Despite the passing of days, Marble was unable to come up with any plan to get out of marrying them. Arguments that art could be a useful and lucrative job were destined to fall on deaf ears. Her father wanted her or her husband to have a steady job, and her mother wanted her to be taken care of. They were both far too traditional in their beliefs for Marble to prove that ponies wanted and appreciated art, and would be willing to pay her a living wage for it.
The days passed. Marble checked on the seeds every day, and they kept glowing softly, waiting for something to take root in, such as they did. Her hooves healed, and although they were still blackened by the time Sunday came, she could walk with only a little bit of pain. Her mother was pleased. Her father even had an upturn to his lips as they prepared for the walk to the Pairing Stone.
Marble’s face, however, was not so happy. Despite the pretty dress Ma had put on her, and the descriptions of the three stallions Pa was giving her, she desired anything but what was happening. She was being uprooted from what she loved, and forced into an environment that she didn’t want to be in. Unless her husband-to-be was, by some miracle, tolerant of her art, she didn’t see herself being able to continue. And what if he wanted foals? Was she just going to be made pregnant constantly? The moment she had one, she’d have no time to herself. She remembered being a foal. Limestone, Pinkie, herself, and Maud, were all a challenge in their own way. That kind of challenge would preclude art. She would have no time for anything but family!
Marble had worked herself up to a nervous wreck, and she was shaking by the time they reached the Pairing Stone. There were nine other ponies already there and waiting when Marble limped up to the stone with her parents. She could tell immediately who the suitors were. They–or their parents–had dressed up nicely for the occasion, while the other ponies were old. One only had a father figure with him, while the ninth pony was dressed in some strange ceremonial garb.
The ceremonial pony started talking, but Marble didn’t register any of the words that were being said. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and she was shaking so much that she had to be prodded along by her mother. The suitors were all standing as tall as possible, trying to show off their strength or something. Marble didn’t care. The only pony who cared was Ma, who gushed about something in Marble’s ear.
The ponies all introduced themselves. Marble didn’t remember any of their names. The ceremonial pony started talking, and they eventually entered the cave where the Pairing Stone was. This was something Marble remembered.
The Pairing Stone was an impressive and monumental block of stone that occupied one end of the massive natural cave. It was solid onyx, if Marble didn’t miss her guess, and it shone with a black sheen. On its face was a carving of two things Marble assumed must be ponies, but it was stylized to the point where they were barely recognizable as such. Still, it was huge, almost symmetrical, and beautiful. The irony that her own beauty was about to be sold to the highest bidder by this awesome sculpted piece of stone was not lost on Marble. She could not be mad at it, however. Its beauty was its own, and this was its use.
The ceremonial pony started speaking, and eventually marble was pushed forward with one of the suitors. She stood in front of the pairing stone blankly while the stallion put his hoof on a pedestal in front of it. The ceremonial pony cleared his throat, but Marble didn’t move until Ma came forward and lifted her hoof and placed it next to the stallion’s.
The Pairing Stone’s onyx surface shimmered for a moment, and the ceremonial pony shouted something happy. The first stallion’s parents stamped their hooves in applause, and then he was replaced by the next stallion. It, too, had the same effect, as well as the third. Marble wasn’t sure what happened, but there was confused and angry muttering. Pa and the other fathers went to talk to the ceremonial pony while Ma ushered Marble from the room. They eventually returned home where Pa sat pensively in a chair while Marble relaxed on the couch with a gormless look on her face.
“I’m going to take you to meet them at their homes, Marble,” Pa said.
She looked at him and blinked. “What?”
“We’re going to meet them, and we’ll see how they behave at home and around you. That’s how I’ll decide.”
How HE will decide. He’ll choose. He’ll pick. He’ll make the decision to whom she’ll be sold! Marble was confused, agitated, and frustrated. She didn’t know how the Pairing Stone made decisions, but each one was equally worth to marry her. That either meant they were all worthwhile husbands… or they were all equally as worthless to marry.
Marble smiled a slow smile. Her Pa took it as a good sign and nodded, pleased. Marble knew better. They were all equally as worthless to marry as all the rest. The Pairing Stone knew, but they had misinterpreted. She couldn’t convince Pa of that, but she knew how to avoid marrying any of them. If there was no worthless stallion to marry, she couldn’t marry him now could she?
As soon as Pa was done scheduling her life for the next week for her, Marble removed her fancy clothes and went out to her workshop. First, she checked on her seeds. They were glowing and waiting. Waiting to be planted somewhere they could grow into the beautiful flowers Marble knew they could become. She knew where they could be planted, and all it would take is some careful planning and transportation.
Marble found an old rock tumbler she had. She hadn’t tumbled many rocks in recent years, but when she was just starting out, it had been useful in helping to make rounded rocks. It was made entirely of metal, so it wouldn’t melt or burn when in contact with the seeds, and she could excuse her having it as searching for rocks. Pa would believe her, and would back up her reasons for having such a thing to the other families.
Marble used the rubber gloves to transfer the seeds to her tumbler and closed the lid. She put it inside her saddlebags, along with her sketchbook and pencils. She was as prepared as she could be to go visit the three worthless suitors and see just how they lived. She would give them at least somewhat of a chance. She didn’t know them at all other than from the meeting at the Pairing Stone, so maybe one of them would prove to be a nice pony. Marble wheezed a laugh. She wasn’t expecting it. Anypony who was willing to just silently let their parents arrange a marriage for them was worthless. She had been, but she was going to fix that.
The meetings with the other families were scheduled to happen throughout the next week. Pa was insistent on it happening as soon as possible. Marble thought he just wanted to unload her as soon as he could.
The first meeting was to happen on Tuesday. Marble helped out where and when she could, as per her usual routine, until Tuesday came. Pa woke her up early, and Ma helped her choose some clothing for the trip. When she grabbed her saddlebags, Pa got curious.
“Why are you bringing those?” Pa asked.
Marble hung her head and rubbed one foreleg against the other. “To collect stones.”
“You think they’ll have better rocks than us?”
“No… just different.”
Pa just shrugged and led the way out of the farmhouse and down the road. Marble still didn’t know who they were going to visit, but due to the distance they lived from other ponies, the trip was going to take up most of the day.
They arrived within a couple of hours, and were greeted cordially. Pa began talks with the stallion’s parents, while Marble and he were forced to sit together. Marble said nothing, but the stallion kept leaning in and trying to start a conversation.
“How are you today?” he asked.
Marble glanced at him, and had to admit he was a good-looking stallion. Too bad she wasn’t interested in looks. Rocks looked beautiful on the outside, but inside they could be ugly, and vice versa. The ugliest of stones could have a beautiful core, and Marble wouldn’t be satisfied with any husband unless she could choose them after discovering what lay at their core. She would discover the inner workings of a stallion at a time of her own choosing, and in a manner she decided upon.
“Are you doing well?” the stallion asked again.
Marble still didn’t know his name. She didn’t care. Pa was used to her being so quiet, so he wouldn’t mind her not talking. This stallion would just have to learn that as well.
Marble nodded.
“So, uh… what do you do for fun?”
“I collect rocks.”
She was certain he sighed quietly, but he put on a smile and politely continued the conversation. “Oh? What kinds?”
“All kinds.”
When she didn’t volunteer any further information, he put on a forced smile. “That’s… very interesting,” he said. He looked away from her when he said it, so she knew he didn’t think it was interesting at all. If he didn’t like her rocks, then they weren’t going to get along. Worthless indeed.
Marble saw the stallions mother motion to him. He gave her a confused look, so she rolled her eyes and walked over to the two of them.
“Why don’t you to go look around outside. If Marble is going to be part of the family, she’d want to see the farm she’ll be living on, right?” She said.
Marble nodded. “Mmhmm.”
The stallion perked up. “Okay! Follow me.” The stallion led the way out the door while Pa talked to his parents.
He showed her their barn, their tools, some of the animals they kept. Unlike her own family, these ponies had a farm that produced food. Mostly animal products by the looks of it.
During the walk, Marble picked up random rocks here and there. He was confused at first, but he just shook his head and ignored it after the first few times. He waited impatiently for her to finish.
“Collecting rocks is kind of foalish,” he said.
Marble narrowed her eyes at him. He didn’t seem to notice. He was yet another pony who thought her hobby was useless. Very worthless.
As they came back to the farmhouse, Marble pretended to see a stone she wanted near the back of the farmhouse. She glanced back to make sure he wasn’t looking, and he wasn’t. She opened her tumbler, pulled out one of the seeds, and planted it right next to the back of the house.
Worthless stallion. He would snuff her out and not even question why. Worthless.
The two of them went back inside to greet Pa and the stallion’s parents. All three were all smiles and good humor, and were interested in knowing how the two of them had gotten along during their little walk. Marble kept her face at a carefully neutral position while the stallion gushed about how they’d chatted about this and that and nothing at all.
Marble didn’t correct him. He glanced at her while he talked as if gauging her reaction on whether or not she’d say something. She didn’t. She let him have his moment, talking about how well they’d get along. He thought she was a pushover, and once they were married he’d be able to do whatever he wanted. He was the type of stallion who’d sleep around because she was just going to be the quiet, meek type.
Well, she had news for him. They weren’t going to get married because he would be conspicuously absent if all went well. Even if he survived, Pa wouldn’t want her to marry into a family suffering such hardships as they were about to experience. Marble had a small smile on her face as they returned home. Pa noticed, and asked her about it.
“You seem cheerful,” he said.
“Mmhmm.”
“Well, I’m glad you liked him so much. They have a solid farming setup going, and they can provide for you,” Pa said. “I’m sure it will take some getting used to if you move in with them, but we still have two other families to meet. We won’t make the decision until we’ve met all three.”
‘We’ won’t make the decision he said. As if he had given her a say in the matter. Oh well. He didn’t have to. She was going to be taking care of things her own way. There would be no marriage, and she would force Pa to accept her living her life her way.
They arrived back home and had dinner. Pa talked with Ma about the meeting and Pa explained how well the two of them had gotten along. It was still too early to make a decision, but this first one had turned out well.
Marble kept silent, saying nothing, and letting Pa have his moment. He felt like he was in control, and that’s what made him happy. Marble ate her food in silence.
Limestone wasn’t going to let her have peace and quiet, though. She kept prodding Marble for more information. “So, Pa said you two went off alone together. Did you… see anything?” Limestone winked.
Marble didn’t dignify it with a response, but frowned.
“Aw come on, you didn’t even try?” Ma cleared her throat and gave Limestone a look. Limestone shut up after that.
When dinner was over Marble retired to her room. The next meeting was on Thursday, when Marble suspected the flower she had originally planted would have grown into the bud form. She had planted it behind some other plant, but with room to spread its petals. It should be able to reach more than enough fuel for growth. It would either burn tomorrow, or the day after. Either way, Marble had an iron excuse. There were multiple ponies that knew where she was at all times. Pa was going to keep poor little Marble busy, after all. She went to sleep with a smile on her face.
Wednesday was busy. Pa got her up at the crack of dawn and had her helping out fetching tools and cleaning things all day. She didn’t get a moment’s respite. He said it was because he had catching up to do due to yesterday’s missed work, but Limestone was taking care of most everything these days. Pa just liked to feel useful. She went to sleep tired, but heard nothing about a fire all day.
Thursday morning was up early as well, and Marble was cleaned, dressed, fed, and out the door by the time the sun had crossed the horizon. Pa led the way as they walked down the road to meet the next potential suitor, with Marble trailing behind carrying her saddlebags with her tumbler.
She was worried the flower she had planted had been smothered by something or had even been discovered. It was fragile, but its fire was potent, and even when small it had burned quite hot. When she had fed it the log, even the wood started on fire easily, and had spread with haste. She trusted it. It wouldn’t let her down.
They arrived at the next stallion’s house and Pa got to talking while Marble was once again sat next to some stallion she didn’t remember the name of. He wasn’t as good-looking as the last, but he was much stockier. This stallion had muscle to spare. He also really enjoyed talking about himself.
“So, how well can you cook? I work out a lot, and I need to get the right kind of food, or I start losing mass,” he said. “I also work out twice a day, so breakfast and supper need to be on time.”
Marble listened with utmost patience and said nothing, and he seemed content with that.
Eventually, Pa suggested they take a walk together around the yard. This stallion’s family didn’t own a farm. Instead, they owned a factory of sorts, where they processed ingredients into feed for animals, and even made fertilizer.
Marble nodded, and the stallion took her about the place, and she feigned interest, but she collected rocks the whole way, making a big show of it the whole time, cooing over particular rocks and frowning at others. Upon their return, she started rummaging through the dirt next to their house, and surreptitiously planted another one of her seeds, hidden behind a wheelbarrow.
“Yo, sweetcheeks. You gotta cut your rock-collecting short. It’s almost time for me to do my reps. I mean, you can watch, but you’re already cutting into my schedule,” the stallion said.
Marble rolled her eyes and covered the seed gently in soil, then picked up a random stone she found in the dirt and made a big show of putting it into her saddlebags. The two of them walked back inside where the stallion disappeared into an adjoining room without even so much as a goodbye. Marble could hear grunting and counting coming from the room as they were shown out by his parents.
Upon stepping outside, they were greeted by a plume of smoke rising into the sky in the distance. Pa adjusted his hat to get a better look, while Marble put a hoof to her mouth to cover her smile.
Pa turned back to the family in the doorway. “Who was the last pony to check on the site of the wildfire?”
“Um… the Turnovers?” The older stallion said.
“Contact them as quickly as you can! Send your son! If it’s flared up again, we need to know possible other sites that might flare up as well!” Pa ordered. “I’ll head to the smoke and do what I can! Marble, stay close to me!” Marble said nothing, but galloped after Pa as he took off down the road toward the smoke.
The closer they got, the more certain Marble became that her trap had done its job. They were headed directly to the farmhouse of her first suitor. She was upset that it had started during the day, because that meant it would be more likely that the stallion would have survived, but there was still a chance, and Pa likely wouldn’t marry her off to somepony without a house or farm to his name. He wanted her to be taken care of, after all.
When they arrived, they found a crowd of ponies from other farms all collected around the land, setting up barriers, dirt walls, and removing anything that might help the fire jump from their land to anything nearby. Marble was delighted to see that the fire had engulfed the house, some of their crops, and their barn. Farm animals were loose everywhere, running for their lives. In it all, Marble hadn’t seen hide nor hair of her suitor. She found his mother, weeping into a neighbor’s embrace.
“Ma’am, where’s your son?” Marble asked.
“He… he’s somewhere in there still! He and his father went to go let the animals loose when the barn caught, and they haven’t come back out!”
Marble fought to keep a look of concern on her face. Like the worthless fool he was, he dove directly into the fire. With her flower working on the fire, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
A collective gasp arose from the gathered crowd, and Marble turned to look at the fire. All the flames were curling inward toward a specific point. Nopony could get close to see, but Marble knew it was her flower. The flames, having consumed everything with more haste than was natural, were being sucked into the flower. The house, barn, and fields all burned out, leaving only charred husks. There was silence for a moment, then a crackling sound, followed by a *BOOM* that knocked everypony to the ground. From the ashes flew glowing specks of light, disappearing into the air, carried on hot winds to places distant.
There was silence for a moment, then Marble heard Pa yell. “Embers! Find out where they’re going to land! We’ll need everypony on high alert and prepared for more fires! Whatever that was, it’s dangerous and likely to spread!” Pa ordered. “I need two ponies to come with me to find any survivors, has anypony seen…”
Marble tuned out his yelling. She was ‘helping’ the distraught mother who had possibly just lost her husband and son. It was the sort of thing a weak and useless mare was expected to do, after all. Marble held out a hoof for the mare to hold, and made generic calming noises. She didn’t care, but she had to pretend, and this was the best way to do it.
Sometime later, Pa came back with two other stallions. They were covered in soot and ash, and upon approach, Pa removed his hat and held it to his chest. Everypony knew what it meant, and it sent the mare into an even harder fit of sobbing.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. They were both found near the barn. We suspect your husband was inside and your son was outside. They died trying to free the animals,” Pa said.
The mare sobbed harder, clutching Marble’s hoof and shaking. Marble feigned comfort, but sighed inwardly in relief. She wouldn’t have to marry this one, at least, and nopony would suspect her. She was safe from one worthless stallion. She just had to wait on one more, and fix the last one. It was just a matter of time.
They returned home very late. Pa had allowed Marble to continue to comfort the mare while he organized a fire-watch with other ponies around the area. Only one of the embers had a reported landing site, and it had been quickly stamped out. The others were, as of yet, unaccounted for.
Marble was sad to hear that one of the seeds had been destroyed, but she still had three seeds of her own, and seeing the discharge of the seeds at the end of the plants life cycle had been a treat. She was just sad she couldn’t see the flower itself when it finally gave out. That would have been a sight to behold.