//------------------------------// // Tour of the Town! // Story: A Stone Reborn // by Ghost Alvasa //------------------------------// Sometime Later... "Ohhhhhh......" Twilight drawled on as she walked along. "To much foooooood!" "I don't really see the problem," Spike licked his claws. "Those Apples sure know how to make a great pie," he remarked as he munched on slice of Apple pie he nabbed on the group's way out the gate. "So ah... Why are you hanging around us? And why are you dressed in armor and carrying a hammer?" Spike asked Stone. "And why aren't you complaining like a stuffed goose like the book pony?" "The Apple's do know how to cook but they as seriously underestimating of a pony from Stalliongrad," Bright Stone proudly thumped his chest. "A feast as the one Granny Smith is but a small small one and only an appetizer for those of us raised in the mountains young drake. We sit at large tables with many and it is usually first come first serve to eat as much as you can. Due to living in the Mountains, how I was raised, and my profession I metabolize food much faster than a pony that would be from this small town or Canterlot for that matter." "That still doesn't answer my first questions though," Spike pointed out. "I have been making sure you you two don't get lost," Bright crossed his arms. "And the arm and hammer are part of a Stalliongrad thing as well, basically who I am. Up north things are a lot wilder than down here. A lot of feral weather not to mention a slew of wild beasts to contend with. I have them mainly out of habit. Where to now?" "Hmm... Let's see," Spike shrugged and then pulled out the stop list. "Over to the Carousel Beautique to see a mare by the name of Rarity about decorations." "I know that place," Bright sighed as he remember his first day in town. "Follow me," he motioned as he got hit with a cloud in the face causing him to be knocked off balance and fall on his butt and knocked Twilight into a mud puddle. "Twi," Spike rushed to his sister's side. "You okay?" "I'm... beh... fine, *BURP!*" She suddenly let out a sonic burp lifting her about a foot into the air that caught the attention of everypony nearby, especially a prismatic pegasus. "Um..." She place a hand over her moth as she blushed slightly. "Excuse me..." she said shyly while Spike gave a smirk and thumbs up. Meanwhile a certain pinkie mare was hold up a '10/10' sign in the back ground. "Whoa that was a seriously sweet one!" Came a compliment in a raspy mare voice. Rainbow Dash descended from above. "Hey there, Apple cooking I'm guessing. Sorry about the whole getting in your face earlier," she notice Bright with face in a cloud. "Sorry Bright, guess we missed one," She said pulling the cloud off the mock unicorn's head, much to his scowling annoyment. "I'm fine Dash," Bright waved it off, "Though Twilight could use a shower," He smirked. Rainbow looked over and hissed lightly. "Yea I know just the shower what for you," she placed the cloud over Twilight and before the lavender mare could speak Rainbow punched the cloud soaking the book keeper with a slight down pour and the whirled her drying her off and leaving her with a for of a mane style. "Thanks for your patronage at the RainboWash, please tip the washer on your way out," Rainbow bowed. "Later guys I gotta jet and make sure we didn't miss anymore of these guys," She twirled the cloud on her finger. "Laters," whooshed off. Bright waved and looked at the dizzy unicorn and stifled a laugh, "Come on we need to get to Rarity's so you can check in with her and so she can help you with your head." He waved in the general direction. A bell over the door rang as two ponies and one young dragon walked through the front of a carousel themed beautique. Anthro-ponyquines lined the entire parlor of the building with the sounds of a sewing machine working were coming from the backroom. Soon hoof steps came from the back out from. Out from the current separating the back of the sore from the front stepped a unicorn filly. "Welcome to the Carousel Beatique my name's Sweetie Belle, how may I help you," Sweetie gave a bow and then looked up. "Oh, hello Mr. Stone how are you today?" "Afternoon Sweetie," Bright returned the bow. "I'm just making sure these two don't get lost on making their rounds to oversee the final preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration." He motioned to Twilight and Spike. "Oh new ponies," Sweetie eyed the couple. "Wait... are you a dragon?!" She excited zipped in front of Spike and fidgeted with excitement. "Why yes, yes I am," Spike proudly stated as he grabbed either side of his vest smiling and let his teeth sparkle. "Name's Spike, and this is my adopted big sister slash boss Twilight Sparkle." "Hello." Twilight waved sheepishly. Sweetie was sort of put off be Twilight's mane style then turned back to the drake. "Nice to meet you Spike I hope we can be friends," she turned. "And while I m not one for Disco you... ah... you... ah, yea..." Twilight felt her mane, "This isn't my usual..." "Sweetie who are you..." Rarity came out and started to speak but caught sight of Twilight. "OH MY STARS!" She yelled. "In the back now!" She stomped at Twilight. "But... wha..." Twilight stood there stumped. "Now, get back here now!" Rarity stomped again. "We must fix that mane of yours! It's absolutely appalling!" She wasted no more time and pulled the lavender mare into her studio. Bright Stone and Spike looked at each other then to Sweetie then to the current and the sounds of Twilight trying to talk her way out of whatever Rarity was doing. Rarity however was having none of it, then there was a lot of splashing, gurgle and rasping. "Is she gonna be alright?" Spike pointed at the current. "As long as she doesn't fight back to much the only thing she would have to worry about is the curling iron of Rarity uses," Sweetie explained the whipped around to he Blacksmith. "Hey Mr. Stone, how has the gem hunt been going? Find anything good? Could I and a couple of my friends maybe come with you next time you go out?" "It's gone descent enough Sweetie," Bright shrugged. "Nothing to small but nothing in larger pieces but big enough to do small things and finish up some pieces I brought from back home. Most of it is seed materiel and sure you three can come along anytime but you you have have to ask your guardians first." "Hey Bright," Spike called the smith's attention. "What did you mean by seed material?" "Bright Stone hunts for the gems he uses at his forge," Sweetie cut in. "Usually he needs fairly descent sized gems but some of the rare stuff he uses he has to grow himself." Spike tilts his head. "Gems are common but at the same time they can get expensive, especially the rare ones that we need for certain pieces of works that me or my mother create," Bright explained. "So we take the small gemstones and bites and paces like this and use them as seed materiel to grow the gemstones to the size we need if its a specific piece." "Oh, smart," Spike said as he rubbed his chin. 'Maybe I should do that with some of my left overs that way I an have a steady supply of snacks.' Soon Twilight and Rarity came out from the back "And don't worry about the decorations darling I have everything under control." Rarity saw Stone and her face went a little pink. "Hello Bright, H-how are you doing toady?" "Do fine Rarity, thank you for asking," he gave a stoic nod. "Thank you for fixing Twilight's mane. I'm afraid we must be off now. Have a lot to do and have to keep these two on track and from getting lost." "Alright then," Rarity Rarity gave a slight nod. "Come by for tea sometime when you have free time though. I'd love to talk shop and gems with you." Giving another strong single nod Bright opened the door. "Let's go you." and then left with guests in tow. "I need to pay," Twilight said as she reached into her pocket. "She won't let you," Bright said flatly as he pulled the siblings out with Twilight flailing her arms. "You like him don't sis," Sweetie Belle gave a cheeky grins. "Oh be quite and get the mop," Rarity nipped that bud quickly. "How can one mare have so much fight for a simple scrub and rinse?!" She threw her hands up and looked over her soggy abode. The trio trotted along. "Hmm..." Spike checked off the decorations off the list. "Looks like we only have to talk find the pony who's in charge of he songs and animals now," he rolled up the scroll and thwacked it against his palm. "Some pony by the name of Fluttershy." "Oh sweet divine," Bright sighed as he pulled his hand down his face. "Wait a second, you know this mare too?" Twilight crossed her arms. "She's my neighbor on the other side of my property opposite the Apples," Bright groaned. "If ya would've said something earlier we could've stopped at her cottage on the way into town." "Well we better get going if we want to get there in time," Spike blew dragon fire on the scroll. "Hey..." his head fins perked up, "Does anypony else hear music?" Both Twilight and Stone's ears twitched in all direction and caught a faint melody from the bushes. "Oh thank Celestia," Stone sighed in relief. "What?" Twilight said abruptly. "We don't have time to listen to music we need t-" Bright put a hand over the obnoxious mare, "That song is who we need to see. Fluttershy is the resident animal caretaker and veterinarian. She will most likely working with the birds on their sing for the Ceremony." He released the mares mouth as she blushed slightly. "But we have to be careful. She is very timid and shy natured. The slightest abrupt motion or loud noise will startle her and then she'll hide under the nearest whatever it is that she can find. Usually a pony she's most comfortable with," he grumbled. "Follow me," Bright motioned to the bushes. The group slowly walked into a clear with the timid pegasus working with her feathered friends in chorus. Holding his hand up everypony stopped behind Stone and his placed a finger over his lips. Spike and Twilight both rapidly nodded up and down. once the song was done Bright slowly and steadily walked up next to Fluttershy. "That was very pretty," He said softly. "Oh..." Fluttershy said softly. "Hello Bright Stone how long have you been here?" "Long enough to hear most of the song," Bright Stone said as he looked to the pink haired girl sitting on the ground. He reached out and helped her to her feet. "I brought some ponies that needed to speak with you about the preparations of the Summer said Celebrations." "Oh... um... can you tell them there all done, please... that is if you don't mind?" Fluttershy said softly hiding behind her hair. "Don't need to," Stone shrugged while Fluttershy looked quizzically at the feminine stallion. "You just told them," he pointed over tot he area where Spike and Twilight were standing. "Oh my gosh!" She said softly but loudly as she rushed to Spike . "A whelp! Where'd you come from little guy?" The group got what they needed but Fluttershy continued to hound Spike with questions that the young drake was all to happy to answer. Bright Stone watched in shock as even though he'd only been in town for a week he'd already spent a good bit of time with Fluttershy and aside from the first encounter with her and Grover he'd never seen her so bold or talkative. He was eventually asked by Twilight to take them to the group to the library and he complied and somewhere along the way Fluttershy finally broke away saying he needed to check on something before she head ho home. "Well this is it Ms. Sparkle," Stone motioned to the library. "It's... a tree," Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Why? Who on Gaia thought it would be a good idea to make a library of of a still living tree?! Does it even have running water?" She looked at Stone who shrugged.Twilight grunted to herself and opened the door and started to reach for a light switch when... SURPRISE!!! "OH SWEET FAUST!" Twilight yelped out in a fright as she shot a beam of purple magic into the air as the lights were thrown on suddenly to reveal the whole town. Spike and Bright both leaned over slightly; looked to the town then down to the mare who was grasping her chest as if she was having a heart attack and then to the entire of the Library. Spike looked in then to Stone then to ponies. "You knew they'd be here didn't you?" Spike smirked. "I knew of the party but not how it would be delivered," Stone retorted. "Let's have some cake." "I'm with ya brother," Spike smirked as he pulled his sister to her feet. The party was in full swing. Everypony or creature was coming by to say hello to the newest pony and drake in Ponyville. It was then the turn of the odd somewhat familiar pink mare from earlier in the day. "Ah oh... pink at twelve o' clock," Spike whispered to Twilight. "Oh great..." Twilight muttered to herself as she looked for any other creature to meet with and then spotted Stone in the back of he room sipping on a glass of punch and leaning against the wall. "Perfect!" Twilight steadily made her way to Bright Stone. "No,:" he said as she showed up. "I wasn't gonna say anything," Twilight scowled. "Didn't have to protege," He motioned to Pinkie that was still incoming. "Pinkie Pie , is the resident party planner pony. She is somewhat of an oddity so don't question what she does and she's the friendliest pony around." "But she freaked out when I said 'hello' earlier," Twilight waved her hands. "No, she just rushed off to set this up," He quickly motioned around. "Hey there Stoney," Pinkie waved as she finally walked up. "Talking with the new pony. Sorry if I startled you earlier I just get so excited when I meet new creatures that I can be friends with. Hi my names Pinkie Pie and I'm the resident party pony of Ponyville." "Twilight Sparkle," Twilight said hesitantly. "Let's down a couple of ciders and start over," Rainbow came over with a few mugs and the rest of the commitee ffor the Celebration. "Kehe- here ya go guys," she held up the mugs. "Stone noticed the snicker from Dash and took the mug that Twilight was going for," Hey!" she retorted, "that was mine!" Stone quickly downed the drink without batting an eyelash at the remark while Dash was steadily snickering. "So-ke-Stone, how was it-ke?" *BURP!* Bright Stone belted the burp with a bright white flame catching everyponies' attention. "Pretty good stuff Aj," he said to the Apple with a nod then handed the smith a new mug. Rainbow Dash stared perplexed with soot all over her face and then let out a slight cough with a puff of smoke. "Even with Dash's additive of hot sauce." "I don't think anypony here be able to best you in a drinking game," Pinkie jumped up. "Ah'd sure like to give it a try," Aj smirked. "If Aj is in then so am I," Dash pointed at herself. "I really don't want to," Bright shied away. He'd been drinking before and he's never been drunk due to two reason. One he was raised in a drink heavy cultured that allowed creatures to drink some from of light alcoholic beverages the gradually increased as the creature got older and two, his alicorn biology metabolized the alcohol almost right away. "Are ya a stallion or mare?" Aj said with a smirk, the one comparison that would push his buttons. "Drinking Contest!" Pinkie shouted. "Bring it on," Bright chugged the mug and slammed it down on the table while everypony else set up a long table with mugs of hard cider on it.