~~~
Hello? Is anypony here? The… room, is quiet. Where am I? Or… was I? Everything is a blur, but I try to remember. Surely there’s a reason I’m here in this white place. The low hum that fills the air makes it hard to concentrate.
Wait… That sound… Fluorescent lights? But why…? I look around, shielding my eyes with a hand as the blinding white begins to dim and reveal shapes. It’s a hallway, spotless under the buzzing lights above. Antiseptic.
This isn’t right. I shouldn’t be here, and… wait. Hand? Legs. Feet. This- I wasn’t like this- or I was, but not anymore, not after-
I stumble forward a step, my desire to leave, to go anywhere but here taking control. My body acts every bit as alien as it looks as it moves, not under my control, but under my direction, as if it has a will of its own and is merely obliging me. I need to get away from here, the buzz of electricity growing louder, roaring in my ears.
It’s so hard, like walking on two stilts instead of four sturdy hooves, but the sight of double doors drive me forward faster. A sprint has me bouncing off walls, jarring the bones of this brittle, sickly body and causing a dull ache to radiate through each underused joint, but my palms eventually smack into the cool metal of the push bars, the sensation faint yet sharp, and I tumble through the heavy doors.
I’m panting on my hands and knees, eyes glued to the wooden floor, sanded smooth, but unpolished. He never got around to it before I got sick again, and I never got to come back to see it finished.
The buzzing is gone, replaced instead with the innocuous ringing of silence. My body works to push itself up slowly, almost reproachful after the marathon I forced it through, but still manages to get its feet planted beneath me. I fall back, slamming against a wall, dizzy from both the action and height of standing. Everything is much farther down than I have grown used to.
Feeling the wallpaper under my hands, running my fingertips along the familiar floral patterns, I do not even need to turn to recognize it. How can one remember a place so vividly when they hardly got to spend any time there? Shouldn't I forget?
Eyes that I didn’t realize were shut open to reveal home. Not the extravagant halls and high ceilings, the paintings and potted flowers brought in from the garden, but a small, quaint living room with an old couch facing a rarely-used fireplace and big carpet I’d always have my childish distractions sprawled across.
There are people- not ponies- on that carpet. Two sitting that are so, so familiar, both wearing bright grins, and a third standing between them I’ve never seen. This time, my body and I agree wholeheartedly and I push myself forward, wanting nothing more than to grab hold of these two and never let go.
One step. Two step. Three… Four. Fi- What? I press against a wall where there is none, fingers splayed across a barrier I cannot see. Pushing does nothing. Hitting. Punching. Pounding with everything I’ve got does nothing, doesn’t even make a sound.
I call out to them, but they don’t turn to me, don’t even flinch as they stare unwavering at the little one between them, a little girl, familiar yet not, with hair the same color as that which hangs in front of my sight now, and eyes just like her mother’s.
With a healthy glow to her skin instead of a sickly pallor. With legs that hold her tall as she jumps and plays instead of buckling under her own weight. With a smile that outshines the sun instead of one so brittle as to only be outmatched by those of a mother and father forced to watch their child die.
Similar but different. A younger sister to replace the useless older one.
When did I fall to my knees again? It doesn’t matter as I feebly try to get their attention, even just a fleeting glance, shouting with all the might my weak lungs could muster, trying to be heard over my own hiccuping and tears.
It doesn’t work, and why should I want it to? They’re happy, happier than they ever were with me. I should let them be happy with their new life. That’s what I decided, isn’t it? They’re better off. I have… I have new…
A muffled gasp from behind has me whirling around to see… ponies? Mom? Dad? Why are you looking at me like that? I… It’s me... It’s… Who am I?
Blue? Bluey, no, don’t- don’t be afraid. It’s me, remember? I’m your… I know I look different, but I’m- No, I’m not a monster, I’m not, I’m just different.
Please. I’m still your sister. Don’t leave me. Mom, Dad, Brother. You're all I have left. Please.
Please.
…
… …
… Pure…
… Pure, wake up…
…. Pure, I said, wake…
“-Up!”
“Aaah-! Ooph!”
“… Oops. Uh, sorry, sis, but you wouldn’t wake up.”
“Bluey?”
“Well, duh, who else would be in the bed with you? Pauly?”
“Wha-?”
“You were crying in your sleep… Are you okay?
“I… it’s nothing. I’m sorry for waking you.”
“It’s okay… Are you sure?
“Really, I’m okay, just a… just a nightmare. Let’s get back to sleep. We have school in the morning.”
“Um, okay.”
“…”
“…”
“… Bluey?”
“Yeah?”
“I… I love you. Always.”
“Oh, uh, I love you always too… H-hey! Don’t squeeze me so hard!”
“Sorry.”
"... Are you going to let go?"
"Just for a little longer, please. Until I fall asleep again."
"... Fine."
"Thank you."
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Can you please do a time skip. To where? You choose.
8087339
Time skips backwards
YAS! i was just looking for something to read!
Stupid liquid pride
8087348 You want to go BACKWARDS IN TIME?!?!?! You'll mess up history as they know it if you do so.
But in all seriousness, I meant time skip to some point in the future. Where in the future? The author picks.
Well this definitely has some story and character development potential.
A nice bit of mystery there! And quite fast update as well! Thanks!
That foreshadowing though...
I thought she was going to wake up.screaming! Just as cute though. I am wondering if she is gonna have more of these episodes and if they get worse.
I was seriously scared for a moment that you had just gotten bored with the story and decided to end it on a 'it was all a dream' cliche, but thank god that wasn't the case
That was sweet.
Perfect!
I always love things like this. Authors (including me) often forget to just allow some time and effort to be set aside to show the characters' emotions.
Not just "she felt sad," but emotion through experiences. Like this.
Not everything needs to drive the plot along. Not everything should.
Insecure much, but what kid wouldn't be in her place?
Well that was dark.
I was expecting Luna to come in but then i remembered this is before her return.
What a jarring yet telling way to write a scene.
I applaud you, good sir!
Some good plot development, finally!
This was very well written with great imagery, I felt what she felt. Very good!
Gosh, that was really good! And though I love all the cute adventure chapters with Blue and Pure going through life, it was nice to see that Pure's human life hasn't been forgotten, and that it still affects her.
Can't wait for more!
P.S. That was kinda scary, too
. I'd love to see this chapter in animation form, or live-action. 
Can I ask why your story is called Gilded Sister? What is the meaning behind the title?
8087395 Agreed let the shipping start sooner then expected
8087355 Those things will get you every time.
And I was also excepting Luna to come busting in or something. then a comment reminded me that she's still banished in the more for like 10 or 20 years. Her past comes back to her. The past she has been trying to ignore for so long. You can't hide from it! You have to tell someone about this. Princess Celestia might be the best pony to or the worst. You never know. She may also say that you have the craziest imagination and write you off as a kid. Ugh this is so complicated! This is not a straight forward problem with no easy answer. Well that's a good thing! Remember Pure "You can't hide from the past!"
This chapter made me surprisingly happy because it was named ~~~
8087688 Obviously because Gilda is going to eat her. Or something...
8087855
Interesting interpretation.
8087339 Let's skip forward in time by one second every one second with the transition taking exactly one second.
I want her to finally tell someone. Maybe Auntie Celestia, who might know a thing or two about alternate worlds, or maybe Bluey, who she can swear to secrecy. But someone who can make her feel better.
8087688
It has a lot of meanings revolving around the word gilded, covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint. Pure is something different on the inside but appears to be almost a golden child to those around her. She's Blue's perfect sister, but as this chapter reveals, she doesn't always feel she is honest in the role.
Gilded can also refer to wealthy and privileged. Or a gilded cage. She lives a wonderful life, but can almost feel trapped by it at times, having to pretend to be someone and something she's not. It's not often, but subconsciously, she feels this burden.
8087815
~~~ just seemed dreamy to me. Like waves or something.
8087776
8087550
Luna will play a role in this I'm sure.
8087395
Get your boat out of the shipyard, sir! I have no idea what your talking about!
8087483
She's been trying to, but what she pushes out of the forefront of her mind just ends up piling up in the back of her subconscious.
8087373
Small chapter I've been wanting to do for a while. Did it all in one sitting this morning.
8084599
Sometimes I think about doing this chapter now and then just going back to the childhood stuff since everybody is eager to read it.
8087903
New chapter, yay!
- ~~~~
Hmm, a nightmare that brought forth fears of both her old and new homes, one where they moved on after her death, forgetting her with a new child, the other if they ever learned of her true nature.
Sad
8087951
Now that you mention it, I can see this in your writing
Not just what she says but the way she says it. Good job.
I like reading things in order. That's just me though
Heartwarming chapter, given the ending. I foresee Bluey eventually becoming the 'reluctantly sentimental big brother'.
I love how in the comments,there's one person saying that this chapter is nice, even if it doesn't advance the plot
8087466
While another person is rejoicing at the plot finally advancing
8087567
Different priorities in what is important and what this story should focus on, clearly.
I, for one, would love to get more pony shenanigans. Leave the past alone until it makes an interesting story arc later; Pure is a strong enough character for the human origin story to simply remain as only an aspect of her personality (for now).
And sometimes it is easier done than said.
I hope so, I am all for romance but I'd rather have some more feely feels
and foalhood shenanigans
and more cootness
before any romance begins.
8087951 but in order to take the ship out of the shipyard we'd have to sail it!
so does that mean it's confirmed?
Quite obvious it was a nightmare, but still, good job on showing how terrible it was for Pure. Nobody will know how grateful she is for all she has now.
That little bit at the end though, just adorable.
8087466
But this does drive the plot forward. Fleshing out the character's physics while also reminding us that she's not forgotten, at least subconsciously, her origins and that she had a family before she was transposed into Equestria. The sibling bond between Pure and Blueblood is also strengthened which should hopefully temper his own somewhat childish ways later in life-- his snobby nepotism is based on a single episode so he could very well be quite different outside the Gala and "gold diggers" trying to court him. Maybe he's not so bad in canon really? Either way, Pure is a very good thing for him. I also see great things in store for Pure. If she can shake up the nobles, keeping herself grounded like her parents, maybe she can prevent Blueblood from ending up with a stick up his plot like so many other rich Canterlot unicorns.
8087951
I see. That's very clever of you.
I hope this doesn't go i the same direction that certain fic - -.
8087776
I have a random question. Does Pure get a title like Blueblood? He gets the title of Prince, so what will be Pure's title. "When she's old enough". It would be Princess, but that's already taken by the Alicorns. Princess is below Queen but Queen is a "bad guy" type of troupe. I just really want to what her title would be if she gets one.
8088728 Well, of course it's important, and of course it adds depth.
But it depends on what you consider "plot" to be. It gives us information, sure. Important information, too. But in the case of "this event happens, then this and this," it doesn't move the story along.
Not saying that's a bad thing at all, of course.
But if character development, motives, and such were considered plot, then every chapter should advance the plot, unless it is purely for humor.
Hmm... A nightmare, or a vision of reality?
8088858 wow it really would explain it
Nice chapter, good work.
? = you
A sideways glimpse of home, at least she can be happy in the long run that her parents lives haven't fallen apart over her passing, I guess this is about the best spin I can think of for that.
The dream felt just as disorientating as it should have. Dream sequences really should be jerky and fuzzy, leaving you with a vague idea of what happened and being conveyed more through feelings and impressions than imagery or descriptions.
I did wonder if she had began to forget herself. Could be an interesting contrast if her old self occasionally flares up.
Personal Identity is one of the largest themes in children and adolesence, and the conflicts from it persist well into adulthood. MLP works off of the theme of self discovery and identity a lot, which is probably one of the many reasons why it appeals to people well into their twenties.
As Pure starts to grow up, the themes of self discovery and identity are going to be a little more complicated for her than the average foal finding their cutie mark, and probably won't resolve nearly as fast.
My best analogy for this would be you walking up to me saying "new chapter" and when I'm all happy and excited you punch me straight in the heart.
Then I lie writhing in pain, look up and say "Thank you"