//------------------------------// // Part 2 // Story: Fragile Diamonds // by Kipakuta //------------------------------// 983; LaRoulette Chateau, west of Ponyville; Hearthwarming day. Three young fillies laughed and giggled as they ran through a hallway. A purple pegasus glided ahead of a pink unicorn and a magenta earth pony, then called back. "I bet I get there first." "No fair, Starsong, vous avez ailes." the unicorn called out. The earth pony pounced and tackled the pegasus. "Ack, get off Cheery!" the pegasus yelped. The two rolled for a little bit then wrestled. Taking advantage of their distraction, the unicorn scampered past them then paused at the entrance to a large room. "Vous deux sont aussi rapides que escargots." she mocked, before purposefully walking into the room. "Toola, I'm gonna get you!" the earth pony replied, disentangling herself from the pegasus. "Aide! Sauve-moi!" She dashed into the room, giggling. "La grande derriere Cheerilee is after me!" The earth pony chased after the unicorn with the pegasus following behind. "What's all the fuss, fillies?" A peach colored unicorn mare, with an orange and yellow mane watched from a lounge chair as the three young ponies ran into the room. "Aide mama!" The small unicorn scurried around to the side of the lounge chair. She looked back to Cheerilee and Starsong, who slid to a halt just in front of the adult unicorn. Reaching down to ruffle the unicorn fillies' hair. The older unicorn smiled to Cheerilee and Starsong. "Now fillies, Your parents and I have been waiting paitiently for you." She motioned around the room, indicating an earth pony couple and a pegasus couple. "We were discussing what we should do first. Eat breakfast, watch tv, or open presents?" She pointed to the dining room, a large tv, and a tall Hearthwarming tree surrounded by a sea of brightly wrapped boxes, in succession. "Presents!" all three fillies exclaimed before diving into the pile of boxes. The five adults chuckled watching their children pass the presents around. Half an hour later the three fillies had opened all their gifts. Toola was molding and shaping blobs of colored dough making unusual critters. Cheeriiee was using her party pals figures to recreate famous battles from history, and Starsong had discovered that the neutral setting on her record player allowed her to move the turntable by hoof. Her parents were worried about her ruining her new records, but Toola's mother had donated her own collection of 970s records, to encourage the young musician. "Oh ho ho." a green unicorn stallion laughed, as he walked into the room. He was wearing a red suit and cap with white trim, and carrying a large sack on his back. "I hear that there are three little fillies here, who have been good all year, no?" "Mr La Roulette?" The earth pony filly looked up to the unicorn. "Why are you dressed like Hearthkeeper?" The unicorn chuckled, walking over to the young pony. "Cheerilee, you may call me Mr Roola. And as for why I'm dressed like this?" He bowed with a flourish "Hearthkeeper is known for his generosity, is he not?" The unicorn unslung the bag and opened it up. "He asked me to make sure these were delivered." "He even gave you his magic bag?" Starsong asked. The unicorn produced a pair of dice. "If I roll a ten or above, then yes." With a flick of his hoof he rolled them across the floor. They came to rest under the tree with 'eleven' as the result. All three fillies giggled. They stopped what they were doing and scampered over to look into the bag Cheerilee pulled out a large wrapped box as did Starsong, while Toola found a small wrapped item. "This one's got your name on it, Stars." "Why's mine smaller than yours?" the pegasus filly whined trading gifts with Toola. Starsong tore the wrapping paper and found that it was a harmonica with her name embossed on the top. "That's neat!" She played a glissando on the harmonica. "It's even got a full sixteen notes!" She smiled up to the green unicorn. "Thanks Mr Roola." Toola unwrapped her present next. It turned out to be a cedarwood box, with her name burned into the wood on top, along with the family motto. She undid a latch on the front and lifted the lid. Inside was a stack of pallet boards, a set of watercolors, a set of oil colors, four paintbrushes of varying widths, a set of colored pencils, a set of graphite pencils, a set of crayons, two sharpeners, a rubber eraser, and a kneadable eraser. She dashed over and hugged her father. "Merci, Papa. Merci." Cheerilee tore the wrapping paper off of her gift. "I hope I got something really neat too." She opened up the exposed white cardboard box, and looked inside. "What is this?" She removed a hoofheld video camera. Mr Roola chuckled. "That is a Coltdac video recorder, model zero eight eleven. It's made to withstand harsh conditions, so ponies can take it into the wilderness to film on location. Now I don't think you'll be going into deep jungles or raging rapids, but it's still good to have a durable camera, no?" "So I can use it to record my own movies." Cheerilee beamed in realization. "Thank you, Mr Roola" The green unicorn rolled up the sack, tossed it aside, then walked over and nuzzled the peach colored mare. "Now that you fillies got all your gifts, how about we get some breakfast? I'm so hungry, I could eat a tree." 997; Sweet Apple Acres. "When we get back to Cloudsdale, I'm gonna file a complaint." Rainbow Dash griped. "Maybe the weather bureau will have an investigation. I imagine they'll find all kinds of mismanagement. What do you think Fluttershy?" There was no response. "Fluttershy?" Rainbow looked around, but didn't see the yellow pegasus. "Oh no." She turned around, and zipped back towards Ponyville. "Fluttershyyyyy!" She called out, as she approached the towns northwest section. "Fluttershy where are ya!?" "She's down here, Rainbow!" a mare called out. Rainbow look down and noticed a large green wagon laden with apples. On one side, was an orange earth pony, on the other side, was her friend. The blue pegasus descended quickly. "Rainbow, this is Applejack, we were just talking about her apple farm." the yellow pegasus greeted the blue one. "She says that she may have work for me." "Yeah yeah, later." Dash replied, grabbing Fluttershy's hoof. "We gotta get back to Cloudsdale." "Now hold on there." Applejack interrupted. "Didn't you want to find work for her?" "Yeah, but the weather pony here says that she doesn't want Fluttershy around." Rainbow replied. "Seems to me that you're the one that doesn't want her to be here." the earth pony stated. "Fluttershy's willing to help me out with the pests that steal crops." "Well yeah, but-" The yellow pegasus pulled her leg back. "Rainbow, it's ok. I can help protect the farm." "I still gotta file a complaint against Starsong. She was rude to you." "Wait." Applejack walked around the cart. "You talking about a purple pegasus, two color pink mane, pink star cutiemark with a note in the middle?" Rainbow nodded and the earth pony burst into laughter. "Hey, what's so funny?" Dash demanded. "You're getting chased off by a musician!" Applejack smirked. "Maybe you really don't have what it takes to be on the weather team." "C'mon Fluttershy, I'm gonna give Starsong a piece of my mind." Fairfield Train Depot, Ohayo. "Eighteen, nineteen, twenty. I'm sorry ma'am, ain't enough." A clerk said to Cheerilee. "Thank you anyways. I'll see if I can get a friend to wire me some money, and take the next train." The magenta mare swept her bits bag into her bag, then trotted out of the depot. Fairfield Train Depot entrance. A pink earth pony, with a darker pink mane trotted happily up the steps. When she reached the top step, she hiccuped then coughed. She glanced around, then spotted a magenta earth pony walking slowly out of the entrance, her head slung low to the ground. The pink mare reached into her saddlebags, grabbed a paper bag, opened it, and threw the contents at the other mare. "Surprise!" Cheerilee skittered back in alarm as she was assaulted with confetti. Taking a moment to regain her composure, she looked to the pink earth pony. "What was that for?" The pink mare bounded over. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, and I just threw you a surprise party because first I hiccuped then I coughed and that usually means that someone nearby is in need of cheering up so I looked around and saw you looking all sad; so first I threw confetti at you then I shouted Surprise! to cheer you up so are you cheered up now?" "Pinkie, I appreciate the thought but I need to make a call." Cheerilee started walking away. Pinkie turned and followed her. "I can make this call just fine on my own, thank you." "Who ya gonna call? Oh, if you're gonna make a call can I make one too? I know just who I'm gonna call. Mr Cake. See I'm going to Ponyville and-" She was suddenly interrupted with a hoof to the mouth. "Mr Cake? How do you know Mr Cake?" she removed her hoof. "The Cakes are good friends of the Pie family; when I went to cooking school Mr Cake promised that he would hire me when I was finished." She reached into her saddlebags again, and pulled out a document. "This says that I finished school so now I can go to Ponyville and work for Mr Cake." She put the document away again. "I know Mr Cake personally." Cheerilee replied. "Everypony in town does. Sugarcube corner is one of everypony's favorite places, where everypony knows your name. If you work for him, you'll get to know everypony rather quickly." "Great, 'cause I like making new friends. Can I include you as a friend too? You could come into the bakery every morning and I could throw you a surprise party with a free cupcake for breakfast." Cheerilee towed her luggage down the ramp, with Pinkie following. "First, I'd have to get back to Ponyville, and I can't do that with only twenty bits." Pinkie turned her head in thought. 20 bits plus the 62 that I have now equals 82 bits. 50 bits equals either a business class ticket or two coach tickets. "That's why-" Pinkie thinks: Business class ticket equals padded bench and one free meal, and 12 bits left over. Free meal is a main dish, a side dish, and a drink. "-I need-" Pinkie thinks: Two coach class tickets equals unpadded bench plus friend, and 32 bits for the concession car. [List of concession car prices]. "-to make-" Pinkie thinks: Giving up a little comfort allows friend to ride home. 32 bits allows at least two meal equivalents EACH for self and friend. "-a call." Cheerilee stated, as they arrived at the bottom of the ramp. "We'll eat like royalty. C'mon!" Pinkie turned and ran back up. At the top of the ramp she turned and looked back. "You wanna get home don'tcha?" Cheerilee sighed, then began towing her luggage back up the ramp Sweet Apple acres. Rainbow Dash paced back and forth along a section of fence. "Starsong, would you reconsider-? No no, I gotta be more forceful. Starsong, please take us back. No, that's still too wimpy." She turned, and took a stance. "Ok, listen up Starsong. You're taking us back. I'm the best flyer to come out of Cloudsdale, and you're a fool for turning me away!" she turned towards a yellow pegasus. "How was that?" Fluttershy looked confused for a moment. "Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. Um, it was good, Dash." "You weren't even listening, were you?" Dash jumped up onto a fence beam. "I'm working on my persuasion speech and you're zoning out listening to that harmonica." She pointed in the direction that the music was coming from. "Wait, harmonica?" The two listened for a few moments, then Fluttershy stood up. "I know this song." She started dancing in time with the music. "Don't you remember Dash? It's from one of the old Demented Ditties cartoons we used to watch as foals." Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. "Yeah, from the, uh, cartoons." She jumped down, then started dancing along as well. The two waited for the right time to join in, then Fluttershy took the first stanza." "Three pints up and down they go. Follow it up with a dancing row. Raise your mugs up, and shout hey ho. Fill them up again, from the barrel." Dash laughed "That's pretty good, 'Shy. Let me try." She waited a second, then sang the second stanza. "All fillies out, you pretty little things. Toss your manes and shake your rings. Lift your hooves and stomp the ground. Keep it going, don't fall down. Fillies spread out, and colts come in. Round you go, let's drink with kin. Lift your mugs, lift your chin. Fill them up again, from the barrel." As they jigged in a circle, The two pegasi shared a smile. Fluttershy began the next verse. "Round again with a left hoof pass. Make a toast and drain your glass. Meet your brethren with a great big smile. Cavalcade, pegasus style." The music stopped, and a 3rd voice jumped in on the end of Fluttershys segment. "Cavalcade across the ground, sashay on over the mound. Over the mound and into the glade. Everypony Cavalcaaaaaaade." After the stanza was finished, the harmonica started up again. Dash and Fluttershy looked to each-other. "Was that-?" "-Starsong?" In response, the harmonica stopped again, and the purple pegasus presented herself, before singing the next stanza. "Step right up you're doing fine. I'll drink your mug and you drink mine. Drink again like you did before. Follow up with another poooouuuuurrrr." Grinning widely, Fluttershy started the next line. "Now into the glade and dance all about." Starsong danced over, and followed her up with. "Jump right in and give a shout." "One, big, boisterous shout." "Have a drink and back to the spoooouuuuuut." Starsong played a riff on her harmonica before looking towards Dash. "Uh, Drink for your old mare, drink again." "Follow up with another cup of grain." "Swallow some more, don't be shy." Rainbow sang, as she and Starsong pressed up shoulder to shoulder. "Lift your mug, and drain it drrrrryyyyyy." they sang in unison. Starsong played the final refrain on her harmonica, then let out a loud whoop. Fairfield train depot. A light pink unicorn placed a 100 bit bill on the ticket counter. "One first class ticket." she said flatly. "Sure. Name?" He took the bill and put it in a drawer. "Toola Roola." The unicorn replied. The earth pony used a mouthpen to write the information on a ticket, then handed it to her. Toola took the ticket then towed her luggage onto the train, and stowed it in the baggage car before heading to her cabin. After the train had started and gotten underway, a conductor pony knocked on the cabin door and asked to see her ticket. Toola presented it and the conductor used a mouth-operated hole punch to mark the first class square. The unicorn put her ticket in her saddlebags then walked slowly to the concession car. Though her ticket entitled her to two meals, she wanted something specific. Northbound train, concession car. Pinkie Pie was putting together a snack pack for herself and her new friend. She picked out two cobs of roasted corn, two orange creme pies, and two bottles of chilled tea. As she turned to approached the counter, she hiccuped then coughed, nearly dropping the box. "Again?" She set the box down, then looked around. A light pink unicorn with a dreadlocked orange, yellow, and pink mane, entered the concession car dragging her hooves as she walked. She walked over to a cooler not noticing the pink earth pony approaching her. Toola opened the cooler and levitated a paper cup that held a scoop of shaved sweet ice flavored with chocolate syrup. She turned around and found herself nose to nose with the earth pony. "Hi. I'm Pinkie Pie. I see you got a chocolate snowball. I like those too." Toola tuned her out as Pinkie began listing other snacks that she enjoyed. The unicorn headed for the counter. "..getting some snacks for my new friend Cheerilee." Toola spun around and put her hooves on Pinkies shoulders, the snowball cup falling to the floor as the magic aura around it disappeared. "Cheerilee? She is here? On this train?" "Well duh. I couldn't bring her these snacks if she wasn't on the train." Pinkie thought for a moment. "Unless she was at the destination, but if she was already there I wouldn't have met her and if I hadn't met her, I wouldn't be bringing her snacks." Toola quickly counted out 150 bits in bills, and slammed them on the counter. "Put Cheerilee-" She glanced over at the rambling earth pony "-and Pinkie Pie, as my guests. Cabin one zero zero." She turned to leave, paused, then counted out three more bits. "And this is for the snowball." She added, levitating the aforementioned item again. "C'mon Pinkie. I wanna set up a surprise for her." Pinkie tossed a hoofful of bits onto the counter, picked up the box, and bounded after Toola. "Oh goody, I love surprises." Northbound train, coach car. "Excuse me, Miss Cheerilee?" The earth pony mare looked up from the book she was reading. "Yes, Conductor?" "Would you get your bags and come with me please?" Cheerilee sighed, closing her book, and retrieving her bags from under the bench. "If this is about Pinkie Pie, I'm sorry. She can be a little enthusiastic." She followed the conductor as he led her through the snack cart, then into the business car. "No, it's nothing like that. It seems you've been upgraded." They entered the dining car. "Upgraded? I don't understand, Pinkie doesn't have enough-" They entered the first class car, and realization suddenly dawned on Cheerilee. "No, No bucking way!" "Cabin one hundred. First door on the right." the conductor stated, then left. Cheerilee stomped up to the door, and yanked it open. "Surprise!" Pinkie and Toola called out. "ANTONIA LAROULETTE!" Cheerilee shouted. The pink unicorn flinched, then cowered under her angry gaze. Sky over Ponyville. "Wow, I had no idea things were so out of hoof here." Rainbow said, gesturing emphatically to Starsong. "Long term overtime is one thing, but having to draft uncertified pegasi? That's downright dangerous." Starsong rubbed a hoof along the cloud she rested upon. "The situation wouldn't be so bad if we weren't right next to the Everfree forest. The errant weather from that place throws off our rhythm." Rainbow stood up. "No wonder flight academy wanted me to take special training." she pointed to Fluttershy. "If I had known, I wouldn't have dragged her all the way out here." "It's ok, Dashie." Fluttershy replied. "Applejack needed somepony with my talents." "Sweet Apple Acres?" Starsong perked her ears. "Yeah, usually critter handling is earth pony stuff. I think I could work out something for you though. Border patrol." "What's that?" Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy asked in unison. "Your job is to handle any animal related situations. Intruding where they don't belong, being a nuisance, that sort of stuff." Starsong hopped over to Fluttershy's cloud. "You'd be on the weather teams' payroll, but you'd be saving a lot of work for other ponies." "What about Sweet apple acres?" Fluttershy asked. "That's included as part of your job." Starsong held out a hoof. "Deal?" Fluttershy shook hooves with the purple pegasus. "Deal." She stated. Northbound Train. "Pinkie, go back to your bench, I need to have a little talk with Toola." Cheerilee announced. The pink earth pony slunk out of the cabin, her mane slightly deflated. Once Pinkie had left, Cheerilee loomed over the unicorn, who cowered on the floor. "Toola, what were you THINKING, dragging somepony else into this issue?" "Desole Cheerilee, I don't know." the unicorn sniffled. "You just walked out and left me." "I left you?" Cheerilee fumed. "I'm not the one that stayed out after midnight last night. I didn't drink a whole bottle of champagne. I didn't make you pack all my stuff. I didn't leave you to pay for the most expensive breakfast in the coffeehouse!" Toola trembled as she opened her bitbag and dumped the contents. She pushed the pile of coins and bills over to Cheerilee's hooves. "Here, all for you." Cheerilee slapped the money aside, coins bouncing of the wall and bench, while bills fluttered in the air. "Is that how you solve all your problems? By throwing money at them?" The unicorn wimpered. Cheerilee sighed. "Toola, it's not just this morning, it's not just last night, it's the last four years. You've been living it up and leaving me to clean up after you. I'm tired of it. I can't keep being the responsible pony anymore." Toola wiped her eyes, then looked up at Cheerilee. "Desole Cheerilee. I was not good to you." "No, you weren't, and owning up to it is a step in the right direction." Cheerilee turned to leave. "Nopony is going to solve all your problems, Toola. Stand up and take responsibility for your actions." "Cheerilee. Je ne veux pas te perdre." Toola replied, removing her beret. "You've always been there for me. Why leave now?" Cheerilee put a hoof on the door handle. "As I said before. You have to start handling your own business." she turned the handle. Toola began to push herself up into a standing position, though her legs were trembling. Cheerilee smiled, then began slowly opening the door. "Wait." Toola stated, taking a shaky step. "My parents are Zaldi and Roani." She said to herself as she took another step, then another. Cheerilee watched. "My family built its fortune in the floating pleasure cruises of Percheron, the casinos of Las Pegasus, and other less than legal means." Looking to the earth pony, she spoke louder. "I may have overindulged on the finer things, but you give me cause to celebrate. I may be impulsive in my actions, but without you, I'd be lost and directionless." She nuzzled under the earth pony's chin. "Toujours bon à vos amis. I may not always do the right thing, but I try because I care about you Cheerilee. Stay with me?" Cheerilee turned and embraced the unicorn. Toola snuggled into the hug, laughing. Cheerilee gently rocked her friend. "You're a very brave pony, Toola. Now lets go get-." "GROUP HUG!" The two suddenly found themselves firmly embraced by the pink earth pony. "-Pinkie Pie." Cheerilee finished. "See, I knew it wasn't the surprise that went wrong; it was the two of you. But now you're all better and we can all be friends." She walked over and picked up the half melted chocolate snowball. "You gonna eat this?" "No Pinkie, you can have it." Toola replied. "I don't need it anymore. I got what I want right here." she indicated Cheerilee. The magenta earth pony nuzzled behind one of the unicorn's ears. Ponyville Train Depot. "You know, you three don't have to come with me." Starsong said to Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity. "I'd be happy with a small simple reunion." "No way we're leaving you alone, Stars. Not after you've shown Fluttershy and me just how awesome this town us." Rainbow exclaimed. "You're officially my first friend outside Cloudsdale." Starsong let out a whoop, then looked to Rarity. "You going adagio, Rare?" "I've decided to come along, and see if your friends would be interested in a new style." The white unicorn replied. "Especially for Toola, since Perch fashion is is one of the most long lasting styles." Fluttershy remained silent, following along, as they walked out onto the platform. A red earth pony, and a yellow one were stationed behind a cart, which held apples and pastries. "Hey Big Macintosh, Mr Cake." Starsong greeted them. "What's the news?" "Howdy folks." Mr Cake returned the greeting. "Big Macintosh and I are offering refreshments to passengers. I'm also expecting somepony to arrive on the same train as your friends." The red stallion nodded. "You two the new weather pegasi?" He pointed to Rainbow and Fluttershy. "Yeah we are." Rainbow Dash posed, then trotted over. "And, she's also gonna help with the Apple family's critter control." Rainbow added, pointing to Fluttershy. "Eeyup." Big Macintosh replied." "So what can I get for you?" Mr Cake indicated the various goods that were on the cart. Rainbow Dash was about to pick something, but was interrupted as the train pulled into the station, slowing to a stop. After it stopped, a few of the onboard crew disembarked, one taking a clipboard and a large bag inside the dept, while others began helping passengers off the train. One came over and picked out four apples. "How much?" he asked. "That'll be eight bits total." Big Macintosh replied. The conductor paid, then took the apples over to the pulling team. Spotting two familiar ponies, Starsong whooped, then rushed over to them. "Hey Cheery! Toola!" "Surprise!" A pink earth pony appeared and flung confetti at the pegasus. Starsong skidded to a halt. "Euuughk, What is this stuff?" Starsong complained, trying to brush confetti from her mane. She was soon distracted as her old friends came over and hugged her. "Oh I missed you two so much." She returned the hug. Mr Cake walked over to a bouncing Pinkie Pie. "Are you ready for work?" Pinkie stopped, turned, and gave Mr Cake a salute. He smiled. "Alright, follow me. Big Mac, can you handle the cart for a while?" "Can do Mr Cake." The red earth pony replied, while helping customers. Cheerilee, Toola, Pinkie and Starsong came over to the cart. "How about a round of cider for everypony?" Starsong offered. She counted out a hoofful of coins, then put them on top of the cart. "Seven bottles of Equestrias greatest bevarage." "And a straw." Rarity added. Fluttershy whispered something to Rainbow. "Make that two straws." Rainbow said. Big Macintosh chuckled, put the bits in a box, then passed out bottles. Introductions were made over the juice. "So. When should I walk you two back to the Chateau?" Starsong asked Cheerilee and Toola. The two looked to each-other, then to Starsong. "Walk? Starsong, vous AVES ailes." the pink unicorn pointed with a hoof. "Oui, mais j'ai besoin de mes deux chers amis le vent qui me soulève." The purple pegasus replied with a grin. > Toola and Cheerilee shared a look of surprise and confusion. "What? You didn't think we could grow up around you, and not pick up some of your lingo? Filly give me SOME credit." Laughing, the three of them trotted off together. The pink earth pony turned to face the remaining group. "This is so exciting, I haven't even been here ten minutes and I've already met several ponies and made some amazing friends. At that rate I'll know every pony in town by the end of the week. Ooh!! I gotta go unpack my stuff bye." She grabbed a rolling cart, and ran off to follow Mr Cake. "Pinkie Pie, you are so.....random." Rainbow Dash stated. Rarity, Big Macintosh, and Fluttershy nodded in agreement. The End. - - - Translations " vous avez ailes" = "You have wings" "Vous deux sont aussi rapides que escargots" = "You two are as fast as snails" "La grande derriere" = "Fat flank" " Je ne veux pas te perdre" = "I don't want to lose you" "Oui, mais j'ai besoin de mes deux chers amis le vent qui me soulève." = "Yes, but they don't work without my two best friends to lift me up."