Out from under the oppressive hoof

Sarinas Thunderstripe: https://mlp-fim-oc-rp.rpg-board.net/t567-sarinas-thunderstripe
Bane (now on NPC mode): https://mlp-fim-oc-rp.rpg-board.net/t600-bane-thunderstripe

(open, but PLEASE ask permission before joining, or you may add a single post as your pony observes the situation without directly involving themselves, perhaps speaking to an NPC they know)

The Canterlot train ground to a halt in the Ponyville train station, with a final chug of steam as the breaks set, the door to the first class car burst open and out flies an excited daughter of the zebra ambassador, Sarinas Thunderstripe

Life in Ponyville shimmers
Life in Ponyville shiiIInes

Sarinas trots happily from the door way of the train as other ponies begin to exit behind her.

And I know for absolute certain
That everything is certainly fine

She stops with a large grin on her face to watch other ponies out and about the train terminal.

There's ponies greeting their families
There's the baggage boy hard at wooOOrk

Sarinas grabs the baggage boy's front hooves and spins around with him, upon letting him go he stumbles away dizzily.

Ponyville is so gentle and still
Can things possibly go wrong?
I don't think that they will

She again trots happily away from the train, others now flanking her stepping in sequence with her.

Life in Ponyville shimmers
Life in Ponyville shiiIInes

And I know for absolute certain
That everything is certainly—

She turns upon the last lyric to see her twin brother Bane exiting the train car as well.

"--BANE!?" She shrieks, sending some of the ponies flanking her galloping away in a startle. She stares in disbelief as her brother walks arrogantly towards her, "What are yah doing here!?" she practically yells at him, in a tone that sounds almost on the verge of tears.

"Father has decided it would be best if I watched over yah," He said in a very matter of fact tone, "and I have been approved to join the Ponyville guard on top of that..." he explained to her.

"But-- I-- I was finally going to be away from--" Sarinas stammered, in shock and completely at a loss for what to say, "why?" she asked.

"Ponyville is far too dangerous of a place for yah to be by yourself," Bane explained straightly, "far too much happens around here for an immature filly like yourself to be galloping around all whilly nilly, yah will need me around to keep yah out of trouble." he said, not even looking in his twin sisters direction.

"I trust yah can at least find yar way to our living quarters on yar own without me," he asked, turning his head slightly to the side to glance at her, "cant yah?" he turned away from her and walked with his chin held high as he trotted past the other ponies at the train station.

Sarias just stared, she wasnt free from her father at all-- no matter where she went, her father-- the Ambassador-- always had his hoof over her...

She fell to a sit and just let the tears begin to roll down her striped face, "life in ponyville shimmers... life in ponyville-- shines..." she sniffled as she could not stop the tears from coming.

(yes, I ripped off a song, so sue me-- you hear me Hasbro!? sue me! -John Smith)

It is the nature of us all to be slaves of something. It is who we choose to serve that defines us.

Ponies rush to town, ponies rush from town, ponies hurry up, then wait...

Paradise stared at the crowds rushing about the station with curiosity mixed with concern. Her robes whilst clean now, were still worn out, and she had attracted more than a couple of stares herself. She ignored them, as she was used to not fitting in entirely in this strange new world.

What she wasn't used to was seeing was a strange black and white striped pony do a impromptu musical number, dancing and singing without a care in the world. The sight was far too bizarre to even think of looking away. The look of joy on the strange pony's face was almost infectious, and Paradise didn't even try not to stop the smile growing on hers.

All too soon, it was over as the black-white saw another black-white. Paradise assumed they were related as they had similar complexion. In either case, the strange mare's mood did a complete turn around as she was treated in a condescending and dismissive manner by the other. At the end of it all, the black-white was in tears.

It would be unthinkable to Paradise to let such a situation lie, so she trotted over to the distressed mare.

"Are you al- *ahem* Are you alright, friend?" she attempted, trying to establish a connection, "Why do you weep so?"

As Sarinas began to sob uncontrollably, the ponies about her pretty much went back about their business, leaving her feeling so alone and isolated in such a crowded area. Finally another pony broke the circle in the form Paradise Blossom.

Sarinas was trying to compose herself when she heard a voice-- at first she didn't understand it, possibly because her ears were practically ringing due to her distress, but soon she was able to pick up what was being said. She looked up at Paradise, her eyes red from tears.

She opened her mouth to respond to the pony, but found herself unable to speak, a lump in her throat preventing her from doing so, and even if she was able to speak, what would she say?

Sarinas finally found her voice again and got to all four hoovers again, wiping the sides of her muzzle with one of her front hooves, "I'm never be free from my father..." she said weakly as she hung her head.

"There, there," Paradise said, guiding the distraught black-white to a seat, "I'm sure it isn't that bad. Now take a couple of deep breaths. In...out...in...out...."

As she calmed the black-white down, she pondered over what she had said. Familial concerns, it seemed. It was a common conflict, parents fearing for their foals, ponies wanting to break free of their family's influence. It was a delicate balance. How did the saying go? 'A flower does not bloom if shielded from the summer sun, a flower does not bloom if not protected from the winter chill.' In most cases, though, her Faith's values usually fell to the favour of the parents, as they had many more years of learning the ways of the world. That did not, of course, mean that an elder's word was automatically law. It was just more likely to be true.

"Now," she said, after making sure that the black-white's breathing was regular and with minimal gasping, "Tell me what ails you, friend. You said something about your father."

(The flashes to Sarinas' history will represent Sarinas explaining to Paradise about her father)

Sarinas had slowly managed to calm herself, she was still greatly depressed with how this whole thing had happened. She sat quietly next to Paradise trying to figure out what to do with Bane watching over her.

Her ears perked up at the mention of her father from the other pony, "my father..." she said quietly.
She got to her hooves, looking down at the ground, "my father..." she took a few steps forward and shook her head.

My father never listens, no, not one little bit
He trots around in control and picks my every nit

Sarinas took some steps forward and then turned around, her and Paradise bear witness to a scene from Sarinas' life of her standing submissively next to her mother, behind her father standing proudly infront of Zebra royalty.

It's up to me to follow him, because plainly you can see
I’ve got to obey helplessly, because it's what my father is telling me

Raynie walks back up to Paradise with her head hung low, recalling her past. She fell to a sitting position.

I try to keep him happy, a fake smile upon my face
But no matter what I try, I seem like a disgrace

She scrapes her hoof on the ground as the two see a scene of Sarinas excelling at various academic achievements, while her father proudly congratulates Bane who is being inducted into a junior guard division in their home country.

I have to satisfy him, it's there for all to see
I’ve got to please endlessly, because it's what my father is telling me

Sarinas hops to her hooves and trots across infront of Paradise, stamping her hooves a little

I have no passion for formalwear and fancy parties I just don’t care
No matter what I try, I am just NOT that kind of mare!

She trots a little like she would be expected to at the fancy balls her family attends, then stops and kicks up dust in irritation. They see the four zebras greeting various fancy ponies at the Grand Galloping Gala, Sarinas is in her fancy orange dress but looks bored to tears.

I've got so many hooves to kiss, it's no fun being me
But I must promote my pedigree, because it's what my father is telling me

Sarinas waived her hoof in a hoity toity manor before stomping her hoof down again.

Always looming over me, an issue I must address
I know it doesn't seem like much, but I'm under some distress

Sarinas glanced to the side in the direction Bane just went. A scene showing Sarinas about in Canterlot, but her brother is always following her and spying on her

Freedom was within sight but is not ment to be I guess
My destiny is not pretty, but it's what my father is telling me

She sighed and sat down infront of Paradise, looking at the other people at the train terminal.

I just want to have some fun but he says there will be none
Even my brother tells me what to do he is my father’s son

Sarinas smiled weakly as she watched some fillys playing around on the terminal, the two see a young Sarinas skipping happily in a very fancy looking palace, before coming up to her stern looking father looking down on her, her twin brother, just as young, stands next to their father rolling his eyes and shakes his head.

I have to keep my head held high for everyone can see
It's got to be

Sarinas raises her head, looking up at the sky.

My destiny

A tear drop rolls down her cheek, which she quickly wipes away with her hoof.

And it's what my father

Sarinas stands again and takes a few steps forward.

Yes, it's what my father is telling me!

She turns and faces Paradise, having finished explaining to her some of the issues she has with her father.

"Family, family..."

Blossom flipped through her book of reflections, hoping to find a passage that would assist with the situation.

"You have talked about this with both your parents, yes? You must love them very much, to try to please them even though it hurts you so," the young maiden said, "However, it is clear that you cannot live a good life under their shadow."

Finding no direct statement to help the black-white, she closed her book with a snap. "And I believe both you and your father realise this. But friend, if you were not held by your father's, and your brother's, approval or lack of approval, what would you do with your life instead?"