Sister Slaves

Chapter 3: A Hopeful Gift

‘Two months, two months, has it really been two months already?’ That thought swam in Octavia’s mind as she put the books back onto the bookshelves in the study.

A pile of books surrounded her creating a mini fortress of knowledge. Dusting was a relaxing activity for Octavia. Every two days out of the week, her and her sister dusted the furniture within the home. It was an easy task for them, one where they could get lost in their thoughts. Pinkie always talked to herself, painting with the dust rag on the dust-covered surfaces. Octavia would find this act very charming. Finishing the second to last row, Octavia got up to help her sister with her side of the room. Walking up to her sister’s side, she noticed that Pinkie had placed the books in order of the cover’s color. The colors went from blue to green to red and then to brown. The top shelves were not done since Pinkie couldn’t have reached them.

Octavia shook her head.

“Color coded, that’s new.”

Pinkie glanced up at her sister and smiled.

“I was thinking that Master and Holly would like a different change of pace from the usual, you like it?”

Octavia tilted her head and nodded. This made Pinkie smile. Standing up, Pinkie gave a stretch before returning to her task. Glancing up at a clock, Octavia’s eyes fell on a calendar to the left of the clock. The days date read the 12th day of the 4th month. Octavia eyes quickly moved back to her sister. It was her birthday. Octavia put her hooves together and gave a smile. She was excited to do something exciting for her sister. Though her excitement dwindled, her and her sister never had any true birthday celebrations. When was the last time they had one, a year ago or maybe two? Octavia glanced at Pinkie once again. She couldn’t’ get a gift for her and she whole heartily knew that her masters would say no to such a request. Closing her eyes, she gave a sigh.

Hearing hoof steps both sisters glanced up to see Diamond walking into the study with a stack of papers floating in his magic. Looking at the sisters he happened to look upon the bookshelf behind them. The books were all wrong.

“Who did the books like this?” Diamond asked glancing back and forth in-between the sisters. Both sisters looked back at the books and hung their heads. Diamond set the stack of papers on the coffee table and looked at his slaves.

“Speak went spoken to, who did this?” He asked again.

Pinkie was about to speak, but her sister cut her off.

“I did Master,” Octavia called out stepping a little closer to Diamond.

Diamond gave a smirk; he noticed Octavia had cut off her sister’s statement.

“Are you sure?” Stepping closer to Octavia, he looked down upon the filly. “I thought I heard your sister mumble something before you spoke up.” Glancing at Pinkie, Diamond gave a little hum as he smiled at the pink filly.

Pinkie moved her eyes back and forth from her sister and Diamond. Octavia gave a look telling her to be quiet, but Diamond’s stare was starting to make her very nervous.

“Um, I-I actually did, M-Master…” Pinkie mumbled.

Octavia stared at her sister, she was trying to stand up for her and Pinkie shot her down.

‘Why did you do that?’ Octavia asked herself, looking at her sister with hurt in her eyes.

“Well then you’re the one who did this, I say, hmm…” Diamond replied to Pinkie before glancing at Octavia. “What’s your name little one?” He asked.

Octavia and Pinkie never told their names to their masters, they never had to.

“It’s O-Octavia,” Octavia replied looking down at her hooves fearing the worst.

Diamond gave a small smirk.

“Octavia, yes, that’s a nice name, you should have told me when we first met.” Lifting up her chin he looked into her purple eyes. “You must know that your sister needs to learn how to take reasonability for her actions, how else is she gonna handle the mistakes she’s going to make.”

Octavia glanced away from Diamond and looked down at the floor. She knew what was best for her sister, not him.

“Well here is what we’re going to do, you finish up the house and I’ll teach your sister how to do the books correctly since she has forgotten, does that sound fair?”

Octavia looked up at Diamond. He wanted her to leave her sister alone with him. Octavia frowned at her master and shook her head; to get her point across she got in his face. Diamond gave a dull expression as he tilted his head to the side glancing at Pinkie who was looking at the whole scene with pure concern and confusion. Octavia followed Diamond’s gaze at looked at her sister.

“There is no debating this unless we would want to have something occur that some pony will regret,” Diamond spoke glancing back at Octavia handing her a rag with his magic.

Octavia looked at the rag and with a fuss and grabbed it with her mouth. Walking away with a grunt she glanced back at Diamond and Pinkie, with a forlorn expression. Diamond gave a nod to Octavia to continue her task. Reluctantly, Octavia listened to him and walked out of the study and into the kitchen. With her gone, Diamond looked down at Pinkie.

“Well let’s get to work little one.”

Pinkie who hadn’t taken her eyes off her sister glanced up at the large stallion.

“Where did my sister go?” She asked standing up, slowly walking up to Diamond’s side.

“To finish the chores,” Diamond replied looking down at the pink filly.

“Oh…”

Diamond gave a smirk.

“I want you to empty out the all the shelves and redo them again.” Diamond hummed walking to the desk that sat next to a large window overlooking the backyard.

Pinkie looked back at her master and tilted her head.

“All of them?” She questioned.

Diamond raised a brow at the pink filly.

“Yes all of them, your side and even your sister’s. Re-dust them and put them in alphabetical order.” He replied taking a seat on a desk chair pulling out a shot glass and a bottle of apple whiskey from one of the desk’s drawers.

Pinkie looked back between the different bookshelves, frustration building in her mind.

“But I thought I would do you a…”

“Did you hear me? Don’t be dense, slave I want you to do it my way, not your way.” Diamond interrupted her, floating the stack of papers towards him.

This statement made Pinkie release out a childish huff as she walked up to the bookshelf to begin her task once again. With frustration, she removed her careful set up she had done onto the floor. The books were so colorful and that color spoke to her artistic side. Pinkie wanted to make a rainbow. She had seen them before after a rainstorm back when she lived with her parents. She always thought that they were pretty.

Diamond looked through his stack of papers, sheet by sheet floated around him. The paperwork took up most of his time now these days. Paperwork for his job at the railroad company, payment sheets, bills, order forms and production quotas. Rubbing his temple he set them on his desk and took a sip of his whiskey. Setting the glass back onto the desk’s surface, he used his magic to open up the curtains a little more. Grunts and moans graced Diamond’s ears. Looking back, he saw Pinkie’s expression in a frown as she restocked the books to his liking. Deep down he started to regret buying such a young slave, she was starting to get more defiant with his request and doing things her way. But, on the other hand, his other slave wouldn’t do his bidding if the pink one wasn’t with her. Looking back on his purchase, he only bought the sisters so he could avoid having to pay a weekly fee for a maid to clean the house. Saving every bit was more important to him. Bits couldn’t be used willy-nilly on things that can be done for free. Bits were for paying bills, food and buying crucial supplies for himself and his company. Another grunt graced his ears, causing him to rub his temples.

‘What have I gotten myself into?’ Glancing back up at Pinkie, he gave a sigh. ‘Maybe I can find a way to make her listen to me unconditionally?’

With his gaze still on Pinkie, Diamond took the time to gaze upon her as she worked. Her thin form moved with grace as she re-dusted and reorganized the bookshelf. Even though each stroke of her hoof with the rag was done in childlike frustration, Diamond couldn’t help but see potential in her. She would be strong when she grew up. Getting bored of her hoof movements Diamond moved his gaze from her hoof to her neck and down her body. Even with the white gown covering her body, he could still make out her form, from her curvy backside, her thin stomach and her small lanky hind legs to her small rump. A smirk crossed his face as he took a sip of his whiskey.

‘She’ll grow up into a fine looking mare.’ He thought to himself.

That thought lingered in his mind for some time. He liked that thought, he gazed at Pinkie imagining her as an 18-year-old mare, but as soon as that thought came it left. He shook his head, he couldn’t think like that, he was married and he was a unicorn. Thoughts of another mare you weren’t married to like that, especially and earth pony or pegasi wasn’t just taboo, but illegal.

‘I’m a gentle colt and gentle colts don’t think like that.’ He told himself.

Again though, he glanced back at Pinkie, her task was finished on the left bookshelf and she began her task again on the right bookshelf. Thoughts of his wife came into his mind. The spark in their relationship wasn’t as strong as it used to be. With their jobs slowly eating their time, they just couldn’t find the time to settle down at some place and be with one another. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his wife walk by with a book floating in front of her face. She slowed down and looked at him with a small smile. She then glanced and watched Pinkie working with the books; she caught her husband staring at the pink filly, tilting her head she spoke up.

“What are you doing dear?”

Diamond without moving his gaze replied to his wife.

“Making sure our slave does her job correctly, sweetheart.”

Holly nodded and continued walking into the kitchen. Diamond’s gaze softened on Pinkie as thoughts of and older and attractive Pinkie began to grace his mind once again.

‘Why I’m I think of my slave like this?’

Was he missing the fire that burned during the earlier part of his love life? Where had that spark gone? He couldn’t deny it; he and his wife weren’t as close as they use to be. Ever since his son became a military blimp pilot and bought them their stallion slave, a gap started to form. He didn’t know why, he guessed it was their different opinions on the matter but of course he never brought it up to his wife, until he did though he wouldn’t get the answers to his predicament.  Looking back at Pinkie a smile came to his face. An idea had popped into his head. He would take his wife out to dinner tonight as a gift. Hopefully to bring back that spark he craved. Maybe purchasing Pinkie and her sister, was a good idea after all.

“Done Master!” Pinkie called out stepping up from her spot and glancing over at Diamond. Awaking from his daze, Diamond got up and walked up to Pinkie. Looking at the bookshelf he began combing over her work.

Pinkie seeing her master’s reaction tilted her head to the side in mild frustration.

“What’s the matter Master?” Pinkie huffed.

Looking back at the upset filly, Diamond gave her a dull gaze.

“Have to make sure your job meets my standards little one.”

Octavia scrubbed the dining room table for some time. Honestly, she hadn’t moved from her spot in the last 45 minutes. She periodically glanced up and looked down the hall to see if her sister had returned from her task Diamond assigned her too. With each passing minute, she became nervous. Did he do something to her, was it taking longer than normal, her mind ran wild with many possibilities. Once she thought of checking up on her sister but that thought died as quickly as it came. She just had already challenged her master and if she had left her task then she had feared he would get livid and something terrible would happen. Octavia finished dusting the table for the fifth time when she heard hoof steps walking down the hardwood flooring of the hallway. Lifting her head up, she saw Holly walking towards her. Octavia noticed Holly was reading a book as she walked; the book floating in a yellow colored magic aura. She watched her sit in one of the dining room chairs, Holly taking a seat across from Octavia.

“So I see you’re by yourself dear,” Holly spoke still with her eyes on her book.

Octavia jerk slightly from Holly’s sudden statement.

“Y-yes Ma’am,” Octavia replied.

“Are you worried about your sister?” Holly asked looking up at the gray filly.

Octavia moved her gaze down the hallway and nodded her head in agreement.

Holly gave a smile.

“Don’t worry dear, she’s still working on the books, saw her as I passed the study.” With a hum, she moved a page from the book. “I take it she didn’t do the books correctly, what happened she done them correctly before?” Holly asked softly, staring into Octavia’s purple eyes.

Octavia couldn’t move her gaze’s away from Holly’s soft yellow eyes.

“She put the books in order according to color Ma’am.”

“Mmm, that doesn’t seem like such a big deal too me… Thinking about it, it would bring more color too our study.” Holly chuckled flipping another page.

All Octavia could do was stare at Holly for the longest time. She found favor in what Pinkie did. A small smile came to her lips, did Holly like her and her sister? This was confusing to Octavia. Why would Holly not treat her like trash or make her feel intimidated? Was this her way of brainwashing her and her sister? These past two months Holly had been kind to her and her sister, when Diamond would come home a little snappy, she would calm him down to make sure he didn’t take his frustrations out on them. Different questions lingered in her mind and Octavia slowed her dusting.

“You thought my sister’s action was nice?” Octavia asked in bewilderment.

Holly glanced up at the filly and gave a smile.

“Why yes dear. Unlike my husband I do not mind if things are not done in the correct manner, as long as they are done I fine with that.”

Octavia couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Fidgeting with the rag in her hooves, she thought about her next question long and hard.

“Why are you being nice to my sister and I?” Octavia finally asked, staring directly into Holly’s eyes.

The question caught Holly off guard as she slowly set her book down on the table and looked longing into Octavia’s soul. Octavia became nervous that she asked a wrong question.

“Dear,” Began Holly. “My husband and I have different opinions when it comes to treating slaves, ever since we got that red stallion out there in the backyard.” She pointed out the window at Mac who was cutting down a dead tree; Octavia followed her pointed hoof.

Taking a deep breath, Holly got up and made her way to Octavia’s side.

“Dear, my husband believes in intimidation tactics to get a slave to do his bidding. I on the other hoof do not.” With a smile, she put her hoof on Octavia’s right shoulder. “Would you be more willing to serve me if I was cruel or kind?”

This wasn’t a statement, Octavia knew that for sure. She was taken aback by Holly’s question and for a few seconds, stared into Holly’s soul looking for malice but found none. She didn’t want to be here in the first place but at least hearing her mistress’s view of treating slaves was one of kindness and not brutality, she couldn’t deny it, it made her feel more comfortable around her.

“Kind, Ma’am.” Octavia finally spoke looking down.

Holly seeing her slave upset lifted her chin.

“What is the matter dear, can’t have your spirits down, can’t do your job like this.”

Even though her chin was helped up by one of Holly’s hooves, her eyes looked down at the rag that she held in her hooves. The thought of Pinkie’s birthday still lingered in her mind from earlier that day. She gave a huff. Would asking Holly about getting a gift for her sister, be the right thing to say at a moment like this? Was it a smart idea to push her luck with her, or go for it and suffer the consequences later on?

“I-I was… thinking… that…” Octavia mumbled.

Holly tilted her head.

“Yes?” She asked nodding her head.

Octavia glanced up at Holly.

“It’s my sister’s birthday… a-and I wanted t-to get h-her…”

A hoof was placed over her lips. Looking at Octavia with a smile, Holly gave a chuckle.

“Would your nerves be lessened if I got you something that you can give to her?”

Octavia’s mind was stumped by Holly’s offer. What was she trying to do?

“Really?” Octavia wondered.

Holly’s only response was a nod of her head as she patted Octavia on the head.

“Mother?”

Both Holly and Octavia turned their gaze at Star Light who was standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing,” Star Light asked, seeing her mother patting their slave’s head.

“Oh dear I was just comforting our slave, can’t have her nerves getting the best of her,” Holly spoke walking back to her seat. “Come; sit down child for a little bit before you go to your night classes.”

Star Light stared at Octavia with a raised brow before taking a seat next to her mother’s side. Octavia looked at the scene with a dull stare. Seeing Holly and her daughter sitting next to her reminded her of her own mother. Tears coming to the forefront, she quickly whipped them away before returning to her task.

“Thanks, Ma’am, for your…”

Holly raised a hoof up to silence Octavia. Holly only nodded back and motioned for her to return to her task.

Nodding her head, Octavia turned to face the kitchen when her sister came walking down the hallway, her rag lying over her back. She looked fine to Octavia, but she could see that there was disappointment in her eyes. Walking up to her sister, Octavia rubbed her cheek against her sister’s. Glancing at the kitchen with one eye opened she saw that it was a little disorganized. With a hum, she called for her sister. The faster they got it done the more time she could spend with her sister in their room before supper time.

Five minutes passed since that time, Diamond made his was out of the study and walked into the dining room to see his wife and daughter sitting at the table. Off in the kitchen, he saw his slaves straightening it up. With a smile, He walked up to his wife and laid his head against hers. Holly shivered a bit by the sudden sensation of her husband’s touch. Moving her gaze to meet his she gave him a wondering smirk.

“What’s this for dear?

Diamond gave her a smirk back.

“I was thinking we haven’t had time to enjoy ourselves and I thought that we could go out to dinner tonight, just the two of us.”

Holly put a hoof to her lips and smiled.

“Well that sounds lovely dear, but who’s gonna watch our slaves when we’re gone?” She asked raising a brow.

Diamond smiled.

“We can lock the doors of the shed to keep them in, but if you want we can have our son watch them.”

Holly mulled over what her husband said, with a smile on her face, she nodded.

“Well then we're gonna have to tell him when he gets home.”

Octavia sat by the doorway of the kitchen, she was out of sight but she had heard Diamond mentioned his plans for tonight and curiosity got the better of her.

“We can have our son watch them.”

Those words ran through her mind, her hooves became sweaty at the thought. She was going to be alone with Star Dust. For the past two months when he would come home for the evenings from pilot training, he took every opportunity he got to tease her with catcalling'. It always embarrassed her especially the looks he gave her.

“Oh no…” Octavia whispered, sweat rolling down her brow.