"Thank you, miss Pie."
"Um..." The gray mare blushed. "You, um... you can call me Inkie...
The soldier nodded gratefully and gave her a smile. "Very well then. Thank you miss Inkie." He levitated his soup bowl off the table, walking away through the collection of tents surrounding the small farmhouse. A communal table had been hastily set up in the middle of the caravan, around which various ponies gathered with their own dishes. An air of worry permeated the camp, as the ponies glanced out beyond the grey fields of stone and rock.
Clyde walked up to the soldier just as he took his seat. "So. It appears my eldest has taken an interest in you."
The unicorn shook his head. "I assure you I have no intentions toward your daughter. I've seen a number of fillies crush on soldiers in my time."
"You know, before this whole disappearance mess, I didn't regularly allow stallions on the farm." The earth pony sat down next to the soldier and shrugged. "Of course, back then I was a bit overprotective of them all. Thought anypony from off the farm was going to try to lead them down a path of lecherous trysts. Even after my youngest got me loosened up..." He sighed.
"I... can't claim to know anything about parenting, sir."
"Hmm." Clyde nodded. "Well." They sat together in silence for a moment.
Eventually, the soldier winced. "I don't know what it is, but ever since I got here I feel a bit... queasy."
"My apologies. All unicorns feel off hereabouts."
"...I'm sorry?"
Clyde turned to his companion, raising a brow. "Son, what do you know about rock farming?"
"To be honest, sir, I don't know much at all." The soldier shrugged. "I just know that... you farm rocks. Somehow."
The earth pony sighed, rubbing his brow. "Right... from the top then. I hope you know what leylines are, at least."
"Yes sir. They covered thaumic currents in magic kindergarten."
"The problem with leylines is that the bigger they are, the faster they move. Almost no magic naturally sinks into the surrounding environment; it's all pulled down and manipulated." Clyde pointed out across the tents to a row of tall spires. "That's why we set up those lodestones."
"I'm... afraid I don't understand."
"A leyline hits those lodestones, and it is... slowed, splattered, splashed." The earth pony swept his hoof in a wide circle. "The entire farm is fenced in, so we can make the most of leyline shifts. We put rocks with small veins of ore in the fallout, and the magic seeps in; a few weeks later, those small veins have swollen to encompass a good part of the rock. What you're feeling, son, is the same thing a fish feels when it's moved from a fast moving river to a still pond for the first time."
It took a moment for the soldier to process the farmer's words. "...that's why the celestial council ordered us here, isn't it? The lodestones are breaking apart the spellform that's stealing ponies."
"Stealing..." Clyde nodded, staring out across the fence. "That's a good way to put it."
The soldier examined him carefully. "...you've lost somepony, haven't you."
"Aye. My youngest..."
"I'm sorry. I'm sure wherever the Element Bearers and the Princesses are, they're looking for a way back."
Clyde snorted. "My youngest is an element bearer."
"Wait... really?" The soldier went over the list of the famous mares in his head. "You... you're Pinkie Pie's father?"
"Aye. Little Pinkimena..." A nostalgic smile formed on the farmer's face. "Do you know, we didn't even know she was coming until two months before the delivery? When she first opened her eyes... she was so small. My wife and I used to joke she had to will herself into existence. That's why we named her Pinkimena Diane; it means 'strong Pink hunter of birth' in an older tongue."
"Certainly sounds like something the bearer of laughter would do. Will herself into existence."
"Hmmm." Clyde nodded.
The two sat there for a few minutes longer, listening to the bustle of the refugees around them. If they could have, they would have reassured those around them that their lost friends and family would return safe and sound. For now, all they could do was watch as Clyde's two remaining daughters went hither and thither at the command of their mother, ensuring that all the worrying ponies were comfortable during their stay.
"...you must be proud of her."
"Any father is proud of their child. But..." The farmer shook his head. "The things she gets into these days. Dragons, and changelings... Nightmare Moon and Discord... I can't help but wonder. I can't help but worry that one day she's going to be caught up in something she can't handle..."
"Sir, I have full faith that your daughter will return to you alive and unharmed. In fact, I suspect she'll return to you with a loud and happy song, dragging a party down from Canterlot just so she can see you smile." The soldier looked out beyond the lodestones. "I bet she's thinking about you right now."
"Nay, son. My daughter's thoughts are far too random to be predicted like that." Clyde gave his companion a pat on the shoulder. "But I don't doubt she thinks of me at least five times a day."