//------------------------------//
// Episode 22: Visitation 
// Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: Season Two 
// by Captain_Cosmos 
//------------------------------//

“So you two are saying you legally adopted Thunder Kicker.” Betty asked.

Sparky slammed his hoof on the table in frustration. “Yes!” He growled.

Betty backed up a bit in slight fear. “Hey now. No need for aggression.”

“This is pointless!” Misty said. “Let us go and let us have our foal back!”

“If your story checks out we will do just that.” Betty replied as she glanced at the report Quill provided her. “But we ARE investigating your claims, and there are several statements here that don’t line up—“

“Lies!” Sparky and Misty both shouted.

Betty let out an “Eep!” Before nodding. “We’ll look into it and get back to you. Um...have a nice day.” With that, Betty quickly got out of there. She got her breathing under control and sighed. “Sweet honey those two are terrifying.”

Quill, who had been outside in the hall the whole time, nodded as he and Betty began walking down the hall. “What I don’t get is why they’re so desperate to get Kicker back.”

“Is it possible that they ARE telling the truth?” Betty asked.

“Unlikely.” Quill said, shaking his head. “If those two ACTUALLY adopted him they wouldn’t have grabbed him in the middle of the night. They would’ve came for him during the day, and THAT’s ignoring that they also committed murder, arson, and foalnapping three years ago.”

“Exactly.” Betty agreed. “It just doesn’t add up.”

“You can get to the bottom of it right Ms Pringle?” Quill asked.

Betty sighed. “This case has three years of history and not a lot of witnesses.” She then smiled. “But from what Nosey’s told me, I will find everything I need. And when Ramando from Foster Care confirms they have no legal claim to Kicker than the courts won’t even entertain their case on that front.” She explained.

“That’s good.” Quill said with a smile.

Betty nodded. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a train to Ponyville to catch.”





Outside the station, a Pegasus stallion landed on the sidewalk. He folded his wings up and glanced at the building. “Hopefully I didn’t miss her. I’m sure she’d like my report in her hooves before—“ He stopped when he saw the door open and he smiled when he saw his school friend Betty Pringle exit the building. He smiled as he waved his wing at her. “Hey Betty!” He called out.

Betty heard the voice call out her name and smiled. It was a very familiar voice. “Well son of a gun.” She turned her head to see her school friend waving his wing and smiling. “Ramando!” She exclaimed as she descended the steps and stopped when she stood in front of the Pegasus. “Hey Ramando. How’s it going?”

“It’s going good.” Ramando replied. “I’m glad I caught you before you left town.”

“Oh?” Betty inquired. “Why? Want to ask me out again?” She asked playfully.

Ramando laughed. “As much as I would like to. This has to do with business.” He used his wing to reach into his saddlebag and pull out a file folder. He hoofed it to Betty. “Here’s Foster Care’s record on Thunder Kicker. Born to Storm Quake and Cloud Kicker. No record of adoption after their deaths, placed in Sparkling Medley’s care last week by Princess Celestia herself. And now in the custody of Nosey and River.”

Betty smiled as she took the file in her mouth and tucked it away in her own saddlebag. “Thank you Ramando.” She said. “I had a feeling that foal wasn’t adopted by those two miscreants.

“Tell me about it.” Ramando replied. “Ponies like that make me sick.”

“They just terrorized me trying to get free.” Betty replied with a shiver.

Ramando’s eyes widened as he gave his friend a concerned look. “They did? You ok?” He asked.

Betty nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine. Thank Celestia they had their magic inhibitors on.”

“Good thing.” Ramando glanced at the clock on a nearby clocktower. “You should get going. Next train’ll be leaving soon. And I would think Nosey wants this over with as soon as possible.”

Betty glanced at the clock and saw that Ramando was right. The next train to Ponyville would be at the station really soon. “Right.” She said. “Thanks for getting this to me when you did Ramando.”

“Anytime Betty.” Ramando replied. “Now go make a foal happy.”

Betty nodded and turned to leave. We’ll see.





Nosey walked down the hall of the Ponyville General. Heading for Kicker’s room he turned a corner, and saw Twilight come out of Kicker’s room.

Twilight looked down both ways to see if she could find Nosey. She saw him down one way and smiled. “Nosey! There you are!” She exclaimed as she rushed up to him.

“What is it Twilight? Is something wrong?” Nosey asked.

“There is.” Twilight nodded. “Sparkler just told Kicker that he was gonna have to go with you when he got out of here. Suffice to say, he wasn’t happy.”

Nosey sighed. He fully expected Kicker to throw a fit. “I honestly wish there was another way.” He said. “But the law is clear—“

“Nosey, there HAS to be SOMEWAY Kicker can stay with Sparkler. Some condition or stipulation, or anything.” Twilight pleaded. “There’s got to be.”

Nosey sighed and rubbed his chin with his hoof. Not replying to Twilight. Twilight, in her frantic state, impatiently waited for an answer. “Investigator.” She ushered.

“I’m thinking!” He replied as his mind raced. He ran through his memory of the law, trying to find a workaround that would satisfy everypony.

“Hiya Twily! Hiya Investigator Nosey!” Twilight and Nosey heard that high pitched voice. They turned their heads to see the mane 6, plus the CMC, come through the doors.

Twilight took a second to recoil before smiling. “Hey guys.” She said. “How is it going? School go alright?”

“About as well as you would think.” Rainbow replied.

“It went well for us too.” Sweetie Belle said.

“But hearing that Kicker was in the hospital when we got home was NOT what we had in mind.” Scootaloo added.

Twilight sighed. “Believe me, NOPONY wanted this.” She said.

“The nerve of those miscreants!” Rarity scoffed. “Honestly, they should be locked up for life for this!”

“The jury’ll decide that fate, but one thing’s for certain, they’re not getting Kicker back.” Nosey said. “Also, Twilight, I think there MIGHT be a way for Kicker to stay with Sparkler.”

Twilight whipped her head around to smile at Nosey. “What is it?” She asked.

“What are you guys talking about?” Starlight asked.

“I’ll tell you later.” Twilight replied. “How about you all go see Kicker and Sparkler. I’ll send a horn pulse to make sure Kicker doesn’t freak out.”

Everypony nodded and voiced their agreement. Twilight lit her horn and pulsed Sparkler.

Twilight: Sparkler, our friends and the CMC are here. Let Kicker know.

Sparkler: Thanks for warning me. That just might cheer him up.

While her friends proceeded to Kicker’s room, Twilight turned to Nosey. “Now, what would let Kicker stay with Sparkler Nosey?” She asked.

“Let’s find Redheart.” Nosey replied. “The FPS might allow Kicker to stay with Sparkler if it was medically recommended by a medical professional.”

Twilight’s mind raced with possible medical conditions. “His PTSD.” Twilight concluded.

“Exactly.” Nosey replied with a nod.

Twilight nodded. “Let’s go.”





In the hospital room. Sparkler sent the pulse to Twilight and smiled down at Kicker, who still had tears in his eyes. “Hey Kicker.” She cooed. “Some ponies are here to see you.”

Kicker’s eyes widened and he tensed up. “Don’t let them take me from you.” He begged.

Sparkler smiled and leaned in to nuzzle his cheek. “Don’t worry. These ponies won’t. I promise.” She reassured him. “They’re here to see how you’re doing.”

Kicker gulped before nodding. Sparkler smiled. “I’ll let them in.” She said.

She lit her horn and magically opened the door. Allowing the gang to come in. Well, mostly, Rainbow and Applejack were wrestling down an excited Pinkie to keep her from scaring Kicker. The CMC had no such trouble though because they rushed in with smiles on their faces. “Kicker!” They exclaimed excitedly.

Kicker winced at the loud exclamation as the CMC ran up to the bed, pulled up a chair, and hopped onto it so Kicker could actually see them.

“Hi there Kicker.”

“We heard what happened last night. Thank Faust you’re alive!”

“How’re you feeling bud?”

“I-I’m ok.” Kicker replied. “I can’t move much.”

“Well that’s not fun!” Everypony heard Pinkie shout. Pinkie broke free of Applejack and Rainbow and instantly appeared beside Kicker’s bed. “How long are you gonna be stuck like this for? I hope it’s not too long because that would really stink. You can’t do anything—“

“Pinkie!” Everypony shouted at her, cutting her off.

“Darling, stop scaring the poor colt!” Rarity berated her.

“Yeah. Dial it down 50% will ya?” Rainbow asked.

Indeed, Pinkie’s enthusiasm was scaring Kicker. Pinkie took one look at the colt and calmed down. “Oh. Sorry Kick.” She said. “Didn’t mean to scare ya.”

“I-it’s fine.” Kicker replied.

Fluttershy approached the bed and gave Kicker a warm smile. “We really are glad you’re ok Kicker. When Starlight told us what happened. We were so worried.” She said.

The others voiced their agreement that they were glad Kicker was safe and alive. Kicker gave off a weak smile. “T-Thanks. I’m just happy mom made it in time.” He said.

That made everypony freeze. “Mom?” They asked in confusion and turned their focus to Sparkler. The only pony who Kicker could’ve been referring to. At least to their knowledge.

Sparkler smiled sheepishly and cleared her throat. “Ahem. Yeah...you all know how Kicker’s gonna need a new forever home now that his captors are in custody and his parents are...well, as soon as he’s out of here I’m gonna petition to adopt him. And as you can probably tell by what he just said...he’s pretty happy about it.” She explained and nuzzled Kicker in the cheek.

It took all of three seconds for Sparkler’s words to sink in before giant smiles burst across everypony’s faces. “Wow!”

“That’s great!”

“I had a feeling that was gonna happen.”

“Uhm...yay.”

Scootaloo reached out and tousled Kicker’s mane. “Dude, you’re getting an Alicorn for a mom. That’s awesome!” She said.

Kicker giggled at that. “It is?” He asked. Not QUITE understanding why Sparkler was so special...other than the whole saving him thing.

“Yer darn tootin it is!” Applebloom exclaimed. “Alicorns are a rare species in this world. They’re extremely powerful, and a whole buncha other stuff that I don’t even understand.” She said.

Sweetie Belle chuckled. “Basically Kicker.” She said. “You hit the jackpot.”

Kicker, while still not quite understanding why Alicorns were so special, nodded anyway, because he agreed that he did hit the jackpot. “Yeah. I did didn’t I.” He said with a giggle.

That got everypony chuckling. Spike nodded. “And to think. If Sparkler ever works up the courage you could have two Alicorns for moms in the future.”

Sparkler blushed like mad as her mind raced. Two Alicorn mothers...

Does Twilight even WANT to be a mom?

I don’t know...that topic never came up, shockingly.

Maybe when Kicker’s out of here you could, oh I don’t know, FINALLY TELL HER!

Priorities! First, Kicker’s happiness. THEN worry about my own happiness.

He should be legally our son by Hearth’s Warming. That’s a prime opportunity to tell her.

Maybe get her under the mistletoe—Stop it! Priorities!

She shook herself out of her thoughts as Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Ahem, uh, Kicker?” She said. “There’s somepony else who wants to see you.”

At that moment, Everypony noticed Fluttershy’s mane ruffling, and watched as Angel Bunny hopped out, and landed on the bed.

Sparkler’s eyes widened. “Angel? What are you doing here? Pets aren’t allowed in the hospital.”

Angel said nothing as he pulled out a card from who knew where and showed it to Kicker. Kicker and Sparkler saw that it was a GET WELL card.

Fluttershy smiled. “I just happened to bring Angel to school today. He heard what had happened, and wanted to make a get well card for Kicker.”

Angel nodded. Confirming Fluttershy’s explanation. Sparkler smiled. “Aww! That’s so nice of you Angel. This is wonderful.” She glanced at Kicker. “What do you say Kick?”

“Thanks Angel.” Kicker said. Angel smiled and nodded, placed the card on the table next to the bed, gently patted the cast Kicker was cocooned in, and hopped back into Fluttershy’s mane.

“Wow. That bunny has a heart after all.” Spike said. “I did not see that coming.”

Fluttershy giggled. “He’s a real sweetheart actually. I’m not sure why he doesn’t show it around others.” She said.

Rainbow shrugged. “I just don’t get that rabbit. But the card was a nice gesture.” She said.

Sparkler nodded. “It really is.” She said with a smile.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, Kicker tensed up. “Who’s that?!” He exclaimed in panic.

While Sparkler worked to calm Kicker down, Applejack moved to the door and opened it just enough for her to peek through. Outside, she saw an Earth Pony mare standing there with a smile. “Hi there. I’m Betty Pringle from the FPS, I’m here to see Thunder Kicker. I was told he was in this room?”

To be continued...