Chapter 1 - Moving to Canterlot
“Red hot Fire Roses,” screamed the 3 fillies as they jumped up and down, as fast as they could, while their friends turned the rope as quickly as possible. “1..2..3…” The fillies kept counting till one of the girls couldn’t keep up and knocked herself and her friends in one fuzzy and giggly heap.
Detangling themselves from each other the fillies dusted each other off and got back to their game. Living in the village of Shady Acres might not be the most exciting place to live, but there were always foals ready to jump rope or play any other game one could think up.
“OK, we did 13 Fire Roses. Who thinks they can do better,” asked one dark pink colored filly. She was one of the oldest students on the playground, and one of the only ones to have her cutie mark, three flowers. Deciding it meant she was good with foals, she often watched the younger foals, while their teacher was busy. She would be leaving soon for Manehatten to go to a preparatory school. Her parents had given her a going away present. A trip to the town’s beauty parlor, where she got her first permanent. To the group of waiting foals, she seemed like a full grown mare. Because of this, most of the foals looked up to her. Especially one of the youngest and smallest foals. A little cream colored filly that acted like the older filly’s shadow.
Just as a group of colts were about to take over the rope, the villages only ambulance barreled down main street toward a number of farms on the outskirts of the village and one other area, Black Molasses Swamp, named for how dark it was and the number of quicksand traps there were, not to mention, the scores of monsters that lived there.
Each colt and filly silently, prayed to Celestia, “Not my farm, not my farm.” With one exception, one filly prayed, “Not the swamp, not the swamp.”
As it passed each farm a colt or filly breathed a sigh of relief and gave a small chuckle, while those still waiting grew more and more tense. Until, it suddenly turned down the road leading to the swamp.
Almost as one, the group turned toward a filly, for she and she alone had been praying for it not to go to the swamp. With her mane and fur mussed up, having been one of the fillies jumping rope, she gave a choking gasp and galloped in the direction of the ambulance. The eldest filly tried to stop her, but realizing she couldn’t or shouldn’t stop her, instead turned towards the watching foals and ushered them to return their games.
The little filly, gasping and stumbling the last few steps paused as she noticed one of the EMP’s (Emergency Medical Pony) hug her mother. Watching her mother sobbing into the unicorns shoulder started the filly to begin walking toward her home, the only home she could remember in the five short years of her life. A tiny cabin set next to the outskirts of Black Molasses Swamp.
Instead of walking to her mother, she trotted toward the ambulance, where she caught the words, “Chimera,” and “nothing we could do”.
She reached the ambulance without anyone noticing her there. Opening the back of the ambulance, the sound of it alerted two of the EMP’s and turning towards her one shouted, “Don’t”, the warning came too late however. She had seen her father. Only it wasn’t her father, it was half of him. Only his back legs and cutie mark were left. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and gave a shrill shriek. It was so loud, she couldn’t think. It was so loud her body was shaking. She had to open her eyes. She had to find her mommy.
She opened her eyes and shuddering, saw the face of her mother. The shaking had been her mother trying to wake her up.
“Nightmare honey?” She asked nuzzling her cheek. She blinked and shook her head trying to forget her nightmare and looked around.
They were on a train hundreds of miles from Shady Acres and a year since her father’s death.
“Sorry to wake you, but I thought you’d want to see our new home. The conductor just said we passed a place called “Ponyville”, but if you look to your left, you can see Canterlot. Isn’t it beautiful?”
It was beautiful. The entire city was built on the edge of a cliff, with a shimmering waterfall flowing below it, and right in the middle, Princess Celestia’s castle. Above it the stars twinkled and high above those the moon hung, with the mare in the moon’s face on it. She shivered. She already had had one nightmare, she didn’t need another.
“I guess it’s pretty. But mommy, I wish we didn’t have to leave.” She wiggled closer to her mother, who wrapped her hooves around her.
“Oh honey, we’ve been over this before. We couldn’t stay with my brother forever. He’s the village’s confectionary and there simply wasn’t enough work for two family sweetmakers. Your father’s brother owns several sweet shops in Canterlot. Besides we need a fresh start. We need to start smiling again. Don’t you want to laugh and play? I want to smile again. Don’t you want to smile again? Show me you know how to smile. Alright give me a smile.” She looked up at her mother and gave her a tiny smile. She and her mother touched noses“Well it’s a start.”
They gazed out the window for a few moments in silence. Then she asked a question she’d been wondering about, “Mamma, will uncle Payday like me?”
Her mother paused, as if unsure how to answer. “Well, he’ll learn to like you. After all he hasn’t met you yet.”
Satisfied with her answer, she continued watching the scene outside her windows.
“But I have something nice you can think about. Now that were living in Canterlot I bet you’ll be able to meet your favorite pony.”
“Who?”
“I’ll give you a hint. She has wings, a horn, and a crown.”
“Princess Celestia?!” She looked at her rag doll her mother made in the image of the princess. Giving her doll, “Cele” a squeeze, she turned once more towards the window.
“Maybe, living in Canterlot won’t be so bad after all.”
She didn’t notice her mother’s frown at that comment as the train sped towards their new home.
“Canterlot Union, last stop,” Announced the conductor pony. Within a few minutes of arriving, ponies began to pour out of the train, with their belongings trailing behind them.
The cream colored filly, still holding her doll, and her mother, were one of the last to exit. A porter unicorn had kindly assisted the two, when he saw them struggling with their bags. Setting them down by a nearby bench, he tipped his hat and politely asked, “How long are you and your little filly going to stay?”
Milky Way stifled a yawn as she settled her filly onto the bench. “We’re not here on vacation. We’re going to be living here from now on.”
The attendant pony looked at them in surprise, then with another tip of his hat wished them good luck, and boarded the train.
Milky Way exhaled as she sat on the bench. Her head turned as she watched as the depot began to empty of ponies. Shaking her head, she looked down at her filly as the foal’s even breathing indicated she had fallen asleep. She gave her a small nuzzle as she continued to wait, hoping it wouldn’t be long.
Milky’s head jerked up for the third time, as she looked around and blinked her eyes, trying once again to stay awake. It had been over an hour since the train had left them here and since that time, she had been struggling to stay awake. This last movement had woken up her filly, who rubbing her eyes with her hoof, gasped. “Mommy, look!”
Looking at where she was pointing, Milky Way had trouble stopping from gasping herself. Walking towards the two of them was one of the largest ponies she had ever seen. It surprised her that each step wasn’t causing the ground to shake. What was most odd though, besides his size was how he was walking. For some reason he had thrown his head back so it was almost resting on his back. It didn’t seem to stop him from walking however, as he continued to walk forward towards the two. It finally dawned on Milky Way right before he stopped in front of them that this was Pay Day. Looking at the flabby caramel colored pony’s flank and seeing his cutie mark, a pair of chocolate coins, she confirmed it.
As he stopped in front of the bench he lowered his head causing his three chins to bunch under his neck. Gazing at the two ponies, his eyes seemed to rove over both of them, like a scientist studying something distasteful under a microscope. Pushing his lips out, he gave a small “tsk”, then opening his mouth he stated, “Milky Way”! To the mare, it didn’t seem to be a question but a confirmation. Deciding to ignore his rudeness she simply nodded and got off the bench.
Turning she helped her filly off the bench. Who, now that she was used to her uncle’s appearance, was beginning to fall asleep again. Pay Day, whose eyes were looking over the train station in a look that was both indifferent and critical, turned his face to the mother and daughter when the filly gave off a huge yawn.
“So, is she Red Vine’s daughter?”
“Of course. Her name is….”
He glared at the two, and interrupting Milky Way, stated, “She doesn’t have Red’s fur color or yours for that matter. Are you sure she’s a Sweetz?” He demanded.
Standing up to her full height and looking straight at Pay Day’s eyes. “Yes. By Celestia, she is Red Vines daughter. She has the same color coat as my brother.” At that statement his hostile face turned into a smirk. She groaned inwardly, having realized he knew about the ridicules stereotype.
However, his smirk quickly faded to one of impatience.
“Anyway’s she has his mane. And that’s unique enough that it’s doubtful anyone in your family would have it. Come one. Let’s go. I haven’t got all night. Celestia knows, I’m doing my Celestial duty by taking you two in.” Turning around he thrust his head back and was about to start away when Milky Stopped him.
“Pay Day! Wait. I’m, I’m, not sure I can manage all the bags.” Pay Day rolled his eyes, but his horn quickly glowed and enveloped the bags and levitated them behind him. Thrusting his head back once again, he started forward, not bothering to look to see if he was being followed.
Milky Way grabbed the last bag and pushing her filly forward, followed the retreating pony as quickly as she could. The young filly could barely keep up as she stumbled after her mother and uncle.
XXXXX
With a large yawn that nearly knocked her off her hooves, the young filly followed her mommy through the door. She wanted to keep awake and see the capital of Equestria, but she was just so tired. She stumbled more after her mother and uncle than she walked after them. Her dolly was riding on her back, as she tried to make sure Celestia wouldn't fall off. Stepping toward her mother, she leaned against her, partially because of how tired she was, but partially due to fear. Canterlot was huge! The buildings seemed to touch the sky, and there were so many! Shady Acres, was a small village with barely 20 buildings, and only one, the town hall, was two stories. Here, it seemed that almost all the buildings were at least five stories tall.
She shook in fear, and in response, her mother nuzzled her ear, calming her enough to keep going toward the waiting taxi. Pay Day had already deposited their luggage, and was pushing his way into the vehicle. She noticed how the Earth Pony driving the taxi looked exhausted, as sweat beaded from his forehead and he shook slightly as her uncle finally entered the cab.
As she and her mother neared the taxi, she noticed how thin, tired and cold he appeared. She couldn’t help but notice his fur seemed patchy and dull. She thought he seemed to whimper when her mother entered the cabin and pulled her onto her lap, as her uncle took up most of the space and left barely enough for the two of them to sit down.
Despite this, she snuggled further into her mother’s fur, and began to drift off. Only to be woken up as her uncle yelled out, “Hurry up, I gave you the address. I’m not paying any bits for you just to stand there, get moving!” She jumped at the sound of his voice, and her mother held her tighter, as the taxi moved, at first slowly, then faster and faster. Trying not to fall asleep again, she looked at the buildings as she passed. She realized for the first time, how light it was. In Shady Acres, there were only gas lamps at the train station. Here there seemed to be one every few feet, making it appear light out, even in the middle of the night. She looked up and realized that she couldn’t see the stars, only the mare in the moon above them. It was strange, and in her sleepy state, a little scary.
She tried sleeping again as the cab continued to travel down the streets, but her uncle’s loud voice, and her mother’s softer one kept her awake. She was too tired to understand what most were saying, but one thing didn’t make sense. Why was her mother angry when uncle Pay Day asked if she lifted her tail? How else was her mommy supposed to go to the bathroom? She hoped she could remember this when they got to their new home to ask.
As she thought about this, she noticed, the cab was beginning to slow down. There were fewer gaslights here, making everything seem much darker, and a little scary. But she saw the castle was only a few blocks away, the tips of the towers were over the roofs of the houses. The glow of the castle seemed to make it a little less frightening.
The cab had finally stopped in front of a building; she looked at the large display window and slowly read the words, “Sweetz bakery and candy maker”. Around the words were drawings of cakes and candies. The front of the building looked like it was painted to look like a cake with silvery frosting and candy canes over the doorway. To the filly, it looked exactly what a bakery should look like. As she nodded to herself, her mother picked her up and gently placed her on the sidewalk. She stood there unsteadily, while her mother removed their belongings, and her uncle paid the driver, who once paid shuffled away with the taxi.
Payday turned to the mare and filly, “This is where you’ll be staying. There’s a small apartment over the bakery. You’re lucky my last employee Joe decided to try his hoof at his own shop, a doughnut shop, if you can believe it. Like that will last. A shop just for doughnuts! What an idiot. Anyways’ you two will be assisting my head baker Carmel Corn, and making sure everything stays clean, and nothing, I repeat, nothing goes missing.” He eyed the two, before turning and opening the door, he levitated their bags and walked through, while Milky Way, and her daughter followed behind.
He quickly led the way through the shop, past the counter, through the kitchen, and past the storage area, where he stopped dropping the bags behind him. Turning toward the two, he levitated the keys, and hoofing them toward Milky, sneered, “I know you were in charge of your own bakery once, but that was in a little nothing of a town. Just do what you’re told and you will be fine. Your room is upstairs. Work begins in about four hours, so you should get some sleep. And just because I have other shops and factories, don’t think I won’t be keeping an eye on you two.” And with his head thrust back, he pushed past the mare and filly and left them alone.
Milky Way sighed, shook her head, turned toward her filly, and said, “Well, let’s see our new home, shall we?” She waited for a sleepy nod and began walking up the stairs. Reaching the end of the stairs, she put in the key, turned the handle, and opened the door. With a small squeak it opened. And before them was their room.
It was very dark with the curtain closed, but they could see a bed, a small table, a bookshelf, and a door, probably leading to the washroom. Milky Way pulled the curtain open, letting in moonlight, causing the room to give off a soft glow. Her filly seeing the bed, stumble walked towards it and crawling on the unmade bed began making herself comfortable. As she was beginning to fall asleep again, she vaguely remembered something else she had heard in the taxi.
Lifting her head up, she looked at her mother with bleary, sleep filled eyes, and remembered what she wanted to ask, “Mommy, did uncle Pay Day say I’m not a Sweetz anymore?”
Milky Way, who had been ready to get their belongings from the bottom of the stairs, turned, and with a smile on her face explained, “He thinks it will be less…confusing if you use my name instead. How bout it? How do you feel about being a Nuggets instead?”
The filly chewed her lip, thinking about how it sounded, “Bon Bon Nuggets.” Shrugging her shoulders, “I guess it’s OK. I mean it’s not like it’ll be forever, right mommy?”
“Right! Plus, no matter what, you’ll be my little Bonnie. Now, let’s get you to sleep. Tomorrow’s a brand new day, and you don’t want to be tired for it, do you? How about a song to help you sleep?”
Bon Bon nodded, lowered her head, and closed her eyes, while her mother began to sing.
“Hush now quiet now…”
