It was a starry, starry night. The sky glistened with twinkling celestial objects that filled the upper landscape in a circular dome. Below them stood a large campfire surrounded by 100's of happy earth pony and unicorn faces. Some were playing on guitars and violins, others were laughing and telling a joke, and a few were playing a game or two. But in the center of all the commotion and excitement stood a lucky young man by the name of Cory Agees. Today was the day he had always dreamed of. Today, he was going to be adopted.
On a podium nearby was a small desk with a set of adoption papers ready to be signed, and Twilight and Applejack were standing right next to them. In front was an old vintage microphone with a few speeches attached to the pole.
"ALRIGHT Y'ALL!!" Said Applejack as she and Twilight went to the mic. "We're here to celebrate the birthday...."
"And Adoption.." Twilight added.
"OF CORY AGEES!!" They both said together.
Everypony in the audience cheered in celebration as Cory came out of the crowd. He was greeted with hoofshakes and pats on the pats. Some said "Welcome to the family." and "Glad to have you here." Cory's cheeks blushed as he walked closer to the stage.
"HEY CORY!!!" Pinkie Pie shouted from out of the crowd. "I hope you don't mind, but I brought my sister Maud from out of town to congratulate you on becoming one of us."
It was then Pinkie introduced Cory to a rather bland and grey looking Earth Pony with a darker grey dress on. Her expression was very neutral, as if she had no emotion at all.
"I am very honored and excited to meet you." She said in a monotone voice, after which she sniffed him a little bit. "Oh, and you smell like a hint of calcite."
"Are you sure she's excited?" Cory asked.
"Are you kidding me?!!" Pinkie Pie replied. "I haven't seen her more excited in my entire life."
Cory shrugged and gave Maud a huge hug.
"Now go on up there new cousin!!" Said Pinkie Pie. "There's a new family waiting for you."
Cory smiled as he ran up the wooden stairs and onto the podium, to which she gave Applejack and Twilight a big group hug.
"Cory," Applejack began as she started her speech. " When I first met you, I couldn't whether to make heads or tails of your predicament. But then I watched you work and create here on the Apple Farm and knew that you'd be someone special. Then when you had the courage to bring up your sad past, I knew that love was the one thing that was missin in yer life. Well I'd just like to tell you that you are in good hooves now. You are gonna love bein an apple. I mean, you got the playful ones..."
She pointed her hoof towards several fillies playing jump rope.
"The Strong ones..."
She pointed to Big Mac and a few other burly stallions who were flexing their muscles.
"And of course, ya got yer elderly ponies, who know just about everything about everything..."
"We discovered our first filly fritters all the way back in Fillydelphia." Granny Smith commented, who was surrounded by other elders. "When we was just fillies."
"Who knew?" Cory replied.
"And of course there's me." Applejack continued. "Your new, loyal, big sister."
It was then she wrapped her hoof around Cory's arm and gave him a serious look.
"Cory, as part of the family, You have the most honest, single minded, purely guaranteed protection from me and everyone here on the Apple Farm. So for those who done you wrong and left you out for nothin, this is what I have to say to them: YOU MESS WITH ONE OF US, YA MESS WITH ALL OF US!!!"
The entire Apple family cheered as she closed her sentence.
"We welcome you with open hearts and open minds here in a family as big as this!!" Applejack continued. "And when your enemies and bullies come back for ya, will be there to fight on your side!! And they gonna wish they never messed with an Apple like you!!"
Everypony cheered again as Applejack wrapped her hooves around Cory's back, and caressed her in a big embrace.
"I'm glad to have you little brother." She said.
"And I'm glad to have you too...Big Sister." Cory replied in tears.
"Ma and Pa would be very proud to have a son like you."
Next, it was Twilight's turn, as she turned to the mic, picked up her speech with magic, and turned towards her new son.
"Cory." She started with an affectionately motherly voice. "When i first met you, I knew there was something special glowing inside your soul, just waiting to burst out. As a shy but brave young man, you had a gift that was worth sharing to the whole world. Then, as I took you under my wing and taught you the ways to succeed in the world, I began to learn things myself. I was taught that you are a fast learner, an athletic spirit, and most importantly, a courageous individual. Don't let anypony else make you think otherwise. Because what I see, is a creative, smart and compassionate being who's gift in the field of arts does not deserve to be taken away from you. Just unwrap that bow and open the box, because inside is a kind of pandora worth taking the risk. Don't ever be afraid to express yourself. And as your new parent, you can totally trust me. Because I promise to support you, your work, and your career choice every hoof step of the way!!"
It was then Twilight's unicorn family went into uproarious applause.
"I love you son." Said Twilight as she hugged Cory.
"I love you too...Mother." Cory replied in tears.
Now was the big moment. Twilight and AJ gathered all their nearest relatives onto the podium and faced the papers on the table. The entire audience fell silent in anticipation. With the carefullest of ease, Twilight, Shining Armor and Cadence picked up a quill and placed it gently on the parchment.
"Care to help me do the honors?" Twilight asked Cory.
"With Pleasure." Cory replied
And so the four of them grabbed the quill and signed on the dotted line both of their names. Next, it was Applejack and her family's turn. All five of them gathered around Cory like comfortable couch and grabbed the quill together with their limbs.
"This is so amazing." Said Applebloom in an excited whisper.
"I've been waiting for this moment for all my life." Cory replied quietly.
Before they knew it, they all placed the quill on the dotted line, and slowly signed each other's names. For what seemed like an eternity, everything was deaf silence. But strangely, it wasn't disturbing. For Cory, it was relieving, as if the last moments of loneliness and desperation were finally going away without a word or a whimper. It was then he looked down at the parchment, and saw both his name, Applejack, Big Mac, Applebloom and Granny Smith written neatly in their handwriting.
"NOW..." Applebloom proclaimed. "YOU ARE LEGALLY ONE OF US!!!"
As she broke that silence, the whole crowd burst in uproarious cheer and rah. Some hats flew in the air, other horns spewed out magic dust, A few even clopped on the floor with their hooves in applause. Cory looked around and saw nothing by smiles and tears of joy. For the moment, he felt like he was on top of the world. It was moment he wished would go on forever.
"Now let's move on to the naming ceremony." Applejack suddenly said.
"The What?" Cory asked in puzzlement.
"Well, now that you're part of the family," Twilight exclaimed. "We thought it would be fitting to give you a pony name as well."
"That sounds right." He replied.
"Everypony step back!!" Explained Pinkie Pie through the mic. "Twilight and Applejack will need some personal space to choose the new name for this lucky boy."
Cory peered over to see that there was book of names AJ and Twilight were skimming through. It was rather old and covered with dust, as if it had not been used in a very long time. Cory wondered what his new name would be, whether it would become a simple change in his middle name, or a new outlandish name entirely. Needless to say, he was grateful for whatever title he would be given. Then, after a few more minutes of deliberation...
"Alright youngun!!" Applejack stated as she turned to Cory. "After much talk and debate, we have given you your new name."
AJ and Twilight both nodded at each other.
"From this moment on.." Said Twilight. "You will now be known as..."
A drumroll could be heard in the background.
"CAPRICORE!!" AJ and Twilight said together.
Everyone cheered at the sound of his new name.
"Because you're an apple to the core.." Applejack said.
"And you shine as bright as the Capricorn in the sky." Twilight added. "And don't worry, your nickname is still Cory."
"Well that's a relief," Cory replied.
And so the party began. A few desserts, fruits and vegetables were shared around a big table. Each was more delicious than the last. Hugs and kisses were being thrust on Cory by his new cousins, like bundles of love latching onto his body. Some balloons and toys were being handed out to fillies and colts for some reason. Probably to lighten up the festivities a little more. Some of the Ponies were sitting around the campfire, playing a few songs with their makeshift or handed down instruments. The music wrung through the crowd and cascaded each pony into laughter and dance.
"Say Twilight?" Applejack asked after a few hours of celebration and fiesta. "Since you're the new mother of this lucky young guy right here. Do you happen to have any songs you could tune up for us to hear for this special occasion."
"Well," Twilight replied. "There is one song my family likes to sing when we welcome a new family member."
Twilight whispered something into the ear of an earth pony with a fiddle in her hooves. She nodded back and began to play a song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTy3-QkhBpA
Then, with Cory standing in the center on top of a stump, Everypony gathered around and gave him the hugest hug anyone could give. It was then Cory looked up at the sky and saw two shooting stars gliding across the constellations. It was the warmest he had ever felt.
"So you're going to keep me this time?" Cory asked in a pool of joyful tears.
"Kid," Applejack replied as she placed her hat on his head. "You're stuck with us for life."
"Hey cut with the mushy stuff!!" Pinkie Pie intervened. "This is supposed to be a celebration!! LEEETS PAAARTYYY!!"
Everypony then cheered once again, so much so Cory could swear the earth was shaking, and began to dance around the fire, while Applejack picked up her guitar and started to sing a favorite song in the Apple Family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtbdIjm6vC0
Then, Twilight took Cory to the side and gave him a new golden locket shaped like a heart. He opened it to see that it contained the drawing he intended to give to his old parents.
"I guess I didn't waste my time making this picture after all." Cory said. "You really are a miracle in my life mother."
"Oh Cory," Twilight replied. "I didn't do anything. It was your own actions that led to this moment. Your courage, wits and determination were what pushed you through. And you deserve every minute of it. In short: The Miracle is you."
Cory dripped a few more tears again and wrapped her arms around Twilight's back, to which she responded by wrapping her wins around his.
At that moment, Pinkie Pie gave the signal to gather everyone in a huge huddle. She then took out a camera from inside her Mane and prepped it for a big group photo.
"Say, Best Birth-A-Doption Ever!!!" Pinkie declared.
"BEST BIRTH-A-DOPTION EVER!!" Everyone replied.
She then took the picture of everyone at the party, with the new family member right in the center of it all. Cory was home at last.