//------------------------------// // You're It! // Story: Of Stones and Roots // by Ignimbrite //------------------------------// Almost as soon as Emerald Rainbow had been introduced to Obsidian, Rose Quartz, and most of the rest of the cousins, the games resumed.   It started with a continuation of the game of tag. Naturally, Silver and Gold had the advantage of earth pony endurance.  Feldspar and Obsidian took short flights whenever they were close to being tagged, leading to numerous accusations of cheating.  Some of Corundum’s foals, meanwhile, introduced their own brand of cheating, using telekinesis to poke their quarry from behind with marbles they'd brought along, thus giving the impression that they had tagged them from farther away than was possible. Really, everypony found some way to cheat eventually.  According to Feldspar, that was part of the “Stone Family House Rules.”  The specific rule under which it was covered was summed up as “nopony got hurt, and everypony’s having fun, so who cares?  Just don't complain if somepony else does the same thing to you.”   While Feldspar was explaining, Rose Quartz bumped her with a shield. “You're it!” Feldspar turned to watch her run off, then turned back to Emerald. “Hold on a sec.” She then spread her wings and took off, dive-bombing one of Corundum’s colts a short distance away. Emerald watched the whole thing, mouth agape, as the poor victim yelled in terror. Yikes, this whole family is nuts! The game of tag eventually transitioned into a full-on battle, with half the foals on one team and half on the other.  Whoever got tagged became the other team's prisoner, who'd then need to be rescued by whoever was left. As Obsidian dodged an attack from Gold Leaf, he was jumped from behind by one of his teammates. “To battle!” Obsidian stumbled a little, then twisted his head around to address the legged bowling ball. He certainly didn't remember her being this heavy last time. “Rose Quartz, what are you doing on my back?” “I'm Princess Crystal Shield, riding my alicorn steed to victory!” “I'm not an alicorn…” They both ducked as Rock Salt shot an itching spell over their heads. “Well I haven't ascended yet, so somepony has to be one.” “That doesn't even make any sense.” “It does too make sense.” She conjured up a flat hexagonal shield just in time to stop another itching spell. “Hey, I think this'll work!  I'll defend us with my shields, and you attack with your telephonesis!” “I barely have any telekinesis.” And if I did, I'd be using it to hold you up. Yeesh, what do earth pony families eat? That was when a pair of mud balls splattered across both their faces. “Yes!  Two prisoners at once!” Obsidian sighed and looked up at the filly on his back. “When we get rescued, could you please team up with Feldspar for a while?” Casting Call and Curtain Call both sat on a cold bench next to somepony who had obviously had way too much cider. Thankfully, the earth pony had ceased his rambling several minutes ago and had fallen into a slumber... SNOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRK ...a very loud slumber... As Casting and Curtain debated whether it was better to wake him and endure his rambling or let him sleep and endure his snoring, the door to the holding cell opened, and an earth pony officer walked in, followed by a unicorn mare. "Thanks for coming on such short notice. The suspects are right here." "No problem. It'll be a good chance to practice that changeling detection spell I read about." SNOOOORRK... K... K... The stallion picked up his head and looked around. "I ain't no changelin'..." "Not you, Moon Shine." The officer turned back to the unicorn. "Those two were the ones near the center of the panic." Before, Casting or Curtain could protest, they were enveloped in a purple aura that made them feel as if their insides were being washed out with square wagon wheels that smelled like the color "textbook". After a few seconds, the aura disappeared and the feeling passed. "Well, Officer Steel, it looks like they aren't changelings. They're just regular unicorns." "You're sure?" "Of course. Their pupils are still rectangular. If they were changelings, the pupils would have turned round again instantly." The officer grunted, then glared at the two and opened the inner door to let them out. "Go on, get out, and don't cause another panic when you do." “So did you gain your horn or your wings?” Obsidian looked over to his fellow prisoner.  Like him, she was lying on her stomach with her forelegs under her, as instructed by their guard.   Naturally, the other team just had to bring in their much older once-removed cousin to fill that role, which meant escapes and rescues were both unlikely. “What?” “During your aploketis… apotofthis… phooey, what was that thing called again?  When you ascended, did you grow your horn or your wings?” “You asked me that last time we all got together.” “But you didn't answer.” He turned away for a rather annoyed exhale, then turned back to her. “Neither.  I never ascended, and I was born with both.” “So you were born an…?” “No.  No, I wasn't, and would you please stop that?” “Stop what?” “Stop pretending I'm an alicorn.” “I'm not pretending.  You are.” “Unnngggggh…” “And I think you gained your wings.  They're a different color than everything else.” “Unnnnnnggggggggh…” By this point, he was covering his ears with his hooves and his wings. "But then again, most of your magic does seem kinda pegasus-y, so maybe you started with wings and grew your horn..." Obsidian thumped his face into the ground and groaned yet again. "I mean, you don't look like an earth pony that ascended. Can earth ponies ascend? 'Cause Gold and Silver are both earth ponies, and I've got a friend from down the street, and she's an earth pony too..." “Hey Thor, is there any chance of being rescued?” “Sure doesn't look like it, Sid.”   “Hmmph” Obsidian was certain he could feel Thorite smirking.  He couldn't see it, of course, as Thorite had his back turned to watch for potential rescuers, but he was almost certain he heard a chuckle. “So what are you the prince of?” “Nothing.” “You can't be a prince of nothing.  What would a prince of nothing even do?” “I mean I'm not a prince at all.” “I thought all alicorns were…” “I am not an alicorn.” “But you've got the…” “Rose, just stop.  Okay?”  He sighed.   They both lay there in silence for a while, Rose Quartz looking at him and wondering why he'd suddenly gotten grouchy, and Obsidian resting his chin in the dirt and staring at nothing ahead of him. For a moment, all was quiet. It was a very brief moment. “YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!…” They both looked up to see Feldspar homing in on Thorite with a literal flying tackle.  A second later, somepony poked both of them from behind.  Turning around, they saw Emerald's face sticking out of the bushes. “If you two are waiting for a rescue, this is it.” As Rose Quartz jumped into the bushes with Emerald, Obsidian flew up into a nearby tree and perched on a high branch.  He needed to get away for a moment.