“A quest was given to me, my destiny was set the day I was born. Yet somehow I have failed to live up to expectation. Temper overshadowed what I was good at, I don't even know what I am good at to begin with. Now for the first time in my life there is a pony who actually manages to keep my temper in check, how he manages to do so is beyond me. But the task that lays ahead is truly impossible.” ~Short Fuse, journal, entry number 34.
~Chapter 5: on a rare occasion...~
Both the troubled souls had plenty to chew on for themselves the rest of the day. Basher was thinking about himself and what the future had in store for him while Fuse contemplated on the question how on earth he would manage to do everything Spike had asked him to do. Fuse figured it was just a low blow from the purple dragon towards him to take revenge for the kick he had given him. “Yea, just give me an impossible task to get your forgiveness,” he thought on more than one occasion but somehow he came to the same conclusion over and over again, what laid ahead seemed impossible to do, for a multitude of reasons.
The setting of the sun announced the end of yet another day full of events for the two ponies which meant they could go to bed to get whatever sleep they could while troubled thoughts roamed freely in their heads. For Basher these thoughts were about how he was going to help Fuse to accomplish his task. Basher was aware of the reasons Spike had for giving Fuse such a task. For such a young dragon he showed remarkable social insight and intelligence to come up with such a plan just on the fly. How to help Fuse wasn't the only thing on his mind. He was thinking about the huge amount of information he had to chew through. Helping ponies had always come naturally to the green pony, but now he had to learn how to evaluate every bit of information he got from somepony and evaluate it correctly. Learn about mental illness and how to cure it and learn how to look for tell tale signs. However hard, the green pony was determined he would get there.
Despite troubled sleep for both Fuse and Basher the night went by and dawn was upon Ponyville again. The sun casting an orange hue over the strains of mist left by the night and caused those to quickly burn away leaving naught but dew on the grass. The morning was peaceful for everypony who slowly started to attend to their morning business but they was one small house where peaceful was the last word that would come to anypony's mind.
“Vile retched sleep disturbing apparatus. Most cursed of inventions ever made!” he cursed them the alarm clock went off. It wasn't before long that the angry red pony reduced it to a projectile. It was a good thing the alarm clock was just short from indestructible because the many dents in the wall indicated the alarm clock was often subject to Fuse's extremely bad mood in the morning. Not feeling like being dragged by his mane and tossed into a pool of water just outside of town Fuse reluctantly lifted himself from the bed and groaned. “This is no time to get up, seriously I'm gonna give Basher a smacking,” he muttered as he washed himself a little to at least look somewhat presentable.
When the red pony slouched onto the town's square Basher was already waiting for him. To the large muscular pony's surprise Fuse actually was five minutes early. “Wow Fuse, I had expected you to be more resilient,” Basher said in a slightly surprised voice.
“Yea, if you were threatened by a pony twice your size, god forbid they exist, to be dragged out of home by their mane and thrown in a pond you would make sure to be in time as well buddy... besides, I really can't afford a new door if you decide to unhinge mine,” Fuse stated in a spiteful manner and huffed disgruntled. “Seriously, I still don't get why you insist we meet each day at this ungodly time of day, and what is it you want to do anyways today, don't you think it's a better idea to wait for the grad student Twilight is arranging?”
“That student is a magics student and is coming just to check out the magical manifestations in your looks, since they aren't going anywhere you can still clean your act up a little and start working towards the task Spike has given you,” basher stated coolly completely ignoring the fact Fuse was getting quite worked up, which he figured went hoof in hoof with his foul morning mood.
“Yea, about that, what brain damage does that failure of a drake has to give me a task like that. Even though he is young he should know what impossible task he has given me. I can't stand Rarity, I mean I really can't stand to spend two minutes next to her without me wanting to slam her muzzle shut. Her voice is about as pleasing to my ears as having an ice pick jammed through it. And that eternal whining of her, I mean, have you ever heard her? She does nothing but whine. And of course with the way I look she just can't stop commenting about it,” Fuse ranted and was getting even more worked up just at the thought of having to spend time near Rarity, let alone actually talk to her.
“Don't worry about why Spike has given you this specific task. I have had the opportunity to talk to him when I was waiting for Princess Sparkle to meet my end of the deal. You'll find the answer you are looking for soon enough once you get to it,” Basher stated which only caused the red pony to pout a little clearly not pleased with the answer he got from Basher. “Anyways, Rarity is a character and I must agree with you she can be uncomfortable to get along with. Though I do wonder what you did to her to make her angry, you didn't kick her pet, did you?”
Fuse gave the green pony a flat stare and rolled his eyes. “No, I didn't kick that cat of hers but please don't tempt me to. That thing gave me some nasty scratches last time I was there. Anyways, what had happened wasn't as bad as what had happened with Spike and Twilight. I had gone there to get myself come clothes to get through the winter. The Pegasi had predicted an especially cold winter this year so I wanted to prepare myself. Rarity running the best clothes shop in town and me for once having some bits to spare I go to her shop where I instantly become subject to her ridicule about my looks and why a hot headed pony like me needed clothes to overcome the cold in the first place. All I did in return to that was give her a snide remark and I rolled my eyes. You know, I did realize it was a joke and if that would have been it I wouldn't even have cared. But then she starts to comment on everything she noticed about me. My fire red coat, my purple dragon like eyes and my fangs. She also had some stupid remarks about the colors of my mane. Gosh, like I don't know I look atrocious, no she had to point each and every little thing out,” Fuse ranted and sighed deeply reluctant to talk on.
“that explains why you are angry at her, not as much how she would become angry with you. She even manages to get under my coat sometimes so I really can't blame you for getting angry with Rarity so please explain to me what you did so we can finally try to get those sapphires Spike needs.” Basher stated. It was a bit of an obvious statement but still Basher figured it would be needed with the clouded mind of Fuse.
“Yea, after the umpteenth remark she made about how mad I looked I simply lost it. Nopony would be able to resist such a relentless stream of insults and I am no different. I started cursing, pointed out every little imperfection I could find with her and her clothing. Oh, and I might or might not have spilled some dye on a stack of fabric that was apparently extremely hard to get by. She was acting as petty as could be but two could play that game so I returned that whiny little nuisance the favor. And I regret nothing,” the red pony continued and rolled his eyes some more.
“So basically you were you and Rarity was Rarity, you know, it actually makes sense how this came to be. I cannot imagine you and Rarity ever getting along. Even if you wouldn't have the anger issues you're burdened with,” Basher stated and hummed while he thought deeply. “But still, getting along and being able to endure one another are different things. We... well, you need those gems and Rarity has them and somehow the both of you need to overcome the petty surface and try to stomach each other for the time being,” Basher said and sighed a little.
“If it's possible I would like to spend as little time as possibly in the near vicinity of that mare,” Fuse said harshly and looked at basher with some annoyance
“We could do the same as we did with Twilight, I go in first and then you come in and do whatever you need to do to get those gems. I won't get them for you because this is your task and your task alone. Do don't even think of suggesting that,” Basher offered and visibly tried to think of a way how he could make sure Fuse and Rarity would get along.
“Well, so far for that idea then, I guess there is no other way to do it. Twilight and Spike I could easily handle, but I don't know if I can keep it together with this creature made of pure wining, so whatever favor she wants you to do I can't promise I can keep it together, just so you know,” Fuse warned Basher once the two headed for Rarity's boutique.
“Just try your best Fuse, Rarity can be a pain but if you feel like you can't take it anymore just go outside when you're talking to her. I think it is of very little use when you go berserk again and throw dye over more of her stuff. Anyways, did you tell me everything and the true story? I mean, I really really don't want this to end the same was as with my first try to talk to miss Sparkle,” Basher said and looked at the red pony, trying to get a hint of body language.
“Yes that was all minster Basher, I just got incredibly rude, slammed on a table when I got anger and accidentally spilled the dye over that fabric laying on the floor,” he stated and sighed a little. “I can truly say this is the only place I don't really mind being banned from. I can't stand her and whenever I hear her voice I cringe in disgust,” Fuse spat and looked resentful to the building in front of them. He drew an even weirder face when the foresight of dealing with Rarity came to mind.
“Calm down Fuse, if you're even getting worked up just thinking about it, it will go wrong once you're inside,” Basher said. His word didn't carry much conviction but he figured if he could get Fuse calm he would be more manageable at this moment. “Anyways, unless you want to add something to your story you might have 'conveniently' forgotten to tell me up until now, I'll be heading in.”
the red pony ground his teeth once more and shook his head. “No, I've told you everything for the gazillionth time,” he replied exasperated. “Now go, I want to get this over with and the less time I have to spend around this stupid dump, the better,” Fuse continued and gestured frantically towards the door.
“Yea right, I'll be back in a couple of minutes. Just try to get as calm as possible, I'll try to make sure Rarity keeps herself together as well,” Basher said as he headed indoors.
The green pony was immediately greeted by Rarity who was attending to lay out her new collection for display. Instead of a hallo all Basher received was a critical gaze and he would have sworn he saw the white pony shake her head ever so slightly. “Well, this is a work in progress,” she said and disgust riddled her voice because Basher looked all but handsome in her opinion of which Rarity made little secret.
“I am not here for clothes miss Rarity, I am here for different business,” Basher said which earned him a confused look. “I am here to talk to you about a pony you most likely remember, he is called Short Fuse,” Basher said and right that instance Rarity's face cringed. She darted around her store and closed every possible curtain she could close and instantly barricaded the door with several random heavy objects she could find. Somehow it was admirable how a pony of her stature managed to move around those heavy objects.
Once she was done running around almost like she was on fire and pretty much rearranging everything she could just to barricade the door she ended up out of breath. “Please don't tell me that horrible, vile muzzled pony is anywhere near my boutique, I will not have him ruin another batch of precious fabric,” she stated in a somewhat over dramatic way.
“Actually, he is right outside and most likely saw your reaction to his name alone,” Basher stated and grinned a little. “But why this reaction? All he has done was accidentally ruin a batch of fabric,” Basher asked and sighed a little. As it looked now it seemed like it was truly ending up to be one large collection of petty things.
“Just a batch of fabric? JUST A BATCH OF FABRIC? Ugh, what else did I expect from a barbarian like you. It was extremely high quality Cashmere wool, do you have ANY idea how hard that is to get by? I mean, all I did was comment on the way it looked, all of a sudden I find myself to be bombarded by a vocabulary that is truly unheard of and it knocks on my table, spilling dye all over the stack of cashmere. Needlessly to say I immediately called the authorities, and they let him go... they just let him go afterwards, I kid you not. An do I get reimbursed, or do I get any compensation for the behavior of that miserable failure? No, no I did not. So if mister Fuse ever wants to show his muzzle around here again he will first have to pay me for the fabric it willingly destroyed,” Rarity said and looked angrily towards Basher.
“Twilight can say whatever she wants, I won't believe this uncivilized pony will ever learn how to behave himself. And on that note, is it even a pony, or is it some other spawn of Celestia knows what,” she continued. In her entire rant she especially stressed the word 'it' when referring to Short Fuse barely considering him to be of the same species as she was.
Basher sighed deeply and nodded, more to himself than towards Rarity as it truly was a misunderstanding this time. “Well miss Rarity, not to burst your bubble but Short Fuse is extremely self conscious about the way he looks, and he really doesn't like it when other ponies comment negatively about it. I mean, I don't really like how your tail is styled but I won't say it... normally speaking then,” he said and assessed Rarity's reaction and indeed as expected she didn't react positively to his remark.
“Anyways, along with his rather strange look comes a massive anger issue which eventually led to him erupting. You can consider yourself lucky nothing else than that one batch of fabric was destroyed. Even the best tempered pony could lose him or herself while sighing under a relentless stream of negative remarks. But if you just set aside what has happened and look at the present, think of what Twilight has told you. Fuse really does want to work on his issues but he does need a chance given to him by the ponies he wronged,” Basher explained the best he could trying to compel Rarity into hearing Fuse out.
Rarity didn't look convinced and gave the green pony a vile look. “you talk big for one who looks like you, but I shall not hear him out. I will not become the subject of his spite and rage again. If Fuse wants somepony to curse at, he can go find somepony else,” she said and huffed while lifting her head high.
“So you aren't even willing, while Twilight told you he is working to improve himself give him a chance to prove himself?” Basher asked trying to send her on a guilt trip since the conventional methods clearly seemed to fail. “Miss Rarity, what do you possibly have to lose if you just give the colt a chance to talk and say what he needs to say,” Basher stated and sighed deeply.
“What do I have to lose? WHAT DO I HAVE TO LOSE? He can ruin my entire shop, he can ruin batches and batches of fabric, he can... he can... ridicule me,” she said and sighed a little.
Basher pointed to the mess Rarity had made herself in the small frenzy she went through. “Okay, now look to your shop and please tell me who is responsible for the mess you have on your hooves right now,” he said and smiled confidently.
The white pony looked around and was slightly shaken. “that's Fuse's fault of course, if he didn't ruin my fabric at first I wouldn't have gone through such lengths to keep him out in the first place. And like I've said, I will not hear him out until he has reimbursed me for the fabric he destroyed,” she said stubbornly and huffed once more.
Basher rolled his eyes and sighed deeply as Rarity was managing to get under his coat right now. He could only imagine how badly Fuse would react under this. “Okay, if you absolutely insist, how much is the fabric he destroyed?” Basher asked in a bit of an annoyed way.
“Well, the fabric was one hundred bits, and would have brought in five hundred when I would have processed it into Clothes, plus it would have boosted my reputation. I think if Fuse pays me two thousand bits we're even,” she said and smiled somewhat deviously knowing that in no universe Fuse would ever have such funds.
“two thousand Bits? You are completely out of your mind miss Rarity, he is struggling to eat to begin with, he will never be able to get those funds. Can't you just give the pony one chance to prove his worth? I will vouch for him, or if there is something I could do for you to change your mind, just tell me,” Basher offered and set a couple of nervous steps since he was getting on edge.
Rarity sighed and stomped her hoof on the ground. “Okay, you've made your point, but there is one thing I need your help with! I am working on this new line of clothes for especially large or muscular ponies. Perhaps you can be a model where I can fit prototypes on. Of course you will also have to walk in the fashion show where I present the line,” she said and smiled actually for the first time.
“Element of generosity, wasn't it?” Basher asked completely unrelated but didn't wait or even care for the answer. “Anyways, I'll do it,” He said and sighed deeply. He knew a little about the process of fashion and how fashion shows worked since he had occasionally worked as a bouncer at one. Long and tedious hours of standing still were all it came down to, and then talk three or four times in different clothes over a stage for everypony to be put on display. He didn't quite like it but at least Rarity shut up about the ridiculous sum of bits she required.
Rarity looked a bit sour at Basher's remark but decided to let it slip as he complied with her request. “Very well, get that red abomination in so he can say what he wants to, but seriously, if it even looks the slightest like he's going on a rampage or throwing one of his infamous temper tantrums, I will throw him out and never ever let him in again, so he better keep himself in check,” Rarity stated in a very serious tone. “When you go get him, give me a minute to clean this mess here, I mean, I don't have to show the same barbaric behavior as he does.”
“Very well miss Rarity, I shall try my best to keep mister Fuse in check. But there is one thing I must ask you before Fuse comes in. He is working on his anger trouble but it is recent. He is is still only setting baby steps and I know you have a hard time getting along with him. That feeling is completely mutual though, but if you want him to show what he's worth then please don't provoke him,” Basher said and sighed a little.
“I'll keep myself in check mister Basher, you have said one thing today that made me think how bad mister Fuse must have felt when I kept debunking they way he looked, however truthful it was,” Rarity said while she removed the blockade at the door.
When Rarity moved every object she placed in front of the door, now with significantly more effort Basher headed outside to find an impatient red pony waiting for him grinding his teeth still. Ofttimes Basher wondered how the angry pony had any teeth left with the amount of grinding they had to take whenever something was bothering Fuse. “Well Fuse, I can now perfectly understand why you lost it, heck, I nearly lost it in there,” Basher joked but it was rewarded with naught but a flat stare. “I have arranged you can meet her, although she seems a lot more reluctant to speak to you than Twilight was and a lot less open minded, so please Fuse, now is more important than ever to keep your cool.”
“Yea I get it, I will keep my cool. As long as that whiny little creature shuts up about the way I look. I know I look horrible and I really don't need her to tell me that over and over and over again,” he replied and grunted exasperated. “By the way, took you long enough in there, and her closing up every window, what was the deal with that?”
“Heh, funny you ask. The second I mentioned your name she closed up every curtain and barricaded the door to keep you out. She first wanted two-thousand bits from you because you ruined fabric, please don't ask me how on earth she had gotten the idea you owed her two thousand bits but she did, finally I managed to talk her into talking with you by offering my services to her. I'll have to be her mannequin and model for a new line of clothing she is designing especially for larger ponies like me,” the green pony explained and sighed deeply. “Seriously, the stuff I get to do only so you can get your stuff done is absurd.”
“And the stuff spike has sent me to do isn't absurd you want to argue? That dragon has sent me on a task which requires me to face a lot of things I have done of which none of them are deeds I am proud of,” Fuse stated and looked at Basher trying to get support.
“The task given to you should be a one hour job for any normal pony who didn't pick a fight with about each and every pony here in town. Be glad you are given the opportunity to set things straight to begin with, everypony might as well just have said no. You need to do this task, I don't really need to do those other things that are asked from me just so you can talk to somepony,” he replied exasperated and looked somewhat angrily towards Fuse.
“Those are blatant lies Basher, you said you needed to help me so you could find your purpose, so although your tasks might seem a bit more random they are none the less part of you finding out what you are supposed to be and give you the nudge towards your purpose,” Fuse said surprisingly wise and for a change without an insult.
“Wow Fuse, you are truly improving already,” Basher stated surprised and smiled a little.
“It's just because you told me I needed to be calm for Rarity, but you are spoiling my cool already with your complaining. So when can I talk to miss Whinesalot,” the red pony asked and sighed deeply, still reluctant to meet Rarity.
“She wanted to clean up the mess she had created in order to block the door and prohibit you from coming in,” Basher replied dryly and couldn't resist to chuckle a little.
“Rarity can choke on a leave, I don't care I'm going in now. I want this over with as soon as possible,” he said and blatantly marched towards the entrance of Rarity's boutique. Before Basher even had a chance to stop him the angry red pony went inside finding Rarity still shoving furniture back to their original positions and looking rather shocked upon Fuse's rushed entry.
The white pony immediately interrupted rearranging the furniture and looked blankly towards Fuse and Basher who entered moments later, trying to look a bit apologetic towards Rarity. “Well, mister Fuse, I have heard you wanted to talk,” Rarity stated and huffed a little showing off she clearly felt more than Fuse.
“Yes miss Rarity, I have come to talk and ask something from you,” He said. It visibly took him an effort to keep polite against the superior acting pony which infuriated him. “I was sent here to collect Spike's special sapphires,” he continued and sighed a little.
Rarity just looked blankly towards the red pony who was already getting worked up. “Now why would I trust you with these special gems for dear Spikey-wikey?” she asked and shrugged a little. “I hardly trust you enough even to blink and leave you out of my sight for a hundredth of a second, let alone let you anywhere near those precious sapphires,” Rarity stated. At this point Basher gave Fuse a little nudge hoping Basher would get the red pony to apologize for the fabric he destroyed, but all Basher got was best described by a hiss from Fuse.
“Well, spike has send me here in order to get these sapphires,” Fuse said. Rarity nodded. “In order to get some Zap apple jam from the apple family,” Fuse said. Rarity once again nodded. “Then I have to take those things to Pinkie Pie and tell her Spike sent me,” Fuse continued. Rarity nodded again and Fuse could have sword by now there was a little smile on her face, just the slightest hint of one at least. “So, what else can I say, I need those gems and you've got them,” Fuse finally stated dryly. He had noticed she nodded each time and was wondering why. The fanged pony hated not knowing things.
“Alright mister Fuse, you have told me nothing new there. As I recall it there as been an incident that has never been resolved. Probably because I called the authorities when you destroyed that fabric of mine,” Rarity stated coolly.
“Well, since you seem to know pretty much everything I think it is of little secret I do have a tendency to lose myself in anger every now and then,” Fuse said completely evading the severity of his problem. “Anyways, something similar happened when you felt the need to constantly comment on how bad I looked when I just came here to buy some clothes for the cold winter the Pegasi predicted. Anyways, I did get angry and yes, I did slam the table but I really didn't intended to ruin your fabric by spilling that dye,” Fuse said with all the tranquility he could muster, which wasn't much because he started to tremble and grind his teeth slightly. “Besides, do you have any idea how close I got to getting frostbite that year simply because I couldn't get any decent clothing for the winter?” Fuse stated lastly in a bit of a snide remark towards the white pony.
Basher intervened and nudged Fuse again. “Keep it together bud, she was very strict about letting you in. she had told me the slightest hint of you going on a tantrum will result in you being tossed out,” he whispered and looked at Rarity hoping she couldn't hear what he said.
Whether Rarity heard what Basher said or not would be anypony's guess since she didn't show anything. “Very well mister Fuse. It seems some karmic justice was provided then and since it was truly an accident now I look back at the whole thing I guess you are off the hook. But still I really can't just give you those gems just yet. I want to see your worth, words are good, deeds are better and I want to see if you truly stand by what you say. You'll have to do a favor for me mister Fuse, all you'll have to do is pick up a piece of fabric Fluttershy processed for me,” Rarity said and smiled a little.
“Fluttershy?” Basher and Fuse said out loud simultaneously. Fuse had Never really done anything to Fluttershy to infuriate her, or get on her bad side but still, Fluttershy evaded him like he had some kind of highly contagious disease. Most likely because she was simply scared of the red pony going berserk. “That is going to be quite hard miss Rarity, but I'll see what I can do,” Fuse said and sighed deeply.
“I know this will be a challenge for you Fuse, but I think you talking to Fluttershy will be a great test of the strength your words bear. And as I've said, I want to see your effort in resolving your anger issues mister Fuse,” Rarity said.
Fuse looked up, not angry but with a certain determination in his face and what looked like a smile since Rarity actually made sense. He shook his head since he could barely believe it and sighed a little. “I might have mistaken what kind of pony you are miss Rarity. Thank you for the chance you're giving me and I am glad we could resolve the issue that hindered us until now,” Fuse said and nodded slightly.
“It will be resolved when I see your efforts mister Fuse, not a second sooner. Words are worth naught but the effort one is willing to put in to give those words their strength,” Rarity said. This somewhat dented Fuse's euphoric feeling but only strengthened his determination it seemed.
“Very well miss Rarity, I'll be on my way now to get your fabric from miss Fluttershy,” Fuse said and headed out of the store after saying a quick goodbye to Rarity. Basher followed his example and followed him out.
“So Fuse, how are you going to deal with Fluttershy. You are about the biggest nightmare for that filly and she's scared to death by you,” Basher stated and sighed a little. One challenge seemed to stack up on the next one, and everything seemed to become infinitely harder each step they took.
“I don't know how I'm going to do it but I know I will do it and make sure miss Fluttershy won't be too scared of me anymore,” Fuse said determined. “Now, let's go the Fluttershy's home, it's still early enough to get this done,” Fuse stated and headed off in the direction of Fluttershy's home.
“Change in emotions or forcefully suppressing certain emotions can lead to bigger and more severe outbursts. Many cases of anger management fail due to no alternative way to channel ones anger or deal with the feeling they are experiencing. Medication doesn't work in most cases and the only thing helping is intensive therapy for the afflicted in order to change the channels of his emotional manifestation.” ~Emotional and behavioral studies at the Equestrian socio-Psychological research institute.