose-"

"You better watch your mouth," I warn as I step towards her.

"What happens if his memories come back and becomes distraught over losing someone close? What if he's repressing the memories of his dying parents? Who knows what he's seen? Are you actually going to stand there and tell me that you're ready for these talks Rose? This is a defining moment in his life Rose, not yours. Look me in the eyes and tell me your ready to help him through this Rose. Look me in the eyes and convince me that you're capable of this, right now."

I stare deep into her eyes and glare my response to her. He could help around the farm. I know enough to help him early on in school work. I just need to make sure he studies hard for the later years... or take another semester of school. Farm work will toughen him up, and its not like I'll yell at him for crying. And if his memories came back.... I'd say what would be needed.

What ever that may be. What do you tell a kid who watched his parents die? Maybe there's a book on this or something? But when could I read something like that? I'm still doing my dusting, as well as reworking my irrigation network. Not to mention I still have to get my southern field tilled and seeded.

....

"Well Rose? What's it going to be?" She asks me as I step back from her. I keep thinking over how daily things would go about. Would he be happy living with me?

Could he live with me?

I take a deep breath before turning away from Stacy. I know what needs to be done, I just need to get it over with. I open the door to the diner and walk inside, finding Mathew and Stephanie spinning on the counter seats.

"Stephanie, could you give Mathew and I a minute please. We need to have a serious talk." Stephanie tried to complain, but I shot her a look that made her run, waving goodbye to Mathew as she did so. I take the seat next to Mathew and bury my face in my hands. This isn't going to be easy.

"Am I in trouble?" He asks quietly, lowering his head in shame.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong Mathew.... I did."

"Oh... did you apologize?" I look over to him and raise an eyebrow, getting him to scoot closer. "When you do something wrong, you have to apologize. Everypony knows that."

"... I can't apologize.... not anymore." I admit, my eyes starting to water.

"Its never too late to say sorry," he says, making me face him again. "The best apologize are the ones that are from the heart.... huh. I think I just remembered something! Somepony told me that once.... I don't know who though.... hm, I think I was getting in trouble though. Probably best I don't remember that." He laughs a bit at the end as he racks his mind over it, trying to pry every bit of information from the memory.

"Mathew.... you're going to stay with Mrs. Mouldouth for a bit, but I'll be back, I promise." I say as I stand up. He looks a little worried by this, but nods anyway.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to go apologize.... but more importantly, I need to build a good home. I'll be back as soon as possible, I promise."

I leave the diner in a hurry. I know what I have to do... I just hope it's not too late for it. First things first though, I need to buy some flowers.

Author's Note

Sorry about the long wait on this. I recently ha to re-work a large portion of the plot to make sure things made sense. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, get ready for the feels in the next one.

Brony on!