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// Chapter 6 - A Little Help From a New Friend 
// Story: Fall's Hearths Warming 
// by Yosh-E-O 
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	Every pony was in great spirits as they all shared what they knew about Hearths Warming.   It was perhaps the first time Fall could remember everyone getting along so well.   The best part was how she wasn’t being teased by Rawhide, his gang, or any of the other orphans.

Unfortunately, not everything could be perfect forever.   Since most of the ponies were so used to Fall doing all the dirty chores, like sweeping, mopping, and dishes, the little, brown Pegasus was solo-saddled with those tasks every pony had gotten used to her exclusively doing.
“Well…,” sighed fall as she struggled to work the broom and dust pan.   “At least every pony is happy.”
“Fall?” asked Soft Steps as she slowly made her way towards the little Pegasus.  “Can I help you?”

Fall paused for a moment as her blue eyes gazed with disbelief at the purple Earth Pony.
“Help?” asked Fall.
“Yes,” replied Soft Steps while she took the dust pan from Fall.  “You sweep up the dirt and I’ll help you scoop it up and throw it away.”
“Really?” asked Fall.  “You can do that?”
“I can do a lot of things,” stated Soft Steps.  “I may not be able to gallop, but that doesn’t mean I’m useless.”

Fall took a moment to notice how Soft Steps kept her undersized leg lifted above the ground while putting all her weight on the other three.
Soft Steps took notice of Fall’s eyes looking towards her underdeveloped leg and smiled.
“We have a lot in common,” she said.  “I wouldn’t have even known you were a Pegasus if I didn’t notice those tiny wings hiding behind your mane.”
Fall lowered her head.
“They were broken,” stated Fall with a frown.  “The filly who did it didn’t even get in trouble.  Ms. Powder Puff just got all angry about me ‘playing too hard’ and had some pony look at them.  She didn’t care who did it.  She didn’t even have to apologize for hurting me so bad and Ms. Powder Puff just kept telling me to ‘suck it up and deal.’.”
“That’s awful,” stated Soft Steps.
“Since then,” Fall continued.  “My wings haven’t grown at all even though I’m still growing, really I know it doesn’t look it but I am..just… very, very slowly.”
“Did any pony ever take you to a doctor?” asked the purple pony with hope in her eyes.
“That’s what she called the pony who looked them over,” Fall replied flatly.  “But, Ms. Powder Puff got all angry when we got there and they started talking about treatments, appointments, bits, and insurance.  I didn’t know what any of that meant, but Ms. Powder Puff got very mad, asked them to just bandage my wings, and told me the pain would go away on its own.”
“And that was it?” Soft Steps said with disbelief.
Fall nodded her head slowly.

Soft Steps lowered her head.
“My mom and dad took me to the doctor all the time,” she said softly.  “I never liked going, but they said the doctor could help me with my leg.”

Fall noticed tears forming in Soft Steps eyes.  So she dropped the broom to go stand by the purple Earth Pony’s side.
“Did I make you sad?” worried Fall.
“No,” replied Soft Steps with a sniffle.  “I just miss my mom and dad.”

Fall thought on what she could say.  However, she barely had any memory, if any, of her mother and father.  She believed she could remember her mom, but the memory was so hazy that it seemed more like a dream than something real.
“I’m sure you miss your parents,” sobbed Soft Steps.
“I…,” sighed Fall.  “I’m not sure if I remember my parents.”
“What?” asked Soft Steps.  “How long have you been here?”
“As long as I can remember,” stated Fall.
“No pony wanted to adopt you?” asked the purple pony.
Fall shook her head.  Her pig tails lightly swaying as she did.
“No,” she replied.  “The grown-ups usually showed me last due to something they referred to as ‘Not wanting to give ponies the wrong idea about the place.’.  Then, when they started calling me ‘The False Foal’ cause of how slowly I was growing for my age, the older kids would find ways to hide me in a closet, or stuff like that, since they wanted to improve their chances of being adopted since younger foals are almost always adopted first.”
“That’s terrible!” cried Soft Steps.

The tiny, brown Pegasus said nothing as she resumed sweeping the floor.
“Fall,” said Soft Steps.  “We’ll get you out of here.”
Fall felt herself smile as the purple Earth Pony said what her friends, Pint and Bucky, had been telling her.
“I mean it!” proclaimed Soft Steps.  “My brother is the best and he won’t let any pony shove you in a closet, or hide you away.”

Fall’s smile grew wider.
“Really?” she asked.  “You think your brother can help me to get adopted?”
“I’m sure of it!” cheered Soft Steps.  “My brother can do anything!”

The little Pegasus knew Pint and Bucky were going to get her out of the orphanage, but having someone genuinely care about getting her out who was in the orphanage with her made the prospect of escaping such a terrible place seem all the more believable.
“Thank you,” stated fall.  “Does this mean we’re friends?”
“Of course!” chimed Soft Steps.  “Friends forever!”