--- Day 3 pt 2 - - -
Green Bean walked the halls of the college with a spry step. He was glad to be out of that armor for his shift. The dress uniform may be a bit itchy, but it was far better than the hand-me-down armor the volunteers got stuffed into.
It was a bit of nostalgia for him to be back on campus. Most ponies took him as a simple cliffside farmer that grew legumes and other food bearing vines by summer, and volunteered with the guard by winter.
Most ponies would never assume he held a degree in agriculture; and almost one in civil engineering. Sure, he’d learned everything he needed at his father’s knee, but the improvements he'd made to his family’s terraces had doubled their production. He had even managed to solve Tea Leaf’s erosion problem.
Knocking on the door to the dean’s office, he waited for an answer before opening it.
“Enter,” called the dean from inside.
Straightening his uniform, Green Bean stepped inside.
“Earth pony,” Clover announced, pointing at him.
“Yes,” Diction answered with a smile. Closing up a bin of random objects, the dean pushed it back into its place. Looking back to Clover, Diction motioned towards the guard. “I will see you again in two days.”
Scrunching his muzzle, Clover mumbled to himself as he got down from the desk. A second later his eyes registered some understanding. “Two days,” he repeated.
“He’s learning fast,” Green Bean said patting him on the withers. Clover looked up at him, a little surprised by the touch, but he seemed to recognize him from the walk over with Luna.
Perfect Diction only nodded as he continued straightening his room.
“Ready to go?” Green asked.
The colt only answered him with a confused look.
Resigning himself back to body language, Green Bean stepped out into the hall and motioned for him to follow. He had simple enough orders for the afternoon: light lunch, little exercise, something social, then bring him home.
Luna had been rather worried about Clover learning to socialize, as well as his lack of coordination and muscle; so the two of them decided a bit of social time and exercise was in order. A trip to the park would be the trick in the summer. But the weather was far to cold for that, so it was off to the Canterlot community center with them. It’d be a bit more crowded than ideal, but this time of day should be fine.
Halfway to the community center, Green Bean spotted their lunch destination. He didn’t know what kind of meals the princesses had in their private chambers, but he imagined them to be delicate in nature, with a taste that took time to appreciate. What Clover needed was something to stick to his ribs, and Fritter’s place was just the ticket.
Opening the door to the little diner, Green Bean let Clover go in first. The lunch rush had already come and gone, leaving the smell of food thick in the air, but few ponies eating. Near the window, he pulled out a chair and motioned for Clover to hop up on to it.
A quick trip to the counter, and he returned with a basket of mixed vegetable fritters. Sitting opposite Clover, Green Bean placed a fork in front of the colt, before taking up his own and stabbing one of the little morsels. He took care to show that the food was hot, and that he needed to eat it in small bites.
Clover picked up his fork, and looked over the basket. Picking out one of the mushrooms, he carefully speared the bit, and took a nibble. Green smiled as the colt gave an approving hum. Clover reached for a second bite, but paused. Making a curious “Hmm” sound, Clover sat his fork down, and glared at the food.
Magic sparked and glowed around the colt’s horn. Green watched with interest as one of the fritters flickered, then floated in jerky motions up to eye level.
**POP**
Green Bean sat dazzled, hot grease and broccoli covered his face. Clover had an equally perplexed expression, and not a small amount of the fritter splattered on him.
“You two okay?” a unicorn stallion behind the counter asked.
Green chuckled. The warm, contagious sound pulled a squeaky laugh out of Clover. “Nothing some napkins won’t fix,” Green said, grabbing a hoof full.
“We all go through that phase,” the cook said floating them a towel, and taking the crumpled napkins. “Don’t worry, it passes fast.”
“Thank you,” Green said, wiping off Clover’s face.
The rest of lunch was eaten with a fork. Thankfully, Clover didn’t even attempt to use his magic again during the meal. Green was glad to be an earth pony. His daughters were trouble enough without horns.
The Canterlot community center was an impressive building. For the common Canterlot pony, it was the de facto place to spend their free time in the winter. The massive atrium provided a little bit of spring all year. Playgrounds for foals, a field to run or picnic on, a garden to stroll through, and a pool to swim in.
Clover hesitated when they first walked through the doors. The din of conversation and artificially humid air was almost the scent of home to Green Bean, but he knew this was a new place to Clover. Guiding him to a quiet corner, he let the colt adjust.
Looking around, Green spotted the playground. A dozen foals were galloping on and around it. Nudging Clover, he smiled and pointed a hoof to the playground.
Green couldn’t quite place the look Clover gave him, nor could he understand what he said, but it was clear he had no intention of going near the playing foals.
“Well, how about going over to the field?” he asked. Clover only stared at him, but Green stood and lead the way to the field anyway. Clover followed him the instant he stood up, staying close as they went deeper into the facility.
At the field, Green tried to get the colt to join him in a run, but Clover only passively watched him. He thought better getting Clover try anything that involved throwing, and the game of tag some foals were playing frightened him.
Green Bean wasn’t used to skittish foals. Leading Clover into the quiet of the garden path, he tried to figure out how to get the colt to come out of his shell. At least Clover seemed to like the garden. His step had perked up since entering the maze of flowers and shrubs. Sadly, it all wilted back to confusion when they stepped out of the gardens, and into the corner that held one of the many hot springs on the mountain. This massive one provided the heat that kept the atrium in perpetual spring.
Withholding a sigh, Green readied himself for whatever reaction Clover would have once the confusion had passed. Excitement was not what he had expected: Clover had his ears forward, and one foreleg lifted like he was going to bolt straight into the water.
Clover took a step forward, then paused to look back at him. Green smiled. Lifting Clover’s saddlebag from his back, he made signs for him to run on. Clover trotted forward, then paused again at the water’s edge to watch the few other ponies already swimming around. Green held his breath, hoping the colt wouldn’t be scared off. It was a short pause though, and a moment later Clover was neck deep in the water.
“At least it’s some exercise,” Green said to himself. Sitting the saddlebag down, he positioned himself to watch the foal swim.
Love these short chapters with rapid updates.
Neat community center.
Could be worse, my little sister once, when she was five, somehow managed to bite through a drinking glass and nearly swallowed a chunk of it.
5433532
I won't even try to comprehend what you just said, and just leave it at your sister has fucking jaws of steel.
Much cuteness.
5433532
Well, that sounds like a small series of unfortunate events...
Is your sister named Sunny?
5433680 *Looks up as reference flies over his head*
No.
5433606 She also somehow managed to push a door off its hinges once, the same year too. Literally, living room door randomly falls down, three and a half foot tall toddler standing right behind it. First word out; 'oops'.
I love this story so much I just want to keep reading more of it. It's so cute and interesting.
so he is a swimmer....
One of the reasons this is one of my favorites stories is the character portrayal and another is the fact the pacing does not feel forced or rushed but it does feel very natural.
This is a truly fantabulous story.
5433769
I believe that means your sister is some sort of Kryptonian or perhaps a Saiyan. In either case, I welcome our new toddler overlords.
5433532
I don't know if you know this but I think your sister is superhuman.
And then he sunk, that was what i thought at first, but i guess he can stand in the pool.
I am still not sure about him being a Human, but i start to believe that he isn´t skittish, but very mature/ old (but for that he probably would have to be a Human)
I like it that the language barrier isn´t hurdled after two chapters, like in other fanfictions. Every Human gets a bracelet from Twilight, which is already prepared, and every Human turned Animal, is able to speak right away, or just need a spell.
I am just happy, that we can see a bit, how difficult it is for them because of the language barrier.
I would like a curious, clingy and friendly filly, to be his first friend, i don´t think she would need to be shy as well, but maybe mute or just not very talkative at first. For the thin with her being mute, it looks like i am very interessted in storys about people with disadvantages too, i mean a part of me like Derpy because of her eyes and i enjoyed a story about a blind filly, i hope that doesn´t sounds as weird.
Well this is not the only kind of story i am interessted in.
This fic has been some of my favorite reading in a while! I always check out a new chapter as soon as I get the notification. I love watching Clover learn about everything around him like its all completely new, including learning a new language totally from scratch. My heart just about exploded when Celestia started treating him like her son and even gave him a name and everything. I can't wait to see how Twilight reacts to this; it's almost like her early life as a filly with the Princess all over again, just as a male version, and less apt to experience panic attacks due to his use of meditation. Maybe she'll even get to come and give the little guy some magic lessons? Or even be like a big sister! That would be awesome.
Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Keep up the good work, dear author! ^^
MORE it's so good
This is a damn cute story. Please keep it up
Excellent chapter, but there's one very minor thing where a word is capitalized when it shouldn't be.
5433532
I can definitely believe that. It happened to me when I was two (with a wine glass. According to my parents, I found the shape facinating). Thankfully, I wasn't hurt.
5433680
5433759
*** Forgive me, I couldn't resist.
everyone seems to think he's human, personally i don't care this is adorable
stay classy
5433532
This reminds me of when I was little. Lol. I jumped off the couch onto a pile of clothing that someone had dropped a glass cup into. I didn't notice the fact that a large bit of wineglass was in my foot until 3 days later when I was jumping up and down to get something off the counter. (I was really short. I'm still short.) I think I was 7 at the time. I got the glass out, only to continue on. I only realized the situation after my mom realized I was tracking blood around...
I look forward to this every time it updates with a big smile, there's a certain charm to all this that really pulls me in and leaves me wanting more. I hope we get to see more Momlestia soon, and that Clover here will learn to speak a bit more. :)
Ooooh, this brings back some painful but still humorous memories. My caretaker was showing me how to make french fries in a pan one time years ago, and I learned a very important lesson about what happens when you heat oil: it starts popping and splattering everywhere if you're not careful. Didn't get burned thankfully, but I never forgot the value of keeping your face away from what you were cooking from then on.
I like that we got to see a bit more of Green Bean this time. Shows he takes his duties to the Princesses seriously and cares just as much for Clover.
5435537 me too. It's a great story, isn't it?
I really like this story, and I'm always happy to see a good story be updated ^u^
5435398
I agree; it's good no matter if he's human turned pony or not.
Though, I do have to say, human IS seeming more and more likely to me as I read each chapter...
5435989 It's not terribly important right now, but it could be down the line. Either way, the cuteness of this story is incredible. Seriously, it's just about off the scales.
mlpchan.net/rp/src/1367107788872.jpg
As I sit here finishing off my peanut butter ritz crackers, I just want to say thank you for a great story so far. The chapters are short, but great, and you always seem to to get the point across without taking to long. I must say, I'm also in the "Clover is really a human turned colt" camp, but even if he's not, you're making a great story.
So great, that after I finish my current one, I just might try my hand at a human turned colt myself. I really want to ask your per-mission before I do though, as I don't want to make a story that's been done already, over to death, or make it feel like I'm coping.
If you and other readers wouldn't mind, let me know. I'm still new to fanfiction's and want other opinions.
Great story, keep up the great work.
5436492
Go for it! Though I will say don't copy the stoy formula, but find some little aspect you want to explore, or ask "what if?" I'm not saying that because I don't want you to copy my story. That's rather flattering actually. I'm saying that, because I want you to discover your own story. Maybe they look similar, and that's okay. Joseph Campbell, tells us there's really only one story.
This story started with me wanting to write a story where the protagonist's POV is never shown. This story just kinda brewed out of it. Clover has dialogue, random thoughts, motivations, and things he's doing off-screen. I just never bring the POV to him. All that is filtered through the other character's perceptions.
5436594
And you do a great job at telling a story without POV, by the way. To tell the truth, I'm still on the fence on what to do for a new story. I had to cut my current one short after my dad died in Oct, but now I'm thinking of doing a new one. I'm thinking of a Human turned colt story, or a Human turned dog story next.
Both stories would focus on the character figuring out how to react to his new body first, before meeting any of the mane 6, or the princesses. So I won't have to worry about copying straight from you.
But anyway, think you for the blessing and have a great New Year!
5433769
5441267 I guess it's more of a cultural thing. Like it's introduced to you when you're really young so you don't question it when you get older. My family is from the Caribbean, but I was born in America. I hate most of the foods they eat, but then I'm a bad example because I pretty much hate most foods.
5441267
"Rotted" is not a very good word. Fermented, is better. Meaning your allowing a certain amount of bacterial breakdown to happen, under controlled conditions. The major difference between kimchi, and sauerkraut , is that kimchi is heavily spiced with chili peppers; among other things.
Lots of foods are fermented: Cheese, Soy sauce, sour cream, (some) ketchup, miso(as in the flavoring for the soup), Most anything pickled - yes olives too, Tabasco sauce, yogurt.
That is so cute that Clover is swimming. Great story. I love it. I can't wait for the next chapter.
5442006 What he said.
Skilled in meditation, has a love for hot springs, speaks a strange language: I've the feeling Clover is from the Pony equivalent of Japan.
5685645 Or he could be from the pony equivalent of Scandinavia...
5698172 Perhaps he is a Tibetan monk?
I believe you meant "amount"?
5441611 like cheese?
6221688 Yes.
Or maybe he's a merpony displaced?