In a village just southeast of Canterlot, an earth pony with a spiky mane was having a conversation with somepony on the phone at his house.
"How are her injuries?"
"Getting healed up, Venang, just a few more days," Shard declared.
"Okay, so how's Flake?" Venang asked.
"Feeling down and had been in her room for two days straight," Shard replied.
"She felt bad, eh?" Venang frowned.
"Yeah, but she'll get over with."
"Hope so, gotta go, bye."
"Bye," Shard hanged up the phone.
He sighed by what he had learned about something.
"What have I done?"
This question whirled around Flake's mind. She had been feeling guilty of an act that she committed against the one that she used to dislike. When school, most of her classmates at Ponyville would glare at her for her fault. When going home, her parents would simply say "Hello" whenever she arrived. She thought that she would be an attention seeker like her, though she could not see her doing anything to get it.
"I'm so sorry..."
Blizz, the name of her sister who she used to call that before. Blizz was a filly who had light blue coat, black and blue flat spiky mane along with a flat tail in the same colors, and a cutie mark in a form of a four-legged star flake. She was a shy and childish filly as she was not sociable, but when at school, students found it okay to befriend her. She most spent her time at the house, doing chores and other simple activities.
"I was a fool of myself,"
Flake hated her because Blizz was known to be the favorite in the family, especially to their father, Shard Vine. Flake dismissed that thought of the her having a strong father-daughter bond with him more. Flake remembered how her sister was known to be quite a follower to him, doing his missions like assisting any issues in Equestria, even outside of the country, she would get any job done no matter what. Blizz was always praised by him that made Flake even more furious to increase her hate towards her.
"If I had thought of it through, you would've live."
Three weeks ago, their parents tasked them to gather different ingredients and herbs alike from the Everfree Forest before sundown. The thought of working together like before just passed over Flake's mind. When the night was approaching soon, she believed that it would be the best opportunity yet. She unfurled her wings, immediately flew up before Blizz could even react.
"Flake, where did you go?" Blizz called.
Seeing no response, Blizz started to cringed as it was getting dark now. She heard a growl coming from a bush in front of her.
"Hello, who's there? Is that you Flake?" Blizz cringed.
The filly walked closer as she heard the growl getting louder. Remaining focus, she leaned closer to see what was inside. It was then, it was her biggest mistake.
"BOO!!!"
By what she saw was a large creepy wooden mask emanating from the bush, shaking its head as it scared her. Blizz shrieked in fear as she ran from the scary mask, into deeper in the forest. Flake emerged from behind, laughing as she saw how scared her immature sister was.
"Hahaha, that was hilarious, eh Blizz?"
...
"Uh, Blizz, you can come out now. The prank is over."
...
"Blizz?!" Flake gasped.
She began following to where Blizz went off to along with the bag that she left behind a few moments ago. She may had given her a nightmare in her life, but she would not give her death. She heard a loud roar nearby, so she quicken up the pace. After searching for her voice, she found her facing off against a manticore. The creature was ready to attack and so does the filly.
"Blizz, over here!" Flake yelled as she waved a hoof.
Blizz turned around, looking at her with such a glare that made Flake flinched,
"You must go home, sister!" Blizz ordered, "Take my bag and bring it with you!"
"I'm not leaving," Flake begged.
"Go now!" Blizz scowled as her glare was hardened, "Tell them that I died with no regrets, especially to daddy. No questions!
For the first time ever, Flake saw Blizz's angry face. A face of determination and perseverance like their father. She could not believe that Blizz could be able to have an emotion of hate. Taken aback by what she said, Flake ran away, never looking at the scene of pure violence and blood.
As she returned home to her village, her parents sensed her return as they hugged her tightly as she was okay. As the hug ended, Flake explained to them of Blizz telling her to escape as she fought with a manticore alone. Her mother was shocked by what she heard while her father..
"WHAT?!! MY BABY!" Shard screamed.
Flake cringed as she looked down in guilt. Shard got up from the couch as walked to the door.
"I'll be right back, " Shard sighed, "I will find her, Venang,"
With that, he ran out in an instant, disappearing from view.
Luckily, he was able to locate the area that Flake talked about. He found her laying down on the ground with her own blood, still breathing. He immediately brought her to Canterlot's hospital. The doctors told him that she was in critical condition. Broken hoof, large sliced wounds and some skin parts ripped out. After a few days, she was able to recover and could be discharged from the hospital early.
One day at his home, there was a knock on the door, he opened it to see a royal guard carrying a plastic that contained something.
"We found this camera during our investigation from the scene. It contained footage of her battle against the manticore," the royal guard explained.
"Okay, thank you," Shard frowned as he took the plastic.
At that, the guard saluted as he flew away. Shard closed the door, sitting at the couch as he replayed the video. He wanted to know how it happened in the first place.
"I can't take it anymore.."
She felt so much shame that she didn't want to continue of what was his reaction after and what he did to her. The agony of pain made her feel so depressed. Even though she hated Blizz, she still cared for her. Having enough of the bad memory, she got up from her bed, finding her father of where Blizz went.
"Daddy?" Flaked called.
"Over here," Shard replied from the kitchen.
She went to the kitchen, seeing him drinking apple juice while feeling a little down, but looked normal. As he looked at her with a blank face. Flake cringed as she began asking.
"Where is Blizz?" Flake asked.
"She's outside in our garden, near the pond in Everfree," Shard answered.
"I want to apologize to her,"
"Go on ahead, I'm sure she's still there relaxing," Shard pointed.
"But first, I want to say sorry to you for being a bad daughter to you and a bad sibling to her," Flake frowned.
"Hey, don't be harsh on yourself," he assured as he ruffled her mane, "I understand that you're jealous because I've been picking her more than you, but it doesn't mean that I'll ignore you forever."
"Really?"
"Really," Shard declared, "Just remember that I still care for you. Blizz also cares for you as she told me that you are the best sister she ever have."
"Thanks, daddy," Flake smiled.
"Sure thing, Ice Star," Shard nodded, calling her by her nickname.
Flake went out to the garden, kept going straight until she could locate the pond. Once she found the location, she saw Blizz staring down at the water. Flake looked at her for a moment as she noticed playing with the pond. Blizz looked down at her own reflection, waving at it as if she was saying hello to her mirrored self. She started splashing it with glee as she felt the cold water touching her. She giggled with a big smile on her face. Flake chuckled as she understood her twin was always childish and proud of it.
Seeing her being so happy like she had forgotten about the accident, Flake smiled at the thought of her sister being able to move on and just continue on with her life. She realized that she loved her sister as she sensed her being just the kind pony that she could ever be. Flake walked straight to her as she made hoofsteps loud enough for Blizz to noticed to avoid getting her startled again. Blizz noticed and turned around, seeing Flake as she waved a hoof at her.
"Hello, Blizz," Flake greeted as she cleared her throat.
"Hi, Flake, good afternoon," Blizz beamed.
"Yeah, good afternoon, can I sit next to you?" Flake asked.
"Sure," Blizz nodded.
"Flake sat on the grass next to her, smiling as she was with her sister. But when she noticed Blizz's bandages, her smile turned to upside down as sighed about the damaged she caused to her.
"What's wrong," Blizz asked worriedly.
"I'm sorry about the accident two weeks ago," Flake shamefully replied.
"That's alright, you just wanted to have fun," Blizz shook her head.
"No, I did that because I was jealous of you," Flake frowned.
"Jealous?" Blizz asked in confusion.
"Ever since the moments of you and daddy doing stuff together, getting respect from the class, and the others, I felt like was left out or ignored. I wanted to have daddy's attention as much as you get," Flake cried as she felt her tears rolling down from her eyes.
"I don't want to lose you, Blizz!" Flake wailed.
She cried her heart out she embraced Blizz tightly. The love for a sibling was back to her mind. She didn't want to lose her. Without her, it would be pointless for her to live without her best sister. Blizz was suprised, seeing her crying because of guilt and her actions. She returned the hug as to show that she still cared and loved her as a true sibling. They ended the hug a few seconds after.
"I forgive you, Flake, I completely understand," Blizz nodded.
"Y-you do?" Flake sniffed.
"Yes, I know you wanted to be to be with daddy, but remember that he loves you, even mommy. I may not be close to mommy, but I sometimes spend some quality time with her. You may not have a big bond with our parents, but you still have your friends and me," Blizz smiled.
"You are willing to have a bonding time with me, even if you have other things like your coltfriend and work?" Flake asked.
"Of course, we will relive our good past times," Blizz declared.
"Thank you, Blizz," Flake smiled.
"Don't mention it, Flake, you are my best sister ever," Blizz smiled as she reached out for a hoofbump.
Flake responded by bumping her hoof to hers. After a while, they played by splashing water to one another. She felt the feeling again of loving her sister. She promised herself to be the best twin sibling for Blizz. They had it before, and they would do it again together as the proud daughters of the Vine family. She sighed happily as she looked at her sister who was smiling back her, ready to rebuild their connection as they once had.
THE END