Lilly and Rose were busy in the kitchen, a small cramped room filled with wood smoke along with dirty pans and cutlery. Smell of freshly baked savoury goods wafted throughout the home driven by a draft from the open rear door. Unspoken grunts arose from the pair as they placed the final batch of pies into the basket, trying not to wake the sleeping foal in the corner.
Flour coated their fur muting their colour, matching the various surfaces and basket they worked across.

Each steaming hot pie was gently placed into the basket, wrapped in not so clean cloth. Both mares trying to make sure greatest care handling the fragile pastry.

"Now Rose, you get to cleaning and see if you fettle that there ladle" Cream spoke calmly yet with authority, dusting the flour off her forelegs.

"Ye ma, I'll see if Mr Monger can help me fettle th-"

The sound of the front door closing echoed through the house. Flinching, they gave each other a worried glance. It was too early in the day for Moonstone to be home. Lilly's azure fur stood on end as she reached over and quietly picked up the nearest rolling pin. Raw pastry fell off as she hefted it. One hoof after another, each hoof touching the floor sounding as loud as a canon in the silence.

Looking back to Rose, she waved a hoof towards the young foal praying that Rose would get the hint. Without confirming that her adult child had got the message, she peered through the door into the front room.

Corner of her sight, a flash of red!
Gripping the rolling pin tighter in her hoof, she breaths deeply steadying herself.
With the determination of the matriarch of the house, Lilly strode confidently forward. One hoof after another. Rage etched across her face thinking about the audacity of the thief.

"Now look here you-" the angry tirade is cut off. Only the sound of a rolling Pin clattering across the floor tiles could be heard.

Standing before her, was a bole coloured stallion, donning a worn scarlet military tunic with a bugle attached to his belt. With a weak smile, he looked to her with admiration and a deep longing.

"Comet?"

"I'm home ma" gently spoke the earth pony stallion, with a pained smile.
His eyes rolled upwards, and he collapsed onto the floor.

Moonstone wiped his fetlocks across his brow.

Clitter clacker

He risked taking his attention away from the loom to glance up towards the forestallion's office, muttering a curse under his breath. Cursing the sow whom bore that entitled buff coloured pegasus, and cursing the fact the bastard had not sounded the end of shift.

Clitter clacker

As he looked back the loom, he locked eyes with the stallion opposite. His workmate, confident, best friend friend, comrade- Stout Bailey. The unkempt cadet coloured pegasus gave him a knowing nod. Returning the nod, he refocused his attention onto the machine before him. A smirk stretched across his muzzle, for today, today was payday.

The last hours of work dragged tediously by, yard after yard of unbleached linen cloth was woven under his hooves. Collected by colts old enough to be sent to the factory. He pitted them, knowing that this would be their pitiful lot in life, until their death.
Relief washed over him, as the forestallion finally sounded the end of the shift. Machines slowed as their operators stepped away, filing towards the exit. He joined their ranks, heading towards the pay desk though accidentally bumping into the odd stallion as the new shift entered the factory.

He shuffled hoof to hoof, waiting. Eventually, he reached the kiosk, the unicorn clerk paid him no heed as they levitated a bag of coins across the desk. Snatching it, Moonstone cantered out of the factory onto the street outside. Head swivelling side to side, looking through the throng of workers and street vendors.

There!
He spotted Stout waving him over.
Dodging, dancing, and barging his way though the bustling crowd he made his way over.
Moonstone pulled Stout into a firm hug, grinning ear to ear. Stout returned the favour, and soon they were tussling each other playfully by the factory wall.

"Payday, hopefully we can get a decent treat this week for our families!" he bellowed into Stouts now pained ears, breaking the silence between the pair. Panting for breath.

"I wouldn't be too chuffed, take a look " cautioned his friend, gesturing to Moonstone's pouch.

Worried, he quickly reached for the pouch and counted the coins out. Ten-pence, ten-pence...
"Bastards! They've cut our pay again, down three pence compared to six months ago"

"Aye, but don't worry Moon we can talk about it at the meeting" came Stout's beleaguered and weak reassurance. "Look, at least we've got work... plus we can afford a half a loaf with this. Now, lets find your wife and walk her home. She's probably made a good penny since it's payday"

With a frustrated nod, Moonstone pushed past Stout heading towards the street vendors. As he and his friend drew closer they we accosted over and over and over by the various mares trying to sell their wares as they made their way through the crowd.

"Last cherry pie-"
"-pears, buy your pe-"
"buy some apples"

Finally, he heard a familiar voice, but something was wrong. Moonstone started to move with more urgency pushing through the crowd of ponies.

"Buy your pie here," cried the familiar voice, "last pie, only a penny. DA!"

"Rose, why are you here, shouldn't you be looking after your newborn? Where is Lilly?! She's meant to be here!"

"Da, it's okay, it's okay. Ma is at home, she's-"

"She's what Rose?!" Moonstone shouted, gripping her shoulder's in panic.

"Comet is back, da" she exclaimed, pulling him into a hug tears streaming down her face, "Comet is home"

Author's Note

Trying to get back into writing.
Not my best work, but it's something.