Quillflower was an Earth Pony who had been a long known friend and sweetheart of Carbon Skies. From a young age, Quillflower was regarded as a beautiful mare, with a mane that shone in a golden yellow like the sun on daybreak. Her body was ever so pale, almost white, which made her deep green eyes stand out with a seemingly everlasting twinkle that made them appear more like emeralds. She was also well-read, a trait she picked up from her mother. Also like her mother, Quillflower was for the most part self-taught, picking up on various subjects, especially history and Equestria’s cultures, through the hefty collection of books that she had acquired through her family since she was a filly.
Carbon Skies and Quillflower first met each other through connections between their families. Quillflower’s father, Copper Spring, was a professor at Birminghoof University who specialised in theoretical engineering. He became an acquaintance, then shortly afterward, a friend of Black Marble, who was Carbon Skies’ father. Black Marble was already making his way into the business of the factories and mills in Birminghoof, with some assistance from Copper Spring to help him in find the best machines and designs in which Black Marble hoped to make his investments. It was through his father’s assets that Carbon Skies managed to work early on as a mill owner, before expanding by buying out what would eventually become the Blight Mill.
The first time Carbon Skies ever saw Quillflower was at a dinner party, to which Copper Springs invited Black Marble and his family. Both their parents had made some arrangements to get their children to meet each other, though it was at first unclear as to whether or not the two foals truly got along well. Quillflower was quiet, mostly because she truly was shy. Even when she grew into a mare, she wasn’t entirely comfortable with taking part in social events. During her first meeting with Carbon Skies however, the main reason she didn’t speak much, if at all, was because she felt as though she didn’t know enough words to participate in any in-depth conversation. Regardless, Carbon Skies warmed up to her fast that by the end of the evening. He already hoped to see her again.
It wasn’t until the third time Carbon Skies visited the Copper Spring household that he spoke to Quillflower, and she finally spoke back.
‘Good afternoon, ma’am,’ Carbon Skies presented himself. Quillflower was in her father’s study, sat by the window. It was one of those windows where the ledge had a cushion on top of it, allowing a Pony to sit on it like a bench. Quillflower acknowledged Carbon Skies’ entry, she glanced towards him but made no sound and never turned her head completely away from the book she was reading at the time. This made Carbon Skies, still standing at the doorway, rather nervous, unsure as to whether he was really welcome at all.
Carbon Skies was increasingly nervous the more he tried to speak to her, ‘My name is Carbon Skies… Our fathers are friends. We met before. Remember me? Our families had dinner together the other week here.’
Slowly, Quillflower gave a nod. She still didn’t put away her book. Carbon Skies had visited the day after the dinner. Already he spoke to her more than he ever did beforehand.
Carbon Skies still stood at the doorway to the study and remained there quietly for perhaps another half minute. Timidly, he looked to the floor as if he had only just noticed the shuffling of one of his front hooves. Then, as if a sudden electrical surge ran up his neck, he jolted upright and called out to Quillflower, ‘Is it okay for me to come in?’ He sounded like someone asking for shelter from harsh winter weather, as his voice cracked at the end of the sentence.
Such a break in composure was hard for anyone to not pay attention to. Quillflower couldn’t help but turn towards him this time. She made a few quick nods, holding the book up in front of her muzzle to conceal that she was smiling.
Ever since their conversation in the library, Carbon Skies and Quillflower seemed to get along famously. The two would meet each other as regularly as possible, whether it was during social events held at either their families’ homes or on the numerous outings they had together, usually at the countryside. It was not unusual for Quillflower to bring a couple books with her as well as some paper and ink when the two went out together. Even if it appeared a little unorthodox to him, Carbon Skies didn’t seem to mind too much. If anything, it made him more interested in her. He understood that Quillflower wasn’t too comfortable with social gatherings and had a tendency to remain quiet on such occasions. However, even though she had her books during their little get-togethers, Quillflower wasn’t beyond engaging in conversation. In fact, she was perfectly at ease to do so at great length when she was just with Carbon Skies.
Even then, when Quillflower finally revealed to Carbon Skies her ambition to become a writer and tell stories like those she had become inspired by, his sudden increased curiosity, support and adoration for her did feel a little overbearing, if only for a moment. Still, she was less afraid to talk of her passion to Carbon Skies than she was to any other Pony.
They were out in the countryside together when they spoke about it.
‘So, why is it important to you?’ he asked.
‘Pardon?’
‘What is it about becoming a writer that makes it so important to you?’ Carbon Skies had shifted so he could sit with his fore-hooves held together while his chin rested on top of them. He couldn’t stop smiling.
Quillflower felt perplexed. She had other Ponies ask why she would want to be a writer before. However, when they did so, it was often said in a way that suggested they believed it was an ambition not worth pursuing. This Pony beside her was different. The way he asked ‘why’ was different. She could see that Carbon Skies was actually interested. He actually cared.
Quillflower sat still, having suddenly found herself at a loss. She looked to beyond the hills as if she could somehow find her answer out there. Carbon Skies remained quiet and wouldn’t say a word until Quillflower gave her answer. Although they may have both been silent for just a minute, it felt like it might have gone on for much longer. When Quillflower did speak, she continued to look out into the greenery.
‘I suppose… you could say that it’s because reading often lends itself to flights of fancy… Sometimes, the world around you can seem not at all that interesting. And sometimes, it even makes you feel like you’re alone in the way you think and feel. When you read, however, it’s as if someone has taken you by the hoof to show you that, somewhere, there are places in the world really can be more wonderful than you could imagine, and that you are not alone… In some way, I would quite like to be a part of that…’
After Quillflower gave her reply, Carbon Skies remained quiet a little moment longer. He could feel his whole body glower with adoration. ‘Would it be possible for me to see some of these flights of fancy of yours?’ he then asked.
Quillflower turned her head to him, her eyes sparked with curiosity by the odd, almost teasing, nature of Carbon Skies’ wording. ‘Come again?’ she chuckled.
‘What I mean is; do you have any stories of your own?’
‘I have, yes. Though I don’t have any of them with me right now, if you were curious.’
‘In that case, the next time we meet… May I have a chance to see them?’
Carbon Skies became quite insistent on seeing some of what Quillflower had written, she realised that there wasn’t any chance she could refuse him. The next time Carbon Skies saw Quillflower was back at her home, in the study room where they first spoke to each other. It was there, in her personal cabinet filled with several piles of paper and inkwells and quills, that her efforts at creative writing were stored. Quillflower took several piles of papers, some of them were lathered with notes and scribbles while others were manuscripts of fully realised ideas. With enthused eyes, Carbon Skies proceeded to read through them at the desk. He was certainly impressed with what he had seen.
‘Wonderful! Just wonderful!’ Carbon Skies’ pale brown eyes seemed to shimmer like pebbles seen through the crystal clear, sunlit surface of a valley river.
Quillflower blushed, ‘You really think so? Thank you.’ She had seated herself at the same place she was when Carbon Skies first attempted to talk to her, right by the window closet to the desk.
Carbon Skies could see that Quillflower was a little bashful about all the praise but he didn’t think that should matter. If anything, he felt it brought out a particular charm to her. ‘You have a hoof for this kind of work, I can tell you that.’ He then couldn’t help but notice another pile of papers on the desk that he hadn’t looked through yet. ‘Would it be okay for me to have a look at these as well?’ he asked.
‘You want to read that?’ Quillflower seemed a little surprised. It then dawned upon Carbon Skies that the entire pile was just one story.
‘Incredible!’ He thought to himself. The manuscript’s thickness rivalled that of many books that attempted to tell the history of entire cultures throughout Equestria. Still, Carbon Skies just turned his head to Quillflower and smiled, ‘Why, yes! I would be delighted to! That is, only if it isn’t too much trouble…’
‘Not at all.’ Quillflower shook her head lightly. ‘Although, it isn’t finished…’
For a very brief moment, Carbon Skies had a surprised look in his eyes but then he just smiled again and eagerly began reading.
There was still a lot more of the manuscript to go through by the time it had turned to evening. He decided that he wouldn’t be able to read it all in one go, so he called it for the night. Nevertheless, he was amazed with what he had seen thus far. As he put the last page down, he felt exhausted, as if he had undertaken an incredible excursion.
‘It certainly is an ambitious tale!’ Carbon Skies chuckled.
‘…Did you like it?’ Quillflower sounded timid.
‘Absolutely!’ Carbon Skies beamed. ‘In my opinion, it may very well be the best of the lot. Have you ever looked into getting this published yet?’
‘I don’t think I could ever bring myself to.’ Quillflower had a nervous look in her eyes as she fixed a gaze at the large manuscript.
‘What about the others?’ Carbon Skies held up one of the smaller stories he had read through that day. ‘If not, I’m sure I could make some arrangements…’
‘You would do that for me?’ Quillflower’s nervous disposition gave way as her eyes sparkled like diamonds.
‘Of course! I would be more than willing to support you,’ Carbon Skies and Quillflower stood up real close to each other, their forehooves against each others’ like a couple bridging their hands together. ‘I believe you truly have a talent, one that you deserve to carry on pursuing and that others should know about it… my flower…’
Although they may have stood there for only a few minutes, to the both of them, it felt like hours. Their hearts fluttered together all the while.