//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Dark Petals // by Marie Rivers //------------------------------// Black Rubies trotted into the house that her sister used to live. She slowly made her way towards the bedroom that her best friend and sister had shared. She stopped the second she saw Petals in the middle of the room surrounded by bottles of cider. Ruby, as her friends usually called her, sighed and shook her head and started to pick up the bottles with her hooves. She dumped all of them out and then silently picked up Petals and set her in the tub. She took the picture and put it back in its place and then put on the cold water. Petals jumped up and gasped "Oh holy sweet Celestia!" She then grabbed her head and groaned "I feel like my head was trampled by a herd of yaks!" Ruby shook her head and grabbed some medicine and a glass of water and gave it to Petals. "At least tell me Star was in bed when you got drunk." Ruby sighed sitting down and looked at her friend. "I would never drink if she was away! I don't want her to see me drinking or what i am when i am drinking. Blue I know that I shouldn't drink but without her it is so hard! She was not just my wife she was the one who accepted me for me even before my parents did." Petals was near tears at this moment in time. She then just collapsed to the ground crying. Ruby got down next to her and put her foreleg around her comfortingly "It will be ok. I am here for you Petals." Ruby gave her friend a gentle friendly nuzzle. She then stepped back and said "We need to get you in bed. I will take care of your daughter today. My friend got me something so I can stand the sunlight." Ruby gently nudged her Petals to get her up. Petals weakly got to her hooves and then made her way to her bed and collapsed in it. She again buried her muzzle in Night's old pillow and all but passed out. Ruby shook her head and went into the kitchen and then started to make some breakfast. She made some pancakes with apple jam on them. She also had some apple juice on the table as well as a fork and napkin. She then shook out her black mane so that it covered one of her eyes and closed her other eye before she made her way into Star's room. She gently used her magic, that seemed to look like a blood red color, to gently shake Star awake. Star grumbled sleepily and rolled over. Ruby chuckled and then said "Wake up Starry Night. Your favorite Aunt made you pancakes and apple juice with a side of apples and other fruits." Star grumbled and slowly opened one eye and jumped so high that some would think she was a Pegasus instead of a unicorn. She calmed when she realized who it was and talked Ruby giggling happily "Auntie Ruby!" She nuzzled the older mare before giggling and ran into the kitchen sittign down to eat. "Slow down there young one. All i get is a nuzzle? I mean when was the last time you saw your favorite aunt?" Ruby said teasing her little adopted niece playfully. She gave the filly a light nuzzle and a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry Auntie! I missed you so much! Where have you been! Why haven't you been around? Is you daddy still being a great big meany pants?" Star grinned before she started to eat again letting her most beloved Aunt start answering her questions. "I have been traveling as I do my job. My daddy will always be a 'big meany pants' but he has been less mean lately." Ruby answered quickly with a soft laugh as she watched the filly scarf down the food. When Star finished she looked up at Ruby "Can we play something? I don't care what i am just so bored that I wanna do something. Hey wait where is Mommy?" Star started looking around frantically looking scared and let out a pitiful and sad whimper "Hey Star it is ok your Mommy is just tired. She is just sleeping." Ruby quickly reassured the filly and smiled at her. She then stood up and said "Wanna go prank some ponies?" Star thought for a second then nodded eagerly and ran out of the house yelling "Catch me if you can Auntie!" Ruby laughed and then used her magic to quickly put the stuff in the sink before racing after her. Star ran throughout the street and laughed happily. She loved hanging out with her aunts. Especially Black Rubies she seemed so much like her mama and today she really wanted that. She ran until she had to come to a stop or she would run into her teacher. She giggled and looked up at her "Sorry! I am playing tag with my Auntie Ruby!" Ruby chuckled and then touched Star's side and chuckled "Tag you're it." Ruby then looked at the mare that Star was talking to and nodded her head saying "Long time no see Blue Heart." Ruby looked over the light blue Pegasus mare with a black mane and tail that had a strip of pink in it with stunning green eyes. Ruby's eyes traveled over the mare until it they landed on her cutie mark of a book and a red apple and chuckled softly. "Yes it has Ruby. I never forgot your promise. Well I must be going. You behave and listen to Ruby ok little one?" Blue Heart smiled at Star and ruffled her mane before taking to the skies. Ruby stood there watching the other mare with a soft sigh before she looked back at Star and grinned. Ruby took off running and yelled "Catch me if you can!" As Ruby ran her mind wandered to something that had happened when they were all fillies. "You got your cutie mark! That is great Ruby!" A filly aged Blue Heart squealed excitedly. She then frowned and said "This means I am the only one without a cutie mark." She looked at the pure white skull and cross bones on her friends flank A filly aged Ruby frowned and nuzzled her friend gently "Hey don't be sad Blue. You will probably get the coolest cutie mark of all!" Blue looked at her and said sadly "Are you sure? I mean do you really wanna be friends with a blank flank?" Ruby gasped in shock and said "I will always be your friend Blue! You are my bestest best friend! I promise no matter what I will always be your friend!" Just then a teenage Night and Petals rolled into the clubhouse where Ruby and Blue were giggling like fillies. "Hey if Misty Breath comes here we are not here!" Night giggled as they hid the closet of the club house. Ruby looked at Blue confused and said "My sister and her friend are crazy! Come on lets get out of here before Misty gets here and i get sucked into whatever prank Night had played. The pains of being the sister of one of the coolest ponies around!" With that Ruby and Blue ran off laughing. Ruby was abruptly brought back to reality when she was talked by Star. Star giggled and poked Ruby's nose before she took off running again. Ruby laughed and ran after her niece but her mind was still occupied by one blue mare. She laughed happily as she yelled "I am going to get you!" Star laughed happily and ran until she reached the candy shop and stopped grinning broadly "Auntie Sugar!" Star tackled her aunt and giggled happily. Sugar grinned gave her niece a hug and then jumped up and laughed "Starry! I haven't seen you in forever!" Sugar grinned and then talked Ruby and giggled "Little Sister where have you been! I haven't seen you in forever." Star giggled and rolled her eyes "Auntie Sugar i saw you yesterday!" Star giggled then ran into the candy shop. Ruby huffed and grunted "Star no candy! I don't want your mommy getting mad at me! Sugar get off me. I missed you two but i also like moving." Ruby chuckled softly before gently pushing her sister off. Sugar giggled then went into the candy shop saying "Whatever you say Rubies!" She then went to work on making more candy although she ate half of it. Ruby shook her head. Her sister would never change. She sat outside and sighed softly.