Brotherly Bonding Time

by Sketcha-Holic

4.2--Into the Hills

The setup went off without a hitch--minus a few dropped treats and a few lost balloons. Still, none of those warranted a funeral, and were easily replaced. Ponies were excited for what Cheese Sandwich was planning, and everything was set up faster than expected.

Tomato still didn't feel fulfilled. All he did was carry a box of things, and occasionally hold down a ribbon so it could be tied. As nice as the colorful decorations were, he still felt like he didn't contribute enough. He was just a waste of space.

Still, he couldn't help but admire the party. The bows and ribbons were all in the mayor's favorite color--which apparently was various shades of purple. There were several kinds of cakes, cookies, and candies on the tables, and the bowl of fruit punch was big enough for about a dozen ponies to swim in. A mini-train, hippo rides, a large trampoline, and several makeshift bowling alleys were set up for the foals, and a large space was set apart for folk dancing.

The only things that were bothering Tomato was the presence of a clown and the unholy number of pickles and bowls of sauerkraut--the latter of which bothered Cheese as well. He opted to stand as far away from the pony and food as possible, and was even prepared to use Bluejinx as a weapon, much to the latter's annoyance.

Cheese stood proudly in the center, nodding in approval of everything. "All righty, then! Everything's all set up and we can start this thing once the mayor has been fetched. Bluejinx, Tomato?"

The pair saluted him, and trotted into the hills.

Once they were gone, Cheese sat down, and pulled out a hat full of strips of paper. "Who wants to play charades?"

---

The hills were quite lonely. There was nary a sound to be heard besides the clopping of all eight of the two stallions' hooves and the wind. All sounds of the party waiting to get started had ceased, and it was just two friends walking alone.

The hills had started out grassy. As they walked, however, the grass was beginning to get sparse, while rocks started to spot the landscape. Gradually, they came across less and less grass, and more and more rocks. They both found themselves watching their step, adopting evasive maneuvers to avoid tripping on rocks.

"Don't they ever smooth out this path or anything? You know, for pulling a cart?" Tomato asked.

"I've asked--Igneous Rock says that the rocky path doesn't bother him," Bluejinx says.

"Uh-huh. And if they're rock farmers, why are they called the Pies? And why didn't they name their daughter 'Rose Quartz' or something like that? I wouldn't expect the dull and serious type like Cheese described to name their daughter 'Pinkie Pie'."

Bluejinx chuckled. "Some folks around here joke that a 'Pinkamena' is some kind of rare mineral."

Tomato rolled his eyes. "And I'm a vegetable."

Bluejinx snorted and shook his head. He turned his head toward the mountains, which rose up beyond the nearby forest. His smile fell into a frown, and he stared at the snowy peaks sorrowfully and almost fearfully. His trot slowed down to an amble, and his ears twitched as if he were hearing something. He still gazed upon them, with his eyes widening as he grew more and more fearful.

Tomato noticed him slowing down, and then backed up to see why he was in such a trance. He didn't know what was going through Bluejinx's mind, and started tapping his shoulder. "Hey, Blue? Bluuueee? Hey, we have a job to do, remember?"

When Bluejinx didn't respond, that's when he pushed him. The unicorn stumbled to the side, and tripped on a rock. Once he landed in the dirt on his side, he looked up and glared.

"What was that for?" he spat.

"What is it about those mountains that's so hypnotizing?" Tomato asked. "Do you dream of being a mountain goat?"

Bluejinx snorted, and hoisted himself up. "Psht, no. I don't even like mountains."

Tomato raised an eyebrow. "What, you have a personal vendetta against the landforms?"

Bluejinx glared at him. "No. I'm just not comfortable with the thought of ponies that actually like to climb those things. I mean... that's how I lost my father. He went mountain climbing on one of his free days, and he fell. He had been missing for a week, and when he was found... it was not a pretty sight."

Tomato blinked. "Oh... oh." He cleared his throat. "I know you've said before that he died when you were five, but I never knew until now just how he died."

Bluejinx sighed. "Yeah. It's kind of why Mom moved away from Nickerlite when I was small."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... you lived here when you were little?"

Bluejinx nodded. "Yep, I was born here. It was a very long time ago, and I could barely remember anything about this town before I started working for Aunt Purple. All I remember is clinging to Dad's leg whenever he brought me to town, sitting in the corner whenever I was at a group playdate, and just playing inside the house because I was a really shy colt. Seriously, I couldn't even recognize most of the ponies my first summer working."

"So... you don't have much memory of your father?"

Bluejinx looked at the mountain again. "He's the most vivid memory of this place I have. He was big and intimidating, and Aunt Purple said that he was one of the strongest ponies in town behind the Pies and the Apples--but he was also very kind and helpful." He resumed his trot. "Of course, Mom has told me that he used to be a criminal as a teenager, before he was abandoned by his gang, arrested, and sent to work at the Pie rock farm with other crooks to be reformed."

Tomato trotted beside him. "Okay, why didn't you tell me your interesting family history earlier?"

"Come on, would you admit your father had been a criminal?"

"...point taken."

Bluejinx nickered. "Yeah... as you know, he was successfully reformed, met my mom, they fell in love, married, and then had me." He sighed and looked up to the heavens. "Yeah, his last words to me were about how excited he was to see me use magic when it came time for it to manifest. And then he said that he was going to go exercise, kissed Mom goodbye, and that was the last time I saw him. The coffin was closed at the funeral."

Tomato looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry. I know it's been years, but still... I'm really sorry about what happened to your father."

Bluejinx sighed. "I know you are. Don't forget, Mom and I moved to Manehattan soon after. I met you while I was still grieving. And I won't forget that hug you gave me once I told you. I was worried you'd ridicule me for not having a dad."

Tomato recoiled at the last sentence. "Why would I do that? I saw you were sad, thought about what Cheese does for me when I'm sad, and thought it'd be helpful. So I just did it."

"And then you bopped Squirt on the nose for laughing at us."

"I don't know why we were friends with him; he was a jerk."

"Yep." Bluejinx shook his head. "I swear, had we not broken things off with them, I'm afraid we would have become monsters with no regard for anypony's feelings. After all... they weren't sympathetic to you when Cheese ran away."

Tomato looked down at the dirt. "I know. I don't think your father would have approved of those friends of yours."

Bluejinx snorted as he turned to look at the mountains again. "He wouldn't have wanted me to become as problematic as he was. Stupid mountain, with its steep cliffs that one could easily fall off of... why do they exist?"

Tomato scratched his chin. "I've read a tale of an ancient alicorn which had ample power over the earth and great strength--greater than any earth pony. She created the mountains and valleys and canyons and other landscape things to give more diversity to the landscape, the flora, and the fauna. She disappeared a long time ago, but there are some that believe that the earth alicorn will return. Whether that's for better or for worse, I don't know."

"And where did you read this?"

"I read it in this interesting book in Princess Twilight's castle while Cheese and I were in Ponyville."

"Hmph. I still don't like mountains."

"I don't expect you to suddenly like them after what I told you. After all, when something bad happens, you tend to avoid things that remind you of that event. I don't blame you for not wanting to be near any. Again, I'm really sorry about your father--I wish I could have met him."

Bluejinx turned to him and smiled. "He would have liked you." He faced forward again, and then stopped and pointed ahead. "Aaaand, there's the Pie house! I wonder if we can convince them to attend the party."

"Heck if I know. Cheese said they're stubborn."

Bluejinx snickered and broke into a gallop. "Race ya!"

Tomato stopped in his tracks, blinked, and then started to run himself, yelling, "Blue, that's not funny!"

They sped to the house, with Bluejinx laughing all the while. Tomato, on the other hoof, wasn't so thrilled to be sprinting. While he did understand that it was better to hurry and fetch the Mayor, that didn't stop the classic side stitch quickly forming in his side. He nosed his flank, wondering if it was something he ate that was making it hurt.

Naturally, he failed to notice where he was going and smacked face first into the front door.

He fell into an ungraceful heap just as Bluejinx arrived. With a grimace, the unicorn remarked, "Ouch... uh, well... at least you won."

The door opened to reveal a purplish-gray mare, with short, silver hair and apple green eyes. Glaring and tilting her head, she looked up at Bluejinx and said, "Hey! Mr. Bluejinx, was this guy trying to break in? If he was, that's the most stupid way of going about it."

Bluejinx bit his lip. "No... he just wasn't looking where he was going, Limestone..."

Tomato shot a hoof up and announced, "Burger, I am not! I am the ultimate alicorn..."

"Where are your horn and wings, then, oh crown prince of Equestria?" Limestone replied.

"Sesame street... what does it mean...?"

From behind Limestone came another mare, this one being light gray with darker gray hair, and violet eyes accompanied by thick eyelashes. Upon looking at Tomato on the ground, she grimaced, backed up behind her sister, and whispered, "Is he all right?"

Tomato shook his head, and quickly stood up. "I'm all right, I'm all right! I ache a little, but it's nothing. I should really look where I'm going."

Bluejinx cleared his throat. "Well, anyway, we're here for the mayor."

"Good." A stocky older stallion strode out the door. He had a tan coat, gray sideburns, and gold eyes. He wore a black work hat, a white collar, and a black tie. The years were evident on his face, and his barrel and legs were solid and steady. He twirled a strand of wheat in his mouth, and he gave the ponies before him an impassive but stern gaze that was sure to cower even the biggest of ponies. Tomato blinked at the sight of the pony, and wondered if this pony was the mayor.

Soon after, a shorter and skinnier pony with a purple coat, a white sash, a monocle, and a large white mustache hopped out. "Oh, hello, boys!" He paused an looked at a confused Tomato. "Ah, so Purple Prose's nephew has made a new friend! A tall and suave city boy from the looks of it. I dare say that that's adorable!" He turned to the tan pony. "Don't you think that's adorable, Igneous?"

Tomato's gut was telling him that the shorter pony was the mayor.

Igneous rolled his eyes. "Tis fine."

The mayor clapped his hooves and turned to the door. "Ginger! Ginger! Come meet the journalist's new friend!"

Bluejinx chuckled nervously. "No, no, Mayor... he's actually an old friend from Manehattan. I've known him since I was small."

An off-white, redheaded mare came out soon after. She simply looked at Tomato, and said, "Hm. Well-dressed."

Tomato forced a grin. "Um, thanks?"

Igneous was looking at him as well. "By all accounts, I haven't seen thee before. So why does thy face seem so familiar?"

As Tomato felt his face in confusion, Limestone and her sister stared at him closely, trying to find the answer. They rubbed their chins, scanning him up and down. She swiped Tomato's glasses off, and looked into his eyes only for Tomato to swipe them back and snort at her. She growled back, and the two were caught up in a little glaring contest.

The gray one glanced at her father. "Pa, he looks like that party pony friend of Pinkie's."

Igneous slightly raised an eyebrow. "Hm, so he does. It's probably just a coincidence, Marble."

Bluejinx laughed. "Hardly! This here is Tomato Sandwich, brother of Cheese Sandwich."

The mayor gasped. "You mean that super duper party pony that worked with Igneous' daughter in the Grand Festival of Gratitude a few months ago?! You're his brother?!" He jumped forward, grabbed one of Tomato's hooves, and started kissing it. "All families of party ponies must be blessed by the Princesses herself!" Each smooch on Tomato's foreleg got harder and wetter than the last. "You must have been such a wonderful and inspiring big brother to Cheese!" He kissed the leg some more. "I thank you in behalf of Nickerlite!" He kept on kissing the leg.

Tomato glared at him. "I'm his younger brother. And would you be so kind as to get off of me?!"

Igneous pried the mayor off of Tomato's foreleg. "Mr. Mayor, these two shall escort thee and Ginger back to town now."

The mayor sheepishly grinned and rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, erm, right."

Limestone turned to Igneous. "They'd better hope that Roanie's gang doesn't attack them, because the Tomato fellow's legs look like bones with sleeves, and the last time I checked, Bluejinx isn't exactly a master spellcaster."

Bluejinx sighed. "My magic's at least strong enough to carry a full grown pony."

Igneous twirled the wheat in his mouth. "Hm... their return trip is risky, especially since now they have the mayor with them. Bandits and Diamond Dogs will attack anyone they perceive as weak. Perhaps it'd be prudent that a couple of us go with them and ensure a safe trip."

Tomato and Bluejinx looked at each other in alarm. The latter turned and said, "Eeyeah, some extra muscle will be nice."

Limestone spat. "Puh, sure, I'll keep an eye on these fools. I'm the only pony who could keep them from getting squashed."

Igneous sighed. "Now, Limestone, do not get caught up in pride. Thy sister is just as capable of handling those as thou art." Igneous looked at Marble, who was wide-eyed with fear at the implication of that. "Darling, I'm well aware of how strong thou art, and I trust thee to keep these ponies safe by your sister's side. Thou didst defeat Bert and Ernie, after all-gang members should be easy."

Marble stared for a moment before nodding, and then slinked up to her sister's side.

"I wish thee well, and come home safely, my daughters," Igneous said.

Limestone huffed."Let's get going already, Marble--the sooner we finish this, the sooner we can get home and have supper.

"Mm-hm," Marble mumbled.

The sisters trotted to the sides of the other ponies, and they started walking the path back to town. Tomato merely glanced at them, thinking about how odd it was that Pinkie Pie had grown up with those two, plus an extra sister who wasn't home apparently. Just how did Pinkie turn out the way she did when she was born here? Then he wondered how often she visited her family.

Bluejinx had another thing on his mind. "Who's Bert and Ernie?"

Limestone curtly responded, "Diamond Dogs. They kidnapped us once."

That was when the Mayor stopped, shouted, "Hold on!", and turned around to interrupt Igneous going back inside. The tan pony groaned from the Mayor's presence, and turned to give him an annoyed look, which the mayor clearly didn't read correctly when he asked, "So, Iggy... do you like waffles?"

"No." Igneous slammed his front door.

Author's Note:

Don't you just love groaners? I sure don't!

And so, we get a little family history lesson from Bluejinx. I admit, I had to resort to making him a small and shy colt that didn't get out of his house much when his family lived in Nickerlite so it didn't contradict too much with his portrayal as a 'newcomer' in The Rock Farmer's Daughters. I wasn't really focused on developing his backstory beyond 'Tomato's childhood friend' at the time.

Hooray, we see the Pies again! As for how the heck Tomato knows of their relation to Pinkie--Cheese met them and told him about them in a letter in the epilogue of Brother Bothers.

Comments

[SageBrony07]

Great chapter. This chapter looks like fun. I can't wait for the next installment. Good luck,

[ChaoticKindness]

"Burger, I am not! I am the ultimate alicorn..."

- Tomato Sandwich

[FanOfMostEverything]

Tomato just can't win in his own mind, can he? It's like the specter of his mother is looming over shoulder, constantly denigrating everything he tries to do outside of the narrow scope he allows himself.

At least, that's the case when he's alone. With a friend to pull him out of his shell, he's a lot happier, even if he doesn't realize it. Well, aside from when he's experiencing head trauma. No one likes that.

(I do find the mention of "sesame street" a bit before Bert and Ernie a bit interesting. Going to have to file that away in case something builds on it...)

[Bluegrass Brooke]

Awesome chapter. I'm really enjoying this story of yours! The backstory for Bluejinx was great. Oh my gosh, the Mayor! Your OC's are always so much fun! I was giggling a little too much at his interaction with Igneous.

[insolentboi]

" And why didn't they name their daughter 'Rose Quartz' or something like that?"

No way

[scoots2]

6052189 Isn't that a reference to something? I seem to remember that name pops up in Pinkie Sense and Sensibility and also in Harmony Charmer's fics, but it's been a while.

Bluejinx's backstory--well, now we know about his familiarity with Nickerlite, and why he stayed Tommy's friend after the rest more or less deserted him.

[Sugarcookie29]

Tomato scratched his chin. "I've read a tale of an ancient alicorn which had ample power over the earth and great strength--greater than any earth pony. She created the mountains and valleys and canyons and other landscape things to give more diversity to the landscape, the flora, and the fauna. She disappeared a long time ago, but there are some that believe that the earth alicorn will return. Whether that's for better or for worse, I don't know."

pre15.deviantart.net/faff/th/pre/f/2013/208/0/5/princess_big_mac_by_onnanoko-d6f93xd.png

[Godslittleprincess]

Oh gosh, the Mayor is a weirdo.