Dark Shadows

by Melody Brush

Ch. 6: Ruthless Comebacks And Defending Families

The tension in school was as high as it ever had been after Petunia's first day. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and a few number of other foals did what they could to help comfort the extremely shy, white filly alicorn while Diamond Tiara did everything she possibly could to make the other's lives dirt as they should be around her. Silver Spoon refused to be around any one else as she frequently attempted to be friends with her co-bully.

Day after day Silver Spoon made more attempts to become friends with Diamond and the more she tried the more she got closer. It was not long after the incident with Petunia the two were at it again like before, with the acceptation of them having four primary targets instead of three, each of which with blank flanks. The three friends defended with scowls against their long time enemies while Petunia tucked her chin against her chest.

One day after school, Diamond and Silver got together at Sugar Cube Corner when they knew the others were not there. They ordered their usual, expensive treats before going to a corner where they would not be heard. Diamond sat at one side of the round table while Silver sat opposite her friend.

"So, what's your plan?" Diamond asked.

"I did some digging on that blank canvas." Silver answered. Diamond looked up to her grey friend. "It turns out, Petunia Snow doesn't really exist. She has no mother, no father and there's nothing on her birth." Diamond shows extreme interest in what she just heard.

"How did you figure this out?" Diamond asked.

"Do you really need to ask that?" Silver replied. "Come on, Diamond, we're rich. We can do what we want."

"Good point." Diamond stated. "Go on."

"Anyway, since she has no real family to speak of, by all sense and purposes she should be in an orphanage." Silver explained.

"But the only orphanage Ponyville has had is now the school." Diamond observed.

"Right, which means we can get rid of that blank flank for good." Silver gleamed. Diamond beamed as she heard this.

"You're talking about sending her to the Canterlot Home For Foals?" She asked. Silver smiled as she nodded. The two smiled at what they just put together.

"Come on, Petunia!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "We'll have a great time crusading!"

"The four of us out to find our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle agreed.

"Yeah!" Applebloom added her excitement. "It'll be much more fun with four of us instead of just three." The three smiled at the pure white alicorn who tucked her chin against her chest.

"Uh... no thank you." Petunia answered the three of them. "I'd much rather go home to Fluttershy."

"Dude, seriously." Scootaloo began. "It can't be healthy for you to stay locked up either Fluttershy's or Big Mac's house."

"I like it when she's at the farm." Applebloom smiled.

"She really should be your sister at this point." Scootaloo stated.

"Is that supposed to be a bad thing?" Applebloom asked.

"Actually, when you think about it, she's really your niece." Sweetie Belle interrupted. The two turned to her while Petunia turned a shade of pink instead of white. "Think about it. She treat Big Mac like a-"

"Stop right there." Apple Bloom interrupted.

"What?" Scootaloo asked with a smirk. "Not up for the idea your brother could be a father?" She grinned.

"No!" Applebloom spat.

"Sure sounds like it." Sweetiebelle giggled.

"Petunia likes Fluttershy just as much!" Applebloom defended. "Maybe she should be Petunia's mother" Petunia only turned more red as they continued talking, forgetting she was right next to them.

"Petunia!" Came a familiar voice, causing the white filly to perk up and bolt. In a streak of white, Petunia was behind the incoming Fluttershy in no time.

"Wow!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "I'd say that was faster than Rainbow Dash, but nopony's faster than her!" She beamed at Petunia. Fluttershy smiles at the filly she had been caring for the last few weeks while the other two awed at Petunia's speed. Fluttershy looks up to the three fillies.

"Nothing happened today, has it?" She asked them. They shook her heads.

"We did a lot of the same things together." Sweetie answered.

"Drawin'." Applebloom stated.

"Racing" Scootaloo added.

"And even decorating." Sweetie Belle smiled. Fluttershy smiled at the three before turning to Petunia.

"Did you have fun?" She asked her. Petunia nodded.

"Hey, Fluttershy?" Scootaloo asked. Fluttershy looked up. "Do you think you can convince her to come crusading with us?"

"Yeah!" Applebloom added. "We could have so much fun if she joined us!" Fluttershy looked to Petunia.

"Do you want to go play with them?" She asked. Petunia shook her head. "Why not?"

"I..." Petunia looked up. "I'm not ready for that... not yet." She poked her head from behind Fluttershy's hind leg to look to the three who 'aww'd in disappointment.

"Now, girls." Fluttershy looked to them. "Remember, she's been through a lot before she came to us. We don't want to push her too fast now, do we?"

"I guess not." Sweetie said with a frown.

"I'm sure she'll come to us when she's ready." Scootaloo stated hopefully with a smile.

"Yeah!" Applebloom added with her own smile. "Remember when we were too embarrassed of our blank flanks to be open at Diamond Tiara's party?" The other two blushed a bit at the memory of their first meeting. Petunia looks up to them.

"Maybe you could tell me about that time some day?" She asked. The three perked and smiled at her.

"Sure!" They gleamed. Petunia smiled shyly. "Maybe after my chores are done, Granny Smith'll let me come over for the night." Applebloom thought.

"I have some training to do with Rainbow Dash before the night is out." Scootaloo observed.

"I'll see if it's alright with Rarity." Sweetie Belle smiled.

"Whoa, girls," Fluttershy interrupted, "let's not get ahead of ourselves." Fluttershy remembered the last time the Cutie Mark Crusaders spent the night at her cottage. Encountering the cockatrice nearly turned all three of them into stone. Had it not been for Fluttershy's infamous Stare they would all be stone statues in the Everfree right now. Fluttershy would rather not let herself get into that situation again, especially since she had little Petunia to take care of right now. "Maybe tonight's not the best time for a sleepover." The three let their heads down in disappointment. Fluttershy immediately regretted opening her mouth before she looked to Petunia. "Do you want a sleepover tonight?" Petunia looked up.

"Maybe we can plan it for another time?" She asked. "But, not tonight" She looked to the three.

"Oh well." Scootaloo said. "If not tonight, we can still have another night together!" She smiled at the other two.

"We do have a lot to do at the farm right now, so..." Applbloom observed. "It's okay." She smiled.

"Yeah." Sweetie added. "Rarity probably has a lot to get done, so I might not have time." The three smiled.

"See you tomorrow!" They all exclaim to each other before bolting off to their respective destinations.

That night was no different than any other night at Fluttershy's. Fluttershy brought little Petunia home where she played with the many animals surrounding the cottage before they went over what homework she had to do for that night. Then Fluttershy cooked them a dinner they both enjoyed together before Fluttershy helped Petunia get ready for bed with a bath, brushing her teeth then into their shared room upstairs. Fluttershy read Petunia a story that put her right to sleep then she continued to read quietly to herself for a little while before putting the book away, shutting off the light then snuggling up to the filly in her bed.

The next morning Fluttershy woke up to find Petunia still asleep, quite peacefully. Ever since the Summer Sun Celebration, Petunia's had more peaceful nights, which she was happy about. Petunia has only had a horrible time since the day she arrived months ago. She smiled at the filly as she eased her way out of bed without disturbing the sleeping filly. She smiled at her before she slipped out of the room and down stairs.

When she got down stairs there was a knock on the door. Fluttershy looked up. "Who would be visiting at this time?" She asked herself as she went to the door. Standing just outside her cottage was a stern looking mare with golden brown coat, yellow mane and tail and dawned with a blue suit.

"Is this the residence of a Miss Fluttershy?" The mare asked with a rather deep voice for a female.

"Yes." Fluttershy answered. "Can I help you?"

"It has come to my attention you have an orphan filly in your care?" The mare asked.

"You mean Petunia?" Fluttershy asked.

"The filly has no name, or parents for that matter." The mare stated. "Therefor it is my duty to take the filly to the Canterlot Home For Foals." Fluttershy blinked.

"The orphanage?!" She cried out.

"If the filly is not here I will check Sweet Apple Acres instead." The mare explained.

"Now, wait." Fluttershy stated.

"Spare me the arguments, I've heard them all." The mare stated bluntly. Fluttershy blinked as if a knife went through her heart.

"But-" She began.

"Look, Miss Fluttershy, the filly has no home, no family, she doesn't even have a birth certificate. By all accounts, she's an orphan and all orphans go to an orphanage. You can give her to me now or I will find her and bring her to the orphan home myself." Fluttershy began to tear up.

"Fluttershy?" A tiny voice came from upstairs. Both mares looked up while Fluttershy's heart sank. "Oh no!" She thought to herself. "Who's that?" Petunia asked. The mare stood up.

"My name's Caring Hoof." The mare introduced herself. Petunia shied away. "I'm here to bring you to your new home."

"This... this is my home." Petunia protested.

"I'm sorry, child, but you cannot stay here." Caring stated.

"Wait just a minute!" Fluttershy jumped up and scooped Petunia in her forelegs. "I've been caring for Petunia for several months now!" She glared at the mare. Caring just narrowed her eyes.

"And that matters how?" She asked. "The filly-"

"Petunia!" Fluttershy interrupted.

"The 'filly', who will be given an official name after her arrival to the orphanage, is to come with me today. With or without your permission." She told Fluttershy. "As an orphan she belongs in an orphanage. Not in a zoo." Fluttershy glared.

"What's going on here?!" Came another voice from outside. The three looked over to find Twilight coming in with Spike right behind her to find out what the commotion was.

"Your highness." Caring bowed as she realized it was the princess of friendship.

"Caring Hooves?" Twilight asked. "What are you doing here?" Caring looked up to the princess.

"My job." She answered. She pointed to Petunia. "This filly has no family or home and is too young to be on her own, so it is my responsibility to bring her into proper care."

"Um... you come to pick her up after nearly six months?" Twilight asked.

"It has only just come to my attention last evening." She answered. "To think, a princess like yourself would keep such a thing from me."

"I thought the situation was settled since both me and Celestia were well aware of Petunia's presence in this cottage and she's been under the care of two of the most trustworthy ponies I know." Twilight stepped to the mare.

"Regardless, without a family, I must take the filly to the Canterlot-"

"Canterlot Home For Foals, I know." Twilight finished the sentence for her.

"Twilight, I won't let her take Petunia." Fluttershy stated as she held Petunia close.

"I'm afraid not even a princess can stop this from happening." Caring looked to Fluttershy. "I must bring the child to the care of the orphanage. You can take proper action there. Otherwise, she cannot stay her." Fluttershy was in tears while Petunia clung to her desperately.

"Spike!" Twilight called, causing her number one assistant to stand at attention. She grinned at him. "You know where the books are." He saluted with a 'yes ma'am' before bolting off.

Outside Fluttershy's cottage, hidden in the bushes to the right stood Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon watching the house closely, proud grins on their faces. Soon a golden brown mare with yellow mane and tail comes up and knocks on the door. Judging by the expression on Fluttershy's face it is the orphan keeper from the Canterlot Home For Foals. The two giggled quietly.

"This was the greatest idea ever, Silver Spoon." Diamond gleamed.

"I know." Silver smiled. The two did their 'bump, bump, sugar lump rump' dance and walked off giggling. "That blank canvas will be gone for good!" Silver smiled.

"Serves her right for getting between us." Diamond sneered. The two walked off in victory.

"What are you two so happy about?" Scootaloo asked as they turned a corner.

"Oh, no reason." Diamond said. "Just the first day with one less blank flank to be around." Scootaloo blinked.

"What did you do?!" She cried.

"Better hurry if you wanna see your friend the blank canvas again." Silver laughed. Scootaloo wasted no time in bolting straight for Twilight's.

"Twilight!" She cried as she burst through the door. "Twilight!?" She looked left and right to find the princess.

"Scootaloo?" Spike came out from a corner. "What's wrong?"

"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon have done something wrong to Petunia!" Scootaloo explained. Twilight appeared behind Spike.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"Twilight! You have to get to Fluttershy's cottage right away!" Scootaloo cried. Twilight flew off out the door.

Spike ran out of Fluttershy's cottage, over the bridge, passed all the animals, nearly running over the three fillies who cared about Petunia like a sister, through town dodging ponies, not stopping until he got back to the library. Inside he bolted around every shelf to find the books Twilight asked him to find. "Where is it? Where is it?!" He asked himself as he skimmed through the shelves. He pulled the latter out to skim through the higher shelves to find what he was looking for. "Ah huh!" He pooled a book on adoption from the shelf and slid town the latter to the floor before bolting off again. After another taxing run back through town he made his way back to Fluttershy's cottage.

"We have to get to Fluttershy's cottage, right away!" Scootaloo cried to Applebloom.

"What's going on here?" Apple Jack asked as she poked her head out of the kitchen to find out what the screaming was about.

"Scootaloo says something's going wrong with Petunia at Fluttershy's!" Applebloom explained, causing Big Mac to poke his head out.

"Petunia's in trouble?" He asked alarmed.

"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon have done something awful, I just know it!" Scootaloo explained to the two older ponies. Without another word, Big Mac bolted out of the house, quite literally through the closed front door. Apple Jack, Applebloom and Scootaloo rushed after him.

Big Mac galloped along the road toward Fluttershy's without any sign of slowing down, even so much as to lose sight of AJ and the others behind him. He collided with a small green a purple dragon, causing both to fall to the ground, the book Spike had fell with a thud.

"Ooh..." Spike groaned as he rubbed his head before looking up to Big Mac. "Big Mac? Where are you off in such a hurry?" Big Mac looked to the little dragon.

"Ah could ask you the same question." He answered. Spike got to his feet as he picked up the book.

"Twilight wanted me to get this book over to Fluttershy's in a hurry." He explained, the reason he was running sparked in his mind. "Oh! And it's important!" He started to run off before Big Mac scooped him up with his muzzle and bolted off to Fluttershy's, Spike almost falling back before he gripped Big Mac's mane and held on for dear life.

"What's goin' on with Petunia?" Big Mac asked.

"An orphanage care taker named Caring Hooves is trying to take her away!" Spike answered. "Twilight needs this book to help make it so she can't!"

"Then we better get goin'!"

"Princess, I do not have the time for this." Caring Hooves stated impatiently. She turned to Petunia. "Come with me, child."

"No!" Petunia cried as she clung to Fluttershy, who stood guard over the little filly with more assertiveness than she had ever shown before, even against the dragon trying to nap after he sent Rainbow Dash flying through the others like a bowling ball to the pins.

"Now, don't make this any harder than it needs to be." Caring Hooves said as she stepped up to take Petunia.

"Get away from that filly." A deep voice stated firmly. They all turned to find Big Mac glaring at the mare as Spike slid off his back and rushed off to Twilight. Caring rolled her eyes with a sigh.

"It doesn't matter how many ponies you include in this matter, I will be taking the child with me to Canterlot." She stated as she turned to Petunia. Big Mac stepped between her and the other two, glaring at the mare.

"Step away from my Petunia." He stated firmly. She simply looked up at him with an equally stern gaze.

"Do you have any idea what I can do to you for obstructing my work?" She asked. Before he could answer Twilight stepped up with the book opened and a few pages taken from it.

"You're not taking Petunia away, because she's going to be adopted." Twilight stated with a proud smile. Fluttershy and Big Mac blinked. Caring raised a brow. Petunia looked up from behind Fluttershy.

"Adoption?" Petunia asked. Twilight smiled at her.

"It means you'll get a mommy and daddy. Or at least one or the other." She explained. Petunia cannot help but gain a smile from what she was hearing.

"Princess Twilight, I cannot condone with this." Caring stated. "There's no one here to adopt her-"

"I'll adopt her!" Big Mac and Fluttershy stated at once. Twilight smiles at them as they both look to each other in shock while Caring looks to them.

"You two?" She asked. "You're not a couple, nor even live in the same estate."

"He works at Sweet Apple Acres while she tends to animals in her own home." Twilight explained.

"That's not a valid condition-" Caring started.

"Ah'll do anythin' to make it so you don't take away our Petunia." Big Mac stated.

"I'm not letting her be taken away." Fluttershy added her own words. Twilight levitated a piece of paper to the two with a smile.

"I'm afraid I cannot permit this." Caring stated. Twilight looked to her. "For one, these two are not a married couple. It would not be proper for me to sign an orphan filly to two individuals who are not related."

"As long as she's being signed to a parent or two, it doesn't matter what the conditions are, so long as they are good living conditions for the foal being adopted." Twilight explained. "Both Fluttershy and Big Mac have been caring for this filly for several months now, she's been nursed to full health since we all found her, and both living conditions are perfect for children." Twilight stated matter-of-factly. Caring Hooves stood silent, unable to come up with a valid argument against Twilight's statement. Twilight smiled at the two. "You're both willing to become Petunia's legal parents?" Fluttershy smiled at Petunia as she pet her head.

"I am." Fluttershy answered.

"Eeyup." Big Mac said with a smile. Petunia looked up to them both with a growing, tear-filled smile. Twilight smiled at the two as she held up the paper to them in her magic. Big Mac look to the paper before looking to Fluttershy.

"Ya gotta quill?" He asked. She nodded and pointed to the table at the end of the room. All of them walked over to the table while Caring stood in defeat with a look of disappointment in her eyes. Twilight set the paper down on the table. Big Mac took the quill first in his maw and signed the paper on the dotted line for the potential father. When he finished, Fluttershy did the same for the dotted line for the potential mother. Twilight looked to Caring as Fluttershy helped Petunia to scribble her name on the paper that included her.

"Well, caring." Twilight said. "There's only one thing left for you to do." Caring stared at Twilight for a minute as if trying to think of a way to stop this from happening, but it was clear Twilight had her beat this time. She stepped up to the paper, took the quill and signed where she needed to sign on the paper.

"Very well." Caring stated. "The alicorns filly known as Petunia Snow is now daughter to Fluttershy and Big Macintosh of Ponyville." She said. "Congratulations." She looked to them all before she turned to the door and walked off.

"Caring." Twilight called. She stopped and turned to the princess. "Would you like to come to the library for some tea?" She asked. "It has been a long time." She smiled. Caring smiled softly.

"Thank you, Princess, but I must decline." She answered. "I do still have other duties to attend to." The two smiled before Caring left. Twilight smiled at the three by the table who were in a group embrace. The three were now a family.

"Petunia!" Scootaloo's voice called as she, Applbloom and Apple Jack came in.

"She's alright." Twilight answered. The three looked over to have smiles slapped on their faces to the sight.

"What happened?" Apple Jack asked. Twilight smiled.