//------------------------------// // 10. Getting to Work // Story: Like Fireworks in the Sky // by SpyroForLife //------------------------------// When Tempest woke up, she was so warm and comfortable she didn’t want to move. After a moment, she realized she couldn’t move. A weight pressed against her, not really uncomfortable, but nonetheless keeping her pinned. She tensed, ears flicking forward to check her surroundings, but all she heard was quiet breathing and a soft wind from outside. Waking up more, she registered that the mass pressing to her was furred, and that grip around her was actually arms, and… oh. Discord was snuggling with her. He was just so much bigger than her that he had her nearly immobilized. Tempest chuckled, opening her eyes to check the time. There was no light coming in, so it must still be night. Glancing down, she saw the mismatched arms around her middle. There was a small brushing of fur against her neck, and she realized Discord had turned his head around to rest against her neck… while her own head rested on his neck. Damn, he was flexible. Like a weird furry snake. Tempest settled back against him. Apparently he wasn’t a light sleeper. It was strange, being held like this, but she liked it. She felt secure. She noted how his tail was still draped over her hip, the end of it even curled slightly around one of her back hooves. She hoped he didn’t decide to roll over away from her, else he would drag her over with him. She reflected on her friendship with Discord. She used to think she didn’t need this, but now that she had it, she never wanted to go back. Maybe it does sound easy to only care about yourself, but it was lonely too. She was far happier now, being friends with Twilight and the other ponies of Ponyville, and knowing Discord, and acknowledging just how much Grubber always meant to her. Behind her, Discord shifted and then yawned widely. She felt his fingers move, and then his neck unwound from around her and he lifted his head. Her own head thumped back down, and she grunted, looking up at him. Her eyes adjusted enough to the dark for her to see that he was awake. “Mm, still night?” he asked. “Yeah. I don’t know exactly when.” Discord held out his arm, a watch materializing on it. “Ah, it’s three in the morning.” “Wow, why am I awake, then?” Tempest laughed. “I suppose I’m still so used to sleeping for a few hours a night.” “I don’t sleep very long either but that’s because I physically don’t need to. Plus it gets boring.” “Ah. Well, I think I’m going to go back to sleep anyway.” Tempest rested her head back on a pillow. “By the way, you get cuddly while sleeping.” Discord looked at the arm he still had around her, how he had pretty much fit himself along her back, and he blinked. Then he chuckled and said, “Ah, so I do. Did I bother you?” “No, not at all. It’s comfortable.” She rubbed her withers back into his chest. “You’re so warm.” “Oh, alright. Heh, this is so odd, I don’t really tend to do this.” “Well, how often have you slept with someone else next to you?” “Not often. Fluttershy has fallen asleep on me a few times though. She’s the sweetest little thing. And of course I can’t move then because she might wake up.” Tempest giggled. “Your relationship with Fluttershy is so cute. Have you guys ever considered, I don’t know… taking things further?” “Hm? What do you mean?” “Well, you know. Asking her to be your special somepony?” Discord stared, then gave an awkward laugh. “Oh, she doesn’t like me that way. Fluttershy is an absolute dear, don’t get me wrong, but we’re only friends. I value our relationship exactly as it is. Personally I’d feel weird getting romantically involved with the first pony I’ve ever befriended. I don’t even see her that way.” “Oh, I understand. Some friends are just better meant as friends. It’s still a very special, magical bond.” “I’m quite familiar.” Discord wrapped his other arm back around her. “So, how about you? You and Twilight seem close these days… hm?” Tempest blushed. “I don’t like her like that! Twilight is sweet, and smart, and I can definitely admire a confident mare like her, but… I don’t know. I don’t think I’d want to date her. I want someone more… hm. Well, someone who's not royalty, for one, I kinda don't want to get involved with all that. But I want someone who's fun. Someone who makes me laugh.” “Pinkie Pie,” Discord suggested. “Hah! I do like her energy, but she’s a bit too happy all the time, it makes me uncomfortable.” “So you want someone funny, but who isn’t constantly laughing their own flanks off?” “Yeah.” “Hm, I can understand that. Well, I hope you find them one day.” Discord slid his arms away and got up. “I’m going to go check out Klugetown some more. I’ll see you in the morning.” “Oh? Oh, um… okay.” Tempest felt cold when he slipped away, and she pulled the blankets more tightly around her shoulders. “See you in the morning.” He poofed away, and Tempest sighed, gazing into space. Romance was certainly optional… but much like friendship, she wanted to give it a try. Perhaps it could be just as wonderful. She closed her eyes and rolled over to lay where Discord had been, and as she scooped over one of the pillows he had rested against, she found that it smelled like him. It was a difficult scent to describe, earthy yet spicy, but… it was his, and it reminded her of all the times they've hung out and trained together. It reminded her of Ponyville, where the first pony to truly accept her lived. It reminded her of home. She nuzzled her face into the pillow and drifted back off to sleep. When morning arrived, Tempest climbed out of bed and stretched each of her legs. Hazy sunlight came in through the windows, illuminating the dust motes hovering in the air. Capper was still sleeping soundly, though he was now curled up on top of his sleeping bag, like a… well, like a cat. Tempest stepped quietly past him and looked around for Discord, but he seemed to still be out. She went to her saddlebags and opened one, taking out a bag of trail mix. Breakfast of champions. She munched on the mixed seeds and dried fruit as she examined Capper’s various knickknacks. They seemed to come from all over the world. She recognized Crystal Empire baskets and blown glass, Canterlot statuettes, Abyssinian jewels and sand globes, hippogriff daggers, even talismans that she was certain came from the far off land of the zebras. She carefully lifted one of the books from his bookcase. It had a stylized zebra head on the front drawn with golden thread, and she opened it. It was full of spells and potions, but all written in a language she couldn’t read. She briefly wondered if Capper could read it, and put it back. After she finished checking everything out, she went to make the bed, just to give herself something to do. Then she laid across it as she finished her trail mix. Capper finally woke up when the spot of sunlight he was laying in moved away from the sleeping bag. He got up, stretching and popping his back. “Good morning, Tempest.” “Good morning,” she replied. He smoothed out his fur and went to a mirror to tend to his whiskers. “Where’s Discord?” “He went outside to explore. He said he’ll be back in the morning.” “Ah, he should be returning any minute now.” Capper finished grooming himself and went to the kitchen. “You want any breakfast? I’ve got eggs and toast! And that’s… about all really, unless you like cereal.” “I’m good,” she said, giving her bag a wave. “You sure you don’t want something to drink with that? I have milk.” “Hm, maybe a small glass of milk.” She got up and went to the table as he poured her a glass and slid it over. He made himself a bowl of cereal and sat across from her. They casually discussed the weather and Capper said there might be a dust storm. “And that usually brings up the sand wyrms,” Capper concluded. Tempest set her glass down. “Sand wyrms?” “Oh yeah, the Bone Dry Desert is full of ‘em! They live down deep but after the storms, they come up to see what’s been buried at the surface and snack on poor, lost creatures who didn’t get inside fast enough.” “Whoa. How big are they?” Capper spread his arms out. “Huge. At least, they’re easily longer than a pony, probably by three times. A pony your size, at that. And their mouths are full of sharp teeth that grind you up into a nice, easily swallowed pulp. So… when the storms hit, stay inside or on a cobbled or wooden road, got it?” “Got it,” she replied. “They hunt by sound and feel the tremors when you walk, so if you feel one coming, stand utterly still. Throw something far away if you can. They may be fast and dangerous, but they’re stupid.” “Why do you choose to live here?” Tempest demanded. Capper shrugged. “Hey, the storms are rare. Some people get earthquakes, some get blizzards… we get murderous sand wyrms.” Tempest considered that, staring into her cup. Then she chuckled and said, “It’s lucky that Twilight and her friends got here then.” “Oh, I know. Coming here on foot is seriously dangerous. But they really were determined to get to the queen of the hippogriffs so they could save the other princesses and defeat you.” Tempest raised a brow, and he hastily tried to explain himself better, but she interrupted, “No, I needed to be defeated, and I’m glad they were able to do so. I’m grateful that they spared me while allowing the Storm King to die.” “Heh, yeah. You still had good in you.” Capper drank from his bowl. “I just wonder if the Storm King might have too.” “He could have. But I guess we’ll never know.” Discord soon returned. “I come bearing gifts!” “What?” Tempest asked. “I saw some delightful necklaces and thought to myself, ‘Hm, who would like these?’ And I answered myself, ‘Oh, Tempest and Capper would love them!’ So here, some locally made necklaces!” He held up two necklaces of different colored beads with swirls of color in them. One was mostly filled with what looked like emerald, and Discord brought that one to Tempest. “That’s very thoughtful,” she said, leaning her head back as he clipped it on. Discord turned to Capper. “And to show my appreciation to a new friend, one necklace for you! See, these beads have veins of copper going through them that match your coat!” “Oh, you didn’t have to buy me anything,” Capper said. Discord put the necklace on him anyway. “No but I wanted to. And here’s a matching one for myself.” Discord put on his own. Its beads were incredibly mismatched. “The merchant was about to throw this away, said none of these really had a match, but I don’t know what he’s talking about, they’re perfect.” Tempest laughed. “You’re so silly.” “Just something to show I care.” Discord ruffled up her mane. “So, shall we go meet with the storm creatures?” “Suppose we should. See you later,” Tempest said to Capper. “Alright, have a good day, I need to head to work myself,” he replied. He left the house right behind them, locking the door. “So, shall we walk again today or do you want me to teleport us?” Discord asked, holding out a hand. Tempest considered, then took it. “Let’s teleport.” He snapped his fingers. Immediately their surroundings changed, and they were standing on the familiar dusty street before she could even prepare herself. Tempest was amazed. When she teleported, there was a sort of brief darkness and pressure before she reappeared at her destination. For Discord, it was instant. “I want to teleport like that,” she said enviously. “Keep practicing and one day you will,” he replied. They went to find Curly. She greeted them from outside the town hall. “Good morning!” “Good morning,” they called back. “Alright, ready for a hard day’s work?” she asked. “We’ll need to move quick, there might be a sand storm tonight which brings up sand wyrms, and you don’t want to be outside when they arrive.” “Certainly not,” Tempest replied. “Are the floors all reinforced?” “Yep, we did use stone for all the floors. We almost didn’t but the locals made sure they told us about the danger of doing that. Sand wyrms don’t like coming this far south, but with all the fresh meat, they’ll go for it.” “Gotcha. Well, we should get going then. Have everyone meet us in the square, and we’ll teach them how to make their houses much more stable.” Curly agreed, and went to find Grubber, bringing him along to round up the storm creatures. “So, a day playing with dirt,” Discord said as he followed Tempest to the square. “Fun.” “We’ll make it fun,” she assured him, using her magic to scoop up a mound of sand from beyond the town borders and bring it over. “Once we get them working, we can just supervise. And deal with any conflicts.” “Oh, goody.” Discord picked up some of the sand, running it through his fingers. “Hm. Do you think there’s clay around here? That might make longer lasting bricks.” “There could be,” Tempest replied. “Maybe once they start on the quarry, they’ll find clay. Then they can use that too.” “Yeah, because these mud huts are not going to last very long. At the very least they should make them out of wood like the rest of Klugetown.” “They like the look of stone and clay houses. And considering it almost never rains here, those are suitable. If anything we’ll just convince them to replace their roofs with wood, once it arrives.” “Alright. You know what they like better than me.” Once everyone was gathered, Tempest smiled at them. “Hello all, it’s great to see you. I don’t really think I need to introduce myself, you all knew me as Commander Tempest, but now… you can just call me Tempest Shadow. Or…” She gave a little grin. “Even Fizzlepop Berrytwist.” They laughed, and she joined in. “Yes, I know, so silly. Anyway, no longer am I your commander. I’m not here to give you orders or belittle you. I’m here to help you. Things have no doubt been rough since the Storm King’s defeat. He took over your entire race and dragged you into his war. But now you’re free. And I’m going to help you return to a peaceful life. You all deserve to be happy. To build up new homes, to make friends, to form families. To find what makes you special and do good for those around you. So! Who’s ready to learn about architecture?” They hooted and clapped for her. Discord let out a whistle. “Very nice. You’re quite the motivational speaker.” “Oh, you know,” she chuckled. She stamped a hoof to get everyone’s attention. They quieted, and she said, “I have with me a close friend from Equestria, Discord. He’s a talented magic user and he’ll be happy to help anyone who’s struggling. He can create practically anything, but I know you like making things on your own. Just know that if you do need something magicked up, however, Discord is the one to go to.” He waved, and a hard hat and orange reflective vest appeared on his body. “Let’s get this thing going! Hi everyone, today I’m going to show you how to turn this boring sand into a decent building material! And as a special treat, I’m going to show you how to actually do it instead of just snapping my fingers and turning it into bricks! Consider yourselves lucky.” He cracked his knuckles and got to work, and Tempest laughed at his enthusiasm. He really was one of the best people Twilight could have sent with her.