To Razz a Berry

Cherry Berry lay on her bed, trying to catch a few winks. It was no use. Cherry knew from experience that she would be sleepless for the next few days. She tossed and turned under the covers. Cherry sat up and tried getting off the bed, but was stopped by Cherry Fizzy.

“You need to rest,” he said plainly. Fizzy sat on cushioned chair next to the bed, his son was snoozing soundly on his lap.

“I'm not gonna get any sleep,” Cherry argued. “I need to do something.”

“You're gonna wear yourself out and then regret it after.”

Cherry Berry grunted and fell back onto the bed. She hated when he was right, but at the same time she liked that about him.

The mare shifted uncomfortably. She wanted to lie on her stomach, but the foal inside her wouldn't allow it. She ran a hoof through the fur on her belly. So many months had passed, it was almost time. She wished she could have the foal someplace else, but Fizzy wouldn't let her travel while she was expecting. Maybe Cherry used that as an excuse. She didn't really want to leave her hometown. Sure, she got married in Ponyville, but to live in a city afar off? Somewhere like Manehatten? Baltimare? She had been wanting to ask Fizzy about moving for a long time now, but she couldn't bring herself to ask him. Besides, if he thought it was really necessary, Fizzy would have brought it up.

Cherry turned over and looked at Fizzy. He was staring into space thinking of who knows what. Probably worrying about something. She thought back to when they had had their first foal. Fizzy became more and more restless as the months passed. Raising a child was hard on him. Cherry couldn't fathom how he was still sane. If they packed up and left, maybe Fizzy would sleep normally again.

Damnit! She cursed in her head. Had Fizzy wanted to move out this whole time? Had she been too busy with her own selfish desires that she hadn't asked Fizzy what he wanted?

Cherry noticed Fizzy looking into her eyes. She tried reading him. What was he feeling? Giant bags sagged under his eyes, his brow was furrowed, and his jaw was clenched, frowning slightly. How long had it been since she saw him relaxed and happy?

Mustering up courage, Cherry asked, “Fizzy?”

“Yes?”

Before she could say anything, the door burst open, revealing a frantic Berryshine.

“We have to leave, now!” she shouted.

Cherry and Fizzy glanced at each other, then at her, puzzled.

“I'll explain on the way, okay?” She picked up the colt on Fizzy’s lap and placed him on her back. Fizzy helped Cherry off the bed. Berry immediately pushed Cherry's rump with her head out the door.

The three trotted outside. Celestia's sun was setting in the horizon. Berryshine lead them through town, not slowing down or saying a word. Most ponies were already in their homes or on their way to the local pub. Berry would join them most days, but not today it seemed. Fizzy stayed very close to Cherry.

They had traveled through the majority of Dodge Junction when Fizzy had enough. He stopped and yelled at Berry.

“Well, are you gonna tell us or what!?” He didn't want to deal with any of Berry’s bullshit.

Berry turned to him and sighed impatiently.

Cherry started flicking her tail, being uneasy just standing still.

“We're almost there.” She wasn't planning on explaining anything.

“We're not moving ‘til you tell us what's going on.” fizzy stomped his hoof on the dry ground.

Cherry began sweating.

“Don't do this, Fizzy. Just come.” Berry was growing angry.

“No one's going anywhere ‘til you spill it!”

Berry stepped toward him. “Could you get off your damn pedestal!” she screamed, frustrated. “I can't tell you right now!”

“What've you done now!?” Fizzy growled, inches from her muzzle. “What'd you do that you have to drag me and Cherry into it!? She should be in bed right now!”

Cherry opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it and paced back and forth, visibly uncomfortable.

Berry was as red as a cherry, but didn't reply.

“I'm not gonna keep letting you make Cherry fix your problems!” Fizzy turned to Cherry.

“You have to come with me! You don't understand, we have to go now!”

Fizzy ignored her. Berry was about to say something else, but finally noticed Cherry’s strange behavior.

“What's wrong?” Fizzy inquired with a concerned tone.

“Nothing!” Cherry lied. She darted her eyes away from his gaze.

“It's happening, isn't it?” his voice cracked. He didn't let her answer. “We need to see the doctor.”

“No, really, I'm fine!”

Fizzy dismissed her protests.

“You can't!” Berry didn't know what else to say to get him to stop. “I told!” she cried.

Fizzy stopped dead in his tracks. His ears twitched. “What!?”

Berry shut her eyes in pain. “I told Orchard about you two,” she muttered, gritting her teeth.

Fizzy was utterly speechless. He couldn't choke out a word.

“Just come with me and get on the train before Jubilee lynches the three of us.” Berry didn't wait for them and went ahead.

Cherry looked at Fizzy. He was unable to keep any of his emotions in check. Anger, frustration, sadness, shock, all strewn across his face. She had never seen him like this before, he was always so sure of himself. Cherry did the only thing she could think of. She hugged him, squeezing tightly. He hesitated before returning the gesture.

“I guess...we don't have a choice,” Cherry sniffed.

It was probably better this way. Who knows how long they would've put it off before going through with actually moving out. Now leaving was the only option. Their foals could finally grow up under better circumstances. Although, nothing could change the fact that they were leaving their home. The place they were born and raised, and shared so many memories.

“Can we really do it?” Cherry asked with a sob. “Just leave behind everything and start fresh?”

Fizzy pulled out of the hug and kissed her on the forehead. “We need to be strong.” He nuzzled her lovingly. “We chose this, so we're seeing it to the end.”

He was right, they had already decided this years ago.

Fizzy wiped the tears from her face. Cherry could've stared at him all day. As long as he was there with her, she could go to the ends of Equestria.

They hurried to the station. Once she saw them, Berry tossed the conductor a bag of bits.

“There's your damn bits, now get us out of here,” she snapped.

“Alright, alright!” The stallion galloped to the front of the train.

Cherry was a little annoyed as Berry and Fizzy helped her get on the train. She wasn't dying and desperately needed them to help. She sat across from her snoring colt.

“Are you good? Do you need anything?” Fizzy inquired.

“Yes, yes, I'm okay."

He kept insisting if she was well or if she needed anything until she wasn't sure if she really was okay. Cherry scolded him for making her feel insecure. He apologized several times, but his giggling didn't prove that he really was sorry. Cherry rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh. He then went to close the train car door.

She had the biggest urge to start moving around, but she knew Fizzy wouldn't like that, so she settled on squirming in her seat and flicking her tail.

Cherry glanced over at Berry. She grabbed a foal from a crib and cuddled the foal in her fore legs. It didn't look like her coltfriend was coming. She had heard Berry was having problems with him ever since their foal had been born. Cherry wished she could have been there for her, but Fizzy had confined Cherry to her room. She wanted to ask her about it, but wasn't sure what to say.

Cherry's son nudged her to get her attention.

“Mommy? Where are we going?” he wondered, followed by a long yawn.

“Uh…” she fumbled, trying to find what to say. “We're going to live somewhere else.” No point in lying.

“But I don't wanna leave,” his face dropped. “I don't wanna leave my friends.”

“You can always make new friends.” He wasn't happy with that response. “A-and...uh...oh! You'll get to live with daddy!”

The little colt lit up. “With daddy? Really?” Cherry nodded. “But what if he doesn't like me?” Fear crushed his demeanor.

She chuckled. “He already loves you dearly.” She rubbed her nose with his and ruffled the colt's mane. He giggled from the tickling sensation. The colt wore a big grin and went back to his seat.

Cherry scoured the seats for Berry and Fizzy, but they weren't anywhere to be found. She headed to the still open door. She found them outside, with the rest of the population of Dodge Junction.

All eyes fell on Cherry except for Fizzy and Berry who were facing away from her.

“Cherry, dear, is this true?” Cherry Jubilee spoke for the whole town, holding a grim undertone, as opposed to her usually cheery voice. Something Cherry had never heard before.

The crowd didn't have pitchforks or torches, but you could practically see the intensity in the air.

Cherry took a step back. She had never known such hostility before in her life. The only thought that came to her was what Berry had said. Would she really? Would Jubilee...lynch...them? She wouldn't. She couldn't possibly…

“Is it true, that my own granddaughter would…?”
She eyed Fizzy in disdain, followed by the mob doing the same; nopony saying anything, but silently expressing their disgust.

“So we're suddenly not your grandfoals anymore?” Berry shot, referring to her and Fizzy

Jubilee slapped Berry across the face. “Don't you dare speak to me in that tone!” she scolded. Cherry couldn't recognize her voice at all.

Berry didn't reply, keeping a blank stare.

Who was this mare? This wasn't the grandmother Cherry had known since birth. She didn't know her one bit.

“I'll ask again.” Jubilee’s voice held no lightness. “Did you…” she struggled to say it. “Elope, with your own flesh and blood, your...brother?” She sounded as if she was going to faint from disbelief.

Cherry couldn't make any words come out of her mouth. She looked at Fizzy and Berry for help, but they had their gaze locked on Jubilee.

Cherry didn't want this. She couldn't handle this. The town, everypony she had ever known in her life, ponies she had grown up with, laughed with, cried with, loved, all of them were against her. She couldn't live while they all despised her very existence. It was too much to bear.

Cherry Jubilee sighed deeply. “I wouldn't have expected this from you, Cherry-”

“But you expected it from us!? Berry blurted out.

Jubilee back-hoofed her hard enough to make her fall, and gave her the death glare of the century to keep her quiet. She turned back towards Cherry.

“Stop this, Cherry. Stop this...filth, right now and we'll forgive you.”

Would they? Would they forgive her? All she had to do was give up what she had with Fizzy. Forsake her mistakes and…

Cherry felt something inside her. Her foal was kicking. Her thoughts took a sharp turn.

No! What was she thinking? Fizzy wasn't a mistake. Marrying him was the best thing she had ever done. Her foals, they weren't mistakes either. They were her life. Her entire being was devoted to Fizzy and their children, and she was going to keep it that way. Her foals couldn't live without their father.

Cherry's voice was resolute and unwavering. “What about Fizzy? And Berry?” She knew the answer, but there had to be some way to save the three of them from whatever Jubilee was planning to do with them. After seeing this new side of her, Cherry couldn't imagine what Jubilee was willing to do.

Jubilee was taken aback by the sudden bravery Cherry had. “W-we still have to punish them for what they've done.”

“You're willing to forgive me, but not them?”

Jubilee stepped back, surprised by the aggressive Cherry. “That's not-”

“Why!? Is it because I'm your favorite? Because I was born under marriage and they weren't!?” Cherry knew that stung Berry and Fizzy, but it needed to be said; it was a dagger to Jubilee.

Jubilee was furious. She moved for Cherry, to slap the sense into her. Before she could, Berry dashed into Jubilee and rammed her into the spectating crowd. Fizzy pushed Cherry back into the train car, but only enough to make her stagger backwards.

Cherry couldn't get to the door fast enough. Fizzy had shut it and held it closed, stopping her from opening it. She slammed her hooves against the door, screaming at him to let go. She looked through the window to find his eyes. She had to see them. Fizzy had his gaze downtrodden, tears running down his muzzle. He wouldn't look at her. Cherry begged him to look at her. Hot tears ran down her fur.

She couldn't even see his eyes one last time.

The train picked up speed. The mob dislodged Fizzy from the door as it left the station. Cherry forced the door ajar and watched as the town became smaller and smaller.

Cherry Berry fell on her haunches, losing all hope. She turned her head back to see her colt crying and in horror, confused at the spectacle he had just seen.