Sister Slaves (Built Upon Dreams, Paid in Blood)

A massive steam-train roars down the tracks along the southern foothills, it's eight cargo and two passenger-railcars rocking back n’ forth as it weaves in around the bends of the tracks. It’s engineers shoveling coal into its hellish maw, feeding the flames within.

In the second to last cargo-railcar sits an averagely sized unicorn stallion, his combed back mane shining in the harsh yellow light above him. In his little cove, he mulls over his paperwork, checking his finances. “Ratchet?” A unicorn mare calls out as she sticks her head in his space. “Are we still going to buy some slaves when this train pulls into White Hill station?”

He looks at the mare. “That’s the plan Willow.” He turns a page over in his booklet skimming the lines. “We have eight slots to fill.” He takes off his glasses. “If we want to make a profit we need to make a good choice on which slaves we choose.”

Willow nods. “It would be great if we picked up a whole family.” She rummages through a box. “Big payday of bits right there!” She pulls out several foot-long bars of multigrain-hardtack. She sighs as she steps into the main compartment of the railcar. Walking up to four metal cages, she flips a switch turning on the lights. “Wake up! Supper time!” She yells at their six slaves. The slaves consisting of four earth ponies, a pegasus, and a human, stare at her with defeated gazes. With a smirk, she tosses each of them their own hardtack.

Slowly the slaves pick up their meal and begin sucking on the hard bread, softening it up before consumption. She watches her slaves, studying their eating habits. “I can’t believe we picked up a human…” She looks at her business partner. “I’m surprised the humans haven’t declared war on us yet? I mean there is at least over fifty human slaves living under Unicorpian rule.”

Ratchet grumbles from his cove. “Humans are all talk and no action.” He begins typing on his typewriter. “Humans will abandon their kind when the going gets tough.” He leans back in his chair giving her a smirk. “They know when they’re beaten, we unicorns are superior after all.”

Willow nods. “I guess you’re right…?”

“Passengers of Wilmoth Train Number 3. We’ll be arriving at White Hills station tomorrow morning at six am.” The conductor announces over the intercom.

Looking at the intercom, Willow and Ratchet sigh happily.

-6:12 am White Hills P.O.W Camp-

Standing on the deck of the White Hills train station, Nightingale looks to his right, eyeing the speck of black coal smoke rising over the horizon. Maud who stands beside him on his left, keeps her head down, her eyes gazing at a rusty nail by her hooves, poking out of one of the wooden planks of the train station’s deck. Her tail tickling the floor as she thinks to herself of whatever comes to her mind.

“Is the train here yet?’ Moonlight asks, standing behind them.

“Almost Moonlight.” Nightingale pulls out a pocket watch, eyeing the time. He turns his attention back to the tracks, watching the train.

Moonlight eyes one of the train’s engineers poking his head out of the engine’s window. “It’s about damn time! Four days of waiting was driving me mad!” He rubs the back of his neck as he looks at his airship. “I can finally get my ship back in the skies!” He crosses his arms watching the train pull up to the station.

Nightingale smirks at the train as it rolls up to them. “Well my slave,” He places a hand on Maud’s left shoulder. His touch causes her to shiver in fear, cowering under his embrace. “You get to see the might of Unicorpian ingenuity!” He whispers in her right ear; his warm breath runs down her neck causing her chest to tighten up.

With her focus not all there, she tries to study the train’s engine and its glossy black and white steel construction. The red and lavender stripes of the royal family’s shield standing out. She looks back at her Master, trying to hide her discomfort. “It's impressive Master…”

Nightingale notices her frightened demeanor. He sighs as he rubs the sides of her neck with his thumb and index finger. “Drop this pathetic behavior and cheer up.” He whispers in her ear.

Tears roll down Maud’s cheeks. “How can I when you hurt me last night!” She hisses back.

Nightingale gives her a flat lipped stare. “As your Master, I can’t hurt you, I never can…” He lays his cheek against hers. “Besides, I remember you were enjoying it, quite a lot actually!”

Maud holds back the urge to cry. ‘I wasn’t…’ She tells herself.

Coming to a stop the train hisses, releasing its steam. The breaks squeal out over the station and camp. With its engine rumbling a dull monotone song, the conductor steps off the train and walks up to Nightingale. “Do I have your permission to unload my cargo?!”

Nightingale gives the old stallion a smile. “You're free to unload!” He pulls Maud into an embrace, her head resting against his chest. Her cheeks blush with embarrassment and shame.

Returning the foreman’s gesture the conductor unlatches a microphone from the side of one of the passenger-railcars. “Unload! Unload!”

Stepping out of their cargo-railcar, Ratchet, and Willow worm their way through the crowds of guards and train staff. Seeing the foreman standing ten feet away, Ratchet raises his left hand in the air. “Nightingale!” He shouts.

Nightingale looks over at the stallion, his mind full of surprise. “Ratchet, what brings you here?”

Ratchet comes up to him and shakes his hand. “This train is heading to Canterlot, I plan on selling some slaves there.” He allows Willow to shake Nightingale’s hand. “And since the train made a stop here I thought about picking up a few more slaves while I’m here.”

Nightingale frowns, “Again… And this soon?” Maud looks at the three of them, a tinge of fear washing over her heart.

“Hey what can I say the market is hot right now.” Ratchet chuckles. “And before you say anything, I see that scout airship over there…” He points at the ship docked near the corner fence of the camp. “I want to take a look at your new prisoners.”

Nightingale sighs. “How many do you plan on buying?”

“I need eight, but to be generous, I’ll say about four or five?” He gives him a friendly smile.

Nightingale frowns. “I… Sure I’ll let you take a look…” His eyes are drawn to Ratchet holding a large sack of silver and gold bits. “Let’s go to my office shall we.”

Maud sits on a couch near the radiator, watching her master and the slave traders looking through the records of the newer prisoners of the camp. Her fingers squeeze the book in her hands. She fears that they’ll pick her sisters. She doesn’t want them to. She cannot bear to know of their fate while her parents are in the dark.

“So, you found any you want?” Nightingale asks.

“Hold on… We need to make sure they’ll be worth the bits.” Ratchet replies flipping through the pages of one file. Shaking his head, he picks up another record and opens it. ‘Oh…’ He mumbles to himself. He sees that this folder contains a whole family. Two parents and five children. A smile comes to his lips as he shows the file to his partner. Willow smiles as she reads their names and ages.

Igneous Rock Pie, Age: 39…

Cloudy Quartz Pie, Age: 30…

Maud Pie, Age: 16…

Octavia Pie, Age: 13…

Limestone Pie, Age: 11…

Pinkie Pie, Age: 9…

Marble Pie, Age: 9…

Willow nudges Ratchet’s shoulder, nodding her head with a large smirk. Ratchet smiles taking the file and showing it to the foreman. “We would like to purchase these prisoners.”

Nightingale sees the papers in the file, his eyes go wide. “You want to purchase a whole family?!” He takes the folder and looks at it with a frown.

Maud feels a chill go down her spine. ‘What family?’

Ratchet smiles. “Yeah, they’re all healthy, the children are young, easy money right there! And the parents sold in the right market will make a killing.” He chuckles. “Hell, the children in the right market will pay the bills for several months!”

Nightingale sighs as he leans back in his chair. “Well, I’m going to have to put the brakes on for you pal.”

Ratchet and Willow look at him perplexed. “Why?” They ask in unison. Even Maud herself is wondering in a panic as to who they’re talking about.

Nightingale takes a sip of his coffee. “I can only allow you to purchase the children, and only the younger ones.” He looks at the papers.“The parents are off limits, they’re needed for the copper mine and office work… Hell, the whole family is needed for this camp…”

Ratchet frowns. “We’re not leaving until we at least have all five children then!” He leans on the foreman’s desk.

Nightingale glares at the slave merchants. “If you want them so bad, I’ll let you purchase them, but only the youngest of the family.”

Ratchet and Willow frown. “How come we can’t take the oldest daughter, along with the others?” Willow asks with a huff.

Nightingale grumbles. “Because she’s right over there…” He points a finger at her. “She’s my slave!”

Maud feels sick, her skin goes pale, sweat soaks her fur, clamming her up. They are talking about her family… They want to buy her sisters… “NO!” Maud chokes… “Master you can’t let them!” Tears roll down her cheeks.

Nightingale frowns. “Sit down slave!” Maud stays standing, trying to convince him. Not liking the disobedience she’s displaying, he lights up his horn and sends a small voltage of electricity to her collar, causing her to fall to the floor in pain. “Keep your mouth shut unless told otherwise!” Ratchet and Willow look on with dull expressions. “So?” They look at the foreman. “Are you okay with that deal?” Nightingale asks.

Ratchet sighs. “We want one more…” He quickly skims through several more files and finds another viable product. “Can we add her to the deal?”

Nightingale reads the file and sees its one of his pregnant prisoners. “You know she’s pregnant?”

“We know, count her as a two for one.” Willow grumbles. “So, do we have a deal?”

Sitting up on the floor, racked with pain, Maud stares at the trio, tears falling from her eyes as she witnesses the sale that will rob her of her family. “No…” She whispers to herself, small sobs leaving her lips.

Nightingale looks over at his slave. He knows if he sells her sisters, he will lose them as his leverage against her. He thinks, taking a deep breath. There is still her parents and her ex-fiancé… He gives a longs sigh. “It’s a deal,” He shakes Ratchet’s hand. “Let me just alert my guards so they can grab them and take them to your railcar...”

Cloudy Quartz looks down at her daughters from her perch from the office balcony, watching them load up a crate. She studies their demeanor, frustrated that she is kept so far from them. Turning her attention back to her work, she staples the pages in her hand and places them in a folder and writes down the contents on the folder’s lip. Her Unicorpian is readable, it helps that the guards gave her and Cheerilee a cheat sheet of sorts. Taking a deep breath, she opens up the next file and looks through the pages.

Cheerilee works beside her, typing away on her typewriter, writing her document in Earthen, soon to be translated by a veteran prisoner, fluent in Unicorpian. The metal typebars smacking loudly, joining seven others within the small balcony office.

Hearing the overhead metal doors to the warehouse opening up, both Cheerilee and Cloudy Quartz look up from their work and eye four guards making their way into the building. They watch as they walk up to the conveyor belt Limestone and Octavia are working at. A tinge of fear comes to their hearts as the guards near them.

Nearing the sisters, the guards split into groups of two, each grabbing the sisters by their arms. Both Limestone and Octavia panic as they’re forcibly dragged out of the warehouse.

Cloudy Quartz and Cheerilee get up from their seats and walk up to the balcony’s rail, staring in horror as the guards drag the sisters away. “Prisoners sit down!” A guard yells from behind the mares.

Cloudy Quartz looks back with crazed eyes. “Where are they taking my daughters!?” She hisses glaring at the guards. The other prisoners stare at her, confusion coming over them, stunned at her outburst.

One of the guards steps up, putting a hand on his holster. “I said sit down!”

Cloudy Quartz keeps her hands on the railing. Cheerilee puts her hands on the mare’s shoulders, coaxing her to their seats. “Come Cloudy, let’s sit back down…”

“Where are they taking my fillies?!” Cloudy Quartz shouts, her voice bouncing off the walls of the warehouse, alerting her children to her woes.

“MA!” Her children shout back, their voices fading away as they leave the building.

The guard frowns, walking up to the distraught mother. “SIT DOWN!” He points to her chair. Cloudy Quartz stays put. Activating his horn, he uses his magic and forces her to sit in her chair before slamming her head on the desk. Cloudy Quartz grabs her head, hissing as she fights the pain coursing through her skull. The guard keeping his magic on her collar bends down. “Congratulations, four of your youngest children are leaving White Hills to be sold as slaves!” The news of her daughters’ fates causes her to break down, tears pour down her faces as she melts in her chair. Not liking the mare’s attitude, the guard hits Cloudy Quartz over the head. “GET TO WORK!”

Marble minds her own business as she works on her bucket. Her hands are raw and sore from the hours spent sifting through the mud and the rocks of the sluice. Standing next to her, Ruby shakes her bucket, evening out the copper. 1245 grumbles as she works on her bucket, her fellow prisoners 3390 and 2266 finish their buckets and leave the sluice, heading to the back of the warehouse.

The door to the warehouse opens, allowing two guards to come in. Scarlet who stands by the door eyes the guards in confusion. “What’s going on?”

One of the guards looks at her. “Where is prisoner 5179?”

Scarlet points at runoff-sluice one. “She’s over there… What did she do?”

“She’s got a promotion.” He jokes. “She’s going to be a slave.” He and his comrade walk over to Marble. Standing behind her they grab her by the arms and start dragging her out of the warehouse.

Ruby and 1245 stare in confusion. “Where are you taking her?!” Ruby cries.

Scarlet steps up to the distraught filly, holding her by her collar. “Stay still!”

Ruby watches with tear-filled eyes as they leave the warehouse. Marble scraping her hooves against the concrete floor trying to stop the guards, to no avail.

Pinkie sleeps on the floor of her solitary cell, her body curled up, her tail acting as a blanket. Her long magenta mane drapes over half her head, covering her right eye. Soft snores leave her lips.

The locks of her metal door unlatch themselves, the hinges creak as the door swings open. A cold breeze washes into the room. Pinkie shivers from the chilly winds. She awakens, her eyes heavy, dark rings hugging them. The bright light of the early morning sun blinds her. Groaning she buries her head as she sits on her knees, her tail covering her naked form.

The guard's huff at her appearance. “Take her to the showers for a quick clean up!” One of them comments.

Two of his fellow guards nod a response and steps into the small cell, dragging her out by her hooves. Pinkie jerks, her mind becoming aware of her surroundings. Scared she looks over her shoulder and sees the guards. “AH!” She screams in a panic, trying to crawl back into the cell.

With a growl, the third guard uses his magic and holds her in the air by her collar, choking her. “Silence! You should be glad, you’re going to see your sisters again!” Pinkie stares wide-eyed at the stallion. “Damn… Four days of solitary fucked you up…”

Golden Stone, Octavia, Limestone, and Marble stand in front of a cargo-railcar at the train station. It's their first time at the train station. They stare at the twenty-foot-long station building, the giant clock tower stands erect over the station itself. The train docked at the station, ultimately draws their full attention, it’s mighty construction, andsharp curves and polished metal shell bring a sense of awe to the sisters and the mare.

“So, are they ready to be loaded up?” Nightingale comments walking out of the station’ office. The sisters turn their attention to him, but their sister draws their gaze. They see her bloodshot eyes and defeated demeanor. Maud makes eye contact with her sisters and tries to run up to them, but the leash connected to her collar stops her in her tracks. “Stand still slave!” Nightingale growls, pulling on the leash.

Maud looks at the stallion, returning his growl with one of her own.

“No, not yet…” Ratchet looks at master and slave with a raised brow. “The other twin is getting bathed.” He sighs stepping up to the foreman. “You didn’t tell me she was in solitary!”

“I thought it wasn’t important,” Nightingale replies.

“It is… How fucked up will she be?” Ratchet puts his hands on his hips.

“I make sure my men don’t torture prisoners in solitary, we leave the prisoners to their own thoughts.” He walks up to the stallion. “Why don’t you start loading up these four, she should be done in a few minutes…” He sees his guards guiding Pinkie over to her sisters. “Oh, look at that, right on time.”

Pinkie sees her sisters standing by the cargo-railcar, looking back at her with expressions of relief and fear. Turning her gaze to Maud, she sees her frightened eyes; her leash is taut as she reaches out a hand. Pinkie tries to run up to her, but the guard tights his grip on her collar.

Ratchet sighs, “Finally… He waves over to several train staff. Nodding, they walk up to the sisters and mare and take them one by one to his cargo-railcar.

“No…” Maud cries as she watches her sisters disappear into the black void of the cargo-railcar. Her legs weaken, forcing her to her knees.

Nightingale looks down at her with a frown. “So… You think they’ll sell in Canterlot?” He asks Ratchet.

“Oh, I know they will.” Ratchet smiles. “Twins usually sell well, but I can see that they’re not identical… We can make it work though.” He offers him a hand. “It's always nice doing business with you.”

Nightingale takes the gesture, shaking his hand. “Same… Good luck.”

Ratchet chuckles. “Good luck with that one.” He points at Maud as he walks up to his cargo-railcar.

Nightingale looks down at his sobbing slave and gives a growl. “Come, let's take you to your room.”

Octavia, Limestone, Pinkie, and Marble sit in the last cage within the cargo-railcar along with Golden Stone. They huddle up close to one another, leaning against the mare, finding comfort in each other’s embrace. Their new environment scares them, the heavy metal bars of their cage are thick and embossing. The dark atmosphere feels haunting even with the dull yellow light above them illuminating the space. Golden Stone does her best to comfort the fillies, her own emotions try to fight their way out and break her mask, but she keeps calm.

In the cages next to them, a human and pegasus sit, resting against the wall.

The sisters stare at the human, studying him with curious worry. They have heard of humans and their nation, but with their hometown of Ashmore being so remote, they have never seen a human up close. He looks strange to them, his small nose, his hairless body, the small patch of hair on the top of his head, his little eyes. Marble cowers, burying her face in Limestone’s lap.

Pinkie whines, her stomach growling. Octavia looks down at her sister, and rubs her belly, trying to dull her sister’s pain. Hearing the filly’s hunger, the human looks at the sisters with a small smile. “Here…” He speaks to Octavia in fluent Earthen as he hands them half of his hardtack. Octavia stares at the bread with hesitation. “It’s hardtack, it not a lot but it willhold her over until supper.” He notices her hesitation.

Slowly Octavia takes the bread, “Thank you…” She taps Pinkie on her shoulders alerting her to her meal. Pinkie looks at the hardtack, her eyes going wide. Quickly Pinkie takes the food and tries to bite it. She cries, pulling the bread away staring at the bite marks scaring its skin.

“You have to suck on it, you need to wet it before you can chew it.” The human replies as he closes his eyes, resting his head against the wall.

Pinkie mumbles a cry; her stomach demands her to swallow the bread now. With a hoarse sob, she places half of it in her mouth and begins sucking on it.

Willow notices the filly eating the other slave’s meal, but decides to let it go. “How long does it take to get to Canterlot again?”

“Two days… We’ll have time to prepare them for the spring festival.” Ratchet replies not looking up from his work.

Willow sighs as she walks to the back of the cove. “Well, wake me up in several hours will yah.” She lays down on the cot, laying her arm over her eyes, her tail dangling off the side.

“What is wrong with you?!” Nightingale demands, shoving Maud into her room.

Maud turns around a cruel scowl on her face. “You know why!” She sobs.

Nightingale frowns. “Watch your tone slave!” He steps up to her, intimidating her. Maud growls, throwing a punch. Nightingale catches her offending arm. “You are a brat aren’t you?” He slaps her across the face. She falls to the floor, her eyes staring madly at her master. Nightingale looks down at her pathetic appearance. “I need to work on some paperwork, I’ll come back and deal with you later.” He steps out of her cell and shuts the door.

Maud feels sick, “I hate you!” She yells as she crawls up to the door, pounding on it. “I HATE YOU!” She sobs loudly. “I HATE YOU!”

Getting her meal, Cloudy Quartz worms her way to the wire-mesh wall facing the stallions section of the mess-hall. Arriving at the wall, she nears the corner as not be seen. Looking through the wire-mesh, she searches for her husband. Seeing him sitting by Obsidian two tables away near the windows, she waves her hand trying to get his attention.

Noticing movement out of the corner of his eyes, Igneous looks at the source and sees his wife. Pain comes to his heart. Obsidian studies the stallion’s hurt and looks around eyeing the guards. They’re looking elsewhere. Nodding at his father-in-law, Igneous returns the gesture and stands up, walking over to his wife. “Honey?!” He breathes a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank the Lord!” He sticks two of his right-hand fingers through one of the holes in the wire mesh.

His wife lets some tears fall from her eyes as she rubs his fingers. “Dear, I have something awful to tell you…”

Igneous looks over his wife. “What’s wrong?” He grabs one of her fingers. “Don’t tell me we are both burdened with bad news.”

Cloudy Quartz feels herself get lightheaded. “What?”

Igneous takes a deep breath. “You tell me first… I don’t want to put too much hurt upon you.”

Cloudy Quartz swallows a lump forming in her throat. “They took away our youngest daughters… they sold them as slaves!” She lets out a silent sob.

Igneous feels his mind leave him as he holds onto the wall, his fingers poking through the mesh’s holes. The wall vibrates as he leans his whole-body weight against it. “Oh God…” He fights back his emotions bubbling to the surface. “All of our daughters are gone… Slaves…”

“What?! Maud too?” Cloudy Quartz feels herself go numb. She falls to the floor, her mind lost in a nightmare.