Through the Eyes of an Orphan

Once upon a time… But stories like that always end well. My name is Chestnut, and this is the story of my childhood. I was young when I found out my parents were killed. Not by anypony but by a rock. My father lost control of the cart and fell over the edge with himself still attached. My mother tried to save him, but she wasn’t strong enough. She never let him go. Sh-she.. always was a little hard-headed. Yes, but what made me mad is when I found out somepony watched them plummet to their deaths. A traveling merchant came by our house. What I didn’t realize that what he told my foal-sitter was bad until my parents didn’t return. When they never returned. Ponies came for me. I wasn’t going to let them take me though, so I ran. I ran as fast and as far as I could. Celestia knows I didn’t get to far before they finally caught me. They took me and put me into an orphanage, but I wasn’t going to stay. Let me tell you a tale of how I ran away, and never looked back again.

A day passed since Chestnut’s parents had left him at home. Chestnut, in his excitement that they were to return, rushed to get up and ready for the day.

Running into the kitchen where Susan, his foal-sitter sat at the table, he exclaimed, “Yay! Mommy and Daddy will be back today!”

Susan smiled at his antics. “Alright Chestnut, calm down and take a seat. You’re going to need your strength for today aren’t you?” She asked as she placed his breakfast down on the table.

“Yes ma’am!” Chestnut said, jumping into his chair. “So what are we gonna do today?”

“Well that all depends on you, don’t you have some chores that need do be done?” Susan asked, a playful smile across her face.

“Aww! But chores aren’t fun! Let’s play a game or something!” Chestnut replied quickly as he ate his breakfast.

“I know sweetie, but they need to be done.” Susan said smiling. “Now eat your breakfast.”

The two ponies sat at the table, eating quietly when a loud knock punctuated their silence. “Now who could that be?” Susan said nervously. “Stay here Chestnut.” She commanded, walking slowly to the door.

Another knock resounded through the house as Susan reached it. Opening it slowly revealed a cloaked pony standing outside. “Yes sir? May I help you?” She asked, standing in the doorway with Chestnut in view behind her.
Chestnut stood in the doorway of the kitchen, trying to hear what was being said between Susan and the stranger. Chestnut ran to Susan when he heard her let out a small gasp. “Susan?” He asked, looking up at her with his innocent blue eyes.

“Chestnut dear, can you go back into the kitchen please?” She asked him, blinking away a few tears from her eyes.

Chestnut nodded and walked slowly back to the kitchen and waited for Susan to return.

Minutes passed and Susan entered the kitchen again. “So what did that strange pony want?” Chestnut asked Susan, smiling as he colored on a blank page.

“Nothing dear. He was just asking for directions.” She said, walking up behind him. “What are you drawing?”

“I’m drawing a picture for mommy and daddy!” Chestnut exclaimed happily, looking up at Susan with a toothy grin.

Susan faked a smile as she examined the new drawing. “Well I’m sure they’ll love it!” She lied, giving Chestnut a hug.

“I hope so!” He said. “So what are we gonna do now Susan?” Chestnut asked, turning to look at her.

“Hmm.. How about we play hide-and-seek?” Susan asked, picking Chestnut up from his perch on the chair. “You run and hide and I will seek. Ready, set, Go!” She said, covering her eyes as Chestnut ran off with a fit of giggles.

The game-filled day passed swiftly, making Chestnut tired. With a yawn, Chestnut slowed his running to a stop. “Is it time for bed? I’m getting sleepy.” he said, yawning again as Susan approached.

“Sure. Let’s head inside.” she said, picking up the tired colt and walking into the small home. Carrying him to his room, Susan laid him gently on the bed and tucked him under the covers. “Alright, goodnight Chestnut.” Susan said, kissing him on his forehead and flicking the light off. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight Susan.” Chestnut said, closing his eyes as he drifted off to sleep.

Susan walked from the dark room and into the small guest room. “I wish I didn’t have to do this now.” She said to herself quietly, “I don’t think I have the heart to tell the poor colt.” Climbing into her own bed, Susan drifted off to sleep herself.After a good night’s sleep, Chestnut woke up bright and early. “Yay! They’ll be home today!” Chestnut exclaimed, jumping out of bed and rushing to find Susan. Rushing through the house, Chestnut found Susan still asleep. “Come on Susan!!” He said, jumping on the bed of the sleeping mare, “Get up!!”

Susan woke up with a start, smiling when she saw Chestnut beaming. “Okay, okay. I’m awake. Now what are we going to do today?” Susan asked, chuckling at the young colt’s enthusiasm.

“Mommy and Daddy will be home today! We gotta make sure the house is perfect!” he said, jumping off the bed and rushing from the room.

Susan frowned as she remembered the terrible news. Following Chestnut to the kitchen, Susan put on a fake smile. “Ok dear, let’s eat something first then.” she said, pulling two plates from a cabinet.

Chestnut nodded and flew across the room and into a chair. “What’s for breakfast then?” he asked, smiling at Susan.

“Anything you want.” she replied with a smile.

“Great!” Chestnut said, “Pancakes!” He answered her.

“Alright!” Susan said as she pulled the necessary materials from the cabinet.

Susan fixed breakfast quickly, setting the tall stack of pancakes down. “Chow down!” She said, smiling as Chestnut grabbed several and began eating. Eating quietly and quickly, the two ponies soon stood up. “Alright Chestnut, what do you wanna do first?” Susan asked, picking up the empty plates from the table.

Chestnut jumped out of the chair and laughed, “Let’s play tag!” He said, tagging Susan on her leg and running off.

“Oh it is on!” She replied, chasing after him. Chasing him outside, she stopped and looked for him. “Ok Chestnut, I thought we were playing tag, not hide-and-seek!” She called, still looking for him.

Chestnut giggled as he floated above her. “We are! You’re just not looking hard enough!” He said, laughing as he flew off around the corner of the house.

Susan laughed as she gawked at Chestnut. “Now that’s not fair!” She shouted, galloping around the house after him.

Chestnut just laughed, enjoying himself as Susan tried to chase him.

Susan and Chestnut chased each other until lunch, laughing and giggling as their chase constantly changed courses. Stopping for a breath, Susan examined the sun to see how late it was. “Oh wow! It’s lunch time already!” She said, looking for Chestnut. “Chestnut! Come on! It’s lunch time!” she called, walking towards the side of the house with the door.

Chestnut suddenly called out for Susan, his voice filled with terror. Susan gasped and jolted around the house to see two ponies in suits holding Chestnut. “Who are you ponies and What do you think you’re doing with him?” she asked, rushing over and pulling Chestnut away from them.

“I think you know Ma’am.” Said the stallion on the left. “We are here to take him. Is there somewhere we can discuss this in private?” He asked, looking straight at Chestnut.

Chestnut’s ears lowered as he backed behind Susan, scared of the two, dark-dressed stallions. Susan looked at him and back to the pair. “No.. I… It’s time he knows what happened.” She said, turning to look at Chestnut.

“Susan?” Chestnut asked, looking at Susan, fear covering his face. “What.. What do they mean take me?” he asked.

“Chestnut.. This is hard to say.” She started, “But that pony that came by yesterday… he… he told me some bad news.” She said, tears stinging her eyes. “He.. He told me something about your parents.”

Chestnut watched Susan, waiting for her to finish.

“He told me he saw them.. S-saw them fall.” Susan said, her voice quivering.

“F-fall?” Chestnut asked, “But mommy can fly.” He said, looking at Susan confused.

“No dear. She didn’t fly away this time. This time… she.. She tried to save your father but the cart they had was to heavy.” Susan said, hugging Chestnut and crying onto his shoulder. “That pony said he tried to save them, but they had already fallen to the bottom of a cliff, the cart and rocks killing them.” She said, holding onto Chestnut.

Chestnut’s eyes broke, tears falling quickly as he took in what Susan had said. “But.. But that means.” he started, looking at Susan who was crying on his shoulder. “They… aren’t coming… b-back?”

Susan shook her head. “No.. they aren’t. I’m so sorry.” she said, holding Chestnut close.

The two stallions stood by and watched as Susan explained what happened, waiting until she had finished to speak up. “And that, Chestnut, is why we are here. We need to take you to a new place.”

“No.. you can’t take him!” Susan cried, placing Chestnut down behind her.

“I’m sorry miss, but we must.” both stallions said, walking towards them. Susan shouted as they grabbed Chestnut, trying to stop them to no avail. Chestnut cried as he kicked at the stallion who held him, trying to fight his way away from him. Chestnut bit the stallion who held him, causing him to drop him with a cry of pain. “Ouch!! He bit me!” he cried as Chestnut ran off, away from the group of ponies.

“Chestnut!!” Susan cried, falling to the ground as she cried and watched him run off.

“Let’s go. We can find him.” said the stallion who stood over Susan. “He can’t get to far away from us.” The two stallions walked off, following behind Chestnut and leaving Susan behind in a puddle of her tears.