//-------------------------------------------------------// Happiness is stronger than blood. -by Sugarcube66- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Meeting //-------------------------------------------------------// Meeting Leaning on the wall, a filly stared at a curtain in a small window, her horn began glowing and she opened it and peered outside like she was waiting for something. Her coat of lavender standing out against the golden wall, and rose carpet. She snuggled into the white curtains, tearing up. She couldn't believe what was happening, she didn't want it to happen but she had to accept destiny no matter how hard it was too. She closed her sliver eyes, thinking about what had been told to her the night before. She slowly moved from the window, upon seeing a pony walk up to her home, with two things resting on it's back. From her position, the filly couldn't see what gender the pony was, despite already knowing that the pony was a mare, nor could she tell what the objects were and she personally didn't want to know. Brushing a lavender hoof through her orange mane, the filly continued to think for a little while. ''...Why, daddy?....Why did you do this to me and mommy....'' The small, weak voice emitted from the filly's lips as her tears continued to form in her eyes, she hated it. She stumbled away from the window, after noticing that the mare was gone, and walked over to the long staircase and look into the hallway below from her chosen seat next to the balcony. She stared down, with a lack of interest in her eyes. She had expected the mare, but what she hadn't expected was the small pony that came with, a baby. The only babies that the filly had ever seen was literally herself and her parents in family albums. She noticed they were speaking and choose to listen into their conversation, trying to catch all of it into her small ears. ''How's your daughter taking it, Quartz?'' asked the mare, to the stallion that stood in the room. ''Well, when I told her last night, she seem pretty shocked and wary but she'll get over it. What about the little one here?'' asked Quartz, the lilac filly's father. The filly looked carefully in her father's line of vision, seeing that he was staring at the foal. She decided to simply take in the foal's appearance and saw a cream filly with a white mane and tail. She couldn't see the filly's eyes from the distance she was away from the infant. She did however think that purple would be a nice color for those eyes. She then saw then resting under the filly's mane was a pair of beautiful creamy white wings. White? White wings were common in Equestria but only when attached to a white body. To have wings of a different color to the body was weird to say the least. ''....Well, um....About that.'' mumbled the mare, like she had forgotten to say something to Quartz. ''My daughter isn't a infant.'' 'What' was what the filly wanted to scream out loud. How in Equestria did the mare think that her daughter wasn't a infant, how old was she actually thinking. It didn't make sense, but before she blew her cover, her father stepped in with the question. ''If she's not a baby, how old is she and how is she that small?'' ''She's only seven years old, but has seen things that most fillies shouldn't. And as for why she looks to be a foal, well I took her to the hospital a few weeks ago and they diagnosed her with a growth disorder that forces her body's age to go up very slowly. So well she may be in written and mental focus 7, her physically age is only of that of a 2 year old. Angel Dust has had problems in her genes since she was a baby so it's not much of a surprise.....more of a concern if anything.'' ''I see. Well, let do our best to raise her without her feeling pain anymore. Right, Golden Feather?'' ''Right. Dusty, come here please.'' The small filly didn't move but looked back at her mother for a moment. She didn't speak or anything, simply got to her hooves and slowly and obediently, walked over. She didn't say a word, and look at her mother with sad purple eyes. As soon as she was standing just in front of her mother did words come out. ''Yes, mother?'' ''Sweetie, I have to go back to our old house for a little bit so stay here with your new daddy for me. Just for a few days, alright? You can also meet your sister that way.'' Angel Dust nodded, cautiously as she glanced at the balcony. The filly's eyes focused and she noticed the lilac filly sat behind the bars. She didn't point her out however, much to the lilac filly's surprise, and simply stayed quiet. The filly gritted her teeth a little, not because she wasn't pointed out but because of the entire situation. 'I hate this....papa, you told mama that you wouldn't remarry but you betray her and choose to marry again. And now you expect me to get along with a sister, which I didn't even know about till today and to top it all off, she's a 'false foal'!?' She didn't get to continue thinking, when a call was made out. ''Ribbon Song, I need you to come downstairs if you will.'' It was her father, and she had nothing to do but obey. She wasn't as willing as the other filly to commands like this, but she had no other choose. In this house, it was father's rules and that was that. ''Yes father.'' said the filly, as she came out of hiding and walked slowly down the huge stairs. She made it to the bottom and walked over to her father and apparently new mother and sister. ''So, your the famous Ribbon Song that I been hearing about. When your father told me that you were ten years old, I wasn't expected such a mature, little filly.'' said Golden Feather, with a smile. She glanced down at Angel Dust. ''Sweetie, introduce yourself to her after me, would you? My name is Golden Feather and in a few weeks time, I'll be your step-mom.'' ''.....Angel Dust....n-nice to m-meet you...'' The filly's voice wasn't calm or anything, she was definitely frighten by Ribbon's harsh glare. She didn't know what to do, she was obedient because she was scared of a consequences despite knowing her mother would never, in a million years, harm her in any way or form. 'Father, are you really sure about raising this foal? She's such a pushover!' cried Ribbon, internally. She kept her calm and collect expression though and introduced herself, with a harsh tone. ''My name is Ribbon Song, ten years old and I guess I'll be your older sister, just don't call me 'sis' or anything other then my full name.'' The meeting ended with that, awkward as hell with the younger sister nervous and the older sister intimidating. The parents were even awkward to the point that they were actually worried that this wouldn't work out. Angel simply weakly stared at her older step-sister, worried if this was how is was always going to be. Author's Note By the way, just because Ribbon Song is leading her doesn't mean she is the main character, Angel Dust is by default. I prefer her, she was the original OC for this story before I changed my mind. By the way, just to ask. Should this be either a simply sibling relationship story or a pseudo-incest, love story? Just asking. //-------------------------------------------------------// Corridor //-------------------------------------------------------// Corridor Ribbon continued to glare down at her new younger sister, grumbling in a harsh, irritated voice, unable to believe all of this. Angel, however, looked up at her mom worriedly yet still didn't say anything. Ribbon frowned, the filly was too quiet for well...a filly. 'What a goody little two hooves....mommy's little girl, and a false foal. Could this be any worse?' ''Ribbon, will you take little Angel to your room to get to know each other.'' said her father, it wasn't a request. It was a command and not one she particular liked. She knew not to disobey her father, nor would she ever want to. She adored and respected her father, and hated how he had the gut to remarry after her mother's premature death. 'Apparently, it can....I knew that I shouldn't have said that' thought the filly, with a big frown on her face. She glared down at the 'older than she looks' filly that rested in front of her. ''Come along then....'' she muttered, before silently adding the last bit. ''I'd rather not get in trouble...'' Angel didn't answer, worried about how she was meant to get along with Ribbon. She followed after the filly, thinking to herself about Ribbon and everything else. It was obvious that the older filly didn't care about her one bit and she didn't want to be a home with somepony who didn't like her. 'Not...again...please not again....' Ribbon looked at the filly for a little while, having spotted a cutie mark on the filly's hip. She didn't believe the filly's mother at first about Angel's 'illness' or whatever but seeing a cutie mark on a foal's body made her realize it. She stared at the cutie mark for a bit, trying to figure out what it meant. It was a wing with dust particles floating off it, went with her name she guessed. It was similar to how her cutie mark, a ribbon surrounded by various notes fitted her name. ''Aren't you going to say anything?'' grumbled Ribbon, from in front of her. As she stared at the filly, she noticed that the pegasus's wings weren't actually joined to her back like the wings of a pegasus are meant to be. In fact, they looked like angel wings, like the ones she had seen on Princess Twilight's daughter's back, though they were linked to the back. Also, she noticed a almost blankness in the filly's eyes like she had seen something she didn't want to in her past. No response came from the smaller filly. Ribbon got frustrated, turned around, with a heavy, big glare on her purple features. ''How the hell am I meant to get along with a filly who won't even speak. Now stop being silent and speak, for Celestia's buckin' sake. Freakin' cat got your tongue or something, cause that what it feels like!'' Angel whimpered under the glare and shout, as blurred out, black and white images filled her mind. Many having her, in a even smaller body trying to keep other fillies around her only to have them shun her and call her a 'freak' and a 'false foal' though their voices were obscured but lip movements made it obvious what they were saying. The memories plagued the young fillies mind promoting tears to flood her eyes, as a small whimper came from her cream lips as her facial skin brightened to a sickening white. ''....N-not...again....'' Ribbon blinked and stepped back a bit, obviously surprised by the weak cry coming from the 'mute'. She stared at the filly, with shock in her eyes and just the quiver of worry and concern. After all, the filly looked like she was about to faint. Angel continued to sway but she gained a bit of weak control, panting heavily. She continued to speak, in a small, desperate voice. ''....D-don't......hurt me....please......n-not again....p-please.'' After that small voice whimpered out, the filly feel to the ground in a strong thud. Despite not wanting to care, the scene was in slow motion for Ribbon as she watched the filly fall into the faint. She ran over to tiny foal and picked her up, looking down at her worriedly. Had she taken it too far, or was it something else? Author's Note Sorry about the short chapter, there wasn't much to go into this chapter but I tried to get it as long as possible. By the way, 'Twilight's daughter'. If you read my story 'Angel' then you should know who I mean by that phrase. Cause it is Timid Butterfly/Angel Wings. //-------------------------------------------------------// Worry and dreams //-------------------------------------------------------// Worry and dreams Ribbon held the small filly close for a moment or two, trying to think of what to do. She had just watched her faint, right? She stared down at the filly's closed eyes, imaging those purple eyes that would be looking up at her if they were opened. Those eyes would shimmer, brightly as a small smile appeared on her mental image of Angel. The mental image moving up and lips almost crashed. She blushed, shaking her head upon realizing her thoughts were messed up. She moved to her hooves, keeping her 'foal' sister in her hooves. She ran to her bedroom, opening the door as quickly as possible with one hoof. She looked around the room, it looked like something out of a story. Beautiful was the only word to describe it, the rich colors of sliver and golden clashing against the white window fabric. It wasn't the best room in her opinion, but others would probably disagree but they didn't have to live in this very life for their entire life. Ribbon slowly put the filly on her bed, which was a creamy color that blended with the sleeping filly's coat. She pulled the blanket over her little sister with her sliver magical aura. The same aura turned off the light, and closed the curtain. Ribbon summoned a stool and sat down, leaning onto the bed. She used her magic again to summon a cloth to pull over the filly's head. As she watch Angel carefully, she noticed that the filly would cough uncontrollable everything now and again. It surprised her, maybe the filly's illness? She just didn't know, and that was what worried her. She was actually worried about the step-sister that she had never wanted in her life. If she had wanted a sibling, she wanted one that was blood related like her father but that was possible after her mother died and she didn't want a half-sibling. The entire thing made Ribbon snort, it was stupid but then again, she couldn't just leave the filly alone when she was clearly unconscious. It was immoral, inpony, to not help a unconscious filly. She summoned a bowl of water and soaked the cloth that she had summoned earlier before putting it back on Angel's head. She brush her hooves over the filly's pale features, as the filly began crying and squirming in her sleep. Obviously a nightmare, judging by the cold sweat that dripped from the filly's forehead. ''Wake up soon.....'' Angel's pov I looked around. The room was dark and spooky, nothing like the bright colors of my new home. It doesn't feel right, where am I. I sniffed around, trying to catch the scent of something. I caught the smell of dirty colt, not good. I remembered where I was, I was at the place of my worst nightmare. Ha, it's a dream, isn't it? Mommy already found me, so it must be a dream. I can't be here again, it's not right. It's just not right. I'm not...I'm not the kidnapped foal I was anymore! I'm not a orphan! Tears flooded my dream eyes, catching the attention of the colt sleeping on the top bunk. He looked over the side of his bunk and scowled at me. ''Would you should the buck up already, you bucking false foal.'' More tears filled my eyes as my memories returned, and I remembered why I was dreaming in the first place. I fainted, after big sis's yelling got my scared.....to the point that these memories had returned. Yeah, it's just a memory, just a dream but still. Why? Why must a dream of this horrible place. Mommy....Ribbon! Ribbon watched, wide eyes as Angel's eyes shot opened. The filly rose with a small scream start, cold sweat drenching her face as the tears swelled up in her purple eyes. Ribbon blinked shocked, as she looked at the crying filly. She was even more shocked when the filly hugged her, tightly, and began to openly sob into her shoulder. She didn't know what to do but gently rub the filly's back, mumbling. ''It's alright, what happened?'' ''......A...memory night...mare...'' cried the cream filly, into Ribbon's now soaked shoulder. ''....From the orphanage...'' Orphanage!? Ribbon stared at her sister with shock in her sliver eyes, the 'foal' was a orphan. But her relationship with her mother didn't appear to be adoptive and plus she looked identical to her mother, save her purple eyes. She didn't speak, just continued rubbing the filly's back, to keep her calm. ''.....I.....was shocked.....the room was dark....and the smell of foals....was hidous....but when....I began sobbing.......my bunk...m-mate.....yelled at me to....b-be.....quiet and.....he called me a false foal..........t-then I woke up....'' continued the crying filly, not calming down as she sobbed into the older filly's shoulder. Ribbon looked down, coming to understand that those memories must have been why Angel fainted in the first place. Her yell brought back those harsh memories and thus she fainted upon seeing them, as she was unable to even look of them again. Now she felt guilty, but she couldn't even say them, she didn't want to look stupid. What was to happen now, were they meant to get along or not. It was so confusing, and frankly annoying. It was all stupid and Ribbon hated it with her fiery passion. But her thoughts were blocked by the sobbing and mumbling of the 'false foal' in her hooves. ''Ribbon...don't....leave me or hate me....please........n-not again...'' That single line broke Ribbon's heart, such a young filly having to put up with so much pain must be frustrating for both foal and parent, now she felt awfully sorry but she just didn't know what to do anymore. She never wanted a sister but she didn't want to leave Angel either, it was all conflicting! Author's Note Ribbon a bit of a pervert apparently. She's ten, she can't control who she falls for even if it's her own step-sister. Yes, this will be a incest-romance. Yay.... //-------------------------------------------------------// Fear. //-------------------------------------------------------// Fear. A few weeks had passed since Angel had collapsed, her mother had returned with various items from their old home as Autumn's last weeks began to draw to a closing. Only Ribbon knew about the filly fainting, Angel had made her promise not to tell anypony about it because she was afraid of worrying them. It just made the filly worry instead, why didn't Angel want her to tell? Angel thought about what Ribbon must be thinking, sighing to herself. She was walking through on the the mansion's long corridors to her now shared bedroom with Ribbon, on her back rested a box of various of her clothes and a couple of other objects from her past. The filly glanced into the box. Inside rested a pile of clothing of all colors, she loved to dress up and act fancy when she wasn't. Resting on top of the pile was a pink and purple swirled yo-yo. She smiled, picking the yo-yo up and began playing with it. She giggled when she made it go 'walkies', she put it back and kept looking. A box with writing rested next to the yo-yo, the writing said 'Rock and leaf collection'. She smiled, thinking back to the months following her mother finding her from the orphanage and how she and her father used to collect rocks and leaves and bring them back to the house. Lastly, covered by a cloth, was a black object. Angel gulped, trying to pick it up. When she finally managed it, images of blood and gore filled her minds. And with a wounded pegasus stallion showing up in her mind, she let out a scream and collapsed yet managed to stay conscious while the object was set flying out of it's cloth and revealing it to be a toy gun. She panted, tears filled her eyes as a hoof covered her mouth. She stared at the toy in fright, like it was trying to hurt her. She eventually went so white that she threw up, right on her hoof and so the sick flowed down her hoof, uncontrollable. The filly cried silently, throwing up some more and more. Ribbon, who had heard the scream from the back garden, came upstairs. Her neck muffled by a scarf even though it wasn't cold outside, the filly looked very surprised. But that simple face changed into utter horror when she noticed the sick on Angel's hoof and on the floor, but she wasn't fussed about the floor. No. Not one bit did she care about the floor, she cared more about the sister she never wanted then a ugly carpet. She rushed to the cream filly's side, trying to help her onto her hooves. ''Angel, you alright? Why did you let out that scream?'' Her questions went unanswered, the pegasus just couldn't find it possible to speak. But instead of getting a vocal reply, Ribbon say the toy gun on the floor. At first, she was simply surprised to see a toy so she picked it up and was surprised when Angel let out a another, yet less vocal, scream and threw up even more. Ribbon wasted no more time in getting the filly and the box, which had spilled over the floor, to their shared bedroom. The walk was only a few moments but for Ribbon, it actually felt like a eternity before she managed to lay Angel on her new bed. Worry filling her pale purple features as she watched the younger filly threw up again. She summoned a bucket and placed it next to Angel's bed. ''Here, if you need to throw up, use that. Want some water?'' Angel threw up once more, this time in the bucket, and simply stared at her step-sister before nodding, ever so slightly, but Ribbon caught it and prepared to leave to get the small filly a glass of water but a small, weak voice stopped her from leaving the room. ''...D-Don't l-leave me please.....big sis.'' Ribbon looked shocked, not because the filly had called her 'big sis', she did that constantly but because of the 'don't leave me' part, Angel actually wanted Ribbon to stay with her, despite the fact that Ribbon was mean to her. It was stupid, very stupid but Ribbon didn't mind. Not at all. She smiled, saying. ''I won't leave, don't worry.'' She summoned the glass of water, mainly to prove her point and helped Angel drink it by holding the glass in her magical auras as the filly drank. ''Now, can you tell me what happened. If you don't want to say, that's fine but I kinda want to hear.'' Angel coughed, when she first tried to speak but eventually managed on the second try. ''....I...wanted to see if I could....get over my trauma...'' ''Trauma, of what?'' ''....G-Guns...'' ''Why do you have a trauma of guns....I mean, why is that a trauma? Everypony's scared of guns'' ''....B-Because........I...c-can't h-hold them....without.....t-throwing up.....a-and s-screaming....'' mumbled Angel, before she threw up again. Sick pattered into the bucket, as the room made no other sound. ''......I.....Um....T-This fear...started when....I turned 5.......'' 2 years prior. Angel ran by a older stallion, a pegasus just like her and he processed her purple eyes. She was smiling brightly, despite her small size, which she didn't know was a illness back then. The stallion smiled back at her from his tall height. 'We're almost at the bank, sweetheart. We then can take out our money and get back to mommy in one piece.'' ''Okay, daddy.'' said Angel, in a cutesy voice. Her voice was peaceful and happy, not the shy, timid and obeying voice that she processed when she got older. The pair walked into the Ponyville bank, it wasn't very populated but it was pretty early in the morning. Angel's father smiled, turning back to her. ''Sit down over by the window, while I get this sorted with. Can you do that for me, Dusty?'' Angel nodded, giggling at her nickname. She ran over to sit by the window, peering out at unsuspecting passerbys. One of these ponies came towards the bank and walked inside. As he walked by her, he smiled yet it felt fake to Angel. Like he wasn't actually smiling, like he was forcing it or something. Her eyes peered at him, looking over his dark coat and hoodie and eventually spotted something silver and black, sparkling out of the hoodie. Next thing she knew, a scream was made as the stallion had picked up the sliver object and fired it at one of the workers. Everypony tried to run as Angel realized what the object was, it was a gun. Her father had told her about them, and how they were really dangerous and made for evil uses. She ran behind her father, trying to hide herself. Shy away from the stallion, hoping that her father would help her which she knew he would after all, he was blood related to her. ''...Daddy....h-he has....a g-gun....What are you going to do, daddy?'' ''Run, Dusty. Get out of here!'' She didn't refuse to run but the loud bang of the gun rang through her ears, deafening her as the bullet slammed into her back leg. A ear piercing scream came from her small mouth as she landed on the floor, tumbling forward and slamming her head on the wall. Her father was wide eyed as he glared at the stallion. ''What do you want?'' ''All I want is money. Money, money and more money! But I also want to get it through killing and if that means killing a very small foal then I'd do it. After all, she can't be more then 1 and a half years old, it's not like much of her life has gone. Who knows, maybe her life with be shit and then she'll beg for death.'' Angel gritted her teeth, as her hearing came back enough to hear what he had said. But her vision was blurring so she couldn't see her well but one thing she hated was being called a foal, it wasn't fair. She was five after all, not a infant that everypony should babyfied and coo out but a almost school-aged filly. Despite the blur in her eyes, she got to her hooves, weakly because of the wound that was covered with thick, warm blood. She ran forward and slammed her body weight into the evil stallion, knocking him unbalanced and making him drop the gun. The filly grabbed the gun before he got it back and pulled the trigger, but it didn't just hit it's intended target. Two stallions feel to the ground, one of which was her father. The killer growled before falling unconscious as the filly passed him, crying her eyes out and ignoring all the pain that her leg gave her. ''Daddy! I didn't mean to, I thought it was what I should do! Stay with me, daddy. Your meant to see my first school day and give me a baby brother or sister.....'' Her father looked up at her, weakly. ''I'm so sorry, Dusty...but...I can't keep our promise.........'' He coughed up blood, as his speak became slurred. ''....W-Will you a-always think a-about me?'' ''Y-yes....but you meant to be with me!'' ''...I will be with you, even if you can't see me.....'' And they were his last words, before falling unconscious as his left breath left him. Eyes shut tight and totally dead. Angel teared up, as she wailed out all her emotions. All on-lockers could do was stare at the filly, who had just killed the killer but had also killed her own father. They all felt sorry for her, but the filly didn't even notice and probably didn't care about it. ''....A-After that.....I wandered around....unable to go home......I just couldn't.....but e-eventually.....m-mother....found me.....And....I had to tell her what happened. I'm just a burden, who doesn't need to exist!'' cried the filly, tears flooded her eyes after she recounted her tale. One that she didn't want her have to think about again. She just wanted to disappear, wanted Ribbon to agree with her, waiting for something but when something happened, it was expected. A pair of hooves wrapped around her tightly. At first, she tried to struggle away but Ribbon held her tightly to her, before saying. ''You aren't a burden, your mother loves you. Never believe that she hates you, I don't see it. She does everything for you, and not because she obliged to but because she loves you, like any mother should.'' ''B-But.....'' ''No! You are not a burden, I won't allow it. Never, you definitely not a burden and you'll never be. Little sis.'' Angel seized her argument and closed her eyes, falling asleep in her sister's warm embrace. It felt relaxing and she felt save within those kind, purple hooves, hooves that she now knew would never hurt her. Ribbon continued the embrace, even after figuring out that Angel was asleep but eventually she broke apart from the filly. Resting the small pegasus's head on the blue pillow, Ribbon smiled and leaned in. Lips met, but only for a moment and Ribbon acted like nothing had happened. She then kissed the filly's forehead, whispering ''Goodnight...'' Before getting up and switching the light off, turning back one more time to look at the filly. The small that was placed on the foal's lips made Ribbon happy and peaceful, as she whispered out a few words. ''You're definitely not a burden. And you never will, not on may watch.'' Author's Note This chapter by the way was meant to be later in the story, but I pushed it forward to add tension about poor Angel's trauma. And it obvious, I need to update the tags! //-------------------------------------------------------// Memories //-------------------------------------------------------// Memories The day went on, Ribbon tried to act as normally as possible to her parents. The filly stumbled outside, into the cold weather. Scarf blowing around as the wind caved in. She looked at the garden, it was massive but what do you expect from a rich family such as hers. The problem was that she rarely got to see it, as she was almost always banned from going outside. The filly stared, in the middle of the massive garden was a huge tree, which looked beautiful. The top leaves were still green, as they were still getting the sun's light for photosynthesis, but the further down the tree, the darker the leaves became and the bottom most leaves had all ready fallen on the grassy floor. Seating a few meters for the tree was a heart-shaped flowerbed, filled with periwinkles and morning glories but most of the latter had already died. As a mole popped up out of the grass, tears filled Ribbon's eyes as she stared at what laid at the foot of the tree, a grave stone. What was written broke her heart. Here lies Sliver Bow. A great daughter, wife and mother. Will be loved always. ''Mommy.......H-how have you been.'' mumbled Ribbon, as she spoke to her mother's grave like her mother was there in front of her. ''I'm been doing fine, well...almost. You see, daddy...well, he betrayed you, mommy. He feel for another mare, called Golden Feather and she's not even a unicorn! Not...just that, but she came with a foal...well I say foal, she's only three years younger then me, she's called Angel Dust. I don't want her around, but I do at the same time. Mommy, tell me why I feel this way!'' The breeze flew by her, gently steeping across her lavender coat. Tears rolled down her cheeks, as she thought back to her one-sided kiss with Angel from earlier that day. She moved a hoof to her lips, thinking. 'Why....Why did I even do that. Isn't that wrong? Why the hell did I do that to my own sister...well step-sister....it's immoral but....it felt nice...' The filly glanced back at her mother's grave, trying to clear her mind of those thoughts. More tears rolled down her cheek as she remembered her mom's last words to her 'Never forget, I love you and your father very much but I just can't hold on any longer.' Those words had been hard for to listen to, and with that even more tears rolled down her cheek, as she was being unknowingly watched from a nearby window. Angel had managed to stumble out of bed, wanting to help in anyway she could. She didn't want to be a burden, despite believing that she was one. She walked into the corridor, as wind peek in through the open window next to her, bring with it a shallow cry. Angel grew curious as she stumbled, still weak from being sick, over to the window. She peered out, surprised upon the sight of the back garden. She hadn't been able to see it yet, as she was forbidden to go outside at the risk of her health. The garden was definitely a sight, the main image of it was the multicolored tree that stood tall in the center. She smiled, but then it faded when she saw Ribbon out there. ''Why is....big sis...out there?'' She mumbled, trying to keep calm. She pointed her ears to hear more, listening into Ribbon's conversation with her dead mother. Tears rolled down her own eyes, when she realized what her mother and new father had done by marrying. ''...This is my fault....mother must have married him to give me....a father......but, that hurt Ribbon......I'm so sorry, Ribbon.'' The filly turned away from the window and bolted downstairs, passing by one of the maids of the household. The mare peered at her with worry and surprise filling her eyes, and concern rushing through upon seeing the obvious tears rolling down the filly's cheeks. ''My miss, what in the world is the matter?'' ''...It's all my fault...'' mumbled out Angel, as she pushed open the door. She began flapping her wings and flew away, tears falling behind her as she flew. After the short flight, Angel landed, panting heavier. Sweat rolled off her face, as coughs erupted from her mouth. The filly coughed into her hooves and got a horrid surprise waiting for her, as she spotted blood resting on her cream hoof. An image of her dead father, covered with thick blood coming from the gun shot wound on it's chest filled her mind. Coughs sputtered, as blood mixed with sick covered the nearby area. Laughter filled the air soon after, as a gang of black figures stroll into the alleyway. Angel managed to stop heaving and look behind her, to see the large face of a dark coated stallion. The face processed a evil grin and the smell was horrible. Angel jumped back, hitting her head hard on the stone wall. She coughed up more blood, as her vision blurred out but her hearing stayed in tacked. ''Look what we found here, boys. A little cockroach in our beautiful alleyway. Should we send it packing or have some fun first. What do you say to that, boys?'' said the stallion, who was obviously the leader. ''Have fun!'' came a cheering yells of the gang members. ''Well then, let's have our fun.'' He grinned again, frightening the filly as her vision came back. Laughter erupted from his lips as he called out to her. ''Are you ready for a ride, little filly?'' Author's Note This was meant to be short by the way, to make it easier for me for the next chapter. I could have made it longer but I want to make the number of words neat....lol... //-------------------------------------------------------// Late //-------------------------------------------------------// Late 20 minutes passed since Angel had ran out of the home, and Ribbon was running around frantically. She was surprised when she didn't see the filly in bed, but as she progressively lost sight of the filly she grew severely worried. The filly eventually made it back to the main hall where she and Angel first met. She looked around, for any sigh of those vibrant eyes when instead of seeing purple, she saw pink and they were atop of a cream coat. Ribbon blinked, looking at who she was staring at only to see Golden Feather, Angel's mother. The mare was smiling brightly, as if nothing was wrong. ''Ah...good day, Mrs Feather....No, that's not it. Feather, A-Angel, she's missing. She's nowhere in the house, not a sigh of her anywhere and it's worrying me!'' ''Nowhere in the house? Did you do something to her to made her upset!?'' said Golden Feather, seriously. ''No...not that I know of. U-Unless....she saw me outside, near my mommy's grave........she's the type, who would believe that it was her fault right?'' ''You're definitely right....But, that's what worrying me now. She could have left the house, is the front door unlocked!?'' Ribbon blinked for a moment, before hurrying over to the door and pushing on it, as hard as she could muster. It was open as it flung open as soon as she added enough strength. Now she was terrified, if Angel had really left the house, she could literally be anywhere as the world outside was massive. ''..She could be anywhere...'' ''That's why we should split up. I'll go east when we get to the fork in the road at the bottom of the stairs and you take west. Report back to the house if you don't find her but if you do, just bring her back as quickly as possible. She's not safe outside, not with her illness taking over her body...'' While Golden never explained why it would be unsafe, Ribbon still got increasing worried for her sister and secret love. She instantly ran and turned right, leaving Golden at the door. The filly didn't even care, she needed to find Angel before something bad happened. Sweat rolled down her face, as her paranoia began to take the best of her. She bolted all over the place, till a scream and light sobbing filled her ears. The horrible 'music' sounded just like...Angel. She instantly bolted in the direction of the sounds and came across a alleyway, bolting into it as soon as she got close. The cries and screams grew more intense the closer she got. When she finally got to the center of the alleyway, her eyes widened. Her sister was there, curled up on the floor, with a gun pointing straight at her. The gun of which was wrapped in a red glow and was being held by a unicorn stallion, who was smirking. The filly, herself, was shaking and crying. Her common sense was lost as she let out a war cry as she ran and kicked the stallion straight in the face, knocking him back. She stood up straight and glared down at the stallion and the gun, which rested a few feet from him and in reach of his twitching hoof. ''Don't even pull that trigger, you bastard! If you even dare, then I'll kill you straight here, right now.'' The stallion smirked at first, upon seeing the almost teen filly, before noticing the dark look on her face and he figured out that the filly must have not been right in her head. He freaked, glancing back at his gang. ''Let's got out of here, we had our fun for today. It's pointless to resist and that filly is scaring me....slightly.'' He picked up the gun with his magic, and ran away like a baby with his gang hot on his heels, the gang leader even let out a scream for his 'mommy'. Ribbon smirked a little, also she let out a small giggle, turning back to a still shaking Angel. She was shocked upon seeing the extent of the filly's pain. As she started her gaze at the filly's head, she saw that the filly's beautiful white hair was no more as it had been dyed to a rich blood red as the very blood that dyed it ran down the side of her head, the blood even covering the filly's left eye. Luckily, the eye was shut to avoid any pain though the pained expression that the filly processed meant that it was obviously not working. As Ribbon continued to gaze, she noticed that the filly's open eye was black and red with tears. As for the filly's face, it didn't fair much better as it was coated in bruises and obvious knife wounds. Ribbon was utterly shocked, especially as she stared down at the filly's black and blue coat. It was like non of that beautiful cream glow existed anymore and only black and blue existed, not a drop of cream anywhere. The knife wounds also didn't help as the blood that crept out dyed the filly's coat red. But even that wasn't the worst of it. The filly's legs were coated in blood, blood that Ribbon actually recognized, virgin blood and it didn't help that the very blood that coated the filly's legs was also dying the sandy floor behind her and dying the filly's tail. Ribbon covered her mouth to stop herself from vomiting, as she watched the filly's pained face and eyes close. The filly swayed and eventually collapsed into her own blood. The older filly gasped and instantly picked the filly up, shocked as hell as she looked down at those bruised features that were formally beautiful. ''Angel, wake up. Angel!'' A faint sound reached the filly's ears, breathing. Ribbon let out a small sigh of relief, but that relief ended as soon as it appeared as she had to get Angel home and checked on, immediately before more pain was done to her frail form.