Iron and Blood: We Dear Sisters

The summer sun sat at high noon above the mining camp. The one-hundred-foot diameter open-pit mine absorbed the sun’s rays, amplifying the scorching heat. The moisture being unearthed also added to the torturous atmosphere. Sweat coated the prisoners toiling away at the earth. Even the guards felt the dread of the weather as they pulled against the collars of their military uniforms.

Maud let out a grunt as she slammed her pickaxe into the soil. Rocks went flying in all directions as she yanked it out. Letting out a heavy sigh she looked at her sister on her left. She studied her toned figure not expected for a filly her age. Maud looked down at her own arms and saw how muscular they had gotten after two months. Her husband however showed more muscular development. Perks of being a stallion she mused as she switched out her pickaxe for a shovel.

“Damn! It's hot!” Limestone complained.

“Language.” Maud kept her eyes on her work.

Limestone looked over at her sister. “Really?”

“Yes.” Maud gave her a playful smirk. “Your birthday is coming up in four months.” She threw her shovel load into the cart behind them. “If you want a gift, you better behave.” She hummed at her own joke, hoping it would relieve the tension that hung heavy around them.

It took Limestone a second to comprehend her words. She laughed as she swung her pickaxe at the dirt. “Funny…” She looked up at the guards standing on one of the mine terraces a few yards from their location. Her smile left as her mood soured. “I hate them…”

Maud looked up at the guards. “This is the reality of war sis…” She frowned. “Nothing good comes out of it.”

“I still hate them…” Limestone mumbled.

“I know…” Maud looked up from her work at the guards.

Limestone grunted as she pulled out her tool. Her mind mulled over her memories of when her father would listen to the radio. She huffed at her own naivety. Why didn’t she care to listen when the war reports came on… ‘You’re a kid, Lime…’ She told herself. ‘Who was almost of age…’ She swung her pickaxe at the ground once more. “Why do they hate us?” She asked out loud.

Obsidian looked up at the guards and saw a few of them talking amongst themselves. “Because were different from them.”

“Because we don’t have horns?” Limestone looked at her brother-in-law with a raised brow.

“Yes…” He growled as he dug his shovel into the ground. “And pegasi and bat ponies hate us because we don’t have wings.”

Limestone stared at Obsidian as she mulled over his words. “There has to be more than just that?” She looked at her sister for another answer. Her eyes started to water, but she didn’t want to be afraid, not in front of the guards, not in front of her sister.

“I’m sure there is,” Maud stated with a dull sigh. “I hope though that they’re not all like that.” She saw a guard having a conversation with one of the prisoners. “I hope our kind is not full of hate like that…”

Obsidian looked at his wife. He wanted to crush her naïve outlook, but seeing that spark of hope she had, he couldn’t bear to see it die. “I hope so too…”

Silence fell over them once again. Each worked for several minutes quietly tolling away at the earth, until Limestone broke the silence. “The twins are turning eleven today… I think?” She leaned on her shovel. “How are we going to tell them happy birthday?”

Maud stared at the pile of rocks on her shovel. “One of us will have to do it.”

Limestone looked up at the top of the mine and saw the tips of the warehouse's smokestacks. “It might be you who does it.” She turned her attention to the carts being pushed up to the top of the mine.

“I know…” Maud brought the head of her shovel close to her and began to search through the soil.

“What are you doing?” Obsidian wondered.

“Looking for a gift.” Maud frowned as she threw the load into the cart.

“What are you looking for?” Limestone asked.

“I’m looking for turquoise.” Maud shoved her shovel into the ground and pulled a new haul close to her.

“Turquoise?” Her husband questioned.

“Turquoise has a high copper content and are usually found close by to copper deposits.” Maud sighed again as she tossed the dirt into the cart. “I know the twins will love them.” She smiled at Limestone and Obsidian. “It is their favorite color.” Limestone and Obsidian nodded as they shoved their shovels into the earth to help her in her search. She smiled as she looked up at the top of the mine, staring at the smokestacks’ tips. ‘Happy birthday, sisters…’

Marble mindlessly listened to the sound of sloshing water moving through the sluices. She shivered at the cold water running past her arms as she dug for copper nuggets hidden in the jagged rocks. The shiver she felt wasn’t an unpleasant one, the water felt good to her, a small relief from the hot air lingering in the warehouse.

Looking up she watched the ceiling fans spinning as fast as they can. Their effort though was in vain. They only succeeded in moving hot air around and flinging dust into the air that tickled her throat.

Hearing a cough, she looked up and saw her sister Pinkie slowly digging through the rocks. “Are you okay?” She softly asked.

Pinkie slowly looked up at her sister. “Yeah…” Seeing Scarlet standing behind her sister on the second-story catwalk, her voice lowered as she stared at the mare, who was giving her a seductive smirk.

Pinkie’s mind drifted to all the times Scarlet caressed her lips and kissed her cheeks, all the times she smacked her over the head and pinched her ears. The sporadic signs of warmth and coldness Scarlet showed confused her. She couldn’t understand the mare and her intentions with her… Especially the kiss she gave her two months ago, before her stint in solitary. She shivered at the memory. Tears came to her eyes as she turned her attention back to her work. “I’m fine Marble… just tired.”

Ruby and Snowy stared at Pinkie with soft eyes as they watched her trying to keep herself together. Marble sighed as she pulled her arms out of the water and looked through her pile of rocks for copper nuggets. “They day is almost over.”

Pinkie felt a bead of sweat roll down her face and drip off her snout. “Almost…”

Maud grunted as her shovel dug into the earth. She held onto her stomach and let out a huff as she hissed in a breath. “Take it easy, sweetie.” Obsidian leaned on his pickaxe. “Don’t overdo it.”

Maud wiped the sweat from her brow, but she only smeared it into her already damp fur. “I need to find it before this is full!” She nodded her head at the cart.

“We’ll find them,” Limestone commented. “I’m just worried that you’ll get caught trying to give them their gift.”

“I’ll be fine.” Maud picked up her shovel and looked through the pile of dirt and rocks.

Seeing a small speck of blue, her eyes lit up, looking at where she was digging she saw a few more specks of turquoise. Emptying the dirt from her shovel onto the ground, she slowly poked at the ground with the tip of the shovel moving the dirt around. Seeing something of interest she shoved the tip into the dirt and pried out a turquoise the size of a small pebble. Again, she quickly stabbed the earth and pried the dirt. Another pebble-sized turquoise popped out of the ground.

Falling on her knees she scooped them into her hands and held them close to her chest. Looking up at the terraces of the mine she saw that none of the guards were looking in her direction. Humming a giddy tune she quickly looked at her sister and husband and let out a held breath. “What a miracle!”

Limestone stared at the precious gemstones with a smile. “Well, what are you waiting for, get going!”

“I’ll go with you.” Obsidian dropped his tools and got behind the cart. “I’ll take the cart back while you slip into the warehouse.” He smiled. Maud smiled as she stood next to him, putting the gemstones in her gown’s breast pocket. Placing her hands on the cart they pushed it up to the top of the mine.

Limestone watched as they ascended to the top. “Good luck.” She spoke softly.

Getting to the warehouse, Obsidian and Maud pushed the cart into the dockyard section of the building. The heat struck them hard as the hot air filled their lungs. “Damn! What the hell!” Obsidian hissed. Maud frowned. Is this what her twin sisters and Ruby had to work in? A sauna from hell.

Pushing the cart to the drop-off pile, they looked around and saw that the only guards in the dockyard were busy looking at something inside the guard shack. “Go now,” Obsidian whispered. Maud nodded as she ran up the steps and slipped through the door leading to the pulverizing machine.

Maud folded her ears at the loud sounds of the machines chugging along as they decimated the rocky soil into a gravel-like consistency. Slowly she trekked further past them until coming up to a door. Opening it, she peeked in and saw the hall it lead to was clear of guards. Letting out a sigh, she stepped in and made her way to the door at the end of the hall. It was a little quieter than the pulverizer room, but the machine’s loud stounds still echoed through the walls, be it a more tolerable level.

The cold concrete floor sent a chill up her spine as she neared the end of the hall. Getting to the door she slowly opened it.

Looking through the small opening she made, she scanned the sluices in the middle of the room. Seeing the forty or so children ranging from five years old to fifteen mindlessly working away. She felt a twinge of sorrow at the sight of their melancholy expressions.

But her mood improved when she laid eyes on her sisters.

Ruby was the first one closest to her. She looked good despite her matted fur and mane caused by the once-a-month baths they were allotted. Marble stood beside Ruby. Her appearance was about the same. But she was her usual shy self as she used her mane to hide from the world. Then there was Pinkie who stood opposite from them… Her heart skipped a beat when she saw her sister's tired hollowed eyes. Even though Pinkie only experience solitary once, it left a mark on her that brought a heaviness to Maud’s heart.

Closing her eyes, Maud let out a held breath to calm her nerves.

“What are you doing here?” Maud felt her spine shiver as she slowly turned around and saw Scarlet leaning against the wall a few feet behind her. “You know you’re not allowed in here?” She pushed herself from the wall and walked up to her. “I think you like watching your sisters get punished.” Her ‘warm’ smile left.

Maud swallowed the anger rising within her as she held her clenched hand close to her chest. “I’m just trying to give my sisters a gift!” She felt a pain radiate from her stomach, she placed a hand on it and held her breath to dull it. 'Damn stress!'

“A gift?” She looked over Maud’s shoulder and eyed Marble and Pinkie mindlessly filling their buckets. “What for?”

“It’s their birthday.” Maud kept a stern face as she slowly eyed the mare, trying to make out her intentions.

“Their birthday?” Scarlet’s brow raised as she stared at Maud, but they soon lit up as she turned her attention back to the twins. ‘They’re twins.’ A small smile worked its way onto her lips. ‘Interesting,’ She kept her eyes on Marble, studying her features. Her smile left as she turned her attention back to Maud. “What kind of gift are you giving them?”

Maud took a deep breath as she held out her hand. “I’m giving them theses.”

Scarlet stared at the two turquoise pebbles in her hand. Biting her lower lip, she looked at Maud, then at the twins. “Fine, but stay here and I’ll bring them to you.” She gave Maud a stern glare. “Understood?” Maud nodded. Rolling her eyes, Scarlet walked back into the main complex of the warehouse.

Maud looked out the opened door and watched Scarlet approach her sisters. Being able to see them up close and not from afar during meal times sent shivers of delight throughout her body. A chance to hold them again brought a sense of joy, unlike anything she had felt before. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw them approaching. Quickly she ducked out of the doorway and hid behind the wall, to surprise them.

Seeing them enter, she let out a soft hum. “Hey fillies.”

Pinkie’s and Marble’s ears stood erect as they looked over at their older sister. For a split second Maud thought their smiles would rip off their faces. With little squeaks, they clung onto her and held on for dear life. “MAUD!” Pinkie cried. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, just here to give you two a little gift.” Maud bent down to be eye level with them. “You think your sister and I would forget about your birthdays.” She opened her hand and showed them the turquoise pebbles.

The twins stared at the gemstones with wide eyes. Slowly they picked up their respective stones and held them close as they studied their unique color pattern. Pinkie’s lip started to quiver as she rubbed the stone with her finger. “Thank you!” She hugged her sister once more. Marble joined in giving her elder sister a silent thank you.

Standing behind them, Scarlet watched with mild interest. Looking down either side of the hall, she let out a sigh as she crossed her arms. “Three more minutes and you go back to work little ones.” Pinkie looked over at Scarlet and studied her with an aura of confusion. Scarlet taking notice of her expression gave a small smile. “I’m not all mean.” She stated with a hum as she placed her hands in her military cargo pants.

Pinkie didn’t know what to make of her statement. Whether to believe her or not. But it didn’t matter at that moment she was hugging her older sister, and she was allowing it.

But as soon as their affection began, it ended, just like that.

“Okay enough, get back to the sluices. Now!” Scarlet commanded. Pinkie and Marble shivered as they fast walked back into the sorting room. Scarlet and Maud watched as they went back to their stations. “Now, for you, follow me.”

“What do you plan to do?” Maud asked as she followed her.

“To make sure you don’t get into trouble!” Scarlet spat. “I don’t need Pink… Your sisters to get into trouble!” Maud raised her brow at the mare’s words. “Don’t give me that look!” Scarlet spat. “It's for your own good.” She held Maud by the shoulder as they stepped out of the warehouse.

“Private Scarlet!” An officer called out as he walked up to them. “We’ve been looking for this prisoner. Why is she with you?”

“I needed her help, sir.” Scarlet shoved Maud toward the officer. “Sorry, sir.” She put her hands behind her back.

The officer nodded his head as he activated his horn, grabbing Maud’s collar. “I understand, but next time you pull one of my prisoners, let me know.”

“Will do sir.” She nodded for the stallion but kept her eyes on Maud as she was dragged back to the open pit mine.

Scarlet stood in place, listening to the ambiance of the prison camp. She felt the summer winds blow over her. Eliciting a pleasant chill to run down her spine. A small smile crept its way onto her lips. ‘Its Pinkie’s birthday…’ She held back a giggle as a certain thought crept into her mind. ‘She deserves a gift from me...’

Pinkie looked at the turquoise in the palm of her right hand, while her other hand dug through the rocks. She studied its shiny surface as it reflected the harsh white lights from above. Marble held her stone in her hands as she kept working away at the rocks. Her fingers rubbed the stone as she hummed a tune to herself. Ruby watched her sisters-in-law with a smile, “I’m glad you were able to get a gift.”

Marble hummed her response as she looked at Ruby. Pinkie looked up from the gemstone and nodded. “That was either brave or stupid what your sister did,” Snowy commented.

“At least she did it!” Ruby rolled her eyes.

Pinkie stared at Snowy and studied her eyes, watching as they trembled. She was wondering what she was thinking when a hand landed on her shoulder haulting her thoughts on the filly. A shiver danced across her back. Slowly she turned her head around and saw Scarlet standing over her.

Scarlet looked down and gave her a smile. “Prisoner, I need your help with something.” She grabbed her collar and pulled her away from the sluice. Marble began to panic, but a stern glare from the mare shut her down. Scarlet let a chuckle slip past her lips as she watched Marble’s cowering form. “Come pick up the pace!” She demanded Pinkie.

“Where are you taking me?” Pinkie asked with a growl as she tried to keep up with the mare.

“A surprise.” Scarlet looked back at Pinkie. “For your birthday.”

Pinkie looked at her skeptically. “My birthday?” Her eyes narrowed. “Why would you celebrate it?”

Scarlet hummed as she pulled on Pinkie’s arm and brought her in front of her. “Like I said earlier, I’m not mean all the time.” She placed her hands on Pinkie’s shoulders. “I like you and I want to give you something for you’re b-day.” She turned left and walked up to a small corner room in a dimly lit part of the factory.

Pinkie stared at the door to the room. “What about my sister?” She looked up at Scarlet, staring at her with a strange mixture of emotions ranging from fear to confusion to excitement.

“She’ll be next,” Scarlet let out a little hum as she opened the door. “But I have to do this quietly.” She looked down at Pinkie. “No one can know about this… Understand?” Pinkie swallowed a lump in her throat as she stared into the small room illuminated by a single yellow-hued lightbulb. “If they find out, bad things will happen to you.” Scarlet added.

Pinkie looked up at Scarlet. Deep down she had a gut feeling that this was bad… But then again, Scarlet allowed her to see her sister… to hug her even if it was just for a brief moment. Pinkie slowly nodded, swallowing her fears.

“Good, now let’s go.” Scarlet hummed as she guided Pinkie into the small room.

Stepping in, Pinkie scanned the room’s décor. She saw that it was a small storage room, with a metal shelf containing a random hodgepodge of boxes and metal containers. A sink was in the back corner and a table sat against the wall on her left. The lightbulb overhead hummed a mind-numbing buzz that made her ears twitch.

Scarlet smiled as she slowly closed the door. “Your surprise is in one of those boxes on the bottom shelf.” Pinkie looked back at her with a shiver but quickly let out a little sigh and got on her knees and began looking through the boxes. Scarlet kept her eyes on Pinkie’s backside, watching her tail wag side to side. “It’s further in the back.” She locked the door as she walked up to Pinkie, smiling as the filly crawled further to the back of the shelf, causing her to lift her butt in the air. “Did you find it yet?” Scarlet asked as she unbuttoned her shirt.

Pinkie let out a grunt as she opened a box. Looking in, she saw a small metal box. With a huff, she picked it up and crawled out from under the shelf. Sitting on her knees, she studied the box further and saw that it was painted red and had a logo of several types of cookies. Opening it, the sweet aroma hit her nostrils. Her stomach growled at the smell, causing her mouth to water. “Are these for me…!” Her body shivered as she watched Scarlet take off her shirt.

Seeing Pinkie was staring at her, she smiled as she walked up to her, placing her shirt on the table beside her. “It’s a little warm in here, that’s all.” She activated her horn and took the tin of cookies from Pinkie’s hands. “Yes, these are for you.” She took out one and handed it to her. “Want one?”

Pinkie stared at the cookie. Shivering she took it and gave it a small bite. A wave of delight ran through her body as she chewed. The sweet taste of chocolate and the chewiness of the cookie reminded her of the Cake’s bakery back home. Her happiness faded a little as she thought about them... She slowly swallowed her bite as she opened her eyes and stared at the crumbs on her hands.

“Are you enjoying it?”

Pinkie looked up at Scarlet. “Yes…” Her eyes went wide as she watched Scarlet take off her pants.

Noticing her demeanor, Scarlet smiled as she walked behind Pinkie, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’m glad you’re liking it.” She bent down on her knees, resting her legs against Pinkie’s sides. “Want another one?” She rested her cheeks against Pinkie’s as she waved another cookie in front of the filly’s face.

Feeling her stomach twist itself from her hunger, Pinkie’s worries faded as she reached out for another. “Not so fast!” Scarlet hummed as she pulled the cookie away. Pinkie shivered as Scarlet rubbed her cheeks. “You need to earn this one.” She stated as she ran a finger across Pinkie’s lips.

Pinkie felt her throat tighten at the affection. “What do I…” She struggled to say. She was cut off as Scarlet placed a hand over her mouth.

“All I need you to do is take off your gown.” She pulled away from her embrace and took the cookie from her magic with her hand, waving it in Pinkie’s face. “And you’ll get this.”

A dull pain radiated across Pinkie’s skull as she remembered her experience in the showers. Tears poured from her eyes as she looked over at the door, then back at Scarlet. “No…” She jumped up from the floor, but the mare placed her left hand on her shoulder and sat her back down. Pinkie let out a sob as she felt Scarlet’s fingernails digging into her.

“Do what you’re told or Marble will get fucked up!” Scarlet hissed, but she quickly changed her tone. “We don’t want that to happen, sweetie.” She sucked on Pinkie’s ear. “Do it for your sister,” She held out her hand in front of Pinkie. “And the cookie.”

Pinkie’s only response was a sob as she looked down at her prison gown. Letting out a moan she lifted it over her head
Holding it in her hands, she let out a cry as she placed it in her lap. Her body shivered from the embarrassment and the humid air licking her naked body. She tried using her tail as a source of comfort like a blanket, but Scarlet’s legs prevented such comfort.

“See that wasn’t so bad.” Scarlet hummed as she took off her bra with her magic. “I’m a mare of my word.” She leaned against Pinkie, causing her D-sized breasts to squish up against her back. Pinkie was confused at how soft Scarlet’s breasts were. She shivered at the strange sensation of her nipples ticking her back. “Here’s your cookie,” Scarlet hummed as she rested her head on Pinkie’s.

Pinkie saw half the cookie and took it with shaky hands. “Where’s the rest?” She asked nervously. Scarlet’s only response was to scratch her cheeks. Shivering at her affections, she slowly shoved the treat into her mouth. Silence filled the room as Scarlet kept stroking her cheeks and rubbing the back of her neck.

A sense of calm washed over Pinkie. She hoped this was all Scarlet was going to do… Just rub her cheeks and feed her cookies… But why did she have to be naked? Her mind began to swim with crazy thoughts, destroying the calm that had come just moments ago.

“Want the other half?” Scarlet hummed, showing the rest of the cookie to Pinkie.

Pinkie watched the cookie float in front of her. “Y-Yes.”

“That’s good…” Placing her head against the right sided of Pinkie's face, Scarlet licked her cheek. “All you need to do is play with yourself?” She whispered seductively.

“Play?” Pinkie felt confused. “There's no toys?”

“No, not like that.” Scarlet picked up Pinkie’s gown from her lap and tossed it off to the side, exposing her vagina. “What I meant is, you need to play with yourself…” She ran her hands down Pinkie’s chest until they met at her bellybutton.

An uncomfortable sensation overwhelmed her mind. Pinkie stared at the hands close to her privates. “P-Play… With, with?”

“Play with your pussy?”

“Pussy?”

“This…” Scarlet tapped Pinkie’s clitoris with an index finger. Hearing Pinkie let out a cry, she hummed as she scratched Pinkie’s belly. “My aren’t you innocent.”

Pinkie stared at her vagina. Her eyes trembled and her vison began to blur. “Play? Play? Play?”

Hearing her moans of despair, Scarlet smiled as she grabbed Pinkies right hand with her magic and placed it over her vagina. “Like this…” She manipulated Pinkie’s middle finger and ring finger and stuck them into her vagina. Pinkie squirmed at the strange sensation of her fingers wiggling inside her. She didn’t know what to make of this feeling. An overwhelming cascade of emotions assaulted her mind. Deep down she knew this was wrong, but her thoughts became foggy with sensations she’s never felt before.

“STOP!” She cried out. “LET ME!” Scarlet placed a hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming out her terror.

“Shhh,” Scarlet whispered in Pinkie’s ear. “We’re just getting started with the second part of your gift…” She turned Pinkie’s head around to face her and planted a kiss on her lips, laughing to herself as she felt her squirm under her embrace.

Pinkie stared numbly at the ceiling, watching the light flicker from the many surges of electricity flowing through its filament. Her mind was lost in a sea of denial, fear, anger, and pleasure, from the assault she endured. It was only when she heard Scarlet let out a sigh, did reality come back crashing like a freight train into a brick wall.

She felt herself resting on top of Scarlet's sweaty naked body. Her head laying on the mare’s breasts and her butt resting in her lap. She shivered as she felt the breeze from under the door wash over her sweat soaked fur.

“I have to say,” Scarlet sighed as she traced circles around Pinkie’s left nipple. “I enjoyed it.” She used her other hand to run her fingers through the filly’s mane. “Did you?” Pinkie kept quiet as her mind swam through an endless abyss of maddening thoughts. Scarlet sighed as she slid her left-hand down Pinkie’s stomach toward her vagina. “I think you enjoyed it…” She slowly ran her finger across her clitoris. “Those sweet little moans of yours. I told you it would make you feel good.”

Pinkie sobbed through clenched teeth. She tried moving her hips out of the way and crossing her legs, but she just ended up making it worse, she trapped Scarlet’s hand increasing the pressure she felt. She quickly opened her legs and gave in, her sobs coming out wet as she coughed up phlegm. “Why?” She cried as she watched Scarlet play with her vagina.

“Why what?” Scarlet asked as she rested her head against Pinkie’s.

“Why me?” She cried a tearless cry.

“Oh…” Scarlet moved her hand from her vagina and began rubbing her cheeks. “There was something about you that, I don’t know, I couldn’t resist.” She eyed her body seductively. “I knew we were meant to be as soon as I laid eyes on you.” She pulled Pinkie’s head back so she could rest it on her breasts. Feeling the weight on her chest, she let out a hum of satisfaction. “I waited too long for this…”

“it’s a shame though.” Scarlet looked up at the ceiling. “When I found out you’re a twin. I thought about adding your sister to the mix, but she’s not the same. Such a pity, it would’ve been nice to have two of you.” She kissed her on the top of the head before placing her hands on her flat-chested breasts.

Pinkie shivered as she felt her play with her nipples. Her mind mulled over her words with chaotic thought. She would’ve raped Marble as well… if only… She felt her chest get heavy. Her head got light as a feather. Her body went limp from the stress of it all. Scarlet looked on, watching her fall into a pit of despair. Smiling at the work she’s done she picked up Pinkie’s gown with her magic. “We need to get going.” She pushed Pinkie off of her and handed her, her article of clothing. “Get dressed, I have to take you to the cafeteria for supper.”

Pinkie mindlessly stared at the gown, blissfully unaware of Scarlet getting dressed. Seeing her not moving, Scarlet bent down and placed a hand under her chin. Pinkie shivered from the touch and looked into Scarlet's sharp pink-colored eyes. “We’ll be doing this again when we can, don’t you worry.” She ran a thumb across her lips. “And when the war is over and I finish my stint in the army. You’re going to be my slave, and we can do this as many times as we want.” She kissed her on the lips.

Pinkie stared off into space. Her mind screamed in agony at the thought of being trapped with Scarlet for the rest of her life. Frowning at Pinkie’s state of mind, Scarlet slapped her across the face, startling her from her mindless haze. “GET DRESSED!”

Maud stared at her meal on her tray, it was a mixture of vegetables and grains held together by sadness. Letting out a sigh she picked up a glass of water and stepped into the cafeteria searching for the number eight table. Finding it, her eyes lit up when she saw her sister Pinkie sitting at the table. But her joy of seeing her sister dampened when she saw her sulking posture.

Biting her lower lip, Maud sat beside her and placed down her tray. “Hey Pinkie, how are you?” Pinkie kept silent as she stared at her tray of uneaten food. Maud noticed the meal and gave her sister a worried look. “Are you enjoying your gift?” Again, Pinkie kept staring at her tray of food, her eyes glazed over and her mouth slightly agape. Scared, Maud shook her sister. “Sis?”

Pinkie finally broke from her stupor and slowly looked at her sister. Upon locking eyes with her, tears began to pool around her eyes. “Maud felt a knot form in her throat. “What’s wrong?” At first, Pinkie stared mindlessly at her, but soon a low moan escaped her lips. “Please, tell me?” Maud pleaded.

Pinkie’s moan became raspy as she looked down at her lap. “S-Scarlet…” She fought back the tidal wave of emotions threatening to spill over her damn. “She…”

Maud watched her sister constantly crossing and uncrossing her legs. The world around her began to numb. Her stomach began to hurt as she saw her sister breaking before her. “She? What did she do?”

Pinkie looked back at her sister. “She said it would m-make me f-feel good…” Several tears rolled down her face. “But… But…” She struggled to speak as she fought off her emotions.

There was nothing more to say. Maud felt light headed as the reality of what Pinkie said struck her mind like a baseball bat. She felt sick, and felt bile in the back of her throat. Her world spun as she grabbed onto the table the best she could, but her numbing limbs failed her as she slipped off the seat and landed on the floor with a bassy thud.