Adoption
"You don't have to worry, Miss Pie. Seeing how she had no other family, we'll see to all the funeral arrangements." Mr Barrington sighed, looking at the sobbing filly Bon Bon was trying to comfort at the other end of the Bakery. "I'm certain you can handle things here with the bakery."
"What about the child?" Apple Pie asked, nodding back towards Honeyberry. "Is there anyone who can take care of her?"
"She'll have to go to the Coltonville orphanage, I'm afraid." Mr. Barrington replied, trotting his way back out the door. "I'm certian the two of you can handle it, Miss Pie. Have a pleasant day!"
"Mama's gone... my mama's gone!" The little filly wailed, crying her eyes out as Bon Bon held her. "Mama, please come back! I promise I won't be bad anymore! I won't get in your way!"
"Apple, we can't just leave her like this!" Bon Bon protested, looking up at Apple Pie pleadingly. "I'd ask my mum and dad to take her in, but we've got a full house already!"
AJ looked back at the sobbing little filly, and once again saw her with a red bow sitting there and crying. Apple Pie closed her eyes for a moment in thought, before finally coming to a decision.
"She's not going to any orphanage, Bon Bon." The blue mare declared, going over and picking the teary-eyed little filly up in her hooves. "I'll adopt her for my own."
"Huh? Are you kidding me?" Bon Bon asked in disbelief, reaching for the nearest bag of doughnuts. "Do you really think they'll let an immagrant just off the boat from Equestria adopt a little filly? How in the heck do you plan to support her?"
"I'll take over Sweetberry's bakery, and run it myself." Apple Pie replied, whispering to the filly, and trying to calm her down. "I'll still need you around here, of course, and we'll keep making those sweet treats Coltonville loves so much!"
"Oh yeah? And just how are you going to afford a store like this?" The teen filly retorted, scarfing down another doughnut. "Sweetberry had a huge mortgage on the Magic Kitchen, how in the world would you get it paid off?"
Apple Pie though for a moment, then a small smile crept across her face.
"Oh, I think I may have a way, Sugar Cube." Apple Pie trotted her way out the door. "Keep an eye on Honeyberry, I'll be back soon!"
But how did you afford to buy a whole bakery? Did you go to the princesses for help?
Not quite, Apple Blossom. See, I had a few souvenirs left over from my time in Equestria, that could easily pay for something like a bakery. So, I decided to stop by the Meadowsweet Family's farm, and see if I could make a deal...
" Excuse me, Mr. Meadowsweet?" Apple Pie trotted up to him, while the farmer pony was working on his tractor. "I was hoping to talk to you, if you weren't too busy."
"Oh, hello Miss Pie! So good to see you again!" Mr. Medowsweet looked up from his work on the engine, his face covered with black grime and oil. "So sorry to hear about Miss Sweetberry, so very, very tragic. "He wiped the dirt off of his face with the handkerchief in his hoof. "So, what can I do for you?"
"I had heard Sweetberry had mentioned you had a brother who works in a museum," The blue mare replied "and I was wondering if you'd be interested in a business proposition."
"Hm? Are you still interested in keeping us Sweetberry's deal? I'd be happy to do that if you've taken over the bakery." The farmer pony replied. "But I really don't think that would involve my brother."
"No, although I would like to continue the deal Sweetberry set up with you and Mr. Barrington, I was talking about selling a very valuable antique that I possess." She said with a smile, reaching into her saddlebag. "It's a precious been passed down through the Apple family for many, many generations."
"Well now, Miss Pie, I'd have to call my brother in to look at any antiques you may have, but I-" The pony suddenly stopped dead, as the mare pulled an old brown stetson out of her saddle bag. "Wait, your name is Apple... is that... what I think it is?"
"I see they do teach about important figures in farming history in the earth pony agricultural school." She replied, holding the hat up with her hoof. "I've got a certificate of authentication from the Equestrian historical society, along with photographs of my ancestor wearing said hat. So... think the museum might be interested?"
"Let me- let me get my brother on the phone." The Mr. Meadowsweet declared, slowly trotting his way into the house. "I think we can make a deal."
Looking back at the hat in her hooves with regret, Apple Pie could only think to herself. "That hat was the last piece I had of my past. But I can't just let that poor little filly end up in some orphanage." She looked towards the horizon. "I was always taught me that family was the most important thing in the world. Well, now it's time to start a family of my own."
You sold your hat? But... you told me that was your favorite posession!
Sometimes, Apple Blossom, you gotta let go of the past, to build a better future. And the hat not only sucseeded in paying for the bakery, but also cleared all the red tape in adopting a sad little filly. But that didn't make things any easier for either of us.
It was evening, and Apple Pie was trotting up the stairs to Honeyberry's room. The little filly had barely come out of her week since the funeral, and the mare was extremely worried about her.
"Honeyberry? Are you in there?" Apple Pie asked, knocking on the little filly's door. "Sugar cube, I need to talk to you."
When no response came, Apple pushed the door open, to find the little filly lying on her bed, and staring out the window at the rain pouring down in silence.
"Sugar cube, you sure you don't want to come down and get something to eat?" The mare asked hopefully, holding up a steaming hot tray. "I made hot cheese sandwitches and apple pie, your favorite."
The little pony merely sighed, and didn't even move.
"I know it hurts, Honey. And I know how much you want to crawl away somewhere and hide." Apple Pie whinnied in an understanding tone. "But I know what you're going through, I lost my own daddy and mama like you did. It'll only hurt more if you keep it bottled up inside."
Still the filly did not respond, and continued staring at the raindrops.
"I'll just leave your supper here for you, then." Apple Pie sighed. "But if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here for ya."
Apple Pie slowly closed her door, and left the orphaned filly to her own misery.