//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Planning Ahead // Story: Rise of Char // by Turtlehaus //------------------------------// Tiff Pitchstone had enlisted the help of some of the Ashen Fields most gifted stone-cutters. These were the hardest working construction ponies that were in charge of repairing, maintaining, and rebuilding parts of Castle Char. Luckily for Tiff, the pony in charge of these stone-cutters was a personal friend who just happened to be willing to build him a dam. With the Council of Wingston and Argo Fleece, Tiff was given the go ahead to have the dam be built; as long as it came in under budget. Thus leaving his friend, Roman Mason, the architect, to suggest an Arch-Gravity Dam to save water from the reservoir and the size of the canyon would lessen the need for more materials to build it. Roman was pure black hide pony, subtle red flames, and a cutie mark bearing a right angle. It took Roman a day to draw up the blueprints for the dam, and from that point on it was just a matter of getting it built. Applejack tried to lend a hood where she could, learning the finer techniques of bucking rocks, but it was clear that Flame Ponies were born to cut and build with stone. Their measurements were precise, each block nearly seamless when stacked upon the next, and needless to say that the colts moving the rocks had the muscle for this kind of work. Bucking apple trees all day was hard work but pounding a rock with your hooves all day to get it square looked just as tiring. It had been three days since the construction had begun, and Tiff's dam was nearly finished. The crest length of the damn spanned between the edges of the canyon, the face of the dam was concave inwards, and a series of chambers at the bottom would allow the amount of water to pass through. There were many stress and safety tests to be done before dismantling the old dam to ensure that it would hold once the water was released. "Will it be completed today?" Tiff asked hopefully, looking up at the new dam excitedly. "That depends." Roman replied signing his name on a stone ledger a construction pony gave to him. "On what?" Applejack asked also looking at the structure. "It needs a name." Roman replied passing Tiff the ledger. "A name?" Tiff asked looking surprised taking the stone tablet from him. "All structures of some importance have names, and I believe this has more than its fair share of such." Roman explained to him. "Here, Applejack, you decide." Tiff said quickly passing the tablet to her. "You're riding solo on this one, partner." Applejack said pushing it back towards him. "I've never had to name anything before, and even if I did every pony will end up referring to it by whatever I decide on calling it. It's too much pressure." Tiff said sounding very worried. "Well don't make it stupid, then." Roman replied tapping on the stone tablet for him to write. Tiff made a series of concerned faces, straining his brain for a name or word that would be forever associated with this structure. "Hot... Dam?" Tiff asked looking at Roman. Applejack pulled her hat over her face to hide her embarrassment for Tiff as Roman slapped Tiff upside the head. "Try again." Roman said shaking his head disappointingly. "Why don't you try naming it after something?" Applejack offered pulling her hat back up. Applejack could see a sudden realization come over Tiff's face, he seemed confident in his decision as he scrawled the name on the ledger. Handing it back to Roman, Tiff wore a smile on his face while gazing at the newly named dam. "Moonstone?" Roman asked curiously reading the stone tablet. "Moonstone Dam, I think that could work." Applejack said trying the name out loud. "You sure, Tiff? Cause Argo is going to make you go through a ton of stone tablets to change it." Roman warned holding it back out to him. "It'll be fine, thanks for the help Roman." Tiff said pushing it away from him. Roman nodded in agreement. Patting Tiff on the shoulder, Roman waved goodbye to Applejack and headed back towards the castle. Tiff motioned for Applejack to follow him, making his way to the embankment that led to the top of crest of the damn. "You seemed pretty confident in that name, Tiff. Seeing as you were ready to pass the buck so quickly, what made you decide on Moonstone?" Applejack asked curiously. "It was my mother's name." Tiff explained. "Your mom, huh?" Applejack asked looking interested. "My father had a huge impact on the Ashen Fields, but my mother was simply my mom. Her lasting impact was on a small foal that was taught that even the things that can hurt us can be good for us too." Tiff explained reaching to the top of the damn and strolling alongside the canyon's edge. "I'm guessing that foal was you?" Applejack asked. "She passed away just a year later from a sickness no pony could cure. Leaving just me and my father. He put everything aside to take care of me and raise me the best he could; he passed a few years after." Tiff continued. "That must have been hard on you." Applejack said sounding sympathetic. "It was, but when my mother died it brought me and father closer together. He taught me everything he knew before he passed on which has given me the opportunity to help bring back the Ashen Fields to a lush green valley once more." Tiff said. "It seems like you're at peace with it." Applejack pointed out. "I believe there is something good to be found in all bad things. I like to believe that I was the one good thing my parents had in a time where there was nothing but bad." Tiff replied opening up just a bit. "Seeing how you're spearheading this whole operation, I can honestly say you've done a lot of good in place that has been through a whole lot of bad." Applejack said encouragingly. Tiff nodded his head in agreement. Applejack could see that Tiff wasn't all together at peace with it, there seemed to be a lot of doubt still rooting around in his noggin. It was understandable to have such thoughts, considering how every pony was counting on him to essentially do the impossible and turn the Ashen Fields green. Applejack and Tiff reached the sight of the rusted metal dam blocking the large river of water from slicing through the rest of the canyon. There had been many metallurgist Flame Ponies out here to inspect the rusted dam to evaluate the best way of removing it. The ponies agreed upon a subtle approach. "So what did those metal heads decide on to get this here dam open?" Applejack asked curiously looking down at the rusted metal. "Well, after much debate, they decided to use thermite." Tiff said with a smile. "Thermite, alright… what's that?" Applejack asked looking unsure. "I'm just a farmer, Applejack." Tiff chuckled approaching the edge of the metal dam. Applejack could see a line of fuses lined atop the metal dam and leading down to several structural points near the base. Several clay pots were resting upon crisscrossing beams, large sheets of metal, and there seemed to be several more wedged in at other places. "Yeah, but you're a few straws short of a bale of hay when it comes too subtly." Applejack replied looking concerned. "All they told me is that it will weaken parts of the dam, allowing water to gradually pass through until the dam buckles completely." Tiff explained stepping out onto the rusted metal dam prompting Applejack into an immediate disapproval. "Where do you think you're going?" Applejack demanded stepping up to the edge of the dam. "They said to light the ones at the end first, and walk back down the line lighting each one as I go. It's perfectly safe, Applejack. Flame Ponies are all about this kind of stuff." Tiff said reassuringly doing a little dance on the rusted dam. "Is being a dork one of them?" Applejack asked looking not at all amused. "Couldn't tell you, but I can tell you that this is completely safe. Just like you insisted." Tiff replied. "How do you figure?" Applejack asked looking back down at the pots. "Well for one I'm not standing in front of it, and two, the thermite will do the work for me." Tiff said flaring his mane, reaching the other side of the dam where the first fuse to be lit sat. "That stuff will burn through the metal?" Applejack asked looking unconvinced. "Four thousand degrees, guaranteed. All it needs is a little heat to get it going." Tiff said throwing her a wink. "How did those Flame Ponies not blow themselves up while setting this up?" Applejack asked looking very nervous. "There are unicorn Flame Ponies, you know." Tiff replied. Before Applejack could argue further, Tiff leaned down and breathed a small flame onto the fuse. It sparked and started its way down the side of the dam. Applejack started to bounce nervously watching Tiff slowly walk back, stomping his hoof down on the other fuses that sparked and started to make their way down the front. "Should those metal head ponies be here doing this?" Applejack asked looking around. "I told them I wanted to do it, besides they've got their hooves filled with repairs to the castle." Tiff replied stomping on another fuse. The first fuse finally reached the clay pot, a sudden flash of fire and sparks came spraying off the metal wall. The second fuse reached the second pot sending a wave of sparks showering down, followed by the third, the fourth and the firth fuse. Each one reaching the pots and golden flakes of fire showering down. "There should at least be one pony here who knows what the hay they are doing." Applejack insisted looking at the fire nervously. "Applejack, relax." Tiff said stepping off of the metal dam watching her breathe a sigh of relief. "The last thing I need is a repeat of another Flame Pony being swept downstream." Applejack mumbled. "Which pony was that?" Tiff asked curiously. Before Applejack could respond the sudden groaning of metal filled the air, the metal started to buckle, water spraying out from the edges. The corner of the dam tore itself away from the pressure of the water; a flood of water surged from the bottom, racing down the canyon. Almost like ripping a piece of paper from one side the other, the rusted metal dam gave way as the water raced down the canyon. Applejack looked up to see Tiff no longer standing beside her, she looked down the path to see him racing alongside the water as best he could. "Hey!" Applejack hollered taking off after him. The river roared through the canyon, splashing itself across the ash and dust that had accumulated over the years. Breaking, bending, and smashing the rusted metal against the rocks before crashing up against the Moonstone Dam. Several unicorn Flame Ponies lined the edges of the canyon, magically lifting pieces of metal out of the sloshing river and piling them off to the side. Tiff was breathing heavy as he came to a stop next to Roman who was beaming proudly at the success of the new dam. "How is everything?" Tiff asked taking a few deep breaths. "Well the dam hasn't collapsed, so that's a good start." Roman joked looking rather pleased. Applejack eventually caught up to Tiff, witnessing the unicorn Flame Ponies magically retrieving the debris and the excitement of Tiff and Roman. "You actually thought this through?" Applejack asked looking surprised to see things going so smoothly. "You insisted we do this the right way, Applejack. We went to great lengths to ensure just that." Tiff replied. "Flame Ponies pride themselves on the craftsmanship, and keeping promises. We won't allow either to break easily." Roman stated stomping his hoof down on the Moonstone Dam; admiring the work that went into it. "Well you sure as hay made one mighty fine dam, that's for sure." Applejack replied watching the current of the water slam up against the dam and swirl around to the side. "How long before we can trigger the gates to let the water run out into the fields?" Tiff asked Roman almost bouncing with excitement. "Once the Flame Ponies finish clearing all the debris. We don't want anything jamming the mechanisms below." Roman stated pointing at some of the rusted metal being lifted out of the water. "This would not have been possible without your help, Applejack." Tiff said turning to her. "You should be thanking those Flame Ponies who built it." Applejack pointed out. "I'm speaking of what you have done for me." Tiff clarified. "I'm not sure I follow." Applejack replied looking curiously at him. "Ever since I became the Head of Agriculture, I was saddled with the responsibility of bringing life back to this wasteland we've called a home. For a pony that had lost so much so quickly and felt pressured to produce some much in so little time… I'm grateful to have had you tell me that it was okay to wait a bit longer." Tiff explained. "Stress can really do a number on a pony; sometimes all you need is another pony telling you it's going to be okay." Applejack said reassuringly. "I told him that all the time." Roman said looking slapping Tiff upside the head. "Yeah, but-" Tiff mumbled rubbing the back of his head. "It means more coming from a pretty pony." Roman interrupted rolling his eyes. "Is that so?" Applejack asked suspiciously. "Well I was just uh… Roman and I go way back so when you said it, you were a pony who didn't know all that much about me and uh…" Tiff said nervously trying to avoid eye contact with Applejack. "Look out!" A Flame Pony from the other side of the canyon shouted. Every pony within ear shot perked up, looking about to what the warning was about. A sudden breaking of rock shook the ground beneath them. The current of water had brought something unexpected with it spearing the Moonstone Dam from the other side. An obelisk, blacker then the darkest of caves with undistinguishable chiseled markings had skewered the dam; having almost been driven through completely. The obelisk had punctured, yet, perfectly sealed the hole it had made and rested ominously within the rock. "What in Equestria is that?" Applejack asked looking flabbergasted. "I have no idea…" Tiff mumbled looking equally as surprised. "Ingot! Go find Mr. Papyrus!" Roman shouted to a Flame Pony across the canyon. The Flame Pony waved to him, signaling he understood and took off down the slope towards the castle. Roman continued to yell out instructions, demanding that every pony stay away from the dam until he could assess the damage. "Where did it come from?" Tiff asked looking it over from the edge of the canyon. "It must have been somewhere down river, the current must have swept it up and brought it to us." Roman mumbled, sounding very annoyed. "Is the dam going to hold?" Applejack asked sounding concerned. "Luckily, it pierced only a single stone block, if we can remove it, we can replace it without much difficulty." Roman responded motioning to them that it was safe to get closer. "What is it though?" Tiff asked walking out over the crest of the dam to get a better look at it. "Whatever it is, it's not anything I've seen before." A Flame Pony said aloud. A unicorn Flame Pony by the name of Steel Alloy strolled up to them from the opposite side of the dam to inspect the Obelisk as well. Steel was the lead pony of metallurgists in the Ashen Fields. His hide was grey, flames a cherry red, and had a cute mark bearing a hammer striking an anvil. "Come again?" Applejack asked raising a brow to him. "Applejack, this is Steel Alloy, he helped set up the thermite at the old dam and helped to clear it out." Tiff spoke up introducing the two of them. "Ma'am." Steel said nodding his head but was peering over the edge at the obelisk. "You don't know what it is either, Steel?" Roman asked peering over the edge as well. "I've never seen anything pierce stone like it was wet clay before. This should have withstood a hundred thousand apple bucking kicks before showing any sign of wear or tear. The river wasn't raging all that much, it shouldn't have had any sort of speed to do something like this." Steel explained. "How are you going to get it out of there?" Applejack asked curiously. "Perhaps a sheet of metal on the river side, pull the block and whatever the hay this thing is from the front. The metal sheet will act as a temporary patch until we slide a new block in and have it set." Roman said just throwing out a possible idea. "I wouldn't do that just yet." Steel said quickly. "Why's that?" Tiff asked. "It's still moving." Steel said pointing at the Obelisk. Every pony peered over the edge. Sure enough the obelisk was ever so slightly sliding forward. "That shouldn't be possible." Roman said looking taken aback. "What? Why? Why shouldn't it?" Tiff asked looking confused. "The blocks are shaped like trapezoids, the wider part facing the river and the shorter side facing the front. It should have acted like a sleeve for this thing. It shouldn't be able to move with all that rock it still has to push through." Roman explained drawing the shapes on the stone under hoof. "You think it's the water creating pressure behind this thing that's pushing forward?" Applejack asked looking back at the river. "All I know for sure is that whatever this thing is made out of, it isn't from around here." Steel replied scanning it with his horn's magic. Pinkie Pie was strolling down the length of the Main Hall with several Flame Ponies carrying stone tablets with them, furiously writing down the demands and suggestions she threw out concerning the coronation of King Smolder. "Some pony needs to clean the stained glass windows! Have another pony place stances of fire basins near the darker corners of the hall to provide extra light! I want a hoof full of ponies outside in the courtyard setting up the stone tables and platform for the band to play! Have the pony handling the fireworks to meet me in one hour to discuss the grand finale! Some pony find me Ruby!" Pinkie Pie rattled off as each family pony finished writing down a task and hurried off to go complete it. Ruby Simmer was carrying a small stone lunch box on her flank, watching the hustle and bustle of several Flame Ponies prepping Castle Char. Pinkie Pie was at the center, pointing out flaws in the layout of certain decorations and directing ponies to areas that needed more hooves for help. A Royal Guard pony trotted up to Ruby in hurry. "Ms. Simmer?" The guard asked curiously. "Yes?" Ruby replied feeling nervous. "Ms. Pie is requesting your presence." The guard announced. "Okay…" Ruby said slowly, making her way around the guard and quickly rushing over to Pinkie Pie. "Ruby!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in delight. "I made you a lunch like you asked, Pinkie." Ruby said with a smile taking the stone lunch box and holding it out to her. "Did you make the Apple Tart?" Pinkie questioned her. "Yes." Ruby replied. "How about the Honey Nut Bread?" Pinkie asked raising a brow to her. "Yes, I made the Apple Turnover, the sliced apples and a piece of Apple Cinnamon Crumb Cake. Just like you asked." Ruby stated opening the stone lunch box to prove it. "Excellent work, Ruby." Pinkie Pie said happily. "I'm kind of nervous, this is my first time making some of these and I'd really like your opinion on them." Ruby admitted closing the lunch box. "Well that'll have to wait." Pinkie Pie said pushing the stone lunch box back towards Ruby. "What do you mean? I thought you wanted me to make you a lunch?" Ruby asked sounding very confused. "I did, I said 'Ruby make me a lunch' but I didn't say it was for me." Pinkie Pie explained motioning for her to follow. "Then who is it for?" Ruby asked curiously. "Sparky, of course." Pinkie Pie replied climbing the stairs. "Sparky?" Ray asked unfamiliar with the name. "Sparky, the King? You need to get out more often, Ruby." Pinkie Pie stated shaking her head amusingly. "The King!" Ruby shouted in surprise. Several Flame Ponies stopped short to see what Ruby was making a commotion about but she quickly lowered her head in embarrassment. Hurrying to catch up to Pinkie Pie, Ruby felt her heart start racing at the idea of the King trying her food. "Pinkie, the King can't try my food! You just showed me how to bake just yesterday!" Ruby hissed in protest. "So?" Pinkie Pie asked curiously. "The King should be eating something exquisite and appropriate for royalty!" Ruby insisted. "He will be once he has a taste of your Apple Turnovers." Pinkie Pie replied excitedly. "What if he doesn't like it?" Ruby asked anxiously, slowing down and having second thoughts of taking another hoof step further. "What are you talking about? He's going to love it." Pinkie Pie said encouragingly slowing down and looking back at her. "But what if he doesn't? What if it's awful and he's just being nice? We have to cater the Coronation and if my baking is terrible it's going to ruin the party." Ruby asked nervously starting back away. "You're never going to find out unless you try. No pony becomes an expert overnight, and no pony has ever not been criticized before. You just have to learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward." Pinkie Pie said positively motioning for her to continue following. Ruby could feel her heart racing, her anxiety beginning to overwhelm her, but there was something about Pinkie Pie's smile that started to calm her down. It was the warmth and honesty in her words that seemed to resonate so strongly with her. Nervously taking a step forward, Ruby slowly walked towards Pinkie Pie who started bouncing up and down excitedly. "You got this Ruby, Sparky is a big softy once you get to know him." Pinkie Pie said reassuringly placing her hoof upon the stone door to the bedroom. "Say something!" I shouted aloud rocking the twisted metal mirror back and forth on the spot. The mirror had gone silent, refusing to speak with me. My pleading attempts to get it to speak to me again were met with silence for far too long and I eventually took matters into my own hooves and shook the hay out of it. Ruby stared wide eyed at my spectacle, unsure if Pinkie Pie was accurate with her assertions just moments before about what I was like, and Pinkie Pie found it rather peculiar. "Uh, Sparky?" Pinkie Pie asked aloud. I immediately stopped shaking the mirror, my mane flared a bit, I cleared my throat and let go of the mirror taking a few paces back from it. "Hello, Pinkie." I said composing myself. "What we're you doing?" Pinkie Pie asked curiously crossing the room to the broken mirror. "I was, uh… trying to get answers." I said being honest. "Soul searching, huh?" Pinkie Pie asked. "You could say that." I replied with a chuckle. "I have some pony I'd like you to meet." Pinkie Pie announced turning back towards the door. Ruby stood quietly at the door way, having never before seen the King of the Ashen Fields up close; she was quite surprised to see how young he was. He couldn't have been more than a year or two older than her, he didn't seem kingly at all, but he had the same look in eyes that she saw all too often in her own mirror; loneliness. "I'm Smolder." I said taking a few steps and holding my hoof out to her. Ruby didn't reply right away. The closer he got, the faster her anxiety started to melt away. "I'm Ruby… Ruby Simmer." Ruby replied slowly taking his hoof with her own. The warmth from Smolder's flames chased away her doubts and her anxiety, filling her with a calmness that she had never felt before. "I've been told that we have you to thank for rescuing the Narrows from their irritability and adding variety to their diet." I said graciously shaking her hoof. "I brought you lunch." Ruby said holding out the stone lunch box to him completely avoiding his compliment. "Really?" I asked sounding more excited then I should have. "Ruby made it herself, she's a natural." Pinkie Pie added as I carried the stone lunch box to the slab of granite. "No kidding, I have no idea what this is but it smells amazing." I said taking a bite of the Apple Turnover. "Ruby is going to be catering the Coronation for you, she's specifically brought some samples of what she's going to be making. She wanted to get your opinion on them." Pinkie Pie explained. "Yes! By Equestria, yes to all of it." I mumbled through a mouthful of Apple Turnover. "Really?" Ruby asked. "I haven't tasted anything this delicious since I went to Ponyville." I said feeling my stomach dance in delight. "You mean it?" Ruby asked sounding concerned. "Of course I do, why wouldn't I?" I asked curiously making quick work of the apple slices. "Well, I was just worried if you were just trying to be nice or make me feel better if they weren't very good." Ruby explained rubbing her hoof up and down her leg. "Why would I lie?" I asked curiously rummaging through the lunch box with my nose. "You're the King, your opinion matters a lot." Ruby said sounding worried. "Just because I'm the King, makes me an expert on baked goods?" I asked curiously. "Well…" Ruby mumbled falling quiet. "Ruby is just having a tough time finding some confidence in her baking skills." Pinkie Pie explained. "What does Pinkie Pie think?" I asked curiously. "She says I'm doing a pretty good job so far." Ruby replied feeling a bit embarrassed. "I've been teaching her all of my favorite recipes for bake goods and then we'll get into sugar sweets!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed bouncing up and down. "Well I think Pinkie Pie's opinion holds more value than mine, seeing as she does this sort of thing for a living." I said noticing the Apple Tart in the stone lunch box. "I'm just not used to ponies telling me such nice things." Ruby confessed looking down awkwardly. "Ruby, am I a good King?" I asked with a mouthful of tart. "What? Yes! Of course! You helped save us from the Mad King!" Ruby exclaimed. "Have you ever been a King before?" I asked curiously. "No." Ruby replied. "So how do you know I'm a good King?" I asked. "Because you really care about all the Flame Ponies here, you've helped out a lot these last few months. Every pony knows it." Ruby explained. "So you're not just trying to be nice or make me feel better about being King?" I asked finishing off the Apple Tart. "You're doing the best you can." Ruby insisted. "I think you are too. Knowing that at least one pony thinks I'm doing a great job is enough for me to keep trying to do better. Lucky for you, you have Pinkie Pie cheering you on." I said encouragingly. "I think you're both doing an excellent job!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "My point is Ruby, don't let fear get in your way. It will freeze you in place and stop you from becoming something amazing. I learned that the hard way." I said with a smile; thinking back to when I was a statue. "I'll try." Ruby muttered feeling her mane flare. "Oh yeah, there's something I needed to tell you Sparky." Pinkie Pie spoke up. "What is it?" I asked curiously. "You're Coronation is going to be taking place promptly at six o'clock, two days from now. You are going to need to greet all of the guests between the hours of four to five and be back in your room by no later than five thirty. At that time, Wingston will be giving his speech and you will need to get your fancy duds on so that you can make your grand appearance in the Main Hall. Wingston will talk some more, put the crown your head, every pony will cheer and then we will get the party! Where you, the newly crowned King, will have to mingle with the out of town political ponies, zebras, yaks, and donkeys. We'll take a group photo to commemorate the occasion by eight o'clock and promptly start the fireworks display afterwards where you, the King, will light the fuse. Got all that?" Pinkie Pie asked curiously. I simply stared blankly at Pinkie Pie, unable to grasp the whole thing, but nodded slowly in agreement. "Great! Ruby and I still have a lot of baking to do so we'll be leaving now." Pinkie Pie said motioning Ruby towards the doors. "Alright then, it was nice meeting you." I said trying to remember anything that Pinkie Pie had just told me. "If you mess this up I will tell every pony you ate rocks when you were a foal." Pinkie Pie whispered to me as she strolled by. "Bye, Smol-King! I mean, uh, King Smolder." Ruby stammered nervously. Pinkie Pie and Ruby proceeded down the hallway, Pinkie Pie in high spirits but Ruby seemed rather quiet. "What's up, Ruby? Sparky said he liked your lunch." Pinkie Pie said encouragingly slowing down to walk with her. "Pinkie, do you know when a pony tries to make every pony around them feel better but in secret they're actually hurting on the inside?" Ruby asked curiously. "Of course I do, those ponies are usually the ones with the biggest hearts." Pinkie Pie replied looking a little concerned for her. "How do you help a pony like that?" Ruby asked curiously. Pinkie Pie, for the first time in Ruby knowing her, took a moment to really ponder that question. "You start by letting that pony know how much you mean to them, and let them know you're willing to talk whenever they need it." Pinkie Pie said in a very mature way. Ruby took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She turned around and made her way back to the stone doors and pushed it open. "Smolder?" Ruby asked stepping into the room. "Yea-" I said chocking on my lunch, surprised by the sudden reappearance of Ruby. "If you ever want another lunch box just let me know, okay?" Ruby asked as her mane flared. I swallowed hard. I felt my heart skip for a second. I had to blink a few times to register what she had said but I started nodding right away. "Yeah, yeah sure, Ruby. Thank you." I replied. "Bye." Ruby said with a little wave before closing the stone door. Ruby turned to leave but almost ran into Pinkie Pie who was standing right behind her. "Some pony has a crush!" Pinkie Pie declared narrowing her eyes. "What? No!" Ruby shouted as her mane flared, quickly storming off. "Come on! I won't tell no pony!" Pinkie Pie shouted after her, bouncing down the hall.