//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: To Soften Stone // by Jmaster //------------------------------// A brief note: Thanks to everyone reading this so far! I threw this up expecting it to be some insignificant story in some side-corner of this site, but instead its an insignificant story in some side-corner of this site that people actually like! Anyways, one small note. The map of Equestria is actually official! EQD link here if you haven't seen it. But I'm excited cause there is a mountain range to the northeast, so it turns out I didn't lie about where the mountain was! Thus the day is saved due to dumb luck and geography. Ranting aside, I hope you're enjoying reading this, and I would love any comments/critiques/hatemail you may have. Thanks! “I’m tellin ya Rarity, that pony’s just trouble! He awake for two minutes and just started yelling at Twilight! She didn’t do anything! She doesn’t even know who he is!” “Well I’m sure there has to be some explanation. I’m not saying it was right to yell at her, but he did just wake up after quite a grueling ordeal, I’m certain he will have calmed down and will be just as civil as any other pony around.” “Some ponies are just no good, and that’s one of them right up there! It’s bad enough he has to stay in town, much less here at Twilight’s place! The second he’s up and moving, I’m personally gonna run him out of here and out of our lives!” “Rainbow Dash! What a horrible thing to say! Some ponies are just no good, what’s the matter with you?!” “You remember that showmare Trixie don’t you? Or those cider brothers? He’s just the same. Nothing but a big pain in the flank.” “Well, I’ve heard just about enough of this! Certainly it’s a good idea to keep him away from Twilight for a bit given whatever history there may be there, but we must be gracious hosts! He has to be at least a somewhat decent pony; he did help save the town, and injured himself to do so! So whatever you plan on doing afterwards, I for one plan on having some breakfast ready for him when he awakes. Now if you will excuse me, I believe there are some pancakes that require my attention!” Spinning around with a great ‘hmph!’ she marched back to the sizzling stove top, head held defiantly high. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Trotting outside, Rainbow took off towards the group of weather ponies awaiting directions. She sighed. There was far too much to be done to spend all day arguing with Rarity, at this rate she wouldn’t even get a nap in! With a flip of the pan, a trio of pancakes flew through the air onto a small plate held by a young dragon. “Tell me Spike, you were there too. What’s your opinion on our guest?” “You want to know what I think?” trying his hardest to hide his enthusiasm that she wanted his opinion he disclosed, “I’m…not really sure. I mean, he seemed kinda cool until he learned who Twilight was. After that it was all crazy though. He could be an okay pony, I don’t know. Sorry I can’t help ya any more than that, Rares.” “Oh, you’ve been more than enough help Spikey-wikey. Now be a dear and finish setting up down here, I do believe there’s some movement upstairs.” The pancakes slid their way dangerously close to the edge of the plate as their holder watched a purple tail bounce up and down on the way out of the room. With her gone, he snapped back to reality, and hurried off to get the rest of breakfast finished. Making her way up the stairs, Rarity had to wonder if Rainbow Dash was right. This could easily be a terrible mistake she was making. Still, he deserved at least a chance to prove himself. If nothing else, she was determined to find out what his apparent grudge with Twilight was about. With an upbeat smile and a sing-song voice learned from years of customer service, she rapped lightly on the door to the guest room, “Good morning, I do hope you are feel better today! May I come in?” “Huh? Oh, um, sure why not” came the timid sounding reply from the other side. Swinging the door open, Rarity stepped in to see their guest sitting on the bed wrapping a bandage around his right foreleg. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, I thought I heard you waking up. We haven’t been properly introduced yet, my name is Rarity.” “Terra Firma.” He reached out a hoof to shake hers, forgetting about the wrapping he was working on. Without him holding on, the whole wrap uncoiled and slid off into a heap on the floor, revealing a large patch of missing hair and some red patchy skin. He managed a meek red-faced smile, then tried his best at wrangling the wrappings back onto his hoof. “Oh! Here, let me help you with those. My, that does look painful, does it hurt?” With a small blue glow, the bandage looped its way around, then tied itself in a neat bow. “Nah, I’m fine,” he shrugged off the question, wincing a bit in the process. He turned the limb over a few times, inspecting her handiwork. “That’s quite a wrapping, are you a nurse by chance?” “Seamstress, but I do know fabric. When you’re ready, there’s breakfast downstairs.” “That sounds great. It does smell delicious, and I haven’t had a proper home-cooked breakfast in far too long!” Making his way over to the stairs, he did his best to hide his limp. Rarity watched on behind, concerned about his taking the stairs just one at a time. She glanced over towards the table, which was completely laid out with a veritable breakfast feast. Pancakes, waffles, toast, jams, three different syrups, two types of juice, and a dainty arrangement of different scones all beckoned out an invitation impossible to refuse. Spike was just finishing setting the plates as Terra neared the bottom of the arduous staircase. “Uh hey, Terra. I helped get everything ready for breakfast for you, but I’ve gotta run. I told Twi— ah,” he caught Rarity’s frantic waving, “Twi-, erm, Twinkleshine! Yeah, I told Twinkleshine I’d help her after I finished. So um, bye!” Rarity breathed a sigh of relief as the young assistant ran out the door. That name was sure to be a disaster she hoped to avoid as long as possible. “Uh, bye, I guess. He must be late or something.” Terra tottered his way to the table and sat down. “Wow, look at all this! Did you make all this?” “Well, Spike did his fair share of helping. I know I’m famished and you must be as well, so feel free to dig in!” Rarity sat across and grabbed a scone took a dainty bite, watching her fellow diner devour a stack of pancakes on his plate drenched in syrup. After a few minutes of her well-mannered refined dining and his near-ravenous attack on his plate, she broke the silence. “So, Terra Firma, was it? What is it that you do?” He looked up bewildered; too distracted by the food to remember there was another pony in the room with him. He took a sip of juice to clear his throat then began, “Wander, mostly. I go wherever there’s an interesting geologic phenomenon or a curious magical aura I find out about. You’d be surprised how often the two go together. And you? Seamstress you said, do you have a shop here?” “I do in fact! The Carousel Boutique, right in the middle of town. You should stop by while you’re staying here. I mostly do dresses, but I could make quite the suit for you if you wanted.” “Well I may have too. Of course I’d need to find some work in town first to compensate you for what I’m sure would be a fantastic suit, and for that I’ll need my magic back.” “Work you say? Other than the volcano that just happened there’s not much in the way of exciting rocks here. Although, if you don’t mind me asking, how exactly do…interesting phenomenons, as you put it, make a living for you?” “Oh no, I just enjoy studying. Whenever I need to restock supplies, I can usually find some work in town. I can move earth and rocks with magic fairly well, so there’s usually somepony building something that needs a foundation dug, or sheet rock hung up, or something of that sort. As often as I can, I’ll take up a commission for a sculpture. Much better work, and much better pay as well.” “Sculpting? So have you made any famous pieces by chance?” With a sly smile, she added, “perhaps anything I may have heard of?” “Nice of you to believe that, but I somewhat doubt it. Usually it’s something like a wealthy family wanting some great-great-grandfather immortalized in their gardens, or a pompous mayor wanting a fountain of themselves in the middle of the square. Just a few months ago some singer wanted a dozen identical statues of herself made to line her walkway. Still, I like the work and it pays for food, so I really can’t complain at all.” “Well, if you keep at it somepony is bound to notice your talent. Who knows, you might be in the Canterlot Gardens someday.” A few compliments and a batted eyelash got more stallions talking than all the bits in the bank ever could, and Rarity could make a jailbird sing if she needed to. So it took her a bit by surprise when her playful banter earned her not a smile, but instead a crestfallen sulk. “I did just one statue in Canterlot, and I dunno if it’s still even there.” Ears flopped, he went back to poking at the pancakes in front of him. Clearly a sensitive topic, she thought. No matter, this conversation could still be salvaged. “Eherm, yes. So then Terra, you say you wander around Equestria a lot, but where are you from originally? Do you have any family? Parents somewhere?” She flipped her hair in an attempt to keep his interest, but in vain. His gaze held fast on his plate, and he barely even recognized the question. “My parents? Urim and Thummim still live in Canterlot, probably. I…,” he stammered, his breath caught in his throat, “I think I need to go outside for a while. Get some air.” With his head still bowed, he slid out of his seat and headed for the door. Pausing for a moment at the frame, he turned ever so slightly back, “Thank you for breakfast, Rarity. It was refreshing.” Rarity opened her mouth to speak, but sat helplessly as his silver frame stumbled on the front steps, then was gone.