Alone. One never knows how much they needed somepony until they were alone. For Tarnish, the realisation that he needed Maud was world changing. Without her, the world seemed like a bleak place. As bad as it was, at least he had others to find solace in.
Maud had been gone for four days; three days that felt like they were stretching into infinite length. Today was the fourth day. Tarnish had tried calling Twilight Sparkle on his mirror, but there had been no answer. He suspected that Twilight Sparkle was busy doing other things and that he wasn’t being ignored; something was being done that took Twilight Sparkle’s attention.
It didn’t change the fact that Tarnish had been hopeful that if he talked to Twilight, Maud might be there and he might be able to see her in the mirror. Tarnish had discovered the dramatic downside to being lovesick; separation. All of Tarnish’s thoughts were consumed with Maud. Her quiet demeanour. Her subtle humour that one had to pay attention to witness. The little whinnies, nickers, and snorts she made when Tarnish held her close and gave Maud’s buttons a good working over.
As painful as it was, the separation was a good thing. Tarnished Teapot now knew beyond any doubt how much he loved Maud.
“You there… little moping colt, help me slice potatoes,” Cloudy Quartz said as she prodded Tarnish with her hoof. “Stop looking sad, it’s awful to look at.”
“Sorry.” Tarnish looked at the basket of washed potatoes, the sharp knife, the cutting board, and Cloudy. Slumping down in his chair, he lifted the knife in his telekinesis, grabbed a potato, and began slicing off half inch thick sections.
“She’ll be back.” Cloudy’s eyes narrowed. “You have it bad. Poor dear… as Maud’s mother, I’m kind of flattered that my daughter has this sort of hold over you, but as somepony that cares about you, I’m kind of worried that my daughter has this sort of hold over you.”
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Several slices of potato fell upon the cutting board. Tarnish fell into a rhythm, his magic almost acting in an autonomous manner. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. He picked up the sliced potatoes and placed them into a bowl. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. More potatoes fell under the knife. He looked over at Cloudy. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. “What are we fixing for lunch?”
“Potatoes and cabbage au gratin, with creamed corn and hot fried fritters,” Cloudy replied.
“Maud likes cabbage.”
“Tarnished Teapot… snap out of it! Please, you’re breaking my heart… I can’t bear to see you like this!” Cloudy watched as more potatoes were sliced. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. As Cloudy watched the knife slip through more potatoes, she suffered a horrible thought. What if Maud was suffering just as much at Tarnish, but showed no outward signs? Cloudy shook her head. Pinkie Pie would know if Maud was lovesick and Pinkie Pie would do everything she could to cheer her sister up. Plus, Cloudy Quartz wanted to believe that Maud was a good, strong, sensible type, and not one that would pine away.
She scowled. Tarnished Teapot on the other hoof, he was the romantic sort. He was given to pining away, moping, heavy sighs, and sleepless nights. He was dedicated, he was in love, and he was unbearable to be around. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Sitting in a chair, in her kitchen, next to the colt that she knew was doing things to her daughter, Cloudy Quartz took solace in the only thing a mother in her position could take solace in. She thought about the sounds of little hooves running in her house, making messes, knocking things over, and she looked at Tarnish. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. He wasn’t ready, at least not yet. Tarnish still needed time to grow up a bit and mature. Still, life didn’t always wait for age or maturity and things tended to happen on their own schedule.
“You’re staring at me.” Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Cloudy Quartz blinked. “I was admiring how perfectly you slice those potatoes. You don’t even look at them.”
“I can feel everything with my telekinesis. I’m learning how to feel everything around me so I don’t have to look. I can just feel the shape of the potato and know where to cut.” Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Tarnish realised that the potatoes in the basket were almost gone; it would be time to start upon the cabbage very soon. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
“So those magic primers you’ve been reading have been helpful?” Cloudy asked.
Tarnish nodded. “Very much so.” Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
The kitchen door slammed open and a frustrated looking Limestone stomped into the kitchen. She was dirty, angry, and her nostrils were flaring. “It’s doing it again!”
“What’s doing what again?” Tarnish looked up from his potatoes.
“The water pump! The water is falling in the wrong direction!”
“Limestone Pie! Get out of my kitchen you dirty filly! Get out! Get out!” Cloudy flew from her chair and began to wave her hoof at Limestone. “Go on! Get out! What have I told you about coming into my kitchen all dirty?”
“But mom, there is no water to wash with!”
“GET OUT!”
Tilting his head, Tarnished watched as the water dripped upwards. That was odd. There was still water in the water reservoir, but it was all at the top of the reservoir, floating somehow. He pulled the lever that opened the water spigot. The water came rushing out and then went skywards in a stream, pouring upwards at the sky.
Tarnish watched the water pour upwards, slackjawed.
Not quite certain what to do, Tarnish thought about what he knew. The water on the Pie family farm came from far beneath the ground. The ground that was infused with unstable magic. Which meant that the water was also infused with unstable magic. Which meant that the entire family was drinking water infused with unstable magic. And now, the water was misbehaving. Tarnish thought about the effect of the water upon equines; if it could flow upwards into the sky, there was no telling what it was doing to equines who drank it. No wonder Trixie had experienced troubles staying here on the rock farm.
Watching the water defy gravity, Tarnish thought back to meeting Limestone for the first time. Limestone had talked about the water here on the farm. HI! You look thirsty. Would you like some water? We have good water here, it has a nice mineral flavour that is kinda pleasant and not bitter because we had the well dug down really, really deep. It does taste a little coppery but it isn’t as bad as one might think…
Something else nagged at Tarnish in the back of his mind. Something big. Something important. The water deep in the ground. Unstable magic. Ley lines. Poison joke. Not much grew in this soil. Something lurked, an idea that didn’t want to be thought about just yet, but still somehow made its presence known. Tarnish shoved the distraction from his mind and his horn glowed with a fierce light. He gave the water pump and the reservoir a good zapping, not even understanding why he did it, but casting on instinct.
The running water changed and began pouring down into the dirt. The water in the reservoir splashed down to the bottom of the large tank and sloshed around.
“You fixed it!”
A second later, Tarnish was almost bowled over when Limestone plowed into him and wrapped her legs around his neck. He struggled to remain standing on three legs and then the colt laboured to even keep breathing. Limestone was strong and no doubt, this was a gentle squeeze.
“What did you do, Tarnish?” Cloudy asked.
“I don’t know,” Tarnish gasped in reply as Limestone continued to squeeze. “My magic stabilises unstable things… that is the purpose of poison joke… that is how nature restores the balance… I am a vital part of nature.”
The gushing water was starting to form a puddle. Limestone let go of Tarnish and began stomping in the puddle. She splashed mud everywhere, even getting some on her mother, causing Cloudy to roll her eyes and shake her head. Tarnish reached out with his telekinesis and pulled the lever, turning the water off.
“I am a vital part of nature,” Tarnish repeated to himself.