//------------------------------// // Haliflanks // Story: The Adventures of Cleansing Flame // by Fire_brand //------------------------------// Journal: Yesterday was a very good day… Aside from a pretty big hiccup from Rarity on one of her rants. I NEED to learn that silence spell from Twilight. Anymore complaining outbursts from Rarity and I might chop my ears off. Besides that the mine was pretty cool. The tour guide mentioned it was in service for 80 years before they decommissioned it. The town itself is nothing to scoff at either. There is a unique culture here due to the clash from tourism and mining. Then there’s the Hotel, oh sweet pickled pineapples it’s amazing. The Dancing Diamond did not skimp out on anything. Add to it that I got end my day with a few dances with Applejack, compliments of the orchestra, and I’m one happy pony. Applejack and I get up and go through our morning routine. We shower, I help her with her mane and tail, we have a few laughs, and we head down to the lobby to eat. After eating we decide to stick together to roam around Haliflanks as a group. This is a large city that we are unfamiliar with so we opted for safety in numbers. As we roam we decide to stop to check something out if it catches one of our eyes. Of course what do we find first, a gem store. Walking through the store almost causes Rarity to melt into a big pile of happiness. “Oh my heavens! Just look at the size of those rubies! Can you see the clarity of these diamonds? These turquoise look fabulous!” I gotta say, hearing Rarity obsess over anything is brutal on the ears, but her happy obsesses are easier to listen to at least. When we leave Rarity walks out with gems of every type and size stuffed into her saddlebags. Our next stop ends up being an animal feed co-op. Fluttershy doesn’t spend long inside but ends up ordering some exotic feed that’s unavailable in Ponyville. As she comes out “I’m sorry if I made everypony wait. But I just know the animals will love the variety.” We all give Fluttershy soft smiles as Twilight says “You don’t have to apologize for anything. You just wanted to do what was right for the animals you care for, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Once we leave the co-op, it takes a while until we find the next store of interest, a book store. We all head inside and wait for Twilight to look through the shelves. It wasn’t long before Twilight came back empty hooved. As it turns out, having access to three well stocked royal libraries, and more than 3 years to read, means there aren’t many books Twilight has not read. But she looks fine so everything must be ok. The next shop we find is a smithy. I recall the book from Stalliongrad…but I’m not sure if we’re far enough in the north to find the steel. So I walk in and ask “Excuse me, do you know where I could find some crucible steel?” I hear a feminine voice call out from behind the smith only door “Just a second!” The door open to reveal a gray coated earth mare with matching white mane and tail, wearing a smith’s apron and goggles. “How can I help you?” “Well I was wondering if you have any knowledge of how to make crucible steel.” Upon hearing this, she lifts up the goggles to reveal her amethyst eyes and starts to look me over. She checks my fur, hooves, horn, eyes, everything, and then says “Whoever cleaned you up did a good job, only real hint you’re a smith came from your hooves. Sorry but you’re out of luck yet lucky at the same time.” I cock my head and raise an eyebrow before she can continue “As far as I know crucible steel isn’t made in Haliflanks. BUT, I do have some crucible steel bars here.” I’m so giddy now that I’m practically prancing and start bombarding her with questions “REALLY!? HOW STRONG IS IT? HOW BRITTLE IS IT? HOW WELL DOES IT TAKE TO BEING SMELTED FROM BARS? HOW FAR CAN IT BE STRECHED WITHOUT A LOSS IN STRENGTH AND DURA…MFPH?” Applejack just shoved her hoof in my mouth “Sorry ‘bout tha’. He’s a bit excited afta’ findin’ this steel afta’ searchin fer three years.” The mare deadpans, “Three years? Where in Equestria did you travel for it to take three years to find even one bar of Crucible Steel???” I quickly rattle off “Well I started in Fillydephia, then traveled to Ponyville, Canterlot, Stalliongrad, Dappleshore, Derbyshire, back to Canterlot for a while, back to Ponyville, and then here to Haliflanks. Now can I see it please?!?” After some thought the mare huffs out “Fine…you can see the steel, but it’s not for sale. It’s already paid for, anything made from crucible steel sells fast here so you have to order what you want months ahead of time so all the bars that I get come through are already owned by somepony else.” Then she points at me and speaks with fire behind her words “And don’t even think of trying to practice with a bar! I don’t know how skilled you are and frankly I don’t care. These are valuable and I won’t have you screw up my reputation!” Geez, touchy. So Applejack and I follow her to the backroom where we see the forge, a doused piece of worked metal, lots of metal bars, and…bars…of…Crucible….Steel. The sheer luster and pure look of the bars mark them as different immediately. I’m fumbling my words as I ask “C-can I, I touch one? J-just one? I promise I w-won’t try to w-work it…please?” I look to her and she reluctantly nods. I gingerly pick up a bar in my hooves and let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I can’t believe I’m holding a bar of the legendary crucible steel! I go through my standard series of tests without deforming the steel, and it is, without a doubt the highest quality steel I have ever held. I hear the mare “The way you performed those tests…you said you were from Fillydelphia? Do you know Iron Tail?” I put the bar down and look right at her “Of course I know Master Iron. He trained me for nearly seven years.” “I should have known, I’m his daughter Wire Tail. He mentioned once taking on an apprentice in a letter.” Applejack now speaks up “And how should ya ‘ave known?” Wire Tail rolls her eyes “Dad included a description. Now if you please, either buy something or leave. I have metal to work.” I ask a final question before I leave the store “You wouldn’t happen to know where the steel is made would you?” She rubs her neck with her hoof “My best guess would be Manebourne, Trotterdam, or Hoofswell. Don’t rule out Transylmania though. Can I get back to work now?” As I leave the store I say “Yes, sorry to have bothered you Ms. Wire Tail.” From outside the store I hear a muffled “It’s Mrs.! Why does everypony assume I’m single??” I’m half tempted to answer her but I don’t want a hot mallet flying at my head. Plus the girls look pretty bored. Apparently I took longer than I thought when I inspected the steel. So we take a lunch break then resume our search for interesting buildings. We find a few confectionary shops, which drives Pinkie bonkers. After the fifth shop, I find myself amazed that Pinkie is still pounding down sweets. At this I can’t hold my tongue anymore, “Uh…Pinkie? Is there something you’d like to tell us?” Pinkie talks with her mouth still full of cupcakes “Huh… what… are you… talking about… Flame?” “Well Pinkie, you’ve eaten an awful lot of food. Are you…” “OOH, are you playing a guessing game?” “No, I’m trying to ask if you’re…” “Well of course I’m still hungry silly!” I can see the others are uncomfortable with this conversation. “Pinkie I’m trying to ask if you’re eating for two!” “Nopey Dopey!” I can feel my face contort into weird positions brought on by my confusion “But… how…why can you…” “I don’t know. OH LOOK! A COOKIE STORE!” And she zooms off to eat some more as my jaw drops to the road. I have never seen a pony eat so much and stay thin. Pinkie continues to eat through 2 more stores. As she eats I get more confused. Applejack nudges my side and say “Dontcha worry Flame. Pinkie is a pony you’ll never fully understand. Yer better off not trying.” After watching her finish off the last bit of sweet from the last store I shake my head in defeat. I decide to never bring it up again; it won’t do me any good. So we keep walking through town. We are walking, talking, laughing, and enjoying the sights for hours. Then I look around and notice that Twilight has stopped and is staring at something down another street. So I walk over “Hey Twilight, find something good?” I notice she has a strange mix of confusion and surprise on her face. “Uh…Twilight?” The girls start walking over as I wave my hoof in front of her “Hello! Equestria to Twilight Sparkle, come in Twilight!” She looks like she’s totally locked up. Applejack seems to be the first to follow Twilight’s stare as she says “Oh Celestia…not him.” I look at Applejack and ask “him who?” before noticing the color drain from her face. At this I look down the road… only to see the white Carya unicorn walking around in his suit surrounded by more suited soulless bastards. Instantly I feel myself getting angry, then I feel a tug on my tail. I had started walking over without thinking but it seems Applejack stopped me. All of the girls look shaken, but Applejack and Rainbow Dash look to be visibly shaking. I try my best to move all of them away from the road. This is not a place we need to be right now and I don’t feel like finding out how well he remembers me. At first we walk away from the road, then slowly break into a full on sprint towards the Dancing Diamond. Once inside, we all make a mad dash for the girls’ room, lock ourselves in, and catch our breath. I’m the first to speak up, “Ok, what the hay is going on? What is he doing here?” Twilight responds with “I don’t know, last time we saw him you were… bashing him senseless. Maybe he decided to leave his gang and wound up here?” At this I deadpan at Twilight as Rainbow says “I doubt it Twilight, he had enough influence to send all those ponies against us last time. It’s unlikely he’d give that up.” Rarity looks quite composed as she says “I’m sorry Twilight but I’m afraid I have to agree with Rainbow Dash. However it does us no good to panic like bunch fillies over this. What reason do we have to believe he’s here for us? I say we continue on our business and not worry about him.” I’m stunned to hear this “Back up, you want us to ignore this pony? After what he did to Applejack and Rainbow Dash? After what he tried to do to all of us?” “Well I suppose when you put it like that, what I said sounds outrageous.” Twilight jumps back in “Well at the least we shouldn’t look like we remember him, but I do agree that we don’t cut our stay short for him.” I’m astounded “You agree with this idea??” Applejack speaks up “Ah don’t like this ahdea. Afta what he tried, I don’ wanna be anywhere near him.” Rainbow Dash seems to agree “Sorry Twilight but I’m with Flame and Applejack on this one. That pony simply can’t be trusted.” I’m rather surprised when Fluttershy speaks up “Well, doesn’t everypony deserve a second chance? Just because he did it once…” I think my jaw just hit the floor. I’m shocked to the point that I’m speechless. I have no idea what to think at this point. I thought all of us would want to skip town as fast as possible. Pinkie interrupts my thoughts “Haliflanks is a large town! Why should we let one meanie pants ruin our fun?! Chances are we won’t see him again. Let’s just keep having fun!” …Yep… Pinkie made sense… brain just exploded. I hear Twilight say “Ok so that's 4 to 3, we’re staying for a little longer. But I still want to know why he’s here. Last time we say him he rather boldly stated that his group owns Stalliongrad.” Rarity replies “At this we can agree I think. I don’t want to look for him but I would like to know why he’s in Haliflanks.” I hear Fluttershy chime in “Maybe he’s a tourist, Haliflanks is a well-known tourist spot like Manehatten and Trottingham.” I’ve finally recovered enough to say “Maybe he’s looking for us…” after a few uncomfortable silent minutes “sorry to have brought it up.” Twilight speaks up “No… it is a possibility… and it had to be said. How about we just be careful about where we go in Haliflanks for now on. Can we agree on that?” We all nod or say “yeah” to Twilight. I suddenly feel really tired “Hey can we talk more about this tomorrow? I’m a little worn out.” Applejack looks at me and says “Why don’t ya head ta our room and rest then. Ah’ll be along shortly.” I nod my head then make my way to mine and Appljack’s room. After closing the door, I start to turn around and find myself face-to-face with the Carya unicorn. He says “Watch where your walking, you almost backed into me!” I stand to the side and say “Sorry” as he walks by. I’m about to enter my room when I hear “Have we met somewhere? You seem familiar, but I can’t place you.” I swallow the lump in my throat “No I don’t believe so.” He looks me over as I begin to sweat “Yeah you must be right; I think I’d remember seeing a Stallion of your specific coloring,” then he walk away. As calmly as possible I enter my room before collapsing on the floor “That was too close.” A few minutes later Applejack enters to find me on the floor. “FLAME! Wut happened to ya? Why are ya on tha floor?” I explain the encounter to Applejack. When I finish she looks worried “Ah didn’t think he’d be on this floor. We need ta be careful. Maybe I should tell” I cut her off “Twilight and the others have enough to think about right now, let’s just sleep and I’ll tell them all about it in the morning. Besides I don’t want to scare Fluttershy.” “Fair ‘nough Flame, lets git some sleep.”