42 - A Helping Hoof
After their toast, Lex and Ribbon had begun to work on the wording of their statement to the public. While Sonata and Lucy had hovered around, waiting to see if they could offer any insights, it soon became clear that their input wasn’t required. Eventually, the two of them drifted to the other side of the room, chatting as they nursed their drinks.
“So, like, Ribbon Cutter told us that she was your foalsitter when you were younger.”
Lucy nodded, smiling at the memories. “Yeah, she was wonderful. No matter how long it took me to get something right, or how many times I messed up while trying, she was always so nice to me. Even more than my big sister.”
“That’s great.” Sonata smiled, but it was half-hearted as she glanced down at her glass of cider. “My sisters were never nice to me. In fact, they were totes awful. I was the dumb one, and they made sure to remind me every chance they got.”
“Aw, that’s so sad!” Lucy looked downtrodden at the thought, giving Sonata a sympathetic look. “Did they eventually realize how mean they were being and say they were sorry?”
“No,” she shook her head. “I eventually just got tired of it all and left them.” Sonata straightened up, trying to throw off the unhappy feelings that those memories conjured up. “But that was the best decision I ever made. I eventually made some new friends, and met someone special, and I’m a lot happier now.” She glanced back at where Lex and Ribbon were engaged in conversation, smiling.
Lucy, however, failed to make the connection between what Sonata was saying with her look towards the other ponies in the room, drawing a different conclusion altogether. “They do seem to get along well, don’t they?”
“Huh?” It took Sonata a moment to catch up to the sudden shift in topic. “Oh, um, it looks that way. Birds of a feather, I guess.”
“The mayor, er, the interim deputy mayor, I mean, is usually pretty businesslike when she has meetings. But she’s not rude or anything like that! She’s just, you know, eager to get stuff done and move on to the next thing. But now she looks kind of…I don’t know, relaxed.”
Sonata gave a noncommittal grunt, tipping her glass back to drink the rest of her cider.
“I wonder if she likes him?”
Caught completely by surprise, Sonata briefly choked on her drink, coughing as she tried to clear her throat. “Huh?!”
Oblivious, Lucy continued. “Wouldn’t it be funny if they got married? Then they could run Tall Tale together!”
“That’s probably not going to happen,” declared Sonata firmly, “since he’s my boyfriend and all.”
Lucy’s eyes widened, realizing just how badly she’d put her hoof in her mouth. “Oh! Oh, I’m so sorry!” She reached out towards Sonata, attempting to make a gesture of contrition, but was so mortified by her faux pas that she completely forgot that she was still holding her glass. The result was that she dumped her drink over Sonata’s head.
“Hey!”
“Oh no! Oh, I’m really sorry! I’ll clean that up right away!” Panicking now, Lucy intended to run back to her desk and grab some napkins from a drawer. However, in her rush she managed to trip over her own hooves, sending her crashing into a large potted fern at the edge of the room. Knocking it over, it managed to brush against a painting on the wall just enough to send it tumbling down. It then, in turn, landed next to a small end-table that had been pushed up against the wall, colliding on the way down with a folder that had been jutting over the table’s edge. The folder then went flying, scattering papers in mid-air to flutter down over both mares.
Sonata had initially been miffed at having cider splashed on her, but in the wake of the bedlam that Lucy had unintentionally caused she could only stand there, open-mouthed.
She wasn’t the only one. On the other side of the room Lex, who had looked up when he’d heard Sonata’s indignant shout, was staring, completely nonplussed by what had happened.
Ribbon, more used to these sorts of occurrences happening where Lucy was concerned, hurried over to where her secretary had tumbled, kneeling down beside her and putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Lucy looked up, eyes watery. “I’m so sorry, Miss Mayor. I messed up again.” She sniffled, too embarrassed to even try standing up. “Maybe I should be the one who resigns. I’m always causing you so much trouble.”
“Absolutely not.” Ribbon’s voice was firm but still gentle as she pulled Lucy to her hooves.
“But…”
Ribbon held a hoof up, and Lucy fell silent, her ears lowering in expectation of receiving a firm talking-to. To her surprise, however, Ribbon smiled at her. “This morning I learned that I’d messed up far worse than you ever have, Lucy. When I realized that I’d helped a dragon almost eat the very ponies that I’ve always wanted to help, even if it was because I was under a spell, I felt so awful that I was determined to quit.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “You were under a spell?”
Nodding, Ribbon continued. “I was, but that didn’t change the fact that I wanted to run away and hide from what I’d done. I almost did, too. But then I talked to this pony,” she half-turned and pointed her hoof at Lex, “and he reminded me that running away from our mistakes won’t help fix them. Fixing them means that we have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep trying.”
Lex blinked. When exactly had he said any of that?
Ribbon turned back to fully face Lucy, looking her straight in the eyes. “I won’t quit. And if I can say that after what I did, then you can’t quit either, okay?”
Lucy sniffled again, but she was smiling now. “Okay, Miss Mayor.”
“That’s not my title anymore, remember?”
“Oh! I mean, ‘Miss Interim Deputy Mayor’!”
“That’s better. Now,” Ribbon swept a hoof out to indicate the debris, “go clean this mess up. Starting with her.” She pointed to Sonata.
“Right away!” Lucy gave a salute, and then ran to get some napkins, coming back a few seconds later and begin dabbing at Sonata intently.
After she’d finished and moved on to the rest of the mayhem she’d caused, Lex approached the other two mares. “The statement seems sufficient,” he said without preamble.
“Are you sure?” asked Ribbon. “We still have another two-and-a-half hours or so before the announcement if you want to keep going over it.”
“It’s fine,” he replied. “I have a few errands I want to attend to before the day is out. We should get to them.” He moved towards the door as he spoke, glancing at Sonata in a silent indication that he wanted her to follow him.
“In that case, I’ll see you at the town square for our announcement,” called Ribbon as the two left.
As Lex and Sonata left her office and started to head downstairs, Lex paused as they neared the building’s entrance. Sonata looked up at him quizzically, and he hesitated for a moment, a slightly uncomfortable look crossing his face.
“What is it?” she asked him, curious now.
He paused before answering, picking his words with care. “Does this building have a back entrance?”
“Oh, um, I think so. The last time I was here the crowd was so thick around front I just figured that it would have to be that way around back, so I didn’t bother checking, but I’m sure there is one.”
“We should use that, then.”
“We should? Why?” His suggestion made no sense to her at all. “I’m sure all of those grateful ponies are still out front.”
“All the more reason to go out the back, then.” He turned and started heading towards the rear of the building, the conversation apparently over.
“How come?” Sonata trotted after him. “You were eating up the attention before, so why- Whoa!” She caught Lex as he started to stumble, almost collapsing. Luckily there was a bench nearby, and she managed to guide him over to that. “Are you alright?!” She asked the question reflexively, since it was obvious that he wasn’t. He was breathing heavily, and she saw that his forehooves were shaking slightly.
“I’m fine.”
His answer made her snort. “You’re not fine. You’re…” she trailed off as she realized what was going on. “You’re still hurt from before, since you wouldn’t let Fireflower’s brother finish healing you.”
“It’s nothing that I can’t handle.” He was already trying to get up, and she moved to support him the way she had been when they’d walked back into town. He glanced at her for a moment, clearly not happy with accepting her help, but she glared back at him in a silent challenge, daring him not to accept her assistance, and he didn’t push the issue.
For a minute she thought about insisting that they go get Fireflower’s brother again, but she knew that he’d already made up his mind on that, and that trying to get him to change it would only make him dig his hooves in. Instead, she thought of a different plan. “So listen, I know you said you wanted to go run some errands, but I’m totes starved. What do you say we go get a late lunch somewhere?”
He looked at her silently again, and she had the distinct impression that he’d seen through her. But to her surprise, he didn’t protest, instead nodding without a word, and she smiled as she guided him out of city hall.
“You can’t be serious.”
Brightrose smiled in the face of his sister’s acerbic response. “Why not?” He leaned back in his chair, waving a hoof at Busy Bee to indicate that he wanted another plate of her pancakes. Silently, he thanked Tender Tree again for convincing her sister to put them up while they figured out what to do next.
“It’s not our home, that’s why not!” Shadowvine retorted hotly. “It’s not even our world! This isn’t where we belong.” She looked around at her siblings. “Right?”
Breezyleaf looked up from the pancakes that she was happily consuming. “I think that anywhere is fine, so long as we’re together.”
Rockwood nodded. “I didn’t dislike our forest, but it was just a forest. Home is where all of us are.”
Everyone then glanced at Fireflower, but he didn’t answer, simply staring down at the table despite the chatter going on around him. He’d been like that for the last several minutes, and it was enough to make Shadowvine frown in annoyance, starting to reach towards him.
Brightrose quickly spoke up before she could. “Also, staying here has certain advantages.”
That got Shadowvine’s attention, and she frowned. “Advantages? What advantages?”
“These pony bodies, for one.”
Shadowvine gave her brother a confused look. “What are you talking about? What’s so great about a form that doesn’t have fingers?”
Brightrose gave her a knowing grin. “It makes up for it elsewhere. Or at least, it does if you’re male.”
For a moment Shadowvine didn’t understand what he was talking about. Then his meaning became clear, and she darkened in embarrassment. “You’re disgusting!” she shouted, throwing her fork at him. He ducked under it, laughing.
“That’s enough of that!”
Setting a new plate of pancakes down in front of Brightrose, Busy Bee, the proprietress of the bed-and-breakfast where they were staying, gave Shadowvine a stern look, causing her to fidget in her seat. “I’m letting you lot stay here because my sister asked me to, but if you get rowdy then you can look for new accommodations. Is that clear?” Her last question was directed towards Brightrose, and he gave her his most charming smile.
“My good lady, we would never dream of disrupting your business. In fact, please allow me to clear our dishes for you. Fireflower?” He stood up, nudging his brother, who blinked as he came out of his reverie. “Help me with these, will you?” Brightrose explained as he gathered up the plates and utensils. Fireflower seemed confused by what was going on, but followed his brother’s lead.
After they’d taken the dishes out to the kitchen, Fireflower started to head back, but Brightrose pulled him aside, pulling him into a hallway apart from the dining area. Once he was sure they were alone, Brightrose looked at Fireflower, his earlier playfulness gone. “What’s wrong?”
“Huh?”
“What’s going on with you?” pressed Brightrose. “You’ve been spacing out most of the day, and you’ve barely said two words in the last hour.”
Fireflower’s brow furrowed. Had he really been that out of it? “Nothing, I just…it’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing,” insisted Brightrose. “The last time you were like this was when you accidently set Rockwood’s hair on fire and were insisting that you’d never use magic again.”
Fireflower flushed at the memory. “I was seven years old then!”
“Exactly. And that’s the way you’re acting now. So I’m asking you, what’s going on?” Brightrose paused for a moment, and when no answer was forthcoming, ventured ahead. “Is this about that mare you told me about before? Sonata?”
Fireflower winced, and Brightrose knew he was right. “You should go see her.”
But Fireflower was already shaking his head. “I saw her earlier today. I don’t have any good reason to go see her again.”
Brightrose smiled softly. “Being in love with her isn’t a good reason?”
“It’s not like…it’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not. It’s incredibly simple. You’re in love with her. You should go to her and tell her that.”
“Why?” Fireflower shook his head, a resigned expression on his face. “So she can tell me that she thinks I’m sweet, and a very good friend, but that she doesn’t feel the same way? I already know that. I don’t need to put both of us through making her say it.”
“You don’t know that she’ll say that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Fire-”
“Yes, I do.” Fireflower repeated, his expression was now one of total certitude. “The entire time we were together, she was thinking about Lex. He was all she talked about, all she thought about. I knew it, but…I didn’t want to accept it. And then I saw how utterly heartbroken she was when she thought he was dying.” He shook his head at the memory. “You remember her expression when you healed him? She never looked at me that way. Not even close. So yeah, I know that’s what she’ll say if I tell her my feelings.”
Brightrose was silent in the wake of his brother’s protest, digesting what he’d said. Seconds ticked by before he replied. “I still think you should tell her.”
Fireflower snorted, but Brightrose kept going. “Look, I’m not going to claim that I understand what you’re going through right now. But I know that even when I get turned down, I don’t regret making passes at pretty girls. I do regret the ones I don’t ever make a pass at to begin with.”
“I think it’s a little different than that.” Fireflower rolled his eyes at the comparison.
“Nah,” grinned Brightrose, his earlier joviality returning. “I think it’s exactly like that, just a lot more intense.” He wrapped a leg over his brother’s shoulders, guiding him back towards the dining area, the conversation apparently being over. “Anyway, in the meantime I’m going to find you a nice rebound mare. For starters, what do you think of Busy Bee?”
“Brightrose…” groaned Fireflower, giving a rueful grin.
“I’m totally serious. I think she was making eyes at you back there.” Pleased that he’d gotten his brother to crack a smile, Brightrose kept laying it on as he led Fireflower back to the others.
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We get introduced to Lucy Doo, and the Spiders try and make amends in the resteraunt buisiness?
Interesting twists. Lex and Sonata meet other ponies. First love is not necessarilly best, and hopefully not last love. Although, I would ship NoseyLex before I shipped RibbonLex.
Well, aside from the whole getting mind controlled business, the mayor seems to be a capable politician though she seems to be the type to wear her heart on her sleeves, metaphorically speaking so I can see why she wanted to resign in the first place and why she kept Lucy employed.
Feels like Lex didn't want the townsponies to see him in his state probably to ensure that they won't view him as someone weak rather and avoid their sympathy than anything else. Still, unless he has healing magic, he really needs some medical attention.
Fireflower...happy to be with his family again and though Brightnose's apparent nature as a flirt, they're already annoying him as siblings do and he's more than happy to put up with it. Though if I'm correct, he's going to get his chance to talk to Sonata pretty soon.
Hmm, no typos.
So, Lex has yet to do anything with his two cities. Is this going to be a tale of two cities? Beyond that, what he wants to do will take years to implement, but the public may not like some of them.
7732668 It's not an introduction. She was introduced way back in chapter 24 (although she was originally called "Loosey," which I've since changed to its current spelling).
7732710 Really? I'm surprised. While Nosey can be a lot of fun, I don't see any sparks between her and Lex at all.
7733329 The funny thing is that Ribbon Cutter was initially envisioned as a weak character who did little more than ceremonial duties, hence her name. In fact, she quickly shaped up to be exactly the opposite!
You're right that Lex doesn't want the public to see him as being weakened by his injuries. Given that he's ashamed to have been hurt so badly to begin with, since he feels that showcases how badly he managed that fight, he certainly doesn't want to broadcast that to anypony else. The irony, of course, is that nopony else would likely draw that conclusion, and probably wouldn't care even if they did. He fought a dragon, for crying out loud! Of course he'd be hurt bad! But that kind of insight into others is something Lex isn't capable of.
My goals for the scenes with Fireflower's family were twofold. The first was to make sure that each of his siblings had a distinctive personality. The second was to show that their interaction with each other felt like how I think real siblings interact: a thin surface layer of annoying each other, underneath which is a deep well of love and support. Brightrose is quite happy to tease Fireflower (along with all the rest of his brothers and sisters), but when he sees that something is really wrong, he'll try to help.
7735227 Heh, that "tale of two cities" joke was top-notch.
As for whether the public likes what Lex tries to do...well, we'll see how that goes. Lex has a habit of doing what he thinks is best for everyone, without regard to how others feel about it (since he obviously knows better).
7735669
Yes, of course he knows better.
7736129 The kicker is that he oftentimes does, which makes what he says all the more unpalatable to the people who are put off by him.
7736222
He knows how to govern, and do magic. Anything else? Otherwise, he just seems to think he is right, simply because he has been right most of the time before. And btw, what Myers Briggs personality type would he be? I just found mine, and I'm wondering if his is close to mine, since it seems some of the things he does sounds like me.
7736313 I haven't had much of a chance to drive this point home, but Lex's skill at magic and governing necessarily indicate mastery of myriad sub-disciplines that make up such large "umbrella" areas of skill. For example, as part of his study of magic, Lex is extremely skilled at various metaphysical and theoretical sciences and mathematics. For governing, he's also extremely well-versed in politics, economics, and several philosophies (particularly moral philosophy and ethics, which he relies on heavily for how to interact with the world). There's also numerous related fields where he has working knowledge, and a heavy command of data and information to draw upon, including earth sciences, chemistry and alchemy, law and legalities, linguistics, and professional etiquette (this last one may seem odd, but refers to the rigid protocols that go along with formal political rites and rituals, and includes things like titles, terms of address, noble lineage, heraldry, etc.).
For all of the information that he has, however, he keeps trying to apply things by the book, and likewise find similar hard-and-fast rules that go into social interaction. He has severe difficulty figuring out what people mean, since it's so often different from what they say or do, and he can't figure out why they often act in a way that's not in the best interests of themselves or their community. That he can't crack that particular code is a source of continual frustration for him, because without knowing how to interact with people he can't get along with them and so can't be accepted, which (having been raised with Equestrian values) is what he wants more than anything. Likewise, he becomes even angrier when he knows that his way is better but still encounters pushback, since that completely baffles him.
I'm not sure what his Meyers-Briggs would be, I confess. I know what that test is, but I haven't run him through it. I'll see about doing that sometimes in the future, but I'm leery of trying to pin him down under a personality assessment.