Twilight Sparkle was daydreaming. When she'd become an alicorn, she knew about the responsibility. What hadn't expected was the Goddesses-damned waiting.
Wait, was that sacrilegious? Now that she was an alicorn, was she...? No. No, she wasn't on par with them. But even without that, she'd been Celestia's student for years, was she even up to that standard? She was far from infallible. And what about Cadence?
Twilight was snapped out of her reverie by the sound of somepony clearing their throat. Or, well, somebody, since it was Spike. He looked concerned.
"Twilight! Are you even paying attention? I've been trying to tell you for ages that Scribble is here! He finally found that construction pony you've been looking for," Spike paused for a breath, "and he's waiting outside for you."
"Okay, tell him he can come in whenever he's ready. I had another appointment but so far that's a no show."
"Twilight," Spike furrowed his brow, "Scribble is your appointment. And he's only ten minutes late."
Ignoring the slight tic in her eye, Twilight responded, "Oh. I suppose you could go let him in now then."
Watching Spike hurry his way to open the doors at the opposite end of the throne room, Twilight reflected that maybe she should give herself a break. Visit her parents maybe. Or maybe... maybe she really did need to step down a little. Get Pen Scribble to delegate some of these things to other ponies. Celestia wasn't infallible after all, and when she had reassured Twilight saying she'd be able to handle anything that came at her, she probably hadn't foreseen an entire city being one of those things.
Twilight glanced out the doors as they were opened just enough to let Scribble and a wiry looking unicorn step in, the latter carrying a briefcase overflowing with blue parchments. Four years ago, she would've seen a neat little town through the slit, busying itself with repairing the scars Tirek had left in the wake of his epic battle with her. Now though? Now, she saw a metropolis.
Archer Stone was sweating his fetlocks off. Regardless, he didn't feel like he was making much of a difference. With his back against the giant boulder, side by side with his two brothers-in-law, he heaved again. Maybe he wasn't helping much. This was earth pony work, requiring great stamina and even greater strength, the first he had, the second was debatable. Pegasi just weren't known for being exceptionally strong. Well, there were exceptions. One exception in particular, but that was irrelevant. Archer readied himself for another heave, picturing some rather spectacular white muscles to serve as a very strange source of motivation.
"Archer! What are you up to?"
At the sound of his wife's voice, Archer separated himself from his companions. The boulder continued to move at the same inexorable pace. His departure was noted by nothing more than a sidelong glance and a little chuckle from one of the pair.
"Archer, come quickly! River's walking!"
A huge smile on his face, Archer Stone rushed across the family farm, taking to his wings and rushing to cradle his wife Alabaster, who was coaxing the first steps from their first foal. Nothing could spoil this, he thought. He loved the farm, even if he'd have to resign himself to the small rocks to be helpful. His pride was a small price to pay for the comfort it afforded Alabaster to be close to home. Archer looked into her soft buttery eyes as she kept them trained on River. A slight glance to her side caught Archer gazing unabashedly at her.
"What?" she smiled the word, an inner light seeming to suffuse her features.
"Oh, nothing," Archer rested his forehead against hers, "Just thinking how awfully lucky a stallion I am."
Alabaster chuckled and closed her eyes, seeming to just drink in the moment.
"Oh, Archer. I don't think you could even start to comprehend how lucky of a mare I am."
She chuckled a little at her own joke before picking up her filly and leaning against Archer once more. They stayed there, unmoving, until her brothers stomped in and the sun began to set. Celestia's work done, they shared each other's warmth as Luna began hers, only the barely perceptible smudge of a city on the horizon and the muted sounds of the brothers' conversation inside to remind them that they weren't the only ponies in the world. For all it mattered, though, they might as well have been. As a chill breeze began to roll in and River started to fuss, Alabaster shifted and, giving Archer a quick peck on the cheek, made her way into the house, the old mesh door protesting as she did. Shortly after, Archer followed her in, leaving one last parting glance to the encroaching night.
Slowly, imperceptibly, the city seemed to let out a breath.
And slowly, imperceptibly, it advanced.
Author's Note
Wow. Okay. I've had this project started for a really long time, but you know what? That's okay. If I would've written this when I'd planned, it would not be very good. Still might not be, but I have my hopes. If you're reading this, please, leave comments! Tell me how I'm doing, tell me how to improve! I hope to actually continue this project now I've started it, but if I don't, just yell at me. That should do the trick.
“Forest! Get your sorry ass up! You’re wasting daylight!”
If there was an award for shouting, Dad would win. It’s not that I don’t like him, but Archer Stone is not known for mincing words, nor for saying those he does choose at any decent decibel level. Sometimes I think he could teach even the Princesses a thing or two about projecting their voices. It’s even worse considering his voice is usually the first thing I hear every morning, after another too short sleep. I look out the window and don’t even see the faintest hint of dawn. What in Tartarus am I supposed to be up for now?
“FOREST!”
Never mind, I think I already know. When he’s excited enough to wake me up before Celestia herself even considers the idea, it means we have a job to do. And when we have a job to do, it means I am going to end the day sore in places I forgot even existed. Last time, it was helping raise a barn for the Apples, who seem to be the only farmers left in the whole area. Naturally, Dad’s friends with them and not the Hooffields or the Marmalades, whose foals don’t even have to do any kind of chores at all! It’s all about “hard work” with Dad, and how I’ll be better off someday because of it. Load of dragon dung is all it really is, especially when it involves mornings this early.
“GET THE FUCK DOWN HERE FOREST, BEFORE I COME UP MYSELF!”
Okay, definitely not going to stall anymore, or I’ll get the hardest job. Not that I won’t already, but Dad somehow manages to be able to make it harder somehow. Dad says it “builds character.” I say it doesn’t build anything more than muscles, or perhaps a deep seated resentment for manual labor. Of course, refusing is out of the question with Dad, so I drag myself out of bed.
“Coming, Dad!”
“You better be, and make it snappy or you aren’t getting breakfast!”
Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit. Dad’s work outings are bad enough on a full stomach, and I’m not going to attempt one hungry ever again. I swear I’m still cramping up from that one. Stupid rock.
Anyway, I should probably introduce myself. I’m Forest Stone, and before you say anything about my name, yes, I know it’s stupid. I hate it, in fact. Mom wanted to name me something in honor of the move to Everfree, and Dad suggested Forest. Original, eh? Well, Mom didn’t marry Dad for his brains; that we know. It was because, as Dad puts it, he was brave. I know that to mean reckless. It’s why Dad broke his wing last week after he picked a fight with a Timber Wolf. True, it was frighteningly close to the house, but it was still quite rash. Anyway, since Mom was such a kind soul and didn’t want to hurt Dad’s feelings (or something like that) she agreed to name me Forest. Forest Stone. It isn’t even clever. Craggy Stone? River Stone? Sure, they get good names. My luck to be the only foal in Equestria with such a nonsense name. And yes, you heard me right. I live in Everfree, why that is I’ve never understood. Dad says it’s because Mom didn’t like cities, and that when her family’s rock farm got shut down by those two frauds and their “So-much Stronger Rock Roller 6000” they couldn’t afford to move anywhere other than a cheap apartment in Ponyville or, well, do what they did and carve a homestead out of the forest. Dad could’ve just moved to a cloud, but Mom was an earth pony, and he would never have left her, so he agreed to move to Everfree with her. I suppose she still keeps him here even now, since I can’t imagine that it’s all because Craggy is an earthy too. Dad’s already tried to kick him out of the house after all, but that dunce just built a shack right next to the house and sleeps in it. I’m pretty sure Dad was only okay with that since he’s so strong, and that’s definitely been useful before. Us pegasi just aren’t built for some of the things Dad wants to do.
Anyway, I rush downstairs, and – Thank the Sisters! – breakfast is in no danger of ending anytime soon. I fill my plate full of eggs and carrots, ignoring River’s glare (she always thinks I eat too much. Hey, I’m a growing colt!) and fall to with a vengeance. I’m always really hungry in the morning. Come to think of it, I’m always hungry. Craggy must have been too, since his plate was at least twice as full as mine, and he’d already finished what appeared to be half that, judging by the carrot stalks alone. River haughtily appraised the two of us as she picked at her single egg. She fancies herself to be more sophisticated than the rest of us, for some reason. I mean really, we’re all living in the middle of the woods like a bunch of savages, what makes her any different? Of course, Dad is drinking one of his protein shakes again because he can’t be bothered cooking his own eggs I guess. Pretty soon I know what we’re expected to do today. A tree had fallen not too far from the north creek, and we were going to retrieve it and break it up for firewood. That meant we were going by the Cliff, which is fairly deep in Everfree. Remember what I said about reckless? It also meant it was going to be nearly an hour’s trot from here, and quite a bit longer on the way back, dragging the heavy tree. Today was going to be hard work, even if we didn’t encounter any of the many denizens of the forest.
There was a knock on the door.
Dad perked up. “That’s probably our help now.”
Our help? Right, whenever we go this deep into Everfree, Dad likes to bring a unicorn along with us. A very specific unicorn. It’s pretty obvious Dad has the hots for her, and River and Craggy say that these longer hauls are an excuse to bring Miss Golden Sunrise along with us, since she knows a good animal repelling spell. Whatever the reasons, I just know that I’m fucking tired of these far trips. A couple hours pulling a whole damn tree? Everyone’s practically dead by the time we get back, but all for Dad’s marefriend, right? Ugh.
Sure enough, when Dad opens the door, Golden strides in. I really can’t blame Dad for liking her so much. She really is a fine mare. A bit old for me, but I can see the appeal. She’s quite “petite” as River says, which means “pretty darn small.” Still, she walks with the confidence of a pony twice her size. She’s very sweet, too. Even Dad swears less when he’s around her.
Anyway, Golden strides in. Her coat was the color of pink lemonade, and her mane was yellow and orange. Her name definitely fits. I look around at the rest of my family, and she definitely stands out. River's azure, with a frothy white mane. Come to think of it, her name is pretty damn appropriate too. Craggy’s coat is a steely blue color, his close cut mane a muted yellow, the only warm color in the room besides our guest. I look down at my own gray coat, a very light shade. Green hairs fall in front of my face as I do, slightly obscuring my vision. Green and gray. Just like a mossy stone, which might have been my name if it wasn’t already my grandpa’s. Dad closes the door and reveals himself, tan and brown with a bulls-eye on his rump. After offering Golden something to eat and her choosing a single carrot, he grabs his bow and quiver from the wall.
“Alright gang, we’re moving out! Craggy, get your harness, River, Forest, ropes and saws! The sooner we’re done, the sooner you’re free for the day!”
At least that was a relief, still, I had to run the risk this would take all day. I would rather accept that than not, though. Rushing to the shed with my sister, I grabbed the aforementioned items.
“You ready for another joyful frolic in the woods?” River smirked at me.
I let out a deep huff.
“Yeah. Me too.”
Author's Note
So. I had really hoped to continue this fic but truthfully I just don't see it happening. It's just been too long, and the spark's gone out for me. But, well, if anyone wants an editor or a friend please feel free to message me. I really do want to give back to this community, just don't seem to know how. Until then, over and out.
