Chapter 51: Apologies and Decisions
"She'll come back Pwincess. I know in my heawt." Lucky looked at Pyro, tears in her eyes. "You really think so?", Lucky asked. Pyro nodded. Lucky sniffed and nodded. "It still saddens me though... our first argument... and it was the worst..." Pyro thought of what she could do to make Lucky happy. Fluttershy came and knocked on the door. "Come in.", Pyro said. The door opened to a very confused Fluttershy. "Um... Lucky?" Then she saw Lucky on the floor, crying. "Oh dear... no wonder why Sweetie Belle looked upset. You two must have been arguing." Pyro nodded. Fluttershy went over to Lucky and nuzzled her. "It'll be ok, she'll come back." Pyro giggled and Lucky half smiled.
"I said da same ting too." Fluttershy smiled. "Great minds think alike.", she said, giggling. Lucky sighed, stood up, and wiped her eyes. "I suppose I should get started on the paperwork." Then Lucky got busy. Fluttershy and Pyro got talking and when Lucky got the paperwork done, she said she was going to the prison to drop these off for the two DMS members. She asked Pyro if she wanted to go, but she said no, so Lucky asked Fluttershy if she would watch Pyro for her. Fluttershy said she would and then Lucky left. When Lucky returned, she was with Machine. He seemed to be in his good mood. "Aunt Fluttershy, Pyro, this is Bad Machine, my foalsitter from when I was young. Machine, this is my Aunt Fluttershy, though she's not really my Aunt, and this is my friend Pyro Heart."
Fluttershy nodded to him. "Hi!", Pyro said. Machine took on a normal look, he was warned of Pyro especially being there, so he used his transforming magic to look like just a normal pony. "Nice to meet you two.", he said. The four of them got talking and then everypony else came in. Lucky introduced Machine to the others. They greeted each other but then, "Where's Sweetie Belle?", Rarity asked. Lucky got a sad face and her ears went back. Pyro looked at Lucky and frowned. "Dey fighted.", she said. Everypony's ears went back and they looked sympathetic for Lucky. "What about?", Rarity asked. Lucky sighed. "Because I let slip to the two DMS members that her and I are marefriends... there's the potential that they'll tell the guards and the guards tell everypony else and it'll spread like wildfire, then we'll get kicked out of the city and not be able to catch the DMS and the city could go into chaos and the DMS could rule over it. She voiced the same thing I did and I told her that I didn't mean to. They got me riled up because of the fact that they even would suggest the fact that I, a 16 year old, adopt Pyro, a 3 year old. I mean... they could not have known, with their ignorance of the government, but they could have too, I didn't know..."
Everypony group hugged Lucky. "I really hope she'll come back... I really do...", Lucky said sadly. "She will darling, don't worry.", Rarity said. Lucky just nodded. When the hug was over, Lucky just went to her and Sweetie's room, shut the door, and sat on her bed, thinking things over and thinking of how she could have handled the situation at the prison differently. The others looked at her door then at Pyro, who seemed to be just as sad. "Why're you sad too Pyro?", Apple Bloom asked. "Because Pwincess Wucky and Sweetie fighted.", she said. Rainbow patted Pyro's head. "It'll be ok kiddo. They'll get over it and they'll be together again.", she said. Pyro nodded. "I know. I can feew it in my heawt." Everypony smiled. Pyro went to Lucky's bedroom door and knocked. "Come in...", Lucky said softly. Pyro tried and failed to open the door. Twilight opened it for her with her magic. "Tanks.", Pyro said, then went in.
She pretended to struggle onto Lucky's bed. Lucky looked at her and smiled, then helped her onto the bed. Pyro clambered onto Lucky's lap. Lucky nuzzled Pyro. "Trying to make me feel better?", she asked. "Yeah. Is it working?", she asked. Lucky chuckled. "Yeah, I think it is.", she said. Pyro hugged Lucky. Lucky hugged her back. "You're a good kid, ya know that? Despite being raised by two DMS members, you turned out just fine.", she said. Pyro smiled. "Yeah. When I found out weawwy what dey did, I didn't want to be dat way. I weawwy was hopin' you'd be wike a mama to me... but I know you're too young, as you said... wish you were old enough...", Pyro said. Lucky, having gotten used to Pyro, and even grown somewhat attached to the little one, started thinking. "Well... I have gotten used to you, and I think I've even grown a bit attached to you... a bit. Um, well, I think there's a way to stay around you, though it'll have to be when I get back to Ponyville, until I'm old enough to consider adopting you. I could ask my ma and mom to look after you until then, and I'll obviously be there cause of me being 16 and underage."
"You weawwy could do dat?", Pyro asked. "Yeah. It's just the matter of them saying yes or no.", Lucky said. "Ah s'pose we could do that.", Applejack said. Lucky jumped and looked at the door. "You scared the daylights outta me... and you'd really do that?" Applejack nodded. Lucky smiled happily. "Thanks. That way I could get more acquainted with Pyro and see how things go with her." Applejack nodded, "Where is she gonna go though while you're here? The orphanage?", she asked. "Probably. That way I'll still be near her." Pyro looked sad. She didn't really want to go to an orphanage. She wanted to stay with ponies she knew. "What's wrong Pyro? Don't you wanna stay near me?", Lucky asked. "Yeah... but I don't wanna go to a or-pha-nage. I wanna stay wiff ponies I know.", she said. "Oh... well... can't really do that cause I don't really know anypony who lives here other than Machine, but with his other personality... well, I think it might not be a good idea for you to stay with him full time.", Lucky said. "Maybe Rainbow 'n Ah could stay here?", Applejack suggested.
"You don't hafta do that ma.", Lucky said. "It'd be no problem at all. If it's fer mah daughter, then Ah'll be happy ta do it.", AJ said. "But then you'll have to do everything Sweetie and I had to do and it's a pain, trust me, and also about your jobs and even the apartment you already have in Ponyville. What about that? How about one of the Canterlot Princesses stay? Then the other could go back to Canterlot and handle things. I think Celestia could go back, she already has a thousand years' experience ruling Equestria by herself in the castle. Luna could have her workload forwarded here to Hoofington. I did. Speaking of... I gotta check the mailbox." Lucky put Pyro down on the floor and went to check the mailbox, and she indeed has Princess work. "Celestia, Luna, did you hear what I said in my room about one of you staying here?"
They nodded. "It is a good idea, however, I'm not experienced with children.", Luna said. "Neither was I, but I was able to handle Lucky by myself pretty well.", Rainbow said. "Also... Lucky, I was 17 when I took you in, and then we went to stay at Applejack's house like, I think a week after, but still, I was only a year older than you when I took you in, and you were 5, only 2 years older than Pyro is now.", Rainbow said. "What are you saying? That I could look after Pyro?" Rainbow nodded. "Both your ages aren't too far off from mine and yours when you first came to Ponyville. You also seem to be really good with her. Like last night, you helped her out with the sippy cup and washing off her muzzle from all the spaghetti sauce.", Rainbow chuckled. Lucky chuckled as well. "Yeah, you did make a mess of your muzzle there Pyro. It was cute though." Pyro giggled. Lucky ruffled her mane. Pyro fixed it and grinned at Lucky.
"See? It looks like you're getting to be used to her already. I think it might be ok for you to watch over her until you come to Ponyville, then AJ and I could take over and she be like a sister until you're old enough and if you really do want to adopt her when that time comes.", Rainbow said. "I suppose, but I'll have to talk that over with Sweetie Belle.", Lucky said. "Talk what over with me?", Sweetie asked while coming in the door. Everypony looked in her direction. "Sweetie!", Lucky said, then went and hugged her. "I'm so so so so so so so sorry..." Sweetie looked surprised, then she hugged back. "Me too... I just got really upset and it disabled my ability to understand where you were coming from with your explanation.", she said. "And I got annoyed that you got all worked up over my mistake. I know that could happen, and if it does... well, I have a plan if ponies start rioting at me."
"What're you gonna do?", Sweetie asked. "You'll see... more like hear.", Lucky said. Luna and Celestia immediately got the hint. "Princess Voice?", they asked. "Eeyup.", Lucky said. "Most likely country accent too, if I get mad enough.", she added. "Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't have your country accent when you argued with me.", Sweetie said. "I wasn't mad enough. I was only annoyed." Sweetie smiled. "Good to know you won't get properly mad at me." then she giggled. Lucky chuckled. "Yeah, I don't think I'd ever get properly mad at you. Though it seemed you got mad at me." Sweetie's ears went back. "Yeah... sorry..." Lucky shook her head, "It's fine. We made up, so it's all in the past. Though, heh, it was only like, an hour ago. It's still the past." Lucky chuckled. "So, to answer your question from when you came in the door, ask you if we can look after Pyro until we return to Ponyville, then she'll come with me, and ma and mom will be her full time caretakers until I become old enough to adopt her."
"Hmm... well, aren't you too young?", Sweetie asked. "Mom pointed out she was only 17 and I 5 when she took me in when I first came to Ponyville. She took care of me herself until we moved to ma's." Sweetie thought. "I guess that's true. Though unlike Rainbow, you'd not be alone watching Pyro from the start. I guess it would be ok... cause you and Pyro aren't too far off with the ages. You only a year younger than Rainbow and Pyro 2 years younger than you back then, 11 years ago." Pyro looked at Sweetie Belle, not believing what she's hearing. "I'm weawwy not dat faw fwom Pwincess Wucky when she was watched by Wainbow and Wainbow wasn't faw fwom Pwincess Wucky when she watched her?", she asked. "Yup. Not too far off.", Lucky said. "So, I can weawwy stay wiff you?", Pyro asked. Lucky and Sweetie nodded. Pyro smiled happily and hopped up and down saying yes over and over again.
Everypony giggled/chuckled. Pyro stopped, remembering what Lucky told her that morning. "Sowwy. I fowgot about da odder ponies." Lucky nodded and said that if they protest, she'll have her apologize. Pyro nodded. Not many ponies went to Lucky and Sweetie's apartment. Lucky had Pyro apologize, and the ponies smiled, excusing the small filly's excitement. "Pyro, I think you'll like Ponyville. Everypony there is nice, and they also accept my kind... y'know... filly foolers...", Lucky said. "Pwincess, you said fiwwy foower is de-wo-ga-to-wy... why you say it yowsewf?", Pyro asked. Lucky smiled a half smile at Pyro's use of the new big word. "Cause I didn't know how else to word it.", Lucky explained. "Oh. Ok. And I'm gwad dey 'cept yow kind.", she said. Lucky smiled fully. "Yeah, me too.", she said. So, a couple hours, and the others leave. Sweetie, Lucky, and Pyro now the only ones there.
"Well, we have leftovers, though not much. I think there's just enough for the three of us. Oh, and we need to let our landlord know about Pyro here. We'll do that in the morning though.", Lucky said, then went and prepared the leftovers and gets Pyro's sippy cup in order, putting milk in it at Pyro's request. When the leftovers are warmed up, Lucky gives them to Sweetie and Pyro, and she gives Pyro her sippy cup. They eat and when they're finished, Lucky cleans off pyro's muzzle then mentions a bath. Pyro groans. Lucky chuckled. "Typical foal. Does not like baths. I've heard stories from Granny Smith about Apple Bloom. AB didn't like baths either." Pyro looked at Lucky. "Weawwy?", she asked. "Yup. Really. But she took baths anyway." Pyro sighed. "Fine..." Lucky chuckled and then got Pyro her bath, using Sweetie's shampoo, with permission of course.
When that was done, Pyro got out and shook herself off. "Icky water...", she complained. Lucky sighed and dried off the whole bathroom with a warmth spell. That's actually part of her magic, as her second name is Fire. Not just her fire reading, but part of her magic too. "Oooo! I feew warm!", Pyro said. "That's part of my magic. My second name is Fire, so fire related things are part of my magic." Pyro looked interested in that. "Pyro is actually fire related too, so maybe when you're older, you'll have fire magic too. I can help you control your magic when you get old enough, and then I can teach you fire magic like what I just did.", Lucky said. "Dat would be cool. I wanna do dat when I'm older.", she said. Lucky smiled, then dried Pyro off with the towel. When Pyro was dry, Lucky tucked her in on the couch. "Alright, now remember, no jumping around and yelling in the morning, ok?" Pyro nodded. "Good. Good night Pyro." Lucky then went in her and Sweetie's bedroom, and they fell asleep.