> A Mirror Gate Adoptable > by Ponyess > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > An Early Tale: 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The first I recall, if it is indeed my memory, is when I saw the pink pony coming through what did look like a mirror. Only you know better then to believe in these stories? She had picked me up, and placed me on her back, how else? I know I had been told, there is no such things as pink ponies? Aparently, they had all been wrong, since here she was. The pink poni. She had told me, her name is Pinkie Pie, and that all was to be for the better. All she asked of me, that day, is that I smile? Why? Then, as she came out of the other side, of what was a mirror, to any other, including the other ponies in the village, where she lives. Where we live, as it turned out. It is named Ponyville. It's my home. Apparently, she is working as an apprentice, for Mister and Missis Cake., at what was known as 'the Sugar Cube Corner', which may be a fitting name? They sell pastries there, they did back then, they still do, as they will keep doing. First now, I can see what changed, what happened that day. I'm looking up at her, Pinkie. She throws parties. That's her lot in life, apparently. What I also noticed, she had a pictogram on her flanks, it's apparently called a Cutie Mark. Hers being three balloons, yellow and blue? She had explained it, they represent who she is, her special talent. Every other now and then, I see her pulling one of these balloons from off of her rear, only to blow it up, tieing it together, and leave it for decoration? It's a great trick, for all I care, but I can't for my life see how she does it. When I saw her balloon trick, I thought I had seen the strangest of her activities, but then she pulled out the party cannon, just to decorate for a party, as she explained it. Ofcause, my mind was blown, but the room did look festive. > A Day of Mine: 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apparntly, I'm turning five today, or it is what she told me. If she is to throw me a party, who am I to argue? I have better things to complain about, or rather, worse. She had prepared it all, while I had been asleep. Which isn't that hard, when you're only five, you sleep several hours more than a pony would. Now she had led me into a large room, it's decorated with balloons, naturally, then there are the streamers and confetti? If she did it, why not? “This way, dear fillie!” she had told me, as she leads me from my room, where I had been sleeping. Since she still lives in the room, at the Cakes' house where I sleep, would merely be a wardrobe, but to me it is still large. This world is strange. I can't get it all through my head. If I will recall the party, this would be a great first actual memory. Pinkie Pie is almost as if she had been one of these huge toy ponies. Only she does so much more. Like planning parties. I had come to realise, throwing parties is her main joy and purpose in life. She just works at the cafe in order to have a job, and to meet all the Ponies. Since she is like a gigantic toy, it is hard not to play with her all the time. Even though she is also caring for the Cake twins. I guess it doesn't really bother me, they're just two more funny ponies, just like my very own Pinkie Pie. Sometimes Pinkie Pie is more of the mother than a toy, since she takes care of me in such a motherly way, just like when she is helping the Cakes' caring for their twins. She loves baking, and then she hoof me a Cup-Cake, or a Muffin, whichever pastries she was baking this time. She always makes then yummy, so I love her for baking them. Since I never had a mother I can recall, I only have her, and the list of antics she's constantly playing around. “I'll make you a Pinjata!” Pinkie Pie declared. “A Pinjata, what's that?” I responded. “It's an object I'll hang up on a string from the ceiling, it's filled with sweets and treats. You're going to hit it with a 'bat', and make the treats come pouring down on the floor, then you'll pick up as much of it as you can. I intend to invite a few fillies to make the party more fun!” Pinkie Pie Explained. “Then it is a way to hide the treats, and a way for me to enjoy beating it up, in order to et them out? I guess this should be some fun!” I suggested bravely. “I've already hidden your treats away, the Pinjata is already fed. You'll see her later today. Then you'll see a few foals I hope you'll enjoy hanging out with. They should be your age too, so this should be fun!” she pointed out. “Sweet. You did invite the Ponies too?” I enquired, curiously, yet hoping she would say she had. “Yes, of horse I did. I invited them over a week ago, with the date and location specified. That's merely part of good planning, and a party can never be better than your planning permitted it to be, you know. You'll learn this soon enough. You're living in my home, after all!” she just pointed out. “Oh yeah, how could I ever forget that, I'm living with the best Poni there could ever be. I can't forget that, you'd know that. Besides, if I forgot, wouldn't you be crushed?” I pondered. “if someone managed to actually forget me, yes, I would be crushed!” Pinkie Pie explained simply, with a sad expression coming over her face as she said it. > The Party: 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ”Surprise!” I hear them saying as I entered the room. Several small ponies in various colours standing in the room, all turned towards the door I came in through. Somewhere further in, into the room, I sense another Pony, Pinkie pie is there, I know it, even before I actually had seen her. I guess I learn to recognise her, and her presence. “Yeah, I sure am surprised. It's all so colourful. I'm not really used to colours!” I pointed out in response to their exclamation. Curiously I look around, trying to make sense of everything, the colours, balloons all over, confetti hanging from overhead. I may not really recall my past, it's just the vague sensation, as if I smell something out of place? “I love it!” I then exclaimed happily as I tried to bounce like my new Mother, into the room. Then I could feel her giggles all over the place, not so much in volume, as in the sensation of it. Apparently, she had managed to find the entire rainbow? From red to purple, though she had not yet presented any of them. I guess she had already explained why we were all hear, and who I am. They just smiled at me, maybe they looked at me like the toy I felt I saw in my mother Pinkie Pie? Looking closer, they had no funny images on their flanks, why? Pinkie Pie has three balloons on her flanks, and she loved making funny points out of them, ripping one right off of her flank, blowing it up and handing it to me. I had been laughing at her as she did it, then pondered where he balloon came from, and how she could blow it up like that. She doesn't even have hands to hold the balloon with. Sometimes nothing here makes sense, then it makes perfect sense. Then I realise just how little my former life made sense to me, as it is. Here it is just one big party, and all are gigantic toys to play with. Isn't she the best toy ever, one who can be my mother at the same time? Then I realised she was behind my back, covering my eyes with a strange mask that makes it all dark and I can't see anything. “Here's the bat I promised you!” she then exclaimed as she aimed me in a new direction. “Just a few steps, and you should be able to hit the piñata!” she then pointed out. All the foals obviously know what was about to happen, since I clearly could hear them cheering. I guess they found this hilarious to see. Then again, from what I had been told, there would be more than enough sweets and treats for any and all to go around. She always kept a huge stash of them, hidden away somewhere, so they would be close at hoof to her. Then it hit me, just how starved I had been, I never had been given sweets or treats before. At least not until I moved in with Pinkie Pie. She had been only to happy over me calling her Mother, Mom, or what other similar words. Now I had an entire piñata. Maybe they were told they could help me catch the spoils? I guess I didn't care. I was to have more than my fill, even if they had theirs' too. Besides, the best part is still having Pinkie Pie my mother, wouldn't it. Something changed, was it them suddenly giggling, or was I mistaken? Either way, I stop, it had been over my head by now, by the sounds I thought I hear. If I had walked in the direction intended, it had to be. I swing the bat, and felt something. Either I had hit something else, but that couldn't be the case. I tried to give it a new swing, by what I had felt, and sure hear a noise and feel the bat hit something. I tried a few more times, before I hear a different nose, small things falling all over the floor. There was a sudden cascade of candy, sweets and treats. Though as they stop, it is dead silence. None of them said anything. I then noticed Pinkie Pie pulling the rag off of my face, I could see, and it was once more light. Now I see numerous individual sweets and treats all over the floor. Once I could see the light of day, I see an ocean of candy, sweets and treats all over the floor around me. I take a moment, just looking, where had she managed to hide all this? Then I throw myself on the floor, trying to pick out what looks the yummiest, which could as well have been everything, but I can't eat anywhere near as much as this in a months, as much as I may wish I could. In the end, I just push a mountain to one side, away from the others, in an attempt to claim it, though I still leave the ocean more or less intact, by the looks. I had tried to taste a few, but they all are just too good, maybe she knew my taste already, or is it part of her talent, or her being my mom? After a while, I realised, they were all over the spoils I had left behind, maybe they knew better then to take from any of the others, there simply is way too much to bother. When I had managed to hide my stash, I noticed they had their own mountains, but the ocean still is where I had left it. For once, I had been right, there is no point in petty squabbles with Pinkie Pie securing the treats. She had given me a sack to store my treats in, and they apparently had theirs. She still leaves the remainder where it lay. “Time for the cake!” Pinkie Pie announced. There is a scream from all the ponies, rushing towards the table, and I soon found my place. > A Parent's Choice: 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Since I live in the outskirts of a small village, I reckon I had room for a Filly by my side. Living alone is less fun than I had expected, so the choice was to adopt her. I had come across the address to the Adoption Agency. I just had to go to the most local office. I had made the effort driving there, hopping into the vehicle early, just after breakfast since it is a long ride. Once I had arrived at the Orphanage, the building is surprisingly small. As I enter, I see a receptionist desk, and a young girl is behind it. I figured she was there mainly in order to help me filling in the form, in order to make the adoption legal. “Greetings. I take it you're here to adopt a child?” she promptly announced as I walked up to her. “Hi, yes I am. You're helping me with the form, right?” I responded. “Yes, that is part of my duties here. Wouldn't want the little Cuties going to the wrong people, you know. Just place your left hand on the green mark and slip your ID into the slot and we can get started!” she pointed out, frankly and direct on the point. I place the palm of my left hand on the mark as indicated and slipped my ID into the slot as she had indicated. “There you are, now I can fill in the form for you. You're in the age to adopt any age of your choice. Since you live on a farm, you're also eligible to adopt an Equus, or Pony, if this is your choice!” She explained cheerfully. “I think I'd look at the Ponies, if I may?” I responded. “The gate to your left, then. It's marked 'Equus', so you can't miss it!” she responded, as she filled in a few options directly on the touch-screen. “Thanks!” I responded, and followed her directions, walking to what was to pass for the gate, gasping as I see what looks like a mirror, but the label is as she had stated, so I move forwards, only to notice that I could walk right through. On the other side of the gate, I found a green and blue room. In the right corner I find knee high boots. I guess they would make it easier when I was picking out the Pony I was looking for, or is it making it easier on the Ponies? I ended up picking a pair of red boots and slipped them on. After a moment, I noticed the effect they had on me since I could see how my lower legs changed, giving me what was to pass for Equus hooves, rather than the girl's feet. Now I follow the sign leading me to the fillies. As I looked around, I found Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Indigo, Purple, Pink and White Ponies. Manes and tails in all the various colours. Since I had chosen to have a Filly, they all have blank flanks. On the Orphanage, they were all looking about with faded colours to them. Eyes down cast, looking up as they hear me enter. Earth Ponies, Pegases and Unicorns alike, sitting quietly. After looking around, I found this Filly with hooves looking as if they had been made out of white chocolate. She is a light cyan with green eyes, mane and tail in an iridescent cerise. As I moved closer, she looked right up at me, beaming happily. “How would you like to have a new home?” I asked her. “New home? With parents and all these things? My very own room too? Who here doesn't dream of these things. Yes, a new home would be great!” she responded. “It will be your parent, your room, and your things. Plenty of room for us. Your very own family!” I told her. Ofhorse it would be her family, her room and all that. I live alone, but I have more than enough room for the two of us there. She eagerly followed me. Apparently she really was dreaming of what I was offering her too. I couldn't blame her. Maybe in part because I'm not the girl to cast blames around me, but living at an Orphanage isn't much of a life for a Filly either. “Right this way, if you want to, I'll take you home today!” I told her. “Oh yes. Going home. Going home. Going home!” she squealed happily as she bounced after me. She didn't stop by the gate, just waited for me, as I signed out. From now on, she's mine, but I have to care for her, naturally. Which is what I had intended to do. She just smiled at me, as I formalized the adoption. She eagerly bounced after me as I walked out the door, all the way to be vehicle too. Then she sat down in the front seat beside me. Just looking at me with large eyes, excitedly. The fact that the road is long apparently didn't bother her at all. Driving home took me an hour, but at least I got home with her. Nothing much was said. I'll have to explain things to her, as we arrive. Tell her all she needs to know right away. I don't feel like delaying, even if some may think I could, or even should do so. “Finally, we're home!” I announced, as I drove up on the small road leading in to my estate. “Home, home home. But, but, it's huge!” she then reflected as she started to see parts of the estate. “It's a good home, and large enough for the both of us. I may have to make a few minor adjustments, but that's no problem. After that, this will be just right for the both of us!” I pointed out, as I drove all the way into a small building I had built in order to have a safe parking for the vehicle. In summer it was cool and in winter it stayed warm. The air inside would stay fresh and fully breathable at all times. This is also where I was to service the vehicle, if and when it was routine details. I opened the door on my side, after released the safety belt. Once the door is open, I exited and closed the door behind me, the key pulled out of the ignition and safely in my pocket. Then I walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, released the safety belt and helped her out. Since I had seen Equus Ponies sit in what seems like regular chairs, I figured she could follow me in the car, rather than in a Pony transport, which would have felt impersonal and abandoning her back there. I just couldn't follow such a thought to the end. > My New Home: 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- So many things I never had thought of. Things that had no meaning, until now as I'm here. I had merely wished for a home and a family to belong to. Now I have both. Apparently my adoptive mother had a large home, a farm on the countryside. I guess that's great for any Pony, including an Equus Pony like myself. I just never thought of myself as different, aside from the fact that I had no family I belong to. That had been bad enough at the time. The fact that my flank is blank never really bothered me, why should it? All the fillies at my section of the Orphanage are blank flanked. Maybe we're all the fillies of Equestria, who were homeless. Only now, I'm no longer part of the group, which brought up entirely new questions. I never did learn to read and Wright, because I wasn't old enough to go to the school. I had enjoyed playing with the other fillies, that was all there was to my life, back then. I speak fairly good for a filly my age, but since I'm a filly, I had never gotten all that far, in part because I never went to school. I would have started school, in about two or three years, if I had remained where I were. Now I live with my mother. As a Pony, it is natural to move on all fours. She had led me up to my room on the second floor. I had found a large bed, a night stand, a wardrobe and a desk. Just regular furniture and nothing special at all. I have a reading lamp over my bed, another at the desk, and a main light in the ceiling. I guess this is how people live, where she is living. Right now, the room feels rather large, and I had no idea why I need a wardrobe or a desk, but I guess she may explain these things for me later. I found two possible reasons for the size of the room, either it is just how they build rooms, or it is because I was to stay here for a long time, and the room wouldn't feel quite as large in a few years. Ponies like me would grow up and get larger than I'm now. I guess I chose this reason, because it made me feel good. She wanted me to stay with her. Maybe the fact that I have one wardrobe and one desk mean it is my room, I'm not to share it with anyone. Maybe I could store my toys and other belongings in the wardrobe, so that they wouldn't clutter the floor? Then I noticed the door slide out of the way for me, each and every time I wanted to leave the room, or enter. I can easily move in and out of the room. As I ventured out of my room, I saw there are several rooms, including the fillies' and girls' rooms. The rest of the rooms seems to be bed rooms. Looking closer, there is a difference between the door to my room, the fillies room, and most of the other doors. The doors to the rooms I'm expected to enter slide aside easily for me, the others aren't even sliding doors. Now I had to see the Fillies' room. Behind the door, everything is shiny as if polished. To the right, I can wash my hooves, to the left, is what was to pass for the toilet. Further in I found my shower. There are glass walls preventing the warm water from filling the entire room. Looking closer, I can even control the water myself, so I can shower on my own. As I got out of the Fillies' room, I realised it had been warmer in there than it is outside, I guess that's good. I don't like to freeze when I'm having my shower or anything. Just the same, it is even colder in my bed room, but I'm supposed to sleep there at night, so that made sense too. First now I noticed the glass doors. Behind them, I could see a large space, not quite a room, but more like a balcony by the looks of it. As I opened the right door and walked out, I can see just how large the space is. On the other side is another set of glass doors. To the right and left I see a fence, maybe three feet high. On the south side plants are hanging from the top of the fence. As I had gotten out on the balcony, I feel the wooden floor under my hooves. I never has seen this red cherry wood, used to cover the floor. Then I noticed the wood shimmer, as it had been covered with clear plastic, most likely in order to make them resist the water from rain. Even back home, the rain would fall all over the place, it couldn't miss delicate objects standing outside, just because you desired it to. I guess not even the best Pegasi could make that good control of the clouds. Maybe they didn't even have Pegasi where my mother lives. I had enjoyed the sunshine, but after a while I was more interested in exploring the rest of our home. As a little filly, I could be very easily bored, even if it feels good to be out in the sun. I had not checked if I could open the door on the other side of the balcony. I could walk down the stairs to the ground floor. I feel much better, knowing I could go up or down the stairs without help from any other. The Living room, kitchen, another girls' and Fillies' room was located on ground floor. There is a door out on the front, another door to the garage, and one third to be back of the outside too. The living room is no surprise, a table, sofas, book shelves and all the common things. Just the same, the kitchen really didn't hold any surprises, it all looks the same as I had expected, even if most of the things are too far up for me to reach, even with the limitations my small hooves gave me here. Since I haven't been taught how to read, I didn't find the books stored in the living room interesting. I guess she would give me books in time, when I had learned how to read. The garage was even less interesting, all I could see is her car. I had found a door to the stairs down to the cellar, but I ignored the cellar too. I chose to look at the door out on the back. There is a glass roof, and two poles holding it up. She had apparently planted a few Roses along the wall. Aside from that, she also had planted other herbs, of which some looks edible to me. Beyond the poles, there is grasses as far as the eye could see, Trees grow on her lawn, the first few are clearly apple trees. What the rest may be, I couldn't make out, and I can't recognise them from here either. > A Home Coming Party: 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ”I know they gave you a name, at the Orphanage. I just think I'll call you 'Hitomi', from now on!” I told the fillie, as she had just sat down in her chair. “Yes, they named me at the Orphanage, but I guess it wasn't all that personal. It's just a policy that all Fillies and Colts are to be named on arrival. Oceanic Chocolate, not a very exciting name for a Fillie, I think!” Hitomi expressed with some indignation on the end. “Then I'll just call you Hitomi instead, and your past problems will never have to bother you again!” I responded. “I have no idea what it means, but Hitomi sounds beautiful to me. I'm no longer an Orphan, so my problems will fade into the past!” she pointed out, with a small smile on her lips. “You have a Name, a Home and a Family. We'll solve what ever comes our way together once we get wind of it. What ever it was like where you came from, here we help one another with things. Don't hesitate to ask me. Right now, we need to have a party. One way or the other, it will be a good time for the both of us. I don't know about you, but I know every kid I know of, love pastries like Muffins and Cup-Cakes!” I pondered. “Yes, and all thanks to you. It is just so much to get used to, all of the sudden. I think I have a faint memory of Pastries, but we never were allowed to have them at the Orphanage. Not sure where!” Hitomi responded. “They never had parties, right? On parties, you have these. Muffins and Cup-Cakes are great on parties. You will get to see for yourself. Fillies like you need to experience parties, every year, or you will never be a complete person. It is part of life, you see. If you never have a party, how could you possibly grow up into a proper mare?” I pointed out. “We never had sweets, maybe that is why they never gave us pastries? Just as we never were allowed, permitted to actually have fun. Kind of like growing up on a Rock Farm, I guess!” she responded. “Sweets and pastries are part of foalhood, I think. The same goes for fun, even if you are supposed to have some fun, even as you grow up, all the way through all ages. A Rock Farm, is that a joke, who would be farming rocks? Though there are a few things one would perform, before going on a party. The party is supposed to be fun and thus, you desire to look your best, are you not?” I exclaimed. This sounds like my kind of a mum. I think I am going to love it here with you. You would like to hope so, but apparently they had, or still do have them, where I came from. You could make it into an expression, if you prefer? Looks wasn't important at the orphanage, just a mandatory hygiene, nothing more and nothing less. I guess that would make sense, even if I am a bit young for most of these things, right?” Hitomi enquired, curious and somewhat uncertain. “That is exactly what I like to hear. I was hoping you would say that. I guess it could be an expression for a place where there is no room for anything that is fun? That sounds awful to me. Yeah, I guess you are a bit young, but you will have to consider it sooner or later. Maybe we could make it into a bit of fun in preparing for the first party together?” I responded. “I hope you have baked the pastries yourself now. If not, we will simply have to bake some fresh once. I never had the chance to bake anything, even if they told me I was too young. I think that could be plenty of fun. If you have everything prepared? I just can't wait an entire day, just to wait for these things, if I don't have to? I rather wait a day,. If it means you can fix everything just right!” she put forth. “I think we could be baking some pastries on a weekly basis, if you like to. I do have a small selection, with a few different flavours, just for the two of us. I didn't know which berries or flavours you would prefer. I will take you out on a shopping spree, from time to time as well, in case you enjoy it. Want you to enjoy yourself, as well as being an active part of my life, giving you a chance to develop your taste. For now, we'll start up with just the minimum requirements to make it our first party!” I stated. “You sure are the best mum a little fillie could ever have. Parties, pastries, baking, and even shopping? I think I will love it here. I know I am old enough to enjoy both the pastries and the shopping. Baking, parties and the other things you suggested sounds like only too much fun!” she squealed in happiness. “Off to the bathroom, then. After that, I will help you with the rest. If you did not need clothes at the orphanage, I guess it can wait until tomorrow?” I put forth. “They never afforded us fillies anything more than the bare minimum, clothes were never included. I think I still could enjoy finding something pretty in the shop, if you help me?” she pondered, as I lead her to the room. “If you need anything, or don't know how, I will come help you momentarily. I'll just prepare a few things for you, while you take care of the hygiene. I hope they taught you that!” I put forth. As the hot water filled up in the tub, she picked up her soap, placed it by the side of the tub and in general, rummaged around in the small room. Both floor and walls are covered in white tiles, shiny and slippery. The tub is to the right, behind it the shower. There is a wardrobe filled of brightly coloured towels in the beautifully crafted wardrobe. It had been made out of red cherry wood panels and treated to be water-resistant, naturally. There is also the utilities for a mare or woman to handle her other needs. Although Hitomi is a bit shorter, but she should manage to use the facilities, if she needs to. Once the tub had filled up enough, she soon slipped down, enjoying the immersion in the hot water, just feeling the dirt dissolving in the water. She would stay in the tub for a good while, just not too long. As the water had started to cool off, she pulled the plug, seeing the water slowly pour out as she climbed out. From there she walked to the shower. Carrying with here only the soap she had picked up. Thankfully, the shower did not have to be filled up, the water would just flow down her body, though she may have to adjust the heat for her comfort. I could hear the water as she stood in the shower, the remainder of the dirt flowing off of her, while she enjoyed the shower. Just stopping the water for a few minutes as she used the soap, lathering herself, seeing the white foam covering her healthily. She giggles at the silly in her situation. Then she washed herself off, before picking a large pink towel and drying herself off. As she came out, I had prepared everything for her. In her age, I figured a clear hoof polish and eye shadow would be just right. I had not known what colour she would have, before I entered he orphanage, anyway. I could pick out what colours would suit her, when I take her out for a shopping spree, until then, the clear would have to make due. I had put a small desk in the middle of the small room, then a comfortable chair on both sides of the desk. Both polish and eye shadow is on the desk, for my convenience. “Oh, there you are, the bath was enjoyable? You are all cleaned up, I take it?” I put forth. “Sure did feel good. I am as clean as I ever will get!” she responded. “Then have a seat, so I can give you your first taste of the treat. Make-up or Hooficure first?” I enquired, though I had intended to start with the Make-up. “Sure!” she responded and sat down in the first chair before her as I picked the other. “Just lean back and close your eyes. I'll give you a mirror so you can see the result, when I am done!” I explained. “Sounds comfortable!” she put forth, as she leaned back in her chair. “It is, just like it is supposed to. Though you will learn to do this yourself, one day. You wouldn't like to relay on mum your entire life, you know!” I pointed out, then uncapping the shadow. From there I slowly started to apply the clear gel. From the inner corner of the right eye, outwards. Slowly and carefully. First covering the eyelid, then upwards to the eyebrow. Moving over to the other eye, moving from the inside and out. Then I started over on the lower eyelid, from the inside and out. Finishing off with the right eye, on the lower lid. I waited for about a minute, allowing the gel time. “There, you can open your eyes now!” I pointed out, holding up the mirror before her. “Shiny. I guess it wasn't all that bad. Are you sure this wouldn't smear?” she enquired. “I chose clear, since I had no idea what colour would match your eyes, before I picked you up. No, it will not smear. I can wash it off, after the party, if you like!” I pointed out. “Mismatching colours could be awful. If it wouldn't smear, I think it can stay, at least over the day. If you don't mind!” she pondered. “Just place your forehooves on the desk. Then I can start with the Hooficure!” I said. “Then you don't mind?” she enquired, as she placed her hooves on the desk as I had told her. “Ofhorse not. No point in taking it off before you go to bed. Though some do prefer to take it off before going to bed!” I stated. I had capped the shadow, now uncapping the hoof polish. I slowly painted the right forehoof, from the top and middle, then continuing outwards, left and right until I got to the edge of the hoof on the back. From there I repeated the process on her left hoof. While I polished the left hoof, the polish cured, so I could continue with the next phase of the process. I capped the polish, before I uncapped the hoof gel, now I started from the middle of the hoof, from the upper rim down, outwards left and right. Only this time I continued to cover the hoof, under from the back. Repeating the process outwards. Only to repeat the entire process with her left hoof. The polish is mainly clear, shiny, but would also harden her hooves, while the gel, just as clear and shiny was making the soft and elastic. I just had to repeat the process of polishing her forehooves with the polish over the top of the gel. “How does that look? Feels good?” I enquired. “Shiny, but they feel softer and more elastic?” she responded. “Good?” I enquired. “Sure!” she assured me. “Then you don't mind me doing the same to your hind hooves?” I enquired, making sure she knew what I was doing and did not mind. “Please do!” she responded, sounding sure of herself. Once I had gotten around to it, the hooficure is just the same, forehooves or hind hooves. They are hooves, even if the hind hooves are slightly larger and longer than the forehooves. I gave the final polish a minute or five in order to cure securely. “There, all done!” I announced. “Wow, it looks fabulous!” she responded. “Good, then our little party will be all the more fun for the both of us!” I told her. “Yeah, it will!” she responded. “Put your hooves down on the floor, test the feel? We can't stay in here forever, you know!” I pointed out. “Yeah, you're right!” she pointed out, before she slipped down onto the floor, slowly trotting out of the room, only to realise I had added a measure of bounce to her steps. “Oh, that feels funny!” she put forth. “You will get used to it soon, I am sure. It is good for both your hooves and the floor!” I suggested. “I don't know about the floor, but I guess I could get used to it. If you say it is good for my hooves, then I am happy!” she responded. > A Welcome Party: 7 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- She had made me feel special. None ever made me feel special before. Not that I can recall, in any case. Maybe it is my short memory, but I can't recall my parents either. Who ever they had been, while they were alive. I doubt they merely gave me up for adoption, if they had any choice. That makes me an orphan, my parents are both dead, right. I had lived on the orphanage for months, or an eternity in a fillies perspective. There was nothing fun, you merely survive. Persistence the only option. Then luck found me. Someone actually wanted me. I had been adopted and it got through. She came through for me, picked me up and took me home. I have a home, a second lease on life, as it were. I once more can feel happiness. I had an invigorating bath and showered off the last remains of what had been my life, or the excuse for one. I sure had enjoyed it. Now I am to have a party with my mum. I will never call her anything but just that, Mum. Why? She is the only mum I can ever recall. She gave me a small fillies first Make-up, it feels a bit funny and unaccustomed, I am sure I will get used to it. I enjoyed it enough for that. Is it merely because she gives me all the attention? Then she gave me a full Hooficure. Even if she used just clear polish, but it is still a full Hooficure. That's all that matters, all I care about. Though she apparently gave me some extra bounce to my steps, which feels funny. Maybe I still do enjoy it all the same. The treat certainly did take its sweat time, but that is the point, she took the time, doing it well for me. I can clearly see how much care she put into it. She did a very good job at it. She polished my hooves, it is just my hooves, nothing outside and missed nothing inside. She had chosen a clear polish, just shiny all over my hooves. I noticed they gave me an extra bounce as well, for some reason. She had even told me it was good for both my hooves and the floor. I love the treat. I don't particularly mind if it is good for the floor, though. I may be a fillie, but I am not a mean fillie. Every time I look down at my hooves, I can clearly see how shiny they are, maybe it is something I had secretly been dreaming of, or it is just that I love the treat that made them shiny. I am not sure if it makes any difference to me. As a fillie, I do need the attention. What I had not noticed at first, is how it feels to trot around on the floor. My hooves had changed, they are still changing, adapting by what she treated me to. I still do enjoy the new feeling my hooves gave me. What soon hit me, is how quiet my hooves are on the floor. What she had not said, is what the long-term effects of her Hooficure would be. Just as she wouldn't remove the polish, but right now, I wouldn't have a care in the world. Why, I love the looks and how it affected my hooves, for all I knew. “If I had had your Hooficure back at the orphanage, would could have sneaked right by both the adults and the fillies hooves down!” I exclaimed, bouncing about around my Mom. “Yeah, you probably could have. Maybe that is why you never had it back there?” she pointed out with a slight smirk. “Yeah, that would make sense!” I pondered in a somewhat solemn voice, then my smile went right back up. “You didn't forget I did promise you a party with Muffins and Cup-Cakes, right?” she put forth. “Naeh, not really. I just felt a bit sad as I thought of what they robbed me of!” I responded as I followed her around. “I guess I could see how that could bring forth a few low moments, just never allow it to ruin a day, they are never worth it. Besides, now they can't even enjoy the fruits of their labour. We have a party to enjoy too, by the way!” she proclaimed. How long a Hooficure was supposed to last, I have no idea. Maybe I never cared. The point is that she took the time, gave me the treat. She made me enjoy the moment, just because she was caring about me. Although it had been better to just polish my hooves, if it wouldn't last more than a day, I guess. Something from a week to a month seems reasonable to me. If it was to last longer, I wouldn't mind. For now, I had seen the shine and felt the bounce. My hooves are more elastic than I could have imagined they would be, but it wouldn't bother me. If there were any other effects, I have no idea. Maybe I need to challenge my hooves in different ways in order to find out? Right now, there is the party I am looking forwards to. Pasties like Muffins and Cup-Cakes, and maybe even a small cake, for just the two of us? “Since we have finished up with the Party Favours, I guess it is time to move up and start the party?” she suggested. “Sounds bout right. If you show me where we are to sit, then you can go fetch the pastries?” I responded. “Right this way!” she put forth, before she leads me in into the living room. “Woah. Are we going to sit in that comfortable sofa?” I enquired, giggling as I pointed a hoof towards a sofa in the corner of the room. “Well, why not? You are fresh from the shower, your hooves certainly are clean and pampered up, so it seems the logical position?” she retorted with a wide grin. “Well, d'uh. I sure did have a good shower, it is quite enjoyable, with the warm water and all. You enjoyed pampering me up too, almost as much as I enjoyed it, didn't you? If you think the sofa is where we sit, then I'm not about to complain. I'm just cautious and worried. I don't want to make a mistake, and not this early on, after all you already have done for me!” I put forth with a worried and shaky grin, ending in a slight giggle. “If you take the inner corner since I will have to carry everything, in order to serve both of us!” she just urged me. “I think I can manage that, I'm not about to make you insist!” I responded with a new giggle, before I trotted in between the sofa and the table, then jumped up and into the seat she had pointed out for me, sitting comfortably as I wait for her. “That's a good fillie, my daughter. I'll go fetch the pastries now, Hitomi. I wouldn't take all that long, so don't worry!” she assured me, before she walked out into the kitchen, fetching a plate of Muffins and Cup-Cakes in one hand and the pitcher of juice in the other. I just hear the noises she made as she rummaged around in the kitchen, before I saw her returning, a few minutes later. Two glasses was also to be found on the plate of pastries. “Here you go!” she announced as she placed a small plate before me. There is a lemon Muffin on it, I soon noticed. She gracefully poured me a glass of Orange Juice from the pitcher, before she poured herself a glass as well. Then she placed her plate before her with another Muffin on it. “Is that Orange Juice, or am I imagining something?” I enquired. “That is pure Orange Juice. Only the best of a party with my very own little adorable fillie!” she put forth. “They never served pure juice at the orphanage, for as long as I can recall. We never had parties or pastries either. This is something I wouldn't mind getting used to!” I pondered. “Best reason to be a Parent, to see your little fillie enjoy her first Muffin. I'll enjoy every moment of your exploration of these things!” I teased her. “I guess that is a pleasure and joy I can't deny you. I wouldn't want to, even if I could. Maybe in part, due to my very own joy in what you put before me?” I responded. Playfully ignoring the taunt, while just responding to what she had said from my own perspective as the little fillie I am. A perspective that will stay true to me, for several years to come. “My Muffins and Cup-Cakes are baked, ready to eat. No distraction to bother us!” she enlightened me, before I had started to look for anything to distract me from the joy I had been looking forwards to. “Oh!” I just giggles, looking self consciously at the rim of the lightly brown Muffin before me. “I hope you enjoy it. If not, I'll just pick another for you to try. I hope I can find one you truly do enjoy!” she put forth in a very sure voice as she looked at me. “It is a Muffin!” I concluded, in a manner that may have been recognised from Ditzy and her daughter Dinkie. Then I slowly nibbled on my dear treat, slowly enjoying what I had been given. I am not sure if it was my favourite, but it is enjoyable enough to me. Maybe I would even ask for one more. I carefully placed my Muffin on the plate, before I picked up the glass with both my fore-hooves and pushed it to my muzzle. Parting my lips and sipped, only to be shocked by the delight of the fresh juice she had poured up for me. It almost brought me to tears, right then and there. Maybe it is because the best they had served me was water? Something that surprised me momentarily is how well I had managed to grip the glass with my little hooves. I had had some problem, but that was before the treat. Maybe it is why she did it? I did not ask, maybe I didn't dare to. I wouldn't be lying, if I claimed I preferred the ideas I had come up with myself. “Yeah, it sure is. Just that it is a lemon Muffin. I have several other Muffins to choose from, just to explore which you like the most!” she put forth. “Oh, wait? That sounds like fun. I guess it is like a buffet, only with Muffins instead of the more regular foods?” I concluded. “That sounds positively enjoyable, in a festive way!” she responded with a wide smile and a small giggle. “I have to agree on that. Life is too short to hide away and cower from joy?” I suggested in a shy voice. “To that end, I chose to adopt you. Now we can enjoy life together. You need someone to help you explore who you are and what you enjoy. It is what parents do, help their little fillies to learn who they are. Then you can fully enjoy your life, safely. Most parents are responsible and enjoy helping their little fillies!” I put forth, chewing on my Muffin. “What berry is in the brown Muffin?” I enquired. “That's chocolate. There are Blue-Berry, Rasp-berry, Apple and Cinnamon, and regular!” I pointed out, pointing at the respective Muffin as I mentioned it, as if I had been presenting friends. Maybe that wasn't too far from the truth, though. I do enjoy them thoroughly, from time to time. It just feels funny, when you put it in this way, as opposed to demonstrating mere pastries. Something that could make me feel a bit self-conscious, at times like this. Then the Muffin presentation made me thing of Ditzy, the grey Pegaus mare with the unstoppable love for the Muffins. Pinkie Pie must be making a fortune, selling Muffins to her. Even if she never would consider over-charging her, or any other Pony.