My New Family
"So, are you ready?"
Stinkbug looked up in surprise. Mister Rightaway, the representative from the Bureau of Changeling Affairs, was standing in the doorway of the hotel room, smiling. Twilight Sparkle had introduced the two right after school had ended, and the green earth pony (he was the first pony that Stink had ever seen who shave both his hair AND his tail) had, with surprising care and concern, listened to the youngster explain what he'd been doing for the last year.
It had not been an easy time: a child, alone and in hostile territory, has to make do with what he could find. Since he knew practically nothing about ponies in general, and with almost no training whatsoever in the art of acting, he'd had to go with the simplest possible expedient: pretending to be a dumb animal.
It had worked, more or less. After all, who doesn't love a friendly stray dog? He'd seriously considered letting himself be 'adopted' by one of the families in town, once he'd mastered long-term transformation maintenance, but since he lacked a teacher to show him how, it was slow going...
Still, it had been a good day, yesterday, in spite of the total panic from earlier on. After hearing the full story, Rightaway had said that he'd see about finding someone to look after him from now on, and would make certain that a changeling would be by before nightfall to share enough love to keep Stink going for at least a week, if not longer. Given a hotel room to spend the night in, Stink was able to sleep in a bed for the first time... ever. True to the representative's word, a changeling by the name of Popillia Japonica (an aristocrat, surprisingly, but she'd seemed much nicer than the aristos that he'd met before) dropped by, and had given him love... A whole, whole lot of love. He was currently carrying enough to keep him going for the next five years! He wasn't sure if it was just because she was nice, or because she didn't realize that a commoner was less likely to burn through that much love on accident, but either way, he could breathe easy for the first time in a year. He was no longer in immediate risk of running out...
Grinning, Stinkbug nodded, and said, "I'm ready. Let's go."
---------------------
As the earth pony and the changeling walked down the street, Rightaway said, "Before we start looking for a family to take you in, I need to drop by and check on Orlando and Spicebush Swallowtail. They're moving in this morning, and I want to make sure there's nothing they need. After I finish, we'll check with a few ponies I know. I can't make a promise that somepony here will be able to take you in, but I think the odds are pretty good."
Stinkbug nodded and said, "I understand. I've got plenty of time on my clock now, so it's not a super-huge rush like it would have been before."
Chuckling, the earth pony said, "Yeah, Miss Japonica told me she gave you a good deal more than a week's worth. She figured that you'd earned it, after going through so much on your own." Looking at a street sign, Rightaway nodded, and said, "We're almost there. It's right over this way."
There was suddenly a tremendous noise, the sort that was not simply heard, but felt, throughout the entire body. It took a moment for Stinkbug to realize that what he was hearing was actually singing, from an incredibly deep and powerful voice.
"Largo al factotum della città. Largo! La la la, la la la, la la la, LAAAA! Presto a bottega che l'alba e già. Presto! La la la, la la la, la la la, LAAAA!"
"Ah," Rightaway said, chuckling, "I forgot to tell you: Orlando sings opera, and he's got a bit of a voice to him."
The earth pony and the changeling came into view of a quaint looking house with a cart stuffed with boxes out front. A slender changeling wearing a light blue dress was deftly flying back and forth between the cart and the house, taking small boxes inside. However, what immediately drew Stink's attention was a massive, red-eyed, jet-black griffin, who was currently carrying a grand piano with what seemed no effort whatsoever, while he continued to cheerfully sing.
"Ah, che bel vivere, che bel piacere, per un barbiere... di qualità, di qualità!"
The hovering changeling noticed the two approaching, and turned to the griffon. After floating down to where she was level with the griffin, she whispered something. Nodding, the griffin stopped singing and, with almost impossible ease, set the piano down gently, and turned towards the pair.
With a massive, booming voice, the griffon said, "Ah! Rightaway, my friend, it is so good to see you again!" Looking down at the young changeling, he continued, "And you have brought with you a guest! Molto bene! Very good!" Extending a clawed foreleg, the griffin said, "My name is Orlando Furioso! It is good to meet you!"
Orlando's voice was the type that would add an exclamation point to the end of every sentence he spoke, even his questions. It wasn't the volume, so much as the energy he put into every word. The fact that his voice was so deep only added to the effect, making it so that when he spoke, the overall impression was of a talking earthquake.
"I'm Stinkbug," the changeling said, extending his foreleg with a smile, which was immediately enveloped by the griffin's talons. The grip was surprisingly light: as massive as he was, it seemed that Orlando did, in fact, know his own strength.
Giggling, the hovering changeling curtsied, then said, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Spicebush Swallowtail. You can just call me Spice. Everyone does." Her voice was sweet and soft, in contrast to her husband. Of course, an enraged minotaur with a megaphone would be soft, compared to Orlando. "So, what brings you two here so early?"
"Well," Rightaway said, "I wanted to check in with you both, and make sure that you were settling in alright. I was going to see about finding this kid a home afterwards, so I thought I'd go ahead and bring him along. I hope you don't mind."
With a big laugh, Orlando said, "Not at all, my friend! The more, the merrier! Come inside, come inside! I was due for a break, and we just finished getting the kitchen unpacked! I can have something cooked up, and we can have a nice chat over breakfast!"
With another soft giggle, Spice said, "Well, I'm not hungry, obviously, but I imagine that Stinkbug would enjoy a chance to speak with another changeling?" At the youngster's energetic nod, she smiled brightly, and said, "Then come on in. Please excuse the mess."
-------------------------
While Orlando and Rightaway settled into the kitchen, Spice asked Stinkbug if he'd mind joining her upstairs. There were a few things that she wanted to check on, fragile items she wanted to make sure were not broken during the trip over. The room they entered was plain and undecorated, but filled with boxes.
While she opened the first box, she gave little laugh and said, "I know exactly what Rightaway is planning. He didn't just 'decide' to bring you by on your way to someplace else: he wanted to give us the opportunity to adopt you before anypony else did."
Surprised, Stink asked, "You really think so?"
Nodding, as she held up a plate for inspection, the older changeling said, "Definitely. If I know anything about my husband, it's that he's very passionate about... well, just about everything. It's one of the things I love most about him. He can be very easily swayed by a sob story, and from what Rightaway told me about you yesterday, you've had a harder time than most other changelings this last year. I mean, spending an entire year as a stray dog?"
With a shrug, the youngster admitted, "I really couldn't think of anything else. Pretending to be a pony is really, really hard, but being a dog is simple: Woof, woof, wag your tail, remember to sniff stuff, and you're good to go. I'd sometimes get dog biscuits, which I'd give to other dogs, who'd be incredibly grateful. Those were good days."
Nodding, Spice, still inspecting the other items in the box, said, "Well, at least you were able to work something out. I've heard a lot of stories about changelings who were taken advantage of by some terribly cruel ponies. Not all of those stories had happy endings, I'm sorry to say. Ah, but returning to the original subject, Rightaway is probably telling Orlando the entire story now. If I know my hubby, he'll come in here, tears in his eyes, and declare that he would be more than willing to take you in. I honestly wouldn't have any problem taking in a cute kid like you, myself," she admitting, rubbing the top of Stink's head, eliciting a laugh from the youngster. "But this isn't about what my hubby wants, or what I want." Closing the box of fragile items and setting it to one side, she said, "This is about what you want. Would you like to stay here, with us?"
Smiling, Stinkbug nodded and said, "Yes. Yes, I would."
Smiling radiantly, Spice said, "Good. Now, brace yourself. You're going to get a gigantic hug in about fifteen seconds."
Almost immediately, there was a series of loud thumps, as of someone running up the stairs. A moment later, Orlando appeared in the doorway, tears pouring down his face. With a single motion, he swept Stink up and gave him a tremendous hug, exclaiming, "Povero ragazzo! Poor boy! Rightaway told me the entire tale! Tremendo! Orrendo! Terribile! My heart, it goes out to you! Please, feel free to stay here with us, as long as you like! La mia casa è la tua casa! My home is your home!"
Laughing, Spice said, "Sweetheart, we were just discussing that very topic. I had just asked him if he'd like to stay with us, and he said yes.'
The griffin, now suddenly joyous, exclaimed, "Magnifico! Superbo! Splendido! Welcome to our home, ragazzo!"
Rightaway walked in, smiling. After a moment, he said, "Well then, that makes my day a little easier. I'll be by this afternoon with some forms to fill out, and we'll make it all formal and official. Welcome to your new home, Stinkbug."
The lyrics for what Orlando is singing comes from the opening to probably one of the most well known songs in opera, Largo Al Factorum from The Barber Of Seville. You probably know it as 'Figaro!'
And lyrics, with translation:
FIGARO!!!
Orlando's name also happens to be the title of an opera, Orlando Furioso, or 'The Frenzy Of Orlando".
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Chapter Three Up! And this one is done. I'll have a sequel up and running in the near future, and yes, I will have a story about how his new parents got together some other time.
This is really sweet.
The Griffin was an extremely pleasent surprise. Sava bien!
dawww
4154834
I love it when people go daww
I love the multi culture you have going
Very nice ending. but I hope U will do an epilog about what happens to Diamond Tiara so we can see how that ends up.
Are you Italian, or did you use a translator?
(I ask because my mother told me that Ragazzo means boyfriend...)
I got diabetes from this chapter.
4154980 lol
also nice icon!!!
Orlando is officially best griffon. I love him!
4154950 I don't know if Ragazzo means boyfriend. I do know that it means Boy, as in "Young boy". As Ragazza means "Young girl"
Mama Mia!
...it's all I could think of...Italian Gryphons are awesome, damn it!
This story was Excellent... ido.
He likes the Do' I noticed. Maybe you should throw in a yo' for balance?
Well, it seems that you've done it again! You have once again made something that I enjoy reading that is not overly dark or sad!
I applaud you, Mr. Nonsense.
4154950 "Ragazzo" means "boy".
4154950
I admit, I did use a translator, but as the other posts are stating, it's just 'boy'.
4154941
There will be a sequel in the future, don't you worry.
4155581
, it's what I'm here for.
4155920 and there was great rejoicing that day
I love this line and how you then proceed to end each and every Orlando's sentence with an exclamation point!
Though it would be better if you did add a question somewhere in there. He never asked a thing if I read that right.
Being italian my native language, i could point out a few minor grammar mistakes in Orlando's phrases (if that's okay with you
).
The stress marks are all missing in the linked lyrics.
Orrendo needs a double R.
The rest of the other italian words are correct.
4154950 "Ragazzo" could mean "boyfriend" in certain phrases (for example: "Io ho il ragazzo"="I have a boyfriend"), but here Bucking Nonsense used "ragazzo" correctly: in this contest it means "boy".
Daargh, the cuteness! It's killing me!
Why do you have to be so good? Now, everyone will be wanting to read more about this. How does Stinky handle adopted life? How does Stinky and Silver Spoon's relationship develop? Will Diamond Tiara actually change now or will more drastic measures need to be taken? Will you be able to handle the pressure?
*reads the first comment*
...I guess so. Good Luck!!
Well, that covered the who will he remain and who ends up taking care of Stinky. All in all, resolved quickly, had the foreshadowing so it's not out of the blue either, and it introduced us to Stinky's new guardians.
Nice job.
Now we can start getting into things!
Btw, is this Changeling Sombra Organization a part of some group universe somewhere? Is there a story that shows it coming together somehow? Just curious. There are a lot of U-verse groups out there.
Anyhow, lets see what happens next.
4155920
Good. I like when that happens. *WolfGrin*
At first I was like:
Then I was like:
Graci.
(Why did I just mash three languages into a single sentence? "Thank you for the next chapter.")
... para... tsugi... capitulo?
I would have liked to see what one changeling sharing food with another looks like.
cute
I want to see the date!
ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/IMAGES/Plant_Pest/japanesebeetle.jpg
I see what you did there
4156429
Is... is that a heart made out of Pinkie?
4156917 Yes. Yes it is.
4155993
I had originally planned on there being at least one, but I couldn't find a spot to put it in this time
4156134
I shall work on getting that correct in a little bit. Thanks muchly.
4156266
.
I never learned how not to be awesome. I'm sorry
4156270
This is my personal verse. I plan on marking my with a name, once I've decided on a good name for it.
4156917
, glad someone did. She was mentioned very briefly in Cooking Roach.
For some reason, the first line of singing brought to mind the image of Michigan J. Frog.
...
I bet Poison Joke makes his voice all high and squeaky.
Having been watching fullmetal alchemist lately I can only picture Orlando as the griffin version of Armstrong. ... this pleases me. Love the story cant wait for the sequel!
Nice to see Stink has a new home, but With Diamond Tiara's luck she would probably try to get Trixie to remove the reform spell only to have it accidently strengthened a thousand fold. After a suicide attempt they'd only be able to undone by completely rewriting her personality.
4157893
Actually, I'd like to think it would have a reverse-Flutterguy effect.
4159076
... Isn't that what I just said?
4157893
Like Sweetie Belle?
I have to say the story seems... incomplete. You might consider writing some more parts about reforming Diamond Tiara, Sombra's life, Stinkbug's relationship with Silver Spoon and such...
4160163
Like Sweetie Belle on Helium.
Or maybe Micky Mouse.
4160875
Sequel is in the works.
4161496
Now that sounds very promising! I sure am looking forward to it.