//------------------------------// // Episode 7 - "Hoof It" // Story: Estranged Anomalies // by Critical Crunch //------------------------------// “Alright, girls, I’m sure you noticed Kas has been feeling a little left out lately… and maybe a bit nervous since he is new in Ponyville…” Twilight sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. “And so am I… so what better way to help us both feel comfortable than help him set up his new shop?” Pinkie was bouncing along eagerly, Rainbow gently flapping above her. “Are you sure, Twilight? He doesn’t really seem like the type to ask for help…” But Twilight just shakes her head dismissively. “Nonsense! He came by the library for help earlier, and he was such good reading company!” She hums, Applejack trotting up alongside her. “Yer’ tellin’ me, I’m not sure even I’m stubborn enough to sleep outside if ah’ don’t got a home readily available.” She shakes her head, looking up to Rainbow. “Dunno why ya’ didn’t invite him to stay with you if ya’ saw him like that.” Rainbow shoots Applejack a glare. “Okay, firstly! He was asleep. I, more than any pony know the importance of both good rest, and the eternal dread that comes upon being rudely awakened!” She drifts down towards Applejack. “And secondly…” She flexes a wing, as to poke Applejack’s cheek. “Oh yeah… s’pose that would right be a hole in the well.” She thinks for a second, before smirking. “Got a feelin’ he’d find a way around it, though. Like when Pinkie Pie visits ya’.” Snickering is heard from behind, Pinkie bouncing past the two of them. “A few balloons can go a looooong way! Especially when it is a few DOZEN.” “Well, I for one felt my poor heart simply break at hearing poor Kas had to sleep out in the dirt like that!” Rarity remarks from behind, wincing at the mental image she conjured for herself, which was likely ten times worse than anything Kas had actually had to deal with. “I’d never forgive myself if I simply left him to spruce up his abode and livelihood all by his lonesome!” Applejack interjects, leaning against Rarity. “Sure it ain’t a matter of wantin’ to practice some interior decorating?” To which Rarity lets out a small ‘Hmph!’, magicking Applejack’s stetson over her eyes. “Perish the thought! ...Well, maybe a bit, but I do mostly want to help the dear, sometimes asking for help yourself can be a difficult task…” Fluttershy trots up alongside her, nodding. “Goodness, don’t I know… even if I didn’t, um, still feel like I owed him for watching Angel… I still want to help.” She smiles softly, the group coming upon the shop from the side. “At least I have my animals when I feel lonely, so… I’m sure he’ll appreciate the company!” -CRRRRRAASH- All the girls yelps as the front glass window of Kas’ shop explodes due to the sudden body of the monochromatic earth pony being flung through it. Bruised slightly, and now covered in cuts and bleeding injuries, shards of glass stab into parts of him here and there. Namely, a large piece in one of his eyes as he sits up, chuckling. “Ahh… mind working my left side next?” He gestures to the left side of his body, which is less bruised than the right. The two large earth ponies storm out, the silver one clearly frustrated that they are being mocked, and the dark blue one remaining stoic.  The girls immediately spring forward, Rainbow Dash bolting in front of them. “Now just who the hay do you two think you are, picking on a poor, defenseless pony like that?!” The silver one steps up, staring her down… before a smile spreads across his face. “Gilded Rapier, at your service.” He winks at her, though her glare doesn’t falter. The blue one steps up next. “I am Goz. Move aside, little pegasi. This do not concern you.” Her nostrils flare. “Now I KNOW that isn’t for you to determine! I think it does concern me!” Rainbow snaps, Applejack stepping up alongside her. “Darn tootin’, why don’t ya big bullies take a hike?” Goz locks his gaze onto Applejack, snorting. “Big words, not so big ponies. Leave now. Would be unwise to scar friends with sight of mangled body.” Rainbow winces at the threat, but to Applejack’s credit she stands firm, eyes narrowed. Fluttershy was nervously picking out pieces of glass from Kas, looking like she may have a panic attack. Twilight looks back and forth between her friends and the large ponies, eyes wide with fear. “Okay, okay. We’re gonna clean you up, and then you can tell me what is happening right now, Kas!” She shakily pulls the shard in his eye out with her magic, he picks it up off the ground. “Keep?” Twilight pauses, at a loss for words. But she still tries. “Wha??” “Keep???” “No!” “Keep…” She clenches her eyes shut, the glow surrounding the shard again and sending it skidding off away. “Aww, nuts.” There was the sound of soft clinking all around him as glass was carefully pulled out, and in some cases… it just look like it fell out of him, like his body pushed it out. Rarity begins wrapping what seems to be some ribbon around wounds as a makeshift bandage with her magic. “Um, dearie… I don’t suppose you have some sort of plan for this? You are quite the tough fellow, after all.” Kas thinks for a second, rubbing his chin. “Mmh, I don’t think so. They are pretty big, and I am really outta shape. I’d prob’ly get stomped.” She bites her lip, while a large shadow is cascaded over her. The shadow of the lumbering pony steps up behind Applejack. The apple pauses, looking up before a wide smile spreads across her face. “Big Mac… how kind of ya’ to join us. And ya brought Braeburn as well, ain’t that just dandy.” The two large, farmer stallions flanked Rainbow and Applejack, the two loan sharks now outnumbered. Big Mac stepped up towards Goz, the only one able to match the burly pony in height. Goz locked eyes with him, huffing. “Suppose you here to make me leave?” “Eeyup.” “Plan to hurt if I no listen?” “Eeyup.” “Prepared to get hurt if I no listen?” Big Mac matches Goz’s steely gaze with his own. Both are calm, composed, but stone cold. “Eeyup.” The stare down lasts for what seems to be hours, before Goz gives in, turning to Gilded Rapier. “Come. Let us go.” Gilded Rapier feels his smug expression falter. “The what? Why?! We got these bumpkins outskilled!” But Goz is already walking. “Skill only get you so far against raw number. Either come, or stay.” All the ponies stared at Gilded Rapier, who suddenly felt a lot more frightened. “You choose.” The earth pony muttered some obscenities under his breath, stomping after Goz. “This ain’t over, y’hear?! Tell em’, Goz!” And Goz just nods with that commanding presence he has. “It is not over.” Pinkie pops out from behind Big Mac, shooting a playful glare and shaking her hoof. Then, she giggles, shaking her head as she trots over toward Kas. “Talk about playing rough, sheesh! You okay, Kasi?” He rises to his hooves with a bright smile, looking over his colorful bandages. “I feel so fashionable!” The stallion snickers, holding a hoof up to stifle his laughs. However, Pinkie is the only one that seems intent on joining him. “Right, um… I’m okay, though! And… thanks, for stepping in like that.” Applejack still had her steely gaze on, perhaps due in part to the fact that Kas was treating this like one big joke… but it quickly falls flat as she lets out a frustrated sigh. “Well, of course, sugarcube.” A cyan pegasus butts in, smirking. “Yeah! No way we can let out new friend get pummeled like that! I could see em’ shaking like leaves the second I dashed out onto the battlefield!” A Stetson is pushed on her head, covering her eyes by Applejack. “Ah’m sure havin’ two a’ the toughest apples behind ya helps too.” While Rainbow scoffs, batting at the Stetson shoved onto her head. “Suuuure, bring THAT up!” Kas laughs softly to himself, feeling a weird sensation in his stomach. Akin to fluttering, or something. He leans against Fluttershy for support, who blushes slightly. “Anyway… what’re you guys doing here?” This time, Twilight is the one to respond, having gathered up all the broken glass with Rarity using her magic… and also bandaging Fluttershy’s hooves slightly, since the pegasus got a bit too overzealous with helping Kas and forgot that glass was sharp. “We came over to help you spruce up the place! I know you’ve done your research, and I hope you come over to the library for more… but I thought it might be kinda fun!” She smiles sheepishly. “I hope we weren’t intruding- I mean, I’m GLAD we came now, after that! But I also, ah, don’t want to seem too pushy or-” “I’d love some help, Twilight!” His impulsive interruption returns her smile back to 100%, just how he likes it. He trots along with the rest of them into the shop, a few blood splatters visible on the ground as well as some more broken glass. Rarity grimaces. “Tch, barbarians…” A glow surrounds the nearby mop, bringing it over in the flash to get to work in remedying the bad memory. “No point dawdling on it, though! If they return, we’ll be ready.” Twilight nods slowly, shards of glass being picked up in that pinkish glow. “Yeah… maybe I should send a letter about this to the princess, maybe she could send some guard detail over… I guess I should find out why they were here first.” She looks to Kas, eyebrow raised. “Did you know them? I know you are new in Ponyville, did they come from where you lived before here?” Kas merely chuckles, slowly shaking his head. He pauses, then shakes his head again. “No, no. I don’t think so. They said they were here for Rooty Banks, and assumed I was her.” He snickers. “I mean, sheesh, I wish!” Looking up at the root themed appearance of the shop, Applejack squints. “Sheesh, really relyin' on the root gimmick. That mare was always a pretty shady character, I tell ya. Didn’t trust her fer’ as far as I could throw her.” She locks her gaze onto Kas. “An’ I can throw a pony pretty far. Applebloom can testify ta’ that when she gets on mah’ nerves.” Everypony stared at Applejack in silence, before she began snickering. “Kiddin’, I only chuck her when she asks me too, which is only in correlation with a nearby body of water.” Fluttershy lets out a sigh of relief, looking around quietly at the mostly empty toom. “Well… I kind of like how it looks, but, ah… I can see how it wouldn’t be ideal for a mask shop, maybe…” The shy pony yelps, stumbling backward as Rainbow peeks down at her from above. “Uh, Equus to Fluttershy? Our friend just got attacked and you are focusing on the décor?! Geez, you’re worse than Rarity!” Only for her to get bonked over the head by a broom enveloped in a blue glow. “Ow! See what I mean?!” She cries, gesturing incredulously to Rarity, who responds with only a mere ‘Hmph’ of indignance. Twilight stands at attention before everyone, a determined look on her face. “Alright, I’ll head over to the library to have Spike send Princess Celestia a letter… in fact, I might bring him with me. Not sure how comfortable I feel with him at home by himself while ponies like that are still out and about!” She gallops out, with no one having any real objections with that notion. Kas looks over at the girls, rubbing at one of his fancy bandages sorely. “So, ah… where do we start? I only read up on crafting and finance, not interior design.” Pinkie springs up next to him, “Not to worry, Kasi! I have a cunning plan!” She chimes, leaning against him. “A mont-aaage~!” She dances along with him throughout the building, Fluttershy following along as they begin to bob themselves to an invisible beat. ’Oooh, helping friends is so much fun,’ Even when ya’ got meanies sending them on the run, We’ll cher-ish you when you’re feelin’ doooown! It ain’t nothing to the friendliness of this town!’ The words came naturally to Pinkie as she cartwheeled around the storage room of the shop, that poofy tail swiping out and tackling cobwebs, tossing any trash into a black bag she tugged out of her mane. ’And even if those meanies were oh so scary, And when a scenario seems kin-da hairy… It is important to remember: you aren’t alone...’ We can help, you don’t have ta’ be - on your own!’ Fluttershy chimes in, striding through the air as if carried by a gentle breeze, coaxing a raccoon out of a nearby barrel. She seemed more in her element singing like this. More relaxed. Nearby, some mice even even start out of their hole in the wall at the sound of her singing. Kas just stares on in amazement. ’An’ even not bein’ the most coor-din-ated bunch, Ya’ can count on us when yer’ on the crunch, Cuz we’re yer friends, darn tootin’, Anyone bugs ya, they’d best be scootin’!’ Kas sees Applejack in the main room spin her lasso, wrapping it around one of the upper roots and yanking it down with an impressive amount of force, sending twigs and splinters sprinkling down. She then bucks it out an open window, working on the next nearest one. ’And don’t be afraid to yell our way, Cuz’ no matter the time or day, And no matter the circ-um-stances, We’ll be there: don’t take any chances!’ Then comes Rainbow Dash ducking and weaving past the large, falling roots, shoving a dark cloud in front of her. She spins around, slamming her body against the top of it to send a torrent of rain down onto the blood splatters, washing them away. ’Though I understand asking can be a chore, There is often lots of good in store! Especially with working as a pony of one, Solo work like this can be - hard to ruu~uuuuun!’ Rarity joins in, dancing lightly as she steps into the store, just barely dodging a falling root and nearly slipping on the water. She huffs in frustration, but doesn’t let that diminish her determination as buckets of paint, black and white, swirl around in a blue glow. Brushes in a similar glow get dipped inside, working tirelessly at giving the place a firm repainting. ’Friendship can be a slippery slope, Sometimes it has me at the end a’ my rope, But we learn new things every-daa~aay… We’ll be here for you, and here - to - stay!’ A pinkish glow envelope all of the fallen twigs, splinters, and excess roots Applejack missed, cobbled up in a big ball by Twilight’s magic and sent rolling out of the building, with Applejack joining in along with the others to finish up painting with Rarity. It all had been completed in a little less than an hour at the rate they were all singings, with Kas having some difficulty joining in. But despite that, they were patient with him. It was in this ponies blood to sing, it seemed, and he was a lousy one. But it all made his chest feel funny. Sort of warm, and not in the normal way like when he laughed. It felt almost kind of… reassuring. Nothing like the chaos induced glee he normally feels. The girls and Spike insisted on staying over to make sure those ponies didn’t come back to try and finish the job, which again… made him feel all fluttery inside. Like an alien egg hatching within him and trying to burst out of his chest. But with more sunshine and rainbows. With the many lobby of the shop covered in all assortment of blankets and pillows, all in varying designs In accordance with their tastes. Rarity and Twilight had some lavish, silky blankets. Applejack had some hearty looking quilts, as did Fluttershy. Rainbow was just curled up in a cloud, and Pinkie was buried in a small mountain of throw pillows with Spike. He chuckled softly, yawning a little as he looked out onto them all. His friends. He was uncertain with Applebloom about her sister, at that stretched to include the others too, but… maybe Friendship was Magic. Then he froze, his revelation being circumvented by another, more harrowing realization. One regarding the importance of having a primary business that sold someone people actually needed, rather than a side business that dealt in more specific needs. “Godammit, how the fuck am I going to have sustainable income selling masks?!”