Iron and Blood: We Dear Sisters

A massive steam train roared down the tracks along the southern foothills. Its eight cargo and two passenger cars rocked with the curvature of the White Horn foothills. It’s engineers shoveled coal into is hellish maw, feeding the flames within. With a smirk the operator leaned out and blared the steam whistle as the train passed a mile marker.

In the second to last cargo car sat an averagely sized unicorn stallion. His black mane was combed back and shined in the harsh yellow light above his head as he skimmed over his paperwork in the cramped cove, he called his office.

“Ratchet?” A unicorn mare called out as she stuck her head in the cove. “Are we still going to buy some prisoners when this train pulls into White Hills?”

He looked over his shoulder at the mare. “That’s the plan Willow.” He held up his paperwork. “We need at least two more if we want a full inventory.” He took off his glasses. “If we want to make a decent profit, we need to make a good choice.” He gave her a skeptical glare. “Can’t just buy the first thing we see.”

Willow nodded. “It would be great to pick up some young slaves.” She rummaged though a crate on the other side of the cove. “Big payday right there!” She pulled out several six-inch long bread bars filled with nuts and dried fruit which was as hard as brick. She hummed as she walked into the main compartment of the railcar and up to a three rusty cages.

Flipping a switch, three dull lights flickered on, revealing the cages to be filled with beings. “Wake up, supper time!” She yelled at her six slaves. The slaves who were baerly sleeping anyways, looked at her with tired eyes. She hummed as she tossed each of them a brick of bread.

Slowly the slaves picked up their meals and began sucking on the bread, softening it up for consumtion. She watched her slaves, studying their eating habits. “I can’t belive we picked up a pegasus and a human.” She looked at her business partner. “I’m surprised our government is even allowing it?”

Ratchet laughed. “It was only a matter of time,” He put away his papers. “You think we would allow those winged freaks a slice of the pie?” He peeked into the main cargohold. “And as for the human, its his fault he was caught.”

The human who barley spoke the native tounge of the ponies as well as the many accents and regional variations, matched the unicorn’s glare.

Ratchet chewed his cheek as he rolled his eyes. “Humans…” He muttered.

“Passengers we’ll be arriving at White Hill’s station tomorrow morning at six-fifteen.” The conductor annoucned over the intercom. Willow and Ratchet who were staring at the intercom speaker over their heads let out a sigh of relief.

Standing on the deck of the train station, Nightingale looked to his right eyeing the speck of black coal smoke rising over the horizon. Maud who stood beside him eyed the unicorns standing around the station. Most were young recruits waiting for their train, but some of the unicorns were wearing civilian clothing.

Nightingale watched her eyeing the unicorns mulling about. “What do you see?”

Maud shivered as she looked forward, giving him a sideways glance. “Just pony watching is all…” She saw a twenity year old stallion earth pony slowly following a young couple. He had a tan collar with blue gemstones. Looking down at her collar she rubbed the similar stones with a soft touch.

Nightingale kept his eyes on her. “White Hills is more than a work camp.” He looked to his left and pointed at a small town in the distance. “About two miles that way is the town of White Hills itself.”

Muad stared at the town’s hazy silloutte. She couldn’t fathom a town housing a mining complex ran by slaves. She squeezed her collar and sighed. “What’s the town like?”

Nightingale messed with her leash. “Quiet and dying.” He slipped his hand throuh the loop in the leash. “The only thing keeping the town afloat is this camp.”

“It would be thriving if you let the locals work it.” Maud stated dully.

Nightingale glanced at her with a dull stare. “I agree.” He smirked at her. “But that’s not reality dear.” Hearing the train blare its whistle, Nightingale sighed as he motioned her to follow. “Lets meet our special guests.” He said in a less than enusiatic tone.

Maud kept silent as she followed her master. “Err…” She hissed as she felt a slight pain in her stomach.

“You alright?” Nightingale looked at her bulging stomach.

“Yes, just the foal is all…” She gently rubbed the spot. He nodded as they contiuded down the station’s platform.

The train’s breaks screamed as it rolled into the station. Steam poured over the waiting ponies on the the platform. Maud’s fur stood on end. The steam felt pleasant in the chilly morning spring air. Hearing the last hiss of the train. Several camp staff walked closer to the train. A unicorn wearing a contuctor’s cap popped his head out. “Do I have permisson to unload my cargo?”

Nightingale gave the stallion a nod. The conductor returned the gesture and sounded the horn. The camp’s staff got to task as they opened the cargo railcars and began unloading the supplies.

Stepping out of their cargo railcar, Ratchet and Willow wormed their way through the crowds. Seeing the foreman, they smiled as they closed the distance. “Nightingale!” Ratchet raised his hand in the air.

Nightingale put up a fake smile as he took the stallion’s hand. “Wellcome back. Here to take from me once again?” Maud raised her brow. She glanced at the slave traders, her throat tightening up.

“Hey what can I say the market is hot right now.” Ratchet smiled. “And before you say anything, all we need is just two more.”

“Good, your teligram was very vauge.” Nightingale gave the unicorn a flat stare.

“You took the bait, didn’t you?” Ratchet smirked. “Lets see what you got.”

Nightingale nodded as he lead them to his office tower. Entering through the gates, they turned left and down the gravel covered ground. Coming up to base of his office tower, Nightingale waved down two gruards walking in their direction. “Yes, sir?” One of the guards saluted.

“Take her the offices.” Nightingale handed Maud’s leash over. “She can help her friend.”

“Come slave!” The guard commanded in a stern tone. Maud looked back at her master, her ears were errect as she stared at him with wide eyes. She tried digging her hooves into the gravel, but a firm tug from the guard sent her stumbleing after him.

“She seems like a handful?” Ratchet stared at Maud. “Is she for sale?”

“No…” Nightingale walked up the steps. “She’s pregnant anyways.” Ratchet and Willow looked at Maud and notice her buldging belly through her gown. They looked at each other and nodded as they walked the stairs.

“Any new arivals?” Raitchet asked.

Nightingale sighed. “Yes, but its going to cost you extra.”

“How much?” Willow tilted her head.

“An extra ten percent.” He frowned. “New bodies are better than old ones.”

Ratchet and Willow looked at one another for a split second before smirking at the foreman. “Can’t agree more.” Ratchet crossed his arms. “Show us your new inventory.”

Nightingale frowned as he pulled out a binder and slid it over to them. The slave traders smiled as they picked it up and began skimming through it. He sighed as he took out a cigarette. Plopping it in his mouth he lit the stick and took a long drag. “Found what you’re looking for?”

Ratchet shushed him as he turned the page. The page he was on listed four earth ponies. ‘Maud, Limestone, Pinkie, and Marble.’ Seeing that they shared the same last name, they smiled as they eyed the pictures of each slave and their information. “This is what we were looking for.” Willow whispered. “A family!”

Ratchet smiled, but it soon left as he looked over Maud’s information and picture. Recognizing her face, he looked up at the foreman. “Are you sure you don’t want to sell your slave?”

“Why are you asking me this again?” Nightingale raised his brow. Ratchet handed the folder back to him. He took it and looked at the page he pointed to. Seeing that it was Maud and her sisters, Nightingale finished off his cigarette. “I thought you said you wanted only two?”

“We did, but you have a whole family!” Willow smiled. “Just tell us your price, we want all four.” She placed her hands on his desk, her tail wagging from her excitement.

Nightingale stared at the childish mannerism she was displaying and lit another cigarette. “No, my slave is not for sale.”

“Why not?” Ratchet frowned. “I know she’s pregnant, but this!” He held out the binder. “This is an amazing find for us!”

Nightingale rolled his eyes. “You know the rules on pregnant slaves.”

Ratchet bit his cheek as he glared at Maud’s photo. “What about her?” He pointed at Limestone.

“No can do.” Nightingale sighed. “She’s a hot head but she’s a good worker. Not losing her.”

Ratchet’s mood was souring as he stared at Pinkie’s and Marble’s photos. ‘Eleven-year-old twins…’ He picked up the binder and showed it to Willow. “What do you think?” He pointed at the twins.

Willow hummed as she mulled over the photos. “They’re not identical, but we can make it work.” She looked at Nightingale and gave him another smile. “What about these two?” She pointed at the photos as she handed back the binder.

Nightingale looked at what she’s pointing at and slowly placed his fingers together. “You want those two?”

“Yes, give us your price.” Ratchet huffed.

“Well… Shit.” His mind wandered to Maud. He knew that selling her younger sisters would drive her into a fit of anger, but at the same time, with her being pregnant, he could use her unborn child as leverage to keep her in line. ‘You Pies are a stubborn bunch.’ He wondered what their parents were like. He shuttered at the thought. He was glad they were separated.

Then his mind went to Scarlet. Selling Pinkie would finally put an end to her unhealthy obsession for the filly and the trouble it caused… He shook his head and grimaced just thinking about it. ‘Sick mare…’ He thought of Scarlet. ‘I hate being short staffed…’ He looked at the slave traders and let out a sigh. “Four hundred bits.” He looked at the slave traders, “For each.”

Ratchet bit his inner lower lip as he mulled over the offer. “I’m not leaving empty handed, so you got yourself a deal!” He smiled offering his hand to Nightingale. “Just deliver them to our railcar, we’ll be waiting.”

Pinkie, Marble, Ruby, and Snowy mindlessly worked their sluice station. The loud humming of the pulverizer behind them numbed their ears as they dipped their hands into the cold water. Scooping up a handful of grounded rocks, Pinkie gently skimmed through them, looking for nuggets of copper.

With a shaky hand she placed her small hand full of nuggets into her bucket beside her and dipped her hands into the running stream of water to look for more once again. “How’s it going?” Pinkie shivered as she struggled to look over her shoulders.

Behind her was Scarlet, who looked down at her with a menacing sickly-sweet smile. “It’s going alright…” Pinkie noticed that her right eye had never fully recovered from the beating she received from Maud. She remembered when she found out, Scarlet gave her hell for it. She remembered Scarlet dunking her head into the sluice. Her struggle for air as the cold water sent chills through her body.

Scarlet became aware of her staring and covered her eye with her hand as she leaned in close to Pinkie. “Don’t you think I haven’t forgotten about this!” She whispered. Pinkie shivered as her hot breath ran over her neck. “When you get a break, I’m going to have to teach you some manners.” Scarlet hummed as she sucked on the tip of Pinkie’s right ear. Pinkie let out a pathetic moan as she felt Scarlet bite down as she placed a hand on the right side of her chest, giving it a little squeeze.

“Scarlet!”

Scarlet jumped back and looked over at the entrance to the warehouse and saw four guards approaching her. “Yes?” Scarlet asked as she stood at attention.

“Where are prisoners 5178 and 5180?” One of the guards asked.

“Right here.” She pointed at the fillies in question. “Why are you looking for them if I may ask?”

“They’re getting a promotion.” He joked as he waked up to them.

“P-Promotion?” Pinkie stuttered.

“Yes,” The stallion activated his horn and grabbed her collar. “You two are going to be slaves.” His other comrade grabbed Marble and dragged her out of the warehouse. Scarlet’s pupils shrunk as she watched the guards drag Pinkie and Marble out of the warehouse.

“RUBY!” Pinkie cried.

“Where are you taking them?” Ruby sobbed as she ran after her sisters-in-law.

Braking from her haze, Scarlet grabbed Ruby’s collar and held her back. “Shut it and stay still!”

The other prisoners, looked up for a short second before returning to work. Snowy however kept her eyes on Ruby, her own painful memories resurfacing. Ruby stared at the closed warehouse doors. She sobbed through clenched teeth as her closest friends were gone.

Scarlet stared at the closed doors. Her mind was a chaotic mess as she looked at the empty spot where Pinkie once was. Rage built within her as she smacked Ruby over the head and threw her bucket on the floor with her magic. “PICK IT UP! YOU CUNT!” Ruby shivered as she got on the floor. Tears pouring out of her eyes as she mumbled her cries of despair. Letting out sever snorts, Scarlet ran her hands through her short-buzzed cut mane. Feeling eyes were upon her, she looked around and saw prisoners and her fellow guards staring at her. “WHAT?” They dropped their gaze and went back to work.

Nightingale stood by Ratchet’s and Willow’s railcar. He looked at the clock over the ticket booth. Seeing that it was twenty-five past seven, he looked across the platform and eyed the gate.

“Are they here yet?” Ratchet crossed his arms as he leaned against the doorframe of his railcar.

“Almost.” Nightingale sighed as he pulled out a cigarette. Seeing some movement in the corner of his eye he looked up and saw his guards guiding the twins up to him. He saw their scared and bewildered expressions. Their wide eyes stared at the train, taking in all its grandness. “What took you so long?”

“This one!” The guard dragging Pinkie spat. “She’s a fisty one!”

Nightingale looked down at the pink furred filly and stared into her bright blue eyes. “She’s just like her sister.” He nodded at the railcar. “Load them up.”

The guards nodded as they handed the twins over to the slave traders. Ratchet smiled as he put on handcuffs around their wrists and lifted them into the cargo bay. Willow smiled as she opened one of the empty cages and guided them in. Humming a tune, she shut the iron barred doors and locked it. “The packages are secured.”

Ratchet smiled as he shook Nightingale’s hand. “Nice doing business with you.”

“Same.” Nightingale looked at the twin’s terrified faces. “Where are you going to sell them?”

“Canterlot, where else!” Ratchet got into his railcar. “See you sometime in the future!” He yelled as the train blared its horn. Nightingale watched him shut the door as the train rolled out of the station.

Maud sat at her cubicle. Her eyes mindlessly stared at the words on the papers in front of her. For her they were all a blur. Her mind couldn’t focus on the task before her. It was on the slave traders. She felt clammy as she rested her head in her hand. She prayed that her sisters, her husband or Ruby weren’t chosen.

The clanking of typewriters filled the air.

She shivered as she placed a paper in a basket. Not fully aware if it was the right one or not. ‘Please no…’ She prayed. They said two… but would they stop at just two? Feeling hot, she picked up a folder and fanned her face.

“You alright?”

Maud looked to her right and saw her mentor Cheerilee sitting in front of her own typewriter. “No…” Maud looked at her own typewriter and ran a finger across the keys.

“Thinking about your sisters?” Cheerilee asked. Maud nodded. “Thinking about Pinkie?” Again, Maud nodded. Cheerilee sighed as she placed a hand on Maud’s shoulder. “You did all you could. Just pray that their minds are strong.”

“It’s not about that.” Maud ran her hands through her mane. “Slave traders came by.” She fidgeted with the keys. “They said they’re looking for two more…”

Cheerilee felt a shiver run down her spine. “You don’t think?”

“I hope not…” Maud felt her resolve fading by the minute. “I need to know. I can’t wait any longer!”

“Maud!” Cheerilee hissed in a low tone, trying to not draw the Unicorn mares and prison mares working away at the typewriters. “Stay strong, they want you to breakdown.” She remembered her own torment. “Take deep breaths.”

Maud nodded as she took shallow breaths. “Slave?”

Maud looked up from her desk and saw a unicorn mare, wearing a dark purple military dress. Her light-blue fur stood out to her dark indigo mane and tail. “I need you to run over to the supply station, we just got a shipment in today from the train station.” She handed her a folder. “Go over the inventory and make sure the colts down there counted correctly.”

Maud took the folder and bowed her head. The unicorn nodded and walked away. Looking back at Cheerilee, Maud held her mentor’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze. “I’ll be strong.”

Cheerilee smiled as she shook her hand. “Everything will be okay… It has to be.”

Maud nodded her agreement to her words and got up from her seat and left the offices that were on the second story of the prison process building. Exiting the building, Maud held the folder close to her chest as she walked toward the storage house beside the train station.

She kept her head down as she stared at her hooves walking over the gravel road. Her mind drifted to her sisters and her husband. She began to think of the worst-case scenarios. Were anyone of them chosen. She felt a shiver dance across her back and her hands gripped the folder tighter. ‘And if they were chosen…’ She shook her head. ‘Stop it Maud, stop doing this to yourself! All will be okay…’ Maud saw a red in her peripheral vision. Looking up she saw Scarlet approaching her. She let out a gasp as she saw her pink colored eyes glaring hellfire at her.

“You fucker!” Scarlet growled as she activated her horn. Maud felt cold aura grip her neck. “What have you done?” She threw her to the ground in between the prisoner processing building and a large shed.

Maud orientated herself to protect her unborn foal by landing on her butt and bracing her fall with her arms. “What is wrong with you?” She hissed as she glared at the irate mare.

“What did you say to your fucking master!” Scarlet got on top of her and pinned Maud’s arms with her hands.

Maud choked on her breaths. She felt the pressure on her neck increasing and the cold sting of Scarlet’s magic. “What?” Maud managed to say.

Scarlet growled. “What?” She squeezed Maud’s wrists and pushed them into the ground. “You! You took her from me!”

Maud stared at the mare as her mind mulled over her words. “Took her?” She chocked in confusion, soon that confusion turned to dread. Her eyes widened. Her body numbed and the world around her faded as her mind fell into a pit of despair.

Scarlet loosened her grip on her as she saw her facial expression. “You didn’t know?” She got off her and fell back on her rump. “You didn’t do it…” She grabbed her tail. “No… Why would he?” Scarlet got up and stumbled back.

Maud stared at the mare as she fought her emotions. “Where did they take them?”

Scarlet let out a moan as she stared at Maud. “Where do you think!” She managed to say through her decaying state of mind. She let out a growl as she left, leaving Maud to fester in her thoughts. Feeling a heaviness falling upon her she stood up and ran to her Master’s office.

Nightingale let out a pleased hum as he listened to the soft music emanating from the radio. He rested his head back on the couch’s back cushion and opened his book and began reading. Hearing the door slam shut, he lowered his book and looked over at the door. Seeing his slave hyperventilating, he stood up and walked up to her. “What’s wrong slave?” Maud didn’t answer as she fought to catch her breath and calm her stomach pains. “Slave?”

Maud caught her breath and slowly faced her master. “You!” She growled. “Why did you take them!” She stormed up to him. “Why did you take them from me!” She pounded her fists against his chest.

He looked down at her with a raised brow. “How?” He grabbed her offending arms and lifted them over her head. “How did you find out?”

Maud fought through her tears. “Scarlet told me!” She tried to break his hold. “Why?” She sobbed. “WHY?”

Nightingale stared off into space. His jaw tightened. ‘Fucking Scarlet…’ He looked down at her frustrated posture. ‘She was going to find out eventually…’ He let out a sigh as he activated his horn. “Enough!” He shocked her with his magic.

Maud fell to the floor. Her body shivered and spasmed from the current flowing through her. “Why?” She cried as she struggled to lift herself from the ground. Her eyes stared longly at her master.

Nightingale sighed as he bent down. “You wanted me to stop Scarlet abusing your sister. So, this was the best option I had.”

The heaviness on her chest overwhelmed her as she curled up into a ball and clinched her belly. Her hand instinctively rubbed it. Feeling her foal’s kick, she choked on a sob. “Where are they going?”

Nightingale rubbed the base of his horn. “Canterlot… But after that, I have no answer.”

Maud sat up and clutched her head in her hands. “What am I going to do?”

Nightingale rolled his eyes as he grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up. “You’re going to get it together!” He held her firm by her neck. “No slave of mine is going to be a mental wreck.” He led her up the stairs to her room. Opening her door he shoved her in. “Now get yourself together, you still have work to do.” He shut the door.

Maud felt sick, her stomach was a whirlwind. She let out a hiss as she crawled over to her toilet. Throwing up her frustrations, she groaned out a cry as she rested her head on the cool porcelain rim. “This… This is not what I wanted…” She fought the urge to puke again. “This is not the life I wanted… Not for my family…” She slipped off the toilet and curled up into a ball, her tail wrapping over her in a vain attempt for comfort.