//------------------------------// // Shocks and Tears // Story: Extreme Measures // by Boo Bear //------------------------------// "Shh! Slowly Winter Sky! Tiphoof slowly!" whispered Arctic Lime, who was carrying Heat Wave on his back. "Sorry but I can't MANAGE to see my hooficure all...all messed up!" said Winter Sky who was carrying Spring Frost on her back. Each sibling was carrying their own rucksack and a pouch of coins they "borrowed" from the Orphanage nurses (except for Arctic Lime and Winter Sky, who was only carrying a rucksack and a sibling). "Guys! Please, don't fight over something small! We have only a few minutes until the nurses wake up!" suggested Absolute Zero in a whisper. They were just passing the second floor of the 8 storied orphanage, when suddenly, they heard hoof steps. Panicking, the siblings entered a random room, not knowing who or what was in it. They all started to control their breaths, hoping they weren't caught by an Orphanage nurse. Sizzling Sunset listened closely for any signs of movements through the door, while Arctic Lime and Absolute Zero calmed a quadruplet group of fillies. Winter Sky, the twins, Spring Frost and Heat Wave waited patiently in the dim room, carefully listening with Sizzling Sunset as well. "Okay guys, the coast is clear!" suggested Sizzling Sunset. The others nodded at Absolute Zero and Arctic Lime, who were trying their best to calm the quadruplets down. "Shh...it's okay, little ones. You remember us right? The 8 siblings?" Absolute Zero asked one of the fillies. The fillies all squinted, and finally, let their breath out. "Sorry, we thought you were intruders, mister!" said a filly. The siblings giggled, thanking them for not reporting to the nurses. Sizzling Sunset opened the door slowly, making sure no creak was heard. They all walked out from the room and quietly shut the door behind them. Steadily, the siblings all trotted down the stairs one by one, hoof by hoof, making sure that no nurses spotted them. After a couple of minutes and panicky halts, the 8 siblings finally reached the ground floor of the orphanage. Spring Frost made a small giggle as she heard a loud snore coming from a nurse's room. "We made it!" shouted Heat Wave happily. They trotted to the entrance door, sniffing the morning air ahead of them. Once they stepped out of the orphanage for the first time and onto the stoned pavements of Manehattan, the siblings never felt so free in all of their lives. They never thought that Manehattan would be so lively even in the morning! They looked around, amazed at what was outside their orphanage. High buildings, city birds, posh ponies, everything! The siblings had wide, shocked eyes. However, Absolute Zero only stared with disappointment. He frowned at his siblings. "There is no need to be so shocked about this place, guys," he proclaimed, "we're leaving Manehattan for a reason you know." Spring Frost looked at her brother, amazed to hear what he just said. "Why aren't you so happy about Manehattan, Zero?" she asked. Absolute Zero looked down, still frowning, "You were just a baby filly and Heat Wave was just a baby colt. Lemon Glacier, Fiery Rose and Sizzling Sunset were about your age, and Winter Sky, Arctic Lime and I were just a few years younger than we are now. Have I told you the story of why we were kept in this orphanage, sis?" "No, you haven't, Zero." After a loud sigh, Absolute Zero continued, "How many brothers and sisters do you have altogether, sweetie?" "Counting you...seven." "Do you think you would be able to take care eight ponies if you were a grown up pony?" "Well...no, I don't think so, bro. But I'll have to anyway!" "Well, Spring Frost, our mom and dad left us because they couldn't take care of us." "Wh--why??" "There were just too many of us, sweetie. Mom and dad couldn't take care of us. I overheard them talking about it one night. They were fighting, all night. I couldn't sleep at all. Then, just the next night, they decided. Mom and dad came into our rooms and put us in these big baskets. I pretended I was sleeping, but really I was crying on the inside. But I couldn't stop them, I didn't know why. I would have but I just couldn't open my eyes. I only listened to them. I felt the bumps when they carried the baskets to a place, whereas we call it the Orphanage. I heard them knocking on the entrance, and two nurses popped their heads out. Mom and dad just dropped off the baskets we were in and ran off. That's when I started crying, when I burst. Winter Sky and Arctic Lime only remember a little bit, and Lemon Glacier and Fiery Rose and Sizzling Sunset just remember the bumpy ride. You and Heat Wave were too young to remember." Spring Frost sat on the ground. Tears started dripping from her emerald eyes, but there was no sound from her. Absolute Zero sat down beside her and patted her on the back. "Sis," he started talking, "that's why we have to get out of here. If we live in Manehattan, things are only going to get worse for the eight of us." Spring Frost nodded, but continued crying. Absolute Zero wiped her eyes with his hoof gently. The others saw Spring Frost, and came to comfort her as well. Heat Wave sat down beside her, knowing how she felt. "Hey, sis? Don't cry. You're not the only one that misses mom and dad." Spring Frost looked up, her eyes shining from the tears. "I know."