//------------------------------// // The Raid and The Move // Story: Scootaloo's Guardian // by Night--Mist //------------------------------// The morning came and the two ponies were asleep until the alarm went off. Once Cheerilee stopped the chiming she says with a yawn, "Well, time to get up and make the little ones happy today." Applejack yawned herself and says, "Eeyup, time to shut down that orphanage and get all those little rascals back to our town. Hope the family's prepared for all the foals they'll be transportin." "I'm sure they are Applejack," Cheerilee says. "Well, times a wastin, let's get to it," Applejack replies. Soon both mares get themselves ready for the morning and are soon on their way down to he orphanage after having breakfast and telling the hotel that there something happening at the orphanage they don't want to miss. All the Ponies follow them and they round the corner that the orphanage was on. When they get there, they see the princesses pulling up in their royal chariots along with the EBI, FPD (Fillydelphia Police Department), and their royal guards. Princess Celestia says as she and her sister dismount, "Ah, Applejack, Cheerilee, glad to see this morning, and it seems your family has just arrived as well." Applejack and Cheerilee look behind them and see many of the Apple Family members trotting up to the orphanage, some with wagons, and the two mares also spot Big Macintosh pulling a wagon with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Granny Smith, and Winona on it as well. Big Macintosh soon stops the wagon next to Applejack an nuzzles her as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom and Winona get of the wagon to greet their family. "Mom, oh I missed you," Scootaloo says as she nuzzles her mother. "I missed you too honey," Cheerilee replies. "But why are we back in Fillydel.... Oh no," Scootaloo says hiding underneath her mother once she sees the orphanage. "Don't worry Scootaloo, it's going to be okay. This is actually something you don't want to miss," Cheerilee assures her daughter. Scootaloo was curious what her mother meant but still stayed between her mother's forelegs. The Crowd settles down their chatter as Princess Luna says, "We wish to speak to the Orphanage Mistress and her Employees, and we ask that you bring out the Foals outside as well." The was no answer. They saw the mistress peak outside the window, but nopony answered the door. "Mistress we know you're in there. Come out here at once!" Celestia says, using a bit of her old Royal voice at the end. Still nopony answered. "Gentlecolts, you may proceed in breaking the doors down," Celestia says to the EBI and FPD. The Stallions made their way to the door, and it didn't take long to break it down. Soon they make their way inside and the Royal Guards follow. It took about thirty minutes for them to round up every mare and stallion employee and all the foals they were taking care of. Scootaloo was in a bit of a shocked state, for she had no clue what was going to happen. The Mistress was was the last one to be brought out and she spotted Scootaloo and said as she trotted towards her, "You... You made this all happen. You brought them down upon us." She was about to try and hurt the little filly when she sees all the adults of the Apple Family close by, including Cheerilee, stand around the little pony, who had retreated further beneath her mother and they all eye the Mistress and snort at her, as if to say, 'You try and touch her and you'll have to deal with us,' and she backed off. She spins around when Princess Luna says, "If you attempt to harm her, you will only find yourself in a deeper situation then what you're already in, and not just from us." "Indeed, Scootaloo is not to be harmed by you or any of your employees ever again, nor are any of these other foals who have been under your care," Celestia says. "I'm not sure I understand what you're saying your majesties, and this little filly is a run away. She should be brought back to the orphanage right now, your highness" the Mistress says. Scootaloo whimpers and Cheerilee wraps her hoof around her to protect her. "You know perfectly well of what we are talking about. Scootaloo has a family now, and it should have been that way to begin with," Luna says. "I beg your pardon your majesty?" the Mistress asks acting as if she didn't know what happened. "This fine mare, right here is now her mother, and these are her blood relatives the Apple Family. Somehow, the will that her parents had made has become lost and we were unable to find out what would have happened if we had seen it two years ago. Destruction of documents without our consent is against the law, but unfortunately we can't rewrite that history, or many things could be left unchecked if we did. That is not the main reason we are here though," Celestia says. "Well, what is the reason you are here, your majesties?" the Mistress asks. "We are here to shut down your orphanage, and to place you and your employees under arrest," Luna says as the police and royal gaurd start to approach the orphanage workers. "What? But why, what have we done?" the Mistress asks. "You have mistreated these young ones and punished them to an extent we find unlawful and abusive," Celestia says. "I beg your pardon your highness's, but where is the proof to accuse us of such crimes?" the Mistress asks, trying to keep her orphanage and keeping herself and her workers out of prison. "We were able to see what was happening here first hoof," Celestia says. "I don't recall any recent visit, your majesty," the Mistress informs her. "Do you recall two foals that were recently added to your list of orphans?" Luna asks. "Yes your majesty," The unicorn says. "And do you notice how the two fillies are not present?" Celestia adds. "Y-yes, your highness," the Mistress answers, nervous about what would happen next. "Well it just so happens, those two fillies were my sister and I, disguised as foals, so we could see what was happening to the foals of this orphanage," Celestia says. "What? But there was a notice from the news that you were...." the Mistress was cut off as Luna says, "Needed elsewhere, yes that is correct, we were needed here. The notice never said anything about leaving Equestria." The Mistress was speechless, her own rulers were right under her nose, and she didn't detect their presence. "What about those two ponies? (she points to Applejack and Cheerilee) Aren't you arresting them as well, your highness's?" The Mistress asks hoping to take down the two ponies she fired with her. "Those two ponies were actually working undercover for us, feeling they should witness what it was like here at the orphanage themselves, and to help inform the foals in your care of what was to happen. And as I recall, you fired them a day and a half into their job," Celestia states. Once again the mistress was left speechless. She tried using her last line of defense and asks, "What of the fillies and colts? They don't have anywhere else to go. Are you planning to destroy the only place they have to stay your majesties?" "They will be well looked after. The Apple Family was kind enough to offer their help to relocate the fillies and colts to the Ponyville Orphanage. There, they will receive the proper care and treatment that should have been given to them here, and for all the runaways of this orphanage who are not here, I hope they find their way there, if they haven't found homes already. You and your employees, on the other hoof, will be given your sentences back in Canterlot and then sent to prison to whereever our EBI and the Fillydelphia Police Department see fit. You may take them away Gentlecolts," Luna says, as the ponies of the EBI, FPD, and a few of the royal guard put the pony workers of the orphanage in chains. The foals of the orphanage and Apple Family alike watch as the employees and the Mistress are dragged away. The Princesses then look at the little orphans and Celestia says, "Little ones, come over here please." The little ponies obey and kneel before their rulers. Luna smiles kindly and looks at her sister before turning back to them once more as she says, "We have many wagons here prepared for all of you, and they will be ready to leave as soon as we know all of you are ready to go. All we need you little ones to do now is to gather your belongings and bring them to the wagons out here. And I'm sure some of the adults here will help with the babies' belongings." The foals eye all the wagons that had been pulled up to the orphanage and were all in aw as one asks, "All those wagons are for us your majesties?" "Yes my little pony, now you might want gather your things if you want to make it to the new orphanage before nightfall," Celestia says, making the foals excited enough to pack there belongings. The foals were so excited that they almost forgot to bow to the princesses on their way back in. Some of the Apple members started to gather the baby foals and set them in the wagons while others went inside to get the baby belongings, and since there were so few, it was easy to tell which baby had which belongings. Soon all the young ponies were ready with their things when the clock had struck ten o clock in the morning. Princess Celestia orders in a demolition team to destroy the orphanage and eliminate the bad memories for all the orphans. They began destroying the building after they moved everything that could be salvaged and the last orphan had been successfully loaded onto the wagons. "Little ones say goodbye ta the one orphanage you will never see again and will be happy ta see gone," Applejack says as the wagons start to pull all the youngsters, both orphan and Apple family alike and the princesses take off in the their royal chariots. All the little foals wave and Scootaloo looks over at her mother, walking along side the wagon, and she smiles, knowing that the one place she feared and all the ponies she feared were gone for good. Cheerilee smiled back at her and says, "Now you see why I had to leave. It was to make sure that you don't ever have to worry about that place. I would never let them hurt you honey." Scootaloo only smiled more and blushed a little, knowing she had ponies who cared about her, especially after seeing the Apple Family defend her against the Mistress. As the family trots on about halfway to Ponyville, Apple Bloom asks, "So, what's gonna happen to the orphanage back home now?" "Well, seein how we have all these new youngins coming in ta the orphanage, we'll probably have ta do some remodelin to make the place bigger and better then it already is for them," Applejack says. "Do you think anypony of the Apple Family might want to adopt some of these orphans when we get back?" Scootaloo asks. "There's a possibility that could happen. They may even adopt a foal or two who's already at our orphanage. I'm sure a few of our family members are wanting to adopt a foal, right Applejack?" Cheerilee asks. "Ah don't see why not. We're always expandin, and Ah know some of our family has made adoptions, your not the first Scoot's,"Applejack says. "I think you're too young to adopt a foal though, Scootaloo," Cheerilee says. Scootaloo looks at her wide eyed and says, "Wait that's not what I....." She stops in mid-sentence as she sees some of the orphans giggling. She then laughs herself getting her mom's joke. "Nice one mom," Scootaloo says. The Apple Family and the orphans continue to talk while some of the orphans play with Winona, who was enjoying the attention. They made it home to Ponyville, after taking the quickest and safest shortcut, around five o clock in the afternoon. Once they get into town, many of the ponies are surprised to see all the little foals riding in the wagons and some ask what was going on. The Apple Family answered their questions as they made their way towards the orphanage. Once they get there, Mrs Hearty walks outside and asks, "Wells bless my soul, where did all these adorable foals come from?" "Some from the Fillydelphia Orphanage, Mrs Hearty," Cheerilee says. "Wait, why are they not in Fillydelphia? Did you..." was all she could say before Cheerilee says, "The Princesses have put a stop to their cruelty and the orphanage has been shut down. Now all the orphans who are here need a place to stay which we hope you agree to take in." Mrs Hearty says with tears of joy in her eyes and her employees' eyes, "How can we not? I know we can make room for these little munchkins for a little while." "Well it won't be too long. Ah Reckon by now, the princesses have everything in order ta help remodel this here orphanage," Applejack says. "Well what are waiting for, all you little ones get yourselves inside before you die of anticipation," Mrs Hearty says in a joking tone. All the little foals are motionless for a second until they hear, "Well you heard the mare. Let's move those little hooves inside, unless you wanna sleep outside." All the little ponies start to make their way into the orphanage and the grownups watch as they all walk in with smiles on their faces. Once all the fillies and colts were checked in, Mrs hearty says to Cheerilee and Applejack, "I don't know how you managed it, but you certainly made a lot of little ponies happy today." "Well it wasn't easy, but you'll be reading about it tomorrow if not a couple of days about what happened while we were there. The Orphanage has been shut down, the caretakers are apprehended, and the building demolished, so there is no reason to for these foals to fear that place anymore," Cheerilee says. "I am honestly impressed and I am happy to see all these little ones in a safe place. Makes me wonder what would have happened if the events that led up to this had never occurred," Mrs hearty says. "Well, it's like the princesses say, better ta leave the past unchanged, or it may allow some important things ta go unchecked," Applejack says. "Well, I'll let you all take off for home and let you enjoy your evening. The foals are in good hooves now. Thank you very much," Mrs Hearty says. "Well thank you for taking them in," Cheerilee says. "Always a pleasure to help little ponies in need dear," Mrs Hearty replies. The mares soon exchange their goodbyes and Applejack leads all the Apple Family members back to the farm, aside from Scootaloo and Cheerilee, who decided to head back to their home. Once Cheerilee and Scootaloo are back in their house, they each have a daffodil sandwich and some hay fries to fill their bellies after the long trip back home. Once they finish, Scootaloo was ready to pass out again, but fought to stay awake as she slowly trots upstairs with her mother to get ready for bed. Once they brush their teeth and take out their braids, both ponies climbed into Cheerilee's bed and were soon snug under the covers next to each other as the each fell into dreamland, thinking about what tomorrow would bring.