“Hey, Sunset? Have a good day at school,” mom said with a smile after walking me up to the castle a few weeks after receiving my cutie mark.
“I will, mommy. I love you,” I replied with a smile and a hug.
“I love you too, sweetie,” mom said quietly when she returned my hug. I smiled and waved as I headed into the school, wondering what I’d learn today. Turns out it was advanced levitation in the morning, with math after recess, and then some more one on one time after lunch. It was challenging, but I made sure to do my best so mom would be proud of me. The day ended when the bell rang for the final time in the afternoon and I walked outside to see if my mom was waiting for me or not.
There was no sign of her yet, so I decided to wait a bit in case she was late. One of my teachers noticed this and asked if everything was alright. I told her that I was waiting for my mom and she sat down to wait with me since most, if not all, of the other ponies had already left. Ten minutes of silence passed and there was still no sign of mom. I was getting worried. She’d always come to get me since I’d transferred to the Princess’ school. A few more minutes passed before a white Unicorn stallion with a black mane and tail with a gradient of white to black on his muzzle and lower legs to his hooves stumbled up to the gates.
“Are you alright?” my teacher asked the Unicorn in concern.
“Oh … I'm fine. I'm just here to pick up Shunset,” the stallion answered in a slurred tone. “You wouldn't believe how many times I got lost.”
“With how you’re speaking, I can,” my teacher replied. “Go home for today. We’ll have Sunset stay here for tonight.”
“Even … uh … oh,” the stallion brought out a crumpled piece of paper in his mane with his magic and showed it to my teacher. She read what it said and looked at the stallion.
“You think I’ll let her go with you?” my teacher asked.
“Yes,” the stallion nodded matter of factly. “That … that is, ugh … Jewel’s writing. About her disssapewring.”
“I don’t care. I’m not letting Sunset go with you,” my teacher replied.
“Disappeawing? mom disappeared?” I asked in shock.
“And Twilightsss bawling her head off,” the stallion said.
“I-I’m going to go with my dad,” I told my teacher as I walked away from the gate.
“Are you sure, Sunset? You can stay in the dormitory tonight,” my teacher replied in concern.
“Yes, I’m suwe. Twily’s upset so I need to help hew,” I nodded as I got to my father.
“Very well, but know that you can stay in the dorms whenever you need to,” my teacher said.
“Bye bye,” dad waved a hoof with a toothy grin.
“See you tomorrow,” I said with a wave before beginning to walk back home with dad. He stumbled a few times and very nearly slammed his head into a pole but we managed to get home in one piece. “Dad, are you alright? You don’t seem well.”
“Nah, ‘s all good,” dad waved before collapsing on the couch when we arrived in the lounge.
“If you say so. I’m going to go check on Twily,” I said as I walked towards Twilight’s room. Twilight's crying got louder but it sounded like she was running out of breath. I quickened my pace towards Twilight, thinking she might be in trouble. I entered her room quickly and found Twilight bawling in the crib. I sighed in relief that she was just crying and levitated her out and over to me.
“Thewe, thewe, Twily. It’s alwight. I’m back,” I said softly to my sister. Her cries lessened and soon she was nomming on my mane. I giggled at this and smiled at her. “Twily, that’s not food, silly.”
Twilight appeared to protest by continuing to eat my mane. I shook my head and walked with her to the kitchen to get her something to eat that wasn’t my mane. The fridge had a fair few bottles of milk in it, looking like ten months worth of supply. I took one out and put a bit into one of Twilight’s bottles before giving it to her. I've seen mom do this a few times so it didn't look that hard. Twilight felt the bottle bump her cheek, making her turn. She found the bit and immediately began suckling. I smiled at her and inwardly rejoiced that I’d accomplished what I’d seen mom doing all the time.
“Feeling bettew, Twily?” I asked softly as I watched her drink her milk. When I said this, she gently let go and yawned before falling asleep. I chuckled softly before placing the bottle in the sink and the milk back in the fridge. Once I was sure the fridge door was shut properly, I walked back to Twilight’s room and placed her in her crib. Twilight curled around a stuffed toy with yarn hair, button eyes, and pink and white polkadot clothing on the legs. “Sleep well, Twily. Mister Fancy-Pants will keep you safe from the dark,” I whispered before returning to the living room to check on dad.
I found him snoring loudly, face down on the couch. Sighing, I grabbed a book, walked over to the vacant couch, laid down, and began reading.
THREE YEARS LATER
Over the last three years, I’ve attended Celestia’s school regularly, taken care of my little sister, and, most importantly, survived. I say that because my father, whom I thought loved me, has been drunk everyday and has been abusing me, calling me names, and making me do everything for him around the house. I live in a hellhole, but I keep doing it for Twilight. I can’t wait for the day she enters Celestia’s school and we can escape this place we currently call home.
“Bunny,” Twilight said proudly, pointing at me with a broad grin to match.
“Close, but not quite, little sister,” I grin at her. Twilight tilted her head, looking up at me. “It’s Sunny. Not Bunny.”
“Aww. Bunny id cooler!” Twilight complained. I chuckled at this and shook my head.
“Alright, you can call me Bunny,” I relented. Twilight cheered and hugged one of my forelegs. I returned the hug and smiled. “Did you have a good day, Twilight?”
“In ba doset?” Twilight questioned.
“Mhm, did you have fun?” I nodded. I’d told her to stay in the closet while I was gone. She didn’t quite understand why, but I knew dad would beat her too if he got his hooves on her.
“Id was boooring,” Twilight groaned. “Unbill dad banged the door.” I froze at this as my eyes shrunk to pinpricks.
“Twilight, did you open the door for him?” I asked in a serious tone.
“Mmm, a liddle,” Twilight confessed.
“Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” I asked in concern and panic as I looked her over.
“Afder he lefd. I obened id afder he lefd,” Twilight said happily. I sighed in relief, my body slumping more than usual when the tension left it.
“Good filly, Twilight,” I smiled at her. Twilight giggled and directed my attention to the book she had been reading in the closet. I looked at its title and found my sister’s purple aura grabbing it. “Twilight, have you been using magic to read?” I asked in surprise. I thought for sure that she’d take quite a while longer to get levitation down. Twilight shook her head and her magic faded.
“No. Ibs hard. I see you do ick all the dime,” Twilight sighed.
“You’ll get the hang of it, Twilight. I’ll help you practice since you already have the basics down from watching me,” I told her. Twilight beamed.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Twilight cheered and began hopping around in small circles. I couldn’t help but giggle at her reaction.
“You’re welcome, Twilight. My goal is to get you into Celestia’s school with me,” I said.
“I ged do go do skool wid you!?” Twilight gasped.
“That’s my goal, but we have to work really hard for that to happen,” I nodded.
“How-” Twilight was interrupted by the front door slamming open loudly.
“Shammer… where are ya!?” Dad’s voice boomed throughout the house and by the sounds of it, he had been drinking. I sighed and cringed at the thought of letting him know I’m here.
“Harder than dad by a hundred,” I whispered to Twilight. Twilight’s eyes widened in shock and surprise. “It’s tough getting into Princess Celestia’s school, but I know we can get you in there.”
“Shammer!?” Dad called out again.
“Obay,” Twilight said in a small voice.
“Okay, I should go before he goes berserk. Stay safe, Twilight,” I said before walking out of the room to confront my father. Before getting to the front room, I took a deep breath and exhaled. I steeled myself and walked into the living room. “I’m right here, Dad.”
“Why didn't you come earlier?” Dad asked harshly, his eyes struggling to focus on me.
“I was making sure Twilight had everything she needed,” I answered.
“Twilight?” Dad asked confusedly.
“My imaginary friend,” I told him.
“Ah, right,... right,” dad said before collapsing into a heap, like he does most nights now.
“Just stay right there, drunkard,” I muttered as I looked at the heap that was my father. He was collapsed among a few discarded bottles I hadn't managed to clean up yet. Shaking my head, I began my daily chores of cleaning and cooking. About halfway through, I looked out the window above the sink and directed my gaze to the far off castle. Life would be better there for us.
No one would hurt us, no one would belittle us, we could learn and read all we could. The only problem was that we needed the power to accomplish that. Power to keep ourselves from being hurt, power to learn and grow, power to keep each other from disappearing. This is what drove me to excel to push my limits.