Chapter Text
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi quickly found her favorite person. It was easy, her big brother always made a lot of noise. And though her legs shook as she tried to waddle behind her big brother, Teio always made sure to look back for her.
"Easy, Tsuru!" Teio laughed as she helped Tsurumaru to a stop.
The foal frowned at the arms around her but quickly grew distracted as Teio spoke again, "you almost went right into the cabinet!"
"Bouy!"
She couldn't say "brother" yet, but she was sure Teio knew what she meant as she grinned at the foal.
"You want an apple too, Tsuru?"
"Aba!"
"You gotta grow strong then, like Papa!"
Tsuru did not understand, but as her brother struck a pose, it made her giggle.
On a shaky, wobbly body, she tried to copy her brother's pose.
"Yeah! Just like that! Wait no, you gotta put up three, Tsuru!"
Her brother tried, but Tsuru was far too entertained by copying her. Eventually, Teio caught on and made silly faces that the foal laughed at and copied back.
"She really adores you," she heard behind them but made sure to finish her goal of copying her silly brother. "Make sure to be a good influence now."
"I will, Papa!" Teio beamed as Tsuru giggled. "I'll teach her how to run and share my apples and play with her and-"
"Well hold on now, she's just learned how to walk..."
Tsuru looked between them before something caught her eye. A bright blue tail swished around the corner of the countertop, and the foal's eyes widened.
"Roo!" She called out, toddling after the tail. "Rooroo!"
The turn was hard, and she tumbled a bit before catching herself with her hands. Determined, she got back up again and scurried towards the tail, beaming once she caught it in her clumsy hands.
"... You better not pull," Arubu mumbled but stood still as Tsuru cooed happily. "It'll hurt."
But Tsuru was too fascinated by how soft it was, babbling happily.
"Roo! Roo ba!"
Her sister huffed before gently pulling her away from her tail and hugging her. Tsuru beamed, even happier as she cuddled with her big sister.
"... You're noisier than Teio."
"Hey!"
Tsuru laughed, even as her big brother glared at Arubu. She was very, very happy.
"Thank you for coming today!"
"Of course, thank you for having us," Rudolf replied, casually taking the lead inside as Groove smiled and nodded, her hand firmly holding Arubu's.
Arubu tried not to fight her, despite the deep need to run making her legs itch.
The teacher pulled up a file, giving her parents a smile.
"I'll just go over what we have here..." Her teacher looked over the report, reading it off as she went, "Admire Groove has been doing well academically, often finishing before anyone else. She listens well and addresses all the teachers with respect."
Rudolf nodded, her arms firmly crossed, which made Arubu squirm.
"... However, as you both know: she's been struggling with the other children." Her teacher lowered the file and pushed up her glasses. "Being quiet or standoffish is quite normal, but not for such a prolonged period of time. Often others will cry or report her behavior as rude or dismissive of them."
Arubu opened her mouth, but a look from her mother had her quickly shut it.
"This, again, isn't too much of a problem most of the time, but we've noticed Admire Groove being isolated in many occasions. We've talked with other children and parents, but the children swear they are trying to include her. We just wanted to bring this up to you both as possible behavioral issues and wanted to know of your thoughts.
The filly wanted to hide, squeezing her mother's hand. But it was Rudolf who spoke.
"... She doesn't talk much at home," Rudolf hummed evenly. "And keeps to herself. It is not that she dislikes people, but they tire her. So such behavior is not uncommon for her." Her papa tapped her arm. "She is simply introverted and honest with that part of herself. She does have friends, mostly children of our own friends. I don't believe there is cause for concern, as long as no bullying is involved."
"I see... Well, we can continue to keep an eye on her, to make sure nothing will happen." The teacher nodded.
After the meeting was done, her parents led her down the hall before Rudolf scoffed.
"Keeping an eye on her..."
"Are you okay, dear?" Her mother whispered to her.
Arubu didn't feel right, hot shame filling her as she clung to her mother.
"... I'm fine..."
Groove did not seem to believe her, looking towards her husband, who looked irritated.
"If they will not do something about it-"
"Do not." The mare sighed. "Do not. It will cause more problems for her."
Arubu squirmed.
"I know but..." Her father growled, her tail lashing. "It's not right. They're good students, they're good kids!"
"Not everyone fights for what is right, Rudolf."
"I know that but-!" She froze before taking a deep breath. "It's injustice."
"And I agree."
"Please," Arubu spoke so quietly she was sure they didn't hear her at first, "don't fight."
Her father's eyes widened before she kneeled down to her level. Arubu couldn't meet her eyes.
"Sweetheart, we're not... We wouldn't..."
"We're not fighting each other," her mother said. "We're angry that the others are treating you this way."
"... It's my fault-"
"It is not," Rudolf quickly said, resting a hand on her shoulder. "It is not your fault."
"While you should be nicer to others, you should also be treated with kindness." Groove thumbed over her hand. "That is simply the truth."
"We'll figure something out." Rudolf stood, giving Arubu a smile. "For now though, we'll go have a treat and meet up with your brothers. I'm sure Teio will have run Brian up the wall by now."
"... Tsuru too."
Her father's expression faltered, her mother squeezed her hand.
"Tsuru too."
Arubu frowned at that, even more uncomfortable. Though her baby brother was really, really weak and got sick often, she hated how they excluded her. She was struggling, yes, but she could now run laps around Teio, even if it meant she lost her breath afterwards.
She just wanted things to be better. Dropping by and grabbing ice cream afterward only calmed her heart so much. By the time they got home, she could only muster up a hum instead of calling out that they were back.
Uncle Brian called back, leading Arubu to head into the living room and find her watching Tsuru. Her baby brother lit up once she saw her and quickly stood, stumbling over herself as she rushed over.
"Aru!"
She smiled, reaching out to stop Tsuru from running right past her. Her brother's clumsy hands gripped at her as Tsuru laughed.
"Aru! Aru, play!"
"I gotta change first, Tsuru," she lightly told her brother. "Then I can play."
Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi pouted, pulling away from her.
"Teio no play! You play!"
Arubu tilted her head, looking towards Uncle Brian. The stallion shook her head.
"Teio's been grounded."
"... Oh."
"... Just give it time. Rudolf's a softy and will probably let her out early."
The filly frowned before going up the stairs, only followed by the cries of Tsuru asking Uncle Brian something. Sure enough, Teio's door was closed, which she only did when something was bothering her. She used to do it more often but with Tsuru moving into the room, their older brother grew into caring for her too.
Arubu had overheard Rudolf talking with Teio about moving to the attic once she and Tsuru grew big enough. She just hoped that Teio learned how to be quieter up there.
Having her doubts, she decided for now to just knock on the door.
"Teio," she spoke quietly, knowing her brother probably heard.
There was a shifting on the other side before Teio opened the door.
"Aru."
"... Your eye looks better."
It did. The swelling had calmed down and it looked more healthy than the dark black bruise it had before.
"Still hurts," Teio mumbled. "But... Thanks."
"... May I...?"
Her brother nodded, letting her into her room. It was a bit of a mess, but she nor Teio really cared about that right now. She closed the door behind her as Teio fidgeted. "... The teacher said I don't talk to anyone."
"The teachers are stupid! Don't listen to them!"
"I didn't. Papa was angry at them."
"Papa is right to be!"
"I..." Arubu paused, thinking about what to say. "... You don't have to fight them."
"Next time, I won't, I'll win!"
"Teio."
"No one bullies my baby sister!" Teio huffed.
"I'm not even-"
"And don't say that!" Teio shook her head, taking Arubu's shoulders. "If you need someone on your side, I'm there, okay?"
Her head lowered, unable to look at her brother's eyes.
"... You shouldn't get hurt. Because of me."
"Next time... I'll be careful." She grinned at her. "I won't get hurt."
"... Promise?"
"Promise! No one makes my sister sad, not even me!" Teio winced. "I'd...play with you, but I'm still grounded..."
"... You can't leave, right?"
"Mhm. For the weekend..."
"... Then I'll visit."
Teio blinked before she beamed. "Great idea, Aru! Oh, but check if Tsuru also wants to come in! She'll get jealous if we're playing without her!"
Arubu nodded, letting her big brother pull her into a quick hug before allowing her to leave for her own room.
Tsuru loved to run, Teio found, and she wished that was a good thing.
Dad and Mom tried, they really did, but with Arubu not doing well with crowds, even a day trip was a lot of work. Teio volunteered often to keep Tsuru in line, as she tended to follow her big brother around.
Once, they had gone to a zoo, and Teio had to run after the other colt. She had taken off the moment she had seen the big bird exhibit. Mom had to stay with Arubu and Dad had said she was fine, that she was watching her, but Teio knew her younger brother would find some way to get taken by an eagle or something.
And the worst part was that she would do it and then immediately double over in a coughing fit!
Yes, unfortunately, Tsuru never recovered like Mom did. Their parents were always so cautious with her health because one small thing ended up with so many doctor's visits. She and Aru were told so many times about their baby brother's issues, and that they needed to be careful, but they just let her run off!
Teio thought it was so, so unfair.
"Tsuru, don't go in there!" She called after her younger brother. She had turned away just a moment, only to find her halfway into a bush.
"It's fine!" Tsuru shouted back, happily exploring.
"You're smothering," Arubu quietly commented, her face twisting in a grimace. "She's fine."
"What if there's poison ivy?" Teio huffed, walking away from the cool bug she found and going to help Tsuru out.
"I'm pretty sure the park staff wouldn't keep poison ivy around," her sister retorted. "'sides, Tsuru would then learn to not go in there."
Still, Teio tried to grab onto Tsuru, only for her brother to whine.
"Teio! It's fine! I'm fine!"
"You're gonna push yourself too hard!"
"A-Aru!"
Teio frowned as their sister cut in, grabbing Teio and forcing her to let go of their brother. From the force, Tsuru fell out into the bush.
"Aru!" The older colt glared at her.
"You're not her dad." Arubu glared back.
"B-but..." Teio grumbled, "she'll get hurt."
"And?" Arubu raised an eyebrow. "Like we haven't?"
"... I don't wanna mess up this time." Teio dug her hands into her pockets. "... I'm gonna be a good brother this time."
Surprisingly, Arubu rolled her eyes before lightly pushing her.
"Like you haven't been?"
Teio blinked, so she continued, "she's gonna hate you more if you keep pushing her. Plus, Mom's right over there on the bench. She'll hear us if you keep yelling."
Teio said nothing, looking over the bush to see Tsuru looking up the trunk of a tree.
"... Okay," she conceded. For now. "... But if she falls from the tree, that's your fault."
"Okay maybe we should stop her from doing that."
Tsurumaru yawned, rubbing her eyes as she pried herself off of the couch. Mama wasn't nearby, and probably had to usher Rura off to nap before she could wake Tsuru. She honestly felt a bit mixed, as she liked how Mama trusted her to be by herself, but it felt bad sleeping as much as her baby brother.
Her body still wasn't cooperative, and it took her a moment to get down and walk over to the kitchen, but she felt better than she had in days. The fever Teio brought home from school was really mean to her, but should be over.
Until the next time her siblings brought something home, but she wasn't going to worry about it now.
Instead, she trotted over to the kitchen and wondered if she'd be able to grab anything to snack on for herself. Mama and Papa were strict on their diets, but Tsuru was hungry and she hated waiting on them all the time.
Just her luck, however, she spotted a young preteen grabbing a juicebox from the fridge.
Her tail wagged as she ran over to her sister.
"Aru!"
"Mornin'," she quietly said back before sipping on her juice.
"It's afternoon, Aru?"
Arubu shrugged, walking away from the kitchen before Tsuru could stammer: "w-wait!"
Her sister paused, looking just as disinterested as ever as Tsuru fidgeted.
"... Can I have juice too?"
Raising an eyebrow, it just took a moment for Arubu to walk over to the fridge and open it.
"Fruit punch, apple, or lemonade?"
"We have fruit punch?"
Her sister took out a pouch and tossed it to her, leaving her to scramble to catch it before looking it over for the straw and hole. As she managed to open it, she looked over to see her sister now going to the pantry. "Aru?"
"You can't have fruit punch without a snack," her sister said as if it explained anything. "What do you want?"
"U-um..." Tsuru thought for a moment before her eyes widened. "Cookies!"
"Cookies and fruit punch?" Arubu snorted. "Alright."
Tsuru beamed as her sister brought out the whole packet and jerked her head back to the living room. The colt stumbled after her, eyes focused more on the big package of cookies. Her sister didn't say a word as she put them down on the table and stole one.
Tsuru sat down in front of the table, tail wagging as she grabbed some cookies and Arubu turned the television on. She ate happily before sipping on her juice and her face twisted painfully. Arubu scoffed.
"Not a good combo?"
"It's better with milk."
"Well," her sister chuckled again, sitting on the couch. "I'm not getting up again."
Tsuru hummed before sipping more of her juice.
"Next time, then?"
"Yeah. Next time."
And she thought Tsuru was talkative.
"Rooroo! Rooroo!"
Admire Groove sighed and put her book down, taking a deep breath as her baby brother waddled over to her.
"Yes, Rura?"
With the largest grin, Rulership proudly presented her outstretched fist to the teenager.
Again.
Arubu tried not to sigh too loudly this time, but it was quite hard to. She had no clue why Rulership adored her so, but it was a bit annoying. Unlike Tsuru, who at most had to be called back when she got too excited, Rura was prone to one very, very, very annoying thing.
Crying.
She cried loudly and pitifully and every little thing that went wrong felt like the world was ending for her. Mom said that it was because her world was so small, but Arubu was sure that she wasn't like that when she was little. Rura clung to their mother like it was her lifeline, and unfortunately was coddled. Not too badly for a baby, but to a preteen like Arubu?
It was annoying.
Still, she could do little but roll her eyes and present her own open hand. Rura would cry otherwise.
Tail thrashing happily, Rura released a clump of grass into Arubu's hand and didn't even flinch at the grimace she had.
"... Great," she hissed. "Thanks."
Rura beamed, seemingly so proud of herself. Arubu set the grass on the blanket beside her before pulling up her book again.
Only to hear a whine.
Before she could even look over, Rura barreled into her.
"H-hey!"
Rulership grinned, happily settling into her big sister's lap and looking at the book expectantly.
"Rura," she said as evenly as she could. "It's not a story for you. Go play with Teio and Tsuru."
Undeterred, her baby brother cooed happily and grabbed the edge of the book to lower it down in front of her. Of course, she couldn't read yet, but that wasn't what she wanted.
"... Spoiled," Arubu huffed and found her place in the book again, "...The silence was deafening, pressing more heavily on Hollyleaf’s ears than the stones that pinned her to the cold floor.”
And even if Rura didn't know half of what she was saying, she stayed in Arubu's lap, enraptured by her big sister's voice.
Rulership didn't think twice about it. Like with most things, she spoke quickly and with her full heart.
"Arubu's got all of Mama's genes though, she looks just like her!"
It was a light conversation while she was playing on her handheld, Tsuru and Teio were watching a movie, and Arubu was always glued to her books, but the moment she spoke, the air seemed to shift. It scared her a little, even when Tsuru laughed.
"She's right though! You look just like her!"
Teio frowned, strangely, and while Arubu did not look up from her book, her tail tapped the couch.
"Wh-what's with that look?" Rura shivered. "Why's it so cold in here?!"
Tsuru tilted her head, pausing to look back at her.
"I think you're imagining things, Rura."
"Uh..." Teio laughed, though it seemed different. "Did you two forget?"
Rulership paled, wondering what she did wrong as Tsuru just looked confused.
"Forget what?"
Teio stared at her brothers for a moment before she looked back at their sister.
"... Did we ever tell them?"
"Tell us what?"
"Unless Mom or Dad did," Arubu said coolly. "I don't remember saying anything."
"Isn't that weird though? Did it slip their mind?"
"Whaaaat?!" Tsuru whined casually and nudged Teio. "You can't just say these things and not explain! Poor baby Rura's gonna explode!"
She certainly felt like she was going too, her blood chilling as Arubu sighed.
"Well geeze, now it's awkward," Teio laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Aru's adopted."
Rura felt her heart sink. Her handheld fell out of her hands as tears welled up in her eyes.
Tsuru blinked before nodding.
"Oh, okay."
"Really?" Arubu scoffed.
"I mean, you're still you. Unless you have like, I dunno, superpowers or are secretly royalty or whatever." The colt paused before she gasped, sitting upright. "WAIT, DO YOU-?!"
"Of course not."
"She looks like a princess though, huh?" Teio chuckled. "Like that one from-"
"If you bring that up, I'll put ice cubes down your shirt."
Their brothers laughed, Teio jumping up and away from Arubu's range, but still, Rura trembled.
She sniffled a bit before she hiccuped, and by that time, her siblings began to notice.
"H-hey, what's the matter?!" Teio frantically waved her hands. "Hey, it's okay, Rura!"
"Yeah, Aru's still Aru, right?" Tsuru added. "That's not changing at all."
Still, Rura began to cry.
She did not know exactly why, even if it seemed obvious to herself, but it just made her cry. Her sister, her big sister who she followed and who read her bedtime stories and liked her personal space...
She wasn't her sister.
It was scary. It was confusing for the six-year old.
But, a hand atop her head got her wailing to calm, just for a moment.
"Stop that," Admire Groove said quietly. "So what if I'm adopted? I'm still your sister. You're still annoying and a crybaby-"
"Aru!" Teio interrupted.
"But... You're still my brother. That's not gonna change." Arubu paused before the corner of her mouth twitched upward. "Though it'd be nice if you stopped crying so much."
"R-r..."
Rura burst out crying, her sobs reaching throughout the house and echoing off the walls as she grabbed onto her sister.
"ROOROO!!"
"H-hey! Y-you're a bit big for that name now..." Arubu mumbled, but her hands were firm as she held Rulership close to her.
And her baby brother knew that her sister wouldn't let go.
The party was drawing to a close.
Rulership, having been dragged out by Mom, had already collapsed from her social battery being drained. How she managed to get with Dober of all mares, Arubu didn't know. Her girlfriend seemed to be enjoying time with Groove, even if Rura was asleep on her shoulder.
Tsurumaru was helping in the kitchen, by now probably stealing another slice of the cake. Arubu hadn't had any, but Tsuru and Groove both decided on the flavor and it did look good. Bright clung to Tsuru, unflinching when meeting her family for the first time. She was nice, and certainly a good match for her baby brother.
Teio, like always, was with Dad. She always had some story to tell Rudolf whenever she came back home, or at least, some excuse to occupy their father. Rudolf never minded, but McQueen had a good head on her shoulders and tried to let the others talk to Dad too. She still got wrapped up in the conversation though, looking at Arubu's brother like she was the world.
Arubu herself sat on the porch, looking out into the old backyard. It had been a while since she visited, busy with her career, but it always felt strange to come back home. She missed it, yes, but the changes that happened while she wasn't there stung like bees. It hurt, not being there, but at the same time, she was coming into her own and that's what she wanted.
She sighed, leaning back and watching the stars above.
"I thought I'd find you here."
Arubu blinked, looking over to find Groove opening the door with a smile. She had a plate in hand with a single untouched slice of cake and a fork.
Air Groove hadn't changed much as her children got older, Uma never really did. She looked great, though the stress did cause a few wrinkles. No one could get her to stop though, always caring for her family and always being open to talk to. Even now, she held out the plate to Arubu, knowing her too well.
And, of course, Arubu took it. She looked it over for a moment while Groove sat down beside her.
"... Father put too much icing on it."
Groove chuckled.
"She knows."
The sounds of the night around them called to Arubu, telling her to speak her mind. She waited.
"... So," Groove began as she always did, "what has you out here?"
"It's a bit crowded."
"Heh, guess it is now."
Arubu observed her cake before tentatively eating a bite. It was good. Just the right amount of chocolate and icing, but she'd never say that.
"... You know," she started, unable to think of an elegant way to do so, "I went back to the orphanage."
"Oh?" Groove smiled. "How were things?"
"It was nice. It had just gotten remodeled so it was clean and tidy. The playground is much bigger, too."
"That's good."
"... They recognized me," Arubu mumbled, "from my races. They cheered me on."
"Not from when you were there?"
"No, they did, but... They greeted me as someone who won the Elizabeth Cup. Not just... A returning guest."
Groove hummed and nodded, letting her continue.
"I went to...to donate some of my earnings. I didn't know how much to give, so I wanted to visit and talk. They were... doing well though." Arubu took another bite. "... I found out...you and Father had been donating for years now."
"Ever since we got you."
"... When did...?"
"Originally," she chuckled, "it was a part of your first Christmas with us. We wanted to do something nice for the people who gave us you. And we wanted you to not worry for those who once cared."
"But you...never told me."
"Do you remember back then?" Groove let the answer fall as Arubu just ate more. "We didn't want to come on too strong. To only donate because it benefited us. Even then, it felt... wrong. So, we talked, and decided not to tell you." She hummed. "After that, we donated little by little. Just because it was the right thing to do."
"But now..." Arubu fidgeted. "Dad's surgery..."
"We'll be fine. We were workaholics for a reason," Groove said with a grin. "We're not going hungry just so she can rest. She'll be fine after a while."
"... Has she thought of... Retiring?"
"Yes. But you know your father. She wants to make sure you're all happy first before herself."
Arubu looked away from her cake, back to the stars above.
"... I am, at least."
"Good to hear," Mom said warmly.
She stood, slowly to not hurt herself as she did, before outstretching a hand. "It's getting chilly out."
Arubu watched her before taking her hand and standing up as well.
From somewhere, a crow called, bathed in the sunset. The whole world was deep hues of red and orange, with the warmth of the sun fading.
Summer was ending soon, and she found herself in a park, by a bench. The mare had hurried, trying to take a shortcut back home before it got too late, when she realized how familiar it was.
She was so small, and the world felt like an even smaller cage. No matter how tall the buildings, no matter how tall the trees, no one wanted a small little filly. That's what she thought, anyway.
It felt melancholic now, almost. Eventually, she'd allow herself to shed a tear, but for now she had to hurry home.
Her feet hurt from the day, and the issues with her coworkers weighed heavily on her mind. Letting muscle memory take her, she arrived at her home and opened the door.
"I'm home," she said quietly into her apartment.
"Mama!"
The thunderous sound of footsteps rang through the house and the mare bent low before she even saw the black blur heading her way. With perfect timing, she caught the colt and lifted her up into the air.
"Mama!" Duramente smiled at her, arms outstretched to try and grab for her.
Admire Groove chuckled and lowered her from the air, allowing her son to cling to her.
"I'm home," she spoke louder. "How are you, Dura? Was your day fun?"
Dura didn't say anything, nuzzling into her mother happily. From her tail wagging rapidly, she could assume it was a good time.
"Welcome home."
Arubu looked away from her son to find Cesario in the doorway, bowing slightly with her own child in hand.
"Thanks for babysitting, Cesario." Arubu nodded back. "Any problems?"
"Oh, it was nothing," her friend chuckled and stood upright. She couldn't tell if the fond smile was for her or Dura. "Epi was the troublemaker, as always."
"That's a baby for you. Not that Dura had too much energy to cause trouble."
"Of course not~" Cesario said with such sarcasm that Arubu gave her a look. "Dura could commit major war crimes and you'd say it was justified."
"Well, maybe they were." She kissed Dura's head. "She's a good baby."
"Mhm, whatever you say~" Cesario laughed. "Actually, she helped me keep Epi calm. Until she realized you were almost home. She got really antsy, then. Always looking at the clock."
Arubu hummed before looking down back at Duramente.
"Did you miss me?"
The colt answered by hugging her tighter.
And Arubu smiled, holding her son.
"I'm home now."
"... Welcome home..."