The day I was left with my sisters?
I remember that day well.
I was home, all day, letting the peace overcome me. I was to be the one who inherited the house due to my father leaving it in his will. I was there, near the warm, glowing fireplace. The flames licked skywards through the chimney. The peace, it was a bit overwhelming. I’d say I’m a bit then I was the last week, after all, last week… I was crying nonstop. Compared to that, this bliss.
This bliss, it was short, too short for the weight of my heart. There was knocking at the cottage door, my mind assume it was some kind of sales pony, trying to make me purchase whatever ware that they had. The knocking had become loud and it’s pace quickened, frantic might I say. With it ruining me peace and silence, I could no longer stand. Within moments, I was at the door, ready to give this sale pony a piece of mind, though too much of my joy, it was my dearest, closest friend.
She was breathing heavily, staring deeply into my eyes. She was rather shaking. Her voice stuttered as she tried to form a sentence, it finally came out. “Y-Your sister! Somepony is taking them!” I began to question her words. “What?” Yeah, sad. Those were the only words I could come out with as my mind processed her word. When it clicked, I bolted from her side, heading straight to the school yard that my sisters’ attended. The warm of a scarf on this cold day was far out of my mind, I was just worrying about getting to school as fast as I could
When I had reached the school, my eyes were greeted with the image of my sister, Strawberry, inside the confines of a carriage near the school gate. Why of all reasons was she in a carriage? My mind was racing with possibilities; all of them scared me. Something pierced the awkward silence, screaming, shouting, the voice was familiar.
“KEEP YOUR DIRTY HOOVES OFF OF ME! YOU CAN’T TAKE ME, TOUCH ME, DO ANYTHING! I KNOW MY RIGHTS!” My eyes landed on my other sister, Vanilla. She was being forcefully being dragged along by two ponies, a mare and stallion, both wearing a posh naval uniform. The mare leaned in closer to Vanilla, speaking in a soft tone, “yes, you do have your rights, and one of those is for you to be safe. My friend here and I are trying to ensure that.” The mare was attempts at calming my sister down were in vain.
“NO! I DEMAND TO SEE A LAWYER, SOMETHING! YOU CAN’T JUST TAKE ME SOMEWHERE WITHOUT MY CONSENT! THIS IS KIDNAPPING!” Vanilla was raising her voice so it was even louder, clearly saying each word with her protesting. The ponies of the playground began to stare, questioning what was happening. The stallion was no longer pulling her along, but behind her, in case if Vanilla had any thoughts of running away. His silence finally broke. “We just want to make sure you are safe from any threat.” Vanilla was simply not buying into this. She longer gave any mind to the two, and her voice cringed out for help now.
“HELP! SOMEONE! I AM BEING KIDNAPPED BY THIS TWO CRAZY PONIES WHO DON’T EVEN LISTEN TO REASON! OH CELESTIA! THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SELL ME OFF ON THE BLACK MARKET OR HOLD SOME KIND OF EXTREME RANSOM! SOMEONE! HELP ME!” Her voice was now hoarse from screaming, still trying to free herself from the mare’s grasp.
The stallion’s face soured, his hoof was now on Vanilla’s back as her begun to gently push her into the carriage alongside Strawberry. My head shook violently, had I just sat idle by and watch what just happened. I began again, going from a slow trot into a full gallop, quickly making my way up to the carriage. The mare of the duo had her nose buried into some note she was writing, glancing up only for a second to notice me coming at her. Her voice sounded a bit harsh as she spoke at me. “Who are you?” Her eyes peered at me through her glasses. “I-I’m Neapolitan, may I ask what you are you doing to my sisters and where are you taking them?!” I guess you could say I was angry at these two. The mare’s eyes flickered with sadness as she began to shuffle through the terrible large paper stack she now had. “ It says here on the papers, that the parents of these minors, Vanilla Salt and Strawberry Shimmer, had recently passed away in a carriage crash, a bit unfortunate might I add. “
My head dropped slightly upon hearing these words. “Y-yes, they did, two weeks ago.” The mare’s expression sadden even more so as she looked over me. The mare tried to comfort me, telling me sweet words that everything was going to be alright, despite everything that was happening with the situation. They were words that I did not want to hear. “Honey, since their parents are no longer around, they have no legal guardian that can take care of them, this means that they have to be in a safe place.” Her words were kind, but they sounded cold to my ears. My eyes look at her in disbelief. I shook my head at her words. “No, this isn't happening.” To me, my voice sounded like a low whisper, shaky though. “You can’t take my sisters to a foal’s home.
“I- I want to be their legal guardian!” My voice came out, I had no true thoughts about it, responsibilities, consequences, and the work that would come along with the new found task. The mare tilted her head, looking over me, trying to get something clear. “May I ask something of you, how old are you?” I simply eyed her for minute before telling her I was seventeen. She nodded her head slowly and softly. “That is young sweetie, but I must say, that is not the youngest we have gotten.” I swallowed hard, thinking of ponies younger then I am stuck with the responsibilities I was about to take on. “May I ask how young was the youngest?” The mare nodded at my question. “Sixteen, but they had help from other ponies.”
The mare and I spoke for a while, she was stating very clearly. They all seemed rather reasonable to me. A part time job somewhere and someone to take care of them if I was unable to perform said task at any given time. My eyes wandered over to the carriage, thinking about my sisters in there. We spoke for a short bit more before I heard the voice of Vanilla. Her face was plastered against the window, still yelling as best as she could without hurting Strawberry's ears. “NEA! These crazy people are trying to take us! Tell them they can’t! We have our rights!” Strawberry was looking between Vanilla and me with a confused look across her face. “N-nea?” Her face was slowly becoming fearful, despite her sweet, slightly high-pitched, childish voice. “Are these people taking us away? I –I’m scared.”
I nodded my head in the direction of the mare, a silent note, wanting to speak to my sister in private. She bought it. I quickly made my way up to the side of the carriage, dreading the conversation I was about to have with them, more so Vanilla when Strawberry. With a deep sigh, I began to speak to them, a soft smile pressed against my face, despite the terrible pain in my heart. “Listen, sweetie, these nice ponies, they are going to you on a very good trip for a while.” I chuckled slightly, trying to make it sound a bit more lighthearted. “You are going to have lots of fun, and then after that, you are gonna come back home to me.” I made the smile grew wider for Strawberry’s sake. I watched as her small face lit up with happiness. “Really?! Oh thank you Nea!” Strawberry hugged me through the now opened window, I couldn't help but let the smile become true.
One was over and done with. That meant Vanilla was left. Turning my attention to her, her face was sour, hatred plastered all over with evil intent in her eyes. Only if looks could kill, I would be dead on the ground. There was no way I could use the same approach on her as I did for Strawberry. Vanilla knew where they were going, and she was fully against it from what I saw. I had suggested to Strawberry that she should take to the ponies in front of the carriage, and she did the sorts. Strawberry began to question the ponies, asking them questions of all sorts. Once Strawberry was possibly on the fourth question and was contempt of asking them much more, I turned my attention back to Vanilla, I lowered my voice, not wanting to gain Strawberry’s attention. “Vanilla, please believe me. I tried everything that I could to get you guys to come back home with me-“ Vanilla had just looked away from me, staring at a wall within the carriage.
“Vanilla, look at me please, listen to my words.” My whisper was slightly louder. Vanilla was staying disobedient, trying to burn holes in the side of the wall with her angered gaze. I swallowed hard, not wanting to raise my voice. “Vanilla, listen to me!” Eeyup, I had done it. Her head shot around, staring with deadly intent at me. “I am going to get you guys back, to our home! I promise you this. T-this is now my own goal, to get you guys back home, to our family. But you must do one thing. Watch Strawberry. She so small, please, look after her while you guys there… Please.” Her gaze broke, no longer directly looking at me. “Kay.” It was simple, but it was a response from her, it sound so harsh. Taking my hooves from the window and setting myself down, I watched as the duo began setting, ready to leave any second now. As it did so, I galloped alongside, doing my best to keep up. “Vanilla! I PROMISE THAT.” I slowed as the carriage began going faster. Watching it disappear, tears began flowing down my cheeks, sniffs and sobs coming loud from me as I uttered those same words again.
“I promise.”
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The task weren’t that hard, I was able to get a part-time job and I found someone, the requirements met. That was all I needed, all I wanted. They are back now, we are happy again, and I have gotten a new goal now.
Never be apart from them again.
