//------------------------------//
// Chapter Two 
// Story: The Little Filly Who Could 
// by Boopy Doopy 
//------------------------------//

The sun rose slowly in Ponyville, lighting up Bright Side’s office as he stepped in. It had been a long night, as it usually was for him in this line of work, although he didn’t mind it too much. Helping foals in need was important work, and it made him happy to see them happy and smiling.
What didn’t make him happy and in fact made him grunt in frustration was the pile of paperwork sitting on his desk. It was an important job, yes, making sure each filly and colt’s profile was up to date and accurate, but it didn’t make it any more enjoyable. He’d much rather be out talking to foals, helping them out and making sure they were safe and making them smile. Even though it was only about a tenth of his time he spent doing this, it felt sometimes like ninety percent.
He started as he always did, with the ‘immediate requests’ pile, which today had a single paper sitting in it, making him frown. As much as he liked interacting with foals, he didn’t like to see that somepony needed him. In a perfect world, he’d be unemployed because his job wouldn’t be needed. But unfortunately, it wasn’t a perfect world, and as a result, there was somepony or ponies who needed his attention.
He closed his eyes and took a breath before leaning over to look at it, sighing in relief when he saw it wasn’t something gruesome or heinous, at least not from what it read.



From Ponyville General Hospital 
Administration is stating that a filly, Ama Lee, aged seven, entered around one in the morning without her parents, saying she didn’t know where they were. Says her parents are named Min Dee and Wil Lee. Complained of heartburn, but otherwise seemed bright and happy. Showed no signs of abuse or neglect thus far. Under the care of Doctor Horse.



It was short and sweet, something nice and easy for Bright Side to do to start his day. Hopefully all that was in the letter was all there was to do, but he could never be sure. More than once he went into an assignment with the thought that it would be easy, and more than once it had turned out to be much worse than he expected. Hopefully though, this wouldn’t be one of those kinds of cases.
He didn’t waste much time, quickly scanning through the rest of the page to see if there was anything important before getting a pad of paper and a pencil to take notes. Once he did, he headed out into the morning sun, deciding that he would take care of the rest of his paperwork later. Talking to fillies and colts was much better anyway, and a much more productive use of his time. 
It was a nice, cool morning in Ponyville, one of the first of the season, although the leaves in the trees were still green despite autumn coming. The ponies in the town were already out and about, as well as a few other creatures that had recently moved to the town, a sign of the changing times, brought in by the school Princess Twilight Sparkle opened up a couple of years ago. 
He had to admit, it was a bit nerve wracking at first, seeing so many strange creatures moving into Ponyville, but after a short time and a few conversations, he overcame his anxiety and fear. Honestly, he could say he now enjoyed seeing new creatures out and about as he walked through the town. It made his day more interesting and made Ponyville a bit more vibrant in his opinion. It certainly gave the foals more friends to make, and made them feel happier. They’d taken better than many adults had to the changing times.
The sun slowly rose as he walked, shining on the buildings and grass as he made his way to the hospital. It was a building he visited more than a few times, hardly ever for good reasons when he did, many times being brought to tears by what he saw when he came. However, he was grateful today that he was just going to pick up a filly who was lost.
Presumably lost, he reminded himself as he approached the entrance to the building. Don’t lower your expectations. There usually is more than meets the eye.
With that, he stepped in, taking in the sight of a few foals crying as they sat next to their parents and an eldery couple waiting patiently in the lobby as he made his way up to the receptionist.
“Hello, Page,” the stallion started in recognition at the receptionist. “We got a request to see a filly named Ama Lee?”
“Um, yes, she should be in the back. You know where it’s at… it's been a little while since you came in.”
“Yes, I’ve been saddled with other cases. They haven’t given me anything new in a little while except simple things. A bit rough, it’s been, but it’s always worth it for these foals. But how have you been? Are you still working nights, or have they changed you to morning?”
“They still have me on nights. I’m just waiting on Paper Clip to get here so I can get home and get some sleep.”
“Ah, that sounds rough. I hope it gets better for you. It was nice catching up a bit.”
He didn’t get a response from her as somepony else came in, and continued on his way to the back of the hospital to meet Doctor Horse. The stallion looked tired after a long night, and had the beginnings of bags starting to form under his eyes as he spoke to Bright Side.
“I’ve been here all night, you know,” he started as he adjusted his glasses. “I had to entertain her all night because she just wouldn’t go to sleep. She kept singing this song about you, how she was coming out of her cage, that she said was called Mister Bright Side.”
He raised his eyebrows at that. Was this a foal he’d seen before? He didn’t recognize the name Ama Lee, but maybe he was just forgetting somepony. He made a mental note to ask her about that when he saw her.
“Did she go to sleep at all?” Bright Side asked. “Have you been able to get into contact with her guardians yet?”
“Yes, and no. She went to sleep about two hours ago I think, and we don’t see her parents listed in the hospital’s registry, which could mean that she’s from outside of Ponyville.”
“Did you talk to her at all? Try to see where she’s from?”
“Not really. I asked her a few basic questions, but I didn’t go out of my way to have an interview with her if that’s what you mean.” With that, the stallion yawned and said, “I need to go home to get some sleep. She’s officially in your care now right?”
“Yes, she is, I’ve got it from here. You go home and get some sleep. Oh, but first, lead me over to where she’s at, please.”
“Yeah, okay,” he replied as he trotted over to the curtain she was staying behind, taking a breath before walking through.
The filly was asleep in the hospital bed, her muzzle hanging half off the bed and her hair tucked behind her ears, her wings stretched out as she layed on her stomach. She looked quite peaceful as she slept quietly, breathing slowly.
“Hey, Ama Lee,” the doctor started quietly, the tiredness he felt clear in his voice as he used a hoof to shake her mane gently. “It’s time to wake up, sweetie.” She flicked an ear at that, curling up a bit at the noise and letting out a grumble.
“Like I said, she was up all night,” Doctor Horse explained before petting her coat. “Ama Lee, you need to wake up now, dear. There’s somepony here to meet you.”
She raised her head at that and turned to look at the two of them, slightly confused at their sight.
“Huh, I’m still here,” she commented to herself. Then she looked down at herself, and giggled, wrapping her hooves around herself in a tight, happy hug.
“Yes, sweetie, you’re still here. But now we have somepony else here who wants to meet you. His name is Bright Side.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, miss…?” he started as he leaned in closer to her.
“Emily.”
“That’s a very nice name, very unique. We haven’t met before have we?” She shook her head at that as she continued to lay down, yawning tiredly. “Is it okay if I talked to you and asked you a few questions?”
She nodded happily, watching as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed while Doctor Horse yawned and left to go home.
“How are you feeling, missy?” he asked, giving her a kind smile to try and keep her at ease. It wasn’t difficult though, seeing as she already looked happy even despite how tired she probably was.
“I’m excited!” she said gleefully. “And also kind of nervous, but excited! Also, you really are Mister Brightside! Are you coming out of your cage and doing just fine?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he smiled, hiding his confusion at her question. “What are you excited and nervous about?” he asked.
“I’m a pony!” she squeaked as she hugged herself again. “And I’m a filly at that! It’s amazing!”
“You’re such a silly filly,” he replied. “Are you feeling better from last night? Does your tummy still hurt?”
“It was my chest and throat, and no, it’s not bad right now,” Emily responded. “I have acid reflux.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Bright Side said sympathetically. “That doesn’t sound very good at all.”
“It’s okay, I just need medicine for it. I forget to take it a lot.”
“Maybe you could have your parents help remind you?” he suggested. “What are their names?”
“Mindy and Willie, and I don’t live with them.”
“Who do you live with then?”
“Well, I…” The filly trailed off and blushed uncomfortably, like she didn’t want to say. “I live on my own- but I’m a big girl! I can take care of myself. It’s not bad.”
“Oh, I’m sure you can,” Bright Side commented, keeping the concern he felt out of his voice, “but if you live all alone, who cooks food for you and makes sure you brush your teeth and go to bed on time and take your medicine?”
“Oh, I do all those things on my own. Except take my medicine. I forget a lot.” Emily continued blushing, but now it was a bit more bashful.
“Hmm. Well, it sounds like you need somepony to remind you, don’t you think? Why don’t you live with your parents anymore?”
“Oh, I stopped living with them because they kicked me out,” she told him. “Actually, my dad kicked me out, after he divorced my mom.”
“You… your father kicked you out, sweetie?”
“Mmm hmm, but it’s okay, because I live in a nice place now, an apartment.”
“Oh, that’s good to hear,” Bright Side commented, making a mental note of what she was saying. “Do you have new parents? What are their names?”
“Uhhh…” the filly trailed off, staring off in the distance. “I’m hungry. Can I have something to eat?”
“Of course you can, sweetie. We can actually go out to eat if you want. How does that sound?”
“Sounds good. Oh! Do you think there’s a place that serves macaroni and peas? That’s what I had for lunch yesterday, and it was really good.”
“I’m not sure if somepony will be serving that at this time of day,” Bright laughed, “but we can certainly check. Although I bet the place we’re going has blueberry pancakes. How does that sound?”
“Plain pancakes would be better.”
“Okay, so we’ll get you some plain pancakes to eat, and then we’ll see where your guardians are. Does that sound like a good plan to you, missy?”
“Yup!” she agreed happily, before saying, “But, um, can I get some medicine first? That way my chest doesn’t burn when I eat.”
“Of course, sweetheart.”