//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Diamonds in the Rough // Story: The Phoenix King // by Turtlehaus //------------------------------// Florence Gale, Christie Chapel, and Tea Herbal sat quietly on the floor of Tea's room while Princess Sapphire slept upon Tea's bed; recovering from her overuse of magic. The three mares were deep in hushed conversation about everything that had transpired up until this point. Everything from not believing Tea's wild stories of Canterlot, of Smolder, and to whom they were going to ask for notes on today's lecture; seeing as they skipped school all together. "Maybe we can ask Dorian for his notes? He seems like a decent enough colt." Florence suggested in a whisper. "Dorian cares more about his mane then taking notes, I'm sure we'd get notes on what sort of conditioner he uses rather than getting anything useful out of him." Tea retorted. "Have you seen Dorian's mane? It's magnificent! We'd be lucky to know where he gets his shampoo." Chapel countered, looking rather curious. "You should look into changing your brand of shampoo, Tea." Florence said, nodding her head. "What's wrong with my shampoo?" Tea asked defensively, pulling on her mane with her hooves. "There are other shampoos then 'Strawberry Blast', you know." Chapel chimed in. "It's all in one! Shampoo, conditioner, and tear free!" Tea said defensively. "I wonder what Princess Sapphire uses?" Florence asked curiously, glancing over at her on the bed. "Her mane is just a… a… cloud of smoke or something. Why would she need shampoo?" Tea asked, feeling a bit envious of Sapphire's cloudy mane. "How come Princess's always smell so much like a bushel of roses or field of wild flowers? Why can't I smell like that all the time?" Chapel asked with sigh. "You've only met one Princess, not all Princesses' smell like that." Tea said, feeling even more jealous. "Well… what did Princess Celestia smell like?" Florence asked curiously. "She… uh…" Tea began, thinking back on it. "Smelled like a freshly cut flowers sprinkled over a babbling brook with a hint of lemon." Tea looked defeated. "It must be nice being a Princess." Chapel said with a sigh. "You get to live in a castle with servants waiting on you, carriage rides where ever you want, you'd get to meet celebrities, and travel all over Equestria." "You'd even get to meet Prince Charming." Florence said longingly, swooning just at the thought of it. "I already met a Prince Pony." Tea spoke up, trying to earn some of her street cred back. "But you're not a Princess, Tea." Florence pointed out. "So?" Tea said quickly, flushing slightly. "So Princes marry Princesses, that's how it works." Chapel pointed out. "They don't have to." Tea said with a frown. "Okay, let's just say Smolder does want to marry you." Florence began as Tea felt her face flush more. "Are you going to drop out of school?" "W-W-Well, he'd just have to wait until I was done." Tea stammered; feeling flustered. "That's about four years of waiting, and after that you'll have to take up a residence at some hospital. Which will be about a year, working at all hours of the day and night. After a few years you'll probably try and enter a practice of some kind or perhaps start your own. Which would be anywhere to three to five years for that to happen; if that." Florence continued, listing things off. "What's your point?" Tea asked, feeling annoyed. "You're looking at almost ten solid years of waiting, even if you did get married sooner or later, you'd have responsibilities as Queen that you would have to commit to as well. You'd have to give up being a doctor pony at some point." Chapel replied. "Are you ponies siding against me?" Tea asked, feeling frustrated by their 'big picture' look at her life. "You worked really hard trying to become a doctor pony, Tea. We're not convinced you'd give it all up so easily." Florence pointed out. "Princesses are molded to be a Queen one day. It doesn't have to be Princess Sapphire, but it would make more sense for Smolder to marry a Princess Pony that knows how to lead a Kingdom and not recite all the bones in a pony in song." Chapel added. "I worked hard to memorize those bones and that song!" Tea hissed in her defense. "You're going to have to make a hard choice about what you want to do with your life. Become a doctor pony or become Queen of the Flame Ponies." Chapel said, laying out Tea's options for her. Tea felt her head start to hang, Chapel and Florence were, if not, her closest friends and they were trying to make her realize the truth that was always in front of her. It was not that they were being mean or cruel by saying these things, but that they knew how much being a doctor pony meant to her and how difficult it would be to become a Queen with no prior training. "I mean… I guess I would…" Tea began to mumble. "Horse… hockey." Princess Sapphire muttered, rousing from her sleep. Tea, Chapel, and Florence looked towards the bed to see a rather sleepy but rested Sapphire rising out of bed. It was not clear to them when she had stirred from her sleep but she seemed ready to throw her two bits into the conversation. "Ms. Herbal is more than capable of handling the responsibilities of that of a Queen and a Doctor. Some pony as determined, level headed, and bright as Ms. Herbal would put many of the High Noble mares of the Frozen North to shame if ever compared." Princess Sapphire stated, sliding off the bed and flipping her cloudy mane to one side of her head. "Yeah, but the amount of time it would take to become a doctor pony would be-" Chapel began but was promptly cut off by Sapphire's hoof being raised at her. "You assume that Smolder would not want to wait for Ms. Herbal to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor pony, but I assure you that he would support her every step of the way. Ms. Herbal could easily start a school of medicine in the Ashen Fields if she became Queen, or start her own hospital as Chief of Medicine." Princess Sapphire countered her argument. "But… don't you have feelings for Smolder as well, Princess Sapphire?" Florence asked slowly. Tea was thinking that very same thought, surprised that Sapphire of all ponies would be encouraging her to try and become Smolder's special some pony. "My feelings are my own. The fact of the matter is that Ms. Herbal…" Princess Sapphire began, looking very confident in her words. "Is… my friend… and I will support her in everything she does." There was a moment of silence that followed this enlightening news. To where Tea thought of Sapphire as a rival, Sapphire had already thought of her as a friend. This realization made Tea think of how she had closed herself off from Sapphire, taking every opportunity to challenge her, while Sapphire did her best to be accepted. Her mother's words seemed to resonate with her now. It never occurred to her that Sapphire may have been hurting, that she was ignoring her own feelings for the sake of Tea's own. "Are we your friends too?" Chapel asked, almost pleadingly, scooting closer to her. "We can support you in everything you do." Florence reassured her, inching closer to Sapphire. "I suppose… that would be… alright." Princess Sapphire said slowly, noticing the desperation in their eyes. Tea got to her hooves, moving past every pony and picked up the lantern from her desk. Turning to Sapphire, Tea held it out to her with a smile; a real genuine smile. "When I met Smolder, he needed some pony to talk to, and he found that he could talk to me." Tea began. "Now Smolder needs a pony that he can depend on, and that pony is you." Princess Sapphire's horn magically lifted the lantern from Tea. She seemed very surprised herself at Tea's gesture, having willingly given over something so important to her without asking for anything in return. Not even asking for the promise of its safe return, just the confidence that Sapphire would take care of it like any friend would. "I… I never depended on any pony." Princess Sapphire began. "When I met Smolder, I could see how difficult things were for him and his ascension to the throne, but he depended on ponies he considered his friends to help him. Without pause or doubt, he trusted them completely." Princess Sapphire levitated the lantern back to Tea, who seemed equally surprised by this. "Carrying this all the way back home with my magic would be tiresome." Sapphire began, flushing slightly. "It would be easier if you came with me and carried it; to keep it safe." "Are you taking Tea to the Frozen North with you?" Chapel asked in one large gasp. "I can hold the lantern!" Florence shouted, offering her hooves out. "I asked Tea to carry it." Princess Sapphire said flatly. "Let us come too, please! Please! Please! Please!" Chapel begged, putting her hooves together and shaking them at her. "You'll have to ask Ms. Herbal, that is, if she decides to come along." Princess Sapphire stated. "You… can call me Tea." Tea said, watching Sapphire flush slightly at this. "Please Tea! Please say you'll go!" Florence begged her, groveling at her hooves. "I'll have to see if it's okay with my Mom first." Tea said, thinking about it. "Mrs. Tea!" Florence and Chapel shouted together, storming out of her room to explain why she should let Tea go. Tea rolled her eyes while Sapphire chuckled amused by their desire to tag along. Ruby Simmer walked down the main road of the Narrows, carrying a saddle bag filled with slates depicting the inventory and supplies of her bakery. Having become the Ashen Fields most popular, if not the only bakery, Ruby was working every day to meet the demand of all the orders that kept coming in. Having put in a request for extra help to work in the bakery, Ruby was looking forward to having an extra set of hooves around. The Narrows had been ravaged by spiders during the battle but even in a week's time the buildings were all but repaired and new buildings were already being constructed. Although, there was one peculiar sight that had Ruby rather distracted by. It was a lone Ice Pony, sitting on the side of the road next to a pile of rubble looking very pathetic. "Is… everything okay?" Ruby asked curiously, slowly approaching the Ice Pony on the side of the road. "Just leave me to die here amongst these ruins." Winter Snow muttered miserably. "Is something wrong?" Ruby asked again, not sure why this Ice Pony seemed so defeated. "I have spent three hours trying to find my way around this war torn battlefield these Flame Ponies call a home and have had no luck in finding the commoner's bakery." Winter elaborated further, sighing rather dramatically. "Commoner's?" Ruby asked, looking quite confused. "Every Flame Pony I have asked has led me astray, and now I must wither away here on the side of the road. My talents left to rot, Equestria a little less colorful without me being in it." Winter said sadly, lying down upon the pile of debris beside him. "What's your name?" Ruby asked, shifting a step or two away from Winter's awkwardness. "I suppose some pony will need to know who lies alone and forgotten here, for I am Winter Snow, heir to the house of Snow." Winter introduced himself with a grave sigh. "I… can take you to the bakery, if you still want to go." Ruby said, slowly realizing that this Ice Pony was the help she had requested. "Can you really?" Winter asked, sitting up-right and looking rather hopeful. "Yeah, I'm the owner." Ruby mentioned. "Oh praise Celestia! I won't die out here in the cold!" Winter exclaimed, seemingly elated over this development. "But… I thought you were an Ice Pony?" Ruby questioned him, not understanding his statement. "Come along Miss, uh, Miss…" Winter stumbled over his words. "I believe I've forgotten to ask you for your name Miss." "I'm Ruby, Ruby Simmer." Ruby said, introducing herself. "Grand, grand, now take me to this commoner's bakery. I am interested in seeing how 'normal' ponies do things." Winter said, getting to his hooves and standing alongside her. "You keep using that word." Ruby pointed out, starting off again with Winter alongside her. "It is the appropriate word for the ponies of your stature." Winter informed her. "Come again?" Ruby asked, feeling her mane flare. "I am of Noble birth which may elude the simple lifestyle you Flame Ponies are used to, but it places me above the common ponies; bringing me respect and admiration." Winter elaborated further, almost seeming proud of this. "Why?" Ruby asked, starting to feel annoyed. "My family has worked hard to achieve their amount of influence and wealth over many generations. To be part of such a powerful and noble house commands the respect of ponies that are… well… beneath us." Winter explained. "So I'm beneath you?" Ruby asked, feeling her anger starting to swell. "Only in social statuses… and perhaps culinary skills… education… height." Winter added, noticing that Ruby was a half a head shorter then him. "Fine! You're fired!" Ruby shouted in a huff, before storming off. "What!" Winter shouted in horror. Winter expected her to stop to converse with him further but Ruby continued her march down the street without a second glance back. Quickly rushing up beside her, Winter seemed very scared at the thought of being fired. "No, no, no, no, Miss Ruby, I believe you have understood me all wrong!" Winter appealed to her, as Ruby shot him a harsh look. "Have I?" Ruby asked coldly. "I was not inferring that you were any less of a pony then I." Winter explained to her. "Oh?" Ruby asked again, not really believing his words. "I merely implied that you are inferior to me." Winter concluded with a satisfied smile upon his face. "Go back to your pile of rocks and drop dead you jerk!" Ruby shouted in his face before storming off once more. Having realized that he had unknowingly added fuel to Ruby's fire, Winter was now even more afraid of his situation. Racing around in front of her, Winter blocked her path, putting his hooves together and lying flat on the ground; groveling to her. "Please Miss Ruby! No pony in the Snow Family has ever been fired from any job! I cannot put such a blemish upon my family's house; it would be a fate worse than death! I ask for your forgiveness if I have insulted you in any way!" Winter pleaded with her. Even though Ruby was still fuming, she found it easy to read this Ice Ponies sincerity, and could tell that he was sorry even if he sounded sincere about his other remarks. For some strange reason, Ruby was remembering the very mean Flame Pony Francis that had gotten angry with Pinkie Pie. It was two very different ponies coming together, that could have ended very ugly, but had found some common ground. Ruby frowned at the idea of letting this pompous pony work with her, but there was the nagging feeling of Pinkie Pie's smiling face just hovering over her shoulder; wanting her to do the right thing. "…okay." Ruby mumbled, stepping past him. "Oh thank you! Thank you, Miss Ruby! I promise you won't regret this second chance you've given me." Winter exclaimed, sounding very relieved. "Yeah, well, you can start by calling me Ms. Simmer." Ruby stated, feeling the oddly satisfying sensation of a power trip. "Of course, Ms. Simmer!" Winter replied. The two ponies walked on for some time, Winter had fallen silent, as if to avoid saying anything that would displease her. This was just fine for Ruby who needed that time to let herself cool off; trying to reason her anger away. Thinking of how there was most likely a cultural barrier, that things were done differently in the Frozen North then in the Ashen Fields, and that Winter was merely a victim lost in some sort of translation. "This… is it?" Winter asked, with a rather dissatisfied tone. Ruby and Winter stood outside of the Bakery titled 'Baking It Real'. The shop itself was practically new, although the interior was very bland in terms of design and color, mostly due to the fact that Flame Ponies would much rather eat then come for the atmosphere. The walls, the floors, the ceilings, the counters, the shelves, everything was just a solid grey color. The windows had been broken during the battle with the spiders, even though the new windows were installed Ruby had yet to decorate the windows; leaving them clear and empty. "Yeah, what's wrong with it?" Ruby asked in a sort of threatening voice. "Uh… nothing, nothing at all." Winter replied quickly, catching the angry sneer she was giving him. Upon entering the bakery, Winter's attitude did not improve, but did his best to keep a smile on his face. Whenever Ruby turned her back Winter would sigh or grimace at the state of the bakery, but kept his phony bologna smile on without fail. Setting up behind the counter, Ruby could only kick herself for asking for help in the first place. Deciding to make the best of it, Ruby decided to get some of the odds and ends out of the way while she did have some extra hooves to help around the bakery. "There are some crates in the back that need to be moved into the stockroom for storage." Ruby announced. "Shall I fetch a few of those worker Flame Ponies to get said task completed?" Winter offered. "No, I want you to do it." Ruby pointed out. "Me? Surely you jest! I am a Sous Chef in the Frozen North! Not some low brow… thug who would dirty his hooves to do mere labor!" Winter objected looking quite offended. "You've got a horn, don't you?" Ruby asked, not buying into his whines. "Well of course I have a-" Winter began. "Then get to it or you're fired." Ruby said flatly, organizing her slates under the counter. Winter opened his mouth several times to argue his point, but each time stopping short with the notion of being fired in play. Grumbling under his breath, Winter straightened himself up; gathering up his dignity he stepped behind the counter to get to the back room. "Right away, Ms. Ruby." Winter stated, sounding bitter. "Ms. Simmer." Ruby corrected him. The day seemed to drag on from there. What was to be simple tasks turned into projects as Winter seemed to struggle with everything Ruby had assigned for him; seeming to never have done a single days work in his entire life. Having stacked the boxes ends up rather than laying them flat, having used his magic to summon a windstorm to sweep the back room, having tried to chisel a new back door to save himself four extra hoofsteps to the other door that led to the back alley if only to throw away some trash. Needless to say Ruby was ready to close the shop early and take the rest of the day off to recover from Winter's annoyance. Luckily the bell that hung over the door to the bakery chimed as a Flame Pony mare strolled in. Putting on her award winning customer service smile, Ruby greeted the Flame Pony and thanked Celestia that Winter was still in the back room trying to figure out how to take inventory. "Good afternoon, what can I get for you today?" Ruby asked politely. "Hi, I'm the pony that placed the order for my son's birthday cake. It should be under the name Posh." The Flame Pony mare replied. Ruby seemed to seize up. Having spent all day dealing with Winter, Ruby had completely forgotten to fulfill even a single order, and what was worse it was for a young colt's birthday. The Flame Pony mare looked expectantly at Ruby, as if waiting for her to respond. "Is something wrong?" The Flame Pony mare asked curiously. "I-I-I-I-I-I…" Ruby stammered, taking a quick look at the back counter. Having not made a single cake since her tutelage under Pinkie Pie, Ruby knew she wasn't going to find a way out of this one. Adding on to her troubles for the day, Ruby knew she was going to have to inform the customer of her mistake and quite possibly ruin her son's birthday party. "I'm… sorry, but I'm afraid I didn't make the cake." Ruby said solemnly. "What do you mean?" The Flame Pony mare asked, suddenly looking worried. "I was working with a new-" Ruby began, ready to explain herself when Winter suddenly stepped up beside her. "We are working on a new system of preparing cakes, Madam. For I, Winter Snow, four time winner of the Frozen North's Regional Bake Off have been called here to the Ashen Fields to prepare for your son a special birthday cake." Winter interjected, much to the sudden horror on Ruby's face and the surprised delight of the Flame Pony mares. "You brought in a specialist? Just for my little Posh?" The Flame Pony mare asked with joy. "Well I didn't-" Ruby began, trying to push Winter away. "First!" Winter shouted aloud, his horn suddenly flashing with magic. Ruby double backed as ingredients from the back room started to dance their way through the air onto the counter. Sliver mixing bowls were magically rolling towards Winter across the counter as he wore a look of stern but focused confidence. The Flame Pony mare looked simply delighted at the spectacle. "We add the finest ingredients Equestria has to offer!" Winter said aloud, his magic already mixing and measuring the ingredients. "Will the cake be ready in time?" The Flame Pony mare asked curiously. "What does a mother wish for her son on his special day? The answer you may ask? She would want nothing more than his happiness, which I, Winter Snow, will provide in no less than five minutes." Winter declared, the stone spoon already mixing the bowl. "This I got to see." Ruby mumbled, just as interested as the Flame Pony mare was. "For what better combination of baker, or Sous Chef, then Flame and Ice Pony? There is none. Now watch as I bake the batter into a cake while already starting on the frosting." Winter said, pouring the batter into the cake pans. "You didn't even start the stove genius." Ruby pointed out. "Hold this." Winter asked, placing the two cake pans in both of Ruby's hooves. Ruby looked up at Winter who leaned a little closer to her; she flushed slightly at how close his face was to hers. "You're quite chubby." Winter said to her. "What!" Ruby shouted, her flames flaring. "Huzzah! The cake is finished baking!" Winter announced, taking the pans from Ruby quickly. Ruby sat fuming. Watching as the Flame Pony mare actually clapped for Winter's performance. All the while, his magic was preparing the frosting as Winter started to shape the cake into two fine circles with the cake knife. "Normally a pony must let the cake chill before applying the frosting, but with my natural gift, the cake is already at the perfect temperature for decorating." Winter explained, applying a very masterful coat of frosting to the side of the cake. With the cake plate underneath, Winter was able to spin the cake in place, designing a very impressive design from the frosting tube. A mixture of red frosting with black and gold flames that branched the edges of this cake. The name Posh elegantly signed on top, accompanied with the words Happy Birthday of course. The stone box slid across the counter, Winter lifting the cake from the plate and placing it carefully inside before closing it in front of the Flame Pony mare. "Your cake is finished, Madam. I hope that your son finds it delicious, and remember, 'Baking it Real, our prices are a steal'!" Winter announced, carefully sliding it to her. "That was amazing! I don't know how to thank you, Ruby. I can't believe you sent all the way to the Frozen North just to make my little Posh's birthday something special!" The Flame Pony mare said humbly. "Yeah… no problem." Ruby mumbled, trying hard not to look impressed with Winter. The Flame Pony mare paid for her cake before heading towards the door. "Allow me to get the door for you, Madam." Winter insisted, heading out from around the counter to personally open the door for her. Ruby rolled her eyes at his showmanship, but spied some leftover frosting in the bowl. Taking a small lick of the frosting, Ruby felt her eyes widen at the deliciousness of its texture and taste. It was well beyond any cake she had ever baked, even on her best day, and Winter had done it under a minute. "How does a Flame Pony wash their dishes?" Winter asked curiously, walking back behind the counter. "I don't suppose you use water." "This is really good." Ruby said, more impressed than mad now. "It's an old family recipe, made from common ingredients found in one's home." Winter remarked, not seeming too flattered. Ruby watched as Winter gathered up his mess and headed into the back room. It wasn't easy for her to admit it, but Winter did get her out of a jam; even if his shenanigans did cause it to begin with. "Thanks for uh..." Ruby said at the threshold of the door. There was a sudden crash as Winter tossed all the soiled mixing bowls and stone spoons into the alleyway as if to dispose of them. Ruby looked flabbergasted as Winter nodded his head with approval. Ruby quickly rushed over to him, yelling at him for being a brain dead Ice Pony, and being so careless with her dishes. Winter proceeded to defend himself with the lack of a sink, or any sort of cleaning implement in the back room. "Just clean it up!" Ruby shouted, her word on the matter being final. "Yes… Ms. Simmer." Winter grumbled, magically picking up the dishes from outside. "You can call me, Ruby." Ruby mentioned over her shoulder. Winter looked up, as if expecting her to be joking but Ruby was already back at the counter looking over her slates for the next set of orders that needed to be filled.