The Sun rises on the city of Fillydelphia and shines through the window of the Hotel room Applejack and Cheerilee were staying in. They were still asleep but soon the morning rays became too much that even the curtains were not enough to block out the wake up call. The two ponies roll out of bed and head for the bathroom to get ready to start their day. Once they had straighten out their manes and clean up their fur, they make their way down to the dinning room in on the first floor. They eat their breakfast and soon make their way outside and decide to take a little detour heading to the orphanage, even though they were already late. Cheerilee asks as they walk, "So, what is the first thing you think we should do if showing up late doesn't work today?"
"Not sure sugar cube, we could try and make it ta where we are treatin the foals nice," Applejack says.
"That's a little too easy, and I doubt it would be enough to get us fired right away. We would have to do countless slip ups for some thing like that," Cheerilee replies.
"Okay, Ah think here's a good one. When we see that another employee is startin ta hurt or punish one of the youngins we jump in to stop the punishment. If that don't work, we stop doin everythin they told us ta do and start doin everythin they told us not ta do," Applejack suggests.
"Now that is a good idea. That will definitely throw us out. Do you know why the princesses want us to do this?" Cheerilee asks.
"Ah think it's because they don't want us ta be mixed up in the turmoil that is likely ta occur durin the raid of the orphanage," Applejack says.
"That's what I was thinking, I just wondered what you thought," Cheerilee says.
"Well, Ah reckon we stayed away from the orphanage long enough. Hows about we get ta headin in for work now?" Appljack says.
"Fine by me," Cheerilee says.
They trot towards the orphanage, knowing they were likely to be getting a lecture on being late. Once they were at the front door, it swings open and the Mistress stomps her hoods hard on the ground and says, "You two are an hour and a half late."
"We're sorry miss, we," was all Cheerilee could say before the Mistress cuts her off and says, "Sorry isn't gonna bring back the minutes we lost in maintaining this place because of your tardiness. You better get to work and pray you don't make the same mistake twice."
"Yes ma'am," The two mares say in unison.
Soon they head into the orphanage and see what other mischief they could cause. They make their way into the common area where children are picking up toys or playing with them quietly. Two colts run past them and one was unable to stop himself and tripped over a toy causing both of the colts to fall and scrape their knees with some blood starting to surface. Cheerilee see's an opportunity when a gray unicorn stallion says, "I told you two to walk, and now you both scraped your knees. For disobeying me, both of you.." he was cut off by Cheerilee who says, "Will follow us to the bathroom."
"Excuse me ma'am? They need to be punished," the stallion scolds.
"No, they need ta have their cuts looked at and cleaned," Applejack snaps at him, catching Cheerilee's execution on the matter at hoof.
"They can survive some scrapes, they need to obey orders given to them, which they didn't," the unicorn says back.
"If these scrapes are not properly cleaned, or looked at, these two colts could get sick," Cheerilee says, with a lot of the employees in the room looking ant her and Applejack with wide eyes, as if to ask, 'what do you two think you're doing?'
"It serves them right, now it's time to give them their punishment," the gray pony says.
"No, their comin with us and that's final," Applejack says, giving him a glare that would even make full grown mares want to run for cover. "Come along boys," she finishes, as the boys get up and walk over to them, limping from the pain and getting on the mares backs.
The unicorn stood like a statue with his mouth wide open, as if Maredusa had just gave him the stare that turned anypony stone, before he finally snaps back to reality to say, "Hey, bring those foals back here, they need their punishment!"
By the time the time he had said it, Cheerilee and Applejack had already carried the colts through the doors that lead into the common room ten yards away. Once they reach the bathroom, the two mares set the colts down on the ground and the little foals sat there as Applejack and Cheerilee brought out the first aid kits. Soon the sit down in front of them and Cheerilee says, "Now let us take a look at those nasty little cuts."
The colts were hesitant but soon held out their legs. Applejack then says, "Now we're goin ta clean these up so they don't get infected, so this may sting a bit."
They soon apply the cloths that they had dabbed with disinfectant and placed them on the foals scrapes. They wince a little and Cheerilee says, "We know it hurts, but it will only be for a little while. You two were very brave to disobey those other ponies and come with us."
"W-why are you being so nice to us," one colt asks.
"You don't remember us from last night youngin?" Applejack asks quietly.
"Wait, you're the two mares that are going to help all of us?" the colt asks.
"Yes, we are not actually from here. We're from a town called Ponyville, and we have an orphanage there that has way nicer staff. They do not punish little foals like you for any simple reason. The orphans in our town love it there," Cheerilee whispers.
"I wish we could be there," the other colt says.
"You will. By tomorrow night this place will be gone for good and ya'll will be comin ta our little town," Applejack whispers as she finishes putting the band aid on the colt leg.
The two colts smile at each other and hope that the two mares are not playing a joke on them. "Now don't tell anypony, or our cover is blown, alright little ones? (The colts nod) We won't be here tomorrow working, and judging by what we have done here, probably not for the rest of today, but don't fear, because tomorrow, things will get better for all you little ponies, guarantee it," Cheerilee says making sure nopony outside was listening.
They make their way out of the bathroom and then to the common room, and there they see the Mistress. "You two mares, come with me," she says.
They start to follow the mistress and Applejack looks back at the foals and winks at them to assure them she and Cheerilee had been telling the truth. They walk through the hallways of the orphanage to the Mistress's office. Once inside the mare slams the door walks furiously to her desk and says in an angry voice, "I can see you two are going to be a problem. When you showed up late, I went easy, because I thought you were just trying to get used to the new timing of your new job. Now you go and treat these foals with caring and generosity. I said you wouldn't last two weeks, you couldn't even last two whole days to obey these rules. There is a reason why those foals are sent here. Because no pony wants them and they deserve to be treated this way."
Seeing this as another opportunity Applejack says, "Ah thought it was because the youngins lost their parents and had nowhere else ta go, and that they are supposed ta be treated with the proper care here."
"Silence, our job is to discipline these foals, not to make them feel like they are all high and mighty," The mistress says.
"I thought we were supposed to be looking out for their well being, not punish them for simple little mistakes that anypony would make as a foal," Cheerilee says.
"If we treat them like that, then they never learn why not to make those mistakes. This orphanage is here to build their character for good behavior, and seeing as you two ponies don't grasp that, you leave me no choice," the Mistress says.
"What are you saying?" Cheerilee asks, knowing the answer already.
"You both are fired. I want you out of my office and out of this orphanage by the time the clock strikes noon," the Mistress says, as the clock was five minutes away from the hour of noon.
"You'll be regretting this ma'am," Applejack says as she and Cheerilee leave the office.
"I think I'll actually enjoy the rest of my day once you're gone, now get out of here," the Mistress says.
Soon Cheerilee and Applejack were out the door and onto the hotel. As they walk Applejack says, "Ah hope those two colts will be okay."
"They will be fine. We're getting them out of there tomorrow and all of the little foals will be looked after at our own orphanage, remember?"Cheerilee asks
"Yeah, you're right, Ah need to send letters out tonight ta get all the Apples here ta help with the move," Applejack says.
"Do you think they can make it here tomorrow," Cheerilee says.
"We Apples know every safe and not so safe shortcut in Equestria ta get from one big city ta another. That's how we're able ta move our loads so fast when leavin our towns ta sell them elsewhere. So if we have the Princesses send them tonight with their duplication and teleport spells, the family members will be here by noon at the very latest, no matter where they are, aside from the crystal empire city of course. Don't think Ah have family that resides there, yet. Ah'll have ta show ya'll, Apple Bloom, Babs, and Scoot's them shortcuts when we're back in Ponyville."
"Wow, and you haven't taken Apple Bloom yet you say?" Cheerilee asks.
"She just turned six this year, we were going to have her and Babs get together during the one month holiday to show them the short cuts together. That is, until we found out Scoot's was one of us and we adopted you into the family. We may have to hold the reunion early this time round to let the family celebrate the outcome of what's going ta happen," Applejack says.
"Well I'm looking forward to it," Cheerilee says as they near the hotel.
They soon get to the hotel and tells the staff what was about to happen and soon enjoyed the rest of their day while still thinking about the orphans. Once nightfall came and the foals were put to bed in the orphanage, the two mares were waiting in their room and soon see a huge flash of light that could only mean the princesses were there. "Well, this is going to go faster then would have initially anticipated back in Canterlot," Celestia says to Luna.
"Quite so big sister. Ah Applejack, Cheerilee. I'm glad to see you are both still in one piece. That was quite an impressive display you put on today. While we were at the orphanage, I was able to sneak in an opportunity to have the EBI, Fillydelphia Police Department, and our royal guard we brought with us be ready to raid the orphanage tomorrow," Luna says.
"Well that's good to hear. There is a favor we would like to ask of you, your highness's," Cheerilee says.
"Oh, and what might that be?" Celestia asks.
"Well, we know there are a lota orphans ta move from the orphanage and ya'll are good with many spells that even Twilight's unable ta do yet, so, we was wondering if you could send out letters ta all Apple Family members sayin that we could use their help movin the foals, your highness's?" Applejack pleads.
"We had a feeling you might ask that. Fortunately, last night while all the Apple Family members were still asleep, I was able to visit the young adults in their dreams last night to give them the news and ask them to help. Now I don't usually do that and it would be an invasion of privacy most of the time, but I felt this was an exception, considering the situation here. I had already talked to my sister about it and she agreed to it, and all the family members agreed and are on their way here as we speak, probably on the outskirts by now. I'm sure their little ones came with to help out, so they are probably going to keep the orphans company. So it seems everything is in order for tomorrow," Luna says.
"I wonder if word reached Apple Bloom and Scootaloo?" Cheerilee asks to no pony in particular.
"Who knows, you know now that I think about it, our orphanage is gonna need some remodelin when we get back ta house the foals coming in. Only issue is the money ta put inta it," Applejack says to Cheerilee.
"We will cover that, I will not have the rebuilding of the Ponyville Orphanage made difficult by financial issues. News about this entire event is going to spread fast across Equestria, and we will need as much help as possible," Celestia says.
"Ah think my family can help big time on that part your majesty," Applejack states.
"Very true, but it can't hurt to ask for some extra hooves. Now we will let the two of you get some sleep and we will see you tomorrow when we must tell the orphanage personnel why they are being shut down and arrested," Luna says.
"Thank you your majesties. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning," Cheerilee says.
"Good night my little ponies," Celestia says as she and her sister teleport out of the room once more to ready the raid for tomorrow.
Soon Applejack and Cheerilee get themselves ready for bed and set their alarm early, preparing for what would be a change for the Orphans of Fillydelphia, and of course seeing how the press would spread the story as they would probably want to get the latest scoop on the princesses and what they were doing. Soon both mares fell asleep, ready for tomorrow morning.