Berry Punch

"Are we there yet?" Ruby asked and I groaned. She had been asking that for the past few hours. When she hasn't been sleeping that is. "Mommy?"

"For the last ten times it was no," I answered as her face fell. "This time actually it's yes!"

Ruby gave a faint cheer mixed with a yawn as Ponyville came into view. We had been walking and sleeping outside for the past four days now. I spent all day walking and half the night to make decent time.

I took a step as the the saddlebag with Ruby in broke and she went rolling down the hill.

"Ruby, holy shit!" I shouted as she screamed. "Hold on!"

I galloped down the hill past her and laid down on my stomach with my forelegs and hind legs stretched out as she bounced into me.

"Well that was terrifying," I muttered as I hugged my shaking daughter. "You okay?"

"Scared," Ruby admitted as I felt her horn poking my mane.

"I'm scared too. That was Celestia awful right there," I admitted as I looked at the moon with Nightmare Moon in it starting to lower to make way for the sun. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I don't think so. So are we going to your sisters?" Ruby asked curiously as I pushed her up on my back and started to pick up a few items that fell out of the broken bag. At least the other side had stayed locked.

"No we're getting a hotel. Hotels are cheaper here than in Baltimare. Then I'll get a job, then buy us a house. I'll sleep with a stallion if I have to get us a hotel room," I grumbled as I finally finished cleaning up. I had no issues with sleeping around. I have needs too you know.

"How would sleeping with somepony help us?" Ruby asked curiously as I started the trot into town.

"One day I'll tell you. You're a bit young at the moment to understand."

"Five is not young!" Ruby shouted angrily and I snickered. "I'm a big pony. That's what you always say."

"Totally not young dear," I chuckled as I looked around in awe. Ponyville hadn't really changed in the past five years. I shouldn't have been surprised, it's primarily an earth pony town. We don't really like changing things up unless we truly have to.

"Ponyville is smaller than Baltimare," Ruby commented as some early morning ponies were setting up some stands in the town center.

"It's a pretty small farm town. I was born here," I admitted as we came up to a hotel and I pushed the doors open. A earth pony mare sat at the desk with a cup of coffee next to her.

"Good morning!" The mare waved and I smiled internally. Small towns were always friendlier than bigger cities. "Room for two?"

"Room for one please," I corrected as I nosed through my bag.

"Okay. Ten bits a night, plus free breakfast every morning and free dinner every night," the mare said as mine and Ruby's eyes widened. Hadn't really expected that.

"Here you go," I plopped down ten bits and the mare nodded before handed me a key.

"Room thirty five. Enjoy your stay!" She called out as I started trotting down the hall.

"She was nice. What does she want?" Ruby asked curiously as I started counting the numbers on the door.

"Nothing dear."

"Wrong answer! She's trying to sell us something. You always told me that the only reason somepony is being nice is because they want my bits," Ruby said adamantly as we reached our room and I pushed the key in the slot, turning the key and stepping inside. I took the key out and shut the door behind us. "Just like how ponies only offer candy if they want to fillynap me."

"Well that's true but mainly big cities. Ponies here do like bits because they need them more here to survive. It's mainly a farmer town. And while you should always be careful, ponies here probably won't take you. It's a friendly little town. Everypony knows everypony," I reassured my daughter as we looked around.

"I hope so. I have magic, I'll kick some flank!" Ruby boasted as I gave her a smug grin.

"Is that so?" I taunted her. "Then kick mine."

"Why?" Ruby asked curiously as I tensed up in an attack position.

"You said you can kick anyponys flank. Prove it."

"Under one condition," Ruby said as she rubbed her chin with a hoof. I gave her a wary look as she smirked. I knew that voice practically by heart. That was her I'm up to something voice.

"What is it?" I asked cautiously as Ruby continued smirking.

"I get to have a bunch of syrup on my pancakes each morning if I win. With strawberries and whipped cream," Ruby announced as I pressed a hoof to my chin.

"Okay fine," I said as she pumped a hoof in the air. That could have been way worse.

"Oh and you tell me why we aren't at my aunts."

And there was the other horse shoe.

"Fine. I can tell you that now. I don't want their judging eyes or their lectures. I'm the only one who has a filly. They would probably act better than me. Cheerilee and Cherry Berry always did like their lectures. The only who didn't was Cherry Blossom."

"Who?"

"My other sister. Mom had her before she married dad I guess. We only met her at the funeral for the first time and it was well awkward to say the least. She's a professional wrestler or something."

"Fun!" Ruby chirped as she knelt down a bit and galloped at me. I grunted as she tackled me and I went rolling across the floor. "Like this?"

I gave a chuckle as she stood on my chest, peering down at me as my mane cushioned my head.

"Not quite but close."

Ruby grumbled as I flipped her over and stood over her with a smug grin. She kicked at me with her hooves and I yawned.

I stayed like this till she fell asleep and I fell over next to her with my tail wrapped around her.

Author's Note

So I kinda forgot Cheerilee has a sister in canon so I have to figure out how to add her to the eqg side of this universe.