//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: The Bonding Stone // by Some1Else //------------------------------//             Business at the shop had been fruitful in Rarity’s absence. Three clients wanted to see her the moment she was available. One desperately needed another makeover, the second patron desired a dress on the floor in a different size, and the final customer hoped she would design banners for a new settlement known as Townsville. All reacted well when Applejack placed them in Rarity’s queue since they knew her services were always in demand. While she could squeeze one of them in, she chose not to. Something could still go wrong with the other two projects she was currently juggling.             Adorning the head of the mannequin wearing Rain’s wedding dress with the crown of white gold gave Rarity the unique and far to brief rush that came with completing a project. Relief mixed with pride to provide a soothing sensation that made her forget the pain of all the effort that had gone into making the dress. It was her best work yet and she saw no need to make any further adjustments. All that remained was the opinion of her client.             When her bedtime arrived, Rarity chose to sleep with the orange saddlebag containing the ingredients required to bake Spike’s snack. Just to be safe. Crumbs fell out and scratched against her sheets. She didn’t care. The confidence she had in her hidden safe had lessened after what Discord had done to it and the bed was due to be washed anyway. Worries about the following day threatened to compromise the quality of her beauty rest, but her fatigue quickly became stronger than her anxiety. While the swirl of doubt could have been a mere prelude to a night of frightful visions, it instead brought about her reoccurring dream where sequins and slap bracelets were all the rage again, which was somewhere two miles south of a nightmare for her.             The morning found her twenty minutes before her alarm would have. At some point during the night, her body had gotten tired of nuzzling the saddlebag and bucked it out of bed. The strap remained fastened to her left hind leg. Rarity undid it with a single kick. The latch had come undone, but nothing was on the floor. She could see the void of the bottomless bag staring back at her.             Rarity also noticed her bedroom door was open wide enough for Opal to enter.             She sat bolt upright in bed. “Opal? Are you in here, darling?”             No response. She got out of bed, grabbed her saddlebag with her aura, and searched through it. Opal appeared from the magical pouch clinging to a chunk of celevite for dear life, screeching at the top of her lungs. The second the gem was lowered to the carpet, she ran underneath Rarity’s bed. Not wanting to get attacked, Rarity took a step back and used her aura to lift the sheets off the ground to get a look at her cat. Opal’s claws were hooked into the carpet, which kept her in place while she quivered violently in silent terror. The look in her eyes suggested she finally understood what curiosity did to cats.             Rarity pitied her, even though Opal was at fault. They were both fortunate Discord had made certain oxygen was available in whatever dimension had been appropriated for storage.             “Opal, after you’ve had a chance to calm down, be sure to come downstairs and have breakfast. I’ll have some of your favorite snacks ready.”             After setting aside a buffet for Opal and finishing a mango pineapple smoothie, she prepared to face the intense heat she would encounter inside Rocky’s shop with Rogue Damsel. Looking as fabulous as ever, she inspected her shop floor to ensure everything was in sellable condition before Applejack arrived. Some items needed to be folded. She rearranged a few more to keep the atmosphere interesting despite the lack of new stock. There was still a bit too much on display, but that would only be for one more day.             The representative from Townsville left three envelopes stuffed full of documents for her to examine when she had the time. Rarity took them from behind her counter and carried them up to the room containing the wedding dress. She set the envelopes down and gave the dress another examination in case her previous assumption had been incorrect. Some of her confidence dissipated. Another set of eyes could be put to use. It was both a blessing and a curse to have the full, unwavering trust of a client. Some day in the future, she would need to deal with another customer that absolutely hated what she had come up with and she still hadn’t developed a strategy she felt comfortable using when the situation finally occurred.             Satisfied that she had done the best job she could, Rarity turned to the crisp envelopes. Everything she needed had been packed inside. Maps, photographs, measurements, and twenty pages detailing why the settlement had been founded were bundled with a sketch of the form desired for the banners. This would be her next big project and there was no harm in getting an unofficial head start.             She became so absorbed in her work that she failed to keep track of the time. Applejack announced her presence by knocking forcefully on the front door. Rarity rushed out of the room, being sure to lock it before heading into the parlor and letting Applejack inside.             Applejack had a saddlebag with her. “Mornin’. Ready for your big day?”             “Not really. I’m a bit worried. Karat hasn’t written me back.”             Applejack waited to see if Rarity had more to add before responding. “Well, maybe he’s just real busy. Hearth’s Warmin’ Eve will be here before too long. Plenty of stallions might be fixin’ to propose.”             Rarity chuckled. “Hopefully. Or perhaps Trottingham is under siege by pirates. Maybe a vampire has subjugated the town, threatening to unleash a horde of undead familiars before help arrives if word happens to get out. A mysterious fog might have rolled in out of nowhere thanks in no small part to cultists practicing forbidden rituals in their basements and everyone living there is being forced to confront their darkest fears as we speak.”             Applejack rolled her eyes. “Goodness gracious. That last bit hasn’t happened in ages. You’re just havin’ a bad week. You’ve been on too many adventures in too little time and it’s got your brain pan all haywire. Can’t say I blame you, but you’re thinkin’ too much. If anything was seriously wrong with Trottingham, we would have already dealt with it.”             “I suppose you’re right.”             “The worst thing that could happen would be for you to get there and it turns out he closed up shop. That ain’t likely, but if he did, there’s a shop in Canterlot that would probably jump at the chance to have you do a job with their tools.”             “Are you referring to Kaleidoscope?” Rarity asked, to which she received a nod. “Oh, no. I couldn’t go there. Igneous Fault doesn’t think very much of me.”             “Why? What happened?”             “We were both at a soiree and she managed to misidentify all the gems another guest was wearing. I jumped in and respectfully pointed out that she had had too much cider so she wouldn’t look like an idiot.”             “And now she pretends you don’t exist, right? What a twit. My point still stands, though. There’s got to be some other shop out there that has the equipment you need to get the job done if Karat ain’t available.” Applejack put her saddlebag on the counter next to the register. “Discord asked me to grab some onyx from the marketplace the other day and bring it with me today, so here it is.”             Rarity couldn’t believe she had forgotten to pick up onyx, especially after her bedroom had been flooded with it. “My goodness. That completely slipped my mind. How much did you spend? I’ll reimburse you.”             “No need. He gave me some money to buy it for you. Yes, it was real. I asked him where it came from. He said he’s done a few big favors for Celestia and Luna since he turned good. Wouldn’t say what they were, but I reckon they had to be worth somethin’ if he was paid for ‘em.”             Opalescence screeched from the top of the stairs. She took them two at a time, falling over herself to get away from something. Discord appeared, wearing a nightgown that looked exactly like the one Rarity set aside for snowy evenings when the holidays were on their way. The pink sleep cap didn’t resemble anything in her wardrobe and clashed heavily with the gown. He carried one of Rarity’s spare pillows in one arm and had her orange saddlebag slung across his other shoulder.             Discord yawned. "I know you two aren’t in elementary school anymore, but that doesn’t mean you had to abandon the use of an inside voice when you don’t happen to be outside.”             Applejack scoffed. “Should we be passin’ notes instead?”             “Yes. I’m a very light sleeper. Speaking of which, you snore, Rarity, but only when you roll over on your back. I hear they have something to help you with that if you’re above nasal strips.”             Low-tier bait at its finest. Rarity smiled. “My, aren’t we a little grumpy. You didn’t have to show up early if you didn’t want to. I do have some coffee, if you need it.”             Discord grunted. A tankard filled to the brim with a caramel frappe appeared in his lion paw. “Perhaps I may have overreacted. My apologies. Last night was rather long.”             Applejack wasn’t impressed. “They have herbs for that. Maybe even a spell or two.”             Discord slurped from his straw loud enough to convey he had no interest in listening to Applejack. Her freckles started turning red.             Rarity needed to carry the conversation forward. “Did you really sleep here last night?”             “Yes. Where? Your walk-in closet had just enough room on the floor for me to crash inside a sleeping bag. Why? Just in case there really was a thief who happened to be a repeat customer. It’s a pity that there wasn’t. I would have had fun with him. Her. It. How come I picked last night in particular? I don’t know about you, but I’m not too interested in taking on another golem again until this year is out.”             The onyx in Applejack’s saddlebag floated out of it and into the bag Discord wore over his shoulder.             “You’re welcome,” Applejack said.             Discord leered at her. “Shall we include your name on the label?”             “No. This didn’t take any effort.”             “Then why should I thank you?”             Rarity forced herself to laugh elegantly before Applejack bucked Discord’s tankard straight into his face. “Oh, Discord. Your dry wit is only surpassed by your randomness. Demonstrating either on Applejack is completely unnecessary. Be nice. It will do you good.”             “Believe me, there’s enough room in my heart for all of you, but it doesn’t help that she makes it so easy. Shouldn’t a country mare have thicker skin?”             Steam shot out of Applejack’s nostrils. “My skin is plenty thick. You just have a knack for gettin’ under it!”             A mountain bluebird escaped from underneath Applejack’s hat. It chirped as it flew around in circles, looking for a place to land. The bird settled on an ear of a mannequin dressed in an outfit from Rarity’s new winter line. A mountain bluebird in Ponyville was unheard of, but they were common in Trottingham.             Applejack took off her hat, looked inside of it, and dropped it to the floor while uttering a cry of surprise. The hole that sat around her head had become a portal aimed at the morning sky. Her mane had been mistaken for a caterpillar of some exotic variety, summoning the bluebird to investigate.             Discord’s clothing and tankard vanished. “Good, our ride is here.”             “What do you mean?” Rarity asked, staring at the bird.             He whistled in a peculiar manner. The mountain bluebird stood at attention and nodded with a violent jerk of its head. Discord clapped his claw and paw together twice and Rarity’s shop began to seem a lot larger than usual. It took her a second to figure out that she had shrank. Applejack’s footsteps thundered against the floor louder than the golems as she rushed to the front door to avoid any possibility of stepping on them.             The bluebird, which was now the size the golem had been to them, swooped down from its perch and grabbed Rarity with its feet. Discord hitched a ride in the other foot. Rarity hastily pulled her mane free from any snags as they soared through the opening in Applejack’s hat. Chilly air greeted them in the outskirts of Trottingham. A quick view of the rapidly approaching ground revealed it had snowed recently.             Rarity fell into the snow, leaving a small dent behind. Discord was right by her side. As she got up, she watched bluebird rejoin its friends in the sky.             “Did you learn that trick from Fluttershy?” Rarity asked.             Discord chuckled. “Where else?”             They quickly expanded to their normal size, drawing screams of alarm from a traveling caravan accompanied by soldiers for hire. Rarity smiled and waved. It set them at ease. Before she could be recognized, she turned and began walking down the road towards Trottingham, which were clear of snow.             Confined to an island in Northern Equestria, Trottingham was known as a pleasant hamlet aloof to the comings and goings of the rest of the world. Those who needed modern conveniences could always book their vacations elsewhere. If ever there were a place to truly get away from it all, Trottingham was it.             Autumns and winters could get quite cold, which had spurred much of those who chose to settle in the area into quilting. Quilts imported from Trottingham were highly regarded and quite expensive. The beautiful designs often present in them had convinced Rarity to spend two weeks in Trottingham as part of her tour across Equestria.             She had met Karat during that time since his parents owned the best tavern in town. His mastery of jewelry gave Trottingham something else to be known for. Karat didn’t have to go very far to get his supplies. The island had been lucky enough to inherit a large quantity of diamonds during its formation thousands of years ago.             Trottingham also had really great food.             The lower temperature had gotten through Rarity’s coat. “Do you think you could conjure up an ushanka, boots, and a scarf? If so, please make sure they match.”             Discord grunted and snapped his eagle talons together. The outfit she had in mind materialized on her. No gags had been added to it at her expense.             “Aren’t you going to wear something warm?” Rarity asked.             “No need. I’ll be covered in sweat before the hour is over. I also run about five degrees hotter than most creatures. We should take this opportunity to discuss what lies ahead. We’re going to put a low-level enchantment on our gem. Don’t worry, it’s nothing fancy. The gem will taste fine on its own, but we can get it to taste a little better with a simple spell that has been long forgotten. Have you ever noticed that food tastes better when it is made by someone you have a fondness for? Providing they are good at cooking, of course.”             “I have. I would argue that my mother makes the best banana bread in all of Equestria.”             “Precisely. That is the nature of the enchantment we will soon be using. While it’s active, you’ll need to reflect on everything that has led up to this point. There was a point to all the silly challenges you were forced to overcome over the past few days. This is it.”             Rarity stopped in her tracks and gawked. Discord turned to face her.             She shook her head. “And here I thought all of that was purely for your own sick amusement.”             “To be honest, it was a two for one deal.”             “Even that dreadful golem?”             He chuckled and walked ahead of her. “It served its purpose.”             Rarity followed him. “I’m glad all that wasn’t in vain, then. Is that really all you need from me? I was hoping I could be a bit more help, especially when it came to cutting the gem.”             “You can leave that to me. Incidentally, did you have a particular shape in mind?”             “Yes. The heart pattern.”             Discord laughed. “I figured that’s what you would want. I’ve been experimenting with topaz since the night we agreed to do this project together. I slowed down time in my private dimension enough to give myself six months of practice.”             She gasped. “Do you mean to say that you’ve lived half a year in less than a week?”             “It went by very quickly and it was my decision. One of us had to learn how to cook this treat in less than a day using magic in a manner that wouldn’t affect its taste and my initial understanding of the skills necessary to make this dream a reality were more limited than I care to admit.”             “That’s an awful lot of effort for Spike’s birthday present.”             “Well, I didn’t do it for him. I did it for you.” Discord clenched his teeth and let out a sigh. “Oh, dear. What am I saying? You’ve grown on me. Like a cyst that doesn’t get in the way.”             Rarity arched an eyebrow at the sudden change in tone. “I would have put it more eloquently if I had said it myself, but I agree. Is that why your mood was particularly foul this morning? Do you dread the end of our partnership in this endeavor?”             Discord shook with the effort to speak. “Yes. You could never hope to replace Fluttershy, so you’ll have to settle on being my second bestie. I hope our unexpectedly festive dynamic can continue passed today. Happy? Do be sure to tell all your friends, especially Applejack.”             Rarity scoffed, but smiled. “We don’t have to stop being nice to each other after all of this is over with. That’d be preposterous. Are you really that new to the concept of friendship?”             “I am not. I just didn’t know if you felt the same way about me.”             She smirked, held her head high, and walked passed him. “You’re a bit rough around the edges, but you keep things interesting. That’s all anyone ever needs. You should be nicer to Applejack, though.”             “Where’s the fun in that?”             Rarity had to roll her eyes. Up ahead, she spotted a building at the main entrance into the city that she couldn’t recall seeing her first time there. Equestria’s national flag hung low in the absence of wind at the top of a pole beside the guard post. With all the problems happening lately, they were even popping up in smaller settlements. Just in case. Trained soldiers capable of handling a variety of scenarios were expected to aid the town watch in the event of an emergency.             A yelp followed by a great commotion came from the guard post as they entered Trottingham. They stopped just as a unicorn stallion burst out the front door of the post. He wore a light gray cape with a brooch featuring an eclipse. The outfit marked how talented he was with magic. Intermediates were not as good as masters, but their skills could get them through active duty.             “Halt!” the unicorn ordered as he marched over to stand in front of the mismatched pair. “What business do you have in Trottingham, Discord?”             Rarity intervened before the boys could compare the size of their egos. “It’s alright. He’s with me. We’re here to visit Karat. He’s expecting us.”             A pair of glasses with a white frame appeared on the stallion’s face. One lens was tinted red while the other was blue. “You aren’t a clone.” The glasses vanished and he looked carefully at Rarity’s eyes. “You don’t seem to be under his control. Don’t tell me you’re with him voluntarily.”             Rarity backed away a step to get his muzzle out of her face. “I am. We’re working on a project together. There’s no need to be alarmed.”             The stallion rolled his eyes. “Great. He’s still on our side, then? That’s good. I’d hate for him to change his mind. Again. Carry on.”             He had a point, but Rarity wasn’t going to admit it in front of Discord.             Discord rushed forward to defend his honor before the stallion could leave. “Wait. I simply must ask. If I had indeed been up to no good, would you have stopped me?”             Only a tiny smidgen of doubt crossed the stallion’s face. “I would have tried.”             Discord gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Bravery such as yours is an asset to any military.”             The unicorn’s cloak vanished and was replaced with a shirt that had ‘I Stood Up to Discord and All I Got Was This Stupid Shirt’ written across its front. Discord walked away from him laughing loud enough to draw ponies out of their houses.             Rarity could tell the confidence of the mage had been shattered and attempted to boost it. “He’s right, you know. You did nothing wrong.”             The stallion nodded and headed back into the guard post with his head lowered in shame.             Rarity caught up with Discord. “This is just a suggestion, but you could try being more polite to those of us who aren’t lucky enough to be Elements.”             Discord stopped to wave at a group of foals making pegasi in the snow. They all retreated into an igloo they had made. Discord gestured toward the igloo and waited for Rarity to say something.             “These things take time,” Rarity said.             The texture of the igloo changed from snow to a hard, shiny material. It shattered, scattering pieces of different sizes everywhere and revealing a group of foals huddled together in a colorful ball. Being young, it didn’t take them long to realize they were surrounded by candy. Discord waved again. The friendly gesture was rewarded with nervous smiles and limp wiggles of dominant forelegs.             “Happy?” Discord asked.             “It’s a good start.”             “Perhaps if I’m lucky I’ll get the chance to save Equestria with you girls and you won’t have to feel embarrassed about taking me out in public.”             Rarity barked a laugh. “I am not at all embarrassed. I’m just concerned about your image.”             “Would you like me to change into Twilight again?”             “No!”             Discord walked down the streets as if he knew where he was going. “I know what you’re actually worried about. You’re concerned I won’t like Karat. Let me ask you this. If you were to add all his brain cells together, would you get a negative number?”             “Could you please just make an effort to respect him even if you can’t stand him?”             “Anything for you, my dear.”             Their presence didn’t go unnoticed as they made their way further downtown. There was a pace, pose, and expression that silently conveyed she didn’t have time to sign autographs. When she felt the eyes coming off her and traveling to her companion, she noticed him mimicking her. Discord walked with his spine completely straight and had his head hidden in a cloud. It barely concealed his protruded lower lip. Rarity smirked and let him have his fun.             Karat’s workshop was passed the hustle and bustle of the downtown district near the lumber yard and quarry. Though formally known as She Said Yes, no such name was inscribed on the stone building. Instead, a sign made of metal bearing an engraving of a square cut diamond was out in front among the remains of a garden that flourished during warmer months.             Two entrances were available. One was through a red door with a window that had a sign pinned to it with a suction cup inviting potential customers to step inside. A bay area leading directly to the workroom was off to the right. The door had been kept open to let in the cold air. Hammers collided with metal, drowning out a few indistinct conversations. Ever conscious of proper etiquette, Rarity entered through the shop. A bell above the door chimed merrily.             Rose scented candles were placed in the corners of the shop. Pendants, bracelets, earrings, and other assorted jewelry were on display in cases separated by affordability. Items rested on stands placed on blue cloth. Rarity counted four full-length mirrors as she moved to the front counter without Discord, who had become distracted by engagement rings that few mares could resist.             An earth stallion wearing an expensive suit that was far from generic stepped into the room from behind an opening covered with a purple curtain.             “Good afternoon.” The stallion noticed Discord first. Once he spotted Rarity, the uncertainty in his face faded. “Hello, Rarity.”             Rarity stood across the counter from the stallion. “Hello. Who might you be?”             “I’m Karat’s little brother, Peridot. You might not remember me.”             She did. They hadn’t spoken much, but that didn’t matter. Rarity treated him as if they had seen each other yesterday. “Of course I do. You’ve grown, so I didn’t immediately recognize you. My apologies. Has Karat left you in charge of the shop?”             Peridot bristled with pride. “He has. It turns out I’m pretty good at getting customers to leave with something of ours in tow.”             “I imagine that suit must help. If I may ask, who designed it?”             “It’s custom. A designer named Lily Lace made it for me while I was in Manehattan half a year ago.”             “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of her. I’ll have to remember that name.”             Discord slammed an engagement ring and the necklace it would dangle from on the counter. Both were loaded with enough diamonds to make any mare faint. “How much for these?”             Peridot smiled, sliding back into his role as head of sales. “Is the necklace the correct size?”             “Are you implying I know nothing of the mare I wish to buy this for?”             Peridot wasn’t phased. “Certainly not. I am just checking. Since it doesn’t have to be resized, it’s a hundred thousand bits.”             Rarity grinned. Fluttershy would be too embarrassed to accept the ring, but Discord would make her keep it anyway.             She had to say something. “Discord! If you want to buy something for Fluttershy, that’s your business. However, that is an engagement ring. You do know what those are used for, right?”             “It can’t double as a normal ring?”             “No. It absolutely cannot.”             Discord picked up the ring and began twirling it around his eagle talon. “Then what’s the difference between this trinket and a regular ring?”             Rarity looked around the shop to make sure they were still alone. “It is far more expensive.”             “Is that all?”             “Essentially. Aside from clearly being a ring bought for the purpose of proposing marriage.”             Several gold bars stacked neatly on top of each other appeared next to Peridot.             “Keep the change,” Discord said.             Peridot had to loosen his collar. “Shall I gift wrap that for you, sir?”             “Please. A black box with a pink ribbon would work rather nicely.”             Rarity gave up. It was none of her business. At the very least, she wouldn’t have to be in the room when Discord presented the ring to Fluttershy.             “Incidentally, may I ask how you got that out of its case by yourself?” Peridot asked.             “Like this.” Discord reached through the glass case covering the counter with the aid of magic and plucked out a pocket watch made from titanium.             “That’s a neat trick,” Peridot said.             Discord placed the watch back where it belonged. “I’m a lot of fun at parties.”             Rarity had heard enough. It was time to get back to the task at hoof. “Peridot, did Rocky happen to receive the letter I sent him?”             Peridot nodded. “Oh, that’s right. Yes, he did. We got hit with an early blizzard, so we couldn’t get any mail in or out. He’s expecting you. You can get to the shop through the back room. Step behind the counter and follow me.”             Peridot scooped up Fluttershy’s gift in one hoof and headed into the room beyond the purple curtain with Rarity right behind him. A section of the room was devoted to gift wrapping. Plenty of materials were available to achieve just the right effect. Four large safes were nearby, likely containing extra wares. Rarity spotted the couch where Peridot rested when there were no customers. A copy of Twilight’s book concerning the Salamander culture was on a coffee table next to a notebook and a pencil.             After placing Fluttershy’s engagement ring and necklace on the table near the wrapping supplies, Peridot moved over to a sliding door in the corner of the room where noise from the workshop could be heard more clearly. Heat blasted Rarity right in the face when the way into the workshop was clear. The smell of sweat mixed with melting stone filled the air. Some of the ponies working at their stations looked up to see who had arrived.             Peridot shouted over the noise of labor. “Karat! You’ve got a visitor!”             An earth stallion in the middle of repairing a broken necklace stopped working and took off his protective mask. Karat was as rugged and unkempt as he had been when Rarity had first met him. Stallions rarely changed anything they didn’t have to. She noted the bags under his eyes, which suggested he had taken on more work than needed to make up for the time he didn’t have as much business out of season. Rarity empathized with him, but it beat having to do something out of necessity rather than love.             Karat produced a bright smile despite his fatigue. “Rarity! Been a while, huh? Haven’t seen you since before you were a big shot.” Still smiling, his eyes drifted to Discord. “Ahh, there he is. The single greatest threat to Equestria and the world as we know it. Walking around freely like he owns the place. What a sight.”             Rarity gulped. She looked at Discord, her eyes pleading him to be polite. Discord snapped his eagle talons together. Karat’s bloodshot eyes cleared up and he stood up straighter. His mouth dropped open in surprise as he tried to figure out where all his fatigue had just gone.             Discord ruffled Karat’s mane. “You’re too kind. Could you direct me to the space you have reserved for those of us who prefer magic over iron?”             Karat fixed his mane. “You a firebug, then?”             “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with that term.”             “It’s what we in this business call those who use magic to do our job. They often overestimate themselves just because they can finish the job faster than the rest of us. I only met four firebugs who were good enough to work for me. Been a while since the last one was through here. Spot’s been vacant for nearly a year. How long have you been at it, then? Are you able to put your heart into it? You’ll only be wasting your time if you can’t.”             “I think my work will speak for itself.”             Karat snorted and turned his attention to Rarity. “I’ll be frank. If he churns out a hunk of gravel, I won’t be surprised. I hope you brought enough materials for a second run. I could easily make what you need for a discounted price, but it probably won’t be done in time for the party. Better late than never, though, right?”             Discord scoffed. “What’s with this attitude, Karat? Give me a chance. I’m reformed. Didn’t I just give you eight hours of sleep in a single second?”             Karat narrowed his eyes. “That you did. I needed it. And you’re right. I was a bit blunt. Fine, I’ll change my tune, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get to criticize the quality of what you intend to produce today.”             “How about we make a bet?” Discord asked. “If I make something that blows you away, you have to make a bronze statue in my image and ship it to Neighpal. It will have to look good. I’ll need an engraving, too.”             Karat looked appalled. “That’s quite an ante. What do I get if you lose?”             “I’ll tell you where you can get more of this.” Discord reached into the orange saddlebag slung across his shoulder and pulled out a large piece of lunatoite. He added a flurry of sparkles around it to be even more pretentious.             A few tools hit the floor. Someone cried out. Work stopped as everyone crowded around Karat to lay eyes upon what Discord held.             Karat kept himself composed. “Little good that would do me. The right thing to do would be to report the location to Celestia. Our military needs it more than I do.”             The flap of Discord’s saddlebag drew itself back as a tongue shot out of the pouch, stuck itself to the lunatoite floating in the air, and pulled it into the bag.             “You don’t think she would give you a reasonable share for being a loyal citizen?” Discord asked.             “How much would be considered reasonable?” Karat asked.             “Twenty percent.”             Karat considered the offer. “Fine. It’s a bet.”             “Wonderful. Show me where I can get started.”             Karat turned around. “Walk this way.”             The noise produced by stretching rubber came from Discord’s body as everything but his head morphed into the form of an earth stallion to match Rocky’s stride in order to take his suggestion as literally as possible. Rarity allowed it since he was doing such a good job of pretending to get along with Karat. Their short journey ended at the other end of the building.             White runes that weren’t as worn as the rest of the floor formed a large protective square around the area they would be working in. Rarity only recognized two of them from her time at school, but the function they performed couldn’t be easier to infer. They kept the mage from worrying about damaging their surrounding area.             “I had this done by a grand master,” Karat said. “It’s the best of its kind, as is the equipment.”             The tools Karat mentioned were rudimentary since magic would be doing most of the work. A circular grindstone separated from a spinning mechanism laid on the ground next to a ten-gallon jug filled with water. They had access to a regular furnace. Judging by how clean it was, nobody had used it in a while.             Discord morphed back into his natural form, deliberately failing to censor the sickening noise of all his bones rearranging themselves. He lifted a set of protective goggles from a hook on the wall and tossed them at Rarity. She tried to catch it in her aura, but it ignored her command and automatically affixed itself to her face. Discord created a pair of goggles to protect his eyes since none of what was available would fit on him and tossed the orange saddlebag just outside the barrier.             Rarity noticed the staff of Karat’s shop had gathered around the area. Peridot was even among them. All were wearing goggles to protect their eyes.             Karat approached Rarity. “Mind if we watch? You’re working with lunatoite, so it should be a good show.”             Rarity gestured to Discord. “It’s up to him. Do you mind, Discord?”             Discord shook his head. “Not at all. I’d love to have an audience.”             Karat smirked. “You sure? Last thing a jeweler with a touch of magic needs is all this extra pressure.”             “Karat, I have done all my best work under pressure.”             “Come off it. You and I both know that’s a lie.”             “Is it, though?”             Karat sighed. “I hope you’re at least half as good as you think you are or this is going to be a train wreck.”             Rarity had heard enough. “Rocky, I have a part to play in this as well and your pomposity is making me nervous. Discord hasn’t been doing this for as long as you have, but I trust him. Everything is going to turn out fine.”             Rocky sighed. “Okay, okay. You won’t hear so much as a peep out of us. Carry on. Good luck.”             The saddlebag wiggled. Discord pointed at Rarity and winked. She took the gesture as her cue to begin thinking about Spike. It was best to start from the beginning. A significant portion of onyx floated out of the saddlebag as she recalled how they met when Twilight had first come to Ponyville. She could have never imagined becoming good friends with a dragon back in those days. At the time, it would have seemed equally as unlikely as becoming a renowned icon in the fashion industry. Or an asset to Equestria.             A chunk of celevite joined the onyx. Intense heat filled their cubicle as Discord fused the two gems together. Sweat formed underneath Rarity’s coat. Her arch nemesis had returned. There was never any way to get away from it. Even sewing could get a little intense at times. Rarity caught herself before she ruined the project by letting her mind wander.             Rarity rushed through all her memories of Spike, trying to relive all the best possible moments she had of him. It was tempting to stick with the few she held closest to her heart, but she suspected doing so might have a negative effect on the flavor. Lunatoite floated out of the saddlebag. Whispers were drawn from the crowd. Onyx, lunatoite, and celevite combined into a single, glowing sphere.             Only one more ingredient remained. Rarity shifted all her focus to the determination that had carried her through the challenges she had faced to procure the gems they were melting together. She wanted to give him the best gift she possibly could. Spike deserved it. If she really had to, she would go through it all over again. Even if it meant dealing with something much worse than the golem.             Her concentration broke at the sound of a pig squealing in terror as it was pulled from the saddlebag. Rarity shook her head. Discord placed the pig back into the bag and pulled out the enchantable moonstone. To once again set fire to the emotions in her heart, Rarity remembered what it had taken to crawl through the cave at Yellow Rock park. She blended it with the mood that had powered her to chase after Marigold Wisp. The resolve it had taken to escape from the golem was icing on the cake. It seemed a bit much to use such terms, but they were technically cooking.             A hole opened in the center of the glowing sphere. Placing the moonstone inside of it required great precision. Discord took his time. A protection spell had been cast on the moonstone to keep it from melting as it slowly approached the tunnel it needed to travel through. Discord stopped right before the moonstone entered the hole, muttered something underneath his breath, and corrected a detail Rarity failed to notice. The moonstone vanished from view as the hole it had entered filled itself in.             The temperature around them dropped as Discord cooled the gem. Mixing everything together and creating a basic shape had been simple. Once the gem hardened, it didn’t look nearly as fabulous as it had when Discord had pulled it out of thin air a few days earlier. The flecks of blue mixed in with the onyx reminded Rarity of black opal. No swirling galaxy was present in the center of the gem. Rarity stopped herself. Discord wasn’t finished. Or worried.             Faceting the gem came next. The grindstone levitated into the air and began spinning. Water would be needed to control the heat produced from using it. Discord positioned the jug of water above the grindstone and tipped it over. A hole had been cut into the cap, which allowed only a few drops to escape at a time. It was a bit simple, but he didn’t complain.             Discord positioned the gem to the right of the spinning grindstone, angled it, and began cutting.  It was difficult not to be memorized by how quickly he was blazing through the job. His methods were crude, but he did the work with the confidence of an expert.             Before Rarity knew it, the gem had taken on the form she desired. Discord switched to polishing when Rarity closed her eyes to avoid becoming distracted by his performance and resumed her mental celebration of the friendship she held with Spike.             An eagle talon booped her on the muzzle, breaking her concentration. The gem floated in front of her. It had been polished it to a mirror sheen.             “Don’t get too excited, it’s not quite finished,” Discord said. “There’s one last step and it’s only something you can do. With Spike in mind, kiss the center of the gem.”             Rarity blushed. Profusely. “Is there a right way and a wrong way to do this?”             “Nope. Just keep him in your heart and give the gem a smooch. Whenever you’re ready, Rarity.”             Her heart fluttered. The sudden surge of emotions hadn’t been expected. She bit down on her lips to keep them from quivering. Any old kiss would do, but she needed to make it the best one she had ever given. Discord hadn’t said anything, but she knew how she felt would have some effect on whatever happened next.             There was no need for such excitement. They were friends. Not ordinary friends, though. The term might even be too casual. Rarity could trust Spike and he could trust her. If he were ever in a real jam, she would be there for him. He would also offer whatever help he could if she happened to find trouble. Rarity knew many people, but there were only a few she could honestly trust. That meant something.             Her lips touched the gem. It was still warm.             The peck she gave it changed the mood of the entire room.             A muffled pop came from the gem, followed by a flash of light bright enough to blind her. Gasps came from their audience. Something impressive had occurred. It didn’t take long for her vision to clear. The galaxy she had hoped for was in the center of the gem, only it looked far more beautiful than she had expected. It even rotated, which was an effect that hadn’t been present in the one Discord had made.             Discord took off his goggles and levitated the gem in front of himself to get a better look at it. “Color me surprised. It moves. My spell must have been off when I made this on my own. Good thing we did it the hard way, huh?”             Rarity put her goggles away and grabbed the gem from him with her aura so she could continue ogling it. She would need to take plenty of pictures before Spike ate it after finishing his cake and ice cream.             Discord shoved a mirror in front of her muzzle. “Pardon me, Rarity, but do your eyes happen to be turning green?”             He altered her reflection to match his comment. By some odd coincidence, he had picked moss green. Memories of Trixie were enough to bring her out of any trance. She pushed the mirror out of her face and gave the gem to Discord.             “Don’t be silly. Can you really blame me? This is the only gem of its kind in existence right now.”             “That reminds me.”             The gem flew over to Karat and settled above an end table that came sliding into view with a screech and the aroma of burning wood. A nearby window rattled until the glass inside of it separated from its frame. The shape of the glass altered from a square to a circle. It flew over to the gem, magnifying it by an enormous amount for those on the right side of the glass.             Discord pulled a giant party popper out from the fabric of the universe and aimed it at the ceiling. “What do you think, Karat?”             Karat clicked his tongue. “I think I lost a bet.”             Gummy bugs rained down on Karat’s crew. The more courageous of his employees tried them and nodded in approval.             “Wish I could give you some constructive criticism, but I can’t.” Karat pulled a gummy cicada out of his mane. “I thought you were out of your mind when you started combining different gemstones into one. I can’t believe you managed to do that using heat without ruining the whole project.”             Discord scoffed. “How I combined the gems is a little more complicated than that.”             “I believe it. Anyway. Peridot, how much bronze do we have?”             Peridot swallowed a piece of a sugary earwig in his hoof. “Enough to make his statue using normal proportions.”             Trying to save Karat time by getting Discord to retract the bet would only encourage him to uphold his word, so Rarity remained quiet.             “Splendid!” Discord pulled out a photo of himself holding a watermelon above his head with his eagle claw. “I know you’ll do a fine job. Be sure to put me on a good base. If you look on the back, you’ll find what I’d like to have engraved on the plate.”             Karat turned the photo around and read Discord’s message aloud. “The free market never fails.” He blinked. “What’s that supposed to mean?”             “They’ll get it.”             “Whatever you say, boss. I won’t be able to work on it for three months, but once I can fit it into my schedule, I don’t think it will take very long to finish.”             “Don’t say that,” Rarity said. “You might jinx yourself.”             “Aye, you’re right. I might get caught up on his lion paw for longer than I’d like. You don’t plan on carrying your present back to Ponyville in that saddlebag, do you? We can make a case for it. Right away, in fact.”             “What colors would you like?” Peridot asked.             Discord interjected before Rarity could think of a reply. “A white box with a light blue bow and a purple insert.”             Rarity groaned. “Shouldn’t you know by now that it’s considered tacky for a pony to use their own colors for anything?”             “I’m aware of that,” Discord replied. “You’ll throw everyone off while saving yourself the trouble of constructing a label. All of them will have a giggle and wonder why you didn’t ask Pinkie Pie for help. Picture the look on their faces when Spike reveals his present to the rest of them. They will all agree you made the right choice by following my advice. There is no other combination of colors that will have the same impact as your own for this particular gift.”             “Shall I ask them to put my mark on either side of the box as well?”             “It would help to drive the point home even further if you did.”             Rarity stretched out her hind leg to highlight her mark for Peridot. “Can you draw this?”             Peridot nodded. “Very easily.”             “Have it done, then. Make sure you don’t confuse the sides for the front and back of the box.”             A cart with a squeaky wheel controlled by Discord arrived in front of Rarity. It held a red pillow. The gem set itself on the pillow and sped off towards the front of the shop.             Discord brought a party horn into existence which he blew in Rarity’s face. “Congratulations. It’s done. Truly, you are the Element of Generosity. Shall we celebrate? I hear this town has great mead.”             It was a bit early in the day to be enjoying mead, but her customers wouldn’t notice if she only had one.             “Will you behave?” Rarity asked.             Discord placed his lion paw on his heart. “I promise to behave.”             Rarity turned to Karat. “Would you like to come with us?”             “Of course. Who wouldn’t want to have a drink with an Element of Harmony?” Karat replied.             “I’ll have your box ready in under an hour so you can get home quickly,” Peridot said.             “You can join us at the tavern, if you’d like,” Rarity said.             “Yes. The more the merrier,” Discord added. “Your minions look like they could use an early dismissal, Karat.”             “So be it,” Karat said. “We’ll wrap things up over here and meet you two at my parents’ tavern in no more than thirty minutes.”