//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Colors and Feathers // Story: Sisters of Willowbrook // by Starscribe //------------------------------// Charlie wasn't going to cry, she wasn't going to cry, she wasn't going to cry. She was too big for that, too old for that, too brave. The last time she had cried, it was because there was bone poking through her skin from a devastating compound fracture.  Yet the horse's words cut even deeper than any broken leg. Bones could be reset, legs stitched, and muscles mended. But what if she never got to see her home again? "I have a..." She tried to form words, but her tongue tripped over itself. Some of them hurt her head, most just hurt her heart instead. In the end, her insensate muttering dissolved into something small and pathetic. "You said we could go home." Something touched her shoulder—the horse's leg, somehow warm and gentle. It didn't upset her, though it should have. Charlie hadn't ever been big into physical contact, but somehow this didn't bother her. "I'm sorry... but I didn't lie. There's good news, too!" Something ran through Charlie's hair, which was far longer now than she'd ever grown it out. The horse was stroking it, making gentle cooing sounds. Slowly, she began to relax. Derek too, as the louder crying quieted. After a few minutes of pain, her tears dissolved into sniffs, then just heavy, uncomfortable breathing. Just because she said it doesn't mean it's true. She could be wrong, or lying. Relax, Charlie.  She did. "There is good news," the horse went on. "But first... I should tell you my name. I'm Lovely Weather—or just Lovely, if that's easier. I'm the pony that Equestria sent to Willowbrook, to watch out for little fillies and colts just like you. Can you... tell me your names?" Charlie opened her mouth to answer, without even thinking. Then her head began to pound, and her word dissolved into an unrecognizable whimper. Derek made a similar noise, which was all Charlie needed to know about how well her friend was doing on that score. "Can't," Charlie said. "Can't say it." She stood up, shaking her head violently to one side. But if she expected that to make it easier, she was mistaken. The word still wouldn't come out. "Okay..." The larger horse stood up, taking a single step back from them both. "Well, we'll need something to call you. Since you don't have cutie marks... hmm." She tilted her head to one side, thoughtful. Charlie imitated her, lifting one of her wings to get a slightly better view. Apparently the mare hadn't been expecting that, because she grinned suddenly. “Until you want to be honest with me and explain what you’re called, I’ll just say your name is ‘Orange.’ You think about that, okay?” Orange. Charlie turned it over in her head. It wasn't the worst thing she'd ever heard. It could've been something pathetic, or maybe girly. It did sound small, but then she was pretty small. Of course, the real test wasn't whether she could think it. "Orange," she whispered, as though she could somehow avoid the curse by reducing her volume. Apparently she could. "Orange. Hey, I can say it!" "Perfect." The mare, “Lovely,” turned towards Derek. "And you... no cutie mark either, so no shortcuts. But that coat is such a lovely shade of lavender, like a flower. Can I call you that?" Derek shook her head once. "I don't wanna name that's just a color. I'm not paint." "Oh." Lovely giggled—a sound that was somehow far deeper than either of them, even when they were speaking normally. "Do you want to tell me what you’re actually called?” Derek shrugged. Her face was still wet with tears, eyes still swollen from the magical effort. But nothing came out. "Purple." the mare said. “I’m sorry, it’s just a color. All the more reason to be honest with us about what you’re called. Or you can tell the ponies who will be taking you hope, and they can tell me. Whenever you feel like it.” Derek nodded. "I guess that's okay. I want to tell you my real name, but--” even opening her mouth to attempt it only brought more pain. "Of course, sweetheart," Lovely said. "And if you ever change your minds about telling me, you can go right ahead. But otherwise, that's what I'm putting on your forms."  She turned, retreating from their little bedroom. Only this time she didn't shut the door behind them, or do anything else that might trap them.  She also wasn't wearing anything over her lower body, and she was much taller than Charlie. In an instant, Charlie discovered exactly how little this adult horse cared about modesty. She blushed, tucking her own tail directly between her legs. Her wings fell limply to either side, dragging along the ground behind her.  Lovely didn't seem to have a clue what was wrong. "Come on, you two. It's time for you to meet the ponies who will be taking you home." Ponies. The word seemed to stick, somehow. Granted, it was hard to think of anything as a pony when Charlie herself saw the world as so gigantic. But she didn't exactly have any way of taking objective measurements.  "Taking us home?" Derek repeated. "What does that mean?" Her friend did follow Lovely, though apparently she hadn't noticed what Charlie had. Maybe it was the tail in the way now. At least their animal anatomy had blessed them with one advantage. Does that mean I don't have to worry about clothes either? So long as she kept her tail all the way down, it should do a good job. It wouldn't if I was male. But that was just more embarrassment, more confusing things she didn't want to think about. She would have to think about it eventually, just not now. We're going to get home. We'll figure this out. "It means Equestria doesn't want to keep you here. I can care for you, but that isn't what we want. Ponies deserve a family, even if it's just for a little while. Willowbrook happens to have two ponies with the means to care for a... surprise member." Charlie realized what that meant in a sudden flash of confusion, eyes widening. "You mean... adopt us?" She hurried forward, past where Lovely still stood in the doorway. Far enough to get a look at the two who had come. They were horses, just like Lovely. One was another mare, though they shared very little in common. While Lovely had wings like Charlie's, this one was somehow more... graceful, her body tall and stretched, with a whiplike tail ending in a single tuft of fur. She also wasn't just a horse—that bone protruding from her head could make her only one thing: a unicorn. The other was different enough that she smelled it before she saw it—a smell that was somehow stronger and more confident than either of them. A man, or... no, that wasn't the word. A stallion. Though like “mare” it carried some extra baggage. Did a stallion have to have bred before, or just be viable for breeding? He wasn't wearing anything either, so she didn't have to wonder whether he'd be viable for breeding. So much for hoping this was some weird all-female species. The stallion had wings. Though instead of splayed awkwardly and twitching out of control, he kept both of his folded flatly in place. They didn't sit like a couple, or even anywhere near each other. Instead, they were on opposite sides of the room, quietly pretending that the other didn't exist. "We try to find a pony who will be able to offer help to the one they're caring for," Lovely Weather said, her voice finally cutting through to Charlie. "Every creature has distinct needs. Sometimes we guess right the first time, sometimes we don't. "But with young winged ponies like yourself, we always try to make sure that you have at least one parent who can instruct you in the proper technique. It's far harder for a pony to master flight if they don't practice in foalhood." The stallion rose, shuffling awkwardly towards them. He wasn't the tallest creature in the room—the lean unicorn was just built differently than he was. But he towered over her, with an angular muzzle instead of the gentle curve of Charlie's.  There were some similarities to the way he smelled, details she never would've noticed about another human. They just didn't come in variations like this! But unless Charlie was crazy, there were different species in the room with her.  Unless we're more like dog breeds. "I'm excited to get to know you," he said. His voice was gentle, the same as Lovely's in that regard. He didn't want to frighten her. My name's Dust Storm, what's yours?" She froze, and barely noticed as Derek continued across to the other side of the room, up to the unicorn. They started speaking, and she should've been able to hear it. But she wasn't focusing on that anymore. "I'm, uh... I'm Orange." It sounded natural on her tongue. She could give that introduction to other people... other ponies. It wouldn't be so hard. Easier than giving up and admitting she was trapped here, anyway. I'm not stuck, I just don't have enough information yet. We'll figure this out. "Nice to meet you." He extended a single hoof towards her, the equivalent of a polite handshake. But what was the point, they didn't even have hands? Maybe he was used to awkward responses like hers, because he pulled back hastily, looking to the side. "Right, right. Guess you didn't have a good experience with... the place you came from. Sorry. If you decide to come with me, I'll give you something better than that." At least when he was standing and facing her she didn't have that constant reminder of what separated them. The thing she should've had, and was missing. Maybe she should be getting used to it, but she didn't feel used to it. She was only getting more uncomfortable.  If you decide. She glanced nervously around the room—there was a single window here, looking out on somewhere. She could see the shape of buildings out there, though the window was still too high for her to see anyone moving at ground level. She saw second and third floors. Old style buildings, like the kind she might've seen in a small town American main street. Homes built over shops. "What else could I choose?"  She hoped she didn’t sound too angry. It wasn't like she wanted to reject this stallion, or sound ungrateful for his willingness to help her. He shrugged his wings, a gesture so simple she needed no explanation about what it meant. "Wait for some other foster pony to come around. You could, if you wanted." "You should think carefully about saying no, though," Lovely Weather said. Somehow she'd made her way back over, and was now just feet from Charlie. She stood just beside her, looking only a little like an overprotective helicopter parent. "Most of Willowbrook are very old, or very poor. They don't have the means to care for somepony else. Dusty here has the training to help you, and also the means." Whatever else Charlie was going to say to object melted into that same pathetic anthem. "I just want to go home." "I know." Lovely wrapped one leg around her neck, pulling her close in a hug. "Dusty will help give you one, at least for a while. And if it doesn't work out... we'll find somewhere else you can be happy, I promise."