It was the end of a long day. Cory had just come back to Sweet Apple Acres, from the best party he had ever experienced. Some streamers and confetti were still dangling in her hair, while a bazooka was hanging in her mouth. He looked up at the sky and saw that Princess Luna was already calling in the night. Now it was time for a good nights rest. After all, he had a Wonderbolts history exam to study tomorrow.
With a yawn and stretch of his arms, he approached the Apple Family barn and opened the door. There, he saw Twilight, Cadence, Shining Armor, and the Apple Family, seated at a long table, with serious, yet sympathetic looks on their faces.
"There he is." Said Cadence solemnly. "Come in and have a seat Cory."
"What's this about?" Cory asked as he took a seat.
"Cory," Twilight said with a sigh. "I went into your world and met your parents."
A look of shock filled his face. He couldn't believe Twilight would find time in such a short while to even contact them.
"You really didn't have to do that." Said Cory solemnly.
"Well, I did, and..." Twilight tried to think of the words. "It...didn't go as I hoped it would."
"How did you manage to..."
"The time span kind of fluctuates between your world and ours. But that's not the point. I was able to talk with them and...well." A tear or two fell down Twilight's cheeks. She could not get out of her had what she had witnessed back in the mansion.
"I'll handle this Twi." Applejack said with guilt as he approached Cory and rubbed her hoof around his back. "They...they still don't want you. They aint fit to be your parents."
Cory bowed his head in remorse as Applejack continued to comfort him, hugging him in the process.
"It's alright." He said quietly. "I'd expect that from them."
Then he looked back up and grabbed a tissue from the table, wiping his cheeks with it's texture. Now he was truly alone in the world, with no one to call his own. He always felt alone, but never before like this.
"So," he said with a sniff. "Why are you all here?"
"Um," Applejack began. "We know you don't have a family and uh.."
"The Apple Family is only one of the biggest in Equestria..." Granny Smith added.
"With kin spreadin from Manehattan all the way to Las Pegasus." Applejack added.
"But we always got room for one more in our apple clan." Applebloom added.
"Eeyup." Big Mac added.
"Plus, I always wanted to have a nephew to call my own." Princess Cadence added. "Plus it might help us if we ever decide to have a baby."
"Also, I'd love to be an uncle." Shining Armor added. "You know, so I can teach someone the ways of the royal guard."
Cory was a little perplexed at what they were saying.
"So to come directly to the point." Twilight concluded. "We were wondering if Applejack's family and mine could jointly adopt you."
It was then Cory's face changed from bewilderment, to near excitement. He had always wanted to hear these words spoken to him. It was almost as if he was in a dream and never wanted to be waken up.
"A...Adopt me?" He asked in a kind of crying whisper. "You mean, be my family?"
"Yes," Twilight said affectionately. "Applejack could be your sister, and, well, I could be your mom."
"Plus I always wanted another big brother on my side." Applebloom stated as she hopped on his lap. "Big Mac always wanted one too."
"Heh, Heh. Eeyup." Big mac replied sheepishly.
"AAAAAAAND!!" Said Pinkie Pie as she appeared out of nowhere. "Since I'm technically Applejack's fourth cousin twice removed by a fifth cousin, I'll sort of be your family too!!"
Cory thought for a moment. He had waited for this moment since the day his old parents abandoned him. He just couldn't think of the right words to say. His mind tossed and tumbled in pure joy and excitement, trying to sort out the right sentence to come out of his mouth.
"Well, you are the closest I ever had to a family." He said shaking on the verge of tears. "So why stop there?"
"So is it a yes?!" Applebloom asked excitedly as she wagged her tail.
Cory nodded back as tears rolled down his chin, and the whole room went into an uproarious applause. Soon, he found himself in the middle of a great group hug. The feeling was like a warm blanket and pillows caressing him with love and compassion. It was then Applejack opened the back door and rushed outside.
"He said yes everypony!!!!" She shouted.
Cory looked outside to see a huge crowd of earth ponies and unicorns cheering in uproarious celebration. The crowd was so huge, he could barely see where it started and where it cold end.
"Wha..What is this?" Cory asked.
"Welcome to the family Cory!!" Applejack stated, after which she took a good whiff of air. "You smell that sweet apple air?"
"Uhhh."
"That's rhetorical, of course you smell it!! You're an Apple now!!"
"And a Twilight as well." Twilight added.
Cory was overwhelmed with the crowd of individuals stretched out before him. Of all the families that decided to choose him, he never expected it to be one of a different species. And yet, it was the best family any one in this world or his could ever ask for. Suddenly Applejack threw him on her back with Applebloom still on his head.
"Where are we going?" Cory asked.
"To the adoption ceremony of course." Applebloom replied.
"Or should we say: BIRTH-A-DOPTION!!" Said Pinkie Pie.
"Come on Y'all!!" Applejack shouted to everyone in attendance. "Let's go down to Apple Farm to celebrate our new kin!! YEE-HAW!!!"
And with Cory and Applebloom on her back, she galloped down the dusty road and towards a large campfire, with Twilight, Shining Armor, Cadence, Granny Smith, Big Mac and everypony else following suit.