//------------------------------//
// Chapter Three 
// Story: Heart of Diamonds 
// by APoeticHeart 
//------------------------------//

As I awake to the soothing melody of the morning birds flowing through my opened bedroom window I let out a soft yawn and look over at the little colt sleeping peacefully with a little smile on his face. I can’t help but blush as I see his small form rise and fall gently as he breathes. It hurts me that I have to wake him, but the little darling needs to eat.


I carefully use my foreleg to gently stroke up and down his back as I speak softly “Connor it is time to wake up and get some breakfast darling,” my lips purse into a warm smile as I see him let out a soft yawn of his own. He blinks his little eyes open and gives me a soft smile as he lets out one last small yawn. “Good morning little one, did you sleep well after I rocked you?” I reach over with my free hoof to gently stroke a lone strand of hair in front of his eyes.


He sighs softly and gives me a little nod “Yes Ms. Rarity. I didn’t have any more bad dreams. Thank you,” he smiles softly at me as he stretches his little hind legs and forelegs.


“He is so well-mannered, but most of all precious,” I think to myself as I carefully unwrap my foreleg around him and climb out of the bed.  I stretch out my legs and trot over to the window to inhale the morning air. “Ah… what a marvelous day it is today,” I say aloud as I smile brightly out at the town of Ponyville.


I watch as some of the towns ponies are outside at this time of day tending to their gardens while the fillies and colts are on their way to school. I turn to see Connor sitting on the edge of the bed with his back facing me, with his head lowered, and a look of concern appears on my face. I gently trot over to him, and sit on my haunches in front him, placing a hoof on his little fore hooves in his lap.


“Connor is everything alright darling?” I look at him with a sad smile as I gently rub at the top of his fore hooves. 


He lets out a soft sigh and raises his head to look into my eyes with a little smile “Yes Ma’am. I am okay,” he looks down to see me rubbing at his little hooves with mine and sniffles. I reach up to stroke at his mane, and along his back. I give him a soft smile as I levitate him onto my back, and I feel him wrap his forelegs around my neck.


I trot out of my room to go downstairs until I pass by the bathroom. I decide to levitate his old raggedy clothes and towel with me, so I can get the towel washed, but throw the clothes away. “There is no reason for the poor dear to wear such horrendous clothes anymore,” I think to myself as I trot downstairs.


I enter the kitchen and carefully levitate Conner over to a chair at the kitchen table to sit. He places his hooves in his lap, letting out a deep sigh. I look at him with a soft smile “Connor darling, I am just going to put this towel up to wash, and I will be right back to fix you something to eat. Okay precious?”


He lifts his head, and gives me a light smile “Yes Ma’am,” he lowers his head back down. 


I let out a calm sigh, but look at him with a sad smile. I go into the laundry room; throwing the dirty towel in the clothes basket to wash later, I make sure to dispose of the clothes into a trash bin, but as I levitate them I see something fall freely from the pants. 


“Hmm… I wonder what that could be,” I think as I trot over to the fallen object. It appears to be just a plain piece of paper, and I levitate it to examine it. I can see that it is folded up, so I carefully open it, and what is written on it shatters my heart.


“I wish I had a mommy and daddy.” 


I turn to look out to the kitchen at the poor child sitting quietly. “Oh dear, the little darling is… is… an orphan,” I gasp as tears threaten to escape. I close my eyes, and take a deep breath “Now Rarity, you got to try and calm yourself. You can’t let Connor see you upset, or he will be wondering what the matter is,” I exhale deeply as I open my eyes back up. I levitate the note over to a shelf with clean towels in it, and hide it behind them.


I sigh deeply as I return to the kitchen, and look over at Connor looking outside the window. I smile softly as I start to prepare his breakfast. I levitate a frying pan over to the stove, and go to the refrigerator to get a couple of eggs out.


I turn to look at him “Connor, if it is okay for me to ask, how would you like your eggs fixed?” I give him a warm.


“If it is okay Ms. Rarity, can you fix them scrambled?” He starts to shake, and I look at him worriedly.


“Of course darling, I will scramble them for you,” I let out a little giggle, and give him a warm smile. 
I levitate a bowl out of the cabinets, and crack two eggs. I open the refrigerator to get some milk out to add just a little, so the eggs can be fluffy. I beat the eggs until they are good, and blended. I pour them into the frying pan, and start to cook them. I add just a pinch of salt, and pepper to season them.


I finish fixing the little colt’s plate, and I levitate a glass out of the cabinets to pour some orange juice in it. I smile at my work, and levitate the plate and glass over to the kitchen table. “Here you go Conner darling, I hope you like them.” 


He looks up at me with a light smile “Thank you Ms. Rarity.” He takes his fork, and starts to eat at his eggs. He still takes such little bites, and small drinks of his juice.


I give him a warm smile, and nod “You are very welcome little one.” I carefully trot up beside him “Connor, I am just going to be upstairs making you a new outfit to wear. You just stay down here, and eat your breakfast. Okay darling?” I stroke gently at his mane, and he looks up at me.


“Yes Ma’am.” He goes back to eating at his eggs, and I exit the kitchen to go upstairs.


While I work on his new set of clothes, I can’t help but allow a single tear to fall to the floor. The new clothes I make him are a combination of pale blue shorts, a white and blue striped short-sleeve top, white wool socks, and to complete the set, a pair of plain white shoes. I smile proudly at the new clothes, and levitate them with me to go back downstairs.


As I trot back into the kitchen, I am amazed yet shocked at the same time at what I see. The small child is standing on his chair at the sink, and washing his dishes. I carefully trot up beside him “You didn’t have to do that precious. I would have done it after you finished eating,” I reach up, patting him on the back.


Even standing up on the chair he looks small, because he only comes up to eye level with me. He places his clean plate, and glass into the strainer to dry. He turns to me with a light smile “I didn’t want you to be mad at me Ms. Rarity for leaving a mess,” he gives me a frown and lowers his head, folding his hooves against his tummy.


I give him a sad smile, and wrap my foreleg around him, giving him a hug. I feel him lay his head on my shoulder, and I rub up and down his back. “Well, that was very good of you darling, but I would never be mad at such a sweet little thing like you.” I pull him back to see a light blush on his cheeks. I help him down off the chair, and levitate his new outfit over to him.

“I made these for you Connor so you can wear for today. We are going to go see a friend of mine. Her name is Twilight Sparkle, and she enjoys meeting new ponies such as you,” I stroke at his mane. “And today you will meet my little sister I told you about last night. She usually comes to stay with me for the rest of the day after she leaves school.”


He looks up at me with a light smile “Okay Ms. Rarity.”


“Now how about you go get changed, and I will be waiting for you downstairs so we can leave. Okay?” He gives me a light nod, and leaves the kitchen to go upstairs to the bathroom.


I watch him ascend the stairs, and let out a deep sigh. I hear the voice of my subconscious speak to me Oh Rarity, what have you gotten yourself into?


I close my eyes, and lower my head to ask myself quietly “Oh dear, what am I going to do?”