“Is that normal custom in Equestria, Celestia? Luna?” There was some bite to Miss. Chestnut’s tone as she still couldn’t believe what had just transpired. She then turned to face the remaining equestrian guards, not even allowing either alicorn princess a chance to respond.
Although…they didn’t want to say anything that didn’t sound like an excuse. Luna, in particular, could only blame her sister for this disgraceful event, practically scowling at her sibling from a short distance away while cradling Snowdrop. Her lunar guard would never do such a thing, that’s for sure. Especially since it was primarily filled with thestrals who were far more disciplined than the pitiful sun-loving-
“Well?!” The orphanage caretaker barked, and several of the guards were absolutely embarrassed by Trottingham’s outburst. “Is THAT what you guards are good for?! Terrorizing foals?! Answer me, Amore, damn it!”
The guard closest to the chestnut mare, a yellow unicorn stallion, sighed. “I say this with the utmost respect,” he gruffly responds as he shifts his gaze to meet hers. “But do not assume that we’re all like that foal, Terrain.” The stallion looks over to Celestia. “Permission to speak freely, my princess?”
“Granted,” Celestia answered unhesitantly, Hope standing alongside her as Sombra and Sombasi came to her side worryingly following Terrain’s harsh treatment of their fellow orphan.
“My name is Meadow Song, second to my name,” he introduced himself to the chestnut mare. “I’ll be the first to tell you that Terrain Trottingham is an absolute disgrace to the royal guard and should have been discharged from our ranks. Sadly, his family has great power in Equestria, so he’s often left…unpunished.”
Miss. Chestnut glanced at Celestia for clarification, only to earn a frustrated nod.
“Trust me when I say that I’m not alone in these feelings,” Meadow began, “and on behalf of the Solar Guard of Equestria, I offer my sincerest apologies to you all.”
The chestnut mare absorbed the stallion’s words, staring at him as if scanning his form for any semblance of deceit. She seemingly nods in satisfaction after a moment’s pause before looking toward Luna.
“Princess Luna… How can I finalize Snowdrop’s adoption in good faith while knowing that ponies like that colt outside exists in Equestria? A guard could threaten her life, and that is absolutely unacceptable.”
Luna’s eyes fell down slowly to the crystal floors while Celestia looked upon the orphanage caretaker with a neutral, or unreadable, expression.
“I…can only give thee my word, fairest Chestnut,” Luna answered. “My solemn vow that no harm shall come to my daughter.”
Miss. Chestnut simply stares at the lunar alicorn for what feels like a millennium. The chestnut glanced back to the guard, Meadow Song, and looked forward again, bringing a hoof to her head to tend a growing migraine.
“Very well,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll give you another chance, Princess Luna, but only because I want to believe there are more ponies like Meadow Song,” a brown hoof points toward the guard as it then sets itself down, “than that barbaric Terrain.”
The edges of Meadow’s muzzle go upward in gratitude.
Luna nods. “Of course. I thank thee, fairest Chestnut.”
“Don’t thank me just yet,” Miss. Chestnut asserts. “I have one condition.”
The lunar raises her head and shifts her form attentively, ready to hear the caretaker’s condition.
“One year.”
“P-pardon?” Luna asked in confusion.
“I want an update on Snowdrop’s progress on the first day of every week for a whole year. In other words, I want you to visit me to provide these updates personally.” She takes authoritative steps towards Luna, walking past Celestia and stopping in front of the lunar alicorn while several guards are stunned by the chestnut mare’s boldness.
“Show me just how much you want to be Snowdrop’s mother. Only when I’m satisfied shall you receive my signature.”
The pair locked eyes, staring at each other as if participating in a showdown. A respectful smirk formed on Luna’s face moments after, “Thine request is fair and reasonable,” she said, bowing respectfully but being mindful of Snowdrop’s form.
“I’ll even bring Snowdrop with me to these meetings.” Luna rises again, earning a nod from Miss. Chestnut.
“Very well, princess.” The chestnut mare pats Snowdrop’s head gently. “Don’t make me regret this. Snowdrop has so much love to give, and I expect you to give her that in return.”
“I shall.”
“We will see by this time next year.” The orphanage caretaker steps aside. “I’ve kept you long enough, princesses. Farewell.”
With a contentful nod, Luna proceeds down the aisle of equestrian guards, trailed by Celestia, who gave Radiant Hope a nuzzled goodbye before breaking away.
“Bye, Snowy,” Hope waves off her friend, fighting back tears as Sombra and Sombasi join her on either side.
“Be happy, friend,” Sombra said with a smile.
Sombasi watched silently, yet happily, but with a small pinch of envy as the equestrian rulers exited the orphanage, followed by their guards as they shuffled out the crystalline doors. Miss. Chestnut had followed the guards out, having whispered something discreetly to Meadow Song, although what it was could be anyone’s guess.
The chestnut mare closes the doors and turns to face the trio of foals. She takes notice of Sombasi, “What’s wrong, dearie?” She asked.
The dark colt’s ears perked up. “N-nothing, Miss. Chestnut…”
“Sombasi,” she called out on approach, stopping in front of him. “I know when something is bothering you. All of you. Talk to me, sweetie.”
Sombra and Hope look upon the now struggling unicorn colt, who finally sighs after finding the right words.
“I guess… I’m a little jealous of Snow…” He quickly waved a forelimb as those around him took those words differently. “I don’t mean it like that. I’m happy for her—really! It’s just…” Another sigh escapes from his lips. “Do you think anypony will ever adopt us, Miss. Chestnut?”
The caretaker’s eyes widen, but a comforting look takes over her features afterward. “Sombasi,” her voice is drenched in loving care, “All of you are amazing foals. I promise that a wonderful parent will walk through those doors one day, and you will find your true home. You’re all still so young; you must be patient.” She looks the trio over with a beaming smile.
“Good things will come to you in time. But for now, why don’t you head back outside and enjoy yourselves? Snowdrop wouldn’t want any of you to be sad. Why, this is a time for celebration! And somepony will have to take care of the treehouse while she’s gone, eh?”
The chestnut mare raises her brows playfully, causing a smile to form on the trio.
“She’s right!” Hope gleefully declares. “Besides, you heard what Miss. Chestnut said. Princess Luna will bring Snowy back to visit from time to time, so we’ll have to keep our home nice and tidy until then.” She turns around, “Come on! Let’s go!”
The trio runs off with joyous laughter as Miss. Chestnut observes their departure to its completion. Now alone, the earth pony trots over to the front desk, resting a hoof on it and letting out a gentle sigh.
“You three are our last hope, my lovelies…” She stares off at the crystalline ceiling, practically looking through it to the skies above and beyond. “Princess Amore… I will continue to shower them with love and care until the chosen one arrives—she who will lead those wonderful colts down the right path.”
A giggle escapes from her throat, to which she quickly brings up a hoof to cover.
“Until then, I’ll keep my eyes open for that wonderous…spark.”
-Equestria: Castle of the Two Sisters-
The capital of Equestria’s sturdy walls surrounds a vibrant collective of stone and wood buildings as a towering castle, separated by a sun and moon aesthetic, overlooks it all.
The protective walls are especially needed to repel elements from what tithers not too far from the capital itself: the Everfree Forest. There had been cases of hydras, manticores, and packs of timberwolves becoming too curious or seeking to expand to new hunting grounds.
But the ever-vigilant guardsponies, both of the solar and lunar branches, rise to the occasion with swift wings, hardy armored bodies, raised weapons, and horns at the ready.
……….
As ponies went about their day, a light-gray carriage with the insignia of a yellow sparkling star is pulled along the stone-paved road and toward the northern entrance, one of four, with the other three positioned to the east, south, and west.
Within the carriage’s inner sanctum, complete with two white couches as the walls have a decorative moderate-purple and white stripe pattern, a unicorn mare, which the carriage practically reflects as her coat matches its coloration, and the wall’s design matches her mane and tail, takes a gentle sip from a cup of freshly-brewed tea.
She sets it down on the white-wooden table and turns her light arctic blue eyes over to an opened window, its curtains tied securely on either side in a golden ribbon.
“Sombra and Sombasi, huh?” She asked herself with a gentle and beautifully regal voice before shaking her head.
The unicorn looks over to a manila folder sitting a short distance away from her on the table. She leans in and reaches out for it, grabbing it and leaning against the soft back cushion of the couch she sat on.
“Welp, time to see what ol’ sunbutt has for me.”
She turns the folder over as its cover possessed a simple yet boldened red text:
C L A S S I F I E D
“Hmm,” she hummed and jested. “Cute.” It may be classified, but not for her rank.
The unicorn opens the folder and looks at its contents, but a simple sheet of paper falls out, causing her to click her tongue as it sets itself on the floor delicately like a fallen leaf.
“Celestia, damn it.” She holds the folder in one hoof while leaning down to grab the paper. “I thought I secured that letter last night.”
She rises back up again and passes over the letter’s words with calculating eyes, reading it out loud to herself.
“‘Dear S.M.I.L.E. Agent Starshine Velvet,
I urgently needed one of the Secret Monster Intelligence League of Equestria’s highest-ranking members, and thine superiors spoke highly of thee.
I must be brief, but by the time thou receive this letter, I’ll likely be en route to returning to Equestria. Thy mission will be to adopt two colts by the names of Sombra and Sombasi. Princess Amore will also be working closely with thee throughout the duration of this mission.
In case it wasn’t obvious, these two colts are unique, for they are of the umbrum—shadow ponies who once terrorized the Crystal Empire.
Thou’ll have to forgive me, but this isn’t me asking thee for thine services—I’m ordering thou to accept this mission per Claus 38-C of thine agreement to joining S.M.I.L.E. as an agent.
Please seek out my advisor, Jay Inkwell, for any further information.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia Sol Invictus.
PS: All of thine financial needs will be provided for by the equestrian and crystal crown. However, thou must make the adoption look natural. How thee goes about this shall be entirely up to thine capable hooves.’”
Starshine sighed as she finished, setting down the letter and folder before lazily slumping against the couch.
“So, in essence: I’m being forced to live in another nation and to adopt a couple of colts who are, in fact, shadow ponies.”
The white unicorn reflects on the gist of her mission in silence. After a moment’s pause, she abruptly shoots up, stands tall as her hooves clop against the wagon’s hardened floor, and is filled with renewed vigor.
“Sounds like an excellent learning opportunity to me!” She squeed while prancing in place. “Sweet Celestia, a type of pony that I’ve never had the chance to observe before, and I get to be their mother! Oh, wow! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to meet them!”
She jumps backward and lands on the couch on her back, filled with happiness, as she giggles at the thought of many things to come.
“Just wait a little bit longer, Sombra, Sombasi,” she said while looking up at her carriage’s ceiling. “Mommy’s coming home.”