Twilight and Celestia patiently waited outside the room for Nurse Redheart to let them back in. Celestia smiled. “I can tell that Sparkler and Thunder Kicker have become close in their short time together.”
Twilight nodded. “It’s crazy to think it’s only been a few days. But it’s clear they’ve become something of a family to each other.”
Celestia nodded. “Now that his parents are gone and his captors are in custody. He will need a new permanent home.”
Twilight giggled. “Sparkler told me yesterday how when this is all said and done, she’s gonna officially adopt him.”
“I’m sure that’ll make Kicker happy.” Twilight and Celestia turned at the new voice to see investigator Nosey come up to them.
Nosey smiled and gave a respectful bow. “Your majesties.”
Celestia nodded. “Good morning Nosey. I heard what happened last night. Great work.”
Nosey nodded. “Wasn’t just me Princess. Sparkler’s the real heroine here.” He glanced over at the door to Kicker’s room. “Sparkler in there with the kid?”
Celestia nodded. “Nurse Redheart requested that we step out so she can check Kicker’s vitals. He wanted Sparkler to stay with him.”
Nosey nodded. “Not surprising. Considering what she’s done for him.”
Twilight nodded. “So, what brings you here Nosey?”
“Just thought I’d come see how the kid was doing. And also talk to Sparkler about the kid’s future.” Nosey replied.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean? The fact that Sparkler wants to adopt him?”
Nosey nodded. “I’m afraid it ain’t that simple. Normally it would be but because of Kicker’s situation. We’re gonna need to get Foal protection services involved, as well as the Foster Care system. Just in case those two crooks try to claim they adopted Kicker.”
Celestia nodded. “That would be the best course of action.”
Nosey nodded. “But there is a part that I KNOW Kicker isn’t gonna like. Because he’s technically not officially registered with the Foster Care system, and since Sparkler hasn’t adopted him yet...I’m afraid Investigator River and I are gonna need to take Kicker into our custody for a while.”
Twilight gasped. “What?!”
Nosey sighed. “Yeah. Until Sparkler can finalize the adoption.”
Twilight’s mind was racing, knowing full well how Kicker would react. “Nosey, there has to be another way. This incident—“
“I know. I know full well how traumatizing this incident has to have been for him.” Nosey cut Twilight off. “Unfortunately my hooves are tied by the law.”
Celestia nodded. “He has a point Twilight.”
Twilight looked between Nosey and Celestia. “There isn’t ANYTHING else you could do Nosey? Kicker asked Sparkler to stay with him for a REASON.”
Nosey sighed. “Believe me. The last thing I want to do is tear Kicker away from the pony that saved him from crooks. But like I said, the law’s the law.”
Twilight was about to fire back, when the door opened and Redheart came out. She smiled at Twilight and Celestia. “You two can come back in now. His vitals are good.” She said as the door closed behind her.
Nosey nodded. “That’s good to hear nurse.”
Redheart’s eyes widened and she turned to see a new pony with Twilight and Celestia. “Oh, hello. Sorry. Didn’t see you there. You here to see Kicker?”
Nosey nodded. “Yeah. Though if you don’t mind, maybe you could give me some details about Kicker’s condition as well?” He held up his badge for Redheart to see. “Investigator Nosey Pants. CPD/PPD. The circumstances surrounding Thunder Kicker’s incarceration here are linked to criminal activities and we need a medical report.”
Redheart let out a small gasp. “Really? Um, sure thing officer...” She glanced nervously at Celestia.
Celestia nodded at Redheart. “He’s telling the truth.”
Redheart nodded. “Alright. Sure. Yeah I can give you some insight.”
Nosey nodded. “Thank you.”
“Ok Kicker. Let’s take this nice and slow. Don’t try to suck it all in at once.” Sparkler told Kicker as she moved the sippy cup that Twilight brought for him into position.
Kicker nodded. “Ok.” He raised his head to clasp his lips over the attached straw and began to suck.
Sparkler bit her lip as she fed Kicker like a baby drinking milk. It pained her to see him like this. Two weeks. He’s gonna need to eat like this for two weeks.
And he’s already malnourished. I’m positive we haven’t even fixed that yet.
I should ask the doctor if he can recommend a good formula that could help with that.
That’s not all. He’s gonna need a lot more than just a formula.
Of course! For one he’s not sleeping in the guest room anymore.
It’s not the guest room anymore and you know it. It’s HIS room.
...Yeah. Yeah it is isn’t it.
At that moment, she felt a tingle in her horn, a message from Twilight.
Twilight: Let Kicker know Nurse Redheart said Celestia and I could come back in.
Sparkler nodded. “Hey Kicker.” She got Kicker’s attention and pulled the sippy cup away. “Twilight and Celestia are gonna come back now. Is that ok?”
Kicker nodded. “Yeah.”
Sparkler nodded and opened up a second aperture of magic that opened the door to the room. Letting Celestia and Twilight back in.
Celestia flashed a smile at them. “So how did it go?”
Sparkler smiled. “His vitals are good. He’s on track to get out of this cast in two weeks.”
Twilight nodded. “That’s good.”
Flappy smiled. “Squawk! But that means it’ll be two weeks before he can move around again. Meaning Sparkler and I’ll need to be on constant watch. Squawk!”
Twilight bit her lip. Wondering if she should pull Sparkler aside. She can’t be on constant watch if Nosey and River take him. And Kicker’ll probably have a panic attack.
Unfortunately for her, Sparkler noticed her worried face and raised an eyebrow. “Something wrong Twi?”
Horseapples! After taking a quick glance at Kicker, she took a deep breath and let it out. “Hey Sparkler, there’s something I need to talk to you about. Preferably not in here.”
Kicker tensed up and gulped at the prospect of Sparkler leaving. Sparkler saw this and bit her lip. “Can it wait by any chance Twilight?” She asked.
Twilight shook her head. “It’ll be better if I talked to you now.”
“Can you two talk in here?” Kicker asked. Still not wanting Sparkler to leave.
Twilight sighed and shook her head. “Strictly Royal Business Kicker. Not for the general ear.”
Everypony’s eyes widened, save for Kickers’. If Twilight pulled the Royal card, it had to be important. Celestia knew what it was, but still wasn’t expecting Twilight to pull rank. After a second, Sparkler turned and flashed a smile at Kicker. “I’ll only be out the door for a few minutes sweetie. Then I’ll come right back. I Pinkie Promise.”
Kicker glanced around the room, before glancing back at Sparkler and nodding, though not enthusiastically. Sparkler smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Don’t worry. Celestia’s still here.”
At that, Celestia nodded as Sparkler and Twilight left the room.
Mina looked at Flappy. “Whatever Twilight wants to talk about, it must be big if she pulled rank.”
Flappy nodded. “Squawk! But what? Squawk!”
“You just said it was Royal business to get me out here didn’t you.” Sparkler said to Twilight once they were in the hall.
Twilight nodded. “Yeah. It’s not Royal business but I’m trying to delay Kicker having a panic attack for as long as I can.”
Sparkler’s eyes widened. Twilight didn’t want Kicker to have a panic attack... “I’m not gonna like it am I.”
Twilight nodded, and just went for it. “To put it simply, Nosey just said he and River need to take Kicker into their custody for a while.”
Sparkler’s eyes widened. She was gonna need to surrender custody of Kicker?! “They what?!”
“Only until you can finalize the adoption.” Twilight responded.
Sparkler shook herself out of her shock. “Is there a reason they need to do that?”
Twilight shrugged. “You’ll have to ask Nosey. But I just wanted to warn you ahead of time.”
Sparkler’s mind was racing. She knew exactly what Kicker was gonna say when he heard about this. I never thought I’d say this, but THANK FAUST you pulled rank to get me out of there Twilight. “You were right. Kicker shouldn’t hear this yet.”
Twilight nodded. “That’s the only reason I pulled rank.”
Sparkler nodded. “When he hears about this he’s gonna have a fit.”
Twilight nodded. “Which is why you HAVE to talk to him about adoption today, it might be the only thing that will put him at ANY ease. You’re absolutely sure about it.”
Sparkler nodded. “I’m positive. In fact I was gonna seriously ask you today where to go to start the process.”
“I’m afraid it won’t be so simple.” Sparkler and Twilight turned to the new voice to see Nosey walking up to them.
Sparkler’s eyebrows furrowed and she gave Nosey an annoyed look. “Twilight just told me what you said. Are you trying to give Kicker a panic attack Nosey?!”
Nosey groaned and facehoofed. “Sparkler, I am fully aware that last night’s incident had a profound negative impact on his mental state and I know for a fact that he’ll whine and scream and insist he stay with you. Unfortunately the law takes priority over personal preference.”
Sparkler paced back and forth a few times. Trying to remain calm. “You’re absolutely positively—“
“If there was another way I would have suggested it Sparkler!” Nosey cut her off. “Believe me. I don’t like this anymore than you do. But it had to be done if he has any hope of escaping this Tartarus hole he’s found himself in!”
Sparkler took a deep breath, then released it. “What exactly must be done now?”
“First.” Nosey replied. “I suggest you talk to him as soon as possible about adoption if that’s what you want. Communication is key here. Meanwhile I just happen to have some old school friends in both Foster Care and Foal Protection services so I’ll get in touch with them to get their investigations going. Foster Care should be able to confirm Sparky and Misty never legally adopted Kicker. And the FPS’s investigation should ensure Kicker never goes back to them. All goes according to plan your petition will be approved and Kicker will be able to return to your care by Hearths Warming at the latest.”
Sparkler’s mind raced to process what Nosey said, and nodded. “Alright. I’ll talk to him today.”
Nosey nodded. “While you're at it. He might take it better if you told him we’ll have to take him into our custody.”
Sparkler sighed. “How do you expect me to tell him he’s gonna live with Somepony else? It’ll sound like I DON’T want to adopt him!”
Nosey sighed. “Good point.”
Twilight shook her head. “How about we talk about this later. Right now he’s in no condition to go anywhere. I think Sparkler should at least retain custody of him til he gets out of here.”
Nosey nodded. “I can permit that. Sparkler you can go back in, Twilight I’d like to talk to you about something else if you don’t mind.
Twilight and Sparkler both nodded and Sparkler went back into the room. Twilight raised an eyebrow at Nosey. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
Nosey sighed and lit his horn, he summoned a parchment and hoofed it to Twilight. “This should explain it.”
Twilight took the parchment and read it’s contents. It was the notice Chief Quill sent Nosey and River. She groaned. “Ugh. Typical Noble behavior. Somepony has something they want and they throw a fit.”
Nosey nodded. “It’ll take time for River and me to get everything good and done. Problem is, those Nobles could strike at any moment.”
Twilight nodded. “So what is it you have in mind?”
“If it isn’t too much trouble. Watch her back, least until River and I get settled. With her attention focused on Kicker she’s vulnerable.” Nosey replied.
Twilight smiled and nodded. “Of course it’s not too much trouble. We hang out all the time anyway. Though, I’m curious. Does Sparkler know about this?”
Nosey shook his head. “No. And as far as she’s concerned, River and I are being transferred here for YOUR protection. If that’s ok.”
Twilight but her lip before nodding. “Alright.” She agreed to keep the truth from Sparkler.
Nosey smiled. “I’ll send word to my friends in Foster Care and the FPS. Make sure she talks to the kid.”
Twilight nodded. “Of course.”
Nosey nodded as he started to leave. “Celestia help us all get through this confusing time.”
Twilight watched as Nosey left. She turned back to the door and sighed. Celestia help us indeed.
To be continued...