The dangers of siblinghood · 3:02am Mar 19th, 2020
It was right about now when the trouble started, by Flax of all creatures, who turned to Hollyhock, looked up at her, and said, "I gotta go potty."
Not yet realising the trouble about to happen, Hollyhock replied, "Baby, do you need to go potty?" Which was the standard shock response made when a foal had just asked to go potty. Why this happened to be remained a mystery, one studied and contemplated by scholars, sages, and occasionally, when he was bored, Discord.
The trouble, which lurked, was set free by Flax, who said, "Yeah, I gots the turd-tingles in my tushy."
Sundance almost swallowed his own tongue.
Hollyhock inhaled. Her nostrils went wide when she exhaled. When she inhaled a second time, her sides expanded greatly. In and out she breathed, the quiet calm before the storm. Neck prickling, Sundance could sense the storm coming, but there was nothing he could do. His pegasus nature did not allow for these sorts of storms to be managed—but his instincts told him to run. Or fly. Yes, an expedient exit was in order. Yet, he was rooted to the spot and was rendered immobile by some terrible force of magic.
Then came the thunder.
"WHICH ONE OF YOU DID THIS?"
Hollyhock's head swiveled around, and she aimed her eyes like twin cannons. Unfortunately, her targeting system locked on to Pluck, whose panic caused him to freeze in place. After the thunder, a terrible silence descended upon the scene, a dreadful cancer that malignantly threatened to consume all sound. Completely thunderstruck, Flax covered her mouth with both of her front hooves, and then went perfectly still.
"YOU."
Pluck immediately went on the defensive. "What makes you think I did it?"
Lip curled back into a maternal snarl, Hollyhock turned the full force of her gaze upon the one-eyed colt. "You did this. You did this." She gestured in Silent Thunder's general direction and said, "He's mute. So he couldn't." Then, she pointed at Gerard. "He has manners. Incredible manners. So he didn't do it." After she made her point, she flung her hoof forward and aimed it right at Pluck, who cowered. "So by process of elimination, you did this!"
"That's a matter of opinion—"
"You did this to your baby sister! You called her your sister! As her big brother, you're supposed to protect her from the ugly things of the world… including you, yourself!"
"Well I—"
"There are no excuses for what you've done," Hollyhock snapped.
"Well, I could think of a few excuses if you give a minute—"
"No." She shook her extended hoof in Pluck's direction, which caused his head to bob with each thrust she made. "No, there are no excuses. You be a shining example for your baby sister… or else!"
"Or else what?" the plucky colt dared to ask.
"Or you'll find out what," was Hollyhock's sneering reply.
Properly cowed, Pluck almost changed species. "Yes Ma'am."
"That's right. Now come over here."
"Why? Am I going to be punished?"
"No." She lowered her hoof and for the first time, Sundance could breathe again. "So I can hug you. That's how things work around here. After you get in trouble, you get hugged so that you know that I love you."
"But we just met—"
"That doesn't matter."
"I sorta think it does—"
"I said that it doesn't. Now get over here!" With her hot temper on full display, Hollyhock stabbed her hoof into the floorboards with a nearly deafening thump. "Set a good example for Flax! Gerard, take Flax to the potty. Check for spiders. There probably won't be any, but it is a good habit to have. Always check for loo-spiders."
"I don't got turd-tingles no more," Flax announced. "Now I have piss-shivers."
Reaching up to rub her temple, Hollyhock's expression turned deadpan. "Pluck… what am I going to do with you?"
"Um… are you asking me for advice?"
"I don't wanna meet the loo-spiders," Flax said as she retreated into Gerard's embrace.
"It will be okay, Flax. We all have to learn to live with loo-spiders. Thankfully, I think spider season is over." She turned her heated gaze on Sundance. "Our baron took action and protected us rather than just wait around and hope that the problem would solve itself. That was good of him. He did right by us."
Hollyhock's opinion was duly noted by Sundance, who had nothing to say.
Everyone has a nemesis. These two just met. They have a unique relationship.
"So by process of elimination, you did this!"
Ouch. Ow! Ow! Ow! That stings. And stinks. Pew pun!
5223376
You've been... punderstruck.
Oh my
Uhhh... was it the language Flax used that set Holly off? I was very confused where the anger came from at first.
This should be entertaining. The games have begun!