//------------------------------// // In Pieces // Story: A Second Chance // by nimaru //------------------------------// Ash Carver walked confidently to the shop-front where the other woodworkers stood waiting. He hunched a little under the weight of Barkbiter’s stern gaze, but the head-carver only set his hoof gently on Ash Carver’s shoulder before stepping wordlessly aside. The others followed suit, moving back to let Ash Carver through; each shared an encouraging word or a soft pat on the shoulder before falling in line behind him. Together they filed into the shop with Barkbiter taking up the rear. Just before he too walked inside, he paused and looked back; staring me square in the eye. I blushed and dropped my ears, suddenly feeling self conscious. Had they all been watching? Had they known all along? What did they think of me after turning down one of their own? Barkbiter’s eyebrow shot up, his eyes widening slightly. Then, with a half-laugh half-sigh, he smiled wryly as if to admonish me for the doubts I’d clearly been projecting. “I was just wanted to be sure you were ok,” he seemed to say. My heart fluttered and I smiled sheepishly… humbled that he was thinking of me even in these circumstances. Seemingly satisfied that I had understood, he nodded once and disappeared inside. I was relieved, but saddened at the same time. First in the garden, again at the fountain, and now by the shop… Was there a pony I’d met that day who I hadn’t left disappointed or heartbroken? I glanced over the square. In it, the ponies who I’d been neglecting the past weeks in favor of my wood project. It was no big deal, right? After being so careful to keep them just at hoof’s length all this time, I thought it wouldn’t matter… But I was wrong. They had looked out for me, cared for me… trusting me without reservation. To them I was family. Afraid and ashamed, I hid behind my hooves; my face hot and my stomach knotted. How foalish had I been; thinking that I could just “pop in” during the last hours and say goodbye with no regrets? The haunting faces of Winter Willow and Rose Petal flashed before me; their eyes etched with sorrow; their lips barely containing words yearning to be voiced. My heart sank like a stone. I wished I could do it over again; that I could have time to make it right. But time was the one thing I didn’t have. I took at deep breath… and exhaled, setting my hooves down again. I didn’t want to ever see a face like that again, but I couldn’t just leave without speaking to the ponies I loved one last time. I steeled myself, flashed my best smile, and trotted over to Ripple Gleam’s shop. It was so odd… the way she smiled at me… it felt so happy. So warm. Had she always looked at me that way? Did the apprentices always stop what they were doing to smile and wave and call me by name? Dwelling on it was already making it hard to keep smiling. Luckily, Ripple Gleam wasted no time playfully teasing me about the confession and suggesting a few other “good colts” that she could introduce me to. “What confession!?” I asked innocently. Of course we all knew that if there was anypony in the square who managed to miss the confession, the fountain-side concert, and Ash Carver’s defeated march back to the shop, they’d certainly hear about it all in short order. “How’s your new project coming?” I countered. She laughed at the obvious diversion, but few masters of Artisan’s Square could resist the chance to show off their work and Ripple Gleam was no exception. She waxed eloquent while I gushed with admiration for her skill. And just like that, it was an ordinary day. We joked and laughed loudly as we always did… as if no time at all had passed since we last talked. But all too soon it was time for her get back to work. We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways, but before I’d gone more than a few steps, she turned back and with a serious tone said, “Don’t stay away so long next time, okay?” “Okay!” I agreed; my stomach clenching tightly. My last words to her had been a lie. So it went, shop after shop. In each, the ponies I loved chided me for staying away too long and made me promise to stop by more often. And little by little, despite repeating my mantra to myself silently, my heart began to collapse under the weight of my lies. “I’ll come again soon”, I told Gold Gilder. It’s just a dream, I reminded myself. “I can’t wait to see it finished”, I said to Wrought Iron. I can’t stay forever. I have to go home! I repeated. “We’ll play again soon”, I lied to Dart Hoof. I’ll be ready when it’s time, I lied to myself. Then, barely managing to shamble into a nearby alley in time, I wept. ********************** I told myself so many times that I’d cried enough and it was time to be an adult, but the tears just wouldn’t stop. This isn’t how it was supposed to be, I lamented to the empty alley. *Giggle* "Hurry! Hurry!" called a voice from behind me. Startled, I spun around. But the little filly in the square wasn’t looking at me. And as soon as her laughing mother and father caught up, she was off again. Relieved for the distraction, I took a deep, stuttered breath and wiped the tears from my face. I looked to the sky… The celebration was rapidly approaching. Before I could think too much about it and lose my nerve, I trotted out to the iron gate, walked down the stone steps, rounded the corner, and stepped boldly through the wide-open shop doors. But there was no artisan pony working hard, no large white stone waiting to be struck; just scattered chunks of marble, sloppily discarded tools, and dust spread so far and so thick that it looked as if nopony had been there in years. Phew! I exhaled explosively, relieved to not have to face Dusty directly and irritated at the same time for feeling that way. How am I going to give her the rose and go with her to the celebration if I’m like this!? I needed to think and to think, I needed to move. I set my pack down and magically picked up dusting cloths and brooms. As I moved back and forth through the shop, I settled into a calming rhythm of activity. I dropped the larger rocks went into the usual bin, placed the tools back to their usual places on the workbenches, and gave the windows a light scrubbing to let in the bright afternoon sun. Not having the huge slab in the way made the work much faster and easier, but it did feel a little strange with it gone. Though, as I thought about it, I didn’t miss the stone… it was something else that felt off. What was it? I dropped the last large rock in the bin, shut the lid, and looked over the room. The brown walls met with the grey floor as usual, the hanging plants were green and full of flowers, and bright yellow-tinted sunlight streamed through the windows. Color was everywhere, even in Dusty’s other stoneworks at the back of the shop. It was unnerving. I sat down and lifted a forehoof up, holding it high. When I squinted one eye, and held it just so, it almost looked like the stone slab was still there. The shop isn’t right without something white in it, I decided. My eyes darted to the left where atop a workbench my pack sat. And within it, something white. With my magic, I pulled out the snowy wooden rose and placed it on the floor in the exact center of Dusty’s home, in the spot where the statue used to be. And suddenly, the whole room seemed brighter and just a little bit warmer somehow. I smiled. Even if she didn’t see it in time, the rose was a piece of my heart; a physical representation of my love for this world and the ponies within it. It was enough for me to know that when it was all over, Dusty and the rose heart would be together. It wasn’t quite how I’d planned it, but it felt right. Satisfied for the moment, I had a new problem to face. If I knew Dusty, the explosion of marble I’d just cleaned meant she had a last-minute carving spree and was likely upstairs napping as a result. But I also knew that it was unlikely she’d wake in time for the unveiling if I left her alone. Well, we were going to go together anyway… I slowly climbed the stairs; each step filling me with dread. By the time I reached the hall, I could barely bring myself to move forward. Then, just before rounding the corner to the bedroom, I stopped entirely. The rhythmic breathing up ahead confirmed my suspicions, but I was paralyzed; completely unable to move or speak. What will I say to her? How will I face her? I took an involuntary step backward. This is stupid! I argued with myself, shaking my head. I leaned forward, but my hooves wouldn’t move. I looked at them in frustration then stretched my neck forward as far as I could. Again I tried to summon my voice, but my mouth moved wordlessly. *SIGH* I couldn’t have been any more helpless than if there had been a magical barrier between us. I sat down. What am I going to do? At that moment, the thing I wanted to do most was crawl into bed with her stay there until the end, but Dusty deserved her moment of glory and I wanted to see it… even if it wasn’t up close. My eyes lit up and my ears jumped forward. That’s it! I couldn’t face her, but I could watch her from afar. I would go to the ceremony ahead of her and stand with the rest of the spectators. I spun, walked out the front door, and slammed it hard behind me. That should do it, I smiled. Without looking back, I stepped out into the city. *************************** *BOOM* The opening ceremonies ended with a final loud sparkburst while I and the others in the crowd watched expectantly. At the far end of the courtyard, ponies of prominence stood upon a stage with the large, tarp-covered statue behind them. I didn’t see Dusty yet, but just when I started to worry that I hadn’t slammed the door hard enough, a white flash at the edge of my vision drew my attention. A large pegasus guard carried Dusty and set her deftly down behind the stage. Then, just in time, she hopped into view just as Prime Minister Crabapple gestured his hoof in her direction. She trotted to center stage and stared over the crowd nervously. A few awkward moments later, some ponies started to laugh, but she resolutely continued her search. Finally she looked my way so I beamed and waved my hoof. You can do it! I encouraged. Dusty smiled, took a breath, then spoke; nervously at first, but with more confidence as she went. She talked about the statue and her inspiration, though, for some reason, I became increasingly more nervous as she talked. At first, I thought I just sensed the dream’s end coming, but the more I thought about it the less likely it seemed. There was something in Dusty’s tone… something… I was so focused on how she was speaking that I didn’t see where she was going until it was too late. “… when you have the bonds of friendship … and love.” My teeth clenched as she turned to stare directly at me. No… “And so this statue will stand in the city’s heart,” she continued. “Just as the pony who inspired it stands in mine.” No… please, no! “I give you… Crystal’s Heart!” her voice boomed like thunder. The tarp fell; exposing for all to see the truth I’d been trying so hard to deny. That I feared would break me if I had to face it. And I was right.