The door to the little cottage swung open as Cinder Gold skipped out into the warm summer's day, wearing a straw sun hat. Lovely soft clouds drifted high above in a ocean blue sky. The cool mountain breeze blew through the hills.

A perfect day.

"It's time to wake up,

It's time to wake up,

And start to grow,"

She sang the Spring Budding Song that was stuck in her head ever since she woke up this morning. Cinder made her way around the house to a small, well maintained flower garden. She sat her backside down and opened up the saddle bag on her flank. Rummaging through the contents she pulled out a garden trowel.

Carefully placing the top of the spade a couple inches from a cluster of snapdragons, she pushed the trowel into the soft soil.

Now Sweety, be careful not to break the roots. You have to be gentle and pull back slowly. We don't want to hurt it.

I know Mama, see.

That's my girl.

Cinder smiled at the memory of her Mother working in the flower garden. She was – as much as Cinder could recall – caring and gentle. She spoke with a soft dreamy voice. She was beautiful in her memory. Sadly she had no pictures of her Mom, only her memories.

Back then Cinder was a foal. Curious about everything and wanted to do everything herself. She would watch her Mother plant flowers while laughing and running and dancing around merrily.

Can I try Mama. I want to do that too.

She smiled at Cinder, causing her eyes to narrow into slits. This was something she loved about her Mother. Come here Sweety. I'll show you. Handing the trowel over to the little orange-gold pony.

I didn't know what I was doing at that age. So I pretty much tore up the whole garden that day, unintentionally. But mother didn't stop me. She just watched me, smiling.

I screwed up Mama.

No. Not at all Sweety. She said picking up the filthy foal covered in topsoil. We'll make a better garden. Just you and me, and it'll be beautiful and full of color and butterflies. Now let's get you cleaned up before flowers start growing out of you.

We were so happy. Mother and Father told me that I'd have a brother or sister soon. Everypony was delighted that a new baby was on the way. I couldn't wait, but at the hospital something happened. Nurses and doctors ran in and out, yelling things. Then Father came out of the room Mother was in, with a grim face and his head low, "Cinder, go tell your Mother you love her."

I was so young back then and didn't understand.

I nodded and pushed past the door. In a bed laid Mother looking so weak and tired. I crossed the room and stood up against the bed, standing on the tips of my hooves just barely high enough to see over. Eye to eye with my Mother.

Hi Mama. When can we go home?

Cinder, I'm going away Sweety. You're going to go home without me.

Do you wanna play with me when you get back? Voice small and wavy.

I can't Sweety. You play with you brother and take good care of him. Can you do that for me?

Okay Mama. I think I knew then. I love you Mama.

I love you too Cinder Gold. I will always love you forever. She said smiling.

This would be the last time Cinder would see her Mother's smile.

Tears ran down Cinder's face, making little dark spots in the dirt where she worked in her Mother's flower garden. She couldn't help but to cry and hated it, trying to blink away the tears. She tried not to think of these haunting memories. The painful weight in her heart was too much to bear.

We'll finish that garden another day Sweety. Cinder wished for words that never came.

Thank you all for reading. Please review if you have any thoughts or want to share any ideas for future stories. I'm always listening.

I'm still cracking at the Bully War and still writing my top secret story as always. So many stories and so little time. So just hold tight and I'll have something new for you all soon. I'm honored to have all of you enjoying my stories, I Appreciate it greatly.

So thank you