33 - A Little Something New
With the group settled in for the journey, Twilight wandered with Spike towards the dining car. Once they got out of the bunk cars, activity picked up. They could see other travelers seated at tables. Most were ponies, with a lone griffon. A small finger suddenly poked the oblivious Twilight, "You're it!"
The voice sounded young and female. When Twilight snapped her head to look at it, she saw a human child with a big grin, but the child was already turning. As the child fled away from Twilight, the alicorn's eyes widened. The human had a tail! Glancing down a little further, she saw the human also had hooves, and strong pony legs covered with mint-green fur to go with. She looked aside at Spike, "Have you ever seen that before?" She pointed with a wing at the retreating demi-human.
Spike shook his head, "Nope. Huh, so that's what it looks like..."
"Why do you sound so blase? I Mean..." Twilight started to breathe heavily, "Humans, and ponies? How..."
Spike snorted at her, "This coming from misses 'falls in love with a human on the first day of knowing they exist'" he retorted with crossed arms. "You're in no place to judge."
Twilight's breathing didn't slow any with Spike's sharp reply, a blush joining her shocked expression for a moment before she lost it, and collapsed to the ground in a faint that would have done Rarity proud, had she been there to witness it.
The child returned carefully, looking down at the fallen Twilight, then up at Spike. "Did I hurt her?" she asked. She was wearing a bright blouse over her top and a skirt of more muted earth-tones over her bottom. Her brown hair was done up in buns, secured with butterfly pins.
Spike shook his head quickly, "Nah. She's just freaking out. She does that sometimes." He gently scooped up Twilight and moved her to an open table, parking her comfortably leaned against it with a soft patting, "What's your name, kid? I'm Spike."
She curtsied in place, pulling up her skirt as her pony legs bent outwards, "Nice to meet you, Mister Spike. I'm Soft Mane."
Spike looked up at her hair, or mane, again, noticing that was all bundled up as it was, "I can't see your soft mane, but nice to meet you too. You headed to Viljatown too?"
She bobbed her head quickly, "Uh huh. I'm going with my mom." She pointed to the second floor of the dining cart, where a grass green mare was watching Soft while trying not to be too obvious about it. She seemed to be enjoying a mug of something.
Spike flashed a smile, "You ever been there before? It's my first time."
She nodded again before doing a twirl, "We go once a year. Where are you from, Mister Spike?"
He hiked a thumb at himself, "Me? Uh, that's a little complicated. It's kind of a far way away, but not really? Uh..."
She giggled at the expression Spike had and reached out to grab one of his claws, "It's ok. You're here now. I can show you all the fun places in the city."
Spike brightened, but then glanced up at the green mare, "That would be great, but would your mom be OK with you walking around with a strange, if cool, dragon?"
She stuck out her little tongue at Spike, "Let me take care of her! Oh, your friend is waking up." She pointed at Twilight, who was just raising her head from the table she was propped against. Twilight looked around in a daze before she settled on Spike and Soft Mane and winced lightly. Soft Mane huffed, "Lots of ponies do that," she whispered to Spike.
Spike gave a soft 'pfft', "They're just not good at dealing with new things. You should have seen it back home when they were dealing with a zebra wandering into town for the first time. I wouldn't worry about it, just keep being nice and they'll come around."
Twilight approached the two, "You two are becoming quick friends?" Her posturing showed a cautious curiosity as she looked over Soft Mane, taking in every detail. Spike had little doubt that she'd soon be taking notes if given a chance.
Soft Mane nodded at her, "Mister Spike is a nice dragon. Nice to meet you again. I'm Soft Mane, and you're still it." She edged away from Twilight a little to avoid any surprise tags.
Spike softly snickered at her antics before he looked up again at the still monitoring mother, "Say, uh, you don't have to answer, but if she's your mom, who's your dad?"
She scuffed a foot on the carpeting softly, "He was hurt..."
Twilight raised a brow, "Are you going to visit him?"
She withdrew into herself a little, "Too hurt for that..."
Spike opened his mouth to speak, then snapped it shut. With realization of what may have happened, he backed away from the topic, "Your mom looks nice. What's her name?"
Soft Mane brightened, "She's the best mom in all of Everglow! Even if she sometimes tries to stop my fun. Her name is Grass Patch, just like her fur. We live in Turves and grow green stuff, uh, moss I think. Peat moss!"
Twilight moved towards the stairs, Spike gave a sharp, "Twilight!"
"What? I just want to--"
"Twilight..."
"But I have to know!"
Spike deadpanned, "Does she have any reason to talk to you?"
Twilight started to glance around, ears sagging, "It's... but... for scientific notation?"
Spike crossed his arms, staring at Twilight, "Would you want some random mare to trot up to you mid-lunch and start asking personal questions?"
Twilight lowered her head a little, "I guess not..."
Thwip! Suddenly Soft Mane bopped Twilight on her nose, making her start back in surprise. "You leave momma alone. She doesn't want to answer anything about me." Tears had started in her eyes and she looked quite resolute.
Spike reached out, gently patting a shoulder, "Twilight's not going to bother anypony's mother, isn't that right, Twi?"
Twilight relented with a heavy sigh, "No. I'm going to sit back down at my own table and enjoy a daisy sandwich." She backed away in the direction she came and parked at the table, grumbling to herself.
Soft Mane seemed placated by this, turning her full attention back to Spike, "Sorry about that. I have to protect momma from mean people too much."
"Don't sweat it," said Spike, "That's just cause you're so awesome people get curious."
She blushed in her exposed, tanned, cheeks, "You mean that?"
"What, of course I do. Why wouldn't I?" asked Spike.
She started scuffing at the carpet, "The ponies I go to school with make up bad names for me and mom. I don't think they like me much."
Spike scowled a moment, "Well that's not fair. Don't worry, you'll get the last laugh. You have hands." He held up his own fingered claws for her, but she missed the cue. He tried pointing at the claw but she continued staring. He reached for her hand and bring it to position against his claw. "It's called a high five. People with fingers can do it."
She brightened, "Oh, it's like a hoofbump, for hands," she said, delighted.
"Hey, we can do hoofbumps too," noted Spike as he held out a claw clenched tight. She giggled as she brought her own eagerly, bumping it against his. "See, hands can do everything. I bet you're real good with your fingers."
She nodded quickly, "I was the first in my class to learn to write."
"I'm good at writing too," said Spike with a smile. "It's way easier than doing it in your mouth. You ever try drawing?" She shook her head. "Painting?" another shake. "I bet if you learned to work with your hands, you could make great things."
She stood still as if stunned for a moment before she reached down with a shaking hand and wrenched up her skirt, exposing her brand of destiny to Spike. It showed a pile of things. On the left side, they were rough hewn, on the right side, worked to perfection. "I understand it now!" she cried loudly, "My destiny... I'm going to be a builder!" She leaped at Spike, embracing him around the neck tightly and began to cry. He hoped it was with joy but it was hard to tell and he just hugged her back.
A new voice joined the conversation, "She always thought the mark meant she was half finished." Spike looked up to see the green mare from before now standing beside them. She had a kind smile on her snout, tinged as it was with a sadness. "You have given her a great gift today, young dragon. Are you an adventurer? You're dressed like one." When Spike nodded, she dipped her snout into one of her saddlebags and drew out a pair of green boots clearly designed for a flat footed person. "These belonged to my husband. He... wanted to make the world a better place." She set the boots down where Spike could reach them, though he was still being squeezed by Soft Mane. "Thank you."
Soft Mane released Spike with a teary smile. She gave him a final wave and rushed to her mother's extended fetlock, embracing Grass Patch before swinging around to be on her back. Soft Mane was small enough to be carried easily as the mare trotted away with her child, vanishing into the passenger cars.
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Very Very Good Chapter!
It not only gave Spike his time to shine but it also gave him a new pair of magic boots. I am really looking forward to reading about what kind of boots they are and what they can do.
But back to Spike and Soft Mane they really seem cute together, and why do I have the feeling that in some point in the future Spike will save Soft Mane's life. Grass Patch also seems nice I'm sure she and her daughter will help the party in some unforeseen way in the future. Soft Mane is cute and all but I hope she won't be to devastated when Spike tells her that the quest he is on is on a time crunch, and he can't spend to much time with her in the city.
Oh and I for got to mention this when is Long Roads, and more importunately Spike's stat sheet's coming out.
5493130 Small children and foals have a way of getting what they want when they decide what that is. She's both, she has double the odds! Wait, is that how math works?
I enjoyed writing this chapter, and got some feels out of it while it was emerging from my fingers. Glad you liked it.
5493138 When I feel the time is right and not a moment before! Spike's still sporting mostly his awesome stats due to being what he is. It will take time before he starts adding class levels on top.
5493159 Oh O.K. I understand.
Have you given any thought as to what those class levels will be. Have you considered Rouge for Spike.
Aww, a satyr.
And one who Spike just helped considerably. Good for him. (Also, one more notch on humanity's collective belt. Is there any fantasy race we can't crossbreed with? Probably not, given the Racial Heritage feat...)
A brand of destiny is certainly a much different creature than a cutie mark. While it loses some of the mystery of the blank canvas, it can more than make up for it as a vague prophecy. (And that's not taking into account what the parents might do if their newborn sports a skull or an unholy symbol...)
Green boots? Blame The Order of the Stick, but I'm assuming those are boots of speed until proven otherwise.
A very sweet chapter. Thank you for it.
Also:
Huh. I know Mega Man III had Hard Man, but...
5493329 I always liked pony satyrs. Considering ponies are the humans of everglow, it seemed inevitable the two hyper crossbreeders would get together eventually.
I imply that satyrs are a rare thing, however, with humans and ponies not often getting together in -that- fashion often. She would probably get less flack in a border city like Kadiston instead of a tiny farming village like Turves.
It's always nice giving Spike a chance to be a good person. Poor Twilight will have to settle for not asking the burning questions she had about it.
Well I never through about the effects for cross breeding with others like that. Makes you think what would happen with something like a Human and Griffon.
5501220 And so the sphinx was born.
"them"
5605428 Fixed.
now this is my kind of chapter way to go spike you made some one a vary happy hum pony?
I dunno if anyone ever thanked you guys for adding satyrs to the Forgotten Gods suppliment, so let me just say thanks, that was awesome.
5870627 Satyrs are awesome!
Turves
5894101 Slightly delayed typo finding go! Thankee.
5894161 Heh, I just recently became an expert on that subject, if you know what I mean.
Mister Spike
shut. With realization of what
5987321 Fixes applied!
"Viljatown?"
Are you from Finland? Viljatown seems to have the first part of its name the word "Vilja", which means grain, making the whole name of the town (if translated), Graintown.
6066853 Certainly a fitting name for a pony city, I think.
Side quest get! Go spike.
6120791 Spike gets plenty of chances to shine in this fic.
oh man, this like a game! where random people you just met give you cool stuff for no reason!
6175613 Yay! Though she had a reason.
That is horrifying. At least in Equestria you got it when you found a special talent, here it's either you figure out your destiny or you have the proof of your failure forever branded to your skin... I already dislike how restricting they are in Equestria, but this is just terrifying...
And can you imagine having an "Adults Only" brand from the day off your birth?
Also, what if you do find your special talent? Since these come preordered that means you will never have a greater talent. How depressing would that be if you realized it while you were still an amateur in the art of your talent?
Like if you had a brand of destiny in writing but was still in the "Mary Sue" stage?
6239770 Well, up to you how you handle that, as a pony. The gods say you should keep at it and become great with practice, but you may not, and that is your choice. Destiny is not always fulfilled.
Hnnnng! My heart... cute overdose.
Spike is such a bro.
Mint-green fur? Is she a reference to Lero's non-canon daughter?
6239765 When the empire fell, a lot of ponies were left unable to follow their destinies. It wasn't pretty.
This was sweet. I'm glad twilight Backed off though I always feel a bit bad when she has to let her curiosity go. She's so innocent in it, never means any harm. Doesn't mean she can't cause it anyways though.
6240168 bands of destiny are unfair, you could b born with a broom and dust pan and hate cleaning.
7031353 Destiny's rough. It's up to you to figure out how it works.
The idea of a cutie mark being something your born with actually sounds pretty cool. I can't help but wonder how the crusaders would be different if the show went with that. It actually would be pretty cool if they already had their marks but didn't know what they meant. Don't get me wrong, I love what the show did with them (especially Scootaloo) but it's cool to think about.
What's the name of the core book of Ponyfinder. I doubt I can find anyone to play with me but I might buy it just to read over all the cool stuff
8686399
Ponyfinder campaign setting
A satyr. Cool. What about Centaurs
8957636
Most centaurs are classic centaurs.
To be fair, as pointed out by mister DWK-
https://ytcropper.com/cropped/Lt5b220cc2a6547
Heck, even an Equestrian will at times. Troubleshoes comes to mind...