Day one
Bright Stone and company had purchased land with an old homestead on it a little ways out from town that way they'd all have their privacy from town. Along their way to townhall they had been assaulted with questions by one of the locals, a Pink earth pony with a somewhat dark pink mane and tail with light cerulean eyes wearing an apron and pink sweater and skirt with yellow striped stocking saying her name was Pinkie Pie. She was particularly interested in Bright Stone and wouldn't leave him alone until she gasps and realized something proceeding to shudder and shake before running off at unknown speeds.
The group looked at each other in confusion only to shrug the whole thing off and went on their way got the deed to their new home and proceeded to it. They soon met the town's resident animal caretaker. A butter-yellow pegasus with a soft pink mane and tail with turquoise eyes. Her attire was a white short sleeve turtle neck and green skirt.
She was very much invested in Grover and how fluffy he was. Making note that his breed was a northern snow cave bear and that they're one of the few species of bear that don't hibernate and turn solid white in winter. Grover reveled in the attention and scratches the mare gave him. She later introduced herself as Fluttershy with a lite mutter and she would be their closest neighbor on the town side of there property with the Apple family being on the other. Crystal Hymn made note of how pretty this mare was and how interested she was to know how Bright Stone had befriended Grover.
Once the trio of ponies arrived at their new property they unhitched the wagon from Grover and let the big overly size teddy sleep in the barn from on the property. While Crystal and his mother took a look inside the house to figure out who got which room Bright Stone decide to tour the outlying property and scout where he could set up his new forge.
"Hey there!" Came the southern accented voice.
Bright Stone turned around to see and another pony. She was about the same height as the others with an orange coat, golden hay colored man, and tali with a set of bright green eyes. He attire was a red button-down shirt that was type about three-quarters of the way down slightly exposing her bell and the well-tone muscle on it while she was wearing blue denim pant that showed signs off great wear as the knee caps were worn out showing my of her well-toned body off. on her head was a brown stetson.
"Ya must be one of the new ones of the ponies Pinkie was goin on about earlier," She said with a smirk. "Nice to meet ya, mah names Applejack, but most ponies call me Aj." She stuck out her hand. "Ah run the Apple Family farm and orchard next door with mah family. Nice to see somepony finally bought the old Pear homestead.
Bright reached out and gave a hard handshake. Aj looked at his hand, "Mmmm.... yah sure have a pretty strong grip for such a pretty mare."
Bright Stone snorted in annoyance, but couldn't fault her as he was new to town and so to was his reputation a stallion hadn't been established yet, just as the one he had for a being a blacksmith. He thought he'd play a little trick and went along with her train of thought for the time being.
"What ya doin all the way out here fer anyways?" Aj asked putting her hands on her hips. "Mah apple farm is just next door and Ah saw ya walkin so Ah thought Ah'd come and say hi."
"I am surveying the land and looking for a good spot to build my forge," Bright Stone said abruptly causing the farm pony to reel around in shock with her mouth on the ground. "Something wrong Ms. Applejack?" Stone tilts his head to the said with a smirk.
"Ah... ya.. pretty... stallion?" Appejack said trying her best to form words as her face lit up bright red from embarrassment.
"Worry not good Ms, I am in fact a stallion," Stone reassured her. "I am easily mistaken for a mare by most ponies upon our first meetings. If they continue to make the mistake, however," He smirked. "They usually wind up on the ground waking up with a big head and a massively swollen eye in a few hours."
"Ah'm sorry for-" Aj started to apologize.
"Hehehe..." Stone snickered "It alright. This is one of the few times I actually let it play on. But as I said, I was walking the property to see where it best place to set up my forge."
"Ah... okay then," Aj scratched the back of her head tilting her hat forward to slightly head her embarrassment. "So yer a blacksmith?"
"In a manner of ways," Bright Stone revealed his cutie mark. "Most call me a Forging Artisan."
"It sure would make things a lot easier for some of the folks out here as the nearest blacksmith was on in the next settle over." Aj whistle. "That sure is a fancy lookin mark there, but ya are a blacksmith?"
Stone nodded. "Yes so if you have tools or equipment that needs repair bring them over and I'll cut you a deal. As soon as the forge is up and running of course."
"That mighty kind of ya... ah..." Aj started to say but realized she never got his name. "Sorry, there fella but ya never really said year name."
"Oh yes sorry," Bright Stone looked at eh apple mare. "My name is Bright Stone, but you can me Stone."
"Well, it's been nice chattin with ya Stone but Ah got work that needs finishin," She said waving as she left. "See ya later neighbor!"
"Nice mare," Stone said as he waved but let out a sigh, "But something tells me she's not good with keeping secrets from others and she couldn't lie to a fish say a barrel was the ocean."
Stone continued his walk and surveyed the land taking note of the fence and where things were. He wandered around till the sun was in its evening position. He walked back to the house to see his mother and Crystal sitting on the porch sipping tea while Grover snored in the shade of a tree nearby.
"You were gone longer than we excepted," Crystal Hymn crossed her arms.
"How's the property son?" Mystic Hammer looked at her boy with a warm smile.
"Needs cleaning up, and the fence needs mending in places," Bright Stone shrugged under his cloak. "But other than that its a nice place, a lot of pear trees. It must have been a competing orchard at one point."
"Competing Orchard?" Mystic tiled her head.
"I met one of our other neighbors on my walk. Said her name was Applejack," Bright Stone tilted his head and Crystal looked away but listen intently. "Yes, she and her family run the farm slash apple orchard next door."
"They must be the owner of Sweet Apple Acres that the Mayor was telling us about," Mystic turned to Crystal.
Crystal looked a bit unnerved though, "What you talk about?"
"Professions and saying hello," Bright shrugged as he went to the wagon and pulled the rest of the craters from it "Told her to bring any equipment by that needs work done on it once the forge is up and running. All done." He stacks the box of equipment on top of one another and started to hall them all to the barn.
"Aren't you going to rest?" His mother asked him worried.
"I've been resting for over a month Mother, I NEED to get back to my craft as soon as I CAN," Stone retorted with a chuckle as he walked away with his hall.
"That boy.." Mystic sighed as she shook her head with a smirk. "ever his father's son. Go help dear. I know you'd like the alone time with him."
Crystal Hymn's face turned beat red. "No, I Don't!" She whined. "Besides, I won't be much help. You know how he gets when he's prepping. I say he has his forge setup by supper."
"He did bring what he cold shrink down fro easy setup after all," Mystic giggled. "Let's find the blankets, knapsacks, and pillows. We'll need them until we have proper beds."
"Right," Crystal shot to her feet then looked to the barn and smirked while shaking her head. "Workhorse."
After Bright Stone had set up most of his forge away from the barn he'd come out to the front of the property to see what seemed to be the whole town in a massive welcome party. He enjoyed the music and had the occasional chat with some of the townponies about potential work once he gets metal in. He enjoyed a dance with Crystal and tried to convince her to sing but she was too nervous, from the dance that is. Next Stone danced with his mother and after that was done he went in back and kept to himself and out of sight until the party was done.
Day 2
The next day Bright get up before the Princess sun and went out to the forest with Grover and a small wheel barrel to gather wood for the forge, hands, the house repairs, and for the fireplace, the last one was mainly out of habit.
"There we go," Bright huffed as he threw wood into the wheel barrel. "Must say this place is dangerous but it reminds me of the forests back home at the base of the mountains around this time of the year." Grover shrugged as the duo walked along the path. "I think we have enough, for now, let's head back." The bear agreed and they went back to the house.
"Morning guys," Crystal Hymn yawned as he came out and stretched. "Up before everypony else as usual. You guys hungry?"
"I could eat," Bright shrugged and he looked to the bear who nodded vigorously.
"Your mom says we'll have to head into town for breakfast as there is nothing prepped and the rations we have would even make a meal," Crystal popped her knuckles.
"We need to run into town to get supplies anyways," Bright said dumping the wood out of the wheel barrel.
"Let me change out of my gown and we can all go," Crystal gives a bit of a blush and went back in the house.
"Grrrr...." Grover growled as he moved his eyebrows up and down with a wicked smirk.
"Whatever you're thinking you'd better stop," Bright placed a hand on top of the bear's head and leaned down. "Cart puller!"
At that remark, Grover plops on the ground and rest his head in his front paw, and grumbled.
In town...
"I didn't think it was possible to live in a cake?" Crystal drool as the group[ stared at the bakery.
"It's impressive work," Bright Stone admires the workmanship of the structure. "If I weren't a craftsman I 'd be right in Drool land with you Crystal."
Mystic giggled as Crystal wiped her mouth but Grover went over and sniffed the building before shrugging and proceeded to try and eat the side. Soon a familiar pink peppy pony popped out of the front door.
"Who's nibbling on my house?" Pinkie remarked in a very feeble granny tone then giggled. "Hi guys, come for breakfast?"
The group nodded and Pinkie looked over to the bear still gnawing on the bakery side. "Silly Grover, you can't eat the building." she pulled a plate of red cupcakes out of her mane shocking everypony, even Grover raised an eyebrow pausing his chewing. "These are hydra steak flavor, a big hit with Harry the Bear when he comes over with Fluttershy some times. I always keep a plate in the fridge in hand. Sorry but you're gonna have to eat them out here. You too big and fluffy to come in," Pinkie set the trey dawn and the bear want to town. "That's one down three to go. Come on in!" She hopped into the building.
About an hour later the group came out with full stomachs and in a daze., except Bright Stone. Grover had finished his breakfast and proceeded to curl up into a ball of fluffy with the trey on his head.
"Okay," Bright raised and eyebrow.
"*Heck*We'll *heck* take him*heck* with us*heck*," Mystic tried to say as she was digested her breakfast.
"I'm going to as around where I can metal, gems, and other stuff. Stock and supplies for the forge," Bright helped the mares into the wagon and woke up the bear.
"Try*heck* the Beautique*heck*." Crystal pointed to an over to a round build down the road. "I *heck* overheard some mares *heck* talking about the *heck* dressmaker and how *heck* she uses gems *heck*."
"Thanks for the tip, go walk off those cherry pancakes," Bright patted his friends back. "Let's see what this dressmaker is like?" He grumbled as he walked down the road.
Bright Stone made it into the Beautique and a little bell went off above his head. He saw a fluffy white cat lounging about on a very odd-looking sofa. Stone had only seen sofas like this in the Lord of the Reach's house and a few of the upper-class ponies of Stalliongrad.
The stone rolled his eyes at the thought of a posh pony but he needs materials for his work so he'd have put up with it."He then saw a little white unicorn filly with little purple and pink striped mane and tail light moss green eyes a wearing light pink t-shirt with a bell on it kacky cargo shorts and an explore vest.
"Rarity you have a customer waiting," The filly called out and then turned to look at Bright Stone who tilted his head let his mane fall to the side slightly, and as the light hit it the hair shimmered. The filly looked the stallion up and down and slightly winced after getting a look at him. "And she reeeeeaaaalllllyy needs you." She called out in emphasis.
"I'll be there in a moment!" called a posh toned voice causing Stone to roll his eyes again.
"I'm sorry Miss, she was working on some last-minute stuff," The filly turned back to Stone. "My names Sweetie Belle. My big sister is Rarity, this is her shop."
Stone smiled and give a slight nod while there was the sound of hooves coming to the front. Out came another unicorn with an even whiter coat a dark purple mane and tail that looked like a corkscrew. Her eyes were a moderate azure like the early morning of the sky just as the sun was on the horizon. She was wearing a frilly white top and a black three-quarter long skirt.
"Now what is it, Sweetie?" Rarity asked putting her hands on her hips "I was in the middle of creating?"
Sweetie points to Stone. "Very pretty customer."
Rarity turned her head and scream with glee. "OH. MY. CELESTIA!" She rushed over and started to look at Bright Stone. "The shimmering mane and tail The glossy coat Those burning golden EYES!" She clapped. "Darling you're absolutely gorgeous!" Rarity eyed him up and down. "Why are you wearing such drab clothes. Some as beautiful must only wear the highest of quality of dresses. Come now I'll get you to fix right up," She grabbed his wrist.
"I'm quite comfortable in my clothes thank you," Bright Stone abruptly said.
Rarity froze in placed and mechanically turned around to face the stallion. Sweetie Belle was putting on her best impression of a fish.
"Y-y-y-y-you're a s-s-s-s-s-s-stallion!" Rarity pulled back in shock.
"Very much so yes," Stone moved his fingers.
"Wait a minute," Sweetie said as she tapped her face. "Are you one of the new ponies that live next to Applejack?"
"I am," Stone nodded.
"Sweetie you know who this is?" Rarity quickly turned her head in annoyance.
"Kinda, this is my first time meeting him though," Sweetie chuckled. "Applebloom told me about him yesterday at the party. She said Applejack had stopped and talked with one of their new neighbors and how she thought he was a mare due to how pretty he looked but was totality surprised when he spoke up. Ab said she wanted to meet him and we were gonna get Scoots and see if we could say high see if it was true."
"Sweetie you know Applejack isn't a lair," Rarity grabbed the bridge of her eyes. She turned to Stone. "Sorry for that but you should speak up more. Mr...."
"Bright Stone," Stone smirked with a chuckle. "The reactions are always funny from mares. My mother and best friend just moved to town yesterday as your little sister said you didn't see me at the party cause I didn't want to be seen. I try to stay out of the light as much as possible. I did come here for a reason though. I overheard you know the best places to get gems."
"Yes I use them in my dresses," Rarity motioned to her parlor. "May I ask why you need them. Not to be rude, just curious."
"I am blacksmith by trade and use them in my work, much like you do," Stone stated proudly. "My mother is also a skilled jewelry crafter."
"I wish I could see some of her work," Rarity lightly clapped. "Your's too. Again not to be rude but I don't think many blacksmiths are up to the task of artistry with gems. There are a few but only one has ever caught my eye as a true crafter of metal and gems."
Stone tilted his head. "Who?"
"No pony knows the smith's name," Sweetie jumped in excitedly. "We only saw one of his works because the pony who'd brought it had is specially commissioned and had to pick it up in the fur. Here's a picture," she held the picture up to Stone.
The picture was of a helmet encrusted with various gems and made of gold and silver in a twisting swirls pattern giving the illusion it was on fire with a large horn on either side of the head. Stone remembered this helmet and it was one of his gaudier pieces He returned the picture to the filly.
"It said that the smith that makes that crafted lives high up in the mountain beyond Stalliongrad," Sweetie said with wonder in her eyes. "Where there is snow on the ground all the time. There are all kinds of weird rumors about this guy. Like how he is said to be able to output the soul of fire into what he makes. And how is eyes are shining like the sun! Cool right?"
"Indeed," Stone smirked then returned to Rarity.
"Let me get you a map and a small list of the traders I use. Tell them Rarity sent you," She sang as she went behind the desk and shuffled through draws.
"Hey Mister Stone, can... can I see your cutie mark, please?" Sweetie said using puppy dog eyes.
Stone knelt down and slightly pulled back his cloak to reveal his cutie mark.
"So cool!" Sweetie's eyes went as being as diner plates. "No wonder you said you use gems!"
"Sweetie quit bothering Mr. Stone," Rarity slightly scolded her sister. "Here's your list dear." She said handing over the list. "In return, I only ask you to come in to do some modeling for me."
"I 'll do a job for you instead," Bright said getting to his hooves. "I don't want to be noticed any more than necessary."
"Alright Darling I won't force you," Rarity said a little disappointed as Stone headed for the door.
"Hey Mr. Stone," Sweetie called catching him as he opened the door. "Where ya from anyways?"
"Stalliongrad." He smirked and headed out the door," But don't tell anypony." he remarked pointing a finger at the sisters as he shouts the door.
"Wait a minute," Sweetie turned to Rarity.
"OH SWEET CELESTIAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" the sisters squealed.
At that moment up in Canterlot, Prince Blueblood was sipping on a glass of wine when a slight squeal was heard, "What in auntie name is that?" Suddenly the glass shattered into pieces spilling the glass's contents all of its holders. "MY SUIT!"
Bright Stone was walking down the street minding his own business overlooking the map that the fashionista had given him.
"Mmm... It looks like there's an old quarry not far to the northern area of town." Stone looked closely at the writing on the map. "Kind of her to leave a warning," he smirked a little at the many smiling faces of Rarity pointing at the writing over the quarry on the map.
'Diamonds dogs have been seen here in the past so local ponies call it the Diamond Dog Quarry. They haven't been spotted in a few years but that doesn't mean they're not there now. Take care and keep a sharp eye out, dear!'
Rarity xoxo
"She's cute and very generous," Stone remarked folding up the map. "Not at all what I thought she'd be," he tucked the map in his clothing when all of a sudden she was lifted off the ground by a very colorfully maned and tail cyan pegasus in a pair of black jogging pants with a white stripe down the side and a tan tank top. She had a set of cerise eyes
"Okay, what you do to Rarity just a minute ago? TALK?" She demanded pushing her muzzle into his. "I want answers now!" she shook Stone.
"I would appreciate it if you put me down," Stone asked, his masculine voice throwing the pegasus for a loop.
"You're a stallion!" She said in shock as she quickly remembered what she was there for. She gritted her teeth, "What you do to my friend?!"
"I did nothing to Ms. Rarity, now would kindly put me down?" Stone scowled in annoyance.
"Not till I get some answer," The pegasus shook him slightly. "I've never seen you in town before which means you either just moved here or you drifted in today. Now talk!"
"I asked twice already now I demand you release me, girl," Stone said as his golden eyes met the Pegasus's with a bit more than an annoyance in them.
"You can't make me, you just a unicorn, all magic, and no muscle," She stuck her tongue out at Stone.
This irritation had run its course and he was done being nice. Bright Stone brought his hand up and place them on the Pegasus's wrist, "You will let go, now," he applied pressure and the mare winced in pain as they dropped to the ground.
"Geez, that was like a pair of pliers," The mare winced as she sat on the ground. By this time others had started to gather to see what was going on.
Stone got up and brushed himself off. He picked up his map that he'd dropped and started to walk away, "Mother and Crystal should be here at the local store 'Barnyard Bargains'. Mmm... Let see, the library should be this way..."
"Hey, there Mr. Stone I thought you were headed to the Quarry," Stone heard.
He looked up from his map to see Sweetie Belle. "Not today little filly."
"What's with all the ponies? Thought you hated attention," Sweetie looked around.
"That would be her fault," Stone pointed to the pegasus mare getting to her hooves.
"Rainbow Dash? What she do?" Sweetie looked back to Stone.
"She accused me of doing something to your sister, I think it has something to do with that squeal from the shop," Stone looked at the filly. "What was that by the way?"
"Oh, Ah. eh eh... that was..." Sweetie tapped her fingers together as she looked at the ground, her face growing red from embarrassment. "Us, we kind of got excited is all. "
Stone slapped his face. "Please tell your friend I did nothing then. I have things I must see to, have a good day Sweetie," Stone turned and left. What he didn't see was the single silver-tipped feather fall from under his cloak, but a certain prismatic pegasus did.