Foalhood

Several Weeks Later...

Dust chokes the air of the path ahead Sweetie Belle and I as we walk quickly to Sweet Apple Acres; we plan on meeting Applebloom and Scootaloo there for some 'crusading'. Wispy cirrus clouds hang high in the air beneath the brutal sun furiously beating down onto Equestria as several squads of weather pegasi patrol the skies for any anomalous or stray clouds; crops need more sunlight, so they do what they have to do to meet their sunlight quota.

My face and legs have healed from the last painful encounter with my sister, who decided to fuck off for the past few months...probably better for me. However, the deep purple bruise on my scalp still lies there, almost like it's taunting me...won't the damn thing just heal already? I sigh from my own thoughts and turn my head to Sweetie Belle, who cocks her head to the side worryingly.

"So, what're we gonna do to earn our Cutie Marks? I think I've got a pretty nice knack for--" I start, but am immediately cut off by Sweetie Belle.

"Fixing the barn!" She squeals happily.

"...Not what I had in mind, but that'll do, I suppose. Beats working as an office kiss a--...butt for an overweight manager." I chuckle, censoring myself in front of Sweetie Belle, who smiles in return.

"At least your sister doesn't want you to become some lame-ass stylist." Sweetie Belle laughs; I join in.

Several minutes of walk and idle banter later, we arrive at the Apple residence, meeting Scootaloo and Applebloom at the entrance to the Apple Family property.

"So, y'all ready!?" Applebloom excitedly asks as Scootaloo hops around me in a circle, fluttering her tiny, orange wings as fast as possible to try and gain some air-time.

"Totally!" Sweetie Belle announces as the four of us canter over to the decrepit, red barn to get started.

Once inside, the four of us begin to formulate a plan while Applebloom's brother, Big Macintosh, carts in a wheelbarrow of tools and supplies for this large undertaking. Hopping on top of a neatly stacked pile of cleanly cut timber inside the barn, I use magic emanating from my horn to pry one of the pieces atop the pile and hoist it in the air, also grabbing a hammer and a few nails. Big Macintosh stays outside, keeping an eye on us to see if we do anything dangerous or wrong; we're eleven, we can take care of ourselves.

"So, how are things at home? You never talk about anything there." Scootaloo calmly asks me as she hauls a can of paint in her teeth over to the wall catercorner to where I work.

"Oh it's...fine..." I trail off as I bash a nail into the plank while holding it over a broken part of the wall; Scootaloo grabs the paint brush with her teeth and marring the pale wall with a fresh coat of red paint.

"The way you put that don't make it sound fine, Crest." Applebloom states from behind me as she hoists a saddle pack filled with tools onto her back and trots over to the pile of timber.

"It's nothing...I'm fine." I push away my friend's concerns and keep hammering more nails into the plank of wood.

"Crest. There's something wrong. That bruise is still there." Sweetie Belle urges from right behind me.

I turn to say something smarmy in response, only to find my friends gazing deep into my light blue eyes with genuine concern.

"I..." I can't tell them the truth. Colgate will castrate me...and then kill me.

"Please." Sweetie Belle pleads as she gives me puppy-dog eyes.

I notice Big Macintosh step into the barn to see what all the commotion is about. His eyes meet mine and I turn away, not wanting him to see the fear and anguish in mine.

"You can talk to us, Crest. We won't judge." Big Macintosh says as warmly as he possibly can.

"I just don't want to talk about it." I turn around once again and pick up another nail, having realized that I had already beaten in twelve nails in the board at odd angles already. I hang my head and give a pitiful sigh.

"Crest..." Applebloom sounds fearful of what I might say back, almost wincing in case I lash out at her.

I can't tell them the truth. I won't. Not only do I want to expose my sister, but I don't want to know what she'd do if she found out that I told on her...I feel genuinely afraid for my life, and my friends are tempting me with my own existence in my hooves.

"I...I have to go!" I yell randomly as I drop the hammer and sprint gallop my friends as fast as I can.

"Stop! We can help you! Crest!" Sweetie Belle shouts with true empathy in her voice as I gallop far away from them.

I don't care anymore, I don't even acknowledge Applejack as I pass her when I exit the gate to the road. I skitter past other ponies that pass by, giving confused or annoyed glances as I brush past them with speed.

Several minutes of running later, I finally reach my home. I don't want to go in. I never want to go in nowadays. I'm too afraid that Colgate might lash out at any time and I might not even be prepared like last time. Moments later, I see a dark red face peer from the upstairs window. A wine-red mane covers the top part of the face; I know who it is. Berry Punch, Colgate's girlfriend. They've started dating several weeks ago, and that's when Colgate stopped hurting me; coincidence?

Berry Punch raises a hoof and waves, smiling. I do the same. Colgate's face soon joins Berry's face, looking indifferent at me. I sigh once more and trot into the house. Berry's supposed to be over for dinner tonight, so, I hope Colgate won't be so shitty towards me tonight...Celestia, I fucking hope so.