Chapter 1 (Don't Touch Her)
Author's Note
I edited the scene to fit more into the characters' personalities, so this chapter is different from the one uploaded to DeviantArt.
Chapter 1 (Don't Touch Her)
This again! Empire thought as she slammed the door to the barn. Even with the windows and doors shut, she could still hear the ongoing yells of her parents in their cottage, screaming louder than all Equestria could’ve. She laid down on the itchy hay and forced her pillow over her ears, closing her eyes tightly.
“Empire?” A muffled and faint voice came.
Empire opened her eyes and blinked at little Diamond Core, who was standing in front of the reopened door. The cold breeze swooped in, making the mare and filly shiver. Dia closed the door with all her might.
“Are you okay?” Empire asked worriedly.
Once the pink filly turned her face to her, Empire frowned at the sadness that dwelled in her ocean-colored gaze. Empire glanced at where the cottage would’ve been if the window were open and sighed. Dia sprinted over to her, and Empire held the young filly as she bared her tears.
I’ve had enough of this! Empire thought and stood.
Dia looked confused but followed her out of the barn and back into the cottage. Jasper was listening to their parents fight silently from the hall, the drool that escaped his mouth making Empire think they had woken him up from sleep, and his sore muscles forcing her to guess they had after a hard day’s work.
Empire opened her mouth to say something, a bitter comment about how Big Mac and Rarity were raising their three children in this condition, when Dia burst from her side and squeezed between the two.
“Mom, Dad, please!” she cried, but they didn’t seem to hear.
Again, the filly shouted, “Mommy!”
Rarity’s head snapped in her direction and Dia shrunk to the ground. Rarity growled and lifted her hoof, as if to strike the foal.
Before Rarity’s white hoof could reach Diamond Core’s pink face, whether to gently hold her cheek or smack against her pelt, Empire sprung herself over her little sister and bared her fangs, her red hair flinging over her face. Her yellow eyes blazing in hatred, she growled at her parents and snapped at Rarity’s hoof.
The mother retracted her hoof quickly and glared at her daughter.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Rarity hissed.
“We could ask you the same thing!” Jasper wailed sharply, falling in beside Empire.
Dia crawled from under the green pony and jumped on her red brother’s back. Jasper rested his body on the ground but not before walking a few steps away from their snarling parents.
“WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?!” Empire screeched at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing over the mountains of apple trees. Dia flinched at the loud sound and snuggled closer to Jasper. Empire frowned with hatred at Rarity. “You tried to hit Dia!”
Rarity protested. “I would never hurt my own daughter, Empire! Besides, even if I was going to, discipline is perfectly legal, darling! In Equestria, at least. All of you must learn not to get involved when Mummy and Daddy are in a fight!”
“How could you even acknowledge that you’re keeping all of us up all night, and yet not give a hay?” Jasper said hoarsely, looking at the little mare cuddled close to him with worried eyes.
“Dia doesn’t deserve you,” Empire growled at Big Mac and his wife. “She doesn’t deserve parents that do nothing but argue and work all day. It’s been years since you even kissed her goodnight! Jasper and I are practically her parents already. Maybe it’s time we move out withourdaughter. Isn’t that right, Jasper?” She turned her head at him.
Dia opened her blue eyes wide. Jasper looked shocked for a moment, then nodded sternly, bewilderment still in his gaze. Empire returned the nod firmly. Jasper grabbed Dia by the scruff and held her to her hoofs as he stood up. They walked over to the cottage door and Rarity shrieked in defiance.
“I’m her mother, not you! Do you understand that, Diamond Core? Empire did not give birth to you or carry you for months upon months! Maybe if the filly made up her mind about her mom and asked me to the Mother’s Day Camping Trip, this wouldn’t’ve—”
“Still on the camping trip! You forgot that was even happening!” Empire retorted. “She asked me, Mom, not you, me, alright?! Get over it already! We’re leaving if you like it or not.”
“And where will you go?” Rarity demanded.
“We’re going to Canterlot.” Empire decided without hesitation. She let out a growl when she saw the stars in Rarity’s eyes.
“To see Duke Blueblood and our half-brother, Silverblood.” She clarified.
The sparkles died in Rarity’s purple orbs. “Pardon me? You cannot go see that—that idiot, good for nothing, jerk of a pony! He took my son from me!”
“We’ll get our own opinions on the duke,” Jasper said. “Even if he’s as you say, I bet he’s a much better parent to his son than you’ve both been to us.”
With that, the three siblings slammed the door behind them, ignoring the shouts that followed.
With Dia holding their hoofs, Empire felt a spark of hope in her heart. Perhaps they could live happily in Canterlot. Jasper could easily find a job as a jewel miner there, what with all the gems that were used as decor, and for a short while Empire could be a stay-at-home mom until Dia got used to her new surroundings; then Empire could go out and find some seeds to grow her seedling hybrids. Maybe Dia could help her. And with them both working, they could pay for Dia to go to a good school, and get her some new equipment for her bedazzle passion.
They could be happy in Canterlot—maybe Silverblood and Blueblood would help them pay for an apartment or a house. They couldn’t be that bad, surely?
