To Have

As soon as the Sisterhooves Social race ended, Dinky the unicorn ran up the bleachers to her mother.  "Didja see us?  Didja?  Didja?" she asked, grinning like her face would split.

Derpy grabbed her daughter and swung her around.  "Butter and excellence, the cute badgers sing!"

Violet Sparkler trotted over.  She stopped next to the bleachers, and nervously rubbed one forehoof against the other.  "Hey, Miz Hooves?" she said, "I know Dinky and I aren't real sisters, but, um, thanks for letting us compete together."

"Kumquat and the entrance," said Derpy, nodding.

"I mean," said Violet suddenly, quickly, as if she'd been holding the words back for too long, "I've never had a little sister, and when they put Dinky in my foster home I was so happy there was another unicorn there, but she was just so sad, and she missed her mother so much."

Derpy looked at Violet (and a tree to the left), intrigued.

"And when she got to go home, she was so happy, but then I was sad, because I didn't have a sister anymore."  Violet looked down at the ground, and sniffled.  "Or a real mother."

A hoof on Violet's neck made her look back up.  "I'll always be your sister, Violet," said Dinky, softly.

"Thanks," said Violet, and hugged Dinky.  Their hug was so full of joy that they didn't even hear the sound of pencil on paper.

Derpy held a notepad between her hooves, and had a pencil in her mouth.  She was scribbling furiously.  Frustration creased her brow as she tore the page from the pad and crumpled it up.  Then she continued.

"Hey all y'all!" shouted Applejack, "Git'cher cornbread an' beans, compliments of Sweet Apple Acres!"

Dinky and Violet made a mad dash for the food.  The pie-eating portion of the contest completely slipped their minds until they'd each started eating a plate of the free food.

"Hey Dinky, how'dya like yer corn pone?" asked Apple Bloom, walking past in her apron and serving hat.  "I helped bake it."

"Dee-lish!" said Dinky, licking her lips.

"Ditto here!" said Violet, then finished her meal.

"Good t'hear it.  Oh, hi, Miz Hooves."  Apple Bloom turned and walked toward another table, presumably to inquire about the other guests' dining experience.

Violet and Dinky scooted over to make room, but it wasn't a plate of refreshments Derpy held.  Instead, she placed a single piece of paper on the table.

Violet and Dinky leaned over and read it:

To Violet Sparkler:
Dinky and I live in a small house on the edge of Ponyville.
It's cozy- some might call it cramped- but it's home.
I have a medical condition, but I manage to provide for us.
Dinky has told me a lot about you, and your kindness to her.
Would you like to be her sister legally?

They gasped.  "Do you really mean it, mom?" asked Dinky, bouncing up and down, "Can Violet be my big sister forever an'ever?"

Violet turned and hugged Derpy.  No words, only shaky sobs and a wet spot on Derpy's mane.

"In the clear," said Derpy to her younger daughter.  "In the clear."

By the bleachers, Apple Bloom was picking up trash.  "Durn messy ponies," she muttered.  There were several crumpled up pieces of paper in a pile by the bleacher.  "Huh?"  She uncrumpled one, turning it this way and that.  It appeared to be addition problems.  The numbers were labeled 'rent,' 'food,' 'job' 'second job,' 'adoption fees.'  The sum was negative, with a frowny face drawn next to it.

Intrigued, Apple Bloom uncrumpled another.  This one matched the previous, but also had 'third job - temporary' listed, with a note: 'help her develop mark talent into small business???'  This time, the numbers added up.  "Huh," she said, then tossed them in her garbage sack and continued on her way.