Orphanby NukeChaptersHistoryMorningHollow ShadesNectarQuestionsMotherGuardhouseLocomotion???HistoryMy name is Sirocca. I'm currently ten years old, and about knee-high to my papa. It sounds short, but I'm a normal height for my age. My papa is very tall, because he's different from me and mama. I love him just as much as if he was my real dad. I mean, biologically. I was adopted when I was eight, by two angels: my new mama and papa. They found me after three of my classmates beat me up. I didn't wake up for about a day, but when I did, I awoke to a beautiful angel sitting by my bed. She looked a lot like me: tufted ears, eyes with diamond pupils, fangs, and bat wings. Strange way to describe an angel, right? I guess I forgot to mention that she and I are bat-ponies. We're different enough, but we're happy, because we're all together. I suppose I should talk about papa real quick. He's more different than me and mama. It's a good different, because I love him and he's my papa. He does a lot of things different from me and mama, like what he eats and reads and says. He wears clothes a lot, which is strange outside of high-society ponies. He's weird, but he's my papa. He and mama got married a few years ago. I think it was six months after they met; three after they adopted me. Thinking about it, we've moved pretty fast as a family, but none of us regret anything. "Sirocca!" My mother calls up the stairs. Her voice is so soothing to my ears. It causes me to smile whenever I hear her. I don't remember a single day in these past two years where our family has ever been anything other than happy. Except, sometimes, when papa reads his journal, he gets a little upset. I don't know what's in his journal; I think it's stuff from his past, before he met mama. He always cheers up when he gets near the end, probably where he's written about me and mama. Mama and I like to hide just out of his view, where the book obscures us, so when he closes it, he sees our faces. Without fail, he always scoops us up in his arms and hugs us tight. The sound of hooves clip-clopping up the stairs pricks at my ears. I look up from a small photo album that contains pictures of papa from when he first came to our world, all the way up to the wedding. "Came to our world." I think it's odd that I can believe those strange words. we do live in a world with magic and monsters, but a being from another world is still strange. He tells me stories of his world, but I can rarely remember any of it; it's always so amazing! He says he prefers it here, even if he fondly recalls his own world sometimes. I think it's because of me and mama. And yes, his being from another world has attracted the interest of he princesses. He's been here for almost seven years, I think. The hoof-steps stop at my door, their rhythmic sound no longer echoing through the silent second floor. This snaps me out of my trance. Standing in the doorway, my mama smiles softly. I smile back to her. Her dull orange eyes scan my room, probably to assess how clean it is. She nods with approval. "Come on, Sirocca. We're waiting for you downstairs." She says softly, her head tilting. Her dark turquoise mane shifts, the longer portion on the ride side of her head settles against her cheek, the long part on the back hangs to the floor. She used to keep it shorter in the back, but she's let it grow out more. She looks older. "Okay, mama." I say, prompting her to give a toothy grin. "I'll be down in a minute." "Alright." She answers and turns from the door. As she turns, I can see her cutie-mark: a golden heart flanked by two white, feathered wings. She says she got it after meeting papa, which means she got it really late in her life. According to her, it means she's a guardian and protector. I believe it, even though she and papa will not tell me of the events that led to her getting it. Maybe someday I'll get a peek at papa's journal and read about it. I close the photo album, shelf it, and trot to my mirror. My eyes meet those of my mirrored self. My blue eyes look over my mirrored self's form, and she does the same for me. I smirk, somewhat cockily, at my soft, intricately brushed gray-purple coat, my poofy, frizzly, light purple mane, and at my own, wholely unique feature: my cutie-mark. It's a simple mark: a sprouting seed tied to a balloon. I got it shortly after we moved to the mountains north of Hollow Shades. Papa bought me a set of tools and measuring instruments after I took an interest in a book about wind patterns, and a picture book he owned with hot-air balloons, "airplanes," and other aerial craft. I went out and studied the wind around the mountains, tied a seed to a balloon, and sent it up. It glided across a small valley between our mountain and another, before descending onto a small, grassy cliff. The seed took to its new home and, in a few weeks, already began to grow. It made me happy. Mama and papa were so proud. I check my fangs: pearly white and sharp. Mama's aren't sharp. She can't drink blood, just fruit. We're an odd race. Most bat-ponies eat a lot of fruit, regardless, but some supplement that with blood, or fish, or bugs. A lot of ponies are scared of bat-ponies because of the blood thing, but we only drink the blood that comes from animals that gryphons and minotaurs eat. Papa also eats meat, which mama hates. I hate the smell of it, but papa gives me the blood. A lot of the time, he only orders blood from the butcher shop, because he knows how mama feels. He tries not to eat meat too often because of her, that's how much he loves her. As I flare my wings and give my best snarl and growl, I notice something very tall behind me. I turn around, startled, but before I can do much more, I am picked up by this tall creature. I screech softly and flail my hooves as it brings me to eye level and growls at me. I slowly open my eyes and lock sight with it. Two silver-blue eyes meet mine. The creature pulls me close, into a hug, and presses its pale cheek against my mane. I wriggle in its grasp, distraught by my capture. It holds fast as it begins to laugh at my misery. Eventually I give up and go limp in its arms. It holds me out in front of it; I get a better look at its face. Ruffled, dark hair tops its head. Beneath its left eye sits a small brown marking. More dark hair circles its mouth, lining its pale pink lips. I press a hoof to its nose, smile, and let out a soft "boop" sound. It smiles back, taps a finger to my nose, and offers a second "boop." This is my papa, and I adore him more than anything. "Are you ready, kiddo?" He asks, his voice deep, yet soft. I hug him around the neck and nod. "Yes." I reply, as he takes me downstairs. MorningPapa sets me down at the bottom of the stairs. I take in the beauty of our sunlit house, as I do every morning. The sun brightens the tan and white-trimmed walls, glints off the glass and metal decor of the living room to our right, and lights the kitchen up more than the beautiful mare that sits within. I lead papa into the kitchen, or rather, he follows me. Mama sits at the small breakfast island in the center of the room. I climb onto a stool beside her and peer at what she's drinking: a mug of orange-brown, steaming liquid; mango tea, by the looks of it. She looks over at me with a grin. "Finally ready?" She asks as I scoot her mug towards me. Papa takes it from me before I can bring it to my lips. I nod to mama as papa reminds me not to drink her tea. "She hasn't had breakfast yet, Speck." Papa says, placing the mug back in front of mama. She takes it between her hooves and smiles at it. I glance between them as mama looks up at papa and stares into his eyes. Papa walks to the cupboard, extracts a bowl, and scoops into a large jar of oatmeal. I watch mama watch him; her eyes portray every bit of love she has for him. "Mama?" I squeak out, breaking her trance. She takes a small sip of her tea before replying. "Yes, sweetie?" She inquires, her delicate hooves clutching her mug. "Where are we going today?" Papa sets a hot bowl of oatmeal in front of me. Bits of dried peaches litter it. I begin eating before papa places a spoon down. With my muzzle stuffed in the bowl, my ears catch mama's answer. "We're going into town. You know what today is, right?" I look up from the bowl, oatmeal coating and dripping from my muzzle. "Summer Sun Celebration?" "Nope." "Merry Moon Memorial?" I tilt my head. She shakes hers. "Hearth's Warming Eve?" A bird lands on the kitchen windowsill, its singing alerting me to the outside. I look out the window to a brown and orange landscape accented by a clear blue sky. It is definitely not Hearth's Warming Eve. "Your anniversary?" Papa shakes his head." "That's in the spring, kiddo. It was a few months ago." He says, chuckling a little bit. I feel my cheeks become warm with a blush. "I give up!" I exclaim, throwing my hooves up and slapping them down onto the table. The bowl of oatmeal, a casualty of my assault, topples over and, defeated, spills its contents over the table. Papa sighs, grabs a towel, and begins cleaning my mess up. I apologize to him before mama speaks again. "Today's the day we adopted you, two years ago." My jaw drops and my eyes go wide. I completely forgot! "I asked if you were ready, Sirocca." Papa says as he crosses his arms. I look up at him with the best puppy-dog eyes I can muster. He looks away and tries to hide his smile. "I thought you meant ready for breakfast!" I whine softly. Mama giggles at us, her hoof covering her mouth. "Alright, you two. Quit arguing." She looks over at me with a smile that could outshine the sun and melt the coldest ice. I admire my mama. She means so much to me. She's brave, fun, silly, kind, loving, caring; everything a mother should be. She takes another sip of her tea and clears her throat before speaking again. "Sirocca, sweetie. We're going down to Hollow Shades for the day to celebrate." "But the town is practically dead during the day!" I shout in debate. Hollow Shades is primarily inhabited by bat-ponies, which are primarily nocturnal. Mama and I are different though; we're diurnal, so we're awake during the day. I've asked papa about why we don't follow the same sleep pattern as most other bat-ponies. He says that, when he first met mama, she did sleep during the night, but over time, she started to stay awake during the day, just to be with him. Papa didn't have much of an answer for my case, but I don't remember ever sleeping during the day, except to take a nap. Then again, I don't remember much from before I was seven years old. I don't remember what my real parents look like, or where I'm really from, or how old I was when I arrived at the orphanage in Ponyville, or why I was there, or anything really. All I remember are a few spotty details from my time there, and then when mama and papa adopted me after being there for nearly a year. Papa thinks it might be "repressed memories." I think I just forgot because I progressively grew happier. It doesn't matter much to me, as long as I don't end up forgetting mama and papa. Mama's voice snaps me out of my thoughts as she speaks, "There's still plenty to do. They keep a lot of places open, mostly for tourists, but still! It's better than staying cooped up in the house all day." "So we're celebrating a huge milestone in our family's history with tourist attractions?" Papa asks in an incredibly disappointed tone. "We can go literally anywhere else. Fillydelphia, Manehattan, Canterlot. Canterlot! There's so much to do there, we could even stay the entire weekend!" He scoffs and rolls his eyes. "Even Ponyville would be a better choice." Mama beckons him toward her. She takes his face into her hooves and pulls him close so she can whisper in his ear. I can't hear what she's saying, but Papa smiles and nods. I lean close to try to listen, but they break apart before I can hear anything. I huff and grumble, but they both grin at me. "Come on, kiddo. Let's get you cleaned up and ready to go." Papa says as he picks me up. I fuss and kick as he carries me to the sink. I grumble when he wipes my muzzle with a wet rag. I dislike being treated like this, even though I know he's just trying to help me. Scrunching and wriggling my nose, I trot through the kitchen and into the foyer. Mama and papa follow me and open the front door. We all walk outside together. I look up at the clear blue sky as a chilly mountain wind blows over the land. Cherry blossom petals swirl all around us as they fall from their tree, and fly up in the wind. It's a breath-taking sight that I'm fortunate enough to see frequently. "On we go!" Mama shouts as she spreads her wings and takes to the sky. I spread my wings, but hesitate when I look over at papa. He nods and smiles, despite not being able to fly himself. "Go ahead." He says. I flap my wings and follow mama as papa walks beneath us, on our way to Hollow Shades. Hollow Shades"Hollow Shades is a really neat town. It has most of its residential sector built way up in the trees. Wooden bridges span from tree to tree, which have immense platforms built on and around them. The trees themselves are huge; the canopy of the forest is dense and blots out the sun almost everywhere except the very center of town. Nearly every tree grows some kind of fruit too: mangoes, cherries, pineapples, oranges, grapefruits, apples; you name it, a tree somewhere nearby probably has it. A small creek also runs through the floor of the forest, beneath the tree-loft town. Nearby sits the old, rustic train station and a seldom-used track. At night, the town is incredibly active. Bat-ponies run around taking care of their nightly chores and tasks. During the day, the town is almost completely silent aside from the occasional tourist, the few nurses and doctors at the hospital, and some ponies working in shops. There is often very little point in coming to Hollow Shades during the day, if one has seen the town at night. There is, obviously, less to do in the day than in the night. This town means a lot to mama though. It's where she was born and raised, it's where her sister lives, and it's where her parents currently reside. She likes to visit as often as she can, even though she never sees her sister or visits her old house. The only thing she does is visit her parents. This is also the first thing we do when we arrive in town. The five of us sit in a small clearing just outside of town, beneath a large oak tree. We laugh, we smile, we have a good time, but a twinge of pain and sadness pulses through my heart. Papa places a hand on my shoulder and smiles. He whispers, "She needs this." I smile back and nod as I look at the two granite slabs. One says "Angel Tear" and has a winged heart depicted on it, similar to mama's cutie mark. The other reads "Brick Kindler" and displays a chisel laid over a brick. Mama always tells me that her parents loved each other a lot. I've seen pictures of them. My grandma was beautiful; moreso than mama. She had the same dark gray coat as mama, but her hair was a darker shade of blue, almost like the night sky. Her eyes were a soft blue, nearly the same color as a clear sky. I wish I could have met her. From what mama's told me, grandma was a much better mama than she is. Grandpa, from what mama tells me, was a very strong, very smart pony. He made an honest living making bricks. Mama rarely says much about him, though. She says he favored her sister, despite still loving her very much. It makes me happy that I'm an only child, as selfish as that is. "Sirocca." I look up as papa's voice catches my ears. "It's time to go." His voices carries sorrow. I look over at mama, who tries to smile, despite tears streaming down her cheeks. I swallow hard, run up to her, and press myself into her side. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and mutters to herself. I barely catch her words, but I know she said something about trying her hardest to keep me safe, and to always protect me. "I love you, mama." I say as I tuck my nose into her shoulder. She covers me with her wing as we walk away from the clearing, back into town. She's strong. She doesn't sniffle, she doesn't bawl, her tears stop, and she smiles. She is stronger than I will ever be; I don't know what I'd do if I lost her or papa. It's a scary though that I push out of my head almost immediately. It doesn't take long for us to get back to town. We venture around, almost aimlessly, until we stop at a small fruit stand in the center of town. I look around while mama and papa talk to the vendor. On the other side of the empty square, I see another bat-pony trotting around. She would not really be notable at all under normal circumstance, but she is awake during the day. What is even more alarming is that she has a pale purple coat, curly, frizzly, light purple hair, and if I'm not mistaken, because I cannot see very well from this distance, bright blue eyes. My heart and mind race, and something within me twinges. Before I know it, I'm running toward her. I don't know why, but something deep inside me is telling me to go to her. I don't know if mama and papa notice, or follow, but I don't care. The bat-pony sees me and, by the look on her face, I can see an accumulation of sudden fear. She turns and takes off. I continue my chase and rush down the wooden roads. I get a good look of her flank. On it sits a crescent moon with three strings strung from one end to the other. "Wait!" I shout, "I need to talk to you!" She doesn't stop running. Neither do I. We turn a sharp corner, then another. My legs feel like they're on fire, but I don't stop. She banks into an alley between two shops and, as I follow, I notice she's gone and the alley dead-ends. "Who are you!?" I scream. A door at the far end of the building on the right creaks and closes. I rush to the door and try to knob. Locked! Frustrated, I stamp my hooves on the ground and screech. After taking a moment to calm down and collect my thoughts, I study the door. A small plaque is nailed to its sturdy wooden form that reads: "Stairwell to apartments A-1 through C-3." Beside the door, a large three-by-three metal box with nine locked compartments is built into the wall. Upon closer examination, I can make out a few names: "Aurora," "Pomma Granite," and "Nectar." The others are either scratched out or too wind-worn to read. I try the door again. Still locked. I look around the alley for something that can help me. A slab of wood, some nails, a mango pit, and a rusty iron bar will most likely not help me into this building. I trot around to the front of the building. A large sign above the door reads: "Nectar's Flowers." Is her name Nectar? NectarI trot into the shop and am immediately assaulted by a pleasant aroma of many variants of flowers. Mama and papa run past the shop shouting my name. They don't notice I'm in here, and I feel guilt deep within my heart because I don't go after them. I need to find out who this mare is. "Good morning! welcome to Nectar's Flowers!" A bat-pony mare trots from behind a shelf of flowers. She has a light gray-brown coat, braided tan hair, and cloudy white eyes. She stumbles over a small plant pot and screeches as she falls. This is definitely not the mare I was chasing. "I'm okay!" She says, laughing and feeling her way around. She turns toward me and smiles at nothing. "Can I help you, sir or ma'am?" Sir or ma'am? She isn't clumsy, she's blind. I scuff a hoof on the floor sheepishly before I speak, "I'm looking for a pony. A mare, probably your size, with blue eyes and a purple coat. Do you know where she is, Miss Nectar?" Miss Nectar raises a brow and looks upward in thought as she taps her chin with a hoof. "I do know a mare, but I don't know what blue and purple look like. Do you know her name?" "No." "Hm... What's your name? I can go get her for you." "I'd appreciate that. My name's Sirocca." Miss Nectar's jaw drops and her face goes pale. She swallows and takes a step back. "Are you okay?" She shakes her head subtly as she continues backing up. Her lips move, but I can barely make out her words. "What's wrong? You're scaring me!" I plead, my throat tightening from worry. "You aren't supposed to be here! Go! Leave! You'll be happier where ever you came from!" She shouts, turns, and begins to run through a back door. She trips over another plant pot and groans as she hits her head on the floor. I rush up to her and help her up. She mutters a quick thank you and apologizes. A little while later, after cleaning the shop up, she concedes and takes me upstairs to the apartments. I sit at a small table in her kitchen. I had really hoped she would take me to the mare I was looking for, but this is okay, I guess. It's better than nothing, and it puts me one step closer to learning more about this mare. I want to know why this mare and I look alike, and if she's who I think she is, I might be able to learn more about my real parents, myself, and my past. This is not something a normal ten year old should be concerned with. "Where should I start?" Miss Nectar asks, mostly to herself. "Take me to see that mare. I know she lives here." "I wish I could, but she's probably sleeping right now." She says with a sheepish smile. "I want to see her. Who is she? Why did she run when she saw me? Why did you try to run?" I ask, standing in my seat with my front hooves on the table. "She is a very old, very dear friend of mine. I made a promise to her a long, long time ago that I would make sure none of her loved ones would ever hurt again." "What does that have to do with me? Why does she look like me?" I fear what the answer might be, but I need to hear it. "She doesn't want to see you hurt by her actions, Sirocca. She wants you to be happy." The mare dances around my questions. I am slowly becoming agitated. "Who. Is. She." I state, very sternly. Miss Nectar sighs, rests her hooves in her lap, and tilts her head. "Her name is Eura. She's your mother." QuestionsAn hour has passed since I abandoned mama and papa. Half of that time has been spent laying on Miss Nectar's couch, staring at the ceiling. I expected that answer, but at the same time, I think I wish it wasn't true. "What happens next?" I ask, rolling on my side to look into Miss Nectar's kitchen. She gracefully boils a pot of tea. For a blind mare who stumbles in her own shop, she is extremely graceful in her home. She lifts the pot off of the stove and starts trotting toward me, but trips over the threshold of the living room and spills the tea. Maybe I thought too soon. "Oh darn!" She scoffs as she turns back to the kitchen. I get up and follow her, grab a towel, and help her clean the mess. She thanks me with a smile before answering my question. "What happens next," She says with a sigh, "is that you will go home, forget about us, and be happy." "No." "Yes." "No!" "Yes!" She stamps her hooves down before taking a deep breath. "Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't yell." "Can you at least answer my questions?" "I suppose I can." A soft sigh escapes her lips. We sit back on her couch, completely tea-less, in silence for a moment as I think about what to ask. "How old was I when she gave me up?" Gave me up. More like abandoned. I shake my head. Why do I resent her? I don't even know her. "You were only about a year old." "Why don't I remember much of the orphanage?" "I don't know. Maybe because you're happier now than before?" I furrow my brow in though. I am happy now. I just want to see her, talk to her, and know why she left me. "Why? Why did she leave me?" "She was scared. She couldn't take care of you without your father. She never stopped beating herself up over the whole thing." I swallow as tears well up in my eyes. She still cares? I sniffle a little bit at the thought. "Tell me more about her." I say, looking to the ground. Miss Nectar sighs and nods. "Eura was seventeen when she had you. She plays music at the cafe next door. We've been friends since we were in elementary school. She met your father in highschool, and oh Celestia, did she love him. He was so kind to her, but he left not long after you came along. We haven't seen him since. When you were born, your mother cried so much. She said you were the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen." Miss Nectar pauses for a second before speaking again. "She loved you. Still does. She gave you up, not only because she couldn't take care of you, but because you reminded her so much of her father." "You say that like it's supposed to make me feel better." "It isn't. I'm sorry." "What about my father?" I ask, choking back my tears. Miss Nectar offers me a tissue, which I take and blow my nose into. "I can't say much about him. He was a senior, about eighteen. He worked at the guard house, cleaning and painting. He wanted to be a guard so badly, but disappeared." I sniffle and wipe my eyes on my hooves. I don't think I should have pried into this. It really isn't something a ten year old should be burdened with. "What was his name?" "Syrius." "Syrius." I repeat. We sit in silence for a few minutes. A loud knock comes from the front door. I don't react to it, even as Miss Nectar tells the pony to enter. "Nectar! You will never guess who I saw while I was out..." The mare slows her words as she walks in. I look up to see what's wrong, and I lock my eyes with hers. MotherI swallow my emotions for what seems like the millionth time. She starts to back up toward the door, but Miss Nectar's voice stops her. "Eura. You need to stay. You can't run forever." She says, looking in the direction of the door. Eura, my mother, stands perfectly still. I don't move either. The air in the room becomes so stiff and tense, that I feel like I might suffocate. The silence is so fragile, that even the slightest sound would shatter it like glass. After a long, tense moment, Eura speaks. "I'm fine, ma'am. How about you?" "I've been better. How's life?" "Aside from not remembering anything from before I was seven, it's been good. I was adopted two years ago." I clear my throat when I realize how venomous my words are. Eura looks away for a second, pain in her eyes. I say I'm sorry. "It's okay," She mumbles. "Your new parents are the bat-pony and monster running around town looking for you?" I nod. "Are they nice?" I nod again. "Do you love them?" "More than anything." "Then you should go back to them." "I will," I say sternly, "as soon as I'm done here." "Then let's make this fast." *** We walked upstairs to Eura's apartment, leaving Miss Nectar to go back to tending her flower shop. "B-2. Why is your name not on the mailboxes outside?" I ask as we walk inside and take a seat on her couch. "I'm hiding." "From what?" "Everything I've done wrong." That stings. Was I a mistake to her? Did Miss Nectar lie when she said Eura still loves me "I should have tried harder. I'm sorry. I just couldn't look at you without seeing him." That is just an awful reason to abandon your child. "I'm sorry I couldn't be a better pony, Sirro-" "Shut up." I don't mean to be rude, but I don't want to hear any more excuses. She looks away with a frown. The pain in her eyes reminds me of someone who has had their heart crushed. Thinking for a moment, she has had her heart torn to pieces. She lost her highschool sweetheart because of me, and she lost me because she couldn't handle the pain of remembering him. "Will you tell me about your new parents? She looks very curious. "I want to know that something good came of all this." "I guess I can. First there's mama. She's really beautiful, nice, caring. I love her a lot. She's really protective of me, and she's taken really good care of me, even for a whole day before she adopted me." I smile as I picture her in my mind. I really do love her. She's my mama, and she's better than the mare sitting across from me. "And your dad?" She says with a tilt of her head. I smile even wider when I picture him. She smiles knowingly. "You don't have to say anything. You obviously love him very much." I nod lightly. "My turn. I can't remember anything from before I was seven. Why?" "Your father suffered from memory loss. You might have inherited it." "Oh. So, what? I might forget this? My mama and papa? Everything?" "Have you forgotten anything since you were seven?" "Not really, no." "I wouldn't worry then. Your father forgot things frequently." I think about this for a moment, and later come to the realization that Eura is probably not a clever pony. "Do you think that's why he left you? He just forgot?" I look at her questioningly. She sighs forlornly and stares off into space. The look on her face is the same one I make when I realize something. "That... that could be a possibility. I don't know where he is though." She looks at me. I look at her. "Well, if you still love him, and you can forgive him, then we'll find him." What did I just say? "We?" "Yes. I'll try to help you find him." Why am I saying this? I have no idea what I'll be getting myself into, but for some reason, I want Eura to be happy, even though I hardly know her and she abandoned me. "I don't know where to start." "Miss Nectar said he worked at the guard house." "Ten years ago. I think if he was still there, I would have seen him around town at least once." I stare at my hooves in contemplation when Eura says this. "Well, I'm out of ideas." Eura chuckles to herself before falling silent. With an almost inaudible sigh, she says, "We can check the guard house. They might have a record on him." "Maybe. Should we go now?" "Yes. They won't be very busy during the day." GuardhouseThe guardhouse stands three stories tall and about sixty feet wide. A large watch-tower stands tall on the left side of the building. Eura stands beside me, clearly nervous. "Let's go in." I say and start to walk up to the large wooden doors. Looking back after not hearing her hoofsteps, I notice Eura still standing where I left her. "I'm nervous." She says with her ears lowered. I stare at her, dumbfounded. She is seventeen years my elder. I am alone, away from my family, and I am ready to walk into this building to find my father. "Either come in here, or I'm going home." I act more like an adult than my own mother. This will not be a fun or easy mission, but I feel as though I must do this. "Okay. I'm just a little scared." "And you don't think I am? Or my parents? I'm away from the only two people who love me enough to keep me! They're scared out of their minds trying to find me! Grow up and let's go." I say, frustratedly. She lowers her head, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry." I shake my head. I shouldn't be treating her like this. Considering everything she's done to me, I am much happier without her, but I feel like I need to help her. "Just come on." She follows my order with a meek nod and smile. We walk through the doors together. At the desk sits a very tired bat-pony guard. He blinks at us, squints his eyes, and groans. "Whaddaya want?" He grunts. This is a very rude pony. Before I can say anything, Eura speaks. "Well for one, I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak to me and my daughter in that tone of voice!" She shouts, very condescendingly. I raise an eyebrow and stare at her. "I'm not your daughter." I mumble, but she carries on. "Second, we're looking for someone." The guard rolls his eyes and turns around to a large set of metal drawers. "Name?" He says as he opens the drawer. "Syrius." The guard stop abruptly and turns back to us. He has a look of worry on his face. "Syrius?" "Yes." "Master Sergeant Syrius? Of the Canterlot South Sky Brigade?" I look at Eura. She looks at me, a look of surprise on her face. "I guess." "Well, he should be in Canterlot, but good luck meeting him. He's a very busy stallion." The guard says with a tone of superiority. He doesn't know that I have the connections to meet him. I am going to utilize these connections so much. Maybe even get him in trouble for being rude. A second guard rushes into the room, yelling something urgent, "We've received a report of a missing filly, about ten years old, purple, blue eyes, and a sprouting seed tied to a balloon for a cutie mark. Be on the look out." Eura and I are out the door before the second guard notices us. I hear the first guard mumble, "I'll keep my eyes peeled," as the door closes. "How are we going to see him?" Eura paces back and forth, worried and panicking. "We're going to Canterlot." I command and start walking to the train station located on the floor of the forest, by the river. She follows me, but asks what we're going to do when we get to our destination. "We're going to board this train." I say after she buys our tickets. She nods as we sit on a bench. "We're going to march through the city and into the castle." "What about the guards?" "I'll take care of it." She doesn't know what I can do, and she won't find out. Or at least until we're done. "But you're a child." "I have my ways. Now be quiet and listen." I take a deep breath and calm myself. "We're going to go to his barracks, find him, and talk." "And then?" She tilts her head, curious of what's going to happen between her and my father. "I don't know. I'm only in this to reunite you two. Whatever happens, happens." The train rolls into the station and screeches to a halt. "Do you think he'll remember me?" "I don't know." I say as we walk to the train. "Will he take me back?" "I don't know." I'm starting to get annoyed. I have no answers, no clue what will happen, and no idea if we'll even find him. LocomotionI am not a clairvoyant, a seer, or a gypsy. I can not see the future. I can not give anyone counsel. I am a normal ten year old filly from a small town in a forest who was abandoned and later adopted by an odd couple and moved to a secluded house in the mountains. Papa always says I'm smart and extraordinary, and that I'll do great things. This little adventure may be the first; even if I don't believe him, and even if I want to be average. We take our seats in an economy car. She sits across from me and looks out the window as the train starts to roll along the track. I watch trees roll by as we depart Hollow Shades and travel through a large open field. Eura offers a nervous sigh. I can tell she's lost in her thoughts. Mama says I look just like that when I have something on my mind. It always eases my nerves when I talk about my thoughts. "Talk to me." I say, still watching the scenery roll by. Honestly, I just want to get to Canterlot, get my mother and father back together, and go home to mama and papa. I don't really care much about what Eura's thinking of. "Why?" "Because, I know that look. You have something on your mind. It always helps me when I talk about it." I say as I turn my head to look her in the eyes. She meets my gaze and sighs with a motherly smile. "You're so smart, Sirocca. You keep surprising me with how you think." She swallows and wipes away the tears that form in her eyes. "I'm just so proud of you. I'm happy for you. Your new parents are so good to you, so much better than I could have been." If she keeps saying stuff like this, I might scream. "I'm sorry. I'm probably annoying you by saying this." She giggles, sighs, and looks back outside. "You're right. You are." I look out the window again. "Sorry. I didn't mean that." "It's okay. I understand that you don't like me." I need to start watching my mouth. I'm starting to feel bad. "I do like you, I'm just mad that you left me." I smile softly. "I'm sorry." "It's... okay." Mama and papa would want me to forgive her. And I guess I have. We sit in silence for a while. She smiles the whole time before finally saying something. "I have a good feeling about all of this. I really do." "I do too." The silence between us returns. The only sound is that of the train rolling along the tracks. I decide to keep to my thoughts for a little while. Eura starts to hum a soft lullaby that distracts me. I briefly contemplate asking her to stop, but instinct causes me to listen. "You are my sunshine." Mama's visage starts to form in my mind's eye. "My only sunshine." I imagine her smiling her usual toothy grin. "You make me happy." Mama giggles. "When skies are gray." Papa's visage appears beside hers. "You'll never know dear." He hugs her and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "How much I love you." I see myself snuggled up between them in our front yard, under our big cherry blossom tree. "Please don't take my sunshine..." The sun shines and warms my coat up as we laugh at talk. "Away." ???I groan and stretch when i wake up. A warm, wool blanket falls off of me and crumples on the floor. The train must have stopped, because I feel no movement beneath me. As I rub the sleep from my eyes and blink, I notice my surroundings are different. I no longer sit in the train car, but in the living room of a small apartment. I climb off of the couch on which I sit and start to look around. There is a small coffee table in the middle of the room, a second couch to my right, and a large glass cabinet with dozens of books to my left. To the right of the cabinet is a dark hallway. In front of me is the foyer, and to its right is a doorway. I prick my ears up as I walk toward the foyer. I can hear voices. I can't understand what they're saying, but I hear a male and a female talking to each other. I step up to the doorway to listen in, but I still can't understand them. Frustrated, I step around the corner, into the kitchen. No one is present aside from myself. "Hello?" I say. No answer. I turn from the kitchen and walk back into the living room. The dark hallway is now lit, and I can hear giggling and laughing coming from the end. I cautiously walk down the hall. A door stands on the immediate left, but it's locked when I try it. Two others stand at the end of the hall, opposite each other. I look at the one to my left. It's painted blue. The one to the right is painted black. I don't know why, but I sit between them instead of trying the knobs. "You have to make a choice, little pony." Says a disembodied voice. I jump up, startled, even though it's a warm and motherly voice. "Who's there?! What choice?" I shout. "Us and them. Black and blue." A second voice calls, this time male. They sound like the two coming from the kitchen. "What does that mean?" I turn to the other side of the hall. I can't even see the living room; everything is dark. "Pick a door!" The voices say, both at the same time. I look at the doors. They loom ominously over me. "But I don't know what's behind them!" "Well, it wouldn't be a very fun game if you knew, would it? One will take you to a place you love, and the other will take you to a happy reunion!" They say. I'm starting to get scared. I don't know where I am, or what's going on. "I just want to go home! This isn't fun at all!" Tears start to form in my eyes. "Home? It's through the door!" I look from door to door as tears roll down my cheeks. "But which one is it?!" I sob. "Home is where your heart is!" Says the voice. The hallway dissolves around me and the voices stop as a large, open field of flowers appears. I can feel the sun's warmth on my coat. Both doors still stand. "My heart's with mama and papa, but I don't know which door is the right one." I mutter. "Blue first, I guess. It's the color of mama's hair." I think as I push it open. Inside I see myself sitting by a river with Eura and a male bat-pony. I can't make him out. He's too far away and obscured by the shade of the trees. I back away from the door just as laughter starts to sound. This is definitely not the right door. I want my mama and papa, not Eura and Syrius, even though Eura is growing on me. There's also the fact that Syrius might not even take her back, or remember her. I shake my head and open the other door. Inside I find mama and papa huddled up on the couch in our living room. They're crying as they hold a small picture frame. "I don't get it." I whisper to myself. "Where am I? Why am I not with mama and papa in this door?" "Think about it." Says the voice. It's different this time, not as ethereal, and it sounds closer, almost physical. It sounds more mechanical and lifeless than before. "Wh-who is that? Who's there?!" I'm starting to get really nervous. I turn away from the door and come face to face with something very strange. "Oh! Please, do not be afraid!" Says the pony-like figure. It stands at my height, wears a white leather mask with eye-slits that change with its expression, and wears a golden-orange scarf. "Who are you?" I start to feel calm in its presence. Its eye-slits turn up as if it smiles. "I am Mime!" The mask doesn't move as it speaks. "Mime? Are you the owner of the other voices?" "Yes, those are mine!" It laughs. "Did you recognize them? I know you know them!" It bounces in place gleefully. "Um..." "Mr. Eccles Cake and Mrs. Cheese Cake!" It says in both of their voices at the same time. "Oh. Well, what about these doors? Why am I in one, but not the other?" "Well, when you opened the first door, it caused the other to be affected by your choice. Think about it, you chose the door to Eura and Syrius, and what happened in the other door?" Its eye-slits turn down in a worried manner. "Mama and papa were crying over a picture." I say, looking to the ground. "Precisely!" "But I don't want that! I want mama and papa!" "Then pick the black door first this time!" "But I need to help Eura find Syrius!" Mime's eye-slits turn up in a smile. It nods happily. "You, little pony, will do great things! Your papa is completely right!" Its voice changes to that of my mama's before it speaks again, "I am so proud of you, Sirocca." I swallow my sadness as I realize how much I miss her. "I'll be home soon, mama." I say as I turn from Mime and open the black door. I trot through confidently. "Good luck, young Sirocca!" It says in its mechanical voice. "I will see you again, very soon!" It waves to me as a blinding white light surrounds me. I have no idea what its words mean, but I feel as if Mime will be of great importance to me. The world around me begins to shake and rumble, before a metallic screech sounds. Everything stops as I close my eyes.
HistoryMy name is Sirocca. I'm currently ten years old, and about knee-high to my papa. It sounds short, but I'm a normal height for my age. My papa is very tall, because he's different from me and mama. I love him just as much as if he was my real dad. I mean, biologically. I was adopted when I was eight, by two angels: my new mama and papa. They found me after three of my classmates beat me up. I didn't wake up for about a day, but when I did, I awoke to a beautiful angel sitting by my bed. She looked a lot like me: tufted ears, eyes with diamond pupils, fangs, and bat wings. Strange way to describe an angel, right? I guess I forgot to mention that she and I are bat-ponies. We're different enough, but we're happy, because we're all together. I suppose I should talk about papa real quick. He's more different than me and mama. It's a good different, because I love him and he's my papa. He does a lot of things different from me and mama, like what he eats and reads and says. He wears clothes a lot, which is strange outside of high-society ponies. He's weird, but he's my papa. He and mama got married a few years ago. I think it was six months after they met; three after they adopted me. Thinking about it, we've moved pretty fast as a family, but none of us regret anything. "Sirocca!" My mother calls up the stairs. Her voice is so soothing to my ears. It causes me to smile whenever I hear her. I don't remember a single day in these past two years where our family has ever been anything other than happy. Except, sometimes, when papa reads his journal, he gets a little upset. I don't know what's in his journal; I think it's stuff from his past, before he met mama. He always cheers up when he gets near the end, probably where he's written about me and mama. Mama and I like to hide just out of his view, where the book obscures us, so when he closes it, he sees our faces. Without fail, he always scoops us up in his arms and hugs us tight. The sound of hooves clip-clopping up the stairs pricks at my ears. I look up from a small photo album that contains pictures of papa from when he first came to our world, all the way up to the wedding. "Came to our world." I think it's odd that I can believe those strange words. we do live in a world with magic and monsters, but a being from another world is still strange. He tells me stories of his world, but I can rarely remember any of it; it's always so amazing! He says he prefers it here, even if he fondly recalls his own world sometimes. I think it's because of me and mama. And yes, his being from another world has attracted the interest of he princesses. He's been here for almost seven years, I think. The hoof-steps stop at my door, their rhythmic sound no longer echoing through the silent second floor. This snaps me out of my trance. Standing in the doorway, my mama smiles softly. I smile back to her. Her dull orange eyes scan my room, probably to assess how clean it is. She nods with approval. "Come on, Sirocca. We're waiting for you downstairs." She says softly, her head tilting. Her dark turquoise mane shifts, the longer portion on the ride side of her head settles against her cheek, the long part on the back hangs to the floor. She used to keep it shorter in the back, but she's let it grow out more. She looks older. "Okay, mama." I say, prompting her to give a toothy grin. "I'll be down in a minute." "Alright." She answers and turns from the door. As she turns, I can see her cutie-mark: a golden heart flanked by two white, feathered wings. She says she got it after meeting papa, which means she got it really late in her life. According to her, it means she's a guardian and protector. I believe it, even though she and papa will not tell me of the events that led to her getting it. Maybe someday I'll get a peek at papa's journal and read about it. I close the photo album, shelf it, and trot to my mirror. My eyes meet those of my mirrored self. My blue eyes look over my mirrored self's form, and she does the same for me. I smirk, somewhat cockily, at my soft, intricately brushed gray-purple coat, my poofy, frizzly, light purple mane, and at my own, wholely unique feature: my cutie-mark. It's a simple mark: a sprouting seed tied to a balloon. I got it shortly after we moved to the mountains north of Hollow Shades. Papa bought me a set of tools and measuring instruments after I took an interest in a book about wind patterns, and a picture book he owned with hot-air balloons, "airplanes," and other aerial craft. I went out and studied the wind around the mountains, tied a seed to a balloon, and sent it up. It glided across a small valley between our mountain and another, before descending onto a small, grassy cliff. The seed took to its new home and, in a few weeks, already began to grow. It made me happy. Mama and papa were so proud. I check my fangs: pearly white and sharp. Mama's aren't sharp. She can't drink blood, just fruit. We're an odd race. Most bat-ponies eat a lot of fruit, regardless, but some supplement that with blood, or fish, or bugs. A lot of ponies are scared of bat-ponies because of the blood thing, but we only drink the blood that comes from animals that gryphons and minotaurs eat. Papa also eats meat, which mama hates. I hate the smell of it, but papa gives me the blood. A lot of the time, he only orders blood from the butcher shop, because he knows how mama feels. He tries not to eat meat too often because of her, that's how much he loves her. As I flare my wings and give my best snarl and growl, I notice something very tall behind me. I turn around, startled, but before I can do much more, I am picked up by this tall creature. I screech softly and flail my hooves as it brings me to eye level and growls at me. I slowly open my eyes and lock sight with it. Two silver-blue eyes meet mine. The creature pulls me close, into a hug, and presses its pale cheek against my mane. I wriggle in its grasp, distraught by my capture. It holds fast as it begins to laugh at my misery. Eventually I give up and go limp in its arms. It holds me out in front of it; I get a better look at its face. Ruffled, dark hair tops its head. Beneath its left eye sits a small brown marking. More dark hair circles its mouth, lining its pale pink lips. I press a hoof to its nose, smile, and let out a soft "boop" sound. It smiles back, taps a finger to my nose, and offers a second "boop." This is my papa, and I adore him more than anything. "Are you ready, kiddo?" He asks, his voice deep, yet soft. I hug him around the neck and nod. "Yes." I reply, as he takes me downstairs.
MorningPapa sets me down at the bottom of the stairs. I take in the beauty of our sunlit house, as I do every morning. The sun brightens the tan and white-trimmed walls, glints off the glass and metal decor of the living room to our right, and lights the kitchen up more than the beautiful mare that sits within. I lead papa into the kitchen, or rather, he follows me. Mama sits at the small breakfast island in the center of the room. I climb onto a stool beside her and peer at what she's drinking: a mug of orange-brown, steaming liquid; mango tea, by the looks of it. She looks over at me with a grin. "Finally ready?" She asks as I scoot her mug towards me. Papa takes it from me before I can bring it to my lips. I nod to mama as papa reminds me not to drink her tea. "She hasn't had breakfast yet, Speck." Papa says, placing the mug back in front of mama. She takes it between her hooves and smiles at it. I glance between them as mama looks up at papa and stares into his eyes. Papa walks to the cupboard, extracts a bowl, and scoops into a large jar of oatmeal. I watch mama watch him; her eyes portray every bit of love she has for him. "Mama?" I squeak out, breaking her trance. She takes a small sip of her tea before replying. "Yes, sweetie?" She inquires, her delicate hooves clutching her mug. "Where are we going today?" Papa sets a hot bowl of oatmeal in front of me. Bits of dried peaches litter it. I begin eating before papa places a spoon down. With my muzzle stuffed in the bowl, my ears catch mama's answer. "We're going into town. You know what today is, right?" I look up from the bowl, oatmeal coating and dripping from my muzzle. "Summer Sun Celebration?" "Nope." "Merry Moon Memorial?" I tilt my head. She shakes hers. "Hearth's Warming Eve?" A bird lands on the kitchen windowsill, its singing alerting me to the outside. I look out the window to a brown and orange landscape accented by a clear blue sky. It is definitely not Hearth's Warming Eve. "Your anniversary?" Papa shakes his head." "That's in the spring, kiddo. It was a few months ago." He says, chuckling a little bit. I feel my cheeks become warm with a blush. "I give up!" I exclaim, throwing my hooves up and slapping them down onto the table. The bowl of oatmeal, a casualty of my assault, topples over and, defeated, spills its contents over the table. Papa sighs, grabs a towel, and begins cleaning my mess up. I apologize to him before mama speaks again. "Today's the day we adopted you, two years ago." My jaw drops and my eyes go wide. I completely forgot! "I asked if you were ready, Sirocca." Papa says as he crosses his arms. I look up at him with the best puppy-dog eyes I can muster. He looks away and tries to hide his smile. "I thought you meant ready for breakfast!" I whine softly. Mama giggles at us, her hoof covering her mouth. "Alright, you two. Quit arguing." She looks over at me with a smile that could outshine the sun and melt the coldest ice. I admire my mama. She means so much to me. She's brave, fun, silly, kind, loving, caring; everything a mother should be. She takes another sip of her tea and clears her throat before speaking again. "Sirocca, sweetie. We're going down to Hollow Shades for the day to celebrate." "But the town is practically dead during the day!" I shout in debate. Hollow Shades is primarily inhabited by bat-ponies, which are primarily nocturnal. Mama and I are different though; we're diurnal, so we're awake during the day. I've asked papa about why we don't follow the same sleep pattern as most other bat-ponies. He says that, when he first met mama, she did sleep during the night, but over time, she started to stay awake during the day, just to be with him. Papa didn't have much of an answer for my case, but I don't remember ever sleeping during the day, except to take a nap. Then again, I don't remember much from before I was seven years old. I don't remember what my real parents look like, or where I'm really from, or how old I was when I arrived at the orphanage in Ponyville, or why I was there, or anything really. All I remember are a few spotty details from my time there, and then when mama and papa adopted me after being there for nearly a year. Papa thinks it might be "repressed memories." I think I just forgot because I progressively grew happier. It doesn't matter much to me, as long as I don't end up forgetting mama and papa. Mama's voice snaps me out of my thoughts as she speaks, "There's still plenty to do. They keep a lot of places open, mostly for tourists, but still! It's better than staying cooped up in the house all day." "So we're celebrating a huge milestone in our family's history with tourist attractions?" Papa asks in an incredibly disappointed tone. "We can go literally anywhere else. Fillydelphia, Manehattan, Canterlot. Canterlot! There's so much to do there, we could even stay the entire weekend!" He scoffs and rolls his eyes. "Even Ponyville would be a better choice." Mama beckons him toward her. She takes his face into her hooves and pulls him close so she can whisper in his ear. I can't hear what she's saying, but Papa smiles and nods. I lean close to try to listen, but they break apart before I can hear anything. I huff and grumble, but they both grin at me. "Come on, kiddo. Let's get you cleaned up and ready to go." Papa says as he picks me up. I fuss and kick as he carries me to the sink. I grumble when he wipes my muzzle with a wet rag. I dislike being treated like this, even though I know he's just trying to help me. Scrunching and wriggling my nose, I trot through the kitchen and into the foyer. Mama and papa follow me and open the front door. We all walk outside together. I look up at the clear blue sky as a chilly mountain wind blows over the land. Cherry blossom petals swirl all around us as they fall from their tree, and fly up in the wind. It's a breath-taking sight that I'm fortunate enough to see frequently. "On we go!" Mama shouts as she spreads her wings and takes to the sky. I spread my wings, but hesitate when I look over at papa. He nods and smiles, despite not being able to fly himself. "Go ahead." He says. I flap my wings and follow mama as papa walks beneath us, on our way to Hollow Shades.
Hollow Shades"Hollow Shades is a really neat town. It has most of its residential sector built way up in the trees. Wooden bridges span from tree to tree, which have immense platforms built on and around them. The trees themselves are huge; the canopy of the forest is dense and blots out the sun almost everywhere except the very center of town. Nearly every tree grows some kind of fruit too: mangoes, cherries, pineapples, oranges, grapefruits, apples; you name it, a tree somewhere nearby probably has it. A small creek also runs through the floor of the forest, beneath the tree-loft town. Nearby sits the old, rustic train station and a seldom-used track. At night, the town is incredibly active. Bat-ponies run around taking care of their nightly chores and tasks. During the day, the town is almost completely silent aside from the occasional tourist, the few nurses and doctors at the hospital, and some ponies working in shops. There is often very little point in coming to Hollow Shades during the day, if one has seen the town at night. There is, obviously, less to do in the day than in the night. This town means a lot to mama though. It's where she was born and raised, it's where her sister lives, and it's where her parents currently reside. She likes to visit as often as she can, even though she never sees her sister or visits her old house. The only thing she does is visit her parents. This is also the first thing we do when we arrive in town. The five of us sit in a small clearing just outside of town, beneath a large oak tree. We laugh, we smile, we have a good time, but a twinge of pain and sadness pulses through my heart. Papa places a hand on my shoulder and smiles. He whispers, "She needs this." I smile back and nod as I look at the two granite slabs. One says "Angel Tear" and has a winged heart depicted on it, similar to mama's cutie mark. The other reads "Brick Kindler" and displays a chisel laid over a brick. Mama always tells me that her parents loved each other a lot. I've seen pictures of them. My grandma was beautiful; moreso than mama. She had the same dark gray coat as mama, but her hair was a darker shade of blue, almost like the night sky. Her eyes were a soft blue, nearly the same color as a clear sky. I wish I could have met her. From what mama's told me, grandma was a much better mama than she is. Grandpa, from what mama tells me, was a very strong, very smart pony. He made an honest living making bricks. Mama rarely says much about him, though. She says he favored her sister, despite still loving her very much. It makes me happy that I'm an only child, as selfish as that is. "Sirocca." I look up as papa's voice catches my ears. "It's time to go." His voices carries sorrow. I look over at mama, who tries to smile, despite tears streaming down her cheeks. I swallow hard, run up to her, and press myself into her side. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and mutters to herself. I barely catch her words, but I know she said something about trying her hardest to keep me safe, and to always protect me. "I love you, mama." I say as I tuck my nose into her shoulder. She covers me with her wing as we walk away from the clearing, back into town. She's strong. She doesn't sniffle, she doesn't bawl, her tears stop, and she smiles. She is stronger than I will ever be; I don't know what I'd do if I lost her or papa. It's a scary though that I push out of my head almost immediately. It doesn't take long for us to get back to town. We venture around, almost aimlessly, until we stop at a small fruit stand in the center of town. I look around while mama and papa talk to the vendor. On the other side of the empty square, I see another bat-pony trotting around. She would not really be notable at all under normal circumstance, but she is awake during the day. What is even more alarming is that she has a pale purple coat, curly, frizzly, light purple hair, and if I'm not mistaken, because I cannot see very well from this distance, bright blue eyes. My heart and mind race, and something within me twinges. Before I know it, I'm running toward her. I don't know why, but something deep inside me is telling me to go to her. I don't know if mama and papa notice, or follow, but I don't care. The bat-pony sees me and, by the look on her face, I can see an accumulation of sudden fear. She turns and takes off. I continue my chase and rush down the wooden roads. I get a good look of her flank. On it sits a crescent moon with three strings strung from one end to the other. "Wait!" I shout, "I need to talk to you!" She doesn't stop running. Neither do I. We turn a sharp corner, then another. My legs feel like they're on fire, but I don't stop. She banks into an alley between two shops and, as I follow, I notice she's gone and the alley dead-ends. "Who are you!?" I scream. A door at the far end of the building on the right creaks and closes. I rush to the door and try to knob. Locked! Frustrated, I stamp my hooves on the ground and screech. After taking a moment to calm down and collect my thoughts, I study the door. A small plaque is nailed to its sturdy wooden form that reads: "Stairwell to apartments A-1 through C-3." Beside the door, a large three-by-three metal box with nine locked compartments is built into the wall. Upon closer examination, I can make out a few names: "Aurora," "Pomma Granite," and "Nectar." The others are either scratched out or too wind-worn to read. I try the door again. Still locked. I look around the alley for something that can help me. A slab of wood, some nails, a mango pit, and a rusty iron bar will most likely not help me into this building. I trot around to the front of the building. A large sign above the door reads: "Nectar's Flowers." Is her name Nectar?
NectarI trot into the shop and am immediately assaulted by a pleasant aroma of many variants of flowers. Mama and papa run past the shop shouting my name. They don't notice I'm in here, and I feel guilt deep within my heart because I don't go after them. I need to find out who this mare is. "Good morning! welcome to Nectar's Flowers!" A bat-pony mare trots from behind a shelf of flowers. She has a light gray-brown coat, braided tan hair, and cloudy white eyes. She stumbles over a small plant pot and screeches as she falls. This is definitely not the mare I was chasing. "I'm okay!" She says, laughing and feeling her way around. She turns toward me and smiles at nothing. "Can I help you, sir or ma'am?" Sir or ma'am? She isn't clumsy, she's blind. I scuff a hoof on the floor sheepishly before I speak, "I'm looking for a pony. A mare, probably your size, with blue eyes and a purple coat. Do you know where she is, Miss Nectar?" Miss Nectar raises a brow and looks upward in thought as she taps her chin with a hoof. "I do know a mare, but I don't know what blue and purple look like. Do you know her name?" "No." "Hm... What's your name? I can go get her for you." "I'd appreciate that. My name's Sirocca." Miss Nectar's jaw drops and her face goes pale. She swallows and takes a step back. "Are you okay?" She shakes her head subtly as she continues backing up. Her lips move, but I can barely make out her words. "What's wrong? You're scaring me!" I plead, my throat tightening from worry. "You aren't supposed to be here! Go! Leave! You'll be happier where ever you came from!" She shouts, turns, and begins to run through a back door. She trips over another plant pot and groans as she hits her head on the floor. I rush up to her and help her up. She mutters a quick thank you and apologizes. A little while later, after cleaning the shop up, she concedes and takes me upstairs to the apartments. I sit at a small table in her kitchen. I had really hoped she would take me to the mare I was looking for, but this is okay, I guess. It's better than nothing, and it puts me one step closer to learning more about this mare. I want to know why this mare and I look alike, and if she's who I think she is, I might be able to learn more about my real parents, myself, and my past. This is not something a normal ten year old should be concerned with. "Where should I start?" Miss Nectar asks, mostly to herself. "Take me to see that mare. I know she lives here." "I wish I could, but she's probably sleeping right now." She says with a sheepish smile. "I want to see her. Who is she? Why did she run when she saw me? Why did you try to run?" I ask, standing in my seat with my front hooves on the table. "She is a very old, very dear friend of mine. I made a promise to her a long, long time ago that I would make sure none of her loved ones would ever hurt again." "What does that have to do with me? Why does she look like me?" I fear what the answer might be, but I need to hear it. "She doesn't want to see you hurt by her actions, Sirocca. She wants you to be happy." The mare dances around my questions. I am slowly becoming agitated. "Who. Is. She." I state, very sternly. Miss Nectar sighs, rests her hooves in her lap, and tilts her head. "Her name is Eura. She's your mother."
QuestionsAn hour has passed since I abandoned mama and papa. Half of that time has been spent laying on Miss Nectar's couch, staring at the ceiling. I expected that answer, but at the same time, I think I wish it wasn't true. "What happens next?" I ask, rolling on my side to look into Miss Nectar's kitchen. She gracefully boils a pot of tea. For a blind mare who stumbles in her own shop, she is extremely graceful in her home. She lifts the pot off of the stove and starts trotting toward me, but trips over the threshold of the living room and spills the tea. Maybe I thought too soon. "Oh darn!" She scoffs as she turns back to the kitchen. I get up and follow her, grab a towel, and help her clean the mess. She thanks me with a smile before answering my question. "What happens next," She says with a sigh, "is that you will go home, forget about us, and be happy." "No." "Yes." "No!" "Yes!" She stamps her hooves down before taking a deep breath. "Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't yell." "Can you at least answer my questions?" "I suppose I can." A soft sigh escapes her lips. We sit back on her couch, completely tea-less, in silence for a moment as I think about what to ask. "How old was I when she gave me up?" Gave me up. More like abandoned. I shake my head. Why do I resent her? I don't even know her. "You were only about a year old." "Why don't I remember much of the orphanage?" "I don't know. Maybe because you're happier now than before?" I furrow my brow in though. I am happy now. I just want to see her, talk to her, and know why she left me. "Why? Why did she leave me?" "She was scared. She couldn't take care of you without your father. She never stopped beating herself up over the whole thing." I swallow as tears well up in my eyes. She still cares? I sniffle a little bit at the thought. "Tell me more about her." I say, looking to the ground. Miss Nectar sighs and nods. "Eura was seventeen when she had you. She plays music at the cafe next door. We've been friends since we were in elementary school. She met your father in highschool, and oh Celestia, did she love him. He was so kind to her, but he left not long after you came along. We haven't seen him since. When you were born, your mother cried so much. She said you were the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen." Miss Nectar pauses for a second before speaking again. "She loved you. Still does. She gave you up, not only because she couldn't take care of you, but because you reminded her so much of her father." "You say that like it's supposed to make me feel better." "It isn't. I'm sorry." "What about my father?" I ask, choking back my tears. Miss Nectar offers me a tissue, which I take and blow my nose into. "I can't say much about him. He was a senior, about eighteen. He worked at the guard house, cleaning and painting. He wanted to be a guard so badly, but disappeared." I sniffle and wipe my eyes on my hooves. I don't think I should have pried into this. It really isn't something a ten year old should be burdened with. "What was his name?" "Syrius." "Syrius." I repeat. We sit in silence for a few minutes. A loud knock comes from the front door. I don't react to it, even as Miss Nectar tells the pony to enter. "Nectar! You will never guess who I saw while I was out..." The mare slows her words as she walks in. I look up to see what's wrong, and I lock my eyes with hers.
MotherI swallow my emotions for what seems like the millionth time. She starts to back up toward the door, but Miss Nectar's voice stops her. "Eura. You need to stay. You can't run forever." She says, looking in the direction of the door. Eura, my mother, stands perfectly still. I don't move either. The air in the room becomes so stiff and tense, that I feel like I might suffocate. The silence is so fragile, that even the slightest sound would shatter it like glass. After a long, tense moment, Eura speaks. "I'm fine, ma'am. How about you?" "I've been better. How's life?" "Aside from not remembering anything from before I was seven, it's been good. I was adopted two years ago." I clear my throat when I realize how venomous my words are. Eura looks away for a second, pain in her eyes. I say I'm sorry. "It's okay," She mumbles. "Your new parents are the bat-pony and monster running around town looking for you?" I nod. "Are they nice?" I nod again. "Do you love them?" "More than anything." "Then you should go back to them." "I will," I say sternly, "as soon as I'm done here." "Then let's make this fast." *** We walked upstairs to Eura's apartment, leaving Miss Nectar to go back to tending her flower shop. "B-2. Why is your name not on the mailboxes outside?" I ask as we walk inside and take a seat on her couch. "I'm hiding." "From what?" "Everything I've done wrong." That stings. Was I a mistake to her? Did Miss Nectar lie when she said Eura still loves me "I should have tried harder. I'm sorry. I just couldn't look at you without seeing him." That is just an awful reason to abandon your child. "I'm sorry I couldn't be a better pony, Sirro-" "Shut up." I don't mean to be rude, but I don't want to hear any more excuses. She looks away with a frown. The pain in her eyes reminds me of someone who has had their heart crushed. Thinking for a moment, she has had her heart torn to pieces. She lost her highschool sweetheart because of me, and she lost me because she couldn't handle the pain of remembering him. "Will you tell me about your new parents? She looks very curious. "I want to know that something good came of all this." "I guess I can. First there's mama. She's really beautiful, nice, caring. I love her a lot. She's really protective of me, and she's taken really good care of me, even for a whole day before she adopted me." I smile as I picture her in my mind. I really do love her. She's my mama, and she's better than the mare sitting across from me. "And your dad?" She says with a tilt of her head. I smile even wider when I picture him. She smiles knowingly. "You don't have to say anything. You obviously love him very much." I nod lightly. "My turn. I can't remember anything from before I was seven. Why?" "Your father suffered from memory loss. You might have inherited it." "Oh. So, what? I might forget this? My mama and papa? Everything?" "Have you forgotten anything since you were seven?" "Not really, no." "I wouldn't worry then. Your father forgot things frequently." I think about this for a moment, and later come to the realization that Eura is probably not a clever pony. "Do you think that's why he left you? He just forgot?" I look at her questioningly. She sighs forlornly and stares off into space. The look on her face is the same one I make when I realize something. "That... that could be a possibility. I don't know where he is though." She looks at me. I look at her. "Well, if you still love him, and you can forgive him, then we'll find him." What did I just say? "We?" "Yes. I'll try to help you find him." Why am I saying this? I have no idea what I'll be getting myself into, but for some reason, I want Eura to be happy, even though I hardly know her and she abandoned me. "I don't know where to start." "Miss Nectar said he worked at the guard house." "Ten years ago. I think if he was still there, I would have seen him around town at least once." I stare at my hooves in contemplation when Eura says this. "Well, I'm out of ideas." Eura chuckles to herself before falling silent. With an almost inaudible sigh, she says, "We can check the guard house. They might have a record on him." "Maybe. Should we go now?" "Yes. They won't be very busy during the day."
GuardhouseThe guardhouse stands three stories tall and about sixty feet wide. A large watch-tower stands tall on the left side of the building. Eura stands beside me, clearly nervous. "Let's go in." I say and start to walk up to the large wooden doors. Looking back after not hearing her hoofsteps, I notice Eura still standing where I left her. "I'm nervous." She says with her ears lowered. I stare at her, dumbfounded. She is seventeen years my elder. I am alone, away from my family, and I am ready to walk into this building to find my father. "Either come in here, or I'm going home." I act more like an adult than my own mother. This will not be a fun or easy mission, but I feel as though I must do this. "Okay. I'm just a little scared." "And you don't think I am? Or my parents? I'm away from the only two people who love me enough to keep me! They're scared out of their minds trying to find me! Grow up and let's go." I say, frustratedly. She lowers her head, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry." I shake my head. I shouldn't be treating her like this. Considering everything she's done to me, I am much happier without her, but I feel like I need to help her. "Just come on." She follows my order with a meek nod and smile. We walk through the doors together. At the desk sits a very tired bat-pony guard. He blinks at us, squints his eyes, and groans. "Whaddaya want?" He grunts. This is a very rude pony. Before I can say anything, Eura speaks. "Well for one, I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak to me and my daughter in that tone of voice!" She shouts, very condescendingly. I raise an eyebrow and stare at her. "I'm not your daughter." I mumble, but she carries on. "Second, we're looking for someone." The guard rolls his eyes and turns around to a large set of metal drawers. "Name?" He says as he opens the drawer. "Syrius." The guard stop abruptly and turns back to us. He has a look of worry on his face. "Syrius?" "Yes." "Master Sergeant Syrius? Of the Canterlot South Sky Brigade?" I look at Eura. She looks at me, a look of surprise on her face. "I guess." "Well, he should be in Canterlot, but good luck meeting him. He's a very busy stallion." The guard says with a tone of superiority. He doesn't know that I have the connections to meet him. I am going to utilize these connections so much. Maybe even get him in trouble for being rude. A second guard rushes into the room, yelling something urgent, "We've received a report of a missing filly, about ten years old, purple, blue eyes, and a sprouting seed tied to a balloon for a cutie mark. Be on the look out." Eura and I are out the door before the second guard notices us. I hear the first guard mumble, "I'll keep my eyes peeled," as the door closes. "How are we going to see him?" Eura paces back and forth, worried and panicking. "We're going to Canterlot." I command and start walking to the train station located on the floor of the forest, by the river. She follows me, but asks what we're going to do when we get to our destination. "We're going to board this train." I say after she buys our tickets. She nods as we sit on a bench. "We're going to march through the city and into the castle." "What about the guards?" "I'll take care of it." She doesn't know what I can do, and she won't find out. Or at least until we're done. "But you're a child." "I have my ways. Now be quiet and listen." I take a deep breath and calm myself. "We're going to go to his barracks, find him, and talk." "And then?" She tilts her head, curious of what's going to happen between her and my father. "I don't know. I'm only in this to reunite you two. Whatever happens, happens." The train rolls into the station and screeches to a halt. "Do you think he'll remember me?" "I don't know." I say as we walk to the train. "Will he take me back?" "I don't know." I'm starting to get annoyed. I have no answers, no clue what will happen, and no idea if we'll even find him.
LocomotionI am not a clairvoyant, a seer, or a gypsy. I can not see the future. I can not give anyone counsel. I am a normal ten year old filly from a small town in a forest who was abandoned and later adopted by an odd couple and moved to a secluded house in the mountains. Papa always says I'm smart and extraordinary, and that I'll do great things. This little adventure may be the first; even if I don't believe him, and even if I want to be average. We take our seats in an economy car. She sits across from me and looks out the window as the train starts to roll along the track. I watch trees roll by as we depart Hollow Shades and travel through a large open field. Eura offers a nervous sigh. I can tell she's lost in her thoughts. Mama says I look just like that when I have something on my mind. It always eases my nerves when I talk about my thoughts. "Talk to me." I say, still watching the scenery roll by. Honestly, I just want to get to Canterlot, get my mother and father back together, and go home to mama and papa. I don't really care much about what Eura's thinking of. "Why?" "Because, I know that look. You have something on your mind. It always helps me when I talk about it." I say as I turn my head to look her in the eyes. She meets my gaze and sighs with a motherly smile. "You're so smart, Sirocca. You keep surprising me with how you think." She swallows and wipes away the tears that form in her eyes. "I'm just so proud of you. I'm happy for you. Your new parents are so good to you, so much better than I could have been." If she keeps saying stuff like this, I might scream. "I'm sorry. I'm probably annoying you by saying this." She giggles, sighs, and looks back outside. "You're right. You are." I look out the window again. "Sorry. I didn't mean that." "It's okay. I understand that you don't like me." I need to start watching my mouth. I'm starting to feel bad. "I do like you, I'm just mad that you left me." I smile softly. "I'm sorry." "It's... okay." Mama and papa would want me to forgive her. And I guess I have. We sit in silence for a while. She smiles the whole time before finally saying something. "I have a good feeling about all of this. I really do." "I do too." The silence between us returns. The only sound is that of the train rolling along the tracks. I decide to keep to my thoughts for a little while. Eura starts to hum a soft lullaby that distracts me. I briefly contemplate asking her to stop, but instinct causes me to listen. "You are my sunshine." Mama's visage starts to form in my mind's eye. "My only sunshine." I imagine her smiling her usual toothy grin. "You make me happy." Mama giggles. "When skies are gray." Papa's visage appears beside hers. "You'll never know dear." He hugs her and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "How much I love you." I see myself snuggled up between them in our front yard, under our big cherry blossom tree. "Please don't take my sunshine..." The sun shines and warms my coat up as we laugh at talk. "Away."
???I groan and stretch when i wake up. A warm, wool blanket falls off of me and crumples on the floor. The train must have stopped, because I feel no movement beneath me. As I rub the sleep from my eyes and blink, I notice my surroundings are different. I no longer sit in the train car, but in the living room of a small apartment. I climb off of the couch on which I sit and start to look around. There is a small coffee table in the middle of the room, a second couch to my right, and a large glass cabinet with dozens of books to my left. To the right of the cabinet is a dark hallway. In front of me is the foyer, and to its right is a doorway. I prick my ears up as I walk toward the foyer. I can hear voices. I can't understand what they're saying, but I hear a male and a female talking to each other. I step up to the doorway to listen in, but I still can't understand them. Frustrated, I step around the corner, into the kitchen. No one is present aside from myself. "Hello?" I say. No answer. I turn from the kitchen and walk back into the living room. The dark hallway is now lit, and I can hear giggling and laughing coming from the end. I cautiously walk down the hall. A door stands on the immediate left, but it's locked when I try it. Two others stand at the end of the hall, opposite each other. I look at the one to my left. It's painted blue. The one to the right is painted black. I don't know why, but I sit between them instead of trying the knobs. "You have to make a choice, little pony." Says a disembodied voice. I jump up, startled, even though it's a warm and motherly voice. "Who's there?! What choice?" I shout. "Us and them. Black and blue." A second voice calls, this time male. They sound like the two coming from the kitchen. "What does that mean?" I turn to the other side of the hall. I can't even see the living room; everything is dark. "Pick a door!" The voices say, both at the same time. I look at the doors. They loom ominously over me. "But I don't know what's behind them!" "Well, it wouldn't be a very fun game if you knew, would it? One will take you to a place you love, and the other will take you to a happy reunion!" They say. I'm starting to get scared. I don't know where I am, or what's going on. "I just want to go home! This isn't fun at all!" Tears start to form in my eyes. "Home? It's through the door!" I look from door to door as tears roll down my cheeks. "But which one is it?!" I sob. "Home is where your heart is!" Says the voice. The hallway dissolves around me and the voices stop as a large, open field of flowers appears. I can feel the sun's warmth on my coat. Both doors still stand. "My heart's with mama and papa, but I don't know which door is the right one." I mutter. "Blue first, I guess. It's the color of mama's hair." I think as I push it open. Inside I see myself sitting by a river with Eura and a male bat-pony. I can't make him out. He's too far away and obscured by the shade of the trees. I back away from the door just as laughter starts to sound. This is definitely not the right door. I want my mama and papa, not Eura and Syrius, even though Eura is growing on me. There's also the fact that Syrius might not even take her back, or remember her. I shake my head and open the other door. Inside I find mama and papa huddled up on the couch in our living room. They're crying as they hold a small picture frame. "I don't get it." I whisper to myself. "Where am I? Why am I not with mama and papa in this door?" "Think about it." Says the voice. It's different this time, not as ethereal, and it sounds closer, almost physical. It sounds more mechanical and lifeless than before. "Wh-who is that? Who's there?!" I'm starting to get really nervous. I turn away from the door and come face to face with something very strange. "Oh! Please, do not be afraid!" Says the pony-like figure. It stands at my height, wears a white leather mask with eye-slits that change with its expression, and wears a golden-orange scarf. "Who are you?" I start to feel calm in its presence. Its eye-slits turn up as if it smiles. "I am Mime!" The mask doesn't move as it speaks. "Mime? Are you the owner of the other voices?" "Yes, those are mine!" It laughs. "Did you recognize them? I know you know them!" It bounces in place gleefully. "Um..." "Mr. Eccles Cake and Mrs. Cheese Cake!" It says in both of their voices at the same time. "Oh. Well, what about these doors? Why am I in one, but not the other?" "Well, when you opened the first door, it caused the other to be affected by your choice. Think about it, you chose the door to Eura and Syrius, and what happened in the other door?" Its eye-slits turn down in a worried manner. "Mama and papa were crying over a picture." I say, looking to the ground. "Precisely!" "But I don't want that! I want mama and papa!" "Then pick the black door first this time!" "But I need to help Eura find Syrius!" Mime's eye-slits turn up in a smile. It nods happily. "You, little pony, will do great things! Your papa is completely right!" Its voice changes to that of my mama's before it speaks again, "I am so proud of you, Sirocca." I swallow my sadness as I realize how much I miss her. "I'll be home soon, mama." I say as I turn from Mime and open the black door. I trot through confidently. "Good luck, young Sirocca!" It says in its mechanical voice. "I will see you again, very soon!" It waves to me as a blinding white light surrounds me. I have no idea what its words mean, but I feel as if Mime will be of great importance to me. The world around me begins to shake and rumble, before a metallic screech sounds. Everything stops as I close my eyes.
