//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Ponymunity // by ShortHilt //------------------------------// "Ponymunity, huh?" Came the inquisitive comment from a dark grey unicorn. His blue mane was flowing gently in the breeze. He examined the flyer taped to the side of the cobblestone building. It claimed to welcome all who would like to live there, and this unicorn smiled to himself, "Well, I guess that's one way to get me out of here." He jotted down the time the first train would leave as a reminder, and he headed back home. The streets of Canterlot were a little less lively than usual, but he preferred the silence. As he made his way to the residential district he began to smile, "I could open my own shop there..." He pushed the door open to his home. It smelled familiar and welcoming, but he knew it was time to leave, "I'll show him...I'll quit tomorrow morning." And with that, he began to pack his things. ---- Short Hilt's eyes grew wide. She was impressed that the construction ponies were so quick to build houses, shops, and even a town hall. She barely had to give them any instruction and she was bursting at the seams. She couldn't wait to see the whole town filled with ponies and various other creatures filling the streets. "Okay, next on the list is to get trade going," She smiled and wrote another letter to Celestia asking for a trade route to be established. Patina meanwhile, was gathering a few things from her cave. Smiling, she levitated a small figurine of her mother. It was crudely made, but the first thing she did and she was very proud. A small tear fell from her eye and she wiped it away. The feeling of nostalgia was quickly waved off as the breeze from Short Hilt's wings caught her attention, "Ah, hello Hilty. How is construction coming?" "Fantastic!" She beamed, handing Patina the letter, "Could you send this to Celestia please?" Without a word, Patina made the letter disappear with a flash, "I certainly hope the pony who keeps receiving these isn't bothered...I should visit Canterlot again if I am to be our only messenger yes?" She quickly retracted her statement, "Oh, no...nevermind." Short Hilt laughed, "Oh I'm sure there will be other unicorns that have been there that would love to be our messenger!" Her grin wouldn't subside, "Oh, and the tracks going out towards Ponyville should be finished sometime tomorrow. We'll be connected to Appaloosa and Canterlot soon, too!" Her squeals of joy were echoing in the nearly empty cave. Patina looked somewhat somber. A feeling in her gut had returned. She didn't quite know how to approach other ponies yet and certainly wasn't ready for a whole train full, let alone all of the workers who had volunteered for their efforts. She sighed, "I...hope you don't mind if I stay in here until work is finished?" "Of course, you can come see everyone when you're ready. I'm not going to force you, though I did get a few interested ponies who wanted to meet you. But, I understand," Short Hilt landed on the rocky floor. She kept forgetting how small she was compared to Patina. She noticed the small figurine her tall friend had delicately placed in her bag, "Hey, what's that?" "O-oh, this? This was the first thing I made out of clay," She smiled fondly at it as she levitated it out of the bag, "I...gave it to my mother before she left but...she forgot it. I want to find her and give it back someday." It didn't have any color. It was a standard clay gray and it resembled what Short Hilt assumed to be Patina's mother. The details were crudely made, but it was obvious it was made with loving intent. Short Hilt did notice a large crack along the midsection of the pony though, "Wait, did it break before?" As if not wanting to remember, Patina pinched her eyes shut, "Y-yes..." For a few moments she was silent, "My...aunt...she threw it on the ground one day when she got angry at me for wanting to go to school like the other ponies. She nearly shattered it to pieces before I managed to pull it away from under her hooves. I can't exactly remember how it ended, but I spent the whole night trying to find glue to fix it. I eventually had to sneak out and find some tree sap to hold it together temporarily." "Oh...I'm sorry," Her ears pulled back sadly, "I didn't mean to--" "It's alright, you were only curious. I shouldn't be upset about it anymore, it happened long ago," She managed a smile and went around the cave looking for a few more small things to pack away for her eventual move into a real home, "Have you eaten yet, Hilty?" "Nope! I'm definitely hungry. That food I bought didn't last as long as Buckshot said it would," She gave a sheepish grin, "I think I saw some apple trees somewhere..." Patina laughed, "Oh, Hilty, I know where to get food. I did live here before, you know." "Oh. Right. Yeah," She bonked her own head playfully, sticking her tongue out, "I keep forgetting that. It almost feels like I've known you for years!" "Hilty it has only been four days..." She blurted. "And I make lifelong friends in two!" She flapped her wings and lifted herself off the ground, "So, let's go get some grub!"