//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Escapism // Story: My Little Sister // by Shaslan //------------------------------// The two fillies slumped against the wall, hooves grey with the dust of decades. Sparkler felt close to tears. She had failed her sister. Their first meeting, and it was a travesty. Who knew how long it would be till those little trash-heap foals remembered to tell an adult what they had done, or a passerby heard them shouting? They might be stuck here till morning. Reminded now that they hadn’t yet tried shouting for help, Sparkler experimentally let out a few yells. “Hello? Can anypony hear me? We’re stuck down here! Help!” “I don’t think they’ll hear you outside,” Dinky said helpfully. “There’s loads of music.” Sparkler sighed. “I know.” “Can we try one of my ideas now?” Dinky asked, her tone still bright. Sparkler looked up a little more hopefully. So long as Dinky was having some semblance of fun, the night was still serving its purpose. She injected a little optimism into her voice. “Yeah, of course! What’s the plan?” “Well,” Dinky narrowed her eyes, “I read in a Daring Do book once where she and Professor Sparkflare were trapped in a prison cell with water rising, and Professor Sparklight used his magic to pick the lock.” Eyes widening with inspiration, Sparkler leapt to her hooves. “I bet we could do that!” Dinky flushed. “Well — I can try. I’m not so good at things I can’t see. I only learned to levitate a couple of months ago.” This was not news to Sparkler, who had been watching from the bushes the night it happened. “Still, that’s a great first step!” She scraped her hoof against the ground, suddenly uncertain of her own capabilities. “I’m not sure how I’ll do — but I can give it a shot.” The light at the end of the tunnel restored, they hurtled back up the staircase, and skidded to a halt beside the cellar door. Sparkler clenched her eyes shut and pressed her forehead against the lock. She let her light spell wink out, and Dinky made a little strained noise as she forced more light into her own magic. Trying to push her senses outwards, Sparkler let her consciousness quest toward the lock. She could almost feel it; the rust, the corroded surface. No — wait, that was the feel of it against her skin. She pulled her head back and tried to sense it with her magic. She could feel the barrier of the door, but nothing more than that. She squished her face into a grimace and tried harder, forcing her magic out until she could feel the veins bulging on her forehead. It wasn’t like hunting for gems; rubies and sapphires were full of energy and pulsed with their own little lifeforces. But this door was a flat dead surface, and she couldn’t make head nor tail of its energy signature. “Sparkler?” Dinky’s tentative question was an unwelcome intrusion. “You’ve gone…uh, even more purple than usual. Maybe you should breathe?” Her eyes flicking open, Sparkler let out the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. “Oh.” Dinky gave the door a tug. “No luck then?” Sparkler shook her head. “None.” Dinky sighed. “Oh.” Slowly, she slid down against the door until her rear was on the ground. “I guess we’d better settle in then. Shame we didn’t go trick or treating before we came in here. I’m Sparklerving.” “Sorry,” Sparkler said guiltily. “I just wanted to show it to you quickly, and then go get some candy with you. I wanted…to spend a bit of time together.” “That’s okay.” Dinky’s tone was magnanimous. “I’m glad I’m not here on my own, really. Having a sister isn’t all bad.” As banal as the words were, they still sent a thrill through Sparkler. “I’m really glad you think that.” She paused. “All I’ve ever wanted…is to have a family. To be a family with you.” Dinky’s expression changed to one of uncertainty. “Well, I don’t know. My Mommy is my family. She says we don’t need anypony else.” Swallowing her bitter retort, Sparkler forced her tone to remain lighthearted. “But couldn’t there be room for me, too?” Her ears tipping back, Dinky began to stammer. “I— I don’t know. Mommy — she says — well, she always tells me that my Daddy was a bad stallion. He didn’t stay with us.” “He left me, too,” Sparkler said, softly. “He didn’t want either of us. But…does that mean you and me have to leave each other, too?” “I…I suppose not,” answered Dinky slowly. “If he left you, too.” It was progress. Sparkler’s heart lifted, just a little, and she looked down at Dinky’s big, sad eyes. They shouldn’t dwell on this too long. A dark, dank cellar was no place to have miserable conversations. It was time to inject a little fun back into the proceedings. Sparkler clambered back to her feet and offered a hoof to Dinky. “I have an idea!” Like a balloon suddenly inflating with air, Dinky perked up. “What is it?” “I’m Friar Buck, right?” “Yeah…” the answer was cautious. “And you’re Robbin’ Hooves.” Sparkler offered her sister a grin. Dinky gave a little skip of excitement. “Right!” “Exactly! So—” Sparkler lowered her voice to a whisper, full of suspense. “The evil Sheriff of Trottingham has imprisoned us in this dark, horrible dungeon. But we’re not going to let that keep us down, are we, Robbin’?” Her chest puffed out, Dinky postured and levitated her bow high. “No, Friar Buck, we’re not. We’re going to sing folk songs and…uh, bear our captivity bravely. Yeah! We’ll be fine. The Sheriff can’t stop us rebelling against her evil rule.” “Yeah!” Sparkler reared up and sent a pulse of purple light out across the room and Dinky cheered. “Now, how about a bit of target practise?” “Awesome!” Dinky pounded down the stairs to grab a dilapidated chair. “This can be the target!” “You can do it, Robbin’!” cheered Sparkler, and Dinky shut one eye to take aim. “You can win the golden apple!”