Ch. 1: A Small Mistake

She ran and laughed and played with her siblings as her family stood by, beaming affection. She was in a home with ponies that wanted her and cared for her, and she had everything she'd ever wanted. But all dreams must come to an end, and it gradually faded away as she came back to consciousness, revealing the cold, stark lines of the orphanage.

Waking up, the filly yawned a yawn that seemed bigger than the rest of her scrawny, underfed body. She uncurled and stretched, and then got down from the pillow she had commandeered. The bunk beds in the orphanage were extremely uncomfortable to lie on, and she was small enough she didn't really need more than a pillow, anyways.

It was still fairly early in the morning, but that was perfect for her. She preferred to leave the dorm far before the other orphans she shared it with did. She didn't really like being around them more than she had to. Staying around was an invitation to be hassled or made fun of, and with her name, she'd always been a favorite target.

She jumped lightly down from the top of the small bookcase the pillow was sitting on to the carpet, then softly padded out of the crowded dorm room, trying to make sure not to wake up any of the others. It was still technically within curfew, after all.

Fortunately, they didn't really have anyone in position to enforce the curfew, since while she was quiet enough, she could be seen pretty easily. Her teal fur was dark enough, but her light blue, almost white mane and tail stood out to anyone glancing in her direction. She could wear something to cover up her mane, but her tail would always be a dead giveaway.

Of course, with her small size, she could hide behind things easily anyways. She crept down the hallway, and ducked behind a bookcase. There she retrieved a bag she had left there for safekeeping and a dark cap that she put on to reduce her visibility. It was dusty and worn, but it would do.

It was early enough that getting breakfast was out of the question, and so was going to the small library inside the orphanage, and spending time with a good book. It was Monday, though, and she did remember that the weekly apple delivery to the orphanage was done early Monday mornings. Maybe she could swipe a few that were in process of being delivered for her breakfast.

She checked a nearby window that she knew never seemed to close properly. No one appeared to be nearby outside, so she went out the window and slid down the drain pipe down to the ground. It was a short enough distance that it wasn't particularly dangerous, especially with the soft grass below.

Landing in the grass and looking around, she quietly headed to the area where she believed the barrels of apples were normally delivered to. They delivered them in the early morning, so if she timed it right... There!

An amber colored stallion was lowering a barrel to the ground right now. As she watched, he made sure it was in place, then trotted off. She waited a moment, then went over to the barrels. Clinging to one of the them, all four legs wrapped around it, she tried to pry off the lid.

 After a moment, she stopped for breath, panting. This was a lot tougher than it looked. Then she heard somepony clearing his throat behind her.

She turned. Standing behind her, an amused look on his face, was the stallion from earlier, carting another barrel. She flushed, embarrassed at being caught like that. She unwrapped herself from the barrel and stepped away.

"You wouldn't be trying for an early helpin' of our apples, now, missy, would you?" He drawled.

She shrunk in her gut, and did her best to look pitiful and underfed, which wasn't particularly hard with her size. Nervous and wide eyed came pretty easily, too. "I- I was h-hungry, and j-just wanted an a-apple..."

"You are an awful small thing, ain't ya? I can't have you pryin' at my barrels, though. I'll tell you what. Wait here a moment." He trotted off, then came back with his saddle bag. He pulled a few apples out, and gave them to her.

She gladly accepted the apples, and put all but one in her bag. That one looked so good, she couldn't resist starting in on it right then. She took a big bite out of it, and then quickly devoured the apple, juice running down her chin.

The stallion chuckled at the sight. "Now, I'd imagine you don't want me talkin' to the head of the orphanage about this, right?"

She shook her head quickly. She was already in trouble with her enough.

"Of course, I need my barrels not to be messed with. Now, what was your name?" He asked.

She couldn't stand the ridicule that always followed when she gave out her real name. She temporized. "I-I'm called Misty."

"Well, Misty, I'll tell you what. If you're hungry and see me or a big red stallion delivering apples, just ask us rather than fiddlin' with my barrels, and I'm sure we'll be able to spare a couple." He told her.

Her spirits rose back up. This would make getting up early and avoiding the others much easier. "Thank you, mister, um-"

"It's Caramel. and the other stallion that comes by sometimes would be Big Macintosh."

"Thanks, Caramel!" Misty said gratefully.

"Don't mention it." He headed back, presumably for some more barrels.

She circled the building until she arrived at an old trelise running along the side. She climbed it up to a low hanging section of the roof, hopped up, and went up to her usual area to watch the sunrise. There, she sat and watched the scenery while eating a few apples.

Time passed, and eventually, stomach full, she judged that it was time she went back inside before anypony noticed her missing. She headed back over to the window she had come in by, and slipped inside.

Only this time, there was a stern grey mare standing there. She immediately recognised her as Miss Crabapple, head of the orphanage.

"Unwanted Mistake! What in Equestria do you think you're doing!" She exclaimed, glaring down at her from behind tilted glasses.

She cringed at the sound of her hated full name. She was certainly in for it this time.

"Oops."