Chapter 10

Pinkie and her sisters huddle close to one another as they stand by the side-mesh-window of the putter-wagon, looking out over the crowds of unicorns and slaves of all races mulling about the market square.

"It's so loud!" Marble and Pinkie whine as they place their hands over their ears.

"You'll get used to it little one." The human replies sitting behind the sisters. Rain Drops lays her head against his left shoulder as she watches the sisters' curious behavior.

Turning their attention back to the market, they can see that it surrounds a giant marble statue of a unicorn mare dressed in a primitive fur coat. In the statue's outstretched hand is a lantern and in her left hand are six arrows. She stands on a dome with carvings of different landmasses engraved in its surface.

On the edge of the market's roadside stand several four-story apartments and shops towering over it. Behind them is a sea of buildings of different shapes and heights, slowly ascending the sky as they go further towards the horizon of the castle's beginning foundations.

"What's going to happen to us?!" Limestone asks out loud.

"I think they're selling us?" Octavia replies looking at a wooden platform a few feet from them.

"Are they going to split us up?!" Limestone panics.

"I don't want you to leave me!" Pinkie cries. Marble shakes in fear as it consumes her.

Seeing that the fillies are upset, Rain Drops gets up from her seat and sits beside them. "Filii Veni, veni." She pats her lap. The sisters obey and lay around her, trying to find comfort in the mare's embrace. The human looks at the scene with a smirk as memories of before the war grace his mind.

The latch to the tailgate of the putter-wagon opens, and the double doors swing open revealing Ratchet and Winsor, Ratchet has a broad smile on his face. "How are my slaves doing? Ready to go to your new homes?" The sisters look at the stallion with eyes full of fear and anger. Rain Drops and the human stare down at the ground silently. Huffing at his slaves' solemn mood, he pulls out several worn leather collars and metal chain leashes. "Cheer up, buyers don't like gloomy slaves!" He and Winsor place the collars around their necks and latch the leashes to them. The sisters stare at the leashes and collars in disgust.

"Come!" Winsor shouts.

The sisters, Rain Drops and the human pile out of the back of the putter-wagon and slowly follow their slave masters to the stage overlooking the market. The sisters cower from the judging eyes of the crowds as they near their destination. Ascending the steps, they walk to the center of the platform. Facing them towards the masses, Winsor and another stallion lock their chains to the floor.

Bolted to the floor and nowhere else to go, the sisters have no choice but to look at the market.

From what they'd seen earlier of the market looked grand, but now, being in the thick of it, it seems more imposing. It didn't help that the peak of the mountain and the royal castle built within, casts its shadow upon the market and city, letting its residents know who holds all the power. The sisters never seen such towering buildings, notably a castle of such majestic stature. Earthen being a republic, castles such as the one they gaze upon are and were a rare siting, most that still stand within Earthen's borders are long ago memories of a past best left forgotten.

Moving their attention to the crowds, the sisters watch as the unicorns mull about their day. It is the first time they see this many unicorns in one place and not in military uniform. Since the war, trade with Unicorpia died, and even then, before the war, with Ashmore being so far inland and so remote, a unicorn sighting in its streets would have been a big deal.

The slaves in the sea of unicorns ultimately draw their attention. The stern glares they give send chills down the sisters' spines.

Walking up to Willow who sits at a table in the back corner of the platform, Ratchet leans on the table. "So, are we ready to make the announcement?" He smiles.

Willow smiles placing some paperwork in neat piles. "Yes, we are…"

"Hey! When will our slaves be put on stage?!" A mare yells behind them.

Ratchet looks over Willow's shoulder, while Willow turns her head. They see a mare and four other slave merchants glaring at them. Behind them is their own putter-wagons full of slaves. "You'll have plenty of time to sell your products." He gives them a smirk. "You have the best seat in the house, trust me, you'll get your money's worth." He leans in and whispers in Willow's ear. "How much are we taking from their sell again?"

"Ten percent." She gives him a smirk.

He sighs. "Next time let's make it fifteen…" He turns towards the crowd and gives a clap. "Ladies and Gentlemen! I'm glad to say, Southern Canterlot Slave Trading Company is open for business!" Some ponies in the crowd stop and turn their gaze towards him. "For the spring festival, we are offering a discount on certain slaves, like these two!" He points at Pinkie and Marble. "Nine-year-old twins! For only eight-hundred bits!"

Some of the crowd gathers around the platform and gaze at the sisters, Rain Drops and the human, the first batch of slaves

Noticing that some are not really interested in the ones on stage, Ratchet walks up to the stage's edge. "If you do not see the one that finds your fancy, we have another batch of slaves that will be coming on stage once these slaves are sold!" He gives the crowd a thumb up. "So, stick around.

The sisters' shiver, sweat rolls down their faces. They do not understand Ratchet's words, but from the reaction of the crowd, they know something terrible is about to happen. Trying to find a sense of comfort they look at Rain Drops, reading her mood. She feels their gaze looking upon her. With a sigh, she looks at the sisters and gives them a soft smile as she points to the floor with her eyes. The sisters understand her command and turn their gaze to the floor, keeping silent.

Hearing hoof steps walking up to the platform, the sisters turn their gaze and see a tall unicorn stallion in his mid-forties. His shoulders are broad, his snout is square, his golden-blue eyes stick out from his dark grey fur and indigo-black mane.

Ratchet smiles, shaking the stallion's hand. "Welcome?"

"Diamond Star." The stallion replies with a smile as he puts his left hand in his overcoat's pocket.

"Glad to meet you," Ratchet points to his slaves. "So, are you interested in buying some slaves today?"

"I am." Diamond walks over to the sisters, ignoring the human and pegasus. "Are these the twins?" He points at Pinkie and Marble.

"Yes, they are." Ratchet replies.

"What about these two?" He points at Octavia and Limestone.

Those are the twins' eldest sisters, they're being sold separately." Ratchet places his hands behind his back, giving a seller's smile.

Diamond studies the sisters' appearances. He eyes the twins. If one would have only given a glance, they couldn't tell they were twins at all. Pinkie's bright pink fur and magenta mane stand out from Marble's light grey fur and dark grey mane. Even their eyes are the polar opposite. Pinkie's bright blue for and Marble's deep purple.

His attention turns to Octavia and Limestone. Octavia looks more like Marble's twin, they were precisely the same in every way. Besides their age difference, they look more related to one another than their other sisters. Limestone stands out from the rest of her sisters like Pinkie. Her fur is a dull lavender, and her mane is a white-grey. Her lime-green eyes speak out to him, full of determination, like her sister, Pinkie.

He smiles at Pinkie and Limestone. He likes the contrast. 'They surely won't be a sore on the eyes day to day.' He tells himself. "Are you sure they're all related?" He looks at Ratchet.

Ratchet mumbles. "Of course they are, we have the records if you want to take a look."

"I believe you…" He keeps his gaze on Pinkie. Diamond can see her cowering against Limestone, who is to her right. "Are you a hard worker little one?" He bends down, lowering himself to be at eye level with her.

Pinkie feels a chill run down her spine. The smile he gives is one that causes strange emotions to surge throughout her body and mind. "Yes… sir…"

Diamond gives a hum and looks at Limestone. "What about you?"

"Sir…" Ratchet speaks up. "They're not being sold together…!"

Diamond holds up an index finger silencing the stallion. "Well, little one, are you a hard worker?" He asks again

Limestone keeps her eyes on his. They dig into her soul, causing her chest to tighten up. "Yes…" She mumbles. Octavia and Marble watch their sisters' converse with the stallion, their own emotions boiling to the surface.

Diamond smiles at the two of them and stands up. "They seem well behaved." He puts his hands into his overcoats pockets. "How much for them?" He points two fingers at them.

Ratchet lets out a nervous giggle. "We're only selling the twins together…"

Diamond grunts a small sigh. "I really do not want to have two slaves of the same age." He pulls out a thick stack of bank notes each worth one-hundred-bits. "I'm willing to pay two-thousand-bits for these two." He points at Limestone and Pinkie. "I know the older one will keep her younger sibling in line." He looks down at the sisters with a smirk.

The sisters cannot understand their words, but from their body language, demeanor and what looks like money in Diamond's hand, they know what is about to happen. The realization of what is about to occur, cold, numbing pain assaults their bodies.

Ratchet and Willow stare at the wad of bank notes. A drop of sweat rolls down Ratchet's brow. "Well… I don't know?"

Well how about I pay fifteen-hundred instead and give you a seventy-percent discount on travel expenses when you use my train line." Diamond chuckles with a smirk.

"And what train line would that be?" Willow asks with a smile.

"The Star Line Express my dear." Diamond hands her a business card. "Call me sometime later on today, and we can finalize our contract." He looks at Ratchet. "Unless you don't want to take the deal?"

Ratchet lets out a giggle. "No! No, not at all! I accept!" He takes the stallion's right hand and gives it a shake. "Do you need help with your new slaves?"

"No," Diamond remarks. "I hired a transport service, they'll take care of it." He points at the desk. "Shall we?" Ratchet nods and offers the stallion a seat. Seeing a successful sale, several other unicorns wait in line. The other slave merchants witnessing the crowd growing around the platform, prepare their slaves for sale.

Before taking his seat, Diamond waves to his hired crew, gesturing that all is a go. Nodding a response, they quickly walk up to Pinkie and Limestone. The sisters look at the stallions with fear. Scared, they try to back away, but their chains halt their advance. With help from Winsor, they unlock them from the stage and walk them down the steps to an awaiting putter-slave-wagon.

"OCTAVIA! MARBLE!" Pinkie cries as she reaches out, her legs kicking the air. Her cries singing out over the noisy market.

"NO!" Limestone tries to fight back "LET ME GO!" The stallion carrying her uses his magic, sending a bolt of electricity to her collar, numbing her, making go limp, making her a more comfortable carry.

"WHERE ARE YOU TAKING THEM!" Octavia cries, looking at Ratchet and Willow with hate-filled eyes. Winsor pinches the back of her neck, hard, quieting her woes. Ratchet and Diamond stare briefly at the distraught fillies before returning to their work.

…

Getting to the putter-slave-wagon, the stallions unstrap the worn leather collars from their necks. Opening the metal doors, they toss them into the back and shut the doors. Bathed in mild darkness, with some light shining through the mess windows of the doors, the voice of the outside world muffled buy the wagon's metal shell. Frightened, Pinkie crawls up to her sister and wraps her arms and legs around her, sitting in her lap as she buries her face into her sister's chest. Hot tears roll down her face. Limestone can feel them through her gown. She grabs her sister, keeping her close to her, her mind going numb from her own wild and crazy thoughts swimming through her mind.

"Are they loaded up?" Diamond asks, his muffled voice echoing into the back hull of the wagon. His voice sends chills down the sisters' backs.

"Yes, sir." One of the crewmen states.

"Alright, let's get going before traffic gets too rough."

The sisters feel the putter-wagon rumble to life. Scared, they huddle closer to the corner of the vehicle near the cabin. Tears soaking the fur around their face.

…

Seeing the vehicle driving away with their sisters. Octavia and Marble bow their heads in despair. Octavia's throat tightens up, her body feels hot as she tries to break her chains. "STOP IT!" Winsor hisses, smacking her across the face. Octavia jerks back and stares at the stallion with wide petrified eyes. Marble looks on in fear, too scared to do anything for her sister.

"How much for those two?" Octavia and Marble hear a mare ask. They turn their attention to the source of the voice and see a unicorn mare in her late forties. Her face is soft, her cheeks plump and round. Her white mane is short about chin-length, and her tan fur shines gloriously in the sun. Her stature is short, but her demeanor and the way she carries herself shows her status, her power. Her eyes help with that, their bright red color can pierce the souls of many.

Willow looks at her notes, making some on the fly calculations. "I say about a thousand bits, Miss?"

"Jupiter, Miss. Jupiter." She pulls out some banknote totaling the amount asked. "I'll like to buy them if that's not too much trouble for you?" She motions to the growing crowd around the stage. "I can see you're already busy."

"No, not at all." She gives Miss. Jupiter some paperwork. "I like it when we're busy." She hands her a pen. "Do you need help with transportation?"

"No my dear, I have a ride waiting for me." Jupiter gives her a smile.

…

The putter-slave-wagon rocks back 'n forth as it climbs up the small mountain road weaving amongst the trees, heading up to a secluded home not too far from the city, about twelve miles. The ride feels like years for Limestone and Pinkie. The back of the wagon is hot, the humid air seeping in causes their fur to get damp and sticky. They keep their eyes on the doors' windows, watching the trees along the road pass them by.

Feeling the vehicle make a sharp left turn, then roll up a steep incline before leveling out and slowing down, curiosity gets the better of the sisters. Crawling to the doors, they peek out the windows.

Through the mesh, they see a vast gravel driveway leading up to a grand-granite staircase, which leads to a three-story mansion. The building is clad in bright white plaster and peach marble. Grand plantation windows line the front of the home. Six brick pillars hold up the awning-porch. Five chimneys poke out of the concrete-tile roof. A grove of trees towers over the home's backyard as the hills of the mountain keep ascending behind it.

Hearing the passenger door open, the sisters back away from the door and cower against the back wall of the wagon.

The double doors open, revealing Diamond standing, posing a dull mannered pose. In his hand is two white leather collars, with common red ruby jewels and leashes to match. "Welcome to your new home." He chuckles.

…

Octavia and Marble sit in awe at the interior of the putter-car they sit in. The lavish ivory-white leather seats, cream-tan carpets of the floorboards and the wood trimmings brings a calm to the ride. The sisters' ears flicker, the car is quiet, too quiet. All of the putter-cars they have seen back home were just as loud as their wagon counterparts. Their snouts tickle, the rich polished and leathery smells of the interior cause their nostrils to itch.

In front of them on the other side of a mesh covered opening are their new Mistress and her driver. The driver is a unicorn in his late teens. His outfit is business casual, a simple white-polo-shirt, and black slacks.

Their Mistress, Miss. Jupiter, keeps her gaze focus on a magazine, her short curly mane, masking her soft facial features. Feeling a pair of eyes glaring at her, she looks over her shoulders and sees her slaves staring at her with mixed emotions. "We'll be their soon my dears." She gives them a smile."

The sisters sigh and turn their eyes elsewhere. Looking out the windows, they see that they're in the heart of Canterlot. The buildings here are taller, broader, more ornate as they consume every available buildable space the mountainside has to offer. Some skyscrapers even carve their way into the mountain itself, becoming semi-subterranean dwellings.

Seeing traffic up ahead, the driver puts his hoof on the brakes. "Should we take the shortcut, Miss. Jupiter?"

"Yes, we should." She puts her magazine down. "I'll just enter from the east side entrance." The putter-car makes a right, heading down a small alley. Passing three intersections, the driver turns left and pulls onto another major street. Driving for a few more minutes, the putter-car pulls up to a forty-five-story building in downtown Canterlot. Smiling, Jupiter looks at her slaves with a smile. "Welcome home my little dearies."