‘Buck that drunk pony, buck everything’ I thought to myself while throwing what clothes I had left that weren’t ruined. While I was deciding whether to bring my boots or my stuffed animal, yes I still had one, when I heard a knock at my bedroom door. I pushed up my glasses, “Come in” I said.
My sis Puzzle came in and hesitating with each step, “Why are we packing” she asked me once she got to my bed. “And when is daddy coming home?”
I stifled a sob and forced a smile “Because we need to and dad is going to be late.” I said, I couldn’t tell her yet. We both sat on my bed, which was just a mattress and some blankets. “We just need to get packed, make a quick stop at the hospital, then off the train station.” I said ruffling her hair. She batted my hoof away, but I saw a small smile.
“Why do we need to go to the hospital?” she asked looking at me, I could see the sadness she hid in her eyes.
“I need to say goodbye to somepony important, okay?” I said trying very hard to keep my smile up, “Then we are on our way”
She nodded and walked back to the door, once she got to the frame she turned around and said “What should I pack?”
“Important things, clothes and blankets, maybe your stuffed bear.” Once I said that she ran to her room, “Meet me at the front door!” I yelled after her.
(At the Hospital)
“Ok Puzzle stay in here while I go find the room” I said sitting her down in the waiting room. Once she busied herself with a foal magazine I walked off to our father’s room. The hospital was so depressing, grey walls, grey floor and ceiling, but I had to keep walking, besides almost everything in Trottingham was depressing. I found my fathers room and when I opened the door I gasped. He was there in the bed with both his hoofs over his chest. I rushed to his side and held back my tears, “Dad?” I asked in a soft voice. I looked closer at his chest hoping to see any sign of breathing, I didn’t. I held his hoof and said in a quiet voice so the nurse ponies couldn’t hear me. “Dad, I know your gone, but listen please. I never liked you, well I did, but before mom died. You shouldn’t have blamed Puzzle and me. We did not kill her, neither did you, she died giving birth. Why did you hurt us Dad? Why? But, I promise I will never let anything happen to Puzzle ever again. You can’t hurt us anymore, and I swear if anything does happen to her I will come back here and bury her next to mom. Not you.” I let his hoof drop and I walked away silently.
Once I got back to the waiting room, I saw Puzzle upside down in the uncomfortable chair. I smiled and walked over to her, “Ok Puz, to the train station.” She smiled back at me and nodded. We both grabbed out suitcases and started walking.
(On the Train)
“Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are…..”
I shook my head and stared out my window. The little filly was running up and down the car, luckily no pony else was in this one. At least she seemed to be enjoying herself. This train ride was anything but fun for me. We almost missed it entirely, but we jumped on just in time. Though it was the wrong train, we were supposed to be going to Manehatten, but no we got on the Ponyville train. Maybe it will be better, I heard good things about Ponyville. My thoughts were interrupted by Puzzle jumping on to my seat and sitting on my lap “Fix my braid!” she said in a demanding tone.
“Excuse me?” I said in my famous disappointed/angry tone. This got her to listen, “Umm, c-could you fix my braid, please?” she said quietly.
I smiled at her and said “Sure, but you need to remember your manners.” And I started to work on her braid which had been coming apart all day.
“That voice is like magic” she said sitting still, which was a feat of magic if I saw any.
“Years of practice little sis”
“You could tame a bear with that voice” she said and emphasized it by holding up her stuffed Ursa Minor I made her one day.
I laughed and said “Ya, the day I do that is the day I finally get my cutie mark.” I looked at my side, nope not yet. Yep I still didn’t have my cutie mark yet, pretty sad.
“Maybe it will have something to do sewing?” she asked helpfully
“Heh, maybe.” I said thinking about it. I did sew all our clothes, but I have been doing that for years.
Again I was interrupted by Puzzle “Ouch!”
I drew my hoofs back “Sorry, I drifted away again.”
She looked up at me and smiled “Its fine,” she said and bounced her hair “Thank you” she said jumping down from the seat. “I am going to take a nap”
“Okay, I might as well” and with that I lay down and closed my eyes.
I woke up to my sister jumping on my tail, “Wake up, wake up! We’re here!”
I smiled and lightly pushed her off me, “Okay grab your things and lets go.” I said getting up and fixing my hair some what. I put on my glasses and walked off the train with my sis. No pony was on the platform so we just walked on. Eventually we got to the edge of the town, and by the looks of it, it was a quite little town. I could see an apple farm off in the distance, and also a thick forest in the other direction. Puzzle grabbed my hoof and we continued on.
We passed a lot stores and ponies, but no gave us a glance. ‘Ok, good lay low until we get enough money for Manehatten.’ I thought, but again I was interrupted, not by the filly by my side but by a pink mare with a crazy mane. “Uh, hi” I said slowly. She just looked at me and my sis for a bit longer then jumped really high, gasped and ran off. “Uh ok” I said and tighten my grip on Puz.
“What was that about?” she asked not fighting my grip
“I don’t know, but stay close ok?”
She nodded and we continued in silence.
Eventually we made it to an orphanage looking place. It looked better than any other building for Trottingham. Colorful, big, and little fillies and colts running around out in the front.
“This looks nice” the pink filly said
“Yeah, but is it available? Stay here I think I see the owner. Don’t talk to anypony.”
“Ok” she said and sat down.
I walked over to a purple mare with sunflowers for a cutie mark, “Uh Excuse me ma’am” I said and she turned
“Oh hello, there can I help you?”
“Yes is this an orphanage?”
“Oh no, this is the school house. But if you need a place to stay I could help you with that”
“Really!” I coughed “Sorry, thank you. I just moved here with my little sister,” I gestured over to Puzzle who was still sitting.
“Oh wonderful. I believe there is a free house about two blocks that way” she pointed toward a regular looking house, but that was fine.
“Thank you ma’am” I said and went over to collect my sister when she called back to me,
“The school is free if you want to enroll her!”
I thought about it “I’ll think about it!” I called back. I turned back to Puzzle "Come on my little filly there is a free house near here”
She smiled and we started to walk.
(At the House)
“Wow its bigger than our apartment” she said once we stepped inside. It was large, and very well-kept, as if the pony who lived here just moved out. It was two stories, it had a kitchen, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, and even a big backyard.
“It’s wonderful! I am surprised it was free.” I said walking up the stairs, slowly just in case. When I made it up safely I called Puzzle “Come on up here and pick a room.” She was up here in two seconds flat.
“Ok” and she walked down the hallway.
I chose the bedroom nearest the stairs. When I walked in, it took my breath away. Now being from Trottingham, a lot of thinks seem glamorous to me. Now this room was small, but that was fine, it had a bed right up next to the window, which overlooked town square, a desk across from the bed, in between the bed and desk was a closet. This room was perfect for me. I needed a good paint job, the whole house did, but I found as cozy as my old home.
As I was unpacking Puzzle walked in grinning from ear to ear, guess she found her room. “What’s up?” I said ignoring my stuff for now.
“I found the perfect room for me,” She said with a bit of pep in her voice, “want to see?”
I nodded and followed her down the hall, I felt uncomfortable with her being so far away, but if she felt comfortable it was fine. She opened her door and she was right, this was her room.
The bed end was right next to the door, there was plenty of room on the floor for her toys, and a slanted ceiling for her drawings. There were two doors side by side, most likely her closet and bathroom. Her bag was spilled all over her bed and the closet door was cracked open.
We hugged each other and went to explore the other rooms. The other bedroom was the guest room, obviously. There was another bathroom in the middle of both our rooms. When we went down stairs we found that the kitchen needed to be stocked, and the other bathroom was under the stairs, weird. The rest of the house was bare and the backyard needed mowing.
“Ok lets unpack, then we can go shopping. Ok?”
“Ok sis” and she was off.
I laughed and walked up to me room again.
(Later)
We have been walking around for an hour and the only things we bought were a couple cans of food and a sewing machine. Everypony we met was very nice and they offered to show us around, but I declined. We signed Puzzle up for school, which she was very excited about, and I got a job at the library, the librarian was extremely nice. Once we made it back home Puzzle put away the food and I made a little sewing area in the part of the house that was probably meant to be a living room. The day was nice and tomorrow was Puzzles first day of school, she wanted me to be there with her so she didn’t feel scared. I agreed and she understood that I had to go to work a little while after I dropped her off. After I sewed a bit of her jacket, again, we went up to sleep for the first night in our new house.
