//------------------------------// // Small Talk // Story: PlutoVerse: Tirek's Arc // by Vchart920 //------------------------------// Rarity hummed to herself as she worked to line her outfits up. A new line of designs were going to be coming out soon, and she wanted to make sure any, if not all, of her new outfits would fit the bill. Tirek laid close by observing Rarity at work. His humanoid body set up against one of the booths, his arm helped prop himself up as he was taller than the base. The centaur had thought on his questions for some time. He didn’t want to push his luck yet, he needed to be smart about this. “I’m curious.” Rarity stopped humming to listen to him. “Why were you six chosen as the element bearers?” Rarity took a moment of thought to answer his question. “It was rather confusing for us at first. We were trying to figure out the same thing. We eventually settled that the elements chose us for who we were, what we represented.” “You say that as if they are sentient.” “I suppose that’s not far off. They have done quite a few odd things over the years.” “And what do these elements represent?” “Generosity, laughter, honesty, loyalty, kindness, and magic.” He scrunched his face in disdain. “That sounds ridiculous.” “If it gives you some solace, we brought back the Pillars a few years back. They represent each of us in similar fashion. Beauty, hope, strength, bravery, healing, and sorcery.” “The Pillars? They disappeared a thousand years ago when I was still around.” “Yes, I’ll tell you the story later.” Rarity got back to work on her showcase. Tirek stroked his beard as he thought. “A thousand years ago was a damned place. It’s not as it is now. It was a time where those traits were most needed, if you think about it. I don’t care for such notions.” Rarity looked to him. “I suppose it would have. I may have to talk to them to find out.” “Which ones are the Pillars?” “Well, you already met Rockhoof. He’s Applejack’s husband. Flash Magnus is Rainbow Dash’s husband. I don’t know if you’ll see the others around. They’re doing their own thing around. I’ll let you know if we see them.” “Hmm. I’ve taken notice that many of your friends already have families. Does it bother you that you are the only one who does no?” Rarity stopped what she was working on and Tirek noticed the subtle droop in her head. Suddenly, he knew exactly what he was going to do. “Not in the slightest,” she perked up suddenly. “I simply haven’t found the right stallion for me, yet. It’s hard to find someone perfect for me.” Tirek gave an almost amused hum. He would leave it for now, but he would wait. Wait and watch for the right moment. Tirek suddenly remembered something from earlier, something he was interested to know. “That baby alicorn with the bat wings, who’s her father?” Rarity hesitated to answer. She thought about her options, her wording. “I don’t think I should be the one to tell you that. It really isn’t my place.” Tirek decided it wouldn't be good to press. However, he now knew this was an important subject. One he would find out. Thus, he decided to move on. “What about the princesses? They appear very different from before.” “Hm? Oh, they aren’t princesses anymore. They both married and their titles changed to queens. Their appearances changed when Celestia decided that it was time to let herself move on from Luna’s banishment. Her and Luna went to cast a spell, but it affected them both. Celestia’s mane reverted back to what it used to be. She explained that when alicorns reach certain levels of power, their bodies change as well, which is why their hair flows as it does.” “That does make sense.” His mind then perked at something else that he caught in that explanation. “Luna was banished?” “You don’t know? Yes, she was. That is a whole story itself. I tell you what, I have to go to Manehatten in about a week. When we travel, I’ll tell you those stories then.” He huffed but he could afford to wait. He’d have to brush up on his Equestrian knowledge as he didn’t know the city name. “Who did they marry to?” “You saw one of them when we visited Applejack’s farm the other day. The stallion that was talking to Granny Smith. He married to Luna.” Tirek was curious. Mostly due to the fact that the stallion’s child was so different from both of them. He made an educated guess, “Did this stallion go through a divorce? His child looks nothing like either of them.” “Yes, he did. A nasty one, too.” Rarity wasn’t at all surprised that Tirek but two and two together. “His ex-wife cheated on him and tried to make a huge dispute of it! Luna had to be the one to finally settle it after months of lawyers and paperwork.” Tirek gave a low growl from his chest. “They’re scum.” Rarity looked at him. “Excuse me?” Her tone wasn’t that of offense but confusion. He continued, “People who betray that kind of bond just for a night with someone else.” His fist clenched. Rarity’s concern could be heard in her voice, “Did something happen to you?” “Not to me. My father. Before he remarried to the gargoyle queen to unite our two kinds, my mother had an affair with another.” Rarity felt the anger that Tirek had built up inside of him. It might be one of the reasons he had been so bitter, she could only guess. Before she had the chance to think of something to say, Tirek added, “I want to change the subject.” Rarity suspected it wasn’t a subject he dwelled on for long and still had resentment towards. “Very well. Let’s see if you have an eye for color! How about helping me out with these dresses?” At this point, Tirek didn’t want to refuse the silly suggestion.