Where Ever You Are (By Foxytail)

"You sure you're ok to do this?" Foxytail asks her sister, Ichigo, as they walk along a cliff top overlooking the sea. It's a warm, bright sunset as the sun glimmers on the surface of the calm ocean. Ichigo smiles and nods, a pair of goggles on, hiding her tired eyes. Both the pink pegasi stop as they reach the edge of the cliff.
"I'm fine, my dear sister. The doctors said I can fly in short bursts, I'll be able to test the range of your new radio goggles." she says softly as Foxytail puts on her own pair of goggles, much newer and sleek, a pink 'F' on the black straps with red lenses.
"Just remember, you get to the horizon and come back." Foxytail says, concerned for her sister's health.
"I'll be fine. Remember who taught you to fly." Ichigo grins, nudging Foxy playfully. Foxy smiles and nods.
"Yes, you... ok sis. Go on. I'll be right here talking over the radio." Foxy sits down, turning the radio on her goggles on. Ichigo nods, doing the same taking off as she does the same.
"Testing, can you hear me sis?" Foxy asks.
"No, can you talk a little louder?" Ichigo replies.
"How about now?" Foxy asks, raising her voice.
"No, can you go louder still?"
"OK, HOW ABOU-..." Foxy pauses, then shakes her head, smiling.
"You can hear me fine, can't you?" She asks quietly.
"Perfectly." Ichigo chuckles.
"How far are you now?" Foxy asks. A brief pause.
"About 200 metres... Remember the first time you flew about that distance?"
"No I don't... when?" Foxy asks.
"You were in flight school, having an absolutely TERRIBLE time. One day you had enough and ran away, flying from cloud to cloud until you saw home, then flew straight through my window. It was adorable." She smiles. Foxy blushes hard.
"You were always there for me when I was upset... Mum got really angry with the flight school and homeschooled me after that."
"Yes. Mother taught you housework, father taught you about the farm and you taught me how to fly... oh Luna, the housework." Foxy sighs.
"That was unbearable. Day after day of cleaning tools and farming equipment. Even Dad's lessons were more fun than that."
"Something mother knew, but she was relentless... I remember sneaking cookies to you through washcloths so you wouldn't get bored." Ichigo smiles.
"That was you?!" Foxy exclaims, surprised.
"I thought that was a cookie monster that lived in the tool shed thanking me for cleaning his toys..." She says softly. There's a pause, then a burst of giggling from Ichigo.
"Oh darling, that is so precious!"
"I was young!" Foxy says defensively, thankful that her sister cannot see the smile on her face.
"I can see you about half way there... you ok sis?" She asks. A brief pause.
"I'm fine, no need to ask." Ichigo says softly.
"You're almost as bad as the doctor." she adds.
"I'm sorry... I worry about you sis. When I broke my wing, you didn't even hesitate to have a piece of your wings bone transplanted to me so I could still fly. I want to make sure you're ok." Foxy says gently.
"You didn't ha-"
"Flying has been your dream, Foxy. IT's an important part of your life. If I didn't do it, I'd see my sister unable to follow her dreams... what kind of sister would I be if I did that?" she asks Foxy softly. Foxy sighs gently.
"Thank you Ichigo... you're the best sister a pony could ask for. If only Mum and Dad could see that."
"Don't worry about them. They've made it clear how they feel about me. I'll never see them again and I accept this." She says softly.
"But..."
"Foxy... have I ever asked you about your cutie mark?" Ichigo asks. Foxytail pauses.
"My cutie mark? Why?"
"I left home when you were young... you didn't have it. When we found each other again, you had it. I've never thought to ask why it isn't strawberry related like the rest of the family..."
"Oh... are you sure?" She asks softly.
"Yes... I'd like to know now." Ichigo asks.
"Ok... well... I guess it begins about a week or so after you left us... you used to always read a bedtime story to me, but with you gone, I had to ask Mum or Dad... they didn't really have the time, so I was left alone. I got really sad, because I had Mum and Dad, but you were away, all alone. You used to always read to me, so I wanted to read new stories to you, but new books are expensive, so I started writing some. Then... one morning, I woke up and I had my cutie mark... I was really happy, and I was going to show you when you got back... but you didn't... come... back..." she trails off. There is a long pause.
"Ichigo?" Foxy asks. No response.
"Ichigo... I can't see you... are you ok? Did you reach the horizon?"
"I'm fine... Foxy, can you promise me something?" Ichigo asks. The cliffs are beyond her view now, leaving her flying alone over the water. The sun has set, the moon now bathing her body in its cool glow.
"Oh... yes, sure, anything sis." Foxytail says gently.
"When I get back, can we just sit down and read those stories?" She asks.
"Oh... yes, sure... here on the cliff?" Foxy asks.
"Yes."
"Oh... but I don't have them with me."
"Can you go and get them?" Ichigo asks. Foxytail shifts nervously.
"Are you sure you'll be ok? You're out pretty far..."
"I can make it back, don't worry. Go and get the stories and we'll read them when I get back." She says happily.
"Ok Ichigo... I'll be quick as a flash, ok? I'll see you back here." Foxytail says, turning the radio off as she rushes back to her home. Ichigo turns her own off, pulling the goggles up as her eyes fill with tears.
"I'm sorry Foxy... I love you, dearest sister." She whispers. Her wings are stiff and tired. With no land in sight, she begins her slow descent into the moon drenched sea.

Foxytail returns home, rushing up to her room. She's about to dive under her bed to get the stories when she realizes there's a note left on her bed.

"Dearest sister,

If you are reading this, then I am sorry that I had to deceive you... but I won't be there when you return. For the longest time, I wish I never left home, that I never left you alone to grow up without the sister you yearned for. Despite what I told you, my life was far from glamorous. I was never happy until I saw you again, so grown up and making a life for yourself, yet ready to take me back into your heart, even when mother and father did not. You're the best sister a girl could ever hope for and I pray that you remember me not for the time I was away, but the time we had together. I hope you keep your promise... I look forward to hearing your stories, my darling Foxytail.

Thinking of you to the end,
Ichigo."


----- 6 Weeks Later -----

"...and then Princess Celestia banished the demon into the netherworld, and all the ponies were happy. The end." Foxytail says softly, lowering a stack of old paper. She looks up to the small strawberry bush recently planted there.
"I hope you liked that one. That one got me my cutie mark." She says softly. She looks out to the moon hovering over the sea.
"Luna's made a beautiful night for us... I miss you." She says gently, tears rolling down her cheeks as she looks to the pages, written years ago when she was only a filly.
"Here you go sis..." She holds up the pages, letting the wind take them, drifting across the vast ocean.
"...where ever you are..."

(Written by Foxytail, 17th November 2011)