A Tale worth Telling (A series)

The three ponies passed through the streets, aware of the many eyes that peaked through closed curtains.

"So, why is it you moved here Lemonberry? If you don't mind me asking" Siri asked

"Oh, little this and that's" Lemonberry said dismissively. An owl hooted, causing her to jump suddenly, "well-uh I suppose it was a matter of convenience. I never really fit in with large crowds and my bits couldn't quit carry a living anywhere else. It worked out in the end, despite the towns kind neighbors...hehe."

A market place came into view, a typical resemblance of food stands but lacking everything that a decent food stand required; sells ponies, and food. An old stallion did appear behind one particularly run down tomato stand but a few muffled complaints in his part made approaching him seem rather unappealing at the moment. After that little unpleasant encounter the group found themselves in front of a pawn shop, whom to Siri and ______'s surprise had candle light glowing from within and a door sign that read; OPEN.

"Here it is, the most likely place in Hollowshades to have relevant information about a tribe from two decades ago. Could you explain to me again why you need this?" Lemonberry inquired

"Well, the pony whom informed me about my past said that he knew of the tribes trade system which often involved jewelry or carvings made by the women on board, he said that if I could find one of those things there might be a lead to more information. I heard that hollowshades has the oldest archive of valuables in Equestria...also making it the most luring place for thieves." Siri said "That is why  its residents prefer to stay indoors and don't like to socialize with strangers."

"Oh!" Lemonberry began to understand the communities reproach at her arrival and that her persona was perhaps not their center motive.

They enter the shop, wooden boards creaking under their hooves. Piles upon piles of objects lay stacked in no particular order throughout the room. In a moment a stallion approaches from the back of the store.

"Hello travelers, could I assist you in anything?" he examined them with small yellow-tinted spectacles

"Yes, we are looking for anything that might have come from a gyspy tribe from a few descades ago." Siri stood front

"Hmm, well there where plenty of tribes in Equestria's history. You might want to be a bit more specific to shorten your search."

Siri frowned.

"Didn't he mention the tribe's route often stayed in the southern areas of Equestria?" _____ asked

"Yes, he did!" Siri seemed excited at the reminder.

"That does shorten the list a bit. Southern Equestria you say? That covers a good section of appaloosa and machintosh hills if I recall correctly....yes, I might have what you are looking for."

The shop keeper lead them past several shelves, stopping next to the wall. He pointed  at a few boxes placed across the floor and several accessories hanging on the wall.

"This is all I have of that sort. Most items i'm afraid are in bad and weathered condition so I would recommend handling them with care." He smiled a bit "You break it you buy it. Come to the counter once you've found what your looking for, good luck." and with that the pony walked away to leave them with their search.

"We better get to it then, tell me if you find anything that might lead us somewhere...anything with writing or symbols of some kind that might mean something." Siri nodded to the others, a hint of determination in her eyes.

After a grinding hour or so all five boxes had been searched and every piece of jewelry examined. Siri looked heart broken.

"We must have missed something...maybe we overlooked a detail or something." she furrowed her brows "We'll look again, there has to be something."

Another hour flew by and just before the quarter _____ exclaimed from behind a pile of dusty bottles.

"I ink I fnd shomething!" _____ grinned as he walked towards the mares. In his mouth was a bottle of sand. Siri raised her eyebrow skeptically.

He grabbed the bottles with his hoof and pulled the plug off with his mouth. He began to poor the orange sand out of the bottle.

"Hey! Were going to have to clean that!" Lemonberry protested

"Sorry, but I had to" he said, the last bit of sand spilling onto the ground and a small parchment landed atop the sand pile." I noticed this at the bottom of the bottle" he grabbed the paper grinning.

Siri gasped, grinning excitedly before running over the sand and embracing him in a hug. They laughed and Siri quickly looked over the parchment herself. "Oh, this is it! It has to be, thank you!" she lightly kissed him in the cheek, causing him to blush slightly.

Lemonberry looked dumb folded before mentally face-hoofing herself. It made sense, they where a couple. She had concluded they where siblings, and how awkward would mentioning it have been? She couldn't help but giggle however, the ponies infectious happiness rubbing off on her. "Well, what does it say?" she asked getting excited herself.

"I can't say exactly, it's written in an Indian tongue. But that's nothing a little drinking can't fix." Siri grinned from ear to ear

"That's great- wait, drinking?" Lemonberry asked

"I'll explain it later." Siri assured her, glancing at ______ who nodded in  understanding. "We better go pay, and uh...explain the mess."

They looked back at the sand that now spread the floor in a very messy pile.

The pair walked towards the front counter, Lemonberry left behind when a certain object caught her eye. She approached it, a small wooden elephant carving standing above the corner table. It seemed so insignificant yet its shape and detailed back reminded her an awful lot of something...she just couldn't quit figure out what.

Intermission

Outside the sky was tinted grey, dead trees could be seen from far away and even the rolling hills had nothing but dry lifeless grass covering them for miles

.

Lemonberry frowned at the sight her window offered, feeling strange and angry. It was an ugly view, from within an ugly old house.  Weeks had gone by inside the manor and nothing interesting ever happened. She was alone most of the time, wondering around aimlessly. The servants usually ignored her, which would take time to get used to. She felt bitter in their presence, in India the servants had never ignored her and had tended to her every need. Now everyone just minded their own business and expected her to do everything on her own.

She hated that, she hated being ignored. In an odd train of thought she began to wonder if it had really been any different before. Her Servants had never really cared for her, just cared to her, Cared her in a most foreign way. She hadn’t even known them well enough to miss them. She perhaps missed her nanny but that was only because the old women had read to her over the years, always willing to read any book Lemonberry willed for.

Her parents hardly ever showed their faces, more then what could be said of her so called uncle. She tried to remember their faces, her father’s slick hair and long beard, her mother’s mystical eyes that looked distant yet focused.  Lemonberry realized she would never see them again, it was strange. She thought about what Madame had said but Lemonberry couldn’t mourn her parents the way she supposed it was to be done. There was no emotion, just numbness and the manors hollow echoes that compared to the strangeness inside her.

After a while she began to bore of her thoughts and went out her bedroom to wander around the house like other days. She attempted to open doors as she went but most would not budge. The ones that did open had nothing but boring bedrooms or studies. She eventually ended up in the east wing, where most things seemed older than the rest. Everything was faded, cobwebs covering corners and furniture. The sight intrigued her; she looked out a broken window where rays of sun floated dust upon the red carpet.

A bit further was a wooden door with peeling white paint. She approached it, touching the designs on it and stepped back when it easily opened forward. She stepped into the room. It fashioned as a room but lacked a bed which struck Lemonberry as odd. There was a desk drawer with a mirror, also faded in white. Atop it where abandoned perfumes, boxes and books of sorts, she brushed her hoof against them until her hoof met a small figurine. It was an elephant made of a fine marble, a detailed saddle on its back. Next to it was a photo of a mare smiling widely, wearing pearls around her neck and gazing with distant emerald eyes.