"Dad!... DAD! She is doing it again!!"
"Make her stop."
"Grrr... I am coming" The father grunts half sleep as he rises from his bed. He turns to look at his watch on the shelf next to his bed, 3:22 AM. He massaging the side of his head trying to ease his migraine that has been bothering him the last year or so.
"Dad!... Dad!!!!"
"I'm coming!" He finally answers out loud at hearing the screams of her younger daughter. He gets up from the bed and grabs an old oil lamp he uses to read at night. He lights it up and starts walking towards their room.
"Ok, what is it this time?" He says finally arriving. He stops to watch the dog laying down with its tongue out and panting near the bed of her younger filly. When the animal finally notices his presence, it started to wobbling its tail from left to right as a sign of happiness towards his owner.
"What!? What are you doing here? I remember tied you up to the tree outside." He gets close to see its leash around her neck and rolls his eyes at seeing that the rope was frayed. It seems that the dog has chewed out and pulled its way to freedom.
"Dad!, make it stop. It's creepy!" The younger daughter says from beneath her bed sheets as she was shaking in fear.
"Cherry, honey there is nothing to fear. It's Lucy, the friendly and... playful Lucy. Ough.. get off me." The father struggles to say as Lucy had tried to lick his face. "Why are you so afraid?"
"Is the Moonlight" Blueberry, the oldest daughter replay from her bed. "The moonlight that passes through the window makes her eyes to glow in the dark. Is actually quite creepy"
The father turned his head to watch the full moon that shines through the window. He walks towards the open window and closes the curtain blocking the moonlight to enter the room.
"Here see, there is nothing to be afraid." The father turns the valve of the oil lap at maximum to bright the room as much as possible. The room had a small candle as a nightlight but it seems it has already burned out. "It is just Lucy sweety"
The young earth pony with dark red mane and brown fur slowly get out from her bed sheets to look her dog standing next to her bed. "Lucy!" She screams happily and raises both hooves for a hug. Lucy gets all excited and jumps on the bed with the little filly rolling into its back showing she wants a rub in her belly. The giggles that her daughter makes as well as her big smile comforts the father heart. He can't believe that there was a time when she didn't laugh at all.
"Lucy just misses you, that is why it escapes from her leash and went into your room. There is nothing to be afraid" Cherry give her father an assuring smile. "That's my brave girl. Now Let me take Lucy into a different room so it can sleep."
" C-can she sleeps with me just this time. Pleaseeee" The little filly says with the best puppy eyes she can manage.
"Cherry, we have talked about this. It needs to learn that it can't do everything it wants or we can have behavior
problems and~"
"~ and if she doesn't behave she will be sent back to the animal shelter. I know" She finishes her father sentence before he could and tuck herself in bed once again with a disappointed frown." And Lucy is a she, not an it."
"*sigh* Yea sorry sweety, Goodnight" He gives Blueberry a good night kiss. "What about this, tomorrow after school we can play with Lucy all the time you want, We can even go to any place you like. How that looks sweety?"
"Can we go to that farm with a bunch of apple trees we see when we arrive? I always wanted to go to a forest and that place looks like one" She says pushing her bed sheets away looking at his father with hopeful eyes.
"Hu... hum... s-ure sweety. If everything goes well we-we will." He lies with an unsure smile feeling a little bit more guilty. "Good night Cherry" He stands next to her to tuck her for the third time this night until he makes sure she fell to sleep.
He turns around and walks towards Blueberry that is in a separate bed next to Cherry's. "You know she will come here again. Just like she had done before." Cherry says while looking worryingly at Lucy laying on the floor a few meters from her.
"Yes... I know" He inhales deeply knowing that that dog has been doing the same thing every night since she had arrived at the house. No matter how hard he tries to lock Lucy away from the room, she always finds the way to go back there but this was the first time Cherry has found about it. "Just... try to not think about it and help me calm your sister if it comes here once again. Will you do that for me and for your sister?"
"Hmm..ok" Blue responses hesitantly.
"That's my big girl" He gives her a good night kiss winning a small grunt from her. She hates being treated as a little filly.
After making sure both girls were in a deep sleep, he started to walk with Lucy towards a different room that had a lock. He took Lucy to the farthest room possible and lock her inside. Lucy didn't fight at doing so, she never does. She is, in general, a very calm dog. But this time, to make sure she can't leave the room, he puts a bookshelf to block the door just to be safe.
There, Let's see how you escape from that. He thought almost proudly for having that idea. He walks off into his room trying to get back to sleep."Ugh, stupid migraine. Please let me have a good night sleep. Tomorrow is an important day."
The clock's hands mark 8:30 and Berry Bush wakes up in a hurry taking a quick shower, shaving and dressing up properly for his first day at his new job. He had slept only three hours but that three hours were enough to wake up late.
After a quick discussion with himself of whether the red tie with pink polka dots that his two daughters have given him as a birthday present was formal enough for his new job or not. He runs into the kitchen and tries to prepare breakfast for three. An emphasis in tries since the milk he was using to prepare the pancakes was setting in a cooler with already melted ice along with other food products that should be kept in a fridge.
"*Sniff* *sniff* It doesn't smell bad," He says finally pouring the white liquid into the bowl with the other mixed ingredients and start shaking it to produce the pancake mix.
He starts walking towards the room of the two fillies with bowl still in his hoof but stops at seeing the dog once again in the room on the floor watching his daughters sleep from the same spot. Ough not again. B-but how? Berry put those thoughts aside, he is in a hurry. "Cherry, Blueberry wake up!! You will be late for school!!." The sudden sound surprised the dog as it makes a quick jump but she relaxes once realizing who it was.
"Good morning dad" Cherry was the first to wake up and greet him in between yaws. She gets up from her bed while she stretches up and rubs her eyes trying to be fully awake.
"..." Blue didn't even try to make words. Just some random grunting.
"C'mon Blueberry. I am getting late for my job and your school."
"Call the school and say I have a sick day. Ho, wait" She says in a sarcastic tone and getting out from her bed sheets to look at her father with an angry and tired expression. "I forgot, we don't have phone lines."
"Ho, it seems somepony wake up cranky today. But that one is not you. Right, my sweet, honey, angel." He says petting her younger daughter in the head.
"Dad, stop. I'm not a baby anymore" She says in between giggles while pushing aside her father hoof from her head. "Lucy Good morning," she says finally giving Lucy the attention she so desperately wanted.
She then follows to pet her. A few seconds later she stops to turn to give a confused and a worried face to his father. "Dad? I think there is something wrong with Lucy." Berry then get closer to have a better look. He sees that from its mouth a white and thick saliva was drooling down from her mouth, she also seems to breathe a lot heavier than they used to see doing. Lucy was laying down looking weaker once she relaxed in Blueberry hooves.
Crazy dog. All the nights you have watched my daughters sleeping without laying an eye down finally catch up to you.
"Dad? What is happening to her?" She asks loudly, more worried that she had asked before. "There is nothing to worry about sweety, she is just...ough.. tired and... still half sleep. Would you give its breakfast in the kitchen with a big bowl of water?" Cherry nods walking towards the kitchen prompting Lucy to follow her.
He watches the two walking down the corner thinking deeply. Great now I have to pay for the vet to examine her, maybe I should return her to the animal shelter.
"Haha, Lucy what are you doing? stop it *Giggle*" Berry Bush hers her Dougher from the kitchen and sigh deeply.
"And what about you cranky pants? Wake up already or your pancakes will get cold." He says getting closer to Cherry who was still in her bed giving her back to him.
"Dad, Why we still don't have phone lines, or gas or even electricity in the house." The question took Berry by surprise as he almost drops the bowl.
"Haa wha--why are you asking that all of the sudden?" Blue didn't make a sound. Berry lays the bowl in the bed and seats in the bed next to Cherry. "I--I already call to reconnect the lines and the electricity but they haven't come. But you are right, I will go and talk to them once again to put a complaint to the companies." He lies scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Liar," She says in between sobs.
"Blue, whats wrong? Are you ok?"
"My friends said that they will be going to call me once I got to my new home but how are they going to call if we don't have a phone." Berry went silent. He couldn't explain the situation in which they find themselves."I know you know? I know we don't have money. I know that that is the reason we are living here." She says finally turning her head to see his father. She was looking at him with puffy eyes.
Ever since Berry Bush was fired from his job he has been having troubles in getting a new one. They have survived all this time thanks to his savings but they were almost gone by now. He receives a fantastic job opportunity in working in the Brothers Com. as an architect for a brand new mall center. He even received a place for his daughters and himself to live free of charge but the houses are brand new and there aren't many utilities available in the neighborhood. At least they have running water.
I almost forgot that my little fillies aren't that little anymore."I am really sorry hun, I should know that you will worry too I-I promise that things will get better, for the three of us. We just need to survive this couple of weeks"
This seems to calm her a bit but only her anger expression changes into a sad one. "I... I.." she hesitates to say. "I dream about ... you know. About our old house with my old school and friends. And about... you know... her" Berry stands up from Cherry's bed so quickly that he accidentally drops the bowl with the pancake mix in it spreading it all over the floor. Blueberry looks at his father in surprise as at seeing his fathers face.
"T-t-t-. I-- sorry hun I-I will clean this up, meanwhile, why don't you go to the kitchen and eat some cereal. And help your sister with it too. I've there in a minute." The father says nervously as his face turns back to normal. He picks up a nearby piece of rough and starts to clean it. Cherry a little sad and guilty does what his father told her to do and stands up walking into the kitchen
"Dad!, why is there a bookshelf laying down in the highway?!" Cherry screams.
"Yeah, I will get that too. don't worry about that" He says with a smile forcing Berry to give him a smile too.
"Good evening Mam. I come to see how my dog is doing." Berry says to the pony in the veterinary's waiting room. She is a light yellow earth pony with faces of a dog a cat and a bird as cutie mark.
"Ho yes. Mr. Bush right? Please follow me" The Veterinary take Berry to her office as she talks to one of the nurses to help bring his dog to her room. They enter into a pure white room like any normal doctor's room with the exception of the lacking the cushioned table doctors use to inspect ponies, in its place, there was a metallic, flat table with a pole in the middle to better help in examining a pet.
"So, Mr. Berry Bush, I don't remember ever see you before in this town. Just recently move I presume?" The vet says as she took a spry and wipe the metallic table with the substance inside.
"Yes indeed. Just the past week actually."
"Ho, and what brings you into a remote place like Poniville Mr, Bush?" She says finishing wiping the table and drying it with paper towels.
"Please, call me Berry. Mrs?"
"Mrs. Fauna."
"Fine Mrs. Fauna. Actually, come for to work as architecture."
"Ho,... You are one of them."She replies changing her gaze away from him. "You were contracted to destroy sweet apple acres. arent you?"
"Well, destroy is a strong word..." Berry says nervously scratching the back of his neck.
"I suppose was inevitable. I know that will happen since they destroy the Everfree forest to build those new departments."
"Well, is just as their motto says. You can't stop progress" Berry says while forcing a smile moving his front hooves as some sort of dancing. Both stared at each other with a hint of sadness more than ashamed in their eyes as Berry start looking at the clock in the wall eager for this conversation to end or at least change of topic.
"I can't believe the Princess will allow something like this." Berry give a small chuckle at this. "What''s so funny?"
"Ho excuse me. I didn't mean to be rude is just that... well, Celesta can call herself a Princess but the brothers are the ones in control here. I guess I shouldn't be complaining. They are the ones who give me the job, I could finally give my family a good life." Both ponies stare at each other in an awkward silence for a couple of minutes.
"So... you have a family. Any kids?"
"Hum. Yes actually" Berry answers gladly the topic has changed. "My younger daughter is just starting school and my older one is about to graduate from elementary." Berry talks about their two daughters with a big smile on his face.
"Ha that's is nice. And what about Mrs. Bush. Is she working too?" The question upset him as his smile disappear and a sad looking to the floor was taking its place.
"I-I... There isn't a Mrs. Berry for the moment."
"Ho, I-I am sorry. Widower then? Sorry for you lost"
"No. not quite like that. no"
"Ho...sorry.... so... you adopt?"
"I am sorry but how long this is going to take? I just want to know how is my dog doing and how much is it going to cost me. I had important things to do." Mrs. Fauna surprise for the sudden outburst stump behind the table.
But before She has the opportunity to apologize, a light orange earth pony with green mane enter the room with Lucy in a leash.
"Excuse me, doctor. I have some troubles getting her out of her cage."
"Um- sure. Thanks, Sandalwood. Could you please sit her on the table." The vet asks the green-mane pony but at seeing Berry, Lucy runs to greet him as she always does.
"Lucy, Get off... me... and put that tongue away." He says finally pushing her aside while wiping the wetness from his face with tired eyes."Thanks for the shower. Ough"
"Sandalwood please take her to the table." Mrs. Fauna says don't want to upset more his client.
"Yes mam, sorry mam"
With a little bit of struggle, He was able to sit Lucy and secure her leash in a pole in the middle of the table. Lucy was surprisingly uncooperative. In all this time he was with her she was very obedient with everpony. The mare in the animal shelter says that she was very well trained, very obedient and good with the kids. I guess she forgets to mention that that didn't include doctors or that she has an odd behavior at night for that matter.
"Ok, Why don't we see what we have here." The vet says raising an x-ray that she made of the dog. Giving it a quick glance she lay it on a desk to grave another piece of paper with a bunch of numbers and medical terms." Humm not. Nothing here Mr. Berry. I can't see anything unusual with her other than she was slightly dehydrated and laking sleep when you bring her."
"Are you absolutely sure about this. I mean look at it. It's breathing heavier than I ever see it before. Is that normal?" He asks but when he turns to look at the vet, it was his turn to take steps back in shock as she was giving him a quick cold glare at him. "What? What did I do?"
"Tell me, Mr. Berry. Is she your first pet you ever had?" She says while approaching Lucy and petting her gently in the head.
"Well, yes actually. My parents were allergic to animal fur so they didn't like animals and I didn't consider to having one until just recently. Why you ask?"
"Contrary to many ponies think, Mr. Berry, dogs are pretty smart. They aren't just animals that eat and poop. They have dreams and nightmares, as well as fears. Here, cute thing. Have a treat." She says to Lucy as she took a piece of biscuit from one of the jars in her office and give it to her. A thing that she joyously grabs and eats.
"So what you say is..."
"She is just nervous. She pants like that because she doesn't want to be here. I am not surprised. Many dogs hate me, I make them remember bad things. Is the cross I have to bear I guess." She sighs heavily as she finishes petting Lucy.
"Other than that, she is perfectly healthy"
"But she doesn't sleep at night, that can't be healthy?"
"I am afraid I can only cure her body Mr. Bush, You will need to cure her mentally for that. I am not sure what but she must have a good reason to do what you describe me she does at night. My best advice I can give you is to make sure she receives the enough water to drink and to get her a good place to sleep. With a good bed, or even better, to sleep with one of the members of the family"
"I..uhmm. Thanks, doc. I-I will keep that in mind." He says in disappointment. He can't have the luxury to buy a bed for her and sleeping in somepony's bed is out of the question, he didn't want to risk her daughters or himself with tick's bites or any other infection that a dog could bring.
As soon as the doctor realize the leash from the pole, Lucy jumps at Berry knocking him on the ground. "AAHAA-OOOH... Thanks, doc. I will bring it back if it gets sick."
That just made her give him a tired look along with a roll of eyes. "Sure, Mr. Berry. If anything happens, bring her here. We are open 24\7."
And with a painful rise from the ground, Berry was practically dragged outside the veterinary by Lucy who was desperately trying to get out of the building. "Ho-oo. I am too old for this"
"Who wants Pizza?!" Berry ask out loud as he enters his home with Lucy quickly behind him entering the house anxious to be there and to drink water from her bowl. "Girls! Girls?!"
He starts walking towards the leaving room, nothing. Then toward the kitchen, nothing either. He puts the pizza he has just bought on the kitchen table as he starts watching all direction with worry."Where are they, they should have returned from school by now? "
He stops his track as he sees Lucy walking up towards his daughter's room. "Lucy!" *Giggles*. Berry hear his youngest filly laughing calming his fear. He starts walking up the stairs and by doing so he was able to hear bits the chit-chat that the two fillies were.
"C'mon sis. We have to tell dad."
"Wait, Cherry. You don't..," Cherry says raising a hoof trying to stop her sister from running but fail at it.
"Dady" Cherry says as he sees his father walking up reaching the second floor.
"Hello, sweaty. Did you get fun in school today?" He says as Blue had jumped on his back hugging the back of his neck.
Berry turns to see her nodding with a smile. "Yep, It was a lot of fun. I made many friends there."
"I am glad."
"Hey dad, mail got here," Cherry says pulling out a bunch of letters from her bag.
"Ho... Great, mail" Berry says sarcastically as he picks up her daughter from his back and put her next to him. From his experience, he wasn't too happy with new mail. It always comes with last warnings from bills and credit cards." Let me see those." He says pointing to a letter poking out from Cherry's saddlebag.
"Dad!" Cherry scream as he was about to reach for the letter.
"Ho. Hi, Blue. how was school? I hope you didn't get into trouble, at least not for your first day." He says in a funny tone.
"What! Me? Puff na. How could I? When I did ever do something like that." She says with an innocent smile.
"Well, there was that time school when..."
"I told you. I don't know how that frog ended up in Mrs. Vallier coffee. or those tacks in her seat. And differently, I don't know what happened to those strange pills of hers."
"Those strange pills were her heart medicine. She had to be hospitalized." He replays with a small frown.
"It was a set up I tell you A setup," Cherry says stomping her hoof on the floor. In the last years, Cherry had behavior problems at school, It was even rumored that her old professors had called her the blue menace.
"Berry sight heavily. "At least it wasn't too serious and she survived. Well, stop with those things from the past. Let's eat dinner. I bring pizza"
"Yea Pizza lets hurry then." She says graving the hoof of his father trying to drag him into the kitchen downstairs.
"Wait! dad what about the mail?" Cherry says holding a letter in her mouth.
"Letter sweety, let's eat first. ok?"
"But daaaaad. Is a special letter. A very special letter,"
"Cherry, no!" Cherry scream in silence giving the attention from his father,
"A special letter you say," He says raising an eye brown to Blue. She just gulps at seeing this.
"Dad, please just... don't go crazy," Cherry says backing up a little walking towards her sister and putting her behind her.
"I know it. Blue, if it is a letter from the school I swear for Celestia sake that I... I..."He suddenly gets silence as he read the letter.
Hello, Berry,
I heard you move out with the girls. I know that I shouldn't complain but you should at least notified me, I guess you have your reasons. I just hope this letter will be re-directed to your new address. Since I left, I have met a new friend, Filthy Rich, I am sure you know him. Well, he has made me realize that I miss my babies and I want to see them once again. Would you please tell me where are you, or even better, why don't you bring them to Manehattan to Filthy's place? You will make me a big favor if you do. I believe I have the right to see them as much as you do. Tell them that when they come gifts for the two will be waiting.
sincerely, Spoiled
The room went silent during the few seconds Berry was reading the letter over and over again looking for a hint that she was kidding. Nervous, Blue make sure Cherry was close behind her. Cherry, who wasn't sure of what was really happening, move close trying to see her father face since the piece of paper was blocking it from where she was standing.
"Dad?" Cherry asks.
"Ok, who wants pizza? We better eat it fast before it gets cold." He says with an uncanny smile making the two fillies to feel uneasy. He then follows by making a ball from the letter and tosses it into a nearby trash can.
Berry then walks down into the kitchen prompting her two daughters to follow. He even calls Lucy to feed her with her food. The two sisters look at each other not really sure what to make out of these so they simply follow him into the kitchen.
"Dad?" Cherry asks cautiously.
"So what do you girls want to drink? We have water, milk or.. more water"
"Dad, can we go and see mother then?" It was the turn of Blueberry to say something.
"Well, we also have beer but that is just for me. We don't want you two to become a hooligan at such young age, aren't we? haha," Berry says jokingly laughing while picking up three plates from the top shelf in the kitchen.
"Dad, I want to see mother. Can we go see her?" The red hair filly asks innocently.
*Smash*
The sound of ceramic plates breaking in the floor make Cherry to yep and jump, Lucy also stops eating and staring at Berry, Blue to step forward to shield Cherry by instinct.
"Two years" Berry start speaking in a low voice. "Two years, we haven't heard from her in two years. then suddenly she says something and you want to go back with her. Is that it?" He says raising his voice.
"Dad, calm down. You are being scary." Blue says holding Cherry close to her. She has used to see him like this every time her mother ended up in a conversation but it seems this time is the worst so far.
"I mean, who she thinks she is? I've been trying to contact her since the first half year she left. She can't just suddenly show up asking to see the girls. What about all the times I have to take care of them when they were sick or injured all on my own all while I was finding a job at the same time. How could she even~" Berry was now passing around the kitchen mostly talking to himself pushing aside anything that was in his way. Not even caring that he was stepping on the broken pieces of plate on the floor.
The girls couldn't say anything and just get where they were standing with tears in her eyes. Lucy was starting grunting loudly at Berry but he didn't even notice it or care.
"~ A piece of paper. A miserable piece of paper, that's the only thing she left when she left us. And now, and now Filthy comes wanting to steal my girls too. HOOOO That's it. That's it, isn't it?" Berry says getting closer to where her two daughters were staying still. "You just want the gifts she promises, don't you?" He says eyeing them.
"I know we don't have that much right now but that is why we move here. To have a better life. So please girls, don't abandon me too"
"Dad! That is not true. W-we just want..."
"We?" Berry ask in surprise this time eyeing only Blue. "You too?" Blueberry didn't dare to look at his father. She limits herself at looking at the broken pieces of ceramic spread on the floor.
"Did- did you forget what she did to me!!! To-to us!!" Berry says stomping his hoof on the ground and raising his voice even louder. At this time, Berry was having the same wetness in the eyes as her two daughters had. The sudden scream, as well as the loud stomping on the ground, make Lucy uneasy too and started to bark loudly at Berry.
"Dad, is not that. We will never leave you. Is just...is just. We want to see mother."
"What? wh... Ooooww.My-my head" He suddenly stops taking steps back. He takes the nearest seat and seats down resting his head on the kitchen table massaging his templates trying to ease the strongest headache he ever had.
For several seconds, the only sound that could be heard in the house comes from the barkings of Lucy.
"Uhm father? Are you ok?" Cherry finally had the courage to get closer and ask.
"Here, take this" Berry says taking the square cardboard box of the pizza and handed it to Blue." You two go to your room and eat there. We will discuss this tomorrow. I had a long day at work and I need a good night rest." Blue didn't discuss. She takes the pizza and begins to walk upstares to her room with Cherry beside her. Blue tries to prompt Lucy to follow her but he stops her.
"No, I say I need to rest and I cant do it whit Lucy in the house." He gets up from his seat to grab the leash. Lucy was more than happy at seeing this since it means she will going to take a walk at night.
"Dad?" Blueberry asks. "Where are you going with Lucy?"
"I'm going to take a quick trip to the animal shelter." He says in a monotone voice.
"What!!? Dad, no!! You cant do that. I will not talk about mother again but not take... *Slam*" Berry didn't even bother to finish hearing Cherry pleading as he slams the front door with Lucy at his side walking in the direction of the animal shelter.
The sun was already set and Celestia had risen the moon for everypony to see along with the sky full of stars. But not even the sight of a clear night sky distract him from his thoughts.
"How she dares asking to see the girls, no, how she dare to even want to see them. Stupid Filthy Reach, he not only wanted my wife but also my girls. I will not allow that to happen." He though with an almost done bottle of beer in hoof. He was drinking it while walking, luckily any guard had seen him so far. "Ough and this stupid migraine. It isn't going anywhere." He thought finishing the bottle of beer along with some medicine for a headache. Now that he thinks about it, that shouldn't be the brightest idea he ever had but he wasn't thinking clearly at the moment.
"Ugh? C'mon Lucy walk already" He says pushing the leash as Lucy was walking slowly or even stopping to seat in the ground for time to time. "We are just mare minutes to the animal shelter C'mon. Move!" He put more effort in pulling the leash making Lucy hit a nearby tree.
Not even the soft sounds of lament that the dog was making slow Berry's pace towards the animal shelter." Stop whining stupid dog. Is not like I am going to leave you there forever, at least that isn't my immediate plan. I just need.... a... good... rest...." He says pulling even harder as he was mere centimeters from the door but Lucy was fighting to get away from that place as much as possible but at the end, Lucy couldn't withstand Berry strength and gives up once she saw the door opening.
"Ho. Good night madam, I'm sorry to bother you at such hour but I kind of need a favor to ask you if you are not too busy" Berry ask at seeing the yellow pegasus in charge of the animal shelter and the one who recommended Lucy to his family.
"Ho Mr. Bush, so it was you who was making that noise in front of the door, sure not at all. Please come in." The Pegasus says politely as she shows a small hint of worried at seeing Lucy with him but quickly changed it into a smile. The pegasus prompts with her hoof to follow her into her office at the end of the hallway.
As the two ponies walk along the hallway, they pass through all the cages whit several kinds of animals resting and laying down. Lucy who was fighting him not so long ago was surprisingly docile now. She wasn't pilling the leash or was unwilling to move along with Berry but when he turns to look at her, he saw that her tail was low touching the floor. No longer constantly moving and raised as he had always seen her.
Finally, they arrive at her office, It had all the thing she had seen in the veterinary room except smaller. She asks Berry to take a seat as she leaned down to see Lucy, petting her and trying to give her a dog treat that she keeps in her green overall she was wearing. "Hello Wi..hum.. what was her name aguain?"
"Lucy" Berry responded hesitantly.
"Right, Lucy. Good to see you back but... a guess you are not too happy to see this place again. Isn't it?" She says while petting her with a melancholic face. Lucy wasn't looking too happy either. "So, tell me Mr. Bush what was that favor you want to ask? I hope is not the one that everypony comes for. I hate when that happens."
"No, no. Well, at least not right now. I heard you were an animal caretaker too. I just wondered if you could take care of Lucy for the night."
"But of course Mr. Bush. I will be glad to take care of her. But why all of the sudden, are you going to a trip or something?"
"No, not at all. I just had a little problem with her at nights that's all. She doesn't let me sleep at night and I really need a good night rest"
"Ho my, I am sorry to hear that. especially since I was the one who recommended her.Tell me, did she bark at night or she jumps into your beds or..?"
"No, nothing like that. It is more complicated than that. you see~" Berry started to explain Lucy behavior at night. How she desperately tries to go into her daughter's room to just watch them sleep, especially her youngest daughter and how it has affected both him and the dog's health.
"Ho, I see," She says looking at Lucy with pity. "I can get a pretty good idea of that."
"Wait? You know about this? Why didn't you tell me?" Berry says angrily at the mare who jumps a little at seeing Berry reaction.
"No, not at all what I meant. What I try to say is that I am not surprised she acts like that. You see she-she was" The mare had difficult to say, it seems like she feels a lump in her throat. " She was abandoned, the poor thing," Berry seems to be very interested now in what she had to say. His face changes into a calm one and finally sits down on the ground waiting to hear the rest.
"Wi..hum I mean, Lucy was the pet of one of my best friend who used to live in here." The yellow pegasus says looking sadder. "Her whole family used to live here, actually their family was the main responsible for founding this town. Is so sad they were kicked out of their farm."
"Their farm? So your friend... the family who you are talking about is..."
"Yes, the Apples, Her name is Applejack," She says with a small smile with her gaze over Lucy.
"Hum..I ..I am sorry" Berry answer gulping his own saliva at filling a lump in the throat.
"Don't be Mr. Bush, I understand you are only doing your job. It wasn't your fault."
"Wait, you know? How?"
"Poniville is still a small town Mr. Bush. News spread quickly here. Also, I am a good friend with Mrs. Fauna."
"Right, aham" Berry says hesitantly. He truly feels sorry for what he was about to do but glad at the same time for the job opportunity. The conflict in feelings had fused together transforming it into a feeling of guilt.
"As I was saying" The mare continue saying brushing Lucy fur with her hoof making Lucy drowsy, almost sleep. Her lack of sleeping was really affecting her. "Applejack and all her family had lost her farm to the brothers. Claiming that it was for a better future for Equestria. You can't stop progress as they like to say." She says the slogan forcing a smile and dancing with only her front hoof as they have seen in T.V. many times before.
Berry, at seen this, gain an awkward laugh remembering the many times he has done it himself. "But Applejack knows better, they always had some kind of grudge against Applejack and her family. I still remember that day, when the needed to abandon her home. That morning Applejack asks for some sleeping pills to mix it with her food. I thought she needs them so Wi...ahum, Lucy wouldn't be difficult to handle in their long way to Appaloosa but... *sight* I was wrong." She stops for a second to clean her eyes and her forced smile suddenly changing into a sad one.
"I still remember that calm night."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
The heavy slam of the door perturbed the mare in the animal shelter from her nap in her office.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock* "Fluttershy? Fluttershy! Are you still there?" A familiar voice with an indistinguishable accent asks from the other side of the door.
"Applejack? Whats wrong? Are you ok?" Fluttershy asks with worry at seeing her friend all tired out gasping for air.
"Hi Fluttershy, I'm fine. Don't worry. Ah've been running, that's all. I-I am leaving now Ah just wanted to say goodbye to Y'all in town."
"What? You are leaving. So soon?"
"Yes, Fluttershy and you are my last stop. I don't know when I will see you'all but I will not forget any of you" Both mares get close and extended their hooves for a warming hug.
"And one last favor I want to ask you Fluttershy." They let go of each other.
"Sure Applejack you can ask me anything"
"Can-can you please take care of her. Please make sure she had a good home. Alright?" Fluttershy finally notices the box or should it be, a cage with a dog sleeping in there.
"What? Why? What happen? I-I cant I..."
"Ah am so sorry Fluttershy. Ah've tried, Ah really did. But we simply can't take care of her, not anymore" Applejack tries to say in between her sobbing. "And we, no..., Ah can't do it. Ah simply can't. Ah can't look at her and tell her goodbye and Ah can't tell lies either."
"Applejack. Will you not even say goodbye to her?" Fluttershy asks in shock of her friend action.
"I'm sorry Fluters, But Ah guess is better this way. Is better if she hates us. Ah am sorry but Ah should go now"
"Applejack wait?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"But She didn't stop.That was the last time I see her. When she runs with tears rolling from her face." Fluttershy finishes telling as she too had some drops rolling down her face.
"I don't know if I could ever forget Applejack if I ever see her again but... I can't say that I don't understand why she did it. Is hard to say goodbye. But it was cruel forcing somepony to sleep to then waking up in a different place with no sight of your family. It must be horrible"
Thos last words resonate in Berrie's head. Forced to sleep, waking up with no one you loved longer there. The Insomnia it almost explains every...
"I can just imagine her little sister, she must be inconsolable. She was the most attached to her than any other member of her family."
Finally, all was clear for him. Memories passed trough Berry's mind. Memories of the first time he saw Lucy, how happy she was at seeing them, especially her daughter Cherry. Memories of the last time she saw her loving wife before she leaves a small letter saying she was leaving him. "Even with all the things you have gone through, you still have the strength to be happy again with another family. But-but you are still uneasy aren't you? Stupid dog, Who have thought we have so much in common." Berry get close to Lucy and lay down to her level to have her eye to eye and proceeded to hold her in a warm hug.
"Mr. Berry are you ok. What happens I.. Hooo mine? Do you need a medic?" The mare stands up all worried. Berry watch her confuse of what the fuzz was all about until he feels the drops of water running through his face.
"Please don't. Don't worry. I.. I just..." He was enabled to finish as his sobs were interrupting him. He cleans his face from his tiers feeling ashamed to have shown this side to him to a stranger. "I just got something in my eyes."
"Are-are you sure?"
"Yes yes, I am fine. C'mon Lucy Lets go home." Lucy seems to regain the strength at hearing this and bark in approval. "Thanks for explaining me this Ms. Fluttershy and I am sorry to bother you in such late hour"
"You are going home, what about Lucy?"
"Sorry. I change my mind. She is going home, with her family" Both Berry and the yellow mare share a smile and wishes a good night before leaving the animal shelter directly into their home.
When they arrive home, her two daughters were already in their bed. Blueberry trying to sleep and Cherry showing signs to have been crying herself to sleep. But as soon as they heard Lucy barking, they stand up to greeting her. After long apologies and promises of eating Icecream for breakfast for a whole week, the two daughters and father embrace each other in forgiveness and gratitude.
That night, the whole family decided to go to bed together moving the beds aside from the girls' room and putting blankets on the floor so everypony will have enough space to sleep.And that night, cuddle in between members of her family, Lucy had the best sleep she ever had in years.