//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Come Little Children // by BlueEyedMelloon //------------------------------// "Come Little Children" By: Blue Eyed Melloon Chapter Four ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Follow sweet children, I’ll show thee the way through all the pain and the sorrows. Weep not for children, for life is this way, murdering beauty and passion. When Lilly Flute rolled over, her teddy was released. In her mind, she thought she heard someone whisper to her. Her eyelids fluttered, and thought not fully awake, she rose into a sitting position. One hoof rubbed her eye, the other went to her teddy. Who was whispering? After her eyes were devoid of sleep, Lilly Flute looked around her room, but saw nothing but a lonely chest of drawers and a dusty rug. The tattered curtains billowed gently as a breeze from the open window caught them. The pink haired filly shifted uncomfortably in her bed, the feeling of someone watching her making her want to hide away under the covers. Her ears twitched and twisted. The voice floated just out of reach, and Lilly frantically looked to and fro in a vain effort to find the whisperer. Follow sweet children, I’ll show thee the way… Brownie Points felt the wind shift against his cardboard abode, threatening to roll the rocks that held the pieces of his home together. He shivered and the vibration of his body woke his brain. He blinked wearily, scooting backwards into the makeshift tent to escape the biting wind. The beam of light was soft, not blinding him like similar lights should. Instead of scooting farther back, he inched forward, searching for the source of the illumination. The breeze carried a voice, whispering to him, drawing him farther out of the cardboard. The alleyway and attached street were empty but for a skinny cat rubbing against a broken cobblestone. Brownie frowned, swearing that he had heard someone speaking. He even hazarded a look above him in case it turned out to be a Pegasus playing a trick on him. Tumbler or Wind Whistle perhaps. But the air above him was empty as well, and his frown turned into a grim face of worry. The voice came again, and he shriveled to the ground in fear. Through all the pain and the sorrows… There was a knock on the door, and Fireball groaned, thrashing in bed before mumbling “Come in.” The door slid open, and a filly with pigtails scuttled into his bedroom, strands of hair sticking out all over and fear in her eyes. “Big Bwother?” she said, scooting closer to his bed and putting a hoof on the sheets. She fumbled with the numerous holes in the bedding until Fireball sighed, saying “What Cocoa Butter?” “I…I heard a sownd.” Came a soft reply while she shrunk down to put her chin on the bed. “It sownded like somewon talking. A-and I got scared.” Her eyes filled with tears and Fireball rolled his eyes, throwing back the covers and tapping the mattress with a hoof. “C’mon Cocoa. You can sleep with me.” Cocoa jumped into the bed, snuggling close to her older brother as he brought the blankets over the two of them. He felt her breathing slow, and smiled when she sighed. “Mommy and Daddy would be really pwoud of you. If only they were here to see.” They both fell back asleep, Fireball wrapped protectively around his little sister. A light made Fireball wake. Could it be morning already? When he opened his eyes, it wasn’t sunlight, but moonlight flowing into his open window. Strange. He hadn’t left his window open… Fireball froze mid-thought. He really hadn’t left the window open. But how was it open now? Without moving his head, he swept his eyes across the room. There was nopony there. But how….? His heart began to race as a whispering sound floated through the window. Cocoa Butter shifted, mumbling slightly as the voice got louder. When she opened her eyes, Fireball was staring at the moon, mouth open. “Big Bwother?” she whispered, poking him in the side. When he didn’t respond, she grew afraid. “Big Bwother? Fireball?” She waved a hoof in front of him, and then looked out the window. The moon was round and full. Its girth almost took up the entire view. Her eyes widened, the shining orb reflecting in her pupils. “It’s the singing Fireball. That’s the song I heard.” Follow sweet children, I’ll show thee the way… Spirit was the first in the room to be roused by the strange song. Her body reacted first, pushing herself up before her eyes opened. “Wha?” she muttered, rubbing her eyes. Two other ponies were also waking, all on the top bunks of the room. They looked at each other, then to the window. It was illuminated with light, a welcoming light that called them from their beds and to the front door of the orphanage. Their hooves clicked on the dirty tiles as they wandered the halls. Once they reached the main entrance, the foal with deep blue hair and an electric stripe in the middle whispered “What is going on?” “I dunno.” The third foal, a unicorn, said. “I just woke up and heard something…” They stood in a line, staring up at the window while it gently swung open of its own accord. The middle pony’s eyes widened in shock, while the others were frozen in their hooves with fear. What was happening? The moon was calling to them, while music flowed through their bodies and into their very hearts. It was a song of longing, and beckoning. The three foals wanted to follow it, and slowly, happiness replaced the fear. They were going to go somewhere. The music wanted them to go with it. All three closed their eyes, and felt the moonbeam warm them in a way that the sun never had. Through all the pain and the sorrows…