//------------------------------// // See no Evil, Part 1 // Story: The Whittler // by ROBCakeran53 //------------------------------//         Rarity and Fluttershy walked down the stairs to the main dining room of Sunny Side’s. Already there were several ponies enjoying their morning breakfast.         “Well, hello dearies. You sleep well?” Sunny Side asked from behind the bar.         “As well as we could, yes.” Rarity rolled her shoulder. “I didn’t know ponies still used straw mattresses.”         “I slept just fine, thank you Sunny.” Rarity rolled her eyes at Fluttershy.         “Is everypony else joining you gals for breakfast, or should I just go ahead and get you two started?” Sunny grabbed a couple of menus.         Most of the tables were taken, the only few being too small for six ponies. Luckily the bar was still clear, so Fluttershy and Rarity took seats there.         Rarity took one of the menus, looking it over. “They should be down shortly. Twilight was up quite late reading that massive book Thomas gave her.”         “Yeah, him and Bob went all out on that thing.”         “Bob? He’s your husband, right?” Fluttershy asked.         “Eeyup. Six years this last month. What a horrible way to spend our anniversary.” Sunny flipped through a notepad. “So, what can I get ya then?”         “A cup of soup sounds fine with me,” Rarity said, placing down her menu.         “The same for me, please.” Fluttershy did the same.         “Today’s special is split pea soup. Hope that’s good for ya’s.” Sunny returned the menus to the rack.         “Just fine, thank you.”         “Order up, Bobby~” Sunny called through the service window.         A black hoof grabbed the ticket, then disappeared again.         “So, your husband, he’s the chef?” Rarity asked.         Sunny chuckled. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say chef—”         There was a harumph from the kitchen.         Sunny cracked a grin. “—but yeah, he does most of the cookin’. Also runs the bar on the weekends. Most of the drunks know better than to try and stiff a stallion easily twice their size.”         “Sounds a lot like my brother.”         Their conversation was interrupted as they turned to see Pinkie Pie bounding down the stairs with an impossible cartwheel. She was shortly followed by a frazzled Rainbow Dash who looked like she had just woken up, and finally Applejack, helping a reluctant Twilight clamber down the remaining steps.         “At the family reunions my big brother, Big Macintosh, hoofs out the booze and cider for the adults.” Applejack grinned at Sunny, and took a seat on the opposite side of the bar.         “Well, at least that’s family. Here I’m just dealin’ with a bunch of slacker-good-for-nothin’s who think complimenting my good figure will get them out of paying their bar tabs.”         They heard a chuckle from the kitchen.         “Oh hush you.” Sunny threw a towel through the service window. “Anyway, what would the rest of you like for breakfast this mornin’? These two early birds have caught the split pea soup, our breakfast special.”         “Split pea soup? First that veggie pot pie, and now split pea soup? It’s almost as if yer just tryin’ to make me home sick,” Applejack said.         “Well, I could always use some of those apples on that tree you done brought.”         Applejack blinked, then her eyes went wide. “Oh gosh, I completely forgot about the apple tree! With everything that happened yesterday, well, I had a lot goin’ on in my head.”         “We all did, Applejack.” Rarity said.         There was a ding from the service window. Carefully, Sunny placed a cup of soup in front of Fluttershy and Rarity.         Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. “Mmmm, that does look good.”         “Tell me about it! I’ll have two bowls of that!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.         Everypony looked to her.         “What? I’m hungry.”         “Bob, three more cups, and two bowls,” Sunny shouted back, then turned back to Applejack. “Don’t you worry none about that tree Applejack. Bob got it set up and watered it just this mornin’.”         “Well then, thank ya Bob!” Applejack called out. “That there tree is for the town anyways, so have at those apples all you want.”         A black hoof waved in the window, piquing Applejack’s attention. She squinted to see it better, but the hoof had already gone out of sight. “That’s mighty gracious of you Applejack, thank ya,” Sunny said, then turned towards the alicorn sitting in the middle of the group, “So, how’s the book coming along?” Twilight looked up. “Hm? Oh, it’s… interesting, to say the least. There’s a lot here I don’t rightfully understand. More so that just doesn’t make any sense. Something in the beginning, about a ‘Big Bang’ is ridiculous, like something Discord would make up.” “Well, Tom ain’t from around here. A lot of things about him don’t make much sense.” “Like what?” Sunny chuckled, “You'll see.” Twilight groaned, slamming her face into the book at the frustrating response. Rarity set her spoon beside the now empty cup. “I must say, the soup was excellent Sunny. My compliments to the chef.” “Hear that Bob? You got a compliment!” Bob’s hoof smacked the bell a few times in a mock applause. Applejack glared at Bob’s hoof. Somethin’ don’t seem right, but what is it? “Well, Fluttershy and I must be off. Sunny, would Thomas be up by now?” “You kiddin’? He’s the earliest bird in town! There’s a reason we don’t got no worms left.” “He eats worms?” Pinkie Pie asked. Again, everypony stared at her. “What? It’s a serious question.” “Yer not plannin’ on arrestin’ him, are ya?” Sunny asked. “Oh, you heard about that?” Twilight asked, ears flat. “Hard not to. You spooked the mayor and Swift so bad they ain’t left their building since last night.” Twilight sighed. “I should go apologize for all that.” “What about the sheriff?” Rainbow asked. “Copper Top?” Sunny laughed. “It takes more than just bein’ a princess to spook that ol’ bastard.” Twilight cringed at the profanity, but let it slide. “Come along now, Fluttershy. We don’t have all day. I’d like to have a fresh start with Mister Baker.” Rarity stood from her seat. “Oh, if I must…” Fluttershy crawled down from her stool. “You girls goin’ to see Tom?” Sunny asked. “Even after he gave you the book?” “You speak of it as it’s a bad thing,” Rarity said. “Nopony’s ever read the entire thing before, truthfully. With the exception of Bob, but that’s only because he helped write it.” “Because it’s so long?” Rainbow asked. “Because it’s so boring,” Sunny said. The previously thrown towel smacked the back of Sunny’s head. “It’s not our fault you write so boring, Bob.” “I don’t find it boring at all, actually,” Twilight said. “In fact, it’s quite thoroughly detailed, goes into aspects of Thomas’s culture that are quite interesting, like how being naked is a taboo unless you’re a nudist or on a beach, sometimes both.” “Like I said, boring.” Sunny set the towel on the counter. “Well, if you gals are goin’ to see Tom, I might as well accompany you. In case he gets the idea of slammin’ his door on yer faces.” “Oh, well that would be most appreciated, Sunny,” Rarity said. “Bob will bring out your soup when he’s done.” Sunny walked around the edge of the bar, joining Rarity and Fluttershy as they walked. “I’ll be back in a bit, Bob! Try not to get arrested!” The black hoof in the service window gave a lazy wave before disappearing. Again, Applejack glared through the service window, an uneasy feeling settling in her gut. After the three mares left, Applejack turned to face her friends, shaking off her previous worries. “So, Twi, makin’ any progress? I know yer gettin’ info outta it, but I mean, anythin’ useful?” Twilight didn’t take her eyes off the book as she spoke. “It’s very helpful for understanding his culture, but him personally? I’m getting nothing. This is written more akin to an encyclopedia than an autobiography.” “So you’re saying it’s useless then.” Rainbow stared at the book with a bored expression, her chin resting on her hoof. Twilight finally looked up from the book and to Dash. “I wouldn’t say that, but a lot of what’s in here gives me pause to believe a single word of it. It speaks of ‘advanced technology’ and ‘machines’ and ‘fossil fuels’ and on, and on, and on. It’s a lot to take in, especially with no prior knowledge of any of this.” A black hoof placed a cup of hot soup in front of Twilight. “Oh, thank you,” Twilight looked back to the book. “Although I’m only a quarter of the way through this book, I can safely say that if any of this is real, then Mister Baker isn’t even from Equestria. I’ve done extensive research into the other lands outside of ours, and none of them even match up to this place he talks about, The United States, or to the North, Canada.” Twilight raised the spoon with her magic, dipped it into her cup of soup, blew on it, and took a taste. “Oh wow, this is good,” she glanced back to Rainbow Dash. “And then I’m finding a number of similarities. We both have electricity, although compared to the examples in the book, ours is still quite primitive. We both have steam operated locomotives, although theirs are more museum pieces and their more modern ones rely on electric and ‘diesel’, whatever that is.” Twilight took another spoon of soup. “Wow, this is really good. Applejack, your family might have some serious competition,” she teased, looking over to her friend. It only now dawned on her how quiet they were all being; she’d at least expected Dash to be snoring by now. Applejack was staring straight ahead, eyes narrowed. She hadn’t even touched her soup yet. Pinkie Pie beside her was already on her second bowl. She turned to her left, where Dash had begun to eat, but now shared a similar expression as Applejack. “Girls, what’s wrong?” Twilight stared straight ahead. The changeling paid them little attention as he picked up a dirty shot glass, spat into it, then wiped it clean and placed it onto a rack with more “clean” ones. He grabbed another dirty glass, turning to meet the shocked, terrified, and even possibly hostile faces of three mares. He didn’t have a smile to begin with, but his neutral expression shifted into a frown. So naturally it was up to Pinkie to break the awkward silence. “Bobby, can I have another bowl please?” ----------         Rarity and Fluttershy let Sunny Side lead them to Thomas’ workshop, keeping up idle conversation about this and that. Any questions directed about Tom were shot down like usual, so Rarity had tried going another route.         “So, how long have your husband and Thomas been friends?”         Sunny actually stopped for a second, looking back at Rarity, mentally judging if this was some sort of trick to spill any info on the carpenter. “Eight years, if memory serves me. Why?”         “Well, Bob helped Thomas write his book, no? I figured they must have been friends for quite a while then.”         “How do ya figure?”         “That’s a pretty big book, and well put together. Must have taken a while to complete.”         “Three years, actually.” Sunny began walking again. “Bob’s quite the perfectionist when it comes to anything literary. It was Bob who even gave Ol’ Tom the idea to make it.”         “So they’re good friends I take it?”         Sunny sighed. “Best of friends, actually. They’ve both gone through some rough spots, but they helped one another through them.”         “Really now?” Rarity glanced to Fluttershy, who was looking at the dirt road as they walked.         “Tom were only here for a couple years when they met. By then most of us townsfolk had accepted Tom as one of our own, took a bit longer for Bobby though. Tom helped speed that up, havin’ him help out with whatever jobs Mister Fixit tasked him with.”         “Mister Fixit was the previous owner of the shop, correct?” Rarity asked.         “Eeyup. The Fixit’s were the only ponies that would take Tom in at the time. It were quite the coincidence that Tom himself were a carpenter and plumber, somethin’ about his old job before he came here. So he fit in naturally with them. He had a special fondness of Missus Fixit though; wouldn’t do anything brash or improper around her. The second she walked out he’d strangle ya for whatever dumb thing you did to insult him or the Fixit’s,” Sunny chuckled.         “You mean that figuratively, right?” Rarity asked.         “Eh. Tom’s had a few scraps in his time. If you got him mad enough he’d kick your flank. Whenever there’s trouble in town that warrants muscle we get Tom ‘nd Bob to handle it. Between the two everything sorts out,” Sunny let out a long sigh, “or at least, ninety nine percent of the time.”         “Tirek?” Fluttershy meekly asked.         Sunny spit onto the road. “Yeah, him.”         The three ponies approached the porch steps, Sunny stopping at them as she turned back to Rarity and Fluttershy.         “So, what is it you’re tryin’ to accomplish then?”         “With Thomas?”         “Yeah.”         Rarity smiled. “Well, you ponies wanted Thomas to receive reimbursement for his used supplies to fix the town. So we need to see if he’s capable of doing it, if he did it, and then how much he’s done to write up the estimate.”         Fluttershy looked at Rarity, brow raised. Rarity rolled her eyes.         “There are some benefits to sharing a room with Twilight… albeit few.”         Rarity turned back to Sunny. “And then there’s the whole medal debate. Not everypony can get one. They’re reserved for ponies, or whomever, does something grand or heroic that benefits everyone but themselves.”         “So yer gonna judge his character?” Both mares nodded; Sunny laughed. “Welp, he’s screwed.”         Rarity and Fluttershy’s jaws slacked as Sunny Side marched up the steps and walked through the propped open door. Rarity and Fluttershy took a few extra seconds to recover, then quickly dashed to catch up. The place was pretty much the same as yesterday, although there was a standing note on the counter, advising that he was away and to come back later.         Sunny Side knew better, walking up to the Employees Only door and entering. She held it open, expecting her two followers to join her.         Rarity had been expecting some sort of storage room, where he had his boxes and extra parts and such stored. Instead, they entered what looked like a wood shop class, with half a dozen workbenches, each having a different project on them in various stages of completion. One held a dining chair, clamps still holding parts together as the glue dried. Another held a rocking chair, looking to have just been lacquered.         The baby crib caught Rarity’s attention the most. Sunny marched towards the back of the shop, calling Tom’s name while Rarity and Fluttershy hung back. Rarity walked up to the crib, inspecting the detail put into it. Unique carvings were etched along each baluster, similar to Sunny’s porch, only much finer.         There, pinned to the back of the bench, was a old black and white photo, aged with time. A mother and her foal, the latter in a crib that matched this one to a tee, although missing the detailed artwork like in the photo. Rarity was just about to ask Fluttershy to take a look when the door they’d just come through opened and a slightly annoyed Mister Baker walked through, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a knife-like tool in the other.         Needless to say, Fluttershy’s quick decision to hide under one of the benches was well warranted. Rarity would have joined her had the floor been a bit cleaner.         Thomas walked past, not even looking to his side as he slowly walked to the back of the room and set down his mug on one of the farther benches, with the clamped chair. He reached over and pushed a button on a black box, and it put out some of the most soothing guitar strings Rarity had heard in quite a while. Then the vocals started.         It was a radio, although looking a lot more modern than the one in Sunny Sides bar. It didn’t take a minute to warm up. The sound had no background static, or any tendency to fade in and out like most radios. The music was crisp and clean.         Thomas smiled at the radio, then with the tool in hand, he began working on the back of the chair. Rarity then realized it wasn’t a knife, but a file of some sort for smoothing out the grooves that were carved into the chair. Fluttershy crawled out out from under the bench, her fur covered in sawdust, her ears twitching to the music. Before long the two were gently swaying, the music soothing and proud all at once.         It was the perfect timing for Sunny to disrupt the calmness as she marched into the room from another doorway.         Three things happened all at once: Thomas jumped, knocking over his cup of coffee onto the floor with a shatter. The radio let out a skip, making a grinding noise before picking the song back up a few seconds prior. And Fluttershy was back under the bench.         “Oh, there ya are Tom! I were lookin’ fer ya.”         Thomas was holding a hand to his chest, the other gripping the wood tool in a death grip.         “Jesus Christ, Sunny. What the hell?” Thomas let out a breath, taking the hand on his chest and running it through his hair.         “Well, had ta make sure that black heart of yers was still pumpin’ yer sorry excuse of blood.” Sunny chuckled.         “Oh ha ha, very funny.” Thomas looked down to the shattered mug and spilled coffee. He hit a button on his radio, turning it off, then glared back at Sunny. “What do I owe the honor of this visit so early in the morning? Aren’t you busy serving breakfast?”         “Bobby’s handlin’ it.”         Thomas blinked, staring at Sunny like she was an idiot. “You left Bob alone, running the place, with a princess of Equestria? Sunny, I’m not saying that’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard of you doing, you married Bob after all, but still.”         “Aw, he’ll be fine.”         A thunderous boom shook the building, causing sawdust to drift from the hanging light fixtures and a couple stray objects to fall off the benches.         Thomas frowned.         “Okay, maybe not. I should probably get back there before I find a castrated husband.”         “I think castration is the least of his worries, especially being married to you.”         Sunny smacked Tom’s leg with her tail as she rushed by. “Oh Tom, how I’d just love to poison your breakfast one morning.”         “At least it would add flavor to your cooking!”         Sunny laughed, then turned to Rarity. “You’ll be fine dearies. Have fun!” Sunny ran out the door.         It was then Rarity realized that Thomas was glaring in her general direction.         “Oh, um, hello again, Mister Baker.”         “It’s just Thomas, Miss Rarity.”         “Then it’s just Rarity, Thomas.”         The two held glares for a few more seconds, before Fluttershy’s meek return from under the bench made Thomas shift his glare.         “Oh joy, two of you. Any more of you hiding in here?” Thomas looked under the bench he had been working on.         “No, Thomas, just us. We came by to see if there was anything we could help with, right Fluttershy?”         Fluttershy nodded meekly.         Thomas’ expression lightened. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m good, thanks.”         “Well, you must be backed up with work, judging by your board. I may not be a master carpenter like yourself, but I have dabbled in woodwork for a few clients in my time.”         Thomas walked to another corner of the room, grabbing a broom and dust pan. “If I wanted any help I’d have hired some.”         Thomas turned around, and already Rarity was using a rag in her magic to mop up the spilled coffee. He could only hope she hadn’t grabbed one of his clean rags.         “Then maybe you need some of your clothes tailored?”         “We have a tailor, I’m good.”         “Well perhaps—”         Thomas held up a finger. “Look, I know what you’re trying to do and failing. You can quit beating around the bush and get to the point.”         Rarity’s ears flattened. “Well, that is, we wanted to know… about a certain aspect of your species.”         “I gave you the book, you can look it up.”         “Well, it was worrying to Twilight, and she hadn’t found the answer yet.”         “Well when she does find it then she can calm down and quit having her friends try and get the info out of me.” Thomas began sweeping the bits of porcelain, now dry thanks to Rarity.         While the two bickered, Fluttershy had come closer, closely examining Thomas as he talked. Finally, she stepped right up to him while he was kneeled down sweeping the bits into the dust pan.         “Open your mouth, please.”         Rarity and Thomas immediately fell into silence, looking to the pegasus with confusion.         “I’m sorry?” Thomas asked, more shocked than upset.         “Um, if you don’t mind, I’d like to see your teeth, please,” Fluttershy asked.         Thomas looked back to Rarity with a quizzical look. She shrugged. Thomas rolled his eyes, then opened his mouth. Fluttershy peeked into his mouth, then nodded.         “Thank you, that answers my question.”         “Was that all? You don’t need me to drop my pants and cough?”         Fluttershy blushed crimson, so Rarity took that as her cue to take the attention off her friend.         “Well, it’s just that last night over dinner Sunny Side’s menu options caught us off guard.”         Thomas smiled, showing his teeth. “And you didn’t run out of town? You mustn’t be new to omnivores then.”         “Well, we’ve met a few gryphons in our travels, so no,” Rarity said.         “So, was that your question then? What my diet consists of?”         “Well, that was the pressing question, yes.”         Thomas turned to Fluttershy. “Omnivore, so I kinda just eat whatever’s thrown in front of me. So what, are you a dentist or something? Could tell my diet by my teeth?”         “Oh, um, no. I actually care for many pets and woodland creatures back home. So I’m used to identifying diets by teeth.”         Thomas actually perked up at that, grabbing the dust pan and dumping its contents into a trash can. “So, you’re like a vet, right?”         “Well, technically I’m not a licensed veterinarian, no…”         “That’s perfect then. I always hated people with degrees. Just because they’re book smart don’t mean they’re street smart.” Thomas walked over to the rocking chair, running his fingers along one of the arm rests. “You know, you might actually be able to help me after all.”         Rarity and Fluttershy shared glances, then turned back to Thomas. “Really?”         “You see, while all that Tirek bullshit was happening and I was busy, I wasn’t really able to keep a keen eye on Missus Fixit’s cats. One of them is kinda sick, I think.”         Fluttershy took a step forward. “Sick? How so?”         “Well, one of his eyes is all goopey and he won’t open it all the way. I only had one constant pet growing up and that was a damned algae eater that outlived over twenty goldfish before I gave up. Bastard’s probably still alive. So I’ve no clue what’s up with the cat. I was gonna telegram some vets in Manehatten since I know some people there, but if you’re familiar with pets, think you could take a look?”         Fluttershy practically beamed with pride. “Oh yes, most definitely. Let me go back and grab my saddle bags and I’ll be right back.”         Before anyone could protest, not that they would, Fluttershy was out the door leaving a trail of sawdust. What followed next was more awkward silence, although Thomas was still keeping himself occupied.         “So, Missus Fixit, that name sounds familiar,” Rarity finally broke the ice… again.         “Well, knowing Sunny Side, she probably mentioned the name Fixit. Mister Fixit was the original owner of this building, and the town’s carpenter. His wife still lives in their home, alone, with half a dozen cats. No idea where the cats came from.”         “Oh yes, Sunny was telling us briefly about that. He left you the building?”         “Sorta.”         “Sorta?”         Thomas stopped fiddling with a block of wood, looking Rarity up and down, judging mentally about what he could or should say. “Technically, he left everything to his wife. I offered to purchase the business, she said no, and insisted on giving it to me.”         “She gave you this place?”         Thomas shrugged. “Ponies, you’re all too trusting and happy and wanting to make everyone happy around you. So, as payment,” Thomas moved his fingers in an odd gesture at the word, “I generally help take care of her at home. I visit frequently, help with whatever she needs. Fix things that need fixing, the usual stuff.”         Thomas then picked up the rocking chair, placing it into a wheelbarrow. “And today I’m bringing her back her rocking chair, freshly stained and ready for another decade of wear and tear.”         “Well you did a lovely job on it, I must say.”         Thomas waved a hand. “I didn’t make it, Mister Fixit made it as a anniversary present a few decades ago. It was just due for another coat of sealant.”         “Well, your talent shows still. Take that crib for example.” Rarity turned towards the crib.         Thomas looked too, then quickly rushing over he took a sheet and covered it. “Yeah, well don’t breathe a word about the crib to anyone.”         “Why ever not? It’s coming along quite well.”         “Because it’s a secret and last thing I need to do is fuel these townsponies fascination with praising me for bullshit… sorry, bull shoes. I swear these pony-isms are gonna be the death of me.”         Before Rarity could question further, Fluttershy returned with a pair of saddlebags, a big smile on her face. “Okay, I’m ready.”         “Okay.” Thomas grabbed a small tool box, placed it into the wheelbarrow, then opened a large set of doors easily six feet wide, leading outside, behind the shop.         Thomas grabbed the wheelbarrow, having to hunch down still, and pushed it outside with Rarity and Fluttershy close behind. A couple things immediately caught Rarity’s attention.         “Is that Trixie’s carriage?”         “Yeah, sadly. I take it you met Miss Arrogant already?”         Rarity snickered. “Oh yes, we saw her last night. Actually we’ve got a history with her, from a few instances in our past.”         “That’s not shocking at all, actually.” Thomas continued past Trixie’s carriage. “You’d be amazed at how many ponies who wander in here take one sight of her and take off running. Lucky for us she only tends to stick around for a few weeks, month at most. This time’s a bit different however.”         “How so?” Fluttershy asked.         “Well, as she puts it, a group of six ponies keep foiling her attempts at riches and fame and coincidently also destroy her carriage.” Thomas stopped, dropping the wheelbarrow. “If I ever find out who those ponies are, I’ll make them pay,” he clenched his fist.         “P-pay? H-how so?” Fluttershy stuttered, trying to hide behind Rarity.         “Well since Trixie ain’t payin’ for her damn carriages, they can!” Thomas grabbed the wheelbarrow again. “After all, if what she says is true and it’s their fault anyway, they should be paying for it.”         Rarity and Fluttershy both let out a sigh of relief, quickly joining Thomas as he stormed off. Rarity had wanted to ask about the other unique-looking carriage, but that could be for later. Right now, a more pressing question came about.         “Thomas? How far of a walk is it?”         Thomas looked down to Rarity. “About a half hour walk. If I wasn’t pushing the wheelbarrow it would be quicker.”         “So you walk everywhere?”         “You ask as though it’s a bad thing.”         “Well no, but I’ve heard some ponies homes are quite a distance out of town.”         “Well normally I drive around, but with no gas still I’m S-O-L.”         “Drive?” Fluttershy asked.         “S-O-L?” Rarity asked.         “Eh, long story. The book will kinda explain things, I’ll fill in the gaps when you’re done. And Shit-Outta-Luck.”         “Well truthfully, Twilight is the one reading the book. Then she fills us in.”         “Typical.” Thomas said, but then he let out a laugh.         “What is so funny?”         “Oh, just reminded me of someone.”         “Who would that be?”         The playful smile on Thomas’ face shifted to a thin frown. “No one important.”         For the rest of the walk, Rarity and Fluttershy allowed Thomas some breathing room while he lead the way. Other thoughts and questions would spring up from the two mares, but for the rest of the walk he stuck to short and quick responses. Before long a small cabin sprang into view.         “Is that the house?” Rarity asked.         “Yup. We actually made pretty good time. Either that, or you two were enough of a distraction to not think about the walk.”         Thomas placed the wheelbarrow near the front porch, where one rocking chair sat empty. They approached the front door, with Thomas placing the refurbished rocker beside the first one. Rarity noticed with mild amusement how worn and tired it looked. Probably a similar state the second one was in before Thomas had had his way with it, she mused.         Thomas raised his hand to knock; inches from the door a voice called out.         “Thomas! Come on in, door’s unlocked!”         The two mares looked to Thomas in confusion as he shook his head, then whispered, “It’s always unlocked.”         He opened the door, leading the two mares into a very quaint single room cabin. There were no walls secluding anything. The bed, kitchen, wardrobe, everything was in one giant room. As off-putting as that seemed, the decor and accessories strewn around were very homely. Each piece of furniture had decorative, hoof-sewn doilies on the arms and backs. The walls were lined with paintings, reminding Rarity of the art museums in Canterlot.         The most eye-grabbing thing were the shelves that lined the ‘living area’ of the room, full of little pony figurines.         “I was just in the middle of making some tea, would you and your friends like some?”         Rarity finally spotted the elderly mare in question, facing away from them at a stove. How did she know we were here? She never turned around.         “I’d love some, and I’m sure these two guests would too.” Thomas glanced down to Rarity and Fluttershy with an expectant expression.         “Oh, yes, I’d love some, thank you.” Fluttershy added.         “So, who are your guests today Thomas? I don’t recognize their voices.”         “Rarity and Fluttershy. The later is a vet.”         “I’m not a—”         “Oh, how wonderful! My poor kitties haven’t had a good check up since Doc gave up his practice.”         “Doc? As in a doctor?” Rarity asked.         “Yeah, Doc was both the town doctor and vet. Never could get over the paranoia that all his thermometers looked the same.”         Rarity and Fluttershy shared glances, but turned back to see Missus Fixit walking slowly with a tray on her back. Her wings were spread out evenly, although a tad shakily, and as one wing tip would bump into something she’d adjust and continue towards the ‘living area’.         That’s when Rarity nearly gasped, looking at the elderly mare’s eyes.         They were completely glossed over, the pupils gone and irises nearly so.         “Thomas, dear, would you—?”         “I got it.” Thomas grabbed the tray off the elderly pegasus’ back, setting it onto the coffee table.         Using her wings, Missus Fixit adjusted herself to sit in a single comforter chair, settling into the back with a few light groans.         “Don’t feel unwelcomed! Sit, sit!” She motioned towards the sofa.         Thomas took a seat in the center, Fluttershy took his right, and Rarity his left. His discomfort showed, but the two mares pretended to ignore it as he poured cups of tea for everyone. Rarity managed to not comment on the fact that none of the cups matched the saucers.         “So, tell me about yourselves! You must be some special ponies for Thomas to be bringing you over.” Missus Fixit said, sipping at her tea.         “Well, um, what Thomas said isn’t quite true. I’m not a registered veterinarian, not that I don’t ever want to be, but I do take care of all sorts of animals, both domestic and wild.” Fluttershy blew onto her cup, then took a small sip to try and ease herself. “I’ve been caring for animials since I was a filly, so I’ve had extensive practice with handling them. Thomas, um, had said something about one of your kitties being sick.”         “Yes, Scrufflepuss. Don’t you worry none there, darlin’. If Thomas here vouches for ya then it’s fine.”         Fluttershy stared at Thomas nervously. He just nodded. “Oh, um, okay.”         “And how about you, dear? We’re a long way from Manehattan.”         Rarity was taken aback. “Oh, I’m not from Manehattan.”         “Really now? Golly I must be slipping. Used to be able to tell a pony’s origins by their accent. Take your friend Fluttershy, sweet voice you have little darlin’, I’m feeling that strong Fillidelphian background. But you yourself were raised more rural, am I right?”         Fluttershy blinked. “Wow, you’re right!”         Rarity turned to her friend. “You never told me you were from Fillidelphia!”         “Ah, there it is!” Missus Fixit smiled. “Bumped ya up a few octaves. You’re both from the same town I take it?”         “Yes, Ponyville to be exact.” Rarity kept her eyes on Fluttershy, whom properly tried to hide behind the massive bulk of Thomas.         “Ponyville you say? I remember that town. Small, quaint, had the best apples in Equestria though. Tell me, does a Miss Smith still live out there?”         “Oh yes! In fact, one of our friends is her granddaughter.”         Missus Fixit smiled. “Strong mare that one was. Never would let anything hold her down. Even when she lost her husband, poor dear.”         Fluttershy came out of her hiding to stare at Rarity. “She- I never knew that.”         “Thomas, dear? South wall, third picture from the left.”         Thomas stood, walking over and pulling down one of the many framed paintings. He then handed it to Rarity, who took it in her magic.         The image was of two ponies and a filly, the backdrop being-         “My word, that’s Sweet Apple Acres!”         “Is that Granny Smith?” Fluttershy pointed to the parent mare.         “Yuppers. They were the most hospitable family I had met on mine and my husband’s trips.”         “You traveled a lot?” Fluttershy asked.         “Oh yes, everywhere. Every painting you see is of every stop we visited.”         “You painted all of these?”         Missus Fixit let out a chuckle, before shifting herself and lifting a wing to show off her cutie mark. A paint brush with wings.         “I also enjoyed sewing, but yes. My husband made the wood pieces, and I gave them their pop, as he would put it.”         “So you both worked as a team. Adding with how you traveled, it sounded lovely,” Rarity said, giving Thomas back the picture. “I think Applejack would love to see that picture at some point.” More so to see her father, now I know where Macintosh gets his strong features.         “Thomas will have to bring her by,” she set her empty cup onto the table, just left of the saucer, but she seemed to not mind. “Now then, I don’t want to waste your day regalling of the past. Lets see if we can draw out some kitty cats.” ----------         Rarity stepped out of the house, tired, her mane a little frazzled, but glad that the nightmare was over. And she thought Opal was a pain. Imagine having five of her! She’d left Fluttershy to check on the remaining few cats whom were much more friendly and stepped outside to get some fresh air.         In all the chaos, she’d lost track of Thomas after he’d fixed a cabinet door that was coming apart.         Shink. Shink. Shink.         Rarity looked over, finding the estranged human sitting on a wood crate beside the two rocking chairs. In one hand a normal looking knife, and the other a block of wood. As she got closer, the block of wood was actually taking a shape, almost like-         “Did you make those little ponies in there?”         Thomas looked away from the block at Rarity, nodded, then went back to his focus on the wood.         Rarity found another wood crate and took a seat next to Thomas, although not too close to upset him. She marveled at how he whittled away at what was once a small block of wood. It seemed at times he was just shaving away slivers in random spots, but the more he continued the more it took shape. More unique, was this figure wasn’t standing. It was laying on its haunches, the tail curled around the hind legs.         “That’s Fluttershy, isn’t it?”         “Good guess.”         It was silent for a few more seconds.         “So, how long-”         “A few months after Mister Fixit passed, so a little over three years now. Although her vision was on a steady decline before hand.”         “She was a lovely painter in her prime.”         “Yeah.”         Again, silence.         “This is how she sees a pony.”         Rarity blinked, returning her focus back to the human. “Hm?”         Thomas held up the almost complete figure. “I used to make these things for some of the kids in town, but when Missus Fixit went blind, she struggled to talk with other ponies. She was always good at identifying accents as you noticed, but for her it was a struggle to vision someone by their voice alone. One day she stumbled upon one of these toys I had made, and was able to feel it and recognize who it was.         “And that got me thinking. If she could feel one of these and instantly recall who it was, then why can’t I make one for whenever she meets a new pony? So that’s what I do. When she meets someone and likes them, I make her one of these so she can ‘see’ them.” He did that thing with his fingers again.         “You’re quite fond of her, aren’t you?”         Thomas went back to whittling. “Yeah, her husband and she were the only two to put trust in me when I came here. If it wasn’t for them, I could have been out there in the desert, dead for whoever knows.”         “Well I’m sure somepony else would have helped you.”         He chuckled. “Oh yeah, you and your friends’ expressions at our meeting told me all I needed to know. Hadn’t the sheriff or mayor been there, I’m sure I wouldn’t be as intact as I am.”         Rarity cringed, recalling her first initial thoughts of finding the closest object to hurl at him.         “Point taken.”         They sat in silence for a few more minutes, then Thomas stood and stretched.         “Well, I think it’s done,” he said, handing over the figure towards Rarity.         Gently, she took the piece in her magic and brought it in for a closer look. “It’s simply beautiful, Thomas. You put a lot of detail onto your work.”         “Yeah, well when me and my brothers weren’t out terrorizing the streets I’d just play around with blocks of wood. Made a lot of my own toys when I was younger, simply because anything our dad bought we had to share. If we made it or bought it ourselves, it was ours.”         Rarity’s mind was ablaze, that simple phrase opened up so many questions, but she’d have to just compile them for now. Asking him about personal things would only ruin the moment she had going.         “Well, your skill shows.” Rarity gave the figure back, which Thomas took carefully from her magic.         “Damn I never get used to that feeling,” he said, shivering as he walked by and into the house. When he returned, he had another clean block of wood.         “Another creation?” Rarity asked.         “I said I made them of ponies Missus Fixit likes.”         “Moi?” Rarity placed a hoof on her chest.         Thomas ignored the question, turning to face Rarity on his crate. “Hold that position.”         Rarity did so, and Thomas got to work. After a few minutes she was able to relax again, he’d formed a mental image of what he wanted, and got to work. For Rarity it was marvelous to watch a simple block of wood take shape with each swave from the knife.         “Your brothers must have been envious.” Rarity kicked herself mentally. Oh, there I go, messing it up.         Thomas didn’t miss a beat. “Naw, my brothers just used it as an excuse to hog all the toys to themselves. My father was the only one who really appreciated it any.”         “And your mother?”         Thomas hesitated, but continued on. “She died when I was six.”         Rarity’s ears flattened. “Oh, I’m so-”         “It was a long time ago. I was too young to really remember much about her anyway.”         The door swung open, Fluttershy leading Missus Fixit emerged with a tray on the former’s back.         “We made more tea, if you two would like some,” Fluttershy said.         “I’d love some.” Rarity turned to Thomas, who was standing. The way he acts around her and treats her… it makes so much sense now.         The four sat out on the porch, Thomas giving Fluttershy his crate, and now was sitting on the ground. He continued on Rarity’s figure, Missus Fixit dozing off in her freshly sealed rocker, while Fluttershy and Rarity continued to marvel at Thomas’ work. They had lost track of time, but the setting sun was gaining on them as it got harder to see. The empty rocker creaked a little, being swayed by a gentle breeze.