A Tale worth Telling (A series)

~ Now, back to the real story

Tea was served; it’s a pity Lemon Berry never thought to ask about their taste in beverages. It seemed that in her day every pony loved tea.

“Uh, no thanks…I prefer gin” The stallion said politely.

I’m…not quit in the mood for tea either” Siri Flower agreed

“Oh, well-urr… more for me I suppose.” She laughed awkwardly

Lemon Berry cleared her throat, “well, what on Eques brought you to the scariest town in Equestria?” she almost giggled at the ridiculous thought before remembering where she stood.

“Well, you remember what I told you about my parents?” Siri explained further “There are a few things I haven’t figured out about my past and well, he had the idea that figuring out the full story might help me get over it.”

Lemon Berry was quit, that had been a very logical answer. When you have a problem you find a way to solve it. That is how practical ponies like Siri Flower solved their problem. Of course, it made sense. So, why hadn’t she tried it?

“Um…Lemon Berry” Siri brought back her attention, “Would you be willing to join us? I figured since the last time we met that you might be willing to help, that is if we could find you.”  She smirked “the residents here aren’t very helpful when it comes to directions.”

“No kidding” Lemon Berry scoffed before smiling, “I’d be happy to help, just tell me where to start.”

~ This again, I don’t even know what it’s doing here.

      The carriage shifted violently as they steered up the rocky mountain. Lemon Berry didn’t flinch, allowing the cart to sway her like a tidal wave. She stared at the pony in front of her, an aged mare with thousands of wrinkles hidden behind her mask of makeup. She had a messy bun of curled brown hair on her head, and an ugly black dress. She was stitching some sort of apparel.

“It’s not polite to stare at adult ponies” The mare spoke harshly

“Sorry” Lemon Berry murmured starting at her hooves.

The mare sighed, “We’ll be arriving at the manor in a few minutes. You shall address me as Madame, the housekeeper”

“Ok, madame the housekeeper” Lemonberry smirked

Madame didn’t smile back, “Don’t play smart with me- and for goodness sake doesn’t Sadlearabia have courtesy for the dead? Where is your mourning gown? This simply won’t do.”

“What is a mourning gown?” Lemonberry asked curiously

“Well-a morning gown is…a morning gown” the mare fumbled as she squinted through her eye glasses at her stitched creation. It was an ugly grey. “A way to express your mourning of course, a black dress usually.”

It sounded silly to Lemonberry, “How long am I supposed to wear it?”

“Until the mourning process is over”

“How long is that?”

“Usually a few months, sometimes years…it depends on the pony mourning.”

“Why is that?”

“You ask too many question for a mare your age.” Madame continued to stare at her woven piece before setting it down in what looked like defeat.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lemonberry barked

“It's supposed to mean what it means.” She glanced at the scowling foal, “I don’t want to be an old hag Miss. Lemonberry. I am just looking out for your best interests.”

There was a long pause.

“Still, despite whatever might have been your traditions in Sadlearabia, you will escort a black dress in Talltale if I have any say in it.”

“You don’t.” Lemonberry dared

“Well as long as your uncle is away I do. He may own the manor but he put me in charge.” She said firmly “I don’t know what your parents did to deserve such a disagreeable foal such as yourself.”

Lemonberry clutched he teeth but remained quit. After a while she was calm enough to talk. “When will I see my uncle?”

“Not in some time. He is hardly ever home, always traveling about doing Celestia knows what.” She dug in her purse, pulling out a bag of oats. She offered some to Lemonberry but the filly reclined. She snacked on the bag as she continued to speak. “Lord doesn’t have much acquaintance in town. He tends to keep his business as far away from the manor as possible…no pony really knows why. After his wife, your aunt died he was never the same.”

“Who was my aunt?”

“A pretty thing, always bringing life into the old grey manor…there is no talk of her nowadays…especially not in front of Lord Raven, doing so would be a death wish.”

The carriage stopped to a halt, nearly throwing the filly forward but Madame halted her drop. “Please try to stay safe, Lord would not take kindly to me if something happened to you.”

They exited the carriage.

Lemonberry looked up at the huge stone house in front of her, its widows where like small dots spread throughout a vast mural. She had never seen anything like it.

They walked inside. Their coats where taken from what Lemonberry assumed to be the servants, “servant, I’m hungry”

The mare taking her coat looked at her funny before walking away without a response.

“Servant? My dear Ms. you’re going to have to help yourself around here. We work for Lordraven, not you.” Madame said as the mare grabbed her coat aswell. “Thank you Melinda, now go brew a pot of tea for our new guest.”

Lemonberry could almost be certain Madame’s cords where tangled. “But- you just…” she stomped in annoyance before settling down.

“Chipper! There you are!” Madame called out to another mare. “Please take Lemonberry to her room.”

“Come along miss” the maid said chipper-like before escorting her up a flight of stairs.

“If you’re not servants what are you?” Lemonberry asked

“That’s a good question! Clever aren’t you?” the mare tried to pick her cheek but she quickly dodged away. Chipper seemed disappointed but kept her spirt high” Well I’m a maid of sorts. Of course I do a lot of other things too. Sometimes there is so much work to do that I’m a baker, maid, and gardener all on the same day.” She giggled

“That wasn’t the question and I will still call you my servant.”

“Call me whatever you want miss!” she giggled again

Lemonberry rolled her eyes “You mentioned gardening, are there gardens around here?”

“Oh, yes! And they are the loveliest gardens you have ever laid your eyes on! Well- you will lay your eyes on.” She giggled once more before opening a single door lined up beside others inside a large hallway.

They entered the bedroom, a large grown-up’s bed in the middle, a round carpet covering the entire room, and a huge wardrobe against the east wall…she felt small and uncomfortable with it all.

“When will my furniture and clothes get here?”

“Furniture? Clothes? I’m afraid you’ll have to do with what is here miss.” Chipper opened the wooden wardrobe “but don’t fret, they are very nice clothes!”

“What?!” Lemonberry fumed, stomping beside her bed “I want my clothes and my stuff!”

“I’m afraid nothing survived the incident from what I’ve been told…” Chipper quickly added “These dresses can be yours however! They are very nice, I’m sure you will love them!”

“No! I WANT MY THINGS!” Lemonberry yelled, her face turning tomato red as she stomped on the floor, kicking and screaming.

“Oh please miss, quit down before some pony hears you!” Chipper says desperately

Lemonberry jumped on the bed, kicking the enormous pillows, but this barely made a dent in them. After a while she sank down in defeat, covering her face into a pillow. “I wrant my ings…why did they take them from me…” her words where partially blocked by the pillow and her sobs.

“I don’t know miss…but perhaps you’ll find you like it here. It’s very beautiful; I would have loved to live here when I was a filly.”

There is a long silence, then a knock on the door. Lemon hears the door open, Chipper walking, and then the door closing again.

Lemonberry looked up from the pillow, thinking Chipper had perhaps left and…perhaps because of her.

“Now miss, there is nothing like a cup of hot tea to sooth what aches you.” Chipper smiled warmly as she held up a tray of cookies and a pot of tea.

Lemonberry slowly climbed down from the bed before sitting down on a stool.

“Why tea?” she asked, mentally adding I said I was hungry.

“Well you can’t go wrong with it miss. Everybody likes tea.”