//------------------------------// // -15- // Story: Coarse Diamonds // by Darkonshadows //------------------------------// If there was one thing Rarity needed it would be a bit of clarity of where she was going in life, as of right now things were either depressing, aggravating or dull. Depressing because she was currently on the poor side of things if she was going to have multiple mouths to feed and dull because of how monotonous things had gotten after the strange Tree Hugger, the lovely Fluttershy and the crazy Angel had left her boutique. When had her dreams of riches, commitment, fame and a pony that could rise up from such an ignoble start to be among the higher echelons of society become this daunting? Well at least she had a chance to design a dress for Fluttershy and the Pegasus completely appreciated her efforts in making her a dress, one of which Rarity gave to her freely. The mystery guest had to reschedule and Rarity was completely fine with that, now if only she hadn’t gotten stuck in a rut of making normal clothing for various species afterwards. It was currently the next day and there was not much going on. Rarity certainly did her job without whining, but complaining was certainly something she did with readily increasing frustration. Coco was her main source and maker of Impulse Saddles and she was still on the mend after her run in with whatever ruffians that had roughed her up, so creating any more EVA suits had to be put on hold until she was released later this day. Speaking of EVA suit attachments, Rarity recently incorporated a low quality version of Sassy’s energy grapple into her personal suit. The higher quality version was Sassy’s personal current project, but the low quality grapple was still quite an impressive device with quite a bit of reach and worked effectively enough. It certainly explained what Sassy was doing every time she said she had business to attend to, testing a grappling device while under the effects of gravity certainly counted as her personal business given it was something she was working on. The maximum weight the grappling device could hold was about three hundred pounds, while under the effects of gravity. Outside the effects of gravity the device would always pull you to a larger object. Otherwise the device would do as advertised and grappled a small object and pull it towards you. The device was named the Pinpoint Puller by Sassy; it was designed with the power of Sassy’s special talent and there was an emphasis on the PIN in pinpoint. How it attached to the surface of an object was through zero point technology, the tip of the beam was generated with a very tiny zero point energy manipulation field which asserts a form of limited gravity on whatever surface it makes contact with to stick to it. The field acted as an anchor and the device pulls the partly solidified energy attached to the anchor back into itself to pull the user towards the anchored point or an object towards the user. The Pinpoint Puller could only fire its beam in a straight line and while the beam could be curved, it would only do so after it’s already attached to something and could not bend to become angular. That was counted as one among the many flaws that the low quality device had and what Sassy was trying to work on. The beam was easy to break by anything intersecting it. The device always loses some energy in the process of extending or retracting. One could not fire or use the device in rapid succession, as it required time to extend and actually grab onto a surface. To detach the beam once attached you had to retract it all the way, intercept the beam long enough to destabilize it or turn the device off for a second. The battery life required you to make quick limited use of the device, not to mention the further your target was the more energy the Pinpoint Puller would take up to get you there. On the bright side Sassy’s Pinpoint Puller was small, compact, lightweight and really easy to use provided you weren’t trying to do anything incredibly fancy or risky with it aside from go to point A to B at a really fast pace. The thing that she was currently working on improving with her higher quality version was getting the device to pivot while retracting someone towards the anchor point. A conversation long since coming was soon started up while Vera was cuddled up against Sassy, one that involved Vera staying on Rarity’s new employee in relation to Sassy’s continuation as one. Rarity was mentally thankful that at least Greta and Gilda were hopefully making a profit, because goodness knows she wasn’t making enough money these days. - “I swear if I have to make another sock for a Parascine today I’m going to scream!” Rarity really was getting to that point as she had no idea why Parascine’s had a fascination for socks or why she was suddenly a popular purveyor of them to the relatively amphibious species. At least it was some form of business today. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the socks they liked didn’t have to come in the colors of eyeball burning plaid, epileptic tie-dyed trees and horrific kaleidoscopes when it comes to appearance. Why they liked it was disturbing Rarity’s mental processes and sense of decency in making articulate beautiful designs something fierce, but she calmed down when she remembered a simple fact. It was probably an alien thing and they weren’t ponies, so they had different if extremely bizarre tastes in tentacle wear. If her customers were happy with the product then she shouldn’t really complain or whine about it, she did so anyway because she could. “I don’t think I can handle another one today, I swear I’m going to go positively mental with one of my energy pistols and I really don’t want to hurt anyone.” “Speaking of mental…” It was worrying for Sassy to even broach that particular word considering her history. “Flutter-chan said that I could stay on with you provided we have a recognized SNUGGLES member onboard to keep my more self destructive tendencies in check.” “Which I’m assuming Vera partly qualifies as, partly because Opal can’t write Vera’s name on a document without it getting erased. It quickly becomes forgotten and erased after a few moments as junk data. I just wrote your name down on a sheet of paper with all the others I consider crew members.” It still amazed Rarity as to how far Vera Blossom’s universal ignore factor problem went when it even had an effect on technology when she wasn’t even around. “I swear you affect technology in the strangest of ways Vera, it’s like your very name is a cursed.” Opal had informed Rarity that she tried to write a file to specifically remember Vera’s existence. The following happened to said file in this particular order: it forgot that it personally existed, became junk data leading to it somehow convincing itself that it was an anti-virus software program and a virus at the same time to then ultimately it delete itself from existence with impunity. This was despite being incapable of making the decision on it’s own in the first place without outside input, it practically became a low grade AI for as long as it took to blink that had immediately decided to commit suicide. This was very much to Opal’s consternation as she had watched it all happen in the slow motion that was an AI’s ability to process things and recorded it happening, in real time the file lasted five seconds before it ignored itself out of existence. It literally wasn’t a virus at all and Opal hadn’t been connected to anything else at the time to have caused something like that hiccup in the system to happen. She was in a completely wall to wall clean system, so it begged the question of why making a file on Vera Blossom, with the well known sisters Aloe and Lotus Blossom that she was completely capable of making a file on, caused such a catastrophic failure in its own existence. “Like I told you, traffic and automatic doors are my worst enemy. Never let me drive anything unless you want to inevitably be hit by something.” While Vera was a great therapist in making people forget their woes. Her seemingly universal ability to be ignored or forgotten was driving Opal close to becoming stark raving mad, which wasn’t good for an already rampant initiative taking AI. Like Rarity, Opal could calm down given some time by ironically getting her mind off of Vera’s situation entirely. “As I might have stated before, I wish to stay onboard and will carry out my duties as effectively as I can. I’ll take payment in food and at least a place to sleep plus whatever else you feel I might deserve, because it’s working for me so far. I will certainly be good enough at keeping Sassy mentally in line as is needed and will provide my services to the best of my abilities to anyone else you deem fit to bring to me, this includes yourself Miss Belle.” “Then it means you can stay with me Sassy so welcome aboard the Caravel Boutique, although I still think you should still see Fluttershy from time to time for a mental evaluation and a second opinion. Now I need you to answer me honestly when I ask this because it’ll be rather off putting if you lie about it now, are you an assassin or are training to be one?” The second Rarity asked both Vera and Sassy tensed, both for completely different reasons. “I ask because the grappling device, those hidden shock pins in your skirt and the sword all seem like hallmarks of one. Also Coco was quite worried about your activities every time you left the ship.” “… not an assassin per say...” Sassy mumbled a bit and looked away, Vera at least heard enough and went back to making Sassy feel comfortable. Vera was really good at her job, for when Sassy felt a small pop in her spine and she felt herself calm down drastically. “I’m actually… this is really embarrassing to admit to you… I’ve actually trained as a… okay, get it together… I’m a unicorn samurai! There I said it, sure I might have the two pin based gadgets and might have a few more ideas to accessorize with. It’s all for personal defensive reasons that you’re already very well aware of as to why I would feel the need to protect myself more… aggressively.” “Are you going to start getting upset Sassy?” They had danced around the issue of what happened and right now it seemed like Rarity couldn’t avoid it by the look on Sassy’s face. “You don’t have to go there if you don’t want to.” “We can stop doing that right now Rarity-sama, because let’s face it… I was raped when I was younger and that was several years ago.” There was a long silence following Sassy’s quiet words, she wasn’t crying as she’s had quite some time to come to terms with it. “I admit that after that I didn’t exactly take anyone’s attempts to help me very well and what happened between us was quite horrid Rarity-sama. I wasn’t quite of my right mind at the time; after I got over my trauma and a lot of counseling I’m much better now. It was either let myself stay broken or do something to make sure it never happened again, I wasn’t about to get hoof to anything combat training. So, I went the logical route that wouldn’t involve me touching anyone physically and started taking weapons training classes. I threw myself into the training so hard that it’s not safe for anyone of a stallion’s persuasion to be around me for too long and I wasn’t exactly safe for you to be around back then either.” “Excuse me for asking this, but how dangerous could a sword exactly be against a universe full of projectile weapons?” Vera was rubbing Sassy’s shoulders and actually felt quite sad to finally hear what happened to Sassy, to think this was a mare she saw as being full of life and rather talkative. “Otherwise you seemed to do fine with the three males we had visit the Caravel Boutique yesterday. Even if you were giving them murderous looks, might have berated one and pulled an only slightly harmful prank on another, you didn’t exactly act on your impulses to harm them further.” “Oh you’d be surprise; the self defense trainers had training courses for Earth, Pegasus, Thestral, Unicorn, Mermaid and Changeling Ponies. The mare that trained me was really quite thorough in her teachings about how to deal with various situations. Unicorns especially had a wide variety of ways to wield a sword to be dangerous to the point that it counts as a projectile weapon.” At this Sassy sighs and leans back into Vera’s calming ministrations at her haunches and flanks. “They do say the PIN is mightier than the sword, well the sword when enhanced by magic can cut straight through things it shouldn’t even logically be capable of. I was quite devastating with a rapier, but I felt I might incidentally kill someone with it so that’s why I have a chokuto as it was the less threatening option that actually required a lot of training instead of natural talent. I mostly have to worry about straining my magic to swing it instead of my muscles, but I have trained to wield my blade with my hooves if needed to a less effective degree. Things like cutting low grade material weapon bullets in half is possible, deflecting energy weapon projectiles was a little more difficult to learn. Can’t honestly cut through solid metal or armor in one blow nor can I actually deflect constant beam weapons. I’m not a perfect swords mare and know that there is someone out there that will always be capable of hurting me like that again, so I take my training seriously. The design of the shock pins was made to incapacitate, but they can also explode in a rather deadly manner. The Pinpoint Puller was made so as to get me away from a situation quickly, but it could also be used to get me in a better position to eviscerate someone. So I can clearly understand where you’re coming from and why you might think I’ve been training to be an assassin instead of a samurai Rarity-sama.” “You can deflect energy projectiles?” That was the most concerning bit about all that to Rarity. Sure she knew her friend was dangerous to males, but she didn’t realize how much she was holding back from her and Coco. She would think Sassy being a samurai in this day and age absolutely silly, if she weren’t completely serious about it at the moment and Rarity knew she was. “As I said, the training was quite thorough on defending oneself against higher forms of technology with simpler weaponry that could be acquired or crafted from the environment. Aside from that I did do some minor hoof to anything training in the form of a few takedown moves.” If Sassy had been offered assassin training, she might have well taken it in the state she was in when she wanted a way to prevent herself from being defenseless ever again. Even Sassy logically knew it was possible that she could be rendered defenseless again even with the kind of training she has. “Now I just have to keep myself under control so I don’t start using the things I’ve learned lethally unless absolutely warranted. It hasn’t exactly been easy for me even if I am good at using a sword; my special talent will always be related to the clothing industry.” “Well I can see that you are still mentally fragile even if you are quite physically fit; you just need to ease yourself back into social situations that may involve something you hate and I’m certain Fluttershy has already been trying that with you. She’s one of the top rated members of SNUGGLES even if she always wins shyest of the year, I can’t even get a rating.” Here Vera started gently rocking Sassy back and forth while snuggling her. “I’m serious; aside from a few minor fading scars you’re really healthy and beautiful strong mare. You should be proud of the skills you’ve accomplished when it wasn’t even directly related to your special talent.” “Being mentally fragile certainly explains you needing to hold hooves with Coco and take comfort in her presence, well aside from the obvious that you’re infatuated with the female persuasion thanks to the psychological scarring.” Seeing that she was getting a look, Rarity decided to elaborate just for the sake of Vera’s curiosity. “Hey, I’ve studied psychology too you know. It certainly helps with being endearing to customers to know and understand their moods before I start making clothing to fit them; I am a business mare after all. Otherwise I do get moments of inspiration where I can’t help but make something for someone that I just know they’ll enjoy like your darling and lovely therapist Sassy. Fluttershy is a nice mare I’d be happy to treat to a trip at a nice spa or just have a talk over some tea with.” “You’re actually taking this samurai thing a lot better than I expected, not even a chuckle at how absurd it sounds.” Indeed Sassy’s friend was quite calm and it made a her a little confused at why Rarity was being so accepting of her being able to… oh right. What Sassy hadn’t exactly explained was that she could potentially kill someone from fifteen hundred feet away with a single sword swing; of course her aim would be entirely off at that distance and it took a lot of magical energy out of her to do that even once. Slicing something apart a quarter of a mile away was no laughing matter even if you couldn’t quite hit exactly what you wanted to, a little less than five hundred feet was the best Sassy could do in the terms of accuracy. How does one go about explaining that you were just as lethal as someone with a material rifle with a weapon seemingly meant exclusively for close range combat? Giving into that all encompassing rage hidden under the surface of her emotions scared Sassy more than what she was actually capable of, it was little wonder it bothered her greatly that she wanted to kill that Macropussian. “Well of course I am, it’s not like I haven’t overlooked your issues dear. It’s just that I accept you and everyone else I’m slowly accumulating into making them a part of my business. Even if they are not selling fashion or clothing like I am, it doesn’t hurt to travel with friends who can do jobs in the same general vicinity as you.” Being as generous as she was, Rarity was willing to help anyone get back on their feet or whatever someone happened to have that counted as a mode of locomotion. However her generosity was only of a slight detriment and setback currently, but she had her personal moral code and she was sticking to it even if it was likely to kill her. “On top of that you are and will always be a good friend of mine Sassy Saddles, so stop being so afraid all the time as I’m more intrigued than frightened by the fact that you’re a trained samurai. It’s actually intriguing in an age where such a thing seems rather, ‘antique’, for lack of a better word. I think you’re Pinpoint Puller is a wonderful auxiliary device for emergency situations. Especially if you lose a tether while in space and need to get back to the ship you happen to be working on should you not have an impulse saddle, it would be quite a boon to civilian use and I know Greta would at least like to give it a once over. Ph right you haven’t met her or Gilda personally yet. I’ll just simply have to introduce you to my other friends when I can get a chance; they seem rather intent on throwing their lot in with me.” “Can I get a hug?” Sassy felt Vera wrap and tighten her hooves around her body. “I mean aside from the one Vera is giving me that is.” “It’s nice to see you finally opening up Sassy.” Rarity made her way over to Sassy and wrapped her hooves around her, the poor dear always needed some form of comforting since first she arrived at the Caravel Boutique and it was usually Coco doing it. She pulled away from Sassy and thought to ask something rather pertinent of Opal. “Opal I know this may seem odd of me to ask, but if you’re the Caravel Boutique at the moment and Vera is always bodily touching you. Then why are you having so much trouble with her?” It did seem a little odd to Rarity that the two methods for seeing Vera were pointing her out or being physically in contact with her. “Well that would be a workable idea, if my body wasn’t a completely digital construct and was actually mechanical. Yes I know I claim that my body is whatever my mind happens to be occupying, but that’s just one of my little personality quirks and you know it. Nice try in helping me with Vera though, I’ll just go back to having a CAT follow her around at all times.” Well the idea to think of the ship as her body so she wouldn’t have as much trouble was a no go in Opal’s opinion in keeping Vera in her sight even, given she’s already tried that. Even AI’s had to blink sometimes, it just usually happened so fast that nobody could actually see it occur. One of the eight wonders of being sentient data. “Aside from that, I’m more interested to hear what Sassy can do with a rapier. May I assume that your special talent gives you a boost in wielding such a specifically shaped sword?” “My special talent does indeed do that and I really don’t want to talk about it. I’ll stick to my chokuto thank you very much!” The way Sassy’s ears flicked in anger made Opal quit that line of questioning quickly on the principle of her tone alone, she had her reasons to wield a sword that she was specifically less talented at utilizing completely. “I wish we could talk about something else that isn’t me harming someone or something with my special talent.” “Do you know anything about or have you ever tried acupuncture?” At Vera’s odd input, Sassy tilted her head slightly as she looked up at the mare that had her on her back and was currently gently rubbing her belly making one of her rear legs kick out slightly every now and then. - “You’re mystery guest has arrived… probably the last order of business we’ll get today Meowstress. Proceed down the cargo ramp and wait for them to land.” About as good as they were likely to get period as far as Opal was concerned. “We might not be getting anything tomorrow as those two core pieces of the MOM will be arriving at that time; also Coco is awake and aware so it’s about time to let her out of the med-bed as well and I’ll get right on that.” Rarity immediately shut her trashy romance novel; ones that Sassy would probably burn in the fires of Tartarus if she could get away with it, to make her way towards the ramp. She had barely left the work shop all day and walked down the ramp looking around for the mystery visitor. Sassy had the living space to her and was stretching herself out to maintain her flexibility; she was also interested in learning about acupuncture from Vera. Vera was currently off in maintenance and drone repair making sure things were in working order with a CAT constantly pointing at her, which was becoming a thing between her and Opal. Coco was awake and likely bored out of mind floating in the fluids, at least most of her injuries were healed and she could be brought out to breathe fresh air again. Standing outside the Caravel Boutique Rarity looking around the hangar and didn’t see anyone approaching on foot, looking up she did see the roof was open and a scout ship slowly lowered itself into landing near her ship. It’ll look to be smaller than her ship and slightly egg shaped, but it was definitely better armed and with military grade stuff to boot and appeared to be a three room ship. It had her imagining a nice handsome man in uniform, but when the airlock opened a familiar figure stepped out to greet her and promptly shattered that idea. “Hello again Rarity, did you notice a small problem with my wardrobe the last few times we met?” Well that was an awkward conversation starter for Ember to start off with, just about as awkward as the dragon looked as she shyly walked over to the pony rubbing at one of her horns. “This is my new ship; I call it The Pyrrhic Victory. I was kind of tired of dragging around five hundred pound bounties three miles through crowded streets and getting odd stares because of it. Anyway since I got it, I figured it would be a good idea to get one of your EVA suits while I can if I needed to make some repairs to it in space. The new Pinpoint Puller feature caught my interest when I looked up your business, so if you have any stock I’d like to purchase two of those because I have a rather unique idea for one of them. Also if it isn’t too much trouble can I talk to Miss Coco Pommel? I know she works for you and I’ve been meaning to get around to talking with her, so… here I am.” “Why of course I noticed Miss McFlame, since you obviously have nothing else to wear but your armor. If you need something to wear, I’m quite cheap for what money you have to spare as you’ve certainly come to the right mare. Welcome to the Caravel Boutique my friend! Now come along and tell me what you need darling.” As an afterthought Rarity decided to warn Ember off on one particular article of clothing as they headed for her ship. “Oh and please for the sake of my sanity Ember, don’t ask or insist on buying socks today. I would rather you ask for a shirt, pants or maybe even a nice dress fit for a queen, just anything but socks. You can meet with my business associate Miss Pommel who is soon being released from her med-bed after recently obtaining some rather startling injuries. So please try not to appear threatening, I don’t want the poor dear to have a heart attack when she see’s you after what happened at the hotel. I believe we do have the Pinpoint Pullers as Sassy has made a few more in her spare time; better versions are in the works if you wish to wait on that. It’ll be my pleasure to accommodate you.” Ember was quickly becoming quite a pleasant surprise for Rarity every time they met one another; why having a dragon spend money on her services felt like quite an honor.