//------------------------------// // 41. New Dogs, New Tricks - Part 1 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// It was late in the afternoon, and Midnight was really excited. The other day, Twilight had told him of a meteor shower would happen tonight and he intended to take Twinken to see it. With a little a red wagon he’d borrowed from Apple Bloom, he made his way to the orphanage, hoping Twinken had done his homework and would be free tonight. Upon arrival, he knocked on the door, and the matron, TLC answered, “Oh, Midnight, are you here to see Twinken?” “Afternoon, ma’am,” Midnight replied with a nod. “In case you haven’t heard, there’s a meteor shower happening tonight and I wanted to take Twinken to see it!” “Well, I don’t see why not, so long as you have him back before the stroke of twelve,” TLC agreed. “I’ll just get him for you, wait here.” In just a few short moments, Midnight was on his way, Twinken running around him, excitably, “This is gonna be awesome! I’ve never seen a meteor shower!” “Well, you’re gonna see one tonight,” chuckled Midnight, “but before we head out, we should get ready for the show!” As the sun began to set, Midnight and Twinken had gotten pizza to go from Pepper Pony’s, a couple two-liters of colt cola and plastic cups from the local grocery, and had even gotten some baked goods from Sugarcube Corner. Night was just falling as they made their way to the park, heading up the hill where they expected to meet all their friends. Upon arrival, they found Twilight watching as Spike set out a spread with a blanket, a bowl of fruit, another of punch, some scrolls and a quill and inkwell (no doubt for Twilight to take notes during the meteor shower), and he got started on setting up a telescope as Rainbow Dash came over and helped herself to an apple. “Wow, Twilight! You’re lucky to have such a rad assistant!” “Isn’t she though?” Midnight chuckled as he levitated out his own stuff to add to the picnic and even provided a wastebasket, into which Dash threw her apple core. As everypony arrived, they complimented the picnic, Rarity asking, “Do we have Spike to thank for this amazing spread?” “Hey, we provided the pizza, sodas, and the wastebasket,” Twinken said with a clear of his throat as he took a slice. “Oh, we know that, lil’ haystack,” Big Mac chuckled as he ruffled Twinken’s mane. “Well, Spike can be such a little star as well,” Rarity insisted as she levitated a red bowtie bejeweled with tiny gemstones. “I just had to make for him this little bow! Spike smiled as she secured it onto his neck. “Gosh, you guys are embarrassing me, stop it!” “Okay, we will,” Thunderlane remarked with a smirk, Spike giving him an indignant look that made the boys and some of the girls laugh. “Hey everypony! The shower’s starting!” Sweetie Belle announced, and everypony bolted up and looked towards the night sky, the colts and fillies hopping onto the backs of their big brothers and sisters for a better view. Button Mash was allowed onto Big Mac’s back while Spike got onto Twilight’s. They then marveled as streams of light streaked across the night sky, shooting stars zooming with tails of sparkles. It was beautiful, a moment of wonder, and mysteriously becalming. After a while, the shower sadly ceased and everypony resumed the picnic to discuss the shower. “Mm-mm!” Big Mac moaned as he ate one of the baked goods, “Tha’s good eatin’!” “Thank Pinkie Pie,” Midnight said with a smile. Pinkie popped up beside him as she licked her lips, “You should try these cookies, they’re dee-lish!” “Spike made them, speaking of,” Twilight said, “Spike, can you bring us some punch?” She was answered with silence. “Spike?” “I think the punch got Spike,” Rumble brought up and they all looked to see Spike snoozing into the punch bowl. “Oh poor little thing,” Rarity said in a motherly tone. “Aw, he’s worked himself to the bone!” agreed Twilight. “He does so much for us,” Midnight commented with a smile. “And now the punch has been… spiked!” cracked Pinkie. That one got everypony to crack up and before long it was time to go home for everypony. Midnight collected their trash and stashed it all into a garbage bag, having volunteered to get rid of it, as he placed it onto the red wagon. Carrying Twinken, they made for the orphanage, Twinken just starting to yawn as he nuzzled into Midnight’s mane. “Thanks for tonight, big brother…” he said in a sleepy voice, and Midnight just smiled as he felt his heart warm up. Twinken was definitely ready for bed by the time they got to the orphanage and TLC took him off Midnight’s hooves. But before he left, Midnight decided to have a quick word with the matron. “Um, ma’am… Listen, uh… I’ve been thinking lately, about Twinken, and…” “You want to adopt him as your legal brother, don’t you?” she presumed, and Midnight nodded. “Well, Midnight, you and Twinken are clearly close, which isn’t that unusual for volunteers to the Sibling Revelry, and you’ve been such a good influence on him! But I must inform you, the channels for adoption are narrow and difficult – You yourself must provide all the necessities for raising a colt. I understand you have a steady job and residence at Sweet Apple Acres, but… the ponies I answer to are… narrow-minded, if you know what I mean.” “So… what exactly are you saying, ma’am?” Midnight was starting to feel a bit scared. “What I’m saying, Midnight is… You can certainly apply for legal guardianship of Twinken,” TLC explained. “But the process is shaky and very troublesome. The ponies I answer to are more likely to allow a married couple to adopt Twinken, and… Well, I’ll have a word with Mayor Mare and we’ll keep you in the loop, what do you say?” “Okay, thank you for your time, ma’am,” Midnght whispered but before leaving, he said, “Tell Twinken good night for me?” “Of course,” she replied with a sympathetic smile. By the time he made it to Sweet Apple Acres, Midnight felt very down. The idea of not being Twinken’s big brother anymore was upsetting, and it was even painful to think of losing him to someone else. But then he wondered if Twinken would be better off with a couple who could be his new mom and dad. Would it be selfish of him to deny Twinken a chance at a stable and comfortable family environment? He sighed as he sat onto one of the porch chairs sulking, not quite ready to go inside. Suddenly, the quiet night was disturbed as he heard a rustling sound. Getting up, he neared the edge of the porch and looked around, and all he saw was the farm around him. Shrugging, he was about to go inside when he heard a whimpering sound. This time he cast a life-detecting spell and sensed something in the bushes by the corner of the farmhouse. Carefully creeping up, he approached, a spell ready if he had to defend himself, as he telekinetically parted the bushes to reveal… “A wolf puppy!” he gasped! It was indeed a wolf pup, with jet-black fur that gleamed under the moonlight, a star of white on his chest, his paws banded in white as though he ran on clouds, and eyes as green as the forest. The little furball growled at him but he was so tiny it was more cute than threatening. Then Midnight noticed the pup’s paw looked hurt. “Oh you poor little guy…” Midnight took a step closer, only for the pup to raise his hackles, Midnight whispering, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid! I’m not gonna hurt you…” Deciding not to take any chances, Midnight cast a calming spell and the pup calmed down, and looked sleepy as it looked at him with a whimper. Midnight smiled as he levitated the pup out of the bushes and took him inside.