//------------------------------// // Episode 21: Enter the Maze // Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: Season Two // by Captain_Cosmos //------------------------------// Sparky and Misty sat in a room at the CPD in chains, looking none too happy to be there. Sparky groaned. “The nerve of that brat. Cowering under the power of a horned chicken.” Misty scoffed. “I knew we should've waited for him to be alone. Alicorns are more powerful than any Unicorn by default.” At that moment, the door opened and Sparky and Misty saw a stallion walk in. The stallion smiled at them as he closed the door behind him. “You must be Sparky and Misty. The two Unicorns I’ve heard so much about.” “Who are you?!” Sparky growled. “Let us go!” Misty shouted. The stallion ignored them as he sat across from them. “I’m Scratch Quill, Chief of the CPD, and if you’re found innocent at your trial I will let you go.” Sparky groaned. “We did nothing wrong officer!” Quill shook his head. Of course they were denying everything. “Really?” He lit his horn and opened the file he brought with him. He looked it over. “Two members of known terrorist organization UniMagix, multiple counts of threats against Earth Ponies AND Pegasi, prime suspects in three counts of murder, two parents and a Unicorn friend of theirs, one count of arson, and the foalnapping of a two year old Earth Pony Colt.” “Lies!” Misty shouted. Quill sighed. “And then let’s go to what landed you here today. Foalnapping of the same foal, and abusing said foal to the point he had to be rushed to the hospital, And, attacking an Alicorn to boot. Do you realize how many years you both are looking at here?” “We didn’t do anything wrong officer!” Sparky shouted. “We were just trying to save our son from that Alicorn. SHE’S the one who did all that stuff!” Quill stared at them with a perplexed face. Sparky and Misty were trying to pin all this on SPARKLER. “Really now? That’s incredibly interesting, let’s talk about the differences between our evidence and your statement shall we?” Outside the station, a mare was looking over a letter that was sent to her from her old high school friend Nosey again. She smiled. “So you want me and Ramando to help ensure Kicker gets into a good home eh Nosey, and you say somepony is looking to adopt him.” She looked up at the station in front of her. “Well before I go to Ponyville I’ll need to have a chat with Quill, and maybe the two offenders.” She nodded as she walked in and entered the station. Quill walked out of the room Sparky and Misty were in and shut the door behind him. He shook his head. They never learn. He sighed. Sparky and Misty weren’t being as easy as he had hoped. As he walked back to his office, he heard a voice call out to him. “Chief Quill!” Quill looked behind him and saw a familiar pony walk up to him. He smiled. “Ms. Pringle. This is a surprise. What brings you to the CPD?” Betty smiled and held up a parchment to him. “Investigator Nosey sent this to me earlier. He’s been keeping me up to date on your Thunder Kicker case and it sounds like it’s time for me to step in.” Quill smiled. Now I remember why I’m gonna miss him and River. He turned so he was facing Betty and nodded. “Yes. It’s time for the FPS to step in. To make sure the foal doesn’t end up in the same situation he was in before.” Betty nodded. “Nosey says he sent a memo to Foster Care to report that he has taken custody of the foal along with River. He also says that the new Alicorn Sparkling Medley is interested in adopting him.” Quill chuckled. “Curse you Nobles. You’re making me lose my best officers.” He said to himself. Betty raised an eyebrow. “What?” Quill shook his head. “Just something going on with the Nobles raging about something stupid. Anywho. I suppose you’ll need a full report.” Betty nodded. “Yes. If you would kindly provide it please. Nosey said something about ASAP.” Quill nodded and gestured for her to follow him. “Right this way.” “Would you rather be a cupcake, or a cookie?” Sparkler asked. “I’d be a cookie. I like cookies.” Kicker replied. “I’m gonna have to go with a cupcake. So much sweeter.” Twilight said. It was mid afternoon in the day now and the topic changed to...really any game Kicker could play in his current state. Twilight nodded. “My turn. Would you rather...listen to the same song over and over for the rest of your life or not listen to music at all?” Sparkler laughed. “Really Twi? You have to go and attack my Cutie Mark like that?” She asked playfully. “Hm...I’d rather not listen to music. I like music as much as the next pony but listening to the same song can get annoying.” She turned to Kicker. “How bout you Kicker?” “Not listen to music at all.” Kicker said. “I’d rather not listen to music than only listen to one Airwave song.” Twilight chuckled. “Oh? Is somepony a fan of Airwave now?” Kicked nodded. “Since yesterday.” Sparkler chuckled. 🎵Yer gonna make, make🎵 She sang. 🎶Make them do a double take🎶 Kicker finished that little piece of the chorus. Twilight chuckled. “That’s the Double Take song right?” Sparkler nodded. “We had a little Airwave dance party yesterday when he and Lyrica came over.” “It was so much fun!” Kicker said. He turned to Sparkler. “Hey mom, when we get home can we listen to more Airwave songs?” At that, Sparkler bit her lip. At first she was happy that Kicker was openly calling her mom now, but that joy quickly faded when he said when they got home. It was definitely WHEN. That part was clear. But it was also clear that Kicker was thinking they were gonna go home as in her house. And that nopony was gonna come take him away from her. After a second, she sighed. “About that Kicker, there’s something you should know...” Kicker raised an eyebrow. “What?” Sparkler took a deep breath and prepared herself for the inevitable backlash. “Now, I promise I’m going to adopt you. I haven’t changed my mind on that and I never will. It’s just...until I can get everything sorted out and make it official...once you get out of here you are likely gonna have to live with somepony else for a bit.” Kicker’s little brain processed Sparkler’s words, and threw the first part out as he realized he was being taken from Sparkler. “What?!” He exclaimed. Sparkler gulped as she saw his eyes glisten. “Kicker, let me explain—“ “I don’t want to go with somepony else! I want to go with you!” Kicker cried, tears starting to run out of his eyes. Sparkler nodded. “I know. I know sweetie. But the thing is, it’s not up to me. There are rules that have to be followed.” “I don’t care!” Kicker cried again. “I want to stay with you!” He sobbed. Sparkler sighed as a tear of her own escaped her eyes. “I’m so sorry Kicker.” She said. “I promise you I’ll do everything I can to get you back as soon as possible. A few weeks at—“ “Weeks?!” Kicker cried. Sparkler nodded. “Like I said, it’s not up to me.” She explained. “I promise. It’s gonna be ok.” Kicker’s little mind was racing. He finally had a real mom again and now he was being forced away from her. “I don’t want to...” He said in between sobs. He tried to reach out for Sparkler, but was reminded AGAIN that he was in a cast. Sparkler’s heart was in pieces now. She knew Kicker was trying to reach out for her, to cling to her, but couldn’t because of the cast. And she couldn’t hug HIM for fear of further injuring the poor colt. Sparky and Misty, you two can go burn in Tartarus for this! Instead of a hug, Sparkler did the next best thing, and lit her horn so that her magic surrounded Kicker, hugging him without hurting him. Kicker felt a tender feeling around his body as he saw the blue aura embrace him. It felt good. Unable to move his body, he pressed his head against the aura instead, desperate for any physical contact from his mother. Twilight just sat there and let them have a moment. She bit her lip. I swear to Celestia if those Nobles in Canterlot try to stop this adoption I'll make them regret it. She gritted her teeth. She didn’t know if the Nobles had any ties to family services, but she knew that if they did, Sparkler’s fight to keep Kicker was gonna be that much harder. Maybe we should just royal decree it. Kicker wouldn’t need to be taken from Sparkler, the Nobles wouldn’t get the chance to interfere, and we can all live happily ever. Twilight got off her rump and started for the door. Sparkler noticed her go and raised an eyebrow. “Where are you going Twi?” “To find Nosey. I refuse to believe the law is absolute. There has to be a way Kicker can stay with you even after he gets out of here. And I intend to find it.” Twilight replied. With a nod from Sparkler, Twilight left the room, leaving Sparkler and Kicker alone. Kicker was still crying as Sparkler’s magic embraced him. “I-It’s not fair.” He whispered in between sobs. Sparkler nodded. “I know honey.” She leaned in and kissed his wet cheek. “But sometimes, some things are just out of our control. But don’t worry. I WILL do everything in my power to make sure this nightmare doesn’t last too long.” “P-promise?” Kicker asked. Sparkler nodded. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Sparkler Pinkie Promised. It was the only promise that could be made. Sparkler heard the high-pitched Forever! that she heard every time she made that promise. And right now, she was glad it existed. For it reaffirmed in her mind that she wouldn’t rest until Kicker was legally her son. To be continued...