“Sky...you’re...alive?” The stallion asked, cocking his head. “I mean, you are Sky Runner, right?”

“Yeah…” Sky nodded. “Yeah, I’m alive. No thanks to you.”

“You’re really going to bring that up, after all this time?” The unicorn persisted. “You’re alive. That’s what matters…” He took a step forward, reaching out to touch her. Sky recoiled warily.

“Telling Shady where I was hiding kinda ended up being a big deal.” Sky snarled, pulling away. “Come on, Hoovesie. Don’t act like it was nothing.”

“I made a mistake, Sky. Mum and dad tricked me. They told me terrible things about you. They told me you’d spoken about me behind my back, stolen, stabbed ponies in their sleep...they told me everything they wanted me to believe and I bought it. I was just a stupid teenager…”

“Congratulations.” Sky snorted. “You’ve graduated into a stupid adult, too. You know I’d never have done any of that shit.”

“Sky, please. Watch your language. There’s a foal present.” He glanced down at Accident, frowning. “And what’s your name, kid?”

“My name’s Acci…” Accident began, exchanging a look with Sky before hurriedly correcting herself. “Shadow. My name’s Shadow. I’m Sky’s best friend in the whole wide world! I’m her only friend in the whole wide world!” She beamed, completely failing to see the gravity of the situation.

“You know, Sky...you could have just come and found me.” Stronghooves sighed. “I’d have been there for you. You didn’t have to go around stealing fillies.”

“I didn’t steal her…” Sky began, but the stallion’s horn flared, picking Accident up and hoisting her out of Sky’s saddlebag by magic.

“Weee!” Accident giggled, flapping her oversized wings as the pony drew her closer, inspecting her.

“Ooooh, you’re huge!” Accident beamed. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Lieutenant Stronghooves of the Royal Guard.” The stallion smiled. “And I’m Sky’s big brother. She used to love me.”

“Used to.” Sky added. “He’s a dumb-shit stallion who left me all alone when the rest of my family kicked me out, and he sold me out to a bunch of ponies who wanted me dead.”

“Wow...that was really mean of you, Stronghooves.” Accident frowned, giving the enormous stallion a cursory bat around the nose with her hoof. “You’d better apologise to Sky right this minute! She could’ve been really badly hurt!”

“I was.” Sky grumbled. “Come on, kid. We’d better get out of here before he fucks somepony’s life up even more.”

“What makes you think you’re leaving?” Stronghooves asked, eyes widening. “You can’t leave! I’ve just found out that you lived! That’s amazing! I didn’t think…”

“Didn’t think I’d be this pissed off when I saw you again? I bet.” Sky spat. “You just hoped I’d drop dead after you kicked my ass to the curb.”

Accident’s gaze jumped between the two ponies, the look of blind fury on Sky’s face, the expression of incredible guilt and fear on Stronghooves’s.

“Face it, Hoovesie.” Sky said acidly. “You’re just pissed because you never thought you’d have to explain yourself. You thought I’d died.”

“They...told me you had died.” Stronghooves said quietly. “I caught Shady and his kid...they told me...told me that you’d stopped moving, stopped crying...that you weren’t breathing anymore and that’s why they got up and left…”

“Yeah, well, here I am.” Sky shrugged, pulling Accident out of Stronghooves’s magical grip and dropping her back into her saddlebag with a happy squeak. “Those two bullshitted you and you were relieved because you damn well wanted me to be dead after what you did.”

“Sky...wait...come on…” Stronghooves shook his head, grabbing her tail by magic and pulling her towards him. “Don’t run away. I’ve got a lot to explain, a lot to fix...I want to know what happened to you over all these years, what turned you into...well...this.” He gestured at her with a hoof, gaze falling on her burglar’s cloak and mask in particular.

“Because even after what you did to me, I’m not gonna spend my life begging or selling my body. You wanna know why I steal shit? Ask mum and dad.” Sky growled, flicking her tail out of his grip and trotting away.

Both mares squeaked with fright as Stronghooves teleported in front of them in a flash of blue light.

“I’m not going to give up that easily, Sky.” He said stoically. “And I’m relatively certain that you stole that foal, too.”

“I didn’t steal her!” Sky protested, glancing around in an effort to find a way out of the marketplace. “She...she found me…”

“Yeah?” Stronghooves sighed, turning his attention to Accident. “Hey...Shadow, right?...where’s your mother?”

“Oh, she’s…” Accident began happily, before the memory of what had happened this evening struck her like a ton of bricks. Her ears flopped down and she gave a sad sigh, retreating under Sky’s saddlebag flap with only her forehooves poking out. “I...I don’t have a mum anymore...she doesn’t love me anymore…”

Stronghooves took a step forward as Sky began to slowly retreat. “Your mother’s...gone? What does she look like? Perhaps I can talk some sense into her…”

“She...she looks just like Sky...but…but she’s a unicorn...and she’s got golden horseshoes as her cutie mark instead of black ones...and...and she pretended...pretended she loved me...she’s the first pony I ever...ever hugged…” Accident sniffled softly, drawing her fluffy hooves in and curling up into a ball.

Stronghooves stared at the bulging saddlebag for a time before looking up at Sky accusingly.

“Really?” He frowned, brow furrowing. “Look, Sky, it’s one thing to have a problem with our parents and me, but brainwashing a filly’s just wrong.”

“She’s not brainwashed, dumbass!” Sky growled. “She’s mum’s kid! That tarted-up bitch threw this poor kid out and she came to find me!”

Stronghooves held a hoof up, horn flaring again. “Brainwashing fillies is wrong.” He said again. “Mum never had any other kids…”

“That you know of…” Sky muttered, eyes falling on a nearby alleyway.

“...and this pony can’t possibly be hers.” He finished, ignoring her. “Look, Sky, fight your own battles. If you want to say something to one of us, do it yourself! Don’t go whining to fillies who don’t know any better and filling their head with lies!”

“It’s clear you don’t believe me.” Sky huffed, shoulders slumping. “She’s mum’s kid, and she’s gone through the same shit I have...well, apart from the bullshit you pulled with Shady and Nightshade. I’m not filling her head with lies. She doesn’t know shit about what happened to me.”

Stronghooves ground his teeth, horn flaring so brightly that both ponies’ faces were illuminated bright blue.

“I’ll say again.” He growled himself. “If you have a problem with me and my parents, you talk to us directly. Don’t bring kids into this, and don’t go stealing them just because you’re lonely. It’s like everything mum told me about you was true.”

“Yeah?” Sky countered, muzzle inches from his own. “Well, I’m keeping her until I can get her to an orphanage or something, and there’s nothing you can fucking do about it. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

Stronghooves placed a hoof on her chest, snarling quietly before pushing her over with one powerful shove. Sky tried to land as softly as possible so as not to hurt Accident, but as she came down on her side, there came a thud and a pained whimper from inside her saddlebag.

“No.” Stronghooves shook his head. “Even if I were to believe everything you’ve said this evening, you’re still wearing a burglar’s mask.” He advanced on her, pulling out a pair of hoofcuffs. “You’re coming with me, Sky. We’ll get you the help you need, put you away, rehabilitate you and make sure that this delusional little foal gets back to her family.”

There came an unintelligible noise from within the saddlebag.

Stronghooves perked his ears, listening more intently. “What?”

“I...don’t wanna go home to my mum…” Accident whispered. “She doesn’t love me...she said she doesn’t love me…she called me a fre…a frea…”

“A freak.” Sky groaned, getting to her hooves and spreading her weak wings. “We’re both freaks, Hoovesie. She gets it. She’s been through the same shit I’ve been through, and neither of us get to know what it’s like to be loved. That’s why she’s staying with me. I can help her.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you were replacing me.” Stronghooves froze, fixing Sky with a slightly fearful gaze.

“Maybe I am.” Sky grunted, turning tail and galloping for the alleyway, leaving Stronghooves in shock.

“Are you okay, kid?”

“Not really…” Accident replied honestly.

“Alright. Just try not to cry, okay? We’ll get home and I promise you’re gonna feel all better…” Sky muttered.

“I don’t think you can make me feel better, Sky…” Accident said doubtfully.

“Wanna bet?”

The mare dropped into her cul-de-sac, pushing her door open and flicking on the lights. With a flick of her wings she launched herself into the air, twisting her body so that Accident could fall out of her saddlebag onto the sofa. In spite of her heartbreak and injuries, Accident gave a giggly little squeak as she bounced on the couch, laying down and curling up into a ball again. Sky flopped down in front of her, tucking her wings in and giving her cheek a soft nuzzle.

“You didn’t tell me that your mum threw you out, too.” Accident whispered, wrapping one of her huge wings around her body like a big feathery blanket.

“Yeah.” Sky nodded. “I’m sorry you had to hear that, kid, but...well...if there’s one thing you can take away from what happened tonight, it’s that even without your family, at least you’re not alone.”

“Stronghooves was mean.” Accident muttered, peeking up at Sky through her feathers with her brilliant green eyes. “He pushed you down. Only bullies do that. I thought he was a guard!”

“He is.” Sky nodded. “I guess he made it that far in his career, but...kid...you know that being a guard doesn’t mean you’re a good pony, right?”

“It’s supposed to!” Accident choked, ears splaying back again. “And being a mum means you’re supposed to love your foals no matter what, and...and…”

“And the world isn’t the way it’s supposed to be.” Sky nodded. “There are loads of bad ponies, and you just kinda got the short straw, being related to a complete asshole.”

“Does...does she hate me because of my wings? Are they the problem?” Accident asked. “I’ll take them off! I don’t care how! Scruffy can take his off, too! We wouldn’t mind!”

“No, Shad...Accident.” Sky shook her head, clambering up onto the couch with her. “Don’t you dare get rid of those. You know why?”

“Wh...why?” Accident sniffled, wrapping her forehooves around Sky’s chest and pushing her face into the mare’s fur.

“Because they’re the prettiest wings in the whole wide world and it’d be a shame to take them away.” Sky smiled, kissing her on the forehead. “They’re better than these useless old things.”

“Mu...mum always said that, too…” Accident sobbed, squeezing Sky a little tighter.

“Yeah, well guess what? I’m telling the truth.” Sky grinned, ears flicking back as she did her best to console the crying little pony. “That’s the big difference between your mum and me. I actually give a damn about you. I’d never leave you behind when you need me like you do now...and I know an awesome, special little pony when I see one.”

“Spe...special?”

“Special.” Sky nodded, remembering her own mother calling her “special” and the connotations it carried. “And when I say special, I mean that there’s nopony else in the whole wide world like you. You’re happy and brave even when scary stuff happens, and you give the best hugs in all of Equestria.”

“You’re just...just saying that…”

“Am I?” Sky cocked her head. “Who went out searching for help when she was lost and alone? You did. Nopony even had to tell you to do it.”

Accident snorted, not pulling her head out from Sky’s chest as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“You know what else you did?” Sky carried on. “You went and saved me from those mangoes even though you were super-scared of being eaten. That’s pretty brave, right?”

“Ye...yeah...I guess so…” Accident conceded slowly.

“And then you told their dark master off for selling them to everypony, even though he was bigger than you.” Sky continued.

“He wasn’t that much bigger…” Accident shrugged.

“And then you smiled and tried to befriend a pony who was being a bully, just because you’re a nice little filly!” Sky grinned, giving her a nudge. “Come on, kid! Just tonight alone you’ve done a lot of really brave stuff! I know full-grown ponies who couldn’t do the things you’ve just done!”

“Well...I guess I’m a little brave…” Accident smiled softly, pulling away and giving Sky a shaky little smile.

“You’re super brave.” Sky corrected her, booping her nose with a forehoof. “You’re clever, friendly, soft, cuddly and pretty! You’re a great pony, Shadow. You just...your mum couldn’t see that, and that’s her loss.”

Accident stared up at Sky, cocking her head.

“Well, you know…” She said, placing a hoof on Sky’s and giving it a squeeze. “Your mum’s missing out, too.”

Sky scoffed, tussling Accident’s mane. “Heh...you know what? Maybe it’s just as well that I got thrown out forever. It means I got to meet you and we get to be the best of friends, right?”

“It means you could cheer me up when nopony else could.” Accident nodded. “Even if you got my name wrong.”

“What?”

“You called me Shadow.” Accident giggled. “My name’s not Shadow, it’s…”

“Accident. Yeah, I know.” Sky chuckled, rolling onto her side and pulling the filly closer. “Well, I like the name Shadow better. Sue me.”

“Okay!” Accident grinned, banging her hoof on a sofa cushion with a tiny little pomf. “You’re guilty of one act of being a big silly horse! How do you plead?”

“You already said I was guilty!” Sky snickered. “That’s not even fair!”

“A-ha! You admit it!” Accident tutted at her, shaking her head. “You really are a criminal, aren’t you?”

“Maybe I am.” Sky grinned, flexing her hooves. “But this criminal’s gonna make an awesome daring escape. Wanna know how?”

“How?” Accident asked, cocking her head. Obviously escape was impossible. Sky was entwined in a filly-hug! Nopony ever escaped a filly-hug!

“By tickling the guards until they let me go.” Sky winked, pushing her forehooves under Accident’s wings and wiggling her hooves against her sensitive joints.

“NO! YOU CAN’T! THAT’S CHEATIIIIIIING!” Accident squeaked and squealed, threatening to roll off of the couch as she exploded into a fit of breathless giggles.

Sky pinned her to the couch, rolling Accident onto her back and rubbing her tummy as she tried to suppress her own giggles. She cocked her head as she seemed to spot Accident’s bellyfur for the first time, looking for all the world like a long-haired cat’s. It was the fluffiest thing Sky had ever seen.

“MERCY!” Accident squealed, beating her wings uselessly as she lay upside down. Though tear streaks still ran down her cheeks, the sparkle in her eyes was that of pure happiness. It’s impossible to be sad when you’ve just received the tickling of a lifetime.

Sky snapped back to the present, letting her go and pinning her under a wing again. “I win.” She grinned.

Accident squeaked and whimpered as she fought to catch her breath, hooves wrapping around one of Sky’s primaries as she drew the mare’s wing up under her chin.

“Sky?”

“Yeah?”

“How did you get kicked out?”

Sky’s ears splayed back as she rested her head down next to Accident’s.

“Well...you know…” Sky shrugged, ears flopping down as she shifted uncomfortably. “I...was...I was born all wrong.”

“But you’re a pretty pegasus!” Accident beamed.

“Yeah, well, that’s the problem. My mum...my dad...my big brother...they’re all unicorns. They…they didn’t want a pegasus.” Sky said slowly, closing her eyes. “They threw me out one day because I wasn’t fitting in and got expelled from school.”

“Did they ever come back for you?” Accident asked, silently imploring Sky to let this story have a happy ending.

“Stronghooves did. The stallion you met tonight - my big brother best friend forever - he came and brought me food every day.” Sky smiled softly. “He was a big sweetie back then. He took care of me and kept me safe from some other ponies.”

“Shady?” Accident put in.

“Yeah, Shady. He’s kind of...kind of a bully around these parts.” Sky nodded. “Stronghooves protected me from him. He used to fight him a lot.”

“So why haven’t you spoken to him in so long?” Asked Accident, confused.

“Because...one day...he left me alone with Shady. Told him where I had my super-secret hiding place that nopony else could find.” Sky said, turning her head away. “And Shady found me and… well, he hurt me pretty bad.”

“That was really mean of Stronghooves.” Accident huffed. “He really is a meanie! Did...did you ever meet anypony like you?”

“What do you mean, like me?” Sky asked.

“You know, who understood you.” Accident shrugged. “Who knew what had happened and didn’t care and loved you anyway, no matter what?”

Sky froze, opening her eyes and looking into Accident’s. They stared at each other for a very long time, Accident regarding her with a look of honest curiosity while the cogs turned in the elder pony’s head.

“You know something?” Sky said slowly. “I spent years wishing that somepony would. I sat in that little armchair over there and wished as hard as I could that someday a pony could show up who could make me feel better. I even wrote a bunch of letters to Princess Luna.”

“And...did she write any back?”

“Nah. I guess she was too busy or something. Must be difficult doing literally two things with your entire day.” Sky glanced out of the window at the moon before turning back to Accident. “Still, one night, not too long ago, I got a knock on my door. It was the first time a pony had ever knocked on my door. I went to open it, and do you know what I found on my porch?”

“What?” Accident asked, enthralled.

“I found a little pony curled up on my doorstep. She was bleeding heavily, knocked out and barely breathing. I took her inside and made her all better.” Sky whispered, her voice shaking as a soft smile of realisation played across her face. “She was the cutest little pony in the whole world. She had these huge wings and a smile that wouldn’t ever go away, no matter what happened.”

“Did she join the Sky fan club, too?” Accident asked, wondering how Sky could possibly have gone this long without mentioning that filly.

“You know something, kid? She’s the only member.” Sky chuckled. “She’s the first pony I ever met who could make me smile after all of the crap that’s happened, make me...well...enjoy myself for a change.”

“What happened to her?” Accident asked.

“Well...I promised to take her back to her mum...and then her mum didn’t want her, so I let her hang out for a while.” Sky said, seemingly choking on nothing. “I found out that she’d gone through so much of the same stuff I’d been through...and it had taken me forever to realise that somepony actually had answered all of my letters. I had a...a friend...and a little sister…and I never even knew she existed until I met her…”

“What was her name?” Accident asked.

Sky said nothing, shaking violently as she clutched the filly a little tighter.

“Sky?”

“Ye...yeah?”

“Are you crying?”

“N...no…”

Accident craned her neck, frowning grumpily as she spotted telltale tear-tracks running down the mare’s cheeks. Wriggling her way out from under Sky’s wing, she darted off into the kitchen. There was only one way to stop a pony from crying if filly-hugs didn’t work, and Accident knew it all too well.

After much sniffing and snuffling (and a little bit of crashing - how was she even meant to know that those saucepans were there?) Accident emerged with a little bucket held in her mouth. Without a word, she clambered up onto the couch and took a single cookie out of it, pushing it into Sky’s mouth.

“Mmmph…” Sky mumbled, opening her eyes and looking down at the cookie. “Mph?”

“I saved you one!” Accident smiled. “It’s the very last one in the bucket! I didn’t know that grown-ups cry, but I thought you might like it, since you made me feel so much better!”

Sky gave her a long look, her eyes still bright with tears as she munched gratefully on the cookie. “Mmph...thanks…” She muttered.

“You make me feel better when I’m all sad and upset! It’s only fair!” Accident beamed, as if Sky were a little simple.

“Well...I guess…” Sky chuckled, finishing the cookie and smiling up at Accident. The two little ponies nuzzled one another, closing their eyes as the youngster settled down in front of her.

A moment later, Sky jumped to her hooves, looking around urgently. “Wait! I’ve got a great idea!” She said urgently. “It’s a sure-fire way to make you feel better!”

“Is it a cuddle? Because I’d like a cuddle!” Accident said hopefully.

”Better than a cuddle.” Sky grinned triumphantly. “If I go and get it for you, do you promise to wait right here?”

Accident froze, ears flopping back. “That’s just what mum said before she left me…”

“I know, but kid, I’ve got a great idea that you’re gonna love!” Sky grinned. “Trust me, it’ll be worth the wait, and I promise that I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Please don’t leave me forever…” Accident whimpered, clutching Sky’s forehoof and holding on tight.

“Kid, I live here. You know I’m gonna come back.” Sky winked. “Besides, I’m not like your mum. If you can believe that for just ten minutes, I’ll prove it to you.”

“Okay…” Accident said slowly. “But if it turns out that you’re lying…”

“If it turns out I’m lying, you can hunt me down and beat my ass yourself.” Sky giggled. “But I’m not gonna go anywhere. I’ll be right back, and I guarantee that you’re gonna be the smiliest little pony in Equestria, okay?”

Accident bit her lip, considering Sky’s offer for a moment before finally nodding. “Okay. But I’m gonna count!”

“Yeah? Well I’m gonna run. I bet I can get back before you finish counting.” Sky said, giving Accident one last kiss on the forehead before galloping out of her front door.

With a confident little grin, Accident went to retrieve Scruffy, setting him down on the couch next to her as she began to count.

“One happy pony, two happy ponies, three happy ponies…”

“...I’m stuck.”

Accident frowned, realising that she really ought to have thought this through. Like most five year old fillies, she couldn’t exactly count past one hundred happy ponies, so she resorted to tapping her hoof and letting Scruffy take over. He was the smarter pony. It wouldn’t be too tricky for him to handle.

As she sighed and slumped on the couch, Accident gazed at the door, wondering where Sky could possibly have gone.

“She said she was gonna bring me back something that’d make me smile...but I don’t feel all that smiley right now…” She murmured.

Scruffy said nothing.

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt you and make you lose count!” Accident said hurriedly, slumping again as she returned her gaze to the door.

“You know what I bet?” She said after a while. “I bet Sky’s gonna come back in any second now. I’m gonna do some counting of my own!” She squeed, tail flicking from side to side as she wiggled her flanks and lifted herself into a pounce-ready position. “In three...two...one...NOW!”

Accident’s ears perked up, but there was no sound, nor any indication that Sky had returned. The little blue filly settled back into her ready position.

“Okay, this time for sure.” She grinned. “Three...two...one...NOW!”

Still nothing. Accident bit her lip as worry crept in, eating at the back of her mind. What if Sky had lied to her just like her mother? What if she’d taken her in just to throw her away like Mum had done? It was a horrible thought, but as Accident watched the door, it became harder and harder to defy her growing sense of dread.

“Okay...one…one more time…” She whispered, voice shaking. “Three...two…”

Accident didn’t get to finish her countdown, as just then a beige something burst through the door on four white legs, yelling happily as if it were the life of the party here to boost everyone’s spirits. The little filly screamed with fright, grabbing Scruffy and diving behind the couch.

“Okay...not what I was expecting.” The intruder muttered. “Guess I came on a little strong, but whatever..”

Clearing its throat, it spoke out in a deep male voice.

“Accident? I’m a very special friend that Sky sent to make you feel better! There’s no need to be afraid of me!” It intoned.

A pair of little blue filly ears poked out over the top of the couch, followed by the rest of Accident’s head. “Who are you and what have you done with Sk…”

Accident froze. What stood before her was not some horrible ugly evil intruder, but a great big cookie the size of a pony, standing on four very familiar-looking legs. It reared up, holding out its forehooves.

“All I want is a hug.” It said.

“You’re...a great big cookie…” Accident said softly, remembering what she’d told Sky about her lifelong dream. “And...and you want to...to hug me?”

“Sure do!” The cookie replied, beckoning her over. “Sky told me that it meant the world to you to get a hug from a giant cookie, so here I am!”

Accident shivered like mad for a few seconds, before practically bouncing off of the walls in delight. Each one of her big hops was accompanied by a happy beat of her wings as she pranced around, completely freaking out.

“OH MY GOSH! THIS IS...THIS IS AMAZING!” She gasped. “I TOLD SKY THAT IT WAS MY LIFELONG DREAM AND SHE LISTENED TO ME AND MUM ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT GIANT HUGGING COOKIES WEREN’T REAL BUT I PROVED HER WRONG AND HERE’S ONE RIGHT NOW AND IT WANTS TO HUG MEEEEEE!”

With a tiny little peep, Accident collapsed, fainting with delight.

“Erm...kid?” The cookie froze, looking down at her with concern as her hooves twitched.

“Hug, please…” Accident said weakly, trying to catch her breath as she held out her forehooves.

The cookie trotted over to her, lifting her up and cradling her like a newborn. It had an incredibly gentle grip, the sort of hold that was at once firm and soft. The kind of grip that can only come from years of picking locks and stealing from pockets.

Accident closed her eyes, hugging it back.

“Sky?”

“Ye...I mean, I’m not Sky!”

“Sky...I know it’s just you in a cookie suit.”

Silence.

“Shit.” Sky muttered after a while. “I knew I should’ve tried to find a better costume…”

“It’s okay! I don’t mind.” Accident whispered, smiling wider than ever as she clutched the mare in a bone-breaking hug. “This is the nicest thing that anypony’s ever done for me.”

As the little blue filly wrapped her wings around Sky, her body shook again, tears running down her face and dripping onto the ground.

This time, however, they were tears from the happiest filly in the whole wide world.