Chapter Eighty-Two: Welcome to the Family

Despite the affection he was given, Smokey was still oblivious to the message Fluttershy was attempting to convey. It should have been obvious to him, considering he felt the same way, but it just didn't dawn on him. Heart fluttering away, the dragon nuzzled her back with just as much passion. His attention absorbed, he hardly noticed the doctor dabbing away at his wound.

A smile tipped Twilight Sparkle's lips as she observed the scene before her, before turning to Pendulum.

"Don't think this is over, Pendulum… Not by a long shot. I still have many… MANY things I want to say to you… The problem is, I'm not entirely sure where to begin!"

"Yeah! You're in for it, bud!" said Rainbow Dash as she precipitated herself before the stallion with a hateful glare, threateningly bringing a hoof up in front of his face.

"You shouldn't make sooch threats in froont oof the poolice," he commented, nodding towards the confused officers.

"Girls," Fluttershy piped up. "Girls…"

The mares diverted their attention to the yellow-pelted pegasus.

"Can't we just… please, just… We got what we came for. I-we-have Smokey back. He's not going to be killed. Chenoa's safe. That's all that really matters. Can't we… go home now?"

"Go home? Are you loco in the coco?" Pinkie Pie exclaimed incredulously. "This is Las Pegasus, with all the bright lights and the fun games and the casinos and the fountain of chocolaty goodness!"

There was a brief, yet awkward, pause, as Pinkie Pie let out an "ow!" as she was delivered a swift kick in the rear by Rarity's hind leg.

"What she means is." Rarity shot a glare at the pink mare. "Is we have Pendulum right here. He kidnapped Smokey. He hypnotized him and basically tortured him to create a mindless beast of pure rage, AND he was going to force you to MARRY him by essentially dangling Chenoa in front of your face! Don't you want to see him brought to justice?"

"Do you have evidence of this?" the chief inquired, stepping forward.

"Yeah! Where's that kid?" Rainbow Dash queried as she scanned their surroundings.

"Um." Pinkie Pie arched her eyebrow, lifting the baby griffon to display her for the cyan pegasus. "Chenoa's right here."

"Not that kid, Pinkie!" Applejack groaned. "That OTHER one! The one who drew all those pictures!"

Twilight Sparkle shifted her attention to Rainbow Dash, speaking urgently.

"That sketchbook should have evidence. I think we left it in Pendulum's car. Maybe she might be out-? Oh!"

Terra Cotta came into view and approached her side, holding up the very sketchbook she had shown to her and the others. The filly offered it to her, and smiled as she in turn turned it over to the chief with a hint of a sigh.

"I hope this will be enough. We DID have a handkerchief with fish blood that proves Smokey didn't bite Pendulum in the first place… until he." She directed a glare at Pendulum, "Tried to cover up his crimes by destroying it."

"That, we can confirm, officer," Rarity said. "ALL of us saw him do it."

The stallion flipped through the pages with a scrutinizing eye, skimming the pictures of the dragon in chains and being whipped.

"I don't think this qualifies as hard evidence."

"You doon't need evidence if I coonfess," Pendulum said, watching the doctor work away on Smokey.

Now that Fluttershy and the reptile weren't in the act of nuzzling, he was far more aware of his pain, and even winced and whimpered as the charred scales were removed so that the medic could get to the skin underneath.

"But h' DID!" Terra Cotta protested. "I taw h'm!"

As Pendulum's confession sank in, the filly paused, glancing up at him with a bit of shock. She tilted her head a slight degree, as if unable to discern if she should be more surprised or angry at him. Even the mares looked a little taken off guard.

"Is… this true, sir?" a different officer questioned with wide eyes.

Pendulum nodded in affirmation, before his and the attention of the mares and officers were stolen by a loud yelp from Smokey. As another scale was ripped off, the general area began to bleed a tiny amount. While he had taken a werewolf bite, porcupine quills, and a barrage of logs, this was by far the worst physical pain he had experienced. Eyes rolling up to Fluttershy, the draconian reached out to hold her hoof to non-verbally ask for consoling. She gave a whimper in response. Compassion in her eyes, she shifted closer to him, not only taking his hand in one hoof, but resting a foreleg against the side of his face. The expression in her blue-green pools was clear she was deeply concerned about him.

"Dada!" Chenoa squeaked, attempting to wriggle out of Pinkie Pie's hooves.

Giving Fluttershy's foreleg a nuzzle, Smokey glanced over at the pink-coated equine and the baby in her hold.

"Miss Pinkie… Please bring her over. I want to see my baby."

Pinkie Pie bounced over, letting Chenoa out of her embrace and into the dragon's. Fluttershy moved to still keep a foreleg on his arm and the other around his neck as the doctor continued to work on him. He was still feeling a thrill rush through him after having heard the child call him "Dada". Drawing her close, he pressed his lips to her cranium with a loving purr.

"I'm so very happy to see you again, Chenoa. Daddy missed you so much! Daddy loves you, sweetheart-OW!"

"Sorry, sir," the doctor apologized, having plucked the final charred scale.

"She missed you so much…" Fluttershy chuckled, her voice lightly cracking. "You should've seen her… She was looking all around the house for you. She was so upset about not being able to find you… Crying for her Dada almost constantly…"

Hearing this pushed him into sobs. Before, she thought she didn't love him as much as Fluttershy due to the fact he never heard her say "Dada", but now, he was certain she did… A baby wouldn't continue searching, or cry, for someone they didn't adore.

"Dada will never leave you again, honey. I promise…"

"And I'll never let you go again," Fluttershy added, throwing her other foreleg around his neck. "I won't let you go. Either of you…"

"You two seem like a looving pair oof parents." Pendulum smiled at the trio and dropped his eyes to Terra Cotta. "That's soomething you need, little lass."

A blush tinged Fluttershy's cheeks. Confused, Terra Cotta tilted her head up at the stallion. Gesturing for the filly to come to him, he turned back to Fluttershy and Smokey.

"Would you two be willing to find 'er a looving 'oome?"

"Us?"

Smokey was actually shocked Pendulum requested this. Personally, he would've liked to take Terra Cotta in for himself and Fluttershy. After all, they had talked about a possibility of adopting a sibling for Chenoa. Having an older child would prove helpful. Lifting his eyes to meet the yellow pegasus', his own sea green orbs asking if they could take her.

Fluttershy blinked, then glanced down at Terra Cotta. The young filly looked a little bewildered, bringing a hoof to her mouth. As the pegasus met Smokey's gaze, she understood the question swimming in his eyes, and gave a nod and a smile. Turning back to Pendulum, she pressed the side of her head against her scaly companion's.

"We'll do one better… We'll take her in ourselves, and raise her as our own."

Terra Cotta nearly fell over in shock.

Smokey winced once more as the doctor finished applying antiseptic and pressed a large square of gauze on top of his wound, utilizing medical tape to secure it in place.

"Come here, Terra Cotta. We will take care of you from now on."

"You… wuh… ma?" Terra Cotta stammered. "You… take… care… a-me?"

"Yes, sweetie." A warm smile spread across Fluttershy's lips. "We'll be a family, the four of us! You, Chenoa, me, and Smokey. We will be your Mommy and Daddy!"

The filly gasped, tearing up. A sob choking from her, she immediately leaped the mare's awaiting embrace.

Ignoring the insistent stinging in his side, Smokey pushed himself up onto his haunches to hold both children and mare in his strong arms. Nuzzling the top of Terra Cotta's head, he drew back enough to shift Chenoa closer to the filly.

"Chenoa, this is your new sister."

Wide amber eyes focusing upon the rust-colored filly, a wide grin pulled at her beak and she let out a mirthful squeal-even though she was too young to actually understand what her adoptive father said.

Terra Cotta giggled, extending her forelegs to pull the griffon closer to her. A new sister! A little sister, at that! She was beyond happy, hugging the chick. Jumping lightly upon feeling a hoof upon her back, she tilted her head back to see Fluttershy's smiling, affectionate face.

"Welcome to the family, Terra Cotta."

"… Wait, what? Excuse me?"

Fluttershy and Smokey lifted their heads, as did their friends, Pendulum, and the officers, to a surprised, almost exasperated, looking Stormy Skies.

"Am I hearing right? Terra Cotta is MY sister! You're just… TAKING her?" she asked, disbelieving.

Smokey glared softly at the dark-colored mare, holding Terra Cotta tighter.

"Why not? You weren't treating her like a family member should."

"She… what?" Fluttershy shifted her attention to Smokey, expectant for an explanation. "What did she do?"

"Sh' HIT muh!" Terra Cotta cried out. "Sh' HURT muh! Sh' scurim, an' call m' nams! Sh' hates mi!"

"She abuses her…" the dragon relayed for those who didn't understand the youngster. "I… won't allow anypony to harm her again."

Shocked, Rainbow Dash turned her rage upon Stormy Skies.

"You think you're so tough hittin' a little kid?!"

"And what's it to you how I treat my sister?!" Stormy Skies shot back, only to suddenly find herself facing the ire of Applejack and Rarity at Rainbow Dash's sides.

"What's it to her? What's it to US?!" Rarity cried. "For your information, darling, we have younger sisters of our OWN, not much older than little Terra Cotta, and WE'VE never so much as laid a hoof on their hair! We'd-"

The alabaster unicorn was cut off as Applejack raised a hoof to her chest level, stepping forward and pressing her nose against Stormy Sky's to stare at her directly in the eyes.

"You'd best be thankful these fine gentle colts are still around," the farmer stated in a dangerously calm intonation, unlike her earlier shouting. This made her fury all the more terrifying. "Because, sugarcube, it is only because of their presence that I ain't buckin' you clear into next week."

"Same here."

Rainbow Dash tightened her glare, clenching her teeth and pinning her ears back as her magenta eyes glowed hatefully-though, not to the extent as her previous animosity towards Pendulum.

"Girls…" Fluttershy piped up.

"I concur," Rarity said, taking a step forth.

"Girls…" Fluttershy spoke again.

"What?" Applejack pressed, she, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash turning to her.

The usually demure pegasus let herself go from Smokey. Cantering over, and slightly pushing between Rainbow Dash and Applejack, brought the full power of her stare upon Stormy Skies.

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," Fluttershy began in her direct, condescending tone. "How dare you mistreat a child!"

"I… I… ah…" Stormy Skies stuttered, backing away slowly. The full force of the Stare weighed down upon her with an overwhelming vigor, squeezing every ounce of boldness out of her. Swallowing hard, she spun around and fled.

"I've scoolded that yooung lady time and time again, but it never seemed to woork," Pendulum admitted with a sigh.

"Then why do you still keep her employed" Rarity queried. "Why don't you just fire her straight out? Unless…"

"… She has nowhere else to go," Fluttershy finished for her, coming to that same realization. She turned to Smokey and Terra Cotta, frowning. "Is… that right?"

"I think so." Smokey groaned as he felt another wave of pain originating from his wound. "They don't have any parents."

Fluttershy's frown deepened, staring sympathetically down at Terra Cotta. While she knew she would be okay, she turned a guilty gaze towards the flap where Stormy Skies had left.

"I… oh… I should-"

"Let her go," huffed Applejack. "That pegasus was nearly a grown mare herself! She ought ta have known better!"

"She's always goot a place 'ere," said Pendulum.

"That's reassuring," Rainbow Dash sarcastically scoffed.

"Well… that's good, at least," Fluttershy commented. "But, shouldn't she be-I mean…?"

"We'll delve into a more thorough investigation and background check on her a bit later," said Twilight Sparkle. "Right now, I'm focused on you, Pendulum. I can clearly see that you've learned a very valuable lesson here… but that doesn't change the fact that what you did was inexcusable."

"You are right aboout that, Princess Twilight. I will take my punishment… But, I woorry aboout my emplooyees." The stallion cast a gaze at a few ponies under his employment who had gotten over the scare and had returned to see what was going on. "Moost oof them were picked up oon the streets and taken froom brooken hoomes."

Twilight took notice of the equines gathering together who looked both fearful and apprehensive. Sighing, she transferred her eyes back to the stallion.

"I see." Her decision was further compounded. He did have a valid point on what would happen to THEM. Looking contemplative, a small smile crept onto her face. "… I believe we can… come to some sort of compromise."

"All I ask is that you make sure they'll be taken care oof," Pendulum requested. Upon receiving reassurance that his request would be fulfilled, he finally held out his injured foreleg to allow the doctor to tend to him, taking solace in the heavy weight being lifted off his shoulders. He needed the medical attention before he would be arrested and carted off.