Vocaleero P.O.V.

My family and I, we live on a large farm plot, just outside of the Crystal Caves. It's just me, my sister Speakly, and our father Marc; our mother died ten years ago. There are many other families like us on the same plot; everybody is given 3 acres to live on and farm, and there is no traffic in or out of the plot.

We all are kept under almost constant watch by the Gemstone Bandits, a tyrannical group of Diamond Dog slavers. They are normally appeased by our harvest offering, but every so often, they come and take the families who produced the least, forcing them to mine in the Caves; those who are deemed unable to mine are executed on the spot.

At breakfast, I ask Speakly "Yo, what are you doing for Mom's Anniversary? You know it's tomorrow, right?"

"I have something special planned, don't worry about it brother." she replied.

Turning to Dad, I ask, "It's the 10th Annivers..." I stop myself mid-sentence, fearing his reply.

With heavy breaths, he replied: "Yes son, it's been 10 years since the Bandits caught her in the Crystal Woods". Holding back tears, voice breaking, he continued "I never told you two why she was in there, did I? She went in to gather some Amethyst Lilies, her favourite flowers. You know, she'd only seen them once: in a family photo album as a filly. Even then, she knew that those were the most beautiful flowers she'd ever seen. She was absolutely obsessed with them, and she drew them on everything. She even asked the Bandits if she could go into the Woods to pick some; they said no, of course. One day, she had finally worked up enough courage to venture into the Woods to try to get some; but as you can see, she failed". Father always thought of mother very highly, I couldn’t remember her since I was only a colt when she was killed...damn bandits.

We ended breakfast and went outside to the fields. As I exited our house, I noticed that the wheat had grown twice as high since last harvest. "This is good", I thought, "we're safe for another harvest."

As Dad and I were gearing up to harvest, we saw the Gemstone Bandits terrorizing another family near our plot. We did nothing, as we knew that any interference would result in the destruction of our farm, ruining our livelihood. Apathy is the only way to survive in this place; just keep your head down, work, and hope for a good crop.

As we worked, I looked up and saw smoke billowing from the other side of the plot; "another family must’ve either refused, or they didn’t have a good enough harvest" I thought. Since it is forbidden (upon pain of death) for pegasi to fly, we can’t move away clouds that would harm our crop amount. This ensures the Bandits have both a constant source of entertainment in pillaging and a means to keep us here.

Speakly set up near us, processing the harvested wheat so it can be used. She seemed distant as she worked, as though her mind was somewhere else entirely.

"Are you alright? You seem deep in thought about something." I asked concerned on how she’s holding up.

"Don't worry, I'm fine Vocaleero" she replied, easing my suspicions.

We continued working the fields all day until 8:00, when the Bandits sounded the signal for curfew. Nothing special happened that night, as we just drifted to sleep.

The next day, as I'm working in the fields, Dad runs up to me, frantically asking: “Where is Speakly?!?”

“I don't know. Why, what's the matter?” I responded, curiously.

"She wasn't here for breakfast."

“I’m sorry Dad, I don’t know where she...could.....be. Hey Dad, didn’t Speakly say she had something special planned for Mom's Anniversary? *pause* Dad, I think I know where she is!” With that, I set off to find her.

As I ran, Dad was calling out to me, but i wasn’t listening; thoughts ran through my head: "shit shit shit....she's in the Crystal Woods....she should know never to set hoof in there....I must find her quickly, or the Bandits will have her head for sure!"
Don't worry, I'm comin' Speakly!!

Author's Note

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