//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Return // Story: The Equine Masters // by OtterP //------------------------------// Twilight looked out of the window as the countryside whizzed past. She was deep in her thoughts, even if everything had gone as planned. Would Blueblood just give up searching the human boy or could he somehow connect their visit to Joshua’s disappearance? After all, she had decided to keep the siblings together, and if Blueblood could somehow found out about them… Twilight sighed and mentally shook her head. No. She thought. Blueblood activities had to be exposed. Twilight could not get the sight what she had seen in the tower out of her mind. Twilight couldn’t imagine what the boy had gone through, even if he was not sleeping peacefully on Melissa’s lap. Twilight turned her head and had to smile at the cute sight. Rarity was sitting beside the two humans in front of Twilight. Melissa and Joshua were on the window side of the seat. Rarity saw that she was looking at them so she glanced them too, giving Twilight a smile. Rarity probably thought the same thing as she did. Train started to slow down, Twilight and Rarity stood up, levitating their saddlebags on their back. Melissa gently woke up Joshua. “Wake up, Joshua…” She said and stroked his hair. “M-Melissa?” Joshua sat up and rubbed his eyes. “We are at home.” Twilight said with a smile to them. “Home?” Joshua asked, looking at Melissa. “In Ponyville.” Melissa said, a hint of sadness in her voice. As the train came to stop at the Ponyville station, the ponies levitated the children on their backs, Melissa on Twilight’s and Joshua on Rarity’s. They trotted out of the train and once they were back on the streets of Ponyville, Twilight stopped. “Thank you so much, Rarity, we couldn’t have done this without you.” Twilight smiled to her friend. Rarity waved her hoof. “Oh, don’t mention it, Twilight.” She then frowned a bit. “But what are you going to do with them now.” She glanced at the humans on their backs. “And what are you going to do with Blueblood?” “They will stay with me.” Twilight said. “And as for Blueblood, I have to think about things…” She sighed. “Whatever you decide, you can count on my help.” Rarity winked. “Thanks, Rarity.” Twilight smiled and turned her head to Joshua and levitated him off Rarity’s back and on hers, into Melissa’s waiting arms. They said their final goodbyes and Twilight trotted to her library tree home. She went to upstairs to her bedroom and levitated Melissa and Joshua on the floor. “Stay here, I will be soon back.” She said to them. As soon as the giant pony had left the room, Joshua turned to Melissa. ”What are you doing here? Is… is this going to be our home now? What about--“ Melissa smiled and gently touched his cheek with her hand, interrupting him. “We are going to be here for a while, don’t worry, Twilight is a good Mistress.” Joshua looked down and frowned. He fiddled his fingers when Melissa put her hand on his shoulder and spoke softly. “What is in your mind?” “Melissa… what will happen to us?” He asked looking almost pleading to his sister. Melissa hugged him. “I don’t know… but I will never leave you again. Twilight doesn’t leave us.” “But if Prince Blueblood comes--“ Joshua started. “Twilight will protect us.” Melissa said more confidently than she really was. “Will she?” Joshua insisted, raising his voice a bit. “I will.” The voice said from the door. They both looked as Twilight came in, and stood up, Joshua kept his face down, looking his feet. “I… I am sorry, Mistress, I didn’t mean…” He said quietly, and didn’t dare to raise his face. Twilight laid down on her stomach in front of them, smiling gently at the little humans. “You have nothing to apologize, Joshua.” Twilight addressed him, causing him to look up at her face. “Miss Twilight…” Joshua began. “What will happen to us now?” He looked between Melissa and Twilight. “You both will stay here.” Twilight said. “I have already gone through your duties with Melissa and you should catch up quickly.” She explained to them. “Can’t you… can’t you just let us go, I want to go home…” Joshua said, almost in tears. “I am sorry, but that is impossible.” Twilight said sadly, shaking her head. Melissa hugged Joshua comfortingly, hoping that her brother would get accustomed quickly, but she wasn’t sure would she ever get accustomed herself. === Night had come quickly and Twilight had set up a temporary bed for Melissa and Joshua in her bedroom. Twilight was sleeping on her own bed; Melissa and Joshua were sleeping in a low basket, where Twilight had put sheets for them. Twilight was soundly asleep when she heard a small scream. Blinking, she sat up with a jolt and illuminated the room with her magic, her horn glowing she looked around the room but saw nothing out of ordinary. She got off the bed and walked to the basket. Joshua was sobbing against Melissa, who was hugging him and trying to comfort him. Melissa raised her face to Twilight. “It was just a nightmare, Mistress.” She said quietly. Joshua’s sobbing subdued and he wiped his eyes. “I… I am sorry… Mistress.” Twilight smiled gently and laid down near them. “It is all right, little one.” She said softly. She crossed her forelegs and lifted Joshua from Melissa’s lap and levitated the little boy to her, lowering him into her hooves. Twilight lightly hugged Joshua against her chest fur and felt him grab some of her fur in his small hands. Joshua was tearing up again and pressed his face into Twilight’s coat. “See? Everything is allright.” Twilight said encouragingly. “I…” Joshua begun, but then paused and looked up at her face. “T-thank you, Mistress.” He said and lowered his head again. Twilight levitated him back to Melissa, who hugs him in turn and then they both turn to face Twilight, who is still lying on the carpet beside them. “Mistress, do you want something from us?” Melissa asked, unsure of her intentions. “What?” Twilight blinked. “No, no.” She smiles. “I just thought I could lay here or…” Melissa and Joshua were forced to grab the basket as it levitated off the floor, lifted by Twilight’s magic. Twilight stood up and levitated the basket with her as she climbed on her bed, and lowered it besides her. “There, isn’t this better.” She smiled as she laid down. Melissa and Joshua looked at her and Twilight shook her head. “Oh, this is no problem at all!” “It is not that, Mistress.” Melissa finally said. “…but thank you.” Joshua looked down, still little embarrassed. “Thank you, Mistress.” He said quietly. === “Kyaaa~!” Alisa’s happy scream turned heads in the Sugarcube Corner and caused few giggles and chuckles from ponies there. Alisa was hugging Joshua who looked extremely embarrassed. “Why you didn’t tell you had a little brother this cute!” Pinkie, Twilight and Melissa had difficulties holding back their laughter at the sight, which made Joshua even more red faced. Twilight had decided to bring Melissa and Joshua meet them first thing in the morning, knowing that they would be well welcomed by Pinkie and Alisa. Still her arms around Joshua, Alisa lifted her face to Twilight. “How did you get him so fast, Miss Twilight?” She asked. “You told me that you only bought Melissa short time ago.” “Ah… It is a long story, maybe I will tell it someday.” Twilight stammered, last thing she wanted though, was Pinkie finding out how exactly they had got Joshua. Melissa walked to Joshua and Alisa, and the two girls hugged. “It is nice to meet to again, Alisa.” “It is nice to meet you too… but is there anything wrong?” Alisa asked, suspecting something, but Melissa just shook her head and waved her arms. “No, no. Nothing is wrong.” Alisa was about to say something when Pinkie yells. “My turn!” They turned to look and saw Joshua turn to run away but he is caught by Pinkie’s hooves. The giant sat down and lifted him up like he weighed nothing. Pinkie crossed her forelegs and hugs him. “Aww, you can’t escape Pinkie’s hugs!” She giggled. After a while, Pinkie finally lowered him back to the floor. Joshua looked up at her face. “I… I appreciated it, Miss Pinkie.” He walked to hug her giant hoof. Melissa smiled and looked up at Twilight. “Thank you, Mistress…” She said quietly. Twilight smiled in return. “No problem, if Pinkie can help something, is a bad mood.” === “New group of slaves is scheduled to arrive this evening, make sure that everything is ready.” Prince Blueblood pointed his hoof to a guard, who saluted and turned to leave. Another guard approached when Prince levitated papers, lists of his slaves, and was quickly skimming through them. “Sire, you told me to ask all the guards on duty last night if they saw anything out of ordinary.” “Yes?” Blueblood answered without looking at the guard. “Well, I found one who said he encountered Princess Twilight last night, making her way to train station.” The guard explained. “That is hardly out of ordi--“ Blueblood begun but stopped when he realized something. “Who was she with?” He demanded. “I was getting to that, sire.” Guard answered. “She was with her friend and they both had slave, one girl and one young boy.” Blueblood raised his eyebrow. “Young boy?” “He fits the description.” The guard nodded. “And Rarity had talked to another guard during Princess Twilight’s visit…” The guard paused when he saw Blueblood’s face. “So they stole from me.” Blueblood grinned, and then turned to another guard. “My airship has been prepared for flight, yes?” “Yes, sire. We were leaving to deliver another patch of slaves.” He answered. “A little change of plans; I am coming aboard, it is time to visit our little princess.” Blueblood smiles and turned to leave.