Tsundere Travels

“WAKE UP, PONY!”

Limestone was dragged out of a bad dream by the sound of someone pounding on the metal mesh in front of her cell. The bluish-gray mare had come to hate that sound. Her jailers did the same thing whenever they brought food or tried to get her to talk. It was so humiliating.

She groaned as she stood up from the ice cold floor. The cruel sleeping conditions always left her chilled to the bone and her body in pain. The food wasn’t any better. Stale hay and rubbery carrots did not make her happy, and they left her feeling queasy afterwards. She tried telling them the food was bad, but these weird monkeys got even weirder whenever she talked. So she decided yesterday to start a hunger strike. Her empty stomach decided to grumble at her, but it was better than feeling sick all the time.

“Come on girl. I’ve got someone who wants to see you.”

The rock farmer rolled her eyes, then slowly walked over to the front of her cell. There were three of the hairless monkeys this time. Two of them were her jailers, but the third she had not seen before. She sat down in front of the metal mesh, then looked up and listlessly stared up at the three. They all stared at each other in silence for a number of seconds, then one of her jailers spoke up.

“Well, say something! You had plenty to say about the food yesterday.”

Limestone did nothing but stare contemptly at him. She absolutely refused to act like a trained animal, so she was determined not to make a sound. The jailer turned to the third man and spoke.

“I’m sorry Rob, she just wouldn’t shut up yesterday.”

“It’s cool. She doesn’t look like a normal pony, does she?”

“No. We’ve been trying to figure out what breed she is, but no luck. Then she woke up and started yelling. And I don’t mean braying, but swearing in English. Freaked us all out.”

“That would be freaky, hearing a pony talk.”

“Yeah, well I figured you knew all about weird cartoon ponies so I called you up.”

The stranger sighed aloud.

“I tell you about a cartoon I liked once, and you never shut up about it.”

The jailer lightly punched Rob in the shoulder.

“What else are brothers for? Besides, she’s got some weird tattoos on her hips that make her look like one of those ponies. She look familiar?”

“I don’t know, I’m not that much into the show any more. But she’s not shaped right for a pony, anyway. Her eyes are way too big and her muzzle is too short. And they normally don’t sit like that. She’s sitting like a cat would.

“And that’s one nasty sneer on her face. Definitely not normal.”

The stranger sighed aloud again.

“Fine, Randy. I’ll take her off your hands.”

Randy pumped a fist in the air.

“Yes! You owe me 5 bucks Joey! You said I’d never get the gray meanie adopted!”

Joey groaned and reached for his wallet, while Randy turned back to his brother.

“Go ahead and head up front, I’ll get her ready for you.”

Limestone watched the monkey called Rob walk away to her left. She wasn’t completely sure what the whole conversation was about, but it sounded like she was going to leave this place with that stranger. Which suited her just fine. Once they got far enough away, she’d escape and start looking for Ember. Then they’d find the local Princess, and hope she could help them find a way home.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her jail cell opening. Randy and Joey carefully walked into Limestone’s cell, and Joey made sure to close the door behind them.

“Alright Joey, let’s take it easy with her. I’m thinking if we both use slip leads on her, that she won’t try and fight us.”

Limestone rolled her eyes. She knew she could take these clowns easy. But then she’d still be stuck in jail, and she didn’t want that. So she calmly sat there while they each slipped a noose around her neck.

“Come on, girl.”

Randy gave his leash a light tug, but Limestone was already getting up to her hooves. The two jailers led her out of her cell and down the hall to the left. They kept pace on either side of her, but kept the leashes loose enough so she didn’t choke. Both males were tense, clearly expecting the rock farmer to cause trouble. She couldn’t help but smirk at their actions, it made her feel proud that they were so afraid of her. The trio walked past about 8 cages on either side of the hallway, not that Limestone was counting or anything. At the end, they turned left; then almost immediately turned right through a set of double doors. This new room was pretty large, with one wall filled with smaller cages and the other wall had large metal tables against it. The smaller cages held cats of different breeds and sizes. There were boxes and animal carriers all around the room, seemingly stuffed anywhere that they would fit. Her jailers kept her moving and guided her through another set of double doors on the far side of the room.

This room was smaller than the last, but had small chairs lining the walls and a large counter just off to her right. But most importantly, the far wall was made of glass windows and it had a door to the outside! Her jailers rounded the counter, and the stranger named Rob was standing there. He glanced over at her cutie marks, and she saw his eyes open just a bit wider.

“So, why two leashes?”

“We thought she’d fight us when we pulled her out bro, but she’s been super calm and stuff. Maybe she knows what’s up.”

“Maybe. I finished the adoption paperwork, my new ‘dog’ is ready to go.”

“Awesome. Want us to help you bring her out?”

“Nah, I think I got this.”

“Your funeral, bro.”

Randy removed one of the slip leads from Limestone’s neck, then handed the handle of the other to Rob. Rob looked down at Limestone, and gave her a warm smile.

“You ready to get out of here?”

Limestone smiled, she was born ready. The two calmly walked to the door, where Rob kindly opened the door for her. They walked outside into a large open area which was covered in some sort of smooth rock. There were several metal carriages lined up in a row on the other side. The sun was low on the horizon and the shadows were long, so Limestone knew darkness wasn’t too far away. A small breeze tousled the mare’s mane as Rob led her to one of the large carriages. He used a key to open a door in the back, then swung it open.

“Up you go.”

Rob’s intent was clear, and Limestone had no problem jumping up into the back. She was standing in a small carpeted area, and there were two rows of seats leading to the front. Rob cleared his throat, and she turned to face him. He let go of the lead around her neck and let the end dangle around her hooves.

“Okay, now that we’re alone I can tell you what’s going on. I know your name is Limestone Pie, you’re sisters with Pinkie Pie, Maud Pie and Marble Pie, and you live on a rock farm.”

Limestone was so stunned, her mouth hung open. After being treated like an animal for the past two days, it was a total shock to hear anypony say her name.

“Wha...but...how?”

“Long story, but we have children’s stories that have talking ponies. One of those stories has Pinkie Pie telling her friends about her life on the family rock farm. She describes you and her other sisters, and your parents too.”

“I don’t.. How could...WHERE THE BUCK HAVE YOU BEEN THE PAST TWO DAYS?!”

“Alright, calm down. My brother just called me this morning, and I’m here now. If he’d called me sooner I would have been here.”

“Grr, alright fine. Can we get out of here? This place gives me the creeps.”

“You got it.”