Author's Note
This is just a giant flashback story, in case you can't tell. But in any ways, I hope you enjoy it and hope you like it!
A Sour Memory
2005
Silence. Silence was all that was in the air. There were no other sounds to be heard. Well, at least to one little girl in the waiting room of the Canterlot Hospital. Cherry colored hair, with a single streak of aquamarine, twiddling her fingers in the comforts of a small plastic chair. A small red shirt with a pink skirt over her little yellow body as she sat by herself.
She didn't play with any of the other kids in the waiting room, or read a book, or play with any of the toys. She had no interest to talk to any of them, nor did she want to. There was far too much on her mind at the moment to even be thinking about playing with anyone. This trip to the hospital wasn't for her. She didn't need any checkups of any kind, and she wasn't hurt. This trip was for someone else...
"Hey Sour?"
The little girl tilted her head up to look at an older gentleman in front of her. The man had the same skin tone as her, but with blue eyes instead of the purple that she carried.
"Your mom would like to talk with you," the man said.
Sour slowly looked turned her head away, her lips quivering.
"Sour. You're not in trouble. Please?"
Sour slowly nodded and she scooted off of the chair. She wrapped her tiny fingers around her father's hand, and followed close by. The two of them walked out of the children's play area, and they stepped around a corner. The two made another turn and stopped in front of a door.
The door opened up, and inside they could see a few individuals in the room. They had surrounded the bed that was inside, and a few of them looked like they were in pain. Emotional pain. Sour looked up, and she noticed a few familiar people. She could see her aunt and uncle were near, including her grandparents. She looked at them for a few seconds, but then looked away.
The father took her closely to the bed, and Sour could see the adult woman resting on the bed. This woman however was balding, and was slowly breathing. Her purple eyes slowly looked over on her left, seeing the little girl appear next to her. A small, but weak smile crept on her face.
"Sour... my little sweet..." The woman's hand slowly stroked the little girl's cheek, and patted her head. "Y-Your father told me you stood up for a kid at school... is that true?"
Sour looked up at her, and slowly nodded. The woman smiled.
"Your father taught you well..."
Sour sniffled. "There were some girls... they were picking on a girl who didn't do anything..."
"... I understand sweetie. Who was this girl?"
Sour's little purple pupils looked up at the older woman, water filling up in them.
"Her name was Smallfoot. S-She... she didn't do anything and they picked on her..."
The woman sighed. "Oh Sour... Can you listen to me?"
Sour nodded.
"There's always going to be people like that throughout your life. The best you can do is stand up for those who need it, and make some friends."
Sour didn't know what to think, and looked away.
"C-Citrus... t-t..."
"Swift?" The man asked.
She slowly reached over to her right and pushed something off to the left side of the bed, moving it towards the little girl. A little brown teddy bear with a red bow-tie.
"Sour... before I leave.... I wanted you to have this. T-This is Mr. Woogle Wogle. He was my friend when I was a little girl, and I always had him when I needed a friend to talk to... and I want you to have him."
Sour whimpered and she accepted the bear that was sliding towards her. She held it tightly and gave it a big hug, tears pushing back her eyes.
"Sour... can you look at me?"
Sour sniffled and she looked back up. Her mother slowly extended a hand out, and Sour's hand cupped it.
"Your father will look after you now. I know this is going to be hard for you... but I want you to know this. I will always be with you... in here." Her fingers weakly pointed at Sour's heart, which Sour nodded in understanding.
Sour sniffled. "I... I love you Mommy..."
The older woman smiled back at her and stroked her cheek. "I love you too, my Sour Sweet..."
Citrus looked down at her only 6-year-old daughter and took a knee down.
"Hey Sour? Alright if I may talk to Mommy?"
Sour looked at her dad and slowly nodded.
"Hey, take Mr. Woogle Wogle with you, okay?"
Another woman that was in the room, Sour's aunt, carefully walked out with her to keep an eye on her. She walked with her back to the waiting room and watched as Sour sat back in another chair, holding her teddy bear closer.
She didn't leave, she just stood as she watched the poor little girl look into the button eyes of her new teddy bear.
"Its okay Mr Woogle Wogle... I'll take care of you..." She hugged the bear as tight as she could, small tears pushing past her eyes and down her cheeks.
Back in the other room, Citrus looked to his wife as he held her hand.
"Citrus, promise me you'll... y-you'll..."
Citrus got down on one knee and moved closer to the woman he loved.
"Swift, I promise I will take care of Sour Sweet. I'll make sure nothing bad ever happens to her." Citrus slowly nodded.
Swift's breathing was still moving slow, but she could still hear him.
"... Citrus... t-thank you..." Swift weakly said. "A-And can you promise me, o-one last wish..."
Citrus nodded.
Swift held his hand as much as she could, but she felt her strength diminishing from her body.
"P-Promise me... n-no matter what happens with our daughter... n-no matter what choices she makes... no matter what man... or woman she wants to spend her life with... y-you'll support her."
Citrus nodded with a small smile. "I will always support my little girl's choices."
Swift gave one last smile, and she spoke one last time.
"Citrus... my last words for you... and for Sour... I... love... you..."
Swift's eyes slowly began to close, and everything around her began to fade to heavy black. Her body started to fall limp, and her strength slowly diminished away. The monitor that was hooked up to her right arm, slowly started to die down from its constant beeping and it dropped straight into a flat line.
Citrus's head slowly hung low, and he closed his eyes, taking in the reality of the situation.
Once the doctors came by, Citrus walked over to the play area where his daughter was still sitting by herself; hugging her teddy bear.
"Sour?"
Sour sniffled and she looked up at her father.
"Oh Sour..." Citrus walked over and he scooped up his little girl, holding her close, and allowing her to cry on his shoulder. He patted her back, and hugged her as she let out her tears. "Its okay sweetheart... I'm here for you..." He didn't leave. He didn't walk away. He stayed there, and held her in the biggest hug, keeping her safe. He vowed from this day he would watch over Sour Sweet, and he would protect her. It was there he would keep his words, the last words he said to his Swift. In his heart, he knew that Sour Sweet would need him. He promised he would be there no matter what. No matter how bad things were, no matter what help she needed, he would be there.
2018, Present Day
Sour Sweet had seen much change in her life. She had matured since her young years as a little girl, and she grew much wiser and stronger thanks to her father. Her father stood by her side every day, and he attended to her every need; if it was a little boo-boo on her arm, or needed to understand a saying or word, he was there to help her. He got her to be much wiser and smarter with time, and Sour always cherished his help.
Sour had finished preparing herself for the day. She was going off to school for the day, and was urgently trying to get going.
"Dad, I'm going off now!"
"Actually before you go, I wanted to show you something." Citrus said, coming around the corner. "I found a little something that I thought you might wanted to see..."
In his hands was a little brown teddy bear, wearing the same cute button eyes and red bow-tie.
Sour gasped. "Mr Woogle Wogle? I... I thought I lost him."
"I thought so too. I looked in a box with your mom's old belongings, and I found him in there. I thought it was time that your old friend made it back outside again."
Citrus handed her the stuffed bear which made Sour's face twinkle with a little smile. She hugged the bear, and she hugged her father as well. He patted her back, smiling as he hugged her. It was so adorable whenever Sour was happy.
"I know this may seem strange but, I thought maybe you could take him with you to school? Have yourself a little reminder that you're never alone."
Sour smiled at her father. "Dad. I know I'm not alone. I'm never alone. You know why?"
Citrus shook his head.
"Because I have my friends... and I have you."
Citrus smiled and he hugged her again. "I love you Sour."
"I love you too Dad."
Citrus let go and allowed Sour to get the rest of her items for school. She grabbed her backpack and her bookbag, and she opened the door.
"I'll see you after school then?"
"Yes Dad."
"Make sure you stay with your friends?"
Sour sighed. "Yes Dad, I know."
Citrus chuckled. "Just making sure. And Sour?"
Sour looked back.
"Have a great day sweetheart."
Sour smiled back at her father. "I will. I love you Dad!"
"Love you too kiddo."
Sour closed the door as she headed off for school. Citrus looked back at the teddy bear that was put back in his hands and he smiled. He set the teddy bear down on the dining room table where Sour made it her personal work space, setting it carefully with her books.
He walked back into the main hallway, about to gather his own things for work, and he stopped for a brief moment. He looked at a picture that was hanging in the main foyer. It was framed in gold, and in the photo he could see himself next to his wife. His wife was on a hospital bed, holding a little baby wrapped in a blanket which had a tiny bit of red hair sticking out. With a smile he placed his thumb on the picture, looking proud.
"Oh Swift... you would have been proud."
