Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart walked home together after school. None of their friends were with them today, but they weren’t in the mood for any cutie mark missions anyways. Coming home felt very weird, but different as before. Sweetie Tooth had thought that it would get easier with time, it was what Rose Quartz and Crystal Note had told them. She had felt a little happy after they got used to Crystal Note being around and things were almost normal again. Almost. Sometimes, she still opened the door and expected Mommy to be in the kitchen, baking a cake or cooking dinner. Of course she could never find her, but even if she knew it still made her cry.
Now she didn’t feel like crying anymore, but she still felt sad. Everywhere she looked, it reminded her of who was missing and what would never be the same anymore. It made it hard to smile or climb up the stairs or do anything really. Glass Slipper said it made her feel depressed.
Sweetie Tooth didn’t know exactly what that word meant, but if this was what it felt like, she didn’t like being depressed at all. She’d do anything to make it stop.
Velvet Heart wasn’t doing much better. Sweetie Tooth knew that she was trying so hard but ever since they came back from Vanhoover, she was angry nearly all the time. Sweetie Tooth tried to comfort her, but only Crystal Note seemed to know how to do it. But Velvet Heart had told her that when she was not feeling angry, she was sad. She didn’t know what was worse.
Crystal Note waited for them when they arrived home. Glass Slipper wouldn’t be around for another hour and they agreed to wait for her for dinner, so Sweetie Tooth pulled her books from school out of her saddlebag. She couldn’t really concentrate and Velvet Heart had to help her. Mommy had helped her with math before she was gone. Sweetie Tooth shoved the book aside and went to the corner of the room. She rolled up into a ball and just tried not to cry.
A few minutes later, Velvet Heart came to her, with Crystal Note. Sweetie Tooth didn’t want to move, but then she got that ‘lighter than air’-feeling as Crystal Note lifted her up with her magic. It felt warm and she gently was set down on the couch, with Crystal Note and Velvet Heart beside her. Velvet Heart hugged her and she hugged back. Crystal Note kept close too.
Glass Slipper returned at some point, but she just sat close to them. They stayed like this for a while and nopony said anything. Sweetie Tooth heard Crystal Note take a deep breath, more like a sigh, and she turned around to look at her
“Girls, there’s something I need to tell you.”
All three sisters focused on her and noticed right away how far she was from her usual behaviour. Crystal Note seemed nervous somehow
“We’re going to move out of this home soon.”
Sweetie Tooth suddenly felt numb. Behind her, Glass Slipper stared at Crystal Note with wide open eyes and Velvet Heart beside her got angry
“What? Why? This is our home! Why?”
Crystal Note closed her eyes. She had hoped that this would not happen, but it seemed inevitable
“Velvet Heart, this place is too small for the four of us. You and Sweetie Tooth are still growing, you’ll need more space soon. You three barely fit into your bed as is.”
“Says who?”
Velvet Heart jumped on her hooves and glared at Crystal Note with all her might
“We’re not leaving!”
Crystal Note only had a sad smile for her but said nothing, as Glass Slipper stood up as well to be close to her sister again
“Velvet, maybe it’s for the best.”
“NO!”
Velvet’s shriek scream rang through their ears and Sweetie Tooth shuffled closer to Crystal Note, seeking and finding comfort in her presence. She already felt like crying again
Crystal Note tried to stay calm, which was nearly impossible
“Velvet, please, I know this isn’t easy but…”
“But nothing! I’m not leaving!”
Crystal Note closed her eyes and forced herself into a calm voice
“And then what? There’s not even enough space for another bed in any of the rooms.”
“Then… then I’ll sleep in Mom’s bed from now on.”
Sweetie Tooth gasped when Crystal Note’s eyes flew open again, but for the first time she saw her, the eyes lacked any warmth. They were cold, and hard as she fixed Velvet Heart with a stern look
“Alright. Do it. Show me that you can.”
Velvet shrank back for a moment, but then her anger made her stubborn again, and she stomped her hoof on the floor
“I will!”
She stomped towards the stairs, barely even noticing that Sweetie Tooth was sobbing now and Glass Slipper seemed frozen in shock.
Velvet climbed up the stairs quickly, but slowed down near the top. She was walking very slowly as she made it to the door. She needed two attempts finally to push it open. Her anger burnt out as quickly as it had flared up and when it was gone, she was just sad.
She looked at the bed and reached out, but she could barely touch it. Her hoof trembled, but she couldn’t. Memories flooded her mind, all of them sweet and warm, but all she could feel was sadness. She looked away, but everywhere she looked she saw new memories, more than she could take.
So she gave up and crumbled onto the floor, pulling her hooves against herself. Tears started running, but then Glass Slipper pulled her into a tight embrace.
She looked at her sister, then back at the door where Crystal Note was standing, holding Sweetie Tooth in the same embrace, as her sister was crying too.
Crystal Note’s eyes were not hard anymore. She looked just as sad as Velvet Heart felt, and she could see the same pain and that she understood. She hadn’t meant to be harsh or mean to begin with, she just cared so much that it sounded like it.
Crystal Note’s voice was soft as a breeze when she finally spoke again
“This is the real reason, Velvet. I can’t watch you get hurt so much anymore. I just can’t. But I can only help you if you let me. Please.”
Velvet Heart sniffled as she wiggled out of the embrace and stumbled towards Crystal Note. A little glow of magic, just a warm touch, helped her stay on her hooves until she reached her caretaker. Crystal Note loosened her embrace on Sweetie Tooth long enough for Velvet Heart to cling on her sister, then wrapped her hooves around both twins. Glass Slipper did the same from the other side, always a caring big sister for the twins despite her own doubts.
They stayed like this as the sun sunk down and the light from outside faded. Velvet Heart started to tremble but Crystal Note produced a soft glow from her horn to fight back the darkness a little longer.
Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth released their grip on each other a while after and Glass Slipper felt safe enough to start some questions
“Where will we be going?”
Crystal Note leaned forward to nuzzle the oldest sister’s mane
“I’ve taken care of everything I could so far. Our new house was empty for a while, but now it’s ready for us.”
Velvet sniffled a little but her eyes were bright as she looked up at her
“What kind of house is it?”
“I’ll show you first thing tomorrow. And as soon as we’re done packing, we’ll move.”
Crystal Note allowed Velvet to lean against her, just as Sweetie Tooth sobbed out
“Please, can we move soon? I want it to stop hurting.”
Velvet Heart and Glass Slipper closed in on her sister again, but Crystal Note took another deep breath. She knew she had to say it, even if it would hurt a little, she couldn’t lie about this to the three of them
“Girls, listen. Moving out alone won’t make it stop hurting.”
All three sets of eyes on her, Crystal Note did not hide any of her own conflicted emotions
“It won’t hurt as much anymore, but it will take time to make it all go away. We’ll work on it together.”
Sweetie Tooth and Glass Slipper nodded and stayed close, but Velvet Heart looked up at her again
“We?”
Crystal Note couldn’t help but smile, of course Velvet Heart had picked it up quickly
“I will be there to help you on every step of the path, any way I can.”
She made sure to look all three of them in their eyes
“I promise.”
The three sisters nodded, with much relief and Glass Slipper even with a little smile. Crystal Note smiled and leaned in for a quick nuzzle each
“It’s getting late. Let’s get you three tucked in.”
She waited patiently for all three to get up and led them the short distance to their bedroom. She conjured a soft light, just enough to see. She helped Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart climb in after Glass Slipper and pulled the blankets over them.
She was about to say goodnight, but a mumble from the girls stopped her
“Please don’t leave.”
Sweetie Tooth’s voice sounded so tiny and vulnerable and Velvet Heart was begging with her eyes. Crystal Note smiled and sat down next to the bed. She dimmed down her light into a faint glimmer and whispered
“I’ll stay. Just close your eyes and go to sleep. I’m here.”
The three fillies drifted away quickly, exhausted from everything that had happened. Crystal Note was tired as well, but she would stay true to her promise. She hoped that her reassurance would be enough to keep their troubles at bay for tonight at least, since tomorrow would be a hard day for all of them.