A New Impetusby ZykovChapters2. Hard Labor3. Helping Hoof4. Bonds5. Change6. No-Bell Poet7. Out Of Order8. Three Diamonds10. Bonjour, Mon Ami! Part 211. Farewell, For Now13. Jobseeker14. Restoration Destination15. Rancher16. Home Sweet Home17. Housewarming18. Plans19. Well This Is Awkward21. The Castle22. Shadow Passages23. Rampage Inside24. The "Shadow Pony"25. Slumberland of Old Friends26. Soul Day1. You Got Company9. Bonjour, Mon Ami! Part 112. Welcome To Ponyville20. An Awkward Walk In The Words2. Hard LaborJust a few blocks away at the Hotel Liákada of Canterlot, the top floor pool that is normally buzzing with excitement was closed due to rain, but one of the many entertainment rooms down on the lower floors was catering a party. There many fine, sophisticated mares and stallions were dining and filling the room with idle chit chat. The hotel was known as one of the best up and coming five star hotels in Equestria and after it’s grand opening has catered to some of the most important ponies in all of Equestria. Most ponies believe that anypony that enters its doors instantly becomes happier; though that is not the case for everypony. In the Northeast side of the hotel, in the employee service elevator stood a stallion. A tan furred, black maned and blue eyed stallion named Noble. He wore his usual red bellhop uniform and a frown upon his face with lowered, empty eyes. The elevator reached the first floor, halting and opening it’s doors. Noble stepped out, turning as he exited but was cut off by his manager, Double Bit, a unicorn mare with a large build, orange fur and a dark red mane. Although the hotel had not been open very long Double Bit had been hired a few months ago, but all of the employees were still having a very hard time settling in to her style of leadership. Noble stopped quickly, standing up straight and snapping to attention as soon as he saw her. “Hello manager Bit. What can I do for you now ma’am?” He knew he must be polite and quick in his replies or else his manager would become agitated again. The mare stood with a scowl on her face and brow angled glaring at the employee, “Noble Poet! I have been searching for you. Great Equestria are you just getting back from taking Mr. Steel Wheel’s bags to his room?” Her loud shrill tone echoed through the halls as she scolded the earth pony. Taking a step back and lowering his frame, Noble closed his eyes and opened them again, looking toward her. “No. I mean yes. Er… Yes ma’am. I am back from delivering his bags, though I was only gone for 10 minutes. His room was at the other end of the hotel and I had to wait for the elevator. I’m sorry ma’am,” he quickly spoke and shifted his weight to hide the bit Steel Wheel had given him for being so quick and delicate with his bags. The stallion knew that Double Bit had been enforcing a new rule where all tips go to the hotel instead of to the ponies they were given to. “Never mind, it can’t be helped now.” Bit examined the stallions uniform, looking him over top to bottom, until something slightly shiny caught her eye hanging on Noble’s neck. “Noble! Put those dog tags away! Such a worthless bauble in not acceptable in a Liakada’s uniform, especially for somepony like you!” Lowering his head and drooping his eyes further down, Noble let out a soft almost silent sigh before looking up with a stoic expression as he responded, “Yes ma’am. I will make sure you don’t have to see them again.” He quickly slid his tags up and into his shirt. “May I go now madam?” The mare lowered her tone. “You may go, though we need you in catering for entertainment room C. We have a very important party there today, so be quick about it and I do not desire to hear about any more mishaps!” She leaned in toward Noble, raising her head and raising an eyebrow. After Noble gave her a nod, she before turned around and walked back toward the main lobby to interact with guests. As the mare walked away, Noble’s body became more at ease, turning the other way and headed off toward the kitchen. “I hope Sharp Melody is there, I sure could use one of his stories today,” he murmured to himself as he walked through the gray corridors. The side door opened and Noble stepped into the kitchen, closing it behind him. “Hi everypony. I was told you need some help here for the event. What exactly do you need help with?” He asked as he walked toward the order window peering in at the cooks and chefs awaiting a response. All of them had been silently working, in repetitive manors. The pony at the stove top finally looked back over his shoulder. “Ehh, Noble! Could ya give Melody ah hand? Devil Bitter demanded he work and I think he’s havin’ some trouble with those sacks ah potatoes. Poor guy, how old he is again…? Don’t know why his playin’ the piano ain’t enough for that mare,” The stallion explained, leading into a short rant. Noble chuckled at the clever nickname for his boss, but quickly came back, though this time his smile being a little softer and kinder. “Sure thing. Is there anything besides potatoes that you need from the pantry?” Noble turned his head and tilted making sure he could hear as he already turned toward the pantry. The pony on the prep station shook his head. “No, we will be fine. Thank you for checking though,” the pony replied, looking up revealing a genuine smile that was a rarity, especially at the hotel. “No problem, always happy to help.” Noble nodded, giving a small salute and flicking his wrist toward the ponies to show he was leaving. He galloped to the pantry, beginning to speak as he rounded the corner, “Hello Mr…. Oh my gosh…” Noble’s sentence was cut short as he saw the frail, blue furred pegasus with a thin white mane trapped underneath a large sack of potatoes. The young stallion quickly gripped the sack with his teeth and pulled it off of the old pegasus and tossed it aside with ease. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Finally being saved, Sharp Melody slowly rolled over and lifted a hoof asking for assistance getting up from his younger co-worker. “I am far too old for this! Ohh I signed up to be a pianist, not carry groceries back and forth!” The gray pony stretched his back and caused several snaps and pops from it. He then turned to look at the worried young stallion before him. “Ah, thank you Noble. You are a nice fellow. I’m alright. I don’t think anything is broken.” Giving a sigh and wiping his brow with the back of his hoof the young pony collected his thoughts before asking, “Why in Equestria did you try to take a sack of potatoes from the upper shelf when we could use some form the lower shelf and go through them just as fast?” Melody looked up at the ceiling while rubbing his chin. “Oh I had just wanted to take the older potatoes so we could use em before they go bad,” the old pony said, while making a step toward the potato sack. After hearing the reasoning, the Noble nodded and put a hoof out stopping his elder. “I’m relieved that you are alright. I guess it was at least a good idea to try to get these potatoes. I’ll carry them back though. No offense but I believe your place is in front of a piano, not back here,” he said before biting and tossing the sack onto his back, turning and making a motion that they should walk back to the kitchen. The old pony nodded in agreement. He shook slightly and then turned his hoof shakily before putting it down to begin walking. “Oh, don’t worry, no offense is taken. I only took the job of being a piano steed, I didn’t sign up for manual labor that is suited for you strong young bucks.” Noble stopped at the kitchen and gently set the sack of potatoes in the corner so the cooks and chefs could see it. He then looked toward Melody. “Please continue, I am listening, I’m just trying to work at the same time. Though if you are unhappy with what Bit asks you to do why don’t you leave?” Sharp Melody had found a chair off to the side of the door that servers normally sat in during their breaks. Giving a nod he turned around and sat down in the chair, crossing his forelegs as he watched everypony work, a smile creeping on his face. “Don’t worry lad, I understand. I wouldn’t want to interrupt anypony’s work, I just enjoy sharing my thoughts with younger ponies. As far as why I don’t leave… well I still love playin’ the piano. And this job does let me play.” He gave a deep sigh. “I also do need the money, my career was good. But not good enough to last me through all ah my retirement. I still need this job to help cover my medical and living expenses.” The earth pony stopped as he was pulling a tray of champagne glasses out of the serving window. He stared at his fellow employee. “I can relate with needing money… It truly is sad that you have to work for this manager. Of course I’ll continue to help you with any physical task she orders you to do. If I can help that is.” “I would be very appreciative, though, of course I don’t want to get you in any trouble. I will do what I can to keep my job and do my fair share of the work,” spoke the old pegasus. He sat in silence, giving Noble his cue that he would wait to speak when he came back. Noble picked up on the hint and quickly pushed open the exit door, picking up a tray and putting on a smile as he walked among the rich ponies, all whom were sipping drinks, eating small snacks, and talking without a care in the world. The earth pony actually heard one of the ponies who took a drink from his tray, complain that he had so much money he had no idea what to do with it. Noble could only wish he had that problem. He made two circles around the event, clearing his tray of full glasses and collecting empty ones before walking back into the kitchen. Without missing a beat, the pegasus who still sat in the extra chair spoke to Noble each time Noble reentered the serving room, “Have I ever told you about my performance of Treble Clef’s op. 25 no. 1 at the Cloudsdale theater?” A glimmer shone over his eyes. Noble put the tray of empty glasses in the dish washing window before tapping the side of the serving window, signaling that he needs another tray of drinks or samplers while listening to the pegasus. “I don’t believe I have, I have heard of it before though. My friend, Wild Soul showed me a video of it once.” “Oh? You have a friend whom is a pianist as well? Where is he boy? I’d like ta meet him and see if I can pass on any tricks to a younger pianist. Becoming a pianist is a wonderful dream to have,” Melody replied while leaning forward in his seat while the glimmer in his eyes shined even brighter. Noble looked toward the serving window where the kitchen was busy frantically trying to make a tray giving him a small window of time to talk. “I don’t think he would call himself a pianist, he just does it as… more of a hobby.” He started rubbing his chin and lowered his gaze. “I guess the title he is aiming for is called art director… He’s a creative designer, you see.” “Pardon me, lad! Ah suppose I jumped to conclusions too soon,” Melody said with a forced smile upon his face, though it quickly caused a glimmer in his eye. “But it’s such a wonderful hobby to have. To be able to play and fill every filly & colt’s hearts in the room with the same feeling you have… ah it is the most wonderful feeling of all.” His voice started becoming a little raspy. “I don’t doubt it. It must be an amazing feeling.” Melody gave Noble a nod before speaking up again, “So…” The old pegasus leaned forwards, locking his eyes on Noble. “Your fella has a big dream, I suppose, but what about you, lad? Working in a hotel doesn’t seem to fit your cutie mark at all.” Noble immediately turned to look at his flank, though his magenta colored quill was concealed by his red pants, though it’s not like Melody has never seen Noble’s cutie mark before. There was a brief moment of silence before he let out a gloomy sigh and spoke up, “I suppose it doesn’t, but an earth pony can’t be picky about his job in Canterlot, and poetry isn’t the best way to earn… To be honest, I’m not really sure what I want. I haven’t even had time to write in a long time...” “Noble, take some advice from your elder. That mark is on your flank for a reason. You can’t play with your destiny,” The old stallion’s voice growing raspier by the minute. Noble’s ears folded back. “I know that, I know.” One of the serving ponies finished a plate of lettuce wrapped, rice and asparagus rolls and placed it up in the window. She tapped the side, signaling that the order was up and as soon as she heard the cough from her elder, she filled a glass of water and gently placed it next to the tray. Noble turned back to see the tray and water. “Thank you all!” he quickly lifted the glass with his hooves and balanced it on a single hoof, carrying it over to his fellow employee. Sharp Melody gently took the glass from his associate, sipping at it before resting it in his lap. “Thank you. And pardon me, again. Ah didn’t mean to lower your mood. I think I should continue my story.” He cleared his throat and the old pegasus began to tell his tale. ”So, it was summer and we were in the Cloudsdale theater…” Moving out the door with the platter, Noble knew Sharp Melody was going to continue talking even while he was not there, so he continued to circle the event, allowing ponies to take the morsels from the tray until he finished and again collected empty glasses. While Noble and other servers were running in and out of the kitchen, Sharp Melody continued his story, “...I had just lost the pony of my dreams. I poured all of my emotion from that event into my piano…” The pegasus rose his forehooves, moving them through the air as if playing the grand instrument. After about two hours of going back and forth between the event room and the kitchen, Noble stopped. The kitchen staff had ceased posting orders out when they should be sending out extra stuffed mushrooms which was the staffs’ specialty. “What’s wrong? Is everything ok back there chef?” Noble called through the window. One of the cooks, a green maned and yellow furred unicorn ran to the window in a flash. “Oh no! No no no! This is bad! We are out of mushrooms! We still have 10 dozen stuffed mushrooms to send out!” The kitchen was in an uproar as more and more of the servers showed up and were only able to take out drinks. Eventually the lack of appetizers caught the attention of Double Bit. The doors leading from the event center to the kitchen flung open, revealing all the ponies manager, Double Bit. “What in Equestria is the hold up?! We were supposed to have our famous stuffed mushrooms flying out those doors right now!” Double Bit yelled motioning a leg toward the doors she just came through toward the event. The member of the cook staff looked through the serving window. Sweat was dripping off her face and she looked back toward her fellow cooks and the head chef before gulping to speak in a squeaky voice, “Ma’am… we… we don’t have any more mushrooms.” Manager Bit stomped her hoof. “What?!!! What pony is in charge of ordering more mushrooms?!! Somepony is about to be out of a job!” Her voice shrieked and her eyes darted around the room. Everypony lowered their heads or turned their head as not to make eye contact with her. Being nudged by the head chef, the lowly cook quietly spoke up, “Y… yyyyo… yyyyou are ma’am. Remember, you took that responsibility after you thought the head chef ordered too many eggs for our last brunch event.” Upon saying those words, she sank until only her eyes were visible through the window. As soon as the words registered in the manager’s ears, she stood still; an eerie silence filling the room. “Well I will require more notice next time when we are running low on an item. I expect somepony to come up with a new appetizer that can be made, and can be made post heist! If we don’t get another star appetizer out there soon, I will be looking for new ponies to hire who can! Sharp Melody! Go out there and play for the crowd!” The old pony rose from his chair, stepping through the open door quietly disappearing into the room full of rich bustling ponies. This was followed by Double Bit herself stepping back through the doors and closing them as she returned to the party. “Oh no… what can we do?” One of the cooks in the kitchen shrieked. “Quiet I’m trying to think!” The head chef ordered in response. Different pony voices rang from the kitchen. The place was becoming extremely hot with almost all of the hotel staff being contained there, the only breeze coming from the opening of the doors as servers continued to keep drink orders flowing. Noble, whom still had his head down from Manager Bit’s rant, lifted his head up. He stood for a moment watching everypony sit, argue or hastily work in attempts to keep their jobs. He walked back to the storage unit looking at the cabbage, potatoes, eggplant, and bananas along with many other foods they had. Thinking for a moment, he clapped his hooves together, turning to run back to the kitchen window. “Why would we suddenly serve deviled eggs again?!! We have to think of something more creative than that!” Arguing still ensuing from the kitchen making other staff members rub their legs and continue to keep their heads low. “Excuse me, Chef.” The voice from the window belonged to Noble. “I have an idea for a dish. Or.. well two dishes… they will sound odd but they may work. If myself and other ponies bring you the ingredients.” The chefs immediately turned to look at the bellhop with blank looks on their faces. Noble’s voice trembled. “Do you think you could cut the bananas into slices, pan grill potato slices, then put the banana on top and grate just a little aged swiss on top? That will be one appetizer. The other could be slices of fried banana on a piece of toast with cocoa spread.” The bellhop clenched his teeth together, watching the kitchen staff's’ reactions. The staff looked at one another, widening their eyes and nodding. “Those actually don’t sound like bad ideas. They would mix savory and sweet then transition to a sweet filling dessert. Exquisite idea! Yes please hurry.” The green maned cook flipped her hoof toward Noble. Noble smiled and galloped to the storage room, followed by other employees. Together they gathered the necessary ingredients and placed them beside the kitchen. Within fifteen minutes, trays were being made and could be taken out to hungry guests. As trays were finished, the staff members carried their entrees out to the hungry guests. The green maned cook in the back looked through the window at Noble as he stepped up to get a tray himself. “Wow! That was some great thinking Noble. You really saved the day.” She gave a genuine smiled pushing the tray closer. Noble leaned his head down, giving himself a small grin. “Thank you... Truffle? I... didn’t mess up the names again, did I? You know just how bad my memory is, especially when we haven’t talked in, what feels like ages.” Noble looked up making eye contact as he balanced the tray on a hoof. “Nope.” Truffle nodded biting her bottom lip, holding in a giggle, before she slid down out of sight. After getting praised, Noble took a deep breath, walking through the doors standing tall a little easier. He delivered all of the food on his tray and went back getting his second tray and while looking at the clock on the wall, he realized that there were just eighteen more minutes before Double Bit would give a speech and bring the event to a close. Some of the staff were already gathering cleaning materials so they could clean up the event and conclude their work day immediately afterward. The rich ponies picked the delights off the tray. Unknown to Noble, one of the high class ponies took a sip of one of the drink samples. She turned her head, gagging as the liquid hit her lips. She looked at it once more and noticing that no pony was looking at her and not wishing to wait for a server to come to relieve her of her glass, she released her magic, dropping it to the ground. Finishing his round, looking about for other ponies who could finish the try, Noble did not see the new spill on the ground. As his front hoof touched it, he was already putting weight on it and had no time to save himself. His hoof slipped under him and the tray flew up in the air; kicking off with his hind hooves, the stallion slid forward catching the platter with a hoof, but although most of the treats fell on the tray, two fell and splattered on his head. The music stopped as Sharp Melody had seen the incident and a high class mare caught the view out of the corner of her eye and began to laugh, her outburst bringing attention to the scene. Noble pulled himself up, slowly regaining his balance and hearing the mocking laughter of the fancy crowd. Any trace of his smile had vanished as the stallion looked around, seeing the empty faces laughing at him. He covered his face, wiping the food off as his body shook and he felt an unswallowable lump forming in his throat. The high class ponies continued to laugh, drowning out the sound of the piano and some placed their glasses down from a lack of concentration. Clenching his teeth and holding back the moisture forming on his eyes, the stallion continued to shake but sniffled holding himself back before picking up the tray and dashing for the kitchen door. As he disappeared through the doors, his manager Double Bit laughed with the other ponies, but much harder, a more broken laugh as she looked around herself. When the laughter began to die down when Noble ran through the doors, she flicked her hoof indicating that one of the staff ponies should gather the plates to wrap up the brunch event. When the doors flung open on the kitchen side, Noble tossed his tray in the washing bay. He took some paper towels from a side table of extras and wiped the remaining food off of his face and using another began attempting to clean his uniform. The laughter from those ponies still rang in his ears and he lifted one more napkin which he quickly blew his nose into, giving a little sigh. Most ponies paid no mind and simply prepared for clean up. Once his uniform was clean, the kitchen door swung open once more. Double Bit stepped in glaring more harshly than usual. “NOBLE POET!” Her voice caused the kitchen staff to jump and the crashing of pans that could be heard throughout the back. “What was that hilariously pathetic scene?! Why did you do something so foolish just before the event ended?” Her voice was shrill and continued to cause stairs. Noble’s heart jumped to his throat once he saw his boss. The stallion pushed the used napkins in the nearest trashcan. He could do nothing but stand and prevent making eye contact as he was scolded while listening to his own, rapid heartbeat. When his boss stopped and continued to glare Noble thought over what he could say. The ball in his throat was gone and now his body began to grow warmer. His body shook while he closed his eyes and felt his muscles tighten in his forehooves as he wished to strike her. One of the long term workers at the hotel looked on while she held a broom waiting for her manager’s que to go. Although she was witnessing her fellow employee being yelled at, she stood there with a hollow smile gazing at her leader. Noble knew he had to calm down and could not cause a fuss since he needed his job. Explaining the situation would do nothing, so he was left with simply taking a deep breaths and apologizing. “I am sorry ma’am. I will be more careful and aware next time.” His voice was fading as he clenched his teeth together. “Very well, see that it doesn’t and that you are! That goes for all of you!” Bit looked over the other staff before turning abruptly, stomping her hoof and walking out the door with her nose up in the air. A slight murmur came from staff members with equipment to clean up. Noble looked in their direction, finally able to glare while he held his head down. “Yeah! Be more careful No-bell Poet!” The mare with a broom chanted before letting out an irregular laugh, which a few other long term ponies joined in on. Noble’s eyes peered up, piercing through the pony. Noble lifted a hoof and flung it into the nearby cement wall with an echoing thud and a rumble. Noble simply stood there breathing slowly, his hoof shaking from pain and anger. All the laughing stopped in the back halls. Sitting quiet for a moment, watching the earth pony regain his composure before a small voice, belonging to Truffle, came from the kitchen. “Noble? Are... are you alright...? We... have something for you.” Truffle slid one of Noble’s fried banana samplers on toast with cocoa spread into the window. “You can relax, I’m sure the others can clean up in a moment.” Rubbing the forehoof of the leg he punched the wall with, Noble looked up at the kind offering. He turned his focus to the other staff, some of them looking on blankly at the clock and doorway while holding mops and brooms. He breathed deeply again and gave a deep sigh. A small smile rose upon his face though. “Thank you, Truffle…” He spoke softly as his eyes lowered and he looked up at the window as he took the sampler. As he took a bite, he smirked slightly. Noble had not expected the flavors to mix as well as they had, it was nice that he had some associates at work that were willing to help one another. The door opened again as Double Bit leaned in and waved her hoof in a circle, signaling to the staff that the event is over and they can come out and begin cleaning up. Noble’s fellow employees disappeared through the doors, paying him no mind. Noble figured he could sit back and finish his snack and help the kitchen staff once he was finished. Truffle walked around into the main room sitting down beside Noble. “Are you alright now? You seemed pretty angry before. Luckily you don’t seem to have any glass in your hooves.” She reached out patting her associate on the shoulder giving him a big smile. The stallion gave a light chuckle. “Thank you... You are always very kind. How are you always so happy even when you work here for… her?” Noble shuttered and slightly tilted his head toward the door where Double Bit was last seen. Her smile shrank but remained on her face. She simply raised an eyebrow. “Oh… her! Well, luckily in the kitchen, being a lower level cook, I don’t have to see her as much. Today was the first time I had to talk to her directly in the past three days. The head chef tends to take care of most of the interactions with her.” Truffle looked around the ground where she sat and gripped the sides of her chair and began bouncing until she made a complete turn to face Noble. Noble chuckled at the odd method of turning around. “True, though, is there some other reason why you are always so happy and cheerful?” he asked as he ate the last bite of his fried banana. The mare rubbed the side of her cheek, thinking. “Well, I don’t know. I guess it helps that I have a very special somepony waiting for me when I get home. Thinking about how I will get to go back to her at the end of each day really brings a smile to this yellow face,” she spoke softly and giggled, although she was looking in Noble’s direction, it was clear that she was looking through him. Her smile told it all. Giving a smile of his own, Noble broke her fantasy. “You must really love her. I’m happy for you, I have yet to find somepony like that. Hopefully I will be ready when the time comes. By the way, thank you for the sampler, I really needed it.” He rubbed his stomach as he leaned back stretching out his back. Twiddling her hooves, Truffle leaned forward thinking after hearing that.“I’m sure you will be ready for her when you two meet. We all are just baking till we are just right.” She jumped off her seat and started heading towards the side table, starting to organize it by setting stacks of napkins back together and throwing away any used ones. “By the way, you were brilliant enough to come up with two new dishes from scratch; our chef was racking his brain trying to think of something.” Getting up as well, Noble shuffled over to help, he began throwing out some of the used plastic cups around a pitcher of water and made larger stacks. “Thank you, Truffle. I appreciate those kind words… I’m just glad I could help and that those flavors came together so well. All of you in the kitchen did a wonderful job.” He lifted his head up and raised his voice, attempting to be loud enough for the other kitchen staff to hear his praise. The mare giggled at Noble’s attempt at praising the staff. “Wow, even when you try to raise your voice you are soft spoken. Don’t worry, I’ll give your regards to the rest of the staff.” Truffle wiped down the table while Noble took the pitcher of water over to the cleaning window, leaving it for the kitchen staff to clean. “Noble,“ Truffle broke the silence. “I don’t know if you have any plans this evening, but... Would you like to come have dinner with me and my very special somepony?” Truffle tilted her head toward Noble so she could see him out of the corner of her eye as she finished cleaning off the table. Shocked by the sudden and rather odd offer, the stallion turned around pausing for a moment. “Well, uh…” closing his eyes he placed his hoof to his head as he always does when he is thinking. “Thank you for the offer; though I must refuse. I actually had plans to go with another friend of mine for cider after work.” Noble looked up again this time looking at the clock. “It’s still just two in the afternoon.” “Alright, no problem!” Truffle chanted. “Ah yes, we are finally done prepping and can simmer for the rest of the day.” Her voice chimed as she caught a glimpse of the the stallion checking the clock. “If you’d rather not go out in the entertainment room we can always use a hoof in the kitchen. Chef rarely cleans anything other than his knives.” She laughed as soon as she finished her sentence knowing how absurd it sounds. Shifting his attention back to the task at hand, the pony turned and nodded toward the mare. “Sorry but I can’t. I’m sure Double Bit will be coming back to check over our progress. I should go clean and be ready for whatever else she forces us to do. Thank you for the food and the pleasant conversation.” Rolling up his sleeves Noble bowed then pushed open the doors leading to entertainment room C. Truffle waved and returned to the kitchen herself in order to do her part in cleaning. Author's Note Cover art: http://wildsoulws.deviantart.com/art/A-New-Impetus-Chapter-2-Hard-Labor-532446617?ga_submit_new=10%253A1431540519 Truffle reference: http://pre15.deviantart.net/85e6/th/pre/i/2015/136/f/4/a_new_impetus___oc__truffle_by_wildsoulws-d8tmelk.png Fun fact: Liakada means sunshine in Greek 3. Helping HoofThe clock hit three. The rain and thunder had finally calmed down, and only a slight drizzle remained. Wild Soul looked out of the window of his office and let out a deep sigh, relieved he no longer has to worry about his stuff getting wet now. The stallion walked back over to his desk and lifted his saddlebag from the ground, setting it on his back and starting to gather his equipment: a wine red, blocky laptop, a few official papers, pens and a half-empty bottle of water. Closing the door behind him as he left the room, he walked over to a big staircase and took the staircase downstairs, heading over to the dial in order to clock out. There wasn’t much going on in the hallways. Most of the workers are either in their offices, working, or in break rooms having idle chit chats. The laughter in there could be heard all the way through the hallway. Soul very rarely joined the groups during breaks since he could never keep himself in the conversation. As Soul arrived at the dial, he saw a familiar yellow mare who was about to clock out. He thought to himself, say hi and stay to talk, or just clock out and wave to her? There wasn't really any time to 'deeply' think on this. He was still debating this decision when Mineral's voice broke his train of thought. “Oh, hello there!” Mineral chimed and immediately snapped to smile, quickly clocking herself out and turned to face at the stallion. “End of your day too, eh?” Soul immediately put on a smile too and nodded, digging up his time sheet and clocked himself out. “That’s right, nothing too interesting has been going on after my meeting. How are you feeling by the way?” He turned to look at the mare with an eyebrow raised. ”I haven’t seen you around since the cafeteria scene.” Mineral quickly stood up straight and puffed out her chest but flipped her hair back as it fell in front of her eyes. “Never better!” she declared with a strong tone but gave a chuckle afterwards, returning to a more relaxed posture. “I’ve just been resting in my office and tried to get some work done before the day ends.” Soul gave the mare a gentle nod and they started to walk towards the exit. “That’s good. It must be hard struggling with asthma, especially if you get attacks that are as bad as that last one.” Mineral’s smile fell. “Well, I admit that it’s not exactly a fun thing to have and it has affected me a lot, but...“ The smile returned to her face just as quickly as it had left and she looked around and swiped her front leg through the air. “Here I am, working in the capital of Equestria, and in one of the greatest design companies of them all.” As they reached the exit, Soul opened the door and held it for Mineral, who gave Soul a big smile and a nod as a thank you. “Very true.” Soul said and closed the door, he then looked up at the sky. “Though what startled you like that? Was it the lighting?” Soul asked as he turned to look at Mineral with wide prying eyes. Mineral’s heart skipped a beat and she let out an awkward laugh. “N-No, of course not. Only foals are afraid of lighting, right?” She crossed her forelegs as she stopped at the side walk. Before Soul even got a chance to answer, Mineral already changed the subject, she cleared her throat. “Anyway, how have you liked it here in Spectrum?” Thrown off guard by Mineral’s sudden awkward reaction, a blank look overtook Soul’s face. Mineral clearly didn’t want to talk about it, so he decided to just drop the subject. The stallion looked up at the building with a smile. “It sure has been nice working here so far.” Mineral made a bold statement, “Best workplace ever if you ask me, sis!” she chanted with a big smile on her face. “It’s fantastic that you enjoy working here.” Soul gave the mare a nod in agreement and dug up a lemon pastille package from his pocket, popping one in his mouth. “This first year here sure has treated me well.” He raised his hoof and a confident grin rose upon his face. “When I was a trainee here one and a half years ago, I was sure this was the place for me.” Mineral flicked her tail and stood a little taller as she put a hoof on her chest, holding her chin up high. “I sure know the feeling. Most of the ponies who come here usually stay here if they can. They could have a better food selection though,” she said with a bright chuckle following. Soul joined the laugh and tilted his head back and to the side. “You said it.” He was about to put the package back in his pocket, but he paused and offered one to Mineral. “Want one?” “Oh! Sure.” The mare smiled and took one of the pastilles with her magic, shifting her focus toward the sky. “Thank Celestia, the weather has gotten better.” Mineral’s statement caused a soft chuckle to escape Soul’s mouth as he lifted a hoof to ask a question. “Isn’t the weather usually used as a last resort in conversations?” Mineral replied gave a light chuckle as she shrugged, “Weather ponies must have very awkward conversations if that’s true.” A grin spread across Soul’s face and he looked away. “Good point.” Mineral turned to look at the big bell tower that was a bit further from Canterlot Spectrum. “Well, I have to go. I’m organizing an event today and being late is not a viable option.” Soul dipped his head to the side and raised his eyebrow as they stopped at the edge of the sidewalk. “That’s right, you work as an event organizer too. Almost forgot that.” Mineral gave him a nod with a big smile, placing her hoof on her chest. “Indeed! I would tell you about it but the clock is ticking.” She tapped the back of her hoof as if she had a watch on and started walking away from the stallion, but kept her attention on him. “Tomorrow you can tell me how that meeting went with that marketing director if you want.” Soul nodded and tapped his forehead with the tip of his hoof and flick his wrist as a goodbye. “Alright, sure! I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Mineral nodded back and waved her hoof before she turned to leave. Soul also began walking away in the opposite direction. Even though the rain had calmed down, Soul could still feel light drops hitting his fur. Sunbeams were brightly gleaming behind the clouds, causing the air to be rather warm. In a way, it was calming and relaxing. Though before he even reached a block away from his workplace, he felt vibrations coming from a pocket on his saddlebag. Soul immediately stopped and looked in the direction of the vibration and dug up a book with his magic. It was a small, red book with writing on it; “Instant Message.” Soul instantly stopped and was about sit on a bench nearby but at the last moment lifted his flank back up when he realized it was obviously soaking wet. The stallion just opened the book to the first page, on the upper corner it had a name written on it; 'Noble Poet.' On the page some text had appeared. “Hey Soul, I was wondering, would you like to go have some cider with me after my shift ends. I could REALLY use a drink, It’s been one of the worst days I’ve had in awhile. My normal, eat, have a few sweets, bury my head in a pillow and sleep WILL NOT cut it. So what do you say, same place as always?” Soul drew his neck back and scrunched his eyebrows together as he felt heavier rain drops falling. He glanced up and looked around for a shelter so the book wouldn’t get wet. He quickly spotted a small one close by, and ran under it. Taking a pen from his bag, he started writing on the right, empty page of the book. Though before writing anything, Soul took a good bit of time to think about what to respond with. Eventually he hit the paper with his pen and the words began to flow. As Soul finished writing, both of the writings disappeared, meaning that the message was sent. After the text disappeared, Soul closed the book and put it back into his pocket, taking a light breath as he glanced over at the Hotel Liakada that could be seen a few blocks away. It didn’t take long util Soul moved again and headed to do his daily routine. First, to the grocery store to buy food, go home and doing something to kill time, like read books or some random comics, play piano a little, draw or just lay on a bed and let his mind wander, or like now, meet Noble. It only took one hour before Soul’s I.M. Book vibrated again and Noble reported that he got out of work and was going to change clothes then head to their regular place at the mall. Soul grabbed his jacket and bag and headed back out again. The rain had completely stopped and the sun was shining one-hundred percent. Once again, Soul wandered through his thoughts during the walk since the streets had nothing of interest. Just upperclass ponies avoiding puddles like they were toxic. Eventually Soul arrived at the mall and headed in. The mall was more lively than usual, since it seemed like some kind of big food court event was going on. Every single kiosk and restaurant in there seemed to be offering free samples. Regardless, he headed straight out to a place called “Cider Cycle.” A small eatery with a pub-like decor. He had to look for a bit until he spotted his friend sitting at a table, already having cider. Soul let out a light sigh before heading behind Noble, he leaned against the bench and gave the tan stallion’s head a light bump. “You sure didn’t waste any time.” Noble, who was lost in his own thoughts, suddenly winced as he snapped out of it, his cider accidentally going down the wrong way, which caused him to cough for a good bit and some of it even spilling on his blue button up shirt. After managing to catch his breath, he turned to look at Soul while rubbing his nose and glaring at the stallion behind him. “Ahh… Dang it, Soul. What was that for?” he inquired in a raspy voice. The white stallion raised his hooves, having a guilty grin on his lips. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to almost cause you to choke. Didn’t realize you were that deep in your thoughts.” He lifted a few napkins on the table with his magic and handed them over to Noble. “Maybe this is a sign meaning that your wardrobe would need an upgrade.” Noble took the napkins and wiped his chest and legs clean of cider before rubbing over his mouth and blowing his nose in it trying to relieve the sting of the cider. "It's fine no harm done. Sorry for zoning out like that," he stated before giving a short laugh. Soul gave him a friendly laugh, “I’ve noticed you do that from time to time by now.” He leaned back from the bench and looked over at the counter. “Just a sec, I’ll get my own drink.” “Of course.” Noble responded reaching out to get a final napkin to dab at the spot once more. Soul walked over to the counter and ordered a pear cider. Of course he had to show his ID since there’s obviously an age limit for alcoholic drinks. He paid for his drink and walked back to Noble, holding the drink with his magic. He sat down on the seat opposite of his friend. “It seems like there’s some kind of food court event going on.” Noble raised his head and turned to look at the exit of the eatery. “Oh yes, I heard about that a few days ago at the hotel. Every restaurant, kiosk et cetra participating here are giving out free samples along with some special offers. It seems pretty intriguing.” Soul’s ears perked up and he looked back at the court. “Is that so? Wanna go there in a bit? I want to see what they got.” Noble gave his friend a small smile. “Sure! I’m curious to see too.” “It’s a deal then,” he said with a nod and took a sip of his cider before bringing up the reason Noble wanted to come, “So… Your day. Not the best one?” The smile on Noble’s face faded away and he looked away from his glass, taking a big breath before he nodded as frown filled out his face. “Yeah… It’s been a few months since she became our new manager, but it still feels like she doesn’t belong there at all. She’s just horrible; the worst kind of high society narcissist there is. She just bosses us around, without showing anypony any gratitude or appreciation.” Soul drew his neck back, the corners of his mouth dropping as he scrunched his eyebrows together. “Oh… Dang...” “And if that’s not enough…” Noble paused for a moment and took a sip from his glass before continuing, looking at the dog tags hanging on his neck. “She once again, bad mouthed me, my dogtags and finally, I embarrassed myself in front of all the high society ponies by slipping on a on a drink that a guest had dropped on the floor…”’ “Wow…” Soul started rubbing his neck as he lowered his head. “Sounds like luck hasn’t been on your side today...” Noble let out a groan and took another, big sip of his cider. “Yeah… no. It never is.” He glared as he looked down into his cup, the thought of Double Bit still running through his head. Soul followed the example by taking a sip as well. “Come on, that’s not true. Has she been that bad from the beginning? You’ve given me the idea that she’s just annoying.” Noble gave a light nod and sighed. “At first she was annoying when she was primarily enforcing her excessive rules and regulations on the receptionists and those in the public light, but recently she has been stricter, enforcing them on everypony. Even the kitchen staff is not safe. If you displease her she will just order you to work extra hours without overtime, threaten to fire you and assault you with words…” “Without a reason?” Soul was on the edge of his seat, eyes wide, taking in every word his friend spoke. “I guess she wants to prove her worth in the position to every single individual there. She is mostly doing these things for her higher-ups and herself. She loves throwing her power in other’s faces, just to toot her own horn.” Noble took a long swig of cider before giving a mighty huff holding himself back so he doesn’t slam down his mug. Soul shook his head and let out a long sigh. “That’s wrong in so many ways.” He reached out, moving the mug to the side and placing his hoof on the table, his leg bent at the elbow as he offered a supportive hoof to his friend. He tried smiling and kept the elbow bent to ensure this was not overly awkward. “But what happened after you fell?” Noble sighed. “You know that hurt, but… I had no other option than to just stand there and take it. She of course made me clean it up later. She ordered that no other pony touch it but me.” “What? Seriously?“ Soul’s forehead began growing warmer and his eyebrows dropped, “I would leave that place immediately after something like that.” The earth pony hooked his friends hoof with his shaking it from the shoulder, his anger melting into despair. “You know it’s not that easy for somepony like me. You’re a unicorn, so you wouldn’t have problems finding a job. I’m just an earth pony. I can’t leave my job, just like that.” The white stallion leaned back and pulled his hooves away since it started to get a bit too wakward for him, looking away and furrowing his eyebrows. “Yeah, it’s true that earth ponies don’t exactly have the easiest time getting jobs here. Even Canterlot Spectrum only has a few earth ponies working there.” Noble ran his hoof around the rim of his glass. “I would take your job anyday if I had your creativity.” A light laugh escaped Soul’s mouth and he leaned against the table. “Well, working in a design company isn’t always easy. It’s a busy place and sometimes work hours stretch quite a bit.” Noble grabbed his glass and leaned back. “At least you have a good working environment and some encouraging management. Or that’s the conclusion I came to from how you describe it.” Soul gave his friend a nod. “Yeah.” Noble quickly sipped his cider again and then let out a long sigh, burrowing his face into his forelegs as he crossed them on the table. “But I don’t know if I should dare show my face at work again…” The white stallion immediately leaned forwards and lightly bumped his hoof against the table. “Hey, listen now. It was an accident caused by a terrible customer. Who knows how badly you could’ve been hurt. There’s no way your co-workers can think that’s funny.” “Believe me, I heard plenty of laughs and I was given a few remarks and blame from everypony, even from a couple of the co-workers...” Noble spoke lifting a foreleg just enough so his voice could be audible. Soul’s jaw immediately dropped and he smacked a hoof against his face. “Oh my Celestia, how big of idiots can some ponies be?” Noble looked away shoving his face into his crossed forelegs. “Tell me about it… I just want to hit my head against this table right now.” His voice was muffled but still audible to Soul. Soul scrunched his eyebrows together as he leaned forward with a grin upon his lips. “You’re gonna suffer if you hurt my best friend, you know,” he said following it up with a laugh.. “Just don’t let them get to you. You’re a valuable, hard working guy and a great friend. Or would I be sitting here having cider with you if I thought otherwise?” A light laugh escaped Noble’s mouth as he sat back up. “Thank you, you always manage to help me when I’m down.” He lifted a hoof up toward Soul. “Consider it my duty,” Soul stated with a friendly laugh. He lifted his hoof as well, clapping it against his friend’s outstretched hoof in support with a small smile and poured the last drop of cider into his mouth. “Well then, shall we go and expose ourselves to many, many calories?” Noble stood up from his seat and nodded his head. “Yes, with pleasure. After you.” The Earth pony bowed his head and extended a leg. Soul grabbed their glasses with his magic and stood up as well, taking the glasses to a return cart. After that, they headed back to the mall’s square and to the food court. Soul told his friend about his workday and how the client chose the logo Soul liked less, and how his co-worker Mineral had an asthma attack during their lunch break. Naturally Noble asked if she was alright now and if Soul helped her. Soul followed up and explained how it went as they arrived to an ice cream shop that advertised free milkshake samples. Noble lifted a sample of a toffee milkshake and spoke up before sipping it. “Sooo, what else is going on besides these… interesting, situations at work?” Soul followed the example and thought for a bit before answering, "Well I've bought a couple new very stylish shirts. One red and the other one has a genius patterning." Noble shivered in delight then opened his eyes to before speaking to Soul agian. "Awesome, sounds pretty neat," "One of the greatest ones I've seen. Fits pretty darn well with my other, black jacket. The colors fit together so well." Noble gave a soft smile, even though it was slightly forced since Noble isn't that into clothes. “That’s good.“ He then turned to look at the mare who was running the stand and held up his empty cup. “This milkshake is delectable, ma’am.” The mare gave the stallion a big smile. “Thank you, mister! Be sure to buy it before the court ends.” Noble nodded at her reply as a thank you and started walking toward another stand with Soul. After tasting a few samples from different courts, they decided to search over the more excotic part of the court. Soul knew that Noble was a far more adventurous eater than he was and did not want to prevent him from trying all the foods he wanted to partake of. After awhile, they arrived at a big stage that seemed to still be half-built, though it also seemed to have surprisingly few workers building it. As they were bypassing the stage, frustrated murmuring and sounds of paper caught their attention in front of the stage. Noble nudged his friend and chuckled. “Somepony seems to be having a difficult time.” The one who actually was there having a rough time was someone Soul wasn’t expecting to see, especially here. He stopped Noble and scrunched his eyebrows slightly while squinting his eyes. “Hey, that’s one of my co-workers. Mineral, the one who had an attack today.” Noble focused on the mare putting up the banner. “Oh. Well she looks like she’s having a difficult time with that poster.” “Banner,” Soul quickly corrected with a quick laugh. He motioned for Noble to follow him and walked over to Mineral who had already put the banner down and hopped to the edge of stage, burying her face in her hooves. Noble froze and stared at the mare for a moment. Unable to see her full face but able to see enough to get a good idea his heart began to beat faster as a pink hue cast over his cheeks. He leaned over and whispered to his friend. “Oh wow, now that I can see her better, she is kinda cute… Do I look ok?” The pale stallion stopped alongside his friend and drooped his head with a sigh. “Noble please, don’t start one of those starflight crushes again.” He gave a short laugh raising his head and looking at his friend with an eyebrow raised and a half faced grin. Noble slung his head back, widening his eyes and flicking his ears back. “What...? Are you saying, I’m not supposed to search for my special somepony?” Soul quickly shook his head. “No, I’m just saying that I could make a list of all the mare’s you’ve fallen in love with and lost your interest on the same day, it would be about as long as Equestria’s history.” He took a deep breath and gave his friend a light, yet still a bit sarcastic grin. “I’m just trying to save you from throwing your ‘feelings’ all around, and her from the awkward puppy eyes and ‘I found my true love’ moment.” Noble looked down for a moment with rather gloomy face, but then turned his attention to Soul again with an awkward smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, you have a point there… Thank you. I will just drop it. Though I wouldn’t call it love, just a crush. There is a difference." Soul gave Noble a gentle smile. "Don't worry buddy, Mineral isn't the kind of calm and quiet mare you like, so you won't lose a 'true love' there," Soul stated with a joking but friendly laugh and they started walking toward Mineral again. Noble gave his friend a shrug. “If you say so.” He followed, trotting behind Soul to the corner of the stage that Mineral was sitting at. Back at the stage, Mineral was mumbling to herself and was breathing heavier than normal. She even already had her inhalator in her hooves. “Calm down Mineral, calm down. Just…. stay calm and get the job done and you’ll manage.” “Mineral?” Soul spoke up as they arrived at the front of the stage, tilting his head to the side at the sight of her breathing heavily. Mineral immediately raised her head with a gasp, her eyes bulging and a light smile rose upon her face as she saw the white stallion. “Oh, look who’s here!” She jumped off the stage and lifted her hoof. “Just a second.” The mare quickly placed the inhaler into her mouth. She took a deep breath of her medicine and held it for a few seconds before exhaling to speak. “There, much better.” Soul gave a quick nod and looked around himself in the court. “So this is the event you had to organize?” he stated and turned his attention back to the mare, tilting his head up. “Seems like you’re a bit… stressed?” Mineral plopped her flank on the ground and let out a long, rough groan as she rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it! A few helping hooves didn’t arrive to help us after all and now I’m stuck with a wheedler.” The mare tilted her head at the pony who was dragging a big, rolled up screen on to the stage. The stallion to whom Mineral was referring to clearly could hear her comment. His ears were perking up and he turned to look at Mineral, lowering the sunglasses he had. “Thanks, sweetheart! You’re such a flatterer.” “I’m your manager here, Neon! Just get that screen hung,” Mineral groaned and closed her eyes while starting to rub her temple, turning her attention back at the two stallions before her. “We’re lucky that we managed to set most of the event up in time, but dang, this is giving me headache and is elevating my blood pressure.” “Um, if I may say, I’ve really liked this court so far,” Noble spoke up and gave the mare a smile. Mineral’s attention snapped to Noble. “Oh, thanks!” she said, with a smile, though quickly tilting her head and shifting her weight to her other leg. “Who might you be?” “Just my servant. Does all the dirty work, you know,” Soul stated with a laugh and gave a quick glance over at his friend. “Soul!” The earth pony snapped turning to the stallion with a huff. Soul waved his hoof while putting on a smile, he gave Noble’s shoulder a little pat. “Kidding. Noble, this is Mineral Tint, my co-worker. Mineral, this is Noble Poet, a.k.a my best friend. Don’t worry if he’s acting weird, it will go away quickly enough,” he joked and turned to look at Noble, who gave Soul a glare which changed to a stoic expression, indicating that he wasn’t going to say anything silly. “Wha-?” Mineral’s jaw dropped immediately and her eyes kept darting from side to side for a split-second, till she drew her neck back. “Excuse me for my abrupt comment but you have friends?” she quickly spoke with a joking laugh. Soul lightly scrunched his eyebrows together as a confused look took over his face, and he lifted his hoof. “Yeah…? Why are you so… shocked?” A light laugh could be heard escaping Noble’s mouth as he nudged Soul with his elbow. “Come on, I don’t blame her for her reaction; at least not one hundred percent.”. Soul simply rolled his eyes and turned to look at the confused Mineral. Mineral quickly shook her head and snapped out of the state, clearing her throat and standing up straight. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, sis!” She stretched out one of her front legs toward Noble, offering to shake. Noble tilted his head slightly and slowly stretched his own leg to shake with Mineral. “Uh… Sis?” “She calls everypony sis,” Soul quickly noted. Mineral shrugged and gave a cheerful chuckle. “It’s my thing. Can’t help it.” She turned to look at Soul and dipped her head to the side. “But yes, I’ve always had the impression that you are kinda like a lonely wolf.” Before Soul even had a chance to open his mouth, Noble had already taken a step forward and let out a chuckle. “He does and doesn’t. He always enjoys the company of ponies he knows and trusts.” The earth pony put on a wide ear to ear smile. “Trust me, despite that, there is a stable guy in there.” Soul’s eyebrow closest to Noble rose, and he gave a half smile as he raised and tilted his head. “You don’t have to speak for me.” Noble quickly took a step back and raised his hoof behind his head, looking away with a slight frown. “Sorry.” Soul jokingly laughed and raised his hoof. “It’s alright.” He then turned his attention back to Mineral and started rubbing his neck. “So umm, yeah. That’s that.” Mineral stood up straight with a big smile. “Well it’s good to know there’s action in your limbic system.” “Uh...” A blank look immediately took over Soul’s face. He drew his neck back and raised his hoof as he looked back and forth at Mineral and Noble. “Limbic system?” Noble seemed to be as unaware, keeping his muzzle shut and looking back and forth between the two as Soul, just giving a shrug. Mineral chuckled and tapped her head. “The part of the brain that adjusts our emotions.” “Oh!” both stallions exclaimed. Soul scratched his head and glanced around furtively. “Well... good to know I guess.” Mineral nodded with a chuckle. “It is.” Though the smile fell pretty quickly and she let out a sigh as she climbed onto the stage again. “Anyway, I’d better get back to work. Every wasted minute means more anger and disappointment…” She glanced away at the ceiling, clearing her throat. “I... sure wish there would be some more help.” Her voice was clearly waving. There was no question what Mineral was going for. Soul turned to look at the tan stallion next to him. “Noble, do you think we could lend a helping hoof?” Noble gave his friend a nod and smiled. “Sure, why not.” Mineral had already started walking away, but she immediately stopped, her eyes widening and she turned to look at the stallions behind her with a smile. “Oh, would you be that kind? Thank you guys! I can’t pay you with any bits though since you don’t have a contract and we don’t have time to make one, but I’ll offer you two dinner or something.” Soul stood straight. “We have a deal.” Author's Note I.M. Book is kinda like a mix of phones and Tom Riddle's Diary from Harry Potter. Ponies can send messages to each other, and text dissapears when the message is sent. It's very similar to Sunset Shimmer's Diary she uses in Rainbow Rocks, and that's where the idea to expand this consept came from. Cover Art: http://wildsoulws.deviantart.com/art/A-New-Impetus-Chapter-3-A-Helping-Hoof-535156575 4. BondsSoul stood up straight. “We have a deal.” A wide smile erupted on Mineral’s lips. “Perfect! We’ve burnt through too much time already just talking, so let’s get to work.” She turned to look at the stage where just one pony was trying to hang a big white screen. “First of all, Noble would be helpful with that white screen. Soul can help me with this banner. ” Noble brought the side of his hoof to his forehead before bringing it forward and down, trotting over to the screen. “I’m on it!” Mineral nodded back to him and then turned her attention back to Soul, lifting up the two corners of the banner as she grabbed a stapler with her magic “Come on, sis. Let’s get this banner in its place.” “Gotcha.” Soul lifted the other side of the banner and placed it on the edge of the stage, holding it there while Mineral started stapling it. “Soooo is there any specific food you are looking for or are you just hanging around?” Mineral asked with her eyebrow raised as she stepped off the stage to see where she was stapling. Soul glanced away from her at the court. “Pretty much just hanging around with Noble. Though I’ve been planning to go to this one sushi place and taste their uramaki.” Mineral immediately scrunched her muzzle but quickly though trying to save herself gave off a forced laugh. “With all due respect;”- she pushed her tongue out and coughed in disgust - “Ew!” Soul sat down and threw his forelegs on his sides and laughed, though not letting go of the banner with his magic. “What? Sushi is good!” Mineral added the last rivet and climbed onto the stage while shaking her head. “Nope, can’t agree with that, sis. I once tasted it when I was a filly and it was just… ew,” she groaned and pushed her tongue out in disgusts while cold shivers ran through her body when she thought about it. Soul climbed after Mineral and stood up straight like a general, bumping his hoof against his chest. “You must accept the sushi into your heart!” he spoke with a deep voice. “Sorry, but I have to side with Mineral on this one,” Noble stated who had overheard their conversation while climbing up the ladder further away from the duo on the stage. Soul let out a light, joking groan and puffed out his other cheek, rolling his eyes. “Aaaaaand touche.” “All I must do is to make this event perfection,” Mineral chanted with a chuckle and headed behind the stage, Soul following her there. “Perfection is a subjective idea,” Soul stated with a grin and an eyebrow raised. Mineral jokingly rolled her eyes. “No, perfection is when something is literally perfect.” She hopped off the stage in the middle of all kinds of equipment. “Next we need speakers and lights. And fast, time is running out.” Mineral walked over to the two speakers not far away, motioning for Soul to come help her. Quickly and securely, the stage started to become whole and began looking like an actual stage. Two big speakers on each side, two lights above, the big white screen and of course a microphone. Everything was finally looking good, and it was just in time, since ponies who were supposed to give speeches and presentation for their restaurants started gathering around the stage. Even though everything was as ready as they could be, Mineral was still trying to make it even ‘better’. She was running back and forth between the speakers, changing the angles constantly. The group started to grow impatient, till one of the ponies spoke up, “Excuse me miss, but could we start already? The presentations should’ve started minutes ago.” “Yes, yes. Just a second.” Mineral squinted her eyes and rotated the speaker barely one degree. She then quickly ran further from the stage and started tapping her chin, a big smile forming on her face after a brief moment. “There! Now it’s finally perfect!” “So can we finally start already?” one of the ponies among the performers groaned while shaking his head. “I’m sorry for the delay, sir. We’ve been very understaffed today,” Mineral responded lowering the tone of her voice while giving a little curtsey. She then turned to look at the mare with a pink mane in the crowd of the performers. “We can start as soon as the host is ready.” The pink maned mare braced up and put a hoof on her chest, holding her head high. “Just give me a word.” “Perfect! Hey, Neon Lights!” Mineral turned to look at the stallion behind the stage, who was taking pictures of himself. “Is everything ready to go on your end?” Neon Lights only gave Mineral a split-second glance. “Ready, is my middle name, sugar,” he said while swiping his mane as he put on a big grin, snapping a few more pictures. “I’m never gonna work with that guy again…” Mineral murmured to herself. She huffed and took a deep breath. She cleared her throat and walked over to the host of the presentation. “Alright, miss. You can get up on the stage. Give them a grand opening,” she cheered with a wink. The host simply nodded with a confident smile and walked up to the stage. The mare walked over to the microphone, tapped it and cleared her throat, beginning with welcoming everypony to the mall and the event. Mineral was nodding, pleased at how well the stage actually came out. Her attention was snatched away from the stage as she saw Soul and Noble approaching from behind it. She trotted over to the duo, sitting down and clapping her hooves together. “Guys! You sure deserve my gratitude for this!” Soul sat on the bench nearby and raised his hoof. “Don’t mention it. I never pass up a free meal,” he stated and let out a little chuckle. “But seriously, it was nice.” “Glad to hear that. If it weren’t for you, Neon and I still wouldn’t even have gotten the walls up,” Mineral chimed and turned to look at a clock on the wall. “Well, after this opening, it’s going to be fifty minutes of managers talking about their chains. Sooooo do you want pizza or something fancier?” “Sushi,” Soul quickly noted, following it up with a laugh. Soul’s suggestion didn’t even click in Mineral’s mind. The mare just made a quick statement, “Pizza it is.” It caused another laugh to escape Soul’s mouth. “Pizza will do. We don’t want to rob you,” Soul said with a little laugh, turning to look at Noble, raising his eyebrow. “Right?” Noble perked up, darting his head about then looked at the duo and gave a nod. “Yes, pizza works for me.” Mineral leaned towards the two stallions, putting on a grin and raised an eyebrow. “What? You think I don’t have money?” She let out a bright chuckle and drew her neck back again, swiping her leg forwards. “Just kidding, I have limits of course. I know a perfect place just a couple levels up. It’s absolutely gorgeous for a pizzeria.” Soul extended his hoof. “Lead the way then.” Mineral quickly waved her hoof at the stallions. “Go wait for me at the staircase. I’ll talk to Neon first.” Both stallions gave Mineral a nod before heading to the staircase. As Mineral approached the dark coated stallion, his attention immediately shifted toward her. He leaned back in his chair, putting on a big smug smile. “Well hello, sweetheart. Wanting a close up for this magnificent, sophisticated gentle-stallion?” Mineral’s eyebrows dropped, a light groan escaping her mouth. “Not exactly. I came to inform you that I’m heading out to dine now. You keep things under control here.” Neon’s eyes bulged and his jaw dropped immediately, his sunglasses sliding halfway down his nose. He spoke in a rather high pitch voice, “Wait, did I understand that correctly?” Neon took the sunglasses off. “You’re going to dine… without me?” “Exactly. Keep your eyes on the presentation,” Mineral chanted with a pinch of sarcasm in her voice as she left Neon with his mouth a gasp, and then headed over to the two stallions waiting for her. The three ponies took the stairs up two levels and arrived at the entrance of a large, restaurant style pizzeria with a glowing sign above it. It really was what Mineral said it would be, an elegant place with stylish decorations. The walls were built out of red stone, the floor was smooth marble and the tables were dark, lacquered wood. Noble only looked about for a moment before looking toward his friends again, paying only little attention to the decor. Soul on the other hoof couldn’t help but admire the unique decorations more than his friend could. There weren’t too many customers, since most of them had gone to the presentation. Mineral quickly trotted up behind Soul and Noble and passing the two, she lead the stallions over to the counter, and rang a bell. “Customers!” a voice chanted from kitchen, and it didn’t take long until a unicorn mare with a light red coat trotted over to the counter. A wide smile spread across her face as she saw Mineral standing at there. “Ah, signorina Mineral! It’s the most pleasant to see you.” “It’s pleasant to see you too, Croccante!” Mineral chimed and leaned against the counter with a big smile on her face, and quickly tilted her head at the stallions. “Me and my companions here would like to order pizza.” “Can-do! I assume you would like the usual one?” Croccante brought up a notepad and pen with her magic. Mineral gave the mare a nod. “Familiar and safe, yes.” She turned her attention at Soul and Noble. “What about you two?” Soul had already planned out his order and was able to recite it quickly. “My own choice, please. Four toppings. Mushrooms, egg, onion and hay. And without tomato paste.” Noble waited a moment after the others finished, he tapped his muzzle with his hoof and thought before he spoke. “And I’d like tomato sauce, mushrooms and egg. Mozzarella instead of hay, and can I get some oats along the crust please?” Croccante nodded as she wrote the orders down and ripped the note off with her magic. “And will you pay with cash or hoof print?” Mineral put a hoof on her chest. “I’ll pay for all three, and with hoof print.” Croccante nodded with a smile and opened a book on the counter. Mineral put her hoof on the empty page, and it started flowing with white light, which meant it recognized Mineral and after the light turned green, the payment was accepted. Croccante gave them all glasses from behind a counter and pointed in the direction of the taps. All three went to get some lemonade before Mineral lead Noble and Soul to a table next to a window and they all filed in. Mineral let out a relaxed sigh. “I promise you, when the first piece of this places pizza touches your tongue, your mind will explode! The flavors and natural textures they can make in the crust along with combining fresh ingredients, only prepared upon order, causes the food to take a little longer but, it’s the best Pizza in town by far!” Noble took a moment to absorb the information before he spoke, “So you’re a regular?” Mineral nodded and put her hooves together. “Every weekend -regular,” she said with a chuckle, laying her hooves on the table. “Soooo, Noble. What’s your story?” The earth pony's eyes lowered once again and he began twiddling his hooves, forming what he had to say before speaking, “My story? Well… nothing special… Just a poet with a lousy bellhop job.” “Oh.” Mineral quickly grabbed her drink with her magic and took a sip. Seeing the look on Noble’s face made her feel kinda bad that she even asked, even though she didn't ask anything improper. Ignoring the bad bellhop comment, she leaned against the table and continued. “I figured poetry was your thing. Your name and cutie mark, and such.” Noble started rubbing his neck and glanced away, and he twitched his lips into a smile but lowered them once more into his common neutral look. “Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve written anything. My job drains most of my energy.” Soul saw his friends debate of forming a smile before talking and set a hoof on the table, “Nurturing your special talent is important though.” Noble took a sip of his drink and looked out of the window with a small frown. “I know, but earning money to manage and eat is important too.” Soul locked eyes with Mineral with a half frown on his face before looking back at his friend. “That is true too...” The three ponies sat in silence for a moment. Noble cut his eyes looking at Mineral who was scratching her lower leg with her lower hoof, and he then turned to Soul, both of whom were occasionally glancing at the white unicorn. Mineral bit her bottom lip and had been fidgeting in her seat while rubbing the upper part of her lower legs with her hooves. Noble began to sweat and looked away. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make this awkward. We can change the subject.” The unicorns both breathed a silent sigh of relief. Soul raised his glance “Sorry buddy, we just didn’t know what to say.” Noble turned to the group once more looking at the unicorns without showing any emotions. “It’s fine. It was my bad for bringing that up and making you both feel awkward. Hopefully this is just a rough patch and things will get better.” Soul puts his hooves up on the table and held a hood up to the earth pony. “No need to apologize, we all have those times we just need to get it out.” He looks over at Mineral and darted his eyes from her back to Noble. After Noble broke the silence and Soul spoke to him, she relaxed. She laid her chin on her hooves while looking down. After a brief moment, her gaze rose and she looked at the tan earth pony with a big smile. “Noble, I may have just the thing to cheer you up! Would you like to hear a poem I have?” Noble’s ears perking up at the word ‘poem’, he looked up from fiddling with the wrapper to his straw, his eyes getting a little wider now. “Oh, where is it from? And sure I’d be happy to hear it.” He leaned in, resting his chin on his hoof. “Well, I actually made this one up myself. I’m no poet but, I’ll go for it anyway and if it’s the worst thing you’ve ever heard, which I’m pretty sure it is going to be, you can help me to fix it up, naye.” She shifted her eyes, making sure she made eye contact with each of the stallions. Soul’s right eyebrow rose. “I didn’t know you dabbled in poetry.” Looking at Soul once more, Mineral stated, “Well, no I don’t normally write any kind of poetry, so you two are about to watch history with my first poem since my grade school times” The tan earth pony nodded. “Take your time, I’ll tell you what I think.” He lowered his hoof off his chin and set his hooves together leaning back with his forehooves crossed but his eyes being wide as he watched the mare. The mare cleared her throat and lifted a hoof up in the air that was bent at the elbow. “Helpless daisy grows through the cracks. It shines in the light.” Her words were elegantly spoken and she kept her eyes closed as she said it. After she finished there was a short pause. The stallions looked at one another then back at Mineral. Soul rubbed the back of his head and looked at Noble with his eyes narrowing. “Well, you are the poet here. We’re waiting your thoughts.” Noble turned his head slowly, squinting his eyes at Soul. He quickly turned his head to look at Mineral. Rubbing his chin with his hoof the tan pony thought for a moment before speaking up, “Well it was alright. Short and sweet.” Giving a sigh the mare set her hoof down on the table facing toward Noble. “Come on don’t worry, you don’t need to be nice or beat around the bush. If you think it’s bad you can tell me and if you really want to, you can help revise it.” She finished with a big smile. Noble threw his hooves up. “No no. It is good, just-- I may have some things to change. I’ll see what I can do.” He pulled a pencil out of his shirt pocket and slid a napkin in front of him beginning to write. Soul let out a laugh. “Now he will be too focused on his writing to listen to us.” He held up his head by resting it on his hoof, smiling as he watched his friend write for the first time in a while. The poet wrinkled his forehead as he wrote and crossed through words, his eyes darting over the paper. Minutes passed and finally he dropped his pencil. “There! Finally done. Umm, Mineral would you mind reading this? I really don’t like reading in front of ponies.” He pushed the napkin over and slid his forelegs closer to him, shrinking down in his seat. The mare sat up blinking and her mouth open for a moment before shrugging and giving a chuckle. “You really are Soul’s friend.” Soul laughed and raised an eyebrow at Mineral. “Hey, I like leading presentations.” “Yes, yes, it was just… Ah, forget it,” Mineral said with a joking laugh and smiled at the white stallion. She the turned back to face at Noble. ”But anyway, of course I’ll read it if you really want me to.” The mare cleared her throat and read the poem once through before reading it out loud, “Daisy rise, show your heart. Ascend to the light and blossom through the cracks. Ignite! Prove that you are meant to be. Show you are meant to be, Yearn to take your place and shine. Become divine~!” Mineral’s voice trailed off as she finished reading. All she could do was continue to stare at the napkin. Soul grinned at his co-worker’s reaction. “I’m guessing you didn’t expect it to be that good. It was one of your better ones since you’ve been here Noble.” He lifted his hoof up to bump Noble’s. Noble returned the hoof bump and gave a faint smile while he darted his eyes down. “Thank you, that expression does say a lot and thank you Soul, your praise always means a great deal to me as well.” Rubbing his foreleg with the opposite hoof the poet sank back into his chair. Mineral slammed the table with her hooves. “Are you kidding?! This is amazing! I see why you have your cutie mark. We definitely need to get you somewhere where you can feel inspired and begin writing again. I’m not much of a poet but it is very good at least to me.” She giggled and folded her forelegs. Noble continued rubbing his foreleg continuing to look down and away.. “Oh come on, it’s not that good. Thank you though. It was… interesting, writing after such a long break. I really wish I could get some time away from this city so I can actually relax and get inspired once more.” Mineral scrunched her mouth and looked upward, rubbing her lower leg with her rear hoof. “I’m sorry to hear you say that. I hope you can.” As soon as she finished, she drew her neck back, her eyes widening and ears perked up like something igniting in her. The mare immediately turned her attention at Soul and leaned toward him. “Oh Soul, speaking of interesting, I heard today that something interesting is going on in Canterlot Spectrum.” Tapping the spot in front of Noble before fully turning his body to face Mineral, Soul’s ears perked up. “Something interesting? What exactly?” Mineral shook her head and crossed her forelegs. “I don’t really know, but I’ve heard something is going to change there.” The male unicorn rubbed his chin, a suspicious look upon his face. His ears folded back when a very unpleasant thought crawled to his mind. “You don’t think they’re going to substitute employers...?” Lifting her hooves up and placing them together under her chin, Mineral shook her head. “I sure hope not! I just happened to overhear our art director and manager talking about some kind of change.” Soul rubbed his neck. “Huh… Interesting…” Turning to face the group again and looking a little red, Noble lifted a hoof as if he were about to speak but froze for a moment. “Umm… if there were any positions opening up that an earth pony could do... Do you think one of you could tell me about it-- even if it’s just a custodian or something?” Soul looked at Noble with a hard look in his eye and leaned against the table, lifting his eyebrow as a big grin rose on his lips. “Well I don’t know, can we?” Soul asked with joking tone, giving a laugh afterwards, and he leaned back again. “Kidding. I promise if I hear anything about a position being open in the office, I will tell you first and send in a good word for you.” A chuckle came from Mineral who was covering her mouth with her hooves now. “And I will keep an ear out for any word of job openings. I think being social would be a good skill to have to be able to find something about a job opening.” She giggled once more. Soul looked at her, tilting his head to the left and slightly giving a playful smug smile. “Alright we’ll both keep our ears open. I’ll listen through our department and you keep listening in the kitchen.” Noble let out a large burst of air, covering his mouth quickly as tried to hide his laugh. “Kitchen? I don’t work in the kit---” Mineral’s eyes bulged as she realized what Soul meant, causing her eyebrows to drop. “Oh.” The mare scowled at the comment then glared at the laughter hiding Noble. “I’m very sorry,” Noble gasped between laughs. Mineral rolled her eyes and lifted the edges of her mouth, giving a laugh too. “Don’t worry, that was actually a funny one.” She then turned to look at the white stallion, and leaned against the table, raising her eyebrow. “I’m sure Soul didn’t mean it, or did you?” Soul let out a small, but a bit forced laugh and raised his hoof. “Of course not. Just a stupid joke.” “Just as I figured.” The mare brushed her hair back, then flexed her forehoof showing her muscle as she spoke again, “And after all, who would open jars for him if I wasn’t in the kitchen?” Soul flicked his head back, laughing. “Unlike me, you always eat in the cafeteria, which makes you a rare sight in East Wing’s kitchen.” “Ah, good conversation!” Croccante’s voice was heard as she arrived at the table with two other servers all holding pizzas. “That is normally a precursor to some good food!” They place each one before it’s proper pony, and every pizza was cut into four slices. “Please, enjoy your food and let us know if there is anything else we can get for you today.” Clapping her hooves together, squealing with an open mouth smile, Mineral took a deep breath of the pizza placed in front of her. “Thank you very much! These all look delicious.” Croccante gave the mare a big curtsey with a smile, and then returned to the counter as the two other cooks returned to the kitchen. The three ponies all grabbed napkins, forks and knifes for themselves. Soul was staring at his pizza with his eyes almost glimmering at the looks of it. He quickly lifted his cutlery with his magic and hit the fork on the edge of the pizza, starting to cut a slice. “This might actually become my new favorite pizzeria of all time. Just the smell makes me want to swallow the whole thing at once.” Mineral had already cut a few slices for herself, and she was lifting one of them right up to her mouth with her magic, glancing at Soul with a grin on her face. “See I’d have bet my life on that,” she said with a chuckle and took a bite. Noble had also cut a slice for him and folded it in half as he lifted it to his lips. As he took a bite, his eyes grew slightly wider and he immediately took a few more, larger bites and finished them before speaking up, “Wow, this tastes amazing!” As Soul’s pizza bite was savored on his tongue for a bit, he froze, simply staring off into space. Then, he lifted his head and slowly narrowing his eyes as if to go to sleep. He looked at Noble and then Mineral. “I have found a true source of euphoria.” Soul’s voice was practically waving as he closed his eyes while he stared up to the ceiling, taking another bite. A blank look took upon Mineral’s face and she drew her neck back, just staring at Soul for a moment before speaking, “You… must really like it then.” Soul gave a painfully slow nod and spoke with the same, wavy voice, “Yes, I do.” Though he quickly snapped out of it and gave a laugh, and leaned against the table. “But now, seriously. This pizza is really really good. Definitely going to come here again.” Noble stopped eating and held his hoof up as he finished his bite. “Me too. This flavor actually brings back the taste of the pizza that the hotel I work for used to serve. Before our new manager started that is,” he said as he rolled his eyes while mentioning his manager. Mineral stopped mid bite, a strand of cheese going from the pizza to her mouth. She breaks off the strand by pulling it with her hoof before chewing and swallowing her food. “Oh? They removed it from the menu?” The stallion spoke while he held a slice in his hooves, “Yeah. It was, just `pedestrian, flat garbage´ in her opinion.” Mineral let out a long sigh, followed by irritated squeak as she burrowed her face into her hooves. “Oh Celestia, doesn’t that manager of yours know anything?” Though before Noble got even one word out of his mouth, Croccante butted into the conversation as she passed the table while collecting glasses from other tables. “Exactly! Pizza can be a real gourmet meal, you just have to have the right hooves working on it.” She scanned the table with her eyes then looked over the ponies sitting there. “Pardon me, I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. I must ask though. Does the hotel you are talking about happen to be Hotel Liakada?” The earth pony’s ears twitched and he looked at their waitress, blinking. “How did you know?” The waitress let out a deep sigh and shook her head. “Because I happen to be one of the chefs the new manager fired when she became in charge. Well, me and my sister to be exact.” She puffed out her cheeks after she spoke. Widening his eyes Noble was left mouth a gasp. “Wait, you were the chefs Double Bit fired back then?” Mineral quickly raised her hoof. “Double wait!” Her eyes were darting between the two ponies. “You two have actually worked in the same place?” “So it seems. Me and my sorella were looking for a new job for months, till we decided we should start something of our own. And here we are.” Croccante gave a curtsey smiling ear to ear. Noble set down his pizza and wiped his hooves before he bowed his head and extended a foreleg to Croccante as she curtsied. “I see... It’s interesting how I never ran into you.” He sat back up and started rubbing his neck before continuing, “Or maybe I did, I just don’t remember. Bellhops usually didn’t go to the kitchen at all back then.” The red coated unicorn placed a hoof on the table leaning in to be more personal. “I see. Well it’s been a few months since me and my sorella got kicked out, so you’re not to blame, signore,” she said with a cheerful laugh. “I shall leave you three to dine now. Have a pleasant meal.” The mare gave the trio one more curtsy and then headed back to kitchen. Mineral crossed her forelegs and leaned back at the bench, and she looked at the slice of pizza she had floating near. “This is going to sound outrageous, but I’m kinda happy they lost their jobs,” she stated, though she quickly smacked a hoof against her face with a sigh. “Alright, yes that sounded horrible. Call me a meanie.” Soul laughed, using his magic to cover his mouth with his napkin before calming down. “No worries, we get it." Noble nodded in agreement giving a chuckle himself. “Getting away from that place seems to have been the ticket for them.” The mare lowered her hoof resting it back in her lap. “She has told me they have good memories of it, though.” Noble again shook his head in agreement. “It was a nice place before Double Bit made it a living nightmare.” Staring off into space at an area behind the mare, Noble sighed. “Speaking of memories, that’s where Soul and I met.” Mineral was about to take a bite of the pizza morsel she had on her fork, but froze midway and immediately darted her eyes to Noble, and then to Soul. “Oh, really?” “Oh yes, we indeed did. It was during my job training when I was photographing Hotel Liakada.” Soul had set his silverware down and dabbed at his mouth before continuing the story. “Of course it was a much nicer place to work at back then.” Noble interjected before leaning back. Mineral crossed her legs and finished her pizza slice, motioned for them to continue. “Yes. Well anyway. If i remember correctly, I was taking photos of the entrance, when this overly sophisticated couple arrived at the hotel.” Mineral folded her arms in front of her leaning forward to listen. “That’s nothing new sis, considering this is Canterlot.” Soul nodded “Very true. Anyway, um… what was the name of those two?” He scratched his chin before turning to look at Noble. “Soul, are you expecting me to remember?” The tan pony looked at his friend lowering his eyes and frowning. “I wouldn’t even remember what I had for breakfast if I didn’t eat the same thing every day.” He gave an entertained huff then nodded allowing Soul to continue. Soul couldn’t help but smile. “I’m aware. But no worries. Let’s just call them Mare and Stallion” Noble gave his friend a nod. “Anyway, when I was taking pictures of the entrance, I saw how this Stallion accidentally dropped one of his bags of luggage, and that was followed by a mild crackling sound of glass breaking.” Soul turned to Noble ready for him to chime in. Noble turned so he could see both ponies as he spoke, “I hadn’t gotten to those guests yet, so I of course had no clue what had happened.” Soul cleared his throat as Noble stopped. “That’s right. Anyway, it was pretty clear that it was something important and expensive when I saw how they panicked.” Soul grabbed the last piece of the pizza he had with his fork and ate it before continuing. “Though, I didn’t pay much mind to it or really even care.” He put his cutleries on the now empty plate again and let out a big colic breath, leaning against the bench. Mineral was listening carefully to Soul, though when Soul put down his silverware, the way he did so caught Mineral’s attention. She immediately gathered the utensils with her magic and set them to face five o’clock. “There, that’s better,” she noted with a chuckle. Noble and Soul looked at each other with a bit of a confused glimmer in their glances. Mineral wiped her mouth with a napkin and tenderly placed it on her empty plate. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please, continue. What next?” Soul turned his attention at Noble, who was just staring back at the unicorn for a bit before realizing Soul wanted him to continue. Noble braced up and cleared his throat. “Oh! Yes um… Let’s see-- I think that’s when I arrived to pick up their luggage. Even I noticed that they were very nervous. At least the Mare was. She was downright shaking.” As Noble spoke he moved his hooves about, flowing with his words. “I tried to ask if everything was alright, but they just told me to mind my own business.” He flipped his left hoof up in the air while rolling his eyes. Mineral rolled her eyes too and shook her head. “That’s so typical.” Nodding at the mare’s comment Noble continued, not wanting to stop. “I of course assumed it was just another couple of rich ponies who came here for a weekend around the capital and had no respect for ponies they deemed as `beneath them’.” He flicked his hooves for emphasis. “Boy was that an understatement,” Soul stated but quickly covered his mouth. “Sorry, I know you don’t like being interrupted.” He put his hooves together giving a slight bow. The bow caused Noble to do a double take then shake his head. “Don’t worry, you were right. Big understatement. Anyway-- I got behind their bags and picked them up to my bag like usual, but I heard something strange. A little crunching and rattling of glass.” “Well of course, there was broken glass inside… Oh!” Mineral’s attention was transfixed on the two stallions. Noble nodded, “..I asked the couple about the noise but they told me it was nothing to be concerned with. So I began moving their luggage toward the front desk.” The stallion lifted a hoof to his friend. Without a single word or missing a beat Soul picked up the story. “I had just come through the doors and was looking about taking pictures of the entrance and the main lobby.” A small smile formed across Mineral’s lips. “I think I know where this is going.” “As Noble walked forward I noticed the stallion moving his cane out in front of his legs. I quickly snapped several pictures as I called out. But it was too late.” Frowning he looked over at his tan friend. “I fell to the ground like a wet rug and the bags came down with a loud crash of broken glass.” Mineral covered her mouth as she gasped before speaking frantically, “Oh my gosh, he tripped you?! Did you get cut by the glass at all?” Noble quickly raised his hooves and shook his head. “No I was fine. But the couple immediately began yelling at me for breaking their rare glass vase that they had brought there to get appraised or something to that extent. I of course was apologizing but trying to figure out what was happening around me.” “That is perfectly understandable sis.” Mineral crossed her forelegs, looking back and forth between the two. “The commotion of course quickly gained the attention of the manager at that time. He was much nicer than Bit is, but listened to the couple’s lie about what had happened and was ready to fire me right then for falling and breaking their vase. Lucky for me somepony saw the whole thing.” Noble gently patted his pale coated friend on the shoulder then holded a hoof up allowing him to finish the story. Giving a smile, Soul then takes a deep breath. “Yes. I overheard the whole thing and I don’t usually pay attention to other’s business, but I couldn’t just sit idly by and watch. I went over and told the manager that I saw the whole thing. Of course the couple tried to argue about what I saw until I showed the manager the pictures I had taken of them. Their faces were hilarious when they knew they were found out.” Soul began laughing at the memory. Noble had joined in the laughter. “Oh yes. I just loved when the manager told them they had five minutes to leave before he called the royal guard.” Noble threw his hooves into the air. “Then they grabbed their stuff and became olympic gallopers!” Both stallions had a good laugh and wiped their eyes as they settled down. Noble turned to Mineral and leaned against the table. “Anyway, before he made them leave, my manager at the time asked me if I was alright since he would have pressed charges if I had been hurt because of them. I was fine so he just banned them from the hotel and made them leave in a rather… immediate, way. He was even nice enough to give me the rest of the day off as a paid day off; just to ensure I wasn’t hurt at all.” The mares lips drooped and she tilted her head to the left slightly. “But what If you did learn you were hurt later from that, how would you know who they were or how to get a hold of them again?” Noble cleared his throat. “Well we did have reservations under their names which the manager knew.” Noble looked into Mineral’s eyes. “And if a baby dragon along with six mares could find the crystal heart that was missing for over a thousand years, I think the royal guard could find a couple of rich ponies.” Mineral looked elsewhere and crossed her forelegs, giving a short chuckle. “You have a point there, sis.” Mineral was still listening to the story, but she has also been glancing at the clock on the wall. She quickly lifted her plate and glass with her magic and stood up, though still fully paying attention to the stallions. She gave a little chuckle and tilted her head. “I’m guessing you didn’t just magically become friends after that?” The stallions followed her example and took their dishes too. They took them over to the return cart. Noble shook his head at Mineral’s question and smiled. “Well, it took some time before we became friends, but since Soul had a job to do, I offered to guide him around the hotel. I owed him big for being one of the few ponies in Canterlot that would help someone like that, without asking for something in return no less. I owed him a debt that day and I wanted to repay him in any way that I could. ” Soul stood before Mineral, continuing the story. “And as Noble kept giving me a tour through the hotel, we started talking. Or he talked, I just responded with one or two words most of the time.” He let out a quick laugh. Noble chuckled along with his friend. “You tend to do that.” Mineral giggled shortly. “I’ve noticed that too.” She proceeded to wrinkle her nose and gave a long yawn. Soul simply responded with a shrug, then after seeing the mare’s yawn proceeded with his own where Noble followed with one of his own. Mineral sat down and stretched her legs as far up as she could, and then stood up again as she shifted her attention to the counter and chanted, “Thank you! The food was as fantastic as ever.” Noble’s ears perked up as he heard those words and he stood up straight, following the example, “Thank you! The pizza was spectacular!” They heard how Croccante’s responded, “Grazie!” as it echoed from the kitchen. Though, Soul was the only one who didn’t say anything. A slightly awkward silence rose between them as Mineral just stood there and stared at Soul, waiting for him to say something. Though when nothing came out of his mouth, Mineral just scrunched her eyebrows and put on a slight grin, gently shaking her head. As the group exited the pizzeria, Soul continued telling the story, “Anyway, as Noble continued talking, we started to actually find some really good common ground and that’s when my vocal cords started vibrating more.” Mineral put a hoof on her mouth and let out an amused chuckle. “Vocal cords started to vibrate, eh?” she repeated. Soul rubbed his neck and looked off out into the mall. “Put in a corny way, yes.” Noble took a step forward bringing Mineral’s attention to him. “But yes, that’s pretty much it. I gave Soul an extensive look through the hotel, ensuring he had the materials he needed. Then, before he left I asked if there was anything else I could do; we agreed to hang out again. After a looooot of persuasion, he agreed to accept my gratitude in a form of coffee.” “I agreed just to it to get rid of him” Soul noted with a laugh. Noble grinned and nudged Soul with his elbow. “Aren’t you glad you did?” “I admit my defeat.” Soul bowed his head with a smile on his lips parted up in a grin. Noble couldn’t help but laugh at Soul’s comment and then turned to look at Mineral again. “Anyway, then well, we just kept hanging out and becoming better friends, and here we are now.” “You two have such a beautiful love story,” Mineral chanted with a sarcastic tone and let out a boisterous laugh. Soul dropped his head, hitting his forehead with his hoof still giving a snicker. “You just had to say that, didn’t you?” Mineral gasping for air, breathing heavy from her laughter, slowly regained her ability to speak. “Yes. Sorry, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a joke there.” She pulled herself back upright then flipped and brushed her hair with her hooves, fluffing it till it was back to normal. “Anyway, this mare should get back to the presentation. I’m glad I ran into you guys and got to know another side of you, Soul.” Mineral put on a smile, and shifted her attention to Noble, leaning forward. “Oh, and of course you too, Noble! I hope things will get better for you, I really do.” Noble gave Mineral a wide smile and nodded. “Thank you, I really appreciate that.” Soul nodded extending a hoof toward the mare. “Likewise. It was fun talking, and thank you for the pizza.” The stallions turned around and started walking to the opposite direction. “We’ll let you get back to work now.” The mare raised her head and quickly lifted a hoof into the air. “Before you do, I have one final question.” The two stallions froze, perking up their ears. Soul turned to face at the mare, tilting his head. “Yes?” Mineral took a few steps toward the white unicorn and stretched out her hoof, pointing it at Soul while meeting his eyes, staring intensely into them. Her lips rose upwards, bringing a sincere smile to her face. “Can we consider each other to be friends?” The earth pony chuckled again blowing air out of his nose in a snicker. He leaned against a bench while he stared at his friend, nodding vigorously while squinting his eyes at the back of the unicorn's head. Soul immediately drew his neck back as his eyes were just getting slightly wider, which was barely even noticeable. There was a short moment of silence, but they kept their eye contact tightly connected. Even though he kept his serene face, inside of him there was a voice that was screaming for him to answer, “yes”. It was just a simple “Let’s be friends” situation, but to Soul, who has only had one of those moments in his life it was nerve racking. Eventually, a smile washed over Soul’s lips. He stretched out his hoof again and shook with Mineral. “Yes. We shall consider each other as friends.” Author's Note What's the book Mineral used in order to pay? It's kinda like Equestria's substitution for credit cards. Instead of card readers and cards, ponies have a books that recognized a hoofprint, connects it to a bank account and transfers the money written on the page. Cover art: http://wildsoulws.deviantart.com/art/A-New-Impetus-Chapter-4-Bonds-536572063 5. Change‘Princess Twilight Sparkle’. The hottest topic throughout Equestria, especially in Canterlot from the beginning of the day every single newspaper had it on their front page. Naturally it was a contest between newspapers on who would get the most information about the new princess and who wrote the best article. But not only the newspapers were set on a competitive mood, it also affected design companies, and Canterlot Spectrum was no exception. Mineral and Soul had been spending their coffee break at Eastern Wings kitchen, which was exceptionally empty. Almost every designer had been so thrilled of the news and possibilities it could give that they have actually started sketching things for the new princess without any kind of commissioning. Soul poured coffee into his cup and took cream from the fridge and added it to his coffee. “Do you think this is the big change our manager and AD talked about a few days ago?” Mineral was sitting over at the table, already reading the third newspaper which had Princess Twilight on their front page. As she heard Soul’s comment, she turned to look at him with an eyebrow raised, lowering the paper. ”What, a new princess being the big change in Canterlot Spectrum?” Soul lifted his hooves and shrugged with a nod. “It sounds odd, but just look around you. Everypony here have locked themselves in their rooms and are designing things for her without commissioning. Who knows, a new princess is a big change all over Equestria, so maybe our manager somehow already made a deal with her to design or organize something for her.” Giving a moment for thought, Mineral eventually gave a shrug back at Soul with a small smile. “Maybe, maybe not. I mean, the newspapers obviously knew about this since yesterday, but our manager and art director...” The mare folded the paper and placed it back at the pile. “I doubt it, sis.” The white stallion walked over to the table with his coffee and sat down, letting out a soft, relaxed sigh. “True.” He leaned against the table and gently blew on his coffee before continuing, “Though are you sure they said they would announce it today? It’s one o’clock already and excluding all the hype about the princess, there’s been nothing unordinary going on.” Mineral leaned back on her chair and lifted her espresso. “Except there being food in the cafeteria you like, again,” she noted and gave the stallion a quick chuckle before sipping from her cup. Soul started rubbing his chin, looking at the ceiling with a grin and his eyebrows furrowed. “Two times in a week. A new princess is nothing compared to this miracle,” he stated and chuckled as his grin crept into a light smile. Mineral set her coffee on the table and rolled her eyes. “Yes. And speaking of which, I honestly hope our company won’t get jobs from the new princess.” Soul’s ears twitched and he sat up in his seat, leaning toward Mineral. “What makes you say that?” Mineral leaned forward crossing her forelegs and placing them on the table. “One word; Competition. Yes, a friendly one is not harmful, but if a company gets a job from royalty, then it will turn into chaos. Greedy ambition conquers a good group spirit and good group spirits holds our company together.” The stallion nodded. “Words of wisdom I would say.” A wide smile spread across Minera’s face. “Thanks,” she said and was about to get off her seat, but dropped her flank back immediately as she gasped. Her eyes bulged and she turned to face Soul again. “Oh! How could I forget this!” The mare gave her forehead a smack, bending her neck back. “The meeting with that Faztable pony yesterday! Which one did he choose?” She leaned forward toward Soul, practically holding her breath while waiting for the answer. “Oh, that.” Soul cleared his throat and put his coffee mug down, starting to rub his neck. “Well, not the one I wished for...” Mineral slumped back on her chair, closing her eyes then slowly opening them after a moment. “So gold and brown will be the new trade mark colors for Faztable, eh?” Soul nodded and grabbed one of the newspapers with his magic, and glanced at the front page. He simply shrugged before answering, though it could clearly be seen how a pinch of remorse had appeared upon his face. “Well, customer is always right.” “But there’s no reason to get gloomy about it, sis!” Mineral quickly sat up straight and put on a big smile, leaning against the table. “It was a fantastic piece of design and like I’ve said, none of them were even close to being bad.” Soul let out a little laugh and turned to look at Mineral. “Naw, I don’t feel bad or anything, but thank you. I appreciate it.” “Good, good.” Mineral stood up and chuckled, grabbing her espresso and heading over to the the fridge. “Can’t let a friend be gloomy, now can I?” she chanted with a cheerful tone, glancing at Soul over her shoulder. Soul stretched his neck and turned to look at Mineral with a grin. “You can let them be gloomy, but it’s a different story for if you actually will.” Drooping her eyes half way down and dropping her smile she looked at Soul, as if to ask if he were serious. “Technically true, but I wouldn’t embrace that philosophy” The stallion turned around in his chair and let out a slightly forced laugh. “Of course, me neither. It was a joke.” Giving a nod Mineral replied, “I figured.” Her eyelids and lips rose forming a soft smile as she got up and walked over to the fridge, a magenta hue wrapped around the door handle as Mineral opened the door with her magic. She looked through it for a moment then looked over the door. “Want a cookie?” Soul rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “Old joke.” Mineral couldn’t help herself letting out an amused laugh as she closed the door to the fridge, and turned to present her pack of white chocolate cookies. “No, I mean do you literally want a cookie?” “Oh!” Soul immediately tensed up and put on a forced smile, and rubbed his cheek with the tip of his hoof. “Well, sure.” He put the paper down and stood up from his chair, walking over to Mineral. “White chocolate I see.” The mare took one herself before offering them to Soul. “Yep! I bought a couple packages for Meadow for her birthday, but she didn’t want any because of her ‘diet’.” She let out a groan and rolled her eyes with a half smile. “So sharing these with fellow designers is the plan B.” Soul lifted one of the cookies with his magic and took a bite before saying anything. “That sure works for me,” he said with a laugh. Both ponies walked back to their seats and Soul grabbed the newspaper he had earlier, starting to search for weather section. Though as he browsed through the newspaper and came to the ad spread, something stuck out to him on that page. An advertisement section for the very same mare who was sitting right there on the other side of the table. The stallion raised his head and looked at his friend questioningly and spoke up, “Hey, look what I found.” He placed the paper on the table and pointed at the ad. Mineral turned her attention instantly toward the stallion, which quickly darted on the newspaper to the spot Soul was pointing at. She immediately leaned against the table as a big, excited smile spread across her face. “Oh gosh, yes! They published it already!” she chimed and bounced up from her chair like a spring, taking a closer look at the ad and making sure everything is exactly as she wanted. “Eye Dazzling Mineral Art” Soul read the title out loud, while a confusion began to take over, he raised an eyebrow lifting his head up to look at the mare. “You have started your own company?” The mare shook her head. “No, of course not. I’ve had it for a few years now.” Soul sat back in his seat and rose a hoof as he spoke. “I’ve always thought you make your mineral art for Canterlot Spectrum.” Mineral jumped up waving her hooves in the air. “Oh no no no no no, that’s not the case at all.” As she landed back on the ground she lifted a hoof up to explain. “You bet when I started here, I tried to suggest mineral art, but they denied it instantly.” Soul leaned forward dropping his hooves onto the table. “What? Why? It’s unique--- no wait, very unique form of art. I would think they would be dying to get it to themselves.” Sulking a bit she lowered her head resting it on the table. “That’s it, it’s too unique and I’m the only mineral artist they know. They want more than one specialist before starting to conquer that section.” The pale unicorns jaw dropped, after taking a moment he closed his mouth and his eyebrows quickly bowed while he sat up placing his hooves firmly on the table. “That’s stupid. I mean, I don’t have a mind for business, but I think that is stupid.” Mineral extended a hoof, gently motioning for Soul to keep calm. “Luckily the walls of this company aren’t the limits of our possibilities” She lowered her hoof and folded her forelegs again. “Oh, since we have now wandered to this topic, have you ever seen my mineral artwork?” The stallion looked down, easing back into his seat, too embarrassed to make eye contact. Once he was sitting again he looked up, cleared his throat and asked, “Yes. Didn’t you once wear those accessories made out of mineral?” Mineral immediately tensed up and bumped a hoof on her chest. “Indeed, but those were nothing compared my other projects,” she chimed and took a long sip, drinking all of her remaining espresso and then dropped the cup to a trash can. “I shall introduce you to my ‘work in progress’ projects.” Thrown off by Mineral’s sudden boost of excitement, a blank look rose over Soul’s face. He quickly just repeated Mineral’s actions and stood up from his seat and started collecting his things. “You have your personal work here at your workplace?” Mineral nodded and lifted her white saddlebag with her magic, placing it on her back. “Yes. When I run out of work for a day, I spend the remaining hours, or minutes, working on them.” The mare grabbed the last newspaper she hadn’t read yet and put it into her saddle back, and then walked over to the door. “Coming, sis?” she said and turned to look at the stallion, who was still looking for something. “Yes, just a second,” Soul responded while searching for something under the newspapers. “I don’t see my I.M. book anywhere.” Mineral tilted her head while she raised an eyebrow, leaned against the doorframe. “Didn’t you already put it in your pocket?” At that moment when the words echoed to his ears, Soul stopped digging through the pile and tapped his left chest pocket, and felt an object in there. He let out a little forced laugh and started to scratch his chin. “Yes… I did.” Mineral lightly shook her head and let out a bright chuckle. She then stood up straight again and tilted her head toward the hallway as a sign for Soul to follow. The stallion nodded and trotted over to the exit. Soul closed the door behind him and they headed towards Mineral’s office. As the two walked through the hallway, the always appreciated awkward silence fell upon them. Soul continued staring forward and Mineral kept glancing toward Soul, waiting to see if she would be pleasantly surprised to hear a word from him. But when nothing came out of Soul’s muzzle, Mineral started grinning and cleared her throat before speaking up, “Sooooo, like I said, most of them are still works in progress, but I have a few finished pieces too. There’s this one new thing I’ve been trying out that I really want to show off.” Soul’s attention turned to Mineral as a sliver of a smile formed upon his lips. “I see, sounds interesting. So you sell them in a store I assume?” Mineral instantly shook her head. “Nope. Through mail order actually. It’s been more of a hobby to me for a long time.” “Why just a hobby? It’s your special talent after all.” Mineral raised her head and glanced up at the ceiling, and swiped her hoof across the air. “Because of this company. When I first started here, I was super positive I would be able to convince them to accept mineral art in their area of expertise and nurture my talent that way.” “But it didn’t pay off,” Soul spoke slouching a little. “Precisely. I thought I would leave this company after working here a little while, but I sort of got fond of this place. It wasn’t long till I started my mini-company.” She gave a giggle and smiled looking up at the ceiling again. “I know what you mean.” The mare nodded. “Yes. Anyway, that moment with Noble, and seeing his situation got me thinking. I have a special talent, I should embrace it and start taking as much out of it as I possibly can. So, immediately when I got home, stuff started to happen. I designed an ad for the newspaper and woke up at 6am and took it to Daily Equestria.” As she mentioned Noble, she frowned but turned to Soul with a glimmer in her eyes and a small slender smile across her lips when she stated she was inspired. Soul drew his neck back and his eyes got wide. “Wow, well you sure didn’t waste time.” Mineral chuckled and grabbed the knob on her door with her magic, though the smile faded as quickly as it came, but still remained on her face. There was a short moment of silence before she spoke up again, “Meeting Noble made me realize what can happen if I don’t nurture my talent. I really hope he can get back to his special talent someday too.” After finishing, the mare turned the knob and was about to open the door, but as she did, the two heard a soft bump which was followed by a squeak coming from the other side of the door. Mineral’s eyes got wide and she turned to look at a confused Soul. Mineral slowly started opening the door again, and when she did, they saw Meadow holding her muzzle with a messy pile of mail in front of here. “Meadow!” Mineral exclaimed and trotted over to the mare. “What are you doing here?” Her attention quickly shifted from the whimpering Meadow, to the pile of mail. Mineral drew her neck back while her eyebrows furrowing. “And what in Equestria are you doing with my mail?” “Ahh, I might have mi precious muzzle spoiled! And you are asking about your mail!” Meadow spoke while still rubbing her muzzle gently while laying on the ground. Mineral let out a sigh and helped Meadow up. “Take it easy, sis. A light bump like that doesn’t do a thing.” She started gathering the mail Meadow had dropped during the hit. “But now, what were you doing with my mail?” Meadow, in her typical manner, raised her head high and swiped her scarf and legs clean. And again, gave the confused looking stallion a typical split-second glance before answering to Mineral. “I didn’t care about your mail, I was looking for you. But when I saw that one thing on it that can give us one of the most mayor opportunities in historia, of course I would bring it right to you!” Mineral’s curiosity was ignited like a match, her eyes getting wider and she started searching through the pile she collected, even though she knew Meadow, she couldn’t help but feel a little sceptical. “Biggest opportunities, naye?” she repeated and spotted a paper that stuck out like a stop sign. She walked over to her desk and put the rest of her mail down. As she saw the title, her face scrunched and almost teared up because of the smile that formed upon it. “Oh… my… gosh… A new area of expertise?!” Soul’s eyes perked up immediately, and he walked over to Mineral. “Wait, you think it’s what we just talked about?” “If it is, I’m going to run through every corner of this building and scream in joy, even if I will get an asthma attack, I don’t---” Before Mineral even got a chance to finish her cheer, her mood soured. “Oh, nevermind… It’s not that…” Meadow instantly leaned toward Mineral with her eyes wide open and a huge smile on her face. “Que? What are you talking about?! this is everypony’s dream come true!” She turned the envelope toward Meadow and pointed with her hoof. “Fashion Designer?” Soul, who was just listening to the conversation, flinched immediately as he heard the term fashion designer. His eyes widened and heartbeat accelerated. He was about to speak up but Meadow had already opened her mouth. “Ah, silly Mineral,” Meadow chimed and leaned against the desk. “Because of the new princesa, of course!” The brown mare leaned against her hoof and glanced at the ceiling like a daydreamer. “Just imagine, if I became a fashion designer; there’s no doubt I’d have a huge chance of becoming Princesa Twilight’s royal tailor.” She squeezed as she lifted her hooves right under her chin and bit her lip, her eyes glimmering in excitement. “Just imagine that honor and fame it would bring!” “A royal tailor, eh?” Meadow let out a deep sigh. “Meadow, I’m by no means trying to bring you down, but you’ve never even made a stitch in your life. “ Meadow quickly grabbed the paper from Mineral with her magic and cleared her throat, starting to read one section out loud, “Canterlot Spectrum will guarantee artisan education for those who truly are interested in fashion design. In order to apply, you have to fill out an application enclosed with this letter and return it to you own Art Director.” Soul rubbed his chin with his hoof looking off into space as his mind begins to take off. His heart began beating faster, his posture improves while his hooves grew sweaty. Even though there was a smile upon his face a shiver went down his spine as he drifted more and more into his own thoughts. “Would you look at that…” Mineral let out a disappointed sigh and frowned. “So they are willing to expand to fashion, but not to mineral art.” Meadow gave a sigh. “There there hermana, your talent is too special.” Meadow walked forward keeping her chin up and placed a hoof on her friends desk leaning her head down to make eye contact and give a nod and a polite smirk. “That was a compliment, obviously.” She started to care her mane and raised her snout up again. “They will see your talent in time and you’ll get to shine probably as brightly as me.” Mineral huffed, closing her eyes but opened them to see the glimmer and nod from Meadow, she nodded back as a thank you and proceeded to walk over to her chair and dropping her flank in it, turning toward the two unicorns. Soul blinked and suddenly shook his head rapidly, clearing his head. He cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Well... In my opinion fashion is a valuable thing in culture and all.” Still sitting, Mineral put her hooves together and rested her chin on them. “Of course it is. I just… Don’t think it’s one of the best ways to express yourself. Or rather, I really, really don’t like how snooty fashion designers think that appearance; horribly thin body and clothes; are the only things make you a good person. I mean that’s just terrible.” Meadow let out a gasp. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t form any words, lifting up a hoof to interject but still had no ideas and was left simply closing her mouth and pouting with a loud huff. Soul’s ears folded back and he looked away, looking kind of dissapointed. “Well... yeah, I guess that is true…” Meadow raised her head once again and brushed her mane with her hoof. “So Mineral, that’s all I had to say for now.” The snooty mare walked over to the door and opened it. “Do whatever you want to. But you shall see how I’ll become Princesa Twilight's new tailor in no time.” Mineral waved her hoof to Meadow. “Good luck, sis. Don’t forget about me when you are on top of Canterlot,” she stated with a joking tone, allowing a laugh to escape her mouth, though her sentiment was honest. As Meadow left, she left the door open, but Mineral shut it again with her magic. Soul was scratching his head as he was staring after Meadow. He turned to look at Mineral with his head tilted. “If I may say, you got a very interesting friend there.” Mineral kept staring at the door, her look slowly turning gloomier and gloomier. “You said it. It’s sad to see what Canterlot has done to her…” She leaned against her hoof and let out a deep sigh, and looked down at his table. “Happens to everypony born and raised here I guess...” “I figured you’ve known each other a bit longer. You two seem like summer and winter.” Giving a deep sigh again, Mineral nodded once with her eyes closed, then slowly opened them before beginning, though a small smile crept onto her face. “It’s a long story, but to put it simply, she’s been a family friend since we were fillies, and I guess she’s the overly sophisticated, spoiled by mass sister I never had.” “I see…” Frowning a bit from the overall mood taking over, Soul reaches up placing a hoof on Mineral’s desk. “So, fashion design is the big new change here.” Thinking over his next sentence carefully he finally spoke up. “You seemed surprisingly negative about it. It’s not like you. Or, at least I don’t think it is.” Mineral moved her hooves forward and fell over on the table resting her chin between her forelegs. “Naye… I was just a bit disappointed. Getting my hopes up and all. Then again, I’m sure they would’ve talked to me first before expanding to mineral art.” The mare lifted her head up sitting up right in the seat and turning toward a wall of bright orange storage bins. “And speaking of which, I think it would be a good time to finally show---” Mineral’s speech was cut off mid-sentence when a knock was heard from her door, and a orange unicorn stallion stepped in. The orange stallion had a an ID card hanging on his neck, which had his title written on it; Art Director. “Mineral, sorry if this is a bad time, but we have a new job assignment for you,” the orange stallion spoke, holding a folder. Mineral instantly sprung up from her chair, leaning against the table. “Oh, now? I mean, yes of course, Ink.” She turned to look at Soul with soft eyes and an apologetic smile, putting her hooves together and lowering her head.. “I beg your pardon, sis, but sharing my projects must wait.” Soul quickly raised his hoof and shook his head. “Of course, work comes above all during working hours.” He stood up from his seat and stretched before starting to walk away. “You’ll find me at my room. Come and give me a word when you are done.” Before Soul managed to exit the room, the art director stopped him. “Soul, I have a job for you too. I will come to see you next.” “Oh.” Soul nodded and put on a smile. “Gotcha,” he said and gave a final wave to Mineral before leaving the room. Sitting at his desk, Soul had been doing nothing else during the past few minutes beside staring at a paper he had in front of him. An application, The application Soul had filled out. If Soul gave this to his art director, there would be no returning from it. His hesitation was the only thing that is holding him. Nopony in the company has an idea that an interest in fashion has a place in his mind. Mineral’s words especially were running through his head, “I just… Don’t think it’s one of the best ways to express yourself. Or rather, I really, really don’t like how snooty fashion designers think that appearance; horribly thin body and clothes; are the only things make you a good person. I mean that’s just terrible.” “Come on, Soul. Just give the application to Ink. You can’t let her opinion cause doubt,” he said quietly to himself while scratching his right forehoof. The stallion let out a big, deep sigh and fell back on his chair. Soul looked up at his clock. Half past two. Mineral and Ink should be done about now and soon Ink should be knocking on the door. And speaking of the devil. Just as Soul thought to himself there was the rhythmic knock on his door. Soul put the paper aside quickly and cleared his throat before speaking up, “Come in.” The door opened and the art director, Ink, stepped in. “Alrighty there, kid. Let’s take a look at your commission.” Soul motioned Ink to sit down and then lifted a pastille pack on his desk, and took one. “I’m all ears,” he said as his ears twitched at the same time. Ink walked over to Soul’s desk while already digging for a folder he had and sat down. “I have a feeling you’re going to like this one. Take a look at this.” He pulled out one of the papers he had in his folder and placed it on the table, turning it around to face Soul. “A banner for an upcoming artistic theater act.” “A theater act?” Soul repeated as a wide smile spread upon his face. “I haven’t worked on anything high culture related in a long time.” “That’s why I thought this would be a fitting job for you. I realized I’ve given you way too many logo commissions recently, so a change would do well for you.” Soul’s gazed at the application he slid aside. “Yes, change.” His view quickly rose and he cleared his throat. “Speaking of change, can I ask something off topic?” he spoke with a quick and nervous peace. Folding his hooves as he spoke to Wild Soul, Ink retorted, “Let’s look over this commission first, then you may.” Soul drew his neck back and nodded, sitting up right and clearing his throat again. “Of course.” Ink dug up another paper from his folder, which included all the wishes and requirements for the poster. There had only been one, that it should be mystical; which was good for Soul since he could of course, bring his own views to it. The deadline was pleasantly long too. After explaining all the details, the last thing Ink did was give Soul his contact details. Ink gave the last paper to Soul and pointed at the lower right corner. “These ponies apparently don’t use crystal nexus, so sending them n-mail is not an option. You must contact them through Instant Message if needed.” Soul lifted the paper and his eyes were darting from side to side on it. “I see. They don’t seem to mention anything about scale here. I have to ask about that.” “Yes. But that’s everything we have about this.” Ink leaned back and placed his crossed hooves in his lap, he then gave a smile. “Now, what did you want to ask me about, kid?” “Oh, yes.” Soul put the commission down and took the application into his hooves. His heart started to beat faster. “Well, what kind of ponies are fashion designers?” Ink lifted a hoof spinning it in circles. “Fashion designers? Well, to put it simply, they are like us. Creative designers.” He lifted his other hoof and brought them together, tilting them toward Soul. He tilted his head down making his glasses slide down his nose slightly as he looked up at Soul over them. “Are you asking for the reason I think you are asking?” Soul nodded and cleared his throat, since his voice was getting raspier from his nervousness. He raised his head and slid the application over to his art director. “Well, I’m planning to apply.” Ink immediately lifted the paper with his magic and adjusted his glasses with his hoof. It took only a second for him to read before a smile molded upon his face and he turned to look at Soul. “Would you look at this! What a pleasant surprise you just handed to me.” He put the application down and leaned against the desk. “Kid, I can sign my agreement immediately if you want.” Ink started to already dig for his pencil. “Hold on a bit,” Soul quickly spoke and raised his hooves. “I still have my doubts.” Ink let out a little laugh. “Those doubts must be pretty minor if you have already filled the application out.” Soul started scratching his chin and looked elsewhere. “My main doubt is that the kind of community and way of thinking fashion designers have.” He turned his attention to his pile of mail, which had a designers magazine on top of it. “I… don’t really want to get the ‘only appearance matters in person’ -reputation if I get myself into this.” The AD leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes and rubbed his hoof over his hair. “I must admit that at least half of the fashion designers I have met have attitudes like that.” He raised his head and looked out of the window behind Soul. “And obviously, appearance matters when it comes to clothes, if you know what I mean.” Soul clenched his teeth together and rubbed his neck. “Dang, well that’s encouraging,” his voice wavered showing his sarcasm. Ink laid his hooves on the table. “But I don’t think you should worry about that half too much. There are fashion designers who keep their minds purely on the clothes appearance.” “I see. Well... what school you would recommend for me then?” Ink fixed his posture and clapped his hooves together. “That’s actually the interesting part. Instead of schools, we’re directing our applicants to private tuition. We want our folk to have all the attention during the education.” Soul’s eyes slightly bulged and he tilted his head while scratching his chin, a smile widening on his lips. “Really? That’s interesting. Though isn’t that going to be hard getting fashion designers to agree? I mean, Canterlot Spectrum is going to be their rival, right?” Ink lifted two pencils on Soul’s desk and held them to resemble a V, putting on a grin. “Two words, kid: money and co-operation. Canterlot Spectrum will pay them your education, and will offer co-operation, like collaboration projects, advertisment et cetera. If you have both of those and you do your part it will lead to victory,” Upon saying ‘victory’ Ink lifted up the V once more. He then put the pencils down and leaned back on his chair. “You must of course mention these things when you contact ponies.” “Alright, so applicants must contact the fashion designer themselves…” Soul’s voice rose as he started thinking about how he’d find a suitable teacher. He was glad that Ink wasn’t presenting any questions that why he wanted to apply, or that since when he’s been interested in fashion. He probably just wanted as many ponies to apply without causing any pressure. Ink nodded. “Yes, that’s right.” He once again leaned against the table and looked at the white unicorn with a determined look in his eyes. “I’m telling you Soul, this is a great opportunity for you, and you’ll be taking a big leap closer to becoming an appreciated art director like me. You still want to be an art director, right kid?” Soul nodded immediately. “Absolutely, no changes there,” he said with a strong tone in his voice. “That’s what I thought.” Ink let out a little chuckle and finally dug up his pen with his magic and placed the tip on the signature line. “Shall I finally sign this so we could get things rolling for you?” Soul still gave a final moment of silence as he thought. Weighing all the ups and downs, benefits and risks. Seeing his two, only friends much less often if he got a place out of town. But deep in his mind, Soul had already made the decision. If this really is a big leap toward becoming an art director, the answer was obvious. A grin spread across Soul’s face and he finally spoke up, “Go right ahead.” In a flash, Ink’s pen slid from left to right as he christened the document with his signature. He tapped his hooves on the desk and drummed a little success beat. “Congratulations to our first applicant!” he announced and slid the paper into his folder. Soul pulled his foreleg down bending it at the elbow. “Score for me then.” Giving a smile shaking his head down a bit from how unprofessional that may have been he inquired, “So, what next?” Ink stood up from his seat. “Next, I’m going to make you a letter of recommendation and then list down all the possible places you could contact.” “If you could list places from Manehattan on top, that would be great,” Soul quickly said and leaned forward. Ink’s ears perked up at the request. “Homesick?” he asked with question look on his face. Soul gave a shrug. “Born and raised there, so it would be an easy place adapt to.” “Sure thing! I’ll look for a place from there first. To be honest, I wasn’t going to recommend Canterlot at all myself.” He let out a laugh and walked over to the door, opening it. “I’ll bring you the list and my recommendation ASAP.” Ink spun around and took a big leap backwards, exiting the room, though he almost bumped into Mineral who was just a few millimeters from hitting him. Ink simply gave an awkward smile and apologized before trotting off. Mineral simply scrunched her forehead then relaxed and grinned. She then walked toward the entrance and leaned against the door frame, locking her eyes on Soul as she tilted her head with an eyebrow raised and head tilted up. “List and recommendation, eh? Did you just do what I think you did…? ” The stallion gave a wide corny smile and slowly slid down in his seat and under his desk without saying a single word. Author's Note In this fiction, Crystal Nexus is Equestrian version of internet, except much, much more limited. 6. No-Bell PoetAnother day on the job for an average earth pony, another day as a bellhop. The sun was out and it had been an early morning. Noble’s day was almost at an end and he was sitting outside for a few minutes during his final break. He was watching the large clock tower, ensuring he wasn’t exceeding his break time. It was times like this, when everything was peaceful and the only fuss was the gentle cry of a foul wanting it’s bottle, that Noble’s problems seemed to be non-existent. His struggle to make rent, the fact that he had to live in a tiny apartment on the other side of town to ensure he could pay rent while saving his money to one day leave Canterlot. All of his worries were washed away. The peace was interrupted by the chime of the clock tower striking 1pm. The stallion took a final deep breath and turned to the entrance to the hotel, he could see his reflection in the mirror and seeing himself in his bellhop uniform reminded him where he was and caused his rare smile to vanish. He took another deep breath and looked up to the sky. The shadow of a pegasus eclipsed the sun. Noble looked up seeing the shadow as he marveled at the flying being. Noble had always enjoyed watching pegasi fly and envied the sense of freedom that was associated with being a pegasus. He had always wanted to be able to fly away and go anywhere he wanted to be. After the pegasi turned and flew out of eyesight Noble sighed and headed back inside. As soon as Noble entered the main hall of the hotel he heard the chime from the speaker system and Double Bit’s voice, “Attention all Liakada employees. We are having a mandatory meeting in entertainment room A in 15 minutes. That is all.” The intercom shut off, Noble along with the ponies at the front desk as well as a pony who was sweeping, all perked up, exchanging glances before heading over toward entertainment room A. “I wonder what this is about?” As Noble, along with the rest of the employees from the main room began walking down a hall to entertainment room A, a familiar voice caught Noble’s attention. “Noble! Wait up!” The voice belonged to none other than Truffle. The mare trotted over to the stallion, lighting up the room with a bright smile as her white kitchen uniform jacket. “Hiya there! Let’s go together, I have a question.” The stallion stopped and turned toward the mare, he waited until she caught up with him. “Oh? Ask away.” She adjusted her hat with a hoof, ensuring it was properly on her head. She then swiftly brushed her hair away from her ears. “Do you think earrings would be fitting on me?” “Huh…?” Taken aback for the sudden inquisition, Noble didn’t know what to answer. He tried to think for a moment while Truffle took a step closer, holding her hair back, ensuring Noble could see her ears. Noble stepped back and could see the glimmer in her eyes. “I’m… not sure, maybe? Why are you asking?” Truffle looked at Noble and the distance between them and took a half step back giving a smile, showing her teeth as she did. “Sorry… That, it’s just because my partner is taking me to a recently opened restaurant and I thought that maybe I should try something new.” Rubbing his chin Noble closed his eyes imagining different styles of earrings on Truffle with different dresses. He drifted back to the moment. “Oh, that’s nice. Though I’m not really the pony you should be asking.” Truffle released her mane and shook her head allowing her ponytail to fall back into place before nodding. “Alrighty, If you say so. I was going to ask her first anyway. I don’t want to perforate my ears if she wouldn’t like it.” She reached up and rubbed her ear as she spoke. “You are the one who knows best,” Noble smiled as he spoke lifting a hoof to get them moving once more. “Truffle, I have a question for you.” The mare began walking next to the stallion, she beamed and began skipping. “Oh of course, you have a very special somepony and need my advice on what to do for a first date don’t you?” Noble gave a chuckle, shaking his head. “Uhh no! Not really. Thank you though. Umm... the real thing; I was wondering if you happened to know what this meeting is about?” “Nope, I’ve not the slightest idea. I really hope it’s something good. Who knows, maybe the whole staff will get a big pay rise? That would be splendid!” She brought a hoof up to her side and shook it smiling and staring off for a moment thinking about what she could do with a raise. Noble looked over at his friend raising an eyebrow at her optimism, causing him to chuckle. Noble shook his head.“Something good? Uhh… This is Double Bit we’re talking about… the word ‘good’ seems to have a very different meaning around her. I would hate to see what she does for fun.” The earth pony shivered at the thought. The mare elbowed Noble in the side. “Come on! Giver her a chance, she might surprise us.” “Oww.” Noble rubbed the side Truffle just jabbed him in. “...I doubt it. I’m sorry to say.” The two friends walked through the doorway into Entertainment Room A, Noble found a little spot off to the side so he could scan the crowd and be away from the commotion as he normally did in large gatherings. Truffle continued to talk with him by his side, “Oh come now! She can’t always be out to get us and maybe she has realized just how poorly she has treated us and plans to rectify it!” The stallion lifted his head up looking at the front of the room where a stage, a microphone and some speakers were set up. “Sorry, I would love for you to be right. I just don’t want to get my hopes up. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best is the saying. I’m just expecting the worst. This is a big set up though.” Finally looking around in awe the mare was silent for a moment. “This is a pretty big set up. It does make me wish I had a sample taste of what we will be getting here.” After another minute or two every employee had arrived and the doors finally closed. Double bit walked up on stage to the microphone with a rare smile on her face. A hush fell over the room as she began to speak, “Thank you all for coming. I have wonderful news.” Whispers were heard throughout the crowd, “That’s never a good sign.” “As you all know, summer is approaching quickly and this will be a very busy time for my, Hotel Liakada. Many young stallions and mares will be getting out of school and it was brought to my attention that the hotel will be able to save money if we were to replace some ponies with these new younger employees.” As Double Bit spoke those words Noble’s eyes grew wide. Noble couldn’t believe his ears and began shaking his head side to side. He suddenly thought of Truffle and looked over at her. The green unicorn was silent, her eyes peered forward but it was clear to all whom could see that the information had paralyzed her as the color drained from her face. She stood listening as her lips began to droop more with every word. “I of course can not fire the entire staff as we need some employees to show these fillies and colts the ropes. I have hoof selected several ponies from the different areas of the hotel to stay. I have selected only the most loyal and best qualified ponies to stay.” “What?!!” Almost everypony in the crowd yelled which quickly changed into a loud roar mixed with happy and unhappy employees throwing objections and even some insults while others who were confident that they would keep their jobs stood up, to applaud Double Bit. Truffle heard a soft grumble coming from Noble, “Hmm... ‘Most loyal. Best qualified.’ more like just her own personal pawns and ponies that will obey everything she says without question....” Truffle had perked up and held her mouth with her hoof. Her thoughts were swirling about; she knew that she has always tried to be obedient around her boss and did not recall any moments when she angered her. She stood a little taller, hoping that her efforts would be rewarded and that she would remain employed. Though, Noble’s comment among the uproar pierced her thoughts and brought in new doubt, she darted her eyes back and forth, her heart racing, hoping what he said was not true. “Quiet!” Double Bit gave the microphone a loud thump, causing the room to go silent so she could continue speaking in an upbeat tone. “Now, you all must be wondering how you will know if you are staying or if your time here is done. Well I have plaques on the wall to my left, if your name is on it in your section then your job is safe. If your name is not on the wall then you are hereby fired. I expect all ponies who are fired to pack up their belongings, clear out their lockers and leave the building post heist!” As she finished she gave a huff and stepped back from the microphone smiling down at all the frightened ponies. Noble could not believe his ears along with many of the other employees, how could Double Bit sound so cheerful as she informally fired most of the staff? His method of thought was interrupted as Truffle put her foreleg around his tightly squeezing it as her body shook. Truffle had practically done a full one-eighty with her mood after the announcement. Her ears had drooped, her body was shaking slightly and her her mouth could barely form words, “N-No... Noble, we need to look at the board. We have to find our names. She can’t… she can’t possibly fire us. We didn’t do anything wrong!” Her voice shook as she spoke. Noble could never stand by while a mare or foal cried. He reached up and patted Truffle’s side with his hoof. “She should keep you as an employee, you never got on her bad side. Let’s check.” While he was attempting to comfort the mare he could already feel a knot growing in his throat. The room was in total chaos, filled with ponies objecting and complaining. Some of whom had already seen the list and were throwing their hats away and walking out of the room with their teeth clenched as tight as possible while others left leaving a trail of tears. Noble walked with the mare over to the remainder of the group looking over the wall. Once she was behind the crowd Truffle let go of Noble’s foreleg slowly and made her way, nudging through the crowd. When a loud cry of Truffle reached Noble’s ears from the crowd a few moments later, he knew the worst had happened. Noble instantly froze in place, his heart rate accelerated and his eyes grew wide as he began to think about what he could possibly do to save his job but he knew it was pointless. Double Bit had finally gotten rid of every pony she had a problem with in one fowl swoop. Emerging from the crowd Truffle lept at Noble. “Oh Noble! It’s awful!” Her eyes began to water and her vision began blurring rapidly. “N-Neither of our names are on the lists. We are both jobless!” Those words seemed to be her limit, for as soon as they left her mouth her tears began to flow. There it was… The paralyzing outcome… Noble could do nothing more but stand there and wrap his shaking hooves around the mare as the voices of the crowd started growing dimmer and dimmer and his vision was getting blurry too.“T-Truffle… There there... I-I’m sure it will be for the best... in the end,” he stammered for words but couldn’t even think clearly. Noble tried to comfort her as she wept on his shoulder, he patted her on the back, glaring as a few tears trickled down his face. Noble moved, slowly carrying Truffle toward the spot they were in before, out of the way, shifting through the flow of mares and stallions all crying and hanging their heads low after seeing their termination. When they got to their secluded area Truffle fell to the ground crying then sat up just enough to hug Noble while crying and pressing her cheek against his. “Wha… Wha.. what will I do?! Wha.. what.. wi.. will I tell… my pa.. pa.. pa.. partner?! She will hate me for getting fired, I’m sure!” Biting his lip and darting his eyes around thinking of what to do all the earth pony could muster to do was sit and rub the mare’s back, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth trying to hold back his own tears and frustration. “There there, you know she won’t hate you. This is not your fault... you… you will find a new, better job... you still have room to shine.” He tried to cheer her up, the best he could given the situation, but he had to wonder if they would really work and if his words would even reach her now. After crying for five minutes, and a lot of, “There there, let it all out”s from her friend Truffle began to pick herself up, still sniffling and teary eyed, she pulled her head back from Noble’s shoulder. “Th.. thank you... I’m,” she sniffled. “..a little better after that.” After whipping the tears off his coat, Noble put a hoof on the mare’s shoulder. “It’s alright, you have every right to be sad and angry. We were all wrongfully fired.” He looked down at his hooves, letting go of Truffle. “We should get our things, we can finally leave this place and never have to return.” The green unicorn whipped her eyes with her hoof and looked up into Noble’s eyes before nodding. “Alright, I’ll go pack my knives and meet you in the main hall in fifteen minutes… for the last time.” She began tearing up again but shook her head trying to fight it and began walking slowly. Putting a hoof over his heart as Noble felt a great weight forming, as his own sorrow poured over him along with along with a rush of anger as he stood up to leave but looked up unable to help glaring at the stage and the few remaining ponies. The only ponies that remained were all smiling and clomping their hooves together as they were the few that were still employed. Noble gritted his teeth and walked out the door shaking his head, unable to stand another second with Double Bit’s lackeys. Noble walked into the back corridors for staff only and went to the locker room. He opened his locker and pulled out his saddle bags and began cleaning out his locker, filling the bag up. As he looked over his empty locker among all the others and gave a heavy sigh, he had always wanted to leave but now that he was leaving for good he realized how much he will miss hearing Sharp Melodies stories and music as well as talking to Truffle at work. He shook his head realizing that he has met Truffle outside of work and most likely will continue to do so. But missing the little good things was the smallest of his problems now. Giving another sigh he put the saddle bag on and looked at the clock, 15 minutes had passed and Truffle was probably saying goodbye as well before meeting him. About seven minutes after the time the two ponies planned to meet in the main hall Truffle appeared, moving slowly, her eyes being red from where she had been crying more. Her fancy orange saddle bag was laying over her back. Truffle hopelessly tried to keep her lips curved upward slightly, but the lump in her throat made her lower her head and she just stared at the red carpet they stood on; rubbing her hoof in circles on the fur she spoke, “This will be the last time we’ll ever standing on this carpet...” ”Yeah… It’s almost hard to believe this used to be the same, great workplace before Double Bit got here…” Noble replied walking over to stand next to the mare, offering his foreleg a little reluctantly. At that instant, before Noble even realized it Truffle had wrapped her hooves around the stallion’s neck and hugged him tightly for a few seconds before letting go. “Things change…” Noble gave Truffle a soft pat on the back before she released him. He gave a deep sigh as his ears drooped again. “They do, even flowers begin as a gentle seed, once it finds it's place it may bud, finally it blossoms and thrives in the light, alas one day it will wither and die, becoming one with the soil again.” The mare covered her mouth with her hoof, almost hiding her gentle smile. “Oh my gosh! What beautiful metaphors! I---” “What are you two still doing here?!” Double Bit’s voice echoed towards the duo, who instantly froze and turned to look at the approaching ex-manager. “You are not paying customers, so I must ask that you leave; post heist!” There was a intense silent moment, which ended by Truffle speaking up with scorning look. “You certainly don’t have to ‘ask’ twice. We were just leaving,” Her voice was sounding less raspy. She flipped her head up, her eyes still noticeably red but she didn’t want to look at her ex-employer. “Noble? Coming?” Noble wasn’t moving a foot. He just stared at Bit with scorning eyes, having so many thoughts bottled up that he want to say to her. This was probably the last chance to let it all out and tell her what he thinks. “You’re the worst, most uncivilized, narcissistic vulture who sucks the pleasure out of everything just by your presence.” Oh that would feel so good to say, but all that came out was, “I… You didn’t have any right to fire us! We were all very hard working employees that have done our jobs well even under your command.” Just saying that caused Noble’s heart to beat faster and brought a sliver of a smile to his face as he held his head up for the first time around Double Bit. The ex-manager’s eyes widened a bit and a scowl formed on her lips. “Are you quite done? Your whining just hurts my ears.” Double Bit didn’t seem to care that she was around richer ponies anymore and scrunched up her nose. “You really think a bellhop like you is somehow important? Your thoughts are downright laughable! Bellhops like you are the most replaceable workers within any hotel business, meaning your so called ‘effort’ means nothing and I don’t even want to hide the fact that you were the first employee I put on my ‘to fire’ list.” The mare took a step toward Noble getting right in his face, standing over him, forcing him to lower his head. “You can’t even imagine how grand it feels to finally get rid of a lowly earth pony like you! I don’t have to see your lazy mopey face around here at all anymore.” “Double Bit! You witch! You have no right to say any of that! Noble…” Truffle was shaking and sniffling while glaring at Double Bit. The three were causing a scene, gaining attention from everypony in the hall but even Double Bit didn’t seem to care. Turning her head and shifting her body slightly Double Bit looked back at Truffle. “Don’t stand up for an Earth Pony; they are beneath us. Especially this poor excuse for a pony. Also don’t speak to me, you are nothing more than a bottom class cook. We do not need you here either.” Noble had grown silent, Double Bit’s words echoing in his head. His body began to shake and lips began quivering. “No…” Noble’s voice was barely audible. The ex-manager turned back to the stallion. “What was that?” “I said NO!” Noble’s voice echoed through the halls, taking both mares by surprise. “You are the worst manager I have ever had! You have no leadership qualities, no redeeming qualities, no respect for others and only try to trick high class ponies into believing that you are sophisticated yourself. I hope I never have to see you again and I will never set foot in this hotel under your management again!” The stallion had snapped to attention, standing tall and marched past Double Bit. His heart practically beating out of his chest. Truffle was frozen in her spot near the open door, her eyes wide and watching her friend. She had never seen him blow up like that before. As he passed Double Bit and passed her as well she could hear him breathing heavily and she slowly turned and began following him silently, watching his every step. Double Bit simply stood there in shock, her eyebrows had fallen and were locked in a stern glare. She shook and turned around. “Both of you get out of here before I call the Royal Guard!” Her face was bright red and everypony could practically see the fire in her eyes. Once both ponies had walked out the door Bit let out a screech and stomped off to her office only twirling her hoof indicating that the pony at the front desk should gather the staff to help apologize and make up for the scene. Outside Noble walked for a few blocks, being followed by his friend. Finally he stopped and sat at a bench by a large fountain. Double Bit’s words still swirled in his head but he let the sound of rushing water ease his mood and help him relax though his body was still shaking. Truffle was relieved that Noble stopped and she sat down next to him, watching him in silence. Once she noticed his body relax she also relaxed though she still noticed that he was shaking. “Noble?” The stallion took a few deep breaths with his eyes closed, no matter what he did he couldn’t stop thinking about how Bit called him replaceable, a ‘lowly earth pony’ and insulted him saying he had a lazy, mopey face. “I… I’m sorry Truffle,” his voice began to squeak. Truffle shook her head and patted Noble’s shoulder. “You don’t need to be. She was the one that was extremely out of line by saying all those things!” Once again Noble felt the all too familiar lump in his throat. “I’m… I’m just sorry you had to see that. If isn’t the side I like to show to anypony… I just worry… that she may be right…” He lowered his eyes, staring at the ground as his tears began to drip onto the ground. Truffle gasped, “No! You are nothing like what she said! Don’t believe her for a second, you were the hardest worker there! I couldn’t believe that there are still ponies like that. I thought the days of breed hating was over. … It was pretty amazing how you stood up to her like that though.” The stallion brought a hoof up wiping his eyes and nose while sniffling. “Oh, well yes I’m just glad those ideas are dying. I know I worked hard, I don’t know about hardest worker there,” he gave a forced laugh and clearly fake open mouth smile. “Thank you though.” Truffle huffed and rubbed Noble’s shoulder. “You are an amazing worker, and have always been supportive and. Well you were more of a leader than Bit ever was.” She paused for a brief moment before speaking again, “Come here Noble.” She hugged the earth pony tightly pressing her cheek against his still feeling like she could cry. The earth pony hugged his friend back not minding her cheek pressed against his. He could tell she was trying to breath deeply so she wouldn’t cry again. “Thank you Truffle. You are a good friend, and you don’t need to hold back. I will be alright now.” She released the hug and rubbed her eyes. “Thanks though I will be alright now. I have cried enough for now.” Her voice was still shakey. “I still don’t know how I will break this to my very special somepony.” “If you want me to, I will walk you home and help you break the news if you’d like. I will always vouch for you and help when I can. I… I guess I need to find a new job… again.” Noble pushed off the bench standing up, looking up toward the sky with a somber look on his face. Truffle did the same, hopping off the bench and beginning to slowly walk with Noble on route to her home, stopping on the bridge that she crossed over daily to get to and from work to her home. “Thanks for walking with me. I think I have it now. Also thanks for comforting me, I am glad I have a friend like you Noble. We will keep in touch, we can still eat together every now and then.” Noble nodded. “Of course, I’m happy to help a friend and you helped me as well, and of course we will stay in touch and stay friends. I enjoy our chats and dinners with the two of you. Please take care of yourself and tell me how she takes this. I’m sure she will comfort you.” Truffle smiled. “It’s a deal. Once more thank you Noble, I hope things start going your way soon too.” Truffle gave a gentle wave and turned around, walking a few paces before stopping and turning back. “Oh and Noble. Your face is cute already, but I’m sure you’ll look even better when you find somepony that can make you smile.” She gave a heartfelt smile, one which resembled the rarity of a diamond before making a move to walk away. Noble stood there for a moment, shaken by the smile and those words. A tear rolled down his cheek again but this time with a small smile on his lips. Before Truffle was out of earshot he shouted, “Thank you Truffle. Good luck and write soon.” Noble finally had a moment alone with his racing thoughts. He looked out on the river under the bridge, thinking about all that had happened and all that was said and what he could do now. He’s now a pony out of job, not to mention how it won’t take him too long for him to be out of money too. Every single burden was like a pile of weights building on his heart the more he thought about it. After a while of walking again, Noble stopped to sit on a bench once more. After all, where would he hurry off to? He spent a good moment just watching the ponies go by and overhearing some conversations about minor problems like what would they eat tonight. “My families mushroom spaghetti would be great,” Noble thought to himself as an answer. He leaned back on the bench and let out a deep sight. Something behind the bench caught his attention though, a group of flowers, but especially what caught his attention was the one that was withering. Noble’s ears dropped at the sight and he then slowly reached for the brown flower and picked it up. For a moment, he just kept staring at the flower. “I know how you feel…” he said quietly. When he was about to throw the flower away, he noticed a yellow dandelion. Unlike the one he was holding, the yellow one was blooming gorgeously and reaching for the sun above. Noble felt a slight ignition inside him when he looked at the flower. Picking it up, he placed it next to the brown flower he had and a picture of what these two flowers symbolized started to form in his mind. Giving a sigh, still with damp eyes he wipes them and leaned over the bridge. “Well little flower, it looks like neither of us can live here.” He turned to look at the dandelion. “Yet you must stay and spread your glory, dandelion.” Noble turned over the hoof that held the dying flower, allowing it to floated off, down into the river below and be washed away. He turned, gently reaching back and placing the golden flower in his saddle bag. He then turn, looking up at the castle where he could just barely see the highest towers. Moving his gaze down to the rest of the buildings he took a deep breath and began going for a walk. As he looked at the big row of buildings, a thought came to him, “I wonder if I should…” Author's Note Like we promised, two new chapters are now up :) 7. Out Of OrderSoul’s heart raced as he finished his long-winded explanation. His forehead was still sweating some, as his heart was beating out of his chest. “... So that’s why.” Mineral threw her hind legs up on the couch she had been sitting on, laying back and letting out a sigh before grumbling, “You chose an interesting twist for yourself, sis. I never expected you of all ponies would want to be a... ugh; fashion designer.” Soul’s face was still red and sweaty as he tried to control his breathing to slow his heart rate down. “Mineral, like I explained, I’ve been interested in clothing for a long time and I just want to follow my interest… I by no means am planning to become an ‘only appearance matters’ type of pony.” “Soul, calm down,” Mineral said and gave Soul a serious look but slowly easing into a sincere one. “I’m not gonna judge you. I mean to be honest, I think it’s a bit of an odd choice but if it’s what you want, then you do have my support for it.” “Oh...” Souls face was becoming it’s natural white again, his eyes darting from side to side as he rubbed his neck. “Well, that’s... reassuring... Did I get the wrong idea back in your room with Meadow, did I…?” Mineral sighed, moving her legs to the side and sitting up again. “Sis, I can’t honestly say I approve of what fashion designers do or think at all. But I support you. Even if what you are doing is a bit stupid and I think you should never strive to become like them. I still will support you in expanding your knowledge.” “You mean your comment about how they push for overly thin and ‘only appearance matters’ -philosophy? I already explained that I am absolutely not going to become like that half of them. I just want to make clothing ponies will admire.” Soul’s heart was almost beating normally again and he had a more confident tone as he sat up straight. Twirling the tips of her hooves around one another Mineral looked down. “We will just have to wait and see what happens, sis. I’ll be your friend and I know I can trust you not to turn into one of those vultures. Or if you do, well.. I won’t answer for the consequences,” she said the last part with rather joking tone. “Deep.” Soul gave a small grin and stood up walking over to the couch and putting a hoof on the side of it. “Do you really think I’d turn into a vulture? I’m too picky of an eater to become one of them.” He laughed though it quickly changed into more awkward one, slowly fading as he looek elsewhere. “Okay, corny.” He turned to look back at his friend again. “Anyway, so I guess that explains why you were like that around Meadow too.” Mineral let out a little laugh and sat up on the couch, giving a gentle smile at Soul. “Meadow and I are always like that. She’s kinda like that snobby ambiguous little sister you always have to bring back down to the ground, whiiiiiiich I never had.” She scrunched her eyebrows together and drew her neck back, looking up. “Wait, didn’t I already mention that earlier?” The mare shook her head and continued, “Anyway, she’s the type of person who would’ve definitely take a bad path.” “So, you don’t look down upon me because of my decision?” The stallion’s eyebrows raised. Mineral’s smile grew ear to ear.“Of course not!” She bounce up from the couch and went to sit on a chair in front of Soul’s desk and swiped her hair jokingly. “It’s not usually my style. Besides, Without my sunshiny attitude the team spirit of our company, or at least our wing would be nothing but awkward looks and an echo of dropping dust.” She stopped playing with her hair and just smiled toward Soul who was still next to the couch. The mare raised her hoof and shook her head. “Naw, kidding. Every single one of us holds the atmosphere whole, naye.” Letting out a laugh, then moved forward around the arm of the couch, sitting down before he said anything. “Don’t act modest now, you’re the key reason why we have such a great atmosphere here,” he stated with a joking tone, even though his compliment was sincere. That caused Mineral to chuckle and smile brightly at Soul. “Thanks, sis! I’m glad you think so. I’m just a natural in groups.” The mare grabbed the pen on Soul’s table and started rotating it slowly with her magic as she leaned towards the stallion with a bit of a more serious face. “Anyway, I don’t want you to feel guilty or anything because of that little talk with Meadow. Besides, why should you care? Your decision isn’t exactly what I would recommend but… I’m not willing to bring you down either. If you didn’t have a mind of your own, that’s when I would start beating you down, sis.” Easing her serious look, she gave a friendly laugh and leaned back on her chair. Soul stared at his friend with a rather terrified look, but he couldn’t hold back a smirk before he burst out laughing. “I’m not sure if I want to know how that would feel.” Mineral gave the stallion an amused smile. “I recommend avoiding it. And sorry, it’s not like me to be this… well you could say this harsh.” Turning to look out the window as she wiggled her legs for a moment as the room was silent. She finally broke it asking, “Anyway, want coffee? I still haven’t shown you any of my min---” And again, another interruption appeared when a sound of a buzzer cut off Mineral’s speech mid sentence, causing her to let out a soft toned but long groan. Soul followed with a deep sigh, and scratched the side of his face. “Darn it. Sorry, it has to wait, again.” Rolling her eyes and giving a huff, the mare crossed her forelegs and gave her friend a nod. “Well, it can’t be helped.” “I’ll deal with this as quickly as possible.” Soul pressed a button on his speaker. “Yes?” A voice came out of the speaker. “Um, is this Soul?” “...Noble?” Soul immediately snapped out of his frustrated mood and sat straight, his eyes widening slightly. He gave Mineral a quick look as her eyebrow rose and she uncrossed her hind legs sitting up and hopping off the chair onto all fours with her mouth slightly open while she remained silent. Soul turned his attention back to the speaker and pressed the button again. “Um, shouldn’t you be at work?” “No, I had an early morning, but…” For a short moment, not a single word came from the speaker, which made both Soul and Mineral feel a bit uneasy as they exchanged glances. They could tell something was wrong judging by the tone of Noble’s voice. It definetly wasn’t the usual friendly and kind tone, but rather dull and emotionless. Eventually, his voice came through again. “Look, can I come up there…? I need to talk to you...” “Call him in,” Mineral said instantly and gave Soul a sharp look that pierced through him. The stallion gave her a nod and responded to Noble, “Yes, just a second.” He pressed another button on the side the speaker. “Flare, it’s Wild Soul from East Wing. Can you open the door and direct the tan stallion waiting there to my room?” A simple answer came from the speaker. “On it.” “Great,” Soul responded and let go of the button, lightly starting to tap his chin while keeping his stare on the table while all the possible things started rushing through his mind. Staring at Soul while biting her lip, Mineral leaned backwards against the desk, “I’m pretty sure he doesn’t visit you often here, or am I wrong?” “No, he doesn’t. He’s been here just a couple times. I know he wouldn’t come here if it wasn’t important and judging by the sound of his voice, I doubt he just wants to have a chit-chat.” Mineral lifted herself onto the table and started to rub her legs. “Would you... like me to leave? He might feel uncomfortable if I’m around.” The stallion nodded with an apologetic look upon his face. “Probably, if you don’t mind.” Hopping off the desk back to her fours again, Mineral put on a smile. “Don’t worry about it, sis. I just hope nothing too bad is going on with him.” She walked over to the door and gave Soul a final glance with gentle look. “Come to see me whenever you can. And tell Noble I’m sorry if it something critical after all.” After Soul agreed, Mineral left the room, leaving Soul to wait for his friend. As he glanced around his room, he noticed it wasn’t exactly that tidy. It didn’t really bother him, but he has gotten noted by Ink a few times about it. It wouldn’t hurt to gather up papers a bit, it would probably make Noble feel more welcome too. Quickly triggering his magic, Soul levitated all the papers he could spot around his room to his table and made a clean pile. Fresh air couldn’t hurt either, so he slightly opened a window of his office. After just a few minutes, he heard a knock on his door. Soul immediately opened it with his magic and saw his friend, whose eyes were tightly locked on the ground, his ears folded back. The earth pony walked into Soul’s office in his red bellhop uniform but without his hat. His eyes transfixed at a spot on the ground but it could be seen that he wasn’t truly taking in the information, as his eyes rose to meet Soul’s they were cloudy and dim. Soul could only make a frown and slouch in front of his morose friend. His posture was beginning to mimic Nobles as his ears began to draw back without having any clue what’s going on. Noble broke the silence, looking back at the hallway. “I... saw Mineral in the hall. She... patted me on the shoulder as we passed.” His voice was dull and monotoned. It was clear that Noble seemed to be a shell of what he normally is. Attempting to be as cheery as he could be Soul said, “Oh yes, she had just been here a moment ago, before you got a hold of me.” He gave a smile then extended a hoof out to the side. “Also welcome to my office.” “Thank you...” The tan stallion’s eyes drooped. “And I see... If you had been talking with her I shouldn’t interrupt. I can talk to you later if you want. Just message me in our I.M. books.” Noble turned around slowly about to go back out the door. As Noble took his first step Soul used his magic and quickly closed the door, slowing it down before it hit to lock so it wouldn’t slam. “Noble, you’re not going anywhere now.” Startled, bringing his head up Noble quickly spun around. “What was that for? You could have hit me.” “Don't worry, I knew I wouldn't hit you.” Soul smiled and took a step closer to his distraught friend. “You wouldn’t come here if it wasn’t important, and I could see from kilometers away you are not alright.” Reaching over with his front left leg he patted his couch indicating that Noble should sit. “Buddy, what’s wrong?” Turning his head, having second thoughts about coming there Noble finally let out a deep sigh and walked over to the couch laying out on it. Laying on his stomach so his head arched over the side looking down at the floor. His mouth was twitching as if he were about to speak. Giving a nod Soul walked around to his desk and used his magic to scoot his chair back, sitting down and moving up so he could put his hooves together and rest on them at his desk. “Want anything? I could get you coffee or something if you’d like,” he said, raising his eyebrow. Looking up and over at his friend before returning his field of vision to the ground Noble finally spoke, “No thank you…. Umm, well… it’s a work related issue.” He rolled over on the couch, twiddling his hooves. Sitting upright, the unicorn rose his head and perked up his ears. “Do I even have to guess the possible source of this issue...?” Shaking his head Noble confirmed the hunch. “Though this is a lot worse than you are thinking. She…” His voice was leaving him and he had to close his eyes, taking another deep breath and shook his head trying to clear it. Pushing himself off his desk, the unicorn rolled over toward the alarmed earth pony. “...Noble, go on. Tell me what’s going on.” His voice was calm but quick as his body began getting warmer and he focused solely on Noble. “She… well it’s not just me... “ Noble sighed and sat up a bit looking into Soul’s eyes. “She fired us. Almost everyone in the entire hotel. Me, Truffle; anyone who didn’t blindly obey her or weren’t absolutely needed was fired so she could replace us with younger stallions that are getting out of school for the summer. And the reason for this was to simply save money.” Soul’s eyes grew wide and his forelegs dropped into his lap. “I… uh… what? WHAT? “ All the concern had vanished and started to turn into uproar. “Yes, though I did have a final conversation with her… We were in the main hall and… I let her have it.” Noble shook a bit in his seat, now sitting upright leaning forward face in his hooves, holding his temples. The room became completely silent. Soul just sat there thinking for a moment while staring at Noble, he tried to speak but could only open his mouth and close it once more. He lifted a hoof as if he were going to place it on the stallion’s shoulder but let it fall. Not expecting this much silence Noble looked over to see just as Soul’s hoof fell and it was clear by the wide eyed expression on the unicorn’s face that he couldn’t comprehend what had just been explained to him. Fidgeting and dropping his shoulders after he realized how the news hit Soul, Noble gave a shiver then put on a wide open tooth smile and forced his eyes closed. “Oh don’t be like that. Look at the bright side, I never have to go work for Double Bit for as long as I live.” Soul turned his head down, closing his eyes. The silence for him lasted another host moment more till the unicorn finally managed to open his mouth, “Noble… you don’t have to act breezy for me. I mean…” He opened his eyes and looked up. “Yeah, it’s great your service under Double Bit is over, but, don’t put on a fake smile around me.” The fake smile quickly melted away, the smiley pony being replaced by a stallion gritting his teeth. There was a moment of silence before the earth pony spoke again, “...Thanks… I... being completely honest, I will miss working with Truffle, with Sharp Melody, whom I didn’t get to say goodbye to. I’m glad I finally gave her a piece of my mind and made her snap, ruining her good name with the ponies in the lobby.” Breathing a sigh of relief after his friend finally expressed his true feelings Soul sat, trying to figure out what he should do next. He scratched his neck looking around the room, hoping Noble would explain more. Looking up Noble eased his jaw and shoulders. “I finally let her have it. Telling her everything I thought of her. From her being a horrible manager to just pretending to be nice so the high class ponies would like her. I yelled and made a huge scene.” Soul reared his head back. “Wow, she must have really aggravated you if you went and yelled at her like that. Was that just from her firing you or was there something else? And did she say anything in return to that?” Soul leaned forward, fully focused on his friend and with a small frown and front hooves resting on his hind knees while he sat close to Noble. “Well she actually said something after I told her she had no right to fire us… She… she told me that I was worthless and replaceable. That nothing I did there at the hotel mattered. Then… she called me, a lowly earth pony, claiming she will be glad to have my moppy face out of there and that I was the first pony she wanted to fire. Then when Truffle tried to help, Bit said I was beneath them.” Noble’s forelegs tightened as he spoke, reliving those moments. Soul almost couldn’t believe the things that he heard. Part of him wanted to believe it was just some kind of huge misunderstanding or a thing Noble would just be making a bigger deal out of than it actually was. But no, Noble would never slurred any ponies name. The white unicorn instantly slammed his hoof on his table, his heart ramming against his chest while the anger inside him could clearly been seen through his eyes. “Oh my gosh that witch should be burned! I mean just… wow! Is that pony actually from ancient times where earth ponies were seen as a lowly race? Because if I didn’t know better, I would seriously claim that is the case with that nutcase.” Closing his eyes Noble sat in silence before nodding. It was all he could do as he sat, his heart was still heavy with Double Bit’s words. “I can’t lie to you and tell you that everything is ok or that I have heard that before. I… I never expected to have been fired because I was an earth pony. I… I know it is horrible to think that there are still ponies that think like that in our day and time.” Noble put his hooves together and brought his hind legs back as he was shrinking on the couch. Soul sulked too and looked around his office, he wished Mineral would come through the door as he was sure she would be able to cheer. Though after letting that thought sink in, he immediately shook that thought off. A thought that shouldn’t have come to him in a first place, he was Noble’s friend and it was his duty to make his best friend to feel more at ease. He started to think of every possible way to do so, and after a bit, he came up with something. Not the most creative or mind blowing thing, but it would hopefully direct his friends thoughts elsewhere. Soul got up from his chair and sat next to his friend patting him on the back. “Noble. I have an offer for you.” The poet exhaled turning his head, looking at Soul, his eyes were deep and red. Soul could tell just how much his ex-manager’s words ruffled him. “Oh...? What would that be?” His eyebrows raised and he lifted his head a little. Dropping his hoof and leaning back, Soul crossed his forelegs. “Well actually, more of a demand than an offer.” The unicorn gave put on a grin. “Tonight, we’re gonna meet at the Cider Cycle, and I’m gonna provide your drinks the whole evening. We will come up with every possible joke and insult about Double Bit, laugh, and forget about all the bad things tonight.” The offer made Noble to slightly wince as his eye widened. His jaw dropped and quivered. He wasn’t sure what to say to that, untill the words started coming out of his mouth again, “I… Thank you buddy, I really appreciate it, but… I can’t possibly ask you to do that.” The unicorn lifted his hoof dismissing the earth ponies concerns. “It would be easier if you just said yes.” He brought his forelegs back and crossed them placing his hooves in his lap with a determined grin. “Don’t even consider stepping out of this room before you agree.” He then immediately turned a lock on his door with his magic. Turning to see the door lock and closing his eyes shaking his head Noble explained himself, “I’m just concerned about your financial situation. I’m sure you have more important things to put your bits into than me, and I know you like to spend time alone, so...” Soul replied shaking his head and giving a pleasant smile, “Besides food, no. And I simply can’t let you just go home and mash your head against a pillow.” Noble let out a deep breath of air as he turned from looking at his friend to looking out the window. He couldn’t help but shed a sliver of a smile as he thought about it and watched the clouds drift after a pegasus probably gave a breeze for them. “Well, this is one of the rare times when you are the one of us who asks me to hang out, so…” Raising an eyebrow and turning to see the clouds slowly drifting, and the sliver of a smile on Noble’s lips Soul became more at ease. He smiled a little wider and chuckled at the comment. “I, uh… Take that as a compliment. So it’s a deal then?” He extended a hoof. “Yes, it’s a deal. And… thank you. You know, for this and the pep talk.” Turning his attention back to Soul, Noble clopped his hoof together with Soul’s and shook. Finally Noble seemed to have a true smile on his lips. “Don’t mention it buddy, I’m glad you came to tell me instead of just going home and torturing yourself with the thought.” Soul sat up and walked over to sit down on his chair. “Anyway, if you want to hang around here, be my quest. I’m just starting to work on a poster but that’s about it.” “That will be fine… not like I have anything else to do now. I guess the only thing i should do now is to start planning new job applications...” Noble’s eyes moved up from the window to a clock on the wall. His mind buzzed with things he had to do and places he has worked as well as new places that may need new employees. As Soul heard the word ‘application’ escape Noble’s lips his ears twitched getting Noble’s attention. “Oh! Speaking of applications! I did something rather interesting today.” A grin crawled on Soul’s lips as he lifted his hooves and laid his chin on them, looking at his friend with rather mystically. “I applied to get lessons in fashion design and just put in my application before you came here.” Perking up and opening his eyes widely, below his eyes were still a little red but he formed a smile. “Oh?! Umm… well this is news to me.” A light but slightly forced chuckle escaped Noble’s mouth. “I hope you get chosen for it. Though… I never really remember you saying anything about wanting to be a fashion designer.” Noble gave off a big laugh as he rubbed the back of his head. Soul joined in the laugh. “I’m used to that already.” He rolled his eyes then smiled, raising a hoof as he opened his mouth to explain, “But anyway, yeah, your friend is into clothes if you haven’t happened to notice.” He gave another joking laugh as he slightly pulled at his red jacket. “I just… well I just haven’t generally brought it up with anypony because… Well the last time I had a real passion for clothes was when I was a colt and this interest has just recently kinda popped up again.” The earth pony leaned back, his eyes lowering and he placed his left hoof in his lap and raised his right up with his foreleg bent. “Oh, any reason? Or, did it just ‘pop up’ just like that?” Soul scratched his cheek with his hoof. “Well not exactly just pop up. I guess that it was during the time when I hadn’t gotten any interesting commissions and was kinda growing fed up with them, so I was trying to get some variety by drawing something else, which lead from drawing basic shapes to simple cloth sketches.” He stopped scratching and instead began gently tapping his lips with his hoof as he looked up at the ceiling, his eyebrows lowered as he sat still for a moment. “I guess that’s the point where the spark ignited, so to speak.” “I wonder why I haven’t noticed anything… I mean, you’ve always worn at least some kind of neat looking collar. Then again, I don’t have an eye for this things so um...” The stallion’s face was becoming red and he had begun to slur his words slightly. He shook his head and had come up with a question. “So… is there a place where you can study?” “No, not yet anyway. The AD still needs to give me a list of contacts…” The unicorn shook his head and trailed off as he didn’t want to go into too much detail. “I’m sure we’ll find a great one. Or well, hopefully. I get to select my own after all so it won’t be just anypony.” Noble put on a smile. “Well I hope you get the best fashion designer that Canterlot has to offer.” His voice was becoming much cheerier. Soul kept his mouth closed, biting his tongue as he knew he couldn’t tell Noble the truth currently. No, it would be too much after what’s happened to him. Instead, Soul put on fake smile and gave a simple nod. “Indeed.” As soon as he answered he immediately changed the subject as he grabbed the pack of pastilles off of his table and levitated them over to Noble after taking one himself. “Anyway, Mineral’s been wanting to show me her mineral art today, and I wondered if you would like to see it too? She won’t mind.” Noble didn’t notice Soul’s fake smile as he was gathering his thoughts. He nodded as he commonly did to thank his friend as he took a lemon pastille and popped it in his mouth. “Hmm, I’d love to see them, though… I’m not taking up too much of your time am I? I know you have to work and I don’t want to get you behind or get you in trouble.” Placing the candy back on his desk the pale stallion shook his head. “Naw, don’t worry. As long as the job will be done before deadline, it’s all good.” He stood up and pushed in his chair before he walked around his desk. He unlocked the door and bend a foreleg indicating for Noble to go first. Noble sat up and stepped off the couch and through the door. “Well, you need to lead the way.” He stepped to the side letting Soul walk past him and guide him over to Mineral’s office. Turning a key and pressing the handle, Noble stepped into a hallway of his apartment building. It was dead silent like always. Only an occasional sneeze or snore every now and then but that’s about it. Though it’s not rare in a block where mostly older ponies live. At least the hallway was pleasantly colored. Regardless, he still had a small smile on his face. He was still thinking about the art he just saw by Mineral and the upcoming outgoing with Soul. The stallion took the stairs to the next floor, but when he reached the end of them, he saw something that was breaking the usual empty atmosphere. Sitting, leaning against the door to his apartment sat a tall, thin, light purple furred unicorn mare with a blond mane and a strand of lime green running through it. As the mare heard hoof taps she turned, looking at the tan stallion. “Oh, yes! It’s finally you!” She leapt up catching herself with her hooves and wobbling a bit until she caught her balance. “Umm, hi…” Noble stood there for a moment, squinting his eyes, trying to recognize the mare. “You are… I have a feeling I’ve seen you before.” The stallion began sweating, not just because he couldn’t remember this mare’s name but also because of her beauty and how he must be looking like an idiot in her eyes. The mare could see the struggle in the stallion's face and began to giggle. “Would you like a hint, dear?” She turned her eyes and brushed her hair with her hooves, holding the lime green strands of hair up for the stallion to see. Jumping a bit, it hit him. “O-Oh! You are Truffle’s girlfriend aren’t you? I-I…! I’m very sorry I didn’t recognize you at first... Though… I, well I still can’t remember your name.” His cheeks grew bright red as he sunk his head down a bit, allowing the few inches height difference between them to increase. Giggling again and extending a hoof, she gently turned Noble’s head up. “You don’t need to worry. I was sick last time you saw me. Hair a mess, in sweatpants and a large blanket wrapped around me. Then again, you also saw me after I got home and changed out of my work suit.” She brought the hoof aways from Noble’s chin and to her own as she remembered the only other time they met. “Anyway, my name. It’s Olivia.” She gave Noble a curtsey and smiled, closing her eyes. “Olivia,” Noble repeated with a nod and gave a small bow of his head. “Well, it is nice meeting you, again.” Rubbing his neck, the stallion walked over to his door. “Would you like to come inside and we can discuss what brings you all the way out here?” Noble lifted a hoof tapping his door. Olivia cut her eyes looking up at the ceiling for a moment. “Well, I guess waiting about half an hour, I can stay for just a few minutes,” she said with a giggle. “I have been wanting to meet you on better circumstances for a while. Could we please go inside to chat?” She stepped back from the door shuffling what appeared to be a large box behind her that she was attempting to hide with her tail which she had groomed to make it bushy and fuller. Noble, attempted to look over the mare before entering his apartment but she leaned to the sides, obstructing his view of it. Realizing that the mare was not going to let him see the box easily Noble instead reached up and touched the knob to his apartment which began to glow white then turned to rose matching Noble’s cutiemark. There was a small click before Noble turned the knob and pushed the door open. His apartment was small, it had a bed, a small couch with a hoof made wood table in front of it and a small kitchen with two doors leading to a bathroom and a closet. As he looked around he quickly galloped over to the window where he slid the curtains open, allowing some natural light to fill the room. Olivia was looking around the apartment, himming and hawing. “You have a wonderful home here. It is very tidy for a stallion.” As she entered she carried the box with her magic behind her. As he turned around seeing the mare enter, Noble extended a hoof. “Thank you, feel free to take a seat if you’d like. I can offer you some water or sweet tea.” The mare continued looking over everything with a pleasant smile across her face. “No thank you dear. I had planned on just being here for a moment to give you something. I appreciate the hospitality though.” She stepped in through the kitchen at the entrance and into the main room. Noble gave a nod and moved closer to Olivia and leaned against the wall, giving a curious but gentle look. “Well I have been curious to figure out what that is behind your back that you are determined to keep hidden from me.” The stallion craned his neck trying to look around Olivia. “Well…” The mare lowered her eyes for a moment and then looked at the box she’s been hiding, finally presenting it to Noble with a small smile. She opened the box. “From what I’ve understood, you know about Truffle’s ‘sad cookies’, or am I mistaken?” As she opened the box she exposed an ocean of chocolate chip cookies. Noble’s eyes glistened as he saw the cookies. His hoof almost automatically dashed to reach one, but at the last moment, he pulled away as a very light blush grew to his face, and he rubbed his neck as he slowly nodded. “I do… I am sorry, she was appearently still upset after our talk. I am very glad she has come up with a positive outlet for her emotions though. Turning sorrow into something sweet isn’t something everypony can do after losing their job… Or well… in general.” Saying that, his ears dropped and he looked elsewhere when the fact of losing his job came back to him. Olivia gasped and tapped her hooves together, putting the cookies down on a table near them. “Oh yes! She was very emotional and; I wanted to talk to you about that. My apologies, I heard about that and what you said to your boss... You… well, you sounded…” Olivia gritted her teeth while her lips sulked, she brought up and held her chest with a hoof. Giving a sigh and nodding Noble held up a hoof. “Yes... Umm sorry, I just got back from a friend who helped me with that and I’d rather not think about that again if I could. But yes… I don’t mind losing my job if there was a good reason. But her reasons... Not to mention what she said...” Jumping forward, letting the cookies fall on the coffee table she put a hoof over Noble’s mouth. “Don’t say another word. Truffle told me all about that. You were right in what you said. She was very out of line and… I’m sorry there are still ponies like that. Though trust me, some of us unicorns know just how difficult it can be for earth ponies. I’m very inspired by you pushing to work here in Canterlot. You always keep trying.” She smiled while looking Noble in the eyes. Slowly closing his eyes Noble gave a small nod. “Thank you, I really appreciate that and, I hope all the best for Truffle too and that she is alright.” “I’m happy to tell that she is. She made well over 1000 cookies before I got back home and is still baking. Meaning you should come over and get more,” she spoke quickly and let out a cough, about Noble getting more not wanting to ruin the severity of what she has to say. “When I arrived home she was distraught and, after some questioning, she told me everything. Maybe... you should just read her note.” She levitated the note off the box and gave it to Noble. He stepped back, taking it out of the air and began to read it to himself. “Hey Noble, I told Cuddles about what happened today. :( But she was very sympathetic comforted me just like you told she would :3 She made me feel so much better again ^^ Thank you oh so much for being there for me. I got home and began baking and… you can have some cookies. Cuddles said she would take them to you and I hope you enjoy these my friend ^.^. PS I made this just incase she doesn’t catch you. She says hi there, btw! x3 PPS. I will get the earring after all! ^u^ <3 Truffle” “Aww,” Noble blushed and looked up. “I’m guessing your nickname is Cuddles. This is very cute and I’m glad you were as sympathetic as I thought you’d be.” Noble shifted his balance from hoof to hoof. Olivia giggled, covering her face with a hoof. “Yes, just a cute name she made for me, and I appreciate that compliment and concern. We will surely be fine. I am worried about you though, I know things are harder for you…” She placed a hoof on Noble’s shoulder. “Just know, we are here for you and that I have heard about how you are a great, hard worker.” She lifted her hooves and wrapped them around Noble hugging him. Taken aback for Olivia’s sudden hug, Noble just stood there for a moment, but eventually a smile rose upon his face and he hugged Olivia back. “Thank you, I know we don’t know each other that well, but I really appreciate your concern and support. I’m glad I have a friend like Truffle and that she has you.” He patted her on the back and smiled. The mare released her hug and smiled looking the stallion in the eyes. “Those words fill my heart with delight,” she chanted as the smile on her face got wider. “Please, I insist you come and have dinner with us some time. You and Truffle can look for jobs together.” Noble gave a nod and a fake smile. “Of course, we will need to meet and can job hunt some time soon. I do plan on looking a little tonight though.” His mind began to race as he wondered what kind of job he should even apply for or what job he can even find left in Canterlot. Not to mention there was the earth pony fact... Noble’s stream of thoughts was cut by Olivia’s voice, ”My gosh, is it really that late already?” Her heart jumped to her throat as she finally noticed the time and put a hoof on her forehead. A slight blush grew on the mares cheeks as she realized she had other places to be, she slowly starting to take baby steps towards the door. “I apologize, but I really must leave now. There is a certain pony waiting me for dinner at home, or hopefully she has stopped baking cookies and cooked dinner.” She rubbed her hoof across the ground, as she questioned what her girlfriend was up to but could not help but stare off dreamily as the thought of Truffle. Noble looked over at the clock and out the window. “I understand, it’s late and I won’t keep you any longer. Please, make sure Truffle knows how grateful I am for the cookies. Also thank you for delivering them and talking with me. I’ll message her with what I think about them.” He patted the box and eyed a cookie but shook his head and walked over to the door, opening it for his guest. Giving a curtsy, lowering her forelegs before the stallion. “That will be delightful, she will be happy to hear your input on them. Good night and take care of yourself Noble Poet.” Noble chuckled as he saw the curtsy but gave a bow of his own. “Of course, good night and you are both welcome to come visit. Have a safe trip back.” Olivia gave Noble one last wave which he returned before she trotted off trying to get back to her special somepony as quickly as she could. As she disappeared out the door Noble closed it and let out a deep sigh and shiver. All the happiness, mostly faked happiness that Noble had just moments ago when Olivia was there had vanished and was replaced by the chaos that was his thoughts “What in Equestria do I do now? How long can I live off the money I have left? What if I can’t find a job?” All kinds of questions swirled through his head and only raised more questions. “What if I can’t find a job? What if I had to leave? I’d disappoint everyone. It would mean that I can’t make it here in Canterlot. What if I can’t make it anywhere. I’m going to let everyone down!” His mind was practically screaming at him and his heart rate was rising rapidly. His body shook and his vision became fuzzy for a moment and his eyes darted around his apartment. He was breathing heavily and rapidly and was only able to go lay down on his couch. “I-I just need to find a start; I need to find a place to start. My friends won’t hate me, right? … My friends...” As soon as he began thinking about his friends he could feel his throat closing as that familiar lump formed within it. Noble sat there wrapping his hooves around himself and closing his eyes for minutes which felt like hours to him until he collected his thoughts. Once he was calmer he went to his bathroom, rinsing off his face with cold water and drying it before moving back to his living room. He had a plan now. He had today’s paper sitting on his coffee table, opened to the job section and he rummaged around under his bed until he found his small safe that he used his hoof print to unlock so he could gather his money. It was not a large amount but did seem to be a decent size for something he has been saving for a few months now only taking money from it when he was in dire need. He had always liked keeping enough money to get home if he ever absolutely needed to do so and also liked keeping enough to keep him on his feet if he ever got hurt or lost his job. Although he had it he hoped he’d never need to use it for it’s primary purpose. “Noble? Noble!” Soul said as he nudged and shook his friend, giving a small laugh. “Huh! Wha…?” The tan stallion immediately snapped out of his thoughts, almost stumbling on a stick on the path. Soul leapt forward as Noble stumbled, getting out of his way but looking back at him with a half frown and eyebrow raised. “You’ve been zoning out almost every five minutes now.” He stopped in front of Noble forcing him to stop. Stopping in front of the unicorn he regained his footing. “Oh, I… Sorry… I just… I have a lot on my mind and… well I suppose explaining why isn’t necessary…” Rubbing the back of his head while preventing eye contact after he said the word ‘sorry’. Giving a reassuring smile and turning to begin walking again while still looking back Soul spoke, “Remember what we agreed buddy? That we would forget every single bad thought for this night and focus purely on lightening up your mood.” He began walking once more, crossing a bridge. Noble stopped midway on a bridge they were crossing, after a moment of silence his eyes dropping and he let out a sigh. “Sorry, I guess I just had a little more thinking to do on this than I originally thought. Just getting hung up on it a bit.” Once he spoke he tapped his hoof on the bridge. The pale stallion froze suddenly, chuckling as he sulked his head. He took a few steps back and looked back at Noble. “It’s fine, it’s not like I can just tap my hooves together and make it go away by just saying so.” Noble sat up and leaned over the bridge, reaching his hooves over the side. “That’s true… We should just go and try to have a good time at the Cycle tonight. I’m sure after we start having a drink together everything will start feeling better for a moment.” Noble’s eyes wandered and he noticed a bench under a light. Perking up at the sight of it and hearing running water he looked around at the buildings. Soul noticed the earth pony looking about. He stepped forward looking about himself squinting as he looked further off in the darkness. “What’s wrong buddy? Looking for something?” “No, it’s just…” Noble’s attention shifted from the bench to a flowerbed near it, which brought back the talk with Truffle in his mind and what he had picked from that bed. He then quickly started patting his chest pocket and felt how it was still there. He was about to dig it up but pulled his hoof back before he did, quickly wrapping it around Soul giving him a tight hug. “I just want to say thank you… I’m just so grateful we became best friends...” Soul froze immediately, his eyes growing wide. It was just a small one legged hug, but it was still way out of his comfort zone and way too far into his personal space. He slowly lifted his hoof and awkwardly tapped his friend on the back, a rather awkward smile rising upon his face. “I… am also glad we are best friends. Noble, u-um… remember what we’ve talked about? Remember my personal space range?” He was constantly glancing around them to see if anypony was around. Noble gave an amused chuckle while he dug up the flower from his chest pocket, knowing Soul wouldn’t notice in that state. He quickly slid the dandelion into Soul’s chest pocket and pulled his hoof back as he pulled back from the hug too, going to lean back against the bridge with a gentle smile, looking down at the river. “Sorry, all this has just… made me look into things more deeply than usually. Like you; you are building a great career here and reach for sun within it.” The pale stallion breathed a sigh of relief as the tan pony released him. He straightened his collar as he regained his composure. “I... understand, and get what you are saying, but um…” As he patted his clothes he felt something in his front shirt pocket. He reached in pulling out the gold flower and looked over it, tilting his head. “Why did you slide a dandelion into my pocket?” He lifted the dandelion while it was flat in his hoof, turning to look at Noble with his eyebrows scrunched and a small grin upon his lips. “First you hug me out of blue and then this… Noble, we should get drunk first you know.” Noble hunkers down a little and gives an open tooth, cheesy smile and he tried to think of how to come back from this embarrassing scenario. But both stallions just shared a laugh for a few moments and as Soul extended his hoof as he tried to offer the dandelion back to Noble. Shaking his head and holding up a hoof, denying Soul the relief of taking back the flower. “Please I want you to have it. I am giving it to you because of all the flower there that one seemed to be the brightest, to reach for the sun and be in full bloom.” Touching the Unicorn’s hoof he pushed the hoof back toward Soul. Grimacing a bit as he looked down at the dandelion Soul was realizing this was one of the few times Noble wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “Well, why do you want me to have this so badly? I’d like at least hear that. I mean… dandelions are everywhere.” His expression softened as he awaited a response. “Of course. It’s because of those reasons I just explained that I want you to have it. It’s a silly sentimental idea but… just please keep it.” He sighed, looking at the flower again and remembering the withering flower that was picked along with it, and which he ended up dropping to the river. His heart felt heavy as he thought of the possibility that the similar fate may fall upon him too... But it was something he had to prevent all they ways he could. Giving a nod Soul smiled. “I see. Well I guess this will be easier if I’ll just hang onto it then.” He gave a joking but friendly laugh, bringing the flower closer and hiding it in his light jacket while it was still in his hoof. Noble gave off a sigh of relief and replied, “Thank you buddy. I know this may be a little uncomforting to get a flower from your best stallion friend. But thank you for accepting it.” He patted the pale pony on his side and began to walk again, passing him and walking to the edge of the bridge. “Now, you said something about going and getting drunk a minute ago.” He chuckled and turned, beginning walking. Soul gave a small grin and laughed. “Yes, the core purpose of this night.” he joked, but then looked back at the flower again, lifting it up as the earth pony began walking away. As he was about to reach down and put the flower in his pocket again a gust of wind sparked up. The gust blew the dandelion out of Soul’s hoof, Soul attempted to catch it clapping his hooves together and trying to catch it with his magic but as it twisted in the air in an inconsistent pattern there was nothing Soul could do. It fell into the river and began slowly drifting down stream. Sulking for a moment at the loss of a thoughtful gift the pale steed stood watching the dandelion drift down the river into the night. “Dang it!” he said quietly and lightly slammed his hoof on the edge, clenching his teeth together. “Just my luck…” he murmured to himself and let out a sigh. “Soul! Are you coming?” Noble yelled, the voice being much more light hearted this time. Shifting to look back at his friend, Soul leaned back, looking at where the dandelion had been before moving back to all fours, getting off the railing. “Yes, right behind you.” He trotted off the bridge catching Noble, who gave him a friendly nudge with his elbow and started to make their way to the pub again. Author's Note Olivia references Usual look: http://pre00.deviantart.net/20ac/th/pre/i/2015/177/7/6/olivia_01_by_wildsoulws-d8yut7w.png Office look: http://pre06.deviantart.net/c8f9/th/pre/i/2015/177/d/1/olivia_business_03_by_wildsoulws-d8yut87.png Also, here's something extra, hehe x3: http://pre04.deviantart.net/f17d/th/pre/i/2015/178/2/1/couple_01_by_wildsoulws-d8z0ei1.png 8. Three DiamondsAnother week, another thursday and still the same commission under the works, though the progress was going nicely. Soul took one last bite of his bun as he was trying to come up with some more ideas for the poster, even though he already had a plan, there was always room to improve. Though it was hard to concentrate in a full, fancy cafe filled with chatter, not to mention there was something else he had to pay attention to too. The pool cue sent the white ball barreling forward, it ricocheted off the other side of the pool table and hit a red 4-ball, delivering it straight into the pocket at the upper right corner. The pocket was followed by a loud squeal. “Oh my gosh, sis! Did you see that?” Mineral chimed with wide eyes that sparkled and a smile enveloping her face as she pulled back from the pool table. “That was a perfect hit, Soul! You have to admit it, a perfect hit!” Some ponies in the cafe scowled toward the duo, giving Mineral deprecatory looks. Soul put his cue down and clapped his hooves with his eyes widened too, “That was an awesome pocket, no doubt! Though I’m inevitably getting the feeling that you asked me to play just so you could beat a beginner,” he joked and laughed, taking a sip of his Wiener Melange. Mineral rubbed a chalk cube on the tip of her cue and chuckled, walking over to the other side of the table. “Don’t worry, I have morals.” She gave Soul a friendly smile. “It’s a nice game though, don’t you agree?” Soul gave her a nod turning his pool cue over and leaning on it. “Indeed. It’s a nice time killer.” “Mmhmm!” Mineral was about to get ready for the next hit, but stopped as she spotted Ink entering the cafe, glancing around as if he were looking for somepony. As Ink spotted the two, he immediately started approaching them, his eyebrow raised. “Now what is this? Shouldn’t you two be working instead of playing pool?” Mineral immediately winced and puffed out her chest, placing her hoof on it. “Ink, I would never ever neglect my job. My client informed that she’ll be late, so I thought teaching Soul about pool would be a good way to spent time.” “Alright then. So me checking up is not necessary yet.” Ink let out a laugh and then turned to look at the white stallion. “But what might Soul be doing here?” “We share a camera,” Soul said immediately, lifting a small bag he had on a table and presented it to Ink. “You see, I had agreed to photograph some of the actors for the poster today and Mineral agreed to photograph this cafe.” Mineral had already gotten back into the game and was targeting the white ball as he frowned. “But look at what a nice surprise was waiting for us. Only one camera left. Luckily the theater is just a couple blocks away.” She hit the ball and sent it flying but none of the colored balls went into the pockets which caused Mineral to let out a sigh. She stood up straight and placed the cue on her shoulder. “I really have to make an initiative to get more camera’s.” “That’s a good idea.” Ink gave a nod as his lips curved upward while he sat down on a bench as he glanced at the two ponies. “I’ve noticed you two interact far more often lately. That’s good, it keeps the team spirit up.” The two ponies turned to look at each other, Mineral narrowed her lips and looked from side to side as Soul took a step back putting on a small but awkward grin as both ponies just noticed the fact. The silence was followed by a light-hearted laugh. Soul took the chalk and rubbed the tip of his cue with it as he grinned. “Mineral could even cause good team spirit among rocks.” He let out a little chuckle, turning to look at Mineral, but as he saw the mare’s raised eyebrow, he quickly added, “Compliment, Mineral. A compliment.” Mineral closed her eyes as she pulled up and sat on a chair, chuckling. “Yes, yes, I know. Thank you, sis.” Ink lifted his left hoof looking at his watch before twirling his hoof in the air to draw attention. “Well, everything seems to be delightful around here. But before I leave…” He turned to look at the white unicorn, tilting his head, his glasses lowering down his face as he peered over them. “Soul, how is the tutor searching proceeding?” Soul had already started targeting the ball and made his hit, managing to pocket one striped ball. Even though his hit was pretty clumsy. As Ink’s question registered in Soul’s mind, a slight frown took over his face and he stood straight. “Manehattan is off limits now. Suri Polomer, Glimmer Fabric, Velvet Heaven, etcetera, none of them agreed to my proposal. Only a few even considered it.” Ink immediately sat up straight and put his hooves together. “Don’t let that bring you down, kid! There is still the big city of Vanhoover and Baltimare, not to mention smaller towns, Dodge City, Apple Loosa and Ponyville.” Mineral stretched her right foreleg out and put on a wide smile. “Naye, Vanhoover is a great place! I recommend!” she piped up, chanting. Soul walked on the left side of the table, but kept his focus on Mineral. “Yes, I’ve contacted some of the Vanhoover’s designers too but, only one has replied so far with a denying answer. Of course I am going to contact a fashion designer in Ponyville as well, but I’m not very confident with that one.” Ink leaned against the table and scrunched his eyebrows. “What exactly makes you to say such a thing?” Before Soul gave his answer, he struck the white ball without managing to pocket anything. He went over to his seat and sighed while looking outside, where it had started to rain. “Well, it’s not a very big town and this mare seems to be the only fashion designer around there. I doubt she has resources to tutor me.” He set his pool cue against the wall and started rubbing the top of his hoof while he frowned even more.“And maybe the fact that the place was in total mayhem just a couple days ago affects my mind too. What was it, black vines invading it?” Mineral flipped her pool cue up and reached up catching it with a hoof as she looked from one stallion to the other, then she leaned over the pool table. “Not only that, the sun and moon were very and completely messed up too!” She sat up looking over the table, her lips moved about as she did. She glanced back up and spoke to the stallions again, “I mean, wow that day… night? Dayght, was causing total mayhem everywhere around here too. I was lucky enough to get more asthma medicine before the royal guard shut us to our homes.” “Oh Soul, Soul, Soul…” Ink shook his head and let out a sigh. “Every patch of dirt could contain a diamond.” Soul scrunched his eyebrows and tilted his head, lifting his leg. “And that means…?” Ink took his eyeglasses off and pointed at Soul. “Miss Rarity is an extremely talented and very capable artisan. I've done some co-operations with her in the past and what I've noticed is resources are the last thing she seems to lack.” He put the glasses back on and pushed them higher as he raised his head a bit. “Since we have a history, my recommendation will be a very valuable advantage when you contact here. “ Soul sulked, frowning and sighed. As Mineral hit another solid ball in the hole he didn’t notice as he was focused solely on Ink. “And the vine invasion doesn’t have any weight at all?” Ink instantly shook his head and gave Soul a rather overly serious look which was almost scary. “Kid, you can’t let anything stand between you and your goal. Not even unnatural vine invasions causing a mess.” Drawing his neck back, the white unicorn started rubbing his neck as he looked away with a rather awkward look. “That’s… no offense, but an absurd way to look at it.” “Where did you get the courage to move to Canterlot then? This place doesn’t exactly have a clean history either. I’m sure you know of the big invasion of those black, creepy creatures who could take other forms. Now that was the most unpleasant mayhem I’ve been a part of. And you started your job learning in Spectrum just a few months after it. So, I’m asking again. Where did you get your courage?” There was a brief moment of silence which Soul spent just looking down at his hooves, and out of the windows of the cafe. Eventually, a single word came out of his mouth, “...Touche.” He raised his eyebrows as he spoke, admitting defeat. Ink shrugged forward and rose from his seat, giving Soul a tame smile this time. “Just trust me, kid. You’ll find the place, and even if it’s Ponyville, it’s still a jackpot no matter which way you look at it.” He tilted his glasses up and checked the clock again. “I shall take my leave now. Work hard but have a good time.” Soul gave a nod as Ink started walking away but Mineral gave a split second nod. Her mind seemed to be in another world entirely. She just kept staring out the window, up at the grey sky, cold shivers running through her body. The gloomy look on her face, along with her morose eyes told a story as if she was hoping her stare would reach the weather ponies and made them dissipate the clouds. Soul placed his pool cue against a wall and he walked over to his saddleback, digging up a dark red, blocky laptop. He sat down one seat away from the yellow mare and opened the device while looking at Mineral with a straight face. “Sorry for the cliche statement and…” Soul paused for a moment as he looked upwards pausing and thinking before he spoke again. “Sorry for the cliche statement of saying sorry for a cliche statement, but did a cat steal your tongue or what’s so magical about those clouds?” Mineral’s ears twitched as she turned to look at Soul, roughly clearing her throat. Her skin had gotten goosebumps, but of course it didn’t show under her coat nor was it long enough to notice. “N-No, I’m just irritated that bucking rain ruined my plans. I was going to swim outside today but it seems like I’ll just spend my day inside these four boring walls.” The reason why she was in a trance was a lie, but her plans to swim were not. Soul leaned against the table and let out a little laugh. “That’s kinda our job too, though you being an event organizer lets you get around more.” He then turned back to his laptop and opened his n-mail while digging Ink’s list of the artisans from his saddlebag. “But anyway, swimming? I’ve heard cold can trigger asthma attack and the water hasn’t exactly been warm.” Mineral nodded and placed her hooves onto each other. “Words of truth, but luckily I’ve been taught a spell that keeps my body temperature warm. It’s a deft trick to have, sis.” The smile she had slowly turned into a slight frown and she let out a sigh while looking down. “I still just have to swim very slowly or just float on the surface nowadays though.” A slight smile returned to her face while she rubbed her ankles together. “I used to be a real water beast as a foal.” “But asthma got in the way. I understand,” Soul said with a nod and then lifted his coffee cup that had been sitting on a nearby table with his magic, presenting it to Mineral. “Gotta love magic, though.” Soul stated with a friendly smile, and then opened his n-mail. Mineral chuckled in a slightly awkward way, then laid back against the table, lifting her cue with her magic and spinned it in the air. “It has spoiled us unicorns, but I’m not complaining.” The mare stood up and took a deep breath, walking over to the pool table. “Anyway, I should finally make the game go on.” Soul nodded and pointed his hoof at the mare. “You do that, and take your time. I’ll write this n-mail.” The stallion turned to look back at his screen and opened a new message. He didn’t type the address first, since there’s always the risk he might accidentally sent it when it’s not finished. He started the message with the obvious, `hello´. The mare sized up the few balls she had left and chuckled at how fewer balls she had then Soul. As she let out the final chuckle she came back to the present conversation. “If you get an offer in Vanhoover and I’m pretty you will, I’m so going to make a list for you of all the places you must visit!” She smiled off giving a wiggle of excitement thinking about her hometown. “And remember, if you become like every other stereotypical fashion ponies, I’ll make sure you won’t sit for a month, sis.” Soul stopped writing and turned to look at Mineral with his eyebrows furrowed, a little laugh escaping his mouth. “And I’ll make sure you’ll pay me the damages. A perfect deal.” Mineral stretched her hoof out as far as she could, and brought the cue next to it with her magic still holding her hoof up to ensure the cue was at the proper, perfect angle while pointed at Soul. “It’ll be worth it. Totally worth it.” Soul intentionally widened his eyes and slowly started burrowing his head against his shoulder, while Mineral looked at him like a teacher from a time when they still spanked foals with measuring sticks. The mare had a distinct glower come over her face as she stared Soul down; the two were unable to resist shaking their heads and allowing smiles to crack across their faces as well as crack the mood. Mineral swiped her hoof and pulled her cue back. “Naw, just kidding. Keep the hooves on the ground though, sis and don’t lose your Soul to them.” It just took a split second until she winced slightly and let out a little laugh before she placed her hooves on the table. “Why does your name have to be so punny?” Soul let out a small laugh too and shrugged. “Only Celestia knows,” he said as he continued writing, his eyes darting up for just a moment to reach Mineral before returning to his laptop. “I’m still surprised how supportive you actually are.” “It’s not like my opinion is the thing that matters in the end. Friends are for supporting each other, right? Or keeping them on the right track at least,” she stated with a chuckle and finally took her shot. “Besides, bringing ponies down has never been my thing. Well, except if they have gotten too high and--- Oh my Celestia this can’t be!” Mineral’s eyes bulged wide open as she saw a horrible sight of 8-ball bouncing from the side of the table straight to a pocket. Soul had turned to look at the table, and not seeing the 8-ball anywhere, he hummed the failure tone which caused Mineral to slightly frown, though she took her failure in stride, she shook her head but allowed her lips to curve upward. Mineral put her cue down and rubbed her cheek with her hoof.“What a great mistake. I should’ve seen that coming but apparently not.” She took a deep breath, and placed her cue back to it’s original slot on the wall, she then walked over to Soul and peeked at the message. “So, how is the message coming along?” Soul tapped his chin with a pencil he was holding with his magic as he typed rapidly with his hooves. “All I have to add is the part where it convinces her that Spectrum won’t be a threat and state all the things she will benefit from aaaaaaand…” Tapping a final enter key before he leaned back the stallion crossed his forehooves exclaiming, “Done.” “Hmm…” The mare looked over Soul’s shoulder as she read the n-mail. “You should probably take that ‘Your business seems small’ part off completely. It most likely will seem offensive.” Soul slammed a hoof against his forehead. “Oh, you are right. What was I thinking?” He shook his head and immediately deleted it. “Thanks.” The last thing he did was look up the address and added it; as soon as the address was added he hit the enter key, with a pleased, “And it’s sent” Mineral nodded, she beamed as she watched the n-mail disappear. “Very good, Soul. Very good. I will still cheer for Vanhoover though.” Soul nodded and closed his laptop, putting it back into his saddlebag. His eyes lowered but a small smile crossed his face as he realized how real this dream was becoming. “I’ll just wait and see how things will turn out.” Mineral hopped onto a chair next to the stallion and smiled. “Indeedily.” She placed her forelegs on the table leaning forward toward the stallion. “By the way, that brought something to my mind. Have you told Noble that you most likely will have to leave Canterlot because of this?” “Well… No... “ Soul paused, looking down at the table. His shoulders sulked and his lips drooped. “He’s been as down as it’s probably possible to be since he lost his job and that one evening we spent drinking only cheered him for a moment.” The white unicorn shook his head and rubbed his face, he left his mouth uncovered so he could speak. “Breaking the news to him that I will leave in a while like this, well… It sure won’t help his situation.” Mineral extended a hoof, placing it on the table in front of her friend. Her smile had vanished and she brought the corners of her lips in as she looked away before opening her mouth. “That sure is an unpleasant situation… But the more you wait, the more it will hurt when you break the news. How would you feel if he told you that he would move away tomorrow?” The stallion’s hooves dropped, he lifted his head and looked toward the mare. “Sudden. Yes, I get your point there.” He put his hooves together and looked down, a gloomy atmosphere absorbing them both. “I know that he has other good friends here, but still, we rely on each other the most.” “Sis, it’s not like your friendship will vanish or anything. You two seem to have quite a strong bond there and I don’t think that you two living in different towns will affect it. I still have important friends I’ve been in touch with from Vanhoover and our bonds haven’t been weakened even a little bit.” She gave a smile as she tried to cheer up her friend. Scratching the back of his head as he looked over toward the mare. “Yes, that’s what I thought too. Besides, who knows how long my search for a tutor will go on. These things take some time, so I have a feeling Noble would’ve gotten back on his hooves by the time I would have to move.” Mineral’s head tilted to the side and her lips formed a frown. “You got a good point there too.” She sighed while in her seat, wiggling her hind legs under the table.. “My opinion still stands, you should tell him as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the more time he has to let it sink in.” The thick haired mare stopped fidgeting in her seat and instead relaxed clapping her hooves together to speak in a more cheerful town.“Besides, when the times comes, I can keep an eye on him and report his every move to you.” Soul shook his head and extended a hoof toward her. “Thousands of thanks, but I don’t think that’s necessary. I.M. books still exist, you know.” “Indeed.” She put her hooves together and looked down at the table, her smile dropping and only one small one remaining, her tone became slow and serious. “And well, Soul... You know Noble won’t be the only pony who will miss you being here.” She kept her eyes focused on the table before her, unwilling to give their eyes an opportunity to meet. Frozen by the comment the pale stallion lowered his shoulders as his eyes became soft and he watched the mare as her hair fell, hiding her eyes. Although he wanted to speak he could not think of anything to say. Turning back toward the stallion and blowing her hair to the side she brought her foreleg hooves in toward her body. “I mean, dang. I just got to know your social side and became friends with you, and the next thing I know is that you plan on leaving... Funny, eh?” Rubbing his neck, Soul tried to think of what to say as he was nervously glancing back and forth around the cafe. After a short moment, a small smile crawled upon his face. “Well… I would be lying if I said i wouldn’t miss your attitude... And you know, our chit-chats and all that.” That said, a soft but still somber smile fell over Mineral’s lips as she slowly raised her head to look at Soul. “Heh, well… You can be sure you won’t get rid of me sis. ” She reached down and rubbed her hind legs under the table and tapped the table with her hoof in a rhythmic pattern. “So yes all I wanted to say is that.. I really like your company and it’s sad that you are going after we’ve just befriended one another. I hope you can visit Canterlot from time to time.” Soul nodded and rubbed his hooves together. “Likewise Mineral, and yes I will.” As the air around them became quiet Mineral wiggled her hind legs under the table and before the moment could continue she quickly turned and looked up at the clock. “Gosh, my client sure is taking her time.” Soul glanced at the counter and slightly furrowed his eyebrows, though he appreciated Mineral changing the subject but wished he could have said something more. He returned to the task at hand responding, still feeling a lump in his throat still unable to think up a proper response which lead him to utter, “I could get a drink if we weren’t working.” Turning her ears back as she leaned back in her chair, noticeably confused about how Soul’s mind went to drinking with her last statement. She lifted a hoof pointing it at the stallion. “You are such a drunk,” she exclaimed and puffed out her cheeks with a glare for a few moments before she relaxed it so she could speak up again. “Though you could if I had an amethyst mug with me.” “An amethyst mug?” Soul repeated and instantly raised an eyebrow, his body turned so he faced Mineral while lifting a hoof so it faced the ceiling. “What does that have to do with anything?” Mineral fixed her posture and cleared her throat with a cough before speaking up, “Well you see, amethysts can actually protect against inebriation.” Soul’s eyes grew wide, he sat up, slamming his hooves down on the table as he almost rose to his rear hooves. “What, seriously?” The unicorn mare raised a hoof to silence her friend. “I’m not even kidding, sis. I once crafted a mug out of amethyst and tried to make a prank for Meadow when we were having a little day off. She never drinks more than one glass of wine, so I tried to be sneaky and made her believe that she wouldn’t get all dizzy when drinking from an amethyst mug.” The thick maned unicorn held her bosom as she spoke, she held her head high to be heard clearly. “And oh Celestia I was flabbergasted when she remained one hundred percently lucid.” Soul couldn’t help but laugh enthusiastically at Mineral’s story while scratching his head, tears almost poured out of his eyes. It took a bit for Soul to control his breathing before he could produce even one word. “Dang, well that’s a pretty interesting power for amethyst to have. Though what’s the point of drinking if you’re goal isn’t to become a little-” The stallion quickly cleared his throat - “not so lucid.” He let out one last laugh until his eyes grew wide and he locked his eyes on Mineral. “Wait... You drink?!” he said with an obviously joking tone and then placed a hoof over his head. “Oh my, I’ve always thought you were a decent, high society pony but apparently all that has just been an illusion that’s now shattered into thousands of pieces.” After she scoffed at the comment, she flipped her ears back again and glared with a sly grin from cheek to cheek, while she pointed at Soul, very close to poking him in the chest as she glared while she leaned her head up, looking up at Soul. “I could beat you and Noble both in a drinking game without even breaking a sweat.” Soul crossed his forelegs and put on a joking pouty face. “Now you’re just bragging.” “Aww, well I’m deeply sorry.” Mineral opened her arms wide open. “Let’s hug. Hugging fixes everything.” A cold shiver ran across Soul’s body and he immediately sprung up from his seat and took a few steps backwards with a big frown on his face. “Yeah no, no hugging or physical contact in general.” “Oh yeah?” Mineral immediately stood up from her seat and locked her threatening eyes on Soul and slowly approached the still retreating unicorn. Soul’s ears folded down and they both slowly circled around the pool table. Though their little scenario was quickly broken by a mare who downright slid into the cafe from the front door as she left a paper trail behind her. She quickly runs back to pick the fallen pieces up, gasping like a steam train. “Miss Tint, miss Tint, miss Tint!” she yelled and ran straight for Mineral. “I am absolutely one hundred percent sorry I am this late!” As soon as the client approached Mineral, she ran over to the hysteric mare and placed her hoof on the client’s scapula. “Calm down, miss. It’s perfectly fine. I kept myself entertained in this fine cafe.” Soul sat down and watched Mineral calm down her client. Once the commotion was over he turned in his seat and dropped down onto all fours again. He walked over and leaned in to speak loud enough for the mares to hear him. “Well, I shall take my leave then. See you back at the Spectrum.” Mineral quickly reached for the stallion before he turned to leave. “Soul Soul Soul Soul Soul Soul!” She called back to him and pointed at the bag he had. “Leave the camera” Soul stopped and turned to look at Mineral with a blank face, though quickly flinched and took the camera bag off, carrying it over to his friend with his magic. “Oh, right…” he said with an awkward chuckle. After the stallion gave Mineral a wave and got one back in return, he exited the cafe and headed back to Canterlot Spectrum. It arrived. The answer from Ponyville has arrived. Normally, Soul would hold his breath while opening the mail, but he’s got so many answers denying him so far that he had already become numb to them. Before he started to read, Soul threw a lemon pastille to his mouth and sat back. “Hello, thank you very much for you interest, Wild Soul. Your offer is rather interesting and it most definitely caught my attention.” The start seemed very promising and Soul’s ears twitched. “I’m very familiar with Canterlot Spectrum and specifically with Ink and if Ink has granted you his recommendation, there is absolutely no doubt you have at least potential. All the benefits and co-operations that you listed sound very good and it would be my pleasure to discuss this more. Of course I took a look at the pieces of designs you sent in the mail, and I saw your potential myself.” Now this is what Soul has been waiting for days. Not just a simple ‘Sorry, I don’t take pupils’ but a proper, positive answer. Soul’s heartbeat had increased, his lips parted upward and his mind began to prepare for the next step as his hope rose and he read on. “If you are still interested by the time your read this message, I have added a number for my video relay and I.M. Please, message me as soon as possible so we can settle upon a time for a video meeting. Best and absolutely fabulous regards, Rarity.” Finally; a proper downright answer. A proper positive answer and the only one too. But was Ponyville really the place fitting for a pony who has always lived in big cities? On the other hoof, it would just be a temporary living and studying place for a year. It indeed is close to Canterlot. Besides, there is no room to be picky after so many rejections. This could be the only accepting response Soul would get and as that thought passed through his mind, it became clear. The unicorn nodded and without further ado, dug a pen and copied Rarity’s I.M. address down. And then the hardest part: form an instant message for a new person… Well there’s no way around it. Soul laid the book on his desk and like usually, took a moment to think before carving even one letter. The moment actually stretched out for fifteen minutes before Soul even placed a pen on the paper. “Hello Rarity, it’s Wild Soul. Thank you very much for responding this quickly and especially thank you for your affirming answer. I’m available almost always, so just suggest a time and we can make video contact. Hope to hear from you soon.” Yep, that’s all it needs. The text disappeared and now it was sent. Soul put the book down in his saddlebag and got up, he headed to get some coffee from a coffee machine. He also bumped into Mineral who had finished transferring her images and was now bringing the camera to Soul. Typically, they had short nice chit-chat, Mineral telling how the meeting went well and how the client treated her like some upper class leader. Soul, naturally, explained how he got his first acceptance answer, which of course lead Mineral to congratulate him and threw a joke about how she demanded to rant about her old home city. Eventually they both go their separate ways and headed back to their own offices. Putting the camera bag on his desk, Soul sat down and was about to open his laptop, but didn’t have a chance to do so, when he felt his I.M. book vibrating. He dug it up, the message being a response from Rarity. “Hello Soul, splendid news! I am willing to proceed with this affair as soon as possible, with a delightful mind of course. Do you happen to have a moment right now? My boutique is very quiet at the moment, so I’m able to spare a moment if you are available too.” "This quickly?!" Soul thought to himself as his steady heartbeat escalated rapidly. "Like right now?" Of course he could just lie and tell her he is busy at the moment, but that would be very unprofessional. Soul fell back on his chair and spend a few moments just feeling his increased heartbeat and thinking about what to answer. It should be simple, Soul has time, so there’s nothing stopping him; but should he wait and think of some questions she would possibly ask and contact her later? No, he just had to brace up and pick up the pencil, before he could have a second thought he levitated the pencil and wrote that he was available. Soul opened his laptop and prepared everything, adding Rarity’s address. “Rarity is available,” it said. Now just to wait till she contacted him and in no time, a simple loop started playing and a text appeared. “Rarity wants to have a video conversation with you,” Soul cleared his throat and pressed a green icon, he saw his reflection as the screen became black and reflective, he quickly turned his head checking his hair and nudged his collar ‘perfecting’ his appearance. "Loading, loading… Connection was formed,” On the screen appeared a mare with quite the elegant look. Lavender mane, blue eyes and white coat, presenting a gentle smile upon her lips. “Hello, Soul!” she spoke, clearly being excited, but still under control. “My, it is a true pleasure to literally see you. How are you?” ´How are you?´ That’s not a question Soul exactly expected. No time to wonder about it though; he quickly snapped out of the slight confusion and answered with a smile, “Likewise, Rarity. I’m good, thank you for asking. Starting to work on a poster soon.” “A poster?” Rarity repeated and lifted a hoof on her chin, her eyebrows raising along with it. “Do you mind if I ask what is it for?” ‘Another small talk question?’ Though confusion was still not acceptable now. Soul held the smile and shook his head. “Not at all. It’s a poster for an upcoming theater act here in Canterlot.” Rarity immediately put her hooves together “Oh, interesting! What a grand project,” she said with a smile and put a hoof on her cheek, looking somewhere off the screen. “I’ve worked in theater myself as a costumier. It’s such a lovely job to do,” she chanted and gave a small smirk thinking of her theater projects, though she quickly snapped out of it as she realized she was zoning off and started searching for something. “Ah, pardon me! I wandered off point before I even began.” Soul’s lips grew long and curved down as he scratched one of his temples with his hoof. “Excuse me, Rarity. I thought, those weren’t exactly the questions you would ask considering this subject.” After he spoke he closed his muzzle and clenched his teeth together, shrinking down waiting for the mare’s rebuttal. On the screen Rarity placed her hooves together and rested her head on top of them, looking down to ensure her entire head was still in the video. “Oh those were intentional and sincere, because of curiosity and politeness.” The smile still firmly cemented on her face. “I see…” Soul dropped his hooves and blinked rapidly, he thought through what he just heard and exhaled slightly. “So, I want to ask you three simple yet important questions which will help me to evaluate and come to a conclusion on if you will get a honor of becoming my pupil. And of course if I will get the honor to become your tutor,” Rarity spoke with a mix of confidence and friendliness that was rare among any pony. “Just be natural, please.” The stallion sat upright and tilted his head forward ever so slightly giving a nod and lifting a hoof to signify that he was going to speak. “Well it’s like art, nothing good comes out of forced effort.” Rarity’s lips crawled slightly further upwards. “That is a very good first impression,” she expressed with a deep, professional tone and picked up her paper and pen, and slid on her reading glasses. “Also, I’m not very experienced with these interviews, so if there is something important you want to tell me but I don’t ask about, please tell me.” As she saw Soul nod, she cleared her throat. “Now, let us begin. First, something quite simple, why are you willing to become a fashion designer?” “Ah.” Soul let out a sigh of relief as that was finally a question he was prepared for, but never dropped his smile. He fixed his posture and cleared his throat before speaking, “Because I’m willing to expand my skills as a designer further and want to experience something entirely different when it comes to execution. Fashion has… well, always been at least a small part of my life, because I’ve always carefully picked my clothes when I wear something. Recently, it’s become an even bigger interest to me, and when I heard there’s a chance I could become an artisan, I knew I wanted to take it.” Of course there was some hesitation, but Soul knew saying that wouldn’t do much good. Rarity was nodding throughout Soul’s speech while her smile never dissipated. “Great attitude Soul,” she noted, which had that sincere tone to it. She looked at the paper she had out of frame again and asked the next question, “Next, what does fashion mean to you?” Soul scrunched his eyebrows together and pouted his lips. That again wasn’t a question he had thought of. “What does fashion mean to me?” he repeated and started thinking, as he tried to gain some time. He knew couldn’t wait too long without saying a word. “Well…” He eventually spoke up and leaned against the table. “My view isn’t that different from designing other things, except I see it as a bigger thing than logo’s or posters. To me, clothes and fashion are kind of a way to show others what kind of style and things one likes, like favorite colors, shapes, accessories, music, lifestyle, societal views etcetera. But by no means should ponies be judged by clothes.” Rarity put her hooves together and smiled brightly. “My, you certainly have the right perspective about this. This is very pleasant, a breath of fresh air,” she said, her voice was filled with excitement and there was a noticeable glimmer in her eyes. “Oh thank you. Glad you think so.” Soul’s posture tightened, he sat up straight putting his hooves flat in his lap to look professional and presentable while hoping he looked open enough for the artisan’s taste. “I do.” Rarity batted her eyes and fluffed her mane. “Now, I shall ask you the last and most important question. What is your dream? Your absolute goal? And how would becoming an artisan help you achieve it?” Rarity tensed up, leaning toward the screen as her forelegs crossed on the table as she awaited the reply. Soul’s eyes grew wide and his heart started beating faster. “My goal?” he repeated again and rested his chin on his hooves. Another question he really should’ve thought of how to answer earlier, though he did know the answer, but just needed to put it into words. There wasn’t time to think, just improvise. He once again cleared his throat and spoke up, “My goal is... my goal is to one day become one of the most recognized Art Directors among designers and learn in as many area’s of designing as possible, and artisan is one of them. With artisan training, I would take a huge step to reaching that goal and of course, expand my knowledge of different areas... I’m confident I have a potential to reach my goal.” That was all he could think of, simply stated for his possible teacher. “Tres magnifique!” The mare clapped her hooves together while displaying an open mouth smile. “That’s all now and I can happily say that you’ve passed the interview as whole!” Soul jolted his head back, a bit surprised. “Is that so?” He lifted and placed his hooves on the table, crossing them and grinning while slightly tense, a bit nervous from her quick, maybe even rushed decision. “Wow, that was… quick” Rarity put the tips of her hooves together and rested her head on them looking at the stallion. “Well you see, behind all these questions there was only one trait I wanted to see if you had, and that is determination. You answered all my questions confidently and clearly. There was no hesitation in your responses, you stated that you wanted, you have strong views of this subject and you said you have potential, not that you may have some potential.” “So… this means you are willing to take me as your apprentice?” He raised an eyebrow and narrowed his mouth, not taking his eyes off the screen as he held his breath awaiting a response. Giving a nod and smile while removing her glasses she replied, “Yes. That is if a Canterlot citizen like yourself is willing to choose a humble, little town like Ponyville as a place to study.” She looked up and way bringing a hoof to her lips. “Though, I do suppose you wouldn’t even have contacted me if that were the case.” Soul’s lips turned up and his hooves quickly on the table as he slightly sat up. “Oh, absolutely! You are actually the first one who has actually agreed to even consider this.” “Oh really?” Her ears twitched and her eyebrows rose as she heard this. While his face turned red Soul continued to speak, scratching his neck and drooping his ears. “Well to be honest, I was kinda on the edge on if I should contact you, especially after that little… invasion thing there.” “Oh yes, that.” The mare drew her ears back and lowered her eyes. “Such an…” She looked about, holding off as she struggled to find the right words, her eyes darting around her room. “...unfortunate event.” After stating that, she quickly cleared her throat and put on a big smile again. “But Ponyville has risen from that and it thrives just as glamorously as before!” The stallion let out a sigh of relief and let his hooves fall into his lap once more. “Good. Getting choked by a vine isn’t exactly my ideal way to get educated.” Rarity let out a light laugh. “Certainly not.” Her horn glowed as she moved a curtain blind allowing a little more natural light in her room, out of Wild Soul’s sight. “But yes, I’m sure that with your determination and potential, you are a pony worthy of becoming a fashion designer and my apprentice.” Soul rubbed his hooves together under the table and smiled up at the ceiling. “Rarity, that’s the best news of my day.” His eyes opened quickly and he looked down turning his head and pointed at the screen with his hoof. “Or, do you prefer just miss?” The white mare immediately raised her hoof and slightly lifted her head higher with a smile. “You may use whichever you would like.” Soul nodded. “Alright. I just wanted to make sure.” “Yes, I understand mon ami.” She pulled over a notepad and quill with her magic, she dipped the quill in the ink before inquiring, “Oh, and may I ask your working hours tomorrow?” “Working hours?” Soul once again repeated and drew his neck back, pulling his head back and his eyes opening a bit wider. “From seven to three. Why?” Rarity wrote the times down on the parchment. “From seven to three,” she repeated and nodded. “Excellent, I’ll come to visit Canterlot Spectrum tomorrow at two o’clock?” Soul stomach turned upside down, he felt as if his heart rose into his throat. “Wait, what?” Rarity sat up straight and nodded, putting a hoof on her chest and closing her eyes. “I have planned to go to Canterlot to gather some new fabrics for my latest fashion line, so your time of contacting me was quite fitting.” Rarity crossed her hooves on the table and lifted her gaze with a smile. “I’ll get to discuss the details more with Ink and get to know my future apprentice better. The process will be much quicker that way too.” He stretched his chin and looking away, Soul’s heart was still beating like a drum. “Huh… Well this was sudden.” “Hmm?” Rarity tilted her head with a blank look on her face. “Is there a problem? I thought you wanted to proceed quickly with this too? Besides, I’m willing to meet you in person before I can be absolutely certain in my decision.” Soul immediately turned to look back at Rarity and nodded a few times. “Absolutely, but there are a lot of arrangements I have to do. I haven’t even decided if I will move to Ponyville or stay in Canterlot and if I move to Ponyville, I obviously have to find an apartment and give up my recent one. Bits are also a problem; and well… There are other things I also have to think about....” Soul said with rather dull voice and looked outside his window in the distance. The mare nodded again and placed her hooves folded her hooves over one another, as she leaned in and spoke softly. “That’s why I’ll come and meet you and Ink so we can discuss the arrangements. My botique wouldn’t last a day if I couldn’t think ahead.” Soul slapped his head with his hoof and shook a little. “Ah, yes you are right.” Rubbing his head, he sighed. “I feel stupid now.” “Don’t worry about it, I admit my pace might be...” She tapped her lips with her hoof again as she thought about her words. “ a bit quicker than most ponies. But regardless, is it fine by you if I visit tomorrow?” “Well There definitely can’t be any harm for that.” The steed nodded, closing his eyes and lifting a hoof out to his side. “So, we will meet tomorrow, Rarity.” Rarity straightened the papers on her desk and moved them to the side. “Excellent! We shall indeed. I’ll inform Ink and see if I can set up a meeting with him too.” Soul nodded as a smile crept over his lips. “Sounds like a plan.” Rarity nodded. “Perfect.” Last time she ficed her posture and smiled at the stallion whle waggling her hoof to him. “Ta ta, I shall see you tomorrow, Wild Soul.” As the call ended, Soul took a deep breath in and waited for a moment before letting it out, sinking into his chair. Finally, there was a real chance for him, not to mention how quickly things were coming together. In one day’s time he’d know if he would get the position as an apprentice or not. Just thinking about it gave him goosebumps and a small lump formed in his throat, it didn’t take long before his excitement turned into slight anxiety when the image of Noble appeared in his mind. Soul never thought it would take this little time before he would get his first confirmation at the first possible place. Of course, nothing was confirmed, she may still deny him as an apprentice. But if he gets approval from her, what is he supposed to tell Noble? “Hey buddy, yea um… I got a place and I’m moving out of town soon. Sorry to announce this out of blue, you know.” But… since Ponyville isn’t a place that far away, it means that he could go there every day by train. Though... Soul knew that the possibility for that was very low but he was desperate and was looking for any possible solutions he could come up with. One thing was sure, when the time comes to break it to Noble it would be anything else but pleasant. The only thing he could do is to wait and hope for the best. Author's Note Having laptops, n-mail and even video contact most likely threw most of you off guard (or something like that :D) when reading it, but no worries, there will be an explonation later in the story how we have implemented them into the MLP universe. 10. Bonjour, Mon Ami! Part 2Noble placed his hooves on a counter, his eyes focused on the pony behind it. “Um... excuse me?” The station clerk turned to look at Noble and immediately put on a smile. “Oh hello sir, how may I help you?” “I…” Noble’s ears folded back on his head as he paused for a moment looking down and to the left, but eventually his head rose again knowing he had to get what he came for. “I’d like to buy one train ticket to Horseshoe Bay for two weeks from now. ” The pony nodded as he tapped a few buttons. “Can do, sir. One way or return ticket?” There was a pause before Noble answered, his ears lowered and he sulked his shoulders while the disfavor of the situation sat before him. “Yes, a one way ticket please.” “Very well, one way ticket to Horseshoe Bay, two weeks from now,” The pony reciprocated the order with an innocent pleasant tone as he typed in the last bit of information and produced a ticket and receipt. “The ticket has two days change policy. Have a pleasant and safe trip, sir.” “Thank you,” Noble said giving a small bow and gave the bits to the stallion. As he did, he took the ticket and moved out of the line, a small sigh escaping his lips and his head drooped. He blankly gazed at the ticket thinking about how real this situation actually was now. Suddenly, the stallion felt a leg as it gently wrapped around him, causing him to raise his head and turn quickly, snapping back to attention almost dropping his ticket. The leg belonged to the very familiar green maned and yellow coated mare who’s ears were folded down with teary eyes. She focussed on the ticket Noble was holding. “S-So it’s officially official now…” The earth pony stood, holding the ticket and gave a faint nod and paused, looking up and felt like his heart was breaking as he looked at the weeping mare. He realized that his nod may have gone unnoticed so he spoke up, “Yes, unfortunately…” Truffle rubbed her nose and eyes as her hoof trembled. “Don’t you think we could’ve looked at more job ads together or something…? Maybe we could’ve found something tomorrow...” Noble shook his head, he reached back in his saddlebag pulling out a handkerchief and offered it to the mare. “No Truffle, this was the only choice I had left. Even if I got a new job at this point, I wouldn’t be able to pay my rent in time.... Going back to my old hometown is my only option.” The green mare took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes and nose. “I understand… Well at least we can look on the bright side…” Truffle immediately grabbed the stallion’s head and pulled their heads together so their cheeks were pushed together tightly. ”At least you get to leave this oh so cruel city and may find something better, returning to your roots!” The stallion struggled to scoot back, trying gently to push his cheek away from the mare. “At weast... I whon’t hab to sweep in the tstreets.” Once he finished speaking he stopped struggling and cut his eyes toward Truffle. Letting go of Noble’s head the unicorn relaxed her face muscles and used a more serious tone while her ears dropped. “True and yeah, being all serious, your situation could be worse… You could have nowhere to go…” Her ears flipped back up and a smile spread across her face as she pointed at him with puffy red eyes. “...but it is fortunate you can go back home. We could have housed you for for a bit, but of course there are limits to that...” Noble tilted his head up, closing his eyes, looking out to the clock tower. “True. It’s funny, as much as I abhor this city I am still sad that I have to leave it. Alas cruel Canterlot, my tender feelings have faded, I tried to drink from the pond but was pulled in and almost drowned in the ocean. I have fond memories, apartments, jobs, favorite places, and most of all... ” The stallion had a strange solemn smile on his lips, he turned to give the mare a soft look, though he seemed even gloomier than just a second ago. “...All the close ponies around me... Leaving behind everything I have in this city, I can almost feel the fragments of my heart breaking off.” He put a hoof over his heart as he spoke, his smile diminishing rapidly. Her body shook and her lip quivered as she listened, she brought a hoof up to cover her lips. “Aww. I surely understand. Just imagining if Olivia for example moved to another town would be heartbreaking…” The green hoof left her lips and pulled Noble’s left hoof up and held it in front of her. “That’s why I promise to write you every day and I demand that you demand your other friends stay in touch too!” Noble’s lips just barely crawled upwards and he even let out a little chuckle through all his gloominess. “Thank you Truffle, that means a lot. I’ll be sure to keep you informed on how I am.” “Good! I’m not expecting anything less!” As she released the stallion's hoof she brought a hoof back and wiped her eyes again before placing her fourth hoof back on the ground and lifting the other pointing down the street. “Hey, wanna go have tea? I know a place nearby who is run by a friend who actually owes me for setting up a date for her. She demanded it and I haven’t used the chance, so we would get some free from her.” Noble’s ears flipped back up and he nodded with a weak shrug. “Well, alright, that sounds good. I really could use some...” The mare draped a leg around Noble again with a wide smile that crossed over her lips, beginning to lead the stallion to the cafe, attempting to keep her leg over Noble as they walked. “In that case let’s go!” His ears twitched and drew back even though his lips turned slightly upward. “If you insist, please lead the way.” When they began walking Noble walked closer to the mare, being careful of where he stepped as not to trip Truffle or break the embrace. It didn’t take them long to get to the cafe, since it was in the same Topaz Square they were at. The cafe was pretty nice looking. It has that typical, stylish Canterlot look with mostly white decorations. When the two ponies arrived at its terrace, Truffle glanced around the terrace and asked Noble to get a table for them while she went inside to order their teas. A moment later Truffle comes back with two plates that each had a steaming cup of water, a tea bag and also a donut all being carried by her magic. Setting the cups and plates down on the table, the mare sat down in front of Noble and ripped her tea package open, dropping the bag into her water. “Sorry… I’m sure you would’ve rather redeemed these cups with Olivia,” Noble spoke after tearing the tea packet open with his teeth and holding the string with his hooves clamped together. His eyes peered down at the cup as his ears were still lowered as well. “Oh no, don’t worry about it! Cuddles doesn’t like coffee or tea at all and going to have one all alone would be so dreary. I’m more than glad to share this with you! Consider this as some kind of...” The mare winced and she went silent. Her ears and eyes drooped downward and she tilted her head down to the right, crushed by her own words. Her eyes turned, resting on the plate. She lifted the donut from her plate and extended her gaze up at Noble again, a small empathic smile crawling to her lips. “Well, some kind of farewell gift, maybe...?” Watching his friend in such a sad state, although it was fairly common with her mood swings she it still pulled at the stallion’s heart strings.. He took a moment to find the right words before speaking. “Well… we they will be a farewell gift until we see eachother again. I’ll write and we’ll see one another again, I’m sure.” He gave a smile flipping his ears up and closing his eyes as he forced it trying to bring a positive light back to the conversation. “Good!” Truffle said as she put a big smile upon her face and leaned forward to pat Noble’s hoof. “Then drink your tea, eat your donut and enjoy every sip and bite of them,” she chanted and leaned back, lifting her cup and taking a small sophisticated sip of her tea.. That caused Noble to actually give a chuckle, then he lifted the tea, nodding. “Of course my lady.” Truffle couldn’t help but giggle too as she raised her head. “Just be careful not to spill. Stains are the last thing a white shirt needs.” Saying that made her immediately lower her head and take a closer look at the shirt, squinting her eyes. “By the way, is that new? I’ve never seen you out of your usual blue before except in your uniform.” The earth pony placed a hoof on his chest and looked down trying to recall what shirt had been next in line in his closet this morning, seeing one of his white shirts shining back at him. “Oh. Yes, it actually is. Soul recommended I wear white for a change since he thought that ‘blue doesn’t go well together with my coat’.” “Soul?” Truffle scrunched her eyebrows puzzled by the name, but it didn’t take even a second for her to recall the name. “Oh, Soul! Your bosom buddy; right?” Scrunching down his eyebrows before raising one while his mouth grew wide, puzzled by the word choice. “Umm… sure, rightttt. Though I’m not really into clothes like he is, even though I admit white does look better on me. I guess.” The stallion relaxed his expression, lifting his donut. “He has even applied to artisan training and is searching for a tutor.” “Best friend is what I mean. I see! Wait, I don’t think I have ever met him,” she announced gripping her cup with both hooves and giving it a swirl before taking a sip. The earth pony’s eyes peered looked toward the sky as his head tilted up slightly with them while he bit his bottom lip as he tried to recall if he’s ever introduced the two. “True, I don’t think you have.” Giggling at the stallions amusing thinking face, the mare shifted her cup to one hoof, balancing it before she pointed at his new shirt with her other hoof. “Anyways, did he buy that collar for you? You know, as a farewell gift too?” “Uh… yeah um… You see…” The stallion looked down and slid his legs closer, his voice fading. “I haven’t mentioned the severity of my plans or situation to him yet…” Hearing this caused Truffle to almost drop her teacup. Her eyes grew as wide as saucers and she looked at the stallion shocked. “What…? What?!” The mare stood up and reached across the table, grabbed Noble’s cheeks and pulled him forward. “Noble, hiding something like this from your bosom buddy is a big NO NO! You must tell him or he will lose trust in you forever!” “I can’t throw my burden on him though. It’s my problem and I don’t want him to worry about me! He has everything here,” Noble’s voice sank and his words trembled from his mouth. “... and he won’t be that shaken if I leave.” The stallion sank down in his seat, he just wanted to escape Truffle’s grip anyway possible. His eyes hit the table for a moment, noticing what Truffle’s sudden leap caused. He pointed at the spot. “U-Um… you spilled your tea…” Truffle’s attention immediately shifted to the spot below her and as she saw the spilled tea she immediately pulled back blushing bright read, clenching her teeth and looked away. “U-Um… oops…” Noble got a chance to sit back upright again and let out a sigh of relief. Though his eyes fell when his eyes met the embarrassed mare’s face again. A small emphatic smile grew over his face and he reached to pat her hoof. “It happens,” he said with a soft tone and reached for the napkins on the table but noticed the box for them was empty. He stood up from his seat. “Um, I’ll go get some napkins from another table.” “Thankies…” The mare nodded picking the cup up and pushing her plates so she could get to the spill that had started dripping off the table causing her to scoot away. After glancing around for a short moment at the other tables he spotted one with a large amount of napkins, he stood up and took a step toward the table but his attention was still on his friend. “Don’t feel bad, it was luckily just a small cup of te---” Noble didn’t get a chance to finish before he felt how he collided into something, no, somepony.. The stallion almost fell onto his flank, but the mare he bumped into on the other hoof managed to maintain her balance and barely caught what was about to fall to the ground with a loud gasp. “Oh my! That was too close!” The mare let out a sigh of relief though an undertone of annoyance could be heard from it. When Noble managed to regain his balance and awareness of what just happened, he was about to apologize but the sight of the mare he ran into left him with his mouth agape and face flushed. Noble’s eyes floated over her lavender mane. The mare seemed to turn around in slow motion, her mane whisking through the air. Her eyes curved into a piercing glare. It didn’t take long for Noble to regain his composure, his mouth dropped and his ears drooped back as his eyes enlarged. He bowed before the mare. “I-I am so sorry miss I didn’t mean to harm you!” His heart raced and his mind was spinning through thoughts of how to redeem himself in the mare’s eyes. His eyes shifted up to gaze at the mare’s face, the pouty look made him sink further down, he took a final glance at the mare then looked away thinking of what she may shout at him and being ready for his thoughts of her to be shattered. The pouty faced mare just looked at the stallion throughout his apology, but when she saw the stallions look and ears drooping, she eased her face muscles and let out a soft sigh as she motioned for Noble to stand up. “It’s quite alright sir, it doesn’t seem like any harm was done. Please, you can stand up.” Hearing that, the stallion nodded and slowly regained his posture again, his ears still folded down. He wouldn’t dare disgrace the mare by giving her even a small glance. “T-Thank you, I… I’m really sorry again, m-miss…” “Rarity,” The mare spoke, extending a hoof to assist the stallion up. “You needn’t dwell on this accident, as I said before no harm was done, truly. I really do appreciate your humbleness though, mister...” Her voice trailed off and she turned her head, opening an ear as she shifted her eyes to see the stallion when he spoke. Taking her hoof and allowing her to help him up he took a step back and finally peered into the mare’s eyes when she wore a smile. “Oh! T-Thank you. I am glad...” It took a moment of silence for the stallion to properly collect himself and realize that the mare was waiting for him to introduce himself. Since he wanted to throw himself out and seem confident he quickly spoke. “Well um, you are too you are WAY too pretty to not know my name… I-I am Noble Poet.” The stallion stood up straight and extended a hoof giving a half faced smile. Rarity’s eyes grew wide and she blinked while crouching her upper body as she took a step back which was followed by a very awkward smile which twisted across her face. She let out a fake chuckle and darted her eyes around looking for other ponies, even though she was worried she extended her hoof and placing it on the stallions to shake. “Well um… thank you for the rather... flattering comment. Again, thank you for your concern but I’m afraid I must go now since I am here with somepony.” The stallion sulked his shoulders and frowned a bit, he scratched the ground with his hoof feeling foolish that he thought the beauty would be here alone. “O-Oh… Alright I understand. I won’t hold you any longer...” Rarity smiled pleasantly at the stallion before she turned around, gave another flip of her hair and headed toward the entrance. Letting out a low disappointed sigh, Noble grabbed some napkins off the closest table and sulked back and sat back at the table where Truffle had been watching him with an ear to ear grin. The mare leaned toward her friend and put a hoof in front of her mouth and whispered, “That was adorable! Though don’t feel bad about it, I could immediately see that she was not the right mare to fit your tastes.” She giggled and gave a wink before pulling back. Noble lifted the napkins and set them in the empty holster they would have been in if it were full and turned his hoof, placing his elbow on the table and resting his head on his hoof, looking down at his tea and donut. “I suppose… Anyway, what were you talking about before, umm that?” “Wild Soul of course.” The mare perked up, taking some napkins from the bunch and wiping down the table as she soaked up the mess she made. The name ‘Wild Soul’ caused Rarity, who had stopped to look inside her bag to ensure nothing fell out, to freeze. Her ears perked and eyes widened a bit as she turned her head at the duo. Out of curiosity, she decided to listen for a bit, flipping her other ear down in order to hear better as she disguised herself by lowering her body as if she was looking for something on the ground. Back at the table, Noble winced and put on a wide awkward grin. “Oh right…” Noble turned his head to the right while looking down. He bent his left foreleg rubbing his right foreleg as he looked away. “So, um… Right, I will tell him about my departure soon… I just don’t know how to break it to him. Any suggestions?” “Noble!” Truffle called out and scooched her chair around the table and grabbed the stallions cheeks again, turning his head so their eyes met. “All I want is that you promise me that you will talk to him. You’d want him to tell you if he were moving away wouldn’t you? You should just invite him to a candlelit dinner tonight and make it a magical last day for the two of you.” The stallion’s eyes grew and he pulled his neck back, trying to pull away from the mare’s grip. He finally reached up and moved her hooves off her cheeks. “Umm. I appreciate the suggestion, though I don’t think either one of us really want any kind of romantic dinner with one another,” Noble replied and gave a short laugh at the end, trying to not offend her. “What?! No no no no no.” She pulled her hooves back and waved them in front of her. “I didn’t mean that at all. If it were romantic you’d have a red candle, but you two are friends and want to keep it friendly, so you should use a white candle instead.” Noble scratched his chin with his hoof. “Well, that may not be that bad... I may make it less fancy and could just ask him to come eat with me somewhere like usual.” Rarity wasn’t sure what that was all about, but the secretive tone the ponies had made her frown. Regardless, she knew she couldn’t just stand there forever, so she shook it off for now and entered the cafe, just passing through the door, though her attention was still on the conversation the duo were having. “Did you find them?” A voice echoed catching Rarity’s ears. “Hmm?” Rarity questioned in a polite and soft tone, looking up she realized that she didn’t notice that Soul had walked over and stood just past the doorway in front of her. Soul was at just the right spot where he stood out of sight of the duo Rarity was listening to and looked at the mare with an eyebrow raised. “Need some help?” Rarity immediately realized how she’d just been standing there like a statue. Her eyes grew wide, her cheeks rosy and she gritted her teeth. She snapped back to attention, standing up straight and cleared her throat. “Oh, yes! Thank goodness I did find them. I … No, no help is needed. Let’s go.” She galloped inside as she did she turned the stallion and guided him back to their table preventing him from accidentally noticing the duo outside. All Soul was able to do was be spun around by the mare, looking back, surveying the ground where Rarity had been hunkered down for so long. He was unable to see anything that she left or anything out of the ordinary that would catch her attention. He scratched his head as she pulled him along. As they reached their table, Rarity immediately sat down in her seat and quickly presented the two rolls of fabric she had, a bead of sweat formed upon her forehead. “It seems I did leave them in the store after all which is… quite embarrassing. I suppose I got a wee bit carried away when I introduced you to the other materials there.” An awkward laugh escaped her mouth. Soul let out a small laugh and gathered papers he had on the table, putting them aside. “It happens. What matters is that they aren’t lost.” His focus shifted from Rarity to the fabrics but when he took a closer look, he frowned a bit. “Wait, those were some of the most expensive fabrics, right?” Rarity held a hoof on her chest as a small sigh of relief escaped her mouth when Soul didn’t ask why she was just standing by the door. She raised her head and put on her elegant smile. “Indeed. I don’t even want to imagine the disaster that would’ve come out of this if I didn’t notice them until I got home.” Soul fixed his posture and puffed out his chest slightly, presenting a side view of himself to Rarity and extended his hooves as if holding a camera, closing his other eye. “The video camera zooms in, the artisan looks at it, shrugs innocently and the final failure music plays which cues the audience to laugh and clap.” That statement made Rarity scrunch her eyebrows a bit as her lips narrowed, pouting since she wasn’t really sure what Soul even meant. Becoming quiet he lowered his hooves, he gently laid them down crossing them on the table.. “Uh… Sorry, nevermind.” He quickly changed the subject sliding some papers that he had laid out over the table toward Rarity. “Anyway, I’ve been browsing through these apartment ad’s while you were gone.” Rarity leaned in and pulled her reading glasses out of her bag. “Oh really? How do they look?” “They look pretty nice. Like houses,” Soul said with a small laugh and leaned against the table. “I must say that I really like the overall architecture of Ponyville. Stylish but earthy.” The mare slid them around the table from one side to the other as she looked over some of his selections. “You do? Well, I’m glad it appeals to you though in my opinion, it isn’t anything that special. It’s comfy and such though my taste requires a bit more… elegance.” She spoke the last word and gave off a short giggle. As Rarity flipped through the fliers he had pulled out, Soul took his mug taking another sip. “So a trip to Canterlot every now and then is a joy to the eyes for you?” She flipped through the last one and with a glimmer from her horn she placed them all into a nice neat stack and slid it over next to the stallion. “Exactly.” Giving her coffee a stir she lifted it and took a sip before speaking. “I once dreamed of living here and I would be lying if I said I still wouldn’t want to just a bit, but there are things in Ponyville I would never want to give up nowadays.” “Home is always a home. I get that.” “Indeed. And some good friends can make it a home.” Rarity interjected with a pleasant sigh as she put her hooves together, resting her head on them while gazing into the distance as she recalled a lovely picnic she had with her friends just the other day. Suddenly her mind clicked and she recalled Soul’s name being mentioned by the duo outside, especially that flirtatious stallion. “Oh, Soul, may I ask a question?” Soul crossed his hooves and looked forward, he cleared his mind as he was ready for a question on anything. “Sure. What is it?” The mare shifted her right foreleg forward and bent her hoof at the wrist, as she closed her eyes while she began to speak, a little tense. “This will sound very odd, but do you happen to have any friends who are… happening to be leaving town?” The designer was unprepared for this odd personal question and blankly sat as the corners of his lips turned in opposite directions. “Um, no? Why?” “Oh dear!” Rarity turned her outward pointing hoof in and lowered it almost to her chest, tilting her head down and in toward her body as she did. “Well, when I was coming back from the store, some stallion bumped into me and well, before I got back inside I heard him mention your name and something about leaving town and not telling you.” “You did? Um, how did this stallion look like?” Rarity had captured Soul’s attention and he leaned forward awaiting an answer as his ears twitched. “Actually I got his name. Noble Poet I believe.” The mare lifted her head, now feeling better that she could give a name. “Noble?” Soul repeated as his eyes grew slightly wider and his voice grew slightly uneasy. “I sure know him rather well. He’s a friend of mine.” The stallion turned to look at the entrance. “He’s at the terrace?” Rarity gave a slow nod and pointed with a hoof. “Yes. He and a charming young mare had been sitting just outside of the door when your name came up.” She brought her hoof to her mouth where her lips had closed in a tight ‘o’ and her eyes sulked as she realized she may have overstepped her role. “We can go speak with them if you’d like to. I shall be in Canterlot all day, truly there is no rush.” Soul tapped his lower lip with his left hoof, his eyes never left the front door through the artisan’s proposal. “Huh… Well I most certainly want to know what that was all about… You see, he kinda lost his job a few weeks ago and gets closer to a crisis every day, so---” Soul’s heart jumped to his throat and his eyes grew wide open when a thought hit his mind. He realized what Noble’s talk could actually mean. “Oh no… Could he…” Rarity lowered her hoof and eased her lips though her eyes remained concerned. “What is it?” “Um, nevermind. One unceasing thought just occured in my mind that I should discuss with my friend but I’ll deal with it later,” He said as he shook his head but even as he spoke to the artisan his eyes traveled to the door. The artisan continued watching the stallion with a rather serious look. She couldn’t help the uneasiness growing inside when seeing the look on her apprentice’s face. “Soul, I’ve seen expressions like that before. Whenever I see that expression on a friend, client or any pony I am close to, I know they are enveloped in their thoughts, which means it will be on their mind the whole day and they will be distracted most of the time. If there’s a problem on your mind that you can solve simply by having a conversation with your friend, then I highly suggest you go.” Taken aback by Rarity’s push, Soul blinked at Rarity’s suggestion. Even though he would’ve wanted to go speak to him, he was too hesitant to say yes in fear of bad impression. Regardless he just shook his head. “No, I’m not like that. I’m not willing to stop our meeting because of this.” The mare’s eyes grew wide and replied without hesitation but with a soft voice, “Nonsense!” She quickly extended a hoof cutting off the stallion and rolled up her fabrics with her magic. “I’ve seen the outcomes of that face too many times in my career. Besides…” She gave the stallion sympathetic smile and placed his papers in his bag for him as well. “It would be a crime not to talk it out when you have a chance this quickly, I’m simply not going to be an obstacle.” “Oh, though…” Soul’s train of thought trailed off as the mare had packed and had stood up and was wasting no time in pushing the stallion along. Normally he would want to conclude this what he was still considering as an interview before attending to personal matters but Rarity wasn’t allowing him the opportunity to postpone this talk. Rarity finally packed her bags and placed her satchels on her back. She turned and looked back at Soul. “Are you coming? We can bring our beverages with us.” Reluctantly Soul turned and stood up on all fours, he moved his satchels and drink closer to the edge of the table. “Rarity, are you absolutely sure you don’t mind taking time out of our meeting to talk with my friend? I mean you said he was talking to some mare about his situation. I would happily finish our meeting then contact Noble later.” Rarity closed her eyes and whisked her hair through the air as she turned her head. “Do I really have to repeat myself?” “No... I was just making sure. Thanks, I guess.” Soul gave a small smile while putting the paper pile into his folder and the folder into his saddleback which he slid on his back before leaving the table. When the two made it to the outside just a bit further from the door without being spotted by the duo, this time Soul could immediately spot Noble and his companion. Noble was listening to Truffle speak and his eyes mostly turned down as his thoughts raced and he only looked up to look at the joyful mare. The stallion took a deep breath before starting to approach them, though he slowed his pace when a sudden and somewhat random idea came to his mind which caused him to actually chuckle at it. He took quiet steps towards Noble making his way behind his back. The conversation between the two at the table stopped instantly when Truffle noticed the white stallion which left her with an open mouth and slightly scrunched eyebrows. “Uh… Noble?” “Hmm?” Noble inquired and tilted his head. “SPIDER!” Soul yelled and poked Noble under both of his scapulas. The poet jolted up as if he he had just sat on pile of pins, the sudden jab and cry caused him to wince and downright squeak in terror, almost dropping from his seat with loud gasps. Supporting Noble a little before he fell, Soul let out a little chuckle and gave his friend a pleasant smile. “Hello buddy, how’s it going?” “Soul?!” Noble said as his eyes darted between the confused looking Truffle and his friend, his heart still pounding. “Are you kidding me? I almost had a heart attack.” The unicorn raised a leg up to his side, hoof up. “I couldn’t resist. The opportunity was too good to pass up.” Truffle still sat, mouth agape and could only raise a hoof and point at the white unicorn. “Wait you are THE Soul?” In an instant she lept up, ran around the table and took his right hoof in her hooves, shaking rapidly then dropped it to wrap her forelegs around Soul, pressing her left cheek against his. “Oh my gosh yes! Noble has talked about you being his best friend but it’s great to see you in person. I’m Truffle, nice to meet you!” “W-What the…?” The typical freezing effect hit Soul immediately as the overly affectionate mare touched his hoof. After she had him in a cheek to cheek embrace, he dropped through her grip and dove behind his tan friend. “N-Noble plese tell me this thing doesn’t lay eggs…” Once Soul slid out from her hug the mare fell over but stood back up, looking over at him. “Excuse me…?” “Um, Truffle maybe letting it go would be for the best. It’s just how he is,” said the earth pony as he held up his forehooves to the mare. After addressing Soul, Noble turned back toward the cowering unicorn. “And Soul… that was a bit rude…” Taking a step back and releasing the earth pony's shoulders. “Sorry, but I almost died there...” he said with an awkward chuckle. Standing back, further from the table Rarity had been watching the trio, not really being sure about what to think of the scene. She couldn’t help but wonder about Soul’s sudden change in attitude. Just a second ago she saw him as a quiet and calm stallion, but immediately when he came outside it was like adding color to a black and white picture. After properly intruding Truffle to Soul and clearing up Soul’s ‘No touch’ -rule to her, his focus shifted to Rarity who was now approached the group. “That was a rather interesting way to… make an entrance,” Rarity spoke while looking at Soul with her head tilted to the left slightly. At that instant Noble’s voice muted which left him with his eyes widened and heart skipping a beat. “W-Wait, Rarity?” His eyes darted between Soul and the mare. “Are… you with… with Soul?” Soul looked back at Rarity. “Oh that’s right. I suppose some proper introduction would be appropriate.” Soul took two cushions from a table nearby, sitting on one and offering the other seat for Rarity before he shifted his focus back at Noble. “I heard about your little ‘get together’ just a moment ago.” “Yes, it was… let’s say quite an unfortunate little mishap.” Rarity closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead as she leans back, though not wanting to cause an awkward silence she leans inward and extended a hoof. “But regardless of that, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Rarity, an artisan, seamstress, shopkeeper and fashion designer.” “A fashion designer?” Noble’s eyes glistened as he reached out to shake her hoof. “Um, Noble Poet, a poet, if I may call myself that…” Taking a moment to process the list of occupations Rarity stated, the earth pony’s eyes rolled back and forth looking at both Soul and Rarity. “Soul, is she…?” With a lift of his right leg Soul patted his chest with a delighted smile on his face as he held his head high. “Yep, just a couple hours ago we confirmed that she will be my new tutor.” “What? She is?” His head quickly shot between the two once more, seeing Rarity give a nod of approval. “I… Congratulations!” It was all he could do to break a smile, he was happy for his friend but his muscles were tense as could be. Truffle chimed in, having turned her body so she could face the group. “No wonder you are so pretty then!” Hearing the complement Rarity flipped her mane with a hoof and struck a glamorous pose with one hoof held up in the air and blinking her eyes tantalizingly. “Oh thank you! That was very kindly said miss… Truffle? Is that right?” Truffle giggled and gave Rarity a nod along with one of her delightful smiles. She offered a hoof and as their hooves connected she swayed their forelegs back and forth in an unusual shaking manner. “At your service, it’s a pleasure.” “So yep, Rarity is my new tutor, though… “ Soul lowered his tone and looked directly at Noble with drooping eyes. “She’s not from Canterlot… Her hometown is Ponyville.” Noble tensed up just from the look and he shook a little, feeling some bad news coming as his mind began to race with horrible thoughts. “What? Oh… Ponyville isn’t very far, right?” “Getting right to the point it seems like…” Rarity thought to herself. Before speaking Soul let out a large sigh and took a breath. “Noble, I will be moving to Ponyville. But I suppose that doesn’t really affect you in any way, right?” he said boldly and bluntly. Those words struck the stallion like a ton of bricks. He looked over his friend, trying to see a hint of sarcasm or that this may be a joke. “What? I… What do you mean?” Soul’s focus rotated to the white unicorn mare while his body stayed planted before Noble. “You see, Rarity, I haven’t told Noble that my possible learning place might be somewhere other than Canterlot.” Rarity gave her apprentice a blank stare, her lips narrowing as she was not sure what the proper reaction or course of action would be for this scenario. Soul took a deep breath and guided his eyes back to his friend. “Noble, is your situation that bad that you have to move out of town?” Noble’s heart almost literally skipped a beat when those words came out of Soul’s mouth. He was paralyzed and for a few moments could only shake and helplessly watch his friend under his demanding watch. “I... you… W-What? How did you hear about that?” Soul backed away from the table, glowering his eyes and crossing his forelegs. “Rarity told me how she overheard you talking about moving out of town.” Noble couldn’t form a single other word. His eyes shifted from Soul to the mare next to him whose expression was full of curiosity but mixed with worry. He continued to open his mouth and move his lips without being capable of forming a single other word. Raising a hoof to pause Noble’s aimless stuttering, Truffle places a hoof on his shoulder and laid her chin on it, looking up at him with puppy dog eyes. “Noble, please. Just tell him, that secrecy is beating you up. Even I wouldn’t know about this if I hadn’t found out by accident and that felt heartbreaking!” With a scowl and an harsh grumpy town Soul barked, “So it’s true?” The earth pony’s shoulders drooped and he closed his eyes while his head tilted down and he called out. “Please just stop! Yes, it’s true. I’m running low on money. Very low and I can’t make it here anymore. I’ve... I’ve already given up my apartment, bought a train ticket and gotten boxes to gather up my stuff. That’s the situation I’m in right now and I just didn’t want to throw my problems on your shoulders!” Noble’s mild outburst left the group speechless. They were all looking at each other, hesitant to speak. Rarity looked like she wanted to open her mouth but before she got a chance to, Soul had begun to speak in a much calmer voice. Soul uncrossed his forelegs and looking into Noble’s eyes with a gentle stare. “Noble… You should’ve just told me whenever it started to look like this.” As Noble peered back into the now much kinder eyes of his friend. He put his forehooves together in his lap. “What difference would it’ve made? My telling you would’ve just burdened you with needless worries.” “Maybe, but so what? I wouldn’t have fallen apart from that…” Soul leaned in and gave a sigh. “And well, the truth is that I always knew and even planned that I would have to move out of Canterlot but... I didn’t tell you because you were in the middle of your job crisis.” Noble’s calves on his forelegs tightened to where you could see his veins. He closed his eyes and his left eyebrow began to twitch, he leaned forward on the table, his voice a bit shaky yet stern. “I lost a job simply because I’m an earth pony… Yeah I would call that some kind of job crisis alright… But… I… I understand… I would’ve probably even asked you to stay if you broke it to me back then…” The mares glowered at Soul and Truffle leaned in to attempt to whisper to him. “Let’s not dirty that dish again, shall we?” The horned stallion frowned at his friend’s statement but when Truffle whispered to him his lips parted slightly, leaving his mouth open and his eyebrows lowered and his eyes scoured left and right. “Wha… Wait what does that even mean? Dirty what?” Rarity, being close enough to hear the squabble, took a few steps in, leaning in to whisper as well. “Soul, I know I am an outsider on this and this may not be my place, but it seems this job loss is still a fresh scar on his mind. Let’s not tear something before it’s fully mended, shall we?” With that explanation the horned gentlecolt smacked his forehead with his hoof. “I see that being quite impossible....” The tan earth pony cleared his throat, his lips turned down and a knot on the side of his forehead. “You all know I am right here and can hear every word you are saying, right? I shouldn’t have brought it up. I’m sorry for keeping this from you.” He sank lower in his seat, bowing his head while his eyes grew dull. “I understand if you don’t want to be my friend anymore.” Soul’s eyebrows dropped and the mares became quiet and looked away, frowning and rubbing their forelegs. The stallion closed his eyes and shook his head. “If you’re going to start a long discussion about how you’re not worthy of being my friend, I will…” He searched over the table and spotted a donut, and lifted it with his magic. “I will choke you with this donut!” Noble sat for a moment, looking at his tea. He closed his eyes and gave a few huffing chuckles before looking up with a wide smile on his face. “Thank you Soul, that was exactly what I needed to hear.” The pale stallion smiled back, placing the donut back on the plate in front of Noble. “Good, I’m glad to hear that. I’m sorry for keeping this from you too. I should have told you earlier. So um… are we good?” He extended a hoof above the table, waiting for Noble to meet him halfway. Sitting up just a little more Noble nodded, bringing a hoof up and clopping his hoof together with Soul’s. “Of course, best friends forever!” Soul’s eyebrows dropped halfway. “Corny… Very corny.” He couldn’t help but let out a little laugh though. Truffle was glancing at the stallions with big glowing eyes and a blush covering her face, holding a hoof on her widely spreaded mouth. “Oh my gosh you are just the cutest! I can’t even describe how hard it is not to wrap my hooves around you two and squeeze you, Not to mention pinch your cheeks!!” Soul immediately turned to look at Truffle with shocked face, her statement rendered him speechless. He slowly started to scoot his seat around the table and behind Noble in a hope of sanctuary, which actually caused the tan earth pony to chuckle again. Truffle giggled and held a hoof up to her lips. “See, Noble? It feels much better now, doesn’t it?” “A bit… Thank you, you all.” He nodded and looked back at the unicorn behind him and the mares around the table. The green mare clapped her hooves together. “Good! Now going back to Horseshoe Bay shouldn’t be that hard. Think, you get to leave this town behind and go back to your good old home!” Shaking his head Noble reached on the table and cupped his mug with his hooves. “No, that IS the hardest part… If I could I would go anywhere else I would, but not back to my roots.” Taken aback a bit, Soul scratched his head. “What? Why? Having a place to go to when things are bad is like a small sanctuary.” “I’ve managed to built my own independent life here. It may not be the most glorious one but I built it. Back in Horseshoe Bay, everything was built and decided FOR me… I couldn’t feel like an individual. Here I could at least feel like I am an individual and could build my own future. That is till Double Bit came around…” Noble scooted and leaned against the window to the cafe, lifting up his tea and taking a sip. Soul drew his neck back and lightly clenched his teeth while rubbing his neck. “Well that sure makes your situation rather complicated again…” Noble put his tea back down and slammed his head against the table and let out a big sigh, rolling his eyes. “I know right..” The green mare gave the earth pony a pat on his back. “There there.” Lifting a hoof and speaking up Rarity made her presence known once again. “Pardon me, but… Have I understood everything correctly; Noble lost his job and because he didn’t find a new one, he can’t afford his living here and has to move back to his old hometown because that’s the only place he can go but doesn’t wish to go?” Soul thought, “That’s right, Rarity is still with us and is mostly in the dark here…” Moving forward and crossing his forelegs on the table the designer responded, “Pretty much.” “Well if that’s the case…“ A wide smile crawled over Rarity’s face. “I might have the perfect solution to your problem mon ami. Though, my suggestion purely depends on Soul.” Noble’s ears twitched immediately and he slightly sat up, hoisting his head from the table, looking up at Rarity with inquisitive eyes.” Others also turned to focus on what Rarity had to say. She nodded and sparked her magic, lifting Soul’s saddlebag but before opening it, gave Soul an inquisitive look. “May I?” Soul jolted his head back but turned to the side, leaning on the table and gave a nod. “Sure.” “Thank you.” Rarity opened the biggest pocket and dug up Soul’s folder, placing it on the table. When Soul saw it, he immediately realized what Rarity might have in mind, causing his eyes to bulge a bit. “Are you thinking of-” “Indeed that’s exactly what I’m thinking,” Rarity said immediately giving Soul a wink with a pleasant smile. She dug up the paper pile of apartment ads and started browsing through them. “Apartment ads? Wait are you going to suggest I would move to Ponyville? Um… Sorry, but did you already forget that the reason why I need to go home is because I’m not able to afford living on my own?” The hornless stallion scrunched his eyebrows and frowned, his hopes lowering once again. “Please, of course not. You see..” While browsing the pile, Rarity explained her and Soul’s plans about Soul’s apartment back at Canterlot Spectrum. How they planned on making a deal with the mayor and Soul would perform a big job for her. When Noble heard this he almost couldn’t believe such a deal was possible. The aspiring artisan assistant smiled. “Trust me, this is one hundred percent true. Most of the apartments available are just very small ones for one, but there was this one apartment that happened to stick out.” Rarity took one of the many ads and slid it over to Noble. “Shared apartment?” The poet’s voice was higher as his hopes began to grow and he sat upright. “Mmhmm! This apartment would be a perfect solution for Noble’s situation. Instead of moving back home, you could move to Ponyville to be Soul’s roommate. It may even give you enough time to find a proper job and settle down.” She turned her head and gave a gentle smile “I uh… I.. I’m not sure…” Noble looked down at the paper then at the pale stallion. “I don’t think Soul is willing to take a---” The stallion cut his friend off, as he lifted a hoof up in front of the poet. “We can do it.” Noble’s eyes widened. “What?” There was a moment of silence before Noble spoke again, blinking. “I know you are very strict when it comes to privacy. Why would you want to have me as your roommate?” Soul let out a little laugh and looked at his friend with a pleasant grin. “I think if we make a few rules clear with each other we can make it work just fine. Though…” He stopped and looked at his mentor. “What are the chances of us getting this apartment? It’s rather big I would think.” Rarity interjected while she put the rest of the papers back in Soul’s folder.“You see, this apartment isn’t very popular because Ponyville is a place where people want to live close together in a lively environment which naturally is the center of town. This apartment is off on the outskirts of town, away from the livelier parts. ” Noble frowned and put his hooves together wincing as he spoke. “Sounds a bit sketchy. No offense.” Speaking at almost the same time as his friend Soul smiled, exclaiming, “Sounds cool.” “Anyway, because of these little details, the apartment is uninhabited and rather cheap too. The mayor would be just delighted if somepony would rest it.” She beamed happily, placing her hooves on the table, bent at the elbows and rested her head on her hooves. Truffle nudged the tan stallion with her hoof from across the table. “Noble that’s perfect! If I was you I would take this offer immediately!” Noble’s mouth quivered. “I see… I’m not sure If I should…” The white stallion looked Noble in the eyes. “Come on buddy. what’s the problem? You said Horseshoe Bay isn’t the place you want to go, and now that you’re offered a possibility to move somewhere else with a friend you are saying that to hesitate?” “It’s just a big gamble. I don’t know anything about Ponyville and what kind of job could I get there? It may be the same situation as Canterlot. Not to mention how I am already ready and just have until the end of the month from the kindness of my landlord. ” He put his right elbow on the table, resting his head on his hoof he looked back at Soul. “I just don’t want you to do something you don’t---” The stallion’s horn glew before Noble had a chance to continue, Soul put a half eaten donut into Noble’s mouth, silencing him and put on amused grin. “There, now you’re silent and silence is the purest meaning of consent,” he said with joking tone and gave a little chuckle. Giving Soul a rather annoyed look mixed with confusion with his eyebrows drooped, Noble took the donut out if his mouth and let out a sigh.“Soul I really appreciate it but---” Again Soul paused his friend by guiding the donut back into Noble’s mouth with his magic. causing Noble to flatten his eyes into a rather annoyed expression. “Now now, keep the donut in your mouth and enjoy it. You are coming to Ponyville with me. Please, just once just accept my offer when it’s something you want.” “Look who’s talking,” Rarity quietly said to herself and covered her mouth with her hoof to hide a giggle. Truffle stared on, moving from side to side slowly. “Is.... choking each other with a donut part of your friendship…?” “No, sometimes we use muffins,” Soul joked and laughed. Noble let out a stuffed laugh and took a bite of the donut, chewing quickly to finish the bite before he spoke. “Or cider.” He exhaled once again and gave his friend a pleasant smile. “Fine my answer is yes. You would probably literally choke me next.” “With a muffin.” Soul said with a nod.. Rarity’s pondered the situation and realized that Soul only acts like this among friends. “I’m starting to figure you out Soul,” she whispered. “Oh, but Noble…” Truffle nudged the earth pony again and had a long face. “You already bought a ticket to Horseshoe Bay.” Noble placed a hoof on Truffle’s shoulder and smiled. “No worries, these have a two day return policy. Lucky me.” “So I think that settles it then.” Rarity folded the ad and slid it into her saddleback. “The first thing I shall do when I get back to Ponyville… well be drop my shopping bags off back in my Boutique but after that, I shall visit Mrs. Mayor and tell her that I’ve found her pony.” Noble closed his eyes and raised his head up, looking around the table at Soul and Rarity as he spoke, “Soul, Rartiy… thank you. I don’t know what else to say.... I can’t even express how much this means to me.” Rarity raised her head as a big smile grew over her face and put a hoof on her chest. “Oh I’m just happy I could help with this matter.” Truffle sat up and beamed over everyone. “It’s good Soul wanted to leave town after all, wasn’t it?” “It is.” The tan stallion nodded and looked down at the pouch on his saddle bag that held the ticket. “It’s funny to think about what kind of situations different paths can lead to…” “You said it.” The unicorn sat up and looked down at his watch to check the time. “So yep, it’s final. We’re gonna be roommates.” He grinned and extended a hoof for Noble. Noble smiled widely and clopped hooves with Soul, moving them up and down. The moment they did everything seemed to become quiet around Noble, the only sound that could reach him was the sound of their hooves clopping together. “A big rock has just fell from my mind.” He stood up from his seat, picking up his saddleback, realizing that he had things to do before he forgot. “The first thing I will do is to change this ticket.” The diamond flanked mare stood up clapping her hooves, which lead Truffle to silently copy her. “Magnifique! Everything has clicked into place. If that’s so, then Soul and I are free to continue our little errands. I still have a lot of little accessories I simply have to get.” The whole group gathered their saddlebacks, they emptied plates and cups taking them to a return cart. As they exited the terrace, the group stopped once more to say some final goodbyes. Noble stretched his legs and cracked his neck, before facing his best friend. “Want to meet later today Soul?” “Well I’ve planned to work at home today but… I suppose I can spare my time. Just message me when you want.” He nodded then turned his attention to the green mare. “And Truffle, it was very nice to meet you.” “It was nice to meet you too! Take care of your bestie when the time comes.” She was about to leap to Soul’s neck but at last minute remembered that he didn’t care for that. She pulled her hooves back and put on awkward but innocent grin with a foreleg out to the side. “And Rarity, it was such a honor to meet you. You helped me to find a new home and path for the future.” Noble gave a bow, crossing a foreleg in front of his body. “I really hope that path will be enriching for you.” The mare curtseyed after seeing the bow from the quill flanked stallion. “I suppose the next time we will meet won’t be until Ponyville. Until then, take care Noble.” “You too.” Noble nodded and exchanged glances with Truffle, giving a nudge of his head to indicate that they can go. They begin walking toward the train station, Truffle prancing as her mood had brightened a bit. As the duo walked away, Noble looked at a small patch of grass and saw a small dandelion growing among a bed of flowers. He looked over toward the river, staring at it dreamily and coming to a stop when the memory of two flowers he picked back then came back to his mind. “Maybe, sometimes there isn’t an end. Just the blossoming of something new.” “What was that?” Truffle stopped, raising an eye after she realized that Noble had stopped and mumbled to himself. “Oh nothing. We just need to keep moving forward.” The stallion began walking again and put a hoof over the mare to get her to walk next to him. After they watched the duo get out of earshot, Rarity pulled out a mirror to examine her mane. She ran her hoof over her mane a bit and called to Soul. “Let’s be on our way then. Next I need some new threads.” “Right behind you.” He tightened his saddle bags and had become noticeably more relaxed around the mare. “Hey... I want to say thank you.” She turned to see her saddle bags as she put away the mirror neatly then turned back widening her eyes.“Hmm?” “For all this… you know, what you have done.” Soul smiled, while looking away, unable to make eye contact and looking kind of uncomfortable. She waved a dismissive hoof. “Oh I just did what anypony else would’ve done.” “No, you did more.... A lot more. If you wouldn’t have agreed to become my tutor, done any research about apartments or wouldn’t have set up a meeting with me and Ink, Noble would’ve never gotten this chance. It’s all thanks to your enthusiasm and generosity. You… helped us a lot today and i’m highly grateful for that.” “Well… There’s more to me than just looking pretty, designing clothes and keeping a shop,” she said with a soft smile and chuckled. “I’m just glad my actions actually managed to prevent you and your friend from separating and helped him find a better place to live.” The stallion gave a nod with a wide grin holding up a hood. “I’m looking forward to seeing how thing will turn out in Ponyville.” “There are a few little things you might need to get used to, but you will adapt without even noticing it.” There was a brief moment of silence where the mare simply stood there looking at the unicorn for a moment before speaking up. “And Soul, there is one thing I demand you do when our time together begins.” His ears twitched and he stood up straight. He could tell this was going to be important. “I’m listening.” Her eyes became gentle as the inner eyelids drew up and her lips were the smallest ‘U’ that they could form before she began forming words. “You can do it now too if you want, but at the latest when your studies start; I don’t you to think of me as your tutor or a pony who has authority for you per say.” Soul stayed standing up straight, giving off small nods. He began to reply, “Oh, well… I think I get it. Back when I studied at Manehattan we considered our teachers as co-workers. I suppose you want the same?” Rarity lightly shook her head. “No, not a co-worker.” She walked in front of the stallion and smiled at him softly. Though this wasn’t the same one Soul had seen earlier, it was different. He couldn’t exactly tell why, but it was more… warm and down to earth. After giving the smile, Rarity lifted her hoof and reached at Soul, placing a hoof on his shoulder gently enough that he could barely tell it was there and didn’t react to it in the moment, locking their eyes together. “A friend.” When she let that word part her mouth, she pulled her hoof back and immediately turned away from the stallion without waiting for his respond or even reaction. Starting to make her way to their destination. It was as if she wasn’t even waiting for a response or reaction from him, but instead wanted to make a hidden announcement of claiming his friendship. Even though she would’ve wanted to maintain the act, she simply couldn’t keep her cool which caused her to peek behind her at the stallion to see what was written on his face. Nothing. There was nothing giving an answer to Rarity’s statement. Just a blank look with narrowed lips on his face with his eyes only slightly bulged. Rarity couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed with the reaction, but just when she was about to open her mouth, Soul finally gave her what she wanted. A smile. Author's Note Phew! Finally we got the chapter out :3 11. Farewell, For Now“The train to Ponyville will leave in fifteen minutes! All passengers start to board!” The day had finally come. The day for Soul and Noble to leave Canterlot behind and start reaching for something new, somewhere fresh. During these few weeks, they had been arranging things and preparing for the move. Back in Ponyville, Rarity had managed to set things up with Mayor who has been in touch with Soul and sealed a deal with him. With an apartment secured and moving arrangement done, there was nothing holding them in Canterlot, Besides the bonds they share with their friends. At the station before the duo got on the train, Mineral, Truffle and Olivia have come to said their final goodbyes to their friends. Noble, Truffle and Olivia were inside the station buying some snacks, while Soul and Mineral were sitting on a bench outside. “Well sis… I guess this is it, then,” Mineral said, while gently rubbing her legs as she smiled, though the smile soon changed into a grin. “I could throw a joke about you not being able to make it in a small town, but in all seriousness take care of yourself.” As Soul turned his head which had been looking forward over the buildings at the glistening sky hovering over the buildings to look at the mare and nod with a cheerful smile. “Thank you Mineral. And you keep enjoying Spectrum’s coffee for me too.” “You can be sure of that,” Mineral said with determined grin and gave a small laugh before putting her hooves together and stretched. “It will be weird to not have you around anymore, sis.” The stallion turned to look back at the skyline, still talking to Mineral. “Oh I have a feeling you’re the only one who can even notice. In just a couple weeks you won’t even remember what it was like to have me around.” Soul rolled his eyes as he finished his statement simply looking to the side at the mare while keeping his face facing forward. The mare scrunched her eyebrows and chuckled. “My ears are hearing such nonsensical words. I will write you at least five times in a week and bring you up in conversations with our co-workers, so your-” The mare leaned towards the stallion putting on a large sly grin. “-SOUL stays among us.” She put a hoof to her cheek that was facing Soul and looked in the opposite direction and her mouth scrunched at her word choice. “Did I really just say that…?” “Bad Soul pun... Alright that’s it, our friendship is over. Mineral, it was a pleasure to know you but we’re done.” Soul turned his upper body toward her and waved a hoof side to side in the air and couldn’t help but grin with a snicker sneaking out of his muzzle. Mineral immediately gave him a pouty face and crossed her forelegs jokingly, turning away. “Alright, I hated you anyway sis.” “Well I hated you more.” He turned his nose up in the air with his eyes close and crossed his forehooves as well, opening one he glanced over at the mare. Mineral gave Soul a cold stare over her shoulder. “I hated you the most and I’m just glad you’re going.” Soul turned and the two looked at each other with intense piercing glares focused at each other but almost immediately eased back and chuckles starting to escape their mouths. Mineral uncrossed her forelegs and put her forehooves behind her head and leaned against the bench. “I suppose you are not willing to share a farewell hug before you go?” Sliding away a little bit at the thought Mineral had gained the white unicorn’s full attention. Soul waited staring for a moment and finally replied, “Um, maybe just a hoof shake could do?” “Fine, I’m not willing to traumatize you just before your trip,” Mineral said with a laugh and hopped off the bench, grabbing her saddlebag next to it. “Though would you at least be willing to take a farewell gift then?” She turned her head to the right and raised her left eyebrow, staring straight through her friend. Soul drew his neck back and tossed his body forward, standing up from the bench as well. “I never thought you would get me a farewell gift.” Mineral chuckled and gave Soul a bright smile. “Of course I did.” She dug a small black box from her bag and handed it to Soul. “It’s something little I made myself.” “I appreciate it…” Soul looked at the box for a moment trying to think about what could be waiting inside it. When he opened it, his eyes grew wide. It was a silver necklace which had a oval plate hanging in the center and in that oval plate was a polished yellow mineral. On the other side of it Soul’s cutie mark had been crafted into the metal around the stone. He puckered his lips and let out a loud whistle of impressment. “Wow, this is…” His eyes shifted to Mineral. “Pretty dang amazing. I don’t get how you have the heart to give such a thing away.” “I’m a mineral artist so of course I have a lot of resources,” Mineral said with a chuckle and then pointed at the yellow gem. “That mineral is a rather special one called citrine. In old tales, ponies believed that it would protect them from bad thoughts.” She lifted the necklace with her magic and opened the hook, offering to help Soul to put it on. “I thought it would be a fitting gift for you.” “I see.” Soul’s lips parted upward, he nodded in response turning around. “Thank you very much Mineral, you really have a sense of gifts you know,” he stated with a laugh. Mineral put the necklace around Soul’s neck and latched it, gently letting it fall and hang. “No problem sis”. After doing so, she backed off a few steps and gave a nod of approval as she beamed at her work. “Looks good. You’re dead if you lose it though!” He looked down at the pendent, grinning ear to ear. He nodded quickly at Mineral with a gleam in his eyes. “Roger that ma’am.” With that said Soul tapped a hoof against the ground and looked over at the clock that was hanging off the wall. “I wonder what’s taking Noble so long?” The mare lept up in the air, landing with her legs spread out further and puffing out her cheeks."Hey don't go changing the subject. I just gave you a great thoughtful gift, don't be trying to get rid of me quickly after that." Soul took a step back and raised one of his eyebrows and inflected his voice. "Hmm? Who are you again?" The stallion laughed at his own joke and spoke naturally again, "But he's just been quite a long time there, I don't want him to miss the train because of some long line or something." Mineral drew her legs in again and smiled slyly, inflecting her voice as well. "Don't worry he'll be back in time, they are still making repairs and he's probably just trying to find some food that you will actually eat." That comment made Soul droop his head and puff out his cheeks though he couldn’t help but snicker a bit at his own flaw. Suddenly the duo heard a loud wail coming from the door that made them both jump. “Please Cookie, let go of him. At least let him walk.” An elegant, yet concerned voice carried through the doorway. A tail followed by a tan flank with a rose colored quill slid through the door as Noble emerged with saddle bags on his sides and a weeping green mare hanging from his neck with her hind legs wrapped around his right foreleg. Another sharp wailing cry struck from the Truffle’s mouth though this time with some audible words, “Pleeese! I’m not ready for you to go! I...I.. I’ll miss you so… so… so much!” Noble had quickly folded his ears down cringing at the loud cries, he opened an eye and looked over toward Olivia who had been biting her bottom lip and was watching the display. “C-Could you please not yell that loud? Especially right next to my head,” he said clenching his teeth, but trying his hardest not to look too mopey or happy about leaving. “Please Truffle, you don’t have to feel bad... just remember this is for the best, also this isn’t goodbye, once I get back on my feet I will come up to see you both and you both can come down to see me as well” Further Mineral leaned toward Soul and whispered, scrunching her eyebrows. “Be thankful you’re not in that position. You would die.” “You bet…” Soul responded while giving Mineral a nod with his teeth clenched and his eyes being wide. Truffle lifted her teary eyed face up from the side of earth pony’s neck. “You have to promise! I want you to promise me on your cutiemark, and message me when you get there, and message your mailing address, how your home is and if you have any luck getting a job and what it is! I want to be able to send you letters as well as gifts when I need to.” She wiped her eyes with a foreleg and although she didn’t let go, she did loosen her chokehold. Noble gasped as the grip loosened, placing a hoof on his chest. He let out a soft laugh and then smiled at the green unicorn even though she hadn’t completely let go of him. “Of course I will, I have promised you that multiple times and I promise you that again, and will promise it more if I have to.” Though after that said, he looked up and closed his eyes furrowing his eyebrows. “Though um… didn’t I already give the address?” Olivia stepped into the conversation, while gently trying to pull Truffle away from Noble by putting a hoof on her shoulders. She looked slightly down to look Noble in the eyes. “No worries, you did and we have it on our fridge already.” Her focus shifted back to Truffle and she leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Come now Cookie, you hanging there must be straining his neck...“ Her gaze raised back to Noble. “I’m really really sorry Noble, that’s Truffle...” she said with rather awkward chuckle. Truffle didn’t say anything, but just hung her head staring at the ground with her ears folded down. Noble was just trying to maintain his balance and waited for her to say something, but when he looked up and around hoping no pony was around to see this, he saw Mineral and Soul a bit further away looking at the trio with rather blank faces. The earth pony just gave them awkward smile and gentle wave as he tensed up. Just when Truffle was about to open her mouth, a loud noise of train horn erupted which was followed by the final boarding announcement, telling ponies to get on the train. The announcement caused the platform to begin to roar as ponies quickly made their way from the shops to board the train. It also made Truffle more aware of the time and she realized that she didn’t truly want to hold her friend back anymore. She let go of the stallion as a gentle but gloomy smile spread to her face that still had some small tears running down her cheeks. “You promise right?” Standing up straighter and stretching his neck in all directions before he spoke, the stallion nodded with a soft smile. “Of course I promise. I promise on my cutiemark.” He took a few steps forward, so he was past Truffle and gently flipped his hips, bumping his cutiemark against Truffle’s before walking back in front of her. Olivia moved forward, standing where Noble had just been to the left of the green mare and gently placed her foreleg around Truffle and gave her a gentle hug and sympathetic look with a nod. Further, Soul picked up his saddleback and used his magic to gently strap it on his back he and Mineral walked over to the trio. Soul tilted his head. “Are we all done here? You got the snacks?” The earth pony sighed and nodded. “I suppose, we’ll all get another round of hugs before we get on but still. And yes I did. We are all set.” Soul looked around at the three there to see them off and leaned away at the thought of hugs. “I may sit out on the hugs. Good though, let’s go then.” The group started making their way to the train, searching for a right car for Soul and Noble to get into. Eventually they found car number 3, but before getting on board, they stopped to say their final words. Truffle shedded a few more tears even though she was trying to hold them back. She wrapped a hoof around Noble and squeezed him as hard as she could. “Take care of yourself my friend! Write as much as you can and keep us on track.” The tan stallion closed his eyes and rubbed her back as they hugged, he was feeling a bit choked up about this and could feel his heart was heavy. “I promise I will… again.. Never give up on cooking and I know you will find a new job where your talent is appreciated.” The mare nodded still squeezing Noble tightly. “I will. I will.” “Truffle, it will be alright, can you please let go? This… is… tight.” The poet went from rubbing her back and hugging her to pushing her sides slightly as she pushed her face into his shoulder crying. “Oliva, a little help?” Olivia smiled and shook her head, using her magic to pull Truffle and slid in, comforting her agian allowing her to move away from hugging Noble to embracing her. “We will be sad to see you go, but we hope for the best for you and look forward to hearing all about Ponyville.” Nodding Noble stated, “Thank you Olivia, You keep loving your muse and embrace her every day.” With that said he opened a foreleg and wrapped his front legs around Olivia. Olivia used her foreleg that wasn’t consoling her girlfriend and hugged Noble the best she could. “I shall. Best wishes to you Noble.” Noble let go and stepped to the left. “Mineral, you keep being the creative pony you are.” He stepped forward embracing her as well. Mineral returned the show of affection, hugging the earth pony with both forelegs and a pleasant grin. “You bet.” That said, Noble stepped back, turning and opened the door and got onto the entrance of the train. Truffle stopped sniffling and lifted her head up and wiped her nose and eyes so she could see Soul. “Soul, keep an eye on your bestie!” “Mmhmm, I will. Goodbye Truffle.“ The white stallion nodded but refrained from hugging the mare. Olivia cleared her throat, drawing attention to her. “We can say goodbyes with you too. I know we don’t know each other but since you’re the best friend of Noble Poet and I’ve heard of you from Truffle quite a bit, I figured it would be appropriate, Wild Soul” The tall pleasant mare, simply lowered her upper body the amount she could in a curtsy. Wild Soul gave a bow as well with a smile, giving a plain and simple answer loyal to his style, “Very true. Best wishes to you too Olivia. “ Rising up from the bow Soul gave a final nod to the couple and moved over in front of his co-worker. “Mineral, goodbye and take care. We will keep in touch.” He gave the mare a small grin and rubbed the back of his head. “Don’t tell others at work but I have to give you the credit of being the best co-worker I’ve had up to this day.” “D’aww why thank you. Right back at you and let's not forget the friend aspect,” Mineral said in a higher pitch, dramatic voice as a puff of air coming out of her nose as if she were about to laugh, though her eyes were slightly damp and a glimmer of a smile crossed her lips. She stood there for a minute and lowered her hoof and simply gave Soul a pleasant grin though it seemed slightly… sneaky, The next thing she did was something Soul wasn’t expecting. Mineral wrapped her hooves around the stallion, the grin on her face getting even wider. “You know, I lied before. You really thought I would simply let you go without a farewell hug, eh sis?” she said with a little chuckle. Soul immediately drew his neck back, his eyes growing wide open and widened his mouth while clenching his teeth. Cold shivers ran throughout his body. “M-Mineral, for Celestia’s sake! I thought you had respect for my personal space!” Mineral laughed and patted the stallion on his back. “Come on, just hug me back and I will let go.” The stallion was gently trying to push the mare away but her grips was too tight for a gentle push. “C-Come on the train is about to leave.” “Hurry up then,” she barked, giggling as she felt the stallion squirm. Being silent for a short moment, Soul let out a big sigh and shook his head. “You know I really hate you...” He sat down and slowly opened his forelegs, lightly wrapping them around the mare and gently giving a few pats on her back. Even though he was grimacing and feeling a lump in his throat, even just for a few seconds a very small smile broke onto his face. “Though... I will miss you.” The last thing he said made Mineral tone down her grin into gentle smile. “Naye I know you do sis,” Mineral said with a laugh and finally let go of Soul, each of them getting back onto all fours. “I will miss you too.” Mineral brought her hoof to her forehead and tossed it up and off to the side into a single wave with a wink.“There now have a safe trip.” Scrunching his eyebrows together and swiped a hoof over his shoulders, he gave Mineral a small grin. “Thanks...” That said, he slowly turned around and got on board the train but seemed to be shaking. It wasn’t because of Mineral, but he seemed to become more and more shaky when he actually got on the train. Noble had already found some open spots and Soul walked over to him and got Noble to move so he could sit next to the window. Noble gave Soul a frown but opened an eye wide leaning toward him to show he was joking. “You never say ‘I hate you’ to me.” “That’s because I’ve substituted it with choking you with cider or food,” he said with a laugh. Noble gave a faint smile and chuckle. “Point taken.” Suddenly they heard a loud sound from a whistle and they felt a lurch forward. The train had begun to move and as soon as they realized it, they both moved closer to window to give their friends some final waves. All of the ponies wore their own unique smiles as the train pulled out of the station and began rolling down the track, leaving the Canterlot station behind. As the station disappeared from view Soul leaned back and closed his eyes. “This is going to be a horrible ride…” “What? Why?” Noble extended an eyebrow, looking at his friend, sitting back a bit, ready to give Soul more space and room to leave the seat if he needed to. “Oh, yep… This is definitely going to be a horrible ride,” Soul repeated, shaking his head then sitting back and looking forward, he took a few deep breaths and put a hoof over his chest feeling his heartbeat. Noble looked over Soul for a moment, watching what he was doing and finally realized the issue. “Wait… you ate right before this trip, didn’t you?” He put a hoof on his forehead and shook his head. “You know you always get motion sick if you do that and you still ate?” The unicorn nodded slowly and slowly moved his head to face the window. “Suffer for your stupidity is what they say… I’ll just… stare out of the window into the distance so I should be alright…” “If you say so...” Noble frowned, disappointingly at Soul but while doing so noticed the new addition around Soul’s neck. “Oh, when did you get that necklace?” “It’s Mineral’s farewell gift to me. The gem in it is called citrine.” Soul slid a hoof under it and raised it up for Noble to see. “Wow... That’s amazing piece of jewelry. Lucky you.” The earth pony reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a small container. “But I got muffins, soooo I’m more than happy with my gift.” As the train roared down the track and down the mountain the three mares sat waving as they watched in silence as it disappeared upon the horizon. Once it had disappeared Mineral’s stomach broke the silence by growling loudly, she looked at the clock then at the mares next to her. “I know this is sudden since we are not acquainted, but we share friends and… would you both care to come get some great pizza with me? It is the best pizza in Equestria I assure you.” The mares looked puzzled at first but after looking at one another for a moment they both agreed. As the three began to walk off with Mineral in the lead Olivia spoke up, “They do have healthy topping options, correct?” “They most certainly do. Topping options are all fresh and ready.” The plump mare called back with a wink as she lead the way out of the train station and toward the mall. Author's Note Art for this chapter: http://wildscope.deviantart.com/art/Farwell-Gift-577095407 13. JobseekerAway from the chaos occurring at Rarity’s Boutique, the rest of Ponyville was calm and collected. The late summer winds blew the fragrance of apples and flowers through the town, the pairing of the sun and wind made it a comfortably warm day and a splendid day to be outside. Though one pony isn’t having the easiest time. As Noble walked out the door back onto the streets of Ponyville, the stallion at the front desk called back to him in a deep raspy voice, “Sorry kid, but we don’t have any need for other workers right now. Good luck with your search.” “Thank you for your time and consideration.” Noble walked out the door and gave a sigh. He looked around to see what other businesses there were that he had not checked before turning and walking down the street. Having stopped to look at his surroundings again he lifted a hoof to his forehead and closed his eyes thinking about the ways he has come and the different landmarks he has seen as he continued to try to map out the town in his head. All around him were seemingly pleasant ponies of all types but the treat for him was all the Earth ponies which made him feel simply at ease with the soft rustle as they all casually went on their lives around him. Noble dropped his hoof and tilting his head up high as he inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air and gentle late summer breeze. He slowly exhaled and opened his eyes before beginning to walk forward again. The stallion had not had any luck yet with his job hunt and had only received some supportive words that helped him stay positive. Already revising his speech in his head he continued on through the streets, taking in the beauty and harmony of this town. “Ah I love fresh starts. Gentle breezes, fresh air and all new society. Then again it is a little frightening meeting all these new ponies and wondering what they are thinking when they look at me...“ He looked around, biting his bottom lip. “They can probably all tell that I’m new here...” He rubbed the back of his head and looked around more. In front of the Quill and Sofa shop stood a group of three young mares, that peeked over at Noble and would lean in whispering to one another then look back, after a few more glances and whispers they all turned and waved at the stallion with small smiles on their faces. Even though Noble turned the edges of his lips up; his eyes contained a soft glimmer of moisture with the outer edges of his eyebrows turned down, a shiver went down his spine and he gave a slow wave back, barely moving his hoof. All three turned inward and giggled amongst themselves still smiling as they looked over at him. Noble’s hoof lowered and he slowly drug his hoof through the dirt looking down and hunkering his head down as he began to walk by again. “Darn, for a second I thought those girls may have thought I was cute or something. I guess they could be giggles of interest, but why me? No there had to be something else to it! Ugh I shouldn’t have even waved I’m such an idiot.” The stallion shook his head and looked forward, “Just how many other options do I have here?” A sudden creak of wood from a barrel behind Noble made his ears twitch, he lifted his head up again and this time turned his head with his hoof stretching his neck and letting a few pops be heard as bent it left and right. As he popped his neck he quickly looked back toward where the sound came from and scanned for anything unusual. He didn’t see anything but had a feeling that he was being followed for a ways now. As long as this didn’t seem like it would end in trouble he didn’t want to cause a scene. While he continued to walk alongside some shops he continued to look back in as inconspicuous of a way as possible. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted something sliding behind another set of barrels. A small tuft of pink hair that seemed to be in a swirl. Noble turned completely around and scratched his head. “Why would a pony be following me? I haven’t done anything wrong have I? I hope this pony doesn’t hate that a newcomer is walking around begging for a job...” Squinting and raising an eyebrow Noble looked back down the path he had been heading down and then back at the tuft of pink fur. He took a deep breath and spun around lifting his legs up to gallop though as soon as he was looking forward he jumped back. “Hiya!” Suddenly a pink curly haired mare had appeared right in front of the stallion and casually sat down right in front of him. Noble stopped himself when he was a second away from running into the pink furred mare. He lept backwards, landing on his back letting out a mild yell. He looked back at the barrels then spun back to the mare, pointing at her while lying on the ground with an open mouth, gasping. “What the! How?!” “I’m Pinkie Pie! Aaaaand,” Pinkie took a deep breath, “Welcome to Ponyville, I hope it finds you well. Don’t make a frown cause I’m here to make you swell. Welcome to Ponyville! Here here today! Welcome to Ponyville! I hope you’ll stay and say, HIIIP HIP HOORAAAAY!” As she sang Pinkie darted around Noble, making his head turn quickly to look at her while he got back onto his hooves. Through the song Noble hunkered down trying to look for an opening. He looked around the street at ponies staring on, he bit his lip and began to sweat. “...What, huh? H-How do you know I’m new here?” Once the song was over and the energetic mare sat down again she extended a hoof. “I know every single pony in this town and I know I haven’t seen you before, so that was your welcome to Ponyville song. I’m here to be your bestest friend!” She looked on with a smile. Noble looked to the sides then slowly extended his hoof and shook, still trying to hunker down. “... Umm… thank you, Pinkie Pie? I will try to remember your name. Don’t you think you are a little ahead of yourself; saying that we will be “bestest friends” when we don’t know one another? I don’t mind chatting and becoming friends. Just, another time. And, without this much attention.” The stallion’s face was bright red by now. “Oh? Do you have more errands to run? You’ve been going into every store.” Pinkie leaned in, putting her hoof to the side of her mouth and whispered, “Are you on some kind of top secret mission?” She brought her hoof down leaping up. “Oh oh, wait! Are you getting furniture for your new home in Ponyville? Or do you need the grand tour?” She ran off and shot back in a flash with a tropical button up shirt and hat along with a camera around her neck.” Noble’s heart skipped a beat and his eyes grew wide, the sweat on his brow thickened. “Wha.. nooo! No no no. I am just looking for a job--- Wait… how long have you been following me and how can you tell I’m staying here?” “I knew because that’s just the feeling I had in my mane!” She smiled again and looked upward toward her mane, shaking her body making her mane shake. “Your mane?” The stallion took a step back and watched on, raising an eyebrow. Pinkie wrapped her hoof around Noble and tapped her lips, looking down. “So, a job is what you need?” “Y-Yes?” He looked toward her out of the corner of his eyes and tried to gently back away to no avail. “Wow if I’m this uncomfortable with her being this touchy this quick, Soul probably would have a heart attack, die, get revived and then die again if he meets this mare...” The mare released her grip and stretched her hoof up to the sky. “I may have just the solution for your institution! Come with me.” She lept up, beaming from ear to ear and began bouncing down the street. “What, she has a job to offer me?” The tan stallion stood up a little more, shook himself off and focused on the mare, his lips slowly turned upward, though it quickly changed into mild frown. “Remember, don’t put too much faith in this job.” The pink mare called back to him, bouncing in place. “Well are you coming?” A wide smile crossed his lips as he looked down at the ground and began to move forward. “Oh, yes right behind you Truffle!” Pinkie’s stopped jumping and looked at him with an open mouth and raised brow. “Huh?” Noble winced and shook his head. “I mean Pinkie Pie, sorry.” Shrugging it off Pinkie turned and continued to prance down the street with Noble in tow. “Alrighty artichokie.” The two arrived at a large shop that was decorated to look like it was made out of giant sweets. Pinkie Pie pranced to the door and opened it, holding it open for Noble. “I’m back with the ingredients!” she yelled upstairs. As Noble walked through the door he gave the pink mare a nod of gratitude but his smile had already begun to fade. From the moment he had seen the building Pinkie was heading for a knot had formed in his stomach and as he walked through the door and saw the counter with cakes and pastries inside he lifted his head. “Pinkie, may I ask what kind of job this would be?” Flinging the bottom half of the door closed before she replied the pink mare shot behind the counter and put her hooves down. “Well, I’m not entirely sure. You could be a baker, or a delivery pony, or you can always help at the register like me. I will need to talk to the Cakes; this is their business and I’m just an employee but I'm sure we could use an extra set of hooves." The tan stallion took in the information and paused for a brief moment, his eyebrows lowered, he began to open his mouth but closed it before he could speak. "Oh something wrong?" Pinkie inquired, lifting her head up and raising an eyebrow. Noble grinned, tucking his head down as he rubbed the back of his mane. "Well the thing is... I'm not really a baker. There are too many variables that go into those dishes. Then after they are in the oven you can no longer change them. Then the issue is finding the right temperature and the right amount of time." “Aww come on, baking isn’t really that hard! You sound like you have a good idea of it,” she said while she raised her forelegs into the air, standing on her hind legs. “I know, we could start with some simple things like cookies and cupcakes. Do you know how to bake them?” The stallion gritted his teeth which turned to a frown looking away. “Well… I really want a job, but I don’t want to burden the business. I’ve only been able to bake when I have a detailed list of the instructions listing how to make the dough along with the temperature and amount of time to cook it for.” Pinkie sat for a moment and tapped her face with her hoof, as she rested her elbows on the counter. “What? Is that all?! That’s not a problem at all, nope nope! I can teach you and help you get started, but it’s really all up to you!” Noble narrowed his lips and looked around the shop before turning back to the mare. “When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound bad. But don’t you think you should ask your employers first? I mean if they are fine with me learning as I go and need the help I’ll gladly take the job.” “Well we’re here to find out!” Pinkie instantly bolted upstairs but only a second later peeked her head back around the corner. “Oh by the way! I never caught your name.” Noble jumped a little and raised his head speaking up loud and clear, a light sweat forming on his forehead again. “It’s Noble Poet.” The mare winked with a grin. “Gotcha!” That said she dodged her head back up the stairs. Five good minutes passed before Pinkie returned, her tail was drooping behind her a little lower than before. She looked at the stallion then around the room at the sweets. “Oh golly gosh I forgot that I wanted to give you a welcome to Ponyville present!” She flew around the room, snagging multiple treats around the room and disappeared behind the counter. Waving his hooves in the air in front of him as he leaned back Noble deterred, “Oh please, you are far too kind. Between the job, offering to teach me and the song. Well you have done far too much already,” he said and tilted his head. “What did they say by the way?” “This is no trouble at all, they said I could give you some and I thought I’d pay for some others. Though, aboooooooout the job…” She slowed to a stop and rose from behind the counter, looking down. “Well we don’t seem to have any openings right now... So I may have spoken too soon.” Pinkie let out a faint chuckle, her head lowered toward her shoulders and met the stallion’s eyes. Noble sighed and looked up. “Oh, well even so. I knew this was a possibility. Who knows, maybe it’s for the best for your company. Thank you for the offer and putting so much effort into this. I'll just keep looking from somewhere else.” The mare beamed and brought out a large basket, almost overflowing with sweets and presented it on the counter. “That’s the spirit! And your gift basket is ready! Don’t worry, I can go around town with you looking for--” At that instant the bottom half of the door to Sugarcube Corner flung open and a yellow furred filly ran in, grimacing with wide eyes. “Emergency, emergency!!! Quick, I need lots of ice and bandages!” Pinkie immediately started moving her hooves like she was about to run. “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh ice coming right up!” She bolted into the kitchen though almost instantly peeked back into the lounge. “Why do we need ice again?” “It’s Applejack! There’s no time to explain but she injured her hoof and needs help!” The filly cried out and stomped her hooves as she ran in place. “Quick quick! Where is that darn ice?” Pinkie Pie’s eyes grew wide and she gasped. “Applejack’s in trouble?! I’m on it!!!” In a flash the doors to the back room began swinging as Pinkie rushed through them again. Noble who had trotted over to a window looked out and in less than a second he spotted the mare the young filly was talking about. “Is that your sister over there?” The sight caused him to frown. “What is she doing...?” Applebloom looked past Noble out the window in the direction he was pointing. “Yeah, that’s her alright! Even with a twisted ankle she’s still tryin’ ta pull that big carriage.” Noble looked at the filly, with his eyes a little wider and a twitch of his ears. “What? Doesn’t she know that if she tries to do that she’ll just exacerbate her injury?“ "She doesn't care." Once again the back doors flung open and Pinkie rushed through them in a white coat, with a first aid kit. “Doctor Pinkie on the case!” Hurrying to the stairs Pinkie called up, “Mr. and Mrs. Cake; I need to go out for a minute. Emergency case!” As Pinkie ran toward the door and Applebloom headed after her, followed by Noble, who jolted forward and reached out toward the filly. “Wait! May I come too? I have some experience with ankle injuries and could be of some help.” Applebloom looked back with eyes widened. “You do? There’s nothing stopping ya so come on!” She turned and jumped through the doorway followed by the stallion. When the trio trotted down the block to where an orange mare was trying to pull a large carriage, they noticed she was gritting her teeth and had her eyes closed as she pulled. The filly ran over to her sister with a glare. “Applejack, I brought help. Don’t try to put any more stress on it!” Applejack gave the filly a glare with a scowl though with a wince from her left eye everypony could see she was in pain. “Applebloom! A-Ah told ya that I don’t need any first aid, I will be alright in a minute--- ” When she stepped down with her right foreleg and put pressure on it, a stabbing pain crashed through it which caused her to clench her teeth again and fall. “Ah, darn it!!” Pinkie quickly opened up her first aid kit next to Applejack. “Applejack! Don’t worry Doctor Pinkie Pie is here now.” She reached down and lifted the mare’s right foreleg and gently poked down it. “Tell me how this is.” As soon as the poke struck Applejack’s ankle she let out a holler. “Dagnabit Pinkie that,” she bit her tongue and tried to shake it off, “Doesn’t hurt!” She ripped her foreleg away from the balloon flanked pony and lifted herself to her legs, wobbling greatly as she did. “I just need ta walk it off. That’s all.” The mare put her right hoof down again and as she leaned forward she fell over again with a groan. “Sis!” Applebloom leapt in front of her sister, blocking her way. “You can’t do anything with that hoof like that, can’t ya see?” Scanning over the situation Noble closed his eyes for a moment then opened them, stepping forward and tapping Pinkie on the shoulder. “Pinkie, may I take a look?” Pinkie nodded and slid to the side, giving Noble room to walk. The stallion sat down in front of the orange mare. Applejack scrunched her eyebrows at the stallion beside her. “W-Wait, who are you?” She drew her hoof in and tucked it beside her. “Doesn’t matter... Look fella, there ain’t nothin to look at. I just need a minute ta get back on my feet again,” Applejack scoffed. “Please, stop moving or you are going to hurt it more.” The stallion wrenched her leg closer to him and as he held the leg tight, put a little pressure on the ankle. Applejack twisted her body, closing her eyes and tried to pull her hoof away. “Oww oww oww! Ok, yes it hurts alright!” Applebloom quickly lept up and hit the stallion in the side with her front hooves. “What da ya think yer doin hurtin my sister like that?” Giving a jostle from the kick, Noble eased his grip. “I’m sorry. I just needed you to stop resisting and let us help you.” His grip became gentle and tender, his movements were slow but fluid. That said Applebloom dropped back to all fours and slowly backed away and gave the stallion a nod but continued to watch him, squinting. “...Fine then.” Applejack sighed and let herself relax, looking up at the stallion as she eased her body and allowed him to support her leg. Noble eased his grip to gently support the mare’s leg as he called out materials to Pinkie, asking for two pieces of wood, wrap and the ice. He ran his hoof lightly over the ankle, looking toward the mare’s face. After running his hoof all the way over her ankle he sat for a second, which seemed to have froze as his eyes fell over her blond flowing hair, down to her closed eyes and soft freckled cheek to her lips; slightly parted with slow breaths which moved the grass in front of them. The silence was broken as Applejack winced, clenching her teeth and called out, “R-Right where yer hoof ran over was the sore spot, partner.” Snapping out of it he quickly shook his head and rubbed her ankle with the ice bag for a few minutes then placed the pieces of wood on either side of her ankle having Pinkie hold them and the hoof in place as he wrapped over the area making it snug above and below but not overly tight. He finished by wrapping the ice bag around her ankle, securing it with bandages. “There, it’s all done now. Just take the ice pack off when it gets too cold or when you get back home. How does that feel?” As Applejack lifted herself to her feet she put a little pressure on her right leg again and although shaky she could take a step forward. She couldn’t hold back a mild smile. “Ah gotta admit, you sure got some serious first aid skills fella... This is much better.” She rubbed her hoof over the ground only giving a slight wince. While Applejack felt out how well the makeshift brace supported her Pinkie erupted, leaping up into the air. “Wowza! That was amazing Noble! You really knew what you were doing.” After she finished testing her new brace, Applejack took a few steps toward her carriage. “Now what in Equestria am I gonna do with my stand…? I can’t just leave it here, I need ta haul it back to the farm no matter what. If I just push myself a little bit I’m sure I can-” Noble blocked her way with a leg. “W-With all due respect miss… You really shouldn’t put any stress on that hoof, even with that brace you can still exacerbate your injury.” Pinkie pie, who had put everything back in the first aid kit walked over and stood next to Applejack though a smile never left her face. “He’s right Applejack, you should take it easy for the rest of the day to let your ankle heal, then you can work after a few days.” Applejack first glared at Pinkie. “I appreciate you trying ta look out for me but you know how important my work on the farm is.” She turned her attention toward Noble and stepped forward, poking the stallion in the chest with her bandaged hoof, giving only a wince. “Lookie here buddy, I’m very thankful for your help, I really am. But I got a farm ta take care of and I’m the only one capable of taking care of it right now.” “You were,” Applebloom said looking at Applejack’s bandaged ankle then looking away. Applejack scrunched her eyebrows and gave her little sister a short glare but turned back towards Noble shaking her head again. “Anyway, unless you want to pull this load all the way to our farm, I’m not going to lay off my duties.” Noble’s eyes widened and he looked at Applejack’s face then down at her ankle giving a smile as he stood up straight and puffed out his chest a tad. “Oh, well why didn’t you say so? A stallion should always help a pony in need.” Applejack’s eyes widened and she tilted her head forward and to the side. “What? Seriously, ya would do that?” “Of course, why not? I’m new here, so this would be a good chance to see more of Ponyville. I can imagine how that leg feels right now, I’ve been there, I couldn’t just stand by and let anypony hurt like that when I can easily do something about it.” The stallion gave a bow in front of the gold haired mare with a wide smile across his face, sweating slightly. “Well I’ll be darned,” exclaimed Applejack as she nudged her hat up raising her head. Applebloom looked at the waggon and then at her sister, taking a step forward and turning her head to the side opening an eye wider. “Yer not gonna deny his help again, are ya?” Pinkie pressed her nose against Applejack’s with eyes wide open. “Yes, are ya?!” Applejack took a step back and shook her head.“Well as long as the carriage ‘ll get back to the farm, I’m not gonna complain. Besides,” She walked around and sat down next to the stallion and wrapped her hoof around Noble’s neck with a big grin, “I get a chance to find out what kind of pony has moseyed into our town. Noble’s the name, right fella?” Noble turned his head and got goosebumps as the mare draped her leg over him. “Umm, umm, yes. Noble, Noble Poet b-but you can call me whatever you’d like.” He gave a chuckle that was low and trailed off as he looked away, lowering his head. “I’m sorry, what was your name again, Sunshine?” Applejack turned down an eyebrow with a forced grin. “Applejack, fella. Applejack.” She took her leg off of Noble and as she put weight on it shifted her weight back to her other legs and gave it a shake. Nodding the poet stepped forward slowly and tried to stay standing tall with a forced grin. “Oh that sounds like a wonderful name. I’m sure you are as sweet as an apple yourself.” After the phrase came out of his mouth his eyes darted away from the mare’s and he had a chill throughout his body. That sounded so bad he wanted to slap himself. Applejack immediately put a hoof on Noble’s mouth, furrowing her eyebrows with a grin. “Look buddy if yer trying to be flirty or something, how ‘bout ya stop it before you even start. It makes my skin crawl worse than gophers in the garden fields. ” That made Noble’s mind scream. “Just when I thought it was going so well!” The smile Noble had been wearing vanished as quickly as it appeared and his body drooped a bit. “Oh… I’m sorry I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.” Applejack held up the injured hoof, silencing Noble. “Now now, no harm done. I just didn’t want you gettin too outa hoof with that. Would you still be willin ta help me with this cart?” Noble shook his head up and down letting out a sigh through his nose and lifting himself up a little. He walked over to the wagon and slid underneath it, looking around at the buckles and gently fiddling with them. Applebloom rushed toward the side of the wagon with a smile. “Here I’ll help ya. You don’t need to be that gentle with it,” Pinkie began waving goodbye to the trio but suddenly froze, mid wave and her eyes sprung open. “Wait!!! The gift basket! I almost completely forgot about the gift basket!” “Wait, Pinkie, you don’t have---” Noble’s voice trailed off as the pink blur fired off in a cloud of smoke. Applejack smiled and shook her head. “Welcome to Ponyville, pal. That’s Pinkie Pie for ya.” A moment later Pinkie trotted back to the carriage with Noble’s gift basket and placed it on top of all the other stuff. “There we go! Cookies, cupcakes, muffins, donuts and eclairs, all there!” Pinkie Pie looked around doing a final scan. She was nodding approvingly as she saw Applejack’s leg was patched up and Noble was now strapped into the carriage. “Well guys, I need to bounce back to work but we will become better friends later Noble, don’t worry! I’ve already added you to my ‘Become Bestest Friends With These Ponies’ list! Bye Applejack and Applebloom, get better soon.” Noble looked at the basket of sweets and a slow tender smile formed on his lips, his body felt a little lighter and he waved to Pinkie, whom had already started walking back to the shop, her curly mane and tail bouncing along as she went. He put a hoof beside his mouth and shouted to her, “Thank you Pinkie! Thank you for all the help!” The pink mare turned around from the doorway and waved, her smile still visible before she disappeared into the shop. “Here sis, lemme help you too,” Applebloom said as she crawled under Applejack’s leg, lifting it to her shoulder. “Thanks sugarcube.” Applejack shifted her attention back to Noble and turned up her lips in a small grin. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to Pinkie. That pony doesn’t leave anypony alone before making friends with ‘em.” “I’ve noticed.” Noble gave a slow sigh but smiled at the end and turned to look at Applejack. “Though, that’s not it. It’s so different here from Canterlot or anyplace I’ve been to before. People here are so open and relaxed.” “Yer Canterlot folk, huh?” Applejack inquired as she tilted her hat back. “Well how about that. You don’t seem like a high class pony in my eyes. No offense.” “Non-taken.” Noble was about to open his mouth to speak again but paused and tapped his cheek as he thought for a moment, forming his sentence fully before he spoke. “Or, well I was. Such a grand and reclusive city like that is too big for a simple earth pony like me.” “You can say that again. I wouldn’t live in that place at any cost.” The orange pony shook her head then lifted her head up, and closed her eyes while she hunkered down a bit. “Um, no offense of course, again.” The stallion waved a hoof dismissively. “Non taken, I don’t care for that place that much either.” Applebloom tapped a hoof on the ground and quickly caught herself, lifting her sister’s leg up again. “AJ, can we go already? Your ice pack is pretty cold and I don’t want to hold your hoof all day.” Applejack lifted her hoof up and gave Applebloom’s back a break for a moment. “Ah, sorry little sis. Well there’s no point standing here either. Let’s get moving Noble.” She gently placed her hoof back on her sister’s back and began walking slowly so her and Applebloom could get an in sync walking speed. Noble bowed. “Of course.” Watching the sisters shaky start before they took the lead. The stallion leaned forward and gently pulled the waggon forward, not wanting to get too fast of a start. Walking along behind the sisters Noble couldn’t help but look back at the gift basket then forward at the sisters. He took deeper breaths as he walked gingerly, smelling the sweet country air and feeling the warm breeze on his coat. “Even if it is early, the ponies here sure are nicer than most of the ones in Canterlot.” 14. Restoration Destination“I would go and say that was awesome but I suppose this isn’t the right time--- Awe who am I kidding I can’t hold back, that was awesome!” The silhouette threw her forelegs up in the air, spreading them as far apart as she could. After the ‘grand’ entrance she bolted towards the ground and landed on her hooves with enough force to shake the ground. Rarity trotted over to the mare and squeezed her as hard as she could.“Oh Rainbow darling, thank you, thank you thank you thank you! You have no idea how grateful I am right now!” Rainbow Dash patted the unicorn on the back, clenching teeth trying to pull back. “You’re kinda showing it Rara…” As she got out of Rarity’s grip she looked back at the Boutique’s kitchen window where some remaining smoke was still escaping from, then looked around at everypony there. “So um… what exactly happened here?” Rarity turned and glowered her eyes with one slightly wider while looking at the fillies while she had a half frown. “Well, apparently my little sister and Scootaloo were trying to cook ignoring our agreement not to cook when I’m not there, and as noble as their intentions were, it caused this ‘little’ predicament to happen.” Taking a step next to Rarity the blue pegasus mare extended an eyebrow while looking at the fillies. “Wow, that was a dumb move.” Both fillies hung their heads with ears folded back. Rarity stood next to Rainbow and nodded along. “Yes, it was.” She turned around and looked at her home for a moment. After a bit of staring, she rose her head and started walking toward the kitchen. “Now if you excuse me, I’m going over to my charred kitchen to have a major breakdown. This might take a while.” Rainbow’s smile turned to a frown and she tilted her head. “Um… alright then… ” As Rarity started to walk toward her home Rainbow again turned around and looked toward both fillies but kept her eyes focused on Scootaloo more than Sweetie Belle. “Seriously, you burned down her kitchen?” “Um, yes ma’am, pretty much…” Scootaloo admitted, her head hung and eyes unwilling to look up at the pegasus. Seeing the reaction from the filly the mare quickly improved her tone, making it higher and more energetic. “Even though that was a major, like MAJOR fail... you did well in getting me. Well done, Scoot. You’re pretty fast kid.” She gave a smile and nod. As soon as Scootaloo heard and processed the complement her head tilted up to look her in the eyes. Seeing the smile, the small pegasus lifted her head up higher, giving an open tooth grin back. After giving Scootaloo’s head a ruffle, Rainbow heard a rustle from the river and remembered seeing a new stallion by it. “Now who’s that pony over there who’s confessing his love for the river?” The comment made Soul drop his eyebrows and he lowered his head, though he shook it off and continued taking deep breaths, pretending he didn’t hear anything. Sweetie Belle spoke up, her eyebrows still low and her voice still had a softness to it. “Oh he’s the new apprentice of Rarity.” She looked over at the stallion and sank a tad lower into herself, looking towards the ground. “We sure didn’t help give him the best first impression… Especially since the first thing he had to do was run in there and help to save Opal...” Rainbow bolted over of the stallion and tapped his head a few times, tilting her head with eyebrow raised. “This is the guy? Is it alive?” The stallion’s heart leapt out of his chest and he spun around putting distance between him and the invader. “Hey hey hey hey, no touchy please!” He breathed heavily and put a hoof to his chest as his heartbeat returned to normal. “Ok. Now hush, the river is just about to warm up for me.” Giving a jolt back and spreading her wings with muscles tensed watching the stallion. She eased up a bit, with a turned head and squinted eye. “So you’re not a statue after all.” Soul glanced at the pegasi with a grin. “Noooooo, I’m a mighty talking potato.” “Whatever you say.” She shrugged her shoulders and extended a hoof with a confident smile. “The name’s Rainbow Dash. What about you? I mean Rarity has mentioned your name over again but I haven’t absorbed it. Too busy being awesome and all, you know.” “Wild Soul.” The stallion nodded his head and looked at the hoof, slowly lifting his up and tapped the mare’s to shake. She rubbed her chin looking off to the right. “Wild Soul huh? Dang! That name downright yells that you’re a daredevil! Hey, you like freefalls? I can fly you extremely high and give you the best freefall ever!” She flew up a little and wrapped her hooves under Soul’s armpits lifting him off the ground. “Wait, what?!” Soul yelled his eyes widened and tried to struggle out of the mares grip “Rarity, this pony is trying to kill me! Little help?” Rainbow put the stallion back on the ground. “Geez chill out, I was just kidding.” Soul wrapped his hooves around himself, looking at the mare like he had just gone through a torture chamber. “No, you were touching me.” “...Touching?” Rainbow’s mouth hung open and she looked towards Rarity and then back at Soul, scratching her head as she hovered to the ground again. Soul’s eyes followed the mare’s hoof as it went to the ground. He continued to rub his right foreleg with his left and let go to point at Rainbow’s hoof. “Yes, your hooves were in contact with my body. That’s as good as trying to kill me.” Rainbow bent her head back scrunching in her eyebrows and drawing her mouth into a small circle, she looked over at the Boutique. “Rarity, you have taken on a pretty odd apprentice!” “Just a second darling! I’m still in the middle of mourning my kitchen.” She turned back to the kitchen wall she was looking at through the window and she cleared her throat. “Oh what a cruel cruel faith you have experienced! You were not ready to go there is still so much you haven’t seen! Oh the lovely mornings I woke up and there you were for me, to have the fridge full of food and a stove to cook it! The world is so lovely but so so cruel!” Rainbow crossed her forelegs and looked at Soul, her eyes dull and upper eyelids drew flat. “Get used to that.” Rarity’s voice grew higher pitched and louder as she fell to the ground and held the edge of the window with a hoof as she cried. “Goodbye forever, I will never forget youuu!” In an instant she sat up and her tears were gone, she brushed her hoof against her fur, cleaning herself off and spoke in a calmer, more upbeat tone. “There, done. Let’s get Twilight to restore it.” Rainbow slammed her face against her hoof and gave a deep groan. Turning away from the remains of her charred kitchen, Rarity called out in a tender tone, “Scootaloo, would you be a dear and go ask Twilight if she could help with this small matter?” Soul’s ears twitched at the name and he slightly drew his neck back. “...Twilight?” Being caught off guard by the request the filly jolted her head up. “Oh, I… Sure! On it ma’am” She gave a salute with a flick of her ankle and flapped her wings, turning around and zooming off down the road. Continuing to speak in a more pleasant tone Rarity raised a hoof and pointed it toward her sister. “Good, and Sweetie Belle. If you would take our things that you valiantly rescued back inside.” She looked over at Opal whom still sat batting her own body, knocking dirt and dust off. “You can leave Opal. I believe she may need some more time to calm down; and possibly a visit to Fluttershy.” Sweetie Belle nodded her head, she turned and bent over biting the top of the bag containing all the belongings she saved. She gave Opal a glance but when the cat met her eyes with a glare and sprung out some claws from her paw Sweetie Belle gulped and began walking inside. Giving a nod as she closed her eyes and held her head up with a small smile parting her lips as the filly took the stuff back inside, Rarity walked over to the duo. “Now Rainbow, what did you say about my apprentice again?” Without saying a word Rainbow placed a hoof on the stallions shoulder which caused him to leap away from her and look at the pegasus with wide eyes. “See?” “Oh hush now darling, we all have our own mannerisms,” Rarity dismissed with a wave of her hoof. Rainbow rolled her eyes and crossed her forelegs. “Boring.” Having collected himself and brushed off his shoulder Soul gave Rainbow piercing jokey look. “Oh I don’t mind if you are, I get along with dullards.” A hush fell over the three as the mares looked as Soul. Rainbow glared and pointed toward him with her hoof. “Did you… Did you just call me a dullard?!” “She got provoked by that…?” Soul thought as a thin smile turned up his cheeks and he fluctuated his voice. “No, I just stated that without pointing out any specific pony that I get along with dullards.” Rainbow flew up so she was hovering enough so Soul had to look up at her while her forelegs were crossed and she looked him dead in the eyes. “But you meant me, right?” “Who knows Rainbow, who knows.” Soul’s smile grew as he continued using a higher off key voice and shrugged his shoulders, though in his head he was ramming his head against a wall. “Worst. Burn. Ever.” Silence landed upon the trio as Rainbow intensely glared down upon Soul, but her face eventually eased. “Smartflank, huh? Alright then.” She gently lowered herself back down to the ground, sitting down and uncrossed her legs to come close to Soul and almost poked him in the chest. “Just making sure, you’re not picking up a fight, are you?” Soul leaned back and looked down at the blue hoof, raising his hooves in front of him and waving them. “Oh, no! My apologies if you took it that way. I was just rolling along, you know.” The pegasus drew back, bringing her hoof back and easing her eyes. “Ah, I; in that case it’s all good! We’ll get along if we bump into each other again.” She nodded to Soul then turned to her friend. “Well Rarity, since my job here is done I’ll get back to my stuff.” “I see. I would offer to let you come in and have a cup of tea or other refreshments but, seeing the circumstances… We will need to save that for later. Thank you again very much Rainbow Dash, enjoy the rest of your day,” Rarity said and gave a curtsy which was met by a nod and wink as Rainbow lept up, soaring off into the clouds. After the pegasi flew off toward the horizon, Soul let out a big sigh. “You sure know some ‘compelling’ ponies around here. Kinda starting to miss Canterlot already,” he said with a jokey tone, a small grin on his face and stared up at the horizon at the distant Canterlot which stood out on the side of the mountain. “Oh don’t be silly now. Rainbow might be a little, Rainbowish but she’s quite the nice pony when you ignore her attitude.” As she reassured Soul she moved her hoof about and tried to sound as polite as possible. “And, Soul,” Her tone suddenly became kinder and she looked him in the eyes, hers were still a little damp. “I can’t thank you enough for all your help. I truly owe you and can’t even express how sorry I am that this catastrophe occurred on your first day here.” “Well undeniably this was a rather unusual way to start my studies,” he laughed, “but despite all the dizziness, nausea, anxiety…” The stallion paused as he saw Rarity’s ears dropping. He quickly shook his head. “Okay not helping but what I’m trying to say, everything turned out alright in the end and I’m just glad I was useful. It was an unexpected accident after all so no need to feel bad.” Rarity placed a hoof on her chest, taking a deep breath in and let out a sigh, “Oh thank goodness, your understanding is such an enormous relief.” Soul looked over at the building and then back at Rarity. “I didn’t come all the way here just to drop my studies before they even start, now did I?” he said with both eyebrows raised, his eyes were deep and tender, and seemed to have a certain light about them. The mare lifted her head upwards, turning her eyebrows down with a smile clear across her face. “Oh most definitely not. I’ll say we continue with our original plan and properly introduce you to my boutique till Twilight arrives.” She extended her hoof toward the building. “Good, we shall do that. One moment, I need to check my n-mail.” Soul dug his red laptop from his saddlebag and opened it in front of him. “And yes Twilight.... Sorry but I can’t help it, my imagination is going wild now, but--” “Yes, the Princess Twilight Sparkle” Rarity began with her eyes glimmering, giggle escaping her mouth. “Not that I want to put on the ritz or anything but she is actually a close, personal friend of mine, yes a princess is a close friend of mine and I’ve been there when she has achieved many of her staring achievements. OH and I happen to be an element of harmony too. The element of generosity to be exact and my element is shaped like a diamond which completely fits me but like I said, I do not want to be too ritzy about assisting her and my friends in saving Equestria.” The mare stopped, raising her hoof, turned to look at Soul, her closed eyes opening. “Just thought I could mention this in passing. You are easier to talk to than I expected. ” The information hit Soul like a boulder and he almost dropped his laptop and just barely caught it before it hit the ground. His movement ceased right then and there and his pupils dilated and mouth turned up at the edges as it drew back. “You…” He looked at Rarity as if he wasn’t sure what he was looking at anymore. “...You… I… what?!” The mare lifted her eyebrows and tilted her chin up. “Hmm? Is something the matter?” The stallion dropped his flank onto the ground and started rubbing his templates with his eyes closed. “You… You just gave me quite a lot to process here…” She covered her mouth with a gasp. “Oh I beg your pardon, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sure you’re an easy pony talk to in general.” Soul scratched his head, squinting his eyes at the mare. His lips curled and he softly bit his bottom lip.“I’m more focused on the information you gave me before that statement…” Rarity blushed, looked down and turned her head away. “Oh this is embarrassing, getting carried away like that. I just couldn’t help myself.” Soul slowly lifted his hoof, still rubbing the other side of his template. “Yea… Um, let’s rewind. You know the new Princess, you’re an element of harmony and you’ve been part of saving the world once?” “More than once,” Rarity said and she shot her head up and tossed a hoof up in the air, draping it across her forehead. “Oh but I do know the other three princesses too. How could I forget to mention that?” Now rubbing his forehead while staring Rarity with wide eyes and scrunching his eyebrows, Soul’s face couldn’t stay still. What could be said to that? What kind of face would even be appropriate to give? He tried to form sane thoughts and phrases but all he could do was just awkwardly twist his face and stutter. “I, um… I uh you… Alright uh, neat… cool, I… suppose.” Rarity’s ears twitched up and her eyebrows and mouth drew flat. “Pardon me? 'Neat', 'cool'?” Sweat started forming on Soul’s forehead. “Yea, I… The weight of that information was so intense that it overloaded the internalizing system in my head and spit it all out without properly processing it… So um alright, you know remarkable royalty, you are an element of harmony and you’ve been part of saving Equestria....” The stallion's ears dropped and he put his hooves together closing his eyes. “Please don’t kill me I’m bad with words.” “You do pick some…” Rarity cleared her throat, “Interesting ones.” Soul let out an awkward laugh “I’m aware of that.” He then cleared his throat and fixed his posture as he tried to pull himself together. “Though maybe it’s just a good thing this information doesn’t really… impact me. At least I won’t---” “Think differently about of me?” Rarity said with an eyebrow raised. She put the tip of her hoof on her bottom lip. “Oh when you put it that way, then---” “Then I’m not that bad of a pony, am I?” Soul turned his head to the side and the tips of his lips turned up. The mare passed Soul, holding her snout high with eyes closed. “Something like that.” She walked over to her door opening it, motioning for Soul to go in first. Though when Soul was just about to walk in Rarity spotted a pony reading multiple books walking across the bridge. Her eyes widened and a large smile formed on her face as she bit her lip.“Ooh, Twilight’s here! Quick, I’ll introduce you!” She immediately slammed the door closed causing Soul to bump his muzzle right into it. Holding his muzzle and catching his falling laptop just in the last moment, Soul backed away from the door with a frown and slowly wiggling his nose. “This really is a danger zone.” As Rarity trotted over to the alicorn, she wrapped her hooves around her squeezing her tight. “Oh Twilight thank you so much for coming to aid me this quickly, darling!” Twilight clenched her teeth during the squeeze and as Rarity pulled back she kept rapidly browsing the books she had floating with her. “O-Of course Rarity I just wish I would’ve kept up with restoring magic more. My skills may be a little rusty and I’d hate to make your kitchen even worse. Hopefully brushing up on these books will keep me on the right track.” Rarity lifted her snout and closed her eyes, waving her hoof forwards. “Don’t worry darling, I’m quite sure it can’t get any worse than this. If anypony can do it, it’s you.” “I’ll try my best, I give my word for it,” she said with a pleasant tone, though her attention was quickly caught by Soul who was approaching the mares. Twilight instantly closed the books and fixed her posture, it was like she knew who she was going to meet. “Heya there,” Soul spoke with a calm and pleasant smile, bowing his head. Twilight’s smile grew ear to ear and she leaned forward raising a hoof. “Hey, you must be Rarity’s new apprentice! Scootaloo mentioned you had arrived already.” She turned to look at Rarity with widened eyes. “I’m so jealous of you Rarity. Getting your own personal apprentice must be a dream come true!” she said with high pitch tone. She cleared her throat and turned back to look at the stallion. “Wild Soul it is, right?” “Correct…” Soul said with a nod though all he was able to muster was an awkward smile on his face. He turned to face at his tutor. “Rarity, how widely have you spread the word of me…?” Rarity chuckled. “Oh I might have mentioned it to a friend or two.” She rolled her eyes as she spoke looking to the sky. Soul grinned and furrowed his eyebrows, turning to look at Twilight. “Apparently… And Princess,” The stallion quickly fixed his posture and cleared his throat, “Pardon my ignorance but is this the part where I have to, or rather get to bow before your highness?” Twilight’s eyes widened and she waved her hooves before her. “Oh, no no no no no please not at all. I might be a princess but making ponies personally bow before me just doesn’t feel right and it’s kinda embarrassing. And me being called a princess...” She tapped her chin and then extended her hoof. “Well I’m still not fully ready to be called a princess by everypony. Twilight has much more pleasant tone to it.” Soul blank as he extended his own hoof too, he didn’t expect a princess to be so humble. “If that’s what you wish then we shall go with it. It’s an honor to meet you, Twilight.” He bowed his head down instinctively for the princess. Bending her neck in a bow as well Twilight shook and then stood up straight again. She put a hoof on her chest. “It’s an honor to meet you as well, Wild Soul. You definitely found the best possible tutor for your artisan studies.” The gem flanked mare blushed and flicked her wrist at the alicorn. “Oh don’t be silly now Twilight, I’m just happy I get to share my knowledge with future artisan.” Looking up at the sky and seeing the sun being about mid way through the sky Twilight realized that it would be wise to not put off the reason she was summoned. “Now, Rarity let’s take a look at your kitchen, shall we?” Rarity nodded and turned to guide Twilight toward her home but spoke before she began to walk. “Most definitely we shall. How long do you think it would take?” Quivering her lip Twilight placed a hoof on her cheek and looked down at the ground, releasing a hum. “I can’t say for sure. It depends on how bad of shape it is in, but I would say about an one hour at least. Partly due to my rusty skills...” Soul looked from one mare to the other, raising a hoof. “Hey if there’s anything I can do or help with, just give me a word. I’m on full alert.” Rarity immediately raised a hoof too. “You’ve done more than I ever could imagine Soul. I suggest you simply sit down and allow yourself to recover from that fire and that cooling spell. It must have taken a lot of energy from you.” She kept her voice calm and cheery to ease Soul’s mind. Twilight’s ears twitched. “Cooling spell?” The stallion raised a foreleg up and waved it. “No no, I’m completely fine already. Sitting back without doing anything is out of the question, with all due respect. Feeling useless would drive me crazy.” Twilight cleared her throat to interject, as to not be overlooked again. “Excuse me for butting in like this but do you happen to be an advanced magic user yourself?” “Huh?” Soul’s other ear dropped and his eyebrow rose. His eyes then bulged slightly and he shook his head. “Oh, no! I just know some basic spells from school like first aid stuff.” Rarity held her head up her nose and closed her eyes with a glimmering smile.“Imagine, he only used a simple cooling spell to envelop my body so I could go and rescue Opal from the burning kitchen!” Soul’s eyes shifted to look away. His mouth grew wide and although mostly flat the edges just barely slanted downwards. “Just barely. If I had more experience of it I guess I could’ve put the flames out completely but it was better than nothing. I don’t know, I’m not an expert at magic.” “Being able to pull out something like that isn’t something you should be modest about, changing a simple spell like that is extremely creative considering how quickly you had to come up with it!” Twilight closed the last book and twirled them around her body, hovering them above her flank. “Oh look, I’m a useful character. Now I’m automatically likable.” His tone was gushed with sarcasm. Twilight dipped her head to the side. “Excuse me?” “You know, when in books or movies--- Ah, nothing. Anyway,” The stallion cleared his throat and shrugged. “Creativity isn’t just art, I suppose.“ “Oh definitely not Soul and about if you could help with anything, I could still use a hoof with putting everything back in place and moving some boxes. My botique needs to be ready to open again after Twilight’s done.” Rarity reached a hoof out to touch the stallions shoulder, though giving a second thought she gently placed it down, stepped forward on it and give the stallion a turn of the head and a charming wink. As he saw the hoof he began to lean back away from it but when she put it down instead he regained his posture. The wink eased his mind and caused a small tension in his chest. “Let’s get to work then.” “That’s the spirit.” Rarity opened the door and motioned for the two to step in. Soul stepped aside giving room for Twilight, extending a hoof and bowing his head in a polite manner. Twilight gave a nod and smiled, thanking the stallion and walked into the boutique, followed by Soul and then Rarity. Rarity closed the door behind her. Just a little further next to a few mannequins was a big pile of boxes with titles like ‘Silk’ or simply ‘Fabric’ on them, which Rarity walked over to and lifted with her magic, examining the outside as well as the inside for and signs of damage. She would occasionally bring some of the cloths to her muzzle to take a whiff of them. Twilight passed her friend her eyebrows lowered as countless of gears in her brain were spinning for trying to come up with things to say to cheer up Rarity. “Um… How about we see how big of a challenge this will be,” she said with a gentle smile touching Rarity’s shoulder. Feeling Twilight’s hoof on her shoulder she placed down the boxes, letting out a breath of air. It was lucky how everything seemed intact and that she could inspect more as the day went on. She nodded at Twilight and turned to walk with her. “By the way Twilight, where is Spikey-Wikey? It’s rare to see you without him.” The princess lifted a leg and waved her hoof, flipping her ankle. “Oh don’t worry, he’s just busy at the library tidying up and probably reading some comics.” “Alright dear, I see. Call me if you need anything!” Rarity spoke, raising her voice as Twilight walked toward the kitchen disappearing from sight. “Now Soul, these are the boxes I need to get up to my stitching room. You probably figured that out a long ago.” She chuckled and the cleared her throat, though before she got a chance to continue Soul had already lifted a few boxes. “Got it, lead the way or is there anything else I should know? Nothing breakable or something that might cause a major click in your head if I accidentally dropped something which I will try to avoid?” Soul inquired, pulling the boxes behind him he looked back to ensure everything was clear. “Oh, hmm, no that’s all. This way.” Rarity walked around Soul, heading upstairs guiding him to her room where the door was already open. In the room was Sweetie Belle who was still working on the task Rarity gave her. “I present to you my small but more than capable sewing room. Here the real magic happens.” Soul was nodding with a smile upon his lips. The room indeed was small, in fact the working space seemed to be shared with Rarity’s bedroom, but it looked like there was plenty of room to work properly. “Where do I put the boxes?” “Right next to my shelf please.” Rarity tilted her head looking toward the large shelf. “Gotcha,” Soul said with a nod and levitated the boxes over into the open spot next to it, after he did he headed back downstairs to get a new load. Rarity gave him a pleasant nod and then walked over to her sister with an eyebrow raised. “Sweetie Belle, how are things going here?” The filly was looking around and scratching her head, looking back and forth between the items she laid out on the floor and around the room. “Well I remember most of the places I took these from but, um I have no idea where some of these go.” In a soft but stern tone while raising her head the mare walked over. “I suppose I have to help you then.” Rarity’s eye floated on the items Sweetie Belle had rescued. She became breathless for a moment and placed a hoof over her mouth, all the important things for her were there. Her designs, fabrics, ribbons even her glasses. As her eyes continued to scan they fell on a light yellow ribbon. She lifted the ribbon up with her other hoof, a sniffle being faintly heard. “Sweetie Belle…” Rarity’s head slowly rose, “How did you know to bring this?” The filly turned her head. “It was in your bedside drawer, you always keep it next to your glasses. I figured it was important to you.” Rarity’s lips grew ever upward, and her heartbeat intensified. For a short moment her eyes saw nothing but the ribbon and the smile never left her face. Then, she put a hoof over her sister, gently pulling her into a tender hug without saying a word. All she gave was a smile and walked over to her bedside table, opening it and placing the ribbon in it’s original spot next to her glasses in the top drawer. Twilight Sparkle’s voice echoed up the stairs catching Rarity’s ears. “Rarity! Can you come down here for a second?” “Of course darling!” she called back and started walking towards the door. “I’ll be right back, keep on working. Also, I might want to make sure there is not more smoke damage anywhere...” As Rarity exited the room she passed Soul who was now carrying a slightly larger load. He took the boxes to the same spot as the other boxes, smiling as he did. It was great for him to finally get into real work. Soul was about to leave to get the next load but when his eyes noticed Sweetie Belle, a thought hit him; he never properly introduced himself to the foal. That needed to be fixed. Soul took a few steps back and put on a heartfelt smile. “Hey, Sweetie Belle, right?” The filly put down a gem and turned to look at him returning the smile. “What’s up?” “There’s probably not a need for this anymore at this point, but in the name of politeness,” he extended his hoof, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Wild Soul is the name.” “Nope but let’s go for it anyway,” she said with a laugh and shook with the stallion. “Sweetie Belle. Um...” The filly winced and gritted her teeth while rubbing a hoof through her mane, looking away from the pale horse. “You don’t think poorly of me after all this stupid commotion, do you…?“ Wild Soul shook his head with his eyes closed. “Well I don’t know you and I’m definitely not gonna judge you by some incident.” The filly wiped her forehead with her hoof. “Phew! Thanks you’re so fair. Just try to keep your nerves around my sister, she is a real drama queen and whiner at times.” She rolled her eyes as she said her last comment. Soul grinned and raised an eyebrow. “Interesting thing to say about your sister who pretty much let this incident pass.” “True that was rude to say.” Sweetie Belle covered her mouth for a moment then pulled her hoof away.. “But trust me, you will have your hard times with her.” Soul grinned and lifted a hoof up beside his face with his eyebrows turned down. “I think I’ll be just fine.” Putting his hoof down he turned around and started walking towards the stairs again, but this time Sweetie Belle seemed to follow him. The filly walked on the tips of her hooves, leaning upward and keeping her ears perked up. “Hey, can I ask just a itsy-bitsy tiny question?” Soul’s eyes closed and he shook his head. as he reached the bottom of the stairs. “Absolutely not.” “Oh...” The filly stopped one the last step and drew her lips together looking down, her lower lip pushing upward slightly as she stepped off the last step slowly with her head hung down. Soul kept completely quiet for a few seconds while he approached the boxes, once there he stopped and his lips crawled into a smile and he looked back and let out a small laugh. “Go ahead, ask away.” Sweetie Belle’s ears twitched and in a single leap her eyes widened, her lips expanded with her mouth open wide and drawn up. She landed on the ground and hurried over to stand so she could face the stallion. “Well, what does your cutie mark mean and how did you get it?” “What are you asking that---?” Stopping from his work a lightbulb suddenly clicked in his mind. He remembered what Rarity said earlier about her sister and friends trying to earn their cutie marks. “Oh, right I get it.” “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask the same question!” Rarity’s voice chimed as she swiftly pranced in from the kitchen. Soul’s head tilted and he walked over to the boxes, starting to pile them up. “Something wrong with the restoring?” Rarity shook her head. “Not at all mon ami. Twilight just asked me to get some pictures for reference. It will be easier for her to restore that way.” She walked further into the room and sat down pulling some lower boxes over toward her and opened it to inspect more of the cloths. “Anyway, I’m eager to hear about that cutie mark of yours, please do tell.” The stallion’s eyes get wide while his pupils dilate, in an instant the humanity left him, he stammered and moved the boxes stacking them rapidly. “W-Well, um… The story behind it is nothing special in my case.” He moved another box upward and hit the ceiling and the scratching of the box against it wrenched him from his state. He set down the box and shook his head looking at the stack. “Alright too many boxes to carry…” Rarity had a cloth in her hooves that she was examining, she caressed the fabric and her eyes darted to the label on the box that scraped the ceiling before inspecting the ceiling for nicks or streaks. “Every story is special to those who have gone through it.” Taking a deep breath Soul tapped his hoof and swiped it over the ground. “Let’s just say that I was an eager colt, ready to try different things and find something fitting for me. After some twists and turns I… well I realized group activities were not my box of fries, so I started searching for things I could enjoy and accomplish on my own.” He gave a salute and a small grin. “Hermit at your service.” Sweetie Belle’s mind flooded and she couldn’t prevent the words from pouring from her mouth like a melody. “Well it was your journey and at the end of it you achieved that mark on your flank. I would give anything if it was that easy for me and my friends. I just hoped if you could give any tips that might help us get our marks too?” “Tips, huh?” Soul scratched his head and looked away. “Going with my own experience I can say that you should never shut out any possibilities since you might find your thing in something you never expected.” The stallion fiddled with the rest of the boxes that he couldn’t carry up yet. He moved them about stacking them together along the wall near the one Rarity was working on. “And definitely never let others tell you what you should be or do. You are the one who shapes your own identity.” Rarity folding up a few sample fabrics she examined from the box she cradled them back into the box, brushing them off before she closed it and stacked it in with the rest. Once the box was replaced the image became full; she sat, covering her mouth which fell open and her eyes practically glimmered. “Oh my!” Soul tilted his head with a perked up ear towards her. “Sorry?” Rarity’s eyes widened as she snapped back to attention. She touched her chest and looked at Soul with large eyes and cleared her throat. “I mean, oh my it sounds like you’ve had your own piece of social pressure when you were growing up.” Soul squinted and brought his lips together tapping his cheek. “I... suppose you could say that...” He walked over to the stairs with the next set of boxes behind him. “Anyway, you wanted to know what my mark means? I’ll explain in a moment.” He hurried up the stairs and the sound of boxes being stacked would be heard by the sisters. Sweetie Belle looked back at the boxes he had left and a glimmer crossed over her eyes. “Oh my goodness! Sis do you see what he made? It’s half of a diamond! You have a great apprentice here. The shadow completes it!” She turned and pulled a camera out of a dresser, she couldn’t resist taking a picture of it. “Yes he does seem very creative even showing it in such a simple task. I may be just as lucky as he feels.” The mare spoke softly still turning her head as she fed her eyes with the sight. The rustling upstairs stopped and Soul swiftly made his way downstairs, his hooves tapping as he returned. “Now you wanted to know what my mark means.” He took a step towards the boxes yet again. The mare snapped back to the stallion as he reappeared and began where they left off. She extended a hoof waving it back in forth indicating for the stallion to wait. “Yes, please do tell! I’m dying to know. Obviously it must have something to do with your talent but I can’t quite put it together.” Sitting back Sweetie Belle pulled the camera up and captured the moment with her sister and her apprentice with the half diamond shaped box formation in the background. “Yea, it’s pretty hard to think of anything when you are looking at a curvy arrow surrounded by flames.” A slender smile reached ear to ear on Soul’s face and he cleared his throat then put his hoof on his chest. “Quite the ironic comment, because this cutie mark actually represent brainstorm.” Placing the camera on top of the dresser she got it from the filly raised and eyebrow and tilted her head. “Mind explaining?” The stallion gave a nod and stepped, turning his body to the side and tapping his flank as he pointed out his cutie mark. “Well you can see how these two ‘flames’ are kinda circling around which represents the endless brainstorming. And this blue arrow represents solving problems since when you think about it, an artistic career is mostly solving problems and finding out ways to execute the result in your head.” Rarity stretched her neck up and her ears twitched. She lifted a leg inward toward her chest and only brought it out to point and move her hoof as she spoke, “Is that how you think of it? Because in my perspective, creating art no matter what form of art it is, is a beautiful and pure form of expressing your emotions, love and passion for the art you make!” Soul tilted his head off to the left slightly but dipped his head down in a single nod. He did however copy the mare in lifting a hoof. “Depends on the art you’re making. And I said ‘artistic career’. For example there’s a very blurry line on if advertising can be art since it gives the ‘artist’ a lot of limitations.” He gave a laugh. “Art means different things to different ponies and we all have our reasons why we have passions for it. Some ponies make it just purely for fame which takes all the enjoyment out of it.” Looking out the window the artisan sighed. “I pity those poor souls.” “You said it. Actually, a friend of a friend of mine at Spectrum is exactly like that.” He looked back at his mark again with a small smile.. “I suppose my mark also represents my own mindset of it. I’ve never really even thought about it that way.” “Has there been anypony who’s been able to guess the meaning of it?” Sweetie Belle interrupted, her face was beaming as if it were Hearth's Warming Eve. “Actually! Well, not exactly, but one of my co-workers, Mineral,” Soul paused for a moment, looking off into space before speaking again, “A friend nowadays, was the one who guessed the closest.” Rarity dipped her head backwards and leaned in, practically on the edge of her seat. “Oh? What ever did she guess then?” “That I’m a psychopath,” Soul said with a very high and up beat voice. Sweetie Belle put both hooves over her muzzle but couldn’t help but crack up. Giving a smile to the filly he slowly turned his head to look at Rarity. “Don’t worry though, not the kind of psychopath who ruins a lovely shower.” He closed his mouth, his cheeks puffing out slightly and a small amount of air escaping his nostrils as he held it in. Rarity looked at him with wide eyes but quickly looked left and right. Her eyes searched the walls to no avail. The wind had been taken out of Soul’s sails and he dipped back down to a normal stance. “It’s another…” He shook his head and waved a hoof. “Well, nevermind it’s not funny if I need to explain it.” Twilight stepped into the doorway and looked at her friend. “Rarity, have you found those pictures yet? There’s not too much I can do here anymore without them.” “Oh, yes of course darling, my apologies!” Rarity rose and made her way to the drawer next to Sweetie Belle and began sliding open drawers. She did not ignore her previous conversation though. “Well Soul, thank you for explaining the story behind your mark, that’s one question answered.” Giving a nod Soul bowed his body slightly and came up smiling widely with his eyes closed and a bead of sweat upon his right temple. “Extremely boring one but that’s all I got.” He shrugged and looked at the boxes. Flipping her head up from the drawer Rarity announced with raised nose in a soft proper tone, “I shan't grant you permission to speak like that. It’s anything but a bad thing to learn a new thing about a friend.” His eyes widened only slightly. “Right, I had almost completely forget about that order…” Soul sat for a moment focused on Rarity. “You sure you still want to roll with it? I mean we still barely even know each other.” “ ‘Order’ ” Rarity chuckled and rolled her eyes, swiping her mane. “We know about each other now more than we did yesterday. Besides,” Rarity turned to look at the stallion with a raised eyebrow. “We get along well, do we not?” Soul shrugged his shoulders, turning his head to the side with a grin. “I suppose. I have no complaints about you whatsoever.” “That’s more than enough for me. The smile you gave me back when we had our first meeting sealed the deal, darling,” she said with a wink. “Now where have I put that album…?” Soul scratched his head. “Okay... I’ve been accepted to the girls club…” he said with straight face though couldn’t help to crack a little smile. He lifted the final few boxes that had formed a diamond, moving some to the bottom of the stairs and he walked the second to last load up stairs. His heart felt lighter, although this was a different town, there was a faint feeling of being home. 15. RancherA barn and quaint home grew larger as the earth ponies made their way through the apple orchard. The apples gave the wind a sweet scent and with the cool breeze the mix of red and green gave Noble a festive feeling. Applebloom continued to carry her sister with Noble in tow pulling the waggon. Applejack talked as they walked. “Now all these apple trees that you can see are Sweet Apple Acres, the best apple orchard in all of Equestria or at least Ponyville I reckon. Of course my family owns the orchard and all these acres.” Noble looked around and lifted his head up as he walked, sniffing and enjoying more of the aroma. “I must say this is a wonderful town, just the kind of place I wanted to be at when living in Canterlot.” Applejack nodded, turning her head back to catch him in the corner of her eye. “Thanks a bunch fella. Anyhow, ya were tellin’ us why ya came to Ponyville in the first place. Go on partner.” While he continued to follow in their hoofprints Noble shook his head. “No no, please you go on if you have anything else to say.” Applejack looked forward again and down at her sister whom was still smiling and would occasionally look up at her. “Naw, that was all. We’re almost there now. See the barn and house off in the distance? That’s the roots of our family’s heart and soul along the acre.” As he looked down the hill at the barn over the mare’s shoulders he sighed, looking forward while his eyes were completely distant and unfocused. “I can only imagine how peaceful it must be here, especially during nights. Laying on the field and watching the full moon is one of the most amazing feelings there is.” Applebloom couldn’t help herself as she raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes at the rather sappy tone. “You got that right. Anyway, about that reason.” Applejack looked back tilting her head causing her hat to rise up a little. “Yes! Sorry.” He shook his head quickly and ruffled his eyebrows. “So um, where was I…” “You were tellin’ us about what made ya leave Canterlot and brought you all the way out here to Ponyville.” They pushed on down the path, moving a little slower as the sisters tried to match one another’s pace. “Right! Thank you.” Noble cleared his throat and continued his story, telling the sisters about how he got fired because the manager wanted to save money, leaving out the big argument he had with her, but explained how he desperately searched for a new job without any results. He even explained how weeks passed and how his situation was growing more and more desperate to the point where he had started planning his move back to his roots at Horseshoe Bay, the last thing he wanted. Applejack stopped while they were right at the gate surrounding the farmhouse, causing Applebloom to stop with her as the mare looked back at Noble scratching her head. “What made ya come to Ponyville then?” Slowing down, Noble slid a little as he brought the cart to a halt before speaking. “Oh, that’s a funny story. It was like a shooting star had granted my wish. On the day when I got my ticket to go back home, I came across with my friend, Wild Soul, who had plans to start studying to become an artisan and had gotten in contact with Ponyville’s artisan, I happened to meet them and to put it simply, she opened a new door for me.” With a nudge of her hat again Applejack rose an eyebrow then leaned forward squinting. “Wait, are ya tellin’ me yer friends withRarity’s apprentice? The one she’s been yammerin’ about nonstop?” The stallion’s ears twitched then he turned his head to the side. “You know her?” Applejack nodded. “You bet, we’re friends. She’s been rambling and ranting so much about that new apprentice of hers that I knew the exact day and time when he arrived.” She looked the stallion up and down. “But dang, I had no idea you were in the same boat.” Noble shook his head violently. “No no, I’m not that creative. The most I can do is some basic sewing. Also I don’t have much of a sense for fashion either.” He stopped and smiled widely with closed eyes but eyebrows up, a small glimmer of sweat formed on his forehead. “So, where do I take this carriage” “To the barn!” Applebloom said and gently put her sister’s hoof down and ran toward it to open the doors. Noble gave a nod and waited till Applebloom came to help her sister again who had already started to hobble toward the house on her own. Applebloom darted next to her sister, while Applejack waved her off she stayed there just in case she would be needed. As the sisters made their way forward Noble gave a final push and pulled the carriage toward the barn. He walked around so so the back of the cart was to the barn and stretched to look around the cart. Applejack noticed as Noble began to curve his path and quickly interjected, “Noble, ya don’t need ta do all that for me, just walk it in straight and we’ll unload it and I’m sure one of us will be able ta get it back out.” With a twitch of his ears Noble turned his attention back to the mare. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.” Applejack shook her head. “Naw, you’re being too kind already. No need ta make it harder than it needs ta be.” Noble nodded back and walked the cart around again and slowly walked it into the barn. With a few moments of undoing the straps and laying the cart down gently he walked out with a relaxed salute. “There, the job’s done.” “Great job. Ya really deserve our gratitude for this Noble, that was a praiseworthy accomplishment.” The mare tipped her hat to him and Applebloom clapped her hooves. Noble dipped his head down a little while some rosy color crossed his cheeks. “You are too kind, I just pulled the carriage. It was the right thing to do since you were hurt.” Applebloom rolled her eyes and moved swiftly lifting her sister’s hurt leg with a hoof. “Yeaaaa and fixed this leg right here.” Racking pain crashed through Applejack like lighting and caused her to pull away and glare with gritted teeth letting out a small yell. “Dog gone it!” She rubbed it then rested on three hooves again. “Yeah you really did save us back there.” He shook his head. “I did what anypony would’ve done.” Noble swallowed and rubbed his throat. ”Sorry I’m asking, but… could I ask for a glass of water?” “I’ll go get it,” Applebloom announced raising a hoof in the air before she zoomed off into the house letting the screen door slam behind her. Noble blank a few times, looking at the door. He closed his eyes fully then opened them to look at Applejack again. Even with an injured hoof she looked powerful yet enchanting. “Thank you very much... For your hospitality, and the water.” He drug a hoof against the ground while he looked down. Applejack presented a hoof and shook her head. “I really owe ya one Noble, without you this carriage would still be in the middle ah Ponyville. Tell me, how can I repay you for yer help?” With a shake of his head and wave of his hooves Noble responded with a wide forced smile and closed eyes, “Ah, it’s alright! All I need is the glass of water.” “Come on, I can do better than that.” Applejack took her hat off and with her muzzle she dug up a little brown bag that had gave a little jingle as it moved. Noble’s eyes grew wide open, his ears twitched as he instantly knew what was in the bad. A leg flew up and pushed toward her. “Applejack, I couldn’t possibly---” Applejack grabbed Noble’s hoof, turned it horseshoe up and placed the bag on it and she gave the stallion a firm nod but soft smile with her eyebrows turned down. “Of course you can, a job well done deserves a good prize. It’s a fair trade.” “I....” Noble looked at the bag in his hoof and up at Applejack. His heart felt heavy and he looked at the money for a moment longer and finally shook his head pushing the bag back. “I’m sorry but as much as I want to take this, I did this simply because I wanted to help. I know all too well how hard it is, struggling to do something strenuous with a twisted hoof. I can’t take your money for that kind act.” The apple flanked mare couldn’t believe her ears, she took off her hat again, putting it over her chest as if showing a sign of respect at a funeral. “Well… If yer absolutely sure, I can’t force yer hooves to hold onto it. I sure wish you’d let me do somethin for yer help.” The door swung open slowly and the filly walked out balancing a glass of water on her head, carefully walking over to the stallion. “Here’s yer water.” Noble bowed his head as he took the water off Applebloom’s head. “Thank you.” He took a few big gulps, it seemed as if he hadn’t drank in a week. As Applebloom walked back to her sister’s side Applejack asked, “Applebloom, did ya see Big Mac anywhere? Gotta break the bad news to him.” Applebloom shook her head. “Don’t you remember? He’s delivering apple’s all day.” Applejack’s eyes widened and she drew back and sat down. “Holy cow, was that today?!” She rubbed her right temple with her good foreleg, closing her eyes and scrunching her eyebrows. “Okay, uh… I really need to rethink this, those apple’s absolutely need to be bucked today but with this darn leg there’s no way that’s gonna happen…” “Don’t you worry, I will do it for ya!” Applebloom lept up, gave her chest a pat and took a step toward the orchard. Applejack quickly blocked the filly’s way with a hoof. “Hold on Sugarcube, you might be spunky but I’m afraid that’s not quite enough in this case.” Applebloom sat down, turning to look at her sister. “Well if ya won’t let me we could get somepony else to help. Rainbow Dash maybe?” The mare scrunched up her mouth and shook her head, looking down. “I guess that’s the only option, though that will take at least another hour and the bucking should’ve started ages ago. And gosh I’ll hate askin’ somethin’ like this of her.” Noble raised his hoof like a foul in school. “I know this may not be my place, but maybe I could offer some help---” He dropped his hoof and drew back hunkering down a little. The anxiousness practically felt like weights baring down on him. Applejack immediately shook her head and unbandaged hoof. “No can do partner. You’ve done far more than any other stallion I know have done already. We can’t ask you to do this for us.” “Are you sure? I would gladly help. I don’t have anywhere to be and my luck in town has been horrible today. Plus some exercise is almost never a bad thing,” Noble persisted with soft eyes and parted downward curved mouth. Applebloom nudged her sister. “Applejack, this would be great! Even our friends don’t really know that much about pickin. You can even use this as an excuse to pay him more than you already have.” “He actually wouldn’t take the bits when I offered them to him.” Applejack tapped her cheek while looking up and giving a hum. “Well now that you mention it… That would be a great way for you to feel like you earned the bits and for the apples ta get bucked. I don’t see anything wrong with it.” The stallion nodded along with his ears perking up. He looked around at the trees and back to the sisters putting a hoof over his mouth giving a humm before giving a last big nod. “Sure! That sounds great, I’d accept the bits if I did that. I’d also get the pleasure of enjoying a little more time here.” His heart rate increased as he stepped forward, his voice grew shaky. “After all, I then get to see the kind of work that a strong, cute mare like you does daily.” Applebloom struck her forehead with her hoof and Applejack’s expression drew flat as she looked at the stallion. “I thought we agreed we were done with that romantic talk partner.” Noble stood up straight and blushed. “Sorry, I’m really sorry. I couldn’t help it. Won’t happen again.” Eyes closed, with a sigh Applejack nodded. “It’s fine I reckon, just don’t let it happen again. We just met after all. I will pay ya for yer hard work but just today. How would that be?” Noble’s shoulders fell but still had a slight shake to them. “That will be just fine and yes I’ll think more before I speak… Any other questions?” The sisters looked at one another and together inquired, “Got any experience of apple bucking?” There was a pause as the sisters stared at Noble. He shook his head. “No, I don’t. Though it shouldn’t be too hard to learn right? No offense of course.” “None taken,” Applejack affirmed, lifting her hurt leg up and rubbing it gently. “There is a technique ta buckin’, yes. Of course I really can’t show you how it’s done with this here leg.” Applebloom’s eyes lit up as she dashed forward turning so she was next to Noble facing the mare. “I can teach him! You, Big Mac and Granny have been teachin me how to buck apples for a while now. I can do it sis, at least let me try. You can even go inside and rest that hoof.” “No deal, Sugarcube. I’m the head of this farm so I want to make sure he gets everything. As mighty as that offer is, yer still not quite there yet to be a tutor.” Applejack said with a chuckle and ruffled her sister’s mane. “Umm,” Noble interjected lifting a hoof as he leaned his head in. “If I may, how else could I learn this technique? Also it probably is good not to leave your little sister with a stallion you just recently met.” He gave a small chuckle, he still held his shoulders low and kept his hooves close to his body. “I ain’t worried about that. I know a trustworthy pony when I see one. Now how can we teach you?” The country mare tapped her cheek looking the stallion up and down then over at her sister before she stood up, shaky on her injury but walked past Noble and whipped her neck, signaling for him to follow her. “If we are gonna get you trained we better stop killin daylight.” Noble drew back. “Wait, how? You can’t buck like that and you said your sister was in training.” He got up and walked behind her with the filly beside him. They stopped at the closest tree that had buckets underneath it. Applejack looked up in it, sitting down and put her good hoof on it and peered back to Noble. “This ‘ill work. Of course I can’t show you how to buck myself, but Applebloom did have a point. I just needed a moment ta think about it. Of course she is ‘in training’ and one of us needs ta watch her but--” As Applejack spoke Applebloom’s face lit up. “You will let me do the buckin while you make sure I do it right?” Applejack gave a nod. “I’ll also be here to make sure you don’t hurt yerself and ta clarify anything you may happen ta have trouble explainin’. If you buck just like ya do when we practice everything should be just fine.“ The filly glared stopping a hoof down and walking over to the tree with a smile. “Come on I’m not a baby, sis. I could teach him on my own. And I practically have the technique down.” Applejack pulled her head back widening her eyes then moved it back down. “Come on Sugarcube, we all have ta start somewhere and I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanna make sure nopony else gets hurt today.” “Fine,” Applebloom sighed and chuckled. “Noble, watch me here. So you get yer buckets around the tree like we have them here, and you aim for… this parts right in here.” She patted the tree sliding her hooves a little and resting about shoulder width apart. Applejack stepped back from the tree. “ Ya just gotta make sure you hit the trees a little over the height of yer back and with yer hooves spread apart slightly about shoulder width since most ah our trees tend to be about roughly the same width. You normally only need ta move them in or out about half or a quarter of a hoof at most.” Noble glanced over at the mare and nodded along, putting a hoof on his lips then dropping it as they continued. “Yeah that!” exclaimed Applebloom as she turned around and took a few breaths as she looked down at her hooves and back at the tree. Applejack tilted her head up. “Applebloom, maybe you should explain as ya get into yer stance?” As she nodded feeling good about her positioning she looked over standing perfectly still. “Oh yeah! You begin with plantin yer front hooves forward, just past shoulder width apart. Ya need to be ah little less than leg distance away from the tree so you can hit it with enough force. Got it?” Noble turned his head, his eyes were looking over the filly at each hoof and the tree. It was clear that a car full of clowns could be right behind him and he wouldn’t notice. “Shoulder width apart striking and on the ground, little less than a leg distance from the tree. Got it.” The smile appeared on Applejack’s face again as she watched her sister. “That’s good Sugarcube. I’ll explain now as ya go through the motions.” Without putting up a fuss the filly nodded. “Alrighty, just tell me when.” “Whenever yer ready, just like any other practice.” A gentle smile never left the mare’s face. Applebloom nodded and with a deep breath she lunged her hips into the air and struck the tree but felt a bend in her back and her hooves slide up on the tree. As the motioned downwards toward the filly’s flank with her bandaged hoof she spoke, “That was alright sis though make sure you keep yer back level, don’t jump quite as high this time.” “Darn.” Applebloom looked back scrunching her lips in a twisted frown. “Just ah little lower.” She kicked her legs up again striking the tree, this time the apples plunged into the buckets below. A smile crossed Applejack’s lips and she swung her bad hoof in front of her body with a wink. “Atta girl! Perfect!” Applebloom closed her eyes with her head held high and gave a bow as Noble clapped his hooves. Applejack turned her attention to Noble. “Are ya ready partner, or do ya need another demonstration?” The stallion shook his head. “No no, I think I’m more than ready to try this. Nothing beats hooves on learning in my book. So where is the first tree I can try? Just any that have some buckets under it?” A grin rose on Applejacks lips and she lifted a hoof going to the next tree. “Keep that enthusiasm, fella.” She went over to the next tree and lightly tapped it with her injured hoof. “You can try this one here.” Applebloom scurried over to her sister as Noble took his place. The stallion looked at the tree, ignoring everything around it and got in position. His movements were robotic as he turned around getting his hind legs lined up. “Giver ‘er a go whenever yer ready,” Applejack said with a tip of her hat. She covered her mouth as she leaned over to Applebloom. “No matter what, mind yer manners and give ‘em yer support.” Applebloom nodded with a smile and ran her hoof over her lips like a zipper and tossing away the key. With closed eyes Noble took a deep breath and released it slowly. His eyes opened and he looked back at the tree, marking the spot he needs to strike. He gave the sisters a nod and looked forward, keeping his hooves planted he jolts back striking the tree with a thunderous clap, evicting the apples and forcing them into the buckets, leaving the tree void of them. Both sister’s mouths dropped to the ground, a bead of sweat forming on Applebloom’s forehead and her heart sank into her hooves. A few stammers came from Applejack’s mouth. She pushed her sister’s jaw up off ground and shook her own head. “Wha… wha.. Noble how did ya do that?!” Noble’s body grew tense and he sank his head down as he looked over at the sister’s. “Sorry, did I not get the form down right? I can try again.” His eyes darted back to the tree and all the apple filled crates. Applejack shook her head. “No, no. You… that was actually a perfect strike. You sure you never did this before?” The stallion nodded. “Then how did you do it?” inquired Applebloom as she came back to her senses and had an expression like she had just been asked to solve a complex problem. Noble’s head drew back and he looked back and forth, turning around and putting a hoof on the tree while looking at the mares. “I… well I just imagined I was kicking Double Bit and remembered to line up everything. I’m sure it’s just beginners luck.” Giving a close eyed shake of her head the mare waved her hoof. “No sale partner. I know beginner's luck when I see it. You got somethin mighty special there. I’ll just watch ya ah few more times before I go inside ta ice my leg.” She lifted her leg holding it by her side as not to put more weight on it and sat down. “Applebloom, would you mind takin those buckets into the barn and bringin out some more?” The filly stood up straight and put her hoof over her chest. “I’m on it!” The group scattered, Noble moved to the next tree which had barrels below it, Applebloom went to gather more barrels to put under trees and Applejack watched in amazement as Noble threw a few more great bucks as Applebloom prepared buckets around the trees, giving Noble plenty of trees to work with. “Noble!” Applejack called with a hoof next to her mouth. “That’s all I need ta see. Ya look like ye’ll do just fine fer awhile while I’m inside. Applebloom; if you could help him with buckets that would be great but come inside when ya feel like it. And Noble if ya need anything feel free ta ask.” “You got it sis.” Winked Applebloom. With that said the mare got up and made her way inside being careful of her hoof. Over the next few hours Applebloom showed Noble where the buckets came from and had him move the full buckets down into the yard by the house. Noble continued to do well, only having to add a second buck or pick some apples up off the ground a few times through his time working. The filly would go inside to check on her sister and bring Noble water or show him where the bathroom was which were the only breaks Noble would take. Applejack emerged from her house after a few hours had passed, her leg now no longer braced but in a sling. “Howdy partner! I think it’s about time to call it ah dayyy--!” Her voice trailed off as she saw all the buckets of apples. “We’ll be there in a minute!” The loud call came from Applebloom who emerged just moments later with a bucket of apples on her back followed by Noble carrying another bucket on his back as well, Noble dripping with sweat while Applebloom had only a bit on her forehead. They put down the buckets with the others, Noble wiped sweat off his forehead. “There we go. Whew. I know it may not be as many as you could have picked but… well I hope it won’t put you too far behind.” Applejack blinked while she looked over the apples. “I-- I.. Tarnation partner! Did ya really buck all these today? Applebloom you didn’t buck a few, did ya?” The filly shook her head. “Nope, I just put the buckets down around the trees and helped him carry some of them over here.” “Well I’ll be.” She scratched her head under her hat. “I never expected ya to get this many on your first try bucking. Ya sure got some hard work in ya.” A faint glint of a smile crossed Noble’s lips and he rubbed his foreleg with his other foreleg. “Oh. Why, thank you. I always try my best.” “Well ya deserve a big reward fer this. In fact…” Applejack pulled her head back and to the side raising an eyebrow then motioned for Applebloom to come closer. The sisters turned their flanks to Noble and whispered for a few moments before they stood up and turned to him, Applejack clearing her throat. “Noble, you said you were lookin fer a job right?” Noble wore a blank expression, the remnants of the smile vanishing. His muscles grew tense and ears twitched, his heartbeat grewing rapid. It was like awaiting a judgement from a court. Her question didn’t leave much to wonder but his mind still raced. “Is she going to ask it? Is she going to ask what I’m hoping she’ll ask?” The stallion gulped and gave a nod. “Y-Yes?” Applejack’s expression grew more tender as a wide soft smile crossed her lips. “Well, we’re really gettin to a crunch time her on the farm. We sure could use an extra set of hard workin hooves around here. I need ta talk to Granny Smith and Big Mac, before we offer up ah position, ‘though I doubt he’d mind’. Whatta ya say partner?” The stallion’s body froze like a statue, he looked at the mare and could feel a heaviness growing in his chest. He tried to form words moving his lips but couldn’t, all he could do was nod with the smile growing wider. “Well then wait right here, I’ll get Granny and yer payment. You can have them, after she sees all the barrels ya picked.” Applejack turned to disappear inside. She emerged with an old green mare in tow. “Granny, meet Noble Poet. He bandaged up my hoof, brought the waggon back all the way from Sugarcube Corner, and on top ah all that he worked harder than ah beaver on a dam.” Granny Smith slowly made her way out of the doorway and looked first at the barrels of apples and then at the stallion. “Looks like he did do a lot in that time, specially fer ah new fella.” Noble looked at Applejack, then Applebloom with extended eyebrows before speaking to Granny Smith. “Th-thank you ma’am. I always like to try my best.” Granny nodded her head still looking over the stallion. “Good good. Well if yer wantin a job here let me take ah gander at ya first.” She squinted her eyes and stepped closer to the stallion, looking at his face then down his chest and each leg. All Noble could think to do was stand there and with a grimace he looked over at the mares and raised a questioning hoof. His look was met by Applebloom shaking her head in her hoof and Applejack grimacing herself and just twirling her hoof indicating that Noble should ‘roll with it’. The old mare patted at Noble’s chest, down each leg. She ignored any apprehension or tension while she ran a hoof down his back and poked his hind legs as she nodded and spoke, “Good, good. Looks like yer fairly strong for a smaller colt.” Noble wiped his forehead again even though he was cooling off after the workout bucking apples. “Umm, thank you?” Granny walked back around and opened the stallion’s mouth looking inside. “Granny, I think that’s ah little too far,” Applejack finally piped up with large eyes, gritted teeth and an outstretched hoof. “Noble, I’m really sorry bout this.” As Granny Smith stepped back releasing the stallion he closed his mouth and shook his head and rubbed his jaw. “That’s alright. I can’t say I understand but no harm done though if she puts on some rubber gloves I’m out of here.” None of the words reached the elderly mare who stepped back and nodded then tapped her hoof on the ground. “He looks like ah fine apple bucker. Ya said ya vouch fer him you two?” Both the mares nodded vigorously and Applebloom spoke up. “Ah course, he seems really nice. Awkward and flirty, but nice.” Applejack chuckled. “Yep, he’s ah good apple in my book. So is it settled? Big Mac shouldn’t have ah problem since he suggested some more help round the farm yesterday.” Noble Poet drooped his head for a moment at the filly’s comment but his eyes widened at Applejack’s words. “Does that mean?” Applejack stepped forward between her family members and nodded. “Yes sir’ri. Ya got the job!” She extended a hoof toward her new employee. Noble’s heart soared. He couldn’t believe his ears and quickly put his hoof against the mare’s and shook energetically. “Thank you thank you thank you! This means so much to me. Is there any paperwork or other things to discuss?” With a shake of her head Applejack put her hoof down once Noble released it. “Naw, we can hammer out the details later. Right now we’ve taken enough of yer time. You should go see more of Ponyville, you can just come back here tomorrow and we’ll see how things start rolling.” The stallion looked up and noticed how the sun was on it’s decent. “Thank you very much, again. I’ll be there.” The stallion paused for a moment and had already leaned down to get his bag of bits when a lightbulb went off in his head. “Oh, would you happen to know of any slightly shaded fields I could relax in? It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to just lay out in the grass and enjoy nature.” “Ah course, there’s a small hill just a few minutes away, that way.” Applejack pointed with her hoof. “Just don’t go into the woods too far. That’s Everfree forest, ya definitely don’t want ta be gettin lost in there. Also, I wanna give ya one other present fer all yer help and a welcome ta Ponyville gift. Take an apple with ya.” Applejack nodded at Applebloom who ran over to the closest barrel and looked until she found a large ripe red apple which she went and put in Noble’s hoof. “Thank you very much. I can’t thank you enough for all this hospitality and kindness.” A wide smile spread over Noble’s lips as he looked at the gifts. “I’ll be going now.” As he turned to leave Noble put his right forehoof on the edge of his forehead giving a small salute and brought it off with a flick of his ankle forward and up. While the stallion walked away Applebloom nudged Applejack in the side with a front knee. “Ya gave him some extra bits fer tending to yer foreleg anyway didn’t ya?” Applejack closed her eyes and rose her head slowly as she replied, “Eeeeyup!” The filly turned her head to the side. “Are ya plannin on tellin him tomorrow? He may try ta give ya some of those bits back then.” “Nnnope!” Applejack said and turned to go back inside to ice her hoof some more, following Granny Smith and being followed by Applebloom. “Big Mac can put those barrels in the barn later.” Noble walked along for a few minutes with his new bag of bits and Apple in his saddlebag. The simple warmth of his smile radiated and everything around him seemed a little brighter. For the first time in a long time, he was able to see a glimmer through the monotonic colors around him; verdancy in the grass and blueness of the sky. As he approached a small hill on the wide patch of grass he, took off his saddle back and stretched upwards and fell back with a sigh. “This is what I was hoping for. A little sun, the trees, soft grass, gentle breeze.” While his eyes were closed he put his forehooves behind his head, the gentle breeze feeling cool over his fur and he listened to the rustle of trees, humming of birds and small crackles and crunches of animals walking and flying through the trees. In the midst of the piece a slightly different sound caused Noble’s ears to twitch. He kept his eyes closed but lifted his chin up listening more closely. There it was again. His eyes opened and he turned his eyes to look toward the bustle of trees where the sound was coming from. Noble rolled over, grabbed his saddlebag and began walking toward the trees slowly listening and attempting not to make a sound. The sound was not overly unique but absolutely heavenly. It had caught his ears, peaked his mind, the sound enveloped him in it’s warm, comforting melody. He had to know what this sound was and with every step closer to the forest he took the sound grew louder. It was humming and singing which sent Noble’s heart aflutter. The longer Noble listened the more he wanted to sit there forever. Suddenly the song was growing closer, Noble looked about and realized where it was coming from. He looked up in the sky in time to see the silhouette clear the sky above him filling it with music. Although it was bright and the image was blacked out in the light of the sun Noble could see four legs, a head and wide angelic wings. “Su… Such beauty.” Although Noble did not speak loudly the image’s head turned down and the song stopped abruptly and was replaced by a shriek. The silhouette turned around and in a blur disappeared within the forest. Noble’s eyes followed it on its retreat and he extended a foreleg calling out, “No! Please don’t…! … go.” His heart sank as the figure disappeared into the veil of nature. He hung his head and looked into the trees but looking back up at the sky he knew he didn’t have the time to search today. “The one and only of my life got away once again...” Author's Note Art of Applebloom we use for this fiction: http://wildscope.deviantart.com/art/Bloomer-573095208 16. Home Sweet HomeAwhile had passed since Twilight started her job with Rarity’s kitchen and now it was finally nearly completely restored. Soul and Rarity have been preparing the Boutique and managed to settle everything so Rarity could open her boutique again which she had already done. She has even had a few customers already. Soul walked down the stairs as he carried a box full of manesprays with Twilight walking with him. “A translation error?” he said and scratched his head. Twilight nodded with a bright smile. She tilted her head up and explained with closed eyes, “Translation error. Originally the cutie marks were called destiny marks, talent mark or symbols of destiny, but when they were translated to our language, well it became ‘cutie marks’.” Soul stretched his neck and made sure he wouldn’t misstep the last step. “Somepony sure wasn’t a perfectionist,” he said and shook his head with a grin. “Though it would be weird to suddenly start calling them talent marks. It’s a name we’ve been born and raised with after all.” Twilight nodded and placed a hoof on her cheek looking up. “Yes, it’s just an interesting fact. The more you know.” As they entered the boutique through the hallway, Rarity was interacting with a customer. They made their way over to her quietly, keeping quiet and professional. Soul pulled out a can of manespray his magic, presenting it to the unicorn. “Here’s the spray you asked for.” Rarity turned her attention toward Soul. “Oh, wonderful! Thank you very much darling,” she said with a smile and took the bottle and gave it to the customer, swiping her mane. “Here we go miss, this is the spray that I’ll throw in free of charge with the order. It will make your mane perfectly styled for a fabulous look.“ The customer’s eyes grew and she gasped putting her hoof over her mouth. She wiggled as she took the can looking over the design. “Yes, finally I get to try this! I can’t believe you already have this even if the best stylist store in Ponyville still doesn’t. How is that possible?” Rarity raised her snout and swiped her mane. “I have my ways.” She batted her eyelashes and flipped a hoof out facing downwards. “It was a pleasure to meet you and take your order. I will make you a dress so beautiful it will simply leave you dazzled! Have a wonderful day now.” As the mare gave a pleasant response and exited the boutique, Rarity gave a pleased nod with a smile and wave, then she walked over to Soul. “And that’s how interacting with customers works here.” Soul tapped his head. “Note planted.” Rarity nodded, moving her order book to a nearby desk. “Good, you’ll be assisting me out here soon enough. Thank you again for bringing the box, Soul.” She stopped beside the stallion and pointed at a shelf next to one of the mirrors. “Could you be so kind and go set them nicely on that shelf?” Soul looked at the shelf and then nodded, moving towards the shelf. “You got it, Rarity.” Rarity smiled and bent her hoof at the stallion. “Merci,” she said and turned her attention to Twilight, she pulled a tissue from the table and dabbed at her forehead. “Whew, Twilight darling I can’t thank you enough for doing all this, and just in the nick of time!” “No problem, nopony could ever even guess that this kitchen had ever been burned,” Twilight said with an upbeat, unwavering tone. “It was also great practice to read up on that restoration spell again and put it in action.” Rarity listened as her eyes browsed her shop and she moved mannequins slightly and made minor adjustments, fluffing bows and pulling curtains back further with her magic. “You could say that again. I’m most definitely going to make some nice cups of tea for us.” Placing the last mannequin in it’s proper place she turned to face Twilight and called over her shoulder. ”Soul! Would you care for some tea.” Soul had just placed the last can of manespray on the shelf and had his I.M. book open beside him. “Sure. Maybe making it four would be good.” Soul waved his I.M. book before sliding it back into his saddlebag as he walked towards the mares who were moving to the kitchen. “Noble just messaged me he’s on his way here.” “Sure! Any luck with the job search?” Rarity asked as she grabbed a tea pot and took it to stove. The stallion walked into the kitchen with the empty box in tow and gave Rarity a shrug. “Didn’t mention anything.” Twilight turned around and walked towards Soul. “Excuse me. Noble is this friend of yours, right?” Soul nodded. “The poet, yes.” Opal who had decided to come inside again had just finished drinking some water. After giving Rarity a glare she was about to leave the kitchen when she saw the box hovering over Soul’s back. She leapt for it, missing her mark and landing on Soul’s back. Soul jumped a little from the sudden jump but turned to see Opal and blinked. Though his face almost immediately eased and he gave the cat a warm smile. “Well hey there little one.” Opals fur immediately rose. She looked over at the stallion she sat on with a glare. She raised a paw and drew out three razor like claws with a metallic sound leading to her scratching his face repeatedly as she hissed and snarled even if she hit only couple times while Soul let out a mild yell. After that the cat jumped into the box that Soul dropped. Rartiy’s hooves pressed against her cheeks and she gasped loudly and ran over to the box, looking back at Soul. “Opal! My goodness, Soul are you alright?” She leaned in over the box looking in with a slight glare. “Opal, it’s not ladylike to attack others. Would you be a dear and not to do that again? Soul is our guest after all. Won’t you behave? For mommy?” The cat simply gave her owner a glare then closed her eyes and with a flick of it’s tail fell back down into the box to slumber. The stallion dabbed his hooves against the cuts on his face wincing as he did. “Those were the sharpest claws that have ever sunk into my face.” Rarity walked over and wet a clean washcloth as Twilight silently stepped out of the way grimacing. “I’m so so sorry Soul, Opal isn’t usually a hostile cat. The trauma from this is still fresh, I’m sure it makes her nervous.” Rarity rang out the washcloth a bit and gave it to the stallion. She squinted her eyes at the cut. “Oh that looks really nasty, I’ll get disinfectant.” He waved his hoof smiling with closed eyes. “No worries, this isn’t the first time a cat has shed my blood. It’s just a small cut, no need for any more disinfectants.” “Nonsense, if bacteria gets into that it could become very unpleasant and you’ll be sorry you didn’t treat it right away, and that will be frightful.” She waved the warm wet rag up and down in front of the stallion giving him a stern look. “Looking good never hurts, right?” “Can’t think of any reasons why it would.” Soul took and folded the washcloth in his hoof and dabbed at the wounds gently giving a small grunt at the initial contact. Rarity’s expression softened again as she gave a nod. “No worries darling, Opal will grow to like you in no time. After all, you share some similar... traits.” With one eye open while he dabbed at a cut on his right cheek his eyebrows arched. “What do you mean by that?” Rarity opened a cabinet door and grabbed the disinfectant, walking back to Soul. “Well, you both dislike physical contact, that’s one subject to bond over,” she said with a giggle while she covered her mouth with her hoof. Soul took the bottle and poured a few drops on the rag and continued to dab at his cut, and leaned back against the table. “Well, I’m a cat person so liking a cat isn’t hard for me. My cat back at Manehattan isn’t exactly the easiest case either. What he considers playing is grabbing and nibbling my hooves almost all the time.” Rarity’s eyes widened and she brought her hoof up to her lips. “Aww, you have a cat too! What kind of cat, what is his name?” “Filos.” Soul’s mouth corners crawled even higher and he leaned against the table. “A pure black one with tiny white spot under his neck.” He leaned back with his eyelids lowering and his muscles relaxing while he looked off into the abyss. “Always when I visit home, he crawls up to my neck and purrs like a little angel looking up to me with those adorable little green eyes which are telling me ‘Soul you are my best friend, I love you don’t go away anymore. I’m sorry I make you sneeze---’” Rarity and Twilight sat in silence. Twilight had already sunk into reading a book but Rarity was staring at him trying to hold a giggle in her mouth. Soul’s eyes blinked and he immediately flushed bright red and cleared his throat. His heart rammed against his chest like crazy. “I-I… I like cats that is.” He didn’t dare to even come close to making eye contact with the mare as shivers were running through his entire body. He quickly walked over to his saddleback and dug up his laptop extremely clumsily. “A-Anyway, anything else I need to do?” “Rarity, I’m done!” Sweetie Belle’s voice called and soon the filly stood there in the kitchen doorway. “All the stuff is now in place.” Rarity, who’s ears were down as Soul closed himself off perked up and greeted Sweetie Belle with a forced raise of her nose and still a professional sounding tone, though it was growing more pleasant. “Excellent dear, well done.” “Wow Twilight! I almost can’t believe you managed to restore all this. It’s like I---” The filly’s head darted around the room as she walked into the kitchen just a tad. “Like I… never burned this… Soul!” She trailed off and lifted up a hoof at the stallion, walking over to him. Soul dipped his head to the side raising an eyebrow and an ear again. The filly placed a hoof against his side and leaned against him. “Everything good? Rarity isn’t getting on your nerves, is she?” Rarity’s eyes narrowed at the filly. Soul immediately took a big step away from the filly to make himself unreachable for her. Though a little distraction was just what was needed; inside he let out a humongous sigh of relief. “Yes sure, all good,” he said as he swiped the spot where Sweetie Belle touched him. Rarity stepped forward with her head and eyebrows up. “Soul, still about that cat of yours---” Soul crossed his hooves and opened one eye wide while glaring with the other focused on Rarity. “I’m not a crazy cat lady.” “Excuse me? No, I was going to ask about---” Rarity was cut off by the boutiques door hitting the bell. She immediately snapped to attention and a big smile grew to her face, she had already started to walk towards the boutique. “Ooh, a customer! Come Soul, you should spend time at the boutiques side as much as possible and observe.” Sweetie Belle, who had been sitting quietly to the side of the door cleared her throat. “Rarity! Can I go? I have a meeting with the crusaders and-” “Go ahead, sweetie! There’s no reason for me to occupy you anymore now that the damage is undone,” Rarity replied as she walked by her. The filly’s eyes lit up and she lept to her hooves hurrying through the door before Rarity. “Good, thank you! Bye Soul, it was great meeting you!” “Like---” The stallion barely got a single word out. The door already slammed closed. Soul pulled his hoof back and blinked. “...wise.” “I will watch the tea,” said Twilight as she walked over to the oven and sat down looking around the room hunkering down a little even if her eyes were glued to her book. The unicorns left the kitchen though Rarity looked back at her alicorn friend and gave a nodding smile. She walked out of the hallway speaking loudly with a hoof above her head. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique! How may I help you mister---” As she recognized the glum tan stallion that entered she dropped her hoof and relaxed. “Oh, Noble!” Hearing the familiar name Soul squeezed through the doorway so Noble was in sight. “Noble? Wow, that was quick.” The earth pony’s tone was low, soft and somber. “Hey there Soul, Rarity. I managed to find this place after all.” Rarity batted her eyes as she smiled and took a step forward to turn to the side. She extended a foreleg towards the hall. “I told you it wasn’t hard to find, now didn’t I? Welcome to my boutique, I had just started making tea.” Soul stepped forward out of the doorway and raised an eyebrow looking at Noble. “Hmm…” He walked forward looking closer and saw the glum look on his friends face. “Noble…” “Yes?” The stallion raised his head looking at Soul with glazed over eyes. The horned stallion turned his head and wrinkled his brow, speaking softly. “What’s wrong? That gloomy mood your face emits radiates all the way back to Canterlot.” Rarity placed a hoof on her cheek patting it gently. “Indeed, your face could use a few relaxing cucumber slices.” Without saying a word, Noble’s ears dropped along with his head and he let out a deep sigh. Putting a hoof on Noble’s shoulder Soul frowned, looking him in the eyes. “Hey, what’s going on buddy? Tell me.” “Well, you see…” Some light returned to his eyes when Soul’s words reached him. He looked up at the ceiling. “I… I saw a celestial maiden today; a true angel who captured my heart. But she---” Soul let out a big sigh of relief and swiped his forehead. “Whew! You threw me off guard there for a moment.” He turned to look at Rarity with a grin and small friendly laugh. “No worries, he’s completely fine here.” Noble’s eyebrows drew narrow. “Thanks for the support.” “Come on buddy, we both know this formula already.” He nudged the poet with an outstretched hoof. “How about after we get to our apartment, we order pizza and just kick back? Well, after unloading our stuff and straining our backs during it and such but… Well the point is you’ll have other thoughts before you even know it.” Soul turned his head calling back to Rarity. “Ponyville has pizza right?” Noble lifted a hoof and chuckled. “Soul, what kind of place wouldn’t have a pizzerias?” Soul bulged an eye at the earth pony leaning forward and angled his head upward. “Nothing’s obvious Noble. Nothing’s obvious.” He pulled back to a normal stance but put a hoof against his chest with his knee out. “And it’s on me by the way.” A faint smile appeared as a few heightened puffs of air came from Noble’s nose and he looked Soul in the eyes. “Alright then but no olives.” Soul gave him a piercing look with a grin. “Definitely olives.” Noble reached his head in and turned it to the side with a raised eyebrow. “With tomato sauce?” Soul pulled his neck back and formed a cross with his hooves, clenching his teeth. “Not in a million years.” “Alright. Two separate pizza’s then at a safe distance?” The earth pony turned his head leaning in the other way. He had to force his lips to stay together while he was ready to explode. “Deal,” Soul said and extended a hoof which was met by Noble’s which clopped together. Rarity nodded though she put a hoof on her cheek and wiggled the front of her body. “Oh I don’t believe there will be a need for you to get food tonight.” Soul rose an eyebrow at her. The artisan let go of her cheek and flipped her hoof at them. “You’ll see.” Twilight stepped into the room, her book was still open and in a light purple ray of magic off to the side of her. “If pizza is what you want in the future then I suggest Peynir’s. Pizza’s in Ponyville won’t get better than that.” With a flip of his ears at the new voice the earth pony quickly looked for its origin. When Noble saw the wings and horn together on the mare who entered the room his body stiffened up straight, his eyes widened, and his heart and breathing became slow and strong though inaudible. She looked the stallion up and down scrunching her left eye and raising her right eyebrow, though her expression softened as she began her introduction. “Noble Poet, right? I’m Twilight Sparkle, nice to meet you.” The earth pony was speechless and could only breath slowly as he stared at Twilight as if he was facing the end of the world, his legs trimmered as his muscles stayed firm. Twilight gave a mild frown and closed her book, and started walking toward Noble. “Are you… alright?” she said and waved a hoof. Noble instantly took a few steps back which caused Twilight to a stop and bring her hoof back as not to take another step. She turned to look at Soul with arched eyebrows and darted her eyes between him and Noble. Rarity waved a hoof before Noble’s eyes and then leaned to whisper to Soul. “Is it one of those… ‘starflight’ crushes like he got on me too back at Canterlot?” Soul shook his head and walked over then pointed at Noble’s eyes. “Nope, his pupils are too small and his body is far too tense, he has no smile and his eyes are wide, not mellow.” He gave an unexpectedly awkward laugh. “I suppose that’s just the so called shock reaction; he’s never seen a real princess before.” He turned to look at the earth pony. “Right buddy?” No words came from the earth Pony, which made Soul bump him with his knee. “Hey, snap out of it already.” Twilight smiled with gritted teeth and a bead of sweat on her forehead as she waved a hoof. “Don’t worry, it’s quite understandable. I’m kinda getting used to this... princess thing myself too.” Noble blinked and held his head low, rubbing his neck as his eyes scoured the ground. “I-I see…” “Oh my, the tea!” Rarity gasped as she heard the whistling sound and trotted to the kitchen. Moving out of the way for Rarity, Twilight walked closer to Noble and stood up straight looking him directly in the face. “Noble Poet it was, right?” Noble stood up straight pressing his legs together and saluting. “Y-Yes Princess, at your service.” His eyes darted to the hoof on his forehead which he immediately drew away and gave a bow instead. Twilight waved the book before her and shook her head rapidly with closed eyes and a half mouth smile with gritted teeth. “No, no no, please; just Twilight and formalities like that are unnecessary.” “R-Right,” Noble said and gave an embarrassed laugh, he quickly pulled his front hooves apart relaxing them and clenching his teeth in his mouth as he swallowed deeply, his head preventing Twilight from seeing it. Soul sported a grimacing grin on his face though he tried to make it go away. He dropped his flank to the ground and crossed his forelegs. “Soooo how was the search for a money source? Any luck?” Noble’s eyes bulged slowly as they shifted to Soul. “Soul… there’s a princess before us. Why are you so calm, I expected you to be as thrilled as I am?” Soul’s eyes narrowed and his lips drew to a point as he stared down Noble, until he took exhaled deeply and tapped his head. “Too big of a thing to properly compress and cause emotions for this small brain of mine.” The earth pony gave his friend a single wide eyed glare with a smile. He waved a hoof as he exclaimed, “Dang it Soul, give some emotion!” Soul didn’t speak a word, he just continued his stare at the earth pony without any expression whatsoever. “I might tell Mineral and be a bit braggy about it after a long period of convincing her I’m not lying but that’s about it.” Soul scrunched his eyebrows and looked up. “Maybe I should take a picture…” Noble sighed. “Fine.” He rolled his eyes then walked off to the side near a rack of dresses. He turned his head and looked out the window. Twilight vigorously shook her hoof as she hunkered down trying to back up. “Please. I think you might be making a bit too big of deal out of this…” “Sorry,” Noble replied looking down. The unicorn pranced through the door with a plate of tea filled cups gracefully following her. “Tea is ready!” Everypony took their cups when the levitating tray came to them. The unicorn stallion put the the under his muzzle taking in the aroma. “Thanks, this smells good.” Blowing on the tea he looked back at his fellow stallion. “Now um… about that job.” Rarity looked up at the clock on her wall. “Go ahead Noble, I need to start closing up my Boutique. Soul, mind lending a hoof? The sooner we close the sooner I get the pleasure of introducing you to your new home.” Soul nodded and trotted over to the door with her. “That’s what I’m here for.” Twilight raised a hoof as if she were in a classroom. “Mind if I... tag along? It’s one of the only parts of Ponyville I haven’t seen myself so it would be one more place to add to my ‘Places visited in Ponyville’ collection.” “Are you sure Spikey won’t mind, darling?” Rarity asked with a tilt of her head. The alicorn rolled her eyes happily with a smile, ending looking up and to the right. “I’m sure he’s just happy to get some alone time.” “If they don’t have anything against it, then of course you can come.” She looked at the duo with her nose in the air and eyebrows raised. Noble looked over at the stallion as Soul nodded and locked eyes with Noble. Noble turned back and nodded slowly at Twilight as well. “Perfect!” Rarity turned back at Noble. “So Noble, I sure hope your hard search has been fruitful.” The earth pony’s eyes eased, he hung his head and the edges of his lips turned up. “You… could say that.” A smile crawled up to Soul’s face and he placed a hoof on his chin. “I already like the sound of that.” “Well…” Noble’s voice trailed off as he continued looking at the ground happily. His tail began to wag. He lifted his head up smiling widely. “Guess who got a job... THIS PONY!” He beamed pointing toward himself with a hoof. Noble’s sudden burst caused everypony to leap backwards with their eyes bulging. Noble leapt at Soul placing his hooves on his friend's shoulders and even gave a little shake. “I GOT A JOB SOUL! Oh my gosh I got a job! I got a job on my first day, can you believe it?” “Judging by that hype it’s hard not to believe.” The unicorn’s eyes locked on Noble’s left hoof, on his right shoulder. He gently slid the stallion's hooves off before he continued. “But wow, that was extremely quick which bumps it up all the way to impressive. Some big congratulations are appropriate now!” Rarity clapped her hooves together. “Bravo. Most certainly! I told you there would be exceedingly high chances of you getting a job, now didn’t I? Where did you get it?” “Well, this is the interesting thing, since it happened through lots of coincidences. I met this pink pony who tried to get me a job from…” Noble stopped to think for a moment tapping his hoof rapidly. “Sugar corner, I think it was, or something like that; but got no luck there.” Rarity’s eyes lit up and raising a hoof she interjected, “Oh you met Pinkie Pie!” The earth pony’s eyes widened for a moment. “You know Pinkie too?” Placing a hoof over her lips Rarity drew her body in, leaning toward the tan stallion. “What do you mean ‘too’?” “You see, when I was about to leave, inside ran a filly in a hurry. Her sister had hurt her leg and I offered to bandage it. Before I bandaged it she was trying to pull a heavy carriage which she insisted that she needed to take back to her farm. I of course couldn’t allow her to do that so I pulled it back for her. As we talked it turned out she actually knows you. Her name is Applejack and thanks to her, here stands a new rancher.” Rarity and Twilight looked at each other, their eyes bulged. “Applejack gave you a job from her farm?” The stallion’s ears withered, looking at the two with widened pleading eyes he spoke, “Yes. You… You sound quite surprised...” As she brushed her hoof over the ground Rarity avoided eye contact. “Yes, I mean... you must’ve done something quite impressive for her to give you a job from their farm after just meeting you. She’s very… attentive, of who gets to work in her orchard.” “She was extremely stressed since there was nopony at the farm to do her work… So I, kinda offered to help. And after I was done… well she was pretty impressed. I did well I suppose…” he said as he lowered his head and dragged a hoof back and forth on the ground, only giving small glimpses up. Soul looked down at the earth pony with bold eyes and a confident, kind grin. “Hey, you got a job. In my world, that’s telling a lot.” Rarity cleared her throat and clapped her hooves on the ground. “Well ladies and gentlecolts, I’m afraid I need to ask you to step outside. It’s time for this Boutique to get her beauty sleep.” “Right.” Soul grabbed his saddleback and started digging through it making sure everything was there, and it was. He grabbed his water bottle and opened the door. “But really, be proud of yourself Noble.” “Absolutely. Getting a job from Applejack is a marvelous achievement,” Rarity exclaimed returning to face Noble and giving her head a soft tilt and a satisfying close eyed smile. “I concur with Rarity,” said Twilight with a hoof raised. After taking a step forward Rarity perked up, raising her head quickly and holding her cheek with a hoof. “Oh goodness, one thing before we go!” She walked to the door to the hallway and looked back. “Twilight, I completely forgot I still have that book I borrowed from the library. I’ll just get that and we can go.” Wild Soul nodded, walking to the front door with Noble following him. “We’ll be waiting outside.” Twilight and Rarity both gave them a nod and the stallion’s stepped outside. Noble looked up at the sky which caused his ears to drop once again and he let out a sigh. Soul sighed, shaking his head at the stallion. “Still holding up that mood huh?” While he still watched the sky he put a hoof over his heart then looked over at the unicorn. “I can’t help it; my heart is soaring for that pony.” “Yeah, Of course it is.” Soul’s lips drooped a little on the sides but he still gave the stallion an empty stare. Even though he didn’t believe it Soul patted the crush struck stallion on the back and gave him a warm smile. “It is!” Noble then stood up and walked a few paces, his eyes never left the ground. “I just… I just feel bad because… well because I almost scared her to death and I didn’t get a chance to apologize…” The grin Soul had immediately started to ease. He knew this was just puppy love but that it probably intensified because of the moment. “Oh, you… Well if she lives in ponyville I’m sure you get a chance sooner or later to make it up. What does she look like anyway?” Noble’s lips drew small and he looked up, hunkering his head down and smiling awkwardly. “Umm, well… The thing is. I never really saw her. She was just a shadowy figure throughout the sky. Eclipsed by the light of the heavens she came from.” The unicorn couldn’t help it. He smacked his face with his hoof with a heavy grunt. The stallion turned, glaring at his friend. “I’m serious! I just want to apologize, I wouldn’t ask for anything else. Except a perfect date, perfect marriage, perfect kids---” Noble’s eyes grew wide and he slapped his cheeks. “Oh no… what if…” Soul tilted his head. The earth pony rushed Soul, grabbing the unicorns shoulders and looking him right in the eyes. His face said it all, wide eyes, eyebrows angled outward, mouth drooped. “What if... what if she likes girls?!” Soul drew his neck back. “What?” He looked down at the stallion’s hooves and quickly brushed them off. The earth pony walked about in a circle ruffling his mane and forcefully brushing through it. “What if she thought I was a girl but isn't comfortable with the fact she likes girls and ran away because of that?!” “Uh… Noble--” The unicorn lifted a hoof to the side of his face. “Oh goodness I can’t imagine how it must feel for her! Leaving her husband like that simply because she thought I was a girl and being uncomfortable with herself! I should help her no matter what!” He kept pacing faster, his eyes darting back and forth as his mind raced. “Noble, I---” Soul followed Noble with his eyes and tried stepping forward each time he passed. As his pace quickened he shook his head with each idea and reached the point where he was practically shouting. “I tore her heart apart! I was so selfish, I’m the worst girlfriend ever! If I just got a chance I would make her comfortable and be the best girl for her there's ever been---!” Soul pulled out a plastic mug and his water bottle from his saddlebag. He poured some water in the cup immediately brought the water mug over Noble’s head and let the waterfall pour. The love struck stallion stopped and shook his head and pushed his mane aside trying to get water out of his eyes so he could see Soul. “That was… harsh.” Finally given an opportunity the unicorn cleared his throat. “Noble, you could give me a month and I still couldn't list down all the things that are wrong with that method of thinking there.” As the sound of hinges were heard Rarity and Twilight walked out of the Boutique, both wearing their saddlebags. Rarity pulled the door closed and made sure it was locked. “All set, we’re good to go.” Twilight looked at the dripping stallion. “What happened to you?” Noble simply gave huff and glared Soul. “Downpour... Rarity um... could I borrow a towel please?” The white mare sighed and pulled her keys out again but was stopped by the alicorn. “Hold on Rarity.” Twilight turned at Noble. “I think I know just the spell that can clean you up. You don’t mind do you Noble Poet?” Twilight’s horn glew magenta and a glow formed around Noble as warm air began swirling. In a matter of seconds he was dry and warm again. The earth pony exhales after breathing slowly through the drying and reached up feeling his mane and gently brushing it with a hoof ensuring it was dry throughout. “Wow, that is some A-class magic you have there. Thank you.” Twilight “Thank you for the compliment though it’s nowhere near ‘A-class’. Even a filly could cast it.” “Excellent. Thank you very much dear, that saved some time looking for a suitable towel. Now if you will follow me I will lead you to your home.,” Rarity chimed, passing the ponies and looking back ready to continue on. Twilight and Soul nodded and began moving but Noble’s eyes winced at the mention of “Suitable towel”. He kept his eyes narrow as he looked at the mare looking over her and looking back at her boutique. He returned them to normal and continued to move on. While they walked Twilight pointed out some of the buildings and store signs explaining a little more about Ponyville. “I really should give you both a proper tour of the town tomorrow in the light.” Her tone lowered and sharpened, “I at least think that’s a princess's duty.” Soul looked over at Noble who was looking around at the shops and homes. “That would be neat, though I’m sure we can find our way around. Thanks though.” Twilight flipped her head and tilted her head up smiling in regal fashion. “Oh it would be my pleasure. I should welcome you to Ponyville after all. So where are you from other than both from Canterlot? Sometimes I almost completely forget I’ve lived there myself.” She let out a chuckle. The pale stallion nodded and nudged his head, pointing at Noble. “We’re both from Eastern Canterlot.” Her eyes lit up. “Oh! I used to live around that part when I was a filly.” She slowed her pace to get next to Soul while she was talking to him. “I’m not willing to sound offensive but I’m just curious; what made you start searching for a tutor outside of Canterlot, Soul?” Soul tilted his head to the side, facing Twilight as he walked. His left eyebrow was raised. “What are you trying to say?” After she bit her lip for a moment she started again wincing and speaking carefully, “It’s just that, Canterlot is one of the biggest fashion cities in Equestria. Rarity has told me you haven’t lived there that long in general, so what made you not look for a tutor closer to home?” “My boss recommended not too. Said they have a mindset that is too… unorthodox,” Soul responded quickly and wavered as he spoke the word ‘unorthodox’. Rarity’s ears twitched and turned her head to the side calling back. “Pardon me but I would be lying if I claimed I wasn’t at least a little happy you never considered Canterlot” Soul shook his head. “I got no reason to disagree with that so far,” he said and gave a small laugh. “And it’s not like everypony gets tutored by an element of harmony soooo that’s a nice bonus, not that it affects my studies anyway.” At the words ‘Element of harmony’ Noble and Twilight’s ears twitched and they simultaneously became transfixed on the mare. Twilight quickened her pace gradually as to look natural as she got next to Rarity and nudged her then whispered, “Rarity, you told him?” “I might’ve mentioned a thing or two about it. It’s not like it’s ever been a secret, darling.” She flipped her wrist to discard the worry. “There was no harm done, just some simple introductions between teacher and student.” She replied slowing her pace as she looked forward with her head towards Twilight. Soul frowned and gave a little grin. “Simple and common, sure…” “Of course…” Twilight’s eyes transfixed back to Soul for a moment and then back to Rarity, she had become so tense that her wings tightened in. “That’s all?” Rarity looked Twilight in the eyes. “Nothing more, nothing less.” Noble turned quickly to the white mare with wide eyes. “W-What? You are an element of harmony?! A bearer of one of those things that can blast a huge rainbow?!” Twilight clenched her teeth looking around every pony. “I would rather drop the subject already! It’s not something you or Soul should be concerned about.” There was a silence for a moment and as Noble opened his mouth to speak again she cut him off before he began. “Oh is there anything… more you would like to tell about yourselves?” The stallions blinked at Twilight and then looked at each other not sure what to say for a moment, but eventually simply moved to talk about how they came to the conclusion on coming to Ponyville and some of the events that transpired as they transitioned there. Noble left out lots of details about his last boss and the true reason for being fired. After a few minutes of walking and talking in the starlight, lights started appearing throughout the town creating rather beautiful scene for them to look at. Many ponies were walking in the streets most likely on their way home since they had grocery bags with them. Maybe some were heading to eat out or maybe even to a theater. Though they didn’t get to admire it too long before they arrived at a path that seemed to lead out of all the civilization of Ponyville. It was surrounded by many trees though not enough to make it a real forest, but enough to cover things in the distance. The path unfortunately didn’t have any lights but since it’s not a hard trick for unicorns to create some, Twilight, Soul and Rarity easily lit up the path. They started walking again. There were fewer businesses and more homes, between the unicorns’ lights and the light of the mood the group could see how lights formed around the trees giving short shadows. It was a quiet and peaceful area that captured a mix of community and nature. It took them a good ten minutes of walking till they finally saw a glimpse of the house. More and more of it unraveled as the branches were spreading. There they now stood, before a white house with brown patterned framing, which was typical for Ponyville’s architecture. It had three floors and was shaped like an H horizontally split in half. Soul and Noble were aware of the fact that the house was a little old and in worse shape than the picture’s they saw suggested, but it still looked quite livable. Twilight looked at it and gritted her teeth a little. “So this is the place. Looks quite... private." Soul was nodding with a pleased smile. “A place with peace and quiet. I can hear my thoughts here. I don’t think there would’ve been any better environment than this.” Rarity drew up an eyebrow while she raised a leg turning around. “A place with lots of lovely neighbors who bring you a welcoming cake and always greet you?” Soul started digging through his satchel for his key. “Sounds like a nightmare,” he said with a grungy voice. The earth pony shook his head. “That’s Soul for you…” The ponies entered the lobby door. Like expected, the hallway and staircase looked quite old yet still looked sturdy enough that nopony would fall through it. Everything seemed solid as they stallions tested it. Everything was decorated with wood that gave a warm homey feel, which really helped the traditional atmosphere which was a real treat to Soul who loves warm colors. It could be seen how the house had still been taken care of since there was not even one dust particle in sight which was good but it also raised a question for Soul. He turned at Rarity as they proceeded up the stairs. “I can’t help but wonder what’s going on with the two other floors. Are they just… empty apartments?” Rarity shook her head and batted her eyes before speaking elegantly. “Storages, actually. I’ve gotten a chance to take a look inside of them when the owners have been bringing or taking stuff from them. I hear they come here quite rarely though.” The pale stallion leaned in twitching his ears. “But they did use to be apartments too, right?” Rarity nodded and smiled, raising a hoof presenting the interior of the apartments. "Sort of, this used to be a very popular motel for rich business ponies, but when the owner… passed away, it was turned into apartment building.” Twilight cut closing her eyes and putting a hoof on her chest as she spoke with her head held high. “But considering that Ponyville doesn’t have many tourist attractions or events. The motel didn’t last.” Soul looked around nodding at the designs inside, noting the dust and cobwebs from lack of use. “Still hard to believe such a big place would get such a high rent dropped just for not being popular.” Rarity hung her head and looked up at the poorly tept walls. “Yes, it’s a such a shame.” As the group stopped at the front door, Soul rose the key. The moment was there now, Soul pushed the key into the keyhole and heard how the small parts were clicking into their place. He turned the doorknob, as Soul and Noble stood on the tips of their hooves Rarity and Twilight sat back. With a final click, Soul reached up and turned the door handle opening it slowly. Before they even got a chance to reach for the lights they flicked on and a loud bang erupted and streamers flew at the stallions’ faces. Soul clenched his chest and Noble jumped as the curly haired Pink mare lead the group of ponies filling their apartment yelling, “Surprise!”. 17. HousewarmingWith a final click, Soul reached up and turned the door handle opening it slowly. Before they even got a chance to reach for the lights they flicked on and a loud bang erupted and streamers flew at the stallions’ faces. Soul clenched his chest and Noble jumped as the curly haired Pink mare lead the group of ponies filling their apartment yelling “Surprise!”. Twilight and Rarity shouted with them and other ponies flew through the doors and from under the dark stairway seeming to appear out of thin air. As the stallions’ eyes darted around almost having heart attacks Noble grabbed his friend by the shoulders. “Attack attack attack! Soul, lasers now!!!” He jumped up on two hooves aiming Soul at the ponies at the doorway. The unicorn who was jerked around instinctively cried out. “Get off me I’m not a fricking weapon Noble!!” “You’re my Soul gun!” Barked the earth pony who was ready to take his friend and run back to the Canterlot. “WAIT!” Rarity jumped in the way spreading her legs so Soul’s horn was pointed at her. “This is just a party dears. No need to worry,” She reassured as she dropped to all fours again. “Oh...” The stallions looked at each other as a silence filled the room. Chuckles and whispers could be heard here and there. Now that the moment passed Soul looked up at Noble who held him by his side. Soul’s eyes narrowed. “Noble…” The earth pony understood quickly and set him up right, hunkering down and showing glistening sympathetic eyes as he backed up. “... You have a nice soft handle. For what it’s worth.” “Aww,” Twilight said with a wide smile. “You give the most unique compliments...” Soul didn’t get a chance to think of anything else to say or do other than make a face where his ears went down and back, eyes narrowed and shifted away, and his mouth slowly narrowed at the comment till the Pink mare interrupted. Pinkie’s eyes widened and glowed like stars at the sight of the tan stallion. “Noble?! Oh my gosh it’s you! I never would’ve imagined you were with the pony I get to throw this party for too!” She then turned to look at Soul. “Hi I’m Pinkie Pie!! And you must be Wild Soul! I’ve heard ALL about him from Rarity too. Nice to meet you and BOY am I lucky that you two live in the same apartment and I could fix this up for two in such a short time.” The horned stallion drew back and attempted to maintain his personal space around the approaching Pink menace. “Umm… Thanks though--” Pinkie Pie didn’t even let Soul finish his statement. “Come on! Let’s get this party started!” She grabbed the unicorn by the forelegs and pulled him by the waist inside. The moment Pinkie grabbed Soul’s forelegs he jumped back and twisted around as she grabbed his waist and dragged him inside. He slammed his hooves against the floor dragging them and shouting, “NO! NO! SOMEPONY HELP ME! NOBLE! EVIL!!! AHHHHH!” “It’s ok Soul!” The poet quickly turned around and looked at all the wide eyed confused ponies. “No pony needs to drag me in.” He squinted and looked around them particularly making eye contact with Rarity and Twilight. He backed into the room turning around and letting the ponies in the hall follow him even if some of them looked like they didn’t know if they should just leave. Inside Soul had quieted down a bit but was still trying to get away from the pink mare’s grip the best he could without any results though. All he could grab onto was the floor, which he tried to hold onto like he was being dragged to destruction. The pink mare was laughing as she held on tight pulling him through the long hallway and into the center of the kitchen which was the main room. “Wow, isn’t he such a party animal! Pinkie Pie approves!” After making his way through the crowd of ponies in their hallway and kitchen, he was a little uneasy with the absolutely overwhelming group of new ponies in his home but pushed through them and tapped Pinkie on the shoulder. “Pinkie, uh… Please, you should let him go.” “Okie dokie!” Just like that she released the stallion, pushing up and keeping her forelegs stretched out with a wide tooth smile. Immediately when Pinkie’s grip loosened Soul sprung right up and threw himself to the crowd, trying to head for the door. Once Pinkie put her hooves down on the ground she hiked a hoof across in front of her.“That’s the spirit! Throwing himself right into the action!” She put her hoof back on the floor and nudged Noble toward the crowd. “Noble, you go too and enjoy the party to your heart’s content! There are sweets all over to pick from!” “Thank you, Pinkie…” Noble said and took a deep breath then looked out turning his lips up at the whole scenario but he couldn’t help but feel bad. A big welcome party was thrown for them which was pretty much guaranteed to make Soul die inside. He started scanning the party and noticed the sweets on the counters and tables and thought, ‘Maybe there would be something Soul would like.’ Soul had finally made it through the crowd and ran outside the hallway passing both Twilight and Rarity and shut the door behind him; both of which watched and were baffled as he passed them. As he stood there in main hallway he took a moment to slow down his breath and calm down from the shock. He held his temples and rubbed them trying to make the beating go away. He let out a long but quiet groan as he slammed himself against a wall. “Did all that really just happen....?” he thought to himself. “Soul?” Rarity’s voice was heard as she stepped to the hallway, closing the door behind her. Soul immediately pushed himself off the wall and brushed off his side, checking over it to ensure it is clean. Rarity’s expression eased, her eyes softened and a silverish smile grew on her lips. “Are you alright darling? That was… quite the dramatic act you pulled back there.” The stallion took a minute to cool off and think before he spoke. He tapped one forehoof with another as he spoke. “Yeah, quite… well I was quite overwhelmed by the surprised. I suppose you were referring to this back at the boutique?” Rarity nodded as her ears dropped and mane losing it’s luster. “Indeed. My intensions were to make you feel welcome and show you ponies here would accept you with open hooves, but…” She gave a glance at the door and back at her apprentice. “Well, that wasn’t quite what I was expecting from you.” Soul’s tone became more blunt as he stepped toward his teacher. “You planned this the whole time?” Rarity gave yet again another nod. “Pinkie is the best party organizer I’ve ever had the pleasure to know and I thought if anyone could make silk feel welcome among satin, it would be her. Even if she gets quite… personal with some matters.” Soul lowered his head without saying a word. It could be seen on his face how he didn’t know what to say. Every part of it was twitching as if he didn’t know what to express. A smile? A frown? Something in between? Once again the door was opened and this time into the hallway walked Noble who was carrying a plate of cupcakes and cookies with him. “Soul, you absolutely need to taste these! I guarantee when you try them you will be spending the rest of the evening at the serving table!” The stallion shook his head at first but as he looked closer at the morsels his eyes widened and he leaned forward. “Is that… white chocolate topping?” “Yep, You’re favorite, right?” Noble nodded and extended the hoof with the treats. Upon taking the sweets and taking a bite of each Soul’s eyes widened further and his mouth stopped chewing. “Wow… This is good.” “I know, right?” He gave one of his better forced smiles, turning up the edge of his lips with deep caring eyes. “Soul, please come back inside. I know all of this; especially that initial surprise and time of being dragged inside isn’t really the kind of thing you like, but I am sure they all meant well.” “Of course, I never thought they didn’t, I just…” The pale stallion looked at the door, a frown mixed with a slightly elevated lip and glare overtook his face. “There’s a whole bunch of ponies that I don’t know, and they are in our house. I find that rather creepy.” Noble raised an eyebrow and lightened his toon. “Says a stallion whom ideal place to live is in the middle of nowhere.” “I find that rather odd myself, but I respect your… mindset.” Rarity interjected, raising a hoof as she spoke then brought it down walking closer with proper posture and pose. “Come now Soul, this is just half of the ponies Pinkie would normally invite to her parties. This is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know more of Ponyville’s ponies. And I promise to calm Pinkie down.” The tan stallion looked at Rarity then back at his friend and put his hooves together. “Please?” Soul lowered his eyes again at the ground. He thought for a good moment about what to say. Just the thought of him going back there made him shiver and actually going talk to somepony was unnerving. Especially after the scene he caused. The pink menace didn’t make it any easier. Rarity took a deep breath and sympathized. “If you insist we can ask everypony leave---” Soul’s ears perked. “No, I---_” He would be lying if he said that didn’t sound tempting, but what would it make him look like in the ponies eyes who worked hard for this for their pure will if he demanded that? An ungrateful brick. The artisan turned to the door, when she placed a hoof on the doorknob she looked back. “I’ll go check on Twilight. Come if you feel like it.” She nudged her head at Noble asking him to help before she disappeared through the doorway. With a nod to Rarity Noble tapped a hoof against his fellow stallion’s. “Soul, I know you absolutely hate big parties like this, but they---” He sighed. “Fine, I really don’t like it but I will stay. They worked hard on it and meant well, I appreciate that a lot. They couldn’t have known. Beside… this isn’t a party just for me, it’s yours too and I don’t want to ruin it.” “Exactly. It just this one evening; and it will be good to know some ponies from around town. Some from stores, I’m sure it will help you at the boutique and besides, any pony that works at a coffee shop will see you a lot anyway.” He chuckled, sitting up and staring kindly at Soul as his tail started wagging. The unicorn looked up from the floor, he kept his legs tucked in and next to one another as if he could shrink down and disappear. “Right, I’ll just try to make it through and that’s it. Just if you could… play along. I’ll try to act like it was just a temporary shock.” Noble rolled his eyes. “You’re such a Soul,” he said and opened the door filling the hallway with noise of ponies talking. Soul’s eyes narrowed at the comment though he still stood and took a deep breath before following his friend with careful steps. As they entered back inside, Soul’s heart was beating like crazy at the sight of crowd, though a small relief was that nopony seemed to be paying attention to him. Rarity was the first to greet them formally. She walked up with two cups of punch and gave them to each of the stallions. “Thank goodness, that didn’t take long.” With a ruffle of his mane Soul took his drink along with Noble and explained, “Yeah sorry about earlier… I by no means dislike what you have set up for us, I’m just not used to this so it was a rather big surprise but i’m good now.” Rarity leaned in and whispered just loud enough for Soul to hear her but quiet enough for the chatter to cover it up from others. “Oh, that is a big relief. I don’t know what I would’ve said to all these guests if you demanded they leave. It would’ve been a catastrophe.” Soul shook his head. “No worries anymore.” He took a sip of his cup and raised it up giving an overly eager, corny smile. “S-So um… Let’s get this party started or… something like that that,” he said and took another sip of his drink and passed the mare as he took quick steps towards the serving table with the white chocolate goodies. Noble gave Rarity a warm smile and nod as he sipped his juice and followed his friend over to the buffet. Just a few minutes later Twilight made her way over to the two newcomers and cleared her throat gaining their attention. “This apartment of yours extremely intriguing. This was definitely a good choice.” Soul waited and spoke after he finished the bite of cupcake he was on. “Cheap and big equals ideal.” “You sure are right about that,” She continued not allowing the short comment to phase her as she put a leg on the counter. “Anyhow, there was something I wanted to say as a welcoming gesture.” Noble leaned in around Soul to get a better view and allowing it to be easier to hear.“We’re listening” “I’m sure I’m speaking for everypony here; I hope you feel welcome here in Ponyville. If there is one thing you should know, it’s that we don't judge ponies here, by race, cutiemark, past or,” Twilight’s glances back and forth between the two stallions with a gentle smile as a small blush rose onto her face., “Who their special some pony may be.” Soul and Noble looked at each other with bulged eyes. Noble burst out laughing and almost fell over, while Soul almost choked on his cupcake. Twilight blinked. “What did I say?” “We’re not gay,” said Soul who’s eyes and mouth were narrowed so straight they could practically been used as rulers. Twilight’s face turned bright red and her heart jumped to her throat. “O-oh... my bad. Carry on.” She immediately hunkered down and backed away biting her lip and hanging her head. Noble was almost in tears on the counter and held his sides, trying to compose himself as Soul gave him glares. He patted the unicorn on the back. “Well, I still love you buddy.” Soul rolled his eyes and he slapped the hoof off though he couldn’t help but let out a little laugh too. “Let’s pretend you never said that.” Almost an hour had passed by. Soul had stuck with the plan of staying aside and simply eating the sweets and talked with Noble and Rarity, but avoiding talking to the unknown ponies. He even tried to draw back toward his room to work but that proved to be quite impossible. Noble on the other hoof took the new acquaintances quite openly and had struck up conversations many times already with the help of Pinkie Pie. Noble did pull Pinkie aside in order to explain Soul’s actions to her. At first Pinkie couldn’t believe the reason was Soul was ‘tender’ to touch and even tried to go and hug him to break the ice, which wasn’t exactly the best idea and nearly caused another scene as they ran circles around Noble for at least five minutes. Luckily, Noble managed to convince Pinkie to drop it and they simply shook hooves with the mare agreeing to keep out of his comfort zone. The party flowed again and as it did, everypony was starting to calm down and the party was changing from noisy and bright to a calm and nice association. Everypony had introduced themselves to both Noble and Soul, at least in passing and had broken off into their own social groups. Regardless of Soul’s efforts to stay on the sidelines, his attitude still seemed to spark some ponies interest and caused them to come over and join his company. To every question he answered with painfully simple answers which made the ponies lose interest quickly. Noble looked up as the clock to see that it was a few minutes after 9. He made his way through the crowd of ponies still socializing in their apartment. The only pony that seemed to notice him was Soul and at times like this Noble appreciated being able to be overlooked. Pouring a glass of water in place of juice this time Soul finally enjoyed a moment to himself, quickly looking away as not to direct attention to his friend. Noble snuck out the front door and made his way out of the apartment. He looked up at the sky and smiled. “Excellent, perfectly clear.” He looked around and as he was reassured that he was alone quickly took a left toward the shadows of the building. As the party went on Soul felt a need to take himself even further off to the sideline and simply did what he felt was best, he got on his laptop. While he was on it, Twilight couldn’t help her curiosity since there were a pile of questions that popped into her mind since she first saw it. Rarity also joined the conversation as she heard the subject and sat listening for her opportunity to join in. As he sat and tapped on his laptop Soul talked with Twilight and Rarity more than he had spoken to anypony else through the entire party. “...And that’s pretty much all the basics on how a laptop operates and what we designers use it for.” Twilight’s eyes were glued to Soul throughout his explanation. “Wow, that is truly an amazingly advanced piece of equipment. I can understand why you designers find them so useful. Such a complex yet simple way to use and harnesh magic’s potential.” With a flip of her hair the artisan captured Twilight and Soul’s attention. “I just wish I would’ve acquire one myself sooner. Organizing and keeping in touch with the fellow professionals has gotten so much simpler for me.” The stallion gave a nod. “Yes, it’s a neat little helper.” Pinkie bounced over to the ponies her face stuffed with cupcakes “Hiya group! What do ya say, would it be a perfect time to let ponies go home and get a good night sleep?” Soul looked up with glazed over, flat eyes then looked at the clock. “It’s past 9pm already, the perfect time would’ve been an hour ago.” The pink mare giggled and raised a hoof to pat Soul on the head but paused before it made contact. She put her hoof on the table instead. “Well you should’ve said so silly!” From the window that Twilight was sitting by trying to get some fresh air without leaving the party the shadowy figure walking through the dark and looking around moving to the back of the apartments. Being an alicorn princess Twilight knew she should at least give this a closer look. She made her way over to Pinkie Pie and leaned in to whisper. “Pinkie, I need for you to keep the party going a little while longer, I saw something outside and I want to investigate it a little.” “Okey dokey artichoky!” Pinkie said saluting with her chest puffed out before she rushed to the side of the room and started yelling for ponies attention as she prepared to sing a party song. Twilight rolled her eyes while smiling but took the moment all the same to sneak out the front door and make her way outside. As she reached the front of the apartment complex she began slowing her breathing and slowly crept along, trying not to make a single sound. She peeked around the corner and her eyes widened. Noble Poet stood in the shadows looking up at the sky smiling with glaring squinted eyes slowly writing things down on a notepad. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he wrote. The sight shocked Twilight and she knew she had to try to get a closer look. She leaned in straining her ears though as she put a hoof on the building it made a small creak. The stallion jumped up and tossed the notepad and pencil in his bag in one motion. He stood there tense and concentrating, scanning for the source of the sound but the mare had already darted behind the building and was shaking as her heart pounded in her chest. After a moment of looking while standing in his spot Noble pulled out his note pad one more time and looked up at the sky. Twilight peeked around the corner after a moment and caught him just in time to see him make his final notes and nod with a smile and heard him utter a single word, “Understood.” As Noble put his bag back on and made his way toward Twilight she quickly pulled back behind the building and with a spark of magic puffed herself back just inside the front doors to the apartment. She could barely grasp what she had just seen. Suddenly she realized that she had to think of something to explain why she was there. Noble rounded the corner and reached the front door. Twilight quickly opened it for him with a wide smile and a bead of sweat on her forehead. “Noblee, Hi! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Come on in, Rarity was just looking for you.” She gave a forced laugh as he passed through the door she held open for him. She looked up at the sky and turned her head a few times trying to see anything out of the ordinary but was only disappointed by seeing the full moon and the twinkling stars. “Thank you. Sorry, I- er, I just needed some fresh air. I can’t get enough now that I’m here in the countryside.” Noble chuckled awkwardly as well. Twilight closed the door and walked behind the stallion to the door. “Yeah, totally…” Noble put a hoof on the door handle and looked directly into Twilight’s eyes for a moment with a fiery stair. “I hope everything is going to be alright here.” Twilight stared back without a word matching the stallion’s intensity. “I hope so too.” As the stallion opened the door they both returned to the party and Twilight lead him to Rarity. “Rarity! Nice to see you again; I have Noble, just like you wanted!” She winked at the unicorn and darted her eyes to the side toward Noble. “I… Oh of course! How could I umm, ever forgive myself if I didn’t talk to Noble abouttt… his time in Canterlot, come darling you simply must tell me more about the lovely time you had there. I’m sure it was just splendid,” Rarity replied gritting her teeth in a smile as she darted her eyes at Twilight inquiringly. Noble looked back and forth between the two mares. “Umm.. . I’d rather not talk about Canterlot if you don’t mind. It isn’t exactly full of great memories for me. I’ll be back, I need to put up my saddle bags in my room. Pardon me.” He nodded his head down and made a way to his room. As the party dwindled down further with ponies wishing the stallions well and welcoming them to their new home, it wasn’t long before it was just Pinkie Pie, Twilight, Rarity, and the two stallions. They split between sitting in chairs around their kitchen table and walking around gathering cups, plates and other articles of trash through the apartment. Pinkie Pie broke the silent work, “I’m sorry for scaring you like that Wild Soul. I’ve never met a pony that hates touching as much as you seem to.” Soul stood back, ensuring he was not within reach of the mare and rubbed his foreleg with his other one. “No worries, just please don’t try to kill me like that again.” With a huff Noble struck his forehead with his hoof. “That means he is fine. He just needs to get used to you more first Pinkie.” He puts his hoof down and looks at her with a small smile. “Thank you Pinkie. You are a great, friendly pony. Thank all of you, this has been a great welcoming party.” Pinkie lept up and smiled widely. “It was my pleasure!” She inhaled deeply and opened her mouth as if she was about to begin singing when a magic aura surrounded her pulling her back. “That’s alright Pinkie. I think they get the picture.” The alicorn stepped forward. “Are you sure you don’t need any help cleaning up? We didn’t mean to leave it too messy or you.” The pale stallion sat up, then waved a hoof. “No no. We can take it from here. It’s late already so we can unpack and clean up tomorrow.” “Alright, if you need any help you know where to find us,” Twilight assured as she turned to walk out the door with a wave. “I think we can all enjoy a good night’s sleep and may meet again tomorrow. Soul, simply join me at my boutique around 10am tomorrow.” Rarity got in the last word by staying behind the others. “Of course. Thank you very much for all your help Rarity.” Soul bowed his head and waved goodbye to the mares. Noble looked up from a box he just opened. “Yes, thank you for all your help Rarity. Good night.” The mare disappeared from sight, closing the door with her magic as Soul gave a final wave and as the door closed he immediately took a big breath and let it out, walking over to a couch and throwing himself on it. “Finally over.” “Are you alright?,” Noble asked while he pulled out a kettle and poured some water in it, then dug out some teabags. Soul but a hoof over his heart and laid still for a moment as he stared off at yhe roof. “I feel like I’m having embolism in my heart, brain, and lungs, but I’ll live.” Noble sighed and shook his head. He put a hoof down on the counter and slowly turned his head to look at the unicorn with a narrow mouth and eyebrow extended. “Can you really say you didn’t enjoy it at least a little bit?” Soul shook his head. “No.” He looked at the last few sweets that were left on the coffee table. He picked up a cookie and examined it, closing and eye and twisting his hoof to look around it. “I loved the sweets. Did that Pinkie Pie really bake all of them by herself?” As he heard the question, his expression changed; his lips turned up and he brought a hoof up to his side, moving it as he spoke. “Probably! We should really visit Sugarcube Corner soon so you can taste more.” Soul threw the cookie into his mouth. “That’s a deal.” He stretched and let out a long yawn, then sat up to look at Noble, laying his chin on the armrest. “Though I don’t get how in Equestria you constantly manage to meet ponies who go crazy one way or another.” With a chuckle as he took a sponge and began scrubbing the counter down Noble turned his head a smidge toward the stallion. “I have one as my ‘bosom buddy’ and now as my roommate so I think I might have a knack for that.” Soul rose an eyebrow and twitched his ears up. “I’m crazy?” Noble shifted his eyes to the ground away from Soul and with his wet hoof still rubbed the side of his head. “Umm.. well you are Mr. ‘I hate touching and jump on the walls when ponies touch me’.“ He shook and jumped as the cold water hit his neck. “Compliment taken,” Soul said with a smug smile giving a chuckle. “But yeah I got a bit ‘crazy’ I admit that. Pinkie couldn’t know I hate this stuff.” “Yes, she’s a nice pony overall. She kinda remind me of Truffle.” He looked up squinting and looking out past the ceiling. “Maybe they’re relatives.” Soul chuckled and stretched extending his hooves over his head then falls over onto the couch. “I wouldn’t be surprised. And see? You do attract crazy ponies.” “Maybe…” The earth pony took the hand towel from the stove and wiped his hooves dry then the counter. Soul stretched again but left a leg up as he spoke. “Though this day has been pretty crazy for me too.” “Oh?” Noble’s ears twitched and he turned quickly looking at Soul out of the corner of his eye. He continued to clean up throwing away plastic cups and plates before he pulled up a cushion and sat across the coffee table from his friend. “Well you see, the first thing I ended up doing was help rescue a cat from burning kitchen that Rarity’s little sister had caused which naturally triggered my pyrophobia. Then saw a crowd of pegasi putting the flames out with a huge rain cloud, one of them wanted to fly me up high and let me free fall and as icing on the cake, the cat scratched my face. Plus I met a Princess.” The stallion was wide eyed through his entire explanation. Nobles eyes bulged and he immediately leapt up and ran over to the couch, landing next to the stallion getting close staring him in the eyes. “What?! Oh my gosh are you alright?!” Soul glanced his friend with a grin and raised eyebrows, backing his head away. “Kinda late to ask that now.” He paused and backed up looking down and composing himself. “True I guess. My day wasn’t that… exciting, but it was rich. I learned some of the lay out of Ponyville, met some really nice ponies, got a big gift basket from Pinkie with all these good looking sweets---” His pupils narrowed and his heart sank in his chest. In a flash he gave a great jump on the couch and grabbed the sides of his head. “Holy buckets, the gift basket! I left it at Applejack’s farm!” “Wait what?” Before Noble had a chance to run out Soul’s magic slammed the door shut and locked it. “Noble, It’s pitch black out there and ponies must already be preparing for sleep.” Noble bit his hoof. “But but… that gift basket is something Pinkie Pie specifically picked out for me at Sugar Cube Corner. I must get it! I don’t want her thinking I don’t care about it.” His eyes trembled. Soul shook his head and this time headed for his room grabbing a few boxes with him. “Don’t worry I’m sure no pony thinks that. It’s an honest mistake I’m sure. That or they will see that memory of yours sooner or later and understand.” He chuckled and as he opened the door, a small smile crawled to his face as he saw the bed was made. “You can get it tomorrow, I’m sure they noticed it there and took it for safe.” “True. I guess you are right.” With a sigh Noble nodded to the stallion. “I suppose i’ll just take a shower and go to bed.” Placing the boxes in the room, Soul grabbed the top one and opened it, revealing a whole bunch of pencils on top of a few framed pictures. “And I’ll fix up my room and get some shut eye too. Let’s unload all the boxes tomorrow, I don’t have the energy to spare for the whole apartment and it’s late anyway.” “True. Anyway, where was I with my story…?” Noble tucked his head in, closing his eyes and rubbing his head. The unicorn carefully dug the pictures and started scanning for a place for them. “You left somewhere around Sucarcube Corner.” “Oh right, thank you.” Noble tapped his hoof on the ground as he gathered his thoughts. “So after that I came across Applejack and her sister, I did forget to mention how beautiful Applejack is but she doesn't seem interested and was pretty clear on that.’ His ears drooped for a moment but he continued. “And you pretty much know the rest, got the job, saw the pony of my dreams, and of course… well you know met the Princess.” When Noble said ‘the Princess’ Soul sat up wide eyed and turned giving a stern look. “You know, I couldn’t help but notice how you acted around her. All that stiff saluting and just being distant.” The earth pony hunkered down and crossed his front legs. “Do we really need to talk about it…?” Soul immediately rose his hooves and shook. “Alright, sorry I mentioned it...” Rarity and Twilight were walking home down the dimly lit path. Both of them had their horns glowing with magic lights. Pinkie pie had already gone ahead of them and left the two alone. Twilight cleared her throat. “Those stallions seemed quite alright. I bet you are excited to begin teaching tomorrow.” “I certainly am! Soul’s first day here might not have been the most… uneventful, but I’m sure he will like it here especially under my supervision. He has some interesting viewpoints when he talks more.” She walked closer to twilight and spoke in a soft tone. “Don’t tell anyone I said this but he is so downright adorable I could just adopt him! He’s determined but still constantly has that essence of a lost little puppy. That just makes me want to pinch his cheeks!” Twilight held her lips together and ran her hoof across them mid walk as if sipping them closed. “My lips are sealed.” She kept walking while her head was turned toward the unicorn and winced as she continued. “Though… is it just me or does Noble seem a bit… off to you?” “You mean when you saw him ‘talking to stars’ or that you thought they were a couple?” Rarity said in a soft upbeat mood. The alicorn flushed. “T-The first one!” Trying to save herself she moved her mouth with nothing more than ‘Uhh..’ or ‘Umm…’ escaping her lips. She shook her head and changed subjects. “Yes, didn’t you think that was really weird? It was like he was conversing with somepony.” Rarity shook her head gently as they moved into the light. “Oh Twilight he might’ve just been talking to somepony close to him that has just… passed away. I’ve done that too, it’s not uncommon. He is a poet you know, or he could even have been writing a poem.” The mares cut off their light spells and Twilight stopped, causing Rarity to follow. “Maybe, but beside that, don’t you think he has been pretty distant around me?” As they paused Rarity sighed hanging her head and turned toward Twilight, standing up straight. “You are a Princess now darling, it can obviously cause some tension in ponies who don’t know you. It’s not like you can walk around nowadays without getting a glance or two.” “Maybe, I still have a lot to get used to after all…” She spread her wings and looked at them gritting her teeth. Rarity gave her an empathic smile and patted her back and tried to begin walking again. Twilight started again, stopping Rarity in her tracks again. “Though there’s this one thing that’s been bothering me…” “Let it out darling.” Rarity’s attention was on Twilight but her lips were narrow and has a slight downward curve. Twilight dreaded carefully, feeling uneasy and sporting wide downward sloped eyes. “When Soul mentioned the elements of harmony… You told me you just told him how you are the element of generosity but I just want to make absolutely sure you didn’t say anything else that might… cause an epidemic.” The white mare became animated and shook a hoof feverishly. “Oh no no no no, of course not Twilight! I would never be that reckless.” Twilight nodded and put a hoof over her chest as she looked toward the mountain and Canterlot. “I know, good. I’m just extremely nervous. Imagine what kind of chaos it might cause if ponies knew the elements of harmony are gone. They are… or were the most important defense we had.” “Twilight, I can give you a Pinkie promise that I will keep my lips sealed.” The mare put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder and smiled with a nod. “Good to know Rarity. We can go home now. It’s been a long day.” Twilight nodded and both mares turned and walked along the path until they split to their own paths. 18. PlansSoul sat by candlelight and tapped the cold stone floor to ensure it was solid, his IM book was open and the name Mineral Tint was centered at the top. He pulled a quill and ink closer, dipping it then began to write. "Hey Mineral, are you awake?” It didn’t take long till a response appeared on the page. “Hey Soul! Not a chance. Just got back home from dinner with Olivia and Truffle, and getting asthma medicine.” Soul blinked and gave a hum to himself then wrote his response, “You’re friends with them nowadays?” The page lit up again adding additional text, “We got to know each other better after you and Noble left for Canterlot. Those two are a riot! Anyway, what’s up, sis? This is the first time YOU contacted me outside of work.” “I need somepony to talk to,” Soul wrote but as a thought hit his mind, he cracked a small smile and erased a bit, replacing it with, “I need somepony to brag to.” The text vanished again and soon a laughing smiley appeared on the paper, soon following by more, “I’m listening. If it’s gonna be as interesting as the princess story, I need to start looking forward to these c: ” Soul smiled and moved the quill quickly, “It kinda is.” he wrote faster as his only regret with this was the fact that he wouldn’t be able to see Mineral’s face as she heard the news. “You will never guess where I'm sleeping tonight and with whom.” A moment passed before dots appeared for a moment and were quickly replaced by words. “OH MY GOSH, YOU AND NOBLE FINALLY HOOKED UP?! :3333” The stallion paused, looking at the page with a flat expression. He gathered himself and scratched in his reply, “Seriously? Where did that come from?” The dots appeared on the page and quickly changed, Soul could practically hear Mineral’s voice in his head. “You two are just so shippable. Yes, that’s a word now, sis. Plus I get personal kicks out of it.” Giving a sigh and a shake of his head he dipped his quill in the ink and furthered along. “...Have you been drinking?” The penmanship in the book became slightly larger and worse. “A bit… But it’s a great icebreaker to the next level!” Soul could only close his eyes and open them slowly, although his eyebrows twitched he stopped and couldn’t help a small turn of his lips as they moved toward his ears. “Can I expect this for the future…?” Large letters filled the entirety of the page in the quickest reply yet. “Heck yes!” Soul paused for a moment, blinking at the page. “Okay…” “And I’m not ashamed even one bit!” Her writing was still large but dots appeared under the text. The stallion read the text and exhaled slowly. "She could've really used that amethyst mug...", Soul thought to himself. The font shrunk this time and was slower as Mineral had started to compose herself. “But now seriously, what’s going on with you?” “Well, let’s say this day has been quite eventful which lead me and Noble to a place where your lungs would fail immediately and where a risk of getting killed seems to be pretty casual.” He looked at what he wrote and drew a line under Mineral’s name to send it over to her. Mineral sent over three dots during her pause, “Soul, what in Equestria have you gotten yourself into?” “Make yourself comfortable, this is gonna be long… Try to stay awake and remember it all.” He dipped his quill and lifted it high. Before Wild Soul could say anything else Mineral’s text appeared, “ROFL, don’t promise a mare more than you can offer.” Soul smacked his forehead and hung his head giving a long groan. A gentle breeze blew through a lavender decorated window, scattering a stack of papers across the room but they didn’t make it very far till they were nipped up by a blue magic. In a flash, Rarity went to close the window and took the papers back to their original place on the table. ‘’Ugh… my head! Why can’t I come up with anything! I should already start making this commission this week!’’ Rarity said, rubbing the sides of her aching forehead. She tapped her head with a pen before putting it on the table and sitting down on her beanbag chair. Soul, who sat on the other beanbag chair across the room, turned his gaze toward Rarity stretching his legs as he yawned. “At least it’s just one commission. Try advertising agency life; multiple commissions with short deadlines is not uncommon.” He let out a long, high pitched sigh. Rarity turned around leaning at the table with a sigh. “Oh believe me darling, for a pony who has numerous important contacts like myself, it’s nothing unseen either. Yet it’s always just as stressful.” Soul levitated a red thread spool over to him and gave a smile as he furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t doubt that one bit.” Rarity nodded and put a hoof over her mouth, letting out a yawn and then rubbed the side of her head by her left eye. “At least I can appreciate the peace and quiet now that my little sister and her friends aren’t here meddling.” She stretched and stood up, putting a hoof over her head. “This simply cannot be healthy. I really need a cup of tea and fresh air. How about you?” Rarity asked as she walked over to the door. The stallion frowned as he yawned again. “No, not tea. Coffee,” he barked but immediately shook his head and stood up, putting down a piece of fabric he had. “I mean, if it’s possible to have coffee, that would be uh, nice.” He rubbed his neck and followed Rarity downstairs. “Sorry, I’m not the best in the morning...” Rarity looked at Soul, smiling, “Oh that’s quite alright. That’s nothing compared to some of the… uhm, episodes, I’ve had--- Actually, nevermind you don’t want to know!” She forced out a light laugh as they entered the kitchen and she went to turn the stove on. “Though I am curious to know if there’s something else causing your current sour mood?” Soul sat at the table and leaned against his hoof, “Well, if you have never met a pony who hates mornings so much he throws an alarm clock through his friends window, well here’s the first one.” The artisan turned to look at Soul, her eyes and mouth gaping in a gasp. “Excuse me...?” Soul nodded and looked out of the window, rubbing his neck. “Yes… in an extremely non-lucid state, I… happened to throw a ringing alarm clock into Noble’s room.” The blue magic flickered as Rarity almost dropped the kettle. “Oh my… Why in Equestria would you do something like that?” she inquired as she placed the kettle on the stove. Soul put his hooves together and stretched. “I’m just not a morning person and I guess this wake up was worse than the others so…” He gave the mare an awkward smile and shrugged. “You never know what might be coming at you when the sun rises. It’s not impossible to pull off something like that with adjacent windows...” Rarity listened carefully as she opened the pantry door on her left and took a couple of white cups with blue flower patterns on them. She placed them on the table and turned to look at Soul after he finished. “Well that is still a bit... absurd. What happened then? What about his window?! Is it broken? You haven’t lived even a week there, I don’t want to hear about requesting for your landlord to come fix a window like that. I didn’t judge you too soon back in Canterlot did I?” A white forehoof was raised and Soul gave an embarrassed laugh. “No, no. His window is perfectly fine. He had luckily left it open for the night. And when it comes to Noble… well he didn’t exactly like that but of course I apologized and such.” “Oh, that’s a relief! I suppose that’s one way to begin your day,” Rarity said and chuckled, opening the upper cabinet. “Hmm… now where are those coffee packages? Oh right!” She closed the door and walked over to the cabinet next to the window, opening it with her magic, “Have you ever had French Press?” Soul immediately sat up straight and shook his head. ”No, never.” “That must be fixed immediately!” Rarity smiled as she took the coffee grounds, and poured it into the French press maker. “Honestly, not even once?” “Too time consuming for my taste,” Soul responded while shaking his head. Rarity chuckled and walked over to the table, leaning in. “In that case consider this a special privilege.” She placed her forelegs on the table and turned them up, putting her hooves together and resting her head on them looking at the stallion. “So, now that it has been a few days since you first arrived; how are you adapting?” Soul rose his hooves and placed his chin on them, giving a cough. “Can I be honest or do I need to lie?” The mare drew back from the table and flipped her ears. “I… uh… surprise me?” Soul fixed his posture and cleared his throat, closing his eyes as he began, “Well what I can say at this point is that your boutique is horribly ugly, you are awful and mean tutor, Ponyville is horrible but I like how you can’t get everything you want from a store nearby, I hate Sugarcube Corner’s sweets and absolutely love Pinkie Pie.” Upon hearing the remark Rarity glared, she opened a sewing basket by the table and an unfinished pillow with the needle still piercing through it appeared. She placed it on the table and pulled the needle through and pointed it at Soul. “Alright darling, now you’re in position where you must give me a reason to not make you a pincushion right now.” His hooves rose into the air and the stallion leaned back, a slivering smile on his face. “You wanted the lie! Plus it would be the first ugly thing you made and you don’t make ugly things.” “You can be assured of that?” She waved the needle at him before placing it neatly on top of the pillow and placed it on the side of the table. Soul nodded and placed his hooves back on the table, his smile becoming more relaxed. Rarity stopped glaring and stood up from her seat. “Aww look at you, you’re starting to know me.” She walked over to the kettle and took it off, and poured the water into the press, and squeezed all the ingredients. “How are the different stitches coming along?” He paused and half of his mouth drooped along with his shoulders and he tapped and slid a hoof over the table as he spoke. “I’m halfway done. The tricky ones are causing a bit of a hard time but I’ll live.” With a warm smile in his direction, Rarity grabbed the pan and levitated it over Soul’s cup, pouring it but leaving room for cream. “Oh I’m sure you’ll do fine. If not, then we will simply practice more. There is no need for you to stress darling.” The stallion nodded as thanks and poured some cream into his coffee. “I won’t, no worries.” After pouring some for herself, the mare placed the pan back in its place and joined Soul. “Oh, by the way, what’s the situation with the Mayor? Have you started the project she has for you?” Soul lifted his cup and nodded, taking a sip and gave a pleased sigh that blew through the steam coming off as Soul relaxed placing his elbows on the table. “Already got the full brief.” The mare stared at the stallion with fluttering eyes and turned her head leaning in waiting for more but when nothing was coming, she leaned in with a smile. “And…?” Soul ran a hoof over his mouth like a zipper. “Sorry, professional secrecy. Though what I can tell is that it’s… well it’s a much… larger project than I expected.” Rarity giggled and waved a hoof forwards. “Well, considering you are now crafting a commission for a Mayor, it should only be expected.” Soul scratched his head and looked outside. “I had a feeling it would be more than a simple logo or poster or self mailer.” He gave a small grin and leaned back, turning at the mare again. “But yeah, my lips are sealed. We can talk about anything but that. I’m passing the ball to you.” Rarity’s ears flipped and she stirred her coffee, tapped the spoon on the edge of the glass. “In that case I could tell you about this very interesting plan of mine I’m going to do today.” Stopping mid sip, Soul turned back and gave a nod as his ears perked up and he made eye contact. “I’m all ears.” “Well…” A smile spread over Rarity’s face, she sat up and lifted her chin up. “I’m going to explore the old castle of the royal sisters that is thousands of years old, in a chaotic forest with Fluttershy who’s been locked in her home for a few days, so I am trying to get her out to help me try to find old tapestries to restore to their former glory.” The stallion’s eyes widened and he placed his hooves under his chin where he rested on them. A small smirk dotted his lips. “Oh that’s lovely and I got 50 bits from tooth fairy.” The mare sat there sitting up straight without a word but her eyes spoke volumes. The intensity of her gaze pierced through the stallion. Soul averted his eyes from making eye contact and tilted his head and frowned, rubbing the side of his mug with a hoof. “Wait, you’re serious… Okay then...” he said and scratched his chin. “Tapestries, huh?” Rarity looked around the room then leaned her head in as if this were a big secret. “Yes, valuable tapestries. A couple days back I was contacted by a pony who is passionate, bordering on downright obsessed with collecting tapestries and asked if there was any chance I could find some from the castle and restore them for her.” Soul scratched his head and leaned back. “And... I assume that won’t get you into any trouble? I mean yeah, I know the castle and its history, and that it’s abandoned but isn’t it still kinda the property of royalty?” The artisan nodded with closed eyes, her horn glew as her mug floated up by her.. “Oh I have a feeling if there was anything left that the princesses wanted, it would’ve been retrieved by now.” She inhaled over the mug, enjoying the aroma before letting out a sigh and giving the cup a nudge, her lips curled up through the entire sip. “If you say so.” Soul stretched and then put his hooves behind his head, stretching upward and opening an eye to look Rarity in the eye. “You sure are ready to go to extremes for a customer...” Rarity rose her snout and put a hoof on her chest with an air of sass about her.. “Absolutely! Anything for a happy client and to make a living doing what I love. Are you saying you aren’t?” Soul dropped his forelegs and cupped his coffee before he gave a nonchalant shrug. “As long as it doesn’t involve fire or hights, I don’t suppose I would have a problem.” He brought the cup up drinking some more. “That is most understandable, I’m just the kind of mare who sometimes needs some sort of spark of... thrill to keep me going.” She put her mug down but her horn kept glowing and flung the windows open, letting a flush of tepid fresh air pour inside. “It's a bit nasty trick but I think that's what Fluttershy needs at this point too; a good little thrill to make her heart pound so she gets some courage to show up at Ponyville again... Though knowing her it pounds wildly all the time except when she sleeps… most likely.” The stallion covered his cup as the breeze flushed through the kitchen. He let go, then tilted his head and crossed his hooves with an eyebrow raised. “Have I missed something or should I know her from somewhere? You do realize that I have no idea who this Fluttershy is, right?” Rarity’s ears fell back and she hunkered down a little, wearing an apologetic grin. “Pardon me! I almost forgot that you’ve only been here just less than a week!” Quickly recovering, she sat up and put a hoof on the table leaning in. “You see; Fluttershy is one of my friends. Well, just between you and me, the dearest friend actually. A rather timid pony but extremely kind. She’s the one who I took Opal to for her trauma care.” Soul was giving nods through the explanation. “Right, I remember you talking about the care after the whole fire incident.” He lifted a hoof and tilted his head. “The pony who loves animals?” The mare gave a dip of her head and brushed her hair out as if tossing it to the wind to push it away. “Yes, that was Fluttershy I was talking about all along. Though there’s no chance you would’ve seen her lately...” Soul placed one hoof on top of the other and gave a raising twitch of an eyebrow. “Yeah, locked herself in her cabin huh?” The mare laid her forelegs across the table, her eyes grew wide, her voice high but full of emotion. “She’s like her own prisoner… She had this rather ridiculous encounter one day. I don’t know the whole story, but she was most likely tending to the forest animals, she was so comfortable that she began singing which she has extremely stage fright over; although somepony saw her. The poor thing flew off and was worried to death. Even I learned about her singing by accident one day. Soul’s eyes grew wide, his heart skipping a beat. He couldn’t believe his ears. “Um, Rarity...’’ he rubbed his neck. “I might actually know her after all...” The mare composed herself in an instant, sitting up and tilted her head. “Unless you’ve stalked her that is simply not possible.” Soul shook his head, he kept his head down but faced his teacher the entire time. “No, not me, but… Well no pony has stalked her, but remember when Noble mentioned that 'angel' he saw a few days ago?” “Yes, I do. What about tha--- OH, WAIT!” Rarity’s eyes lit up as she sat up and gasped, a big smile spreading on her face. She jolted forward, and held herself over the table, she almost pressed her head against Soul’s causing him to lean backwards. “That was Fluttershy?!” While he had pulled himself back and retreated his hooves close to him while giving small nods with gritted teeth. “Y-Yes, I’m pretty sure it was her. ...Uh… would you mind…” Soul glanced at Rarity’s hooves and flicked a hoof at them in a shooing motion. Rarity’s eyes drifted to her hooves. “Oh right... Pardon me.” She backed away and coughed, trying to act like it was nothing, even though her cheeks were rosy. "So it was Noble who heard her singing that day…?’’ Soul grinned and rubbed one of his his temples. “Yep…. I’m sorry to announce, as awkward as it is, that your friend is Noble’s current love obsession… or at least one of them.” With a large squeal the mare clopped her hooves together. “Why that is perfect!” “It is?” His eyes were large and he kept his mouth open slightly as he leaned in with eager ears. “Fluttershy; Noble! Let’s take Fluttershy to the farm before her and I head to the castle!” She beamed at her own idea and noticed her coffee again and pulled it closer with her hooves. Soul immediately frowned and waved his hooves while his head shook. “Hey hey, hold it right there, I’m not gonna start pairing anypony up.” Rarity chuckled, covering her mouth and shook her head. “No, that’s not what I was thinking silly. I want to help them break the ice. I remember you explaining how those crushes are usually fleeting once he meets the pony and becomes disillusioned, correct?” “More or less...” The stallion’ tapped the edge of his lips while his eyes peered upward. “But yeah I get what you’re chasing here.” Rarity nodded and looked out of the window with a sigh, pulling her cup close to her. “Oh I don’t dare to even imagine how long it would take till Fluttershy would agree to come out of her cottage again. We just need to have them meet and do away with this problem.” Drifting his eyes back to his teacher Soul nodded and with a sigh explained, “I understand and to be honest, Noble hasn’t been exactly easy either. One way or another we end up having the same one hour conversation where I need to convince him to move on, till he remembers again and the loop starts over.” Rarity launched up, slamming her forehooves against the table. “Actually! That’s precisely how it is with Fluttershy too! Most of the time she just worries about the pony that saw her singing. It’s become a nuisance to simply have a nice discussion with her.” She sipped the last drop from the cup, and pushed the empty mug to the side. “So I think it’s about time for them to encounter, don’t you agree?” “Yes, absolutely,” Soul said. “I have to bring Noble’s lunch to him anyway so this played out nicely. This will be... interesting.” He took and turned up his cup, drinking every last drop before hooking Rarity’s mug in his magic and taking them to the sink. “Oh, excellent dear. Now that we’ve made plans and have had a spot of coffee we can practice your stitching more.” She walked over to the doorway and extended a hoof for Soul to go first. At the mention of more stitching his ears drooped a bit and he walked by her slowly. “Let's see if I can make them any better this time...” 19. Well This Is AwkwardOn the outskirts of town, two stallion were surrounded by trees, bucking apples and enjoying the pleasant weather in the shade of the apple trees. Even though they were engulfed in the orchard occasional breezes would whip by them as they worked in silence. Noble would occasionally look at the fellow worker and open his mouth but would quickly close it. He scrunched his eyebrows and frowned with half his face but continued working loading apples. With one bucket left he let the big red stallion load it as he went and harnessed himself into one of the waggons, swiping his forehead. “All ready, Big Mac.” Putting the last bucket on and securing it before he went and got under the other cart the Big Apple flanked stallion let out a powerful country, “Yyyep!” and began to pull forward. While Big Macintosh was easily able to casually walk through the orchard in silence, Noble kept glancing over and looking around for something to spark a conversation, finally like a bolt of lightning it hit him. “Big Mac, thank you for the suggestion. The hot mint and epsom salt bath did just the trick for helping my aching hooves.” Big Mac turned his sight toward Noble, gave a smile and nod. “Yyyep!” “Yeah, I would have felt pretty embarrassed asking Applejack. Err, well... just easier to ask another stallion sometimes, you know,” Noble stumbled through the words and forced a grin, slowly wishing he could just sink down into the ground to hide. Big Mac looked at Noble out of the corner of his eye and couldn’t help but sulk slightly. He understood and replied with a softer, “Yep,” with another nod of his head. Noble looked over at the stallion and allowed himself to weaken the smile into his typical slight frown. This time as they walked, Noble simply kept to himself, wishing he could explain what he really meant but he couldn’t bring himself to speak another word for fear of further embarrassment. As the barn appeared in sight Big Mac cleared his throat. “Ya ready?” Lost in thought the words quickly pulled Noble back to the moment and he looked at the stallion tensely. “Err... what?” Big Mac dipped his head toward the barn and repeated the question. “Ready?” Noble looked out for a moment and then recognized the question. “Oh yes! The red apples go to the back left of the parn, yellow apples to the right of them and green on the back left. Right?” With further nods the big stallion confirmed and gave another nodding point to Noble, this was recognized as when Noble should continue. Noble walked slower, Big Mac following his lead. “Well I know the buckets tend to be stacked up on the front right of the barn and any unused buckets can be put there, then additional ones are up top in the back right by the additional hay bales.” As he recited this, growing more confident with the image clear in his head his voice improved to be louder and less reserved. As they arrived back at the barn, Noble immediately offered to open the door and quickly untethered himself, but when he pulled the door open just a bit a paper airplane hit him in his snout making him wince and back up. On top of a stack of hay bales was Applebloom laying with her head and right back leg hanging off. She looked at the ground with dull, half closed eyes that had followed the airplane, her right leg swinging along her side. When she saw the stallion get hit she jumped up. “Sorry ‘bout that!” “It’s alright…” Noble rubbed his nose for a moment then pushed the door open the rest of the way. “Hey Applebloom. You look like you are having a thrill a minute. I’m surprised by how much time you spend around here, don’t you have other things you like to do?” “Yea, but not today. Scootaloo is still in trouble for burning down Rarity’s kitchen and Sweetie Belle is spending a day with her parents.” The filly yawned, then hopped off the bale and stretched. “Anyway, Applejack asked me ta stay here ta help while yer learnin the ropes so Big Mac ain’t too distracted. Ya remember where to place everything?” “Well memory isn’t my strong point but, yes. Actually, Big Mac just quizzed me on that.” Noble said with a little smile while shrinking ever so slightly, he took a step back before turning around and walking back over to his cart. He put the straps on, though when he tried to pull, it didn’t move an inch. He blank and leaned over trying to look at each of the wheels for anything blocking the way, but there was nothing. He turned to Big Mac, tilting his head with eyebrows raised, he had clinched his teeth hoping he hadn’t broken it somehow. Big Mac took a step back and pointed at the small clip on top of the wheel. It took a minute but eventually Noble took off his harness and walked around before he saw it. He smacked himself in the face with his hoof, shaking his head in it. “Oh! Yes, the lock!” He immediately unclipped the lever and looked at Big Mac. “I… never put it on did I?” “Nnnnope, I did,” Big Mac stated and started pulling his cart into the barn passing Noble. Noble rubbed the back of his head and sank down a little further. “Sorry, my bad… I really need to stop forgetting that.” He went to the front and strapped himself in again, this time moving forward with ease. The filly jumped up on the hay bales again, standing over the stallions. “Don’t worry, learnin the ropes doesn’t happen’ in a day or two, right Big Mac?” The big stallion smiled with a nod. “Yyyep” “Thanks, I’m trying my best. Even if it has been almost a week...” Noble mumbled his last sentence to himself, after he did his eyes grew wide. “Oh Applebloom!” he turned to look back at the filly. “Before I forget again, did you deliver the letter I asked you to give to Soul?” Applebloom puffed out her chest, with one hoof stepping forward. “Yes sir! He read it and told me that he’d get yer food for ya around 2 o’clock.” Noble let out a breath of air and gave a grateful nod, “Excellent! Thank you for going through the trouble for me, I can’t even express how much I appreciate it.” The filly wagged her tail and stood taller at the comments with a smile widening on her face. She waved her hoof at the stallion while still enjoying the praise. “Ah it was nothing. I’m just glad I got something ta do.” While the two were talking, Big Mac had taken the apple buckets off the waggons and started sorting them. He walked by them giving a glance over Noble’s shoulder to Applebloom. The stallion’s little sister knew exactly what he meant. “We got it from here brother, you can get ta other tasks. We’ll try ta get Applejack if we need anythin’ important.” The big red stallion nodded and walked out of the barn. “Try?” Noble repeated and scratched his head. “Come to think of it I haven’t seen head nor tail of her since this morning. Is she even around today?” His eyes peered back out of the barn scanning for his boss. The filly cleared her throat, attracting attention back toward her. “You can say that again, I don’t think you should expect to see her much today. She’s having this ‘the most daring pony’ competition with one of our friend.” The stallion’s eyes widened and he walked around the filly, checking the brake on the cart to ensure he locked it. “So… it’s just three of us taking care of the farm today?” “Pretty much, I mean Granny helps but mostly offers guidance. As fer Applejack, ah don’t think she would stop the competition unless there were some kinda emergency.” Applebloom rolled her eyes, letting them rest on the floor. “That’s our thick headed sister for ya.” Just as Applebloom said that she felt a cold wet hoof press down on her head and ruffled her mane. “Who’re ya callin’ thick headed there, little sis?” Applebloom scrambled backwards as the cold water struck the back of her neck sending ice cold shivers through her body. “Heyyyy Applejack...! Ah... I didn’t know you were listening.” The mare let out a chuckle and shook her head sending cold droplets all over and wrapped a towel she had over her back around her a little better. She shifted her attention between Noble and all the apple buckets lying in the barn. “Seems like ya’ve once again been workin’ hard there partner.” The stallion smiled while he looked back and down, rubbing his neck. “Well, I definitely can’t take all the credit. Big Mac worked with me and did a lot of work, I just tried to keep up.” After Applebloom shook the water off her mane and coat like a sprinkler, she walked towards the cart Noble had brought in. “Come on, ya went and filled yer cart just like Big Mac. That’s great fer somepony that started ah week ago.” The mare nodded. “You’ve been workin fer a few hours right sport? How ‘bout you take ah break, ah might as well introduce you to the reason I haven’t been around much.” She put her hat to the side and towel dried her mane then made sure it was dry before putting her hat back on. “Applebloom mentioned the competition you are having. I… assume it has something to do with why you are,” he looked up and down the mare, waving a hoof in front of himself in her direction, ”soaking wet and ice cold.” Applejack nodded, taking the towel and rubbing it over her flank, trying to get her tail more. “Yep! We spent a heck of ah long time in ice water.” While she saw her sister having trouble drying her tail Applebloom walked over and pressed her hooves on both sides of the towel rubbing them together to dry it off. Noble nodded with one raised eyebrow and eyes hovering over the mare again. “I kinda figured…” Applebloom finished drying and fluffing Applejack’s tail and tossed the towel over Applejack’s back. As they stepped out a large winged shadow flashed over the ground and is followed by a loud, “WHOOHOO!” The group looked up at the noise, Noble squinted, ducked down and became tense while Applebloom’s eyes got wide and she jumped forward looking up while her sister didn’t even flinch. Noble looked over at the mares that were both casual about the flying being. He looked up, rising up, his eyes were greeted by a pegasus cutting through the air, swirling around the clouds making them puff away at breakneck speeds. The pegasus seemed to fly with ease but had a fierce power to it. Noble watched in awe and out of the corner of his eye he noticed Applejack looking up with a smile on her face. Noble paused thinking about Applejack’s smile and how she hasn’t given one like it the entire time he was there. “Applejack, that is the most intense flying I’ve ever seen a stallion do!” Applejack’s ears twitched, she turned to face Noble with a raised eyebrow. “Huh? A stall---?” Before Applejack could say another word Noble sprang to life. “That’s your special somepony isn’t it! I-I’m so sorry for flirting with you awhile back. I would never want to get between the relationship of others. It does suit you to find someone that has power and a level of intensity in the way they fly. I-” “Whoa there partner!” Applejack covered his mouth with her hoof. “How’s about ya let me explain before ya go off with accusations.” She pulled her hoof back and pointed at the pegasus. “That’s Rainbow Dash, she’s just ah friend ah mine. And definitely not a stallion.” Noble’s eyes were wide and lips narrow as he heard the explanation. A small sweat was forming on his forehead and his stomach tightened. “Oh… uh… I… I’m so sorry,” was all he could mutter, as he hung his head. Upon hearing her name Rainbow did a barrel roll and dove for the ground aimed right at the group, she picked up ever more speed narrowing her eyes coming straight for Applejack like a missile. At the last possible second she flipped her wings and pushed air with all her might but still slammed down on the ground making it shake and leaving a cloud of dust to spread out around her. “How was that for daring!?” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Yea, like we’re gonna count that.” The pegasus laughed and simply shrugged it off. “Well at least that took care of drying.” She granted herself a moment to stretch and then shifted focus to the stallion. Gently nudging Applejack to the side Rainbow stepped forward looking with raised eyebrows at Noble. “Is this the new guy you’ve been talking about?” Applejack took a deep breath and sighed. “Yep, this fella here is Noble Poet. Noble, this is Rainbow Dash. And err… well he’s mighty embarrassed I reckon cause he thought ya were a stallion when ya were flyin’.” The group was quiet for a minute and Noble’s head continued to lower. After the moment of silence Rainbow’s lips began to curl and she burst out laughing followed by the other mares. “Y-- you thought I-- was a stallion?!” She grabbed her side then wiped her eyes as she started to calm down. “Why in Equestria would you think that?” Noble glanced up gritting his teeth in an awkward fearful smile as the adrenaline was slowly taking over his body and his cheeks began glowing pink. “W-Well.. by the way you flew. It was pretty... aggressive and well… stallions statistically tend to be more aggressive than mares. That and you were far away, I couldn’t see well. I’m sorry I didn’t mean anything by it...” Rainbow continued to chuckle. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day! No worries, I’ll show you that this mare is way cooler than any stallion pegasus you know. Well it’s nice to meet ya.” She extended a hoof with a wide pleased smile. “You’re friends with Wild, right? I met the guy at Rarity’s when the fire was out. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.” This time Noble looked up with wide eyes and raised eyebrows at the mare. “S-Soul? Y-Yes we came here together b-but um… Y-you aren’t mad? None of you are?” He looked around at each of the mares, trying to get a read on them. The blue mare shook her head even more amused, the crack on her face sure indicated anything but anger. Applejack kneed him in the side and laughed. “Mad?” she repeated with a chuckle and larger smirk. “Naw, that was hilarious, though I guess I could be mad at that romantic talk if ya want. I did ask ya ta lay off that,” she said with a chuckle. The stallion began standing up a little more and quickly shook his head when he looked at his boss. “No of course not. I… no don’t worry, I honor ponies wishes when they ask me to stop. I of course still recognize the mare’s beauty though, I... just don’t do anything.” Applejack’s face turned red while Applebloom and Rainbow had to cover their mouths to prevent themselves from laughing. Rainbow couldn’t hold it and fell over on her back almost crying. “This is too much! Noble and Apple sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” Noble’s eyes grew wide and his head twisted and turned about, looking between the mares chanting and Applejack. ‘Oh no... T-This is bad....’ His pupils drew narrow and while standing in place he shook. The thought of all those rich ponies laughing at him in the ballroom flooded back. ‘No. Not again.’ He looked over at Applejack again. ‘Oh she is sure to hate me now. She may even fire me for this. Why am I such a hopeless idiot?!’ “Cut that out!” Applejack quickly threw her towel over Rainbow who stopped her song and groaned. She then turned back to Noble and looked into his dilated, shaky eyes and quickly put a hoof on his shoulder, giving him a shake pulling him back to reality. “Ya ok there partner? Maybe we should just let Applebloom show ya what yer next job is.” Noble closed his eyes forcefully and jolted his head down once before returning his sight to his boss. He felt himself getting hot again with a cold sweat making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He took a moment and heard Applejack repeat herself, he nodded, sulked and rubbed the back of his head then looked at the mares laughing. “No, it’s not like that.” He turned back to Applejack, “I’m sorry, it was just meant to be a complement...” The apple flanked mare held up a hoof and looked into Noble’s eyes that had stabilized. “I know and thank ya. It was very nice. Now though we got a few more things ta teach ya today and I got ah competition ta win. Ya sure yer alright?” Rainbow pulled the towel off her head and tossed it aside, giving Applejack a piercing glance spiced with a confident grin. “Oh we’ll just see about that. Let’s go find Pinkie, I’m aching to go on already.” She turned and was about to jump up to take to the air but turned to look at Noble again. “Oh yeah. Nice meeting you Noble, maybe I’ll meet you in the stallion’s bathroom sometime.” She laughed with a smile back and flew off. The stallion waved to her, his lips were turned up in a wide forced tooth smile and tightly closed eyes as he nodded, he felt his forehead get warmer at Rainbow’s joke. “That’s Rainbow for ya.” The stallion’s boss put a hoof on his shoulder. “Um, Noble… we didn’t go overboard now did we?” “Oh no. I just…” He thought for a moment about explaining himself but shook it off. “Umm nevermind. No. I’ll be fine.” He hung his head with a smile and hoped that it would end the interrogation. Applejack lowered her eyebrows, looked the stallion in the face with a frown. She knew there was something more he wanted to say but she couldn’t bring herself to force it out of him. “Well alright. If there’s ever a time where ya feel uncomfortable just say the word. No pony should feel uncomfortable at work.” Noble nodded to thank his boss and turned to Applebloom who was shaking her head with a wide smile. “Umm, so where is this next task and what is it?” “Just follow me, I’ll tell ya when we get there.” Applebloom beckoned Noble with a hoof and started walking off the opposite way as the others. After a couple short hours passed it was finally time for Rarity and Soul to call it a day. After making the quick turn at Soul’s house to pick up the food, they headed to get Fluttershy and finally they were heading to the farm. Though, when Fluttershy saw Soul it certainly added a level of difficulty for Rarity’s job of getting her to come outside. For the next half hour it was nothing but Rarity trying to get her friend out in the sunlight and eventually, she managed to almost drag her outside, well partly thanks to Fluttershy’s pet bunny Angel who helped and agreed to come along. The pegasus that Fluttershy was, didn’t seem to be too bold in meeting the stallion, then again Soul isn’t the best at meeting new ponies either. During their trip to the farm, it was mostly just Rarity talking to Soul and Fluttershy like she was keeping up two different conversations at the same time, though she did try to act as some kind of mediator between the two, asking questions the two would be interested in, leading conversations, and explaining why they are going to the farm. Although it was clumsy, she did manage to get them speaking and even managed to break the ice by bringing up Opal, she then lead the conversation to cats in general. Even if it wasn’t much, Soul and Fluttershy finally did exchange a few words without Rarity’s assistance. As they approached the entrance of the farm, Rarity turned to look at Fluttershy, “Fluttershy, if you ask for my honest opinion, I believe you and Soul’s friend should exchange a few words. I have a very strong feeling that you two will find some common ground darling, he really is nice after all.” Fluttershy glanced back down the path from her home, she was keeping her body tucked small and inward even as she walked, her voice trembling, “U-Um… I-I can try but… I’ve never been very good at talking with stallions…” She glanced at Soul lowering her head. “N-No offense of course. I, I just feel so small around you…” she fiddled with her mane letting her hair fall partly covering her face. The unicorn stallion exchanged a quick glance with Rarity then spoke up with wide eyes. “Hey, I’m the only stallion in this group, if somepony is supposed to feel small, it’s this one. You two would mop the floor with me.” The pegasus stopped in her tracks and stood up tall, leaning forward on the tips of her hooves with large eyes, gasping, “But I don’t want to mop the floor with anypony…!” Rarity stopped and walked back to her friend whom she patted her on the back. “Come now Fluttershy, just imagine Soul as a mare on the inside, it’s not hard to forget he’s a stallion.” Soul rolled his eyes and stood about a meter away. “At this point I take that as a compliment…” Fluttershy shook and crouched down, she couldn’t even look at the stallion now. “H-How could I forget…?” Rarity turned at Soul, waving her hoof. “Oh don’t mind that darling, she doesn’t mean anything vindictive by it.” Soul put on a grin. “I can put on a dress if that helps.” He gave a laugh but his face almost immediately drew flat as if he saw his grandparents in the shower. “No wait, actually I will not. Sorry for that extremely creepy image….” Fluttershy couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle at the comment since the thought of seeing the stallion in a dress gave her a much needed moment of amusement. As the trio were arriving at the entrance of the farm, they could already see Noble and Big Mac in the distance. Soul picked up more speed but it already seemed like Noble was waving goodbye to his superior. Soul immediately picked up the pace and trotted over to his friend. He shouted as he began to gallop, “Noble!” Noble’s ears flicked and turned toward the sound. He turned and his eyes were greeted by the sight of the pale unicorn rushing towards him and his rather flat face brightened up a bit. He took off galloping himself to meet halfway. “Soul, hey!” As the stallions reached one another they slowed to a halt. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving already,” Soul exclaimed, his eyebrows sulking. Noble sat down and pulled back his head as he rubbed the back of his head, letting out an uneasy chuckle. “Y-Yeah, sorry…Big Mac thought we did enough so we finished very early so I’m free to go… I don’t think they would mind if I eat it here though! Thank you very much for bringing it.” “Good.” Soul slid a hoof into his saddlebag and after a bit of digging he drew out a blue lunchbox, handing it over to Noble, tilting his head. “You wouldn’t mind company, would you?” Noble shook his head with a pleasant and welcoming smile. “Not at all, you are always welcome to eat with me and it seems you brought Rarity too, but who’s that pony with her?” All Noble could see was a small slender frame with a large tuft of flowing pink hair that had been attempting to hide behind Rarity, he immediately dropped the lunch box which Soul barely managed to catch. Soul’s heart started to race faster in anticipation, he couldn’t wait to see what would come out of this. He fixed his composure, putting a hoof over his heart to feel his heartbeat and looked at the mares further away. “Yeah, you might know the other---” The tan stallion looked over at Rarity and the other pony just in time to see her eyes grow wide and the pink flowing mane dart behind Rarity. He leaned over and caught himself with a hoof as he was about to fall but didn’t dare get any closer. “Who-- who is that beautiful mare? What do you mean I know her? I thought I would remember such beauty!” The mare blushed and continued her attempt to hide behind Rarity, burying her face in her back while shivering and whispering to herself just loudly enough for Rarity to overhear, “Oh no no no no... Why? Why did it have to be him? Please let this be a bad dream!” Rarity looked back at her friend with a frown but took a deep breath as she tried to sidestep to no avail. The unicorn twirled around her friend with a chuckle and placed a hoof on her back to prevent her from hiding. Fluttershy couldn’t move a single limb on her body yet shook rapidly. Rarity couldn’t help but let out a giggle but tried her best to muffle it. She slid her hoof over her friend’s shoulder, leaning in and innocently glancing the farm in general. “Fluttershy, I assume you’ve seen the stallion over there before, now haven’t you?” “Y-Yes! And I just decided, I will spend the rest of my life under a rock with worms and other lovely adorable bugs,” she squirmed, trying to put distance between her and the stallions. “Please darling, I’m only trying to help. Think how much better you will feel after you just talk to him. Who knows, you two may hit it off.” The white mare took the pegasi’s other shoulder in order to keep her still then pushed on her back. The pegasi let out a loud squeak. “R-Rarity, please... I-I would REALLY like to go under that rock right now please...” Fluttershy shoved her hooves into the dirt, dragging them as she felt the feverish heartbeat throbbing in her chest, her vision grew blurry from the adrenaline that was agitating her brain. Rarity stopped pushing and rolled her eyes with a huff, “Oh Fluttershy, it can’t be that bad! Just talk to him; this is getting simply ridiculous. I’m sure mocking your singing is the last thing he will do.” Fluttershy squeaked and turned around with wide damp eyes. “D-Did you know about this? You took me here on purpose?” The purple maned mare replaced her hooves on Fluttershy’s shoulders, softly this time, she gave a soft chuckle. “Of course I did darling. But I did it as your friend. Please, just give it a try.” With the mare in plain view now, Noble looked up and down her, seeing the cascading, almost glowing pink hair, thin supple body, and light green eyes that were turned away but that he saw when she was slouching and looking at the ground. Noble’s heart thumped loudly in his chest and his breathing almost stopped. His mind was blank and he couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Soul sighed and brushed his hooves over Noble, patting him on the back. “Come on, don’t you recall the mare that you’ve been talking about for weeks now? You know, the ‘angel’.” Noble’s eyes bulged, he looked closer, her beauty was among the top 10 most beautiful mares he’s ever seen but he looked over how she looked away and noticed she had been shaking ever so slightly, which almost made his heart crumble. “W-What?” He looked at her scanning over her for something to spark his memory. “She’s the one?! I uh… are you sure…?” Soul nodded, stepping forward with a smile. “Well considering Rarity told me a pretty identical story about her, matching what you told me, yes, I think the chances are high here.” The earth pony turned his body towards Soul but looked over at Fluttershy again, his eyes growing wide and damp as she trembled and Rarity began to rub her back as she looked over Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I see… So, how high do you think they are…?” The pale stallion looked between the three and turned his body to face Noble and leaned in, whispering to him. “Why are you questioning this? I imagined you would be all over her by now.” Noble bit his lip and leaned in closer, where they could almost feel one another’s breath. “Umm… Well… you see, I’m not sure if that’s her.” Soul’s eyes narrowed and he glared at his friend. “Why in Equestria would you not think it’s her?” He leaned down to look Noble in the eyes. “Seems close enough to me.” While he shook his head Noble replied, “No, I mean think about it. The mare I saw was obviously a pony that was kind hearted, comfortable with herself, brought joy to everything around her and had a strong heart. While she... seems shy, soft spoken, nervous, anxious, and like she isn’t comfortable with herself... Not that those are bad, I if anyone sympathizes with her...” Soul’s lips narrowed and he gave Noble a dull look. “You saw her for just a few seconds, you don’t know anything about her, not a single thing. We can just tell her to go if you want so.” “No!” Noble shouted then blushed, retreating back to a whisper. “I still want to meet her.” “Boys! It’s impolite to keep mares waiting!” Rarity called, still rubbing Flutttershy’s back. Noble quickly turned around and hesitantly made his way over to Fluttershy. After one final push from Rarity’s end the two ponies were face to face, eye to eye, standing just a leg’s distance away. The tension could be cut with a knife and the awkwardness was alarming. Noble’s eyes scoured the ground then came up to see the pink mane covering the mare’s face even while she covered it up. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth. “I… Hiya.” Fluttershy’s wings tightened like she was about to take off any second, but the pegasus was too rigid to even turn her head away. Rarity cleared her throat before raising a hoof toward the pegasus, “Now, why don’t you introduce yourself Fluttershy?” “Um… I... I’m…” The yellow pegasus stuttered as Angel hopped over to her looking up with one eyebrow glaring and the other up, “I’m Angel and this is Fluttershy--- No, w-wait, I mean...” she turned to look for her bunny to point out, who was already facepalming. Fluttershy immediately turned back at Noble shaking her head. “I-I mean this is A-Angel and I’m… um…” The mare paused, starting to tap her chin. “I-I think I’m… um...” Rarity’s expression drew flat and dull as she quite bluntly spoke. “Fluttershy. Her name is Fluttershy.” “Right! I’m Fluttershy!” A dark red tint eclipsed the pegasi’s face, she sat with her legs tucked inward and head bowed down, just getting up the courage to look up at the stallion. “I-I’m very glad to meet you... Fluttershy? I’m Noble Poet.” His lips quivered and he rubbed the back of his head looking down beside the mare. He debated if he should say what he wanted to not but with his lips opening then closing once without words he took a shot. “I... really gotta ask this. Did it hurt? Fluttershy’s heart jumped to her throat. “W-What?” She sat up straighter with widened eyes and quickly twisted her body around, examining herself. “A-Am I hurt?” “W-What?!” The stallion jumped gritted his teeth with wide eyes as they jolted between Rarity and Soul, beckoning for help with a lump forming in his own throat. Fluttershy lept up still examining herself, a film of tears coming over her eyes. “Oh no Rarity, I knew something bad would happen, I should’ve never left my cottage!” “I--- I didn’t mean it that way…” Noble uttered, his voice getting higher and faster as he looked away looking around to find the quickest way to get away if need be, though after a brief moment he turned to Fluttershy again giving a large eyed sympathetic look, stretching out a hoof to touch her shoulder but quickly pulled it back thinking better of it. Soul’s face was burrowed deep into his hoof, the whole scene was too painful to watch. “Okay, maybe this was a bad idea…” 21. The CastleAs the horizon caressed the sun, the shadows climbed towards Fluttershy and Rarity who had just arrived within sight of the door of the castle and stood in it’s shadow. They took a moment to look back at the bridge they just crossed. The setting sun allowed for the natural scenery’s beauty to bloom before them where light and shadow intertwined. The sun’s flare shimmering behind the castle made it to look like a gorgeous, ancient piece of history that held many secrets and events inside it. The castle where the Royal Sisters used to live, where Princess Luna, the ruler of the night turned into Nightmare Moon. Where Celestia banished her sister to the moon and a thousand years later, the elements of harmony were reborn in a new image and Nightmare Moon was defeated, thus leading to arguably the most significant event, the Royal Sisters being united once more. “Oh sweet Celestia! I can’t believe this happened to me! Of all the worst things that could happen this is, the, worst, possible, thing!” Rarity cried shrilly and stamped the ground crunching her eyes closed. Fluttershy looked around the surrounding forest cautiously keeping close but calmed down when looking at Rarity. She placed a hoof on the unicorn’s back gently. “Oh don’t worry Rarity… I’m sure somepony at the farm will notice the bag and pick it up…” Letting out a loud groan Rarity hung her head for a moment collecting herself. “I know darling, but I had some important things with me for this trip. And now I must make an unnecessary trip to the farm and it will be ever so late when I get home, then I still have important things to do this evening. I even had the most gorgeous ribbons to tie the tapestries with.” Fluttershy held a hoof off the ground turning her body slightly toward the forest though her ears fell back at the sight of it. “Well… we could go back to get it now… That is, if you want to?” “No thank you dear, that will take even more time and require two more trips through these woods in the dark; I will... simply improvise when it comes to tying,” Rarity said with a gentle wave of her hoof and smile. “G-Good… I’d rather not spend more time here than I have to, the castle doesn’t look very safe from here. And it is star spider season after all; I’d rather not still be here after dark.” The pegasus moved closer to Rarity looking up at the castle as her eyes widened. "Oh yes, those pesky creatures.” A cold shiver ran through Rarity’s spine. “As much as I detest those spiders, nothing is going to stop me from getting those tapestries from this castle tonight," she said raising her voice and stopped planting her hooves firmly on the ground. “Y-Yes, of course, and I’m glad I can help, but…" Fluttershy fretted looking around the castle and trees once more while she stayed close to Rarity. "This castle just… spooks me…" Rarity smiled and held of a giggle. "Fluttershy darling, it’s just a dusty old castle. Besides, getting those tapestries and restoring them from here is the most important reason I’ve ever had in my entire life!" She looked at the castle doors that were opened just a crack and cried, "Can you imagine that horrible tragedy? Those valuable and gorgeous tapestries rotting away in those ruins! I’m here to give them a new chance! …Besides I was hired to gather and restore them after all.” Fluttershy tiled her head, still staying low to the ground sulking. "...Well… it does sound important when you say it like that..." "Well..." Rarity stopped and cleared her throat, and turned around. "Maybe it’s not the most important thing in my entire life. But trust me when I say; it is important." "Whatever you say… And of course I don’t want Angel to stay up too late, it could have terrible effects on his heal---" As Fluttershy reached over to pet the bunny’s head, she felt nothing but air. As she turned to see him she felt a piercing stab inside her when she saw the bunny was gone. "Wait… where is Angel?!" The pegasus looked around in a tizzy. Angel had ceased the opportunity to jump off her back when she wasn’t paying attention. They only caught a glimpse of a bunny tail entering the castle. “Angel, wait!" Fluttershy yelled and took flight soaring straight through the doors. “Fluttershy, wait for me!” Rarity called and took off galloping in following the mare. The main hall that they entered had not fared well against the test of time. Wild overgrowth clung to the floor and walls, which deteriorated the walls further leaving cracks and caused them to practically fall apart. The hall had seven different paths; three leading left, three leading right and one leading upstairs that went off into two different directions as well. Over the balcony to the sides of the staircase hung two enormous tapestries. One on the left was dark blue and black with a darker blue alicorn on it with a crescent moon facing right, while the one on the right was a deep yellow and white displaying a white alicorn with a sun facing left. Rarity’s wiggled her hind legs while tucking in her forelegs containing her excitement as her eyes sparkled before the archaic, but beyond restoring masterpieces. Fluttershy on the other hoof was far more concerned about finding Angel whom a second later emerged from the second hallway on the right. Fluttershy immediately galloped over to him and crouched. “Oh Angel, please don’t do that anymore! You made me very worried there!" she said and gasped, turning to glance back at Rarity. "Oh Rarity, do you really need me here…? A big scary castle isn’t a place for a small bunny. Angel could fall, stumble on a fallen rock or get hungry and we don’t even have food with us! I knew I should’ve been stronger and stayed home where he would be safe and cozy!" As she continued to fret, Rarity just closed her eyes dropping her head with a sigh, entering the hallway and motioning for Fluttershy to follow. Angel also rolled his eyes, crossing his front paws as he glared at Fluttershy and tilted his head down and tapped his foot then motioned for her to follow. “Sorry dear, but this isn’t a picnic, remember? I have a client to please,” Rarity said, she put the back of her hoof over her forehead tilting her head up in dramatic fashion. “Oh imagine if I returned without a single tapestry. That would be disastrous! Please Fluttershy, I need your help. I simply cannot allow my customer to be disappointed.” “Why would it need to be Angel and me? I’m sure the others are much more qualified than I am. I mean, I’m probably the least qualified pony to help you here. Umm that is, unless you think otherwise.” She softly retracted her statement while rubbing her foreleg and turning away. Rarity reached a hoof over turning Fluttershy’s head face to face with her own. “Of course I need you darling, I need your eyes and wings to help me getting the tapestries down. Besides, you are the only other friend here in Ponyville besides Soul that has an eye for aesthetics.” “Well, maybe... Are you sure Rainbow or better yet Twilight couldn’t have done this? I’m sure she’s read books on it.” The mare gently slid Rarity’s hoof off her face placing it on the ground. "Well even if she read a book that can’t match a true artistic eye. Besides, I simply had to get you out of your house for a change," Rarity added and giggled, raising her head and emitted a light on her horn since the hallways were getting pretty dark. “Though making a stop at the farm was just a last second decision thanks to Soul.” "Y-Yes, u-um… That was a pretty embarrassing situation you brought me into… I-I’m sure you meant well though..." Fluttershy’s pitch in her voice grew higher and her cheeks gave off a pink hue like cherry blossoms on her cheeks. Slowing down, Rarity’s lips curled and her head raised seeing the blush. "Darling, that was for your own good. Admit it, you felt much better after meeting that earth pony, did you not?” she inquired with a giggle and patted Fluttershy’s back tenderly. "Not much...," Fluttershy whispered dragging her head down and closer to her body mimicking a turtle while peaking up at the unicorn. Rarity leaned in with a soft voice and twinkle in her eye. “Oh, but it DID help? Even just a tinsey little bit?” Fluttershy lifted her head slightly higher putting a hoof to edge of her lips. “...A bit I guess.” “That is simply marvelous! I admit I was wrong believing that you two would hit it off. But see?! He had nothing but positive things to say about you. He even enjoyed your singing as I said he would. Now don’t you feel that we can put this entire fiasco behind us?” Rarity inquired, tilting her head to the side looking at the mare. The pegasus sat still for a moment and looked up, doing anything possible to keep from staring into Rarity’s eyes that were locked on her, staring with hopeful sparkles. “S-So… who exactly is he other than one of Soul’s friends? Why did he move here?” Rarity instantly started beaming at Fluttershy’s curiosity and already had her mouth open, ready to explain everything she knew about the earth pony. As much as every fiber of her being wanted to speak, the scene and talk back at Canterlot between Noble and Soul struck her which caused her to close her mouth and second guess herself, thinking it might not be wise for her to blabber about it. Instead she simply cleared her throat and flipped a hoof. “All I’m willing to say is that he moved here with Soul, looking for a fresh start. He wasn’t doing well in Canterlot…” Fluttershy’s heart jumped to her throat and she practically jumped. “What do you mean? W-Was he in trouble?” Rarity had turned her horn trying to examine the path they should take. She looked back and raised a hoof in front of the pegasus. “I don’t believe it is my place to speak for him any further. If you want to know more I’m afraid that is something you have to ask him yourself.” “Oh… I-I understand.” Fluttershy nodded and stood up taking a step forward as Rarity lead the way into the castle. A little time later behind the mares, the stallions finally emerged from the forest unharmed. Noble’s tracking skills came through for them after all, along with a little luck as they found the path by following the three fresher tracks from the mares and then followed other indicators, feathers and broken twigs left by the groups. Once out of the forest Noble sat down for a moment to close his eyes, giving his head a break and drank some water, while Soul tested the strength of the bridge leading to the castle. “Unbelievable... I can hardly believe how easily you actually tracked Rarity and Fluttershy’s trail all the way out here,” Soul said his eyes wide open as he stared at the castle. “Though it’s odd we never saw a glimpse of Rainbow and Applejack…” “Thank you... Though it’s not that great. A lot of ponies could track somepony, I just looked for their fresh hoofprints in the dirt along with how deep the tracks were for each pony and any of Fluttershy or Rainbow’s feathers, not to mention broken branches or twigs,” Noble said, taking another big gulp from his bottle and taking in a deep breath as his lips popped off the bottle. Soul let out a sigh and shrugged, slightly shaking his head. “Noble, I don’t know a single pony who knows how to track. You navigated through the Everfree Forest. That is definitely something worthy of getting praise for.” He put a hoof on Noble’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes before looking over at the castle. “And we’re alive so… that’s a plus.” “Well… Out of all the ponies in the world, you only know three...” Noble chuckled and gave a soft smile as he scrunched his head in toward his shoulders, looking down after he spoke. The unicorn turned his head with an eyebrow raised. “Family and relatives don’t count?” “Oh right, yes. I didn’t think of that,” Noble said tapping his chin then set his water back in his pack and rose, turning towards the bridge. Soul nodded and took a deep breath and gulped before stepping on the bridge. His steps were gentle as a falling leaf. “AAnd none of them can track, so trust me when I say you are talented.” “Thanks pal…” Noble’s lips curled up slightly with somber eyes as he walked and tried not to look down at the canyon below. Soul nodded and kept walking slowly behind Noble keeping his eyes strict on the castle as if his life depended on it, cold sweat slowly starting to drip down his forehead. His heart pulsed more rapidly with every single step they took. Even if they had already reached the hallway, the bridge just seemed to get longer and longer, and he couldn’t shake the thought of what if he stepped on a board that would fail and send him to his doom. The anxiety became immense that Soul went and gave a small inaudible prayer too. As they finally made it all the way through the bridge to the other side, Soul immediately dropped his flank on the ground and put a hoof on his chest and checked his heart rate. “So after we find them and tell everypony everything, and give Rarity her bag, do you promise to leave without a second thought?” “Yes, of course…” Noble paused for a moment looking at Soul who stood there calming back down after they had both grown a little tense after the bridge walk. As a minute passed Soul’s hoof dropped and he simply stared ahead at the castle. Noble looks at Soul questioningly. “Soul… are you even remotely scared or worried about what could be inside this castle? I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a Shadow Pony or more likely something happening and the remains of the castle crashing down on top of us.” “It’s an old castle, anything can happen.” Soul turned to look at the castle again and sighed. “That bridge walk was easily the scariest part so far… And now it’s just my allergies that are gonna give me hard time, I know I’m gonna scratch myself for days after this." Noble’s shoulders dropped as that realization struck him, he moved closer and gently patted Soul’s back. “Oh dang, right; sorry I completely forgot about that…” He trailed off in silence as he drew a blank as to how to help this situation other than patting Soul’s back. Soul jumped a little upon contact, he tensed up and slowly moved his back out of reach of Noble’s hoof. “It’s fine, I’ll be fine. It could be worse. Mineral’s lungs would probably fail the very second she stepped into this castle.” Noble nodded and gave a small forced chuckle. “I don’t doubt it,” he said and made another move towards the castle. He looked at Soul who passed him, by how Soul was walking Noble could tell his skin was bothering him. He frowned and gave a morose sigh. He knew he needed to help Soul somehow, just like that a gear clicked in his head. “Oh, speaking of Mineral! Have you two been in touch?” “Um, a few times yeah,” Soul said and looked around further. The scene was surprisingly pleasant to him, seeing the light shining dimly through the trees. Noble’s eyebrows raised as he persisted further, taking a step forward as he wanted to get Soul speaking more. “Nice, how is she? Anything interesting going on?” Soul raised an eyebrow for the question for a bit but then paused to think for a moment and tried to gather everything worth of mentioning. “Well nothing too radical,” he said eventually and shrugged. “She’s started to promote her company more actively and when it comes to Spectrum, well it’s the same as always. Designing and organizing and such. She still keeps offering me to be a part of her projects even if I’m this far away.” Noble nodded and felt his heart melt a little as his posture shrank, he put a hoof over his heart. “D’aww, she’s just making sure you aren’t forgotten. She’s another perfect friend for you, crafted just for your personality.” Taken aback by the statement Soul tilted his head. “What is that supposed to mean?” he asked with a lower tone, a hint of defensiveness could be heard and his eyebrows scrunched together. The earth pony shrank a bit, rubbing his foreleg and dove into his thoughts. “I-I mean… Well, I don’t mean it in a bad way, so please don’t be offended. Just… Aside from me and Rarity, she’s the only other pony you’ve been able to befriend. And why is that? Just like me, she put in the initiative toward you and eventually asked to be your friend. And now she’s even staying in touch with you even if you aren’t around her daily. She probably sees the same great friend I know.” He gave a cowering smile as if begging for approval. Soul’s full attention snaps back to the stallion and he glares a little more. “How can you know I don’t stay in touch with her?” “Well have you initiated any of those conversations?” Noble crossed his hooves and lifted an eyebrow with a flat drawn mouth, he turned his head and perked an ear up listening carefully. “I uh…” Flying though his thoughts and all the times he and Mineral messaged one another, Soul reluctantly had to shake his head. “Not really...” “See? Don’t worry buddy, if anyone understands you, it’s me. That’s why I’m just glad Mineral understands your mindset too and is socially initiative towards you. She’s not a pony to be taken for granted, especially in Canterlot. Though it wouldn’t hurt if you messaged her every now and then.” Noble quickly reached out and snatched the medallion before Soul could react; he knew Soul wouldn’t jump back and risk breaking the gift. “She even made that medallion for you as a farewell gift.” Soul swatted Noble’s hoof away, taking his medallion back with squinted eyes towards the earth pony. Looking down at his medallion he gave a small smile but then instantly stopped and blocked Noble’s way with his hoof, turning to look at him with strict eyes. “Noble, what’s up with you? Why are you suddenly pushing to have this deep analysis of my friendship with Mineral? That’s a little out of place, don’t you think?” “S-Sorry, I just don’t know what else to do to distract you from scratching your skin… I mean it’s me and my poor memory’s fault I dragged you here and I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.... I'm really sorry you are going through this but I just know I can’t do this alone. If there was somepony else I trusted enough for this here I would ask them and save you this. I’m really sorry Soul.” Noble looked down, preventing eye contact as his eyes narrowed and his eyebrows sharpened while he grew angry with himself. Soul tilted his head. “You think I feel uncomfortable..?” He waited for a moment for the answer and Noble eventually eased and gave a timid nod and as he did Soul couldn’t help but sigh softly. “Look buddy, don't worry, I wouldn't be here if I didn’t want to do to this. I'm just a little itchy. Let’s simply get this over with and you can just let me have the shower for a while when we get back home. Okay? No need to beat yourself up.” The stallion lifted his head nodding again. “Of course, and if the itching persists I will go get you ointment and any medicine you need.” Soul gave Noble a small smile and he motioned for him to come toward the castle. The looked at his friends face that bothered him and he knew he had to do something to make it even a little brighter. He cleared his throat and spoke, “But yeah, about Mineral. She’s been fun to be around and as a co-worker she’s ideal. She’s the only one I actually like working with when working alone is not an option. Mineral is so relaxed and passionate about every task she gets and never slacks.” Noble’s expression leveled off with each additional word Soul added. Once he finished Noble couldn’t help but facehoof and shake his head. “Back to talking about work huh?” “I enjoy working, can’t help it.” The unicorn shrugged and looked at the castle again, he shook his head slightly in disapproval. “I know buddy. I know.” Noble got up and stretched out his legs and back, then finished by cracking his neck to each side. They finally walked up the steps and entered the castle’s main hall. Unknown to them it was the same room Fluttershy and Rarity entered into a while ago. Just the size of the room made their heart throb in awe. They both sat for a moment looking around thinking about all of the historic events that unfolded within this hall. Guards back then, walking through it every morning and night, standing by the entrance ensuring no strangers entered the castle without permission. The unicorn’s eyes swung from one tapestry to the next and he walked toward them. "Huh... no wonder somepony is so eager to get some of these. Those sure aren’t tapestries you see on every wall." Noble looked from one tapestry to the other and looked around the room. “Seems fairly similar to what I’ve seen…” His eyes went back to the tapestries and then looked over to see how Soul reacted to them and another gear clicked in his head. “By the way, has work gotten any harder here? Do you get fewer jobs because of your teachings? I’m sure you'll to be able to make tapestries like that one day.” Soul’s eyes scanned over the fabrics, admiring the details and his mind raced as he thought of the styles that he read about being used here. “It’s stayed pretty much the same. I get tasks at the same rate as before, though of course meetings with clients is handled by somepony else.” He turned his head and looked at the earth pony. “Though what about you? How has working at the farm been?” With lowered eyes the sparkle of a troubled smile was on Noble’s lips while he looked down at the ground a few feet away. “Heavenly compared to Liakada. Applejack’s gotta be the fairest boss I’ve ever had through all of my jobs. It’s physically challenging but by no means overwhelming, I actually enjoy that part a lot.” His eyes rose to meet Soul’s. “Moving to Ponyville was the best choice I’ve managed to do in a long time and I still can’t thank you and Rarity enough for it…” “You don’t need to thank us at this point anymore. I’m just glad this this town has started to drive Canterlot away from you,” Soul said with a smile recalling the scene back at the farm. “Yes… I wouldn’t move back there even if the offer was to become an alicorn princess.” He let out a huffing snicker and slowly walked in a circle around the room, going to darker areas in order to let his eyes adjust to the dark more. “What about you, how have you been adapting to your studies and everything in general here?” Soul followed Noble with his eyes and perked up his ears, turning about just to ensure nothing had been around them. “It’s been surprisingly easy, though that’s partly thanks to Rarity since she’s been introducing me to the ways of Ponyville bit by bit. Though the most challenging part has been ponies…” “Ponies?” Noble scrunched up his face, puzzled by the response. With a lower, agitated town Soul waved a hoof as his brows narrowed. “Yes, no matter where I go there’s at least one pony saying hi or asking how am I doing. Like, why do the ponies here have to be so intrusive?! I have no idea who they are.” “Of course, I should’ve known…” Noble chuckled with a shake of his head and a friendly eye roll. Soul nodded as he opened his muzzle, “But yeah, mostly it’s been rather easy. I feel a bit closer to home with Rarity since she has that certain Canterlot vibe in her. Plus she definitely isn’t the kind of ‘spoiled’ fashion designer Mineral suggested they are.“ At the mention of Rarity’s Canterlot vibe Noble gave an abrupt scoff, his eyebrows turning down for a moment but slowly rose back upright as he prevented eye contact; he did however look over to ask a question, “Mineral has a grudge for fashion designers?” “I don’t know what her deal is. But I got no complaints at all. Rarity definitely knows what she’s doing and as a tutor she’s really nice. Though she tends to drift off into her own world and causes scenes that could be straight from an over the top theater act…” Soul looked around the room, focusing on all the dark paths they could take which could hold the mares or some dark mysteries. “So um… How are we gonna go on from here?” “That should be pretty easy,” Noble said with a smile and sniffed the air, near the right doorway. “Come smell this.” Soul walked over to the doorway beside Noble and had a few sniffs too, and it immediately clicked to him as he clacked his hoof on the ground. “Huh, do doubt who that perfume smell belongs to.” Noble stood up a little taller than before. “We’ll just follow it and we’ll find them in no time.” “This got pleasantly easy,” said Soul as they enter the hallway and he ignited a light on his horn. There was a small silence while Noble lead the way. “By the way Noble, I’ve been wondering... How are things with your poetry? Has Ponyville given you any motivation or inspiration?” “Right… poetry…” The bit of pride the earth pony had crumbled as his lips wrinkled and he took a large silent gulp. “I… I haven’t really had any time to sit down and recover from all these changes, much less adapt...” Soul’s ears drooped and he moved next to the earth pony and he softened his tone, speaking slower and more thought out. “I really hope you start working on that aspect. I don’t wanna sound like a broken record but it’s your special talent and you should nurture it. I know a lot of big changes have happened, but that won’t work as an excuse for long.” Noble’s ears dropped and he sighed, his eyes slid away, not wishing to be seen. “I know and I really want to. I just want to focus on getting back up on my hooves fully first, that’s my main priority for now.” “Of course, I understand that. It’s just that the longer you keep dragging it out, the harder picking up the pen becomes. A small break can do wonders but a longer one…” Soul shook his head and pointed at himself. “Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.” “Yes of course. To be honest it’s just been getting harder to come up with anything. Back at Canterlot, I at least felt extreme emotions, mostly negative, but still, that gave me inspiration every now and then… Here… I don’t feel like i’m being pulled in any direction. I mean… I’m a lot happier than in Canterlot, but...” He sighed dropping his flank to the ground and looking blankly through the floor. Soul stopped with Noble, turning his head to look at him. He knew that look on Noble’s face and he had to do something. “I see… What about… Well before Hotel Liakada? I know you wrote more actively before Double Bit, before even working at the hotel, you’ve told me you used to participate in events and contests. Where did the inspiration come from?” “Uh… It was the environment in general, ponies I worked with and one special pony… Well I’ve told you all about it.” The tan stallion refused to look Soul in the eyes as his tone became colder and quicker. “Maybe we should talk about this another time, we have things to do.” “Yes you told me...” Frowning and with a wrinkled forehead Soul took a breath to push on for Noble’s own good. “Do you… ever miss your old life and job way before you even met me?" he asked cautiously, trying to make it sound like an innocent, random question. Noble raised his head and looked up to the sky, letting out deep shaky sigh. “Well, to be completely honest I do… I made several close friends, was taught many valuable things and had a stable path… but things change. Everything goes away and withers with time." His eyes narrowed and his head lowered, his expression was stoic and he looked at Soul. The unicorn looked into those still eyes, he couldn’t stand seeing Noble like this, those eyes almost caused him pain. “... I don’t.” There was a pause between the two before Soul spoke again. “I’m sorry I brought this up. I should have just let this be.” "Oh, no it’s fine… I’m sorry." Noble spoke blinking and lowering his eyes. "I know you just want to help, but I would rather leave that be… Thank you.” He got up, pulled his water out of his bag having another drink and took one step then looked back at his friend. “You know, no matter what, I’d endure it all again just to make sure I met you.” In that moment Soul saw a little curl of Noble’s lips, a true smile which made it impossible for him not to smile. He stepped forward and threw his hoof around Noble, giving him a hug and even let Noble pat him on the back without a shake. He let go and stood smiling at Noble then looked down the hallway. As they were examining the dark dreary hall, Soul had noticed how he had started to scratch his skin far more frequently than usual. “Dang… my skin is already getting itchy…” Noble watched on as Soul scratched his back, rubbing his hoof wildly then put it down, he was obviously trying to ignore it. Noble wanted to say something but even apologizing seemed useless, his ears folded down, drooping as he began moving forward again to get this over as fast as possible. “...This castle sure has suffered from the test of time.” Moving forward as he put his discomfort aside Soul replied while looking at each statue or stand they passed, “You can say that again, though look at all this neat stuff here. No pony has touched any of this in centuries, it’s like a trip to the past.” “It’s strangely like I imagined it. I don’t know, it looks somehow similar to modern appearance… Much greyer though,” Noble said, looking around and up at the holes in the ceiling and walls, at the pieces that somehow stayed intact throughout the ages. Soul stopped in front of a dusty glass box that held spears in it and took a closer look at it without touching it. “I can’t believe all this was just left here. This stuff belongs in a museum.” He then noticed an old suit of armor and walked next to it. It was a dark, grim, set of battle armor covered with dust and rust. It looked like it could cut somepony even if they touched the smoother pieces. Soul tilted his head and grinned. “You know, I’ve always wondered if you can you actually wear these or are they just for the show,” he stated and laughed. Noble looked over at the suits of armor then down at himself for measure. “Yeah. I mean, they look right and I’m pretty sure they are wearable if the pony is the right size.” His eye stuck on it for a moment, he found it difficult but he pulled away. A sudden loud scream and shake quaked through the halls, the castle walls rumbled and the rattling of stone and steel filled the hall, Noble jumped on Soul pushing him down and standing over him. They sat there looking at the ceiling and walls for any stones that may fall. Recognizing the quake was over Noble still tried to keep Soul down to watch for anything that may fall but still spoke out loud. “H-Holy…! What the hay was that?!” Feeling safe Soul gently pushed Noble back and dusted off his belly that now had dust on it and his skin felt like it was crawling. “Sounded like the mares... Maybe they got possessed?” he said with a faint laugh. “D-Don’t even joke like that!” Noble stood up and brushed himself off after stepping away from Soul. He took a look at him and recognized where his reactions pushed him. His ears fell again. “I’m sorry I pushed you into the dust there. My body reacted faster than my mind and… it’s just an instinct to protect your friends---” “It’s fine it’s fine!” Soul said waving his hoof and looked up with gritted teeth forcing himself not to scratch. “Thanks but let’s save explaining yourself for later.” Noble immediately waved his hoof feverishly as his eyes bulged. “Y-Yes, sorry! Let’s find the source of all that, who knows what happened to them!” Soul nodded and he started the gallop which forced Noble to race on after him rushing through the abyss as he desperately looked for rare item markers to come up with some lay out of this castle in his head. Armors flashed by in a blur as they ran as fast as they could, though keeping close eye at everything around them so they wouldn’t run straight under a falling rock or into any displays or suits of armor. After a few curves and a turn they finally got to a point where they thought they heard the sound, but there was absolutely nothing at sight. The smell of perfume was intoxicating but not a single glimpse of anypony was seen in the hallway. “R-Rarity? Fluttershy? Applejack? Rainbow Dash?” Noble called but received nothing more than an echo through the corridors. Soul looked around, gritting his teeth and swallowing. “Okay, yeah… I gotta admit, I’m getting chills.” Noble galloped ahead of Soul trying to find if the perfume trail continued further, but no, as he now got further and further, the trail grew weaker. Suddenly, he heard a rusty click and something pushing down beneath his hoof. The whole hallway started trembling the same way it did before, though much harder this time. He had accidentally stepped on a trap switch which opened a door just beneath Soul. There was nothing he could do at that point, the unicorn fell straight down to the trap giving a yell of his own. The moment the ground opened below him, nothing but horrifying thoughts rushed through his head for what could await him in the bottom of the pit. What if he landed in a pit full of rusty spikes? Snakes? Spiders? Poison gas? There were so many possibilities that worried him, though he was hardly able to scratch the surface before he landed on something the oddly enough cushioned his blow but filled the pit with screams. The object Soul landed on flung and squirmed violently underneath him. “Get off! Get off! Get off! GET OFF ME whatever you are!!!” As Soul’s vision and head was piecing itself back together a solid strike to the muzzle shook his head and he saw just what broke his fall. In a flash he jumped off feverishly pressing against a wall on his hind legs, holding out his hooves in defense and surrender as Rarity still blindly swung at her supposed attacker. “That wasn’t meant to be harassment, I swear!!!” “Soul!?” Rarity yelled, opening her eyes to see the stallion, her mouth agape as she got to her hooves. “W-Wha… Why are you here?!” Still holding his muzzle the stallion slightly rose his glare at Rarity. “R-Right now I’m probably wondering that same thing even more than you are.” His attention drew to Fluttershy who held her wing, holding it tenderly in her shaking forelegs. He was about to speak but suddenly they felt shaking from above and the trap door opened again The earth pony leaned forward, trying to catch the lever with a back hoof and praying that Soul would be okay, his heart had begun to feel like an anvil in his chest. With clenched teeth he screamed down. “Soul are you ok?!” Soul looked up and turned around putting his hooves on the wall, pushing down realizing that there was no traction but caught himself before he fell. “I’m fine, nothing is broken!” Rarity had been getting up and was brushing herself off, when she heard the familiar voice she jumped and looked up as well and illuminated the trap with a spell. “Noble, you are here too?!” Taking a step forward Noble placed one of his hind hooves on the stone switch and carefully moved to the edge, looking down just enough to see inside.“Yes, I’m safe up here. Fluttershy, Rarity! What about you are you both alright?” “I’m fine too but I can’t say the same thing about Fluttershy here!” She turned her head so the light was more directly on Fluttershy who was leaning against a wall. The tan stallion’s eyes widened and his voice became frantic and his eyes darted looking for a rope, or something to bring them up with. “What’s wrong? Can she move? Can she fly?” Fluttershy shook her head and looked sadly upwards at Noble, her voice cracked as she spoke, "N-No… I hurt my wing… I-I don’t think I can fly with it anymore..." Nobles ears sagged. "Oh, so flying here certainly doesn’t work..." he stood and closed his eyes for a moment, touching his forehead with a hoof. When he lowered his hoof and opened his eyes he held a much more serious look then he normal. “Listen, try to look around the walls and floor for any kind of switch that may get you out of there.” “What?” Rarity said tilting her head with wide eyes that frantically spun around the walls. “Please, just… just trust me. You can question me later,” Noble said and waved a hoof. “Those places always have a way out. If we’re lucky, it might get you to somewhere on that lower level. I’ll try to find a way down there.” “W-Wait, Noble!” Fluttershy fretted and struggled to sit up and look up at the stallion with trembling eyes. “D-Do you see Angel anywhere? He didn’t fall down here with us.” Noble blunk and looked up, squinting to search through the hall but saw nothing that resembled the little white rabbit. “N-No, sorry I don’t…” His tone lowered fading out with his posture dropping. Fluttershy hunkered “O-Oh no…” She turned to look at Soul hoping he may have some answer of reassurance but was instead met by a shrug and shaking head. “So, a switch,” Rarity said moving closer to the wall near a hole she had spotted. “This is the only opening down here. Maybe I can…” She looked at her hoof and carefully tried to slide it through, she bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes in terrified anticipation of what may be on the other side. “Do you feel air?” Noble asked hunkered down as he peered over the edge, ears up. “Yes, yes I do!” Rarity chanted. “Let’s see if I can find anything here…” She started tapping around the wall on the other side and eventually felt something solid. Without a second thought she tried to pull it and immediately the wall spun around taking Rarity with it. All three ponies winced and jumped back, Soul and Fluttershy exchanged glances with one another and looking up at Noble who held his breath as his eyes practically burned a hole in the wall. After a moment of silence Fluttershy’s heart jumped to her throat and she rushed to the hole with her fur standing on end as she begged through it. “Rarity! Oh goodness, are you alright? Please be alright.” “Don’t worry darling, I’m perfectly fine. I ended up in a hallway and it looks safe.” Rarity sighed and brushed her fur then continued speaking into the hole. “It was the torch on the right that works as a switch. Simply pull it downwards. Do be careful though, I would simply die if you got hurt any further because of me. I am dreadfully sorry once again, please let’s just get you out of there quickly.” Wild Soul called up as he backed away from the wall. “Hey pal, you think you can find a way down here?” A simple second look around was all Noble needed and he nodded. “I see a staircase over there. I’ll see where that leads and will try to meet all of you down there. You go ahead and flip the wall with Fluttershy; I’ll be fine.” The earth pony’s entire demeanor had changed, his eyes glared a bit, his posture more solid and even if he was afraid from this distance he seemed calm and vigilant. Soul couldn’t help but stare for a moment before nodding. “You do that, be careful.” He walked next to the torch by the hole, placing a hoof on it and looked at Fluttershy, tilting his head. “Are you ready?” Fluttershy slid against the wall and took a breath pressing her hooves and underbody tight against it and turning to protect her injured wing. “R-Ready…” Soul’s horn glew to hold Fluttershy’s wings in and attempt to help her if need be. “Coming!” With a deep breath he pulled the lever and the wall spun, swinging them into the hall where Rarity was ready to help support Fluttershy and greet them. Seeing the successful flip Noble let go of the lever, closing the trap and traveled to the stairs. 22. Shadow PassagesIn the halls of the Castle of Two Sisters, Noble Poet slowly made his way down the stair passage. He walked slowly, keeping his eyes open and ears perked, listening for any further traps that may be hidden within the castle walls. His only goal at this point was to get to the others and get them out of the castle as quickly as possible. Meanwhile Rarity tried to examine Fluttershy’s hurt wing, but all she could do was look and glance it awkwardly and try to reassure Fluttershy that everything would be fine. "I’m sorry darling… but I only know the basics of first aid, like how to act when one's ankle is twisted or if somepony is unconscious, but...“ Rarity gently stroked Fluttershy’s wing that she had lift upwards with her magic and quickly placed it back down at Fluttershy’s shutter. “Pegasus anatomy isn’t something I happen to know much about, so I’m completely helpless here…” she said with an empathetic look on her face. With a grimace and an eye closed the pegasus held her wing while laying on the ground but still found the strength to reply. "No, Rarity, it’s fine… I’m more concerned about Angel… Oh he’s probably lost and not to mention scared… He’s all alone in this big scary castle without a single friend around to help him...!” Fluttershy couldn’t stop thinking of Angel for even a second. She even tried to start walking again to go search for Angel regardless of her injury. Rarity didn’t allow her to do more than stand before using her magic to lower her back down. “Please dear, you can’t find Angle in the state you are in; let Noble come back and us figure out a way to get you the help you need first.” While Rarity and Fluttershy discussed what they wished to do Soul stood to the side focusing on keeping a light going and tapping his hoof to make it easier for Noble to find them. After a few short minutes Noble arrived at the group without seeing any further traps along the way. “Thanks buddy, the light and hoof tap were good ideas.” He looked over at Rarity who was hunkered down next to Fluttershy. He went over tapped her on the shoulder, “Rarity, may I?” Rarity blank and got up and backed up to stand on the other side of Fluttershy. “Do you know first aid somehow? Please tell me if there is anything at all I can do,” she said and lit up her horn for extra lighting as she bit her bottom lip watching them. Noble nodded in agreement and sat down next to the pegasus. “Fluttershy, how bad is it? Can you feel your wing?” He placed a hoof against her wing patting down it gently and watched the mare’s face. A sharp squeak escaped from Fluttershy as she tried to slide back grabbing her wing while her face was flushed in pain. “Y-Yes, somehow… b-but it still hurts very much! I don’t know how well I can support it right now.” After taking a closer look Noble nodded and gave a half face frown. “Well it does seem like it has swollen up quite a bit..." Noble turned to look at Rarity with a raise of his head and made eye contact. "Could you cast some kind of cooling spell on Fluttershy’s wing? We have to prevent it from swelling more.” Rarity’s cheeks grew rosy and she looked away, rubbing her neck "Oh, um… uh, well… This is really embarrassing, but finding gems is the only ‘special’ spell I capable of performing...” she chuckled awkwardly and darted her eyes from Soul to Fluttershy attempting to get him to step in but had to move toward nudging her head for Soul to notice her hints. Soul blank and shook his head, clearing it then stepped forward. "No worries, I’ll do it.” He walked next to Fluttershy and his horn started to glow orange, that was followed by an orange aura forming around Fluttershy’s wing. Small hits of blue and white waves crossed over the yellow feathers. The pegasus shook and squeaked closing her eyes and laying her head down on the ground as she attempted to limit her movement. "Oww! Cold…” "Don’t worry, this shouldn’t take long. It’s probably just a ligament injury…” Noble waved a hoof for Soul to stop and leaned in taking a better look at the wing and thought for a moment. He turned to look at Rarity and Soul again. “We need at least two light, clean objects we can use as braces, and then something clean and soft we can use as a bandage.” Jumping to action Rarity and Soul both nodded and ran in different directions. Rarity galloped over to a weak looking fabric that would be strong enough to hold Fluttershy’s wing, but weak enough to rip into smaller piece. On the other side of the hallway, Soul managed to find two sticks that seemed sturdy enough to work as braces. They both hurried back to show Noble what they found. Taking the materials Noble examined them in the light and attempted to move them away from everypony when he shook the cloth to dust it and wiped the sticks to be sure. "Yes, these will do. Now, Fluttershy, stay still and relaxed, I’ll try to be gentle.” “I’ll try…” Fluttershy said and looked away as she laid her head down. Noble asked Soul to hold the sticks on both sides of Fluttershy’s wing as he folded the cloth and began wrapping it in strips around the broken wing. With each pass Noble made around her wing he would look up at the mare’s face that for once was not covered by her long flowing pink mane. He watched her face for shutters or signs of pain but rarely saw any. Even in her condition and knowing next to nothing about her, Noble couldn’t help but get caught up in watching her. He would look down at the soft gentle feathered wings, her bright yellow fur that shined in the light and that extravagant mane. She was clearly among the most beautiful mare’s he has ever encountered and his heart beat rapidly while he tended to her. The pegasus laid relaxed through the bandaging and was surprised at how gentle and professional Noble was, she was able to close her eyes and relax in his care as if she was being treated by an actual nurse. She sat in silence, trusting herself over to the stallion remaining almost completely relaxed. Finally Noble finished with the wing and wrapped supports around her waist. He then wrapped the last layer around Fluttershy’s waist and tied it up. "There… That should be enough, it’s not hurting you is it?” he asked politely as he moved his gaze upward meeting Fluttershy’s eyes and pulled on them with a hoof to ensure they were tight enough. Noble slowly moved the hoof up, extending it to Fluttershy in order to help her up. “...It… it feels much better now… Th-thank you.” Fluttershy placed her hoof on his allowing him to help her get back on her hooves and after another glance at him looked down and back at her wing to examine it. Rarity cleared her throat, stepping forward. “Thank you so much for tending to Fluttershy’s wing ever so gracefully Noble. I’m simply amazed by your abilities… How ever did you know to look for a switch in that dusty old trap?” Noble’s heart jumped to his throat and he began to sweat and draw back from the inquisitive mare. “I-I, uhh… T-That’s the only thing I could think of, that’s all…” Before Rarity managed to inquire further Soul stepped forward, scratching his neck and keeping his eyes down with a pink color to his face. “You know, I’m surprised you’re still able to walk even after I crashed right on your back…” Rarity couldn’t help but give out a chuckle, covering her mouth. “No worries darling, I’m a tougher lady than you might think.” The pale stallion nodded. “Apparently.” He sat up straight and looked Rarity in the eyes as he continued with the pink now completely erased from his expression. “How the hay did you two end up in that trap anyway? The switch was located after the trap door.” Rarity blushed, her eyes hovered towards Fluttershy for a moment but quickly rose to the ceiling as she took a deep breath. “Wellll… I hate to jump to conclusions but, Angel must’ve stepped on it…” The horned stallion nodded maintaining eye contact with Rarity the entire time. “Ah… of course.” Fluttershy quickly lept up. “I-It wasn’t his fault! He couldn’t’ve know it was there…” “No no, darling of course not,” Rarity said and rubbed Fluttershy’s back and then turned to look at the stallions. “Now, I’d like to know how in Equestria you found your way here and why?” Rarity’s chin and eyebrows were raised though she realized it may not be the best angle and quickly whipped her hair turning her head with perked ears. “Not that i’m not glad or grateful you are here, but this castle is hidden deep within the Everfree Forest after all.” Soul nodded and pointed a hoof at his tan friend. “Well you have Noble to thank for that. I wanted sushi but he pushed us here. Though now seeing the situation I’m actually happy he did…” he said and lowered his head, bringing the hoof up and scratched his neck. The earth pony nodded and rubbed his other leg while watching the floor. “Y-Yeah, I suppose… I happen to have some small tracking skills, so I managed to track you and such…” He rubbed his foreleg more and clammed up. Eyes beaming Rarity stepped forward gazing at the stallion in a new found admiration. “You tracked us all the way out here? Wow… That is highly impressive, but… why? If you wanted to come with us, you could’ve simply asked and you wouldn’t have to go through all that effort.” Noble lifted his head up and looked at the artisan, shaking his head. “It-it’s not that, we came because I wanted to warn you about a Shadow Pony.” Rarity exchanged a glance with Fluttershy who raised a hoof puzzled but sunk her head down letting her hair blanket half of her face again. Rarity stepped forward and waved a hoof in small circles towards the stallions. “A Shadow Pony? What?” Soul looked at his teacher out of the corner of his eyes then looked back at Noble and gave a slow nod when their eyes met, urging him to continue. Eyes still scanning the room Noble paced slowly. “R-Right, that, um… It’s a story we heard from Applejack, that this castle is still haunted by Nightmare Moon’s old magic; and that at night it takes the form of a Shadow Pony. It is known as the Pony of Shadows apparently.” He stopped his story sitting down and looking up at the light peeking through cracks in the ceiling. Fluttershy shook and hunkered down, calling out with clattering teeth. “W-What?!!” A loud hoof stop came from Rarity with a huff as she put a hoof on Fluttershy’s back, rubbing it to calm her. “Wait, honestly? You came all the way through the Everfree Forest to warn us about a ghost? With all due respect, that must be the silliest thing I’ve heard all day.” Noble’s head reared back, his eyes narrowed towards the artisan and his voice grew deeper as he spoke to his and Soul’s defense. “It wasn’t just that… I was really worried about this castle and that something might have happened to you two. And seeing that something really did happen, I’m more than happy that we came.” Soul nodded and slid off his saddlebag. “There is one more reason though…” He rummaged through the bag until he pulled out the light blue purse and held it up in the light so Rarity could see it. “You might’ve missed this.” Jumping up Rarity clapped her hooves together. “My bag! Oh goodness, yes!” She immediately grabbed it with her magic and made sure not a single thing was missing from it and after rummaging gave a nod indicating that nothing was. “Thank you… for everything you’ve done so far. I might actually want to thank Applejack for telling you that silly little ghost story.” Fluttershy nudged the mare’s shoulder while staying close as she looked down the hallway in each directions. “B-but Rarity, what if it’s true! What about those screams I heard when I tried to get the tapestry down and the wall flipped?” Rarity patted Fluttershy’s hoof and set it down. “Darling, I already explained, that was most likely just an old security spell to scare away intruders.” Soul’s ears twitched and he leaned forward. “Wait, what screams?” The unicorn rubbed the back of her head gritting her teeth as she looked at the ground. “Oh, well you see... When we were trying to get this one tapestry down, it turned out to be some kind of secret passageway and it took Fluttershy with it, and while she was on the other side she claimed to hear some kind of screams there.” Nodding Noble lifted a hoof mid way in the air in order to interject. “I might actually have an explanation for that.” Rarity looked at him putting her hooves down with raised eyebrows. “Oh, what might that be?” While he spoke Noble moved his hooves, tapping them together and pointing around. “We… aren’t the only ones in here. Applejack and Rainbow kind of headed here shortly after you two left the farm in order to settle their ‘the most daring pony’ competition.” At the sound of the news the pale mare’s eyes widened and she drew back. “Applejack and Rainbow are here too?” Containing herself she lowered back and held her chin while speaking to herself, “Well, that explains a lot I presume.” The earth pony’s eyes opened wide and he snapped to attention. “Oh right! We need to find them and get out of this castle as quickly as possible so nopony else will get hurt.” He looked at Fluttershy disheartened then looked down the hall behind him and around the room thinking about all the other traps and problems the castle could hold. Rarity’s eyes grew wide and she took a moment to think then shook her head. “No, those two know how to take care of themselves. We need to get Fluttershy out of this place and to the hospital as soon as possible. And my client… well she will need to wait.” “What? No! Rarity, I’m not going to leave without Angel. I’m sorry but I absolutely refuse!” Fluttershy cried and sat down turning her nose up with closed eyes. Rarity leaned in wide eyed. She placed her hooves on the pegasi’s shoulders looking her in the eyes. “Fluttershy, you cannot intend to keep going around this castle in that condition. What if we come across another trap and your break your leg next? I can’t let that happen, it’s my fault I dragged you here in the first place.” With a loud gasp Fluttershy stepped back getting away from the mare’s hooves. “A-Are you really suggesting that I should abandon Angel?!” Rarity let out a loud gasp. “No, of course not darling! I simply want you out of here and to get that wing examined. I can stay here with…” she glanced back and forth between the stallions. “With Noble, and Soul can take you to doctor.” Soul’s mouth narrowed, pulling his head back and he just kept staring at Rarity for a moment. “Well that’s dominant.” Rarity flicked a hoof at her pupil. “I’m just trying to think of the best solution darling. For one reason or another Noble clearly knows what he is doing so it would be safer if he accompanied me here while we look for Angel.” As the group sat there Noble grew ever more restless darting his eyes around the hall with a hoof elevated to move. “I think that sounds reasonable. Whatever we are doing we should get going.” Fluttershy crossed her hooves as she planted her flank firmly on the ground. “I-I am not! I would never forgive myself if I left. Angel would think I abandoned him and what if he was hurt? I’m the only one he knows well enough to trust.” Rarity stammered and looked between the stallions with pleading eyes and could only get out a single word, “Fluttershy---” Soul sighed and smacked his face. He stepped between the mares holding up hooves to both of them, cutting their conversation short. “We are just wasting time here. Fluttershy isn’t willing to leave and that’s it, so let me sum up this conversation for you.” He pointed towards Fluttershy. “‘I want to come.’” He then pointed at Rarity. “‘No!’” He shifted back to Fluttershy. “‘I won’t leave without Angel; Period.’” He faced Rarity again with a dull expression. “So now your only option to save time is to say ‘okay’.” The whole group froze in silence for a few moments, just staring at the unicorn stallion with no idea how to react to the mild but sudden outburst. “Wow, Soul...” Noble eventually said, blinking while he stood on the edge of the group. “H-Harsh, but... I think he does have a point...” Fluttershy said crossing her hooves and looked to Rarity again giving a flip of her hair and huff. “What if it was Opal out there instead of Angel? Would you really want to leave and let other ponies look for her while you lie in your bed worrying about every single possible thing that could’ve happened to her?” With a wrinkled nose Rarity hemmed and hawed to herself. “...I see your point.” She dropped her head and sighed. “Alright, we look for him together.” She turned to the stallions and pointed to each of them. “What about you two? I would really appreciate it if you would stay with us, just in case something happens again. Please?” Her eyes grew wide and damp and she lifted up her bottom lip trying to beg. Noble looked at Soul. He knew the promise he made but he felt pulled toward Rarity by his heart strings. He turned his head further away from Rarity, trying to prevent eye contact. He connected with soul and shifted his eyes, pointing to the mares. He tried to keep a flat expression but his eyebrows were still sulking. The unicorn stallion thought about how late it was getting and shook his head with a shrug. “I’m not sure how much use I can be, but I can’t leave all by myself either. So I guess it would be best if we stay.” The earth pony let out a breath of air and nodded, standing slightly taller. “No pony or animal left behind after all.” “Perfect! Thank you so much.” Rarity had jumped back to her usual charming self and hovered over the pegasus a bit. “Fluttershy, I do have one condition please, I’d like you to stay close to Noble for your own safety.” “Alright, I guess that would be best…” Fluttershy agreed as she stood up and walked over to Noble slowly and turned her head away from him when she was beside him, still embarrassed by their introduction. Rarity nodded approving of Fluttershy and Noble standing by one another’s side. She then pointed at her pupil. “And Soul, somepony needs to keep you safe too so you can stay close to me.” Soul sighed and nodded in agreement, getting up and moving closer to his teacher. “Again, dominant…” With everyone straightened away, Rarity took the lead but as she took her first step Noble cleared his throat. “Umm, Rarity, no offense but I feel like I should take command here. I have already noticed some other traps, like one on the stairs and got around it safely.” Rarity blank rapidly and looked down the hall then back at the stallion. “Oh, well… you did know best with that trap. Yes, if you would lead that could be magnificent.” The group nodded once more and Noble walked past and stopped up front to allow Fluttershy to get close to him so she could walk two steps behind and beside him while Soul and Rarity stayed close, taking up the rear. As Noble lead the group through the halls, his senses alert as he scanned the corridors while they traveled. Rarity kept a creative eye out for art pieces she could gather for her client, as through all the commotion she decided that if she were to stay she must fulfill her job. While attempting not to interrupt Noble’s obvious concentration, Rarity leaned in to whisper to Soul, “Could you help me keep an eye out for some creative tapestries, dear? I desperately need some that are in good taste for my client.” Her eyes cut back to Noble and she furrowed her brow. “Soul, does Noble seem… different to you?” Soul looked at the tan stallion raising an eyebrow, he took a moment to look but he knew what Rarity was talking about and there was no hiding it. “Well yes, I don’t want to discourage him though. This could be a good situation for him after all.” While Rarity and Soul talked behind her, Fluttershy couldn’t resist watching Noble as they walked. She of course watched where she was going but looked at the stallion puzzled by how different he seemed as opposed to earlier. She would open her lips to speak but fell silent, not allowing herself to interrupt his focus. Without another word as they all kept their eyes peeled for first and most important Angel as well as a second for artwork that Rarity could take with her they walked through another passageway into yet another voluminous room. The group stayed together, there was not much furniture throughout the room except for old carpets, dusty tables and minor tapestries bordering the walls and hanging from the remains of the ceiling. Even though the ceiling had holes and the entire castle was rotting away the stone held firm. In the moonlight the ponies all noticed the centerpieces of the room. Two large thrones with large dark tapestries hanging above them. Everypony sat in awe, the light seemed to gleam off the thrones as if beckoning the group closer. Noble looked over the floor and around the room. “It seems safe enough, just of course be on your guard. We don’t need any more surprises.” As they separated Rarity rushed to the tapestries. Her eyes twinkled in joy as she saw through the dust and tares that accumulated over the years. “Oh the things these tapestries could say if they could speak.” “Umm, is this really the best time to be thinking about tapestries…?” Fluttershy asked with a light groan, her eyebrows dropping flat and ears falling back. “We still haven’t seen a single sign of Angel or the others.” “Oh Fluttershy, I know you are worried sick, but it will just take me a second to get those tapestries down,” Rarity said as she turned to look at her pegasus friend and smiled, drawing in a little and tightening her lips, feeling slightly uncomfortable then cut her gaze as she proceeded over to the over to the left throne. Noble took this opportunity and stepped toward Fluttershy. “How is the wing? Has the pain decreased?” He reached up with his hoof and gently touched her injured wing still watching her to gage the pain. He was worried about her both as a possible future friend and as the injured member of their group knowing she should get the most attention. Fluttershy winced as Noble touched her wing; while the regular pain had stopped it was still very tender and delicate. “Oww…!” She cringed with a shake down her spine but didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry, it wasn’t you… or it was you,… it’s still just a little tender. It is better thanks to you though.” She put her hoof on Nobles and gently moved it down giving a small smile. “Thank you Noble.” Noble nodded. “Of course... Um… Just tell me immediately if you feel like the bandages are getting loose or... W-Well if something else comes up...” He stammered all the way through barely able to put his words together but finishing his sentence. He gulped and shook his head trying to clear it before he continued. “I’m sorry for your pet Fluttershy... I really have to admire your care and determination for him, you clearly care about him a lot.” Fluttershy nodded back looking slightly more pleased but the hint of happiness disintegrated as the conversation shifted. “Thank you… I’m sure no pony would leave their pet behind.” The stallion turned and sat next to the mare facing away from the others. “Yeah… I can imagine how you feel, I would probably be just as worried as you if my cats were in the same situation.” Fluttershy’s interest peaked and she looked Noble in the eyes as she spoke more quickly. “Oh… You have cats?” “Yes, I do. Back at my dad’s place. I have two, one boy and one girl, Threads and Fangs.” He chuckled at the memory, looking up. “They are like my children and are so loving and loyal. My dad of course takes care of them while I’m away but they are right there when I get back. I just can’t bring them with me since they hate traveling and no apartment I’ve been in accepts animals. Also I couldn’t stand separating them from my dad. I know he likes having them around too.” “Aww, They sound lovely… Cat’s are such wonderful creatures and it’s sweet that you feel like they are your babies,” Fluttershy said turning her head with a wide charmed smile. Soul, who was sitting listening to the conversation had found his moment to interject. “Cat’s are the best creatures in this whole land. Period.” Fluttershy nodded. “Oh yes, well I actually love all animals, but well I understand your thought too.” She then turned back to Noble. “S-So… I heard you are from Canterlot too?” Noble leaned back, looking over the newly curious mare. “Yep, that’s right.” Fluttershy scraped her hoof on the ground. “Well… Y-You really don’t seem like a Canterlot pony at all… No offense of course.” The earth pony chuckled through his nose. “I might actually take that as a compliment, thank you... Yeah, I’m not born or raised in Canterlot. I was born in Horseshoe Bay and later moved to Appleloosa with my parents. I didn’t move to Canterlot till much later age.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened and she became more at ease. “O-Oh! I see. Appleloosa sure is a nice and small town, one of the most ideal places a pony could live in my opinion… So quaint.” Noble chuckled, and still looked out the corners of his eyes to see Rarity and then over to Soul before looking back. “I can agree with that. After living on multiple places, I have to say Canterlot certainly wasn’t the right place for me.” “Y-Yes, I wouldn’t like to live there either.” Fluttershy fiddled with her hooves and made another push in, looking up with big eyes. “M-May I… ask what made you to move out of there?” The stallion became more rigid and focused on the conversation. “I-I uh… Well it was because I happened to get a job from Canterlot, and it was the kind of job I had been preparing for for quite a while so I immediately took the chance.” “Oh, so it wasn’t the kind of job you would’ve gotten elsewhere?” Her eyebrows lifted and she tried to back up after seeing Noble straighten up, allowing him to have more room. Wrinkling his mouth Noble rubbed the side of his head. “Not really, it was a special kind of job that only Canterlot could’ve offered… Um, look it’s a subject I would rather not talk about.” “Sorry Noble! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come off as rude...” The pegasus quickly waved her hooves, scared she crossed some line and she didn’t want to start off on the wrong hoof any more than she already had. As Fluttershy apologized Noble was able to relax his muscles and could return to looking about the room and thinking of the paths they took so far without the worry of further questioning for now. “N-No it’s fine, you didn’t!” Soul, who felt out of place near Fluttershy and Noble’s conversation, walked over to Rarity who was just staring at the tapestry. “You think that thing will come down?” Rarity nodded. “Most certainly! At least I think so. This one doesn’t seem as thick as the other one’s Fluttershy and I have come across. I’ll get it down in no time!” A blue aura appeared around the blue fabric. But as she tried to pull it down, she met resistance and after trying to lift her head to help she had to dig in her hooves pushing with them trying to strengthen her magic. Rarity stopped and coughed. "Huh… This might take a second or two... “ Soul triggered his magic and pointed his horn to the tapestry. "I could help.” Rarity raised a foreleg in front of Soul. “Oh, no you don’t have to! I shall figure this out. Besides, old fabrics like this must be handled with care and finesse so as it does not rip.” “You are the expert,” Soul replied, dissipating his glow and feverishly scratched his joints. Rarity couldn’t help but notice how Soul had been walking funny and would rub his sides as he walked earlier. “You’ve... been scratching yourself for a while now there darling... “ She leaned to the side to see his ruffled fur and red skin underneath better. “It’s starting to look pretty ugly.” Speaking through gritted teeth Soul put his hooves down which shook. “I can’t help it, this place is like poison to my skin.” “Goodness, wait a moment.” Rarity opened her purse and started digging until she pulled out a small tube. “Here, this should be helpful.” “Oh, thanks…” He turned it to look at the label and noticed it was the same cream he had at his apartment. “How come you’re carrying salve with you?” The mare looked around and only seeing Noble and Fluttershy a distance away she leaned in. “Well, don’t tell anypony about this, but…” She moved mane away from her neck, revealing a bright red spot. Soul’s head jumped and he blunk a few times not believing his eyes but a smile formed on his lips as he recognized how he found another that shared his problem. “You have atopia too?” Rarity nodded and shielded her lips from the others, “I do. Well, that and a dust allergy. A simply dreadful thing to have, isn’t it?” “You can say that again.” He nodded, keeping his voice low for the mare and stayed close. “It’s robbed me of many good night sleeps.” The mare sighed and sat down after inspecting the ground below her and finding it acceptable. “I don’t know about you but for me having such a unsightly allergy is an extremely good motivator to avoid any kind of dirt, don’t you think?” “Ah, I’m extremely bad at that…” He squeezed out a dab of the ointment and began rubbing it against his fur. “I tend to keep it under control with creams and ointments.” Rarity took the tube back with her magic and after she turned away from the others applied some herself. “That sounds really expensive though.” The stallion let out a relieved sigh as the cream began working rapidly. “No, my mother works at a pharmacy back in Manehattan so I get them from her.” The cream send a shiver through Rarity’s back and she nodded. “Oh well that is handy.” Soul nodded as response and started walking away. "Anyway, try to manage, I will see if this room contains anything else interesting. ” Rarity nodded and waved a hoof dismissively. “Yes, you do that. I’ll call for you all when I’m done.” As Soul went down the short stairs, he tried to search for something that would actually be useful for something, but all he saw were pony head statues. Though one statue caught Souls attention. He walked over to it and turned his head and craned it in, rather impressed by the sight. It was a regular pony head statue but with a gorgeous, sparkling, grand emerald necklace that glimmered in the moonlight. He sat there for a moment, as he watched and examined the stone leaning in and looking around it for imperfections. If it really had remained in the castle for this long, it surely had lasted almost unrealistically well. Not a single scratch could be seen on it and the only thing taking away from the look was the dust it had acquired. Soul frowned and then looked down at the medallion hanging around his neck. Even if it was a gift, he never would be able to shake off the feeling that he should do or get something for her in return. He thought that now he might’ve found just the right thing. He grinned and reached up at the gem. Rarity’s eyes darted from the tapestries and noticed Soul about to take the emerald. She looked up at her horn and noticed that it had no reaction even at the short distance between her and the gem. “Soul! No, something is wrong with that gem!” Noble caught wind of Soul reaching for the fixated orb and lunged toward him though he and Rarity were both too late. Soul took the gem and a door unlatched below him, Soul fell through along with Noble whose hooves had just reached the ground the moment the trapdoor opened. The stallions laid on the ground and slowly rose to their hooves again as they regained their composure, checked for injuries and noticed their situation, being on the other side of the trap this time. Soul resided over to Noble. “Uh… W-What happened just now…?” he glanced around himself, but the room around him was twisting like a funhouse from his perspective. He looked at Noble whose forehead was scrunched up and huffed as he brushed himself off. Noble puffed his cheek slightly. “Soul… I thought we already learned that this castle is full of traps…” He sighed, releasing tension after thinking about how Soul must feel then looked up. Soul flinched as his heart sank and he looked up. “Wait, a trap door, again?! Ugh, yes, great, lovely…” He let out a groan and ran a hoof through his mane. “Are you two alright down there?” Rarity’s voice echoed into the room from above as she appeared by the edge shining light down. “Soul what happened up here?” Soul shook his head and looked up defeated. “My bad! Didn’t think there would be a trap set in such weird spot… I shall take my punishment for my stupidity!” Suddenly, they felt the floor under them as it started to shake intensely. None of them were sure what was going to happen but they knew it couldn’t be good. Then everypony realized the severity of their situation. The walls in the room had begun moving inward. Rarity instantly screamed and Fluttershy jumped back covering her head with her hooves. “Oh no… no no no no no NO, I didn’t mean it literally!! This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening!” Soul yelled loud enough to make his throat sore as he trotted back and forth through the small and shrinking room, aimlessly just trying to press against anything that his hooves could reach, his heart pounded like a rock song in his chest. The pressure on his chest made him hyperventilate as his sight grew blurry from the danger of the situation. “Oh my Celestia!! We have to get you two out of there immediately! Oh, come on Rarity, think, think!!” Rarity scribed her hoofs so quickly in panic that she almost fell into the room herself, but luckily she managed to push back to maintain her balance. Fluttershy gasped heavily as tears started forming in her eyes. She was unable to say even a single word between her hyperventilating, as she looked back towards the pit hearing the awful scraping. Panic has clearly start to take over Noble too but he seemed surprisingly calm considering how bad situation they are in. He clearly trembled in fear, but his eyes darted around the room as if he was searching every inch for something. His concentration though was broken by the blue aura that surrounded him and Soul. Rarity was desperately trying to get them out of the pit, no matter what. “Don’t worry! You’ll be fine! You-will-be-fine!!" She yelled as she tried to lift the stallions, but just barely managed to keep them in place Souls heart beat faster and faster as the walls threateningly approached them second by second. "Rarity, stop! That’s pointless! Even I don’t have enough strength in my magic to lift one of you that high!" “Rarity, listen to Soul! There’s a mechanism that will stops the walls, I just have to find it. But the walls will most likely crush us if you don’t let go of us!" Noble commanded as he tried to struggle out of Rarity’s grip. Rarity immediately released them and fell to the ground, crying hysterically, "Please, just hurry! I can’t watch!" She covered her eyes with a foreleg and turned her head away. Noble trotted back over to the approaching left wall and started examining it again and thought to himself, "Come on come on… Remember Noble, stay calm that’s what you’ve learned in training… Ugh…. Now i just have to remember exactly what she thought me about traps in there too… think… think…” Noble’s eyes lit up as they widened. “That’s it! Soul look for a button on the walls that are moving in. The reset mechanism has to be on there!” Noble quickly scanned over his wall, sweat beginning to drip off of him as the walls moved ever closer and he knew there were mere seconds left. Soul shouted back to Noble after in a panic, his voice cracking, “I don’t think it’s on this side!” Noble scanned moving closer and finally noticed a small square just barely jutting out, it’s sides had been cut so that it blended in with the main wall more and was more difficult to locate. Noble lunged at it pushing it in as far as it would go. The walls stopped dead in their tracks before finally retracting back to their original locations. The stallions both breathed a sigh of relief, their legs shook but they were relieved to be safe, practically falling over. A loud metallic bang echoed through the small room sparked Rarity and Fluttershy’s attention making them jump. They looked down into the pit fearing the worst. They saw both Noble and Soul still there unscathed, staring at a newly opened door. Rarity and Fluttershy, pierced by the sound of the walls retracting looked back down in the pit and collapsed in the throne room letting out big sighs. Rarity crawled over to the edge and looked down, holding her chest. “I almost had a heart attack!” "I think I’m going to pass out…” Fluttershy said and held her head while her heart practically was on the edge of stopping. Soul looked up at Rarity with wide eyes. “We are the ones who almost got crushed!” Rarity looked at Soul her ears pinned back on her head, glaring down. “We’re the ones who almost lost friends!” she sobbed. Soul paused for a brief moment, just staring upwards at the mares before giving any kind of respond, his serious look becoming more calm. “But everything’s fine now and we’re alright. That’s what matters in the end.” Noble whom had been been regulating his breathing stood at the new doorway, opened his eyes and looked up at the mares. “Hey! We will try to find our way back up there!” Fluttershy crawled to the edge and peaked at Noble. "I’m so glad you are unharmed… P-Please, keep your eyes open for Angel too! I’d really appreciate that…” Noble nodded and gave a fading timid smile, “Of course we will.” He tapped a hoof to his forehead and raised it as he walked through the door. As the two stallions stepped out of the room, Rarity and Fluttershy took their time to put themselves together. Rarity stood up, let out a sneeze, and brushed off her mane and legs since she deplored getting dirt on herself. Fluttershy simply sighed and stood up, she turned toward Rarity seeming more relaxed. “Well... While we wait…” Rarity looked at the thrones out of the corner of her eye. “I shall try to pull these other tapestries down again,” she said walking toward the moon tapestry once more. “Umm… are you sure we should still be trying to gather tapestries? I mean after all that has happened that is.” Fluttershy’s voice quivered as she questioned Rarity’s goal, trying to be polite. “Don’t worry dear, I’ll simply use my magic and won’t have to touch a single thing,” Rarity said as she walked up to the throne and put her front two hooves on it craning her neck up. She triggered her magic and once again tried to figure out how to get the tapestry down. Fluttershy looked back, putting a hoof to her bottom lip, the hair on her back raised further in this spooky castle. “Rarity, I still have a bad feeling about this. I think we should-” A loud sparking sound and a grown from Rarity cut Fluttershy off mid sentence, and the tapestry fell back onto the hooks with a loud clank. Hearing what happened to her friend almost made Fluttershy’s heart stop as she flung around in time, and saw the unicorn fly backwards and collapse to the ground. “Rarity!!!” Fluttershy screamed her throat sore and ran to the side of her friend. “Are you alright?! What happened?!” “Ohh, my head...!” Rarity held her horn as the magic surrounding her horn slowly dissipated, her eyes were still closed but she lifted her head up toward Fluttershy. “I feel like I fell from Canterlot…” Fluttershy sat beside Rarity and trembled and rubbed Rarity’s back as she looked around the room wishing somepony would appear to help. “Oh please please please tell me you are alright! Please, Rarity please! Oh; I knew we should’ve just stayed put! I just--- “ “Fluttershy, calm down! I’m alright!” The unicorn shoved a hoof over her friends mouth silencing her and pushed her back forcefully making Fluttershy take a step back while she kept her eyes closed tight and rubbed her temples as she kept a hoof out keeping Fluttershy away. Rarity’s sudden outburst left Fluttershy completely speechless, but at least she was relieved to see her friend still breathing. Eventually she found the words she was looking for. “Oh thank goodness, Rarity !-I thought something really bad happened again! I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened to you! I’m glad to see you are---” Rarity’s voice eased, “Fluttershy, you can calm down, really. I’m alright…” Rarity was still dizzy from the shock, which was clearly visible through her lack of balance and her speech being a bit slurred. Fluttershy tilted her head “Are you sure…? You don’t… seem alright… And your eyes, I thought I saw---” she said, leaning in toward Rarity reaching out a hoof to comfort her again, reaching for her forehead but Rarity cut her off and turned to look at her. She shook her head closing her eyes and blank a few times seeing Fluttershy back in focus. She grabbed Fluttershy’s leg that had reached for her head. "Hmm? What about my eyes?” Fluttershy took a good look at Rarity’s eyes, but she eventually just pulled away and shook her head. “Oh, never mind… I was just seeing things I guess…” Rarity kept staring at Fluttershy her eyebrow raised. “That shock was undeniably harsh. It must’ve been another spell cast for thieves for real this time… Ugh, I should’ve known better! Valuable pieces of art like these in a throne room must be protected!” Suddenly she let out a sneeze. "Ugh, and my dust allergy doesn’t make this any better… I’ve got too much of it on me already.” She walked over to the left throne and climbed halfway on it, looking up at the piece of fabric. Fluttershy timidly followed her. “Are you sure you should get near that tapestry again? I mean... umm… never mind,” she mumbled and stepped backwards a few steps, lowering her head. “Don’t worry darling. I’m sure the danger has passed, after all what else could go wrong? There wouldn’t be two traps for one tapestry now would there?” Rarity sat down and turned around as she attempted to reassure Fluttershy though as soon as she finished speaking, the room filled with the sound of an organ playing. The throne where Rarity sat, flipped backwards casting her into a different room of the castle leaving Fluttershy alone in the throne room. Fluttershy let out an earth shaking shriek. “Rarity!!!” She leapt forward as the throne span back into the room now empty and almost collided with it. After looking at the throne for a moment and biting her lip she hung her head down and backed up, shaking. When she got to the bottom of the stairs between the thrones she sat and looked back around the empty and decaying room, brushing and holding her tail for comfort. “I need to go after her… wait… no I need to wait until Soul and Noble get back. It would be better to go after her together… Please get back soon...” She shrank into a ball moving down to the base floor between the two thrones, cowering like a mouse in a trap that could only look out at the open sky. 23. Rampage InsideAuthor's Note Just if you're getting a bit numb with the castle chapters, good news: There's only one chapter left for the castle episode. 23. Rampage Inside Deep within the labyrinth that is the castle, Noble and Soul walked through the halls, trying to find their way back to Fluttershy and Rarity, who they had to leave in the throne room. The moon was rising higher into the sky and anxiety and fear drove the stallions onward. Noble’s eyes scoured the hall as they walked while he remained vigilant for any kind of traps. Even while he lead the path and continued his attempts to map out the castle and search for the white rabbit, within his head his mind buzzed with questions for Soul. After minutes of walking and some silence he stopped and forced the unicorn to stop with him. Noble turned his head only slightly so that Soul could hear his low mournful voice. “Soul… Did I do the right thing, when I agreed to let Fluttershy stay? Do you think I should’ve been more… assertive and demanded she leave?” Soul sighed and shook his head, he pushed Noble’s flank to the side and walked beside him. He scratched under his chin then his back but stopped long enough to look out of the corner of his eyes at his friend. “I don’t think you could’ve done anything to change her mind even if you brought an army here.” “I just felt like I should’ve done more… I mean I barely did anything...” Noble sighed, half of his mouth sulked while he watched the floor replaying the events earlier in his head. “It’s irrelevant now, you need to focus on navigation and traps. I just want this whole trip to end already,” Soul said as he started to grow impatient as he looked up at the rising moon, thinking about all he could be doing tonight right now instead. “Are you sure this is really the right way after all? I mean, I trust you and all, but we’ve been walking this hallway forever and everything looks the same.” Noble looked up and around at windows, holes, suits of armor and displays to verify along with rethinking of the basic paths they took and shape of the castle. “Yes... Most likely. If i’m correct, above us should be the crossroad we’ve gone through before.” Soul shook his head, he still almost couldn’t believe that Noble seemed to know where to go. “You’re impossible, you know that…?” After a while of walking again, they finally came across the crossroad. Noble tried to figure out where they were and what way they should take, but before he finished his analysis, his thoughts were interrupted by horrified screams coming from the both sides of the crossroad. They both winced at first and got back to back, but when they listened as the screams grew more focused, they could actually recognize the voices and what they were saying. “Applejack!! Applejack stop fooling around already, this isn’t fun anymore!” the yelling from the right echoed as hooves galloped closer. “Rainbow, I can hear ya!! Where are ya?!” the other voice echoed through the other hallway. The horrified mare's hooves echoed through the hallway as they both grew closer to the stallions at the ready. A second later Soul and Noble saw Applejack and Rainbow galloping from the shadows toward them from opposite directions. The two scared mares were running aimlessly, their eyes closed and just yelling each other's name. The stallions were clearly in their collision course and Soul was already moving out of the way, as Noble turned seeing both and braced himself, ready to try to stop both mares. The mares continued their blind charge, seeing figures in the dark they leapt toward the stallions with open forelegs. They gripped the stallions tight believing it to be one another. Rainbow rubbed her cheek on Souls chest and was gasping. “Applejack! I-I’m not scared or anything but I thought you left and I didn’t want a forfeit!” “T-That’s right, it’s the same for me! A-Ah want ya to say it right to my face w-when you give up!” Applejack replied trying to keep her confidence but not being able to control the trimmer in her voice as she squeezed Noble tight in a cheek to cheek embrace. Soul grunted and his eyebrows drew flat. “Somepony kill me now…” He pushed at Rainbow’s chest trying to get away. “WHY IN THE WORLD ARE YOU PONYVILLE FOLKS SO CLINGY?!” Rainbow’s jaw dropped as she opened her eyes and realized who it actually was. "Wild?!” As Applejack heard the commotion, she realized she couldn’t be hugging Rainbow. “Wait what?” She opened her eyes and pulled back her head as she spoke in a nervous tone still holding on while her entire body hovered above the ground by Noble’s neck. Noble stood there with a his face bright red and ears pinned behind his head, his heart throbbed rapidly. “H-Hi boss…” “Noble?!” Applejack quickly hopped down getting back on her hooves, not liking to be seen in such a helpless light, especially by a pony like Noble. “Don’t get any funny ideas, pal!” Rainbow Dash got up after being pushed off of Soul and dusted herself off regaining her cool and calm composure. “Uhh…” She cleared her throat. “What are you guys doing here?! You have totally ruined our competition now!” she scoffed, not being able to come up with a good excuse as to why she grabbed him. Rainbow’s voice registered again in Applejack’s head, while she held her mouth tight with wide eyes looking at Noble. She jumped at the distraction. “Oh Rainbow, you are still here after all. Good. I, uhh.. didn’t want ta win by disqualification after all.” “Well that doesn’t matter much anymore!” Rainbow said and looked at the stallions with narrow glaring eyes but also looked off to the side tensing up as she thought about being in the castle alone again. Soul groaned and rubbed his eyes. “If you would’ve listened to what I had to say back at the farm, you would not be wasting your time here in the first place. You would’ve bumped into Rarity or Fluttershy sooner or later.” “What was that?” Applejack said, her eyes bulging while her ears twitched. “Yer tellin me Rarity and... Fluttershy are here too...?” Soul nodded, placing his hoof back on the ground with a dull fed up look. “Rarity’s got a job to gather tapestries from this castle for a customer and restore them.” Applejack and Rainbow winced and looked away as not to allow Soul to look them eyes at their mistake, they both sat and wished they had listened to him now. Pushing her hat back to rub a hoof through her mane Applejack scoped over the ground then looked up at the stallions, still mighty embarrassed before them. “But, uh… That explains why they would be here, but what are y’all doin here? You two are some ah the last ponies I reckoned I’d find here.” Soul and Noble looked at each other knowing it would take far too long to explain everything to the mares in detail. Soul was clearly not willing to go into any long story and tried to push everypony along but the mares refused to take another step without an explanation. The stallions looked at one another, Noble stricken with the decision and Soul fed up with the castle. They plopped their flanks on the floor and took a breath to begin their explanation. They tried to make everything as short and quick as possible, especially Soul who would tap his hoof on the floor when Noble began going off on his long winded explanations. The stallions only stated the most important details like how they decided to come to the castle and why, how they found their way there in the first place. When they got to the part where they described Noble’s tracking and navigation, Applejack and Rainbow immediately tried to inquire as to how in Equestria Noble has such skills, but the conversation was dismissed before it even began. The stallions continued and got to the point where they found Rarity and Fluttershy, told them about Fluttershy’s condition and how Noble treated Fluttershy as soon as he got to them. They also mentioned how they may have unknowingly collided previously too and all the unexplained situation were caused by Rarity and Fluttershy bumping into traps or passageways. The mares were shocked to hear that their friend was injured and began to realize that although they were still worried about the ghost, they both recognized that they had to focus on the dangers hidden within the castle’s walls. The stallions concluded their explanation by stating how they fell threw another trap and were attempting to reunite with the others when they met the two in the hall. The mares let the information sink in for a minute and looked at one another before Applejack broke the silence. "Oh, uh… Well I feel pretty silly now… we’re just lucky we didn’t get hurt runnin around, going all haywire on account of a old ghost story.” Rainbow scoffed. “Don’t worry. I’m sure if there was any danger I could have gotten us out of it. Also I never believed in the shadow pony for even a second.” She puffed out her chest putting her hooves on her hips as she smiled and a drip of sweat formed on her head as she worried about being found out in her lie. Applejack frowned. “Sure ya weren’t and we just gotta hope we didn’t hurt no pony runnin around. Anyway… We gotta find the others and get outta here.” Applejack raised a hoof, pointing at Rainbow Dash, speaking in a glum concerned tone. “But that means we have to drop the competition…” The pegasus lifted off the ground flapping slowly above the others, stretching her arms out. “Bah, who cares about that, it’s ruined already! Our friends are out there in danger at the mercy of this castle! We have to go and save them!” “Right, we can settle it some other time.” Applejack nodded and looked around at the four possible paths then scratched her mane under her hat. “So uh… does anypony know where ta go?” “Give me a minute...” Noble turned to the direction that he and Soul were headed toward when Applejack and Rainbow showed up. Noble put the tip of his hoof between his eyes as he focused and scoured the room looking for markers to remind him where to go. When his eyes transfixed to a one certain tapestries, it clicked to him. “Wait! We’ve passed that tapestry before!” He rushed over to a slightly torn tapestry to verify that it was one he had noticed earlier as a marker. He closed his eyes for a moment then opened them with intense eyes. “I know how to get to the throne room from here. Follow me everypony.” Rainbow and Applejack looked at Noble confused, wondering how in Equestria he could possibly know the way by just seeing a single tapestry. Applejack especially was surprised to see Noble being so assertive. She hasn’t known him for long, but long enough to notice Noble’s timidness. At this point, they just wanted to find their friends as quickly and possible and get out of the castle, so they bottled all of their questions for now and followed behind the stallion. As the group began to progress again, almost everypony started to relax as the larger group brought a sense of comfort and stability to the mares. While Noble kept his guard up because he was leading, Soul could not find a bit of relief and only grew more anxious and annoyed the longer they stayed. He trailed the group as he scratched all over and huffed at the situation he allowed himself to be dragged into. During the walk, Applejack and Rainbow went into detail about everything they experienced in the castle so far. They talked about tapestries moving on their own, creepy legs touching them and trapdoors. The stallions were almost positive that all the mares had to have been accidentally scaring one another all night. Noble in turn described what happened to them on their journey in the detail he wanted to give earlier. Rainbow bursted out laughing when Noble described how he convinced Soul to come to the castle with him. Applejack was still having hard time processing the fact that Noble was in the lead. The country mare wasn’t one to ponder questions she had for long and quickly asked the stallion straight where he learned to keep such a cool head and handle in the situations they had been in. Once again Noble deflected the question quickly stopping the group, lying about a trap and informed them that he should stay focused on being a lookout. “We are almost there everypony,” Noble said looking back at the group behind him as they were mere meters away from the entrance. As the entered the room, Soul couldn’t believe his eyes. “Noble, you deserve a medal…” “Ah can’t believe it! Ya were actually right!” Applejack replied as her eyes were greeted by natural moon light and the opening into a larger room that made her gleam with hope that they could get out. The group entered further into the room but froze as they noticed a shadowy figure in the corner at the opposite side of the room which made the group slow down and stare, but suddenly they heard the familiar voice. “Ra-Rarity… Noble… anypony?!” the small voice squeaked into the darkness. The group instantly knew who the voice belonged to and a spark of positive energy flashed through them all. “Fluttershy!” Rainbow flew through the opening almost glomping the pegasus but managed to stop right in front of her muzzle. Fluttershy let out a squeak and almost fell, but calmed down immediately as she realized who it was. She was so delighted to see her multicolored friend there in front of her that she jumped at her, throwing her forelegs around the mare’s neck. The other three ponies galloped through the entrance greeting Fluttershy who was relieved to see that it was her friends and not somepony or something else. Applejack mosied over to hug Fluttershy as the stallions remained behind and allowed the mares to finish their moment. As Applejack pulled back, she noticed Fluttershy’s eyes were damp and gloomy. “Sugercube, have ya been cryin?” The group went silent and took another look at Fluttershy, them also noticing the damp, red, puffy eyes that had to be from fresh tears. Soul flinched and quickly looked over the group to the throne room, not seeing his tutor anywhere. “Don’t tell me your current mood has something to do with Rarity not being here…” Sinking into the ground with every passing second, Fluttershy nodded slowly as if expecting to be scolded. “I-I heard this loud noise from an organ echoing through the room; a-and suddenly that throne on the left just flipped and took Rarity with it! It was awful, just awful!” The entire group was caught paralyzed by this. “An organ that… activated a trap...?” Soul restated his muscles growing more tense. “Are you fricking kidding me?!” he barked and stomped his hoof as hard he could and approached Fluttershy with clenched teeth, his gaze practically pinned her against the floor. “We have to head out once again for ANOTHER fricking search quest and roam this damn castle ALL OVER AGAIN?!” The group froze again, this time due to Soul’s outburst. Mixes of anger and loss filled the other’s faces. Rainbow’s eyes widened. “Wild! What in Equestria?!” With a scowl she tried to race at the stallion ready to give him a piece of her mind but was stopped by Applejack that knew how close the pegasi are. After she pulled Rainbow to the ground with her teeth and held up a hoof to stop her, leaving the blue pegasus crossing her hooves. Applejack took a breath and stepped forward. She wanted to push Soul away too with all her heart but knew it wouldn’t solve anything. She spoke in the calmest voice she could. “Hey pal. What was that for?” The unicorn glared and as soon as he opened his mouth to respond it was covered by Noble to turned him around to face him away from the group. Noble looked into Soul’s eyes with lowered concerned eyes, speaking slowly and softly. “Soul… You’re raising your voice at her... I know this is hard, please just hold on for little longer.” Soul instantly pushed the hoof away and triggered his horn. “DON’T YOU SAY EVEN A---” At that instant when he felt his magic had triggered, the stallion flinched almost as if he was struck. His anger filled eyes faded away and he shook with a cold sweat starting to drip from his head. Noble let out a big sigh and sat down, he dug out a water bottle from his saddle back giving it to Soul. The unicorn took deep, long breaths and grabbed the bottle, taking a good sip of the water and swiped the sweat away. He took a moment to recompose himself and when he spoke again it was much softer, almost scared tone. “S-Sorry… I’m just so exhausted I can barely even think straight… I mean we almost got crushed tonight...” His pupils were large and shaking as he looked at Fluttershy. “A-Apologies, I didn’t mean to be so aggressive… It won’t happen again. Forgive me...” Fluttershy was silent and just nodded timidly; she held her forelegs close in front of her. Soul hung his head and walked away from the group in silence as the mares watched for a moment then tended to their yellow friend. Noble looked at Soul, he felt like a weight was in his chest and wanted to call out or hug his friend but knew it would be of no use given their current situation. Applejack walked over to Fluttershy and helped her up and rubbed her back. “S-So there actually is somepony else in this castle…?” With a turn of his head Noble pulled himself together enough to stand tall to retake command as he looked over the ponies he had before him that made the weight in his chest grow. “Well if it’s somepony that knows the castle and isn’t scared to play an organ here, I don’t want to run into them.” Everypony nodded and watched Noble rub his chin while he glared at the ground. It was obvious he was thinking intently about something and they looked to him for guidance. As everypony sat there quietly for a moment Noble’s eyes shot open wide as if in a flash of lightning. He jumped to his hooves and tapped a hoof on the ground with a smile. “I think I have an idea that everypony would be happy with.” The group looked at the earth pony stallion with hesitant, judging eyes but were ready to listen. Clearing his throat Noble began, “As a group we make our way back to the main hall searching for any sign of Angel or Rarity along the way. Assuming we don’t find them in that short time, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Soul can all go back home through the woods and get other ponies to come help us search with proper supplies. Everyone were listening carefully to Noble and nodded as he talked. Noble continued, “I will stay here with Fluttershy, ensuring her safety and helping navigate the halls in the search for Angel. That will be the most efficient.” As he finished he looked around for reactions, dwelling on Soul the longest. He couldn’t imagine how he must have felt and what he’d need to do to make this night up to him. The group nodded and Soul piped up. “Can I make one other suggestion?” He waited to see Noble’s head nod before he continued. “I think we should have Rainbow dash fly up to that window over there and maybe even out through a hole in the ceiling if she thinks she could get through safely and look for Rarity from an aerial view. That could save time.” Noble looked at Rainbow, the window and the ceiling. “Well I guess that would be fine. Needless to say, just be careful Rainbow Dash.” Applejack nodded too. “Great, then it’s agreed! Rainbow, fly up there and see if ya can see Rarity.” She pointed at the window between the two tapestries. Rainbow stood up right. “G-Gotcha!” She flew over to the window and wiped the glass clean, then scanned the ground outside. “Well, it seems like she’s not there anymore!” She flew over to the holes in the ceiling and after looking at the stone for a moment decided against trying to get through it and flew back to the group, passed them and flew into the entrance of the hallway they just came from. “Come on everypony! Hurry up!” The group looked at one another and Noble took the lead walking at a brisk pace through the halls, this time focusing strictly on getting back and feeling much more at ease about traps in this part of the castle. As they walked Fluttershy continued to call out for Angel as others watched for anything out of the ordinary, that could be coming for them. After minutes of walking the group arrived at the main hall. Just as they entered, the main hall, it was filled with a high pitched yell and horrifying scream that caused everypony to jump together holding one another or looking around for the source of the noise in horror. Out of nowhere a hole opened in the wall above them and two figures flew in colliding with the group. Everything went momentarily black for everypony as they got back up or scurried away from the figures that landed on top of them. All still in shock they heard laugh coming from a figure that was sitting atop the other. “See Rarity! I told you I knew this castle like the back of my hoof, didn’t I silly? This is the best playground EVER!!!” She threw her hooves up in the air as she made enough noise to wake the dead. “Pinkie Pie, I would appreciate it if would be a dear and, PLEASE GET OFF OF ME!” Rarity got to her hooves as Pinkie rolled over the ground landing on all four of hers. “I’ve had quite ENOUGH! I shall claim a war against this ugly, filthy piece of rock!!!” Soul flinched as he turned and could perceive the ponies better. "R-Rarity…? P-Pinkie Pie?” “Rarity?! Pinkie?” everyone repeated perking up and turning to see the mares with open mouths. Rarity looked like like she had been thrown through the Everfree Forest itself. Her mane and tail were frazzled and filled with leaves, sticks and small rocks. Though Pinkie Pie was just smiling and looked more like she’d been through a funhouse. Everypony began walking back towards the mares and Soul was the first to address the artisan’s looks. “At least you seem to be mostly alright---” Rarity jolted her head to look at Soul, Soul could see the fire in her eyes and she sent a chill down his spine as she got directly in front of him glaring into his very soul. “I am most certainly not alright!!!” The pale unicorn cowered and backed up. He held a hoof up in an effort to prevent her from getting any closer. “Well apologies, I sure can relate!” With a huff Rarity turned around so quickly, her tail almost smacked Soul in the face. She froze and her eye began to twitch. She realized she was face to face with the very first tapestries she saw as she entered the castle. "I am so so so SO DONE WITH THIS CASTLE! I don’t care anymore! Big or small, a tapestry comes with me and that is it! I won’t leave without one! PERIOD!” She charged the tapestry and taking it in her hooves started to pull it down. Applejack walked towards Rarity and spun her around, holding her shoulders forcing her to stay still and look her in the eyes. “Rarity calm down! You’re acting like a nutcase! Just breath!” Rarity squirmed in Applejack’s hooves, trying to look back at the artwork and finally exhaled deeply going limp, she was still frazzled but seemed to be coming down but still spoke sarcastically with flat eyes. “Well I’m delighted to see you too darling.” “Oh Rarity!” Fluttershy lunged and wrapped her forelegs around the unicorn mare. “Thank Celestia you’re alright!! Where in Equestria did you go? I was so worried.” Rarity sighed again, falling to sit and shook her head. “Oh I don’t even want to know myself...” Noble walked over to Pinkie Pie with a curious eye. “Well… Seems like we have another story to hear…” “Noble!!!” Pinkie immediately grabbed the stallion into a hug and startled him. She caught him and they fell to the floor mid leap. Rainbow looked back and forth between the two new mares and then up at the wall where the passage they fell through was nowhere to be seen now. “You know I’m not even surprised...” “Surprised? For what? That I’m here?” She giggled and let go of Noble, getting to her hooves again. “I come here to play all the time!!! This place is like a funhouse!!!” Applejack’s ears twitched as she caught wind of the conversation. “Play…? I thought you were gonna spend the whole day at school ringing a bell?” “Oh yes, that’s the funny thing! I thought I was going to ring it all week but I only had to ring it for 5 minutes.” She giggled to herself recalling the teacher quickly dismissing her after many minutes of ringing the bell. Applejack looked away, preventing eye contact and ruffled the back of her mane. “So, have ya been here the whole time...?” Pinkie nodded. “Yep! Ever since I left the school. It was lucky Rarity bumped into me, I come here to play so often that I know the castle in and out! All the best slides lead to the main hall!” Something clicked in Rainbow’s mind and she jumped forward piping up. “Whoa whoa whoa, hold on there! Are you saying you’ve been making traps go off just for fun?!” Pinkie giggled but turned her head at Rainbow’s bitter mood. “What’s the point of leaving them set? That’s no fun.” As soon as those words left Pinkie’s mouth Rainbow almost exploded at the mare. “Pinkie, you’ve been scaring and endangering all of us with those traps and you’ve been setting them off just like that! You might’ve put all of us in danger by doing that! You even actually hurt Fluttershy! Just look at her wing!” The pink mare’s cheer crashed as if it hit a brick wall. She leaned around Rainbow and saw the bandages wrapped around Fluttershy’s abdomen. As her hair deflated she spoke softer with sorrow in her voice. “W-What? I did that…? Fluttershy, I’m sorry!!!!” “N-No! It’s alright, i’m sure it must’ve been An-” Fluttershy tried to reassure her friend but was cut off mid sentence. “Sorry?! You’re sorry?!” Rainbow continued to lay into Pinkie Pie about how foolish she was, while Noble frowned as he knew just how Pinkie must be feeling and wanted to say anything he could to distract the pegasi from her rant. Wild Soul grunted and rubbed his head. A headache was taking over and he didn’t want to be in that castle another moment with all these ponies. He walked for the door already thinking about how well he will sleep that evening. As he reached the door he pushed to no avail, he pressed harder, thrusting his body into the door with no give in sight. “Noble! Come help me with this stupid door.” Focus on the mares was broken by the command. “Huh? Oh right, door.” Noble walked over and pushed on the door without a bit of give. He stepped back turning his head looking at the door baffled. “This doesn’t have a latch does it?” He noticed a lock and turned it hearing and seeing it lock then turned it to unlocked once more. He tried pulling on the door with no results either. “What’s going on?” Soul’s vision turned cloudy. “WHAT?!” He shook his head violently side to side as he moved it down then rubbed his temples before jumping up. “Okay, that’s it, I can’t take any gimmicks anymore! Stand aside!” He dragged Noble behind him and ignited his horn and charged a huge energy blast towards the door but it ended up bouncing away almost hitting Rainbow and Pinkie. Rainbow jumped back then glared at Soul crouched as if she were ready to pounce. “Woah hey, what’s your deal?!” Soul huffed through his nose and only turned his head slightly to acknowledge the mare as little as possible. “This door is kind of locked!” “What?! Are you serious?!” Rainbow Dash huffed too and glared at Pinkie standing her ground. “You didn’t lock the door too did you?” Pinkie Pie slammed her hooves on the ground and puffed out her cheeks before screaming at the top of her lungs, “I DID NOT!” Getting her mane blown back by the scream Rainbow was rumbled but shook it off and pointed a hoof at the pink mare. “Well then who did?! It definitely wasn’t locked when we got here!” “Maybe that blasted organ player?” Rarity interjected frazzled and annoyed as she also glared around the room. Applejack spoke looking at Rarity, “Well it did flip you with that throne!” A lightbulb lit up in Applejack’s head and she stepped up next to Rainbow Dash focused on Pinkie. “Pinkie, I swear if you’ve been playing an organ here, I---” Pinkie screamed and flailed her forelegs to her sides, she looked for a moment like she herself was about to explode. “Why is everypony yelling at me so angrily?! I haven’t been playing any organs here!” Rarity joined the group blaming Pinkie. “Well you’ve still been activating those horrible traps!” She turned to Applejack and Rainbow with a hiss in her voice. “And you two! You and your barbaric competition was what got you into danger into first place and maybe even us too!” The arguments showed no signs of stopping and fatigue and hunger only exacerbated the situation as they lashed at one another’s throats with their shrill sharpened words. They were trapped, the team crumbling and resolve was stretching thin like a rubber band about to snap. The only pony that showed any sign of calmness and a desire to repair the situation while she cowered was Fluttershy. The feat and slight anger of seeing her friends like this almost paralyzed her, but she knew she couldn’t just stand around and watch. She timidly tried to approach the group and calm her friends but instead was coldly snapped at and her efforts were ignored and rendered futile. Soul stomped his hooves and screamed over the others. “SHUT UP!!! SHUT UP SHUT UP, JUST SHUT UP FOR A SINGLE MOMENT!! I CAN’T TAKE THIS CRAP ANYMORE!!! YOU ARE ALL UNBEARABLE! I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M STUCK HERE WITH ALL OF YOU FOALS OF A GOAT, WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST... JUST DIE AND ROT!!” Everypony froze in their tracks and looked at Soul with wide eyes. Stammering for words Noble put some together and tried to speak in as calm a voice as he could. “S-Soul! W-What the I-I… That is not how you talk to friends!” Soul’s blood boiled and he waved an entire leg as he shouted. “FRIENDS?! Are you kidding me?! Excluding you, not a single pony in this room is a friend to me!” Rarity gasped and flipped her head getting hair out of her eyes as she marched over to Soul looking him dead in the eyes. “I beg your pardon?!” Soul huffed smoke out of his nostrils. “No Rarity, not even you! Even if you tell me to be your friend, I have never considered you as a friend for a second! That’s just not how it works for me!” The artisan pulled back covering her mouth. “WHAT---” Eyes full of fire Soul spat. “That’s not how it works for me Rarity! It’s just not the way it freaking works for me damn it!!! You don’t just come to me and ASK for my friendship!!!” Just as some of the mares made moves toward Soul, Noble leapt in front and blocked their path. “Everypony, STOP!” he exclaimed boldly glaring darting his eyes around from one pony to the next. “Everypony calm down. You’re all acting like idiots. Soul, please just take a breather, you’re becoming…” He looked Soul in the eyes to show what he was thinking. Soul’s anger had almost completely overtaken him, every thought he had was pushing him towards destroying the castle down to the last brick. He could barely see anything behind his hazy vision. “I-I…” Soul knew exactly what his friend was getting at, he withered where he stood, his face grew stoic. He started to feverishly rub his head and screamed at the top of his lungs almost bursting into tears. It was like he was getting torn apart. With that Soul turned and trotted slowly to the door through the group, he sat down then leaned his head down and fell over sliding into a fetal position looking like an infant sent to the corner. Rarity spoke while she walked toward Noble looking around him at her pupil. “Soul wait just a moment!! I want to hear your explanation-!!!” “Who cares! He doesn’t need us and we don’t need him. I’ll find my own way out of this castle if somepony doesn’t block it with some trap,” Rainbow said folding her forelegs over one another and turned her nose away from Pinkie. The pink mare turned red and shook. “FOR THE LAST TIME I DIDN’T LOCK THE DOOR!” Rainbow, Pinkie and Applejack began screaming at one another once again while Rarity tried to get around Noble who blocked her way and Fluttershy crawled back laying on the ground and began crying out for Angel once again. “Noble, let me through this instant! I must speak with him he’s my apprentice!” Rarity ordered as she pushed left and right but getting blocked every way by Noble. “No! Please he just needs time. He’s my friend, I’ll handle this, just try to calm down the others,” Noble pleaded, his eyes looked back at his friend clearly worried but his mind was set. He knew if Soul spoke to anyone in this state it would only end poorly. Rarity put her hoof down and looked Noble square in the eyes. “I don’t know how you two handle one another but you must know the Canterlot way. When there is an issue as sophisticated ponies we must talk them out, post haste!” Just hearing her boast about Canterlotians filled Noble with memories of scorn and frustration. His mind swirled with everypony that that tried to take advantage of him, how he struggled while serving ponies that looked down on him, the times he was replaced by ponies that would ‘look better in the public eye’ and worst of all everything he went through with Double Bit. He grew silent and bowed his head. Even though she saw a chance to pass Rarity noticed the sudden abrupt silence that overcame the stallion. Noble’s eyes were closed and covered in a shadow of darkness. His mouth was slightly tilted down, he breathed slowly but his heartrate was elevating. His blood began to boil and the veins in his forelegs began to become more pronounced. “You… You don’t know anything about that!” He exclaimed roaring like a dragon then lifted his forehooves and slammed them on the ground as hard as he could sending shots of pain that he was almost too angry to recognize. The vibrations from Noble’s slam shook some nearby podiums that were already worn. One supporting a large bust shook enough to crumple and smash against the wall and shook the ceiling over their heads. A large piece of rock fell loose and hurtled toward Rarity right below it. Noble saw the piece falling and looked at the mare. “EVERYPONY! That is enough!” At that moment a magic aura surrounded every last one of them along with the rock pulled the ponies apart forcing their muzzles closed as they all shook in panic as they looked around as best they could to see what held them. Silence landed upon the hall, rendering it as haunting as it was when everyone arrived there the first time. 24. The "Shadow Pony"The group laid helpless enveloped in a strange aura that silenced them and prevented them from moving. A familiar voice came from the top of the stairs where the glow from three candles flickered. “What in the name of Equestria is going on here?” She looked over the group and moved the rock that she was lucky to stop just in time and gently placed it on the ground by the wall. “I guess I got here just in time.” Applejack was the first to speak as she recognized the voice. She could spot the familiar face out of the corner of her eye and spotted a speck of green scales. “Twilight? Spike?” Along with the others, Fluttershy looked toward the top of the stairs and her eyes bulged as she saw her pet standing on the top beside Twilight. “Angel!” she yelled and fidgeted more as she wished to embrace her beloved pet but stopped and looked at him. “You’re alright!!” Unable to see Twilight, Rainbow’s eyes widened. “Twilight?! Why are you here?” “I’ve been doing research here all night with Spike. What are YOU all doing here.” Her gaze shifted to the stallions and she waved a hoof between them and glared momentarily at Noble who she had seen slam the ground causing the rock to fall. “Especially you two...” Noble didn’t fight the spell but looked up at Twilight while his head was stuck facing down and he remained silent as his heart raced. Spike stretched his neck out looking closer at each of the stallions. “Are those two the stallions you told me about?” Twilight nodded and looked back down at Noble. His eyebrows were down and even under her control she felt like his eyes were intensely glaring at her. Spike chuckled looking over everypony there. “Boy, you all look rough. You look like you’ve all been through some kind of madhouse or something; even from here.” The alicorn nudged Spike and gave a disapproving look. She then looked over everypony and released her friends, and then looked at both stallions again before she released Soul and with another moment of hesitation, Noble. Suddenly regaining their mobility caused many of them to trip or fall to the ground as she let them go. Soul who had finally opened his eyes and was ready to observe the surroundings was immediately drawn by the sight of Spike. “...Is that a dragon?” Spike waved to Soul and leaned against the banister, breathing on his claws and rubbing them on his chest as he tried to look cool, hoping for some attention. “Hey there.” Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes away and shaking her head at her assistant. “Now can somepony please explain all of this to me and why I found all of you fighting here?” Everypony looked at each other and after they had a chance to calm down they all sulked or rubbed their forelegs thinking of all the awful things they said to one another. Out of the seven Rainbow Dash and Applejack were the ones that stepped forward. They first looked at each other waiting for one another to start, but after a moment Twilight suggested Applejack go first. Applejack nodded and started giving a short version of her and Rainbows story on how they got to the castle and what they experienced. After Applejack had finished her story it was Rarity’s turn, who stepped up and explained in short her and Fluttershy’s own reasons why they came to the castle and explained how they met Soul and Noble and how big of a help they were with Fluttershy’s wing and what happened after that. Applejack looked at the group and then Rarity. “I reckon we all have some apologies to say…” With some awkward pauses the group nodded and walked around apologizing to one another and making amends. Noble and Rarity looked at one another. Noble exhaled composing himself and felt a release of his anger but Rarity was the first to get in a word. “I-I’m terribly sorry if something I said upset you. I didn’t-” The earth pony closed his eyes and held up a hoof. “No. I’m sorry, I’m glad you are ok.” His tone was cold and concise. The two walked over to Soul and helped him to his feet brushing him off together as if they were his parents dusting him off after he fell in dirt. With a far more soft and tender voice, Noble questioned, “Is everything alright buddy...?” Soul instantly pulled away when he barely got onto his hooves and rubbed his face, still shaking noticeably. He shook his body and waved away the hooves. “Yeah yeah...” Everypony looked at Soul, their questioning eyes filled with uneasiness of what to say to him but it was clear an apology was expected from him as well. A hush fell over the room, Soul’s ears fell and his eyes scoured the ground before looking up at the group. “I’m so sorry everypony… I can’t believe what I said to you all…” Rainbow spoke out for the group speaking in a light hearted tone. “Well all I’ve got to say is, wow. At least you made it clear early on that we shouldn’t make you stressed. I mean yikes.” She chuckled which lead to the group breaking out and chuckling together as they looked at one another. The laughter crashed to a halt as a clang and roar from the organ filled the halls with a low note. The castle shook and ponies fur stood on end as they looked around and shivered. Fluttershy dropped to the ground covering her head and pulled Angel in underneath her. “T-There’s the organ again!!!” “Yes, the organ… I was on my way to figure out who was playing it when I bumped into all of you.” Twilight raised the candlestick with her magic. She stood tall and called out an order to her friends. “Everypony, calm down and follow me. Be on your guard.” The group galloped to Twilight without a second thought, the fear still present but a light forming within them where they refused to let each other down. They gathered behind Spike and Twilight in a circle with Twilight at the head. The princess looked down at Soul and Noble who stood together at the bottom of the stairs, Noble’s eyes still looked stern and unwavering. Twilight knew she couldn’t leave the stallions at the entrance and didn’t want to, she wanted to keep an eye on Noble personally but felt slightly more comfortable about Soul. “Soul, I’d like for you to get in the middle of the group. Noble… you stay beside me and help me look for traps and maneuver through this castle.” The stallions looked at one another then back at the door and Soul took the lead up the stairs forming in just as Twilight asked of them. The group moved through the halls that twisted and turned. Twilight recalled the layout of the castle she read about while with Spike and Angel and knew many of the traps, though Noble still kept an eye out for traps as he walked beside her. While they walked Noble felt tense, he had a lump in his throat and a nervous cold sweat down his spine. He looked back occasionally to the group that walked approximately a meter behind Twilight and himself. As he continued to scour for traps he leaned toward Twilight. “Princess, I think it would be best for us to speak, in private some time. No need to bring others into this.” Twilight’s eyes grew larger and shifted toward the stallion. She slowed down unsure of what to do but knew it was not the time to make a scene. She thought quickly and came up with what she believed would be the safest option. “Oh? What do you mean? What do we need to speak in private about that my friends can’t hear?” The stallion’s stomach turned and he almost tripped over his own hooves and looked back at the ponies behind them that seemed to barely notice what Twilight said. “I- uhh. Oh, what? No sorry, it’s nothing. Err- I just… hopeless flirting, that’s all.” He chuckled taking the lead. The others looked puzzled and AJ and Rarity facehoofed but followed as Twilight galloped and took the lead once more with a feeling of relief as she claimed a small victory. Through the twists and turns the organ grew louder and more clear. The melody filled the halls and penetrated the ponies hearts, it was a slow gentle melody that both ripped at the heart and pushed them forward toward the torturous resonance. They followed the crashing base and floating soft cords until they reached the entrance of another large room on the right in a hallway. The room was filled with pipes from the organ and illuminated by candles throughout the space. Twilight froze in the hallway before a single hoof stepped out of the shadows and peeked around the wall into the room. Everypony came to a halt behind Twilight and peered around her or jumped to the other side to look inside to see a single shrouded figure in the center of the room playing the organ. On a stool spinning the song was a black cloaked figure that seemed to blend in with the shadows and forced everypony to draw back together. Not much could be gathered from the figure other than it seemed to be in the shape of a pony. The entity continued to play a low wavering tone. It filled the air with a light mellow desire while low notes crashed down on the ponies very souls, weighing down their hearts in the sea. The high notes make them yearn for more and nopony could help feeling uplifted. Twilight stood at the head of the group, still pressed back into them and whispered among them. “Who in Equestria is that…?” Spike clung to the wall and turned away from the door grabbing hold of one of Twilight’s legs hiding his head. “A-a ghost gardener obsessed with it’s job, w-which it clearly isn’t very good at…?” Cowering at the other wall, ready to bolt from the scene if need be, Soul looked up in toward the figure, his head nearly touching the floor. “N-Not a bad guess at all.” Rarity held tight to her friends but closed her eyes tightly where she couldn’t help but become deeply enthralled in the music. “That melody she’s playing surely is something unique…” Pinkie peeked over Twilight’s head, pushing her down. She spoke in a whisper but louder than others. “Oooh! Maybe she comes here to play too!” Others quickly covered Pinkie’s mouth and hissed for her to quiet down. Twilight gently pushed Pinkie off and she stepped forward on her own, pushing Spike back to safety. “You all, stay here. I’ll see what this is all about.” She ignited her horn, ready to take any kind of action if the situation needed it and stepped into the moonlight. “You there!” They playing immediately ceased and in a flash the figure jumped off the bench turning to face Twilight. The pony’s face was still shrouded by the shadow of the robes and it quickly pulled it down further and backed up. It looked about, pausing at every possible exit and tried to ensure it was alone, luckily it did not see the group of ponies peering in from the darkness of the hallway behind Twilight. The princess lowered her horn and opened her wings showing her authority and tried to deter the figure from attacking. “Who are you and what are you doing in this castle? How have you found your way here?” The figure spoke in a soft light voice that showed the figure was a mare without doubt. The voice was slow and simple but was very reserved and sent a chill through the ponies spines. “You… You’re an alicorn!” The group almost calmed down simply by hearing her speak, but the chill shook them and made them hunker down once more. Twilight took a step forward which seemed to push back the cool air filling the room and gave the others some much needed reassurance. “You didn’t answer my question. Who are you and what are you doing here?” “Why does it have any matter to you? This place is owned by no one anymore so such things as trespassing no longer exist on these grounds. We’re all free to be here.” The hooded mare stood tall without fear even with Twilight threatening her with magic. “I didn’t expect to see any of your life here… Especially an alicorn…” Rarity huffed and took the moment to stomp into the room drawing attention to herself as she appear behind and to the side of Twilight. “Well just so you are aware, missy! That organ you have been playing has been releasing traps throughout the castle endangering my and my friends lives!” The hooded figure stepped back quickly and raised it’s head as Rarity entered the light. “Is that so, unicorn?” She looks toward the area where Rarity came from trying to see around Twilight without revealing herself then looked back at the organ for a moment. “I have not been aware of this...” Twilight took another step forward to stand between Rarity and the dark pony. She watched the figure for movement like a hawk and felt more confident as Rarity entered the room. “Right... Look, I suppose it doesn’t matter why you are here or how, but if you are intentionally here to cause harm for anypony, I can’t and won’t let you go on any further!” The voice became faster as the figure turned and looked about. “No! I wish no harm for any.” Rainbow Dash roared into the room flying above and just behind Twilight. “Then what’s your deal? You’re not… a ghost, right?” The shadow mare winced and jumped back the moment Rainbow flew in, becoming more and more on guard. “No, I’m not a ghost. I’m not here to cause harm. I’m simply passing through and looked for shelter in this castle.” She took a step forward, hesitating while looking at Twilight still ready to strike. The princess closed her wings and lifted her head up enough to look toward the shadow covered face with more ease. “Passing through?” The figure nodded. “Yes…. I… You see, I used to live here long ago and I’m here to reminisce my past home...” “What?!” Everyone shouted as they jumped out of the shadows. “Wait, how is that possible?!” Noble’s voice echoed and he pushed his way through the group and stood up near Twilight. “This place has been vaccant for thousands of years! There is no way you could’ve lived here!” When the figure saw Noble, she immediately leapt back and gasped, lifting a leg as if trying to shield herself. Soul reached out a hoof towards Noble. “Noble, let’s stay back, I don’t think we have any right to interfere.” “Look out!” Twilight yelled and casted a big shield over the group just in time for i to protect them from certain injury as a rock flew right at them and crashed on the shield. The spell and rubble put out several of the candles leaving dark patches throughout the room. The princess shrunk her barrier as soon as she saw everyone was alright and flapped her wings, taking to the sky. “Hey! What’s with you all of the sudden! I thought you didn’t want to cause us any harm!” “STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU TWO!” The figure yelled and pointed at the stallions. She was gasping and turned her head away holding it through the cloak and holding herself in the shadows. While still ready for other debris Twilight landed, her face was scrunched together and she took a step forward pressing forward with her light. She desperately wanted to see the mare’s face. “What’s the matter? What’s gotten into you all of the sudden?” The figure backed off flailing a leg toward the group. “P-Please just whatever you do, keep those two stallions away from me!!! No one come near me!” At that instance the mare lept in the air, wings opened and before anypony could react all of the candles were extinguished and the figure vanished. “H-hey! Wait!!” Twilight yelled and looked about for the pegasus filling the room with light. “You won’t find her.” Rainbow took to the air and flew over to a broken window looking out of it through a small hole. “She was faster than any pegasus I’ve ever seen. She may give me a run for my money. How did she get out through this hole?! Even I can’t do that!” She held a hoof up and shivered at the sharp glass then flew back down to the others. “She’s long gone, no sign of her outside.” Filled with awe Twilight looked over the ground and up at the hole that only Rainbow was able to notice she vanished from. “If you say so, Rainbow. Thank you... Is everypony ok?” A moment passed as everypony looked around at one another seeing that they were all still there and safe and the room filled with nods. As Twilight sighed in relief and continued searching the ground for anything, she noticed two large feathers, barely noticeable on the floor. She picked them up and instantly noticed that they weren’t just normal pegasus feathers. As she held them up in the room she noticed the light passing almost completely through them. She turned off her horn for a moment and held them up to the moon light with the same result before illuminating her horn once more. “Transparent feathers…? I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a thing… I can’t even remember reading about anything like this from anywhere.” Abruptly turning Twilight glared at the stallions. “Noble, Soul!” “Do speak,” Soul said as he stood beside the earth stallion now. Twilight spun around and walked up to the two. She squinted her eyes, glaring as she looked each of them in the eyes. “Do you know that pegasi from somewhere? She didn’t fly off the handle until she saw you two.” Soul looked at the opening the figure flew out of and rubbed his left temple. “I didn’t recognize her voice from anywhere at least… Kinda hard to recognize anypony under a hood anyway.” Noble was shaken by the look but shook his head glancing back and looked about. “I can’t think of anything either…” Applejack and Rainbow saw a glimmer of something on the ground by the organ. When the two approached the organ they immediately noticed some gears and parts on the floor, and an open door on the side of the organ. A huff and Applejack brushed her hat up, lifting a gear and squinting at it. “Well that explains those single keys we heard. Guess she had to do some repair work…” Once the group decided they could no longer do anything with the organ except take a few parts off it to make sure it was no longer functional anymore, they returned to the tower Twilight set up in. They decided it was far too late and dangerous to venture through the woods unnecessarily and after enjoying some of the snacks Twilight brought for her reading and enjoying water from a flowing spring channel in an extra room, the group was able to calm down. Once the group calmed down and made their way back to the tower, they finally got to to fill their bellies with the food Twilight had brought with her, and clean themselves up with bright water. With everypony reunited, things were finally calming down. Rarity had finally found a piece of cloth she was able to mend, Fluttershy sat and cuddled with Angel finally at ease even with her injured wing, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash finally calming down. Noble gazed out the window while Soul sat in the corner writing to Mineral and telling everything that has happened to them tonight. Twilight sat by candlelight as she tried to read another book but found herself drifting off the page to look at the translucent feathers left by the hooded mare. Even though he was enjoying a comic Spike couldn’t help but notice Twilight. “Still thinking about that pegasus?” Speaking softly, the princess leaned in so the others wouldn’t be disturbed, her eyebrows turned down as if she ended a good book. “How could I not be thinking about her? Nothing about her made sense. Ugh, I just wish I could’ve stopped her and gotten more answers before she got away...” Spike opened his arms wide palms up being far less discrete then threw them across one another. “Well there’s certainly nothing we can do about it now.” Twilight sighed. “I know Spike. The thing that bothers me the most is how… anxious she got after seeing…” She turned to look at the stallions, seeing them out of the corner of her narrowed eyes, leaned in closer to Spike lowering her voice to a barely audible whisper, “Noble and Soul.” Spike nodded and scratched his chin and tried to lean back with his comic book. “Yeah, it was super weird… Maybe she was just having… you know, those mares issues.” “Huh?” Twilight’s eyebrows raised and her head tilted as she drew back speaking more casually now. “Mare issues?” The dragon sighed and rolled his eyes. He put his comic over his stomach and raised a hand. “You know, that thing you told me about where you mares once a month get---” “SPIKE!!!” Twilight flushed bright red and immediately grabbed him and wrapped his mouth closed with her hooves. “THAT’S ONE OF THOSE HUSH HUSH THINGS.” Everyone’s attention snapped to the two. Spike shoved the hoof away, rubbed an arm over his mouth and made spitting and gagging noises, “Geeze Twilight, wash those before you shove them in my mouth.” He then walked over to the stallions to join their company. “Hey, you two. We never had time for proper introduction.” Soul looked up his book and from rubbing in more ointment that Rarity had for him, he tilted his head with a raised eyebrow. “Is it necessary at this point?” The dragon shrugged. “Well not really. I’m Spike and the number one assistant of Princess Twilight Sparkle. That’s pretty much all you need to know.” “Plain and simple. I like it.” Soul bowed his head with a small smile and sent his next message to Mineral. Spike couldn’t help but smile wider and gave a full bow in return. “You are Wild Soul? The new apprentice of Rarity?” he questioned and then looked up and down at Noble. “And you, Noble Poet. The pony who lost his job and got one from Applejack?” Noble nodded to greet him as well. “Pleased to meet you, Spike. I’ll try to remember your name, please forgive me if I forget.” The pale stallion nodded as well as he looked up after reading the reply that just appeared. “Yeah, your kind are a rare sight for us.” Before Spike could strike up any further conversation with the stallions, Rarity joined the group’s atmosphere walking with an air of caution. “Soul…” Soul immediately frowned and sulked. “Rarity. Um, just a second…” He picked up his pen and wrote a goodbye to Mineral and then put the book aside. The mare’s hooves were sweaty and she couldn’t maintain eye contact as she bit her bottom lip. She stood in silence for a moment as her eyes wondered around the room. “Back in the main hall, what you said…” she finally said and even managed to speak clearly and directly. “Did you really mean it? That we’re… not friends?” Taking a moment of silence before he breathed deeply and sighed. “Look, I… yeah, I did. I meant it.” He pulled his hooves in, tucking them under him. “Is that… outburst gonna have a negative effect considering my future as your apprentice…?” Rarity’s ears flinched and she drew back wide eyed at the very idea. “You cannot be serious… THAT’S what’s on your mind?!” When Noble saw where the situation was going he immediately stood up and tapped the mare on the shoulder. “Um, Rarity… Come here for a second.” Noble’s request was almost completely unheard by the mare who waved a hoof but froze as the words registered in her head. “I’m kind of busy dealing with---” The earth pony stepped forward coming between the two and catching Rarity’s attention. He looked her in the eyes. His eyes were large and the light blue brought out the mare’s heart. “P-Please, just come.” Rarity looked between the stallions, she yearned to go with Soul but her mind told her otherwise. With a deep sigh she nodded and solemnly followed Noble out into the hall. “Alright then, what is it?” Taking a deep breath before he spoke Noble looked Rarity in the eyes. He reached out and after having a hoof hoover around Rarity’s shoulder for a bit he placed gently touched it as he spoke. “Please, forgive Soul for how he was and what he said back in the main hall…” “I won’t do anything before I get some explanation out of him!” She turned her head looking back towards the room practically fuming. Noble’s ears dropped even lower and pulled his hoof back but waved it, pulling her attention back. “T-That’s not a very good idea to ask him straight about it…” Her voice sharpened and she leaned in directing her frustration towards the earth pony. “He’s the one who said all those nonsensical things so he’s the one who shall explain to me!” With a step back Noble cringed keeping a hoof up in an attempt to stop the unicorn. “Rarity, just give ME a moment to explain, you’re not going to get anything you'd like out of Soul.” “Alright, fine…” Rarity sat down and snapped her chin up in the air. She waved a hoof through the air with closed eyes. “Speak.” “Thank you...” Noble closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes slowly gathering his thoughts about what he needed to say. “First, don’t hate Soul for how he acted back in the main hall. That’s not typical for him at all, and this was the first time I’ve see him that angry. This whole night has been absurd and put him under an exponential amount of stress.” Rarity nodded while she held a hoof under her chin. “I can understand that, yes…” Noble put his hooves together and sighed. “You see, I don’t know how it works for your group, but for Soul…” He took another deep breath before continuing, “You can’t just ask to be his friend.” Rarity drew her neck back and tilted her head raising an eyebrow. “What? What do you mean? Please, elaborate dear.” The stallion rubbed the back of his head and spoke slowly, choosing his words. “I’m sure by now you’ve noticed what a reserved pony Soul can be. He’s... not good with opening up about his emotions and he hates to take shots in the dark when it comes to relationships. He requires time, time to get to know the pony well enough for an actual bond to form and not just wish that him and the other pony feel the same way.” The mare blank again. “But… why did he originally seem so friendly? Back in Canterlot when I told him to treat me as a friend, he smiled. And back when he first came here and we had the same talk, he didn’t show any signs of refusal or distaste.” Scratching his head as he put himself in Soul’s hooves. “I’m sure he simply didn’t want to have a bad impression…” The artisan’s brow furrowed again as her voice raised. “So all this time he has been pretending?” “No no no.” Noble quickly waved his hooves in front of him. “You see, I know for sure that he likes your company, even if he won’t say it out loud. I really hope he will see you as a true friend one day and when he does, he will open up to you like he did to me. It took months before he called me a friend for the first time. Please, just… give him time. A clam needs time to become a pearl” Rarity held a hoof by her lips and nodded. “I… I see…” “I hope you understand now… If I let you talk to him about this, he would’ve just belittled the whole thing, or maybe grown grouchy again, it is very late. He apologized to you though and that should mean a lot.” Rarity nodded more and now somehow understanding what goes on inside Soul’s head, her frustration melted away. Of course it would’ve been much nicer to hear this from Soul, but just as Noble just explained, she wouldn’t have gotten it from him. This explanation really was something she needed to hear. Upon returning to the room Rarity walked over to Soul who was clearly holding his breath as he saw Rarity coming back. However, the mare spoke in a more pleasant tone. “My apologies for that... Earlier that is... No, we shall not let your little… episode affect your studies. We shall continue like before. It’s not like I’ve never had outbursts myself, I can relate.” Soul let out a sigh of relief and looked at her with big thankful eyes. “Thank you Rarity. You’re golden...” Twilight, who had been piling up all the books and papers she had been working on, turned to the stallions. In a overly feminine and pleading voice Twilight questioned, “Excuse me, Noble, Soul, would you two stallions mind going and getting some books from Celestia’s old room for me? I don’t think we could carry all of them back here.” The stallions looked at one another a little confused but shook their heads in agreement. “Alright, sure I suppose we could do that. I’m sure you don’t really need our help though.” Soul laughed as he spoke or both of them. They left the room giving one another questioning glances as the odd request and manner that Twilight asked for it in. Once the stallions were out of earshot Twilight leaned in over the books. “Girls, now that those two aren’t here, I want to tell you something. I have been looking through these books and I believe somewhere in this castle is something that could lead to us getting the Elements of Harmony back, or at least find some kind of power that could save Equestria if we need to.” The entire group leaned forward giving Twilight their full attention. “Really? That’s wonderful news Twilight!” Rarity cheered in a lower than usual voice, keeping an eye on the door. Twilight nodded with a smile. “But…” her expression dampened and even her mane sulked. “I’m still not sure about anything, I only have slight assumptions. So, remember girls; you have to keep quiet about this. That goes for all of you” Twilight looked at Rarity and Applejack. “Especially you two. I don't mean to call you two out, but you two are around those stallions the most. Keep your eyes peeled and don’t let your guards down.“ All the mares nodded and put their hooves on their chest, whispered in unison. “Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye” “A Pinkie Promise is forever.” Pinkie winked and giggled. As the mare’s huddle finished Noble and Soul walked back through the door carrying a small amount of books. “This is all we could find in the room with a sun on it,” Soul said as he placed the books he carried over on the ground near the other stacks before helping Noble set his down. “Sorry guys, I must have forgotten how many books there were. Thank you for getting them though.” Twilight was back to her bookshelf and had a difficult time selling herself as she gave a corny laugh. “No problem, I just enjoy looking around the castle a little more.” Noble having spoken up this time, he looked at the princess accusingly then over the others in the group. “Though if I may ask, what were you six talking about just now?” Twilight, not being a good liar jerked back and gritted her teeth. She looked back at her friends as she struggled for words wishing one of them would help. “W-We uh... were talkinggg abooouut… about some, uh...” Soul stepped in. “Noble, let’s not be nosy. That stuttering tells a lot already---” Rarity halted Soul by extending a hoof. “Why, we spoke about what a brave and grand leader Noble was navigating through the castle earlier! I don’t know what I would’ve done with Fluttershy if you weren’t there,” Rarity chimed in gracefully, to the bewilderment of the others. “Oh…!” Noble’s cheeks grew bright red as he took a few steps backwards. “I-I don’t know, I just improvised… There are a lot of ponies that can do all that better than me…” Applejack walked over to the embarrassed stallion. “Don’t be like that! Ya sure seemed to know what ya were doin’! Tracking us all the way here, avoiding all those traps and mapping the castle!” she said as she rubbed his back. “And how you took care of my injured wing…” Fluttershy noted in a small squeaking voice only looking up through her mane. “And let’s not forget about that trap you and Soul fell into. You were almost killed, but you managed to avoid disaster, because you knew what to do,” Rarity cheered with a warm glowing smile. Soul turned to look at Noble. “I gotta say, I was highly surprised today too. I know you are… skilled, but I’ve never seen you like this before. I hardly recognized you,” he said and laughed and patted his friend on the shoulder. “T-Thank you everypony, but…” Noble pressed himself against a wall and sank his head back into himself. “I don’t know if it was all that great…” “It was totally awesome!!” Rainbow flew over to him, hovering in the air. “Where in Equestria did you learn something like that, huh?” she questioned, crossing her front legs. Soul put out a leg then stepped between Noble and the mares. “Come on, give him some air. We didn’t stick our noses into your business so I expect the same respect from you.” With a glance around the room Rarity clenched her teeth. “He has a point, let’s back off everypony.” “Soooooo, Applejack,” Rainbow flew over to the mare who had already got back to her place next to a window. “We still have a competition to settle!” she landed next to her. Applejack groaned and smacked her head against a pillow. “That’s right, another competition ruined like a rotten apple!” Pinkie Pie lept up between the two, she threw her forelegs around them pulling them in. “I will gladly keep score for you again!” Twilight gave them a chuckle and shook her head, rolling her eyes playfully. “Can’t you even for once agree on a draw?” “Oh hay no!” They both answered at the same time, giving Twilight two piercing deathly glares. “Fine, fine, have it your way” Twilight chuckled, “But you have time to think about it some other day.” She jumped off her couch and looked at a clock. Finally seeing the time now that things were calming down sent a shiver down her spine and made her grimace. “Wow it’s gotten really late. It must be at least 3am I’m going to get more blankets and pillows for us” The pale stallion’s eye twitched as he immediately flinched at the suggestion. He trotted over to Twilight with wide eyes. “Wait, we aren’t going back to Ponyville?” The princess shook her head. “Sorry, the Everfree Forest is too dangerous at night. For everypony’s safety, it’s better to spend the night here.” “Oh… well, how dangerous is it exactly?” Soul looked out of the blue moon window to the dark forest, he looked back at Noble and the others trying to gage the difficulty. Spike walked into the room with a book with him, laughing, “Well, why don’t you go and find out? We can have a bet here if you will make it back there or not” Air huffed from the stallion’s nostrils. “I might be stupid but not suicidal.” Spike shrugged and gave Soul a sly smirk. “Whatever.” Twilight stepped toward the doorway, “Anyway, I’m going to get those blankets for us. Stay put everypony.” Spike walked over to Noble who had made himself comfortable next to a bookshelf. “Here’s the book you asked for, hopefully it’s something you will enjoy.” The dragon smiled and held up the book, a bit of tension throughout him as he hoped this was the right one. “Thank you Spike, hopefully it wasn’t too much of a trouble.” Noble smiled and bobbed his head in admiration. “Oh, not at all!” Spike waved his claws. “Just ask me if you’ve got anything else you need. Spike, number one assistant at your service.” Noble gave him a nod and chuckle as he pulled the book closer setting it on the side away from others. “Thank you.” “Don’t mention it. I’ll go help Twilight with those blankets.” Spike headed to the reading room, stretching his arms and yawning, “I could really use a good night sleep.” Soul listened in on Noble and Spike’s small talk while listening to the tips Rarity was giving him about sewing at the same time. After Spike had left the room, Soul stood up and walked over to Noble, who stretched then looked down at the book Spike brought him. Soul laid next to him. “What book is that?” Soul questioned as he glanced down at the old book with a red cover, his eyes narrowing. Waving his hoof, Noble beckoned Soul closer. He whispered as not to attract attention. “This is a hundreds of years old poetry book. I’m interested to see how poetry was back then, and what kind of things they wrote about.” Noble blew the dust off the book and opened it, revealing old, yellowish pages. “Here are the blankets!” Twilight’s voice suddenly filled the room as she and Spike came back with a huge pile of blankets and pillows, cutting Noble and Soul’s conversation short. “Ooh, that white one with a lavender pattern must be mine!” Rarity pointed at the blanket on top of the Twilight’s pile. Spike immediately placed his pile down and grabbed the blanket Rarity was pointing at, bringing it her carrying it like a prized artifact. “Here you go, Rarity! At you service.” Spike held out the blanket as he got onto one knee like a knight. Rarity took the blanket with her magic and smiled. “Why thank you, Spikey. How kind of you.” Rarity giggled and shook it lightly, knocking off any additional dust. “Anything, Rarity. Anything.” Spike stood up and bowed. Twilight placed her pile down too. “Alright, everypony. I think we’re all ready to hit the hay” She grabbed one of the blankets and walked over to her place, yawning. Everyone took a blanket and pillow one after another and searched for a comfortable spot to sleep. Applejack and Rainbow claimed a spot under a yellow sun window. Fluttershy, Rarity and Angel chose a place under the blue, moon window, while Soul and Noble picked their place next to a bookshelf. Twilight and Spike obviously had already picked their place on the couch. Everyone wished each other goodnight and burrowed under their soft, warm covers. It was not long till the room was filled with stuffing and mild snoring. It came as no surprise after the hard day all of them just had, getting good night sleep felt like a gift from Celestia herself. As the other ponies quickly fell asleep, Noble sat awake, gazing up at the ceiling full of cracks, his gaze slowly sliding to look out into space. He was reminiscing about his day and all it’s wonders, meeting Fluttershy who he felt indecent to look over at, seeing the castle, finding all of these traps. His mind wandered further as he had begun to think of his past, the good, the bad… and the dark.” As his memories swelled and got away from him causing him to fidget, flex his muscles and force his eyes closed while baring his teeth as his heart raced. Suddenly he heard a soft sigh from one of the ponies as they rolled over. Noble snapped back to reality; with a final deep breath that relaxed his body, he was finally capable of drifting off to sleep. As he drifted to the world of dreams, he ended up to a familiar place. Small homes around but with plenty of trees and wilderness. The kind of area that always brought a smile to his face. The stallion walked slowly across the grass toward the gentle woods, admiring his environment, of course without realizing it was a dream. He lived in the moment like every living creature in Equestria does in their dreams. As he continued his walk through the woods, he stepped on something that immediately caught his eye. On the ground by the base of the nearest tree was something familiar to him. A dark purple piece of metal with a symbol of an eye. This was a chestplate from a suit of armor; armor that Noble was very familiar with. It wasn’t just a random object dreams pick from peoples subconscious, no. This piece of metal made Noble instantly snap out of his unconscious dream state, and become lucid. Noble’s heart jumped to his throat, since he knew what this meant. Closing his eyes and standing up tall, Noble literally felt the area around him change. The skies darkened, a rush of wind shook the grass and trees and a dense fog slowly rolled in. “The perfect setting,” Noble thought to himself as he opened his eyes to this new display. He looked down at himself, he saw the dark purple armor pieces covering his body. The chestplate with a silver symbol of his cutiemark in the center of it, a helmet and the rest of his body covered with a guardian seal and light purple lower body armor. It had been so long since he has visited this place that he had almost forgotten what it looked like. Noble’s heart raced in his chest as he just stood there, examining his surroundings. It was like he was waiting for something. Though, the wait was short lived. Noble heard a loud stomp of a hoof on rock echoing behind him. The armored stallion turned around to face a dark shadow figure that slowly approached him. Noble felt a strong flutter in his stomach, his breathing becoming heavier and longer, but still remaining quiet. The lips of his mouth turned up in a small smile as he took a deep bow before the figure that was just mere meters further. “Noble Poet!” The figure spoke. Noble remained bowed and closed his eyes before he responded with a slow long, “Princess Luna.” 25. Slumberland of Old Friends“Noble Poet!” The figure spoke. Noble closed his eyes while he bowed before the figure, “Princess Luna.” Within the darkness and surrounded by fog Noble Poet laid crouched down bowing before the one and only Princess Luna, the mare of the moon. As the stallion opened his eyes he rose up standing tall at attention, this face stoic and eyes locked straight forward at the princess. His foreleg sprung up to a salute and with a loud booming voice he barked, “Your highness! Noble Poet at your command! What are your orders your majesty?” Luna drew back, her face contorted in a grimace and she looked around the area as if she didn’t know what was occurring. The silence was awkward until she broke it with a light whine, “Noble!... Has it really been that long a time since I visited you last? So long that you’ve started to speak formally before me again? Please don’t do that here, I don’t care for it. Has thou forgotten that?” Noble stood still for a moment, his nose wrinkled and he burst out laughing at the complaint. “I-I’m sorry Luna. I just- I just wanted to tease you a bit.” He laughed holding his sides and wiped his eyes as he teared up. Luna rolled her eyes and smiled while shaking her head. She nudged her head up towards the sky and when Noble nodded she waved her hoof across the sky and produced a sky full of stars along with brightening the moon to light up the area. “You know you don’t need to change the atmosphere for our meetings, it could be whatever area you like. It doesn’t need to be so… dramatic.” The stallion had begun regaining his composure and stood up, removing the helmet and placing it on the ground. He bowed his head as all of his armor faded away, leaving him with his usual dogtags. “I’m sorry again, it was just a joke. We haven’t spoken in so long I thought it would be a nice way to break the ice. Don’t worry, I do like this. It shows it is a dream and seems... fitting.” Luna sighed and nodded. “Yes. I am sorry Noble....” She paused and glanced up to the dream sky, her smile drooping. “I had not meant to leave you alone for so long. I merely had other matters that needed tending to. I do hope your situation has improved since we last spoke.” Noble sat down and waved his hooves with a sympathetic smile. “Oh no, I understand, I’m just happy we can meet like this sometimes. Quite a lot has happened in a short period of time. It, may take awhile to explain it all though…” His eyes lowered as he thought of all the events that had transpired since their last talk. “Please, tell me how you’ve been first.” The princess produced cushions for both of them and sat down, her expression soured seeing the stallion sulk. “Well, royal duties, helping anypony I can in the dream realm and common sisterly moments with Tia. She thinks she can eat my muffin and get away with it. NOPONY STEALS MY MUFFIN! I AM THE NIGHT!!!” Luna roared with fire in her eyes throwing her hooves to the sky, but the outburst was short lived, she calmed down, put her hooves down and cleared her throat. She reached over and put a hoof on Noble’s shoulder. “You speak first though. I must know how you are. Tell me are you still working at the hotel under Double Bit’s command? Is Wild Soul still present in your life?” “Um… Well, you see a lot has happened recently… It’s a long story.” With a deep breath Noble recited every detail he recalled about the problems at the hotel, from the point where Double Bit ordered him to work two shifts, how she was most likely fudging numbers and taking tips for herself, took over areas of management she was not trained for and blamed others for the problems, and how she refused to give Sharp Melody the freedom to play his own music along with many other tragedies. He reached the final day, telling her about how Bit waited until the end of their shift to announce that she was firing many of them and the awful exchange Truffle, himself and her had. He still shook in anger, his voice growing squeaky as he recited the words Double Bit said to him that were branded into his mind. “I… I can’t believe I did all that and… ugh!” He slammed his hooves on the ground and shook, his eyes were damp but clenched shut, his teeth grinded together. “Noble,” Luna reached out and producing a blanket from thin air draped it over the stallion’s shoulders and putting a hoof on his shoulder. She stepped closer to stand tall while doing so in attempts to make him feel secure next to her powerful prowess. “It will be alright. I am here with you, be angry if you wish. It is my deepest sorrow that you had to endure that.” She paused for a moment, giving Noble time to breath. “I could order an investigation be placed upon her and the hotel if you wish.” Slowly piecing himself back, Noble stomped a hoof and shook his head as if he was trying to shake the ideas out of his head. “No. She probably hid it or would find a way to pin the problem on some other pony. Also I would rather not draw attention to myself like this if somepony looked into why a princess ordered the investigation. Thank you very much though. I appreciate your offer. Don’t worry, Soul has helped me with this, and like most stuff; more than any other pony could. No offense princess.” Luna nodded in a bow. “There is none taken. I am glad of your relationship with Soul. I do wish to meet him one day.” She looked at her hoof on his shoulder, she pulled it back but hesitated then patted his shoulder and released him before she turned to sit in front of him once more. “I know I will never know the full extent of how it feels to be called a ‘lowly earth pony’... but at least here you can relieve your anger any way you wish to. Just remember to keep your mind open to support so I can have influence over your dream and protect us from harm.” Noble sat for a moment, his head still lowered but his body growing warmer. Luna could feel him shaking, he turned around and opened his eyes. Looking up he saw a dark shadowy figure with a menacing face looming over, surrounded by clouds and fog that rolled in surrounding them. He put his hooves together and separated them producing a spear and threw it at the figure making them vanish as a flash of lightning struck where they collided. Luna sat and watched the outburst, blinking. “I… really hope you don’t plan on doing that to Double Bit.” She looked past him at the area where the spear and figure were then back at Noble and her lips curled. “You should know as well as anypony, regular spears leave far too much evidence. You would need a far more elusive way of getting rid of her.” The stallion’s ears dropped and his head spun around. His lips were pointed and eyes drawn back. “Umm, Luna… shouldn’t a princess be condemning violence, not condoning it?” “Details details. I am simply speaking aloud. Now continue, I believe we should brighten up our conversation before I begin inquiries. I would very much enjoy hearing more of your move and this new small town you moved to.” Luna walked back sitting on her cussion and waved for Noble to reclaim his spot. Sighing Noble sat back down and looked up, closing his eyes and thinking of how to word his thoughts. He explained how things looked dim in Canterlot, how he began using his savings and even bought a ticket to go back home but was saved by Soul’s new mentor. “So because of her I am in this quaint little town. So far it has been… decent. I have met several ponies that, seem nice.” As soon as Noble stressed the word ‘seem’ Luna frowned, her eyes and tone grew soft. “Noble, dost thou still happen to have those problems? The issues with allowing ponies in and trusting them fully? And especially not understanding genuine good nature from those harassing you?” Lowering himself and rubbing his foreleg while looking away Noble’s expression said what his lips refused to admit. “I know it does not mean much, but I am deeply sorry for what happened that day. I am aware you had these issues long before, but I still feel as though they exacerbated them.” She looked down into Noble’s eyes, trying to make eye contact to no avail while he looked at the ground. The smile drained from her lips and she took a deep breath. Noble’s eyes glossed over and all the will seemed to leave his body in that moment. He lifted his head and made eye contact. “Luna, I really don’t want to discuss that further. It isn’t your fault. If anypony’s… the blame is mine and the burden too. I’m sorry about that day. I’m sorry…” He trailed off As he hung his head the field the sky grew dark and clouds eclipsed the moon. Lightning struck nearby with a loud crack, making Luna jump toward the stallion. She lifted a hoof and waved it at the sky with nothing occurring. Her eyes widened and she grabbed the stallion. “Noble, no! My control! Don’t release all of that at once or I will have no control!” Another crack of lightning crackled closer as rain began to pour. “Please, pull yourself together!” The stallion shook and waved his head back and forth rapidly. “I can’t! I can’t Luna! I just feel…” His eyes were wide and aged by fatigue. He hung his head as lightning almost struck them but was deflected by a dark blue barrier Luna produced. Spreading her wings and stomping the ground Luna roared in a deep royal commanding voice, “Noble Poet! I Princess Luna, ruler of the night, command you to cease this at once!” At that instant Noble jumped to his hooves standing at attention holding his legs back from quaking before her. The storm immediately halted as well though the dark clouds remained. Luna took a deep breath and reached out a hoof. She rubbed Noble’s shoulder and leaned forward to give him a big hug rubbing his back. “I apologize, but I had to do that. You were getting consumed by those emotions and there was no other way.” She pulled back and looked him in the eyes. “Always, ALWAYS remember that you must let me in, give me enough power to control the atmosphere of your dream when you are releasing emotions.” She pulled him back in and gave him a tight squeeze. Reluctant to move Noble blushed. “L-Luna… isn’t it inappropriate for you to hug a subject like me?” The princess loosened her grip but then pulled in tighter. “Hush! Let me have this.” Noble’s shoulders fell and he let his hooves fall over Luna’s shoulders, he closed his eyes and wrapped his forelegs around Luna returning the embrace. The remaining clouds departed and a shooting star flew across the sky. Luna released him and with a pause gave a bow. “I simply wish I would’ve known sooner of your situation… If you ever wished it, there will always be a place for you within my guard once again.” The instant Luna said that, Noble felt like a small needle stung his chest and he pulled away, shaking his head. “No Luna, sorry… Thank you, but no… I cannot take that again. I... my time in your service is over.” For a moment Luna just looked at the earth pony. She couldn’t pull her eyes off of him as her eyes scoured over him and she shook with a bit of pain, as if he had suddenly become something completely different and foreign to her. Her mind came to, her head shook slowly before turning it to a slow nod, she just sighed with a glum smile. “Fine, as you wish...” The princess held her head up and turned her back to him. She turned her head enough to let him hear her. “Do you feel better?” Noble could cut the tension with a knife and could feel the area grow darker and more silent as his discomfort grew. His eyebrows bowed and heart sank he slid his forehooves forward. “Oh… N-No, I didn’t mean it like that, please I-” Luna sighed, she turned around and raised a hoof as she would to her service to dismiss them. “Noble, I understand, there is no need to explain yourself.” “Luna please, I-it’s not that I don’t miss the castle and my old friends that are left but I just… I just can’t---” He looked at the hoof and lowered his head looking at his hooves he cupped together; he stared at them as he wished to produce some words that would make Luna understand his feelings. The princess jumped as she realized the sign she made. She quickly dropped it and gritted her teeth recognizing her mistake. Her desire to change the subject was far greater than her feelings to reach a conclusion, she knew she had to change the subject. “Now... The small town you moved to, what is it’s name?” Luna inquired with a smile. She scooted her cussion closer placing her hooves in a proper pose. “I care to see how much I know of it.” “Luna…” Noble thought and looked up at his friend. He wanted to explain himself like he always does, but this time he couldn’t. Noble knew Luna would not allow it. As bad as it felt, he needed to swallow it and just move on. He took a deep, long sigh and cleared his throat. “Right, the town… Um… Let’s see… It seems to be a quant little town just southwest of Canterlot, Ponyville.” “Ponyville?!” Luna lept up and clapped her hooves together. “Oh delightful! I do adore Ponyville, I happen to know several ponies in that town. I hope you grow to enjoy it as much as those I know there have.” The stallion drew back, unready for the zealous reaction. He rubbed the back of his head, looking down then looked up. “Well like I said, I’m unsure about the ponies there. I can’t get a good read on if they are genuinely nice or not; I’ve just never seen ponies like these since I was a little colt.” He muttered under his breath, “And one is… making me very anxious there... Putting a hoof under his muzzle, Luna raised it so his eyes met hers. “Well I know some ponies there that are truly genuine, and actually happen to make up the elements of harmony. Do you remember anything I have said about those ponies?” Noble stood narrowing his lips with a blank expression as he looked into space trying to recall anything from that talk so many moons ago. “Umm... “ Luna rolled her eyes and let out a loud drawn out sigh. “No matter. It matters not, I simply wanted to test your memory again. I know it is not your strongest suit but you have many other grand attributes.” “Uhh, thank you.” Noble blushed, when he looked down a small smile curled his lips and his cheeks gained the faintest hue of pink. Luna nodded, sitting taller as she lit up like the night sky seeing Noble’s smile once again. “You see, there are actually six elements of harmony. I happen to know all of them, though that may not be surprising. I happen to know some of them quite well. Have you met any of them yet? Especially Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, she should be quite a celebrity in Ponyville right now.” Once Luna said the name Noble looked up with wide eyes. “So you know her? I mean, sorry, it shouldn’t be a surprise...” Luna extended a hoof moving it towards Noble’s head but paused and pulled it away upwards. Feelings swirled in her head to comfort Noble but the idea of ruffling his mane seemed distant. She recognized the long silence and quickly placed her hoof down with a stomp and raised her head swishing her mane back. “Of course I know her, she’s a princess after all and used to be Tia’s student. She’s also the little sister of the former captain Shining Armor. You remember him when you were still part of Celestia’s guards before my arrival, correct?” Noble’s mind swirled with emotions of surprise and worry, his face twitched and eyes grew wide. He brought up a hoof to cover his mouth as his teeth tightened against one another and dark clouds circled above. “She is?! I… oh no… Y-yes, of course I remember the captain.... But, um… I… yes I know Twilight and met her. She seems… different. Well… she’s actually one I’m worried about...” He cringed, hunkering back with eyes tightly closed, he refused to allowed himself to look up at Luna as if he was about to be scolded. “Wait, you are worried about Twilight, the Princess of Friendship...?” There was a brief moment of silence as Luna looked down at the stallion in deep thought attempting to understand the reasoning but failed by her own efforts. She reached out a hoof to touch him but as her hoof approached he cringed causing her to draw it back and place it on the ground. She tried to speak softly, “...Why?” The stallion opened his eyes looking over Luna, with a deep breath Noble closed his eyes and spoke with a lowered head as the storm clouds engulfed the moon. “I’m worried that… well she is a princess; so she has access to all the files of the royal guard members… What if she finds out who I am? What if she knew I was serving during the royal wedding and my involvement in the changeling invasion?” “You are afraid that Twilight might hate you for the problems on that night so long ago...? Noble, that is simply ridiculous! Why in Equestria would you think Twilight Sparkle would do that? Her family, friends, and friend that is now her sister all proved to be fine in the aftermath.” She looked to the sky then raised Noble’s chin and nudged to the sky with her horn to warn Noble. Seeing the glooming destructive force Noble rubbed his leg holding himself as she slid back slightly. He breathed out and with tightly closed eyes forced openings in the clouds before he allowed himself to speak again. “She is a pony too, just like you and me. I have no idea what might be going on in her head… And now I’m even more worried! If she really is the sister of Shining Armor and friend of the other Princess, who knows what kind of resentment she may have if she knew…” His breathing grew heavier as the wind picked up. Luna shivered at the memory and lit up her horn dispatching the wind and gave a nod of approval to the stallion for letting her in enough for her to stay in control. “It is natural that you worry she could easily feel strongly if she ever learned the truth; it is also understandable to be worried, she may tell others and put you in a negative light. I will do what I can at your request, these have been troubled times for many. I feel that if you became friends with her then explained it she would have a better understanding of it. Of course I shall do what I can to prevent her viewing of those documents.” A wave of relief cascaded form Noble’s shoulders and he bowed. Even though he felt relieved, he couldn’t help but keep tension from his ever worrisome thoughts. He opened his mouth thinking of how to explain how she needed to improve her skills on cheering ponies up but bit his lip and moved on. “ I’m sure she’s a great pony who would do anything for her friends, but what about those who are not her friends? What if she comes to see me as her... enemy?” Though Noble looked away and at the ground, Luna stood up and looked down at the pony spreading her wings. “Nobe, if it ever comes to that, you will contact me immediately and I shall speak with her. When this dream ends, I can go and check if she has accessed the files and alert you in the next dream. That way you will have a peace of mind.” A sigh of relief escaped Noble and he nodded with a deep bow of his head. He lifted a leg as he questioned a full bow but knew of the situation. “Thank you, Luna.” “Now let’s put an end to this blasted dark conversation. Tell me more of Ponyville, has thow met the other elements?” She tucked her wings back to her sides and sat down. With a hoof wave she directed Noble that he had the floor and to begin. Noble nodded placing his hooves close together on the pillow. “Yes, I actually have met all of them now… some I didn’t start on the right hoof with, but they all seem decent. Actually I wanted to tell you about how I met two absolutely astonishing mares~” As his mind sank into thinking about the mares and the dream began manifesting hazy images of them behind him as his imagination ran with them causing them to be more appealing in his mind. The image of Applejack had a sparkle to her. She stood tall and powerful, with flowing soft mane that she whipped back before nudging her hat up to reveal sparkling green eyes. She had saddlebags on and a lasso wrapped to one side, she lifted her head smiling confident with her chest puffed out and batted her eyes in Noble’s direction. The image of Fluttershy was slightly different, she was thin and small. She kept herself tightly tucked and hid behind her long flowing pink mane, light almost radiating from her. One eye peered from behind the hair with a bright blushed smile. Her eyes were filled with innocence but she smiled and wiggled giving a small wave toward Noble. “NOBLE!!!!” Luna could barely believe her eyes and blank rapidly in hopes that her mind played tricks on her. The stallion scratched his head, taken aback by the sudden outburst. He looked behind him and jumped quickly making the mares disappear into the empty field of space. “N-NO, DON’T LOOK, YOU SAW NOTHING!” He spun around and gasped for words, his forelegs flailing about. “I-I... I am so sorry, Luna!” “Well I… I admit I have seen worse within here but... Well it seems you have taken to Fluttershy and Applejack… The images I just saw will be our little secret. I feel confident that if Fluttershy saw it she may never speak to you again and; well I feel you may not be living much longer if Applejack caught sight of it.” She gave a nervous chuckle as she felt warm and rubbed her hooves together. Noble looked down at his hooves as he tucked them together and bit his lips. “M-maybe… Thank you.” “Of course.” She nodded and rose to her peak. Her eyes shot open and she dropped down wiggling her tail. “Now tell me ALL the juicy details! You didn’t use any of your extremely sappy love lines on them, did you?” He jumped back at Luna’s sudden excitement but he quickly drew himself back in, even flipping his tail closer. His eyes looked left and right and then peeked at her for a moment before he spoke while pointed away from her. “...M-maybe… mayyybe I did.” Luna smacked her face hard enough to leave a red mark on her forehead even in the dream. “Noble! How many times have I told you not to use those lines!? Why don’t you simply obey or even listen to what I have to say? Just listen to one tip of mine. I may be a princess but I’m a mare too after all!” Noble’s eyebrows arch and he huffs and raises a hoof towards Luna, his cheeks were flushed with a rosy shade. “Because usually your tips involve submission and hooves on places they shouldn’t be...” Luna’s eyes widened as she lunged back in defense. “Noble, everypony loves belly rubs.” Noble’s face had turned bright red and wind picked up around them as he fussed. “Y-Yes, but much later on in a relationship when it’s at a deeper level!” With her mane being blown back, Luna covered her eyes and waved a hoof asking Noble to relax, as she did the wind slowed down and Noble kept his blush but held to himself. “They are wonderful ideas once you find a special somepony. I shall guide you.” “N-No Luna, please don’t. I’m not quite as… dominant as you can be.” He shook his head as he grew tongue tied and warm in the face. Luna sighed and rolled her eyes. “I feel bad for those poor mares. Please continue, I would love to hear more.” The stallion chuckled and rubbed the back of his mane, drawing back a smidge. “Umm, alright. Well, first, Applejack, I met her because she hurt her ankle and I helped her by bandaging it for her and even helped her with her work to ensure she didn’t injure herself further. I just took her wagon back to the barn and did some apple bucking for her. I apparently did so well that she gave me a job.” The news of a new job caused Luna’s brows to rise. “You got a job from Applejack? Marvelous, that’s splendid!” She brought a hoof to her lips. “Though… Noble… this is your first job in Ponyville; and Ponyville isn’t that big of a town. Don’t you think pursuing your employer is… a bit of a bad idea?” She raised her head giving nudging shakes of her head in her attempt for Noble to get the hint. Noble sighed and nodded. “Don’t worry. Unfortunately she has already made it clear she is not interested... I am trying to back off, but of course I can’t help but notice that she is a pretty mare…” Luna held her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. “Phew. For a second I thought you would plan do something silly there.” Noble huffed and pushed himself towards her. “What!? Hey! I am right here and I know what I’m doing. I don’t screw EVERYTHING up. Applejack is a great mare, pretty and has that fantastic accent. But I don’t know her that well beyond work. Besides so far she seems like just a huge workaholic and like she may be far too bossy and bold for me.” Luna drew back, looking puzzled as she leaned in pointing a hoof at the stallion. “Wait, isn’t Soul like that? So you accept such a pony as your best friend but not as your special somepony?” Noble shook his head and furrowed his brow. “Luna, I’ve had a bold and bossy pony as my special somepony. I can tell you there is a huge difference.” “If you say so,” Luna said with a chuckle and rolled her eyes. “So Applejack was just a typical shooting star for you.” “She had potential!” Noble yelled but then took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he pulled himself together. “I simply hope to keep this job and hope it continues to go well.” “Of course,” Luna replied with a nod and produced a teacup for herself. “Now, what about Fluttershy?” Life came back into Noble’s eyes, brightening the second Luna mentioned her name. “Y-Yes, Fluttershy. Oh Luna… she is among the most beautiful mares I’ve ever seen. Bright fur, full flowing mane, delicate and reserved nature with eyes that speak like the cosmos…” He trailed off while thinking of her. The chirp of crickets filled the silence and stars twinkled above. “Now this sounds like somepony that you would’ve made a little more progress with,” Luna said with a sly chuckle covering her lips by sipping at the tea simply for the effect. “How did you meet her?” Luna leaned in, her ears perked up, alert for every detail. “Well that’s the strange thing. Soul introduced us but claims I saw her once before in a field where she sang, soaring overhead like an angel. She believes it too but…” His lips twitched and ears fell. “That mare seemed confident, strong, energetic and the only thing they have in common could be their fear or shyness. Even with all the evidence I find it hard to believe. How could that be Fluttershy?” He shook his head while he explained his theory. Luna’s horn glowed and she brought her teacup to the side.“Wait, Noble. Answer this, did you make any progress with Fluttershy, or did you not?” “It’s… It’s complicated. I mean our first real meeting was extremely awkward… We didn’t even really have any good things to talk about.” He rubbed his hooves together, fidgeting as he wished he could just leave. A loud sigh escaped Luna as she fell back holding her face. “Noble! Please! We must improve your skills when speaking to mares you like. Also I yearn to know where all these doubts come from.” Noble’s eyes drew dull and flat. “Luna, I would love to overcome both of those but I don’t think just talking about it will do anything.” “Of course, of course..” She chuckled and she looked at Noble with a sly shady smile. “But If I were you I would already have both mares right in my lap.” Noble rolled his eyes and shook his head smiling. “With belly rubbing?” Luna nodded with her head high. “With extreme belly rubbing.” Tapping his cheek Noble thought to himself. “Okay, so when was the last time you had a stallion or mare in your lap?” Luna raised a hoof to her lips silencing her former guard. “No no, We’re not talking about me right now, our focus here is you. When was the last time YOU had a mare or stallion in your lap?” Noble blushed and looked away. “You know very well not since the royal guard… She wasn’t really that type though. Phases...” His cheeks puffed out a big as his lips narrowed and he glared. “But yeah… Not a perfect meeting with Fluttershy. But! I think I managed to make a better impression in the castle, or at least I hope.” Luna’s ears immediately twitched at the word and her head shot up with wide eyes. “Wait, what castle?” “Oh right…! I never told you… You’re not going to believe this but we are actually in your old castle together currently. Soul, myself and all of the elements of harmony.” He smiled and looked up thinking about the past day. “Wait what?!” Luna sat up quickly bringing a hoof to her mouth and spoke with great sass in her voice. “You are in my old home!? And you didn’t even ask permission. I hope you had the decency to wipe your hooves.” A loud huff escaped Noble’s nostrils and he stood up. “Your castle sure had some nice ‘welcoming gifts’. I prefer a welcome mat.” “Welcoming, wha-?” It took a moment but Luna’s lips narrowed and eyes bulged as she came to the realization. “The traps are still active?! How many?! I thought my sister would have ordered them disabled years ago. Oh Tia…” She grumbled her sister’s name under her breath. “Is everypony alright? Must I send aid?” Noble shook his head and waved a hoof before himself. “No no we are staying there for the evening, that’s the safest bet. Trying to cover everything: they are still active and it’s hard to say, but they made for a stressful evening. In fact, Fluttershy hurt her wing because of one of them, but I don’t believe it will be that serious. I put a splint on it and she didn’t seem to have issues with staying the night. Here, let me explain…” The stallion sat down and cleared his throat and recapped the events of that night within the castle, how they ended up there in the first place, what they experienced within it’s walls, what happened to Fluttershy, and how by the end they were all at one another’s throats arguing until they were pulled apart by Twilight. Luna was enchanted by Noble’s story, but could only listen with a heavy heart. As a princess and it being her former home, she felt responsible for the problems the castle had caused. “It sounds like you had a very stressful night there...” He exhaled deeply and waved his hoof over the grass. “Yes, we did…” Suddenly, Noble’s ears jumped up as he remembered what happened in the organ room. “Wait! I almost forgot the organ!” Luna tilted her head to the side and opened her eyes a little more. “The organ?” Noble nodded feverishly. “The organ that was; let’s see, first floor on the right and well I remembered it by a large brown tri-handled pot. The piano activates traps though.” “Oh! THAT organ!” She lept up and clopped her hooves together. “Oh I have so many memories with that thing too. I remember how Tia and I used to play it for one another, we’d go play on the traps while the other played and argue about who played it better. Of course as far as music I was the superior one, she never stood a chance.” She chuckled at herself holding her head high, though when she took a look at Noble’s expression she lowered her hooves and sank back into her cussion. She cleared her throat. “So… You came across the organ?” Noble glared furiously at Luna and the moon hid behind the clouds. “We did; also it was still active. Or well… Somepony made it active.” Luna smiled sheepishly and felt guilty about flaunting her joy at the implement of Noble’s current misery. “My apologies, we had very different experiences with it it seems. Can you elaborate? What do you mean somepony made it active?” Seeing the long face Luna made, Noble couldn’t allow himself to yell at her. He held back as he spoke and kept the clouds at bay, even having them dissipate a bit. “The organ was the very reason why we were trapped in the castle in the first place and why all those traps were going haywire. After Twilight had calmed us down we reached that room with her and found a cloaked pony playing it.” Luna’s eyes wondered seeing the clouds thin out and suddenly her ears perked up and she leaned in. “A cloaked pony? Who?” Noble shook his head. “We didn’t find out. She was… really really strange. She acted like she was some kind of royalty and that she was very entitled to things. She even claimed it used to be her home… That can’t be right, can it Luna?” Luna lowered her eyes and put a hoof to her lips and looked away from the stallion. “No, it cannot… Beside alicorns, there are a very few species’ who have such a long life span and I cannot think of any that resemble ponies…” Scrunching his face up Noble scratched his head. “I see…” Feeling more intrigued Luna squinted and prodded the stallion more. “Is there anything else you can tell me about her?” Noble scratched his head and closed his eyes to re-envision the scene. “Appearance-wise, no… She was cloaked and structured like a pegasus mare but that’s about it. However her behavior was… sophisticated and it quickly got really weird. When I rushed to question her, she freaked out as if she was about to die. She went into a total frenzy and yelled for me and Soul away from her, and then she escaped from a small hole in the window that Rainbow Dash claimed she couldn’t get through.” “Wait, she knew you two?” Luna’s eyes widened and she gave a jump. Noble’s eyes opened and he shook his head. “I don’t now. I have no idea if I have met her before, though I don’t think I’ve made any mare so angry at me that they would despise me that much… And I don’t think Soul has either. As far as I know she’s a complete stranger to us.” “And she only freaked out because of the two of you? She didn’t mind the others?” “Just me and Soul.” He shrugged his shoulders and put out his forelegs showing he had no more information. “I see…” Luna lowered her head as she pondered further. “I shall most certainly look into that, I do not like the sound of this… She didn’t hurt any of you, did she?” Noble rubbed his temples, trying to be as accurate as possible. “No. Or, well... She did try to throw a rock at us but Twilight stopped it, but that was after she saw me and Soul. I actually still can’t believe she threw something that big that fast. I’ve never met a pegasus with that amount of strength, much less a mare… no offense. But she was very calm and had a passive nature before we showed up.” Luna stepped forward and looked around the area for irregularities. “But she did show hostility! Aren’t you worried she might come back and do something worse while you sleep?” Jumping up Noble waved his forehooves rapidly. “No Luna, it’s fine. She didn’t seem like she wanted to fight before that. She didn’t seem like the type. I assure you, if I thought we were in danger I would have insisted that we all go back to Ponyville tonight.” A sigh of relief came from the princess as she gave in. “If you say so.” Having averted disaster Noble breathed easier. “I’m just glad nothing worse happened. I’m just glad to be asleep now and that we can go home tomorrow. I’m sure this would’ve been a much better trip if I knew what was waiting for us. I should’ve known better and packed for anything.” Luna shook her head. “Everypony involved should have known better. It would be dangerous entering that castle at any point now. Regardless of how rough the day was I am pleased that it did not end far more tragically. Luckily your skills are still sharp, it seems that they saved you today. You are a far better soldier than you think Noble.” Noble smiled to the side and rubbed the back of his neck and forced out a light laugh. “Aww, well thank you but… wait, are you just trying to butter me up to get me back on your guard?… I mean, I couldn’t do any of this alone, they are the elements of harmony after all.” Luna couldn’t help but smile at Noble still being so humble. “Yes, though I think this is a little out of the job description for them. But are you certain you all will be alright in that castle? Just give me a word and I will send---” Noble raised a hoof which cut Luna off. “Please, we are fine and will leave together in the morning. I would rather not have the question of why royal guard members had to come to an old abandoned castle in the middle of the night to bring back a group of ponies and a princess.” A moment passed but Luna reluctantly nodded. “As you wish, as long as everypony is going to be alright. You are different than most Noble. Many ponies would take pride in the fact that they have an alicorn friend, yet you hide it.” “Well, it’s not that I want to hide it. You know as much as I do how most ponies would raise questions and of course there would be rumors about how we met, and as you know I don’t care for publicity. Besides, you have many royal duties you must perform. I’m just lucky to have you around occasionally, Luna.” He bowed before her. Luna looked about as if somepony may see Noble bowing. She tapped him on the shoulder and nudged him up. “Thank you Noble. I still feel that bows like that are unnecessary here, but thank you.” “I have to say, this night and putting my old skills to use again sure brought back some memories. All the missions we had with the other guards, all those nights patrolling the castle…” He sighed looking up at the stars then shifting his gaze to Luna. Finally seeing more of that fleeting smile Luna chimed in, “The night you and I met?” The smile on Noble’s face grew wider and his head rose at the thought, he nodded softly. “Yes, the night you and I met…” Luna leaned forward raising her eyebrows at Noble. “Do you really recall it or are you simply saying that so I don’t get irritated with you? I do hope you would remember it. If not maybe I should send some guards to take you to a doctor to have your head examined. Many ponies dream of a chance to meet a princess in person one on one.” “Trust me, it’s one of the few things I’m never going to forget.” Taking a moment to think, Noble touched his forehead to focus, when he did everything rushed back. “The night Silver Arrow, I am pretty sure it was him, and I were in charge of guarding your chambers. Is that right?” Luna backed up sitting up straight, her lips curled and she gave a small nod. “Well I do recall the other guard had to leave and you were alone. His wife having her baby early I believe, I remember excusing it completely and writing in for his paid time off, yes Silver Arrow.” The memory triggered Noble to practically jump in excitement as he remembered everything. “Oh yes! I was there alone and overheard crying in your room. It took a few minutes but I eventually was sure of it and knocked to see if you were alright. You know how I can’t stand seeing ponies cry, especially mares. But you were less than fond of anypony checking in on you...” Luna’s eyes narrowed and she looked away puffing out her cheeks. “Come now, I wasn’t that bad.” Noble’s hoof sprung to point at Luna and he stood up straight putting a hoof on his chest and cleared his throat before lifting his chin up and spoke with a deep voice as he tried to mimic Luna’s royal tone. “ ‘Your job is to guard the door, subject; nothing else! Thou shalt not even speak to me unless I tell thou so!’ ” Luna put a hoof on her chest as her eyes widened with a gasp. “Well I had my reasons. I had not been back for but a week and so much had changed over those thousand years. I had so much to learn and so many things to atone for. I still know little as to how I could allow myself to do such a wretched thing.” Noble understood the feelings Luna must be having and reached over, he slowly placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Don’t worry Luna, Equestria is far better with you around now. We all fall, but we must learn to pick ourselves back up. I mean if we want to talk about problems… I fell asleep while on watch for Equestria’s sake…” Luna couldn’t help but snicker at the memory and roll her eyes. “If you hadn’t fallen asleep back then, I’m sure we wouldn’t be speaking here currently. I have to admit that I was ready to report to your commander for some severe punishment immediately when I saw you sleeping. Though I found out the worst they could do nowadays was to dishonorably discharge you...” Noble rubbed his neck with a nervous, embarrassed chuckle filling the air. “Um… what did you think they were going to do to me…?” “You surely wouldn’t wish to know… Let’s just say it involves chains.” Luna gave her mane a little quick whip full of confidence pared with a devilish grin before she cleared her throat. “Although, luckily I noticed how you appeared to be suffering… You were suffering while within MY land of dreams. I knew at once something had gone awry, such things had never occurred a thousand years ago.” Noble gave an uneasy grin and slid back while he nervously scratched at the ground. “I still remember the reaction you had when you found out about the existence of nightmares…” Luna shook her head and moved her hooves as she spoke. “I couldn’t believe it back then, I refused to believe what I saw. I had infected the dreams of ponies with darkness. I mean, I wasn’t Nightmare Moon for long in Equestria, but it was long enough to pollute the land…” Her head hung but she snapped out of it, shaking her head furiously. “N-No, I must not dwell upon it! Not any longer, I’m doing everything I can to help ponies with their nightmares now.” Hearing the confidence from Luna, Noble stopped leaning away from her and even felt a twitch from the corner of his lip. “I envy your attitude Luna… And yes, you helped me back then. Thanks to you, I learned to fight my nightmares... ” “We learned to fight them TOGETHER. Thanks to you, I learned to understand nightmares and how to reach one in the darkness and help to overcome it… or at least combat it,” Luna said and folded a hoof over the other and laid down completely. “Tell me... do you still suffer from those nightmares or any new ones?” Silence filled the dream and Noble rubbed his foreleg as fog began thickening around them. “Noble It is far more difficult for you to hide things from me here than in the real world.” The princess’s voice became more bold but she illuminated her horn shining a light between them and unfolded her hooves as she tried to be mindful of whom she was speaking with and the atmosphere. The stallion let out a deep sigh and a deep breath to prepare himself. “Well, I of course have had some nightmares but they are far better than when we met. They are far more infrequent though and consist of many different things. I promise Luna, I am keeping them under control, I know I can always get your assistance but there is no need to worry.” He bit his bottom lip and lifted a hoof up defensively while he watched Luna’s face and pushed backwards ready to move back. Luna looked over the stallion that looked as if he was about to be struck by a bear. Her heart dampened and her strong stance gloomed in his presence and she slowly got up and softly touched his hoof lowering it. “I believe you. After all you are still one of the few ponies who can overcome nightmares without my presence. I’ll be here if you need me though.” “Just like I was there for you that night? I am still glad you invited me in eventually and that we became friends.” Noble’s breath released and he bowed his head before the mare looking at her gentle hoof on his. “Me too. I would like to believe that even if you weren’t there that I would have learned about nightmares eventually and learned how to combat them. Even if I did then I would have only met you in a dream and you wouldn’t have been able to help me as you did and we wouldn’t have become friends…” Noble shook his head. “Most likely not…” Luna’s eyes opened and looked up upon her moon then toward the stallion, she patted his hoof allowing him to release her. “You were the first pony besides my sister that I truly was capable of speaking to of my problems over those years. Then when I was starting to form my own guards I hoof picked you… I am sure some ponies were shocked when I requested that. I can’t recall the countless moons we spoke but I am still glad you didn’t oppose to joining me.” Hearing the praise caused the stars to beam brighter as Noble wagged his tail and sat up straighter. “Thank you. Well, let’s just say I was very ready for the change, even if it was rather… sudden. I’m glad you hoof picked me though, however I remember them telling me I was ordered to join your guard. It sounded like you demanded it.” “Did I…?” Luna stopped to think for a second and laughed awkwardly. “I guess I did… I didn’t ask much back then.” “N-No worries though! As soon as I heard about the formation of your own guard I jumped at the opportunity. Besides all those nights and how you introduced me to these dreams and how you helped me with my… nightmare problem.” He rubbed his cheek feeling his heart almost give a flutter. “Gosh, it’s been so long since that… I’m almost tearing up.” “Me too Noble, me too.” She lowered herself back down gently as if the ground cradled her. “But you have moved on and you have a new life, friends and job. Though you shall not be getting rid of me so easily.” The stallion shook his head and held up a hoof. “That won’t happen. I might have new friends and Soul as the closest pony I have, but I will never forget you. And I have a few others from Canterlot that would kill me if I forget them too. And I wouldn’t get free cookies or muffins anymore...” “That is good to hear.” Luna nodded with a smile and a pleasantly hummed to herself. The ponies looked at one another with smiles. Neither could come up with anything to say and it felt like they had finally concluded their talk and had said everything they needed to say. They used the silence to catch their breath and let everything sink in. Luna produced more tea for herself and Noble was simply twirling his hoof on the ground. “Sooo…” Noble finally said as he lifted his eyes to Luna. “We have talked for awhile now, haven’t we? Is it ok for you to be here this long? Normally you need to leave to help another pony.” Luna took a long sip of his tea and made the cup vanish, she raised her hoof at Noble. “Don’t worry, my divided mind is doing my job all across Equestria as we speak.” “But you don’t have many of them, normally you need to leave for a bit to help a few other ponies then come back?” Noble craned his neck up. “Are there just fewer ponies with bad dreams tonight? “Oh, well I wouldn’t say that. As you hopefully remember, since early on I’ve been trying to expand the amount of ways I can divide my mind in order to help everypony in Equestria while we all slumber. I was up to five last time we talked and I am proud to announce that by improving the magic for this as well as strengthening my mind my doing this, I am now able to produce 7 ‘clones’ in order to patrol and help as many ponies as I am able.” She curtseyed as she accepted praise for the accomplishment. Noble clapped and nodded at the accomplishment. “Oh wow, that’s wonderful, congratulations! I do hope it isn’t too stressful on you though.” “I admit, it does take a rather large toll on me and uses a large chunk of my magic. However this way I can reach more ponies around Equestria and protect them from the evils I plagued them with.” Luna let out a long sigh. “Noble do you really wish to know? I fear it is complicated to explain.” The stallion thought for a moment and scratched his cheek. “Well I am curious. I don’t mind and I’ll try to keep up.” "Very well. You see Noble, I gain power from the love of my subjects that I protect. It is not the same way as my sister but a more familiar bond. That fuels me and keeps my magic from depleting. I have also found ways to get past the fatigue. I normally do not need much sleep and if i didn’t do this, I wouldn’t need it at all, but with this amount of focus I nap when I can and allow one of my minds to stay as it's own inside my own dreams. Was that too much at once?" Noble shook his head. “No, I think I get it, at least a bit. Thank you.” He looked around looking for things to spark any other topics he forgot. “So um, what now? I have ranted for who knows how long already. Let’s talk about you for a change, I have barely let you tell me anything of how you are nowadays.” A smile formed on Luna’s face as she tapped her chin and chuckled. “I may have a thing or two to tell you.” Noble got down on the ground and looked up with ears perked. “Then please tell me, I’m itching to hear everything.” Luna took a deep breath and then fell down to her stomach and began going through her time since their last encounter. She explained how she’s had to go and make some new rules for her guard, how bogged down she’s been with paperwork that she wished only to go outside and stretch her wings for a bit. At one point she complained about how she felt like she gained weight where Noble quickly assured her she wasn’t with a natural flirt which fell to uncomfortable silence. The princess even mentioned a family road trip that ended horribly. “She didn’t want matching sister tattoos, kept being a troll and drew a mustache on me twice whilst I slept! I must get my own carriage for our next trip.” At once Noble burst out laughing and rolled on his back. “I-I-I can’t believe you two are princesses sometimes!” He laughed more and Luna couldn’t help but chuckle herself. As he recomposed himself he rolled back onto his stomach. “Well thank you for telling me. It sounds like you can at least always find something to do.” Luna brushed her hair back and looked at the ground. “I suppose, but a lot of it can be quite boring as well. And when I say a lot, I really mean a lot.” “I don’t mind, I want to hear about those too. I want to hear about every single little detail you can---” Before Noble could finish, an extremely bright light shined behind Luna, drawing both of the ponies attentions to it. Immediately as Luna saw this, she stood up and took in a deep breath. “I’m sorry but our time seems to be up. It is time for me to lower my moon and retire for this night.” “Of course.” Noble stood up too and bowed to his princess. “Yes Luna. Thank you for spending another night catching up with me. I enjoy our talks and hope you enjoyed it too. Should I keep looking towards the stars and have our usual method of communicating when we need to speak?” “Of course. I will have it no other way.” Luna spread her wings and nodded in greeting. “Now, you can wake up and enjoy my sister’s day perfectly well rested. Good bye Noble, until we next meet.” “Good night Luna. Thank you again.” A light filled the area with blinding white light then everything became dark. Noble twitched and wiggled his body. He felt the blanket over top of him and the stone floor on his side. He rolled over and stood up, through the window he could see the morning sun shining in, putting an end to his wonderful night. Author's Note 26. Soul DayA few days has passed since the night in the Castle of the Two Sisters. Ever since the ponies got out of the Everfree Forest, things started to settle down again and they quickly went back to their everyday lives. Wild Soul had begun work on the project for town hall while Noble Poet went back to working at Sweet Apple Acres. They were settling into their new home and new routines well, with help of friendly ponies throughout the town who were more than willing to help them find their way around, regardless of Soul trying to avoid them at all cost. Of course none of them could forget the night there, especially the dark unknown mare who was playing the organ. It was yet again another busy morning in Ponyville’s lively town square. Wild Soul was leaning against a railing at Ponyville Town Hall’s terrace, simply looking out at the flow of the day going by him and breathing the fresh, slightly humid air after a drizzle. He was wearing his classic outfit, red jacket and a black collar with a white tie. Ponies were going from stall to stall buying beverages and groceries. Mostly beverages since a majority of the customers were working ponies with long work hours. It was lunch time and everypony was in a rush to get their things and get back to work. Soul could hear some irritated groans coming from a stagnant line due to an old mare getting too carried away with her “good old days.” Such groans weren’t too common in Ponyville, unlike in Canterlot. The sun was shining on nearly clear skies with only a few clouds occasionally blocking the warm rays. Finally, his two hour meeting had come to an end and this was his first chance to relax. The meeting Soul had with the Madam Mayor considering the project she was working on with him. His job was to brand Ponyville, give it a visual identity. In this meeting, Soul had presented visual material and ideas for the Mayor, like color palettes, bearings etc. The meeting had left Soul with a sense of relief. It was like any other typical meeting for a designer. You walk in with your presentation, show and explain your ideas, take notes and leave the meeting with a notebook that has everything listed down that you need to change or rethink. Again, a typical but luckily not too monotonous of a meeting, there is no such a thing as a client who doesn’t want to change anything. Such a client would be a fantasy or fairy tail character. Luckily for Soul, the Mayor was far from one of his worst cases. She was a client who demanded reasonable amounts of changes but didn’t try to push on any artistic views. Being left with room for his own interpretations and being pleased with their talk, Soul was ready to move forward with the project. It was the first time Soul was in charge of such an important project; one which would give a branding symbol for an entire town that was rapidly gaining prestige in Equestria. Soul raised his head and once again glanced over at the Town’s Square, seeing the buildings and stalls he breathed a breath of fresh air. It had it’s own vibrancy of earthy and elegant flair. When Soul had absorbed the scenery enough, he pulled away from the rail and finally decided to head off to get food. He still had plenty of time on his hooves before he could meet up with Rarity for coffee. Even after their problems the night in the castle, they were able to continue their lessons regularly, with professionalism and more surprisingly still an atmosphere of delight and kindness; even after dropped the “not friends” -bomb. However her behavior had slightly changed, she doesn’t address Soul with a term “friend” anymore but now talks twice as much as before. The stallion pulled out his notebook and started to review all the changes the Mayor wanted as he headed towards the stairs. “Let’s see.. More color options, another background picture, less--- Oh CRAP!” Before he could finish his thought he ran into a stack of papers someone had left on the stairs. He almost slipped as he fell to the next step but caught himself. He immediately triggered his magic, put his book away and started gathering the papers back together. “Soul?” “Huh?” Soul turned around to look in the direction of the call and saw a couple familiar faces helping him pick up the papers. “Oh, Twilight, Spike... I uh... well hi….” He looked at both of them checking papers for smudges and dirt as they picked them up. “Judging by the look on your faces, these are yours...” “Well at least this wasn’t my fault this time,” Spike said with a smirk and looked toward Twilight out of the corner of his eye. Soul picked up a few more papers keeping them all in a stack and offered them to Twilight who wrapped her magic around them so he could release his and continued picking up more. “Sorry about that... Should’ve watched where I was going. I will gather them, you two don’t need to worry.” Twilight immediately waved a hoof and shook her head. “No worries, it happens. And we were trying to spread them around town after all,” she said with a small laugh and helped collect the remaining flyers from the ground. “How are you doing? I haven’t seen you around since we got out of the castle. Have you recovered well from that night?” He continued picking up papers, and checked to ensure none got too dirty as he made another stack.“Yes, I’m good. I mean, I just try not to think about that whole night. Luckily I’m plenty occupied with this and that to keep me focused on other stuff.” “Good. So you don’t have some kind of post traumatic stress disorder?” Twilight said and tried see Soul’s face clearer around the papers. “What? No no, nothing like that. I’m perfectly fine, I just don’t want to stay stuck on that night.” As Soul had collected the last remaining flyer, he took a better look at it to see what they were all about. “Huh… A writing contest?” He looked back and forth between Twilight and Spike as if asking who he should be handing it to, but Spike was the one who offered to take the last and largest stack. Twilight nodded and jumped at the chance to talk about the contest. “That’s right! Spike and I have been planning this for weeks now! It’s an open contest for everypony who is interested in writing and wants to contribute their passion for it.” “I see...” Soul’s ears perked and he began to scratch his cheek. “What kind of writing exactly? Do you give a topic for the participants to write about or something or specific styles?” Twilight’s shook her head and immediately raised her hooves before her, waving them from side to side “Oh, no no no no! Every participant are free to choose what they write about. Fiction, romance, drama, even a documentary if they are willing to.” The stallion nodded in understanding and held his chin. “Well there won’t be a shortage of variety, that’s for sure.” Twilight nodded and held her head up high. “The more, the better! I’ve barely hosted anything public and thought this would be a great first thing to do since reading is a passion of mine!” Spike looked up at Twilight with a raised eyebrow. “I think you mean ‘obsession’.” Rolling her eyes Twilight continued. “The line is thin.” She handed the rest of the fliers to Spike and released her magic. “I’m just glad we finally get to do this after so much planning.” Spike placed the papers back on the steps but farther to the side than Twilight did prior. “Yeah, especially since she’s done nothing but work since we got back home. All that’s been on her mind is the organ pegasi and well, other important stuff---” Twilight nudges Spike with a sharp jab to Spike’s side with a hoof. She glowered down at him speaking through gritted teeth. “Things we should not talk about.” Soul shook his head, waving a hoof and extending it as if about to step back. “I wasn’t going to ask.” “Good. However, now that the organ pegasus was brought up, I have to ask…” Twilight glanced down at herself then stood up straight and cleared her throat to speak clearly. “You… Or, you haven’t been able to come up with any way in which she would be connected to you from your past do you?” Soul shook his head again furrowing his brow. “Twilight, she was a stranger to me back there and she’s stranger to me right now. I have no idea who she was nor does Noble.” Twilight looked over Soul again and nodded. “Right. I just had to check that one more time.” She relaxed as she took a step back, pulling one of the flyers off the stack and holding it up next to her head. “Anyway, why don’t you take one of these? As a creative person you might have something to contribute to this competition.” “Well… I did use to write some scripts during my studies and even attended a writing class…” The stallion scratched his head and looked away searching for a distraction. “I think I’m going to pass. Writing isn’t really an area I’m interested in. Thanks for offering though, Twilight.” “I understand, it’s no problem at all.” She moved the flyer back towards the stack making it flush. Before Twilight finished placing the flyer back on the pile a switch clicked in Soul’s head. “Wait, I think I’ll take the flyer though. This is the perfect thing for Noble to attend.” Twilight pulled back at the mention of Noble, she looked at the flyer then slowly lifted it towards Soul, her tone had immediately become cold. “Uhh, sure.” Spike huffed and put his claws on his hips looking directly as Soul. “Come on dude, give it a shot at least. I’m gonna attend too, we could be a team or something! Twilight won’t favor us.” “Sorry but persuasion isn’t gonna change my mind.” He shook his head as he took the flyer from Twilight’s spell. Spike shrugged. Twilight lifted the pile as she turned back to the stairs. “Anyway, we’re going to move on now with our chores. Take care Soul.” Soul nodded with a smile and waved a goodbye. “Yeah, likewise.” After seeing Twilight and Spike pick up the pace getting further away, he put the flyer in his saddlebag and finally exited the terrace. The writing contest sure seemed interesting and something Noble should definitely be interested in even if it may take some encouragement to get him to join. But now, one thought was on Soul’s mind, what kind of food to eat. He could go to his usual sushi buffet place, it would be a safe option, but on the other hoof he kind of desired something much more… filling. Pizza could be good. No, a hayburger. Hayburger it is. It’s Wednesday after all, yeah not the best day for a special treat but he tends to call that day an early Saturday. Plus he just finished a long meeting, so that justified it to himself. With the decision now made, he headed to the nearest restaurant he could remember to get his treat. The grill worker stuck a bag out of the small grill window. “Here you go sir, Triple Cheese hayburger with fries, soda and cucumber mayo. Have a swell day!” “Thank you, likewise,” Soul said and took his order, and walked out of the way of the next customer. The warm smell of onions and grease made his mouth water already, it had been a while since he had gone for a burger. Around the grill were multiple empty tables for Soul to sit at. He picked the one with a large umbrella since it was a bright and rather hot day making it a good day to eat out. As he sat down, he dug out all the food with his magic. He placed a napkin under the fries, opened the little container with mayo and lastly unwrapped the burger. Typically, it wasn’t as big or pretty as in the menu picture, but the taste is what matters. However, he didn’t even get to take a single bite before he felt a tap on his shoulder. “Hiya Soul. How’s it going?” Noble looked over the unicorn’s shoulder, noisily trying to see what was on the table. He turned around only to see Noble with a large apple carriage in tow trying to peek around him. “Noble! Hey there buddy.” Noble smiled standing up straight again. “Mind if I join you?” “Of course not,” Soul said and shook his head, tapping the seat on the other side of him. “Aren’t you supposed to still be at work though?” Noble unshackled himself from the carriage and did his ordinary routine, making sure the brakes were on and a block in place. He then sat across from his buddy. “I am. I was here to deliver some apples. Though I’m ahead of schedule and Applejack has told me I shouldn’t overwork myself as much so I don’t think sitting down with my bosom buddy for a moment will do any harm. Besides I haven’t used my full lunch break yet.” Soul’s eyes lowered as he glowered with an unpleased expression. “You’ve been in touch with Truffle, haven’t you?” The earth pony looked away then glanced back at Soul before looking away again while he snickered. “It shows?” With a large eye roll Soul smiled and lifted his burger to take a bite after he spoke. “It shows, ‘bosom buddy’.” Noble crossed his forelegs on the table and leaned in comfortably to speak. “Yeah, she’s still messaging me at least twice a week and keeps sending her cookie or muffin baskets. We’re not going to run out of sweets anytime soon.” Soul raised an eyebrow as he lifted up some fries to eat. “Isn’t that gonna be expensive…?” Noble shrugged and then looked up and down Soul noticing his clothes. “I see you are wearing your trademark attire.” The unicorn nodded and patted his shirt. “Yes, for the presentation I held for the mayor. I figured I couldn’t just go bare naked.” He then took his first bite of the burger, closing his eyes in delight. A note clicked in Noble’s head. “Oh right, you had that today. How did it go?” After he swallowed his bite he lifted more fries before he spoke. “Well, it was long but overall it was a success. Of course she wanted changes and such but in this occupation, everypony does.” “I see, alrighty. Well I’m glad it seemed to go well.” The earth pony gave his friend a smile then looked around for a topic while the aromas from the burger stand distracted him. “So um, you picked a burger for lunch?” Soul looked at his burger and then presented it to Noble, opening it and browsing through the ingredients and letting the smell of onions and garlic reach Noble’s nose. “Yep, big and greasy. I haven’t eaten a single bite today so I’m starving.” “I haven’t eaten too much today either except breakfast and a very small lunch. Today’s been especially busy and I feel completely drained.” The scents teased Noble’s nose and he began to drool. Soul noticed how Noble looked at his food and chuckled then cut it in half, giving a half to Noble. “Here.” “What? N-No, I didn’t mean for you to split it with me.” Noble pulled back and attempted to offer the half back to Soul as he sunk his head down. “T-Though it looks soooo good… err I’m sure I could order something.” The unicorn held out a hoof of refusal and gently slid it back to Noble. “Come now, there’s no need for that. Take it, it’s not like I could eat a burger this big in one sitting.” He levitated his slice and looked over for a moment before biting. “If you feel like doing something for it, just buy us pizza’s someday.” Noble nodded his head vigorously and gave Soul a little squeeze. “Deal! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!” Soul wiggled in Noble’s grasp, forcing the release then rubbed his ear. “No need to yell in my ear…” “Sorry.” Noble backed away with his head hunkered down and an embarrassed corner of the mouth smile. He moved the burger half in front of him and lifted it. “Um, anyway, what have you been up to today?” The unicorn rubbed his chest before he spoke. “You know, this and that. Had the usual lesson with Rarity and had my presentation for Mayor. I’ll also meet Rarity later today.” Noble held up a hoof as he finished his bite. “Nice. How are things with Rarity and your studies? Has it become weird or harder since you dropped the... ‘not friends’ bomb?” The mention of Soul dropping the bombshell on Rarity made him pause mid bite of fries. “Well… yes things are somewhat different and there is definitely a different atmosphere… But it hadn’t become any more difficult or bad. I mean, yes Rarity doesn’t address me with the term friend anymore and such, but otherwise we’ve been rather comfortable in each other’s company.” Noble chewed his second bite, swallowing before he spoke. “That’s good to hear.” Putting his food down Soul looked over at Noble with a frown. “Really, it’s because of you… If you hadn’t talked to Rarity… Well… I’m sure it would be a whole nother situation. You really saved my flank back then and I can’t thank you enough for that... To be honest, I feel a bit ashamed… for needing help in such situations.” Soul hung his head, looking at his food with a long face, his hooves on the edge of the table. Noble wiped his hooves with a napkin and put a hoof on Soul’s shoulder. “Come now buddy, of course I did it for you. You’ve been helping me far more than I’ve been able to help you. I… might sound a bit mean now but I’m really glad it was one of those times I could help you. Ironic though, you are the most confident and straightforward pony I know, but still I have to help you out when it comes to explaining your feelings and I’m glad I can.” The corner of Soul’s lips arched upwards as he looked at his friend out of the corner of his eye. “Don’t you just love having such a prig as your bestie?” Noble chuckled and gave Soul a light thump on his shoulder and reached for his hooves, lifting them up to hold them a moment but quickly moved his hoof for a fry, pulling it back to him with a joking smile. “Hush. At least you acknowledge it. You’re the best darn prig I’ve ever known!” Soul couldn’t help but smile and let out a little laugh at the comment and Noble’s joking deception. After eating quietly for a moment, Soul perked up as he remembered what was waiting for his friend in the saddleback. “Oh right! I needed to show you something,” he said and started digging through his bag. Noble’s eyes perked and he stopped eating for a moment, sitting up straighter trying to get a peek at what this was. “Well, after meeting Mayor I came across Twilight and Spike.” Soul then pulled out the flier and presented it to Noble. “They were spreading these across town.” The earth pony took it and pulled it closer as he read; after reading a bit of what it was all about, his ears dropped and he gave a large gulp. “Oh… A writing contest?” “Yes, I took this with me since I figured it would be a perfect opportunity for you. I mean, you still haven’t written a single poem for a while, have you?” Soul could see how troubling this was for Noble but knew that it was the best thing for him. He touched Noble’s shoulder as he finished his question, trying to look him in the eyes. “Um… No… No I haven’t. I do have some ideas though!” Noble’s breathing had grown heavier and he seemed to shake a bit as he tried to defend himself. “Well that’s good. You now have a stable job and don’t have to worry about a rent for another month. Don’t you think it would be a good time to start getting back to the thing you got that mark on your flank for?” Soul questioned as he pointed at the quill on Noble’s flank. Noble clenched his teeth and looked at the paper, turning it this way and that. “Ye-yes… Yes, of course. This does seem rather interesting... I’m just not sure if this is a good place to start. Something smaller would probably be much more suitable for me right now. Right?” Soul raised an eyebrow looking directly at Noble’s face with a questioning demeanor. “Something smaller? What do you mean exactly? Aside from work, you’ve got nothing but time.” “Yes. it’s not that, I just…” The stallion gave a huff and put the flyer down. “I don’t know… I was thinking about just waiting and seeing if something nice pops up.” Soul put his hooves on the table and spoke loud and sternly while he watched for any actions that he may be pushing Noble’s buttons. “Noble, I can tell you from experience, that’s a path you definitely don’t want to take. The longer you avoid writing, the bigger that step grows for you. You’re a great writer and I know you can do this. I know you and I brought this flyer to you because I truly believe in you.” Noble sat in silence for a moment squirming his lips around as he thought about his answer. “Fine, I’ll think about it...” His voice was uneasy and his eyes rapidly scanned over the paper multiple times as if he were trying to search for some kind of catch. Soul sighed but tried to hold up his smile. “I’m sure you would do great in it.” He patted his friend’s shoulder before lifting the burger for another bite. “Thank you, buddy. And thank you for showing me this.” Smiling back at Soul, Noble’s eyes jumped and a hoof raised. “Wait, I just thought…” Soul tilted his head. “Hmm?” Noble scratched his head and looked between the flyer and Soul with a scrunched up sceptical face. “Can there be more than one pony working on the same story?” After a moment’s recall Soul nodded reluctantly. “I guess so. I mean, Spike told me he is going to attend too and asked if I wanted to team up with him.” With the new information Noble’s curiosity and anticipation grew. “Oh, well… Did you?” Soul shook his head. “No, I’m not going to attend. It is not really my thing and it would require too much of my focus.” “Ah, I see. I just thought- maybe we could’ve teamed up or something but nevermind then,” Noble said with a faint laugh. Soul’s lips fell, he didn’t mean to cause Noble distress but had to stick with his morals. He put a hoof on the table, leaning to catch the attention of Noble’s eyes. “Sorry buddy, I would but I don’t want to get involved if I can’t put my heart and soul into it.” “It’s fine, I would feel bad If I forced you to.” Noble took the last bite of his hamburger and stood up. “Well, I need to get back to work and the farm. Thank you for the burger and letting me know about the contest.” “No problem. Hey, wanna watch Magi tonight? The whole season pack came from the mail today.” Soul lifted his last bite as well and gave Noble a few more fries to take on his way. “You mean The Labyrinth Of Magic? Awesome! You bet!” Noble replied as he refastened himself on the cart before taking some fries and eating them quickly. “Yep, I’ll look forward to it. I’ll see you at home!” Soul waved a hoof half turned, watching Noble leave. “Yep, bye Soul! See you later!” Noble gave a small salute with the edge of his hoof and nodded to Soul. After waving goodbye to his friend, Soul went and finished his meal, sat up and tossed out the trash they left and let out a big satisfied sigh. “That meal sure was something else.” As Soul turned around and was about to leave, he was immediately stopped by somepony. “Excuse me, sir?” the pony said. She was a tan, fit unicorn mare with purple eyes and a straight mane with a long ponytail. She was wearing a purple jacket and black pants, and on her neck under the jacket seemed to be some kind of red tattoo-like mark. It was too covered for Soul to make out what it was. “Yes?” Soul said taken aback, lifting a hoof to step backwards. The mare looked Soul up and down. “Are you a local?” With a scratch of his cheek Soul thought about his knowledge of Ponyville so far. “Um, kind of. Do you need help?” The tan mare stood up cleared her throat and sat for a moment producing a pen and paper. “Actually, yes. I’m a bit lost you see. Do you happen to know where Ponyville’s Schoolhouse is?” “Ponyville’s Schoolhouse? Um, yes I do. Do you know where you are right now?” Soul raised his eyebrows as he awaited the reply. The mare looked rather ashamed as a slight blush grew on her cheeks. “I’m afraid I do not…” “Well here, let me show you.” Soul took his saddlebag off and dug out a small map of Ponyville that he held onto since he got to town. He laid it out on one of the tables and he also dug up a pen, pointing at one location. “This is where we are right now, and this is Ponyville’s Schoolhouse. Following these directions you will get there.” The mare looked at the map and directions, scrunching her eyebrows. “I see…” It was clear she hadn’t understood the directions completely. “You can have the map if you want. I have no use for it.” The mare didn’t look any less tense or reassured. “Thank you very much, but… Oh I’m so embarrassed to ask, but could you please take me there? I’m really, REALLY bad at reading a map.” With a few blinks Soul just looked back and forth at the mare and the map. Did she really need a guide for such simple directions? “It’s… It’s not really that far. I’m sure you will find it without any trouble.” The mare leaned in with large begging eyes and a long face. “Please sir! I really need to get there as soon as possible and I can not risk getting lost again! I beg of you!” Soul looked at the map, calculating how long the walk would be and if he had other options. He held up a hoof that prevented her from growing closer. “Alright, alright, I’ll take you there miss…” “Thank you so much! I cannot express enough gratitude.” She quickly took Soul’s outstretched hoof, mistaking it as a shake. She shook feverishly, clutching it with both forehooves. Jumping Soul jerked his hoof away from the mare. He didn’t want to insult her so he quickly disguised his displeasure by trotting around her to the path they would need to take. “It’s no problem. I had to go there to see my tutor anyway at some point.” “I’m sure she won’t mind if you show up a bit early!” The mare gave a curtsy and bowed her head to Soul. “I’m Belladonna. Donna for short.” Soul gave a small bow of his own, his lips curled as he felt a little more like he was back in Canterlot. “Wild Soul.” Donna put away her things and tightened her satchel back before moving next to Soul, ready to follow. “Pleasure to meet you Wild Soul, and thank you again.” “It’s no big deal. Just know that I will notice immediately if you try to pickpocket me.” He gave a forced grin and turned to lead the way down the path. Belladonna held her head up high as she walked with grace and pride, planting each step with purpose. “...And that’s how I achieved my 20th medal in swimming! When all those ponies were praising me and cheering my name, I knew I was made for the spotlight. That golden medal reflecting the lights and blinding the audience with my grace. 20 medals, it’s simply amazing, right?” Soul walked with her, he looked over with an eyebrow raised, he kept his distance past a leg’s length. “I see… You sure are an overachiever.” “You really don’t talk much, do you Wild Soul?” Belladonna retorted. Through their entire trip she had continued to be unsuccessful in whipping up some small talk out of Soul but remained unsatisfied as she had yet to find a single topic that drew him in. Soul wanted to smack himself in the face but instead he just let out a deep sigh, hanging his head a bit and snarled his eyes tightly for a moment before rising to address her. “Pardon me, but I speak if I have something to say.” Belladonna scrunched up her face as she was taken aback and even stopped mid strut and waited for Soul to stop and look back at her before she spoke. “You’re a really weird pony. You should go to some kind of therapy.” Soul’s mouth almost dropped wide open. Did she really just say that? He sat in utter disbelief of how straightforward she was with her thoughts. “Wow… Well that’s bold.” As soon as Soul responded she covered her muzzle with great alarm. “Did I say that out loud?! Oh my gosh, pardon me! I sometimes can’t keep the door between my thoughts and mouth shut. I’m so sorry! I can’t control my thoughts! I mean I’m sure you can be talkative and such, I mean you can be a nice pony I’m sure, SHUT UP ALREADY BELLADONNA!” She bellowed, stomping her hooves. Soul stood and watched the display, he had raised a leg and was prepared to run if he had to, but simply stood for a moment without words questioning his next move. “...Ok.” In an attempt to save herself and against her better judgement Belladonna continued her attempts to salvage the conversation. “I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me, I-I stutter and blabber when accompanied by such handsome stallions that I just want to throw myself in front of you, chain up your limbs and make you all mine for eternity and be with you forever and ever and ever and ever… BELLADONNA!!!” Soul was speechless. For the first time in a long time, not even one word came from his mouth, not even a simple jokey statement to ease the atmosphere. He was completely lost and his brain was reduced to a chaotic cluster. He wanted to just gallop and get as far away from her as possible. He took a few steps back and watched her closely for any movement. They were frozen staring at one another for a moment then Belladonna jumped up laughing. “Just kidding!” She pranced by with a bead of sweat on her forehead. With a sigh of relief Soul began walking along side Belladonna again in silence but with a wider girth between them. The school emerged in sight and even for the remaining distance they both kept their muzzles tightly shut. As they approached the entrance, Soul viewed the school yard and all the fillies and colts playing there. Some were having fun at the swings, some were sliding down the slide and overall everypony was having a fun time. Though this one colt caught Soul’s attention, a colt who was playing on his own with no friends. However, he didn’t look sad. Instead, he was smiling, having fun just like others were, just alone. He couldn’t help but see himself as he was many years ago in that colt. Sure, he had no idea who he was or why he is playing alone in the first place, maybe he had a friend who was just sick or getting something from somewhere, but Soul wanted to imagine. However, Soul’s attention was drawn away; he saw Sweetie Belle and her friends in the distance with two other mares. At first it just seemed like they were talking but when the other two started poking Applebloom and even pushed her backwards, Soul knew precisely what was going on. He immediately felt a stitch in his chest as he watched the scene. “Oooh, Soul! Hi!” A voice chimed from the distance. Soul’s attention was instantly snatched away from the fillies as he heard the call. His attention was torn between the fillies and the voice, but then he saw how a purple mare split up the ponies, giving Soul’s mind closure to turn towards the mare. Rarity was at the entrance of the school, the sight immediately made him smile and shout, “Hey there, how’s it going?” Rarity waved and looked at the clock on the wall of the school house. “Oh, just fine! What are you doing here already? It’s not even near the time we agreed to meet.” She turned to look at Belladonna, putting on a curious smile. “And who might this be?” Soul turned to look at the mare beside him, almost forgetting she was there for a minute. “Right. This is Belladonna. She ran across me at Town Square and asked for guidance to get here.” Belladonna stepped forward and extended a hoof with her head held high. “Pleasure to meet you, Rarity! I love your mane and well now that I look at you more closely, I like everything about your appearance, if I was into mares I would ask you out!” Blinking rapidly Rarity simply stared at Belladonna for a moment. She didn’t know what to say. She attempted to form a thought but only mumbled the first few word of sentences she could think of, without actually managing to form one. Belladonna immediately charged to smack her head against the school wall. “Why is silence not something I’m blessed with?!!” Rarity gasped and stepped back at the sight. “My goodness, miss! Don’t go and harm yourself like that!” The orange unicorn quickly turned back to Rarity and bowed, closing her eyes. “My deepest apologies for what I just said! I can’t control my blurtings! Your friend here already unfortunately witnessed that…” Soul raised a hoof to draw Rarity’s attention away from the mare. “Y-Yea but let’s not get any deeper into that.” “My apprentice,” Rarity quickly corrected and gave a small clenched smile as she didn’t want to offend Soul again but still had to adjust to this herself. “Please you can stop bowing.” “Thank you very much and sorry again.” Belladonna bowed to Soul briefly. “Now, the thing I came here for in the first place… Do you know where I can find miss Cheerilee?” “Cheerilee? Yes, she’s over there at the swings The purple mare.” Rarity pointed her in the direction. Belladonna waved to both of them and smiled. “Thank you! And thank you very much Wild Soul for guiding me here! Let’s chain each other up some day.” Soul’s ears fell. “Wha---” Belladonna flushed bright red again. “IGNORE THAT!” She shook her head and laughed awkwardly, taking steps backwards and bowed once more before trotting off. “Bye now!” “Bye…” Soul replied and waved ears still flat. Rarity and Soul both watched Belladonna trott off and didn’t move for a bit, since they had to give Belladonna’s persona time to sink in for a couple second. Eventually Rarity walked closer to her apprentice and tilted her head. “My… That pony’s friends must never have a dull moment when she’s around…” Soul nodded and sat down rubbing his ankles. “Rarity she wanted to chain me up and make me hers for all eternity... ” Rarity blank and just sat there in utter confusion. “Oh my.” “Yeah” He kept his eyes transfixed on the mare as if fearing for his life. Lips curling Rarity’s eyes moved towards Soul. “Well she’s not the only one…” “What?” The stallion jumped, his body facing away as if about to gallop back to Canterlot. “What? Nothing?” Rarity turned back at Soul and laughed awkwardly. She then quickly perked up then looked about and gave the air a little whiff then looked towards her apprentice. She gave another whiff and drew back covering her nose. “Soul… I… I can’t believe you…” Taken aback Soul jolted and gave himself a look over. “What?” Rarity took a few large steps away, holding her nose whilst holding back a gag. “Have you smelled yourself darling? That stench of garlic and grease floating around you… It smells like utter death, and you let that pungent smell float around in such lovely lady’s company!” Soul’s lips fell. He turned and gave himself a sniff and even lifted a leg to check himself further but shook his head with a frown. He checked his breath and twirled his tongue around his mouth. “You might just have an overly sensitive nose… I don’t smell or even taste a thing. And she didn’t seem to notice anything either. Plus I ate at least six pastilles during our trip here.” Keeping her distance Rarity waved a hoof in attempts to fan the smells away from herself. “You must be kidding… What else have you eaten?” The stallion’s eyes dropped and his expression grew flat, he watched the dramatics but shook his head. “A hayburger.” “I’m going to faint!” Rarity dug a diamond-shaped bottle from her purse and sprayed it all over the stallion. “Gosh!” The spray hit Soul’s eyes like sharp needles, he immediately started coughing as some of the perfume got into his mouth and nostrils while his eyes watered. “D-Does that make you feel better now?” Rarity nodded with pride. “Much better.” She placed the bottle back and stepped forward once more, taking in the new fragrance. “Now, since you are here, you might as well come inside and see what I’m working on? There’s no point in leaving anymore.” Having pulled himself together he smirked. “Only if you have coffee to offer. It’s the least you can do after almost choking me.” Rarity squinted and leaned in with a smile. “Look who’s talking,” she said and chuckled. The mare pulled back and turned to move inside. “We have a large thermos inside. Feel free to help yourself.” “Thanks,” Soul said with a pleased nod and followed Rarity inside. “So what kind of thing are you working on here? You haven’t even revealed a word about it.” “I will tell you in a moment darling. It’s been something we feared could never come to fruition, but now it all seems to be starting to come together splendidly.” She divulged as she walked him inside. “By the way, how did the meeting with Mayor go? You had it already, correct?” Soul’s eyes crossed the room as he entered, greeted by the sight of fillies artwork and learning materials to nurture young minds. “Yes, it went rather well. Things are rolling at a nice pace and she’s a good client overall. I’ll spare the details for a better time though.” “Okay!” Rarity chanted with a smile. They reached the end of the hallway and came to a half-open door that said ‘staff lounge’ on it. Rarity lead Soul into a crowded room. “The thermos jug is over there.” She raised her hoof over her head, singling out the location among the crowd. “Gotcha,” Soul said with a nod and walked over to the jug. As he did he observed everything around him. All the ponies were focusing on something which meant there was definitely something going on. At the table he poured coffee for himself and added a little bit of cream and walked back to Rarity who had moved over to open a window. She was also accompanied by another familiar face, Fluttershy. “Oh. So you are here too it seems.” Fluttershy approached the group with her head tucked down but gave a small wave. “Oh, h-hi there Soul.” The stallion waved back as a small introduction but quickly looked back at his teacher. “So… What is this all about?” Rarity made sure her pose was perfect before proudly announcing, “We’re going to host a charity event!” Soul’s brow raised. “Oh, you are?” Rarity stepped back to present the room. “Yes! To raise money for the school and support the young foal’s future possibilities. We have already planned so many wonderful things for it! Selling self-made products is a necessity of course, setting up stands to try out different areas of different occupations, shows on stage and also having professionals speak about their career, cutie marks, and answering questions from the audience.” “That’s right,” Fluttershy spoke up, raising her head smiling softly. “The money will be used for new equipment that makes it possible to start up new club activities; that is, if we make enough of course. The Ponyville school sure is a wonderful place to study, but all it has right now is a newspaper....” “Yes, and I’m certain not all the foals plan to be journalists or work in print.” Illuminating her horn, Rarity took a cup and poured some water. “Though yes, that is what we have been working on. So many ponies are working on this, even Rainbow Dash! Wonderful thing to set up, isn’t it?” The more Rarity spoke the more Soul’s enthusiasm rose as he lifted his head up and his lips curved upward. “Rarity, you have no idea how much more I appreciate and respect you for this. Education and encouraging foals to explore possibilities are some of the biggest values for me, that’s one of the greatest things you can raise money for!” Taking a sip and placing it down Rarity practically beamed. “Thank you darling! It’s delightful to see it’s close to your heart as well. Everypony here is putting their heart and soul into it so I’m sure it will be a delightful event!” Soul nodded. “At least. Do you already have performers and such?” “We most certainly do! I will introduce the magnificent world of fashion for fillies and colts, and will also introduce them to what running a business is like.” She squared up the room searching for imperfections. Without missing a beat Fluttershy filled in. “I’m also in the show, showing off some lovely animals.” Soul dialed it back and faced the pink maned mare. “What was your official title again?” Fluttershy moved a hoof out as she seemed to fall ever more at ease but still leaned towards Rarity for emotional support. “I’m an animal caretaker.” “Oh, okay then.” Being at a loss to keep up his conversation with Fluttershy he focused on his teacher. “Need a graphic designer to perform?” Rarity blank, placing a hoof on her chest. “YOU want to perform? In front of a crowd?” Soul nodded and lifted up his head. “I’ve done it for four years already. It’s kinda part of my job, you know. And was during studying. Plus I’m passionate about my job.” Rarity rubbed her neck and glanced at the ceiling. “True... I hope you have enough thoughts to share for a larger audience.” “If you need convincing I can give you a long long lecture of layout and composition, which alone includes proximity, contrast, repetition white space, alignment and from that I can go to explaining color theory and typography---” “I’m convinced!” Rarity said as she lifted up her hood and her eyes journeyed the room once more before she nodded. “Alrighty! Let’s sign you in!” In that instance Soul slammed on the brakes and held out a hoof. “Hold on. I still need to make sure I have time, so don’t set anything in stone yet. I’ll inform you later.” “Oh that’s fine too! I’m delightfully surprised you wish to be part of this.” Rarity continued with a pleasant smile that practically glimmered. Soul gave a shrug and smiled. “Now, let’s get back to work! We still need to do a lot before we can call it a day here.” Rarity took another sip of water and pulled out her reading glasses which she rested on the bridge of her nose. To the side Fluttershy rubbed her hooves together. “I-I think I have done everything I can here so I should leave in a moment… I still want to be able to start writing for Twilight’s contest today. If that’s okay.” Soul’s ears twitched up. “You are going to participate in Twilight’s writing contest?” “Oh, so you have heard of it. Y-Yes, I-I mean I’m not that good of a writer nor do I care about winning, but I thought; it would be really nice for Twilight if I took part in it, since she is really excited about it and needs ponies in it after all.” She stumbled through her explanation and kept looking down as not to meet Soul’s gaze too long. Soul’s tail gave a wiggle and his eyes grew larger as he leaned in. “Are you going to write alone?” Rubbing her foreleg with her other while averting her eyes Fluttershy muttered, “I don’t think I can get anypony to write with me.” He almost couldn’t believe how perfect this was panning out. “You should ask Noble,” he said without a second thought. “What do you mean?” At the more enthusiastic response the pegasus pulled her legs in closer. She was still not particularly familiar or especially comfortable with either of the stallions but knew they should be safe enough. With such body language it was plain obvious she was uncomfortable. Soul didn’t want to pressure her but was too far in at this point. “He’s participating too but is in need of a teammate. Maybe you could fill in and team up?” “O-Oh, I see! Yes, Noble IS a writer... Or a poet, rather…” Fluttershy’s eyes were glued to the ground, moving about, she wiggled a hoof on the ground as she thought about the offer. Soul dug his small book from his saddle bag. “Well here, I can give you his contact info. It’s up to you if you wanna do anything with it.” Fluttershy practically jumped. She clumsily but quickly lifted her satchel off too and dug her own book and pen. “S-Sure! Please, if you wouldn’t mind that is.” The first flip sent Soul directly to Noble’s page. He recited the information and made sure the mare copied it down correctly. The finishing touch of letting the information glow and a confirmation message was sent to Noble. “Thank you very much.” She put the book away, then gave a nodding bow. Soul returned the nod and with a glow of his horn slid the book back in its spot. “You’re welcome.” “I should be going now. Goodbye you two.” Fluttershy waved to Soul and Rarity and disappeared through the doorway. Once Fluttershy was out of sight Rarity draped three outfits over Soul. “Now then, carry these and come along. I can’t interfere with what ponies wear to work but I can spruce up the assistants’ wardrobe.” Soul was caught off guard and looked back hearing the explanation. “Wait, what? You’re gonna make me a pack mule now?” Pausing with a roll of her eyes Rarity looked back. “Oh heavens no, of course not dear, this is still a lesson. Besides, pack mule has such a negative connotation. You are… a following wardrobe. Come along, we must account for time.” With a huff Soul followed Rarity as she began her work for the event again. 1. You Got CompanyIf somepony has not heard about the city of Canterlot, he or she probably doesn’t live in Equestria at all. The great Canterlot (the capital of the even greater Equestria), where high society and quality shines under Celestia’s sun. No matter where you go in that city, you can see that almost every store presents the name “Canterlot” within it’s title: Southern Canterlot Cafe, Canterlot Fashion, Northen Canterlot Grocery, Canterlot Sushi Resutoran, Canterlot Academy. The title Canterlot is abundant, and it may not be too outrageous to say that it has gone to some of the residents’ heads. It is surely to no fault of their own, it is only common that ponies would take pride in their nations capital and its accomplishments. The fact that ponies there are directly under the supervision and protection of their fair Princesses further entitles them to uphold themselves to higher standards. The city, as many may know, is made up mostly of rich entrepreneurs and creative designers, along with other fortunate, gifted, and well off ponies. Of course among the talented ponies are those who work hard and have pushed to get everything they have. Among these many successful, hard working, design and fashion companies is a place called Canterlot Spectrum Ltd. One of the busiest and most ambitious agencies located in Eastern Canterlot, which has employed many talented designers, advertising managers, art directors etc. The company holds a record of being the oldest design companies in the history of Canterlot and its reputation is well honored among artists. To a creative mind coffee is considered an essential beverage, it can even be considered to be a necessity. So of course, a fully stocked cafeteria with high quality coffee is a no-brainer for everypony who works at Canterlot Spectrum. When the clock hits 11:00, for most of the employers it meant lunch time. Even though the designers are free to pick break times for themselves, most would much rather use their company benefits for free lunch. Two mares stood in line for the food counter holding their trays with their magic and placing them down as they began to move down the line. One brown coated with a blond, curly mane. The other one was a bit plumper, yellow coated with a long, thick and dark brown mane. The thinner mare was presenting her left ankle to her friend, flaunting a golden bracelet covered with gems, with her head raised. “...and when I opened the present, awh the sun just hit these gems and; ahh Si! …it just dazzled my eyes! I’m telling you, Mineral, this present is the most spectacular gift anypony has ever given me!” The other mare was pressing her hooves against her cheeks while still standing, a long squeak escaping her mouth “Oh my gosh Meadow! That must’ve cost a fortune! How did your special had so much heart to buy that?” she hyped and was smiling so widely that if her smile got any wider, her face would probably tear apart. “Um, excuse me,” they heard a voice behind them, and turned around, and saw a white unicorn stallion with a tray, who was wearing a red collared shirt with a black shirt under it with his sleeves rolled up. “Can I get through?” he asked and looked over their shoulders, moving toward a table just past them. “Oh, of course,” the yellow mare said and immediately gave way for him, though the other mare remained silent. “Thanks.” The stallion nodded with a smile and slipped through the gap. The yellow mare gave the stallion a joking grin, her eyebrow raising. “Are my eyes lying or am I really seeing the Wild Soul coming to dine in the cafeteria?” she noted following it up with a chuckle. The stallion slowed his pace and turned to look at the mare, giving a short laugh, “For once they have food I actually like. Plus I have a meeting with a client,” he stated and glanced away, walking over to the empty table. The the brown mare tilted her head, looking at her friend. “Mineràl, who es that?” Mineral turned her attention away from her friend and used her magic to grab a coffee cup and from a display case, she took a big baguette, placing them on her plate. “Yes, that’s Wild Soul. He’s one of the designers in the East Wing like me. He’s quite the nice guy. He doesn’t start many conversations though.” Meadow followed her friends example, taking a coffee cup, and a low fat sandwich. “So you know him?” Mineral nodded and then shrugged, grabbing a coffee pan “Somehow. We have nice chit-chats every now and then, and we’ve worked on the same projects, but most of the time; it seems likes he would rather be alone.” Meadow scrunched her eyebrows together as she poured hot water into her cup. “Solitary Soul, eh?” Mineral jokingly rolled her eyes, stopping at the cash register. “Aw, come on. That’s corny.” She turned her attention to the cashier, who had a big book opened at the counter. She placed her hoof on an empty page, and when she lifted her hoof, it had a hoof print on it which started to glow bright green for a brief moment, indicating that she was indeed one of the employees. “But yes, pretty much. I wonder if that stallion even has any friends, or does he even want any...” The brown unicorn lifted a tea bag package from a box and placed it on her tray. “Ah, si. It only makes sense. Though it’s not our business to become friends with stallions if that’s what you had in mind,” she noted and raised her head high, stroking her hair. “Stallions and mares are just supposed to make one another look muy caliente. Appearance is everything after all. I would even call them our accesoras.” Mineral’s brows immediately dropped and her smile was replaced by a deep frown, and she stomped her hoof down. “Your philosophy is still as horrible as ever...” She let out a long groan and shook her head, and then gave the other mare a not so friendly gaze. “Your special one just gave you an expensive bracelet for your birthday and you still think of him as your accessory?” Meadow placed her hoof on the book, and spoke with the same calm voice. Even her heart rate failed to increase during Mineral’s slight outburst. “Well that’s what mi familia has taught me and I have no reason to question them.” The yellow mare simply scrunched her eyebrows together and lowered her head. “Let us just stop this conversation before it escalates. I’m too hungry to argue with you.” The mares lifted their trays with their magic and finally got through with the line and headed to their claimed table, passing Wild Soul who didn’t seem to have much food. Just a bowl of horseshoe fries, eggs, soda and an apple. Though Mineral’s attention was caught by a paper Soul had taken out from his folder, that was filled with different logo ideas. The mare stopped and took a few steps backwards. “So that’s what you’ve been working on. Looks good, sis!” The yellow unicorn stated with a bright voice. Soul immediately raised his head and turned to look at the mare behind him. “Oh, thanks,” he said with a smile, and turned to look at the paper again. Mineral dipped her head to the side and raised her eyebrow. “What’s it for? No, wait!” She quickly raised her hoof. “I want to guess.” “Or,” Soul stopped the mare before she got a chance to continue, and moved the paper so she could see it from a better angle. “You could just read the title,” he noted with a laugh. “Or I could do that too,” Mineral said and gave some slightly forced, laughter. Her eyes bulged as she read the name on some of the typographic logos. “Faztable?!” she squeaked and turned to look at Soul. “You are making a new logo for the Faztable!? Oh my gosh, their chocolate is the best in all of Equestria!” she chanted with a huge smile upon her face, giving the paper back to Soul. Soul put the paper back to his folder and nodded with a smile. “Gotta agree with that. Their white chocolate is my personal favorite.” Mineral nodded back at him. “It’s very good, but mine is chili.” The blank expression that formed on Soul’s face from the word “chili”, made it impossible for the mare to prevent a chuckle from escaping her lips, though she quickly continued with her speech, raising her hoof and pulling herself together. “But why are they willing to change their logo?” she asked and tilted her head scrunching her nose as she tried to think, “The one they have now is almost too iconic to change in the first place.” Soul leaned against his chair and let out a big, relaxed sigh. “Because I paid them pretty nicely.” The answer caused the yellow unicorns eyes to bulge. “What?!” Soul immediately raised his hoof and gave her a laugh. “Kidding. The reason I got this was that their chocolate is more popular in Manehattan than anywhere else in Equestria. They say that the logo they have right now is too Canterlot-ish, with all it’s curvy letters and such.” Soul showed the paper to Mineral again. “So my job is to make it appeal more to Manehattaners.” Mineral dipppd her head to side. “By making it bolder and reduce the curves? Very nice! If you get free chocolate samples, you have to let me get a taste too!” Meadow, who has just been standing idly by, interrupted the conversation, not giving Soul a chance to say anything. “You should trim up your waist first,” she noted and tapped Mineral’s hip and chuckled. The yellow unicorn immediately, turned to look at Meadow as those words entered her ears, her eyes widening as she leaned towards her friend. “But there’ll be nothing left of me anymore if I do that!” she noted with a high pitched, overdone voice, like a drama queen and then swiped her left leg across her body as if she were presenting it. “I couldn’t be more proud of this wholeness and the day when somepony changes my bodific image is the day Princess Celestia stops rising the sun,” she stated with her head raised, followed by a bright chuckle. “Admirable attitude. I respect that,” Soul noted with a nod, Mineral giving him a glance with a thankful smile. Though Soul turned to gaze at the brown mare with quite the disapproving look upon his face. He didn’t say anything, he just gazed at her. Meadow barely paid any attention to Soul, but she did notice the gaze, though when she turned to look at the stallion, she immediately turned her head away not able to meet his gaze. “Alright, sorry I even mentioned it,” Meadow laughed and rolled her eyes. Soul started to scratch his chin. “Sooooo… This is just my opinion…” he spoke with a very slow pace, putting his hooves together. “...but that food would probably be much easier and more comfortable to eat if you sit down.” Mineral immediately flinched and braced up. “Oh! Sorry, we won’t bother you anymore. Bring it all home with the logo,” she chanted with a smile and turned away from the stallion, and started walking away with her friend. Though before they managed to take even a couple steps, Soul stopped them. “No, I meant you could sit down here,” he quickly corrected himself as he pointed at the two seats next to him. “I’m supposed to have a meeting here with the Faztable salespony soon, and I could use two additional pairs of eyes to give their pre-judgements before the actual meeting.” He paused for a moment. “Or… if some group is waiting for you, then just fuggedaboutit.” The yellow unicorn along with Meadow stopped as if they hit a wall, turning to look at the stallion again. “Oh!” Mineral exclaimed and gave Meadow a glance, who clearly wasn’t willing to stay, but this only put a smirk on Mineral’s face. “Well; gotta help a comrade designer when he asks for it, naye?” she said with a chuckle and pulled the chair back next to Soul, she put her tray on the table and sat down. The brown mare sneered and peered at the table on the other side of the cafeteria. “Well, I want to sit next to a window,” she stated with a firm tone. “My latest masterpiece is up on the other side of the street.” Mineral looked at her friend and jokingly put on a serious face, having a brief moment of silence as she made strong eye contact with the mare. “And I’d like to keep my flank right here,” she stated and place her forelegs on the table and leaned against it, a grin raising upon her face. “Come now sis, just sit down. You can “admire” it later.” Soul quickly cleared his throat, drawing attention to himself. “We can of course, move over to the window if you want?” The yellow unicorn gave Soul a short glare. “No, she’s gonna sit down here,” the mare stated and turned back to look at Meadow, and then suddenly grabbed Meadow’s tray and put it next to hers. “Right?” she said with her eyebrow raised before giving a chuckle. “Alright, fine. Gosh...” A big groan escaped Meadow’s mouth as she sat down next to the grinning mare, and seeing Soul lightly shaking his head which caused her to frown further. Mineral gave the mare a bright chuckle and tapped her back. “See? That wasn’t so bad.” Meadow rolled her eyes without saying a word and swiped over the spot on her back where Mineral had tapped her. Mineral just shook her head and levitated her baguette, and unwrapped the plastic on it. “Besides, those seats wouldn’t have been any warmer since it’s raining, and the windows here are poor insulators, ” she noted with a chuckle, and then turned to look at Soul, who had already turned his attention elsewhere, and had spread a few papers on the table. “Oh! I didn’t introduce you two at all!” Mineral flinched and turned to look at the mare on her left, raising her hoof. “Soul, this is Meadow from the North Wing. Meadow, this is Wild Soul from the same wing as me, like I just told you.” Soul turned his attention to the brown unicorn, tilting his head. “From the wing for painters?” Meadow was just barely looking at Soul, she rubbed her hoof against her chest and then stretched it out, looking at her hoof’s shine with a smirk on her face, “One of the greatest ones there,” she announced and chuckled. Mineral rolled her eyes then turned looking toward her fellow mare. “You are so humble,” she noted with a sarcastic tone. “Also you could be polite and shake his hoof.” She looked at her friend while resting her head on her hoof. “I was about to do that; I am a proper lady after all,” The dark coated mare declared before raising her hoof in Soul’s direction, hoof facing down and wrist bent. Her head was tilted away and in her pleasant spanish accent she uttered, “I’m sure the pleasure is all yours.” The stallion could not help but feel a bit disgraced by those words but took a final look in Mineral’s direction where she wore a frown but shook her head, indicating that it was not worth making a scene over. Not that Soul was about to make one in the first place. Without further delay Soul took her hoof, turning it and shaking. “It is... nice to meet you, Meadow.” Meadow gave the stallion a slight nod. “It’s not too unbearable to meet you either,” she said with a chuckle and pulled her hoof back to herself, and then grabbed her own sandwich and unwrapped it from the plastic. Mineral cleared his throat and put her hooves together. “Alrighty, now that we’ve got this `pleasant´ introduction out of the way, why don’t you show us the designs you’ve got so far?” Soul gave her a nod. “Works for me.” He took the paper on the right and passed it over to the mares. “The ones I’ve chosen for final are these two.” The stallion pointed at two logos, one being blue, stretched hexagon with white Faztable text on it, and it had a chocolate trail under it. The other one was a bit simpler, golden Faztable text also with a chocolate trail under it as well. Mineral immediately leaned towards the paper and started to analyze the logos in her mind, a brief moment of silence landing upon them. Or not really a proper silence since the Cafeteria was full of folks and Mineral couldn’t stop tapping her hooves on the ground. Though Meadow just gave the paper a quick peak and then pulled his head back and continued eating her food, constantly glancing at the window. After a brief moment, Mineral started nodding and turned to look at Soul with a smile. “My, not bad at all sis! It seems like you kept the iconic color blue in most of these. Good choice, though I really love this golden one too! The colors are in better harmony in it.” A light but bright smile rose upon Soul’s lips, fixing his posture. “Thank you. I’m really proud of them, even though I say it myself.” The yellow mare nodded and took a small bite of her baguette before responding. “Definitely not your worst work in history.” The stallion shook his head lightly. “Nope. I’m still not quite sure which one I should recommend for him as my number one choice” Mineral leaned back against her chair and started tapping her chin. “Hmm… The blue one would be slightly better if you ask me. It has the iconic colors and it’s elegant but not curvy.” “Yes, I’ve kinda waved to the blue logo’s side too, Maybe that golden one seems a bit… silly for such a big company like Faztable.” Mineral put her hooves together and spoke with professional tone. “My thoughts exactly.” She turned to her mare friend. “Come on, aren’t you going to say anything?” “Huh?” Meadow immediately snapped back to reality again, turning her attention to Soul, and then quickly darted to look at the paper. Though she just gave a simple shrug and swiped her mane “It’s nice I guess.” A big sigh escaped Mineral’s mouth as her eyebrows dropped halfway. Soul lifted the paper he had. “So the blue logo it is?” Mineral turned her attention toward Soul once more and nodded, lifting her coffee cup and took a sip before answering. “The blue logo it is. But of course the final decision is made by the client.” “Of course.” Soul piled up the papers with his magic and put them aside, and then lifted his fork and grabbed a piece of the egg, dipping it to mayonnaise. Mineral also shifted her attention back to her food and the three ponies continued eating. Silence once again engulfed them and none of them spoke a word, though Mineral constantly tapping her hoof against the ground while her hind legs were crossed didn’t exactly indicate that she was comfortable with the silence. Her eyes constantly darted from side to side at the two ponies beside her. The mare was about to start biting her hoof, though before it reached her teeth, she lightly brought it down bumping it against the table. “Anything that anypony would wish to share?” Both of the ponies beside her just gave a simple shrug. Soul looked up at the clock above the door to the cafeteria, “Well, I should finish eating and be ready to present these designs to Faztable’s marketing director.” Beginning to take a final look over his work while quickly finishing his meal. Except for the apple. The mares looked at one another before Mineral spoke up, “Soul, what does this pony look like?” asking with a raised eyebrow looking out the glass doors past Soul, just outside the building at a tan furred stallion, in a suit with a blond mane parted in the middle, blue eyes and a small pair of glasses who was splitting his attention between his watch, some papers he had and the company sign. Soul thought for a moment trying to recall exactly how the stallion described himself. “He said he would be in a suit, would have his hair parted, he’s a unicorn… tan fur and glasses...” The stallion flinched and his heart started pounding slightly faster, “Why? Is he around here?” Soul asked sitting upright and looking left and right scanning the crowd for the associate. Meadow finished the last bite of her sandwich and once again cleaned her mouth by dabbing it with her napkin then placed it on her tray. “Oh! Could he be the muy guapo gentlecolt who just come inside?” The mare pulled a small makeup mirror out and quickly fluffed her hair and ensured nothing was in her teeth, obviously ready to make a good impression. A loud smack came from the other mare who face hoofed at the very sight of Meadow freshening up. “You have a very special somepony who bought you a very expensive diamond bracelet sis! You do not need to be freshening up for other stallions!” The unicorn’s tone had become very strict and shrill as she glared at mare but quickly turned to smile at the stallion that Soul was waving down, she only gave her friend a final jab in the ribs before scooting a few seats further so they wouldn’t cause any distractions for Soul’s unveiling. Mineral leaned towards Soul and whispered loud enough for him to hear. “We’ll be over here. You bring it all home.” Soul gave the mare a nod before he walked over to the stallion that was approaching him. “Mr. Wild Soul! It’s a pleasure to meet in person,” the brown coated stallion spoke up with an elegant tone like most of the Canterlot ponies have while offering his hoof to shake. “Likewise Mr. Golden Gavel,” Soul responded and shook hooves with the stallion.. “I have everything ready, so if you are ready to see the logos I’ve come up with, then please take a seat.” Soul pointed at the seat opposite of his. The tan stallion tilted his head slightly. “Getting right to business it seems. That’s good, I like that kind of attitude,” he stated and put his soaking wet umbrella onto the table, though far enough away so it doesn’t soil Soul’s work. “What a horrible weather out there I must say.” Both of the stallions got settled in their seats, Soul nodding to Golden Gavel’s statement. “Definitely not the best if you have to go outside a lot. Otherwise it’s kinda relaxing,” he said and looked out of the window further. “Anyway, let’s take a look at the logos, shall we?” The white unicorn turned his attention back at the thin paper pile he had. Gavel removed his glasses and blew on them, using his magic to polish them with his white cotton pocket square. “With pleasure. I’m thrilled to see what you’ve come up with, sir. I have high expectations of course,” he said putting his glasses back on his muzzle. “That’s why contacting our company was a smart move,” Soul stated with a smile, receiving a pleased nod from the customer. Though the smile Soul had wasn’t exactly a sincere one, just a forced and frozen business smile which is of course required to make a good impression with the customer. Soul slid the paper on top of the pile to Golden Gavel, rotating it to face the tan unicorn. Gavel pushed his glasses higher on his muzzle and took a good look at the logos. Soul used a pencil and pointed out the two logos that he showed to Mineral and Meadow earlier. “So, while this paper is full of logos, these two are the ones I have personally picked as my top two.” A slight but controlled smile appeared upon Golden Gavel’s face. “I see,” he said and started tapping his chin. “I like what I am seeing here. Would you mind telling a bit more about these logos that are your top two?” Soul cleared his throat before speaking up, “Absolutely.” He pulled his chair closer to the table and leaned in towards his document, first pointing at the blue one. “So in a nutshell, this one right here is more loyal to the Faztable brand with it’s iconic colors. But like you ordered, I made the design much simpler and clearer. Just like something you would see in Manehattan.“ Golden Gavel was simply nodding through Soul’s presentation, though his eyes were constantly glancing at the other, golden logo Soul had picked for his top two. After Soul had finished presenting the first logo, Golden Gavel raised his head looking at Soul and crossing his hooves one over the other. “Yes, yes. Very fascinating. It’s highly appreciated that you considered the classic colors,” the tan unicorn boasted with a rather indifferent pace, already glancing at the other logo without giving any further opinions on the first one. “Although, this second one really speaks to me. Mind telling me more about it?” Soul drew his neck back and slightly scrunched his eyebrows together. “Well, of course…” He leaned against the table again with a taken aback look on his face, since he was sure the customer would be more interested with his first choice. Acting quickly Soul explained everything he went through with Mineral and Meadow. How it’s a simple design, colors match better together and it seems more like a logo of a chocolate factory. The marketing director seemed to pay far more attention to this one. His eyes were concentrated and steady as they examined the logo. After Soul’s second quick presentation, the tan stallion spoke up, “Yes, you’ve done a very good job with both of these Mr. Soul.” “Thank you. I assume you have decided your favorite already?” “Indeed, I do. But if you don’t mind, I would like to have a moment to think. I must be absolutely certain of my choice” Golden Gavel crossed his forehooves before raising one to begin rubbing his chin. “Of course, take your time. Though if you want my opinion, I would suggest---” Before Soul even had a chance to finish, he was cut off mid-sentence by a loud crack of thunder erupting from outside, and that was followed by a loud squeak and thud not too far from him, causing his and Gavel’s hearts to jump to their throats. Soul and many others immediately turned their attention to where the sound came from, seeing Mineral who had fallen from her chair and was gasping heavily for air, holding her chest. Meadow though, was nowhere to be seen anymore. Soul instantly sat up from his place and turned to look Gavel who had blank look upon his face. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back,” he said with a quick pace and immediately galloped over to the yellow unicorn, who was practically shaking while being unable to get up. Soul who trotted over to her, squatted down with a worried look upon his face . “Hey Mineral, what’s wrong?” The yellow mare’s coughing had gone even worse. She was barely even able to speak anymore. “A-Asthma attack. I-- need my inhaler-- from my bag-- or I’m gonna choke!” She pointed at her bag she had lying down on the other chair, her eyes practically shedding tears. Soul nodded, he immediately lifted the bag with his magic and brought it over to Mineral, he started digging up the inhalator, though his vision was getting slightly blurry from the adrenaline since the situation was very acute. He quickly managed to find the inhalator and immediately placed it in her mouth, and pressed the button on it. A soft whoosh could be heard from the inhalator as it released the medicine. It started to take effect quickly. Mineral’s blurry vision started to become clear again, her gasping and coughing calmed down and the wheezy breathing was becoming normal again. Soul put the inhalator back into the bag before he helped his friend up, whom’s breathing had become steady again. She took a deep breath before turning her attention back to the white unicorn with a light smile. “Thank you Soul… This was an unusually harsh attack…” she groaned and sat down on her chair. “Mineral!” A shout could be heard in the distance and soon they saw Meadow trotting from the bathroom over to them, placing both of her hooves on Mineral’s shoulders. “Oh my gosh Mineral, are you alright?” Mineral drew her neck back, and gave her friend a nod. “Yeah… Just an unusually bad attack…” Meadow let out a sigh and sat down on her chair, clearing her throat as she returned to her typical attitued. “Well, that’s a relief. Not that I was worried or anything.” Mineral took a deep breath and shook her head with a small grin upon her lips. “Of course you weren’t…” Soul placed Mineral’s bag back onto the chair he took it from, he tilted his head while raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you have asthma.” Mineral grabbed her coffee with her magic and took a sip. “Well, sis... It’s not like we’ve ever talked about it or that you’ve seen me taking my medicine.” Soul gave the mare a nod. “Ah, true.” His attention though, was caught by the ponies around them who had their attention locked on the three. “Well, we’re being watched...” Mineral peeked over her shoulder at the ponies, and a light but forced chuckle escaped her mouth. “I just had an attack. No wonder, I might get a few looks.” Her attention was drawn away from the ponies by the dark sky and rain hitting the window. A cold shiver ran through her body and she took a big, bothered gulp, and then stood up, picking up her tray. “W-Well, I think I could use a little laying down time. I’ll head back to my office.” Meadow lifted her tray and stood up as well. “I suppose I need to take you there. ” A grin, even though it was a forced grin, rose upon Mineral’s face. “Thank you, but I’ll be fine.” Meadow shook her head, letting out a sigh and lightly nudged her flank against Mineral’s. “Sure you will. Come now.” She started walking towards the tray cart, holding her head high. Mineral gave a slight smile and followed Meadow’s example, though she gave the stallion a quick look. “And Soul, get back to your client.” Soul nodded as he turned around. “Of course. Try to manage now.” Mineral gave the stallion a nod with a smile, and started walking away rather quickly. Soul finally returned to Golden Gavel who was watching the clock on the Cafeteria wall rather impatiently, though he quickly snapped back to reality as he heard the sound of a chair dragging on the ground. Soul sat on the chair and dragged himself closer to the table, letting out a sigh. “Really sorry about that.” The tan unicorn let out a chuckle and raised his hoof. “It’s quite alright. You can’t leave a lady in trouble, right?” A forced grin rose upon Soul’s face as he scratched his neck. “Definitely not.” He quickly cleared his throat and turned his attention toward the logo paper. “So, have you made up your mind?” Golden Gavel gave Soul a nod and leaned against the table, putting his hooves together. “Indeed, I have.” He lowered his gaze, focusing on the paper and pointed at the golden logo. “This one is the one I’ve decided upon. It might not have the iconic colors but it’s fresh, gold represents being number one and the logo clearly shows the company is a pure chocolate company.” Soul was digging through his coat pocket and pulled out a package of lemon pastilles, he then raised his gaze back to the client. “Well, the customer is always right.” He leaned back in his chair and placed a pastille into his mouth then raising his eyebrow. “So is there anything you wish to change?” The tan unicorn simply shook his head in response. “Well then, the only thing that’s left to do is give you the rights and the bill.” Soul started browsing the thin pile of papers next to him and took the one on the bottom, handing it over to the client. “So all I need is your hoofwriting and name in block letters down there.” Golden Gavel was already digging for a pen in his pocket, but he still read the whole contract before writing his name under it. Finally, the contract was signed and the deal was final. Soul used his magic taking the paper for himself again and signed it too. He then took a closer look at the corner of the papers, and split it into two copies.The other one was the original and the bottom one had everything copied through onto it. Soul handed over the copy to his client, and then dug up a bill from the pile, handing it over too. “Here you go Mr. Gavel. Faztable now has the right to use this logo and have full rights after the payment is complete. The full prints will be sent to your company as soon as possible.” Golden Gavel stood up from his seat. “Fantastic! I shall go and inform our manager immediately.” He folded the papers and put them into his coat pocket, he then offered his hoof for an official shake. “It’s been a pleasure to do business with you.” Soul followed his example and stretched out his hoof, shaking it with his client. “Likewise Mr. Gavel. I wish all the best for your company.” “One quick thing before I go.” The unicorn turned to look at his bag he had on his back, digging up a collection container. “I was wondering if you would be interested in donating a few bits for charity. It’s going to the Children’s Hospital in North Manehattan which desperately needs to be expanded.” Soul slightly tilted his head. “A Children’s Hospital? Well…” He started to dig through his pockets. “I happen to have five bits with me.” He showed the bits to Golden Gavel and dropped them into the container. “Hopefully the hospital will be alright.” A wide smile rose upon Golden Gavel’s face. “Thank you so much, sir! Every bit counts.” The unicorn put the container back into his bag and turned around. “I shall take my leave now. Have a pleasant day now.” “You too.” Soul simply gave him a nod and wave, he wiped his forehead as the tan stallion walked towards the exit. Soul gathered the papers and put them into his folder and put it on his tray, lifting it with his magic and heading towards the dish cart. As he put the tray in it, he took his folder and headed towards a staircase, though before he proceeded further he stopped at the window and for a moment, just staring and listened to the raindrops hitting the window. The sound and the rain made his muscles relax and brought a small smile to his face. Soul’s attention was soon drawn to a tall, white building a few blocks away, which made his smile fade. On top of it, it had a big sign presenting its name; Hotel Liakada of Canterlot. Author's Note Mineral calling even stallions "sis" is not a mistake, it's intensional characterstic in her :) 9. Bonjour, Mon Ami! Part 1Sitting on a chair in his kitchen, Noble just stared blankly at a paper he had in front of him, “Lease termination”. The earth pony was shaking in his seat and rubbed his temples, keeping his sight locked on the title. “So this is what it’s come to after all…” he thought to himself as the title carved it’s way deeper into the canvas of his mind. In the end, the job search never produced any fruit and Liakada ended up being Noble’s last work place in Canterlot. He was constantly cursing Double Bit in his mind and why the old manager had left. Without Bit, he would most likely still have his job and nothing would be different. But the facts were facts, he was jobless and he wasn’t going to get another one. Noble finally got his eyes off the paper, turning it upside down and walked over to his bed where he had his safe, giving a deep sigh while rubbing his face. His eyes darted to the safe and he just stared at it for a long moment. The stallion’s chest was heavy and he brought a hoof to it, he hung his head as he thought to himself, “Well Horseshoe Bay, I guess you are the town I’m destined to be in after all…” The time drew near; the pale stallion sat on a soft chair in Ink’s office. He constantly checked the clock on Ink’s wall while sipping his coffee. Every tick echoed with his very heartbeat, as he placed a hoof to his neck to listen to it’s rhythm. “Nervous I assume?” Ink spoke as he clapped his hooves together a couple times, before he lifted his glasses and repositioned them upon his face with a magic glow. Soul gave a small forced laugh and gave Ink a quick look, releasing his neck but maintaining his focus. “Naw, time is just going slow.” The orange stallion put his hooves together and laid his chin on them. “Whatever you say, but an acute amount of tension is natural. We’re about to set your place of study in stone. And didn’t you say she sounded quite positive? That’s anything but a bad sign.” Giving a nod and taking another sip of coffee before placing it on the edge of Ink’s desk, Soul took a deep breath and exhaled. “When interviewing you must always be positive, right?” At that moment, the sound of buzzer they had both waited for finally came. It caused Soul to flinch and for Ink to fix his posture. Ink cleared his throat and gave Soul a final intense look. “I’m afraid we don’t have time to discuss if that is true or not. Now Soul if I were you, I would burry every doubt I have in my mind. That is if you have any.” Soul nodded and relaxed, his body before he took in a deep breath tensing his body as he closed his eyes, then exhaling slowly as his eyes opened while his body relaxed again. “Done and done.” Ink rested back in his seat and supported a smile as he nodded, turning to look at the speaker as he pressed the button. “Ink’s office, Ink at your service.” A cheery, elegant voice greeted the stallions through the speaker, “Pleasant day Ink, it’s Rarity. Could you please be so kind as to allow me in?” Ink’s lips parted into a smile before giving his response, “Just a minute.” As he was about to contact Flare, he instead turned to look at Soul, he put his hooves together on the table and opened the door with his magic. “Actually, you could go down there and welcome here and lead her here yourself. It will give her a more polite impression that way. She’s also a valuable associate that I would like to keep happy.” Ink said the last phrase under his breath, as not to sound rude. For a moment Soul’s ears stood up, his eyes became full and his body sat up straighter. Although he was taken aback he almost instantly snapped out of it as he pushed off and stood up on all fours while he gave a nod. “Oh yes, very true. I’m on it.” “Excellent.” As Ink closed the door behind Soul, he contacted the front desk once more. “Flare, open the front door please and let the mare behind it in. Soul will come to get her.” Soul tried to make his way to the lounge as quickly as he could while simply walking. His heart had started beating slightlyfaster than it did just a minute ago and a cold sweat had begun to gloss over his forehead. He tried to convince himself that this would be just another client meeting and he should treat it as such, even if in reality it would be a meeting that could lead him down a new path and fulfil his dreams. It helped him to calm down a bit though. As he finally arrived at the lounge, he didn’t spot Rarity immediately but after a bit of searching he just barely spotted the lavender maned pony behind two other mares she seemed to be talking to, both of them wearing overly big hats. As Soul lifted a hoof, about to approach them, Rarity spotted the pale stallion between the mares and immediately pointed at him with a hoof and waved. She closed her eyes giving a pleasant smile as she seemed to conclude the conversation. The mares gave Rarity room to go between them as she now had her eyes locked on Soul as the smile on her face grew wider. Soul naturally put on a smile too as he brought his hoof down and started to approach Rarity. A small lump had formed to his throat but the tension had not grown unbearable or uncomfortable. He covered his mouth with a clenched hoof as he cleared his throat. Extending his hoof and relaxing his wrist he was about to speak up. but before he got a chance Rarity had already preceded in making her introduction. “Oh, Wild Soul! It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you in person mon ami,” Rarity chanted as she quickly extended her own hoof and shook hooves with Soul. For a short moment Soul’s mind was blank as the first introduction was snached from him but he quickly shook it off and put the smile back on again, nodding. “Hello Rarity, it’s a pleasure to me too.” Pulling his hoof back, the stallion let his foreleg glide through the air presenting the room to the artisan. “Welcome to Canterlot Spectrum. Do you want coffee before we head to Ink’s office?” Rarity raised her leg to her chest while she was looking up and to the side before she spoke up. “Why, I haven’t had time to have any today, so I suppose one cup of latte would feel pleasant.” After he nodded, Soul gave the mare a smile as he was about to lead her off. “Great, there’s one cafe kiosk just around corner. Let’s not keep Ink waiting.” Rarity immediately reached toward Soul stopping him, which left him with a blank look on his face. Clearing her throat, Rarity spoke up, “Hold on, one quick thing before we go.” She slowly started walking circles around Soul, scanning over him, looking up and down. “Dark brown mane, white coat… no wait..." She squinted her eyes. "A very light brown coat, red jacket…” Soul would not allow himself to move his body and simply scrunched his eyebrows together and watched as the mare circled around him. He finally cracked, reached up and rubbed his neck. “Uh… What might this be about?” Rarity made a final round until she stopped in front of Soul, letting out a short chuckle as she put a hoof on her chest and lifted her head, her eyes closed. “Oh pardon me, I just wanted to take a quick closer look at your style.” Opening her eyes, she pointed at Soul’s jacket. ”Which is very warm if I may say. I can see you like red.” Soul blinked but a smile quickly crawled back to his face as he relaxed, leaning his weight on his other leg as he glanced down at his jacket himself. “Well, thank you. Red is my favorite color so I guess I naturally prefer warm colors in general too.” Rarity nodded and spread her lips into a smile while her eyes were still closed. “Indeed, it matches well with your natural colors and red is a splendid color to like. A color of sincerity and passion.” “And energy,” Soul added raising a hoof and leaning his head inward as he spoke. “Oh yes, that too.” The artisan opened her eyes then began to turn her body as she had a hoof in the air and paused to speak mid stride. “Anyway, let’s hurry to get that latte and then to Ink. I can’t even remember the last time I saw him. Lead the way, if you may.” After agreeing, Soul led Rarity to the kiosk and after picking up their coffees, they started heading to headed to Ink’s office. On their walk Rarity told Soul more about her past deals with Ink and how through their business relationship, she has sold more of her designs and how Spectrum has been part of helping her reputation thrive to what it is today. She asked Soul about his time working there and how his experiences have been, being delighted to hear that it is still a heartfelt company. As they arrived at Ink’s office, they were surprised to see Ink was not there. Though they figured something might have just come up that he had to deal with, which lead them to occupy the couch in Ink’s office. Rarity peeked over at Soul as if she was still trying to analyze something. Her eyes especially darted between Soul’s mane and his clothing. “Pardon me if I’m wrong, but you weren’t raised in Canterlot, were you?” she inquired with her head tilted and eyebrow raised. The stallion, whom had been watching the door, calmly awaiting his AD’s return turned toward the mare after his ears twitched when she spoke. “Huh? You can tell?” Rarity nodded and smiled holding her snout up. “I can. It’s the way you dress, it stands out from other Canterlot citizens. Almost wherever you go you see more high-class suits or manes combed and parted or some other smooth coiffure, but you…” Her eyes returned to gaze at the stallion, her eyebrow raised and mouth formed a grin. “You are the type of pony I would imagine seeing in any big city other than Canterlot.” “That’s quite impressive, you sure know your stuff,” the stallion replied as he pushed back in his seat and crossed his forelegs, his eyes wider now and focused on where the mare’s eyes were looking now. “But yes, I’m not born and raised in Canterlot, I’ve lived here only a couple years. My roots on the other hoof belong to the big apple Manehattan.” Upon hearing the last word of the stallions statement, Rarity turned to look at Soul with wide open eyes. “Did you just say Manehattan?” The gentle smile on her face instantly crawled all the way up to hear ears as she put a hoof on her cheek, leaning closer to the stallion with her eyes downright glimmering. “Oh my goodness you are from one of the most fabulous cities in all of Equestria! I absolutely love that place! Oh I can’t believe I’m getting an apprentice who is both Canterlotian and Manehattanian.” She let out a high pitched chuckle, shaking her forehooves. Soul looked at the mare with a rather amused face, giving a tiny half smile while his eyes glistened as he watched her but he couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward since a highly spohisticated pony he doesn’t even know got such a boost of excitement out of the blue. Rarity seemed like she was drifting away with her thoughts but when her eyes focused on Soul, she immediately fell back to Equestria. She fixed her posture and clearing her throat, she straightened up giving a professional smile as her head rose. “Now that is if no problems arise that prevent me from taking you on since nothing’s been set in stone yet.” “You will be giving your final judgement soon enough.” As they sat in silence, Soul checked the clock in Ink’s office again. Soul took the last sip of his coffee and threw the mug into trash before rocking in his seat. “I wonder what's taking Ink so long though...” Rarity nodded then took another sip of her latte, levitating it and setting it on a small table next to the couch. “Ah, I’m not worried, I remember that Ink is a busy stallion and this is the only plan I had actually scheduled for today.” In a rush the door to the office was opened and Ink galloped in, panting and he reached up to dab the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief he keeps in his right pocket “Pardon me for your wait! I had to run off to fix an issue I thought would only take a few seconds but it seems I couldn’t beat you back.” The stallion ran over to his desk and laid some papers on it, panting like he could’ve just run a marathon. Rarity shook her head and lifted a hoof. “It seems like you’re still the same busy stallion I remember.” She got up and met Ink at his desk, offering her hoof facing down. “It’s been such a long time, it’s a delight to see you.” As Ink took her hoof, placing one of his hooves under hers and one on top. “Ah, Rarity. It is such a pleasure to have you here again.” The mare closed her eyes and smiled, bowing her head and taking her hoof back to curtsy before the director. “The pleasure is all mine, it is wonderful to be back in Canterlot again and I must say that I really appreciate your recommendation of having Soul contact me.” The art director lowered his hooves and bowed along with the mare. “How could I not recommend one of the most recognized artisans of all time?” As both the stallion and mare rose they chuckled and shared a hug. Once they released one another, Ink pointed to the pillow seats in front of his table.. “Ah, I’m sorry to drag this out like this, please take a seat, both of you. I’m sure Soul would rather not wait.” The two nodded as they got onto their pillow seats, Rarity set her light blue saddlebag down. “I already got my most important errands done so I am not in a hurry. I need to focus on this after all.” Ink pushed his glasses higher and grabbed his envelope, giving Rarity a smile. “That you do.” He took the first paper he had and cleared his throat. “So, the first thing we have to look at are the terms of this co-operation and education. Soul of course explained in his mail the most important details but there are a few things I want to point out and make sure you agree.” Rarity gave the stallion a deep nod and crossed her fore legs, covering them in proper lady like fashion. “Yes, a co-operation deal isn’t that right?” “Exactly.” Ink put his hooves together and lifted his head slightly. “So as you educate Soul to be an artisan, Canterlot Spectrum will naturally pay his education expenses but on top of that, offers to advertise your business and do co-operation by offering our talent to something robust, like events if you are in need.” Soul beamed with a grin. “Not many companies offer things like this.” Rarity shook her head with a grin. “Certainly not! It’s a quite impressive looking deal, but getting an apprentice is what really caught my attention in the first place,” she said with a chuckle and then cleared her throat as she turned to look back at Ink. “So what are the things you wanted to point out?” The papers glowed with Ink’s magic as he lifted them and placed a few of the papers out on his desk. “Well, the advertising would only last during the time you teach Soul. And the other thing is that we want to convince and ensure you that Spectrum won’t be a threat to your business.” Ink opened a drawer and produced a pen he used to highlight sections that he just mentioned. “We are willing to offer co-operation even after the education process by doing collaboration projects, for example our future artisans helping you execute your designs or vise versa.” Rarity instantly rose her head and leg as a confident chuckle escaped her mouth, her eyes closed. “Now Ink, I wouldn’t have considered this if I thought your company would be a threat. No offense of course.” She brought her hoof to her chest and opened her eyes halfway. “My boutique may not be the largest one but I have some highly recognized customers nowadays, and that means if some other company tried to take me out of the picture, they wouldn’t have much of an impact on me.” Soul leaned backwards slightly and gave Rarity a smile. “I’ve taken a look at your work, I was surprised, not to mention impressed by how many important ponies you’ve made clothes for.” “Under my teachings I’m sure someday you will experience the same honor.” She fluffed her hair, leaning back in her seat and flipped her hoof as she bat her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you have worked on logos and such for big clients yourself too.” Soul rubbed the back of his head with a tiny smile. “You could say that” While she turned the mare crossed her hind legs and placed her hooves on the table, looking toward Ink again. “Anyway Ink, I’m not worried about my career and will educate Soul without hesitation.” With an open tooth grin, Ink clapped his hooves. “That’s good to hear! I expect nothing less from a pony like you.” The director pulled his chair closer to the desk, tapping the papers with his hoof. “Now, there are still some minor details I’m willing to go through” Ink dug through his papers and for the next half hour they went through almost every detail and protocol for each possibility, like that Soul continues working for Spectrum as a teleworker, and also possibilities, complicated as they may be, for example if Soul wants to stop his studies or if something would happen to Canterlot Spectrum. Luckily nothing came up that made Rarity second guess her decision or worried her about this arrangement. As it was nearing three pm, Ink drew the last paper from his folder and put the others back in it. Spinning the folder around and slid it over to Rarity so she could read them if she so desired. Ink leaned back, rocking in his desk chair. “Now, I’ve already printed the contract for you ready to sign, but there’s one last thing we need to sort out.” He turned his chair and stretched his legs while he rocked. “And that is Soul’s living arrangement.” Soul started to rub his neck and scrunched his eyebrows together. “Oh that’s right. That’s something I’ve really been struggling with…” “You mentioned something about how you haven’t made a decision on that, isn’t that correct?” Rarity tapped her hooves together and extended her eyebrows. “Why is that?” Ink asked his eyebrow raised as he tapped his chin. Even though there really are many things to consider, one of the main issues was still Noble but Soul wouldn’t dare say that. He crossed his hooves and began to speak, “You see, I didn’t want to make any decision before I heard a bit of your thoughts too if I should move to Ponyville or stay in Canterlot. There are quite a lot of things I should consider.” The mare nodded as she kept her body posture open as she listened to the pale stallion’s plan. “You have a point. Please continue.” “Well first, if I stayed in Canterlot it would be an easier choice since I wouldn’t have to move, but the price of a train ticket back and forth is just ridiculous. And considering I would have to pay for it for a year and a half, I would be out of money in no time.” Soul turned to look at Ink and laid his hooves on the table. “So, I wondered if Canterlot Spectrum would be the one who pays for my trips back and forth too?” Ink suddenly went surprisingly silent as he nervously started tapping his hoof against the table, closing his eyes and frowning. Rarity was about to ask about what’s wrong but Ink opened his mouth to speak before she got the chance, “That’s… unfortunately not possible. All travel and living expenses are your own responsibility, didn’t you read that on the application?” Soul’s eyes grew wide. “What? I… No, I must’ve missed that part somehow..." His voice became high pitched and frantic. He sighed with his eyes closed while sitting up straight and opened them slowly, staring into Soul’s very core. “Well I’m sorry kid but if you don’t have a way to expense your tickets, then I’m afraid that your only option is to move to Ponyville.” Soul started to rub his neck as the last hope of staying in Canterlot faded away. The stallion tried to keep the smile on his face but found doing so a struggle. “Dang… that’s too bad…” A bright smile grew to Rarity’s face as she leaned towards the stallion her leg raised. “Don’t worry Soul, Ponyville is a lovely place to live and I’m sure you will eventually adapt there!” She turned and leaned toward the glum steed, extending a hoof. As the hoof touched the glum stallion’s shoulder he shivered and slightly jumped, leaning away from the mare. He felt how a lumb started growing in his throat when he realized how rude that must've seemed like. When he shivered at her touching his shoulder, Rarity frowned but tried helping with her words. “Besides, it’s nothing permanent, you will only be there for a year and a half. You can come back to Canterlot eventually and nothing prevents you from visiting this divine city.” “She’s got a point,” Ink chimed in with his forelegs crossed. “I’m sure your friends here in Canterlot could understand you wanting to expand your horizon and while you are away you can see the piece and wonders that a quaint little town has to offer.” Soul’s ears flopped down and he scowled, as his voice grew louder. “Well, it’s like I have done research on Ponyville and it seems like a fine place, but---” “Perfect!” Rarity exclaimed without letting Soul finish and ignited her horn, opening her saddleback and digging out a thin pile of papers. She placed the pile on the desk right in front of Soul. “Now, I have gathered all kind of different ads of available apartments in Ponyville. Just in case and you must be thrilled that I did?” She raised her eyebrow and chuckled. Soul tried to interrupt Rarity a few times but it was no use, the mare was too thrilled with her own speech. Seeing the pile Soul’s eyes widened again. “She sure seemed to want an apprentice,” Soul thought and scratched his chin as he lifted the pile and started browsing through it. “You… wow you sure haven’t wasted any time with this...” Rarity raised her head and smiled, batting her eyes. “I tried to take everything I could possibly think of into account.” A smile began to emerge on Soul’s face as he was was scratching his cheek. “Impressive.... Though what if I haven’t managed to get an apartment when I start my studies?” Rarity’s smile grew even wider, it was like she was hoping for that question to come. “Oh I can promise that there will be an apartment waiting for you by then.” She put a hoof on her chest. ”I happen to have a contact who has asked me to find a pony to do a ‘little’ branding job for her. Instead of paying in bits, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if I suggested an alternative of granting you an apartment that’s rent is equivalent to the price she would pay. The white stallion’s eye grew wider as he put the papers down, turning to look at Rarity and raised his hoof. “Wait, just in case let me get this straight… You know a pony I could do a job for, and in return I get an apartment I don’t have to pay rent for…?” Rarity nodded and pulled a paper up from the stack, pushing it toward the stallions. “For a couple months at most, but still. Just do the job for the pony and you will get an apartment. Oh and the pony you would perform this job for is the mayor herself,” her voice chimed and caused the stallions to both grin. “The mayor?” Soul repeated as his eyes widened, putting a hoof onto his head. “You sure weren’t kidding when you said you have big contacts.” The mare flipped her mane and put on a pleasant grin. “Never underestimate a true ladie’s skills. All I have to do is pay the mayor a little visit, tell her about you, your situation and your qualification and the apartment is guaranteed.” “If that’s the case these is nothing to worry about.” Soul’s tone was beginning to brighten and he leaned in listening and looking over all the apartments and the note that explained more about the mayor’s needs for the branding job. Tapping his desk to get the ponies attention Ink sat his forelegs on the table and bent them, resting his head on them while he spoke. “That is actually an excellent and smart deal. I remeber Mineral doing a similar thing when she was off planning a long event in Baltimare.” Perking up to his normal self the pale stallion clenched his hoof and bent it at the wrist. “Oh, I see. Well if it worked for her I don’t see a reason why it would fail for me.” “Soo…” Ink spoke up as he lifted the original contract. “Are we ready to bring this meeting to an end?” The artisan leaned forward taking a pen with her magic leaning in ready to sign. “With a pleasure, right Soul?” Soul glared her eyes while a smile was on his face and he nodded. “Absolutely.” “Excellent, all I need is your signatures and... “ he paused, lifting his head and tapping his hooves together. “Oh wait, the starting day of Soul’s studies.” Placing the pen down the mare spoke up, tilting to look at Soul. “Would it be acceptable to you to start in three weeks?” “Three weeks? I….” He scrunched his mouth and looked down at the floor thinking. “I don’t see why not... Can you arrange things that quickly because I thought I would take at least a month?” She gave a nod with her eyes closed and a smile on her face. “I could arrange this in a week, but you need time to settle things here in Canterlot.” Soul nodded in return and sparked his horn lifting the pen slowly. “If you say so, then it’s settled, Three weeks it is.” The thoughts of Noble and Mineral were still in the back of his mind, but the adrenaline in his veins and the thought that confirming this only depends on his signature slightly blurred those thoughts momentarily. That said, Rarity levitated the pen again, following it with her signature. She put the pen down in a cup on the desk and slid the paper to Soul. The white unicorn was still waiting with his pen, still having a lump in his throat but without minding that he quickly wrote his signature. It was settled, it was finally settled and set in stone. Soul was now officially Rarity’s apprentice. Even though Soul typically didn’t show any sign of excitement, his heart was pounding fast and he felt the enthusiasm pouring inside him. Ink drew the contract back to himself and stamped it, which was the final confirmation. The orange stallion drummed his hoofs against the desk and put them together, giving both ponies a big smile. “Congratulations, you two have a deal now!” “Magnifique!” Rarity exclaimed as she sat up straight with a big smile, looking at the stallion next to her. “I promise to educate you and make you one of the finest artisans, Soul.” “I’m really looking forward to that. This means a great deal to me.” The smile on the stallion's face said it all. His eyes were closed and he slowly exhaled putting his worries aside and returning to the situation at hand before he spoke again. “As it’s probably clear at this point already.” Ink stood up from his seat and headed to his door. “I still need to make a copy of this for you two. After that you are free to go.” Soul and Rarity stood up too, Rarity picking up her saddlebag and they exited the room. Ink told them to wait near his room until he brought back the copies. As he went, Rarity sat down on a bench near the door and let out a small pleased sigh. “Thank you very much for the meeting, Soul. I’m simply thrilled that I get to share my knowledge with somepony who has the determination to take it in.” A wide smile had spread upon Soul’s face and he gave Rarity a nod. “Thank you, Rarity. I’m honored to be the one who you are willing to share your skills with.” The stallion turned his eyes and tilted his head up. “Can you excuse me for a bit? I’ll quickly go get my stuff from my room and come back to get the contract. You then get to go back doing your errands.” She moved quickly, reaching for the steed’s foreleg. “Hold on just a moment, I didn’t plan for our ways to part this soon.” Soul stopped and turned to look at the mare with eyebrows raised, pulling his foreleg slowly away so he wouldn’t seem too rude. “What do you mean?” She dropped her hoof and stepped toward Soul. “Well I am willing to get to know my apprentice better. I was about to ask if you aren’t busy, to come with me to run my errands. You would see what kind of stores I get some of my materials from and I can introduce you to my current project a bit.” “Oh, you mean like… creating a base for this education?” His ears perked up and he turned his body back towards her. “Something like that, yes.” “Well…” Soul tapped his chin for a moment but eventually a smile formed on his face and he nodded. “I suppose getting to know my tutor is anything but a bad thing.” “Oh far from it.” The mare fluffed her hair and turned her head showing her good side before the stallion spoke again Soul started walking away again. “I’ll just grab my stuff and come back to take the copy. It won’t take long.” As Soul left, it didn’t take long before Ink came back from a printing room with two copies. Rarity stood up from her seat and walked over to the stallion with her eyebrow raised.. “We should definitely meet up before I leave Canterlot today. I’m eager to know how are you nowadays.” “Good idea! I’m free after 4pm so message me when you can.” Ink spun his head around noticing Soul was gone. “Where did the kid run off?” “Oh he went to pack his things in his office. I can give his copy to him,” Rarity replied and took both of the papers, surrounding them in blue light, sliding them into her saddleback. After she did, she looked behind her and then leaned towards Ink, clearing her throat and whispering, “Though now that he’s not here, I have to ask; Is he always that… reserved?” A blank look flushed over Ink’s face, though he quickly gave Rarity a nod as he walked to his door, opening it. “That’s the Soul I see everyday, no differences. He doesn’t usually get more energetic than that, well at least not around me. “ “I understand…” Her tone was dreary and her shoulder drooped a bit. “No worries though, that stallion literally gets along with everypony.” He pulled out a pocket watch and checked the time. “Anyway, I really have to work on a few things now but I’ll message you at some point.” “Yes, I certainly will. Au revoir, mon ami,” Rarity chanted raising her head and twirled her hoof as she gave a curtsey. Ink followed the example and smiled at the mare and bowed then rose, closing his door behind him. As he did, Rarity sat back down on the bench and started lightly rubbing her chin, lowering her eyes and few times looking at the direction Soul headed, just thinking of his behavior. She didn’t have too much time to think about it when the white stallion came around the corner, now with a black and white saddleback. Rarity brushed her hair with her hoof quickly before standing up and walking over to him, digging up the contract Ink just gave her. “Ink just happened to get back and returned to his work I’m afraid, so...” She presented the paper and smiled, sliding it into Soul’s bag. “Here you are.” “Oh.” Soul blinked at Rarity and he then peered at the paper. He quickly shrugged and grabbed the paper, nodding. “Alrighty then. Thank you.” The stallion fixed his saddleback to draw Rarity’s attention to it. “Well, I’m all set. Can’t wait to see what you have in mind.” The corners of Rarity’s lips crawled upwards as she was already taking steps towards the stairs. “I have a feeling this will be very rewarding for both of us.” Soul held the door to the stairwell for Rarity and allowed her to take the lead, following behind her. His hooves were heavy as he looked out the windows following down the stairs wondering when he could tell Noble that he will be gone in just three short weeks. Author's Note Phew! We had more issues than normally with this chapter, but in the end i'm quite satisfacted how it turned out The reason we call this "part 1" is because of the scene with Noble at the beginning, which will have "redemption" in the part 2. 12. Welcome To Ponyville“Mommy, mommy look! There’s Ponyville!” a young filly yelled who was practically glued to the window of a train cart. The yell snapped Wild Soul out of his thoughts and his ears perked up. When he focused on the sight in the distance, he saw a town full of humble but stylish buildings. A smile rose upon his face and he turned to look at Noble sleeping next to him. “Hey, Noble.” he said and gently shook his friend awake. “We’ll be there soon.” “Huh, wha…?” Noble let out a big yawn and rubbed his eyes, then stretched his forelegs. “Already? How long was I asleep?” Soul turned his attention back at the town in the horizon. “Felt like forever. My stomach was twisting in knots like a coil of rope....” Noble yawned once more and sat up straight on his seat, and looked out of the window. “So that’s Ponyville?” His eyes widened as he got grew more alert and got a better view of it and a smile rose upon his face. “Wow, it looks great!” The unicorn inched to the side to allow Noble to look out the window. “It’s a bigger place than I expected.” He turned to look at Noble who was rubbing an eye again. “Still tired, by the way? You didn’t sleep that long.” One more yawn escaped Noble’s mouth and he fell back on his seat. “Yes, still tired. I’ve been so excited for this trip that I couldn’t sleep last night. All I thought about was how I could finally leave Canterlot behind, even if I will miss some of the memories.” Soul let out a little laugh and leaned against the window frame. “Well, luckily we get off this train soon and you can go and take a nap or something.” Noble laughed too and looked at the Ponyville again.“That is a possibility. You will probably meet with Rarity right away, right?” “Yes, she said she’ll be waiting for me at the train station, and from there she will take me to and introduce me to her Boutique.” The unicorn nodded smiling as he looked out the window, enjoying the approaching town’s look. Noble’s eyes bulged and he spoke up with an overly corny tone. “Wait, what about me? Are you just going to leave me somewhere sleeping on a bench?!” Soul lowered his eyelids halfway down his eyes putting on a serious, sophisticated face and placed a hoof on his chest. “Yep, that’s exactly right. I will come to get you at some point when I can.” A laugh escaped Soul’s mouth and he swiped his hoof forward. “Just kidding, I suppose Rarity doesn’t have anything against it if you come with us.” Noble let out a little laugh himself. “Thank you, but I think it would be better if I begin searching for a job as soon as possible, most likely as soon as we get there.” “Whatever you see fit. Do---” Soul was cut off mid sentence by an announcement stating that the train would arrive in Ponyville shortly. All the passengers began taking their luggage off the racks. Soul and Noble did so too, though all they had for now was saddlebags. After taking them down, they walked over to the train car door before Soul spoke again, “Anyway, do you have something in your mind already?” There was a brief moment of silence before Noble spoke again, “No… I figured I would just go around and ask for a job. That’s how I got one in Canterlot.” A bell started to ring and the train’s pace started to slow down. Finally, they had arrived. The doors opened and passengers started walking off of the train. There they stood, in the quaint station of Ponyville. Soul looked around at the ponies around them, with a wide grin upon his face he looked forward into the station opening. “Hello Ponyville,” he whispered to himself. The very first thing Noble did was take a deep and slow breath, breathing in the fresh, sweet countryside air, before letting it out peacefully. “Yes… This is the smell of fresh air and new beginnings.” “And smoke,” Soul added holding his muzzle and they started to walk towards the building nearby, while he constantly scanned the groups of ponies. “No sign of her yet. I guess we’re a bit ahead of time.” As they arrived to the building, they sat on a bench under a window. Noble looked at his friend with a sly smirk while squinting and sliding his eyes to the side. “Maybe she stood you up?” Soul untied his saddleback and laid it on the ground. His eyebrows dropped and he put on a grin. “She would get a pretty bad reputation if she did that.” Noble let out a slightly forced chuckle. “Of course, I’m just kidding, buddy.” He then untied his own saddlebag as well and watched the ponies go by. “But don’t you think this place seems amazing?” Soul turned to look at the tan earth pony and let out a little laugh as he scrunched his eyebrows. “Um… We’ve only been here a few minutes and have only seen the station. You can’t say something like that yet.” “Sorry,” Noble murmured, he shrunk down a little and rubbed the back of his head closing his eyes with a typical wide, overly dramatic smile. Soul rolled his eyes with a smile and just watched the ponies go by like Noble. After a brief moment of waiting, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder, followed by a calm but elegant voice. “Wild Soul!” the voice chanted. When the pale stallion turned around, there was a pleasant sight waiting for him. He immediately stood up and stretched his hoof halfway between them. “Rarity,” he said with assured tone. “ It’s pleasant to see you again.” Her lips parting into wider smile, Rarity extended her hoof and lightly shook with Soul, bending her legs in a curtsey like fashion. “Likewise. My my, those three weeks went by much quicker than I thought they would.” “They sure did.” Soul didn’t exactly follow the mare’s lead with bowing, but simply gave her a nod. Releasing Soul’s hoof she offered it to Noble with a pleasant glimmer of a smile. “And Noble, it is a pleasure to see you too. You must be thrilled to finally be here, no?” The earth pony tilted his head to the side at the slightly formal greeting, he reached his hoof out facing up and took her hoof from below and he even gave bow. “Hello there, Rarity. I couldn’t be any more thrilled.” As the ponies rose and finished the greetings Soul looked around, craning his neck to see as far as he possibly could. “So… this is Ponyville.” “Oh right, my goodness where are my manners?” She said while holding a hoof on her forehead, tilting it back with her elbow out dramatically. Rarity dropped her hoof and turned around, spreading a leg out to the side. “I warmly welcome you to my humble hometown! Things are quite a bit different here but you will adapt eventually.” Narrowing his lips as he stood silently for a moment, looking over the town. The mare had a wide smile on her face, though it which started to become a bit more of a struggle as Soul face was carving into her mind, a drip of nervous sweat forming on her forehead. Was he disappointed? Soul finally opened his mouth. “Yep, back to Canterlot…” He turned around to face the train again and began to take a step forward. Jumping at the exclamation and performing a speedy about haise, wide eyed and on his toes he exclaimed, “Wait, what?!” Rarity’s heart also jumped to her throat. “Kidding kidding,” Soul reassured as he turned around to face the town again. “How did things look at the apartment?” The mare gave a very awkward laugh and swiped the sweat off her forehead, fixing her posture. “Oh the movers arrived just in time. I took the liberty of directing them in placing some larger pieces of furniture in places I thought they would look well in, but I didn’t touch the boxes. And of course I have your keys.” Soul nodded and gave a smile. “Excellent, thank you for all the help.” Rarity raised a hoof. “Don’t mention it, I am happy to help,” she chanted with a smile and looked toward the town though she turned back again, this time looking at the earth pony.. “Oh, Noble, will you be coming to see my Boutique too?” Noble took a step back and shook his head, raising a hoof between them. “Thank you for the offer Rarity, but I’ve already planned to go out searching for a job. I’m hoping to find one as soon as possible. I’m sure I won’t get one today, but… if the word about a stallion searching for a job spreads, maybe it would reach somepony who needs some work done.” “I completely understand.” The stylish mare nodded feeling better. She had been wanting to test Soul’s knowledge of artistry more and had hoped Noble would not feel left out as she focussed on Soul and this was a big relief for her. “I’m quite sure you will find a job in no time. Here in Ponyville, earth ponies are an important part of our income, so the fact you’re an earth pony is actually an advantage.” “We’ll see how things will turn out.” Noble took a few steps forward and turned his head back towards the duo. “I think I’ll head off to search for that job now so you two can proceed with Soul’s education.” While in mid wave Soul stopped and lifted an arm up, shouting to Noble before he had a chance to take off, “Wait, where should we meet up when we’re both done? Rarity has to guide us to our apartment and well, when I look at this town, everything looks pretty much the same for a newcomer. I mean you’ve got an incredible sense of direction, but me...” Noble halted and furrowed his brow, looking at the ground and turned one corner of his lip up as he scratched the side of his head. “Oh, true… and thank you.” With her head held high and eyes closed Rarity chimed in, “Excuse me, but don’t you think my Botique would do just fine?.” “Maybe, but how hard is it to find?” Soul said with his eyes transfixed on the artisan. Giving a look about to ensure both stallions were listening before she continued. “Oh it’s fairly easy to find indeed. it’s one of the most unique and artistically enhanced building in Ponyville. If you need further detail look for a round two story home that simply screams, devine.” “Umm, sure... that sounds good to me.” Noble closed his eyes and recited the name a few more time, trying to cement it in his memory. “Carousel Boutique, Right?” “The boutique it is.” Soul nodded in agreement. “So… is this all for now?” “Well, before you go, you might want one of these,” Rarity said with a giggle and lit her horn, taking off two keys from a thin necklace she had. She gave both stallions their own keys. “There we go. That’s all I think.” “Oh right, thank you very much,” Noble said with a nod and then put the key into his saddleback. He turned to look at Soul. ”I’ll be on my way then. I’ll see you later buddy,” he said with a smile and extended a hoof before going. Soul clopped hooves with his friend. “Right. Don’t fall asleep or anything.” Letting out a laugh, Noble jumped off the edge of the station and gave a final wave to the two before heading into the town. After they waved and saw Noble drifting out of sight, Rarity and Soul started proceeding towards the other stairway of the station, her head raised and a big smile on her face. “How were things at Canterlot Spectrum when you left? I hope you came here in high spirits.” “No worries, I’m one hundred percently functional. Or at least ninety-nine if not hundred.” He gave a stretch as they moved on, slowing down for just a moment before jolting forward to walk next to the mare. “And well, let’s just say change is always better than loss.” “I believe I understand what you are trying to say.” Now that they were alone Rarity looked the stallion up and down, giving a little pout that made her flip her head up to cast her mane upward out of her field of vision once more. “Oh and I also happened to notice that you’ve drastically lightened your ensemble… What happened to the red jacket, collar and tie?” Soul started rubbing his neck and gave the mare a small grin while lightly scrunching his inward. “This might sound funny, but I consider those being my Canterlot identity. Canterlot exclusive if you may,” he explained with a small laugh. “I want to develop something new for Ponyville so for now, my coat is all I’ve got.” “No that’s not ‘funny’ at all!” Rarity chanted and extended her hoof reaching for Soul’s shoulder. “I completely understand that mindset. I always wear something if I feel like the situation needs it, so it’s not hard for me to understand if somepony claims one style for one city.” Soul jumped back as soon as the faintest sensation of a hoof on his shoulder registered in his mind, leaving Rarity to lower her hoof. “Y-Yep, well that’s me for you then,” he said and shifted his attention to their environment. “Though when I look at these ponies, I can see they don’t exactly wear anything around here… So, I suppose something subtle would fit.” “Like a necklace?” Rarity said as her eyes were now purely focused on the gem Soul had hanging around his neck. “I’ve been watching that gorgeous piece of jewelry for a while now. I absolutely must ask where you found such a piece?” Soul touched the necklace with his hoof giving a small warm smile. “Oh this. It was a farewell gift from a friend and co-worker. You see, she’s a very skillful mineral artist who can craft basically almost anything out of blocks of minerals. She even runs her own small business on the side.” “Oh my, she sure doesn’t seem to be an amateur!” She stopped, leaving Soul with no option but to stop as well and let Rarity look closer at the amulet. Rarity simply looked closely at the necklace, not wanting to reach for it, for an obvious reason. “Does that gem happen to be topaz?” The stallion shook his head and put a hoof under the necklace, lifting it up to give Rarity a better view. “Actually, she told me it’s a citrine. According to her It’s said to protect from bad thoughts.” “Very interesting. If I ever get a chance to meet this friend of yours, I might want to try some co-operation projects with her.” She placed a hoof to her cheek and sighed, leaning into her hoof as she imagined the possibilities. Soul couldn’t help but quietly let out a laugh at the irony as he thought of Mineral’s mindset of fashion designers. “Good luck with that.” “Excuse me?” The laugh had broken through Rarity’s day dream and sparked her attention. “Ah, nevermind.” He covered his mouth and was finished laughing. He switched gears standing slightly straighter and taller. “Anyway, we’ve talked about how you want to pretty much just introduce me to your boutique today. Is that still the plan?” “Pretty much, though I might want to ask your help with moving a few things,” She spoke in a softer more pleasant tone and began to walk again. Soul raised his eyebrows and put on a grin, galloping a few steps before returning to his usual pace beside her. “Putting your new slave to work immediately after all, huh?” Rarity’s eyes bulged in terror when those words reached her ears, she leaned towards the pale stallion and waved her hoof wildly. “Oh heavens, of course not. I would never dream of such a thing." “Why not? Just put some chains on me and be hush about it. Embrace the opportunity and I was looking forward to the chains you know.” The mare leaned away and pulled a hoof to her chest and looked around to ensure no one was around to hear their conversation. “Did you... not sleep well or something…?“ Soul instantly gave the mare a quick glance but turned away from her to look down the path they were walking on and frowned. “Yeah umm that was awkward… Very awkward, forget what I just said...” Rarity stood there wide eyed in silence for a moment as Soul passed. She turned her head to the side and opened her mouth with a hoof raised in the air toward Soul but she still could not speak and finally just dropped her hoof and began walking again, giving her head a shake. When they approached a bridge, a strange smell caught their noses. Soul looked forward and saw black smoke rising from the other side of it. The sight of it makes him slow down the pace and his ears dropped behind his head.. “I-Is it just me or is somepony setting up a campfire...?” “Oh Celestia, my sister and her friends are probably trying to send smoke signals to one another again. Oh what will they not try in order to get their cutie marks?” Rarity picked up the pace a bit and her eyes were growing wider as her eyebrows grew further apart. Noticing that the pace picked up Soul began to move quicker just a step behind Rarity, though he had brought a hoof to cover his muzzle, his eyes locked onto the smoke. “Little sister?” Rarity nodded. “Yes... Our parents happen to be active travelers, so she stays with me frequently. I swear for the love of my passion for fashion, if there is a black spot in my yard she will... Ugh, I don’t even dare to say!” As the ponies scurried ever closer to the Boutique the smoke grew larger and their pace quickened. They ran around the Boutique but what they saw brought a look of sheer terror to Rarity’s face followed by a loud scream. Her eyes grew wide pupils dilated. “W-Wh-What in Equestria is happening here?! What has Sweetie Belle done?!” When the mare finally stopped Soul caught up, he saw huge, not to mention brutal flames bursting from a window. His eyes grew wide while the flames danced before him while he froze. His heart started to beat rapidly and cold sweat started dripping on his forehead while his breathing was growing unnaturally frequent. “W-Wow, dang… Your house is on fire.” “You don’t say and is that really all you have to say and the reaction you can muster for this situation?!” Rarity yelled as she gave the stallion a piercing glare. In an instant the mare bolted for the front door. “W-Wait, what are you going doing? You can’t just run inside and dive into the flames!” Soul’s eyes were still wide open and he tried to rush after Rarity, but as he took off he felt something like a snap in his head making him nauseous and he was wobbling as he tramped behind her. Rarity stopped and makes a quick one-eighty. “Well stay outside then!” She puffs out her chest and put a hoof on it like some overly dramatic soldier. “This is not the cruel way it ends for my sister!” “I-I know but… Those flames are brutal! You still need some way to put the flames out or protect yourself--” Soul was cut off mid-sentence when the door behind them swung open and a filly ran out of Rarity’s boutique with extremely heavy looking bag behind her. “Sweetie Belle!” Rarity yelled and ran over to her sister, grabbing her into her arms and squeezing her like a plush toy. “Oh heavens you scared me half to death, I had feared that the worst had happened to you! Are you alright, you aren’t burned are you?” She leaned her body around tilting the filly's head to the sides as she examined here for burns. Sweetie Belle was sniffling holding back tears as she shouted. “Rarity, I didn’t expect you to be back so soon, I---” “Phew! You sound healthy!” Giving a sigh of relief and hugging her sister away then pulling her away from the door Rarity quickly let go and spoke up in a harsh brittle tone. “Sweetie Belle, what in the name of Equestria have you done!” Sweetie Belle hugged Rarity back and pulled the bag back toward her out of the doorway still sniffling but her eyes opening into a glare as Rarity scolds her. “Can’t we leave that for later, big sis! I-I managed to gather some of our most important things b-but I can’t find Opal anywhere and I know she’s still inside!” “W-What…?!” Rarity drew her neck back as her eyes grew wide open, her other eye twitching. Without saying a word, the mare rushed inside. Ruffling his mane and stopping to hold the back of his head, Soul immediately reached for the mare as she ran through the doorway. “Rarity, wait!” His voice didn’t reach her at all and for a brief moment he just stood there shaking, looking back and forth between Sweetie Belle and inside the boutique. He bit his forehooves as he looked, his legs shaking slightly and heart ramming against his chest so hard it felt like it’s going to burst right through. In the end he ended up just clenching his teeth and run inside after her. “I’m Sweetie Belle by the way!” the filly called to Soul, then looked left and right and slowly proceeded to walk backwards. Soul didn’t have time to take in the introduction, he made his way over in the direction Rarity headed in and when he reached near the kitchen, he saw Rarity standing there not too far away from the flames holding a hoof on her forehead. The mare’s voice was high pitched and barely audible as she held her cheek then moved her hoof next to her mouth to focus her voice. “Opal! Opal try to be brave little kitty, mommy promises to get you out of there!” The cold sweat started forming on Soul’s forehead again and he backed off a couple steps, his ears drooped. “W-Wait there’s a cat in there?” Rarity’s voice was beginning to crack as she cried out in high pitched cries. “She is meowing in there but I can’t get close enough to see where she is!” Rarity turned back to face the kitchen, stretching her neck. “Opal darling, please just hang in there, I will come up with something!” “I-I could... “ Soul couldn’t finish when he started holding his head again, his body gently collapsing against the wall. He couldn’t maintain his balance anymore. Rarity heard the bang and turned and saw the stallion leaning against the wall and quickly reached out and put a hoof on his shoulder, her eyes still beginning to water as she looked at the fire then back at Soul. “Soul? What’s wrong with you?” Soul closed his eyes and grabbed his stomach as a sharp pain shot through it and his head span. “I-I’ve never been good around even small fires… Just the smell of smoke twists my stomach and seeing flames bigger than a candle makes my head and body feel like mash...” Rarity quickly gasped and got next to him. “Pyrophobia---” Looking at the flames as they grew she took his outermost foreleg and draped it over her back in order to pull him to his feet. Reaching up and holding his mouth with his other forehoof the stallion called, “D-Don’t worry about it now, we need to get you close enough to that opening and I might have an idea how. I just hope I remember how to do it...” He pulled away and put his weight back down on his own four legs and closed his eyes and clenched his teeth, lifting up his horn. His orange magic quickly started expelling a blue aura from the tip of his horn that swirled around Rarity. The moment it did, it caused the mare to squeak as icy waves ran through her entire body, her eyes bulging and teeth clenching. “S-So chilly all of the sudden! W-What did you do?” Soul focused on continuing the spell and keeping it as cool as possible. “That’s just a first aid spell to cool down swelling that I learned years ago, but I’ve applied it around your whole body. With that you can get---” “Get close enough to the flames and levitate Opal away!” Rarity exclaimed her eyes widened again and this time her lips turned upwards. ”Oh you are a lifesaver!” The mare immediately bolted right next to the flames without feeling the slightest bit of heat from them. As the flames drifted closer to her they puffed and hissed as they were extinguished. It was hard for her to see in the kitchen through the waves but she managed to spot her cat right on top of a shelf where flames hadn’t reached yet. Rarity’s horn lit and magic surrounded Opal, lifting her from the shelf and although she tried to cling on it with her claws, Rarity managed to pull her off and levitate her to safety along the ceiling only lowering her when she was close to Rarity and quickly jolted away from the door where the flames had been pushed back. “Opal oh my goodness are you alright mommy’s little darling? You’re in safe hooves now!” After the quick reunion Rarity trotted over to Soul who looked worse than just a moment ago. It was good he wasn’t collapsing right there. Rarity put her hoof on the stallion’s shoulder and lowered her head to look him in the eyes. “Come Soul, let’s hurry! Can you walk?” The touch gave Soul a spark which caused him to wince and jump off the wall and reach of her hoof, though it didn’t make him to feel any less out of it. He could barely see through his blurred vision. He simply nodded and started wobbled his way out of the boutique. Rarity followed behind making sure he wouldn’t fall and eventually they managed to get out of the building with lots of coughing even though they held their muzzles and had their heads lowered. Soul ran away from the building for a ways still holding his muzzle. “Rarity!!” Sweetie Belle yelled as she trotted over to her sister, panting. “Is Opal alright?! Please tell me she is!” The mare let out a big and deep sigh of relief and sat down. She felt a sharp pain on her back and looked back to see Opal standing up straight, a little dark with ash in her fur and shaking. Rarity winced and reached back to pet Opal but received a scratch instead. Opal then lept off her back and walked away out of reach, laying down in the grass and patting at it’s tail to knock soot off. “She will be traumatized for life the poor thing, but otherwise she is perfectly fine.” “Oh that’s a relief! ...I guess...” Sweetie Belle turned toward the cat and took a few steps toward it extending a hoof. “I’m so sorry Opal, this is all my fault…” As the filly’s hoof reached for Opal, the cat sprung up and hissed at her extending a paw with claws out that caused Sweetie Belle to run and hide behind her sister, peering around to look at Opal who layed back down. Rarity put a hoof on her sister’s head and walked around to face her before speaking. “Now, that everyone is safe I’m fairly comfortable saying; Opal is right, it is your fault! What in the name of Equestria were you thinking?! I’ve told you dozens of times not to cook by yourself!” Rarity scolded and huffed, standing tall and being firm. She put a hoof over her heart. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if something had happened to you! Do you even realize how dear you are to me? And I won't even get started on the appalling mess you have made of my kitchen!” The filly hung her head and looked up with teary eyes as she was scolded. “I’m so sorry Rarity! I… I just wanted to surprise you by making lunch for you and your new apprentice and it just got out of hoof…” She quickly lifted her head up and explained, “But don’t worry! Scootaloo was here helping me and immediately when we noticed the fire, she---” “Sweetie Belle!” A voice called from the distance where a young orange filly riding on a scooter approached at high speed gritting her teeth and flapping her wings as hard as she could. Sweetie Belle jumped up and down, extending a hoof toward her friend.“Finally! They’re here!” Scootaloo pulled back on the brakes and stopped right in front of the sisters and stood straight up supporting herself with her handlebars to give Sweetie Belle a salute. “Mission accomplished! Operation Flame Slayer has been ignited!” “What are you talking about darling…?” As Rarity shielded her eyes amd looked up into the sky through the horizon, her eyes were greeted with the sight of a group of pegasi in formation pushing a huge rain cloud towards the boutique. “That fire is as good as gone!” Scootaloo said extending a hoof up to the sky, though her attention was captured by Soul who was sitting by the stream. “By the way, who is that guy over there? Is he confessing his love for a river?” she said pointing at the stallion who was holding his chest. Soul’s ears twitched at the comment, indicating he could still hear regardless of the distance. Although he didn’t look back and continued staring at the river and continued to breath deeply while holding his chest, feeling his heartbeat. He just shook his head and grinned, pretending he didn’t hear it. Before any of them had a chance to speak, a loud voice rang from above. “Alright everypony; let’s get those clouds just in front of the window, Alpha team you go and blow the rain in the window with me, Bravo team make it pour! Break!” Once the mare shouted out the order the pegasi broke off and began pushing the rain into the window, taming the flames. Just as the filly said the pegasi got the fire under control quickly, as soon as the window was clear the ponies kicking the cloud stopped and the leader ran up and took a piece of the cloud and flew into the house followed by the other pegasi that followed her lead. Rarity and the two fillies sat in awe as they listened to the last of the flames hiss and become extinguished. Soul wiped his mouth and looked back. He still felt nauseous but could not look away from the teamwork and technique that went into putting out the fire. When there was nothing else but smoke left, the pegasi all emerged from the house followed by their leader who called out, “Thanks a lot everypony, awesome job! Can you guys take the cloud back for me? I think I have explanations to hear and gratitude to collect.” As the formation pushed the cloud off back toward the horizon the lead pegassi soured through the air performing a barrel roll and made a circle around the sun before stopping right in the center of it. All of the ponies on the ground looked up at the pony that was hovering just in front of the sun causing her body to become a silhouette. “I would go and say that was awesome but I suppose this isn’t the right time--- Awe who am I kidding I can’t hold back, that was awesome!” Author's Note Not the most creative title ^^; 20. An Awkward Walk In The WordsThe air was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Fluttershy continued looking over herself and wrapped a hoof around a lock of her hair, brushing it with her other hoof as she shook after being unable to see any physical problems with herself. Noble opened his mouth and then abruptly closed it, clenching his teeth as he reached up an outstretched hoof but pulled back thinking better of it. He passed the panic ridden pegasus to Rarity who’s face grew longer at the sight, then turned back to Soul with wide begging eyes. Soul looked at Noble’s poor expression and sulked, drooping slightly. He faced the pegasus but quickly realized he was out classed. He locked eyes with Rarity giving a nudge of his head towards Fluttershy. Rarity lowered her eyes with a deep sigh, placing a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder as she took a seat next to her. She took her purse off of her shoulder and shook her head fanning her hair out, and set it under a shady spot under a tree to prevent further sun damage and then pried the pegasus’ hoof away from her mane, holding her still. “Fluttershy, please, compose yourself! You seem to be making a scene. You are perfectly fine darling.” Even when Rarity held her, Fluttershy was unable to stay still. “B-But he just said I’m hurt! Why would he say something like that if I wasn’t actually hurt?” A bright blush filled Noble's cheeks, he rubbed the back of his head with it tilted down. “L-Look! I never meant you were hurt! You’re fine, y-you seem perfectly fine!” With wide, damp yet prying eyes, Fluttershy leaned forward while she kept her legs tucked closely by her side. “A-Are you psychic? C-Can you sense inner sickness in me, o-or can you see the future where I get hurt?” Noble waved his hooves and shook his head feverishly. “N-no! Nothing like that. I... I just meant to compliment you…” He hung his head and bit his bottom lip, unable to make eye contact. Fluttershy brought a leg across her body, hugging herself and turning to the side. “B-By telling me I’m hurt…? “Fluttershy you’re going to run out of breath and pass out if you don’t allow yourself to calm down,” Rarity said as she put a hoof under Fluttershy’s chin and turned it to face her. “Just look me in the eyes and count to ten.” The pegasus immediately squeaked. “B-But---” Raising Fluttershy's jaw Rarity gently cut her off. “Ah ah ah. Do as I say now darling, please.” Fluttershy took a deep breath and exhaled. She began counting slowly and faintly and with each number her body grew more relaxed. Soul let out a small groan and kept his face buried deep in his hoof. Noble looked at each mare before leaning back and concealing his mouth as he whispered quickly to Soul, “Hey, you brought me here…” His heart still pounded as if he ran a mile, though he still glowered at his friend, noticeably frustrated. Soul continued rubbing his forehead as it throbbed in his hoof, he couldn't even look up when he replied. “I had no idea it would get this complex… Plus it was not even my idea.” With another look at the mares that were working together to ease Fluttershy's nerves, Noble believed it was safe to turn away. He spun around and leaned in, his teeth gritted. “W-What should I do? I have no idea what to say whatsoever...” Soul let go of his head and motioned for Noble to turn around. “Short and simple; apologize for startling her.” Noble’s eyes darted back, checking the mares but quickly came back pleading while looking into Soul’s. “These things aren’t simple!” Rarity dropped her hoof and nodded with Fluttershy, a smile returned to her face as she spoke with charm, “Alright, I think we’re ready to try again.” “R-Right!” The earth pony scratched the ground with a hoof, his eyes staying focused on it as he gulped. He took a deep breath and turned around, his body shaking slightly. He attempted to gather his fluttering thoughts and closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaled deeply one more time. “Look… I… I never meant to startle you back then. I simply heard your singing and wanted to know who the voice belong to; so I could tell them how beautiful it was! I would’ve done anything if I could’ve found you and simply apologized… I’m deeply sorry, can you forgive me? Please?” Fluttershy’s mouth trembled and it still took a good bit before she could speak a single word. “I-I… It’s okay. Y... you just startled me...” she stuttered while she turned her gaze away from Noble. She turned her head letting her hair fall like a curtain protecting her from Noble's eyes. Her eyes however still took short quick peeks as she spied back toward the earth pony, just able to spot him through her pink mane. Rarity elegantly cleared her throat and presented a hoof forward. “What Fluttershy means to say is that it’s quite alright and she apologizes for causing any displeasure to you. She simply isn’t comfortable with anyone hearing her.” Noble rubbed his left front leg with his right hoof and bit his lower lip softly. “R-Right, of course, I understand. I didn’t know.” Turning her head to move her hair out of the way Fluttershy sunk down almost below her shoulders, her lips turned up gently with sympathetic eyes. “Thank you…Noble…” Her eyes darted from side to side, up and down as the bothersome silence took over their conversation. Uncomfortable in this situation, she backed up slightly, met with Rarity’s hoof and tucked her hooves close to her own body. She wished somepony would say something to break this silence or that she could simply fly back to her cottage and save herself this embarrassment. Noble rushed through any possible topic he could think of in his head dismissing them all as silly, shallow, or too personal, leaving him open as he stood quietly, moving his lips about, trying to form words before the timid pegasus, but unable to speak. It was all he could do to shift dirt around with his hooves, both having their ears pinned back while their bodies pushed back away from one another. Noble gritted his teeth tightly and his left eye twitched. Soul and Rarity looked at each other, both acknowledging this wasn’t going well at all. Soul had already started giving her a look by angling his head and cut across the air with his hoof as if to say ‘this is good enough’, but Rarity immediately dismissed it and braced up. Moving her hoof off of Fluttershy's back, Rarity leapt between the two, leaning in toward Noble. “Soooo Noble, do you happen to have any favorite color of clothing you like to wear?” Taken aback by the question, Noble blank rapidly as the question registered in his mind. He looked side to side feeling uneasy, though seeing no harm in the question. “U-Um… I used to wear a blue collared shirt.” Ignoring Noble's reluctance and abruptness, Rarity immediately started beaming and clopped her hooves together. “Ooh, I can imagine how well that fits you. Don’t you agree Fluttershy?” The pegasus kept her head low and faintly shrugged. “I-I don’t know…” Soul’s eyes wandered up to the sky and he scratched his cheek. “I made him switch to white collars at one point. Weren’t you there when he wore it? I think it fits Canterlot’s theme much better.” Rarity nodded and spoke moving her hoof in front of herself. “Yes but what is most important is that the color should fit the pony itself.” Tan ears twitched as Noble looked at Rarity with a puzzled look on his face. He had never heard any pony that was as pronounced and eccentric. “That’s… nice.” “Isn’t it? You should visit my boutique sometime for business. I'm sure I could easily find something that would make you look absolutely fabulous.” Her eyes glimmered as she stared off, getting lost in her fantasy world surrounded by design, coming back. “That is, even if stallion apparel is not my strong suit.” She covered her lips giggling to herself, though slowly fading as she lacked Pinkie Pie’s comedic charm. Noble’s shoulders sulked again and his expression grew more stoic. “Umm… sure. If I can afford anything that is.” The whole conversation had began to sidetrack. With every word Rarity and Soul spoke, well mostly Rarity spoke, they drifted off even further and further from the task at hoof and eventually it was a whole nother conversation just for two of them, leaving Fluttershy and Noble completely hanging. “Wouldn't tailoring suits be vastly different from tailoring a dress?” Soul’s voice emerged from the sidelines. The mare’s attention repositioned again. “Well yes and no. Also I don't like to always say I tailor clothing, I craft it. Now about your question...” Rarity elaborated on the differences between making suits and dresses. Noble and Fluttershy sat there, at a completely loss as to how the conversation transitioned to the teacher and student discussing fashion but both were slightly relieved of it. For a good moment, they sat exchanging awkward looks and looking around, of course their eyes did fall back on the ponies speaking that arranged this catastrophe. Though eventually, with a sigh, Noble peaked over at Soul with a small grin; his eyes met Fluttershy’s as he nudged his head, pointing to Soul and rolling his eyes very exaggeratedly, chuckling to himself after the fact and covering his muzzle. Surprisingly, Fluttershy did the exact same thing. Even if she was allowed a perfect opportunity to grab her pet bunny and fly away at that instance, she didn’t. No, she gave a glance at Rarity and allowed herself to laugh. She gave her first, actual laugh, not to mention smile during the whole scenario. It was barely noticeable but it was a laugh, no doubt. For that very short moment, they finally felt comfortable and even relaxed facing each other; giving an eye contact that didn’t feel like torture. Even if it wasn’t much, it was something, and something is always better than nothing. Unfortunately the two didn’t get to enjoy the moment that much when everypony was cut off by the explosive sound of Noble’s sneeze that seemed almost made the ground shake beneath them. In fact, it was so loud that it caused Fluttershy to jump up in the air with a scream and fly behind a tree nearby. Rarity jumped, almost falling on her back and held her chest, gasping as she looked at the stallion, completely abandoning her previous conversation. “My goodness, I almost had a heart attack!” Soul on the other hand only tensed ever so slightly and gave a slight wince as he turned at his friend. “Bless you, pal.” While holding his chest Noble shook his head rapidly then brought the hoof up and rubbed his nose before looking over. “S-Sorry about that! I feel like my sneezes can rival an earthquake sometimes...” “You uh… have a gift of amplification, that’s for sure,” Rarity said and forced a smile, dropping her hoof off her chest. “You can say that again,” Noble said softly, darting his eyes off to the side. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a little white rabbit tapping its foot and glaring at the pegasus with his ears back. Noble immediately recognized what had happened and spoke softly taking a step toward the tree. “Oh I’m sorry, you don’t need to hide there…!” “Actually I think that sneeze was perfectly timed.” Rarity looked over at the tree batting her eyes for a moment but remaining unsurprised. “Fluttershy and I really should be heading to the castle already.” Soul nodded, slightly pleased that he could finally get a break and some much needed time to allow himself to breath after the long first week. “Yes, you do that. I’ll see you on Monday in that case.” Rarity nodded and smiled with her head held high. “Most definitely. Enjoy your first weekend, both of you! And Soul, if you feel so inclined I do suggest you practice your hemming stitch, by hoof of course.” “Yes, I shall. You too enjoy the weekend, Rarity. Bye.” Soul waved with a solemn smile of his own. “Bye bye!” Rarity chanted and passed the pegasus, beginning to bounce in a skip. ‘’Come on, Fluttershy dear. Let’s go.’’ Fluttershy gave a timid nod with her head hanging down. She and Noble looked at one another in silence, neither aware of what to say. Noble felt a bit bad he couldn’t spend more time around the mare but then again, he still didn’t have anything in mind what to say. Fluttershy’s lips curled up slightly, she had forgiven the stallion for seeing her guilty pleasure and while still tense she brought up a hoof waving it only slightly. Noble’s lips followed suit curving upward as well while his eyes were sorrowful. He waved a foreleg as the mare let her bunny jump onto her back and then began following Rarity. His legs felt like jelly as he dropped his hoof back down and took a step back. “Soul…” “I know.” Soul let out a deep sigh and rubbed his eye. “That whole thing got unnecessarily complicated and unnecessarily awkward…” “Yes, it did...” His lip quivered and he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a lump in his throat as he thought of how to say what he desired. “Thank you for doing that for me but… uhh, Rarity kind of got off topic with you there.” The unicorn gave a bothered laugh and an innocent shrug. “My bad.” He stepped towards Noble, perking his ears up and leaning in turning his head to the side. “Though what are your thoughts now? Are we finally done with this crush phase?” “What?” Noble glared as he walked back to his lunchbox, finally pulling out his food that turned out to be a PB&J sandwich. “Come on... You don’t need to dismiss all of them right away. She does seem like a nice, pretty mare… Again, not what I expected, but fine, I’m alright… for now.” He tried to offer his second sandwich to Soul but the offer was met with a wave and utter look of disgust. They sat in silence as Noble ate, Soul looked up at all the apple trees and occasionally looked back at the path the mares took out of the orchard. Soul put his hooves together and stretched as much as his body could give in with a yawn. “Well, how about we head home then? Well, after you are done that is. I want to get some sushi from a buffet before it closes.” Noble gave a nod checking his lunch, then looking back at his friend, tensing up as he thought about how quickly he could eat to not hold Soul back. “Yes, sure. I still don’t understand how you can like that stuff though,” he said with a laugh. Soul looked at Noble’s bread and frowned. “Right... You have your PB&J, I have my sushi.” He noticed the tensing and looks Noble gave him and the lunch. “Take your time though, there is no pressure.” Noble searched for his water, chugging some to wash out his mouth so he could speak. “Anyway, is there anything you wanna do this weekend? I thought we could check out Ponyville’s pubs.” Sighing Soul extended a hoof while shaking his head. “Naw, I’m not really in the mood for that. It’s been exhausting getting adapted to how things work here. I simply wanna sit home and work on my stuff for Spectrum and start doing a presentation for the Mayor.” “Work work work.” Noble chuckled, “How about we try taking a lazy weekend to the max for a change? Sit on the couch all day and watch every episode of Stray Alicorn, OVA’s, play poker and talk about mares.” He paused to think for a moment. “Okay, maybe not that last one, but I’m itching to finally do some real roommate stuff!” “I’ll make sure to put that in my calendar,” Soul said with a laugh. As Noble finished the last bite of his second sandwich and closed up his lunch box Soul’s eyes rested upon a light blue bag that laid on it’s side by the base of a tree. His hoof once again immediately smacked his face. “Ooooooh boy, you must be kidding me…” Once the box was in his saddle bag Noble looked up and looked at the area Soul was looking at with peaked curiosity. “Huh? Oh, a bag? Wait, isn’t that Rarity’s?” “Yeah... She just forgot something preeeeeetty important." He rubbed the side of his head and looked down the path the mares went down. “It’s probably too late to catch up to them now.” Noble walked over and picked it up, ensuring nothing seemed to have fallen out then looked inside, gently shuffling through it. “I.M. book, keys, wallet, sewing supplies…” “Yeah, she is not gonna be very happy when she realizes...” Soul said and walked over to the bag as well and closed the buckle with his magic, and levitated it up to Noble’s shoulder. “Let’s just take it with us, we can’t find them in the woods, I’ll leave a note on her door to come see us to get it.” The tan stallion looked up at the sky, shifting his body to peer through the trees checking for clouds before he replied, “Don’t you think we should leave it here instead---?” A rustle fell over the pathe and charged toward them, growing louder from the direction of the farm house. The blue pegasus was the first to be seen, blowing the leaves as she flew but made a quick circle around the stallions. Lighting a fire galloping down the trail, Applejack followed in hot pursuit, slowing to a halt with the others. Noble stood tall as he saw the blond mare. “Where are you two off to? More dares?” Rainbow swooped down before him stealing the thunder before landing in front of them landing next to Applejack. “The final one! So far it’s just been a tie but this one settles everything for good! I can prove that I’m the most daring pony.” AJ glared, walking up next to the pegasus and looking her dead in the eye. “Over my rusted horseshoes! I ain’t gonna let this day go ta waste.” ‘’Yeah yeah, let’s save it for when you’re scared out of the castle!” The pegasus held her head high and opened her left eye, as she noticed another familiar face. “Hey, Wild! Anything interesting up? Haven’t seen you around after the fire.” Soul lifted his eyebrows with an otherwise blank expression. “You care about design stuff?” The mare crossed her arms, looking away. “Not really,” she said bluntly. The unicorn shook his head and hoof dismissively. “Then no, nothing interesting is up.” Applejack stepped forward before Soul and tipped her hat to him. “Hey, ya must be the fella who brought Noble here!” “The one and only,” Noble said with a chuckle and he raised a hoof in front of Soul as if he were a prize on a gameshow. Soul crossed his hooves plopping down in the grass. “I don’t admit anything.” Applejack stretched her hoof out to shake hooves with the white stallion. “I think I should thank you, pal. Without you, we woulda never got Noble’s fine horsepower ta help out on the farm!’’ Soul tilted his head, squinting at the mare as his eyes connected to the mane and his ears twitched at the thick southern accent. ‘’Oh yeah, you must be the blond beau--” “SOUL!” Noble yelled immediately blushing bright red. He leaped and wrapped his leg around the unicorn from behind pinning him down and covering his mouth. As Soul’s eyes grew wide he jumped up with a shock going down his spine as he freed his mouth and pulled away from his friend. The unicorn grabbed his chest, but had realized what he just let almost slip out of his mouth. “I-I mean what I meant to say, yes Noble has talked about you. Mostly about your mane.” A loud smack echoed off of Noble’s face as he slapped it. “Soul! Please stop!” Applejack looked at Noble, even her hair drooped as she glowered at him for a moment and sighed. "Well, at least he talks about work at home." Rainbow bursted out laughing holding her sides already. “Oh my gosh, here we go again!” Glaring at Rainbow Dash, Applejack jabbed her in the ribs with her fore knee. Noble grimaced and shrank a little and rubbed his foreleg. “S-So… What exactly is this dare you’re gonna do if you don’t mind me asking?” Applejack gave her hat a nudge up and sighed. “Well partner, simply put, we’re gonna spend a night in an old nearby castle, that’s said to be haunted by the Pony of Shadows.” Rainbow shrugged boldly, as if she didn’t have a care in the world about the story. “Yeah, or something like that. It’ll be an easy win.” Noble put a hoof on his lips, his eyes narrowing as he sat down crossing his forelegs. “Pony of shadows?” The orange mare followed suit and sat down as well. “It’s an old legend Granny Smith used to tell me. Just to make sure; y’all do know history right? You know about Nightmare Moon?” Noble blank with pointed lips and nodded. “Of course...” The unicorn gave a small chuckle. “That’s the most general knowledge you can get nowadays.” “Just chekin’.” Applejack began moving her hooves as she talked. “Anyway, Granny Smith explained that the legend says that when Nightmare Moon was banished by Princess Celestia, not all of her magic went with her. It stayed in the old Castle of the Two Sisters that’s deep into the Everfree Forest, and when the sun goes down, this magic takes a form of a pony that haunts the very walls of the castle.” Rainbow smiled and rolled her eyes, letting them rest looking away from Applejack. “The pony of shadows.” As the name crossed Rainbow’s lips Noble’s back snapped up straight and his eyes widened. He felt like his heart got misplaced for a second. “Wait... what?” Rainbow smacked Noble on the back chuckling. “I know right, pretty stupid, huh?” Applejack scoffed, pointing at her and leaning in narrowing her eyes. “We’ll see about that when we get there.” The earth pony’s body shook and his eyes grew wide as his heartbeat echoed against his chest. His fur stood on end while his lips quivered as he stood breathless. “Y-You… You’re going to the Everfree Forest?” Lips narrowed and eyebrows rose, Applejack looked closely at the poet. “Yeahhh?” Noble’s eye kept twitching. “You mean the Everfree Forest? The monstrous unnatural jungle of strange creatures where plants and animals thrive without pony intervention and are fully capable of devouring ponies whole?” The mares looked at one another for a second before Applejack turned back at Noble, turning her head to the side as if she didn’t know what she was looking at. “Uhh, yeah that’s it. That IS where the castle is after all.” Soul took a step forward getting the prying eyes off Noble, even if just momentarily. “You know, you should think twice before you go there.” Rainbow laughed boldly and flew over to Soul, wrapping her hoof over him and ruffled his mane. “Oh come on! You don’t have to worry about us. We’ve been out in that forest many times, not to mention that we’ve been to the castle. Even if there is a Pony of Shadows, which I doubt, I can tootally handle it.” Soul jumped and pushed Rainbow Dash away from him, keeping his eyes on both mares and stepping back from the group. ‘’Let’s maintain distance! Anyways, I wasn’t gonna start babying adult mares, but that’s not exactly what I was thinking,’’ he said as he glared, keeping a hoof extended and moving it around him indicate his space. Noble was relieved to hear this, breathing a sigh of relief but still, the whole Shadow Pony story had already become engraved into his mind. “Um, sorry to barge in, but Applejack, where did Granny Smith hear this story?” Applejack shrugged and scratched her head under her hat. “Good question. I would tell ya if I knew. When I asked her when she told Applebloom she couldn’t remember ah lick ah how she heard it.” “I see…” said Noble while he rested back, putting a hoof on his chin. He looked at the ground losing himself in thought. Applejack dipped her head to the side narrowing her eyes. “Why are ya asking?” Noble shook his head. “J-Just curious… and you have been fine in the forest?” He tapped his chin and whispered to himself. “Even we needed to remain cautious there.” Blinking, Rainbow frowned and scrunched up her face looking at AJ then looking back, her wings already spread to take off, but she brought them back in. “Umm, what?” Noble immediately snapped back, eyes wide. “Nothing!” he said and backed up, growing more tense. “Nothing… Just be safe. Sorry. I didn’t mean to doubt your abilities or annoy you with all these questions.” Rainbow took flight between the two stallions, she curved around and thumped Applejack forward a bit. “Alright… Well, sorry to cut it short but we’re kinda in a hurry. See ya around guys. Good luck with… well whatever you’re gonna do.” She looked at the bag on Noble’s shoulder. "Noble, take an advice from a fellow ‘stallion’, get a new bag," she said and laughed as she flew off down the trail. The stallion huffed and puffed out his cheeks glaring at the mare. He wanted to come up with some kind of insult but nothing came to mind. “Right.” Applejack glared at her friend who took off and gave Noble a pat on the shoulder before running after Rainbow. “Enjoy the weekend Noble, you did great for your first week!” “Wait!” Soul called stretching a hoof after the two, but they were already too focused on outdoing one another that they blazed down the trail. The unicorn groaned and let his head dangle off his shoulders like a wilted flower. “Right, okay then… All I was gonna tell you was that Rarity and Fluttershy were gonna go to the same castle, but okay...” Noble was still sunk deep in his thoughts, his breathing was heavier and more erratic as his eyes dodged around the area without seeing anything. “So…” Soul spoke with careful tone as he saw Noble’s behavior and gently placed a hoof on his shoulder, dragging him back into the moment. “What do you know about that infamous Everfree Forest? It seems like it’s not that mysterious to you.” “Of course, I’ve been there… It’s like the black sheep of nature itself… Like that family member who always pulls pranks, rebels and acts of it's own accord. I still can’t believe it’s so close to the Apple farm; much less that I didn’t recognize it...” He frowned and knocked his hoof against the side of his head harshly, groaning as he did. “Wait, Rarity said they were going to a castle. Did she mean… the same castle those two are going to?” Soul rolled his eyes and shook his head, he was used to this but it didn’t make it any less frustrating from time to time. “Yeah... She got commissioned to retrieve and restore some old tapestries from there.” Noble’s heart jumped in his chest and began to pound like crazy again as he started shaking involuntary. “How in Equestria is a sophisticated fashion designer and a frightened pegasus supposed make it there?!” Shrugging the unicorn replied, “Come on, all of them are the elements of harmony. And you heard Rainbow, if she and Applejack have been in that forest before, I have a feeling Rarity and Fluttershy have too. And if they didn’t know how to handle themselves, well, we wouldn’t even be talking about them right now, yet alone be in Ponyville.” Noble’s eyes grew wider and his mouth hung open. He closed it and looked back at the farm with a cool concentrated but worried look. ‘’What?! They are elements of harmony too?!’’ He couldn’t help but think about how close all of them were in this small, little known town. “Oh, right. You didn’t know…” Soul said, scratching his face with a narrow grin. “Make sure I tell you everything at some point.” Noble shook his head. “Yeah, i didn’t...” He slowly sat down, closing his eyes with a hoof on his chest and took a few frequent breaths and moved to deeper ones in order to calm himself down. After a short moment the shaking started to reduce and his heartrate went back to normal. He took one final breath and turned to look at Soul with eyes wide glistened over eyes that captured the worry in his heart. “No need to have a heart attack over it,” Soul said with a laugh though gave a light pat on Noble’s shoulder with a gentle smile. He then tilted his head at the path, already taking steps forward. “Well, let’s go. Buffet awaits.” The earth pony didn’t move, he stared blankly ahead and in the last second turned his head slightly and slid his eyes, looking at Soul. “Wait, do you think we should… go and take this bag to Rarity instead and at least warn them about the Shadow Pony?” Soul immediately stopped and turned to face his friend, rising an eyebrow. He just looked at him for a moment before speaking. “You think the Shadow Pony is real?” “I-I don’t know, I mean it’s not like I’ve ever been in that castle. And I feel like a story like that would be more common knowledge than just a campfire story… Or even if it was just a common campfire story, it’s odd that neither of us have heard of it before now. But still, don’t you think we should go warn them at least? I mean, even if there is no Shadow Pony, we could still warn them to be careful if it’s falling apart, how old would this thing be?” Noble’s face was long and his hooves were clenched together to beg. Soul shrugged and sighed. ‘’Look, I understand your concern and I am open minded, but I’m quite positive they can handle themselves and know to be careful.. Let’s simply go and leave a note on Rarity’s door about that bag and go home. Or… yeah, leave it here.” He turned to look at the eerie forest with a frown. ”Besides, we have no idea how to navigate there, we’ll get lost for sure.” “How can you be so sure? The Everfree forest is legendary for it’s danger. There are stories about ponies that have gone in time and time again and one time, they just don’t come back.” Noble’s eyes dilate as he realized what he said. “You know this isn’t helping your case. How would we even find them?” Soul huffed. “Okay, maybe I overstated that, but…” He turned and rummaged a hoof through his saddlebags and pulled out a small compass that he opened and showed Soul. “I have a compass.” Soul’s face flattened and he silently stared at his friend. “How in equestria is that gonna help us? Even if we find them, don’t you think it will be a little pointless? I mean, I know I can do a lot more with my night and I'm sure you could too.” Closing up and putting the compass away quickly Noble kept his chin up, smilingly slightly slightly and gently nudged Soul. “Come on, I’m sure we can figure this out. It’s like tracking animals. It’s… not that difficult.” “Wait, you can track?” The unicorn tilted his head to the side and blinked a few times. Noble scrapped his hoof against the ground and looked down and to the right, his lips curled upwards and the air in his throat grew dense. He let out a puff of air through his nose. “Maaaybe…” It took a moment for Soul but eventually he snapped to attention. “Oh right….!” He gave a deep sigh and bowed his head. “You really want to go, don’t you?” Noble nodded, he tightened his bags securing everything and took a few steps down the trail. “Why don’t you want to?” Soul looked up at the sky then lead his eyes down to Noble. “I want sushi.” Noble immediately tensed up and looked at the stallion with wide eyes, he stepped closer and put a hoof on Soul’s shoulder. “Soul, please. I know I’m asking a lot of you to go out there with me to check on them, but there is power in numbers. If you come with me now I will leave you alone for an entire work day in the future.” Soul sighs and stops to think, rubbing his head and peering blankly ahead. There was a long pause as Noble twisted his lips, he bit his bottom lip every so often but finally couldn’t wait and broke the silence. “You know…” Soul turned to Noble, his ears alert and twitched. A slender but extremely sly smile slowly started crossing Noble’s face and he chuckled even though his body twitched and tensed up. ‘’It’s actually quite fine, I understand, you don’t want to go. You’d rather stay here and relax with me.” Then, without warning, he moved closer to Soul and draped a hoof over the stallion’s shoulders, pulling him close. “Noble, what the---?” Soul jerked back to no avail; he was hooked by Noble and could only remain tense and pull his head away, he felt like even his tail was standing up straight. Noble put his other hoof over Soul’s mouth and giggled. ‘’Shhh. Forget about them, they can have their adventure. We finally have a chance to be all alone.’’ Noble said with a tender, wavy tone in his voice. He leaned in and whispered softly with warm breath into Soul’s ear, ‘’We can have our own adventure; Alone. You don’t need to be bashful around me, my darling Soul.’’ “NOW YOU ARE GETTING WAY OVER THE LINE!” Soul immediately slipped away from under Noble’s hoof and took a huge leap away from him with such force that he fell over on his back with a terrified gasp. His eyes were cracked wide open and he was gnashing his teeth like being in frost. Noble’s sudden, approach left Soul dazed and confused, laying on his back on the ground. ‘’Fine! Let’s go find them! SHEESH!’’ he said his voice trembling, cold waves sweeping through his entire body as he pulled himself to his hooves and brushed himself off keeping out of a two leg distance of Noble. “Aww, you don’t want to spend an evening alone with me anymore? ’’ Noble winked and gave an exaggerated skip to his trot, the air he felt in his throat felt like it could burst. ‘’NOBLE!’’ The earth pony collapsed on the ground bursting into hysterical, tear filled laugh and held his sides, almost unable to breath. ‘’I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I promise I’ll stop now!” He was almost bawling as he clenched his aching sides, he could barely speak as he gasped for air. “I-It was just too good to pass up!’ Soul sighed and puffed out his cheeks. He didn’t care for Noble’s trick but broke a smile at the sight of the earth pony laughing on the ground, he got in a few chuckles as well and waited as Noble laid in a state of hysteria for over five minutes. This was the first time in a long time that Soul had seen Noble look this happy and there was no way he was going to cut it off early. Once the bust of the joke was over and Noble simply caught his breath Soul moved closer and looked down. ‘’Good, then lead the way.’” With heavy breath Noble got to his feet, readjusting his bags while ensuring he didn’t drop anything he he declared himself ready. “Yes, I will.” He nodded to Soul getting by his side on the trail “Sorry, I promise I’ll never do that again.” His voice flexed a little with his last statement as his tail twitched and he smiled looking off away from Soul and spoke softly under his breath. “Unless the situation calls for it.” Soul’s ears perked up as he heard a mummer. “Wait what was that? Noble!” The earth pony began at a slow trot moving ahead and chuckled taking off in a gallop, Soul quickly following behind him. Even as they ran Noble looked ahead as the sun cast glints of red and orange over the ground with growing shadows from the trees.
2. Hard LaborJust a few blocks away at the Hotel Liákada of Canterlot, the top floor pool that is normally buzzing with excitement was closed due to rain, but one of the many entertainment rooms down on the lower floors was catering a party. There many fine, sophisticated mares and stallions were dining and filling the room with idle chit chat. The hotel was known as one of the best up and coming five star hotels in Equestria and after it’s grand opening has catered to some of the most important ponies in all of Equestria. Most ponies believe that anypony that enters its doors instantly becomes happier; though that is not the case for everypony. In the Northeast side of the hotel, in the employee service elevator stood a stallion. A tan furred, black maned and blue eyed stallion named Noble. He wore his usual red bellhop uniform and a frown upon his face with lowered, empty eyes. The elevator reached the first floor, halting and opening it’s doors. Noble stepped out, turning as he exited but was cut off by his manager, Double Bit, a unicorn mare with a large build, orange fur and a dark red mane. Although the hotel had not been open very long Double Bit had been hired a few months ago, but all of the employees were still having a very hard time settling in to her style of leadership. Noble stopped quickly, standing up straight and snapping to attention as soon as he saw her. “Hello manager Bit. What can I do for you now ma’am?” He knew he must be polite and quick in his replies or else his manager would become agitated again. The mare stood with a scowl on her face and brow angled glaring at the employee, “Noble Poet! I have been searching for you. Great Equestria are you just getting back from taking Mr. Steel Wheel’s bags to his room?” Her loud shrill tone echoed through the halls as she scolded the earth pony. Taking a step back and lowering his frame, Noble closed his eyes and opened them again, looking toward her. “No. I mean yes. Er… Yes ma’am. I am back from delivering his bags, though I was only gone for 10 minutes. His room was at the other end of the hotel and I had to wait for the elevator. I’m sorry ma’am,” he quickly spoke and shifted his weight to hide the bit Steel Wheel had given him for being so quick and delicate with his bags. The stallion knew that Double Bit had been enforcing a new rule where all tips go to the hotel instead of to the ponies they were given to. “Never mind, it can’t be helped now.” Bit examined the stallions uniform, looking him over top to bottom, until something slightly shiny caught her eye hanging on Noble’s neck. “Noble! Put those dog tags away! Such a worthless bauble in not acceptable in a Liakada’s uniform, especially for somepony like you!” Lowering his head and drooping his eyes further down, Noble let out a soft almost silent sigh before looking up with a stoic expression as he responded, “Yes ma’am. I will make sure you don’t have to see them again.” He quickly slid his tags up and into his shirt. “May I go now madam?” The mare lowered her tone. “You may go, though we need you in catering for entertainment room C. We have a very important party there today, so be quick about it and I do not desire to hear about any more mishaps!” She leaned in toward Noble, raising her head and raising an eyebrow. After Noble gave her a nod, she before turned around and walked back toward the main lobby to interact with guests. As the mare walked away, Noble’s body became more at ease, turning the other way and headed off toward the kitchen. “I hope Sharp Melody is there, I sure could use one of his stories today,” he murmured to himself as he walked through the gray corridors. The side door opened and Noble stepped into the kitchen, closing it behind him. “Hi everypony. I was told you need some help here for the event. What exactly do you need help with?” He asked as he walked toward the order window peering in at the cooks and chefs awaiting a response. All of them had been silently working, in repetitive manors. The pony at the stove top finally looked back over his shoulder. “Ehh, Noble! Could ya give Melody ah hand? Devil Bitter demanded he work and I think he’s havin’ some trouble with those sacks ah potatoes. Poor guy, how old he is again…? Don’t know why his playin’ the piano ain’t enough for that mare,” The stallion explained, leading into a short rant. Noble chuckled at the clever nickname for his boss, but quickly came back, though this time his smile being a little softer and kinder. “Sure thing. Is there anything besides potatoes that you need from the pantry?” Noble turned his head and tilted making sure he could hear as he already turned toward the pantry. The pony on the prep station shook his head. “No, we will be fine. Thank you for checking though,” the pony replied, looking up revealing a genuine smile that was a rarity, especially at the hotel. “No problem, always happy to help.” Noble nodded, giving a small salute and flicking his wrist toward the ponies to show he was leaving. He galloped to the pantry, beginning to speak as he rounded the corner, “Hello Mr…. Oh my gosh…” Noble’s sentence was cut short as he saw the frail, blue furred pegasus with a thin white mane trapped underneath a large sack of potatoes. The young stallion quickly gripped the sack with his teeth and pulled it off of the old pegasus and tossed it aside with ease. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Finally being saved, Sharp Melody slowly rolled over and lifted a hoof asking for assistance getting up from his younger co-worker. “I am far too old for this! Ohh I signed up to be a pianist, not carry groceries back and forth!” The gray pony stretched his back and caused several snaps and pops from it. He then turned to look at the worried young stallion before him. “Ah, thank you Noble. You are a nice fellow. I’m alright. I don’t think anything is broken.” Giving a sigh and wiping his brow with the back of his hoof the young pony collected his thoughts before asking, “Why in Equestria did you try to take a sack of potatoes from the upper shelf when we could use some form the lower shelf and go through them just as fast?” Melody looked up at the ceiling while rubbing his chin. “Oh I had just wanted to take the older potatoes so we could use em before they go bad,” the old pony said, while making a step toward the potato sack. After hearing the reasoning, the Noble nodded and put a hoof out stopping his elder. “I’m relieved that you are alright. I guess it was at least a good idea to try to get these potatoes. I’ll carry them back though. No offense but I believe your place is in front of a piano, not back here,” he said before biting and tossing the sack onto his back, turning and making a motion that they should walk back to the kitchen. The old pony nodded in agreement. He shook slightly and then turned his hoof shakily before putting it down to begin walking. “Oh, don’t worry, no offense is taken. I only took the job of being a piano steed, I didn’t sign up for manual labor that is suited for you strong young bucks.” Noble stopped at the kitchen and gently set the sack of potatoes in the corner so the cooks and chefs could see it. He then looked toward Melody. “Please continue, I am listening, I’m just trying to work at the same time. Though if you are unhappy with what Bit asks you to do why don’t you leave?” Sharp Melody had found a chair off to the side of the door that servers normally sat in during their breaks. Giving a nod he turned around and sat down in the chair, crossing his forelegs as he watched everypony work, a smile creeping on his face. “Don’t worry lad, I understand. I wouldn’t want to interrupt anypony’s work, I just enjoy sharing my thoughts with younger ponies. As far as why I don’t leave… well I still love playin’ the piano. And this job does let me play.” He gave a deep sigh. “I also do need the money, my career was good. But not good enough to last me through all ah my retirement. I still need this job to help cover my medical and living expenses.” The earth pony stopped as he was pulling a tray of champagne glasses out of the serving window. He stared at his fellow employee. “I can relate with needing money… It truly is sad that you have to work for this manager. Of course I’ll continue to help you with any physical task she orders you to do. If I can help that is.” “I would be very appreciative, though, of course I don’t want to get you in any trouble. I will do what I can to keep my job and do my fair share of the work,” spoke the old pegasus. He sat in silence, giving Noble his cue that he would wait to speak when he came back. Noble picked up on the hint and quickly pushed open the exit door, picking up a tray and putting on a smile as he walked among the rich ponies, all whom were sipping drinks, eating small snacks, and talking without a care in the world. The earth pony actually heard one of the ponies who took a drink from his tray, complain that he had so much money he had no idea what to do with it. Noble could only wish he had that problem. He made two circles around the event, clearing his tray of full glasses and collecting empty ones before walking back into the kitchen. Without missing a beat, the pegasus who still sat in the extra chair spoke to Noble each time Noble reentered the serving room, “Have I ever told you about my performance of Treble Clef’s op. 25 no. 1 at the Cloudsdale theater?” A glimmer shone over his eyes. Noble put the tray of empty glasses in the dish washing window before tapping the side of the serving window, signaling that he needs another tray of drinks or samplers while listening to the pegasus. “I don’t believe I have, I have heard of it before though. My friend, Wild Soul showed me a video of it once.” “Oh? You have a friend whom is a pianist as well? Where is he boy? I’d like ta meet him and see if I can pass on any tricks to a younger pianist. Becoming a pianist is a wonderful dream to have,” Melody replied while leaning forward in his seat while the glimmer in his eyes shined even brighter. Noble looked toward the serving window where the kitchen was busy frantically trying to make a tray giving him a small window of time to talk. “I don’t think he would call himself a pianist, he just does it as… more of a hobby.” He started rubbing his chin and lowered his gaze. “I guess the title he is aiming for is called art director… He’s a creative designer, you see.” “Pardon me, lad! Ah suppose I jumped to conclusions too soon,” Melody said with a forced smile upon his face, though it quickly caused a glimmer in his eye. “But it’s such a wonderful hobby to have. To be able to play and fill every filly & colt’s hearts in the room with the same feeling you have… ah it is the most wonderful feeling of all.” His voice started becoming a little raspy. “I don’t doubt it. It must be an amazing feeling.” Melody gave Noble a nod before speaking up again, “So…” The old pegasus leaned forwards, locking his eyes on Noble. “Your fella has a big dream, I suppose, but what about you, lad? Working in a hotel doesn’t seem to fit your cutie mark at all.” Noble immediately turned to look at his flank, though his magenta colored quill was concealed by his red pants, though it’s not like Melody has never seen Noble’s cutie mark before. There was a brief moment of silence before he let out a gloomy sigh and spoke up, “I suppose it doesn’t, but an earth pony can’t be picky about his job in Canterlot, and poetry isn’t the best way to earn… To be honest, I’m not really sure what I want. I haven’t even had time to write in a long time...” “Noble, take some advice from your elder. That mark is on your flank for a reason. You can’t play with your destiny,” The old stallion’s voice growing raspier by the minute. Noble’s ears folded back. “I know that, I know.” One of the serving ponies finished a plate of lettuce wrapped, rice and asparagus rolls and placed it up in the window. She tapped the side, signaling that the order was up and as soon as she heard the cough from her elder, she filled a glass of water and gently placed it next to the tray. Noble turned back to see the tray and water. “Thank you all!” he quickly lifted the glass with his hooves and balanced it on a single hoof, carrying it over to his fellow employee. Sharp Melody gently took the glass from his associate, sipping at it before resting it in his lap. “Thank you. And pardon me, again. Ah didn’t mean to lower your mood. I think I should continue my story.” He cleared his throat and the old pegasus began to tell his tale. ”So, it was summer and we were in the Cloudsdale theater…” Moving out the door with the platter, Noble knew Sharp Melody was going to continue talking even while he was not there, so he continued to circle the event, allowing ponies to take the morsels from the tray until he finished and again collected empty glasses. While Noble and other servers were running in and out of the kitchen, Sharp Melody continued his story, “...I had just lost the pony of my dreams. I poured all of my emotion from that event into my piano…” The pegasus rose his forehooves, moving them through the air as if playing the grand instrument. After about two hours of going back and forth between the event room and the kitchen, Noble stopped. The kitchen staff had ceased posting orders out when they should be sending out extra stuffed mushrooms which was the staffs’ specialty. “What’s wrong? Is everything ok back there chef?” Noble called through the window. One of the cooks, a green maned and yellow furred unicorn ran to the window in a flash. “Oh no! No no no! This is bad! We are out of mushrooms! We still have 10 dozen stuffed mushrooms to send out!” The kitchen was in an uproar as more and more of the servers showed up and were only able to take out drinks. Eventually the lack of appetizers caught the attention of Double Bit. The doors leading from the event center to the kitchen flung open, revealing all the ponies manager, Double Bit. “What in Equestria is the hold up?! We were supposed to have our famous stuffed mushrooms flying out those doors right now!” Double Bit yelled motioning a leg toward the doors she just came through toward the event. The member of the cook staff looked through the serving window. Sweat was dripping off her face and she looked back toward her fellow cooks and the head chef before gulping to speak in a squeaky voice, “Ma’am… we… we don’t have any more mushrooms.” Manager Bit stomped her hoof. “What?!!! What pony is in charge of ordering more mushrooms?!! Somepony is about to be out of a job!” Her voice shrieked and her eyes darted around the room. Everypony lowered their heads or turned their head as not to make eye contact with her. Being nudged by the head chef, the lowly cook quietly spoke up, “Y… yyyyo… yyyyou are ma’am. Remember, you took that responsibility after you thought the head chef ordered too many eggs for our last brunch event.” Upon saying those words, she sank until only her eyes were visible through the window. As soon as the words registered in the manager’s ears, she stood still; an eerie silence filling the room. “Well I will require more notice next time when we are running low on an item. I expect somepony to come up with a new appetizer that can be made, and can be made post heist! If we don’t get another star appetizer out there soon, I will be looking for new ponies to hire who can! Sharp Melody! Go out there and play for the crowd!” The old pony rose from his chair, stepping through the open door quietly disappearing into the room full of rich bustling ponies. This was followed by Double Bit herself stepping back through the doors and closing them as she returned to the party. “Oh no… what can we do?” One of the cooks in the kitchen shrieked. “Quiet I’m trying to think!” The head chef ordered in response. Different pony voices rang from the kitchen. The place was becoming extremely hot with almost all of the hotel staff being contained there, the only breeze coming from the opening of the doors as servers continued to keep drink orders flowing. Noble, whom still had his head down from Manager Bit’s rant, lifted his head up. He stood for a moment watching everypony sit, argue or hastily work in attempts to keep their jobs. He walked back to the storage unit looking at the cabbage, potatoes, eggplant, and bananas along with many other foods they had. Thinking for a moment, he clapped his hooves together, turning to run back to the kitchen window. “Why would we suddenly serve deviled eggs again?!! We have to think of something more creative than that!” Arguing still ensuing from the kitchen making other staff members rub their legs and continue to keep their heads low. “Excuse me, Chef.” The voice from the window belonged to Noble. “I have an idea for a dish. Or.. well two dishes… they will sound odd but they may work. If myself and other ponies bring you the ingredients.” The chefs immediately turned to look at the bellhop with blank looks on their faces. Noble’s voice trembled. “Do you think you could cut the bananas into slices, pan grill potato slices, then put the banana on top and grate just a little aged swiss on top? That will be one appetizer. The other could be slices of fried banana on a piece of toast with cocoa spread.” The bellhop clenched his teeth together, watching the kitchen staff's’ reactions. The staff looked at one another, widening their eyes and nodding. “Those actually don’t sound like bad ideas. They would mix savory and sweet then transition to a sweet filling dessert. Exquisite idea! Yes please hurry.” The green maned cook flipped her hoof toward Noble. Noble smiled and galloped to the storage room, followed by other employees. Together they gathered the necessary ingredients and placed them beside the kitchen. Within fifteen minutes, trays were being made and could be taken out to hungry guests. As trays were finished, the staff members carried their entrees out to the hungry guests. The green maned cook in the back looked through the window at Noble as he stepped up to get a tray himself. “Wow! That was some great thinking Noble. You really saved the day.” She gave a genuine smiled pushing the tray closer. Noble leaned his head down, giving himself a small grin. “Thank you... Truffle? I... didn’t mess up the names again, did I? You know just how bad my memory is, especially when we haven’t talked in, what feels like ages.” Noble looked up making eye contact as he balanced the tray on a hoof. “Nope.” Truffle nodded biting her bottom lip, holding in a giggle, before she slid down out of sight. After getting praised, Noble took a deep breath, walking through the doors standing tall a little easier. He delivered all of the food on his tray and went back getting his second tray and while looking at the clock on the wall, he realized that there were just eighteen more minutes before Double Bit would give a speech and bring the event to a close. Some of the staff were already gathering cleaning materials so they could clean up the event and conclude their work day immediately afterward. The rich ponies picked the delights off the tray. Unknown to Noble, one of the high class ponies took a sip of one of the drink samples. She turned her head, gagging as the liquid hit her lips. She looked at it once more and noticing that no pony was looking at her and not wishing to wait for a server to come to relieve her of her glass, she released her magic, dropping it to the ground. Finishing his round, looking about for other ponies who could finish the try, Noble did not see the new spill on the ground. As his front hoof touched it, he was already putting weight on it and had no time to save himself. His hoof slipped under him and the tray flew up in the air; kicking off with his hind hooves, the stallion slid forward catching the platter with a hoof, but although most of the treats fell on the tray, two fell and splattered on his head. The music stopped as Sharp Melody had seen the incident and a high class mare caught the view out of the corner of her eye and began to laugh, her outburst bringing attention to the scene. Noble pulled himself up, slowly regaining his balance and hearing the mocking laughter of the fancy crowd. Any trace of his smile had vanished as the stallion looked around, seeing the empty faces laughing at him. He covered his face, wiping the food off as his body shook and he felt an unswallowable lump forming in his throat. The high class ponies continued to laugh, drowning out the sound of the piano and some placed their glasses down from a lack of concentration. Clenching his teeth and holding back the moisture forming on his eyes, the stallion continued to shake but sniffled holding himself back before picking up the tray and dashing for the kitchen door. As he disappeared through the doors, his manager Double Bit laughed with the other ponies, but much harder, a more broken laugh as she looked around herself. When the laughter began to die down when Noble ran through the doors, she flicked her hoof indicating that one of the staff ponies should gather the plates to wrap up the brunch event. When the doors flung open on the kitchen side, Noble tossed his tray in the washing bay. He took some paper towels from a side table of extras and wiped the remaining food off of his face and using another began attempting to clean his uniform. The laughter from those ponies still rang in his ears and he lifted one more napkin which he quickly blew his nose into, giving a little sigh. Most ponies paid no mind and simply prepared for clean up. Once his uniform was clean, the kitchen door swung open once more. Double Bit stepped in glaring more harshly than usual. “NOBLE POET!” Her voice caused the kitchen staff to jump and the crashing of pans that could be heard throughout the back. “What was that hilariously pathetic scene?! Why did you do something so foolish just before the event ended?” Her voice was shrill and continued to cause stairs. Noble’s heart jumped to his throat once he saw his boss. The stallion pushed the used napkins in the nearest trashcan. He could do nothing but stand and prevent making eye contact as he was scolded while listening to his own, rapid heartbeat. When his boss stopped and continued to glare Noble thought over what he could say. The ball in his throat was gone and now his body began to grow warmer. His body shook while he closed his eyes and felt his muscles tighten in his forehooves as he wished to strike her. One of the long term workers at the hotel looked on while she held a broom waiting for her manager’s que to go. Although she was witnessing her fellow employee being yelled at, she stood there with a hollow smile gazing at her leader. Noble knew he had to calm down and could not cause a fuss since he needed his job. Explaining the situation would do nothing, so he was left with simply taking a deep breaths and apologizing. “I am sorry ma’am. I will be more careful and aware next time.” His voice was fading as he clenched his teeth together. “Very well, see that it doesn’t and that you are! That goes for all of you!” Bit looked over the other staff before turning abruptly, stomping her hoof and walking out the door with her nose up in the air. A slight murmur came from staff members with equipment to clean up. Noble looked in their direction, finally able to glare while he held his head down. “Yeah! Be more careful No-bell Poet!” The mare with a broom chanted before letting out an irregular laugh, which a few other long term ponies joined in on. Noble’s eyes peered up, piercing through the pony. Noble lifted a hoof and flung it into the nearby cement wall with an echoing thud and a rumble. Noble simply stood there breathing slowly, his hoof shaking from pain and anger. All the laughing stopped in the back halls. Sitting quiet for a moment, watching the earth pony regain his composure before a small voice, belonging to Truffle, came from the kitchen. “Noble? Are... are you alright...? We... have something for you.” Truffle slid one of Noble’s fried banana samplers on toast with cocoa spread into the window. “You can relax, I’m sure the others can clean up in a moment.” Rubbing the forehoof of the leg he punched the wall with, Noble looked up at the kind offering. He turned his focus to the other staff, some of them looking on blankly at the clock and doorway while holding mops and brooms. He breathed deeply again and gave a deep sigh. A small smile rose upon his face though. “Thank you, Truffle…” He spoke softly as his eyes lowered and he looked up at the window as he took the sampler. As he took a bite, he smirked slightly. Noble had not expected the flavors to mix as well as they had, it was nice that he had some associates at work that were willing to help one another. The door opened again as Double Bit leaned in and waved her hoof in a circle, signaling to the staff that the event is over and they can come out and begin cleaning up. Noble’s fellow employees disappeared through the doors, paying him no mind. Noble figured he could sit back and finish his snack and help the kitchen staff once he was finished. Truffle walked around into the main room sitting down beside Noble. “Are you alright now? You seemed pretty angry before. Luckily you don’t seem to have any glass in your hooves.” She reached out patting her associate on the shoulder giving him a big smile. The stallion gave a light chuckle. “Thank you... You are always very kind. How are you always so happy even when you work here for… her?” Noble shuttered and slightly tilted his head toward the door where Double Bit was last seen. Her smile shrank but remained on her face. She simply raised an eyebrow. “Oh… her! Well, luckily in the kitchen, being a lower level cook, I don’t have to see her as much. Today was the first time I had to talk to her directly in the past three days. The head chef tends to take care of most of the interactions with her.” Truffle looked around the ground where she sat and gripped the sides of her chair and began bouncing until she made a complete turn to face Noble. Noble chuckled at the odd method of turning around. “True, though, is there some other reason why you are always so happy and cheerful?” he asked as he ate the last bite of his fried banana. The mare rubbed the side of her cheek, thinking. “Well, I don’t know. I guess it helps that I have a very special somepony waiting for me when I get home. Thinking about how I will get to go back to her at the end of each day really brings a smile to this yellow face,” she spoke softly and giggled, although she was looking in Noble’s direction, it was clear that she was looking through him. Her smile told it all. Giving a smile of his own, Noble broke her fantasy. “You must really love her. I’m happy for you, I have yet to find somepony like that. Hopefully I will be ready when the time comes. By the way, thank you for the sampler, I really needed it.” He rubbed his stomach as he leaned back stretching out his back. Twiddling her hooves, Truffle leaned forward thinking after hearing that.“I’m sure you will be ready for her when you two meet. We all are just baking till we are just right.” She jumped off her seat and started heading towards the side table, starting to organize it by setting stacks of napkins back together and throwing away any used ones. “By the way, you were brilliant enough to come up with two new dishes from scratch; our chef was racking his brain trying to think of something.” Getting up as well, Noble shuffled over to help, he began throwing out some of the used plastic cups around a pitcher of water and made larger stacks. “Thank you, Truffle. I appreciate those kind words… I’m just glad I could help and that those flavors came together so well. All of you in the kitchen did a wonderful job.” He lifted his head up and raised his voice, attempting to be loud enough for the other kitchen staff to hear his praise. The mare giggled at Noble’s attempt at praising the staff. “Wow, even when you try to raise your voice you are soft spoken. Don’t worry, I’ll give your regards to the rest of the staff.” Truffle wiped down the table while Noble took the pitcher of water over to the cleaning window, leaving it for the kitchen staff to clean. “Noble,“ Truffle broke the silence. “I don’t know if you have any plans this evening, but... Would you like to come have dinner with me and my very special somepony?” Truffle tilted her head toward Noble so she could see him out of the corner of her eye as she finished cleaning off the table. Shocked by the sudden and rather odd offer, the stallion turned around pausing for a moment. “Well, uh…” closing his eyes he placed his hoof to his head as he always does when he is thinking. “Thank you for the offer; though I must refuse. I actually had plans to go with another friend of mine for cider after work.” Noble looked up again this time looking at the clock. “It’s still just two in the afternoon.” “Alright, no problem!” Truffle chanted. “Ah yes, we are finally done prepping and can simmer for the rest of the day.” Her voice chimed as she caught a glimpse of the the stallion checking the clock. “If you’d rather not go out in the entertainment room we can always use a hoof in the kitchen. Chef rarely cleans anything other than his knives.” She laughed as soon as she finished her sentence knowing how absurd it sounds. Shifting his attention back to the task at hand, the pony turned and nodded toward the mare. “Sorry but I can’t. I’m sure Double Bit will be coming back to check over our progress. I should go clean and be ready for whatever else she forces us to do. Thank you for the food and the pleasant conversation.” Rolling up his sleeves Noble bowed then pushed open the doors leading to entertainment room C. Truffle waved and returned to the kitchen herself in order to do her part in cleaning. Author's Note Cover art: http://wildsoulws.deviantart.com/art/A-New-Impetus-Chapter-2-Hard-Labor-532446617?ga_submit_new=10%253A1431540519 Truffle reference: http://pre15.deviantart.net/85e6/th/pre/i/2015/136/f/4/a_new_impetus___oc__truffle_by_wildsoulws-d8tmelk.png Fun fact: Liakada means sunshine in Greek
3. Helping HoofThe clock hit three. The rain and thunder had finally calmed down, and only a slight drizzle remained. Wild Soul looked out of the window of his office and let out a deep sigh, relieved he no longer has to worry about his stuff getting wet now. The stallion walked back over to his desk and lifted his saddlebag from the ground, setting it on his back and starting to gather his equipment: a wine red, blocky laptop, a few official papers, pens and a half-empty bottle of water. Closing the door behind him as he left the room, he walked over to a big staircase and took the staircase downstairs, heading over to the dial in order to clock out. There wasn’t much going on in the hallways. Most of the workers are either in their offices, working, or in break rooms having idle chit chats. The laughter in there could be heard all the way through the hallway. Soul very rarely joined the groups during breaks since he could never keep himself in the conversation. As Soul arrived at the dial, he saw a familiar yellow mare who was about to clock out. He thought to himself, say hi and stay to talk, or just clock out and wave to her? There wasn't really any time to 'deeply' think on this. He was still debating this decision when Mineral's voice broke his train of thought. “Oh, hello there!” Mineral chimed and immediately snapped to smile, quickly clocking herself out and turned to face at the stallion. “End of your day too, eh?” Soul immediately put on a smile too and nodded, digging up his time sheet and clocked himself out. “That’s right, nothing too interesting has been going on after my meeting. How are you feeling by the way?” He turned to look at the mare with an eyebrow raised. ”I haven’t seen you around since the cafeteria scene.” Mineral quickly stood up straight and puffed out her chest but flipped her hair back as it fell in front of her eyes. “Never better!” she declared with a strong tone but gave a chuckle afterwards, returning to a more relaxed posture. “I’ve just been resting in my office and tried to get some work done before the day ends.” Soul gave the mare a gentle nod and they started to walk towards the exit. “That’s good. It must be hard struggling with asthma, especially if you get attacks that are as bad as that last one.” Mineral’s smile fell. “Well, I admit that it’s not exactly a fun thing to have and it has affected me a lot, but...“ The smile returned to her face just as quickly as it had left and she looked around and swiped her front leg through the air. “Here I am, working in the capital of Equestria, and in one of the greatest design companies of them all.” As they reached the exit, Soul opened the door and held it for Mineral, who gave Soul a big smile and a nod as a thank you. “Very true.” Soul said and closed the door, he then looked up at the sky. “Though what startled you like that? Was it the lighting?” Soul asked as he turned to look at Mineral with wide prying eyes. Mineral’s heart skipped a beat and she let out an awkward laugh. “N-No, of course not. Only foals are afraid of lighting, right?” She crossed her forelegs as she stopped at the side walk. Before Soul even got a chance to answer, Mineral already changed the subject, she cleared her throat. “Anyway, how have you liked it here in Spectrum?” Thrown off guard by Mineral’s sudden awkward reaction, a blank look overtook Soul’s face. Mineral clearly didn’t want to talk about it, so he decided to just drop the subject. The stallion looked up at the building with a smile. “It sure has been nice working here so far.” Mineral made a bold statement, “Best workplace ever if you ask me, sis!” she chanted with a big smile on her face. “It’s fantastic that you enjoy working here.” Soul gave the mare a nod in agreement and dug up a lemon pastille package from his pocket, popping one in his mouth. “This first year here sure has treated me well.” He raised his hoof and a confident grin rose upon his face. “When I was a trainee here one and a half years ago, I was sure this was the place for me.” Mineral flicked her tail and stood a little taller as she put a hoof on her chest, holding her chin up high. “I sure know the feeling. Most of the ponies who come here usually stay here if they can. They could have a better food selection though,” she said with a bright chuckle following. Soul joined the laugh and tilted his head back and to the side. “You said it.” He was about to put the package back in his pocket, but he paused and offered one to Mineral. “Want one?” “Oh! Sure.” The mare smiled and took one of the pastilles with her magic, shifting her focus toward the sky. “Thank Celestia, the weather has gotten better.” Mineral’s statement caused a soft chuckle to escape Soul’s mouth as he lifted a hoof to ask a question. “Isn’t the weather usually used as a last resort in conversations?” Mineral replied gave a light chuckle as she shrugged, “Weather ponies must have very awkward conversations if that’s true.” A grin spread across Soul’s face and he looked away. “Good point.” Mineral turned to look at the big bell tower that was a bit further from Canterlot Spectrum. “Well, I have to go. I’m organizing an event today and being late is not a viable option.” Soul dipped his head to the side and raised his eyebrow as they stopped at the edge of the sidewalk. “That’s right, you work as an event organizer too. Almost forgot that.” Mineral gave him a nod with a big smile, placing her hoof on her chest. “Indeed! I would tell you about it but the clock is ticking.” She tapped the back of her hoof as if she had a watch on and started walking away from the stallion, but kept her attention on him. “Tomorrow you can tell me how that meeting went with that marketing director if you want.” Soul nodded and tapped his forehead with the tip of his hoof and flick his wrist as a goodbye. “Alright, sure! I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Mineral nodded back and waved her hoof before she turned to leave. Soul also began walking away in the opposite direction. Even though the rain had calmed down, Soul could still feel light drops hitting his fur. Sunbeams were brightly gleaming behind the clouds, causing the air to be rather warm. In a way, it was calming and relaxing. Though before he even reached a block away from his workplace, he felt vibrations coming from a pocket on his saddlebag. Soul immediately stopped and looked in the direction of the vibration and dug up a book with his magic. It was a small, red book with writing on it; “Instant Message.” Soul instantly stopped and was about sit on a bench nearby but at the last moment lifted his flank back up when he realized it was obviously soaking wet. The stallion just opened the book to the first page, on the upper corner it had a name written on it; 'Noble Poet.' On the page some text had appeared. “Hey Soul, I was wondering, would you like to go have some cider with me after my shift ends. I could REALLY use a drink, It’s been one of the worst days I’ve had in awhile. My normal, eat, have a few sweets, bury my head in a pillow and sleep WILL NOT cut it. So what do you say, same place as always?” Soul drew his neck back and scrunched his eyebrows together as he felt heavier rain drops falling. He glanced up and looked around for a shelter so the book wouldn’t get wet. He quickly spotted a small one close by, and ran under it. Taking a pen from his bag, he started writing on the right, empty page of the book. Though before writing anything, Soul took a good bit of time to think about what to respond with. Eventually he hit the paper with his pen and the words began to flow. As Soul finished writing, both of the writings disappeared, meaning that the message was sent. After the text disappeared, Soul closed the book and put it back into his pocket, taking a light breath as he glanced over at the Hotel Liakada that could be seen a few blocks away. It didn’t take long util Soul moved again and headed to do his daily routine. First, to the grocery store to buy food, go home and doing something to kill time, like read books or some random comics, play piano a little, draw or just lay on a bed and let his mind wander, or like now, meet Noble. It only took one hour before Soul’s I.M. Book vibrated again and Noble reported that he got out of work and was going to change clothes then head to their regular place at the mall. Soul grabbed his jacket and bag and headed back out again. The rain had completely stopped and the sun was shining one-hundred percent. Once again, Soul wandered through his thoughts during the walk since the streets had nothing of interest. Just upperclass ponies avoiding puddles like they were toxic. Eventually Soul arrived at the mall and headed in. The mall was more lively than usual, since it seemed like some kind of big food court event was going on. Every single kiosk and restaurant in there seemed to be offering free samples. Regardless, he headed straight out to a place called “Cider Cycle.” A small eatery with a pub-like decor. He had to look for a bit until he spotted his friend sitting at a table, already having cider. Soul let out a light sigh before heading behind Noble, he leaned against the bench and gave the tan stallion’s head a light bump. “You sure didn’t waste any time.” Noble, who was lost in his own thoughts, suddenly winced as he snapped out of it, his cider accidentally going down the wrong way, which caused him to cough for a good bit and some of it even spilling on his blue button up shirt. After managing to catch his breath, he turned to look at Soul while rubbing his nose and glaring at the stallion behind him. “Ahh… Dang it, Soul. What was that for?” he inquired in a raspy voice. The white stallion raised his hooves, having a guilty grin on his lips. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to almost cause you to choke. Didn’t realize you were that deep in your thoughts.” He lifted a few napkins on the table with his magic and handed them over to Noble. “Maybe this is a sign meaning that your wardrobe would need an upgrade.” Noble took the napkins and wiped his chest and legs clean of cider before rubbing over his mouth and blowing his nose in it trying to relieve the sting of the cider. "It's fine no harm done. Sorry for zoning out like that," he stated before giving a short laugh. Soul gave him a friendly laugh, “I’ve noticed you do that from time to time by now.” He leaned back from the bench and looked over at the counter. “Just a sec, I’ll get my own drink.” “Of course.” Noble responded reaching out to get a final napkin to dab at the spot once more. Soul walked over to the counter and ordered a pear cider. Of course he had to show his ID since there’s obviously an age limit for alcoholic drinks. He paid for his drink and walked back to Noble, holding the drink with his magic. He sat down on the seat opposite of his friend. “It seems like there’s some kind of food court event going on.” Noble raised his head and turned to look at the exit of the eatery. “Oh yes, I heard about that a few days ago at the hotel. Every restaurant, kiosk et cetra participating here are giving out free samples along with some special offers. It seems pretty intriguing.” Soul’s ears perked up and he looked back at the court. “Is that so? Wanna go there in a bit? I want to see what they got.” Noble gave his friend a small smile. “Sure! I’m curious to see too.” “It’s a deal then,” he said with a nod and took a sip of his cider before bringing up the reason Noble wanted to come, “So… Your day. Not the best one?” The smile on Noble’s face faded away and he looked away from his glass, taking a big breath before he nodded as frown filled out his face. “Yeah… It’s been a few months since she became our new manager, but it still feels like she doesn’t belong there at all. She’s just horrible; the worst kind of high society narcissist there is. She just bosses us around, without showing anypony any gratitude or appreciation.” Soul drew his neck back, the corners of his mouth dropping as he scrunched his eyebrows together. “Oh… Dang...” “And if that’s not enough…” Noble paused for a moment and took a sip from his glass before continuing, looking at the dog tags hanging on his neck. “She once again, bad mouthed me, my dogtags and finally, I embarrassed myself in front of all the high society ponies by slipping on a on a drink that a guest had dropped on the floor…”’ “Wow…” Soul started rubbing his neck as he lowered his head. “Sounds like luck hasn’t been on your side today...” Noble let out a groan and took another, big sip of his cider. “Yeah… no. It never is.” He glared as he looked down into his cup, the thought of Double Bit still running through his head. Soul followed the example by taking a sip as well. “Come on, that’s not true. Has she been that bad from the beginning? You’ve given me the idea that she’s just annoying.” Noble gave a light nod and sighed. “At first she was annoying when she was primarily enforcing her excessive rules and regulations on the receptionists and those in the public light, but recently she has been stricter, enforcing them on everypony. Even the kitchen staff is not safe. If you displease her she will just order you to work extra hours without overtime, threaten to fire you and assault you with words…” “Without a reason?” Soul was on the edge of his seat, eyes wide, taking in every word his friend spoke. “I guess she wants to prove her worth in the position to every single individual there. She is mostly doing these things for her higher-ups and herself. She loves throwing her power in other’s faces, just to toot her own horn.” Noble took a long swig of cider before giving a mighty huff holding himself back so he doesn’t slam down his mug. Soul shook his head and let out a long sigh. “That’s wrong in so many ways.” He reached out, moving the mug to the side and placing his hoof on the table, his leg bent at the elbow as he offered a supportive hoof to his friend. He tried smiling and kept the elbow bent to ensure this was not overly awkward. “But what happened after you fell?” Noble sighed. “You know that hurt, but… I had no other option than to just stand there and take it. She of course made me clean it up later. She ordered that no other pony touch it but me.” “What? Seriously?“ Soul’s forehead began growing warmer and his eyebrows dropped, “I would leave that place immediately after something like that.” The earth pony hooked his friends hoof with his shaking it from the shoulder, his anger melting into despair. “You know it’s not that easy for somepony like me. You’re a unicorn, so you wouldn’t have problems finding a job. I’m just an earth pony. I can’t leave my job, just like that.” The white stallion leaned back and pulled his hooves away since it started to get a bit too wakward for him, looking away and furrowing his eyebrows. “Yeah, it’s true that earth ponies don’t exactly have the easiest time getting jobs here. Even Canterlot Spectrum only has a few earth ponies working there.” Noble ran his hoof around the rim of his glass. “I would take your job anyday if I had your creativity.” A light laugh escaped Soul’s mouth and he leaned against the table. “Well, working in a design company isn’t always easy. It’s a busy place and sometimes work hours stretch quite a bit.” Noble grabbed his glass and leaned back. “At least you have a good working environment and some encouraging management. Or that’s the conclusion I came to from how you describe it.” Soul gave his friend a nod. “Yeah.” Noble quickly sipped his cider again and then let out a long sigh, burrowing his face into his forelegs as he crossed them on the table. “But I don’t know if I should dare show my face at work again…” The white stallion immediately leaned forwards and lightly bumped his hoof against the table. “Hey, listen now. It was an accident caused by a terrible customer. Who knows how badly you could’ve been hurt. There’s no way your co-workers can think that’s funny.” “Believe me, I heard plenty of laughs and I was given a few remarks and blame from everypony, even from a couple of the co-workers...” Noble spoke lifting a foreleg just enough so his voice could be audible. Soul’s jaw immediately dropped and he smacked a hoof against his face. “Oh my Celestia, how big of idiots can some ponies be?” Noble looked away shoving his face into his crossed forelegs. “Tell me about it… I just want to hit my head against this table right now.” His voice was muffled but still audible to Soul. Soul scrunched his eyebrows together as he leaned forward with a grin upon his lips. “You’re gonna suffer if you hurt my best friend, you know,” he said following it up with a laugh.. “Just don’t let them get to you. You’re a valuable, hard working guy and a great friend. Or would I be sitting here having cider with you if I thought otherwise?” A light laugh escaped Noble’s mouth as he sat back up. “Thank you, you always manage to help me when I’m down.” He lifted a hoof up toward Soul. “Consider it my duty,” Soul stated with a friendly laugh. He lifted his hoof as well, clapping it against his friend’s outstretched hoof in support with a small smile and poured the last drop of cider into his mouth. “Well then, shall we go and expose ourselves to many, many calories?” Noble stood up from his seat and nodded his head. “Yes, with pleasure. After you.” The Earth pony bowed his head and extended a leg. Soul grabbed their glasses with his magic and stood up as well, taking the glasses to a return cart. After that, they headed back to the mall’s square and to the food court. Soul told his friend about his workday and how the client chose the logo Soul liked less, and how his co-worker Mineral had an asthma attack during their lunch break. Naturally Noble asked if she was alright now and if Soul helped her. Soul followed up and explained how it went as they arrived to an ice cream shop that advertised free milkshake samples. Noble lifted a sample of a toffee milkshake and spoke up before sipping it. “Sooo, what else is going on besides these… interesting, situations at work?” Soul followed the example and thought for a bit before answering, "Well I've bought a couple new very stylish shirts. One red and the other one has a genius patterning." Noble shivered in delight then opened his eyes to before speaking to Soul agian. "Awesome, sounds pretty neat," "One of the greatest ones I've seen. Fits pretty darn well with my other, black jacket. The colors fit together so well." Noble gave a soft smile, even though it was slightly forced since Noble isn't that into clothes. “That’s good.“ He then turned to look at the mare who was running the stand and held up his empty cup. “This milkshake is delectable, ma’am.” The mare gave the stallion a big smile. “Thank you, mister! Be sure to buy it before the court ends.” Noble nodded at her reply as a thank you and started walking toward another stand with Soul. After tasting a few samples from different courts, they decided to search over the more excotic part of the court. Soul knew that Noble was a far more adventurous eater than he was and did not want to prevent him from trying all the foods he wanted to partake of. After awhile, they arrived at a big stage that seemed to still be half-built, though it also seemed to have surprisingly few workers building it. As they were bypassing the stage, frustrated murmuring and sounds of paper caught their attention in front of the stage. Noble nudged his friend and chuckled. “Somepony seems to be having a difficult time.” The one who actually was there having a rough time was someone Soul wasn’t expecting to see, especially here. He stopped Noble and scrunched his eyebrows slightly while squinting his eyes. “Hey, that’s one of my co-workers. Mineral, the one who had an attack today.” Noble focused on the mare putting up the banner. “Oh. Well she looks like she’s having a difficult time with that poster.” “Banner,” Soul quickly corrected with a quick laugh. He motioned for Noble to follow him and walked over to Mineral who had already put the banner down and hopped to the edge of stage, burying her face in her hooves. Noble froze and stared at the mare for a moment. Unable to see her full face but able to see enough to get a good idea his heart began to beat faster as a pink hue cast over his cheeks. He leaned over and whispered to his friend. “Oh wow, now that I can see her better, she is kinda cute… Do I look ok?” The pale stallion stopped alongside his friend and drooped his head with a sigh. “Noble please, don’t start one of those starflight crushes again.” He gave a short laugh raising his head and looking at his friend with an eyebrow raised and a half faced grin. Noble slung his head back, widening his eyes and flicking his ears back. “What...? Are you saying, I’m not supposed to search for my special somepony?” Soul quickly shook his head. “No, I’m just saying that I could make a list of all the mare’s you’ve fallen in love with and lost your interest on the same day, it would be about as long as Equestria’s history.” He took a deep breath and gave his friend a light, yet still a bit sarcastic grin. “I’m just trying to save you from throwing your ‘feelings’ all around, and her from the awkward puppy eyes and ‘I found my true love’ moment.” Noble looked down for a moment with rather gloomy face, but then turned his attention to Soul again with an awkward smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, you have a point there… Thank you. I will just drop it. Though I wouldn’t call it love, just a crush. There is a difference." Soul gave Noble a gentle smile. "Don't worry buddy, Mineral isn't the kind of calm and quiet mare you like, so you won't lose a 'true love' there," Soul stated with a joking but friendly laugh and they started walking toward Mineral again. Noble gave his friend a shrug. “If you say so.” He followed, trotting behind Soul to the corner of the stage that Mineral was sitting at. Back at the stage, Mineral was mumbling to herself and was breathing heavier than normal. She even already had her inhalator in her hooves. “Calm down Mineral, calm down. Just…. stay calm and get the job done and you’ll manage.” “Mineral?” Soul spoke up as they arrived at the front of the stage, tilting his head to the side at the sight of her breathing heavily. Mineral immediately raised her head with a gasp, her eyes bulging and a light smile rose upon her face as she saw the white stallion. “Oh, look who’s here!” She jumped off the stage and lifted her hoof. “Just a second.” The mare quickly placed the inhaler into her mouth. She took a deep breath of her medicine and held it for a few seconds before exhaling to speak. “There, much better.” Soul gave a quick nod and looked around himself in the court. “So this is the event you had to organize?” he stated and turned his attention back to the mare, tilting his head up. “Seems like you’re a bit… stressed?” Mineral plopped her flank on the ground and let out a long, rough groan as she rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it! A few helping hooves didn’t arrive to help us after all and now I’m stuck with a wheedler.” The mare tilted her head at the pony who was dragging a big, rolled up screen on to the stage. The stallion to whom Mineral was referring to clearly could hear her comment. His ears were perking up and he turned to look at Mineral, lowering the sunglasses he had. “Thanks, sweetheart! You’re such a flatterer.” “I’m your manager here, Neon! Just get that screen hung,” Mineral groaned and closed her eyes while starting to rub her temple, turning her attention back at the two stallions before her. “We’re lucky that we managed to set most of the event up in time, but dang, this is giving me headache and is elevating my blood pressure.” “Um, if I may say, I’ve really liked this court so far,” Noble spoke up and gave the mare a smile. Mineral’s attention snapped to Noble. “Oh, thanks!” she said, with a smile, though quickly tilting her head and shifting her weight to her other leg. “Who might you be?” “Just my servant. Does all the dirty work, you know,” Soul stated with a laugh and gave a quick glance over at his friend. “Soul!” The earth pony snapped turning to the stallion with a huff. Soul waved his hoof while putting on a smile, he gave Noble’s shoulder a little pat. “Kidding. Noble, this is Mineral Tint, my co-worker. Mineral, this is Noble Poet, a.k.a my best friend. Don’t worry if he’s acting weird, it will go away quickly enough,” he joked and turned to look at Noble, who gave Soul a glare which changed to a stoic expression, indicating that he wasn’t going to say anything silly. “Wha-?” Mineral’s jaw dropped immediately and her eyes kept darting from side to side for a split-second, till she drew her neck back. “Excuse me for my abrupt comment but you have friends?” she quickly spoke with a joking laugh. Soul lightly scrunched his eyebrows together as a confused look took over his face, and he lifted his hoof. “Yeah…? Why are you so… shocked?” A light laugh could be heard escaping Noble’s mouth as he nudged Soul with his elbow. “Come on, I don’t blame her for her reaction; at least not one hundred percent.”. Soul simply rolled his eyes and turned to look at the confused Mineral. Mineral quickly shook her head and snapped out of the state, clearing her throat and standing up straight. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, sis!” She stretched out one of her front legs toward Noble, offering to shake. Noble tilted his head slightly and slowly stretched his own leg to shake with Mineral. “Uh… Sis?” “She calls everypony sis,” Soul quickly noted. Mineral shrugged and gave a cheerful chuckle. “It’s my thing. Can’t help it.” She turned to look at Soul and dipped her head to the side. “But yes, I’ve always had the impression that you are kinda like a lonely wolf.” Before Soul even had a chance to open his mouth, Noble had already taken a step forward and let out a chuckle. “He does and doesn’t. He always enjoys the company of ponies he knows and trusts.” The earth pony put on a wide ear to ear smile. “Trust me, despite that, there is a stable guy in there.” Soul’s eyebrow closest to Noble rose, and he gave a half smile as he raised and tilted his head. “You don’t have to speak for me.” Noble quickly took a step back and raised his hoof behind his head, looking away with a slight frown. “Sorry.” Soul jokingly laughed and raised his hoof. “It’s alright.” He then turned his attention back to Mineral and started rubbing his neck. “So umm, yeah. That’s that.” Mineral stood up straight with a big smile. “Well it’s good to know there’s action in your limbic system.” “Uh...” A blank look immediately took over Soul’s face. He drew his neck back and raised his hoof as he looked back and forth at Mineral and Noble. “Limbic system?” Noble seemed to be as unaware, keeping his muzzle shut and looking back and forth between the two as Soul, just giving a shrug. Mineral chuckled and tapped her head. “The part of the brain that adjusts our emotions.” “Oh!” both stallions exclaimed. Soul scratched his head and glanced around furtively. “Well... good to know I guess.” Mineral nodded with a chuckle. “It is.” Though the smile fell pretty quickly and she let out a sigh as she climbed onto the stage again. “Anyway, I’d better get back to work. Every wasted minute means more anger and disappointment…” She glanced away at the ceiling, clearing her throat. “I... sure wish there would be some more help.” Her voice was clearly waving. There was no question what Mineral was going for. Soul turned to look at the tan stallion next to him. “Noble, do you think we could lend a helping hoof?” Noble gave his friend a nod and smiled. “Sure, why not.” Mineral had already started walking away, but she immediately stopped, her eyes widening and she turned to look at the stallions behind her with a smile. “Oh, would you be that kind? Thank you guys! I can’t pay you with any bits though since you don’t have a contract and we don’t have time to make one, but I’ll offer you two dinner or something.” Soul stood straight. “We have a deal.” Author's Note I.M. Book is kinda like a mix of phones and Tom Riddle's Diary from Harry Potter. Ponies can send messages to each other, and text dissapears when the message is sent. It's very similar to Sunset Shimmer's Diary she uses in Rainbow Rocks, and that's where the idea to expand this consept came from. Cover Art: http://wildsoulws.deviantart.com/art/A-New-Impetus-Chapter-3-A-Helping-Hoof-535156575
4. BondsSoul stood up straight. “We have a deal.” A wide smile erupted on Mineral’s lips. “Perfect! We’ve burnt through too much time already just talking, so let’s get to work.” She turned to look at the stage where just one pony was trying to hang a big white screen. “First of all, Noble would be helpful with that white screen. Soul can help me with this banner. ” Noble brought the side of his hoof to his forehead before bringing it forward and down, trotting over to the screen. “I’m on it!” Mineral nodded back to him and then turned her attention back to Soul, lifting up the two corners of the banner as she grabbed a stapler with her magic “Come on, sis. Let’s get this banner in its place.” “Gotcha.” Soul lifted the other side of the banner and placed it on the edge of the stage, holding it there while Mineral started stapling it. “Soooo is there any specific food you are looking for or are you just hanging around?” Mineral asked with her eyebrow raised as she stepped off the stage to see where she was stapling. Soul glanced away from her at the court. “Pretty much just hanging around with Noble. Though I’ve been planning to go to this one sushi place and taste their uramaki.” Mineral immediately scrunched her muzzle but quickly though trying to save herself gave off a forced laugh. “With all due respect;”- she pushed her tongue out and coughed in disgust - “Ew!” Soul sat down and threw his forelegs on his sides and laughed, though not letting go of the banner with his magic. “What? Sushi is good!” Mineral added the last rivet and climbed onto the stage while shaking her head. “Nope, can’t agree with that, sis. I once tasted it when I was a filly and it was just… ew,” she groaned and pushed her tongue out in disgusts while cold shivers ran through her body when she thought about it. Soul climbed after Mineral and stood up straight like a general, bumping his hoof against his chest. “You must accept the sushi into your heart!” he spoke with a deep voice. “Sorry, but I have to side with Mineral on this one,” Noble stated who had overheard their conversation while climbing up the ladder further away from the duo on the stage. Soul let out a light, joking groan and puffed out his other cheek, rolling his eyes. “Aaaaaand touche.” “All I must do is to make this event perfection,” Mineral chanted with a chuckle and headed behind the stage, Soul following her there. “Perfection is a subjective idea,” Soul stated with a grin and an eyebrow raised. Mineral jokingly rolled her eyes. “No, perfection is when something is literally perfect.” She hopped off the stage in the middle of all kinds of equipment. “Next we need speakers and lights. And fast, time is running out.” Mineral walked over to the two speakers not far away, motioning for Soul to come help her. Quickly and securely, the stage started to become whole and began looking like an actual stage. Two big speakers on each side, two lights above, the big white screen and of course a microphone. Everything was finally looking good, and it was just in time, since ponies who were supposed to give speeches and presentation for their restaurants started gathering around the stage. Even though everything was as ready as they could be, Mineral was still trying to make it even ‘better’. She was running back and forth between the speakers, changing the angles constantly. The group started to grow impatient, till one of the ponies spoke up, “Excuse me miss, but could we start already? The presentations should’ve started minutes ago.” “Yes, yes. Just a second.” Mineral squinted her eyes and rotated the speaker barely one degree. She then quickly ran further from the stage and started tapping her chin, a big smile forming on her face after a brief moment. “There! Now it’s finally perfect!” “So can we finally start already?” one of the ponies among the performers groaned while shaking his head. “I’m sorry for the delay, sir. We’ve been very understaffed today,” Mineral responded lowering the tone of her voice while giving a little curtsey. She then turned to look at the mare with a pink mane in the crowd of the performers. “We can start as soon as the host is ready.” The pink maned mare braced up and put a hoof on her chest, holding her head high. “Just give me a word.” “Perfect! Hey, Neon Lights!” Mineral turned to look at the stallion behind the stage, who was taking pictures of himself. “Is everything ready to go on your end?” Neon Lights only gave Mineral a split-second glance. “Ready, is my middle name, sugar,” he said while swiping his mane as he put on a big grin, snapping a few more pictures. “I’m never gonna work with that guy again…” Mineral murmured to herself. She huffed and took a deep breath. She cleared her throat and walked over to the host of the presentation. “Alright, miss. You can get up on the stage. Give them a grand opening,” she cheered with a wink. The host simply nodded with a confident smile and walked up to the stage. The mare walked over to the microphone, tapped it and cleared her throat, beginning with welcoming everypony to the mall and the event. Mineral was nodding, pleased at how well the stage actually came out. Her attention was snatched away from the stage as she saw Soul and Noble approaching from behind it. She trotted over to the duo, sitting down and clapping her hooves together. “Guys! You sure deserve my gratitude for this!” Soul sat on the bench nearby and raised his hoof. “Don’t mention it. I never pass up a free meal,” he stated and let out a little chuckle. “But seriously, it was nice.” “Glad to hear that. If it weren’t for you, Neon and I still wouldn’t even have gotten the walls up,” Mineral chimed and turned to look at a clock on the wall. “Well, after this opening, it’s going to be fifty minutes of managers talking about their chains. Sooooo do you want pizza or something fancier?” “Sushi,” Soul quickly noted, following it up with a laugh. Soul’s suggestion didn’t even click in Mineral’s mind. The mare just made a quick statement, “Pizza it is.” It caused another laugh to escape Soul’s mouth. “Pizza will do. We don’t want to rob you,” Soul said with a little laugh, turning to look at Noble, raising his eyebrow. “Right?” Noble perked up, darting his head about then looked at the duo and gave a nod. “Yes, pizza works for me.” Mineral leaned towards the two stallions, putting on a grin and raised an eyebrow. “What? You think I don’t have money?” She let out a bright chuckle and drew her neck back again, swiping her leg forwards. “Just kidding, I have limits of course. I know a perfect place just a couple levels up. It’s absolutely gorgeous for a pizzeria.” Soul extended his hoof. “Lead the way then.” Mineral quickly waved her hoof at the stallions. “Go wait for me at the staircase. I’ll talk to Neon first.” Both stallions gave Mineral a nod before heading to the staircase. As Mineral approached the dark coated stallion, his attention immediately shifted toward her. He leaned back in his chair, putting on a big smug smile. “Well hello, sweetheart. Wanting a close up for this magnificent, sophisticated gentle-stallion?” Mineral’s eyebrows dropped, a light groan escaping her mouth. “Not exactly. I came to inform you that I’m heading out to dine now. You keep things under control here.” Neon’s eyes bulged and his jaw dropped immediately, his sunglasses sliding halfway down his nose. He spoke in a rather high pitch voice, “Wait, did I understand that correctly?” Neon took the sunglasses off. “You’re going to dine… without me?” “Exactly. Keep your eyes on the presentation,” Mineral chanted with a pinch of sarcasm in her voice as she left Neon with his mouth a gasp, and then headed over to the two stallions waiting for her. The three ponies took the stairs up two levels and arrived at the entrance of a large, restaurant style pizzeria with a glowing sign above it. It really was what Mineral said it would be, an elegant place with stylish decorations. The walls were built out of red stone, the floor was smooth marble and the tables were dark, lacquered wood. Noble only looked about for a moment before looking toward his friends again, paying only little attention to the decor. Soul on the other hoof couldn’t help but admire the unique decorations more than his friend could. There weren’t too many customers, since most of them had gone to the presentation. Mineral quickly trotted up behind Soul and Noble and passing the two, she lead the stallions over to the counter, and rang a bell. “Customers!” a voice chanted from kitchen, and it didn’t take long until a unicorn mare with a light red coat trotted over to the counter. A wide smile spread across her face as she saw Mineral standing at there. “Ah, signorina Mineral! It’s the most pleasant to see you.” “It’s pleasant to see you too, Croccante!” Mineral chimed and leaned against the counter with a big smile on her face, and quickly tilted her head at the stallions. “Me and my companions here would like to order pizza.” “Can-do! I assume you would like the usual one?” Croccante brought up a notepad and pen with her magic. Mineral gave the mare a nod. “Familiar and safe, yes.” She turned her attention at Soul and Noble. “What about you two?” Soul had already planned out his order and was able to recite it quickly. “My own choice, please. Four toppings. Mushrooms, egg, onion and hay. And without tomato paste.” Noble waited a moment after the others finished, he tapped his muzzle with his hoof and thought before he spoke. “And I’d like tomato sauce, mushrooms and egg. Mozzarella instead of hay, and can I get some oats along the crust please?” Croccante nodded as she wrote the orders down and ripped the note off with her magic. “And will you pay with cash or hoof print?” Mineral put a hoof on her chest. “I’ll pay for all three, and with hoof print.” Croccante nodded with a smile and opened a book on the counter. Mineral put her hoof on the empty page, and it started flowing with white light, which meant it recognized Mineral and after the light turned green, the payment was accepted. Croccante gave them all glasses from behind a counter and pointed in the direction of the taps. All three went to get some lemonade before Mineral lead Noble and Soul to a table next to a window and they all filed in. Mineral let out a relaxed sigh. “I promise you, when the first piece of this places pizza touches your tongue, your mind will explode! The flavors and natural textures they can make in the crust along with combining fresh ingredients, only prepared upon order, causes the food to take a little longer but, it’s the best Pizza in town by far!” Noble took a moment to absorb the information before he spoke, “So you’re a regular?” Mineral nodded and put her hooves together. “Every weekend -regular,” she said with a chuckle, laying her hooves on the table. “Soooo, Noble. What’s your story?” The earth pony's eyes lowered once again and he began twiddling his hooves, forming what he had to say before speaking, “My story? Well… nothing special… Just a poet with a lousy bellhop job.” “Oh.” Mineral quickly grabbed her drink with her magic and took a sip. Seeing the look on Noble’s face made her feel kinda bad that she even asked, even though she didn't ask anything improper. Ignoring the bad bellhop comment, she leaned against the table and continued. “I figured poetry was your thing. Your name and cutie mark, and such.” Noble started rubbing his neck and glanced away, and he twitched his lips into a smile but lowered them once more into his common neutral look. “Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve written anything. My job drains most of my energy.” Soul saw his friends debate of forming a smile before talking and set a hoof on the table, “Nurturing your special talent is important though.” Noble took a sip of his drink and looked out of the window with a small frown. “I know, but earning money to manage and eat is important too.” Soul locked eyes with Mineral with a half frown on his face before looking back at his friend. “That is true too...” The three ponies sat in silence for a moment. Noble cut his eyes looking at Mineral who was scratching her lower leg with her lower hoof, and he then turned to Soul, both of whom were occasionally glancing at the white unicorn. Mineral bit her bottom lip and had been fidgeting in her seat while rubbing the upper part of her lower legs with her hooves. Noble began to sweat and looked away. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make this awkward. We can change the subject.” The unicorns both breathed a silent sigh of relief. Soul raised his glance “Sorry buddy, we just didn’t know what to say.” Noble turned to the group once more looking at the unicorns without showing any emotions. “It’s fine. It was my bad for bringing that up and making you both feel awkward. Hopefully this is just a rough patch and things will get better.” Soul puts his hooves up on the table and held a hood up to the earth pony. “No need to apologize, we all have those times we just need to get it out.” He looks over at Mineral and darted his eyes from her back to Noble. After Noble broke the silence and Soul spoke to him, she relaxed. She laid her chin on her hooves while looking down. After a brief moment, her gaze rose and she looked at the tan earth pony with a big smile. “Noble, I may have just the thing to cheer you up! Would you like to hear a poem I have?” Noble’s ears perking up at the word ‘poem’, he looked up from fiddling with the wrapper to his straw, his eyes getting a little wider now. “Oh, where is it from? And sure I’d be happy to hear it.” He leaned in, resting his chin on his hoof. “Well, I actually made this one up myself. I’m no poet but, I’ll go for it anyway and if it’s the worst thing you’ve ever heard, which I’m pretty sure it is going to be, you can help me to fix it up, naye.” She shifted her eyes, making sure she made eye contact with each of the stallions. Soul’s right eyebrow rose. “I didn’t know you dabbled in poetry.” Looking at Soul once more, Mineral stated, “Well, no I don’t normally write any kind of poetry, so you two are about to watch history with my first poem since my grade school times” The tan earth pony nodded. “Take your time, I’ll tell you what I think.” He lowered his hoof off his chin and set his hooves together leaning back with his forehooves crossed but his eyes being wide as he watched the mare. The mare cleared her throat and lifted a hoof up in the air that was bent at the elbow. “Helpless daisy grows through the cracks. It shines in the light.” Her words were elegantly spoken and she kept her eyes closed as she said it. After she finished there was a short pause. The stallions looked at one another then back at Mineral. Soul rubbed the back of his head and looked at Noble with his eyes narrowing. “Well, you are the poet here. We’re waiting your thoughts.” Noble turned his head slowly, squinting his eyes at Soul. He quickly turned his head to look at Mineral. Rubbing his chin with his hoof the tan pony thought for a moment before speaking up, “Well it was alright. Short and sweet.” Giving a sigh the mare set her hoof down on the table facing toward Noble. “Come on don’t worry, you don’t need to be nice or beat around the bush. If you think it’s bad you can tell me and if you really want to, you can help revise it.” She finished with a big smile. Noble threw his hooves up. “No no. It is good, just-- I may have some things to change. I’ll see what I can do.” He pulled a pencil out of his shirt pocket and slid a napkin in front of him beginning to write. Soul let out a laugh. “Now he will be too focused on his writing to listen to us.” He held up his head by resting it on his hoof, smiling as he watched his friend write for the first time in a while. The poet wrinkled his forehead as he wrote and crossed through words, his eyes darting over the paper. Minutes passed and finally he dropped his pencil. “There! Finally done. Umm, Mineral would you mind reading this? I really don’t like reading in front of ponies.” He pushed the napkin over and slid his forelegs closer to him, shrinking down in his seat. The mare sat up blinking and her mouth open for a moment before shrugging and giving a chuckle. “You really are Soul’s friend.” Soul laughed and raised an eyebrow at Mineral. “Hey, I like leading presentations.” “Yes, yes, it was just… Ah, forget it,” Mineral said with a joking laugh and smiled at the white stallion. She the turned back to face at Noble. ”But anyway, of course I’ll read it if you really want me to.” The mare cleared her throat and read the poem once through before reading it out loud, “Daisy rise, show your heart. Ascend to the light and blossom through the cracks. Ignite! Prove that you are meant to be. Show you are meant to be, Yearn to take your place and shine. Become divine~!” Mineral’s voice trailed off as she finished reading. All she could do was continue to stare at the napkin. Soul grinned at his co-worker’s reaction. “I’m guessing you didn’t expect it to be that good. It was one of your better ones since you’ve been here Noble.” He lifted his hoof up to bump Noble’s. Noble returned the hoof bump and gave a faint smile while he darted his eyes down. “Thank you, that expression does say a lot and thank you Soul, your praise always means a great deal to me as well.” Rubbing his foreleg with the opposite hoof the poet sank back into his chair. Mineral slammed the table with her hooves. “Are you kidding?! This is amazing! I see why you have your cutie mark. We definitely need to get you somewhere where you can feel inspired and begin writing again. I’m not much of a poet but it is very good at least to me.” She giggled and folded her forelegs. Noble continued rubbing his foreleg continuing to look down and away.. “Oh come on, it’s not that good. Thank you though. It was… interesting, writing after such a long break. I really wish I could get some time away from this city so I can actually relax and get inspired once more.” Mineral scrunched her mouth and looked upward, rubbing her lower leg with her rear hoof. “I’m sorry to hear you say that. I hope you can.” As soon as she finished, she drew her neck back, her eyes widening and ears perked up like something igniting in her. The mare immediately turned her attention at Soul and leaned toward him. “Oh Soul, speaking of interesting, I heard today that something interesting is going on in Canterlot Spectrum.” Tapping the spot in front of Noble before fully turning his body to face Mineral, Soul’s ears perked up. “Something interesting? What exactly?” Mineral shook her head and crossed her forelegs. “I don’t really know, but I’ve heard something is going to change there.” The male unicorn rubbed his chin, a suspicious look upon his face. His ears folded back when a very unpleasant thought crawled to his mind. “You don’t think they’re going to substitute employers...?” Lifting her hooves up and placing them together under her chin, Mineral shook her head. “I sure hope not! I just happened to overhear our art director and manager talking about some kind of change.” Soul rubbed his neck. “Huh… Interesting…” Turning to face the group again and looking a little red, Noble lifted a hoof as if he were about to speak but froze for a moment. “Umm… if there were any positions opening up that an earth pony could do... Do you think one of you could tell me about it-- even if it’s just a custodian or something?” Soul looked at Noble with a hard look in his eye and leaned against the table, lifting his eyebrow as a big grin rose on his lips. “Well I don’t know, can we?” Soul asked with joking tone, giving a laugh afterwards, and he leaned back again. “Kidding. I promise if I hear anything about a position being open in the office, I will tell you first and send in a good word for you.” A chuckle came from Mineral who was covering her mouth with her hooves now. “And I will keep an ear out for any word of job openings. I think being social would be a good skill to have to be able to find something about a job opening.” She giggled once more. Soul looked at her, tilting his head to the left and slightly giving a playful smug smile. “Alright we’ll both keep our ears open. I’ll listen through our department and you keep listening in the kitchen.” Noble let out a large burst of air, covering his mouth quickly as tried to hide his laugh. “Kitchen? I don’t work in the kit---” Mineral’s eyes bulged as she realized what Soul meant, causing her eyebrows to drop. “Oh.” The mare scowled at the comment then glared at the laughter hiding Noble. “I’m very sorry,” Noble gasped between laughs. Mineral rolled her eyes and lifted the edges of her mouth, giving a laugh too. “Don’t worry, that was actually a funny one.” She then turned to look at the white stallion, and leaned against the table, raising her eyebrow. “I’m sure Soul didn’t mean it, or did you?” Soul let out a small, but a bit forced laugh and raised his hoof. “Of course not. Just a stupid joke.” “Just as I figured.” The mare brushed her hair back, then flexed her forehoof showing her muscle as she spoke again, “And after all, who would open jars for him if I wasn’t in the kitchen?” Soul flicked his head back, laughing. “Unlike me, you always eat in the cafeteria, which makes you a rare sight in East Wing’s kitchen.” “Ah, good conversation!” Croccante’s voice was heard as she arrived at the table with two other servers all holding pizzas. “That is normally a precursor to some good food!” They place each one before it’s proper pony, and every pizza was cut into four slices. “Please, enjoy your food and let us know if there is anything else we can get for you today.” Clapping her hooves together, squealing with an open mouth smile, Mineral took a deep breath of the pizza placed in front of her. “Thank you very much! These all look delicious.” Croccante gave the mare a big curtsey with a smile, and then returned to the counter as the two other cooks returned to the kitchen. The three ponies all grabbed napkins, forks and knifes for themselves. Soul was staring at his pizza with his eyes almost glimmering at the looks of it. He quickly lifted his cutlery with his magic and hit the fork on the edge of the pizza, starting to cut a slice. “This might actually become my new favorite pizzeria of all time. Just the smell makes me want to swallow the whole thing at once.” Mineral had already cut a few slices for herself, and she was lifting one of them right up to her mouth with her magic, glancing at Soul with a grin on her face. “See I’d have bet my life on that,” she said with a chuckle and took a bite. Noble had also cut a slice for him and folded it in half as he lifted it to his lips. As he took a bite, his eyes grew slightly wider and he immediately took a few more, larger bites and finished them before speaking up, “Wow, this tastes amazing!” As Soul’s pizza bite was savored on his tongue for a bit, he froze, simply staring off into space. Then, he lifted his head and slowly narrowing his eyes as if to go to sleep. He looked at Noble and then Mineral. “I have found a true source of euphoria.” Soul’s voice was practically waving as he closed his eyes while he stared up to the ceiling, taking another bite. A blank look took upon Mineral’s face and she drew her neck back, just staring at Soul for a moment before speaking, “You… must really like it then.” Soul gave a painfully slow nod and spoke with the same, wavy voice, “Yes, I do.” Though he quickly snapped out of it and gave a laugh, and leaned against the table. “But now, seriously. This pizza is really really good. Definitely going to come here again.” Noble stopped eating and held his hoof up as he finished his bite. “Me too. This flavor actually brings back the taste of the pizza that the hotel I work for used to serve. Before our new manager started that is,” he said as he rolled his eyes while mentioning his manager. Mineral stopped mid bite, a strand of cheese going from the pizza to her mouth. She breaks off the strand by pulling it with her hoof before chewing and swallowing her food. “Oh? They removed it from the menu?” The stallion spoke while he held a slice in his hooves, “Yeah. It was, just `pedestrian, flat garbage´ in her opinion.” Mineral let out a long sigh, followed by irritated squeak as she burrowed her face into her hooves. “Oh Celestia, doesn’t that manager of yours know anything?” Though before Noble got even one word out of his mouth, Croccante butted into the conversation as she passed the table while collecting glasses from other tables. “Exactly! Pizza can be a real gourmet meal, you just have to have the right hooves working on it.” She scanned the table with her eyes then looked over the ponies sitting there. “Pardon me, I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. I must ask though. Does the hotel you are talking about happen to be Hotel Liakada?” The earth pony’s ears twitched and he looked at their waitress, blinking. “How did you know?” The waitress let out a deep sigh and shook her head. “Because I happen to be one of the chefs the new manager fired when she became in charge. Well, me and my sister to be exact.” She puffed out her cheeks after she spoke. Widening his eyes Noble was left mouth a gasp. “Wait, you were the chefs Double Bit fired back then?” Mineral quickly raised her hoof. “Double wait!” Her eyes were darting between the two ponies. “You two have actually worked in the same place?” “So it seems. Me and my sorella were looking for a new job for months, till we decided we should start something of our own. And here we are.” Croccante gave a curtsey smiling ear to ear. Noble set down his pizza and wiped his hooves before he bowed his head and extended a foreleg to Croccante as she curtsied. “I see... It’s interesting how I never ran into you.” He sat back up and started rubbing his neck before continuing, “Or maybe I did, I just don’t remember. Bellhops usually didn’t go to the kitchen at all back then.” The red coated unicorn placed a hoof on the table leaning in to be more personal. “I see. Well it’s been a few months since me and my sorella got kicked out, so you’re not to blame, signore,” she said with a cheerful laugh. “I shall leave you three to dine now. Have a pleasant meal.” The mare gave the trio one more curtsy and then headed back to kitchen. Mineral crossed her forelegs and leaned back at the bench, and she looked at the slice of pizza she had floating near. “This is going to sound outrageous, but I’m kinda happy they lost their jobs,” she stated, though she quickly smacked a hoof against her face with a sigh. “Alright, yes that sounded horrible. Call me a meanie.” Soul laughed, using his magic to cover his mouth with his napkin before calming down. “No worries, we get it." Noble nodded in agreement giving a chuckle himself. “Getting away from that place seems to have been the ticket for them.” The mare lowered her hoof resting it back in her lap. “She has told me they have good memories of it, though.” Noble again shook his head in agreement. “It was a nice place before Double Bit made it a living nightmare.” Staring off into space at an area behind the mare, Noble sighed. “Speaking of memories, that’s where Soul and I met.” Mineral was about to take a bite of the pizza morsel she had on her fork, but froze midway and immediately darted her eyes to Noble, and then to Soul. “Oh, really?” “Oh yes, we indeed did. It was during my job training when I was photographing Hotel Liakada.” Soul had set his silverware down and dabbed at his mouth before continuing the story. “Of course it was a much nicer place to work at back then.” Noble interjected before leaning back. Mineral crossed her legs and finished her pizza slice, motioned for them to continue. “Yes. Well anyway. If i remember correctly, I was taking photos of the entrance, when this overly sophisticated couple arrived at the hotel.” Mineral folded her arms in front of her leaning forward to listen. “That’s nothing new sis, considering this is Canterlot.” Soul nodded “Very true. Anyway, um… what was the name of those two?” He scratched his chin before turning to look at Noble. “Soul, are you expecting me to remember?” The tan pony looked at his friend lowering his eyes and frowning. “I wouldn’t even remember what I had for breakfast if I didn’t eat the same thing every day.” He gave an entertained huff then nodded allowing Soul to continue. Soul couldn’t help but smile. “I’m aware. But no worries. Let’s just call them Mare and Stallion” Noble gave his friend a nod. “Anyway, when I was taking pictures of the entrance, I saw how this Stallion accidentally dropped one of his bags of luggage, and that was followed by a mild crackling sound of glass breaking.” Soul turned to Noble ready for him to chime in. Noble turned so he could see both ponies as he spoke, “I hadn’t gotten to those guests yet, so I of course had no clue what had happened.” Soul cleared his throat as Noble stopped. “That’s right. Anyway, it was pretty clear that it was something important and expensive when I saw how they panicked.” Soul grabbed the last piece of the pizza he had with his fork and ate it before continuing. “Though, I didn’t pay much mind to it or really even care.” He put his cutleries on the now empty plate again and let out a big colic breath, leaning against the bench. Mineral was listening carefully to Soul, though when Soul put down his silverware, the way he did so caught Mineral’s attention. She immediately gathered the utensils with her magic and set them to face five o’clock. “There, that’s better,” she noted with a chuckle. Noble and Soul looked at each other with a bit of a confused glimmer in their glances. Mineral wiped her mouth with a napkin and tenderly placed it on her empty plate. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please, continue. What next?” Soul turned his attention at Noble, who was just staring back at the unicorn for a bit before realizing Soul wanted him to continue. Noble braced up and cleared his throat. “Oh! Yes um… Let’s see-- I think that’s when I arrived to pick up their luggage. Even I noticed that they were very nervous. At least the Mare was. She was downright shaking.” As Noble spoke he moved his hooves about, flowing with his words. “I tried to ask if everything was alright, but they just told me to mind my own business.” He flipped his left hoof up in the air while rolling his eyes. Mineral rolled her eyes too and shook her head. “That’s so typical.” Nodding at the mare’s comment Noble continued, not wanting to stop. “I of course assumed it was just another couple of rich ponies who came here for a weekend around the capital and had no respect for ponies they deemed as `beneath them’.” He flicked his hooves for emphasis. “Boy was that an understatement,” Soul stated but quickly covered his mouth. “Sorry, I know you don’t like being interrupted.” He put his hooves together giving a slight bow. The bow caused Noble to do a double take then shake his head. “Don’t worry, you were right. Big understatement. Anyway-- I got behind their bags and picked them up to my bag like usual, but I heard something strange. A little crunching and rattling of glass.” “Well of course, there was broken glass inside… Oh!” Mineral’s attention was transfixed on the two stallions. Noble nodded, “..I asked the couple about the noise but they told me it was nothing to be concerned with. So I began moving their luggage toward the front desk.” The stallion lifted a hoof to his friend. Without a single word or missing a beat Soul picked up the story. “I had just come through the doors and was looking about taking pictures of the entrance and the main lobby.” A small smile formed across Mineral’s lips. “I think I know where this is going.” “As Noble walked forward I noticed the stallion moving his cane out in front of his legs. I quickly snapped several pictures as I called out. But it was too late.” Frowning he looked over at his tan friend. “I fell to the ground like a wet rug and the bags came down with a loud crash of broken glass.” Mineral covered her mouth as she gasped before speaking frantically, “Oh my gosh, he tripped you?! Did you get cut by the glass at all?” Noble quickly raised his hooves and shook his head. “No I was fine. But the couple immediately began yelling at me for breaking their rare glass vase that they had brought there to get appraised or something to that extent. I of course was apologizing but trying to figure out what was happening around me.” “That is perfectly understandable sis.” Mineral crossed her forelegs, looking back and forth between the two. “The commotion of course quickly gained the attention of the manager at that time. He was much nicer than Bit is, but listened to the couple’s lie about what had happened and was ready to fire me right then for falling and breaking their vase. Lucky for me somepony saw the whole thing.” Noble gently patted his pale coated friend on the shoulder then holded a hoof up allowing him to finish the story. Giving a smile, Soul then takes a deep breath. “Yes. I overheard the whole thing and I don’t usually pay attention to other’s business, but I couldn’t just sit idly by and watch. I went over and told the manager that I saw the whole thing. Of course the couple tried to argue about what I saw until I showed the manager the pictures I had taken of them. Their faces were hilarious when they knew they were found out.” Soul began laughing at the memory. Noble had joined in the laughter. “Oh yes. I just loved when the manager told them they had five minutes to leave before he called the royal guard.” Noble threw his hooves into the air. “Then they grabbed their stuff and became olympic gallopers!” Both stallions had a good laugh and wiped their eyes as they settled down. Noble turned to Mineral and leaned against the table. “Anyway, before he made them leave, my manager at the time asked me if I was alright since he would have pressed charges if I had been hurt because of them. I was fine so he just banned them from the hotel and made them leave in a rather… immediate, way. He was even nice enough to give me the rest of the day off as a paid day off; just to ensure I wasn’t hurt at all.” The mares lips drooped and she tilted her head to the left slightly. “But what If you did learn you were hurt later from that, how would you know who they were or how to get a hold of them again?” Noble cleared his throat. “Well we did have reservations under their names which the manager knew.” Noble looked into Mineral’s eyes. “And if a baby dragon along with six mares could find the crystal heart that was missing for over a thousand years, I think the royal guard could find a couple of rich ponies.” Mineral looked elsewhere and crossed her forelegs, giving a short chuckle. “You have a point there, sis.” Mineral was still listening to the story, but she has also been glancing at the clock on the wall. She quickly lifted her plate and glass with her magic and stood up, though still fully paying attention to the stallions. She gave a little chuckle and tilted her head. “I’m guessing you didn’t just magically become friends after that?” The stallions followed her example and took their dishes too. They took them over to the return cart. Noble shook his head at Mineral’s question and smiled. “Well, it took some time before we became friends, but since Soul had a job to do, I offered to guide him around the hotel. I owed him big for being one of the few ponies in Canterlot that would help someone like that, without asking for something in return no less. I owed him a debt that day and I wanted to repay him in any way that I could. ” Soul stood before Mineral, continuing the story. “And as Noble kept giving me a tour through the hotel, we started talking. Or he talked, I just responded with one or two words most of the time.” He let out a quick laugh. Noble chuckled along with his friend. “You tend to do that.” Mineral giggled shortly. “I’ve noticed that too.” She proceeded to wrinkle her nose and gave a long yawn. Soul simply responded with a shrug, then after seeing the mare’s yawn proceeded with his own where Noble followed with one of his own. Mineral sat down and stretched her legs as far up as she could, and then stood up again as she shifted her attention to the counter and chanted, “Thank you! The food was as fantastic as ever.” Noble’s ears perked up as he heard those words and he stood up straight, following the example, “Thank you! The pizza was spectacular!” They heard how Croccante’s responded, “Grazie!” as it echoed from the kitchen. Though, Soul was the only one who didn’t say anything. A slightly awkward silence rose between them as Mineral just stood there and stared at Soul, waiting for him to say something. Though when nothing came out of his mouth, Mineral just scrunched her eyebrows and put on a slight grin, gently shaking her head. As the group exited the pizzeria, Soul continued telling the story, “Anyway, as Noble continued talking, we started to actually find some really good common ground and that’s when my vocal cords started vibrating more.” Mineral put a hoof on her mouth and let out an amused chuckle. “Vocal cords started to vibrate, eh?” she repeated. Soul rubbed his neck and looked off out into the mall. “Put in a corny way, yes.” Noble took a step forward bringing Mineral’s attention to him. “But yes, that’s pretty much it. I gave Soul an extensive look through the hotel, ensuring he had the materials he needed. Then, before he left I asked if there was anything else I could do; we agreed to hang out again. After a looooot of persuasion, he agreed to accept my gratitude in a form of coffee.” “I agreed just to it to get rid of him” Soul noted with a laugh. Noble grinned and nudged Soul with his elbow. “Aren’t you glad you did?” “I admit my defeat.” Soul bowed his head with a smile on his lips parted up in a grin. Noble couldn’t help but laugh at Soul’s comment and then turned to look at Mineral again. “Anyway, then well, we just kept hanging out and becoming better friends, and here we are now.” “You two have such a beautiful love story,” Mineral chanted with a sarcastic tone and let out a boisterous laugh. Soul dropped his head, hitting his forehead with his hoof still giving a snicker. “You just had to say that, didn’t you?” Mineral gasping for air, breathing heavy from her laughter, slowly regained her ability to speak. “Yes. Sorry, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a joke there.” She pulled herself back upright then flipped and brushed her hair with her hooves, fluffing it till it was back to normal. “Anyway, this mare should get back to the presentation. I’m glad I ran into you guys and got to know another side of you, Soul.” Mineral put on a smile, and shifted her attention to Noble, leaning forward. “Oh, and of course you too, Noble! I hope things will get better for you, I really do.” Noble gave Mineral a wide smile and nodded. “Thank you, I really appreciate that.” Soul nodded extending a hoof toward the mare. “Likewise. It was fun talking, and thank you for the pizza.” The stallions turned around and started walking to the opposite direction. “We’ll let you get back to work now.” The mare raised her head and quickly lifted a hoof into the air. “Before you do, I have one final question.” The two stallions froze, perking up their ears. Soul turned to face at the mare, tilting his head. “Yes?” Mineral took a few steps toward the white unicorn and stretched out her hoof, pointing it at Soul while meeting his eyes, staring intensely into them. Her lips rose upwards, bringing a sincere smile to her face. “Can we consider each other to be friends?” The earth pony chuckled again blowing air out of his nose in a snicker. He leaned against a bench while he stared at his friend, nodding vigorously while squinting his eyes at the back of the unicorn's head. Soul immediately drew his neck back as his eyes were just getting slightly wider, which was barely even noticeable. There was a short moment of silence, but they kept their eye contact tightly connected. Even though he kept his serene face, inside of him there was a voice that was screaming for him to answer, “yes”. It was just a simple “Let’s be friends” situation, but to Soul, who has only had one of those moments in his life it was nerve racking. Eventually, a smile washed over Soul’s lips. He stretched out his hoof again and shook with Mineral. “Yes. We shall consider each other as friends.” Author's Note What's the book Mineral used in order to pay? It's kinda like Equestria's substitution for credit cards. Instead of card readers and cards, ponies have a books that recognized a hoofprint, connects it to a bank account and transfers the money written on the page. Cover art: http://wildsoulws.deviantart.com/art/A-New-Impetus-Chapter-4-Bonds-536572063
5. Change‘Princess Twilight Sparkle’. The hottest topic throughout Equestria, especially in Canterlot from the beginning of the day every single newspaper had it on their front page. Naturally it was a contest between newspapers on who would get the most information about the new princess and who wrote the best article. But not only the newspapers were set on a competitive mood, it also affected design companies, and Canterlot Spectrum was no exception. Mineral and Soul had been spending their coffee break at Eastern Wings kitchen, which was exceptionally empty. Almost every designer had been so thrilled of the news and possibilities it could give that they have actually started sketching things for the new princess without any kind of commissioning. Soul poured coffee into his cup and took cream from the fridge and added it to his coffee. “Do you think this is the big change our manager and AD talked about a few days ago?” Mineral was sitting over at the table, already reading the third newspaper which had Princess Twilight on their front page. As she heard Soul’s comment, she turned to look at him with an eyebrow raised, lowering the paper. ”What, a new princess being the big change in Canterlot Spectrum?” Soul lifted his hooves and shrugged with a nod. “It sounds odd, but just look around you. Everypony here have locked themselves in their rooms and are designing things for her without commissioning. Who knows, a new princess is a big change all over Equestria, so maybe our manager somehow already made a deal with her to design or organize something for her.” Giving a moment for thought, Mineral eventually gave a shrug back at Soul with a small smile. “Maybe, maybe not. I mean, the newspapers obviously knew about this since yesterday, but our manager and art director...” The mare folded the paper and placed it back at the pile. “I doubt it, sis.” The white stallion walked over to the table with his coffee and sat down, letting out a soft, relaxed sigh. “True.” He leaned against the table and gently blew on his coffee before continuing, “Though are you sure they said they would announce it today? It’s one o’clock already and excluding all the hype about the princess, there’s been nothing unordinary going on.” Mineral leaned back on her chair and lifted her espresso. “Except there being food in the cafeteria you like, again,” she noted and gave the stallion a quick chuckle before sipping from her cup. Soul started rubbing his chin, looking at the ceiling with a grin and his eyebrows furrowed. “Two times in a week. A new princess is nothing compared to this miracle,” he stated and chuckled as his grin crept into a light smile. Mineral set her coffee on the table and rolled her eyes. “Yes. And speaking of which, I honestly hope our company won’t get jobs from the new princess.” Soul’s ears twitched and he sat up in his seat, leaning toward Mineral. “What makes you say that?” Mineral leaned forward crossing her forelegs and placing them on the table. “One word; Competition. Yes, a friendly one is not harmful, but if a company gets a job from royalty, then it will turn into chaos. Greedy ambition conquers a good group spirit and good group spirits holds our company together.” The stallion nodded. “Words of wisdom I would say.” A wide smile spread across Minera’s face. “Thanks,” she said and was about to get off her seat, but dropped her flank back immediately as she gasped. Her eyes bulged and she turned to face Soul again. “Oh! How could I forget this!” The mare gave her forehead a smack, bending her neck back. “The meeting with that Faztable pony yesterday! Which one did he choose?” She leaned forward toward Soul, practically holding her breath while waiting for the answer. “Oh, that.” Soul cleared his throat and put his coffee mug down, starting to rub his neck. “Well, not the one I wished for...” Mineral slumped back on her chair, closing her eyes then slowly opening them after a moment. “So gold and brown will be the new trade mark colors for Faztable, eh?” Soul nodded and grabbed one of the newspapers with his magic, and glanced at the front page. He simply shrugged before answering, though it could clearly be seen how a pinch of remorse had appeared upon his face. “Well, customer is always right.” “But there’s no reason to get gloomy about it, sis!” Mineral quickly sat up straight and put on a big smile, leaning against the table. “It was a fantastic piece of design and like I’ve said, none of them were even close to being bad.” Soul let out a little laugh and turned to look at Mineral. “Naw, I don’t feel bad or anything, but thank you. I appreciate it.” “Good, good.” Mineral stood up and chuckled, grabbing her espresso and heading over to the the fridge. “Can’t let a friend be gloomy, now can I?” she chanted with a cheerful tone, glancing at Soul over her shoulder. Soul stretched his neck and turned to look at Mineral with a grin. “You can let them be gloomy, but it’s a different story for if you actually will.” Drooping her eyes half way down and dropping her smile she looked at Soul, as if to ask if he were serious. “Technically true, but I wouldn’t embrace that philosophy” The stallion turned around in his chair and let out a slightly forced laugh. “Of course, me neither. It was a joke.” Giving a nod Mineral replied, “I figured.” Her eyelids and lips rose forming a soft smile as she got up and walked over to the fridge, a magenta hue wrapped around the door handle as Mineral opened the door with her magic. She looked through it for a moment then looked over the door. “Want a cookie?” Soul rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “Old joke.” Mineral couldn’t help herself letting out an amused laugh as she closed the door to the fridge, and turned to present her pack of white chocolate cookies. “No, I mean do you literally want a cookie?” “Oh!” Soul immediately tensed up and put on a forced smile, and rubbed his cheek with the tip of his hoof. “Well, sure.” He put the paper down and stood up from his chair, walking over to Mineral. “White chocolate I see.” The mare took one herself before offering them to Soul. “Yep! I bought a couple packages for Meadow for her birthday, but she didn’t want any because of her ‘diet’.” She let out a groan and rolled her eyes with a half smile. “So sharing these with fellow designers is the plan B.” Soul lifted one of the cookies with his magic and took a bite before saying anything. “That sure works for me,” he said with a laugh. Both ponies walked back to their seats and Soul grabbed the newspaper he had earlier, starting to search for weather section. Though as he browsed through the newspaper and came to the ad spread, something stuck out to him on that page. An advertisement section for the very same mare who was sitting right there on the other side of the table. The stallion raised his head and looked at his friend questioningly and spoke up, “Hey, look what I found.” He placed the paper on the table and pointed at the ad. Mineral turned her attention instantly toward the stallion, which quickly darted on the newspaper to the spot Soul was pointing at. She immediately leaned against the table as a big, excited smile spread across her face. “Oh gosh, yes! They published it already!” she chimed and bounced up from her chair like a spring, taking a closer look at the ad and making sure everything is exactly as she wanted. “Eye Dazzling Mineral Art” Soul read the title out loud, while a confusion began to take over, he raised an eyebrow lifting his head up to look at the mare. “You have started your own company?” The mare shook her head. “No, of course not. I’ve had it for a few years now.” Soul sat back in his seat and rose a hoof as he spoke. “I’ve always thought you make your mineral art for Canterlot Spectrum.” Mineral jumped up waving her hooves in the air. “Oh no no no no no, that’s not the case at all.” As she landed back on the ground she lifted a hoof up to explain. “You bet when I started here, I tried to suggest mineral art, but they denied it instantly.” Soul leaned forward dropping his hooves onto the table. “What? Why? It’s unique--- no wait, very unique form of art. I would think they would be dying to get it to themselves.” Sulking a bit she lowered her head resting it on the table. “That’s it, it’s too unique and I’m the only mineral artist they know. They want more than one specialist before starting to conquer that section.” The pale unicorns jaw dropped, after taking a moment he closed his mouth and his eyebrows quickly bowed while he sat up placing his hooves firmly on the table. “That’s stupid. I mean, I don’t have a mind for business, but I think that is stupid.” Mineral extended a hoof, gently motioning for Soul to keep calm. “Luckily the walls of this company aren’t the limits of our possibilities” She lowered her hoof and folded her forelegs again. “Oh, since we have now wandered to this topic, have you ever seen my mineral artwork?” The stallion looked down, easing back into his seat, too embarrassed to make eye contact. Once he was sitting again he looked up, cleared his throat and asked, “Yes. Didn’t you once wear those accessories made out of mineral?” Mineral immediately tensed up and bumped a hoof on her chest. “Indeed, but those were nothing compared my other projects,” she chimed and took a long sip, drinking all of her remaining espresso and then dropped the cup to a trash can. “I shall introduce you to my ‘work in progress’ projects.” Thrown off by Mineral’s sudden boost of excitement, a blank look rose over Soul’s face. He quickly just repeated Mineral’s actions and stood up from his seat and started collecting his things. “You have your personal work here at your workplace?” Mineral nodded and lifted her white saddlebag with her magic, placing it on her back. “Yes. When I run out of work for a day, I spend the remaining hours, or minutes, working on them.” The mare grabbed the last newspaper she hadn’t read yet and put it into her saddle back, and then walked over to the door. “Coming, sis?” she said and turned to look at the stallion, who was still looking for something. “Yes, just a second,” Soul responded while searching for something under the newspapers. “I don’t see my I.M. book anywhere.” Mineral tilted her head while she raised an eyebrow, leaned against the doorframe. “Didn’t you already put it in your pocket?” At that moment when the words echoed to his ears, Soul stopped digging through the pile and tapped his left chest pocket, and felt an object in there. He let out a little forced laugh and started to scratch his chin. “Yes… I did.” Mineral lightly shook her head and let out a bright chuckle. She then stood up straight again and tilted her head toward the hallway as a sign for Soul to follow. The stallion nodded and trotted over to the exit. Soul closed the door behind him and they headed towards Mineral’s office. As the two walked through the hallway, the always appreciated awkward silence fell upon them. Soul continued staring forward and Mineral kept glancing toward Soul, waiting to see if she would be pleasantly surprised to hear a word from him. But when nothing came out of Soul’s muzzle, Mineral started grinning and cleared her throat before speaking up, “Sooooo, like I said, most of them are still works in progress, but I have a few finished pieces too. There’s this one new thing I’ve been trying out that I really want to show off.” Soul’s attention turned to Mineral as a sliver of a smile formed upon his lips. “I see, sounds interesting. So you sell them in a store I assume?” Mineral instantly shook her head. “Nope. Through mail order actually. It’s been more of a hobby to me for a long time.” “Why just a hobby? It’s your special talent after all.” Mineral raised her head and glanced up at the ceiling, and swiped her hoof across the air. “Because of this company. When I first started here, I was super positive I would be able to convince them to accept mineral art in their area of expertise and nurture my talent that way.” “But it didn’t pay off,” Soul spoke slouching a little. “Precisely. I thought I would leave this company after working here a little while, but I sort of got fond of this place. It wasn’t long till I started my mini-company.” She gave a giggle and smiled looking up at the ceiling again. “I know what you mean.” The mare nodded. “Yes. Anyway, that moment with Noble, and seeing his situation got me thinking. I have a special talent, I should embrace it and start taking as much out of it as I possibly can. So, immediately when I got home, stuff started to happen. I designed an ad for the newspaper and woke up at 6am and took it to Daily Equestria.” As she mentioned Noble, she frowned but turned to Soul with a glimmer in her eyes and a small slender smile across her lips when she stated she was inspired. Soul drew his neck back and his eyes got wide. “Wow, well you sure didn’t waste time.” Mineral chuckled and grabbed the knob on her door with her magic, though the smile faded as quickly as it came, but still remained on her face. There was a short moment of silence before she spoke up again, “Meeting Noble made me realize what can happen if I don’t nurture my talent. I really hope he can get back to his special talent someday too.” After finishing, the mare turned the knob and was about to open the door, but as she did, the two heard a soft bump which was followed by a squeak coming from the other side of the door. Mineral’s eyes got wide and she turned to look at a confused Soul. Mineral slowly started opening the door again, and when she did, they saw Meadow holding her muzzle with a messy pile of mail in front of here. “Meadow!” Mineral exclaimed and trotted over to the mare. “What are you doing here?” Her attention quickly shifted from the whimpering Meadow, to the pile of mail. Mineral drew her neck back while her eyebrows furrowing. “And what in Equestria are you doing with my mail?” “Ahh, I might have mi precious muzzle spoiled! And you are asking about your mail!” Meadow spoke while still rubbing her muzzle gently while laying on the ground. Mineral let out a sigh and helped Meadow up. “Take it easy, sis. A light bump like that doesn’t do a thing.” She started gathering the mail Meadow had dropped during the hit. “But now, what were you doing with my mail?” Meadow, in her typical manner, raised her head high and swiped her scarf and legs clean. And again, gave the confused looking stallion a typical split-second glance before answering to Mineral. “I didn’t care about your mail, I was looking for you. But when I saw that one thing on it that can give us one of the most mayor opportunities in historia, of course I would bring it right to you!” Mineral’s curiosity was ignited like a match, her eyes getting wider and she started searching through the pile she collected, even though she knew Meadow, she couldn’t help but feel a little sceptical. “Biggest opportunities, naye?” she repeated and spotted a paper that stuck out like a stop sign. She walked over to her desk and put the rest of her mail down. As she saw the title, her face scrunched and almost teared up because of the smile that formed upon it. “Oh… my… gosh… A new area of expertise?!” Soul’s eyes perked up immediately, and he walked over to Mineral. “Wait, you think it’s what we just talked about?” “If it is, I’m going to run through every corner of this building and scream in joy, even if I will get an asthma attack, I don’t---” Before Mineral even got a chance to finish her cheer, her mood soured. “Oh, nevermind… It’s not that…” Meadow instantly leaned toward Mineral with her eyes wide open and a huge smile on her face. “Que? What are you talking about?! this is everypony’s dream come true!” She turned the envelope toward Meadow and pointed with her hoof. “Fashion Designer?” Soul, who was just listening to the conversation, flinched immediately as he heard the term fashion designer. His eyes widened and heartbeat accelerated. He was about to speak up but Meadow had already opened her mouth. “Ah, silly Mineral,” Meadow chimed and leaned against the desk. “Because of the new princesa, of course!” The brown mare leaned against her hoof and glanced at the ceiling like a daydreamer. “Just imagine, if I became a fashion designer; there’s no doubt I’d have a huge chance of becoming Princesa Twilight’s royal tailor.” She squeezed as she lifted her hooves right under her chin and bit her lip, her eyes glimmering in excitement. “Just imagine that honor and fame it would bring!” “A royal tailor, eh?” Meadow let out a deep sigh. “Meadow, I’m by no means trying to bring you down, but you’ve never even made a stitch in your life. “ Meadow quickly grabbed the paper from Mineral with her magic and cleared her throat, starting to read one section out loud, “Canterlot Spectrum will guarantee artisan education for those who truly are interested in fashion design. In order to apply, you have to fill out an application enclosed with this letter and return it to you own Art Director.” Soul rubbed his chin with his hoof looking off into space as his mind begins to take off. His heart began beating faster, his posture improves while his hooves grew sweaty. Even though there was a smile upon his face a shiver went down his spine as he drifted more and more into his own thoughts. “Would you look at that…” Mineral let out a disappointed sigh and frowned. “So they are willing to expand to fashion, but not to mineral art.” Meadow gave a sigh. “There there hermana, your talent is too special.” Meadow walked forward keeping her chin up and placed a hoof on her friends desk leaning her head down to make eye contact and give a nod and a polite smirk. “That was a compliment, obviously.” She started to care her mane and raised her snout up again. “They will see your talent in time and you’ll get to shine probably as brightly as me.” Mineral huffed, closing her eyes but opened them to see the glimmer and nod from Meadow, she nodded back as a thank you and proceeded to walk over to her chair and dropping her flank in it, turning toward the two unicorns. Soul blinked and suddenly shook his head rapidly, clearing his head. He cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Well... In my opinion fashion is a valuable thing in culture and all.” Still sitting, Mineral put her hooves together and rested her chin on them. “Of course it is. I just… Don’t think it’s one of the best ways to express yourself. Or rather, I really, really don’t like how snooty fashion designers think that appearance; horribly thin body and clothes; are the only things make you a good person. I mean that’s just terrible.” Meadow let out a gasp. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t form any words, lifting up a hoof to interject but still had no ideas and was left simply closing her mouth and pouting with a loud huff. Soul’s ears folded back and he looked away, looking kind of dissapointed. “Well... yeah, I guess that is true…” Meadow raised her head once again and brushed her mane with her hoof. “So Mineral, that’s all I had to say for now.” The snooty mare walked over to the door and opened it. “Do whatever you want to. But you shall see how I’ll become Princesa Twilight's new tailor in no time.” Mineral waved her hoof to Meadow. “Good luck, sis. Don’t forget about me when you are on top of Canterlot,” she stated with a joking tone, allowing a laugh to escape her mouth, though her sentiment was honest. As Meadow left, she left the door open, but Mineral shut it again with her magic. Soul was scratching his head as he was staring after Meadow. He turned to look at Mineral with his head tilted. “If I may say, you got a very interesting friend there.” Mineral kept staring at the door, her look slowly turning gloomier and gloomier. “You said it. It’s sad to see what Canterlot has done to her…” She leaned against her hoof and let out a deep sigh, and looked down at his table. “Happens to everypony born and raised here I guess...” “I figured you’ve known each other a bit longer. You two seem like summer and winter.” Giving a deep sigh again, Mineral nodded once with her eyes closed, then slowly opened them before beginning, though a small smile crept onto her face. “It’s a long story, but to put it simply, she’s been a family friend since we were fillies, and I guess she’s the overly sophisticated, spoiled by mass sister I never had.” “I see…” Frowning a bit from the overall mood taking over, Soul reaches up placing a hoof on Mineral’s desk. “So, fashion design is the big new change here.” Thinking over his next sentence carefully he finally spoke up. “You seemed surprisingly negative about it. It’s not like you. Or, at least I don’t think it is.” Mineral moved her hooves forward and fell over on the table resting her chin between her forelegs. “Naye… I was just a bit disappointed. Getting my hopes up and all. Then again, I’m sure they would’ve talked to me first before expanding to mineral art.” The mare lifted her head up sitting up right in the seat and turning toward a wall of bright orange storage bins. “And speaking of which, I think it would be a good time to finally show---” Mineral’s speech was cut off mid-sentence when a knock was heard from her door, and a orange unicorn stallion stepped in. The orange stallion had a an ID card hanging on his neck, which had his title written on it; Art Director. “Mineral, sorry if this is a bad time, but we have a new job assignment for you,” the orange stallion spoke, holding a folder. Mineral instantly sprung up from her chair, leaning against the table. “Oh, now? I mean, yes of course, Ink.” She turned to look at Soul with soft eyes and an apologetic smile, putting her hooves together and lowering her head.. “I beg your pardon, sis, but sharing my projects must wait.” Soul quickly raised his hoof and shook his head. “Of course, work comes above all during working hours.” He stood up from his seat and stretched before starting to walk away. “You’ll find me at my room. Come and give me a word when you are done.” Before Soul managed to exit the room, the art director stopped him. “Soul, I have a job for you too. I will come to see you next.” “Oh.” Soul nodded and put on a smile. “Gotcha,” he said and gave a final wave to Mineral before leaving the room. Sitting at his desk, Soul had been doing nothing else during the past few minutes beside staring at a paper he had in front of him. An application, The application Soul had filled out. If Soul gave this to his art director, there would be no returning from it. His hesitation was the only thing that is holding him. Nopony in the company has an idea that an interest in fashion has a place in his mind. Mineral’s words especially were running through his head, “I just… Don’t think it’s one of the best ways to express yourself. Or rather, I really, really don’t like how snooty fashion designers think that appearance; horribly thin body and clothes; are the only things make you a good person. I mean that’s just terrible.” “Come on, Soul. Just give the application to Ink. You can’t let her opinion cause doubt,” he said quietly to himself while scratching his right forehoof. The stallion let out a big, deep sigh and fell back on his chair. Soul looked up at his clock. Half past two. Mineral and Ink should be done about now and soon Ink should be knocking on the door. And speaking of the devil. Just as Soul thought to himself there was the rhythmic knock on his door. Soul put the paper aside quickly and cleared his throat before speaking up, “Come in.” The door opened and the art director, Ink, stepped in. “Alrighty there, kid. Let’s take a look at your commission.” Soul motioned Ink to sit down and then lifted a pastille pack on his desk, and took one. “I’m all ears,” he said as his ears twitched at the same time. Ink walked over to Soul’s desk while already digging for a folder he had and sat down. “I have a feeling you’re going to like this one. Take a look at this.” He pulled out one of the papers he had in his folder and placed it on the table, turning it around to face Soul. “A banner for an upcoming artistic theater act.” “A theater act?” Soul repeated as a wide smile spread upon his face. “I haven’t worked on anything high culture related in a long time.” “That’s why I thought this would be a fitting job for you. I realized I’ve given you way too many logo commissions recently, so a change would do well for you.” Soul’s gazed at the application he slid aside. “Yes, change.” His view quickly rose and he cleared his throat. “Speaking of change, can I ask something off topic?” he spoke with a quick and nervous peace. Folding his hooves as he spoke to Wild Soul, Ink retorted, “Let’s look over this commission first, then you may.” Soul drew his neck back and nodded, sitting up right and clearing his throat again. “Of course.” Ink dug up another paper from his folder, which included all the wishes and requirements for the poster. There had only been one, that it should be mystical; which was good for Soul since he could of course, bring his own views to it. The deadline was pleasantly long too. After explaining all the details, the last thing Ink did was give Soul his contact details. Ink gave the last paper to Soul and pointed at the lower right corner. “These ponies apparently don’t use crystal nexus, so sending them n-mail is not an option. You must contact them through Instant Message if needed.” Soul lifted the paper and his eyes were darting from side to side on it. “I see. They don’t seem to mention anything about scale here. I have to ask about that.” “Yes. But that’s everything we have about this.” Ink leaned back and placed his crossed hooves in his lap, he then gave a smile. “Now, what did you want to ask me about, kid?” “Oh, yes.” Soul put the commission down and took the application into his hooves. His heart started to beat faster. “Well, what kind of ponies are fashion designers?” Ink lifted a hoof spinning it in circles. “Fashion designers? Well, to put it simply, they are like us. Creative designers.” He lifted his other hoof and brought them together, tilting them toward Soul. He tilted his head down making his glasses slide down his nose slightly as he looked up at Soul over them. “Are you asking for the reason I think you are asking?” Soul nodded and cleared his throat, since his voice was getting raspier from his nervousness. He raised his head and slid the application over to his art director. “Well, I’m planning to apply.” Ink immediately lifted the paper with his magic and adjusted his glasses with his hoof. It took only a second for him to read before a smile molded upon his face and he turned to look at Soul. “Would you look at this! What a pleasant surprise you just handed to me.” He put the application down and leaned against the desk. “Kid, I can sign my agreement immediately if you want.” Ink started to already dig for his pencil. “Hold on a bit,” Soul quickly spoke and raised his hooves. “I still have my doubts.” Ink let out a little laugh. “Those doubts must be pretty minor if you have already filled the application out.” Soul started scratching his chin and looked elsewhere. “My main doubt is that the kind of community and way of thinking fashion designers have.” He turned his attention to his pile of mail, which had a designers magazine on top of it. “I… don’t really want to get the ‘only appearance matters in person’ -reputation if I get myself into this.” The AD leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes and rubbed his hoof over his hair. “I must admit that at least half of the fashion designers I have met have attitudes like that.” He raised his head and looked out of the window behind Soul. “And obviously, appearance matters when it comes to clothes, if you know what I mean.” Soul clenched his teeth together and rubbed his neck. “Dang, well that’s encouraging,” his voice wavered showing his sarcasm. Ink laid his hooves on the table. “But I don’t think you should worry about that half too much. There are fashion designers who keep their minds purely on the clothes appearance.” “I see. Well... what school you would recommend for me then?” Ink fixed his posture and clapped his hooves together. “That’s actually the interesting part. Instead of schools, we’re directing our applicants to private tuition. We want our folk to have all the attention during the education.” Soul’s eyes slightly bulged and he tilted his head while scratching his chin, a smile widening on his lips. “Really? That’s interesting. Though isn’t that going to be hard getting fashion designers to agree? I mean, Canterlot Spectrum is going to be their rival, right?” Ink lifted two pencils on Soul’s desk and held them to resemble a V, putting on a grin. “Two words, kid: money and co-operation. Canterlot Spectrum will pay them your education, and will offer co-operation, like collaboration projects, advertisment et cetera. If you have both of those and you do your part it will lead to victory,” Upon saying ‘victory’ Ink lifted up the V once more. He then put the pencils down and leaned back on his chair. “You must of course mention these things when you contact ponies.” “Alright, so applicants must contact the fashion designer themselves…” Soul’s voice rose as he started thinking about how he’d find a suitable teacher. He was glad that Ink wasn’t presenting any questions that why he wanted to apply, or that since when he’s been interested in fashion. He probably just wanted as many ponies to apply without causing any pressure. Ink nodded. “Yes, that’s right.” He once again leaned against the table and looked at the white unicorn with a determined look in his eyes. “I’m telling you Soul, this is a great opportunity for you, and you’ll be taking a big leap closer to becoming an appreciated art director like me. You still want to be an art director, right kid?” Soul nodded immediately. “Absolutely, no changes there,” he said with a strong tone in his voice. “That’s what I thought.” Ink let out a little chuckle and finally dug up his pen with his magic and placed the tip on the signature line. “Shall I finally sign this so we could get things rolling for you?” Soul still gave a final moment of silence as he thought. Weighing all the ups and downs, benefits and risks. Seeing his two, only friends much less often if he got a place out of town. But deep in his mind, Soul had already made the decision. If this really is a big leap toward becoming an art director, the answer was obvious. A grin spread across Soul’s face and he finally spoke up, “Go right ahead.” In a flash, Ink’s pen slid from left to right as he christened the document with his signature. He tapped his hooves on the desk and drummed a little success beat. “Congratulations to our first applicant!” he announced and slid the paper into his folder. Soul pulled his foreleg down bending it at the elbow. “Score for me then.” Giving a smile shaking his head down a bit from how unprofessional that may have been he inquired, “So, what next?” Ink stood up from his seat. “Next, I’m going to make you a letter of recommendation and then list down all the possible places you could contact.” “If you could list places from Manehattan on top, that would be great,” Soul quickly said and leaned forward. Ink’s ears perked up at the request. “Homesick?” he asked with question look on his face. Soul gave a shrug. “Born and raised there, so it would be an easy place adapt to.” “Sure thing! I’ll look for a place from there first. To be honest, I wasn’t going to recommend Canterlot at all myself.” He let out a laugh and walked over to the door, opening it. “I’ll bring you the list and my recommendation ASAP.” Ink spun around and took a big leap backwards, exiting the room, though he almost bumped into Mineral who was just a few millimeters from hitting him. Ink simply gave an awkward smile and apologized before trotting off. Mineral simply scrunched her forehead then relaxed and grinned. She then walked toward the entrance and leaned against the door frame, locking her eyes on Soul as she tilted her head with an eyebrow raised and head tilted up. “List and recommendation, eh? Did you just do what I think you did…? ” The stallion gave a wide corny smile and slowly slid down in his seat and under his desk without saying a single word. Author's Note In this fiction, Crystal Nexus is Equestrian version of internet, except much, much more limited.
6. No-Bell PoetAnother day on the job for an average earth pony, another day as a bellhop. The sun was out and it had been an early morning. Noble’s day was almost at an end and he was sitting outside for a few minutes during his final break. He was watching the large clock tower, ensuring he wasn’t exceeding his break time. It was times like this, when everything was peaceful and the only fuss was the gentle cry of a foul wanting it’s bottle, that Noble’s problems seemed to be non-existent. His struggle to make rent, the fact that he had to live in a tiny apartment on the other side of town to ensure he could pay rent while saving his money to one day leave Canterlot. All of his worries were washed away. The peace was interrupted by the chime of the clock tower striking 1pm. The stallion took a final deep breath and turned to the entrance to the hotel, he could see his reflection in the mirror and seeing himself in his bellhop uniform reminded him where he was and caused his rare smile to vanish. He took another deep breath and looked up to the sky. The shadow of a pegasus eclipsed the sun. Noble looked up seeing the shadow as he marveled at the flying being. Noble had always enjoyed watching pegasi fly and envied the sense of freedom that was associated with being a pegasus. He had always wanted to be able to fly away and go anywhere he wanted to be. After the pegasi turned and flew out of eyesight Noble sighed and headed back inside. As soon as Noble entered the main hall of the hotel he heard the chime from the speaker system and Double Bit’s voice, “Attention all Liakada employees. We are having a mandatory meeting in entertainment room A in 15 minutes. That is all.” The intercom shut off, Noble along with the ponies at the front desk as well as a pony who was sweeping, all perked up, exchanging glances before heading over toward entertainment room A. “I wonder what this is about?” As Noble, along with the rest of the employees from the main room began walking down a hall to entertainment room A, a familiar voice caught Noble’s attention. “Noble! Wait up!” The voice belonged to none other than Truffle. The mare trotted over to the stallion, lighting up the room with a bright smile as her white kitchen uniform jacket. “Hiya there! Let’s go together, I have a question.” The stallion stopped and turned toward the mare, he waited until she caught up with him. “Oh? Ask away.” She adjusted her hat with a hoof, ensuring it was properly on her head. She then swiftly brushed her hair away from her ears. “Do you think earrings would be fitting on me?” “Huh…?” Taken aback for the sudden inquisition, Noble didn’t know what to answer. He tried to think for a moment while Truffle took a step closer, holding her hair back, ensuring Noble could see her ears. Noble stepped back and could see the glimmer in her eyes. “I’m… not sure, maybe? Why are you asking?” Truffle looked at Noble and the distance between them and took a half step back giving a smile, showing her teeth as she did. “Sorry… That, it’s just because my partner is taking me to a recently opened restaurant and I thought that maybe I should try something new.” Rubbing his chin Noble closed his eyes imagining different styles of earrings on Truffle with different dresses. He drifted back to the moment. “Oh, that’s nice. Though I’m not really the pony you should be asking.” Truffle released her mane and shook her head allowing her ponytail to fall back into place before nodding. “Alrighty, If you say so. I was going to ask her first anyway. I don’t want to perforate my ears if she wouldn’t like it.” She reached up and rubbed her ear as she spoke. “You are the one who knows best,” Noble smiled as he spoke lifting a hoof to get them moving once more. “Truffle, I have a question for you.” The mare began walking next to the stallion, she beamed and began skipping. “Oh of course, you have a very special somepony and need my advice on what to do for a first date don’t you?” Noble gave a chuckle, shaking his head. “Uhh no! Not really. Thank you though. Umm... the real thing; I was wondering if you happened to know what this meeting is about?” “Nope, I’ve not the slightest idea. I really hope it’s something good. Who knows, maybe the whole staff will get a big pay rise? That would be splendid!” She brought a hoof up to her side and shook it smiling and staring off for a moment thinking about what she could do with a raise. Noble looked over at his friend raising an eyebrow at her optimism, causing him to chuckle. Noble shook his head.“Something good? Uhh… This is Double Bit we’re talking about… the word ‘good’ seems to have a very different meaning around her. I would hate to see what she does for fun.” The earth pony shivered at the thought. The mare elbowed Noble in the side. “Come on! Giver her a chance, she might surprise us.” “Oww.” Noble rubbed the side Truffle just jabbed him in. “...I doubt it. I’m sorry to say.” The two friends walked through the doorway into Entertainment Room A, Noble found a little spot off to the side so he could scan the crowd and be away from the commotion as he normally did in large gatherings. Truffle continued to talk with him by his side, “Oh come now! She can’t always be out to get us and maybe she has realized just how poorly she has treated us and plans to rectify it!” The stallion lifted his head up looking at the front of the room where a stage, a microphone and some speakers were set up. “Sorry, I would love for you to be right. I just don’t want to get my hopes up. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best is the saying. I’m just expecting the worst. This is a big set up though.” Finally looking around in awe the mare was silent for a moment. “This is a pretty big set up. It does make me wish I had a sample taste of what we will be getting here.” After another minute or two every employee had arrived and the doors finally closed. Double bit walked up on stage to the microphone with a rare smile on her face. A hush fell over the room as she began to speak, “Thank you all for coming. I have wonderful news.” Whispers were heard throughout the crowd, “That’s never a good sign.” “As you all know, summer is approaching quickly and this will be a very busy time for my, Hotel Liakada. Many young stallions and mares will be getting out of school and it was brought to my attention that the hotel will be able to save money if we were to replace some ponies with these new younger employees.” As Double Bit spoke those words Noble’s eyes grew wide. Noble couldn’t believe his ears and began shaking his head side to side. He suddenly thought of Truffle and looked over at her. The green unicorn was silent, her eyes peered forward but it was clear to all whom could see that the information had paralyzed her as the color drained from her face. She stood listening as her lips began to droop more with every word. “I of course can not fire the entire staff as we need some employees to show these fillies and colts the ropes. I have hoof selected several ponies from the different areas of the hotel to stay. I have selected only the most loyal and best qualified ponies to stay.” “What?!!” Almost everypony in the crowd yelled which quickly changed into a loud roar mixed with happy and unhappy employees throwing objections and even some insults while others who were confident that they would keep their jobs stood up, to applaud Double Bit. Truffle heard a soft grumble coming from Noble, “Hmm... ‘Most loyal. Best qualified.’ more like just her own personal pawns and ponies that will obey everything she says without question....” Truffle had perked up and held her mouth with her hoof. Her thoughts were swirling about; she knew that she has always tried to be obedient around her boss and did not recall any moments when she angered her. She stood a little taller, hoping that her efforts would be rewarded and that she would remain employed. Though, Noble’s comment among the uproar pierced her thoughts and brought in new doubt, she darted her eyes back and forth, her heart racing, hoping what he said was not true. “Quiet!” Double Bit gave the microphone a loud thump, causing the room to go silent so she could continue speaking in an upbeat tone. “Now, you all must be wondering how you will know if you are staying or if your time here is done. Well I have plaques on the wall to my left, if your name is on it in your section then your job is safe. If your name is not on the wall then you are hereby fired. I expect all ponies who are fired to pack up their belongings, clear out their lockers and leave the building post heist!” As she finished she gave a huff and stepped back from the microphone smiling down at all the frightened ponies. Noble could not believe his ears along with many of the other employees, how could Double Bit sound so cheerful as she informally fired most of the staff? His method of thought was interrupted as Truffle put her foreleg around his tightly squeezing it as her body shook. Truffle had practically done a full one-eighty with her mood after the announcement. Her ears had drooped, her body was shaking slightly and her her mouth could barely form words, “N-No... Noble, we need to look at the board. We have to find our names. She can’t… she can’t possibly fire us. We didn’t do anything wrong!” Her voice shook as she spoke. Noble could never stand by while a mare or foal cried. He reached up and patted Truffle’s side with his hoof. “She should keep you as an employee, you never got on her bad side. Let’s check.” While he was attempting to comfort the mare he could already feel a knot growing in his throat. The room was in total chaos, filled with ponies objecting and complaining. Some of whom had already seen the list and were throwing their hats away and walking out of the room with their teeth clenched as tight as possible while others left leaving a trail of tears. Noble walked with the mare over to the remainder of the group looking over the wall. Once she was behind the crowd Truffle let go of Noble’s foreleg slowly and made her way, nudging through the crowd. When a loud cry of Truffle reached Noble’s ears from the crowd a few moments later, he knew the worst had happened. Noble instantly froze in place, his heart rate accelerated and his eyes grew wide as he began to think about what he could possibly do to save his job but he knew it was pointless. Double Bit had finally gotten rid of every pony she had a problem with in one fowl swoop. Emerging from the crowd Truffle lept at Noble. “Oh Noble! It’s awful!” Her eyes began to water and her vision began blurring rapidly. “N-Neither of our names are on the lists. We are both jobless!” Those words seemed to be her limit, for as soon as they left her mouth her tears began to flow. There it was… The paralyzing outcome… Noble could do nothing more but stand there and wrap his shaking hooves around the mare as the voices of the crowd started growing dimmer and dimmer and his vision was getting blurry too.“T-Truffle… There there... I-I’m sure it will be for the best... in the end,” he stammered for words but couldn’t even think clearly. Noble tried to comfort her as she wept on his shoulder, he patted her on the back, glaring as a few tears trickled down his face. Noble moved, slowly carrying Truffle toward the spot they were in before, out of the way, shifting through the flow of mares and stallions all crying and hanging their heads low after seeing their termination. When they got to their secluded area Truffle fell to the ground crying then sat up just enough to hug Noble while crying and pressing her cheek against his. “Wha… Wha.. what will I do?! Wha.. what.. wi.. will I tell… my pa.. pa.. pa.. partner?! She will hate me for getting fired, I’m sure!” Biting his lip and darting his eyes around thinking of what to do all the earth pony could muster to do was sit and rub the mare’s back, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth trying to hold back his own tears and frustration. “There there, you know she won’t hate you. This is not your fault... you… you will find a new, better job... you still have room to shine.” He tried to cheer her up, the best he could given the situation, but he had to wonder if they would really work and if his words would even reach her now. After crying for five minutes, and a lot of, “There there, let it all out”s from her friend Truffle began to pick herself up, still sniffling and teary eyed, she pulled her head back from Noble’s shoulder. “Th.. thank you... I’m,” she sniffled. “..a little better after that.” After whipping the tears off his coat, Noble put a hoof on the mare’s shoulder. “It’s alright, you have every right to be sad and angry. We were all wrongfully fired.” He looked down at his hooves, letting go of Truffle. “We should get our things, we can finally leave this place and never have to return.” The green unicorn whipped her eyes with her hoof and looked up into Noble’s eyes before nodding. “Alright, I’ll go pack my knives and meet you in the main hall in fifteen minutes… for the last time.” She began tearing up again but shook her head trying to fight it and began walking slowly. Putting a hoof over his heart as Noble felt a great weight forming, as his own sorrow poured over him along with along with a rush of anger as he stood up to leave but looked up unable to help glaring at the stage and the few remaining ponies. The only ponies that remained were all smiling and clomping their hooves together as they were the few that were still employed. Noble gritted his teeth and walked out the door shaking his head, unable to stand another second with Double Bit’s lackeys. Noble walked into the back corridors for staff only and went to the locker room. He opened his locker and pulled out his saddle bags and began cleaning out his locker, filling the bag up. As he looked over his empty locker among all the others and gave a heavy sigh, he had always wanted to leave but now that he was leaving for good he realized how much he will miss hearing Sharp Melodies stories and music as well as talking to Truffle at work. He shook his head realizing that he has met Truffle outside of work and most likely will continue to do so. But missing the little good things was the smallest of his problems now. Giving another sigh he put the saddle bag on and looked at the clock, 15 minutes had passed and Truffle was probably saying goodbye as well before meeting him. About seven minutes after the time the two ponies planned to meet in the main hall Truffle appeared, moving slowly, her eyes being red from where she had been crying more. Her fancy orange saddle bag was laying over her back. Truffle hopelessly tried to keep her lips curved upward slightly, but the lump in her throat made her lower her head and she just stared at the red carpet they stood on; rubbing her hoof in circles on the fur she spoke, “This will be the last time we’ll ever standing on this carpet...” ”Yeah… It’s almost hard to believe this used to be the same, great workplace before Double Bit got here…” Noble replied walking over to stand next to the mare, offering his foreleg a little reluctantly. At that instant, before Noble even realized it Truffle had wrapped her hooves around the stallion’s neck and hugged him tightly for a few seconds before letting go. “Things change…” Noble gave Truffle a soft pat on the back before she released him. He gave a deep sigh as his ears drooped again. “They do, even flowers begin as a gentle seed, once it finds it's place it may bud, finally it blossoms and thrives in the light, alas one day it will wither and die, becoming one with the soil again.” The mare covered her mouth with her hoof, almost hiding her gentle smile. “Oh my gosh! What beautiful metaphors! I---” “What are you two still doing here?!” Double Bit’s voice echoed towards the duo, who instantly froze and turned to look at the approaching ex-manager. “You are not paying customers, so I must ask that you leave; post heist!” There was a intense silent moment, which ended by Truffle speaking up with scorning look. “You certainly don’t have to ‘ask’ twice. We were just leaving,” Her voice was sounding less raspy. She flipped her head up, her eyes still noticeably red but she didn’t want to look at her ex-employer. “Noble? Coming?” Noble wasn’t moving a foot. He just stared at Bit with scorning eyes, having so many thoughts bottled up that he want to say to her. This was probably the last chance to let it all out and tell her what he thinks. “You’re the worst, most uncivilized, narcissistic vulture who sucks the pleasure out of everything just by your presence.” Oh that would feel so good to say, but all that came out was, “I… You didn’t have any right to fire us! We were all very hard working employees that have done our jobs well even under your command.” Just saying that caused Noble’s heart to beat faster and brought a sliver of a smile to his face as he held his head up for the first time around Double Bit. The ex-manager’s eyes widened a bit and a scowl formed on her lips. “Are you quite done? Your whining just hurts my ears.” Double Bit didn’t seem to care that she was around richer ponies anymore and scrunched up her nose. “You really think a bellhop like you is somehow important? Your thoughts are downright laughable! Bellhops like you are the most replaceable workers within any hotel business, meaning your so called ‘effort’ means nothing and I don’t even want to hide the fact that you were the first employee I put on my ‘to fire’ list.” The mare took a step toward Noble getting right in his face, standing over him, forcing him to lower his head. “You can’t even imagine how grand it feels to finally get rid of a lowly earth pony like you! I don’t have to see your lazy mopey face around here at all anymore.” “Double Bit! You witch! You have no right to say any of that! Noble…” Truffle was shaking and sniffling while glaring at Double Bit. The three were causing a scene, gaining attention from everypony in the hall but even Double Bit didn’t seem to care. Turning her head and shifting her body slightly Double Bit looked back at Truffle. “Don’t stand up for an Earth Pony; they are beneath us. Especially this poor excuse for a pony. Also don’t speak to me, you are nothing more than a bottom class cook. We do not need you here either.” Noble had grown silent, Double Bit’s words echoing in his head. His body began to shake and lips began quivering. “No…” Noble’s voice was barely audible. The ex-manager turned back to the stallion. “What was that?” “I said NO!” Noble’s voice echoed through the halls, taking both mares by surprise. “You are the worst manager I have ever had! You have no leadership qualities, no redeeming qualities, no respect for others and only try to trick high class ponies into believing that you are sophisticated yourself. I hope I never have to see you again and I will never set foot in this hotel under your management again!” The stallion had snapped to attention, standing tall and marched past Double Bit. His heart practically beating out of his chest. Truffle was frozen in her spot near the open door, her eyes wide and watching her friend. She had never seen him blow up like that before. As he passed Double Bit and passed her as well she could hear him breathing heavily and she slowly turned and began following him silently, watching his every step. Double Bit simply stood there in shock, her eyebrows had fallen and were locked in a stern glare. She shook and turned around. “Both of you get out of here before I call the Royal Guard!” Her face was bright red and everypony could practically see the fire in her eyes. Once both ponies had walked out the door Bit let out a screech and stomped off to her office only twirling her hoof indicating that the pony at the front desk should gather the staff to help apologize and make up for the scene. Outside Noble walked for a few blocks, being followed by his friend. Finally he stopped and sat at a bench by a large fountain. Double Bit’s words still swirled in his head but he let the sound of rushing water ease his mood and help him relax though his body was still shaking. Truffle was relieved that Noble stopped and she sat down next to him, watching him in silence. Once she noticed his body relax she also relaxed though she still noticed that he was shaking. “Noble?” The stallion took a few deep breaths with his eyes closed, no matter what he did he couldn’t stop thinking about how Bit called him replaceable, a ‘lowly earth pony’ and insulted him saying he had a lazy, mopey face. “I… I’m sorry Truffle,” his voice began to squeak. Truffle shook her head and patted Noble’s shoulder. “You don’t need to be. She was the one that was extremely out of line by saying all those things!” Once again Noble felt the all too familiar lump in his throat. “I’m… I’m just sorry you had to see that. If isn’t the side I like to show to anypony… I just worry… that she may be right…” He lowered his eyes, staring at the ground as his tears began to drip onto the ground. Truffle gasped, “No! You are nothing like what she said! Don’t believe her for a second, you were the hardest worker there! I couldn’t believe that there are still ponies like that. I thought the days of breed hating was over. … It was pretty amazing how you stood up to her like that though.” The stallion brought a hoof up wiping his eyes and nose while sniffling. “Oh, well yes I’m just glad those ideas are dying. I know I worked hard, I don’t know about hardest worker there,” he gave a forced laugh and clearly fake open mouth smile. “Thank you though.” Truffle huffed and rubbed Noble’s shoulder. “You are an amazing worker, and have always been supportive and. Well you were more of a leader than Bit ever was.” She paused for a brief moment before speaking again, “Come here Noble.” She hugged the earth pony tightly pressing her cheek against his still feeling like she could cry. The earth pony hugged his friend back not minding her cheek pressed against his. He could tell she was trying to breath deeply so she wouldn’t cry again. “Thank you Truffle. You are a good friend, and you don’t need to hold back. I will be alright now.” She released the hug and rubbed her eyes. “Thanks though I will be alright now. I have cried enough for now.” Her voice was still shakey. “I still don’t know how I will break this to my very special somepony.” “If you want me to, I will walk you home and help you break the news if you’d like. I will always vouch for you and help when I can. I… I guess I need to find a new job… again.” Noble pushed off the bench standing up, looking up toward the sky with a somber look on his face. Truffle did the same, hopping off the bench and beginning to slowly walk with Noble on route to her home, stopping on the bridge that she crossed over daily to get to and from work to her home. “Thanks for walking with me. I think I have it now. Also thanks for comforting me, I am glad I have a friend like you Noble. We will keep in touch, we can still eat together every now and then.” Noble nodded. “Of course, I’m happy to help a friend and you helped me as well, and of course we will stay in touch and stay friends. I enjoy our chats and dinners with the two of you. Please take care of yourself and tell me how she takes this. I’m sure she will comfort you.” Truffle smiled. “It’s a deal. Once more thank you Noble, I hope things start going your way soon too.” Truffle gave a gentle wave and turned around, walking a few paces before stopping and turning back. “Oh and Noble. Your face is cute already, but I’m sure you’ll look even better when you find somepony that can make you smile.” She gave a heartfelt smile, one which resembled the rarity of a diamond before making a move to walk away. Noble stood there for a moment, shaken by the smile and those words. A tear rolled down his cheek again but this time with a small smile on his lips. Before Truffle was out of earshot he shouted, “Thank you Truffle. Good luck and write soon.” Noble finally had a moment alone with his racing thoughts. He looked out on the river under the bridge, thinking about all that had happened and all that was said and what he could do now. He’s now a pony out of job, not to mention how it won’t take him too long for him to be out of money too. Every single burden was like a pile of weights building on his heart the more he thought about it. After a while of walking again, Noble stopped to sit on a bench once more. After all, where would he hurry off to? He spent a good moment just watching the ponies go by and overhearing some conversations about minor problems like what would they eat tonight. “My families mushroom spaghetti would be great,” Noble thought to himself as an answer. He leaned back on the bench and let out a deep sight. Something behind the bench caught his attention though, a group of flowers, but especially what caught his attention was the one that was withering. Noble’s ears dropped at the sight and he then slowly reached for the brown flower and picked it up. For a moment, he just kept staring at the flower. “I know how you feel…” he said quietly. When he was about to throw the flower away, he noticed a yellow dandelion. Unlike the one he was holding, the yellow one was blooming gorgeously and reaching for the sun above. Noble felt a slight ignition inside him when he looked at the flower. Picking it up, he placed it next to the brown flower he had and a picture of what these two flowers symbolized started to form in his mind. Giving a sigh, still with damp eyes he wipes them and leaned over the bridge. “Well little flower, it looks like neither of us can live here.” He turned to look at the dandelion. “Yet you must stay and spread your glory, dandelion.” Noble turned over the hoof that held the dying flower, allowing it to floated off, down into the river below and be washed away. He turned, gently reaching back and placing the golden flower in his saddle bag. He then turn, looking up at the castle where he could just barely see the highest towers. Moving his gaze down to the rest of the buildings he took a deep breath and began going for a walk. As he looked at the big row of buildings, a thought came to him, “I wonder if I should…” Author's Note Like we promised, two new chapters are now up :)
7. Out Of OrderSoul’s heart raced as he finished his long-winded explanation. His forehead was still sweating some, as his heart was beating out of his chest. “... So that’s why.” Mineral threw her hind legs up on the couch she had been sitting on, laying back and letting out a sigh before grumbling, “You chose an interesting twist for yourself, sis. I never expected you of all ponies would want to be a... ugh; fashion designer.” Soul’s face was still red and sweaty as he tried to control his breathing to slow his heart rate down. “Mineral, like I explained, I’ve been interested in clothing for a long time and I just want to follow my interest… I by no means am planning to become an ‘only appearance matters’ type of pony.” “Soul, calm down,” Mineral said and gave Soul a serious look but slowly easing into a sincere one. “I’m not gonna judge you. I mean to be honest, I think it’s a bit of an odd choice but if it’s what you want, then you do have my support for it.” “Oh...” Souls face was becoming it’s natural white again, his eyes darting from side to side as he rubbed his neck. “Well, that’s... reassuring... Did I get the wrong idea back in your room with Meadow, did I…?” Mineral sighed, moving her legs to the side and sitting up again. “Sis, I can’t honestly say I approve of what fashion designers do or think at all. But I support you. Even if what you are doing is a bit stupid and I think you should never strive to become like them. I still will support you in expanding your knowledge.” “You mean your comment about how they push for overly thin and ‘only appearance matters’ -philosophy? I already explained that I am absolutely not going to become like that half of them. I just want to make clothing ponies will admire.” Soul’s heart was almost beating normally again and he had a more confident tone as he sat up straight. Twirling the tips of her hooves around one another Mineral looked down. “We will just have to wait and see what happens, sis. I’ll be your friend and I know I can trust you not to turn into one of those vultures. Or if you do, well.. I won’t answer for the consequences,” she said the last part with rather joking tone. “Deep.” Soul gave a small grin and stood up walking over to the couch and putting a hoof on the side of it. “Do you really think I’d turn into a vulture? I’m too picky of an eater to become one of them.” He laughed though it quickly changed into more awkward one, slowly fading as he looek elsewhere. “Okay, corny.” He turned to look back at his friend again. “Anyway, so I guess that explains why you were like that around Meadow too.” Mineral let out a little laugh and sat up on the couch, giving a gentle smile at Soul. “Meadow and I are always like that. She’s kinda like that snobby ambiguous little sister you always have to bring back down to the ground, whiiiiiiich I never had.” She scrunched her eyebrows together and drew her neck back, looking up. “Wait, didn’t I already mention that earlier?” The mare shook her head and continued, “Anyway, she’s the type of person who would’ve definitely take a bad path.” “So, you don’t look down upon me because of my decision?” The stallion’s eyebrows raised. Mineral’s smile grew ear to ear.“Of course not!” She bounce up from the couch and went to sit on a chair in front of Soul’s desk and swiped her hair jokingly. “It’s not usually my style. Besides, Without my sunshiny attitude the team spirit of our company, or at least our wing would be nothing but awkward looks and an echo of dropping dust.” She stopped playing with her hair and just smiled toward Soul who was still next to the couch. The mare raised her hoof and shook her head. “Naw, kidding. Every single one of us holds the atmosphere whole, naye.” Letting out a laugh, then moved forward around the arm of the couch, sitting down before he said anything. “Don’t act modest now, you’re the key reason why we have such a great atmosphere here,” he stated with a joking tone, even though his compliment was sincere. That caused Mineral to chuckle and smile brightly at Soul. “Thanks, sis! I’m glad you think so. I’m just a natural in groups.” The mare grabbed the pen on Soul’s table and started rotating it slowly with her magic as she leaned towards the stallion with a bit of a more serious face. “Anyway, I don’t want you to feel guilty or anything because of that little talk with Meadow. Besides, why should you care? Your decision isn’t exactly what I would recommend but… I’m not willing to bring you down either. If you didn’t have a mind of your own, that’s when I would start beating you down, sis.” Easing her serious look, she gave a friendly laugh and leaned back on her chair. Soul stared at his friend with a rather terrified look, but he couldn’t hold back a smirk before he burst out laughing. “I’m not sure if I want to know how that would feel.” Mineral gave the stallion an amused smile. “I recommend avoiding it. And sorry, it’s not like me to be this… well you could say this harsh.” Turning to look out the window as she wiggled her legs for a moment as the room was silent. She finally broke it asking, “Anyway, want coffee? I still haven’t shown you any of my min---” And again, another interruption appeared when a sound of a buzzer cut off Mineral’s speech mid sentence, causing her to let out a soft toned but long groan. Soul followed with a deep sigh, and scratched the side of his face. “Darn it. Sorry, it has to wait, again.” Rolling her eyes and giving a huff, the mare crossed her forelegs and gave her friend a nod. “Well, it can’t be helped.” “I’ll deal with this as quickly as possible.” Soul pressed a button on his speaker. “Yes?” A voice came out of the speaker. “Um, is this Soul?” “...Noble?” Soul immediately snapped out of his frustrated mood and sat straight, his eyes widening slightly. He gave Mineral a quick look as her eyebrow rose and she uncrossed her hind legs sitting up and hopping off the chair onto all fours with her mouth slightly open while she remained silent. Soul turned his attention back to the speaker and pressed the button again. “Um, shouldn’t you be at work?” “No, I had an early morning, but…” For a short moment, not a single word came from the speaker, which made both Soul and Mineral feel a bit uneasy as they exchanged glances. They could tell something was wrong judging by the tone of Noble’s voice. It definetly wasn’t the usual friendly and kind tone, but rather dull and emotionless. Eventually, his voice came through again. “Look, can I come up there…? I need to talk to you...” “Call him in,” Mineral said instantly and gave Soul a sharp look that pierced through him. The stallion gave her a nod and responded to Noble, “Yes, just a second.” He pressed another button on the side the speaker. “Flare, it’s Wild Soul from East Wing. Can you open the door and direct the tan stallion waiting there to my room?” A simple answer came from the speaker. “On it.” “Great,” Soul responded and let go of the button, lightly starting to tap his chin while keeping his stare on the table while all the possible things started rushing through his mind. Staring at Soul while biting her lip, Mineral leaned backwards against the desk, “I’m pretty sure he doesn’t visit you often here, or am I wrong?” “No, he doesn’t. He’s been here just a couple times. I know he wouldn’t come here if it wasn’t important and judging by the sound of his voice, I doubt he just wants to have a chit-chat.” Mineral lifted herself onto the table and started to rub her legs. “Would you... like me to leave? He might feel uncomfortable if I’m around.” The stallion nodded with an apologetic look upon his face. “Probably, if you don’t mind.” Hopping off the desk back to her fours again, Mineral put on a smile. “Don’t worry about it, sis. I just hope nothing too bad is going on with him.” She walked over to the door and gave Soul a final glance with gentle look. “Come to see me whenever you can. And tell Noble I’m sorry if it something critical after all.” After Soul agreed, Mineral left the room, leaving Soul to wait for his friend. As he glanced around his room, he noticed it wasn’t exactly that tidy. It didn’t really bother him, but he has gotten noted by Ink a few times about it. It wouldn’t hurt to gather up papers a bit, it would probably make Noble feel more welcome too. Quickly triggering his magic, Soul levitated all the papers he could spot around his room to his table and made a clean pile. Fresh air couldn’t hurt either, so he slightly opened a window of his office. After just a few minutes, he heard a knock on his door. Soul immediately opened it with his magic and saw his friend, whose eyes were tightly locked on the ground, his ears folded back. The earth pony walked into Soul’s office in his red bellhop uniform but without his hat. His eyes transfixed at a spot on the ground but it could be seen that he wasn’t truly taking in the information, as his eyes rose to meet Soul’s they were cloudy and dim. Soul could only make a frown and slouch in front of his morose friend. His posture was beginning to mimic Nobles as his ears began to draw back without having any clue what’s going on. Noble broke the silence, looking back at the hallway. “I... saw Mineral in the hall. She... patted me on the shoulder as we passed.” His voice was dull and monotoned. It was clear that Noble seemed to be a shell of what he normally is. Attempting to be as cheery as he could be Soul said, “Oh yes, she had just been here a moment ago, before you got a hold of me.” He gave a smile then extended a hoof out to the side. “Also welcome to my office.” “Thank you...” The tan stallion’s eyes drooped. “And I see... If you had been talking with her I shouldn’t interrupt. I can talk to you later if you want. Just message me in our I.M. books.” Noble turned around slowly about to go back out the door. As Noble took his first step Soul used his magic and quickly closed the door, slowing it down before it hit to lock so it wouldn’t slam. “Noble, you’re not going anywhere now.” Startled, bringing his head up Noble quickly spun around. “What was that for? You could have hit me.” “Don't worry, I knew I wouldn't hit you.” Soul smiled and took a step closer to his distraught friend. “You wouldn’t come here if it wasn’t important, and I could see from kilometers away you are not alright.” Reaching over with his front left leg he patted his couch indicating that Noble should sit. “Buddy, what’s wrong?” Turning his head, having second thoughts about coming there Noble finally let out a deep sigh and walked over to the couch laying out on it. Laying on his stomach so his head arched over the side looking down at the floor. His mouth was twitching as if he were about to speak. Giving a nod Soul walked around to his desk and used his magic to scoot his chair back, sitting down and moving up so he could put his hooves together and rest on them at his desk. “Want anything? I could get you coffee or something if you’d like,” he said, raising his eyebrow. Looking up and over at his friend before returning his field of vision to the ground Noble finally spoke, “No thank you…. Umm, well… it’s a work related issue.” He rolled over on the couch, twiddling his hooves. Sitting upright, the unicorn rose his head and perked up his ears. “Do I even have to guess the possible source of this issue...?” Shaking his head Noble confirmed the hunch. “Though this is a lot worse than you are thinking. She…” His voice was leaving him and he had to close his eyes, taking another deep breath and shook his head trying to clear it. Pushing himself off his desk, the unicorn rolled over toward the alarmed earth pony. “...Noble, go on. Tell me what’s going on.” His voice was calm but quick as his body began getting warmer and he focused solely on Noble. “She… well it’s not just me... “ Noble sighed and sat up a bit looking into Soul’s eyes. “She fired us. Almost everyone in the entire hotel. Me, Truffle; anyone who didn’t blindly obey her or weren’t absolutely needed was fired so she could replace us with younger stallions that are getting out of school for the summer. And the reason for this was to simply save money.” Soul’s eyes grew wide and his forelegs dropped into his lap. “I… uh… what? WHAT? “ All the concern had vanished and started to turn into uproar. “Yes, though I did have a final conversation with her… We were in the main hall and… I let her have it.” Noble shook a bit in his seat, now sitting upright leaning forward face in his hooves, holding his temples. The room became completely silent. Soul just sat there thinking for a moment while staring at Noble, he tried to speak but could only open his mouth and close it once more. He lifted a hoof as if he were going to place it on the stallion’s shoulder but let it fall. Not expecting this much silence Noble looked over to see just as Soul’s hoof fell and it was clear by the wide eyed expression on the unicorn’s face that he couldn’t comprehend what had just been explained to him. Fidgeting and dropping his shoulders after he realized how the news hit Soul, Noble gave a shiver then put on a wide open tooth smile and forced his eyes closed. “Oh don’t be like that. Look at the bright side, I never have to go work for Double Bit for as long as I live.” Soul turned his head down, closing his eyes. The silence for him lasted another host moment more till the unicorn finally managed to open his mouth, “Noble… you don’t have to act breezy for me. I mean…” He opened his eyes and looked up. “Yeah, it’s great your service under Double Bit is over, but, don’t put on a fake smile around me.” The fake smile quickly melted away, the smiley pony being replaced by a stallion gritting his teeth. There was a moment of silence before the earth pony spoke again, “...Thanks… I... being completely honest, I will miss working with Truffle, with Sharp Melody, whom I didn’t get to say goodbye to. I’m glad I finally gave her a piece of my mind and made her snap, ruining her good name with the ponies in the lobby.” Breathing a sigh of relief after his friend finally expressed his true feelings Soul sat, trying to figure out what he should do next. He scratched his neck looking around the room, hoping Noble would explain more. Looking up Noble eased his jaw and shoulders. “I finally let her have it. Telling her everything I thought of her. From her being a horrible manager to just pretending to be nice so the high class ponies would like her. I yelled and made a huge scene.” Soul reared his head back. “Wow, she must have really aggravated you if you went and yelled at her like that. Was that just from her firing you or was there something else? And did she say anything in return to that?” Soul leaned forward, fully focused on his friend and with a small frown and front hooves resting on his hind knees while he sat close to Noble. “Well she actually said something after I told her she had no right to fire us… She… she told me that I was worthless and replaceable. That nothing I did there at the hotel mattered. Then… she called me, a lowly earth pony, claiming she will be glad to have my moppy face out of there and that I was the first pony she wanted to fire. Then when Truffle tried to help, Bit said I was beneath them.” Noble’s forelegs tightened as he spoke, reliving those moments. Soul almost couldn’t believe the things that he heard. Part of him wanted to believe it was just some kind of huge misunderstanding or a thing Noble would just be making a bigger deal out of than it actually was. But no, Noble would never slurred any ponies name. The white unicorn instantly slammed his hoof on his table, his heart ramming against his chest while the anger inside him could clearly been seen through his eyes. “Oh my gosh that witch should be burned! I mean just… wow! Is that pony actually from ancient times where earth ponies were seen as a lowly race? Because if I didn’t know better, I would seriously claim that is the case with that nutcase.” Closing his eyes Noble sat in silence before nodding. It was all he could do as he sat, his heart was still heavy with Double Bit’s words. “I can’t lie to you and tell you that everything is ok or that I have heard that before. I… I never expected to have been fired because I was an earth pony. I… I know it is horrible to think that there are still ponies that think like that in our day and time.” Noble put his hooves together and brought his hind legs back as he was shrinking on the couch. Soul sulked too and looked around his office, he wished Mineral would come through the door as he was sure she would be able to cheer. Though after letting that thought sink in, he immediately shook that thought off. A thought that shouldn’t have come to him in a first place, he was Noble’s friend and it was his duty to make his best friend to feel more at ease. He started to think of every possible way to do so, and after a bit, he came up with something. Not the most creative or mind blowing thing, but it would hopefully direct his friends thoughts elsewhere. Soul got up from his chair and sat next to his friend patting him on the back. “Noble. I have an offer for you.” The poet exhaled turning his head, looking at Soul, his eyes were deep and red. Soul could tell just how much his ex-manager’s words ruffled him. “Oh...? What would that be?” His eyebrows raised and he lifted his head a little. Dropping his hoof and leaning back, Soul crossed his forelegs. “Well actually, more of a demand than an offer.” The unicorn gave put on a grin. “Tonight, we’re gonna meet at the Cider Cycle, and I’m gonna provide your drinks the whole evening. We will come up with every possible joke and insult about Double Bit, laugh, and forget about all the bad things tonight.” The offer made Noble to slightly wince as his eye widened. His jaw dropped and quivered. He wasn’t sure what to say to that, untill the words started coming out of his mouth again, “I… Thank you buddy, I really appreciate it, but… I can’t possibly ask you to do that.” The unicorn lifted his hoof dismissing the earth ponies concerns. “It would be easier if you just said yes.” He brought his forelegs back and crossed them placing his hooves in his lap with a determined grin. “Don’t even consider stepping out of this room before you agree.” He then immediately turned a lock on his door with his magic. Turning to see the door lock and closing his eyes shaking his head Noble explained himself, “I’m just concerned about your financial situation. I’m sure you have more important things to put your bits into than me, and I know you like to spend time alone, so...” Soul replied shaking his head and giving a pleasant smile, “Besides food, no. And I simply can’t let you just go home and mash your head against a pillow.” Noble let out a deep breath of air as he turned from looking at his friend to looking out the window. He couldn’t help but shed a sliver of a smile as he thought about it and watched the clouds drift after a pegasus probably gave a breeze for them. “Well, this is one of the rare times when you are the one of us who asks me to hang out, so…” Raising an eyebrow and turning to see the clouds slowly drifting, and the sliver of a smile on Noble’s lips Soul became more at ease. He smiled a little wider and chuckled at the comment. “I, uh… Take that as a compliment. So it’s a deal then?” He extended a hoof. “Yes, it’s a deal. And… thank you. You know, for this and the pep talk.” Turning his attention back to Soul, Noble clopped his hoof together with Soul’s and shook. Finally Noble seemed to have a true smile on his lips. “Don’t mention it buddy, I’m glad you came to tell me instead of just going home and torturing yourself with the thought.” Soul sat up and walked over to sit down on his chair. “Anyway, if you want to hang around here, be my quest. I’m just starting to work on a poster but that’s about it.” “That will be fine… not like I have anything else to do now. I guess the only thing i should do now is to start planning new job applications...” Noble’s eyes moved up from the window to a clock on the wall. His mind buzzed with things he had to do and places he has worked as well as new places that may need new employees. As Soul heard the word ‘application’ escape Noble’s lips his ears twitched getting Noble’s attention. “Oh! Speaking of applications! I did something rather interesting today.” A grin crawled on Soul’s lips as he lifted his hooves and laid his chin on them, looking at his friend with rather mystically. “I applied to get lessons in fashion design and just put in my application before you came here.” Perking up and opening his eyes widely, below his eyes were still a little red but he formed a smile. “Oh?! Umm… well this is news to me.” A light but slightly forced chuckle escaped Noble’s mouth. “I hope you get chosen for it. Though… I never really remember you saying anything about wanting to be a fashion designer.” Noble gave off a big laugh as he rubbed the back of his head. Soul joined in the laugh. “I’m used to that already.” He rolled his eyes then smiled, raising a hoof as he opened his mouth to explain, “But anyway, yeah, your friend is into clothes if you haven’t happened to notice.” He gave another joking laugh as he slightly pulled at his red jacket. “I just… well I just haven’t generally brought it up with anypony because… Well the last time I had a real passion for clothes was when I was a colt and this interest has just recently kinda popped up again.” The earth pony leaned back, his eyes lowering and he placed his left hoof in his lap and raised his right up with his foreleg bent. “Oh, any reason? Or, did it just ‘pop up’ just like that?” Soul scratched his cheek with his hoof. “Well not exactly just pop up. I guess that it was during the time when I hadn’t gotten any interesting commissions and was kinda growing fed up with them, so I was trying to get some variety by drawing something else, which lead from drawing basic shapes to simple cloth sketches.” He stopped scratching and instead began gently tapping his lips with his hoof as he looked up at the ceiling, his eyebrows lowered as he sat still for a moment. “I guess that’s the point where the spark ignited, so to speak.” “I wonder why I haven’t noticed anything… I mean, you’ve always worn at least some kind of neat looking collar. Then again, I don’t have an eye for this things so um...” The stallion’s face was becoming red and he had begun to slur his words slightly. He shook his head and had come up with a question. “So… is there a place where you can study?” “No, not yet anyway. The AD still needs to give me a list of contacts…” The unicorn shook his head and trailed off as he didn’t want to go into too much detail. “I’m sure we’ll find a great one. Or well, hopefully. I get to select my own after all so it won’t be just anypony.” Noble put on a smile. “Well I hope you get the best fashion designer that Canterlot has to offer.” His voice was becoming much cheerier. Soul kept his mouth closed, biting his tongue as he knew he couldn’t tell Noble the truth currently. No, it would be too much after what’s happened to him. Instead, Soul put on fake smile and gave a simple nod. “Indeed.” As soon as he answered he immediately changed the subject as he grabbed the pack of pastilles off of his table and levitated them over to Noble after taking one himself. “Anyway, Mineral’s been wanting to show me her mineral art today, and I wondered if you would like to see it too? She won’t mind.” Noble didn’t notice Soul’s fake smile as he was gathering his thoughts. He nodded as he commonly did to thank his friend as he took a lemon pastille and popped it in his mouth. “Hmm, I’d love to see them, though… I’m not taking up too much of your time am I? I know you have to work and I don’t want to get you behind or get you in trouble.” Placing the candy back on his desk the pale stallion shook his head. “Naw, don’t worry. As long as the job will be done before deadline, it’s all good.” He stood up and pushed in his chair before he walked around his desk. He unlocked the door and bend a foreleg indicating for Noble to go first. Noble sat up and stepped off the couch and through the door. “Well, you need to lead the way.” He stepped to the side letting Soul walk past him and guide him over to Mineral’s office. Turning a key and pressing the handle, Noble stepped into a hallway of his apartment building. It was dead silent like always. Only an occasional sneeze or snore every now and then but that’s about it. Though it’s not rare in a block where mostly older ponies live. At least the hallway was pleasantly colored. Regardless, he still had a small smile on his face. He was still thinking about the art he just saw by Mineral and the upcoming outgoing with Soul. The stallion took the stairs to the next floor, but when he reached the end of them, he saw something that was breaking the usual empty atmosphere. Sitting, leaning against the door to his apartment sat a tall, thin, light purple furred unicorn mare with a blond mane and a strand of lime green running through it. As the mare heard hoof taps she turned, looking at the tan stallion. “Oh, yes! It’s finally you!” She leapt up catching herself with her hooves and wobbling a bit until she caught her balance. “Umm, hi…” Noble stood there for a moment, squinting his eyes, trying to recognize the mare. “You are… I have a feeling I’ve seen you before.” The stallion began sweating, not just because he couldn’t remember this mare’s name but also because of her beauty and how he must be looking like an idiot in her eyes. The mare could see the struggle in the stallion's face and began to giggle. “Would you like a hint, dear?” She turned her eyes and brushed her hair with her hooves, holding the lime green strands of hair up for the stallion to see. Jumping a bit, it hit him. “O-Oh! You are Truffle’s girlfriend aren’t you? I-I…! I’m very sorry I didn’t recognize you at first... Though… I, well I still can’t remember your name.” His cheeks grew bright red as he sunk his head down a bit, allowing the few inches height difference between them to increase. Giggling again and extending a hoof, she gently turned Noble’s head up. “You don’t need to worry. I was sick last time you saw me. Hair a mess, in sweatpants and a large blanket wrapped around me. Then again, you also saw me after I got home and changed out of my work suit.” She brought the hoof aways from Noble’s chin and to her own as she remembered the only other time they met. “Anyway, my name. It’s Olivia.” She gave Noble a curtsey and smiled, closing her eyes. “Olivia,” Noble repeated with a nod and gave a small bow of his head. “Well, it is nice meeting you, again.” Rubbing his neck, the stallion walked over to his door. “Would you like to come inside and we can discuss what brings you all the way out here?” Noble lifted a hoof tapping his door. Olivia cut her eyes looking up at the ceiling for a moment. “Well, I guess waiting about half an hour, I can stay for just a few minutes,” she said with a giggle. “I have been wanting to meet you on better circumstances for a while. Could we please go inside to chat?” She stepped back from the door shuffling what appeared to be a large box behind her that she was attempting to hide with her tail which she had groomed to make it bushy and fuller. Noble, attempted to look over the mare before entering his apartment but she leaned to the sides, obstructing his view of it. Realizing that the mare was not going to let him see the box easily Noble instead reached up and touched the knob to his apartment which began to glow white then turned to rose matching Noble’s cutiemark. There was a small click before Noble turned the knob and pushed the door open. His apartment was small, it had a bed, a small couch with a hoof made wood table in front of it and a small kitchen with two doors leading to a bathroom and a closet. As he looked around he quickly galloped over to the window where he slid the curtains open, allowing some natural light to fill the room. Olivia was looking around the apartment, himming and hawing. “You have a wonderful home here. It is very tidy for a stallion.” As she entered she carried the box with her magic behind her. As he turned around seeing the mare enter, Noble extended a hoof. “Thank you, feel free to take a seat if you’d like. I can offer you some water or sweet tea.” The mare continued looking over everything with a pleasant smile across her face. “No thank you dear. I had planned on just being here for a moment to give you something. I appreciate the hospitality though.” She stepped in through the kitchen at the entrance and into the main room. Noble gave a nod and moved closer to Olivia and leaned against the wall, giving a curious but gentle look. “Well I have been curious to figure out what that is behind your back that you are determined to keep hidden from me.” The stallion craned his neck trying to look around Olivia. “Well…” The mare lowered her eyes for a moment and then looked at the box she’s been hiding, finally presenting it to Noble with a small smile. She opened the box. “From what I’ve understood, you know about Truffle’s ‘sad cookies’, or am I mistaken?” As she opened the box she exposed an ocean of chocolate chip cookies. Noble’s eyes glistened as he saw the cookies. His hoof almost automatically dashed to reach one, but at the last moment, he pulled away as a very light blush grew to his face, and he rubbed his neck as he slowly nodded. “I do… I am sorry, she was appearently still upset after our talk. I am very glad she has come up with a positive outlet for her emotions though. Turning sorrow into something sweet isn’t something everypony can do after losing their job… Or well… in general.” Saying that, his ears dropped and he looked elsewhere when the fact of losing his job came back to him. Olivia gasped and tapped her hooves together, putting the cookies down on a table near them. “Oh yes! She was very emotional and; I wanted to talk to you about that. My apologies, I heard about that and what you said to your boss... You… well, you sounded…” Olivia gritted her teeth while her lips sulked, she brought up and held her chest with a hoof. Giving a sigh and nodding Noble held up a hoof. “Yes... Umm sorry, I just got back from a friend who helped me with that and I’d rather not think about that again if I could. But yes… I don’t mind losing my job if there was a good reason. But her reasons... Not to mention what she said...” Jumping forward, letting the cookies fall on the coffee table she put a hoof over Noble’s mouth. “Don’t say another word. Truffle told me all about that. You were right in what you said. She was very out of line and… I’m sorry there are still ponies like that. Though trust me, some of us unicorns know just how difficult it can be for earth ponies. I’m very inspired by you pushing to work here in Canterlot. You always keep trying.” She smiled while looking Noble in the eyes. Slowly closing his eyes Noble gave a small nod. “Thank you, I really appreciate that and, I hope all the best for Truffle too and that she is alright.” “I’m happy to tell that she is. She made well over 1000 cookies before I got back home and is still baking. Meaning you should come over and get more,” she spoke quickly and let out a cough, about Noble getting more not wanting to ruin the severity of what she has to say. “When I arrived home she was distraught and, after some questioning, she told me everything. Maybe... you should just read her note.” She levitated the note off the box and gave it to Noble. He stepped back, taking it out of the air and began to read it to himself. “Hey Noble, I told Cuddles about what happened today. :( But she was very sympathetic comforted me just like you told she would :3 She made me feel so much better again ^^ Thank you oh so much for being there for me. I got home and began baking and… you can have some cookies. Cuddles said she would take them to you and I hope you enjoy these my friend ^.^. PS I made this just incase she doesn’t catch you. She says hi there, btw! x3 PPS. I will get the earring after all! ^u^ <3 Truffle” “Aww,” Noble blushed and looked up. “I’m guessing your nickname is Cuddles. This is very cute and I’m glad you were as sympathetic as I thought you’d be.” Noble shifted his balance from hoof to hoof. Olivia giggled, covering her face with a hoof. “Yes, just a cute name she made for me, and I appreciate that compliment and concern. We will surely be fine. I am worried about you though, I know things are harder for you…” She placed a hoof on Noble’s shoulder. “Just know, we are here for you and that I have heard about how you are a great, hard worker.” She lifted her hooves and wrapped them around Noble hugging him. Taken aback for Olivia’s sudden hug, Noble just stood there for a moment, but eventually a smile rose upon his face and he hugged Olivia back. “Thank you, I know we don’t know each other that well, but I really appreciate your concern and support. I’m glad I have a friend like Truffle and that she has you.” He patted her on the back and smiled. The mare released her hug and smiled looking the stallion in the eyes. “Those words fill my heart with delight,” she chanted as the smile on her face got wider. “Please, I insist you come and have dinner with us some time. You and Truffle can look for jobs together.” Noble gave a nod and a fake smile. “Of course, we will need to meet and can job hunt some time soon. I do plan on looking a little tonight though.” His mind began to race as he wondered what kind of job he should even apply for or what job he can even find left in Canterlot. Not to mention there was the earth pony fact... Noble’s stream of thoughts was cut by Olivia’s voice, ”My gosh, is it really that late already?” Her heart jumped to her throat as she finally noticed the time and put a hoof on her forehead. A slight blush grew on the mares cheeks as she realized she had other places to be, she slowly starting to take baby steps towards the door. “I apologize, but I really must leave now. There is a certain pony waiting me for dinner at home, or hopefully she has stopped baking cookies and cooked dinner.” She rubbed her hoof across the ground, as she questioned what her girlfriend was up to but could not help but stare off dreamily as the thought of Truffle. Noble looked over at the clock and out the window. “I understand, it’s late and I won’t keep you any longer. Please, make sure Truffle knows how grateful I am for the cookies. Also thank you for delivering them and talking with me. I’ll message her with what I think about them.” He patted the box and eyed a cookie but shook his head and walked over to the door, opening it for his guest. Giving a curtsy, lowering her forelegs before the stallion. “That will be delightful, she will be happy to hear your input on them. Good night and take care of yourself Noble Poet.” Noble chuckled as he saw the curtsy but gave a bow of his own. “Of course, good night and you are both welcome to come visit. Have a safe trip back.” Olivia gave Noble one last wave which he returned before she trotted off trying to get back to her special somepony as quickly as she could. As she disappeared out the door Noble closed it and let out a deep sigh and shiver. All the happiness, mostly faked happiness that Noble had just moments ago when Olivia was there had vanished and was replaced by the chaos that was his thoughts “What in Equestria do I do now? How long can I live off the money I have left? What if I can’t find a job?” All kinds of questions swirled through his head and only raised more questions. “What if I can’t find a job? What if I had to leave? I’d disappoint everyone. It would mean that I can’t make it here in Canterlot. What if I can’t make it anywhere. I’m going to let everyone down!” His mind was practically screaming at him and his heart rate was rising rapidly. His body shook and his vision became fuzzy for a moment and his eyes darted around his apartment. He was breathing heavily and rapidly and was only able to go lay down on his couch. “I-I just need to find a start; I need to find a place to start. My friends won’t hate me, right? … My friends...” As soon as he began thinking about his friends he could feel his throat closing as that familiar lump formed within it. Noble sat there wrapping his hooves around himself and closing his eyes for minutes which felt like hours to him until he collected his thoughts. Once he was calmer he went to his bathroom, rinsing off his face with cold water and drying it before moving back to his living room. He had a plan now. He had today’s paper sitting on his coffee table, opened to the job section and he rummaged around under his bed until he found his small safe that he used his hoof print to unlock so he could gather his money. It was not a large amount but did seem to be a decent size for something he has been saving for a few months now only taking money from it when he was in dire need. He had always liked keeping enough money to get home if he ever absolutely needed to do so and also liked keeping enough to keep him on his feet if he ever got hurt or lost his job. Although he had it he hoped he’d never need to use it for it’s primary purpose. “Noble? Noble!” Soul said as he nudged and shook his friend, giving a small laugh. “Huh! Wha…?” The tan stallion immediately snapped out of his thoughts, almost stumbling on a stick on the path. Soul leapt forward as Noble stumbled, getting out of his way but looking back at him with a half frown and eyebrow raised. “You’ve been zoning out almost every five minutes now.” He stopped in front of Noble forcing him to stop. Stopping in front of the unicorn he regained his footing. “Oh, I… Sorry… I just… I have a lot on my mind and… well I suppose explaining why isn’t necessary…” Rubbing the back of his head while preventing eye contact after he said the word ‘sorry’. Giving a reassuring smile and turning to begin walking again while still looking back Soul spoke, “Remember what we agreed buddy? That we would forget every single bad thought for this night and focus purely on lightening up your mood.” He began walking once more, crossing a bridge. Noble stopped midway on a bridge they were crossing, after a moment of silence his eyes dropping and he let out a sigh. “Sorry, I guess I just had a little more thinking to do on this than I originally thought. Just getting hung up on it a bit.” Once he spoke he tapped his hoof on the bridge. The pale stallion froze suddenly, chuckling as he sulked his head. He took a few steps back and looked back at Noble. “It’s fine, it’s not like I can just tap my hooves together and make it go away by just saying so.” Noble sat up and leaned over the bridge, reaching his hooves over the side. “That’s true… We should just go and try to have a good time at the Cycle tonight. I’m sure after we start having a drink together everything will start feeling better for a moment.” Noble’s eyes wandered and he noticed a bench under a light. Perking up at the sight of it and hearing running water he looked around at the buildings. Soul noticed the earth pony looking about. He stepped forward looking about himself squinting as he looked further off in the darkness. “What’s wrong buddy? Looking for something?” “No, it’s just…” Noble’s attention shifted from the bench to a flowerbed near it, which brought back the talk with Truffle in his mind and what he had picked from that bed. He then quickly started patting his chest pocket and felt how it was still there. He was about to dig it up but pulled his hoof back before he did, quickly wrapping it around Soul giving him a tight hug. “I just want to say thank you… I’m just so grateful we became best friends...” Soul froze immediately, his eyes growing wide. It was just a small one legged hug, but it was still way out of his comfort zone and way too far into his personal space. He slowly lifted his hoof and awkwardly tapped his friend on the back, a rather awkward smile rising upon his face. “I… am also glad we are best friends. Noble, u-um… remember what we’ve talked about? Remember my personal space range?” He was constantly glancing around them to see if anypony was around. Noble gave an amused chuckle while he dug up the flower from his chest pocket, knowing Soul wouldn’t notice in that state. He quickly slid the dandelion into Soul’s chest pocket and pulled his hoof back as he pulled back from the hug too, going to lean back against the bridge with a gentle smile, looking down at the river. “Sorry, all this has just… made me look into things more deeply than usually. Like you; you are building a great career here and reach for sun within it.” The pale stallion breathed a sigh of relief as the tan pony released him. He straightened his collar as he regained his composure. “I... understand, and get what you are saying, but um…” As he patted his clothes he felt something in his front shirt pocket. He reached in pulling out the gold flower and looked over it, tilting his head. “Why did you slide a dandelion into my pocket?” He lifted the dandelion while it was flat in his hoof, turning to look at Noble with his eyebrows scrunched and a small grin upon his lips. “First you hug me out of blue and then this… Noble, we should get drunk first you know.” Noble hunkers down a little and gives an open tooth, cheesy smile and he tried to think of how to come back from this embarrassing scenario. But both stallions just shared a laugh for a few moments and as Soul extended his hoof as he tried to offer the dandelion back to Noble. Shaking his head and holding up a hoof, denying Soul the relief of taking back the flower. “Please I want you to have it. I am giving it to you because of all the flower there that one seemed to be the brightest, to reach for the sun and be in full bloom.” Touching the Unicorn’s hoof he pushed the hoof back toward Soul. Grimacing a bit as he looked down at the dandelion Soul was realizing this was one of the few times Noble wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “Well, why do you want me to have this so badly? I’d like at least hear that. I mean… dandelions are everywhere.” His expression softened as he awaited a response. “Of course. It’s because of those reasons I just explained that I want you to have it. It’s a silly sentimental idea but… just please keep it.” He sighed, looking at the flower again and remembering the withering flower that was picked along with it, and which he ended up dropping to the river. His heart felt heavy as he thought of the possibility that the similar fate may fall upon him too... But it was something he had to prevent all they ways he could. Giving a nod Soul smiled. “I see. Well I guess this will be easier if I’ll just hang onto it then.” He gave a joking but friendly laugh, bringing the flower closer and hiding it in his light jacket while it was still in his hoof. Noble gave off a sigh of relief and replied, “Thank you buddy. I know this may be a little uncomforting to get a flower from your best stallion friend. But thank you for accepting it.” He patted the pale pony on his side and began to walk again, passing him and walking to the edge of the bridge. “Now, you said something about going and getting drunk a minute ago.” He chuckled and turned, beginning walking. Soul gave a small grin and laughed. “Yes, the core purpose of this night.” he joked, but then looked back at the flower again, lifting it up as the earth pony began walking away. As he was about to reach down and put the flower in his pocket again a gust of wind sparked up. The gust blew the dandelion out of Soul’s hoof, Soul attempted to catch it clapping his hooves together and trying to catch it with his magic but as it twisted in the air in an inconsistent pattern there was nothing Soul could do. It fell into the river and began slowly drifting down stream. Sulking for a moment at the loss of a thoughtful gift the pale steed stood watching the dandelion drift down the river into the night. “Dang it!” he said quietly and lightly slammed his hoof on the edge, clenching his teeth together. “Just my luck…” he murmured to himself and let out a sigh. “Soul! Are you coming?” Noble yelled, the voice being much more light hearted this time. Shifting to look back at his friend, Soul leaned back, looking at where the dandelion had been before moving back to all fours, getting off the railing. “Yes, right behind you.” He trotted off the bridge catching Noble, who gave him a friendly nudge with his elbow and started to make their way to the pub again. Author's Note Olivia references Usual look: http://pre00.deviantart.net/20ac/th/pre/i/2015/177/7/6/olivia_01_by_wildsoulws-d8yut7w.png Office look: http://pre06.deviantart.net/c8f9/th/pre/i/2015/177/d/1/olivia_business_03_by_wildsoulws-d8yut87.png Also, here's something extra, hehe x3: http://pre04.deviantart.net/f17d/th/pre/i/2015/178/2/1/couple_01_by_wildsoulws-d8z0ei1.png
8. Three DiamondsAnother week, another thursday and still the same commission under the works, though the progress was going nicely. Soul took one last bite of his bun as he was trying to come up with some more ideas for the poster, even though he already had a plan, there was always room to improve. Though it was hard to concentrate in a full, fancy cafe filled with chatter, not to mention there was something else he had to pay attention to too. The pool cue sent the white ball barreling forward, it ricocheted off the other side of the pool table and hit a red 4-ball, delivering it straight into the pocket at the upper right corner. The pocket was followed by a loud squeal. “Oh my gosh, sis! Did you see that?” Mineral chimed with wide eyes that sparkled and a smile enveloping her face as she pulled back from the pool table. “That was a perfect hit, Soul! You have to admit it, a perfect hit!” Some ponies in the cafe scowled toward the duo, giving Mineral deprecatory looks. Soul put his cue down and clapped his hooves with his eyes widened too, “That was an awesome pocket, no doubt! Though I’m inevitably getting the feeling that you asked me to play just so you could beat a beginner,” he joked and laughed, taking a sip of his Wiener Melange. Mineral rubbed a chalk cube on the tip of her cue and chuckled, walking over to the other side of the table. “Don’t worry, I have morals.” She gave Soul a friendly smile. “It’s a nice game though, don’t you agree?” Soul gave her a nod turning his pool cue over and leaning on it. “Indeed. It’s a nice time killer.” “Mmhmm!” Mineral was about to get ready for the next hit, but stopped as she spotted Ink entering the cafe, glancing around as if he were looking for somepony. As Ink spotted the two, he immediately started approaching them, his eyebrow raised. “Now what is this? Shouldn’t you two be working instead of playing pool?” Mineral immediately winced and puffed out her chest, placing her hoof on it. “Ink, I would never ever neglect my job. My client informed that she’ll be late, so I thought teaching Soul about pool would be a good way to spent time.” “Alright then. So me checking up is not necessary yet.” Ink let out a laugh and then turned to look at the white stallion. “But what might Soul be doing here?” “We share a camera,” Soul said immediately, lifting a small bag he had on a table and presented it to Ink. “You see, I had agreed to photograph some of the actors for the poster today and Mineral agreed to photograph this cafe.” Mineral had already gotten back into the game and was targeting the white ball as he frowned. “But look at what a nice surprise was waiting for us. Only one camera left. Luckily the theater is just a couple blocks away.” She hit the ball and sent it flying but none of the colored balls went into the pockets which caused Mineral to let out a sigh. She stood up straight and placed the cue on her shoulder. “I really have to make an initiative to get more camera’s.” “That’s a good idea.” Ink gave a nod as his lips curved upward while he sat down on a bench as he glanced at the two ponies. “I’ve noticed you two interact far more often lately. That’s good, it keeps the team spirit up.” The two ponies turned to look at each other, Mineral narrowed her lips and looked from side to side as Soul took a step back putting on a small but awkward grin as both ponies just noticed the fact. The silence was followed by a light-hearted laugh. Soul took the chalk and rubbed the tip of his cue with it as he grinned. “Mineral could even cause good team spirit among rocks.” He let out a little chuckle, turning to look at Mineral, but as he saw the mare’s raised eyebrow, he quickly added, “Compliment, Mineral. A compliment.” Mineral closed her eyes as she pulled up and sat on a chair, chuckling. “Yes, yes, I know. Thank you, sis.” Ink lifted his left hoof looking at his watch before twirling his hoof in the air to draw attention. “Well, everything seems to be delightful around here. But before I leave…” He turned to look at the white unicorn, tilting his head, his glasses lowering down his face as he peered over them. “Soul, how is the tutor searching proceeding?” Soul had already started targeting the ball and made his hit, managing to pocket one striped ball. Even though his hit was pretty clumsy. As Ink’s question registered in Soul’s mind, a slight frown took over his face and he stood straight. “Manehattan is off limits now. Suri Polomer, Glimmer Fabric, Velvet Heaven, etcetera, none of them agreed to my proposal. Only a few even considered it.” Ink immediately sat up straight and put his hooves together. “Don’t let that bring you down, kid! There is still the big city of Vanhoover and Baltimare, not to mention smaller towns, Dodge City, Apple Loosa and Ponyville.” Mineral stretched her right foreleg out and put on a wide smile. “Naye, Vanhoover is a great place! I recommend!” she piped up, chanting. Soul walked on the left side of the table, but kept his focus on Mineral. “Yes, I’ve contacted some of the Vanhoover’s designers too but, only one has replied so far with a denying answer. Of course I am going to contact a fashion designer in Ponyville as well, but I’m not very confident with that one.” Ink leaned against the table and scrunched his eyebrows. “What exactly makes you to say such a thing?” Before Soul gave his answer, he struck the white ball without managing to pocket anything. He went over to his seat and sighed while looking outside, where it had started to rain. “Well, it’s not a very big town and this mare seems to be the only fashion designer around there. I doubt she has resources to tutor me.” He set his pool cue against the wall and started rubbing the top of his hoof while he frowned even more.“And maybe the fact that the place was in total mayhem just a couple days ago affects my mind too. What was it, black vines invading it?” Mineral flipped her pool cue up and reached up catching it with a hoof as she looked from one stallion to the other, then she leaned over the pool table. “Not only that, the sun and moon were very and completely messed up too!” She sat up looking over the table, her lips moved about as she did. She glanced back up and spoke to the stallions again, “I mean, wow that day… night? Dayght, was causing total mayhem everywhere around here too. I was lucky enough to get more asthma medicine before the royal guard shut us to our homes.” “Oh Soul, Soul, Soul…” Ink shook his head and let out a sigh. “Every patch of dirt could contain a diamond.” Soul scrunched his eyebrows and tilted his head, lifting his leg. “And that means…?” Ink took his eyeglasses off and pointed at Soul. “Miss Rarity is an extremely talented and very capable artisan. I've done some co-operations with her in the past and what I've noticed is resources are the last thing she seems to lack.” He put the glasses back on and pushed them higher as he raised his head a bit. “Since we have a history, my recommendation will be a very valuable advantage when you contact here. “ Soul sulked, frowning and sighed. As Mineral hit another solid ball in the hole he didn’t notice as he was focused solely on Ink. “And the vine invasion doesn’t have any weight at all?” Ink instantly shook his head and gave Soul a rather overly serious look which was almost scary. “Kid, you can’t let anything stand between you and your goal. Not even unnatural vine invasions causing a mess.” Drawing his neck back, the white unicorn started rubbing his neck as he looked away with a rather awkward look. “That’s… no offense, but an absurd way to look at it.” “Where did you get the courage to move to Canterlot then? This place doesn’t exactly have a clean history either. I’m sure you know of the big invasion of those black, creepy creatures who could take other forms. Now that was the most unpleasant mayhem I’ve been a part of. And you started your job learning in Spectrum just a few months after it. So, I’m asking again. Where did you get your courage?” There was a brief moment of silence which Soul spent just looking down at his hooves, and out of the windows of the cafe. Eventually, a single word came out of his mouth, “...Touche.” He raised his eyebrows as he spoke, admitting defeat. Ink shrugged forward and rose from his seat, giving Soul a tame smile this time. “Just trust me, kid. You’ll find the place, and even if it’s Ponyville, it’s still a jackpot no matter which way you look at it.” He tilted his glasses up and checked the clock again. “I shall take my leave now. Work hard but have a good time.” Soul gave a nod as Ink started walking away but Mineral gave a split second nod. Her mind seemed to be in another world entirely. She just kept staring out the window, up at the grey sky, cold shivers running through her body. The gloomy look on her face, along with her morose eyes told a story as if she was hoping her stare would reach the weather ponies and made them dissipate the clouds. Soul placed his pool cue against a wall and he walked over to his saddleback, digging up a dark red, blocky laptop. He sat down one seat away from the yellow mare and opened the device while looking at Mineral with a straight face. “Sorry for the cliche statement and…” Soul paused for a moment as he looked upwards pausing and thinking before he spoke again. “Sorry for the cliche statement of saying sorry for a cliche statement, but did a cat steal your tongue or what’s so magical about those clouds?” Mineral’s ears twitched as she turned to look at Soul, roughly clearing her throat. Her skin had gotten goosebumps, but of course it didn’t show under her coat nor was it long enough to notice. “N-No, I’m just irritated that bucking rain ruined my plans. I was going to swim outside today but it seems like I’ll just spend my day inside these four boring walls.” The reason why she was in a trance was a lie, but her plans to swim were not. Soul leaned against the table and let out a little laugh. “That’s kinda our job too, though you being an event organizer lets you get around more.” He then turned back to his laptop and opened his n-mail while digging Ink’s list of the artisans from his saddlebag. “But anyway, swimming? I’ve heard cold can trigger asthma attack and the water hasn’t exactly been warm.” Mineral nodded and placed her hooves onto each other. “Words of truth, but luckily I’ve been taught a spell that keeps my body temperature warm. It’s a deft trick to have, sis.” The smile she had slowly turned into a slight frown and she let out a sigh while looking down. “I still just have to swim very slowly or just float on the surface nowadays though.” A slight smile returned to her face while she rubbed her ankles together. “I used to be a real water beast as a foal.” “But asthma got in the way. I understand,” Soul said with a nod and then lifted his coffee cup that had been sitting on a nearby table with his magic, presenting it to Mineral. “Gotta love magic, though.” Soul stated with a friendly smile, and then opened his n-mail. Mineral chuckled in a slightly awkward way, then laid back against the table, lifting her cue with her magic and spinned it in the air. “It has spoiled us unicorns, but I’m not complaining.” The mare stood up and took a deep breath, walking over to the pool table. “Anyway, I should finally make the game go on.” Soul nodded and pointed his hoof at the mare. “You do that, and take your time. I’ll write this n-mail.” The stallion turned to look back at his screen and opened a new message. He didn’t type the address first, since there’s always the risk he might accidentally sent it when it’s not finished. He started the message with the obvious, `hello´. The mare sized up the few balls she had left and chuckled at how fewer balls she had then Soul. As she let out the final chuckle she came back to the present conversation. “If you get an offer in Vanhoover and I’m pretty you will, I’m so going to make a list for you of all the places you must visit!” She smiled off giving a wiggle of excitement thinking about her hometown. “And remember, if you become like every other stereotypical fashion ponies, I’ll make sure you won’t sit for a month, sis.” Soul stopped writing and turned to look at Mineral with his eyebrows furrowed, a little laugh escaping his mouth. “And I’ll make sure you’ll pay me the damages. A perfect deal.” Mineral stretched her hoof out as far as she could, and brought the cue next to it with her magic still holding her hoof up to ensure the cue was at the proper, perfect angle while pointed at Soul. “It’ll be worth it. Totally worth it.” Soul intentionally widened his eyes and slowly started burrowing his head against his shoulder, while Mineral looked at him like a teacher from a time when they still spanked foals with measuring sticks. The mare had a distinct glower come over her face as she stared Soul down; the two were unable to resist shaking their heads and allowing smiles to crack across their faces as well as crack the mood. Mineral swiped her hoof and pulled her cue back. “Naw, just kidding. Keep the hooves on the ground though, sis and don’t lose your Soul to them.” It just took a split second until she winced slightly and let out a little laugh before she placed her hooves on the table. “Why does your name have to be so punny?” Soul let out a small laugh too and shrugged. “Only Celestia knows,” he said as he continued writing, his eyes darting up for just a moment to reach Mineral before returning to his laptop. “I’m still surprised how supportive you actually are.” “It’s not like my opinion is the thing that matters in the end. Friends are for supporting each other, right? Or keeping them on the right track at least,” she stated with a chuckle and finally took her shot. “Besides, bringing ponies down has never been my thing. Well, except if they have gotten too high and--- Oh my Celestia this can’t be!” Mineral’s eyes bulged wide open as she saw a horrible sight of 8-ball bouncing from the side of the table straight to a pocket. Soul had turned to look at the table, and not seeing the 8-ball anywhere, he hummed the failure tone which caused Mineral to slightly frown, though she took her failure in stride, she shook her head but allowed her lips to curve upward. Mineral put her cue down and rubbed her cheek with her hoof.“What a great mistake. I should’ve seen that coming but apparently not.” She took a deep breath, and placed her cue back to it’s original slot on the wall, she then walked over to Soul and peeked at the message. “So, how is the message coming along?” Soul tapped his chin with a pencil he was holding with his magic as he typed rapidly with his hooves. “All I have to add is the part where it convinces her that Spectrum won’t be a threat and state all the things she will benefit from aaaaaaand…” Tapping a final enter key before he leaned back the stallion crossed his forehooves exclaiming, “Done.” “Hmm…” The mare looked over Soul’s shoulder as she read the n-mail. “You should probably take that ‘Your business seems small’ part off completely. It most likely will seem offensive.” Soul slammed a hoof against his forehead. “Oh, you are right. What was I thinking?” He shook his head and immediately deleted it. “Thanks.” The last thing he did was look up the address and added it; as soon as the address was added he hit the enter key, with a pleased, “And it’s sent” Mineral nodded, she beamed as she watched the n-mail disappear. “Very good, Soul. Very good. I will still cheer for Vanhoover though.” Soul nodded and closed his laptop, putting it back into his saddlebag. His eyes lowered but a small smile crossed his face as he realized how real this dream was becoming. “I’ll just wait and see how things will turn out.” Mineral hopped onto a chair next to the stallion and smiled. “Indeedily.” She placed her forelegs on the table leaning forward toward the stallion. “By the way, that brought something to my mind. Have you told Noble that you most likely will have to leave Canterlot because of this?” “Well… No... “ Soul paused, looking down at the table. His shoulders sulked and his lips drooped. “He’s been as down as it’s probably possible to be since he lost his job and that one evening we spent drinking only cheered him for a moment.” The white unicorn shook his head and rubbed his face, he left his mouth uncovered so he could speak. “Breaking the news to him that I will leave in a while like this, well… It sure won’t help his situation.” Mineral extended a hoof, placing it on the table in front of her friend. Her smile had vanished and she brought the corners of her lips in as she looked away before opening her mouth. “That sure is an unpleasant situation… But the more you wait, the more it will hurt when you break the news. How would you feel if he told you that he would move away tomorrow?” The stallion’s hooves dropped, he lifted his head and looked toward the mare. “Sudden. Yes, I get your point there.” He put his hooves together and looked down, a gloomy atmosphere absorbing them both. “I know that he has other good friends here, but still, we rely on each other the most.” “Sis, it’s not like your friendship will vanish or anything. You two seem to have quite a strong bond there and I don’t think that you two living in different towns will affect it. I still have important friends I’ve been in touch with from Vanhoover and our bonds haven’t been weakened even a little bit.” She gave a smile as she tried to cheer up her friend. Scratching the back of his head as he looked over toward the mare. “Yes, that’s what I thought too. Besides, who knows how long my search for a tutor will go on. These things take some time, so I have a feeling Noble would’ve gotten back on his hooves by the time I would have to move.” Mineral’s head tilted to the side and her lips formed a frown. “You got a good point there too.” She sighed while in her seat, wiggling her hind legs under the table.. “My opinion still stands, you should tell him as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the more time he has to let it sink in.” The thick haired mare stopped fidgeting in her seat and instead relaxed clapping her hooves together to speak in a more cheerful town.“Besides, when the times comes, I can keep an eye on him and report his every move to you.” Soul shook his head and extended a hoof toward her. “Thousands of thanks, but I don’t think that’s necessary. I.M. books still exist, you know.” “Indeed.” She put her hooves together and looked down at the table, her smile dropping and only one small one remaining, her tone became slow and serious. “And well, Soul... You know Noble won’t be the only pony who will miss you being here.” She kept her eyes focused on the table before her, unwilling to give their eyes an opportunity to meet. Frozen by the comment the pale stallion lowered his shoulders as his eyes became soft and he watched the mare as her hair fell, hiding her eyes. Although he wanted to speak he could not think of anything to say. Turning back toward the stallion and blowing her hair to the side she brought her foreleg hooves in toward her body. “I mean, dang. I just got to know your social side and became friends with you, and the next thing I know is that you plan on leaving... Funny, eh?” Rubbing his neck, Soul tried to think of what to say as he was nervously glancing back and forth around the cafe. After a short moment, a small smile crawled upon his face. “Well… I would be lying if I said i wouldn’t miss your attitude... And you know, our chit-chats and all that.” That said, a soft but still somber smile fell over Mineral’s lips as she slowly raised her head to look at Soul. “Heh, well… You can be sure you won’t get rid of me sis. ” She reached down and rubbed her hind legs under the table and tapped the table with her hoof in a rhythmic pattern. “So yes all I wanted to say is that.. I really like your company and it’s sad that you are going after we’ve just befriended one another. I hope you can visit Canterlot from time to time.” Soul nodded and rubbed his hooves together. “Likewise Mineral, and yes I will.” As the air around them became quiet Mineral wiggled her hind legs under the table and before the moment could continue she quickly turned and looked up at the clock. “Gosh, my client sure is taking her time.” Soul glanced at the counter and slightly furrowed his eyebrows, though he appreciated Mineral changing the subject but wished he could have said something more. He returned to the task at hand responding, still feeling a lump in his throat still unable to think up a proper response which lead him to utter, “I could get a drink if we weren’t working.” Turning her ears back as she leaned back in her chair, noticeably confused about how Soul’s mind went to drinking with her last statement. She lifted a hoof pointing it at the stallion. “You are such a drunk,” she exclaimed and puffed out her cheeks with a glare for a few moments before she relaxed it so she could speak up again. “Though you could if I had an amethyst mug with me.” “An amethyst mug?” Soul repeated and instantly raised an eyebrow, his body turned so he faced Mineral while lifting a hoof so it faced the ceiling. “What does that have to do with anything?” Mineral fixed her posture and cleared her throat with a cough before speaking up, “Well you see, amethysts can actually protect against inebriation.” Soul’s eyes grew wide, he sat up, slamming his hooves down on the table as he almost rose to his rear hooves. “What, seriously?” The unicorn mare raised a hoof to silence her friend. “I’m not even kidding, sis. I once crafted a mug out of amethyst and tried to make a prank for Meadow when we were having a little day off. She never drinks more than one glass of wine, so I tried to be sneaky and made her believe that she wouldn’t get all dizzy when drinking from an amethyst mug.” The thick maned unicorn held her bosom as she spoke, she held her head high to be heard clearly. “And oh Celestia I was flabbergasted when she remained one hundred percently lucid.” Soul couldn’t help but laugh enthusiastically at Mineral’s story while scratching his head, tears almost poured out of his eyes. It took a bit for Soul to control his breathing before he could produce even one word. “Dang, well that’s a pretty interesting power for amethyst to have. Though what’s the point of drinking if you’re goal isn’t to become a little-” The stallion quickly cleared his throat - “not so lucid.” He let out one last laugh until his eyes grew wide and he locked his eyes on Mineral. “Wait... You drink?!” he said with an obviously joking tone and then placed a hoof over his head. “Oh my, I’ve always thought you were a decent, high society pony but apparently all that has just been an illusion that’s now shattered into thousands of pieces.” After she scoffed at the comment, she flipped her ears back again and glared with a sly grin from cheek to cheek, while she pointed at Soul, very close to poking him in the chest as she glared while she leaned her head up, looking up at Soul. “I could beat you and Noble both in a drinking game without even breaking a sweat.” Soul crossed his forelegs and put on a joking pouty face. “Now you’re just bragging.” “Aww, well I’m deeply sorry.” Mineral opened her arms wide open. “Let’s hug. Hugging fixes everything.” A cold shiver ran across Soul’s body and he immediately sprung up from his seat and took a few steps backwards with a big frown on his face. “Yeah no, no hugging or physical contact in general.” “Oh yeah?” Mineral immediately stood up from her seat and locked her threatening eyes on Soul and slowly approached the still retreating unicorn. Soul’s ears folded down and they both slowly circled around the pool table. Though their little scenario was quickly broken by a mare who downright slid into the cafe from the front door as she left a paper trail behind her. She quickly runs back to pick the fallen pieces up, gasping like a steam train. “Miss Tint, miss Tint, miss Tint!” she yelled and ran straight for Mineral. “I am absolutely one hundred percent sorry I am this late!” As soon as the client approached Mineral, she ran over to the hysteric mare and placed her hoof on the client’s scapula. “Calm down, miss. It’s perfectly fine. I kept myself entertained in this fine cafe.” Soul sat down and watched Mineral calm down her client. Once the commotion was over he turned in his seat and dropped down onto all fours again. He walked over and leaned in to speak loud enough for the mares to hear him. “Well, I shall take my leave then. See you back at the Spectrum.” Mineral quickly reached for the stallion before he turned to leave. “Soul Soul Soul Soul Soul Soul!” She called back to him and pointed at the bag he had. “Leave the camera” Soul stopped and turned to look at Mineral with a blank face, though quickly flinched and took the camera bag off, carrying it over to his friend with his magic. “Oh, right…” he said with an awkward chuckle. After the stallion gave Mineral a wave and got one back in return, he exited the cafe and headed back to Canterlot Spectrum. It arrived. The answer from Ponyville has arrived. Normally, Soul would hold his breath while opening the mail, but he’s got so many answers denying him so far that he had already become numb to them. Before he started to read, Soul threw a lemon pastille to his mouth and sat back. “Hello, thank you very much for you interest, Wild Soul. Your offer is rather interesting and it most definitely caught my attention.” The start seemed very promising and Soul’s ears twitched. “I’m very familiar with Canterlot Spectrum and specifically with Ink and if Ink has granted you his recommendation, there is absolutely no doubt you have at least potential. All the benefits and co-operations that you listed sound very good and it would be my pleasure to discuss this more. Of course I took a look at the pieces of designs you sent in the mail, and I saw your potential myself.” Now this is what Soul has been waiting for days. Not just a simple ‘Sorry, I don’t take pupils’ but a proper, positive answer. Soul’s heartbeat had increased, his lips parted upward and his mind began to prepare for the next step as his hope rose and he read on. “If you are still interested by the time your read this message, I have added a number for my video relay and I.M. Please, message me as soon as possible so we can settle upon a time for a video meeting. Best and absolutely fabulous regards, Rarity.” Finally; a proper downright answer. A proper positive answer and the only one too. But was Ponyville really the place fitting for a pony who has always lived in big cities? On the other hoof, it would just be a temporary living and studying place for a year. It indeed is close to Canterlot. Besides, there is no room to be picky after so many rejections. This could be the only accepting response Soul would get and as that thought passed through his mind, it became clear. The unicorn nodded and without further ado, dug a pen and copied Rarity’s I.M. address down. And then the hardest part: form an instant message for a new person… Well there’s no way around it. Soul laid the book on his desk and like usually, took a moment to think before carving even one letter. The moment actually stretched out for fifteen minutes before Soul even placed a pen on the paper. “Hello Rarity, it’s Wild Soul. Thank you very much for responding this quickly and especially thank you for your affirming answer. I’m available almost always, so just suggest a time and we can make video contact. Hope to hear from you soon.” Yep, that’s all it needs. The text disappeared and now it was sent. Soul put the book down in his saddlebag and got up, he headed to get some coffee from a coffee machine. He also bumped into Mineral who had finished transferring her images and was now bringing the camera to Soul. Typically, they had short nice chit-chat, Mineral telling how the meeting went well and how the client treated her like some upper class leader. Soul, naturally, explained how he got his first acceptance answer, which of course lead Mineral to congratulate him and threw a joke about how she demanded to rant about her old home city. Eventually they both go their separate ways and headed back to their own offices. Putting the camera bag on his desk, Soul sat down and was about to open his laptop, but didn’t have a chance to do so, when he felt his I.M. book vibrating. He dug it up, the message being a response from Rarity. “Hello Soul, splendid news! I am willing to proceed with this affair as soon as possible, with a delightful mind of course. Do you happen to have a moment right now? My boutique is very quiet at the moment, so I’m able to spare a moment if you are available too.” "This quickly?!" Soul thought to himself as his steady heartbeat escalated rapidly. "Like right now?" Of course he could just lie and tell her he is busy at the moment, but that would be very unprofessional. Soul fell back on his chair and spend a few moments just feeling his increased heartbeat and thinking about what to answer. It should be simple, Soul has time, so there’s nothing stopping him; but should he wait and think of some questions she would possibly ask and contact her later? No, he just had to brace up and pick up the pencil, before he could have a second thought he levitated the pencil and wrote that he was available. Soul opened his laptop and prepared everything, adding Rarity’s address. “Rarity is available,” it said. Now just to wait till she contacted him and in no time, a simple loop started playing and a text appeared. “Rarity wants to have a video conversation with you,” Soul cleared his throat and pressed a green icon, he saw his reflection as the screen became black and reflective, he quickly turned his head checking his hair and nudged his collar ‘perfecting’ his appearance. "Loading, loading… Connection was formed,” On the screen appeared a mare with quite the elegant look. Lavender mane, blue eyes and white coat, presenting a gentle smile upon her lips. “Hello, Soul!” she spoke, clearly being excited, but still under control. “My, it is a true pleasure to literally see you. How are you?” ´How are you?´ That’s not a question Soul exactly expected. No time to wonder about it though; he quickly snapped out of the slight confusion and answered with a smile, “Likewise, Rarity. I’m good, thank you for asking. Starting to work on a poster soon.” “A poster?” Rarity repeated and lifted a hoof on her chin, her eyebrows raising along with it. “Do you mind if I ask what is it for?” ‘Another small talk question?’ Though confusion was still not acceptable now. Soul held the smile and shook his head. “Not at all. It’s a poster for an upcoming theater act here in Canterlot.” Rarity immediately put her hooves together “Oh, interesting! What a grand project,” she said with a smile and put a hoof on her cheek, looking somewhere off the screen. “I’ve worked in theater myself as a costumier. It’s such a lovely job to do,” she chanted and gave a small smirk thinking of her theater projects, though she quickly snapped out of it as she realized she was zoning off and started searching for something. “Ah, pardon me! I wandered off point before I even began.” Soul’s lips grew long and curved down as he scratched one of his temples with his hoof. “Excuse me, Rarity. I thought, those weren’t exactly the questions you would ask considering this subject.” After he spoke he closed his muzzle and clenched his teeth together, shrinking down waiting for the mare’s rebuttal. On the screen Rarity placed her hooves together and rested her head on top of them, looking down to ensure her entire head was still in the video. “Oh those were intentional and sincere, because of curiosity and politeness.” The smile still firmly cemented on her face. “I see…” Soul dropped his hooves and blinked rapidly, he thought through what he just heard and exhaled slightly. “So, I want to ask you three simple yet important questions which will help me to evaluate and come to a conclusion on if you will get a honor of becoming my pupil. And of course if I will get the honor to become your tutor,” Rarity spoke with a mix of confidence and friendliness that was rare among any pony. “Just be natural, please.” The stallion sat upright and tilted his head forward ever so slightly giving a nod and lifting a hoof to signify that he was going to speak. “Well it’s like art, nothing good comes out of forced effort.” Rarity’s lips crawled slightly further upwards. “That is a very good first impression,” she expressed with a deep, professional tone and picked up her paper and pen, and slid on her reading glasses. “Also, I’m not very experienced with these interviews, so if there is something important you want to tell me but I don’t ask about, please tell me.” As she saw Soul nod, she cleared her throat. “Now, let us begin. First, something quite simple, why are you willing to become a fashion designer?” “Ah.” Soul let out a sigh of relief as that was finally a question he was prepared for, but never dropped his smile. He fixed his posture and cleared his throat before speaking, “Because I’m willing to expand my skills as a designer further and want to experience something entirely different when it comes to execution. Fashion has… well, always been at least a small part of my life, because I’ve always carefully picked my clothes when I wear something. Recently, it’s become an even bigger interest to me, and when I heard there’s a chance I could become an artisan, I knew I wanted to take it.” Of course there was some hesitation, but Soul knew saying that wouldn’t do much good. Rarity was nodding throughout Soul’s speech while her smile never dissipated. “Great attitude Soul,” she noted, which had that sincere tone to it. She looked at the paper she had out of frame again and asked the next question, “Next, what does fashion mean to you?” Soul scrunched his eyebrows together and pouted his lips. That again wasn’t a question he had thought of. “What does fashion mean to me?” he repeated and started thinking, as he tried to gain some time. He knew couldn’t wait too long without saying a word. “Well…” He eventually spoke up and leaned against the table. “My view isn’t that different from designing other things, except I see it as a bigger thing than logo’s or posters. To me, clothes and fashion are kind of a way to show others what kind of style and things one likes, like favorite colors, shapes, accessories, music, lifestyle, societal views etcetera. But by no means should ponies be judged by clothes.” Rarity put her hooves together and smiled brightly. “My, you certainly have the right perspective about this. This is very pleasant, a breath of fresh air,” she said, her voice was filled with excitement and there was a noticeable glimmer in her eyes. “Oh thank you. Glad you think so.” Soul’s posture tightened, he sat up straight putting his hooves flat in his lap to look professional and presentable while hoping he looked open enough for the artisan’s taste. “I do.” Rarity batted her eyes and fluffed her mane. “Now, I shall ask you the last and most important question. What is your dream? Your absolute goal? And how would becoming an artisan help you achieve it?” Rarity tensed up, leaning toward the screen as her forelegs crossed on the table as she awaited the reply. Soul’s eyes grew wide and his heart started beating faster. “My goal?” he repeated again and rested his chin on his hooves. Another question he really should’ve thought of how to answer earlier, though he did know the answer, but just needed to put it into words. There wasn’t time to think, just improvise. He once again cleared his throat and spoke up, “My goal is... my goal is to one day become one of the most recognized Art Directors among designers and learn in as many area’s of designing as possible, and artisan is one of them. With artisan training, I would take a huge step to reaching that goal and of course, expand my knowledge of different areas... I’m confident I have a potential to reach my goal.” That was all he could think of, simply stated for his possible teacher. “Tres magnifique!” The mare clapped her hooves together while displaying an open mouth smile. “That’s all now and I can happily say that you’ve passed the interview as whole!” Soul jolted his head back, a bit surprised. “Is that so?” He lifted and placed his hooves on the table, crossing them and grinning while slightly tense, a bit nervous from her quick, maybe even rushed decision. “Wow, that was… quick” Rarity put the tips of her hooves together and rested her head on them looking at the stallion. “Well you see, behind all these questions there was only one trait I wanted to see if you had, and that is determination. You answered all my questions confidently and clearly. There was no hesitation in your responses, you stated that you wanted, you have strong views of this subject and you said you have potential, not that you may have some potential.” “So… this means you are willing to take me as your apprentice?” He raised an eyebrow and narrowed his mouth, not taking his eyes off the screen as he held his breath awaiting a response. Giving a nod and smile while removing her glasses she replied, “Yes. That is if a Canterlot citizen like yourself is willing to choose a humble, little town like Ponyville as a place to study.” She looked up and way bringing a hoof to her lips. “Though, I do suppose you wouldn’t even have contacted me if that were the case.” Soul’s lips turned up and his hooves quickly on the table as he slightly sat up. “Oh, absolutely! You are actually the first one who has actually agreed to even consider this.” “Oh really?” Her ears twitched and her eyebrows rose as she heard this. While his face turned red Soul continued to speak, scratching his neck and drooping his ears. “Well to be honest, I was kinda on the edge on if I should contact you, especially after that little… invasion thing there.” “Oh yes, that.” The mare drew her ears back and lowered her eyes. “Such an…” She looked about, holding off as she struggled to find the right words, her eyes darting around her room. “...unfortunate event.” After stating that, she quickly cleared her throat and put on a big smile again. “But Ponyville has risen from that and it thrives just as glamorously as before!” The stallion let out a sigh of relief and let his hooves fall into his lap once more. “Good. Getting choked by a vine isn’t exactly my ideal way to get educated.” Rarity let out a light laugh. “Certainly not.” Her horn glowed as she moved a curtain blind allowing a little more natural light in her room, out of Wild Soul’s sight. “But yes, I’m sure that with your determination and potential, you are a pony worthy of becoming a fashion designer and my apprentice.” Soul rubbed his hooves together under the table and smiled up at the ceiling. “Rarity, that’s the best news of my day.” His eyes opened quickly and he looked down turning his head and pointed at the screen with his hoof. “Or, do you prefer just miss?” The white mare immediately raised her hoof and slightly lifted her head higher with a smile. “You may use whichever you would like.” Soul nodded. “Alright. I just wanted to make sure.” “Yes, I understand mon ami.” She pulled over a notepad and quill with her magic, she dipped the quill in the ink before inquiring, “Oh, and may I ask your working hours tomorrow?” “Working hours?” Soul once again repeated and drew his neck back, pulling his head back and his eyes opening a bit wider. “From seven to three. Why?” Rarity wrote the times down on the parchment. “From seven to three,” she repeated and nodded. “Excellent, I’ll come to visit Canterlot Spectrum tomorrow at two o’clock?” Soul stomach turned upside down, he felt as if his heart rose into his throat. “Wait, what?” Rarity sat up straight and nodded, putting a hoof on her chest and closing her eyes. “I have planned to go to Canterlot to gather some new fabrics for my latest fashion line, so your time of contacting me was quite fitting.” Rarity crossed her hooves on the table and lifted her gaze with a smile. “I’ll get to discuss the details more with Ink and get to know my future apprentice better. The process will be much quicker that way too.” He stretched his chin and looking away, Soul’s heart was still beating like a drum. “Huh… Well this was sudden.” “Hmm?” Rarity tilted her head with a blank look on her face. “Is there a problem? I thought you wanted to proceed quickly with this too? Besides, I’m willing to meet you in person before I can be absolutely certain in my decision.” Soul immediately turned to look back at Rarity and nodded a few times. “Absolutely, but there are a lot of arrangements I have to do. I haven’t even decided if I will move to Ponyville or stay in Canterlot and if I move to Ponyville, I obviously have to find an apartment and give up my recent one. Bits are also a problem; and well… There are other things I also have to think about....” Soul said with rather dull voice and looked outside his window in the distance. The mare nodded again and placed her hooves folded her hooves over one another, as she leaned in and spoke softly. “That’s why I’ll come and meet you and Ink so we can discuss the arrangements. My botique wouldn’t last a day if I couldn’t think ahead.” Soul slapped his head with his hoof and shook a little. “Ah, yes you are right.” Rubbing his head, he sighed. “I feel stupid now.” “Don’t worry about it, I admit my pace might be...” She tapped her lips with her hoof again as she thought about her words. “ a bit quicker than most ponies. But regardless, is it fine by you if I visit tomorrow?” “Well There definitely can’t be any harm for that.” The steed nodded, closing his eyes and lifting a hoof out to his side. “So, we will meet tomorrow, Rarity.” Rarity straightened the papers on her desk and moved them to the side. “Excellent! We shall indeed. I’ll inform Ink and see if I can set up a meeting with him too.” Soul nodded as a smile crept over his lips. “Sounds like a plan.” Rarity nodded. “Perfect.” Last time she ficed her posture and smiled at the stallion whle waggling her hoof to him. “Ta ta, I shall see you tomorrow, Wild Soul.” As the call ended, Soul took a deep breath in and waited for a moment before letting it out, sinking into his chair. Finally, there was a real chance for him, not to mention how quickly things were coming together. In one day’s time he’d know if he would get the position as an apprentice or not. Just thinking about it gave him goosebumps and a small lump formed in his throat, it didn’t take long before his excitement turned into slight anxiety when the image of Noble appeared in his mind. Soul never thought it would take this little time before he would get his first confirmation at the first possible place. Of course, nothing was confirmed, she may still deny him as an apprentice. But if he gets approval from her, what is he supposed to tell Noble? “Hey buddy, yea um… I got a place and I’m moving out of town soon. Sorry to announce this out of blue, you know.” But… since Ponyville isn’t a place that far away, it means that he could go there every day by train. Though... Soul knew that the possibility for that was very low but he was desperate and was looking for any possible solutions he could come up with. One thing was sure, when the time comes to break it to Noble it would be anything else but pleasant. The only thing he could do is to wait and hope for the best. Author's Note Having laptops, n-mail and even video contact most likely threw most of you off guard (or something like that :D) when reading it, but no worries, there will be an explonation later in the story how we have implemented them into the MLP universe.
10. Bonjour, Mon Ami! Part 2Noble placed his hooves on a counter, his eyes focused on the pony behind it. “Um... excuse me?” The station clerk turned to look at Noble and immediately put on a smile. “Oh hello sir, how may I help you?” “I…” Noble’s ears folded back on his head as he paused for a moment looking down and to the left, but eventually his head rose again knowing he had to get what he came for. “I’d like to buy one train ticket to Horseshoe Bay for two weeks from now. ” The pony nodded as he tapped a few buttons. “Can do, sir. One way or return ticket?” There was a pause before Noble answered, his ears lowered and he sulked his shoulders while the disfavor of the situation sat before him. “Yes, a one way ticket please.” “Very well, one way ticket to Horseshoe Bay, two weeks from now,” The pony reciprocated the order with an innocent pleasant tone as he typed in the last bit of information and produced a ticket and receipt. “The ticket has two days change policy. Have a pleasant and safe trip, sir.” “Thank you,” Noble said giving a small bow and gave the bits to the stallion. As he did, he took the ticket and moved out of the line, a small sigh escaping his lips and his head drooped. He blankly gazed at the ticket thinking about how real this situation actually was now. Suddenly, the stallion felt a leg as it gently wrapped around him, causing him to raise his head and turn quickly, snapping back to attention almost dropping his ticket. The leg belonged to the very familiar green maned and yellow coated mare who’s ears were folded down with teary eyes. She focussed on the ticket Noble was holding. “S-So it’s officially official now…” The earth pony stood, holding the ticket and gave a faint nod and paused, looking up and felt like his heart was breaking as he looked at the weeping mare. He realized that his nod may have gone unnoticed so he spoke up, “Yes, unfortunately…” Truffle rubbed her nose and eyes as her hoof trembled. “Don’t you think we could’ve looked at more job ads together or something…? Maybe we could’ve found something tomorrow...” Noble shook his head, he reached back in his saddlebag pulling out a handkerchief and offered it to the mare. “No Truffle, this was the only choice I had left. Even if I got a new job at this point, I wouldn’t be able to pay my rent in time.... Going back to my old hometown is my only option.” The green mare took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes and nose. “I understand… Well at least we can look on the bright side…” Truffle immediately grabbed the stallion’s head and pulled their heads together so their cheeks were pushed together tightly. ”At least you get to leave this oh so cruel city and may find something better, returning to your roots!” The stallion struggled to scoot back, trying gently to push his cheek away from the mare. “At weast... I whon’t hab to sweep in the tstreets.” Once he finished speaking he stopped struggling and cut his eyes toward Truffle. Letting go of Noble’s head the unicorn relaxed her face muscles and used a more serious tone while her ears dropped. “True and yeah, being all serious, your situation could be worse… You could have nowhere to go…” Her ears flipped back up and a smile spread across her face as she pointed at him with puffy red eyes. “...but it is fortunate you can go back home. We could have housed you for for a bit, but of course there are limits to that...” Noble tilted his head up, closing his eyes, looking out to the clock tower. “True. It’s funny, as much as I abhor this city I am still sad that I have to leave it. Alas cruel Canterlot, my tender feelings have faded, I tried to drink from the pond but was pulled in and almost drowned in the ocean. I have fond memories, apartments, jobs, favorite places, and most of all... ” The stallion had a strange solemn smile on his lips, he turned to give the mare a soft look, though he seemed even gloomier than just a second ago. “...All the close ponies around me... Leaving behind everything I have in this city, I can almost feel the fragments of my heart breaking off.” He put a hoof over his heart as he spoke, his smile diminishing rapidly. Her body shook and her lip quivered as she listened, she brought a hoof up to cover her lips. “Aww. I surely understand. Just imagining if Olivia for example moved to another town would be heartbreaking…” The green hoof left her lips and pulled Noble’s left hoof up and held it in front of her. “That’s why I promise to write you every day and I demand that you demand your other friends stay in touch too!” Noble’s lips just barely crawled upwards and he even let out a little chuckle through all his gloominess. “Thank you Truffle, that means a lot. I’ll be sure to keep you informed on how I am.” “Good! I’m not expecting anything less!” As she released the stallion's hoof she brought a hoof back and wiped her eyes again before placing her fourth hoof back on the ground and lifting the other pointing down the street. “Hey, wanna go have tea? I know a place nearby who is run by a friend who actually owes me for setting up a date for her. She demanded it and I haven’t used the chance, so we would get some free from her.” Noble’s ears flipped back up and he nodded with a weak shrug. “Well, alright, that sounds good. I really could use some...” The mare draped a leg around Noble again with a wide smile that crossed over her lips, beginning to lead the stallion to the cafe, attempting to keep her leg over Noble as they walked. “In that case let’s go!” His ears twitched and drew back even though his lips turned slightly upward. “If you insist, please lead the way.” When they began walking Noble walked closer to the mare, being careful of where he stepped as not to trip Truffle or break the embrace. It didn’t take them long to get to the cafe, since it was in the same Topaz Square they were at. The cafe was pretty nice looking. It has that typical, stylish Canterlot look with mostly white decorations. When the two ponies arrived at its terrace, Truffle glanced around the terrace and asked Noble to get a table for them while she went inside to order their teas. A moment later Truffle comes back with two plates that each had a steaming cup of water, a tea bag and also a donut all being carried by her magic. Setting the cups and plates down on the table, the mare sat down in front of Noble and ripped her tea package open, dropping the bag into her water. “Sorry… I’m sure you would’ve rather redeemed these cups with Olivia,” Noble spoke after tearing the tea packet open with his teeth and holding the string with his hooves clamped together. His eyes peered down at the cup as his ears were still lowered as well. “Oh no, don’t worry about it! Cuddles doesn’t like coffee or tea at all and going to have one all alone would be so dreary. I’m more than glad to share this with you! Consider this as some kind of...” The mare winced and she went silent. Her ears and eyes drooped downward and she tilted her head down to the right, crushed by her own words. Her eyes turned, resting on the plate. She lifted the donut from her plate and extended her gaze up at Noble again, a small empathic smile crawling to her lips. “Well, some kind of farewell gift, maybe...?” Watching his friend in such a sad state, although it was fairly common with her mood swings she it still pulled at the stallion’s heart strings.. He took a moment to find the right words before speaking. “Well… we they will be a farewell gift until we see eachother again. I’ll write and we’ll see one another again, I’m sure.” He gave a smile flipping his ears up and closing his eyes as he forced it trying to bring a positive light back to the conversation. “Good!” Truffle said as she put a big smile upon her face and leaned forward to pat Noble’s hoof. “Then drink your tea, eat your donut and enjoy every sip and bite of them,” she chanted and leaned back, lifting her cup and taking a small sophisticated sip of her tea.. That caused Noble to actually give a chuckle, then he lifted the tea, nodding. “Of course my lady.” Truffle couldn’t help but giggle too as she raised her head. “Just be careful not to spill. Stains are the last thing a white shirt needs.” Saying that made her immediately lower her head and take a closer look at the shirt, squinting her eyes. “By the way, is that new? I’ve never seen you out of your usual blue before except in your uniform.” The earth pony placed a hoof on his chest and looked down trying to recall what shirt had been next in line in his closet this morning, seeing one of his white shirts shining back at him. “Oh. Yes, it actually is. Soul recommended I wear white for a change since he thought that ‘blue doesn’t go well together with my coat’.” “Soul?” Truffle scrunched her eyebrows puzzled by the name, but it didn’t take even a second for her to recall the name. “Oh, Soul! Your bosom buddy; right?” Scrunching down his eyebrows before raising one while his mouth grew wide, puzzled by the word choice. “Umm… sure, rightttt. Though I’m not really into clothes like he is, even though I admit white does look better on me. I guess.” The stallion relaxed his expression, lifting his donut. “He has even applied to artisan training and is searching for a tutor.” “Best friend is what I mean. I see! Wait, I don’t think I have ever met him,” she announced gripping her cup with both hooves and giving it a swirl before taking a sip. The earth pony’s eyes peered looked toward the sky as his head tilted up slightly with them while he bit his bottom lip as he tried to recall if he’s ever introduced the two. “True, I don’t think you have.” Giggling at the stallions amusing thinking face, the mare shifted her cup to one hoof, balancing it before she pointed at his new shirt with her other hoof. “Anyways, did he buy that collar for you? You know, as a farewell gift too?” “Uh… yeah um… You see…” The stallion looked down and slid his legs closer, his voice fading. “I haven’t mentioned the severity of my plans or situation to him yet…” Hearing this caused Truffle to almost drop her teacup. Her eyes grew as wide as saucers and she looked at the stallion shocked. “What…? What?!” The mare stood up and reached across the table, grabbed Noble’s cheeks and pulled him forward. “Noble, hiding something like this from your bosom buddy is a big NO NO! You must tell him or he will lose trust in you forever!” “I can’t throw my burden on him though. It’s my problem and I don’t want him to worry about me! He has everything here,” Noble’s voice sank and his words trembled from his mouth. “... and he won’t be that shaken if I leave.” The stallion sank down in his seat, he just wanted to escape Truffle’s grip anyway possible. His eyes hit the table for a moment, noticing what Truffle’s sudden leap caused. He pointed at the spot. “U-Um… you spilled your tea…” Truffle’s attention immediately shifted to the spot below her and as she saw the spilled tea she immediately pulled back blushing bright read, clenching her teeth and looked away. “U-Um… oops…” Noble got a chance to sit back upright again and let out a sigh of relief. Though his eyes fell when his eyes met the embarrassed mare’s face again. A small emphatic smile grew over his face and he reached to pat her hoof. “It happens,” he said with a soft tone and reached for the napkins on the table but noticed the box for them was empty. He stood up from his seat. “Um, I’ll go get some napkins from another table.” “Thankies…” The mare nodded picking the cup up and pushing her plates so she could get to the spill that had started dripping off the table causing her to scoot away. After glancing around for a short moment at the other tables he spotted one with a large amount of napkins, he stood up and took a step toward the table but his attention was still on his friend. “Don’t feel bad, it was luckily just a small cup of te---” Noble didn’t get a chance to finish before he felt how he collided into something, no, somepony.. The stallion almost fell onto his flank, but the mare he bumped into on the other hoof managed to maintain her balance and barely caught what was about to fall to the ground with a loud gasp. “Oh my! That was too close!” The mare let out a sigh of relief though an undertone of annoyance could be heard from it. When Noble managed to regain his balance and awareness of what just happened, he was about to apologize but the sight of the mare he ran into left him with his mouth agape and face flushed. Noble’s eyes floated over her lavender mane. The mare seemed to turn around in slow motion, her mane whisking through the air. Her eyes curved into a piercing glare. It didn’t take long for Noble to regain his composure, his mouth dropped and his ears drooped back as his eyes enlarged. He bowed before the mare. “I-I am so sorry miss I didn’t mean to harm you!” His heart raced and his mind was spinning through thoughts of how to redeem himself in the mare’s eyes. His eyes shifted up to gaze at the mare’s face, the pouty look made him sink further down, he took a final glance at the mare then looked away thinking of what she may shout at him and being ready for his thoughts of her to be shattered. The pouty faced mare just looked at the stallion throughout his apology, but when she saw the stallions look and ears drooping, she eased her face muscles and let out a soft sigh as she motioned for Noble to stand up. “It’s quite alright sir, it doesn’t seem like any harm was done. Please, you can stand up.” Hearing that, the stallion nodded and slowly regained his posture again, his ears still folded down. He wouldn’t dare disgrace the mare by giving her even a small glance. “T-Thank you, I… I’m really sorry again, m-miss…” “Rarity,” The mare spoke, extending a hoof to assist the stallion up. “You needn’t dwell on this accident, as I said before no harm was done, truly. I really do appreciate your humbleness though, mister...” Her voice trailed off and she turned her head, opening an ear as she shifted her eyes to see the stallion when he spoke. Taking her hoof and allowing her to help him up he took a step back and finally peered into the mare’s eyes when she wore a smile. “Oh! T-Thank you. I am glad...” It took a moment of silence for the stallion to properly collect himself and realize that the mare was waiting for him to introduce himself. Since he wanted to throw himself out and seem confident he quickly spoke. “Well um, you are too you are WAY too pretty to not know my name… I-I am Noble Poet.” The stallion stood up straight and extended a hoof giving a half faced smile. Rarity’s eyes grew wide and she blinked while crouching her upper body as she took a step back which was followed by a very awkward smile which twisted across her face. She let out a fake chuckle and darted her eyes around looking for other ponies, even though she was worried she extended her hoof and placing it on the stallions to shake. “Well um… thank you for the rather... flattering comment. Again, thank you for your concern but I’m afraid I must go now since I am here with somepony.” The stallion sulked his shoulders and frowned a bit, he scratched the ground with his hoof feeling foolish that he thought the beauty would be here alone. “O-Oh… Alright I understand. I won’t hold you any longer...” Rarity smiled pleasantly at the stallion before she turned around, gave another flip of her hair and headed toward the entrance. Letting out a low disappointed sigh, Noble grabbed some napkins off the closest table and sulked back and sat back at the table where Truffle had been watching him with an ear to ear grin. The mare leaned toward her friend and put a hoof in front of her mouth and whispered, “That was adorable! Though don’t feel bad about it, I could immediately see that she was not the right mare to fit your tastes.” She giggled and gave a wink before pulling back. Noble lifted the napkins and set them in the empty holster they would have been in if it were full and turned his hoof, placing his elbow on the table and resting his head on his hoof, looking down at his tea and donut. “I suppose… Anyway, what were you talking about before, umm that?” “Wild Soul of course.” The mare perked up, taking some napkins from the bunch and wiping down the table as she soaked up the mess she made. The name ‘Wild Soul’ caused Rarity, who had stopped to look inside her bag to ensure nothing fell out, to freeze. Her ears perked and eyes widened a bit as she turned her head at the duo. Out of curiosity, she decided to listen for a bit, flipping her other ear down in order to hear better as she disguised herself by lowering her body as if she was looking for something on the ground. Back at the table, Noble winced and put on a wide awkward grin. “Oh right…” Noble turned his head to the right while looking down. He bent his left foreleg rubbing his right foreleg as he looked away. “So, um… Right, I will tell him about my departure soon… I just don’t know how to break it to him. Any suggestions?” “Noble!” Truffle called out and scooched her chair around the table and grabbed the stallions cheeks again, turning his head so their eyes met. “All I want is that you promise me that you will talk to him. You’d want him to tell you if he were moving away wouldn’t you? You should just invite him to a candlelit dinner tonight and make it a magical last day for the two of you.” The stallion’s eyes grew and he pulled his neck back, trying to pull away from the mare’s grip. He finally reached up and moved her hooves off her cheeks. “Umm. I appreciate the suggestion, though I don’t think either one of us really want any kind of romantic dinner with one another,” Noble replied and gave a short laugh at the end, trying to not offend her. “What?! No no no no no.” She pulled her hooves back and waved them in front of her. “I didn’t mean that at all. If it were romantic you’d have a red candle, but you two are friends and want to keep it friendly, so you should use a white candle instead.” Noble scratched his chin with his hoof. “Well, that may not be that bad... I may make it less fancy and could just ask him to come eat with me somewhere like usual.” Rarity wasn’t sure what that was all about, but the secretive tone the ponies had made her frown. Regardless, she knew she couldn’t just stand there forever, so she shook it off for now and entered the cafe, just passing through the door, though her attention was still on the conversation the duo were having. “Did you find them?” A voice echoed catching Rarity’s ears. “Hmm?” Rarity questioned in a polite and soft tone, looking up she realized that she didn’t notice that Soul had walked over and stood just past the doorway in front of her. Soul was at just the right spot where he stood out of sight of the duo Rarity was listening to and looked at the mare with an eyebrow raised. “Need some help?” Rarity immediately realized how she’d just been standing there like a statue. Her eyes grew wide, her cheeks rosy and she gritted her teeth. She snapped back to attention, standing up straight and cleared her throat. “Oh, yes! Thank goodness I did find them. I … No, no help is needed. Let’s go.” She galloped inside as she did she turned the stallion and guided him back to their table preventing him from accidentally noticing the duo outside. All Soul was able to do was be spun around by the mare, looking back, surveying the ground where Rarity had been hunkered down for so long. He was unable to see anything that she left or anything out of the ordinary that would catch her attention. He scratched his head as she pulled him along. As they reached their table, Rarity immediately sat down in her seat and quickly presented the two rolls of fabric she had, a bead of sweat formed upon her forehead. “It seems I did leave them in the store after all which is… quite embarrassing. I suppose I got a wee bit carried away when I introduced you to the other materials there.” An awkward laugh escaped her mouth. Soul let out a small laugh and gathered papers he had on the table, putting them aside. “It happens. What matters is that they aren’t lost.” His focus shifted from Rarity to the fabrics but when he took a closer look, he frowned a bit. “Wait, those were some of the most expensive fabrics, right?” Rarity held a hoof on her chest as a small sigh of relief escaped her mouth when Soul didn’t ask why she was just standing by the door. She raised her head and put on her elegant smile. “Indeed. I don’t even want to imagine the disaster that would’ve come out of this if I didn’t notice them until I got home.” Soul fixed his posture and puffed out his chest slightly, presenting a side view of himself to Rarity and extended his hooves as if holding a camera, closing his other eye. “The video camera zooms in, the artisan looks at it, shrugs innocently and the final failure music plays which cues the audience to laugh and clap.” That statement made Rarity scrunch her eyebrows a bit as her lips narrowed, pouting since she wasn’t really sure what Soul even meant. Becoming quiet he lowered his hooves, he gently laid them down crossing them on the table.. “Uh… Sorry, nevermind.” He quickly changed the subject sliding some papers that he had laid out over the table toward Rarity. “Anyway, I’ve been browsing through these apartment ad’s while you were gone.” Rarity leaned in and pulled her reading glasses out of her bag. “Oh really? How do they look?” “They look pretty nice. Like houses,” Soul said with a small laugh and leaned against the table. “I must say that I really like the overall architecture of Ponyville. Stylish but earthy.” The mare slid them around the table from one side to the other as she looked over some of his selections. “You do? Well, I’m glad it appeals to you though in my opinion, it isn’t anything that special. It’s comfy and such though my taste requires a bit more… elegance.” She spoke the last word and gave off a short giggle. As Rarity flipped through the fliers he had pulled out, Soul took his mug taking another sip. “So a trip to Canterlot every now and then is a joy to the eyes for you?” She flipped through the last one and with a glimmer from her horn she placed them all into a nice neat stack and slid it over next to the stallion. “Exactly.” Giving her coffee a stir she lifted it and took a sip before speaking. “I once dreamed of living here and I would be lying if I said I still wouldn’t want to just a bit, but there are things in Ponyville I would never want to give up nowadays.” “Home is always a home. I get that.” “Indeed. And some good friends can make it a home.” Rarity interjected with a pleasant sigh as she put her hooves together, resting her head on them while gazing into the distance as she recalled a lovely picnic she had with her friends just the other day. Suddenly her mind clicked and she recalled Soul’s name being mentioned by the duo outside, especially that flirtatious stallion. “Oh, Soul, may I ask a question?” Soul crossed his hooves and looked forward, he cleared his mind as he was ready for a question on anything. “Sure. What is it?” The mare shifted her right foreleg forward and bent her hoof at the wrist, as she closed her eyes while she began to speak, a little tense. “This will sound very odd, but do you happen to have any friends who are… happening to be leaving town?” The designer was unprepared for this odd personal question and blankly sat as the corners of his lips turned in opposite directions. “Um, no? Why?” “Oh dear!” Rarity turned her outward pointing hoof in and lowered it almost to her chest, tilting her head down and in toward her body as she did. “Well, when I was coming back from the store, some stallion bumped into me and well, before I got back inside I heard him mention your name and something about leaving town and not telling you.” “You did? Um, how did this stallion look like?” Rarity had captured Soul’s attention and he leaned forward awaiting an answer as his ears twitched. “Actually I got his name. Noble Poet I believe.” The mare lifted her head, now feeling better that she could give a name. “Noble?” Soul repeated as his eyes grew slightly wider and his voice grew slightly uneasy. “I sure know him rather well. He’s a friend of mine.” The stallion turned to look at the entrance. “He’s at the terrace?” Rarity gave a slow nod and pointed with a hoof. “Yes. He and a charming young mare had been sitting just outside of the door when your name came up.” She brought her hoof to her mouth where her lips had closed in a tight ‘o’ and her eyes sulked as she realized she may have overstepped her role. “We can go speak with them if you’d like to. I shall be in Canterlot all day, truly there is no rush.” Soul tapped his lower lip with his left hoof, his eyes never left the front door through the artisan’s proposal. “Huh… Well I most certainly want to know what that was all about… You see, he kinda lost his job a few weeks ago and gets closer to a crisis every day, so---” Soul’s heart jumped to his throat and his eyes grew wide open when a thought hit his mind. He realized what Noble’s talk could actually mean. “Oh no… Could he…” Rarity lowered her hoof and eased her lips though her eyes remained concerned. “What is it?” “Um, nevermind. One unceasing thought just occured in my mind that I should discuss with my friend but I’ll deal with it later,” He said as he shook his head but even as he spoke to the artisan his eyes traveled to the door. The artisan continued watching the stallion with a rather serious look. She couldn’t help the uneasiness growing inside when seeing the look on her apprentice’s face. “Soul, I’ve seen expressions like that before. Whenever I see that expression on a friend, client or any pony I am close to, I know they are enveloped in their thoughts, which means it will be on their mind the whole day and they will be distracted most of the time. If there’s a problem on your mind that you can solve simply by having a conversation with your friend, then I highly suggest you go.” Taken aback by Rarity’s push, Soul blinked at Rarity’s suggestion. Even though he would’ve wanted to go speak to him, he was too hesitant to say yes in fear of bad impression. Regardless he just shook his head. “No, I’m not like that. I’m not willing to stop our meeting because of this.” The mare’s eyes grew wide and replied without hesitation but with a soft voice, “Nonsense!” She quickly extended a hoof cutting off the stallion and rolled up her fabrics with her magic. “I’ve seen the outcomes of that face too many times in my career. Besides…” She gave the stallion sympathetic smile and placed his papers in his bag for him as well. “It would be a crime not to talk it out when you have a chance this quickly, I’m simply not going to be an obstacle.” “Oh, though…” Soul’s train of thought trailed off as the mare had packed and had stood up and was wasting no time in pushing the stallion along. Normally he would want to conclude this what he was still considering as an interview before attending to personal matters but Rarity wasn’t allowing him the opportunity to postpone this talk. Rarity finally packed her bags and placed her satchels on her back. She turned and looked back at Soul. “Are you coming? We can bring our beverages with us.” Reluctantly Soul turned and stood up on all fours, he moved his satchels and drink closer to the edge of the table. “Rarity, are you absolutely sure you don’t mind taking time out of our meeting to talk with my friend? I mean you said he was talking to some mare about his situation. I would happily finish our meeting then contact Noble later.” Rarity closed her eyes and whisked her hair through the air as she turned her head. “Do I really have to repeat myself?” “No... I was just making sure. Thanks, I guess.” Soul gave a small smile while putting the paper pile into his folder and the folder into his saddleback which he slid on his back before leaving the table. When the two made it to the outside just a bit further from the door without being spotted by the duo, this time Soul could immediately spot Noble and his companion. Noble was listening to Truffle speak and his eyes mostly turned down as his thoughts raced and he only looked up to look at the joyful mare. The stallion took a deep breath before starting to approach them, though he slowed his pace when a sudden and somewhat random idea came to his mind which caused him to actually chuckle at it. He took quiet steps towards Noble making his way behind his back. The conversation between the two at the table stopped instantly when Truffle noticed the white stallion which left her with an open mouth and slightly scrunched eyebrows. “Uh… Noble?” “Hmm?” Noble inquired and tilted his head. “SPIDER!” Soul yelled and poked Noble under both of his scapulas. The poet jolted up as if he he had just sat on pile of pins, the sudden jab and cry caused him to wince and downright squeak in terror, almost dropping from his seat with loud gasps. Supporting Noble a little before he fell, Soul let out a little chuckle and gave his friend a pleasant smile. “Hello buddy, how’s it going?” “Soul?!” Noble said as his eyes darted between the confused looking Truffle and his friend, his heart still pounding. “Are you kidding me? I almost had a heart attack.” The unicorn raised a leg up to his side, hoof up. “I couldn’t resist. The opportunity was too good to pass up.” Truffle still sat, mouth agape and could only raise a hoof and point at the white unicorn. “Wait you are THE Soul?” In an instant she lept up, ran around the table and took his right hoof in her hooves, shaking rapidly then dropped it to wrap her forelegs around Soul, pressing her left cheek against his. “Oh my gosh yes! Noble has talked about you being his best friend but it’s great to see you in person. I’m Truffle, nice to meet you!” “W-What the…?” The typical freezing effect hit Soul immediately as the overly affectionate mare touched his hoof. After she had him in a cheek to cheek embrace, he dropped through her grip and dove behind his tan friend. “N-Noble plese tell me this thing doesn’t lay eggs…” Once Soul slid out from her hug the mare fell over but stood back up, looking over at him. “Excuse me…?” “Um, Truffle maybe letting it go would be for the best. It’s just how he is,” said the earth pony as he held up his forehooves to the mare. After addressing Soul, Noble turned back toward the cowering unicorn. “And Soul… that was a bit rude…” Taking a step back and releasing the earth pony's shoulders. “Sorry, but I almost died there...” he said with an awkward chuckle. Standing back, further from the table Rarity had been watching the trio, not really being sure about what to think of the scene. She couldn’t help but wonder about Soul’s sudden change in attitude. Just a second ago she saw him as a quiet and calm stallion, but immediately when he came outside it was like adding color to a black and white picture. After properly intruding Truffle to Soul and clearing up Soul’s ‘No touch’ -rule to her, his focus shifted to Rarity who was now approached the group. “That was a rather interesting way to… make an entrance,” Rarity spoke while looking at Soul with her head tilted to the left slightly. At that instant Noble’s voice muted which left him with his eyes widened and heart skipping a beat. “W-Wait, Rarity?” His eyes darted between Soul and the mare. “Are… you with… with Soul?” Soul looked back at Rarity. “Oh that’s right. I suppose some proper introduction would be appropriate.” Soul took two cushions from a table nearby, sitting on one and offering the other seat for Rarity before he shifted his focus back at Noble. “I heard about your little ‘get together’ just a moment ago.” “Yes, it was… let’s say quite an unfortunate little mishap.” Rarity closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead as she leans back, though not wanting to cause an awkward silence she leans inward and extended a hoof. “But regardless of that, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Rarity, an artisan, seamstress, shopkeeper and fashion designer.” “A fashion designer?” Noble’s eyes glistened as he reached out to shake her hoof. “Um, Noble Poet, a poet, if I may call myself that…” Taking a moment to process the list of occupations Rarity stated, the earth pony’s eyes rolled back and forth looking at both Soul and Rarity. “Soul, is she…?” With a lift of his right leg Soul patted his chest with a delighted smile on his face as he held his head high. “Yep, just a couple hours ago we confirmed that she will be my new tutor.” “What? She is?” His head quickly shot between the two once more, seeing Rarity give a nod of approval. “I… Congratulations!” It was all he could do to break a smile, he was happy for his friend but his muscles were tense as could be. Truffle chimed in, having turned her body so she could face the group. “No wonder you are so pretty then!” Hearing the complement Rarity flipped her mane with a hoof and struck a glamorous pose with one hoof held up in the air and blinking her eyes tantalizingly. “Oh thank you! That was very kindly said miss… Truffle? Is that right?” Truffle giggled and gave Rarity a nod along with one of her delightful smiles. She offered a hoof and as their hooves connected she swayed their forelegs back and forth in an unusual shaking manner. “At your service, it’s a pleasure.” “So yep, Rarity is my new tutor, though… “ Soul lowered his tone and looked directly at Noble with drooping eyes. “She’s not from Canterlot… Her hometown is Ponyville.” Noble tensed up just from the look and he shook a little, feeling some bad news coming as his mind began to race with horrible thoughts. “What? Oh… Ponyville isn’t very far, right?” “Getting right to the point it seems like…” Rarity thought to herself. Before speaking Soul let out a large sigh and took a breath. “Noble, I will be moving to Ponyville. But I suppose that doesn’t really affect you in any way, right?” he said boldly and bluntly. Those words struck the stallion like a ton of bricks. He looked over his friend, trying to see a hint of sarcasm or that this may be a joke. “What? I… What do you mean?” Soul’s focus rotated to the white unicorn mare while his body stayed planted before Noble. “You see, Rarity, I haven’t told Noble that my possible learning place might be somewhere other than Canterlot.” Rarity gave her apprentice a blank stare, her lips narrowing as she was not sure what the proper reaction or course of action would be for this scenario. Soul took a deep breath and guided his eyes back to his friend. “Noble, is your situation that bad that you have to move out of town?” Noble’s heart almost literally skipped a beat when those words came out of Soul’s mouth. He was paralyzed and for a few moments could only shake and helplessly watch his friend under his demanding watch. “I... you… W-What? How did you hear about that?” Soul backed away from the table, glowering his eyes and crossing his forelegs. “Rarity told me how she overheard you talking about moving out of town.” Noble couldn’t form a single other word. His eyes shifted from Soul to the mare next to him whose expression was full of curiosity but mixed with worry. He continued to open his mouth and move his lips without being capable of forming a single other word. Raising a hoof to pause Noble’s aimless stuttering, Truffle places a hoof on his shoulder and laid her chin on it, looking up at him with puppy dog eyes. “Noble, please. Just tell him, that secrecy is beating you up. Even I wouldn’t know about this if I hadn’t found out by accident and that felt heartbreaking!” With a scowl and an harsh grumpy town Soul barked, “So it’s true?” The earth pony’s shoulders drooped and he closed his eyes while his head tilted down and he called out. “Please just stop! Yes, it’s true. I’m running low on money. Very low and I can’t make it here anymore. I’ve... I’ve already given up my apartment, bought a train ticket and gotten boxes to gather up my stuff. That’s the situation I’m in right now and I just didn’t want to throw my problems on your shoulders!” Noble’s mild outburst left the group speechless. They were all looking at each other, hesitant to speak. Rarity looked like she wanted to open her mouth but before she got a chance to, Soul had begun to speak in a much calmer voice. Soul uncrossed his forelegs and looking into Noble’s eyes with a gentle stare. “Noble… You should’ve just told me whenever it started to look like this.” As Noble peered back into the now much kinder eyes of his friend. He put his forehooves together in his lap. “What difference would it’ve made? My telling you would’ve just burdened you with needless worries.” “Maybe, but so what? I wouldn’t have fallen apart from that…” Soul leaned in and gave a sigh. “And well, the truth is that I always knew and even planned that I would have to move out of Canterlot but... I didn’t tell you because you were in the middle of your job crisis.” Noble’s calves on his forelegs tightened to where you could see his veins. He closed his eyes and his left eyebrow began to twitch, he leaned forward on the table, his voice a bit shaky yet stern. “I lost a job simply because I’m an earth pony… Yeah I would call that some kind of job crisis alright… But… I… I understand… I would’ve probably even asked you to stay if you broke it to me back then…” The mares glowered at Soul and Truffle leaned in to attempt to whisper to him. “Let’s not dirty that dish again, shall we?” The horned stallion frowned at his friend’s statement but when Truffle whispered to him his lips parted slightly, leaving his mouth open and his eyebrows lowered and his eyes scoured left and right. “Wha… Wait what does that even mean? Dirty what?” Rarity, being close enough to hear the squabble, took a few steps in, leaning in to whisper as well. “Soul, I know I am an outsider on this and this may not be my place, but it seems this job loss is still a fresh scar on his mind. Let’s not tear something before it’s fully mended, shall we?” With that explanation the horned gentlecolt smacked his forehead with his hoof. “I see that being quite impossible....” The tan earth pony cleared his throat, his lips turned down and a knot on the side of his forehead. “You all know I am right here and can hear every word you are saying, right? I shouldn’t have brought it up. I’m sorry for keeping this from you.” He sank lower in his seat, bowing his head while his eyes grew dull. “I understand if you don’t want to be my friend anymore.” Soul’s eyebrows dropped and the mares became quiet and looked away, frowning and rubbing their forelegs. The stallion closed his eyes and shook his head. “If you’re going to start a long discussion about how you’re not worthy of being my friend, I will…” He searched over the table and spotted a donut, and lifted it with his magic. “I will choke you with this donut!” Noble sat for a moment, looking at his tea. He closed his eyes and gave a few huffing chuckles before looking up with a wide smile on his face. “Thank you Soul, that was exactly what I needed to hear.” The pale stallion smiled back, placing the donut back on the plate in front of Noble. “Good, I’m glad to hear that. I’m sorry for keeping this from you too. I should have told you earlier. So um… are we good?” He extended a hoof above the table, waiting for Noble to meet him halfway. Sitting up just a little more Noble nodded, bringing a hoof up and clopping his hoof together with Soul’s. “Of course, best friends forever!” Soul’s eyebrows dropped halfway. “Corny… Very corny.” He couldn’t help but let out a little laugh though. Truffle was glancing at the stallions with big glowing eyes and a blush covering her face, holding a hoof on her widely spreaded mouth. “Oh my gosh you are just the cutest! I can’t even describe how hard it is not to wrap my hooves around you two and squeeze you, Not to mention pinch your cheeks!!” Soul immediately turned to look at Truffle with shocked face, her statement rendered him speechless. He slowly started to scoot his seat around the table and behind Noble in a hope of sanctuary, which actually caused the tan earth pony to chuckle again. Truffle giggled and held a hoof up to her lips. “See, Noble? It feels much better now, doesn’t it?” “A bit… Thank you, you all.” He nodded and looked back at the unicorn behind him and the mares around the table. The green mare clapped her hooves together. “Good! Now going back to Horseshoe Bay shouldn’t be that hard. Think, you get to leave this town behind and go back to your good old home!” Shaking his head Noble reached on the table and cupped his mug with his hooves. “No, that IS the hardest part… If I could I would go anywhere else I would, but not back to my roots.” Taken aback a bit, Soul scratched his head. “What? Why? Having a place to go to when things are bad is like a small sanctuary.” “I’ve managed to built my own independent life here. It may not be the most glorious one but I built it. Back in Horseshoe Bay, everything was built and decided FOR me… I couldn’t feel like an individual. Here I could at least feel like I am an individual and could build my own future. That is till Double Bit came around…” Noble scooted and leaned against the window to the cafe, lifting up his tea and taking a sip. Soul drew his neck back and lightly clenched his teeth while rubbing his neck. “Well that sure makes your situation rather complicated again…” Noble put his tea back down and slammed his head against the table and let out a big sigh, rolling his eyes. “I know right..” The green mare gave the earth pony a pat on his back. “There there.” Lifting a hoof and speaking up Rarity made her presence known once again. “Pardon me, but… Have I understood everything correctly; Noble lost his job and because he didn’t find a new one, he can’t afford his living here and has to move back to his old hometown because that’s the only place he can go but doesn’t wish to go?” Soul thought, “That’s right, Rarity is still with us and is mostly in the dark here…” Moving forward and crossing his forelegs on the table the designer responded, “Pretty much.” “Well if that’s the case…“ A wide smile crawled over Rarity’s face. “I might have the perfect solution to your problem mon ami. Though, my suggestion purely depends on Soul.” Noble’s ears twitched immediately and he slightly sat up, hoisting his head from the table, looking up at Rarity with inquisitive eyes.” Others also turned to focus on what Rarity had to say. She nodded and sparked her magic, lifting Soul’s saddlebag but before opening it, gave Soul an inquisitive look. “May I?” Soul jolted his head back but turned to the side, leaning on the table and gave a nod. “Sure.” “Thank you.” Rarity opened the biggest pocket and dug up Soul’s folder, placing it on the table. When Soul saw it, he immediately realized what Rarity might have in mind, causing his eyes to bulge a bit. “Are you thinking of-” “Indeed that’s exactly what I’m thinking,” Rarity said immediately giving Soul a wink with a pleasant smile. She dug up the paper pile of apartment ads and started browsing through them. “Apartment ads? Wait are you going to suggest I would move to Ponyville? Um… Sorry, but did you already forget that the reason why I need to go home is because I’m not able to afford living on my own?” The hornless stallion scrunched his eyebrows and frowned, his hopes lowering once again. “Please, of course not. You see..” While browsing the pile, Rarity explained her and Soul’s plans about Soul’s apartment back at Canterlot Spectrum. How they planned on making a deal with the mayor and Soul would perform a big job for her. When Noble heard this he almost couldn’t believe such a deal was possible. The aspiring artisan assistant smiled. “Trust me, this is one hundred percent true. Most of the apartments available are just very small ones for one, but there was this one apartment that happened to stick out.” Rarity took one of the many ads and slid it over to Noble. “Shared apartment?” The poet’s voice was higher as his hopes began to grow and he sat upright. “Mmhmm! This apartment would be a perfect solution for Noble’s situation. Instead of moving back home, you could move to Ponyville to be Soul’s roommate. It may even give you enough time to find a proper job and settle down.” She turned her head and gave a gentle smile “I uh… I.. I’m not sure…” Noble looked down at the paper then at the pale stallion. “I don’t think Soul is willing to take a---” The stallion cut his friend off, as he lifted a hoof up in front of the poet. “We can do it.” Noble’s eyes widened. “What?” There was a moment of silence before Noble spoke again, blinking. “I know you are very strict when it comes to privacy. Why would you want to have me as your roommate?” Soul let out a little laugh and looked at his friend with a pleasant grin. “I think if we make a few rules clear with each other we can make it work just fine. Though…” He stopped and looked at his mentor. “What are the chances of us getting this apartment? It’s rather big I would think.” Rarity interjected while she put the rest of the papers back in Soul’s folder.“You see, this apartment isn’t very popular because Ponyville is a place where people want to live close together in a lively environment which naturally is the center of town. This apartment is off on the outskirts of town, away from the livelier parts. ” Noble frowned and put his hooves together wincing as he spoke. “Sounds a bit sketchy. No offense.” Speaking at almost the same time as his friend Soul smiled, exclaiming, “Sounds cool.” “Anyway, because of these little details, the apartment is uninhabited and rather cheap too. The mayor would be just delighted if somepony would rest it.” She beamed happily, placing her hooves on the table, bent at the elbows and rested her head on her hooves. Truffle nudged the tan stallion with her hoof from across the table. “Noble that’s perfect! If I was you I would take this offer immediately!” Noble’s mouth quivered. “I see… I’m not sure If I should…” The white stallion looked Noble in the eyes. “Come on buddy. what’s the problem? You said Horseshoe Bay isn’t the place you want to go, and now that you’re offered a possibility to move somewhere else with a friend you are saying that to hesitate?” “It’s just a big gamble. I don’t know anything about Ponyville and what kind of job could I get there? It may be the same situation as Canterlot. Not to mention how I am already ready and just have until the end of the month from the kindness of my landlord. ” He put his right elbow on the table, resting his head on his hoof he looked back at Soul. “I just don’t want you to do something you don’t---” The stallion’s horn glew before Noble had a chance to continue, Soul put a half eaten donut into Noble’s mouth, silencing him and put on amused grin. “There, now you’re silent and silence is the purest meaning of consent,” he said with joking tone and gave a little chuckle. Giving Soul a rather annoyed look mixed with confusion with his eyebrows drooped, Noble took the donut out if his mouth and let out a sigh.“Soul I really appreciate it but---” Again Soul paused his friend by guiding the donut back into Noble’s mouth with his magic. causing Noble to flatten his eyes into a rather annoyed expression. “Now now, keep the donut in your mouth and enjoy it. You are coming to Ponyville with me. Please, just once just accept my offer when it’s something you want.” “Look who’s talking,” Rarity quietly said to herself and covered her mouth with her hoof to hide a giggle. Truffle stared on, moving from side to side slowly. “Is.... choking each other with a donut part of your friendship…?” “No, sometimes we use muffins,” Soul joked and laughed. Noble let out a stuffed laugh and took a bite of the donut, chewing quickly to finish the bite before he spoke. “Or cider.” He exhaled once again and gave his friend a pleasant smile. “Fine my answer is yes. You would probably literally choke me next.” “With a muffin.” Soul said with a nod.. Rarity’s pondered the situation and realized that Soul only acts like this among friends. “I’m starting to figure you out Soul,” she whispered. “Oh, but Noble…” Truffle nudged the earth pony again and had a long face. “You already bought a ticket to Horseshoe Bay.” Noble placed a hoof on Truffle’s shoulder and smiled. “No worries, these have a two day return policy. Lucky me.” “So I think that settles it then.” Rarity folded the ad and slid it into her saddleback. “The first thing I shall do when I get back to Ponyville… well be drop my shopping bags off back in my Boutique but after that, I shall visit Mrs. Mayor and tell her that I’ve found her pony.” Noble closed his eyes and raised his head up, looking around the table at Soul and Rarity as he spoke, “Soul, Rartiy… thank you. I don’t know what else to say.... I can’t even express how much this means to me.” Rarity raised her head as a big smile grew over her face and put a hoof on her chest. “Oh I’m just happy I could help with this matter.” Truffle sat up and beamed over everyone. “It’s good Soul wanted to leave town after all, wasn’t it?” “It is.” The tan stallion nodded and looked down at the pouch on his saddle bag that held the ticket. “It’s funny to think about what kind of situations different paths can lead to…” “You said it.” The unicorn sat up and looked down at his watch to check the time. “So yep, it’s final. We’re gonna be roommates.” He grinned and extended a hoof for Noble. Noble smiled widely and clopped hooves with Soul, moving them up and down. The moment they did everything seemed to become quiet around Noble, the only sound that could reach him was the sound of their hooves clopping together. “A big rock has just fell from my mind.” He stood up from his seat, picking up his saddleback, realizing that he had things to do before he forgot. “The first thing I will do is to change this ticket.” The diamond flanked mare stood up clapping her hooves, which lead Truffle to silently copy her. “Magnifique! Everything has clicked into place. If that’s so, then Soul and I are free to continue our little errands. I still have a lot of little accessories I simply have to get.” The whole group gathered their saddlebacks, they emptied plates and cups taking them to a return cart. As they exited the terrace, the group stopped once more to say some final goodbyes. Noble stretched his legs and cracked his neck, before facing his best friend. “Want to meet later today Soul?” “Well I’ve planned to work at home today but… I suppose I can spare my time. Just message me when you want.” He nodded then turned his attention to the green mare. “And Truffle, it was very nice to meet you.” “It was nice to meet you too! Take care of your bestie when the time comes.” She was about to leap to Soul’s neck but at last minute remembered that he didn’t care for that. She pulled her hooves back and put on awkward but innocent grin with a foreleg out to the side. “And Rarity, it was such a honor to meet you. You helped me to find a new home and path for the future.” Noble gave a bow, crossing a foreleg in front of his body. “I really hope that path will be enriching for you.” The mare curtseyed after seeing the bow from the quill flanked stallion. “I suppose the next time we will meet won’t be until Ponyville. Until then, take care Noble.” “You too.” Noble nodded and exchanged glances with Truffle, giving a nudge of his head to indicate that they can go. They begin walking toward the train station, Truffle prancing as her mood had brightened a bit. As the duo walked away, Noble looked at a small patch of grass and saw a small dandelion growing among a bed of flowers. He looked over toward the river, staring at it dreamily and coming to a stop when the memory of two flowers he picked back then came back to his mind. “Maybe, sometimes there isn’t an end. Just the blossoming of something new.” “What was that?” Truffle stopped, raising an eye after she realized that Noble had stopped and mumbled to himself. “Oh nothing. We just need to keep moving forward.” The stallion began walking again and put a hoof over the mare to get her to walk next to him. After they watched the duo get out of earshot, Rarity pulled out a mirror to examine her mane. She ran her hoof over her mane a bit and called to Soul. “Let’s be on our way then. Next I need some new threads.” “Right behind you.” He tightened his saddle bags and had become noticeably more relaxed around the mare. “Hey... I want to say thank you.” She turned to see her saddle bags as she put away the mirror neatly then turned back widening her eyes.“Hmm?” “For all this… you know, what you have done.” Soul smiled, while looking away, unable to make eye contact and looking kind of uncomfortable. She waved a dismissive hoof. “Oh I just did what anypony else would’ve done.” “No, you did more.... A lot more. If you wouldn’t have agreed to become my tutor, done any research about apartments or wouldn’t have set up a meeting with me and Ink, Noble would’ve never gotten this chance. It’s all thanks to your enthusiasm and generosity. You… helped us a lot today and i’m highly grateful for that.” “Well… There’s more to me than just looking pretty, designing clothes and keeping a shop,” she said with a soft smile and chuckled. “I’m just glad my actions actually managed to prevent you and your friend from separating and helped him find a better place to live.” The stallion gave a nod with a wide grin holding up a hood. “I’m looking forward to seeing how thing will turn out in Ponyville.” “There are a few little things you might need to get used to, but you will adapt without even noticing it.” There was a brief moment of silence where the mare simply stood there looking at the unicorn for a moment before speaking up. “And Soul, there is one thing I demand you do when our time together begins.” His ears twitched and he stood up straight. He could tell this was going to be important. “I’m listening.” Her eyes became gentle as the inner eyelids drew up and her lips were the smallest ‘U’ that they could form before she began forming words. “You can do it now too if you want, but at the latest when your studies start; I don’t you to think of me as your tutor or a pony who has authority for you per say.” Soul stayed standing up straight, giving off small nods. He began to reply, “Oh, well… I think I get it. Back when I studied at Manehattan we considered our teachers as co-workers. I suppose you want the same?” Rarity lightly shook her head. “No, not a co-worker.” She walked in front of the stallion and smiled at him softly. Though this wasn’t the same one Soul had seen earlier, it was different. He couldn’t exactly tell why, but it was more… warm and down to earth. After giving the smile, Rarity lifted her hoof and reached at Soul, placing a hoof on his shoulder gently enough that he could barely tell it was there and didn’t react to it in the moment, locking their eyes together. “A friend.” When she let that word part her mouth, she pulled her hoof back and immediately turned away from the stallion without waiting for his respond or even reaction. Starting to make her way to their destination. It was as if she wasn’t even waiting for a response or reaction from him, but instead wanted to make a hidden announcement of claiming his friendship. Even though she would’ve wanted to maintain the act, she simply couldn’t keep her cool which caused her to peek behind her at the stallion to see what was written on his face. Nothing. There was nothing giving an answer to Rarity’s statement. Just a blank look with narrowed lips on his face with his eyes only slightly bulged. Rarity couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed with the reaction, but just when she was about to open her mouth, Soul finally gave her what she wanted. A smile. Author's Note Phew! Finally we got the chapter out :3
11. Farewell, For Now“The train to Ponyville will leave in fifteen minutes! All passengers start to board!” The day had finally come. The day for Soul and Noble to leave Canterlot behind and start reaching for something new, somewhere fresh. During these few weeks, they had been arranging things and preparing for the move. Back in Ponyville, Rarity had managed to set things up with Mayor who has been in touch with Soul and sealed a deal with him. With an apartment secured and moving arrangement done, there was nothing holding them in Canterlot, Besides the bonds they share with their friends. At the station before the duo got on the train, Mineral, Truffle and Olivia have come to said their final goodbyes to their friends. Noble, Truffle and Olivia were inside the station buying some snacks, while Soul and Mineral were sitting on a bench outside. “Well sis… I guess this is it, then,” Mineral said, while gently rubbing her legs as she smiled, though the smile soon changed into a grin. “I could throw a joke about you not being able to make it in a small town, but in all seriousness take care of yourself.” As Soul turned his head which had been looking forward over the buildings at the glistening sky hovering over the buildings to look at the mare and nod with a cheerful smile. “Thank you Mineral. And you keep enjoying Spectrum’s coffee for me too.” “You can be sure of that,” Mineral said with determined grin and gave a small laugh before putting her hooves together and stretched. “It will be weird to not have you around anymore, sis.” The stallion turned to look back at the skyline, still talking to Mineral. “Oh I have a feeling you’re the only one who can even notice. In just a couple weeks you won’t even remember what it was like to have me around.” Soul rolled his eyes as he finished his statement simply looking to the side at the mare while keeping his face facing forward. The mare scrunched her eyebrows and chuckled. “My ears are hearing such nonsensical words. I will write you at least five times in a week and bring you up in conversations with our co-workers, so your-” The mare leaned towards the stallion putting on a large sly grin. “-SOUL stays among us.” She put a hoof to her cheek that was facing Soul and looked in the opposite direction and her mouth scrunched at her word choice. “Did I really just say that…?” “Bad Soul pun... Alright that’s it, our friendship is over. Mineral, it was a pleasure to know you but we’re done.” Soul turned his upper body toward her and waved a hoof side to side in the air and couldn’t help but grin with a snicker sneaking out of his muzzle. Mineral immediately gave him a pouty face and crossed her forelegs jokingly, turning away. “Alright, I hated you anyway sis.” “Well I hated you more.” He turned his nose up in the air with his eyes close and crossed his forehooves as well, opening one he glanced over at the mare. Mineral gave Soul a cold stare over her shoulder. “I hated you the most and I’m just glad you’re going.” Soul turned and the two looked at each other with intense piercing glares focused at each other but almost immediately eased back and chuckles starting to escape their mouths. Mineral uncrossed her forelegs and put her forehooves behind her head and leaned against the bench. “I suppose you are not willing to share a farewell hug before you go?” Sliding away a little bit at the thought Mineral had gained the white unicorn’s full attention. Soul waited staring for a moment and finally replied, “Um, maybe just a hoof shake could do?” “Fine, I’m not willing to traumatize you just before your trip,” Mineral said with a laugh and hopped off the bench, grabbing her saddlebag next to it. “Though would you at least be willing to take a farewell gift then?” She turned her head to the right and raised her left eyebrow, staring straight through her friend. Soul drew his neck back and tossed his body forward, standing up from the bench as well. “I never thought you would get me a farewell gift.” Mineral chuckled and gave Soul a bright smile. “Of course I did.” She dug a small black box from her bag and handed it to Soul. “It’s something little I made myself.” “I appreciate it…” Soul looked at the box for a moment trying to think about what could be waiting inside it. When he opened it, his eyes grew wide. It was a silver necklace which had a oval plate hanging in the center and in that oval plate was a polished yellow mineral. On the other side of it Soul’s cutie mark had been crafted into the metal around the stone. He puckered his lips and let out a loud whistle of impressment. “Wow, this is…” His eyes shifted to Mineral. “Pretty dang amazing. I don’t get how you have the heart to give such a thing away.” “I’m a mineral artist so of course I have a lot of resources,” Mineral said with a chuckle and then pointed at the yellow gem. “That mineral is a rather special one called citrine. In old tales, ponies believed that it would protect them from bad thoughts.” She lifted the necklace with her magic and opened the hook, offering to help Soul to put it on. “I thought it would be a fitting gift for you.” “I see.” Soul’s lips parted upward, he nodded in response turning around. “Thank you very much Mineral, you really have a sense of gifts you know,” he stated with a laugh. Mineral put the necklace around Soul’s neck and latched it, gently letting it fall and hang. “No problem sis”. After doing so, she backed off a few steps and gave a nod of approval as she beamed at her work. “Looks good. You’re dead if you lose it though!” He looked down at the pendent, grinning ear to ear. He nodded quickly at Mineral with a gleam in his eyes. “Roger that ma’am.” With that said Soul tapped a hoof against the ground and looked over at the clock that was hanging off the wall. “I wonder what’s taking Noble so long?” The mare lept up in the air, landing with her legs spread out further and puffing out her cheeks."Hey don't go changing the subject. I just gave you a great thoughtful gift, don't be trying to get rid of me quickly after that." Soul took a step back and raised one of his eyebrows and inflected his voice. "Hmm? Who are you again?" The stallion laughed at his own joke and spoke naturally again, "But he's just been quite a long time there, I don't want him to miss the train because of some long line or something." Mineral drew her legs in again and smiled slyly, inflecting her voice as well. "Don't worry he'll be back in time, they are still making repairs and he's probably just trying to find some food that you will actually eat." That comment made Soul droop his head and puff out his cheeks though he couldn’t help but snicker a bit at his own flaw. Suddenly the duo heard a loud wail coming from the door that made them both jump. “Please Cookie, let go of him. At least let him walk.” An elegant, yet concerned voice carried through the doorway. A tail followed by a tan flank with a rose colored quill slid through the door as Noble emerged with saddle bags on his sides and a weeping green mare hanging from his neck with her hind legs wrapped around his right foreleg. Another sharp wailing cry struck from the Truffle’s mouth though this time with some audible words, “Pleeese! I’m not ready for you to go! I...I.. I’ll miss you so… so… so much!” Noble had quickly folded his ears down cringing at the loud cries, he opened an eye and looked over toward Olivia who had been biting her bottom lip and was watching the display. “C-Could you please not yell that loud? Especially right next to my head,” he said clenching his teeth, but trying his hardest not to look too mopey or happy about leaving. “Please Truffle, you don’t have to feel bad... just remember this is for the best, also this isn’t goodbye, once I get back on my feet I will come up to see you both and you both can come down to see me as well” Further Mineral leaned toward Soul and whispered, scrunching her eyebrows. “Be thankful you’re not in that position. You would die.” “You bet…” Soul responded while giving Mineral a nod with his teeth clenched and his eyes being wide. Truffle lifted her teary eyed face up from the side of earth pony’s neck. “You have to promise! I want you to promise me on your cutiemark, and message me when you get there, and message your mailing address, how your home is and if you have any luck getting a job and what it is! I want to be able to send you letters as well as gifts when I need to.” She wiped her eyes with a foreleg and although she didn’t let go, she did loosen her chokehold. Noble gasped as the grip loosened, placing a hoof on his chest. He let out a soft laugh and then smiled at the green unicorn even though she hadn’t completely let go of him. “Of course I will, I have promised you that multiple times and I promise you that again, and will promise it more if I have to.” Though after that said, he looked up and closed his eyes furrowing his eyebrows. “Though um… didn’t I already give the address?” Olivia stepped into the conversation, while gently trying to pull Truffle away from Noble by putting a hoof on her shoulders. She looked slightly down to look Noble in the eyes. “No worries, you did and we have it on our fridge already.” Her focus shifted back to Truffle and she leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Come now Cookie, you hanging there must be straining his neck...“ Her gaze raised back to Noble. “I’m really really sorry Noble, that’s Truffle...” she said with rather awkward chuckle. Truffle didn’t say anything, but just hung her head staring at the ground with her ears folded down. Noble was just trying to maintain his balance and waited for her to say something, but when he looked up and around hoping no pony was around to see this, he saw Mineral and Soul a bit further away looking at the trio with rather blank faces. The earth pony just gave them awkward smile and gentle wave as he tensed up. Just when Truffle was about to open her mouth, a loud noise of train horn erupted which was followed by the final boarding announcement, telling ponies to get on the train. The announcement caused the platform to begin to roar as ponies quickly made their way from the shops to board the train. It also made Truffle more aware of the time and she realized that she didn’t truly want to hold her friend back anymore. She let go of the stallion as a gentle but gloomy smile spread to her face that still had some small tears running down her cheeks. “You promise right?” Standing up straighter and stretching his neck in all directions before he spoke, the stallion nodded with a soft smile. “Of course I promise. I promise on my cutiemark.” He took a few steps forward, so he was past Truffle and gently flipped his hips, bumping his cutiemark against Truffle’s before walking back in front of her. Olivia moved forward, standing where Noble had just been to the left of the green mare and gently placed her foreleg around Truffle and gave her a gentle hug and sympathetic look with a nod. Further, Soul picked up his saddleback and used his magic to gently strap it on his back he and Mineral walked over to the trio. Soul tilted his head. “Are we all done here? You got the snacks?” The earth pony sighed and nodded. “I suppose, we’ll all get another round of hugs before we get on but still. And yes I did. We are all set.” Soul looked around at the three there to see them off and leaned away at the thought of hugs. “I may sit out on the hugs. Good though, let’s go then.” The group started making their way to the train, searching for a right car for Soul and Noble to get into. Eventually they found car number 3, but before getting on board, they stopped to say their final words. Truffle shedded a few more tears even though she was trying to hold them back. She wrapped a hoof around Noble and squeezed him as hard as she could. “Take care of yourself my friend! Write as much as you can and keep us on track.” The tan stallion closed his eyes and rubbed her back as they hugged, he was feeling a bit choked up about this and could feel his heart was heavy. “I promise I will… again.. Never give up on cooking and I know you will find a new job where your talent is appreciated.” The mare nodded still squeezing Noble tightly. “I will. I will.” “Truffle, it will be alright, can you please let go? This… is… tight.” The poet went from rubbing her back and hugging her to pushing her sides slightly as she pushed her face into his shoulder crying. “Oliva, a little help?” Olivia smiled and shook her head, using her magic to pull Truffle and slid in, comforting her agian allowing her to move away from hugging Noble to embracing her. “We will be sad to see you go, but we hope for the best for you and look forward to hearing all about Ponyville.” Nodding Noble stated, “Thank you Olivia, You keep loving your muse and embrace her every day.” With that said he opened a foreleg and wrapped his front legs around Olivia. Olivia used her foreleg that wasn’t consoling her girlfriend and hugged Noble the best she could. “I shall. Best wishes to you Noble.” Noble let go and stepped to the left. “Mineral, you keep being the creative pony you are.” He stepped forward embracing her as well. Mineral returned the show of affection, hugging the earth pony with both forelegs and a pleasant grin. “You bet.” That said, Noble stepped back, turning and opened the door and got onto the entrance of the train. Truffle stopped sniffling and lifted her head up and wiped her nose and eyes so she could see Soul. “Soul, keep an eye on your bestie!” “Mmhmm, I will. Goodbye Truffle.“ The white stallion nodded but refrained from hugging the mare. Olivia cleared her throat, drawing attention to her. “We can say goodbyes with you too. I know we don’t know each other but since you’re the best friend of Noble Poet and I’ve heard of you from Truffle quite a bit, I figured it would be appropriate, Wild Soul” The tall pleasant mare, simply lowered her upper body the amount she could in a curtsy. Wild Soul gave a bow as well with a smile, giving a plain and simple answer loyal to his style, “Very true. Best wishes to you too Olivia. “ Rising up from the bow Soul gave a final nod to the couple and moved over in front of his co-worker. “Mineral, goodbye and take care. We will keep in touch.” He gave the mare a small grin and rubbed the back of his head. “Don’t tell others at work but I have to give you the credit of being the best co-worker I’ve had up to this day.” “D’aww why thank you. Right back at you and let's not forget the friend aspect,” Mineral said in a higher pitch, dramatic voice as a puff of air coming out of her nose as if she were about to laugh, though her eyes were slightly damp and a glimmer of a smile crossed her lips. She stood there for a minute and lowered her hoof and simply gave Soul a pleasant grin though it seemed slightly… sneaky, The next thing she did was something Soul wasn’t expecting. Mineral wrapped her hooves around the stallion, the grin on her face getting even wider. “You know, I lied before. You really thought I would simply let you go without a farewell hug, eh sis?” she said with a little chuckle. Soul immediately drew his neck back, his eyes growing wide open and widened his mouth while clenching his teeth. Cold shivers ran throughout his body. “M-Mineral, for Celestia’s sake! I thought you had respect for my personal space!” Mineral laughed and patted the stallion on his back. “Come on, just hug me back and I will let go.” The stallion was gently trying to push the mare away but her grips was too tight for a gentle push. “C-Come on the train is about to leave.” “Hurry up then,” she barked, giggling as she felt the stallion squirm. Being silent for a short moment, Soul let out a big sigh and shook his head. “You know I really hate you...” He sat down and slowly opened his forelegs, lightly wrapping them around the mare and gently giving a few pats on her back. Even though he was grimacing and feeling a lump in his throat, even just for a few seconds a very small smile broke onto his face. “Though... I will miss you.” The last thing he said made Mineral tone down her grin into gentle smile. “Naye I know you do sis,” Mineral said with a laugh and finally let go of Soul, each of them getting back onto all fours. “I will miss you too.” Mineral brought her hoof to her forehead and tossed it up and off to the side into a single wave with a wink.“There now have a safe trip.” Scrunching his eyebrows together and swiped a hoof over his shoulders, he gave Mineral a small grin. “Thanks...” That said, he slowly turned around and got on board the train but seemed to be shaking. It wasn’t because of Mineral, but he seemed to become more and more shaky when he actually got on the train. Noble had already found some open spots and Soul walked over to him and got Noble to move so he could sit next to the window. Noble gave Soul a frown but opened an eye wide leaning toward him to show he was joking. “You never say ‘I hate you’ to me.” “That’s because I’ve substituted it with choking you with cider or food,” he said with a laugh. Noble gave a faint smile and chuckle. “Point taken.” Suddenly they heard a loud sound from a whistle and they felt a lurch forward. The train had begun to move and as soon as they realized it, they both moved closer to window to give their friends some final waves. All of the ponies wore their own unique smiles as the train pulled out of the station and began rolling down the track, leaving the Canterlot station behind. As the station disappeared from view Soul leaned back and closed his eyes. “This is going to be a horrible ride…” “What? Why?” Noble extended an eyebrow, looking at his friend, sitting back a bit, ready to give Soul more space and room to leave the seat if he needed to. “Oh, yep… This is definitely going to be a horrible ride,” Soul repeated, shaking his head then sitting back and looking forward, he took a few deep breaths and put a hoof over his chest feeling his heartbeat. Noble looked over Soul for a moment, watching what he was doing and finally realized the issue. “Wait… you ate right before this trip, didn’t you?” He put a hoof on his forehead and shook his head. “You know you always get motion sick if you do that and you still ate?” The unicorn nodded slowly and slowly moved his head to face the window. “Suffer for your stupidity is what they say… I’ll just… stare out of the window into the distance so I should be alright…” “If you say so...” Noble frowned, disappointingly at Soul but while doing so noticed the new addition around Soul’s neck. “Oh, when did you get that necklace?” “It’s Mineral’s farewell gift to me. The gem in it is called citrine.” Soul slid a hoof under it and raised it up for Noble to see. “Wow... That’s amazing piece of jewelry. Lucky you.” The earth pony reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a small container. “But I got muffins, soooo I’m more than happy with my gift.” As the train roared down the track and down the mountain the three mares sat waving as they watched in silence as it disappeared upon the horizon. Once it had disappeared Mineral’s stomach broke the silence by growling loudly, she looked at the clock then at the mares next to her. “I know this is sudden since we are not acquainted, but we share friends and… would you both care to come get some great pizza with me? It is the best pizza in Equestria I assure you.” The mares looked puzzled at first but after looking at one another for a moment they both agreed. As the three began to walk off with Mineral in the lead Olivia spoke up, “They do have healthy topping options, correct?” “They most certainly do. Topping options are all fresh and ready.” The plump mare called back with a wink as she lead the way out of the train station and toward the mall. Author's Note Art for this chapter: http://wildscope.deviantart.com/art/Farwell-Gift-577095407
13. JobseekerAway from the chaos occurring at Rarity’s Boutique, the rest of Ponyville was calm and collected. The late summer winds blew the fragrance of apples and flowers through the town, the pairing of the sun and wind made it a comfortably warm day and a splendid day to be outside. Though one pony isn’t having the easiest time. As Noble walked out the door back onto the streets of Ponyville, the stallion at the front desk called back to him in a deep raspy voice, “Sorry kid, but we don’t have any need for other workers right now. Good luck with your search.” “Thank you for your time and consideration.” Noble walked out the door and gave a sigh. He looked around to see what other businesses there were that he had not checked before turning and walking down the street. Having stopped to look at his surroundings again he lifted a hoof to his forehead and closed his eyes thinking about the ways he has come and the different landmarks he has seen as he continued to try to map out the town in his head. All around him were seemingly pleasant ponies of all types but the treat for him was all the Earth ponies which made him feel simply at ease with the soft rustle as they all casually went on their lives around him. Noble dropped his hoof and tilting his head up high as he inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air and gentle late summer breeze. He slowly exhaled and opened his eyes before beginning to walk forward again. The stallion had not had any luck yet with his job hunt and had only received some supportive words that helped him stay positive. Already revising his speech in his head he continued on through the streets, taking in the beauty and harmony of this town. “Ah I love fresh starts. Gentle breezes, fresh air and all new society. Then again it is a little frightening meeting all these new ponies and wondering what they are thinking when they look at me...“ He looked around, biting his bottom lip. “They can probably all tell that I’m new here...” He rubbed the back of his head and looked around more. In front of the Quill and Sofa shop stood a group of three young mares, that peeked over at Noble and would lean in whispering to one another then look back, after a few more glances and whispers they all turned and waved at the stallion with small smiles on their faces. Even though Noble turned the edges of his lips up; his eyes contained a soft glimmer of moisture with the outer edges of his eyebrows turned down, a shiver went down his spine and he gave a slow wave back, barely moving his hoof. All three turned inward and giggled amongst themselves still smiling as they looked over at him. Noble’s hoof lowered and he slowly drug his hoof through the dirt looking down and hunkering his head down as he began to walk by again. “Darn, for a second I thought those girls may have thought I was cute or something. I guess they could be giggles of interest, but why me? No there had to be something else to it! Ugh I shouldn’t have even waved I’m such an idiot.” The stallion shook his head and looked forward, “Just how many other options do I have here?” A sudden creak of wood from a barrel behind Noble made his ears twitch, he lifted his head up again and this time turned his head with his hoof stretching his neck and letting a few pops be heard as bent it left and right. As he popped his neck he quickly looked back toward where the sound came from and scanned for anything unusual. He didn’t see anything but had a feeling that he was being followed for a ways now. As long as this didn’t seem like it would end in trouble he didn’t want to cause a scene. While he continued to walk alongside some shops he continued to look back in as inconspicuous of a way as possible. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted something sliding behind another set of barrels. A small tuft of pink hair that seemed to be in a swirl. Noble turned completely around and scratched his head. “Why would a pony be following me? I haven’t done anything wrong have I? I hope this pony doesn’t hate that a newcomer is walking around begging for a job...” Squinting and raising an eyebrow Noble looked back down the path he had been heading down and then back at the tuft of pink fur. He took a deep breath and spun around lifting his legs up to gallop though as soon as he was looking forward he jumped back. “Hiya!” Suddenly a pink curly haired mare had appeared right in front of the stallion and casually sat down right in front of him. Noble stopped himself when he was a second away from running into the pink furred mare. He lept backwards, landing on his back letting out a mild yell. He looked back at the barrels then spun back to the mare, pointing at her while lying on the ground with an open mouth, gasping. “What the! How?!” “I’m Pinkie Pie! Aaaaand,” Pinkie took a deep breath, “Welcome to Ponyville, I hope it finds you well. Don’t make a frown cause I’m here to make you swell. Welcome to Ponyville! Here here today! Welcome to Ponyville! I hope you’ll stay and say, HIIIP HIP HOORAAAAY!” As she sang Pinkie darted around Noble, making his head turn quickly to look at her while he got back onto his hooves. Through the song Noble hunkered down trying to look for an opening. He looked around the street at ponies staring on, he bit his lip and began to sweat. “...What, huh? H-How do you know I’m new here?” Once the song was over and the energetic mare sat down again she extended a hoof. “I know every single pony in this town and I know I haven’t seen you before, so that was your welcome to Ponyville song. I’m here to be your bestest friend!” She looked on with a smile. Noble looked to the sides then slowly extended his hoof and shook, still trying to hunker down. “... Umm… thank you, Pinkie Pie? I will try to remember your name. Don’t you think you are a little ahead of yourself; saying that we will be “bestest friends” when we don’t know one another? I don’t mind chatting and becoming friends. Just, another time. And, without this much attention.” The stallion’s face was bright red by now. “Oh? Do you have more errands to run? You’ve been going into every store.” Pinkie leaned in, putting her hoof to the side of her mouth and whispered, “Are you on some kind of top secret mission?” She brought her hoof down leaping up. “Oh oh, wait! Are you getting furniture for your new home in Ponyville? Or do you need the grand tour?” She ran off and shot back in a flash with a tropical button up shirt and hat along with a camera around her neck.” Noble’s heart skipped a beat and his eyes grew wide, the sweat on his brow thickened. “Wha.. nooo! No no no. I am just looking for a job--- Wait… how long have you been following me and how can you tell I’m staying here?” “I knew because that’s just the feeling I had in my mane!” She smiled again and looked upward toward her mane, shaking her body making her mane shake. “Your mane?” The stallion took a step back and watched on, raising an eyebrow. Pinkie wrapped her hoof around Noble and tapped her lips, looking down. “So, a job is what you need?” “Y-Yes?” He looked toward her out of the corner of his eyes and tried to gently back away to no avail. “Wow if I’m this uncomfortable with her being this touchy this quick, Soul probably would have a heart attack, die, get revived and then die again if he meets this mare...” The mare released her grip and stretched her hoof up to the sky. “I may have just the solution for your institution! Come with me.” She lept up, beaming from ear to ear and began bouncing down the street. “What, she has a job to offer me?” The tan stallion stood up a little more, shook himself off and focused on the mare, his lips slowly turned upward, though it quickly changed into mild frown. “Remember, don’t put too much faith in this job.” The pink mare called back to him, bouncing in place. “Well are you coming?” A wide smile crossed his lips as he looked down at the ground and began to move forward. “Oh, yes right behind you Truffle!” Pinkie’s stopped jumping and looked at him with an open mouth and raised brow. “Huh?” Noble winced and shook his head. “I mean Pinkie Pie, sorry.” Shrugging it off Pinkie turned and continued to prance down the street with Noble in tow. “Alrighty artichokie.” The two arrived at a large shop that was decorated to look like it was made out of giant sweets. Pinkie Pie pranced to the door and opened it, holding it open for Noble. “I’m back with the ingredients!” she yelled upstairs. As Noble walked through the door he gave the pink mare a nod of gratitude but his smile had already begun to fade. From the moment he had seen the building Pinkie was heading for a knot had formed in his stomach and as he walked through the door and saw the counter with cakes and pastries inside he lifted his head. “Pinkie, may I ask what kind of job this would be?” Flinging the bottom half of the door closed before she replied the pink mare shot behind the counter and put her hooves down. “Well, I’m not entirely sure. You could be a baker, or a delivery pony, or you can always help at the register like me. I will need to talk to the Cakes; this is their business and I’m just an employee but I'm sure we could use an extra set of hooves." The tan stallion took in the information and paused for a brief moment, his eyebrows lowered, he began to open his mouth but closed it before he could speak. "Oh something wrong?" Pinkie inquired, lifting her head up and raising an eyebrow. Noble grinned, tucking his head down as he rubbed the back of his mane. "Well the thing is... I'm not really a baker. There are too many variables that go into those dishes. Then after they are in the oven you can no longer change them. Then the issue is finding the right temperature and the right amount of time." “Aww come on, baking isn’t really that hard! You sound like you have a good idea of it,” she said while she raised her forelegs into the air, standing on her hind legs. “I know, we could start with some simple things like cookies and cupcakes. Do you know how to bake them?” The stallion gritted his teeth which turned to a frown looking away. “Well… I really want a job, but I don’t want to burden the business. I’ve only been able to bake when I have a detailed list of the instructions listing how to make the dough along with the temperature and amount of time to cook it for.” Pinkie sat for a moment and tapped her face with her hoof, as she rested her elbows on the counter. “What? Is that all?! That’s not a problem at all, nope nope! I can teach you and help you get started, but it’s really all up to you!” Noble narrowed his lips and looked around the shop before turning back to the mare. “When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound bad. But don’t you think you should ask your employers first? I mean if they are fine with me learning as I go and need the help I’ll gladly take the job.” “Well we’re here to find out!” Pinkie instantly bolted upstairs but only a second later peeked her head back around the corner. “Oh by the way! I never caught your name.” Noble jumped a little and raised his head speaking up loud and clear, a light sweat forming on his forehead again. “It’s Noble Poet.” The mare winked with a grin. “Gotcha!” That said she dodged her head back up the stairs. Five good minutes passed before Pinkie returned, her tail was drooping behind her a little lower than before. She looked at the stallion then around the room at the sweets. “Oh golly gosh I forgot that I wanted to give you a welcome to Ponyville present!” She flew around the room, snagging multiple treats around the room and disappeared behind the counter. Waving his hooves in the air in front of him as he leaned back Noble deterred, “Oh please, you are far too kind. Between the job, offering to teach me and the song. Well you have done far too much already,” he said and tilted his head. “What did they say by the way?” “This is no trouble at all, they said I could give you some and I thought I’d pay for some others. Though, aboooooooout the job…” She slowed to a stop and rose from behind the counter, looking down. “Well we don’t seem to have any openings right now... So I may have spoken too soon.” Pinkie let out a faint chuckle, her head lowered toward her shoulders and met the stallion’s eyes. Noble sighed and looked up. “Oh, well even so. I knew this was a possibility. Who knows, maybe it’s for the best for your company. Thank you for the offer and putting so much effort into this. I'll just keep looking from somewhere else.” The mare beamed and brought out a large basket, almost overflowing with sweets and presented it on the counter. “That’s the spirit! And your gift basket is ready! Don’t worry, I can go around town with you looking for--” At that instant the bottom half of the door to Sugarcube Corner flung open and a yellow furred filly ran in, grimacing with wide eyes. “Emergency, emergency!!! Quick, I need lots of ice and bandages!” Pinkie immediately started moving her hooves like she was about to run. “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh ice coming right up!” She bolted into the kitchen though almost instantly peeked back into the lounge. “Why do we need ice again?” “It’s Applejack! There’s no time to explain but she injured her hoof and needs help!” The filly cried out and stomped her hooves as she ran in place. “Quick quick! Where is that darn ice?” Pinkie Pie’s eyes grew wide and she gasped. “Applejack’s in trouble?! I’m on it!!!” In a flash the doors to the back room began swinging as Pinkie rushed through them again. Noble who had trotted over to a window looked out and in less than a second he spotted the mare the young filly was talking about. “Is that your sister over there?” The sight caused him to frown. “What is she doing...?” Applebloom looked past Noble out the window in the direction he was pointing. “Yeah, that’s her alright! Even with a twisted ankle she’s still tryin’ ta pull that big carriage.” Noble looked at the filly, with his eyes a little wider and a twitch of his ears. “What? Doesn’t she know that if she tries to do that she’ll just exacerbate her injury?“ "She doesn't care." Once again the back doors flung open and Pinkie rushed through them in a white coat, with a first aid kit. “Doctor Pinkie on the case!” Hurrying to the stairs Pinkie called up, “Mr. and Mrs. Cake; I need to go out for a minute. Emergency case!” As Pinkie ran toward the door and Applebloom headed after her, followed by Noble, who jolted forward and reached out toward the filly. “Wait! May I come too? I have some experience with ankle injuries and could be of some help.” Applebloom looked back with eyes widened. “You do? There’s nothing stopping ya so come on!” She turned and jumped through the doorway followed by the stallion. When the trio trotted down the block to where an orange mare was trying to pull a large carriage, they noticed she was gritting her teeth and had her eyes closed as she pulled. The filly ran over to her sister with a glare. “Applejack, I brought help. Don’t try to put any more stress on it!” Applejack gave the filly a glare with a scowl though with a wince from her left eye everypony could see she was in pain. “Applebloom! A-Ah told ya that I don’t need any first aid, I will be alright in a minute--- ” When she stepped down with her right foreleg and put pressure on it, a stabbing pain crashed through it which caused her to clench her teeth again and fall. “Ah, darn it!!” Pinkie quickly opened up her first aid kit next to Applejack. “Applejack! Don’t worry Doctor Pinkie Pie is here now.” She reached down and lifted the mare’s right foreleg and gently poked down it. “Tell me how this is.” As soon as the poke struck Applejack’s ankle she let out a holler. “Dagnabit Pinkie that,” she bit her tongue and tried to shake it off, “Doesn’t hurt!” She ripped her foreleg away from the balloon flanked pony and lifted herself to her legs, wobbling greatly as she did. “I just need ta walk it off. That’s all.” The mare put her right hoof down again and as she leaned forward she fell over again with a groan. “Sis!” Applebloom leapt in front of her sister, blocking her way. “You can’t do anything with that hoof like that, can’t ya see?” Scanning over the situation Noble closed his eyes for a moment then opened them, stepping forward and tapping Pinkie on the shoulder. “Pinkie, may I take a look?” Pinkie nodded and slid to the side, giving Noble room to walk. The stallion sat down in front of the orange mare. Applejack scrunched her eyebrows at the stallion beside her. “W-Wait, who are you?” She drew her hoof in and tucked it beside her. “Doesn’t matter... Look fella, there ain’t nothin to look at. I just need a minute ta get back on my feet again,” Applejack scoffed. “Please, stop moving or you are going to hurt it more.” The stallion wrenched her leg closer to him and as he held the leg tight, put a little pressure on the ankle. Applejack twisted her body, closing her eyes and tried to pull her hoof away. “Oww oww oww! Ok, yes it hurts alright!” Applebloom quickly lept up and hit the stallion in the side with her front hooves. “What da ya think yer doin hurtin my sister like that?” Giving a jostle from the kick, Noble eased his grip. “I’m sorry. I just needed you to stop resisting and let us help you.” His grip became gentle and tender, his movements were slow but fluid. That said Applebloom dropped back to all fours and slowly backed away and gave the stallion a nod but continued to watch him, squinting. “...Fine then.” Applejack sighed and let herself relax, looking up at the stallion as she eased her body and allowed him to support her leg. Noble eased his grip to gently support the mare’s leg as he called out materials to Pinkie, asking for two pieces of wood, wrap and the ice. He ran his hoof lightly over the ankle, looking toward the mare’s face. After running his hoof all the way over her ankle he sat for a second, which seemed to have froze as his eyes fell over her blond flowing hair, down to her closed eyes and soft freckled cheek to her lips; slightly parted with slow breaths which moved the grass in front of them. The silence was broken as Applejack winced, clenching her teeth and called out, “R-Right where yer hoof ran over was the sore spot, partner.” Snapping out of it he quickly shook his head and rubbed her ankle with the ice bag for a few minutes then placed the pieces of wood on either side of her ankle having Pinkie hold them and the hoof in place as he wrapped over the area making it snug above and below but not overly tight. He finished by wrapping the ice bag around her ankle, securing it with bandages. “There, it’s all done now. Just take the ice pack off when it gets too cold or when you get back home. How does that feel?” As Applejack lifted herself to her feet she put a little pressure on her right leg again and although shaky she could take a step forward. She couldn’t hold back a mild smile. “Ah gotta admit, you sure got some serious first aid skills fella... This is much better.” She rubbed her hoof over the ground only giving a slight wince. While Applejack felt out how well the makeshift brace supported her Pinkie erupted, leaping up into the air. “Wowza! That was amazing Noble! You really knew what you were doing.” After she finished testing her new brace, Applejack took a few steps toward her carriage. “Now what in Equestria am I gonna do with my stand…? I can’t just leave it here, I need ta haul it back to the farm no matter what. If I just push myself a little bit I’m sure I can-” Noble blocked her way with a leg. “W-With all due respect miss… You really shouldn’t put any stress on that hoof, even with that brace you can still exacerbate your injury.” Pinkie pie, who had put everything back in the first aid kit walked over and stood next to Applejack though a smile never left her face. “He’s right Applejack, you should take it easy for the rest of the day to let your ankle heal, then you can work after a few days.” Applejack first glared at Pinkie. “I appreciate you trying ta look out for me but you know how important my work on the farm is.” She turned her attention toward Noble and stepped forward, poking the stallion in the chest with her bandaged hoof, giving only a wince. “Lookie here buddy, I’m very thankful for your help, I really am. But I got a farm ta take care of and I’m the only one capable of taking care of it right now.” “You were,” Applebloom said looking at Applejack’s bandaged ankle then looking away. Applejack scrunched her eyebrows and gave her little sister a short glare but turned back towards Noble shaking her head again. “Anyway, unless you want to pull this load all the way to our farm, I’m not going to lay off my duties.” Noble’s eyes widened and he looked at Applejack’s face then down at her ankle giving a smile as he stood up straight and puffed out his chest a tad. “Oh, well why didn’t you say so? A stallion should always help a pony in need.” Applejack’s eyes widened and she tilted her head forward and to the side. “What? Seriously, ya would do that?” “Of course, why not? I’m new here, so this would be a good chance to see more of Ponyville. I can imagine how that leg feels right now, I’ve been there, I couldn’t just stand by and let anypony hurt like that when I can easily do something about it.” The stallion gave a bow in front of the gold haired mare with a wide smile across his face, sweating slightly. “Well I’ll be darned,” exclaimed Applejack as she nudged her hat up raising her head. Applebloom looked at the waggon and then at her sister, taking a step forward and turning her head to the side opening an eye wider. “Yer not gonna deny his help again, are ya?” Pinkie pressed her nose against Applejack’s with eyes wide open. “Yes, are ya?!” Applejack took a step back and shook her head.“Well as long as the carriage ‘ll get back to the farm, I’m not gonna complain. Besides,” She walked around and sat down next to the stallion and wrapped her hoof around Noble’s neck with a big grin, “I get a chance to find out what kind of pony has moseyed into our town. Noble’s the name, right fella?” Noble turned his head and got goosebumps as the mare draped her leg over him. “Umm, umm, yes. Noble, Noble Poet b-but you can call me whatever you’d like.” He gave a chuckle that was low and trailed off as he looked away, lowering his head. “I’m sorry, what was your name again, Sunshine?” Applejack turned down an eyebrow with a forced grin. “Applejack, fella. Applejack.” She took her leg off of Noble and as she put weight on it shifted her weight back to her other legs and gave it a shake. Nodding the poet stepped forward slowly and tried to stay standing tall with a forced grin. “Oh that sounds like a wonderful name. I’m sure you are as sweet as an apple yourself.” After the phrase came out of his mouth his eyes darted away from the mare’s and he had a chill throughout his body. That sounded so bad he wanted to slap himself. Applejack immediately put a hoof on Noble’s mouth, furrowing her eyebrows with a grin. “Look buddy if yer trying to be flirty or something, how ‘bout ya stop it before you even start. It makes my skin crawl worse than gophers in the garden fields. ” That made Noble’s mind scream. “Just when I thought it was going so well!” The smile Noble had been wearing vanished as quickly as it appeared and his body drooped a bit. “Oh… I’m sorry I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.” Applejack held up the injured hoof, silencing Noble. “Now now, no harm done. I just didn’t want you gettin too outa hoof with that. Would you still be willin ta help me with this cart?” Noble shook his head up and down letting out a sigh through his nose and lifting himself up a little. He walked over to the wagon and slid underneath it, looking around at the buckles and gently fiddling with them. Applebloom rushed toward the side of the wagon with a smile. “Here I’ll help ya. You don’t need to be that gentle with it,” Pinkie began waving goodbye to the trio but suddenly froze, mid wave and her eyes sprung open. “Wait!!! The gift basket! I almost completely forgot about the gift basket!” “Wait, Pinkie, you don’t have---” Noble’s voice trailed off as the pink blur fired off in a cloud of smoke. Applejack smiled and shook her head. “Welcome to Ponyville, pal. That’s Pinkie Pie for ya.” A moment later Pinkie trotted back to the carriage with Noble’s gift basket and placed it on top of all the other stuff. “There we go! Cookies, cupcakes, muffins, donuts and eclairs, all there!” Pinkie Pie looked around doing a final scan. She was nodding approvingly as she saw Applejack’s leg was patched up and Noble was now strapped into the carriage. “Well guys, I need to bounce back to work but we will become better friends later Noble, don’t worry! I’ve already added you to my ‘Become Bestest Friends With These Ponies’ list! Bye Applejack and Applebloom, get better soon.” Noble looked at the basket of sweets and a slow tender smile formed on his lips, his body felt a little lighter and he waved to Pinkie, whom had already started walking back to the shop, her curly mane and tail bouncing along as she went. He put a hoof beside his mouth and shouted to her, “Thank you Pinkie! Thank you for all the help!” The pink mare turned around from the doorway and waved, her smile still visible before she disappeared into the shop. “Here sis, lemme help you too,” Applebloom said as she crawled under Applejack’s leg, lifting it to her shoulder. “Thanks sugarcube.” Applejack shifted her attention back to Noble and turned up her lips in a small grin. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to Pinkie. That pony doesn’t leave anypony alone before making friends with ‘em.” “I’ve noticed.” Noble gave a slow sigh but smiled at the end and turned to look at Applejack. “Though, that’s not it. It’s so different here from Canterlot or anyplace I’ve been to before. People here are so open and relaxed.” “Yer Canterlot folk, huh?” Applejack inquired as she tilted her hat back. “Well how about that. You don’t seem like a high class pony in my eyes. No offense.” “Non-taken.” Noble was about to open his mouth to speak again but paused and tapped his cheek as he thought for a moment, forming his sentence fully before he spoke. “Or, well I was. Such a grand and reclusive city like that is too big for a simple earth pony like me.” “You can say that again. I wouldn’t live in that place at any cost.” The orange pony shook her head then lifted her head up, and closed her eyes while she hunkered down a bit. “Um, no offense of course, again.” The stallion waved a hoof dismissively. “Non taken, I don’t care for that place that much either.” Applebloom tapped a hoof on the ground and quickly caught herself, lifting her sister’s leg up again. “AJ, can we go already? Your ice pack is pretty cold and I don’t want to hold your hoof all day.” Applejack lifted her hoof up and gave Applebloom’s back a break for a moment. “Ah, sorry little sis. Well there’s no point standing here either. Let’s get moving Noble.” She gently placed her hoof back on her sister’s back and began walking slowly so her and Applebloom could get an in sync walking speed. Noble bowed. “Of course.” Watching the sisters shaky start before they took the lead. The stallion leaned forward and gently pulled the waggon forward, not wanting to get too fast of a start. Walking along behind the sisters Noble couldn’t help but look back at the gift basket then forward at the sisters. He took deeper breaths as he walked gingerly, smelling the sweet country air and feeling the warm breeze on his coat. “Even if it is early, the ponies here sure are nicer than most of the ones in Canterlot.”
14. Restoration Destination“I would go and say that was awesome but I suppose this isn’t the right time--- Awe who am I kidding I can’t hold back, that was awesome!” The silhouette threw her forelegs up in the air, spreading them as far apart as she could. After the ‘grand’ entrance she bolted towards the ground and landed on her hooves with enough force to shake the ground. Rarity trotted over to the mare and squeezed her as hard as she could.“Oh Rainbow darling, thank you, thank you thank you thank you! You have no idea how grateful I am right now!” Rainbow Dash patted the unicorn on the back, clenching teeth trying to pull back. “You’re kinda showing it Rara…” As she got out of Rarity’s grip she looked back at the Boutique’s kitchen window where some remaining smoke was still escaping from, then looked around at everypony there. “So um… what exactly happened here?” Rarity turned and glowered her eyes with one slightly wider while looking at the fillies while she had a half frown. “Well, apparently my little sister and Scootaloo were trying to cook ignoring our agreement not to cook when I’m not there, and as noble as their intentions were, it caused this ‘little’ predicament to happen.” Taking a step next to Rarity the blue pegasus mare extended an eyebrow while looking at the fillies. “Wow, that was a dumb move.” Both fillies hung their heads with ears folded back. Rarity stood next to Rainbow and nodded along. “Yes, it was.” She turned around and looked at her home for a moment. After a bit of staring, she rose her head and started walking toward the kitchen. “Now if you excuse me, I’m going over to my charred kitchen to have a major breakdown. This might take a while.” Rainbow’s smile turned to a frown and she tilted her head. “Um… alright then… ” As Rarity started to walk toward her home Rainbow again turned around and looked toward both fillies but kept her eyes focused on Scootaloo more than Sweetie Belle. “Seriously, you burned down her kitchen?” “Um, yes ma’am, pretty much…” Scootaloo admitted, her head hung and eyes unwilling to look up at the pegasus. Seeing the reaction from the filly the mare quickly improved her tone, making it higher and more energetic. “Even though that was a major, like MAJOR fail... you did well in getting me. Well done, Scoot. You’re pretty fast kid.” She gave a smile and nod. As soon as Scootaloo heard and processed the complement her head tilted up to look her in the eyes. Seeing the smile, the small pegasus lifted her head up higher, giving an open tooth grin back. After giving Scootaloo’s head a ruffle, Rainbow heard a rustle from the river and remembered seeing a new stallion by it. “Now who’s that pony over there who’s confessing his love for the river?” The comment made Soul drop his eyebrows and he lowered his head, though he shook it off and continued taking deep breaths, pretending he didn’t hear anything. Sweetie Belle spoke up, her eyebrows still low and her voice still had a softness to it. “Oh he’s the new apprentice of Rarity.” She looked over at the stallion and sank a tad lower into herself, looking towards the ground. “We sure didn’t help give him the best first impression… Especially since the first thing he had to do was run in there and help to save Opal...” Rainbow bolted over of the stallion and tapped his head a few times, tilting her head with eyebrow raised. “This is the guy? Is it alive?” The stallion’s heart leapt out of his chest and he spun around putting distance between him and the invader. “Hey hey hey hey, no touchy please!” He breathed heavily and put a hoof to his chest as his heartbeat returned to normal. “Ok. Now hush, the river is just about to warm up for me.” Giving a jolt back and spreading her wings with muscles tensed watching the stallion. She eased up a bit, with a turned head and squinted eye. “So you’re not a statue after all.” Soul glanced at the pegasi with a grin. “Noooooo, I’m a mighty talking potato.” “Whatever you say.” She shrugged her shoulders and extended a hoof with a confident smile. “The name’s Rainbow Dash. What about you? I mean Rarity has mentioned your name over again but I haven’t absorbed it. Too busy being awesome and all, you know.” “Wild Soul.” The stallion nodded his head and looked at the hoof, slowly lifting his up and tapped the mare’s to shake. She rubbed her chin looking off to the right. “Wild Soul huh? Dang! That name downright yells that you’re a daredevil! Hey, you like freefalls? I can fly you extremely high and give you the best freefall ever!” She flew up a little and wrapped her hooves under Soul’s armpits lifting him off the ground. “Wait, what?!” Soul yelled his eyes widened and tried to struggle out of the mares grip “Rarity, this pony is trying to kill me! Little help?” Rainbow put the stallion back on the ground. “Geez chill out, I was just kidding.” Soul wrapped his hooves around himself, looking at the mare like he had just gone through a torture chamber. “No, you were touching me.” “...Touching?” Rainbow’s mouth hung open and she looked towards Rarity and then back at Soul, scratching her head as she hovered to the ground again. Soul’s eyes followed the mare’s hoof as it went to the ground. He continued to rub his right foreleg with his left and let go to point at Rainbow’s hoof. “Yes, your hooves were in contact with my body. That’s as good as trying to kill me.” Rainbow bent her head back scrunching in her eyebrows and drawing her mouth into a small circle, she looked over at the Boutique. “Rarity, you have taken on a pretty odd apprentice!” “Just a second darling! I’m still in the middle of mourning my kitchen.” She turned back to the kitchen wall she was looking at through the window and she cleared her throat. “Oh what a cruel cruel faith you have experienced! You were not ready to go there is still so much you haven’t seen! Oh the lovely mornings I woke up and there you were for me, to have the fridge full of food and a stove to cook it! The world is so lovely but so so cruel!” Rainbow crossed her forelegs and looked at Soul, her eyes dull and upper eyelids drew flat. “Get used to that.” Rarity’s voice grew higher pitched and louder as she fell to the ground and held the edge of the window with a hoof as she cried. “Goodbye forever, I will never forget youuu!” In an instant she sat up and her tears were gone, she brushed her hoof against her fur, cleaning herself off and spoke in a calmer, more upbeat tone. “There, done. Let’s get Twilight to restore it.” Rainbow slammed her face against her hoof and gave a deep groan. Turning away from the remains of her charred kitchen, Rarity called out in a tender tone, “Scootaloo, would you be a dear and go ask Twilight if she could help with this small matter?” Soul’s ears twitched at the name and he slightly drew his neck back. “...Twilight?” Being caught off guard by the request the filly jolted her head up. “Oh, I… Sure! On it ma’am” She gave a salute with a flick of her ankle and flapped her wings, turning around and zooming off down the road. Continuing to speak in a more pleasant tone Rarity raised a hoof and pointed it toward her sister. “Good, and Sweetie Belle. If you would take our things that you valiantly rescued back inside.” She looked over at Opal whom still sat batting her own body, knocking dirt and dust off. “You can leave Opal. I believe she may need some more time to calm down; and possibly a visit to Fluttershy.” Sweetie Belle nodded her head, she turned and bent over biting the top of the bag containing all the belongings she saved. She gave Opal a glance but when the cat met her eyes with a glare and sprung out some claws from her paw Sweetie Belle gulped and began walking inside. Giving a nod as she closed her eyes and held her head up with a small smile parting her lips as the filly took the stuff back inside, Rarity walked over to the duo. “Now Rainbow, what did you say about my apprentice again?” Without saying a word Rainbow placed a hoof on the stallions shoulder which caused him to leap away from her and look at the pegasus with wide eyes. “See?” “Oh hush now darling, we all have our own mannerisms,” Rarity dismissed with a wave of her hoof. Rainbow rolled her eyes and crossed her forelegs. “Boring.” Having collected himself and brushed off his shoulder Soul gave Rainbow piercing jokey look. “Oh I don’t mind if you are, I get along with dullards.” A hush fell over the three as the mares looked as Soul. Rainbow glared and pointed toward him with her hoof. “Did you… Did you just call me a dullard?!” “She got provoked by that…?” Soul thought as a thin smile turned up his cheeks and he fluctuated his voice. “No, I just stated that without pointing out any specific pony that I get along with dullards.” Rainbow flew up so she was hovering enough so Soul had to look up at her while her forelegs were crossed and she looked him dead in the eyes. “But you meant me, right?” “Who knows Rainbow, who knows.” Soul’s smile grew as he continued using a higher off key voice and shrugged his shoulders, though in his head he was ramming his head against a wall. “Worst. Burn. Ever.” Silence landed upon the trio as Rainbow intensely glared down upon Soul, but her face eventually eased. “Smartflank, huh? Alright then.” She gently lowered herself back down to the ground, sitting down and uncrossed her legs to come close to Soul and almost poked him in the chest. “Just making sure, you’re not picking up a fight, are you?” Soul leaned back and looked down at the blue hoof, raising his hooves in front of him and waving them. “Oh, no! My apologies if you took it that way. I was just rolling along, you know.” The pegasus drew back, bringing her hoof back and easing her eyes. “Ah, I; in that case it’s all good! We’ll get along if we bump into each other again.” She nodded to Soul then turned to her friend. “Well Rarity, since my job here is done I’ll get back to my stuff.” “I see. I would offer to let you come in and have a cup of tea or other refreshments but, seeing the circumstances… We will need to save that for later. Thank you again very much Rainbow Dash, enjoy the rest of your day,” Rarity said and gave a curtsy which was met by a nod and wink as Rainbow lept up, soaring off into the clouds. After the pegasi flew off toward the horizon, Soul let out a big sigh. “You sure know some ‘compelling’ ponies around here. Kinda starting to miss Canterlot already,” he said with a jokey tone, a small grin on his face and stared up at the horizon at the distant Canterlot which stood out on the side of the mountain. “Oh don’t be silly now. Rainbow might be a little, Rainbowish but she’s quite the nice pony when you ignore her attitude.” As she reassured Soul she moved her hoof about and tried to sound as polite as possible. “And, Soul,” Her tone suddenly became kinder and she looked him in the eyes, hers were still a little damp. “I can’t thank you enough for all your help. I truly owe you and can’t even express how sorry I am that this catastrophe occurred on your first day here.” “Well undeniably this was a rather unusual way to start my studies,” he laughed, “but despite all the dizziness, nausea, anxiety…” The stallion paused as he saw Rarity’s ears dropping. He quickly shook his head. “Okay not helping but what I’m trying to say, everything turned out alright in the end and I’m just glad I was useful. It was an unexpected accident after all so no need to feel bad.” Rarity placed a hoof on her chest, taking a deep breath in and let out a sigh, “Oh thank goodness, your understanding is such an enormous relief.” Soul looked over at the building and then back at Rarity. “I didn’t come all the way here just to drop my studies before they even start, now did I?” he said with both eyebrows raised, his eyes were deep and tender, and seemed to have a certain light about them. The mare lifted her head upwards, turning her eyebrows down with a smile clear across her face. “Oh most definitely not. I’ll say we continue with our original plan and properly introduce you to my boutique till Twilight arrives.” She extended her hoof toward the building. “Good, we shall do that. One moment, I need to check my n-mail.” Soul dug his red laptop from his saddlebag and opened it in front of him. “And yes Twilight.... Sorry but I can’t help it, my imagination is going wild now, but--” “Yes, the Princess Twilight Sparkle” Rarity began with her eyes glimmering, giggle escaping her mouth. “Not that I want to put on the ritz or anything but she is actually a close, personal friend of mine, yes a princess is a close friend of mine and I’ve been there when she has achieved many of her staring achievements. OH and I happen to be an element of harmony too. The element of generosity to be exact and my element is shaped like a diamond which completely fits me but like I said, I do not want to be too ritzy about assisting her and my friends in saving Equestria.” The mare stopped, raising her hoof, turned to look at Soul, her closed eyes opening. “Just thought I could mention this in passing. You are easier to talk to than I expected. ” The information hit Soul like a boulder and he almost dropped his laptop and just barely caught it before it hit the ground. His movement ceased right then and there and his pupils dilated and mouth turned up at the edges as it drew back. “You…” He looked at Rarity as if he wasn’t sure what he was looking at anymore. “...You… I… what?!” The mare lifted her eyebrows and tilted her chin up. “Hmm? Is something the matter?” The stallion dropped his flank onto the ground and started rubbing his templates with his eyes closed. “You… You just gave me quite a lot to process here…” She covered her mouth with a gasp. “Oh I beg your pardon, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sure you’re an easy pony talk to in general.” Soul scratched his head, squinting his eyes at the mare. His lips curled and he softly bit his bottom lip.“I’m more focused on the information you gave me before that statement…” Rarity blushed, looked down and turned her head away. “Oh this is embarrassing, getting carried away like that. I just couldn’t help myself.” Soul slowly lifted his hoof, still rubbing the other side of his template. “Yea… Um, let’s rewind. You know the new Princess, you’re an element of harmony and you’ve been part of saving the world once?” “More than once,” Rarity said and she shot her head up and tossed a hoof up in the air, draping it across her forehead. “Oh but I do know the other three princesses too. How could I forget to mention that?” Now rubbing his forehead while staring Rarity with wide eyes and scrunching his eyebrows, Soul’s face couldn’t stay still. What could be said to that? What kind of face would even be appropriate to give? He tried to form sane thoughts and phrases but all he could do was just awkwardly twist his face and stutter. “I, um… I uh you… Alright uh, neat… cool, I… suppose.” Rarity’s ears twitched up and her eyebrows and mouth drew flat. “Pardon me? 'Neat', 'cool'?” Sweat started forming on Soul’s forehead. “Yea, I… The weight of that information was so intense that it overloaded the internalizing system in my head and spit it all out without properly processing it… So um alright, you know remarkable royalty, you are an element of harmony and you’ve been part of saving Equestria....” The stallion's ears dropped and he put his hooves together closing his eyes. “Please don’t kill me I’m bad with words.” “You do pick some…” Rarity cleared her throat, “Interesting ones.” Soul let out an awkward laugh “I’m aware of that.” He then cleared his throat and fixed his posture as he tried to pull himself together. “Though maybe it’s just a good thing this information doesn’t really… impact me. At least I won’t---” “Think differently about of me?” Rarity said with an eyebrow raised. She put the tip of her hoof on her bottom lip. “Oh when you put it that way, then---” “Then I’m not that bad of a pony, am I?” Soul turned his head to the side and the tips of his lips turned up. The mare passed Soul, holding her snout high with eyes closed. “Something like that.” She walked over to her door opening it, motioning for Soul to go in first. Though when Soul was just about to walk in Rarity spotted a pony reading multiple books walking across the bridge. Her eyes widened and a large smile formed on her face as she bit her lip.“Ooh, Twilight’s here! Quick, I’ll introduce you!” She immediately slammed the door closed causing Soul to bump his muzzle right into it. Holding his muzzle and catching his falling laptop just in the last moment, Soul backed away from the door with a frown and slowly wiggling his nose. “This really is a danger zone.” As Rarity trotted over to the alicorn, she wrapped her hooves around her squeezing her tight. “Oh Twilight thank you so much for coming to aid me this quickly, darling!” Twilight clenched her teeth during the squeeze and as Rarity pulled back she kept rapidly browsing the books she had floating with her. “O-Of course Rarity I just wish I would’ve kept up with restoring magic more. My skills may be a little rusty and I’d hate to make your kitchen even worse. Hopefully brushing up on these books will keep me on the right track.” Rarity lifted her snout and closed her eyes, waving her hoof forwards. “Don’t worry darling, I’m quite sure it can’t get any worse than this. If anypony can do it, it’s you.” “I’ll try my best, I give my word for it,” she said with a pleasant tone, though her attention was quickly caught by Soul who was approaching the mares. Twilight instantly closed the books and fixed her posture, it was like she knew who she was going to meet. “Heya there,” Soul spoke with a calm and pleasant smile, bowing his head. Twilight’s smile grew ear to ear and she leaned forward raising a hoof. “Hey, you must be Rarity’s new apprentice! Scootaloo mentioned you had arrived already.” She turned to look at Rarity with widened eyes. “I’m so jealous of you Rarity. Getting your own personal apprentice must be a dream come true!” she said with high pitch tone. She cleared her throat and turned back to look at the stallion. “Wild Soul it is, right?” “Correct…” Soul said with a nod though all he was able to muster was an awkward smile on his face. He turned to face at his tutor. “Rarity, how widely have you spread the word of me…?” Rarity chuckled. “Oh I might have mentioned it to a friend or two.” She rolled her eyes as she spoke looking to the sky. Soul grinned and furrowed his eyebrows, turning to look at Twilight. “Apparently… And Princess,” The stallion quickly fixed his posture and cleared his throat, “Pardon my ignorance but is this the part where I have to, or rather get to bow before your highness?” Twilight’s eyes widened and she waved her hooves before her. “Oh, no no no no no please not at all. I might be a princess but making ponies personally bow before me just doesn’t feel right and it’s kinda embarrassing. And me being called a princess...” She tapped her chin and then extended her hoof. “Well I’m still not fully ready to be called a princess by everypony. Twilight has much more pleasant tone to it.” Soul blank as he extended his own hoof too, he didn’t expect a princess to be so humble. “If that’s what you wish then we shall go with it. It’s an honor to meet you, Twilight.” He bowed his head down instinctively for the princess. Bending her neck in a bow as well Twilight shook and then stood up straight again. She put a hoof on her chest. “It’s an honor to meet you as well, Wild Soul. You definitely found the best possible tutor for your artisan studies.” The gem flanked mare blushed and flicked her wrist at the alicorn. “Oh don’t be silly now Twilight, I’m just happy I get to share my knowledge with future artisan.” Looking up at the sky and seeing the sun being about mid way through the sky Twilight realized that it would be wise to not put off the reason she was summoned. “Now, Rarity let’s take a look at your kitchen, shall we?” Rarity nodded and turned to guide Twilight toward her home but spoke before she began to walk. “Most definitely we shall. How long do you think it would take?” Quivering her lip Twilight placed a hoof on her cheek and looked down at the ground, releasing a hum. “I can’t say for sure. It depends on how bad of shape it is in, but I would say about an one hour at least. Partly due to my rusty skills...” Soul looked from one mare to the other, raising a hoof. “Hey if there’s anything I can do or help with, just give me a word. I’m on full alert.” Rarity immediately raised a hoof too. “You’ve done more than I ever could imagine Soul. I suggest you simply sit down and allow yourself to recover from that fire and that cooling spell. It must have taken a lot of energy from you.” She kept her voice calm and cheery to ease Soul’s mind. Twilight’s ears twitched. “Cooling spell?” The stallion raised a foreleg up and waved it. “No no, I’m completely fine already. Sitting back without doing anything is out of the question, with all due respect. Feeling useless would drive me crazy.” Twilight cleared her throat to interject, as to not be overlooked again. “Excuse me for butting in like this but do you happen to be an advanced magic user yourself?” “Huh?” Soul’s other ear dropped and his eyebrow rose. His eyes then bulged slightly and he shook his head. “Oh, no! I just know some basic spells from school like first aid stuff.” Rarity held her head up her nose and closed her eyes with a glimmering smile.“Imagine, he only used a simple cooling spell to envelop my body so I could go and rescue Opal from the burning kitchen!” Soul’s eyes shifted to look away. His mouth grew wide and although mostly flat the edges just barely slanted downwards. “Just barely. If I had more experience of it I guess I could’ve put the flames out completely but it was better than nothing. I don’t know, I’m not an expert at magic.” “Being able to pull out something like that isn’t something you should be modest about, changing a simple spell like that is extremely creative considering how quickly you had to come up with it!” Twilight closed the last book and twirled them around her body, hovering them above her flank. “Oh look, I’m a useful character. Now I’m automatically likable.” His tone was gushed with sarcasm. Twilight dipped her head to the side. “Excuse me?” “You know, when in books or movies--- Ah, nothing. Anyway,” The stallion cleared his throat and shrugged. “Creativity isn’t just art, I suppose.“ “Oh definitely not Soul and about if you could help with anything, I could still use a hoof with putting everything back in place and moving some boxes. My botique needs to be ready to open again after Twilight’s done.” Rarity reached a hoof out to touch the stallions shoulder, though giving a second thought she gently placed it down, stepped forward on it and give the stallion a turn of the head and a charming wink. As he saw the hoof he began to lean back away from it but when she put it down instead he regained his posture. The wink eased his mind and caused a small tension in his chest. “Let’s get to work then.” “That’s the spirit.” Rarity opened the door and motioned for the two to step in. Soul stepped aside giving room for Twilight, extending a hoof and bowing his head in a polite manner. Twilight gave a nod and smiled, thanking the stallion and walked into the boutique, followed by Soul and then Rarity. Rarity closed the door behind her. Just a little further next to a few mannequins was a big pile of boxes with titles like ‘Silk’ or simply ‘Fabric’ on them, which Rarity walked over to and lifted with her magic, examining the outside as well as the inside for and signs of damage. She would occasionally bring some of the cloths to her muzzle to take a whiff of them. Twilight passed her friend her eyebrows lowered as countless of gears in her brain were spinning for trying to come up with things to say to cheer up Rarity. “Um… How about we see how big of a challenge this will be,” she said with a gentle smile touching Rarity’s shoulder. Feeling Twilight’s hoof on her shoulder she placed down the boxes, letting out a breath of air. It was lucky how everything seemed intact and that she could inspect more as the day went on. She nodded at Twilight and turned to walk with her. “By the way Twilight, where is Spikey-Wikey? It’s rare to see you without him.” The princess lifted a leg and waved her hoof, flipping her ankle. “Oh don’t worry, he’s just busy at the library tidying up and probably reading some comics.” “Alright dear, I see. Call me if you need anything!” Rarity spoke, raising her voice as Twilight walked toward the kitchen disappearing from sight. “Now Soul, these are the boxes I need to get up to my stitching room. You probably figured that out a long ago.” She chuckled and the cleared her throat, though before she got a chance to continue Soul had already lifted a few boxes. “Got it, lead the way or is there anything else I should know? Nothing breakable or something that might cause a major click in your head if I accidentally dropped something which I will try to avoid?” Soul inquired, pulling the boxes behind him he looked back to ensure everything was clear. “Oh, hmm, no that’s all. This way.” Rarity walked around Soul, heading upstairs guiding him to her room where the door was already open. In the room was Sweetie Belle who was still working on the task Rarity gave her. “I present to you my small but more than capable sewing room. Here the real magic happens.” Soul was nodding with a smile upon his lips. The room indeed was small, in fact the working space seemed to be shared with Rarity’s bedroom, but it looked like there was plenty of room to work properly. “Where do I put the boxes?” “Right next to my shelf please.” Rarity tilted her head looking toward the large shelf. “Gotcha,” Soul said with a nod and levitated the boxes over into the open spot next to it, after he did he headed back downstairs to get a new load. Rarity gave him a pleasant nod and then walked over to her sister with an eyebrow raised. “Sweetie Belle, how are things going here?” The filly was looking around and scratching her head, looking back and forth between the items she laid out on the floor and around the room. “Well I remember most of the places I took these from but, um I have no idea where some of these go.” In a soft but stern tone while raising her head the mare walked over. “I suppose I have to help you then.” Rarity’s eye floated on the items Sweetie Belle had rescued. She became breathless for a moment and placed a hoof over her mouth, all the important things for her were there. Her designs, fabrics, ribbons even her glasses. As her eyes continued to scan they fell on a light yellow ribbon. She lifted the ribbon up with her other hoof, a sniffle being faintly heard. “Sweetie Belle…” Rarity’s head slowly rose, “How did you know to bring this?” The filly turned her head. “It was in your bedside drawer, you always keep it next to your glasses. I figured it was important to you.” Rarity’s lips grew ever upward, and her heartbeat intensified. For a short moment her eyes saw nothing but the ribbon and the smile never left her face. Then, she put a hoof over her sister, gently pulling her into a tender hug without saying a word. All she gave was a smile and walked over to her bedside table, opening it and placing the ribbon in it’s original spot next to her glasses in the top drawer. Twilight Sparkle’s voice echoed up the stairs catching Rarity’s ears. “Rarity! Can you come down here for a second?” “Of course darling!” she called back and started walking towards the door. “I’ll be right back, keep on working. Also, I might want to make sure there is not more smoke damage anywhere...” As Rarity exited the room she passed Soul who was now carrying a slightly larger load. He took the boxes to the same spot as the other boxes, smiling as he did. It was great for him to finally get into real work. Soul was about to leave to get the next load but when his eyes noticed Sweetie Belle, a thought hit him; he never properly introduced himself to the foal. That needed to be fixed. Soul took a few steps back and put on a heartfelt smile. “Hey, Sweetie Belle, right?” The filly put down a gem and turned to look at him returning the smile. “What’s up?” “There’s probably not a need for this anymore at this point, but in the name of politeness,” he extended his hoof, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Wild Soul is the name.” “Nope but let’s go for it anyway,” she said with a laugh and shook with the stallion. “Sweetie Belle. Um...” The filly winced and gritted her teeth while rubbing a hoof through her mane, looking away from the pale horse. “You don’t think poorly of me after all this stupid commotion, do you…?“ Wild Soul shook his head with his eyes closed. “Well I don’t know you and I’m definitely not gonna judge you by some incident.” The filly wiped her forehead with her hoof. “Phew! Thanks you’re so fair. Just try to keep your nerves around my sister, she is a real drama queen and whiner at times.” She rolled her eyes as she said her last comment. Soul grinned and raised an eyebrow. “Interesting thing to say about your sister who pretty much let this incident pass.” “True that was rude to say.” Sweetie Belle covered her mouth for a moment then pulled her hoof away.. “But trust me, you will have your hard times with her.” Soul grinned and lifted a hoof up beside his face with his eyebrows turned down. “I think I’ll be just fine.” Putting his hoof down he turned around and started walking towards the stairs again, but this time Sweetie Belle seemed to follow him. The filly walked on the tips of her hooves, leaning upward and keeping her ears perked up. “Hey, can I ask just a itsy-bitsy tiny question?” Soul’s eyes closed and he shook his head. as he reached the bottom of the stairs. “Absolutely not.” “Oh...” The filly stopped one the last step and drew her lips together looking down, her lower lip pushing upward slightly as she stepped off the last step slowly with her head hung down. Soul kept completely quiet for a few seconds while he approached the boxes, once there he stopped and his lips crawled into a smile and he looked back and let out a small laugh. “Go ahead, ask away.” Sweetie Belle’s ears twitched and in a single leap her eyes widened, her lips expanded with her mouth open wide and drawn up. She landed on the ground and hurried over to stand so she could face the stallion. “Well, what does your cutie mark mean and how did you get it?” “What are you asking that---?” Stopping from his work a lightbulb suddenly clicked in his mind. He remembered what Rarity said earlier about her sister and friends trying to earn their cutie marks. “Oh, right I get it.” “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask the same question!” Rarity’s voice chimed as she swiftly pranced in from the kitchen. Soul’s head tilted and he walked over to the boxes, starting to pile them up. “Something wrong with the restoring?” Rarity shook her head. “Not at all mon ami. Twilight just asked me to get some pictures for reference. It will be easier for her to restore that way.” She walked further into the room and sat down pulling some lower boxes over toward her and opened it to inspect more of the cloths. “Anyway, I’m eager to hear about that cutie mark of yours, please do tell.” The stallion’s eyes get wide while his pupils dilate, in an instant the humanity left him, he stammered and moved the boxes stacking them rapidly. “W-Well, um… The story behind it is nothing special in my case.” He moved another box upward and hit the ceiling and the scratching of the box against it wrenched him from his state. He set down the box and shook his head looking at the stack. “Alright too many boxes to carry…” Rarity had a cloth in her hooves that she was examining, she caressed the fabric and her eyes darted to the label on the box that scraped the ceiling before inspecting the ceiling for nicks or streaks. “Every story is special to those who have gone through it.” Taking a deep breath Soul tapped his hoof and swiped it over the ground. “Let’s just say that I was an eager colt, ready to try different things and find something fitting for me. After some twists and turns I… well I realized group activities were not my box of fries, so I started searching for things I could enjoy and accomplish on my own.” He gave a salute and a small grin. “Hermit at your service.” Sweetie Belle’s mind flooded and she couldn’t prevent the words from pouring from her mouth like a melody. “Well it was your journey and at the end of it you achieved that mark on your flank. I would give anything if it was that easy for me and my friends. I just hoped if you could give any tips that might help us get our marks too?” “Tips, huh?” Soul scratched his head and looked away. “Going with my own experience I can say that you should never shut out any possibilities since you might find your thing in something you never expected.” The stallion fiddled with the rest of the boxes that he couldn’t carry up yet. He moved them about stacking them together along the wall near the one Rarity was working on. “And definitely never let others tell you what you should be or do. You are the one who shapes your own identity.” Rarity folding up a few sample fabrics she examined from the box she cradled them back into the box, brushing them off before she closed it and stacked it in with the rest. Once the box was replaced the image became full; she sat, covering her mouth which fell open and her eyes practically glimmered. “Oh my!” Soul tilted his head with a perked up ear towards her. “Sorry?” Rarity’s eyes widened as she snapped back to attention. She touched her chest and looked at Soul with large eyes and cleared her throat. “I mean, oh my it sounds like you’ve had your own piece of social pressure when you were growing up.” Soul squinted and brought his lips together tapping his cheek. “I... suppose you could say that...” He walked over to the stairs with the next set of boxes behind him. “Anyway, you wanted to know what my mark means? I’ll explain in a moment.” He hurried up the stairs and the sound of boxes being stacked would be heard by the sisters. Sweetie Belle looked back at the boxes he had left and a glimmer crossed over her eyes. “Oh my goodness! Sis do you see what he made? It’s half of a diamond! You have a great apprentice here. The shadow completes it!” She turned and pulled a camera out of a dresser, she couldn’t resist taking a picture of it. “Yes he does seem very creative even showing it in such a simple task. I may be just as lucky as he feels.” The mare spoke softly still turning her head as she fed her eyes with the sight. The rustling upstairs stopped and Soul swiftly made his way downstairs, his hooves tapping as he returned. “Now you wanted to know what my mark means.” He took a step towards the boxes yet again. The mare snapped back to the stallion as he reappeared and began where they left off. She extended a hoof waving it back in forth indicating for the stallion to wait. “Yes, please do tell! I’m dying to know. Obviously it must have something to do with your talent but I can’t quite put it together.” Sitting back Sweetie Belle pulled the camera up and captured the moment with her sister and her apprentice with the half diamond shaped box formation in the background. “Yea, it’s pretty hard to think of anything when you are looking at a curvy arrow surrounded by flames.” A slender smile reached ear to ear on Soul’s face and he cleared his throat then put his hoof on his chest. “Quite the ironic comment, because this cutie mark actually represent brainstorm.” Placing the camera on top of the dresser she got it from the filly raised and eyebrow and tilted her head. “Mind explaining?” The stallion gave a nod and stepped, turning his body to the side and tapping his flank as he pointed out his cutie mark. “Well you can see how these two ‘flames’ are kinda circling around which represents the endless brainstorming. And this blue arrow represents solving problems since when you think about it, an artistic career is mostly solving problems and finding out ways to execute the result in your head.” Rarity stretched her neck up and her ears twitched. She lifted a leg inward toward her chest and only brought it out to point and move her hoof as she spoke, “Is that how you think of it? Because in my perspective, creating art no matter what form of art it is, is a beautiful and pure form of expressing your emotions, love and passion for the art you make!” Soul tilted his head off to the left slightly but dipped his head down in a single nod. He did however copy the mare in lifting a hoof. “Depends on the art you’re making. And I said ‘artistic career’. For example there’s a very blurry line on if advertising can be art since it gives the ‘artist’ a lot of limitations.” He gave a laugh. “Art means different things to different ponies and we all have our reasons why we have passions for it. Some ponies make it just purely for fame which takes all the enjoyment out of it.” Looking out the window the artisan sighed. “I pity those poor souls.” “You said it. Actually, a friend of a friend of mine at Spectrum is exactly like that.” He looked back at his mark again with a small smile.. “I suppose my mark also represents my own mindset of it. I’ve never really even thought about it that way.” “Has there been anypony who’s been able to guess the meaning of it?” Sweetie Belle interrupted, her face was beaming as if it were Hearth's Warming Eve. “Actually! Well, not exactly, but one of my co-workers, Mineral,” Soul paused for a moment, looking off into space before speaking again, “A friend nowadays, was the one who guessed the closest.” Rarity dipped her head backwards and leaned in, practically on the edge of her seat. “Oh? What ever did she guess then?” “That I’m a psychopath,” Soul said with a very high and up beat voice. Sweetie Belle put both hooves over her muzzle but couldn’t help but crack up. Giving a smile to the filly he slowly turned his head to look at Rarity. “Don’t worry though, not the kind of psychopath who ruins a lovely shower.” He closed his mouth, his cheeks puffing out slightly and a small amount of air escaping his nostrils as he held it in. Rarity looked at him with wide eyes but quickly looked left and right. Her eyes searched the walls to no avail. The wind had been taken out of Soul’s sails and he dipped back down to a normal stance. “It’s another…” He shook his head and waved a hoof. “Well, nevermind it’s not funny if I need to explain it.” Twilight stepped into the doorway and looked at her friend. “Rarity, have you found those pictures yet? There’s not too much I can do here anymore without them.” “Oh, yes of course darling, my apologies!” Rarity rose and made her way to the drawer next to Sweetie Belle and began sliding open drawers. She did not ignore her previous conversation though. “Well Soul, thank you for explaining the story behind your mark, that’s one question answered.” Giving a nod Soul bowed his body slightly and came up smiling widely with his eyes closed and a bead of sweat upon his right temple. “Extremely boring one but that’s all I got.” He shrugged and looked at the boxes. Flipping her head up from the drawer Rarity announced with raised nose in a soft proper tone, “I shan't grant you permission to speak like that. It’s anything but a bad thing to learn a new thing about a friend.” His eyes widened only slightly. “Right, I had almost completely forget about that order…” Soul sat for a moment focused on Rarity. “You sure you still want to roll with it? I mean we still barely even know each other.” “ ‘Order’ ” Rarity chuckled and rolled her eyes, swiping her mane. “We know about each other now more than we did yesterday. Besides,” Rarity turned to look at the stallion with a raised eyebrow. “We get along well, do we not?” Soul shrugged his shoulders, turning his head to the side with a grin. “I suppose. I have no complaints about you whatsoever.” “That’s more than enough for me. The smile you gave me back when we had our first meeting sealed the deal, darling,” she said with a wink. “Now where have I put that album…?” Soul scratched his head. “Okay... I’ve been accepted to the girls club…” he said with straight face though couldn’t help to crack a little smile. He lifted the final few boxes that had formed a diamond, moving some to the bottom of the stairs and he walked the second to last load up stairs. His heart felt lighter, although this was a different town, there was a faint feeling of being home.
15. RancherA barn and quaint home grew larger as the earth ponies made their way through the apple orchard. The apples gave the wind a sweet scent and with the cool breeze the mix of red and green gave Noble a festive feeling. Applebloom continued to carry her sister with Noble in tow pulling the waggon. Applejack talked as they walked. “Now all these apple trees that you can see are Sweet Apple Acres, the best apple orchard in all of Equestria or at least Ponyville I reckon. Of course my family owns the orchard and all these acres.” Noble looked around and lifted his head up as he walked, sniffing and enjoying more of the aroma. “I must say this is a wonderful town, just the kind of place I wanted to be at when living in Canterlot.” Applejack nodded, turning her head back to catch him in the corner of her eye. “Thanks a bunch fella. Anyhow, ya were tellin’ us why ya came to Ponyville in the first place. Go on partner.” While he continued to follow in their hoofprints Noble shook his head. “No no, please you go on if you have anything else to say.” Applejack looked forward again and down at her sister whom was still smiling and would occasionally look up at her. “Naw, that was all. We’re almost there now. See the barn and house off in the distance? That’s the roots of our family’s heart and soul along the acre.” As he looked down the hill at the barn over the mare’s shoulders he sighed, looking forward while his eyes were completely distant and unfocused. “I can only imagine how peaceful it must be here, especially during nights. Laying on the field and watching the full moon is one of the most amazing feelings there is.” Applebloom couldn’t help herself as she raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes at the rather sappy tone. “You got that right. Anyway, about that reason.” Applejack looked back tilting her head causing her hat to rise up a little. “Yes! Sorry.” He shook his head quickly and ruffled his eyebrows. “So um, where was I…” “You were tellin’ us about what made ya leave Canterlot and brought you all the way out here to Ponyville.” They pushed on down the path, moving a little slower as the sisters tried to match one another’s pace. “Right! Thank you.” Noble cleared his throat and continued his story, telling the sisters about how he got fired because the manager wanted to save money, leaving out the big argument he had with her, but explained how he desperately searched for a new job without any results. He even explained how weeks passed and how his situation was growing more and more desperate to the point where he had started planning his move back to his roots at Horseshoe Bay, the last thing he wanted. Applejack stopped while they were right at the gate surrounding the farmhouse, causing Applebloom to stop with her as the mare looked back at Noble scratching her head. “What made ya come to Ponyville then?” Slowing down, Noble slid a little as he brought the cart to a halt before speaking. “Oh, that’s a funny story. It was like a shooting star had granted my wish. On the day when I got my ticket to go back home, I came across with my friend, Wild Soul, who had plans to start studying to become an artisan and had gotten in contact with Ponyville’s artisan, I happened to meet them and to put it simply, she opened a new door for me.” With a nudge of her hat again Applejack rose an eyebrow then leaned forward squinting. “Wait, are ya tellin’ me yer friends withRarity’s apprentice? The one she’s been yammerin’ about nonstop?” The stallion’s ears twitched then he turned his head to the side. “You know her?” Applejack nodded. “You bet, we’re friends. She’s been rambling and ranting so much about that new apprentice of hers that I knew the exact day and time when he arrived.” She looked the stallion up and down. “But dang, I had no idea you were in the same boat.” Noble shook his head violently. “No no, I’m not that creative. The most I can do is some basic sewing. Also I don’t have much of a sense for fashion either.” He stopped and smiled widely with closed eyes but eyebrows up, a small glimmer of sweat formed on his forehead. “So, where do I take this carriage” “To the barn!” Applebloom said and gently put her sister’s hoof down and ran toward it to open the doors. Noble gave a nod and waited till Applebloom came to help her sister again who had already started to hobble toward the house on her own. Applebloom darted next to her sister, while Applejack waved her off she stayed there just in case she would be needed. As the sisters made their way forward Noble gave a final push and pulled the carriage toward the barn. He walked around so so the back of the cart was to the barn and stretched to look around the cart. Applejack noticed as Noble began to curve his path and quickly interjected, “Noble, ya don’t need ta do all that for me, just walk it in straight and we’ll unload it and I’m sure one of us will be able ta get it back out.” With a twitch of his ears Noble turned his attention back to the mare. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.” Applejack shook her head. “Naw, you’re being too kind already. No need ta make it harder than it needs ta be.” Noble nodded back and walked the cart around again and slowly walked it into the barn. With a few moments of undoing the straps and laying the cart down gently he walked out with a relaxed salute. “There, the job’s done.” “Great job. Ya really deserve our gratitude for this Noble, that was a praiseworthy accomplishment.” The mare tipped her hat to him and Applebloom clapped her hooves. Noble dipped his head down a little while some rosy color crossed his cheeks. “You are too kind, I just pulled the carriage. It was the right thing to do since you were hurt.” Applebloom rolled her eyes and moved swiftly lifting her sister’s hurt leg with a hoof. “Yeaaaa and fixed this leg right here.” Racking pain crashed through Applejack like lighting and caused her to pull away and glare with gritted teeth letting out a small yell. “Dog gone it!” She rubbed it then rested on three hooves again. “Yeah you really did save us back there.” He shook his head. “I did what anypony would’ve done.” Noble swallowed and rubbed his throat. ”Sorry I’m asking, but… could I ask for a glass of water?” “I’ll go get it,” Applebloom announced raising a hoof in the air before she zoomed off into the house letting the screen door slam behind her. Noble blank a few times, looking at the door. He closed his eyes fully then opened them to look at Applejack again. Even with an injured hoof she looked powerful yet enchanting. “Thank you very much... For your hospitality, and the water.” He drug a hoof against the ground while he looked down. Applejack presented a hoof and shook her head. “I really owe ya one Noble, without you this carriage would still be in the middle ah Ponyville. Tell me, how can I repay you for yer help?” With a shake of his head and wave of his hooves Noble responded with a wide forced smile and closed eyes, “Ah, it’s alright! All I need is the glass of water.” “Come on, I can do better than that.” Applejack took her hat off and with her muzzle she dug up a little brown bag that had gave a little jingle as it moved. Noble’s eyes grew wide open, his ears twitched as he instantly knew what was in the bad. A leg flew up and pushed toward her. “Applejack, I couldn’t possibly---” Applejack grabbed Noble’s hoof, turned it horseshoe up and placed the bag on it and she gave the stallion a firm nod but soft smile with her eyebrows turned down. “Of course you can, a job well done deserves a good prize. It’s a fair trade.” “I....” Noble looked at the bag in his hoof and up at Applejack. His heart felt heavy and he looked at the money for a moment longer and finally shook his head pushing the bag back. “I’m sorry but as much as I want to take this, I did this simply because I wanted to help. I know all too well how hard it is, struggling to do something strenuous with a twisted hoof. I can’t take your money for that kind act.” The apple flanked mare couldn’t believe her ears, she took off her hat again, putting it over her chest as if showing a sign of respect at a funeral. “Well… If yer absolutely sure, I can’t force yer hooves to hold onto it. I sure wish you’d let me do somethin for yer help.” The door swung open slowly and the filly walked out balancing a glass of water on her head, carefully walking over to the stallion. “Here’s yer water.” Noble bowed his head as he took the water off Applebloom’s head. “Thank you.” He took a few big gulps, it seemed as if he hadn’t drank in a week. As Applebloom walked back to her sister’s side Applejack asked, “Applebloom, did ya see Big Mac anywhere? Gotta break the bad news to him.” Applebloom shook her head. “Don’t you remember? He’s delivering apple’s all day.” Applejack’s eyes widened and she drew back and sat down. “Holy cow, was that today?!” She rubbed her right temple with her good foreleg, closing her eyes and scrunching her eyebrows. “Okay, uh… I really need to rethink this, those apple’s absolutely need to be bucked today but with this darn leg there’s no way that’s gonna happen…” “Don’t you worry, I will do it for ya!” Applebloom lept up, gave her chest a pat and took a step toward the orchard. Applejack quickly blocked the filly’s way with a hoof. “Hold on Sugarcube, you might be spunky but I’m afraid that’s not quite enough in this case.” Applebloom sat down, turning to look at her sister. “Well if ya won’t let me we could get somepony else to help. Rainbow Dash maybe?” The mare scrunched up her mouth and shook her head, looking down. “I guess that’s the only option, though that will take at least another hour and the bucking should’ve started ages ago. And gosh I’ll hate askin’ somethin’ like this of her.” Noble raised his hoof like a foul in school. “I know this may not be my place, but maybe I could offer some help---” He dropped his hoof and drew back hunkering down a little. The anxiousness practically felt like weights baring down on him. Applejack immediately shook her head and unbandaged hoof. “No can do partner. You’ve done far more than any other stallion I know have done already. We can’t ask you to do this for us.” “Are you sure? I would gladly help. I don’t have anywhere to be and my luck in town has been horrible today. Plus some exercise is almost never a bad thing,” Noble persisted with soft eyes and parted downward curved mouth. Applebloom nudged her sister. “Applejack, this would be great! Even our friends don’t really know that much about pickin. You can even use this as an excuse to pay him more than you already have.” “He actually wouldn’t take the bits when I offered them to him.” Applejack tapped her cheek while looking up and giving a hum. “Well now that you mention it… That would be a great way for you to feel like you earned the bits and for the apples ta get bucked. I don’t see anything wrong with it.” The stallion nodded along with his ears perking up. He looked around at the trees and back to the sisters putting a hoof over his mouth giving a humm before giving a last big nod. “Sure! That sounds great, I’d accept the bits if I did that. I’d also get the pleasure of enjoying a little more time here.” His heart rate increased as he stepped forward, his voice grew shaky. “After all, I then get to see the kind of work that a strong, cute mare like you does daily.” Applebloom struck her forehead with her hoof and Applejack’s expression drew flat as she looked at the stallion. “I thought we agreed we were done with that romantic talk partner.” Noble stood up straight and blushed. “Sorry, I’m really sorry. I couldn’t help it. Won’t happen again.” Eyes closed, with a sigh Applejack nodded. “It’s fine I reckon, just don’t let it happen again. We just met after all. I will pay ya for yer hard work but just today. How would that be?” Noble’s shoulders fell but still had a slight shake to them. “That will be just fine and yes I’ll think more before I speak… Any other questions?” The sisters looked at one another and together inquired, “Got any experience of apple bucking?” There was a pause as the sisters stared at Noble. He shook his head. “No, I don’t. Though it shouldn’t be too hard to learn right? No offense of course.” “None taken,” Applejack affirmed, lifting her hurt leg up and rubbing it gently. “There is a technique ta buckin’, yes. Of course I really can’t show you how it’s done with this here leg.” Applebloom’s eyes lit up as she dashed forward turning so she was next to Noble facing the mare. “I can teach him! You, Big Mac and Granny have been teachin me how to buck apples for a while now. I can do it sis, at least let me try. You can even go inside and rest that hoof.” “No deal, Sugarcube. I’m the head of this farm so I want to make sure he gets everything. As mighty as that offer is, yer still not quite there yet to be a tutor.” Applejack said with a chuckle and ruffled her sister’s mane. “Umm,” Noble interjected lifting a hoof as he leaned his head in. “If I may, how else could I learn this technique? Also it probably is good not to leave your little sister with a stallion you just recently met.” He gave a small chuckle, he still held his shoulders low and kept his hooves close to his body. “I ain’t worried about that. I know a trustworthy pony when I see one. Now how can we teach you?” The country mare tapped her cheek looking the stallion up and down then over at her sister before she stood up, shaky on her injury but walked past Noble and whipped her neck, signaling for him to follow her. “If we are gonna get you trained we better stop killin daylight.” Noble drew back. “Wait, how? You can’t buck like that and you said your sister was in training.” He got up and walked behind her with the filly beside him. They stopped at the closest tree that had buckets underneath it. Applejack looked up in it, sitting down and put her good hoof on it and peered back to Noble. “This ‘ill work. Of course I can’t show you how to buck myself, but Applebloom did have a point. I just needed a moment ta think about it. Of course she is ‘in training’ and one of us needs ta watch her but--” As Applejack spoke Applebloom’s face lit up. “You will let me do the buckin while you make sure I do it right?” Applejack gave a nod. “I’ll also be here to make sure you don’t hurt yerself and ta clarify anything you may happen ta have trouble explainin’. If you buck just like ya do when we practice everything should be just fine.“ The filly glared stopping a hoof down and walking over to the tree with a smile. “Come on I’m not a baby, sis. I could teach him on my own. And I practically have the technique down.” Applejack pulled her head back widening her eyes then moved it back down. “Come on Sugarcube, we all have ta start somewhere and I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanna make sure nopony else gets hurt today.” “Fine,” Applebloom sighed and chuckled. “Noble, watch me here. So you get yer buckets around the tree like we have them here, and you aim for… this parts right in here.” She patted the tree sliding her hooves a little and resting about shoulder width apart. Applejack stepped back from the tree. “ Ya just gotta make sure you hit the trees a little over the height of yer back and with yer hooves spread apart slightly about shoulder width since most ah our trees tend to be about roughly the same width. You normally only need ta move them in or out about half or a quarter of a hoof at most.” Noble glanced over at the mare and nodded along, putting a hoof on his lips then dropping it as they continued. “Yeah that!” exclaimed Applebloom as she turned around and took a few breaths as she looked down at her hooves and back at the tree. Applejack tilted her head up. “Applebloom, maybe you should explain as ya get into yer stance?” As she nodded feeling good about her positioning she looked over standing perfectly still. “Oh yeah! You begin with plantin yer front hooves forward, just past shoulder width apart. Ya need to be ah little less than leg distance away from the tree so you can hit it with enough force. Got it?” Noble turned his head, his eyes were looking over the filly at each hoof and the tree. It was clear that a car full of clowns could be right behind him and he wouldn’t notice. “Shoulder width apart striking and on the ground, little less than a leg distance from the tree. Got it.” The smile appeared on Applejack’s face again as she watched her sister. “That’s good Sugarcube. I’ll explain now as ya go through the motions.” Without putting up a fuss the filly nodded. “Alrighty, just tell me when.” “Whenever yer ready, just like any other practice.” A gentle smile never left the mare’s face. Applebloom nodded and with a deep breath she lunged her hips into the air and struck the tree but felt a bend in her back and her hooves slide up on the tree. As the motioned downwards toward the filly’s flank with her bandaged hoof she spoke, “That was alright sis though make sure you keep yer back level, don’t jump quite as high this time.” “Darn.” Applebloom looked back scrunching her lips in a twisted frown. “Just ah little lower.” She kicked her legs up again striking the tree, this time the apples plunged into the buckets below. A smile crossed Applejack’s lips and she swung her bad hoof in front of her body with a wink. “Atta girl! Perfect!” Applebloom closed her eyes with her head held high and gave a bow as Noble clapped his hooves. Applejack turned her attention to Noble. “Are ya ready partner, or do ya need another demonstration?” The stallion shook his head. “No no, I think I’m more than ready to try this. Nothing beats hooves on learning in my book. So where is the first tree I can try? Just any that have some buckets under it?” A grin rose on Applejacks lips and she lifted a hoof going to the next tree. “Keep that enthusiasm, fella.” She went over to the next tree and lightly tapped it with her injured hoof. “You can try this one here.” Applebloom scurried over to her sister as Noble took his place. The stallion looked at the tree, ignoring everything around it and got in position. His movements were robotic as he turned around getting his hind legs lined up. “Giver ‘er a go whenever yer ready,” Applejack said with a tip of her hat. She covered her mouth as she leaned over to Applebloom. “No matter what, mind yer manners and give ‘em yer support.” Applebloom nodded with a smile and ran her hoof over her lips like a zipper and tossing away the key. With closed eyes Noble took a deep breath and released it slowly. His eyes opened and he looked back at the tree, marking the spot he needs to strike. He gave the sisters a nod and looked forward, keeping his hooves planted he jolts back striking the tree with a thunderous clap, evicting the apples and forcing them into the buckets, leaving the tree void of them. Both sister’s mouths dropped to the ground, a bead of sweat forming on Applebloom’s forehead and her heart sank into her hooves. A few stammers came from Applejack’s mouth. She pushed her sister’s jaw up off ground and shook her own head. “Wha… wha.. Noble how did ya do that?!” Noble’s body grew tense and he sank his head down as he looked over at the sister’s. “Sorry, did I not get the form down right? I can try again.” His eyes darted back to the tree and all the apple filled crates. Applejack shook her head. “No, no. You… that was actually a perfect strike. You sure you never did this before?” The stallion nodded. “Then how did you do it?” inquired Applebloom as she came back to her senses and had an expression like she had just been asked to solve a complex problem. Noble’s head drew back and he looked back and forth, turning around and putting a hoof on the tree while looking at the mares. “I… well I just imagined I was kicking Double Bit and remembered to line up everything. I’m sure it’s just beginners luck.” Giving a close eyed shake of her head the mare waved her hoof. “No sale partner. I know beginner's luck when I see it. You got somethin mighty special there. I’ll just watch ya ah few more times before I go inside ta ice my leg.” She lifted her leg holding it by her side as not to put more weight on it and sat down. “Applebloom, would you mind takin those buckets into the barn and bringin out some more?” The filly stood up straight and put her hoof over her chest. “I’m on it!” The group scattered, Noble moved to the next tree which had barrels below it, Applebloom went to gather more barrels to put under trees and Applejack watched in amazement as Noble threw a few more great bucks as Applebloom prepared buckets around the trees, giving Noble plenty of trees to work with. “Noble!” Applejack called with a hoof next to her mouth. “That’s all I need ta see. Ya look like ye’ll do just fine fer awhile while I’m inside. Applebloom; if you could help him with buckets that would be great but come inside when ya feel like it. And Noble if ya need anything feel free ta ask.” “You got it sis.” Winked Applebloom. With that said the mare got up and made her way inside being careful of her hoof. Over the next few hours Applebloom showed Noble where the buckets came from and had him move the full buckets down into the yard by the house. Noble continued to do well, only having to add a second buck or pick some apples up off the ground a few times through his time working. The filly would go inside to check on her sister and bring Noble water or show him where the bathroom was which were the only breaks Noble would take. Applejack emerged from her house after a few hours had passed, her leg now no longer braced but in a sling. “Howdy partner! I think it’s about time to call it ah dayyy--!” Her voice trailed off as she saw all the buckets of apples. “We’ll be there in a minute!” The loud call came from Applebloom who emerged just moments later with a bucket of apples on her back followed by Noble carrying another bucket on his back as well, Noble dripping with sweat while Applebloom had only a bit on her forehead. They put down the buckets with the others, Noble wiped sweat off his forehead. “There we go. Whew. I know it may not be as many as you could have picked but… well I hope it won’t put you too far behind.” Applejack blinked while she looked over the apples. “I-- I.. Tarnation partner! Did ya really buck all these today? Applebloom you didn’t buck a few, did ya?” The filly shook her head. “Nope, I just put the buckets down around the trees and helped him carry some of them over here.” “Well I’ll be.” She scratched her head under her hat. “I never expected ya to get this many on your first try bucking. Ya sure got some hard work in ya.” A faint glint of a smile crossed Noble’s lips and he rubbed his foreleg with his other foreleg. “Oh. Why, thank you. I always try my best.” “Well ya deserve a big reward fer this. In fact…” Applejack pulled her head back and to the side raising an eyebrow then motioned for Applebloom to come closer. The sisters turned their flanks to Noble and whispered for a few moments before they stood up and turned to him, Applejack clearing her throat. “Noble, you said you were lookin fer a job right?” Noble wore a blank expression, the remnants of the smile vanishing. His muscles grew tense and ears twitched, his heartbeat grewing rapid. It was like awaiting a judgement from a court. Her question didn’t leave much to wonder but his mind still raced. “Is she going to ask it? Is she going to ask what I’m hoping she’ll ask?” The stallion gulped and gave a nod. “Y-Yes?” Applejack’s expression grew more tender as a wide soft smile crossed her lips. “Well, we’re really gettin to a crunch time her on the farm. We sure could use an extra set of hard workin hooves around here. I need ta talk to Granny Smith and Big Mac, before we offer up ah position, ‘though I doubt he’d mind’. Whatta ya say partner?” The stallion’s body froze like a statue, he looked at the mare and could feel a heaviness growing in his chest. He tried to form words moving his lips but couldn’t, all he could do was nod with the smile growing wider. “Well then wait right here, I’ll get Granny and yer payment. You can have them, after she sees all the barrels ya picked.” Applejack turned to disappear inside. She emerged with an old green mare in tow. “Granny, meet Noble Poet. He bandaged up my hoof, brought the waggon back all the way from Sugarcube Corner, and on top ah all that he worked harder than ah beaver on a dam.” Granny Smith slowly made her way out of the doorway and looked first at the barrels of apples and then at the stallion. “Looks like he did do a lot in that time, specially fer ah new fella.” Noble looked at Applejack, then Applebloom with extended eyebrows before speaking to Granny Smith. “Th-thank you ma’am. I always like to try my best.” Granny nodded her head still looking over the stallion. “Good good. Well if yer wantin a job here let me take ah gander at ya first.” She squinted her eyes and stepped closer to the stallion, looking at his face then down his chest and each leg. All Noble could think to do was stand there and with a grimace he looked over at the mares and raised a questioning hoof. His look was met by Applebloom shaking her head in her hoof and Applejack grimacing herself and just twirling her hoof indicating that Noble should ‘roll with it’. The old mare patted at Noble’s chest, down each leg. She ignored any apprehension or tension while she ran a hoof down his back and poked his hind legs as she nodded and spoke, “Good, good. Looks like yer fairly strong for a smaller colt.” Noble wiped his forehead again even though he was cooling off after the workout bucking apples. “Umm, thank you?” Granny walked back around and opened the stallion’s mouth looking inside. “Granny, I think that’s ah little too far,” Applejack finally piped up with large eyes, gritted teeth and an outstretched hoof. “Noble, I’m really sorry bout this.” As Granny Smith stepped back releasing the stallion he closed his mouth and shook his head and rubbed his jaw. “That’s alright. I can’t say I understand but no harm done though if she puts on some rubber gloves I’m out of here.” None of the words reached the elderly mare who stepped back and nodded then tapped her hoof on the ground. “He looks like ah fine apple bucker. Ya said ya vouch fer him you two?” Both the mares nodded vigorously and Applebloom spoke up. “Ah course, he seems really nice. Awkward and flirty, but nice.” Applejack chuckled. “Yep, he’s ah good apple in my book. So is it settled? Big Mac shouldn’t have ah problem since he suggested some more help round the farm yesterday.” Noble Poet drooped his head for a moment at the filly’s comment but his eyes widened at Applejack’s words. “Does that mean?” Applejack stepped forward between her family members and nodded. “Yes sir’ri. Ya got the job!” She extended a hoof toward her new employee. Noble’s heart soared. He couldn’t believe his ears and quickly put his hoof against the mare’s and shook energetically. “Thank you thank you thank you! This means so much to me. Is there any paperwork or other things to discuss?” With a shake of her head Applejack put her hoof down once Noble released it. “Naw, we can hammer out the details later. Right now we’ve taken enough of yer time. You should go see more of Ponyville, you can just come back here tomorrow and we’ll see how things start rolling.” The stallion looked up and noticed how the sun was on it’s decent. “Thank you very much, again. I’ll be there.” The stallion paused for a moment and had already leaned down to get his bag of bits when a lightbulb went off in his head. “Oh, would you happen to know of any slightly shaded fields I could relax in? It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to just lay out in the grass and enjoy nature.” “Ah course, there’s a small hill just a few minutes away, that way.” Applejack pointed with her hoof. “Just don’t go into the woods too far. That’s Everfree forest, ya definitely don’t want ta be gettin lost in there. Also, I wanna give ya one other present fer all yer help and a welcome ta Ponyville gift. Take an apple with ya.” Applejack nodded at Applebloom who ran over to the closest barrel and looked until she found a large ripe red apple which she went and put in Noble’s hoof. “Thank you very much. I can’t thank you enough for all this hospitality and kindness.” A wide smile spread over Noble’s lips as he looked at the gifts. “I’ll be going now.” As he turned to leave Noble put his right forehoof on the edge of his forehead giving a small salute and brought it off with a flick of his ankle forward and up. While the stallion walked away Applebloom nudged Applejack in the side with a front knee. “Ya gave him some extra bits fer tending to yer foreleg anyway didn’t ya?” Applejack closed her eyes and rose her head slowly as she replied, “Eeeeyup!” The filly turned her head to the side. “Are ya plannin on tellin him tomorrow? He may try ta give ya some of those bits back then.” “Nnnope!” Applejack said and turned to go back inside to ice her hoof some more, following Granny Smith and being followed by Applebloom. “Big Mac can put those barrels in the barn later.” Noble walked along for a few minutes with his new bag of bits and Apple in his saddlebag. The simple warmth of his smile radiated and everything around him seemed a little brighter. For the first time in a long time, he was able to see a glimmer through the monotonic colors around him; verdancy in the grass and blueness of the sky. As he approached a small hill on the wide patch of grass he, took off his saddle back and stretched upwards and fell back with a sigh. “This is what I was hoping for. A little sun, the trees, soft grass, gentle breeze.” While his eyes were closed he put his forehooves behind his head, the gentle breeze feeling cool over his fur and he listened to the rustle of trees, humming of birds and small crackles and crunches of animals walking and flying through the trees. In the midst of the piece a slightly different sound caused Noble’s ears to twitch. He kept his eyes closed but lifted his chin up listening more closely. There it was again. His eyes opened and he turned his eyes to look toward the bustle of trees where the sound was coming from. Noble rolled over, grabbed his saddlebag and began walking toward the trees slowly listening and attempting not to make a sound. The sound was not overly unique but absolutely heavenly. It had caught his ears, peaked his mind, the sound enveloped him in it’s warm, comforting melody. He had to know what this sound was and with every step closer to the forest he took the sound grew louder. It was humming and singing which sent Noble’s heart aflutter. The longer Noble listened the more he wanted to sit there forever. Suddenly the song was growing closer, Noble looked about and realized where it was coming from. He looked up in the sky in time to see the silhouette clear the sky above him filling it with music. Although it was bright and the image was blacked out in the light of the sun Noble could see four legs, a head and wide angelic wings. “Su… Such beauty.” Although Noble did not speak loudly the image’s head turned down and the song stopped abruptly and was replaced by a shriek. The silhouette turned around and in a blur disappeared within the forest. Noble’s eyes followed it on its retreat and he extended a foreleg calling out, “No! Please don’t…! … go.” His heart sank as the figure disappeared into the veil of nature. He hung his head and looked into the trees but looking back up at the sky he knew he didn’t have the time to search today. “The one and only of my life got away once again...” Author's Note Art of Applebloom we use for this fiction: http://wildscope.deviantart.com/art/Bloomer-573095208
16. Home Sweet HomeAwhile had passed since Twilight started her job with Rarity’s kitchen and now it was finally nearly completely restored. Soul and Rarity have been preparing the Boutique and managed to settle everything so Rarity could open her boutique again which she had already done. She has even had a few customers already. Soul walked down the stairs as he carried a box full of manesprays with Twilight walking with him. “A translation error?” he said and scratched his head. Twilight nodded with a bright smile. She tilted her head up and explained with closed eyes, “Translation error. Originally the cutie marks were called destiny marks, talent mark or symbols of destiny, but when they were translated to our language, well it became ‘cutie marks’.” Soul stretched his neck and made sure he wouldn’t misstep the last step. “Somepony sure wasn’t a perfectionist,” he said and shook his head with a grin. “Though it would be weird to suddenly start calling them talent marks. It’s a name we’ve been born and raised with after all.” Twilight nodded and placed a hoof on her cheek looking up. “Yes, it’s just an interesting fact. The more you know.” As they entered the boutique through the hallway, Rarity was interacting with a customer. They made their way over to her quietly, keeping quiet and professional. Soul pulled out a can of manespray his magic, presenting it to the unicorn. “Here’s the spray you asked for.” Rarity turned her attention toward Soul. “Oh, wonderful! Thank you very much darling,” she said with a smile and took the bottle and gave it to the customer, swiping her mane. “Here we go miss, this is the spray that I’ll throw in free of charge with the order. It will make your mane perfectly styled for a fabulous look.“ The customer’s eyes grew and she gasped putting her hoof over her mouth. She wiggled as she took the can looking over the design. “Yes, finally I get to try this! I can’t believe you already have this even if the best stylist store in Ponyville still doesn’t. How is that possible?” Rarity raised her snout and swiped her mane. “I have my ways.” She batted her eyelashes and flipped a hoof out facing downwards. “It was a pleasure to meet you and take your order. I will make you a dress so beautiful it will simply leave you dazzled! Have a wonderful day now.” As the mare gave a pleasant response and exited the boutique, Rarity gave a pleased nod with a smile and wave, then she walked over to Soul. “And that’s how interacting with customers works here.” Soul tapped his head. “Note planted.” Rarity nodded, moving her order book to a nearby desk. “Good, you’ll be assisting me out here soon enough. Thank you again for bringing the box, Soul.” She stopped beside the stallion and pointed at a shelf next to one of the mirrors. “Could you be so kind and go set them nicely on that shelf?” Soul looked at the shelf and then nodded, moving towards the shelf. “You got it, Rarity.” Rarity smiled and bent her hoof at the stallion. “Merci,” she said and turned her attention to Twilight, she pulled a tissue from the table and dabbed at her forehead. “Whew, Twilight darling I can’t thank you enough for doing all this, and just in the nick of time!” “No problem, nopony could ever even guess that this kitchen had ever been burned,” Twilight said with an upbeat, unwavering tone. “It was also great practice to read up on that restoration spell again and put it in action.” Rarity listened as her eyes browsed her shop and she moved mannequins slightly and made minor adjustments, fluffing bows and pulling curtains back further with her magic. “You could say that again. I’m most definitely going to make some nice cups of tea for us.” Placing the last mannequin in it’s proper place she turned to face Twilight and called over her shoulder. ”Soul! Would you care for some tea.” Soul had just placed the last can of manespray on the shelf and had his I.M. book open beside him. “Sure. Maybe making it four would be good.” Soul waved his I.M. book before sliding it back into his saddlebag as he walked towards the mares who were moving to the kitchen. “Noble just messaged me he’s on his way here.” “Sure! Any luck with the job search?” Rarity asked as she grabbed a tea pot and took it to stove. The stallion walked into the kitchen with the empty box in tow and gave Rarity a shrug. “Didn’t mention anything.” Twilight turned around and walked towards Soul. “Excuse me. Noble is this friend of yours, right?” Soul nodded. “The poet, yes.” Opal who had decided to come inside again had just finished drinking some water. After giving Rarity a glare she was about to leave the kitchen when she saw the box hovering over Soul’s back. She leapt for it, missing her mark and landing on Soul’s back. Soul jumped a little from the sudden jump but turned to see Opal and blinked. Though his face almost immediately eased and he gave the cat a warm smile. “Well hey there little one.” Opals fur immediately rose. She looked over at the stallion she sat on with a glare. She raised a paw and drew out three razor like claws with a metallic sound leading to her scratching his face repeatedly as she hissed and snarled even if she hit only couple times while Soul let out a mild yell. After that the cat jumped into the box that Soul dropped. Rartiy’s hooves pressed against her cheeks and she gasped loudly and ran over to the box, looking back at Soul. “Opal! My goodness, Soul are you alright?” She leaned in over the box looking in with a slight glare. “Opal, it’s not ladylike to attack others. Would you be a dear and not to do that again? Soul is our guest after all. Won’t you behave? For mommy?” The cat simply gave her owner a glare then closed her eyes and with a flick of it’s tail fell back down into the box to slumber. The stallion dabbed his hooves against the cuts on his face wincing as he did. “Those were the sharpest claws that have ever sunk into my face.” Rarity walked over and wet a clean washcloth as Twilight silently stepped out of the way grimacing. “I’m so so sorry Soul, Opal isn’t usually a hostile cat. The trauma from this is still fresh, I’m sure it makes her nervous.” Rarity rang out the washcloth a bit and gave it to the stallion. She squinted her eyes at the cut. “Oh that looks really nasty, I’ll get disinfectant.” He waved his hoof smiling with closed eyes. “No worries, this isn’t the first time a cat has shed my blood. It’s just a small cut, no need for any more disinfectants.” “Nonsense, if bacteria gets into that it could become very unpleasant and you’ll be sorry you didn’t treat it right away, and that will be frightful.” She waved the warm wet rag up and down in front of the stallion giving him a stern look. “Looking good never hurts, right?” “Can’t think of any reasons why it would.” Soul took and folded the washcloth in his hoof and dabbed at the wounds gently giving a small grunt at the initial contact. Rarity’s expression softened again as she gave a nod. “No worries darling, Opal will grow to like you in no time. After all, you share some similar... traits.” With one eye open while he dabbed at a cut on his right cheek his eyebrows arched. “What do you mean by that?” Rarity opened a cabinet door and grabbed the disinfectant, walking back to Soul. “Well, you both dislike physical contact, that’s one subject to bond over,” she said with a giggle while she covered her mouth with her hoof. Soul took the bottle and poured a few drops on the rag and continued to dab at his cut, and leaned back against the table. “Well, I’m a cat person so liking a cat isn’t hard for me. My cat back at Manehattan isn’t exactly the easiest case either. What he considers playing is grabbing and nibbling my hooves almost all the time.” Rarity’s eyes widened and she brought her hoof up to her lips. “Aww, you have a cat too! What kind of cat, what is his name?” “Filos.” Soul’s mouth corners crawled even higher and he leaned against the table. “A pure black one with tiny white spot under his neck.” He leaned back with his eyelids lowering and his muscles relaxing while he looked off into the abyss. “Always when I visit home, he crawls up to my neck and purrs like a little angel looking up to me with those adorable little green eyes which are telling me ‘Soul you are my best friend, I love you don’t go away anymore. I’m sorry I make you sneeze---’” Rarity and Twilight sat in silence. Twilight had already sunk into reading a book but Rarity was staring at him trying to hold a giggle in her mouth. Soul’s eyes blinked and he immediately flushed bright red and cleared his throat. His heart rammed against his chest like crazy. “I-I… I like cats that is.” He didn’t dare to even come close to making eye contact with the mare as shivers were running through his entire body. He quickly walked over to his saddleback and dug up his laptop extremely clumsily. “A-Anyway, anything else I need to do?” “Rarity, I’m done!” Sweetie Belle’s voice called and soon the filly stood there in the kitchen doorway. “All the stuff is now in place.” Rarity, who’s ears were down as Soul closed himself off perked up and greeted Sweetie Belle with a forced raise of her nose and still a professional sounding tone, though it was growing more pleasant. “Excellent dear, well done.” “Wow Twilight! I almost can’t believe you managed to restore all this. It’s like I---” The filly’s head darted around the room as she walked into the kitchen just a tad. “Like I… never burned this… Soul!” She trailed off and lifted up a hoof at the stallion, walking over to him. Soul dipped his head to the side raising an eyebrow and an ear again. The filly placed a hoof against his side and leaned against him. “Everything good? Rarity isn’t getting on your nerves, is she?” Rarity’s eyes narrowed at the filly. Soul immediately took a big step away from the filly to make himself unreachable for her. Though a little distraction was just what was needed; inside he let out a humongous sigh of relief. “Yes sure, all good,” he said as he swiped the spot where Sweetie Belle touched him. Rarity stepped forward with her head and eyebrows up. “Soul, still about that cat of yours---” Soul crossed his hooves and opened one eye wide while glaring with the other focused on Rarity. “I’m not a crazy cat lady.” “Excuse me? No, I was going to ask about---” Rarity was cut off by the boutiques door hitting the bell. She immediately snapped to attention and a big smile grew to her face, she had already started to walk towards the boutique. “Ooh, a customer! Come Soul, you should spend time at the boutiques side as much as possible and observe.” Sweetie Belle, who had been sitting quietly to the side of the door cleared her throat. “Rarity! Can I go? I have a meeting with the crusaders and-” “Go ahead, sweetie! There’s no reason for me to occupy you anymore now that the damage is undone,” Rarity replied as she walked by her. The filly’s eyes lit up and she lept to her hooves hurrying through the door before Rarity. “Good, thank you! Bye Soul, it was great meeting you!” “Like---” The stallion barely got a single word out. The door already slammed closed. Soul pulled his hoof back and blinked. “...wise.” “I will watch the tea,” said Twilight as she walked over to the oven and sat down looking around the room hunkering down a little even if her eyes were glued to her book. The unicorns left the kitchen though Rarity looked back at her alicorn friend and gave a nodding smile. She walked out of the hallway speaking loudly with a hoof above her head. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique! How may I help you mister---” As she recognized the glum tan stallion that entered she dropped her hoof and relaxed. “Oh, Noble!” Hearing the familiar name Soul squeezed through the doorway so Noble was in sight. “Noble? Wow, that was quick.” The earth pony’s tone was low, soft and somber. “Hey there Soul, Rarity. I managed to find this place after all.” Rarity batted her eyes as she smiled and took a step forward to turn to the side. She extended a foreleg towards the hall. “I told you it wasn’t hard to find, now didn’t I? Welcome to my boutique, I had just started making tea.” Soul stepped forward out of the doorway and raised an eyebrow looking at Noble. “Hmm…” He walked forward looking closer and saw the glum look on his friends face. “Noble…” “Yes?” The stallion raised his head looking at Soul with glazed over eyes. The horned stallion turned his head and wrinkled his brow, speaking softly. “What’s wrong? That gloomy mood your face emits radiates all the way back to Canterlot.” Rarity placed a hoof on her cheek patting it gently. “Indeed, your face could use a few relaxing cucumber slices.” Without saying a word, Noble’s ears dropped along with his head and he let out a deep sigh. Putting a hoof on Noble’s shoulder Soul frowned, looking him in the eyes. “Hey, what’s going on buddy? Tell me.” “Well, you see…” Some light returned to his eyes when Soul’s words reached him. He looked up at the ceiling. “I… I saw a celestial maiden today; a true angel who captured my heart. But she---” Soul let out a big sigh of relief and swiped his forehead. “Whew! You threw me off guard there for a moment.” He turned to look at Rarity with a grin and small friendly laugh. “No worries, he’s completely fine here.” Noble’s eyebrows drew narrow. “Thanks for the support.” “Come on buddy, we both know this formula already.” He nudged the poet with an outstretched hoof. “How about after we get to our apartment, we order pizza and just kick back? Well, after unloading our stuff and straining our backs during it and such but… Well the point is you’ll have other thoughts before you even know it.” Soul turned his head calling back to Rarity. “Ponyville has pizza right?” Noble lifted a hoof and chuckled. “Soul, what kind of place wouldn’t have a pizzerias?” Soul bulged an eye at the earth pony leaning forward and angled his head upward. “Nothing’s obvious Noble. Nothing’s obvious.” He pulled back to a normal stance but put a hoof against his chest with his knee out. “And it’s on me by the way.” A faint smile appeared as a few heightened puffs of air came from Noble’s nose and he looked Soul in the eyes. “Alright then but no olives.” Soul gave him a piercing look with a grin. “Definitely olives.” Noble reached his head in and turned it to the side with a raised eyebrow. “With tomato sauce?” Soul pulled his neck back and formed a cross with his hooves, clenching his teeth. “Not in a million years.” “Alright. Two separate pizza’s then at a safe distance?” The earth pony turned his head leaning in the other way. He had to force his lips to stay together while he was ready to explode. “Deal,” Soul said and extended a hoof which was met by Noble’s which clopped together. Rarity nodded though she put a hoof on her cheek and wiggled the front of her body. “Oh I don’t believe there will be a need for you to get food tonight.” Soul rose an eyebrow at her. The artisan let go of her cheek and flipped her hoof at them. “You’ll see.” Twilight stepped into the room, her book was still open and in a light purple ray of magic off to the side of her. “If pizza is what you want in the future then I suggest Peynir’s. Pizza’s in Ponyville won’t get better than that.” With a flip of his ears at the new voice the earth pony quickly looked for its origin. When Noble saw the wings and horn together on the mare who entered the room his body stiffened up straight, his eyes widened, and his heart and breathing became slow and strong though inaudible. She looked the stallion up and down scrunching her left eye and raising her right eyebrow, though her expression softened as she began her introduction. “Noble Poet, right? I’m Twilight Sparkle, nice to meet you.” The earth pony was speechless and could only breath slowly as he stared at Twilight as if he was facing the end of the world, his legs trimmered as his muscles stayed firm. Twilight gave a mild frown and closed her book, and started walking toward Noble. “Are you… alright?” she said and waved a hoof. Noble instantly took a few steps back which caused Twilight to a stop and bring her hoof back as not to take another step. She turned to look at Soul with arched eyebrows and darted her eyes between him and Noble. Rarity waved a hoof before Noble’s eyes and then leaned to whisper to Soul. “Is it one of those… ‘starflight’ crushes like he got on me too back at Canterlot?” Soul shook his head and walked over then pointed at Noble’s eyes. “Nope, his pupils are too small and his body is far too tense, he has no smile and his eyes are wide, not mellow.” He gave an unexpectedly awkward laugh. “I suppose that’s just the so called shock reaction; he’s never seen a real princess before.” He turned to look at the earth pony. “Right buddy?” No words came from the earth Pony, which made Soul bump him with his knee. “Hey, snap out of it already.” Twilight smiled with gritted teeth and a bead of sweat on her forehead as she waved a hoof. “Don’t worry, it’s quite understandable. I’m kinda getting used to this... princess thing myself too.” Noble blinked and held his head low, rubbing his neck as his eyes scoured the ground. “I-I see…” “Oh my, the tea!” Rarity gasped as she heard the whistling sound and trotted to the kitchen. Moving out of the way for Rarity, Twilight walked closer to Noble and stood up straight looking him directly in the face. “Noble Poet it was, right?” Noble stood up straight pressing his legs together and saluting. “Y-Yes Princess, at your service.” His eyes darted to the hoof on his forehead which he immediately drew away and gave a bow instead. Twilight waved the book before her and shook her head rapidly with closed eyes and a half mouth smile with gritted teeth. “No, no no, please; just Twilight and formalities like that are unnecessary.” “R-Right,” Noble said and gave an embarrassed laugh, he quickly pulled his front hooves apart relaxing them and clenching his teeth in his mouth as he swallowed deeply, his head preventing Twilight from seeing it. Soul sported a grimacing grin on his face though he tried to make it go away. He dropped his flank to the ground and crossed his forelegs. “Soooo how was the search for a money source? Any luck?” Noble’s eyes bulged slowly as they shifted to Soul. “Soul… there’s a princess before us. Why are you so calm, I expected you to be as thrilled as I am?” Soul’s eyes narrowed and his lips drew to a point as he stared down Noble, until he took exhaled deeply and tapped his head. “Too big of a thing to properly compress and cause emotions for this small brain of mine.” The earth pony gave his friend a single wide eyed glare with a smile. He waved a hoof as he exclaimed, “Dang it Soul, give some emotion!” Soul didn’t speak a word, he just continued his stare at the earth pony without any expression whatsoever. “I might tell Mineral and be a bit braggy about it after a long period of convincing her I’m not lying but that’s about it.” Soul scrunched his eyebrows and looked up. “Maybe I should take a picture…” Noble sighed. “Fine.” He rolled his eyes then walked off to the side near a rack of dresses. He turned his head and looked out the window. Twilight vigorously shook her hoof as she hunkered down trying to back up. “Please. I think you might be making a bit too big of deal out of this…” “Sorry,” Noble replied looking down. The unicorn pranced through the door with a plate of tea filled cups gracefully following her. “Tea is ready!” Everypony took their cups when the levitating tray came to them. The unicorn stallion put the the under his muzzle taking in the aroma. “Thanks, this smells good.” Blowing on the tea he looked back at his fellow stallion. “Now um… about that job.” Rarity looked up at the clock on her wall. “Go ahead Noble, I need to start closing up my Boutique. Soul, mind lending a hoof? The sooner we close the sooner I get the pleasure of introducing you to your new home.” Soul nodded and trotted over to the door with her. “That’s what I’m here for.” Twilight raised a hoof as if she were in a classroom. “Mind if I... tag along? It’s one of the only parts of Ponyville I haven’t seen myself so it would be one more place to add to my ‘Places visited in Ponyville’ collection.” “Are you sure Spikey won’t mind, darling?” Rarity asked with a tilt of her head. The alicorn rolled her eyes happily with a smile, ending looking up and to the right. “I’m sure he’s just happy to get some alone time.” “If they don’t have anything against it, then of course you can come.” She looked at the duo with her nose in the air and eyebrows raised. Noble looked over at the stallion as Soul nodded and locked eyes with Noble. Noble turned back and nodded slowly at Twilight as well. “Perfect!” Rarity turned back at Noble. “So Noble, I sure hope your hard search has been fruitful.” The earth pony’s eyes eased, he hung his head and the edges of his lips turned up. “You… could say that.” A smile crawled up to Soul’s face and he placed a hoof on his chin. “I already like the sound of that.” “Well…” Noble’s voice trailed off as he continued looking at the ground happily. His tail began to wag. He lifted his head up smiling widely. “Guess who got a job... THIS PONY!” He beamed pointing toward himself with a hoof. Noble’s sudden burst caused everypony to leap backwards with their eyes bulging. Noble leapt at Soul placing his hooves on his friend's shoulders and even gave a little shake. “I GOT A JOB SOUL! Oh my gosh I got a job! I got a job on my first day, can you believe it?” “Judging by that hype it’s hard not to believe.” The unicorn’s eyes locked on Noble’s left hoof, on his right shoulder. He gently slid the stallion's hooves off before he continued. “But wow, that was extremely quick which bumps it up all the way to impressive. Some big congratulations are appropriate now!” Rarity clapped her hooves together. “Bravo. Most certainly! I told you there would be exceedingly high chances of you getting a job, now didn’t I? Where did you get it?” “Well, this is the interesting thing, since it happened through lots of coincidences. I met this pink pony who tried to get me a job from…” Noble stopped to think for a moment tapping his hoof rapidly. “Sugar corner, I think it was, or something like that; but got no luck there.” Rarity’s eyes lit up and raising a hoof she interjected, “Oh you met Pinkie Pie!” The earth pony’s eyes widened for a moment. “You know Pinkie too?” Placing a hoof over her lips Rarity drew her body in, leaning toward the tan stallion. “What do you mean ‘too’?” “You see, when I was about to leave, inside ran a filly in a hurry. Her sister had hurt her leg and I offered to bandage it. Before I bandaged it she was trying to pull a heavy carriage which she insisted that she needed to take back to her farm. I of course couldn’t allow her to do that so I pulled it back for her. As we talked it turned out she actually knows you. Her name is Applejack and thanks to her, here stands a new rancher.” Rarity and Twilight looked at each other, their eyes bulged. “Applejack gave you a job from her farm?” The stallion’s ears withered, looking at the two with widened pleading eyes he spoke, “Yes. You… You sound quite surprised...” As she brushed her hoof over the ground Rarity avoided eye contact. “Yes, I mean... you must’ve done something quite impressive for her to give you a job from their farm after just meeting you. She’s very… attentive, of who gets to work in her orchard.” “She was extremely stressed since there was nopony at the farm to do her work… So I, kinda offered to help. And after I was done… well she was pretty impressed. I did well I suppose…” he said as he lowered his head and dragged a hoof back and forth on the ground, only giving small glimpses up. Soul looked down at the earth pony with bold eyes and a confident, kind grin. “Hey, you got a job. In my world, that’s telling a lot.” Rarity cleared her throat and clapped her hooves on the ground. “Well ladies and gentlecolts, I’m afraid I need to ask you to step outside. It’s time for this Boutique to get her beauty sleep.” “Right.” Soul grabbed his saddleback and started digging through it making sure everything was there, and it was. He grabbed his water bottle and opened the door. “But really, be proud of yourself Noble.” “Absolutely. Getting a job from Applejack is a marvelous achievement,” Rarity exclaimed returning to face Noble and giving her head a soft tilt and a satisfying close eyed smile. “I concur with Rarity,” said Twilight with a hoof raised. After taking a step forward Rarity perked up, raising her head quickly and holding her cheek with a hoof. “Oh goodness, one thing before we go!” She walked to the door to the hallway and looked back. “Twilight, I completely forgot I still have that book I borrowed from the library. I’ll just get that and we can go.” Wild Soul nodded, walking to the front door with Noble following him. “We’ll be waiting outside.” Twilight and Rarity both gave them a nod and the stallion’s stepped outside. Noble looked up at the sky which caused his ears to drop once again and he let out a sigh. Soul sighed, shaking his head at the stallion. “Still holding up that mood huh?” While he still watched the sky he put a hoof over his heart then looked over at the unicorn. “I can’t help it; my heart is soaring for that pony.” “Yeah, Of course it is.” Soul’s lips drooped a little on the sides but he still gave the stallion an empty stare. Even though he didn’t believe it Soul patted the crush struck stallion on the back and gave him a warm smile. “It is!” Noble then stood up and walked a few paces, his eyes never left the ground. “I just… I just feel bad because… well because I almost scared her to death and I didn’t get a chance to apologize…” The grin Soul had immediately started to ease. He knew this was just puppy love but that it probably intensified because of the moment. “Oh, you… Well if she lives in ponyville I’m sure you get a chance sooner or later to make it up. What does she look like anyway?” Noble’s lips drew small and he looked up, hunkering his head down and smiling awkwardly. “Umm, well… The thing is. I never really saw her. She was just a shadowy figure throughout the sky. Eclipsed by the light of the heavens she came from.” The unicorn couldn’t help it. He smacked his face with his hoof with a heavy grunt. The stallion turned, glaring at his friend. “I’m serious! I just want to apologize, I wouldn’t ask for anything else. Except a perfect date, perfect marriage, perfect kids---” Noble’s eyes grew wide and he slapped his cheeks. “Oh no… what if…” Soul tilted his head. The earth pony rushed Soul, grabbing the unicorns shoulders and looking him right in the eyes. His face said it all, wide eyes, eyebrows angled outward, mouth drooped. “What if... what if she likes girls?!” Soul drew his neck back. “What?” He looked down at the stallion’s hooves and quickly brushed them off. The earth pony walked about in a circle ruffling his mane and forcefully brushing through it. “What if she thought I was a girl but isn't comfortable with the fact she likes girls and ran away because of that?!” “Uh… Noble--” The unicorn lifted a hoof to the side of his face. “Oh goodness I can’t imagine how it must feel for her! Leaving her husband like that simply because she thought I was a girl and being uncomfortable with herself! I should help her no matter what!” He kept pacing faster, his eyes darting back and forth as his mind raced. “Noble, I---” Soul followed Noble with his eyes and tried stepping forward each time he passed. As his pace quickened he shook his head with each idea and reached the point where he was practically shouting. “I tore her heart apart! I was so selfish, I’m the worst girlfriend ever! If I just got a chance I would make her comfortable and be the best girl for her there's ever been---!” Soul pulled out a plastic mug and his water bottle from his saddlebag. He poured some water in the cup immediately brought the water mug over Noble’s head and let the waterfall pour. The love struck stallion stopped and shook his head and pushed his mane aside trying to get water out of his eyes so he could see Soul. “That was… harsh.” Finally given an opportunity the unicorn cleared his throat. “Noble, you could give me a month and I still couldn't list down all the things that are wrong with that method of thinking there.” As the sound of hinges were heard Rarity and Twilight walked out of the Boutique, both wearing their saddlebags. Rarity pulled the door closed and made sure it was locked. “All set, we’re good to go.” Twilight looked at the dripping stallion. “What happened to you?” Noble simply gave huff and glared Soul. “Downpour... Rarity um... could I borrow a towel please?” The white mare sighed and pulled her keys out again but was stopped by the alicorn. “Hold on Rarity.” Twilight turned at Noble. “I think I know just the spell that can clean you up. You don’t mind do you Noble Poet?” Twilight’s horn glew magenta and a glow formed around Noble as warm air began swirling. In a matter of seconds he was dry and warm again. The earth pony exhales after breathing slowly through the drying and reached up feeling his mane and gently brushing it with a hoof ensuring it was dry throughout. “Wow, that is some A-class magic you have there. Thank you.” Twilight “Thank you for the compliment though it’s nowhere near ‘A-class’. Even a filly could cast it.” “Excellent. Thank you very much dear, that saved some time looking for a suitable towel. Now if you will follow me I will lead you to your home.,” Rarity chimed, passing the ponies and looking back ready to continue on. Twilight and Soul nodded and began moving but Noble’s eyes winced at the mention of “Suitable towel”. He kept his eyes narrow as he looked at the mare looking over her and looking back at her boutique. He returned them to normal and continued to move on. While they walked Twilight pointed out some of the buildings and store signs explaining a little more about Ponyville. “I really should give you both a proper tour of the town tomorrow in the light.” Her tone lowered and sharpened, “I at least think that’s a princess's duty.” Soul looked over at Noble who was looking around at the shops and homes. “That would be neat, though I’m sure we can find our way around. Thanks though.” Twilight flipped her head and tilted her head up smiling in regal fashion. “Oh it would be my pleasure. I should welcome you to Ponyville after all. So where are you from other than both from Canterlot? Sometimes I almost completely forget I’ve lived there myself.” She let out a chuckle. The pale stallion nodded and nudged his head, pointing at Noble. “We’re both from Eastern Canterlot.” Her eyes lit up. “Oh! I used to live around that part when I was a filly.” She slowed her pace to get next to Soul while she was talking to him. “I’m not willing to sound offensive but I’m just curious; what made you start searching for a tutor outside of Canterlot, Soul?” Soul tilted his head to the side, facing Twilight as he walked. His left eyebrow was raised. “What are you trying to say?” After she bit her lip for a moment she started again wincing and speaking carefully, “It’s just that, Canterlot is one of the biggest fashion cities in Equestria. Rarity has told me you haven’t lived there that long in general, so what made you not look for a tutor closer to home?” “My boss recommended not too. Said they have a mindset that is too… unorthodox,” Soul responded quickly and wavered as he spoke the word ‘unorthodox’. Rarity’s ears twitched and turned her head to the side calling back. “Pardon me but I would be lying if I claimed I wasn’t at least a little happy you never considered Canterlot” Soul shook his head. “I got no reason to disagree with that so far,” he said and gave a small laugh. “And it’s not like everypony gets tutored by an element of harmony soooo that’s a nice bonus, not that it affects my studies anyway.” At the words ‘Element of harmony’ Noble and Twilight’s ears twitched and they simultaneously became transfixed on the mare. Twilight quickened her pace gradually as to look natural as she got next to Rarity and nudged her then whispered, “Rarity, you told him?” “I might’ve mentioned a thing or two about it. It’s not like it’s ever been a secret, darling.” She flipped her wrist to discard the worry. “There was no harm done, just some simple introductions between teacher and student.” She replied slowing her pace as she looked forward with her head towards Twilight. Soul frowned and gave a little grin. “Simple and common, sure…” “Of course…” Twilight’s eyes transfixed back to Soul for a moment and then back to Rarity, she had become so tense that her wings tightened in. “That’s all?” Rarity looked Twilight in the eyes. “Nothing more, nothing less.” Noble turned quickly to the white mare with wide eyes. “W-What? You are an element of harmony?! A bearer of one of those things that can blast a huge rainbow?!” Twilight clenched her teeth looking around every pony. “I would rather drop the subject already! It’s not something you or Soul should be concerned about.” There was a silence for a moment and as Noble opened his mouth to speak again she cut him off before he began. “Oh is there anything… more you would like to tell about yourselves?” The stallions blinked at Twilight and then looked at each other not sure what to say for a moment, but eventually simply moved to talk about how they came to the conclusion on coming to Ponyville and some of the events that transpired as they transitioned there. Noble left out lots of details about his last boss and the true reason for being fired. After a few minutes of walking and talking in the starlight, lights started appearing throughout the town creating rather beautiful scene for them to look at. Many ponies were walking in the streets most likely on their way home since they had grocery bags with them. Maybe some were heading to eat out or maybe even to a theater. Though they didn’t get to admire it too long before they arrived at a path that seemed to lead out of all the civilization of Ponyville. It was surrounded by many trees though not enough to make it a real forest, but enough to cover things in the distance. The path unfortunately didn’t have any lights but since it’s not a hard trick for unicorns to create some, Twilight, Soul and Rarity easily lit up the path. They started walking again. There were fewer businesses and more homes, between the unicorns’ lights and the light of the mood the group could see how lights formed around the trees giving short shadows. It was a quiet and peaceful area that captured a mix of community and nature. It took them a good ten minutes of walking till they finally saw a glimpse of the house. More and more of it unraveled as the branches were spreading. There they now stood, before a white house with brown patterned framing, which was typical for Ponyville’s architecture. It had three floors and was shaped like an H horizontally split in half. Soul and Noble were aware of the fact that the house was a little old and in worse shape than the picture’s they saw suggested, but it still looked quite livable. Twilight looked at it and gritted her teeth a little. “So this is the place. Looks quite... private." Soul was nodding with a pleased smile. “A place with peace and quiet. I can hear my thoughts here. I don’t think there would’ve been any better environment than this.” Rarity drew up an eyebrow while she raised a leg turning around. “A place with lots of lovely neighbors who bring you a welcoming cake and always greet you?” Soul started digging through his satchel for his key. “Sounds like a nightmare,” he said with a grungy voice. The earth pony shook his head. “That’s Soul for you…” The ponies entered the lobby door. Like expected, the hallway and staircase looked quite old yet still looked sturdy enough that nopony would fall through it. Everything seemed solid as they stallions tested it. Everything was decorated with wood that gave a warm homey feel, which really helped the traditional atmosphere which was a real treat to Soul who loves warm colors. It could be seen how the house had still been taken care of since there was not even one dust particle in sight which was good but it also raised a question for Soul. He turned at Rarity as they proceeded up the stairs. “I can’t help but wonder what’s going on with the two other floors. Are they just… empty apartments?” Rarity shook her head and batted her eyes before speaking elegantly. “Storages, actually. I’ve gotten a chance to take a look inside of them when the owners have been bringing or taking stuff from them. I hear they come here quite rarely though.” The pale stallion leaned in twitching his ears. “But they did use to be apartments too, right?” Rarity nodded and smiled, raising a hoof presenting the interior of the apartments. "Sort of, this used to be a very popular motel for rich business ponies, but when the owner… passed away, it was turned into apartment building.” Twilight cut closing her eyes and putting a hoof on her chest as she spoke with her head held high. “But considering that Ponyville doesn’t have many tourist attractions or events. The motel didn’t last.” Soul looked around nodding at the designs inside, noting the dust and cobwebs from lack of use. “Still hard to believe such a big place would get such a high rent dropped just for not being popular.” Rarity hung her head and looked up at the poorly tept walls. “Yes, it’s a such a shame.” As the group stopped at the front door, Soul rose the key. The moment was there now, Soul pushed the key into the keyhole and heard how the small parts were clicking into their place. He turned the doorknob, as Soul and Noble stood on the tips of their hooves Rarity and Twilight sat back. With a final click, Soul reached up and turned the door handle opening it slowly. Before they even got a chance to reach for the lights they flicked on and a loud bang erupted and streamers flew at the stallions’ faces. Soul clenched his chest and Noble jumped as the curly haired Pink mare lead the group of ponies filling their apartment yelling, “Surprise!”.
17. HousewarmingWith a final click, Soul reached up and turned the door handle opening it slowly. Before they even got a chance to reach for the lights they flicked on and a loud bang erupted and streamers flew at the stallions’ faces. Soul clenched his chest and Noble jumped as the curly haired Pink mare lead the group of ponies filling their apartment yelling “Surprise!”. Twilight and Rarity shouted with them and other ponies flew through the doors and from under the dark stairway seeming to appear out of thin air. As the stallions’ eyes darted around almost having heart attacks Noble grabbed his friend by the shoulders. “Attack attack attack! Soul, lasers now!!!” He jumped up on two hooves aiming Soul at the ponies at the doorway. The unicorn who was jerked around instinctively cried out. “Get off me I’m not a fricking weapon Noble!!” “You’re my Soul gun!” Barked the earth pony who was ready to take his friend and run back to the Canterlot. “WAIT!” Rarity jumped in the way spreading her legs so Soul’s horn was pointed at her. “This is just a party dears. No need to worry,” She reassured as she dropped to all fours again. “Oh...” The stallions looked at each other as a silence filled the room. Chuckles and whispers could be heard here and there. Now that the moment passed Soul looked up at Noble who held him by his side. Soul’s eyes narrowed. “Noble…” The earth pony understood quickly and set him up right, hunkering down and showing glistening sympathetic eyes as he backed up. “... You have a nice soft handle. For what it’s worth.” “Aww,” Twilight said with a wide smile. “You give the most unique compliments...” Soul didn’t get a chance to think of anything else to say or do other than make a face where his ears went down and back, eyes narrowed and shifted away, and his mouth slowly narrowed at the comment till the Pink mare interrupted. Pinkie’s eyes widened and glowed like stars at the sight of the tan stallion. “Noble?! Oh my gosh it’s you! I never would’ve imagined you were with the pony I get to throw this party for too!” She then turned to look at Soul. “Hi I’m Pinkie Pie!! And you must be Wild Soul! I’ve heard ALL about him from Rarity too. Nice to meet you and BOY am I lucky that you two live in the same apartment and I could fix this up for two in such a short time.” The horned stallion drew back and attempted to maintain his personal space around the approaching Pink menace. “Umm… Thanks though--” Pinkie Pie didn’t even let Soul finish his statement. “Come on! Let’s get this party started!” She grabbed the unicorn by the forelegs and pulled him by the waist inside. The moment Pinkie grabbed Soul’s forelegs he jumped back and twisted around as she grabbed his waist and dragged him inside. He slammed his hooves against the floor dragging them and shouting, “NO! NO! SOMEPONY HELP ME! NOBLE! EVIL!!! AHHHHH!” “It’s ok Soul!” The poet quickly turned around and looked at all the wide eyed confused ponies. “No pony needs to drag me in.” He squinted and looked around them particularly making eye contact with Rarity and Twilight. He backed into the room turning around and letting the ponies in the hall follow him even if some of them looked like they didn’t know if they should just leave. Inside Soul had quieted down a bit but was still trying to get away from the pink mare’s grip the best he could without any results though. All he could grab onto was the floor, which he tried to hold onto like he was being dragged to destruction. The pink mare was laughing as she held on tight pulling him through the long hallway and into the center of the kitchen which was the main room. “Wow, isn’t he such a party animal! Pinkie Pie approves!” After making his way through the crowd of ponies in their hallway and kitchen, he was a little uneasy with the absolutely overwhelming group of new ponies in his home but pushed through them and tapped Pinkie on the shoulder. “Pinkie, uh… Please, you should let him go.” “Okie dokie!” Just like that she released the stallion, pushing up and keeping her forelegs stretched out with a wide tooth smile. Immediately when Pinkie’s grip loosened Soul sprung right up and threw himself to the crowd, trying to head for the door. Once Pinkie put her hooves down on the ground she hiked a hoof across in front of her.“That’s the spirit! Throwing himself right into the action!” She put her hoof back on the floor and nudged Noble toward the crowd. “Noble, you go too and enjoy the party to your heart’s content! There are sweets all over to pick from!” “Thank you, Pinkie…” Noble said and took a deep breath then looked out turning his lips up at the whole scenario but he couldn’t help but feel bad. A big welcome party was thrown for them which was pretty much guaranteed to make Soul die inside. He started scanning the party and noticed the sweets on the counters and tables and thought, ‘Maybe there would be something Soul would like.’ Soul had finally made it through the crowd and ran outside the hallway passing both Twilight and Rarity and shut the door behind him; both of which watched and were baffled as he passed them. As he stood there in main hallway he took a moment to slow down his breath and calm down from the shock. He held his temples and rubbed them trying to make the beating go away. He let out a long but quiet groan as he slammed himself against a wall. “Did all that really just happen....?” he thought to himself. “Soul?” Rarity’s voice was heard as she stepped to the hallway, closing the door behind her. Soul immediately pushed himself off the wall and brushed off his side, checking over it to ensure it is clean. Rarity’s expression eased, her eyes softened and a silverish smile grew on her lips. “Are you alright darling? That was… quite the dramatic act you pulled back there.” The stallion took a minute to cool off and think before he spoke. He tapped one forehoof with another as he spoke. “Yeah, quite… well I was quite overwhelmed by the surprised. I suppose you were referring to this back at the boutique?” Rarity nodded as her ears dropped and mane losing it’s luster. “Indeed. My intensions were to make you feel welcome and show you ponies here would accept you with open hooves, but…” She gave a glance at the door and back at her apprentice. “Well, that wasn’t quite what I was expecting from you.” Soul’s tone became more blunt as he stepped toward his teacher. “You planned this the whole time?” Rarity gave yet again another nod. “Pinkie is the best party organizer I’ve ever had the pleasure to know and I thought if anyone could make silk feel welcome among satin, it would be her. Even if she gets quite… personal with some matters.” Soul lowered his head without saying a word. It could be seen on his face how he didn’t know what to say. Every part of it was twitching as if he didn’t know what to express. A smile? A frown? Something in between? Once again the door was opened and this time into the hallway walked Noble who was carrying a plate of cupcakes and cookies with him. “Soul, you absolutely need to taste these! I guarantee when you try them you will be spending the rest of the evening at the serving table!” The stallion shook his head at first but as he looked closer at the morsels his eyes widened and he leaned forward. “Is that… white chocolate topping?” “Yep, You’re favorite, right?” Noble nodded and extended the hoof with the treats. Upon taking the sweets and taking a bite of each Soul’s eyes widened further and his mouth stopped chewing. “Wow… This is good.” “I know, right?” He gave one of his better forced smiles, turning up the edge of his lips with deep caring eyes. “Soul, please come back inside. I know all of this; especially that initial surprise and time of being dragged inside isn’t really the kind of thing you like, but I am sure they all meant well.” “Of course, I never thought they didn’t, I just…” The pale stallion looked at the door, a frown mixed with a slightly elevated lip and glare overtook his face. “There’s a whole bunch of ponies that I don’t know, and they are in our house. I find that rather creepy.” Noble raised an eyebrow and lightened his toon. “Says a stallion whom ideal place to live is in the middle of nowhere.” “I find that rather odd myself, but I respect your… mindset.” Rarity interjected, raising a hoof as she spoke then brought it down walking closer with proper posture and pose. “Come now Soul, this is just half of the ponies Pinkie would normally invite to her parties. This is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know more of Ponyville’s ponies. And I promise to calm Pinkie down.” The tan stallion looked at Rarity then back at his friend and put his hooves together. “Please?” Soul lowered his eyes again at the ground. He thought for a good moment about what to say. Just the thought of him going back there made him shiver and actually going talk to somepony was unnerving. Especially after the scene he caused. The pink menace didn’t make it any easier. Rarity took a deep breath and sympathized. “If you insist we can ask everypony leave---” Soul’s ears perked. “No, I---_” He would be lying if he said that didn’t sound tempting, but what would it make him look like in the ponies eyes who worked hard for this for their pure will if he demanded that? An ungrateful brick. The artisan turned to the door, when she placed a hoof on the doorknob she looked back. “I’ll go check on Twilight. Come if you feel like it.” She nudged her head at Noble asking him to help before she disappeared through the doorway. With a nod to Rarity Noble tapped a hoof against his fellow stallion’s. “Soul, I know you absolutely hate big parties like this, but they---” He sighed. “Fine, I really don’t like it but I will stay. They worked hard on it and meant well, I appreciate that a lot. They couldn’t have known. Beside… this isn’t a party just for me, it’s yours too and I don’t want to ruin it.” “Exactly. It just this one evening; and it will be good to know some ponies from around town. Some from stores, I’m sure it will help you at the boutique and besides, any pony that works at a coffee shop will see you a lot anyway.” He chuckled, sitting up and staring kindly at Soul as his tail started wagging. The unicorn looked up from the floor, he kept his legs tucked in and next to one another as if he could shrink down and disappear. “Right, I’ll just try to make it through and that’s it. Just if you could… play along. I’ll try to act like it was just a temporary shock.” Noble rolled his eyes. “You’re such a Soul,” he said and opened the door filling the hallway with noise of ponies talking. Soul’s eyes narrowed at the comment though he still stood and took a deep breath before following his friend with careful steps. As they entered back inside, Soul’s heart was beating like crazy at the sight of crowd, though a small relief was that nopony seemed to be paying attention to him. Rarity was the first to greet them formally. She walked up with two cups of punch and gave them to each of the stallions. “Thank goodness, that didn’t take long.” With a ruffle of his mane Soul took his drink along with Noble and explained, “Yeah sorry about earlier… I by no means dislike what you have set up for us, I’m just not used to this so it was a rather big surprise but i’m good now.” Rarity leaned in and whispered just loud enough for Soul to hear her but quiet enough for the chatter to cover it up from others. “Oh, that is a big relief. I don’t know what I would’ve said to all these guests if you demanded they leave. It would’ve been a catastrophe.” Soul shook his head. “No worries anymore.” He took a sip of his cup and raised it up giving an overly eager, corny smile. “S-So um… Let’s get this party started or… something like that that,” he said and took another sip of his drink and passed the mare as he took quick steps towards the serving table with the white chocolate goodies. Noble gave Rarity a warm smile and nod as he sipped his juice and followed his friend over to the buffet. Just a few minutes later Twilight made her way over to the two newcomers and cleared her throat gaining their attention. “This apartment of yours extremely intriguing. This was definitely a good choice.” Soul waited and spoke after he finished the bite of cupcake he was on. “Cheap and big equals ideal.” “You sure are right about that,” She continued not allowing the short comment to phase her as she put a leg on the counter. “Anyhow, there was something I wanted to say as a welcoming gesture.” Noble leaned in around Soul to get a better view and allowing it to be easier to hear.“We’re listening” “I’m sure I’m speaking for everypony here; I hope you feel welcome here in Ponyville. If there is one thing you should know, it’s that we don't judge ponies here, by race, cutiemark, past or,” Twilight’s glances back and forth between the two stallions with a gentle smile as a small blush rose onto her face., “Who their special some pony may be.” Soul and Noble looked at each other with bulged eyes. Noble burst out laughing and almost fell over, while Soul almost choked on his cupcake. Twilight blinked. “What did I say?” “We’re not gay,” said Soul who’s eyes and mouth were narrowed so straight they could practically been used as rulers. Twilight’s face turned bright red and her heart jumped to her throat. “O-oh... my bad. Carry on.” She immediately hunkered down and backed away biting her lip and hanging her head. Noble was almost in tears on the counter and held his sides, trying to compose himself as Soul gave him glares. He patted the unicorn on the back. “Well, I still love you buddy.” Soul rolled his eyes and he slapped the hoof off though he couldn’t help but let out a little laugh too. “Let’s pretend you never said that.” Almost an hour had passed by. Soul had stuck with the plan of staying aside and simply eating the sweets and talked with Noble and Rarity, but avoiding talking to the unknown ponies. He even tried to draw back toward his room to work but that proved to be quite impossible. Noble on the other hoof took the new acquaintances quite openly and had struck up conversations many times already with the help of Pinkie Pie. Noble did pull Pinkie aside in order to explain Soul’s actions to her. At first Pinkie couldn’t believe the reason was Soul was ‘tender’ to touch and even tried to go and hug him to break the ice, which wasn’t exactly the best idea and nearly caused another scene as they ran circles around Noble for at least five minutes. Luckily, Noble managed to convince Pinkie to drop it and they simply shook hooves with the mare agreeing to keep out of his comfort zone. The party flowed again and as it did, everypony was starting to calm down and the party was changing from noisy and bright to a calm and nice association. Everypony had introduced themselves to both Noble and Soul, at least in passing and had broken off into their own social groups. Regardless of Soul’s efforts to stay on the sidelines, his attitude still seemed to spark some ponies interest and caused them to come over and join his company. To every question he answered with painfully simple answers which made the ponies lose interest quickly. Noble looked up as the clock to see that it was a few minutes after 9. He made his way through the crowd of ponies still socializing in their apartment. The only pony that seemed to notice him was Soul and at times like this Noble appreciated being able to be overlooked. Pouring a glass of water in place of juice this time Soul finally enjoyed a moment to himself, quickly looking away as not to direct attention to his friend. Noble snuck out the front door and made his way out of the apartment. He looked up at the sky and smiled. “Excellent, perfectly clear.” He looked around and as he was reassured that he was alone quickly took a left toward the shadows of the building. As the party went on Soul felt a need to take himself even further off to the sideline and simply did what he felt was best, he got on his laptop. While he was on it, Twilight couldn’t help her curiosity since there were a pile of questions that popped into her mind since she first saw it. Rarity also joined the conversation as she heard the subject and sat listening for her opportunity to join in. As he sat and tapped on his laptop Soul talked with Twilight and Rarity more than he had spoken to anypony else through the entire party. “...And that’s pretty much all the basics on how a laptop operates and what we designers use it for.” Twilight’s eyes were glued to Soul throughout his explanation. “Wow, that is truly an amazingly advanced piece of equipment. I can understand why you designers find them so useful. Such a complex yet simple way to use and harnesh magic’s potential.” With a flip of her hair the artisan captured Twilight and Soul’s attention. “I just wish I would’ve acquire one myself sooner. Organizing and keeping in touch with the fellow professionals has gotten so much simpler for me.” The stallion gave a nod. “Yes, it’s a neat little helper.” Pinkie bounced over to the ponies her face stuffed with cupcakes “Hiya group! What do ya say, would it be a perfect time to let ponies go home and get a good night sleep?” Soul looked up with glazed over, flat eyes then looked at the clock. “It’s past 9pm already, the perfect time would’ve been an hour ago.” The pink mare giggled and raised a hoof to pat Soul on the head but paused before it made contact. She put her hoof on the table instead. “Well you should’ve said so silly!” From the window that Twilight was sitting by trying to get some fresh air without leaving the party the shadowy figure walking through the dark and looking around moving to the back of the apartments. Being an alicorn princess Twilight knew she should at least give this a closer look. She made her way over to Pinkie Pie and leaned in to whisper. “Pinkie, I need for you to keep the party going a little while longer, I saw something outside and I want to investigate it a little.” “Okey dokey artichoky!” Pinkie said saluting with her chest puffed out before she rushed to the side of the room and started yelling for ponies attention as she prepared to sing a party song. Twilight rolled her eyes while smiling but took the moment all the same to sneak out the front door and make her way outside. As she reached the front of the apartment complex she began slowing her breathing and slowly crept along, trying not to make a single sound. She peeked around the corner and her eyes widened. Noble Poet stood in the shadows looking up at the sky smiling with glaring squinted eyes slowly writing things down on a notepad. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he wrote. The sight shocked Twilight and she knew she had to try to get a closer look. She leaned in straining her ears though as she put a hoof on the building it made a small creak. The stallion jumped up and tossed the notepad and pencil in his bag in one motion. He stood there tense and concentrating, scanning for the source of the sound but the mare had already darted behind the building and was shaking as her heart pounded in her chest. After a moment of looking while standing in his spot Noble pulled out his note pad one more time and looked up at the sky. Twilight peeked around the corner after a moment and caught him just in time to see him make his final notes and nod with a smile and heard him utter a single word, “Understood.” As Noble put his bag back on and made his way toward Twilight she quickly pulled back behind the building and with a spark of magic puffed herself back just inside the front doors to the apartment. She could barely grasp what she had just seen. Suddenly she realized that she had to think of something to explain why she was there. Noble rounded the corner and reached the front door. Twilight quickly opened it for him with a wide smile and a bead of sweat on her forehead. “Noblee, Hi! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Come on in, Rarity was just looking for you.” She gave a forced laugh as he passed through the door she held open for him. She looked up at the sky and turned her head a few times trying to see anything out of the ordinary but was only disappointed by seeing the full moon and the twinkling stars. “Thank you. Sorry, I- er, I just needed some fresh air. I can’t get enough now that I’m here in the countryside.” Noble chuckled awkwardly as well. Twilight closed the door and walked behind the stallion to the door. “Yeah, totally…” Noble put a hoof on the door handle and looked directly into Twilight’s eyes for a moment with a fiery stair. “I hope everything is going to be alright here.” Twilight stared back without a word matching the stallion’s intensity. “I hope so too.” As the stallion opened the door they both returned to the party and Twilight lead him to Rarity. “Rarity! Nice to see you again; I have Noble, just like you wanted!” She winked at the unicorn and darted her eyes to the side toward Noble. “I… Oh of course! How could I umm, ever forgive myself if I didn’t talk to Noble abouttt… his time in Canterlot, come darling you simply must tell me more about the lovely time you had there. I’m sure it was just splendid,” Rarity replied gritting her teeth in a smile as she darted her eyes at Twilight inquiringly. Noble looked back and forth between the two mares. “Umm.. . I’d rather not talk about Canterlot if you don’t mind. It isn’t exactly full of great memories for me. I’ll be back, I need to put up my saddle bags in my room. Pardon me.” He nodded his head down and made a way to his room. As the party dwindled down further with ponies wishing the stallions well and welcoming them to their new home, it wasn’t long before it was just Pinkie Pie, Twilight, Rarity, and the two stallions. They split between sitting in chairs around their kitchen table and walking around gathering cups, plates and other articles of trash through the apartment. Pinkie Pie broke the silent work, “I’m sorry for scaring you like that Wild Soul. I’ve never met a pony that hates touching as much as you seem to.” Soul stood back, ensuring he was not within reach of the mare and rubbed his foreleg with his other one. “No worries, just please don’t try to kill me like that again.” With a huff Noble struck his forehead with his hoof. “That means he is fine. He just needs to get used to you more first Pinkie.” He puts his hoof down and looks at her with a small smile. “Thank you Pinkie. You are a great, friendly pony. Thank all of you, this has been a great welcoming party.” Pinkie lept up and smiled widely. “It was my pleasure!” She inhaled deeply and opened her mouth as if she was about to begin singing when a magic aura surrounded her pulling her back. “That’s alright Pinkie. I think they get the picture.” The alicorn stepped forward. “Are you sure you don’t need any help cleaning up? We didn’t mean to leave it too messy or you.” The pale stallion sat up, then waved a hoof. “No no. We can take it from here. It’s late already so we can unpack and clean up tomorrow.” “Alright, if you need any help you know where to find us,” Twilight assured as she turned to walk out the door with a wave. “I think we can all enjoy a good night’s sleep and may meet again tomorrow. Soul, simply join me at my boutique around 10am tomorrow.” Rarity got in the last word by staying behind the others. “Of course. Thank you very much for all your help Rarity.” Soul bowed his head and waved goodbye to the mares. Noble looked up from a box he just opened. “Yes, thank you for all your help Rarity. Good night.” The mare disappeared from sight, closing the door with her magic as Soul gave a final wave and as the door closed he immediately took a big breath and let it out, walking over to a couch and throwing himself on it. “Finally over.” “Are you alright?,” Noble asked while he pulled out a kettle and poured some water in it, then dug out some teabags. Soul but a hoof over his heart and laid still for a moment as he stared off at yhe roof. “I feel like I’m having embolism in my heart, brain, and lungs, but I’ll live.” Noble sighed and shook his head. He put a hoof down on the counter and slowly turned his head to look at the unicorn with a narrow mouth and eyebrow extended. “Can you really say you didn’t enjoy it at least a little bit?” Soul shook his head. “No.” He looked at the last few sweets that were left on the coffee table. He picked up a cookie and examined it, closing and eye and twisting his hoof to look around it. “I loved the sweets. Did that Pinkie Pie really bake all of them by herself?” As he heard the question, his expression changed; his lips turned up and he brought a hoof up to his side, moving it as he spoke. “Probably! We should really visit Sugarcube Corner soon so you can taste more.” Soul threw the cookie into his mouth. “That’s a deal.” He stretched and let out a long yawn, then sat up to look at Noble, laying his chin on the armrest. “Though I don’t get how in Equestria you constantly manage to meet ponies who go crazy one way or another.” With a chuckle as he took a sponge and began scrubbing the counter down Noble turned his head a smidge toward the stallion. “I have one as my ‘bosom buddy’ and now as my roommate so I think I might have a knack for that.” Soul rose an eyebrow and twitched his ears up. “I’m crazy?” Noble shifted his eyes to the ground away from Soul and with his wet hoof still rubbed the side of his head. “Umm.. well you are Mr. ‘I hate touching and jump on the walls when ponies touch me’.“ He shook and jumped as the cold water hit his neck. “Compliment taken,” Soul said with a smug smile giving a chuckle. “But yeah I got a bit ‘crazy’ I admit that. Pinkie couldn’t know I hate this stuff.” “Yes, she’s a nice pony overall. She kinda remind me of Truffle.” He looked up squinting and looking out past the ceiling. “Maybe they’re relatives.” Soul chuckled and stretched extending his hooves over his head then falls over onto the couch. “I wouldn’t be surprised. And see? You do attract crazy ponies.” “Maybe…” The earth pony took the hand towel from the stove and wiped his hooves dry then the counter. Soul stretched again but left a leg up as he spoke. “Though this day has been pretty crazy for me too.” “Oh?” Noble’s ears twitched and he turned quickly looking at Soul out of the corner of his eye. He continued to clean up throwing away plastic cups and plates before he pulled up a cushion and sat across the coffee table from his friend. “Well you see, the first thing I ended up doing was help rescue a cat from burning kitchen that Rarity’s little sister had caused which naturally triggered my pyrophobia. Then saw a crowd of pegasi putting the flames out with a huge rain cloud, one of them wanted to fly me up high and let me free fall and as icing on the cake, the cat scratched my face. Plus I met a Princess.” The stallion was wide eyed through his entire explanation. Nobles eyes bulged and he immediately leapt up and ran over to the couch, landing next to the stallion getting close staring him in the eyes. “What?! Oh my gosh are you alright?!” Soul glanced his friend with a grin and raised eyebrows, backing his head away. “Kinda late to ask that now.” He paused and backed up looking down and composing himself. “True I guess. My day wasn’t that… exciting, but it was rich. I learned some of the lay out of Ponyville, met some really nice ponies, got a big gift basket from Pinkie with all these good looking sweets---” His pupils narrowed and his heart sank in his chest. In a flash he gave a great jump on the couch and grabbed the sides of his head. “Holy buckets, the gift basket! I left it at Applejack’s farm!” “Wait what?” Before Noble had a chance to run out Soul’s magic slammed the door shut and locked it. “Noble, It’s pitch black out there and ponies must already be preparing for sleep.” Noble bit his hoof. “But but… that gift basket is something Pinkie Pie specifically picked out for me at Sugar Cube Corner. I must get it! I don’t want her thinking I don’t care about it.” His eyes trembled. Soul shook his head and this time headed for his room grabbing a few boxes with him. “Don’t worry I’m sure no pony thinks that. It’s an honest mistake I’m sure. That or they will see that memory of yours sooner or later and understand.” He chuckled and as he opened the door, a small smile crawled to his face as he saw the bed was made. “You can get it tomorrow, I’m sure they noticed it there and took it for safe.” “True. I guess you are right.” With a sigh Noble nodded to the stallion. “I suppose i’ll just take a shower and go to bed.” Placing the boxes in the room, Soul grabbed the top one and opened it, revealing a whole bunch of pencils on top of a few framed pictures. “And I’ll fix up my room and get some shut eye too. Let’s unload all the boxes tomorrow, I don’t have the energy to spare for the whole apartment and it’s late anyway.” “True. Anyway, where was I with my story…?” Noble tucked his head in, closing his eyes and rubbing his head. The unicorn carefully dug the pictures and started scanning for a place for them. “You left somewhere around Sucarcube Corner.” “Oh right, thank you.” Noble tapped his hoof on the ground as he gathered his thoughts. “So after that I came across Applejack and her sister, I did forget to mention how beautiful Applejack is but she doesn't seem interested and was pretty clear on that.’ His ears drooped for a moment but he continued. “And you pretty much know the rest, got the job, saw the pony of my dreams, and of course… well you know met the Princess.” When Noble said ‘the Princess’ Soul sat up wide eyed and turned giving a stern look. “You know, I couldn’t help but notice how you acted around her. All that stiff saluting and just being distant.” The earth pony hunkered down and crossed his front legs. “Do we really need to talk about it…?” Soul immediately rose his hooves and shook. “Alright, sorry I mentioned it...” Rarity and Twilight were walking home down the dimly lit path. Both of them had their horns glowing with magic lights. Pinkie pie had already gone ahead of them and left the two alone. Twilight cleared her throat. “Those stallions seemed quite alright. I bet you are excited to begin teaching tomorrow.” “I certainly am! Soul’s first day here might not have been the most… uneventful, but I’m sure he will like it here especially under my supervision. He has some interesting viewpoints when he talks more.” She walked closer to twilight and spoke in a soft tone. “Don’t tell anyone I said this but he is so downright adorable I could just adopt him! He’s determined but still constantly has that essence of a lost little puppy. That just makes me want to pinch his cheeks!” Twilight held her lips together and ran her hoof across them mid walk as if sipping them closed. “My lips are sealed.” She kept walking while her head was turned toward the unicorn and winced as she continued. “Though… is it just me or does Noble seem a bit… off to you?” “You mean when you saw him ‘talking to stars’ or that you thought they were a couple?” Rarity said in a soft upbeat mood. The alicorn flushed. “T-The first one!” Trying to save herself she moved her mouth with nothing more than ‘Uhh..’ or ‘Umm…’ escaping her lips. She shook her head and changed subjects. “Yes, didn’t you think that was really weird? It was like he was conversing with somepony.” Rarity shook her head gently as they moved into the light. “Oh Twilight he might’ve just been talking to somepony close to him that has just… passed away. I’ve done that too, it’s not uncommon. He is a poet you know, or he could even have been writing a poem.” The mares cut off their light spells and Twilight stopped, causing Rarity to follow. “Maybe, but beside that, don’t you think he has been pretty distant around me?” As they paused Rarity sighed hanging her head and turned toward Twilight, standing up straight. “You are a Princess now darling, it can obviously cause some tension in ponies who don’t know you. It’s not like you can walk around nowadays without getting a glance or two.” “Maybe, I still have a lot to get used to after all…” She spread her wings and looked at them gritting her teeth. Rarity gave her an empathic smile and patted her back and tried to begin walking again. Twilight started again, stopping Rarity in her tracks again. “Though there’s this one thing that’s been bothering me…” “Let it out darling.” Rarity’s attention was on Twilight but her lips were narrow and has a slight downward curve. Twilight dreaded carefully, feeling uneasy and sporting wide downward sloped eyes. “When Soul mentioned the elements of harmony… You told me you just told him how you are the element of generosity but I just want to make absolutely sure you didn’t say anything else that might… cause an epidemic.” The white mare became animated and shook a hoof feverishly. “Oh no no no no, of course not Twilight! I would never be that reckless.” Twilight nodded and put a hoof over her chest as she looked toward the mountain and Canterlot. “I know, good. I’m just extremely nervous. Imagine what kind of chaos it might cause if ponies knew the elements of harmony are gone. They are… or were the most important defense we had.” “Twilight, I can give you a Pinkie promise that I will keep my lips sealed.” The mare put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder and smiled with a nod. “Good to know Rarity. We can go home now. It’s been a long day.” Twilight nodded and both mares turned and walked along the path until they split to their own paths.
18. PlansSoul sat by candlelight and tapped the cold stone floor to ensure it was solid, his IM book was open and the name Mineral Tint was centered at the top. He pulled a quill and ink closer, dipping it then began to write. "Hey Mineral, are you awake?” It didn’t take long till a response appeared on the page. “Hey Soul! Not a chance. Just got back home from dinner with Olivia and Truffle, and getting asthma medicine.” Soul blinked and gave a hum to himself then wrote his response, “You’re friends with them nowadays?” The page lit up again adding additional text, “We got to know each other better after you and Noble left for Canterlot. Those two are a riot! Anyway, what’s up, sis? This is the first time YOU contacted me outside of work.” “I need somepony to talk to,” Soul wrote but as a thought hit his mind, he cracked a small smile and erased a bit, replacing it with, “I need somepony to brag to.” The text vanished again and soon a laughing smiley appeared on the paper, soon following by more, “I’m listening. If it’s gonna be as interesting as the princess story, I need to start looking forward to these c: ” Soul smiled and moved the quill quickly, “It kinda is.” he wrote faster as his only regret with this was the fact that he wouldn’t be able to see Mineral’s face as she heard the news. “You will never guess where I'm sleeping tonight and with whom.” A moment passed before dots appeared for a moment and were quickly replaced by words. “OH MY GOSH, YOU AND NOBLE FINALLY HOOKED UP?! :3333” The stallion paused, looking at the page with a flat expression. He gathered himself and scratched in his reply, “Seriously? Where did that come from?” The dots appeared on the page and quickly changed, Soul could practically hear Mineral’s voice in his head. “You two are just so shippable. Yes, that’s a word now, sis. Plus I get personal kicks out of it.” Giving a sigh and a shake of his head he dipped his quill in the ink and furthered along. “...Have you been drinking?” The penmanship in the book became slightly larger and worse. “A bit… But it’s a great icebreaker to the next level!” Soul could only close his eyes and open them slowly, although his eyebrows twitched he stopped and couldn’t help a small turn of his lips as they moved toward his ears. “Can I expect this for the future…?” Large letters filled the entirety of the page in the quickest reply yet. “Heck yes!” Soul paused for a moment, blinking at the page. “Okay…” “And I’m not ashamed even one bit!” Her writing was still large but dots appeared under the text. The stallion read the text and exhaled slowly. "She could've really used that amethyst mug...", Soul thought to himself. The font shrunk this time and was slower as Mineral had started to compose herself. “But now seriously, what’s going on with you?” “Well, let’s say this day has been quite eventful which lead me and Noble to a place where your lungs would fail immediately and where a risk of getting killed seems to be pretty casual.” He looked at what he wrote and drew a line under Mineral’s name to send it over to her. Mineral sent over three dots during her pause, “Soul, what in Equestria have you gotten yourself into?” “Make yourself comfortable, this is gonna be long… Try to stay awake and remember it all.” He dipped his quill and lifted it high. Before Wild Soul could say anything else Mineral’s text appeared, “ROFL, don’t promise a mare more than you can offer.” Soul smacked his forehead and hung his head giving a long groan. A gentle breeze blew through a lavender decorated window, scattering a stack of papers across the room but they didn’t make it very far till they were nipped up by a blue magic. In a flash, Rarity went to close the window and took the papers back to their original place on the table. ‘’Ugh… my head! Why can’t I come up with anything! I should already start making this commission this week!’’ Rarity said, rubbing the sides of her aching forehead. She tapped her head with a pen before putting it on the table and sitting down on her beanbag chair. Soul, who sat on the other beanbag chair across the room, turned his gaze toward Rarity stretching his legs as he yawned. “At least it’s just one commission. Try advertising agency life; multiple commissions with short deadlines is not uncommon.” He let out a long, high pitched sigh. Rarity turned around leaning at the table with a sigh. “Oh believe me darling, for a pony who has numerous important contacts like myself, it’s nothing unseen either. Yet it’s always just as stressful.” Soul levitated a red thread spool over to him and gave a smile as he furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t doubt that one bit.” Rarity nodded and put a hoof over her mouth, letting out a yawn and then rubbed the side of her head by her left eye. “At least I can appreciate the peace and quiet now that my little sister and her friends aren’t here meddling.” She stretched and stood up, putting a hoof over her head. “This simply cannot be healthy. I really need a cup of tea and fresh air. How about you?” Rarity asked as she walked over to the door. The stallion frowned as he yawned again. “No, not tea. Coffee,” he barked but immediately shook his head and stood up, putting down a piece of fabric he had. “I mean, if it’s possible to have coffee, that would be uh, nice.” He rubbed his neck and followed Rarity downstairs. “Sorry, I’m not the best in the morning...” Rarity looked at Soul, smiling, “Oh that’s quite alright. That’s nothing compared to some of the… uhm, episodes, I’ve had--- Actually, nevermind you don’t want to know!” She forced out a light laugh as they entered the kitchen and she went to turn the stove on. “Though I am curious to know if there’s something else causing your current sour mood?” Soul sat at the table and leaned against his hoof, “Well, if you have never met a pony who hates mornings so much he throws an alarm clock through his friends window, well here’s the first one.” The artisan turned to look at Soul, her eyes and mouth gaping in a gasp. “Excuse me...?” Soul nodded and looked out of the window, rubbing his neck. “Yes… in an extremely non-lucid state, I… happened to throw a ringing alarm clock into Noble’s room.” The blue magic flickered as Rarity almost dropped the kettle. “Oh my… Why in Equestria would you do something like that?” she inquired as she placed the kettle on the stove. Soul put his hooves together and stretched. “I’m just not a morning person and I guess this wake up was worse than the others so…” He gave the mare an awkward smile and shrugged. “You never know what might be coming at you when the sun rises. It’s not impossible to pull off something like that with adjacent windows...” Rarity listened carefully as she opened the pantry door on her left and took a couple of white cups with blue flower patterns on them. She placed them on the table and turned to look at Soul after he finished. “Well that is still a bit... absurd. What happened then? What about his window?! Is it broken? You haven’t lived even a week there, I don’t want to hear about requesting for your landlord to come fix a window like that. I didn’t judge you too soon back in Canterlot did I?” A white forehoof was raised and Soul gave an embarrassed laugh. “No, no. His window is perfectly fine. He had luckily left it open for the night. And when it comes to Noble… well he didn’t exactly like that but of course I apologized and such.” “Oh, that’s a relief! I suppose that’s one way to begin your day,” Rarity said and chuckled, opening the upper cabinet. “Hmm… now where are those coffee packages? Oh right!” She closed the door and walked over to the cabinet next to the window, opening it with her magic, “Have you ever had French Press?” Soul immediately sat up straight and shook his head. ”No, never.” “That must be fixed immediately!” Rarity smiled as she took the coffee grounds, and poured it into the French press maker. “Honestly, not even once?” “Too time consuming for my taste,” Soul responded while shaking his head. Rarity chuckled and walked over to the table, leaning in. “In that case consider this a special privilege.” She placed her forelegs on the table and turned them up, putting her hooves together and resting her head on them looking at the stallion. “So, now that it has been a few days since you first arrived; how are you adapting?” Soul rose his hooves and placed his chin on them, giving a cough. “Can I be honest or do I need to lie?” The mare drew back from the table and flipped her ears. “I… uh… surprise me?” Soul fixed his posture and cleared his throat, closing his eyes as he began, “Well what I can say at this point is that your boutique is horribly ugly, you are awful and mean tutor, Ponyville is horrible but I like how you can’t get everything you want from a store nearby, I hate Sugarcube Corner’s sweets and absolutely love Pinkie Pie.” Upon hearing the remark Rarity glared, she opened a sewing basket by the table and an unfinished pillow with the needle still piercing through it appeared. She placed it on the table and pulled the needle through and pointed it at Soul. “Alright darling, now you’re in position where you must give me a reason to not make you a pincushion right now.” His hooves rose into the air and the stallion leaned back, a slivering smile on his face. “You wanted the lie! Plus it would be the first ugly thing you made and you don’t make ugly things.” “You can be assured of that?” She waved the needle at him before placing it neatly on top of the pillow and placed it on the side of the table. Soul nodded and placed his hooves back on the table, his smile becoming more relaxed. Rarity stopped glaring and stood up from her seat. “Aww look at you, you’re starting to know me.” She walked over to the kettle and took it off, and poured the water into the press, and squeezed all the ingredients. “How are the different stitches coming along?” He paused and half of his mouth drooped along with his shoulders and he tapped and slid a hoof over the table as he spoke. “I’m halfway done. The tricky ones are causing a bit of a hard time but I’ll live.” With a warm smile in his direction, Rarity grabbed the pan and levitated it over Soul’s cup, pouring it but leaving room for cream. “Oh I’m sure you’ll do fine. If not, then we will simply practice more. There is no need for you to stress darling.” The stallion nodded as thanks and poured some cream into his coffee. “I won’t, no worries.” After pouring some for herself, the mare placed the pan back in its place and joined Soul. “Oh, by the way, what’s the situation with the Mayor? Have you started the project she has for you?” Soul lifted his cup and nodded, taking a sip and gave a pleased sigh that blew through the steam coming off as Soul relaxed placing his elbows on the table. “Already got the full brief.” The mare stared at the stallion with fluttering eyes and turned her head leaning in waiting for more but when nothing was coming, she leaned in with a smile. “And…?” Soul ran a hoof over his mouth like a zipper. “Sorry, professional secrecy. Though what I can tell is that it’s… well it’s a much… larger project than I expected.” Rarity giggled and waved a hoof forwards. “Well, considering you are now crafting a commission for a Mayor, it should only be expected.” Soul scratched his head and looked outside. “I had a feeling it would be more than a simple logo or poster or self mailer.” He gave a small grin and leaned back, turning at the mare again. “But yeah, my lips are sealed. We can talk about anything but that. I’m passing the ball to you.” Rarity’s ears flipped and she stirred her coffee, tapped the spoon on the edge of the glass. “In that case I could tell you about this very interesting plan of mine I’m going to do today.” Stopping mid sip, Soul turned back and gave a nod as his ears perked up and he made eye contact. “I’m all ears.” “Well…” A smile spread over Rarity’s face, she sat up and lifted her chin up. “I’m going to explore the old castle of the royal sisters that is thousands of years old, in a chaotic forest with Fluttershy who’s been locked in her home for a few days, so I am trying to get her out to help me try to find old tapestries to restore to their former glory.” The stallion’s eyes widened and he placed his hooves under his chin where he rested on them. A small smirk dotted his lips. “Oh that’s lovely and I got 50 bits from tooth fairy.” The mare sat there sitting up straight without a word but her eyes spoke volumes. The intensity of her gaze pierced through the stallion. Soul averted his eyes from making eye contact and tilted his head and frowned, rubbing the side of his mug with a hoof. “Wait, you’re serious… Okay then...” he said and scratched his chin. “Tapestries, huh?” Rarity looked around the room then leaned her head in as if this were a big secret. “Yes, valuable tapestries. A couple days back I was contacted by a pony who is passionate, bordering on downright obsessed with collecting tapestries and asked if there was any chance I could find some from the castle and restore them for her.” Soul scratched his head and leaned back. “And... I assume that won’t get you into any trouble? I mean yeah, I know the castle and its history, and that it’s abandoned but isn’t it still kinda the property of royalty?” The artisan nodded with closed eyes, her horn glew as her mug floated up by her.. “Oh I have a feeling if there was anything left that the princesses wanted, it would’ve been retrieved by now.” She inhaled over the mug, enjoying the aroma before letting out a sigh and giving the cup a nudge, her lips curled up through the entire sip. “If you say so.” Soul stretched and then put his hooves behind his head, stretching upward and opening an eye to look Rarity in the eye. “You sure are ready to go to extremes for a customer...” Rarity rose her snout and put a hoof on her chest with an air of sass about her.. “Absolutely! Anything for a happy client and to make a living doing what I love. Are you saying you aren’t?” Soul dropped his forelegs and cupped his coffee before he gave a nonchalant shrug. “As long as it doesn’t involve fire or hights, I don’t suppose I would have a problem.” He brought the cup up drinking some more. “That is most understandable, I’m just the kind of mare who sometimes needs some sort of spark of... thrill to keep me going.” She put her mug down but her horn kept glowing and flung the windows open, letting a flush of tepid fresh air pour inside. “It's a bit nasty trick but I think that's what Fluttershy needs at this point too; a good little thrill to make her heart pound so she gets some courage to show up at Ponyville again... Though knowing her it pounds wildly all the time except when she sleeps… most likely.” The stallion covered his cup as the breeze flushed through the kitchen. He let go, then tilted his head and crossed his hooves with an eyebrow raised. “Have I missed something or should I know her from somewhere? You do realize that I have no idea who this Fluttershy is, right?” Rarity’s ears fell back and she hunkered down a little, wearing an apologetic grin. “Pardon me! I almost forgot that you’ve only been here just less than a week!” Quickly recovering, she sat up and put a hoof on the table leaning in. “You see; Fluttershy is one of my friends. Well, just between you and me, the dearest friend actually. A rather timid pony but extremely kind. She’s the one who I took Opal to for her trauma care.” Soul was giving nods through the explanation. “Right, I remember you talking about the care after the whole fire incident.” He lifted a hoof and tilted his head. “The pony who loves animals?” The mare gave a dip of her head and brushed her hair out as if tossing it to the wind to push it away. “Yes, that was Fluttershy I was talking about all along. Though there’s no chance you would’ve seen her lately...” Soul placed one hoof on top of the other and gave a raising twitch of an eyebrow. “Yeah, locked herself in her cabin huh?” The mare laid her forelegs across the table, her eyes grew wide, her voice high but full of emotion. “She’s like her own prisoner… She had this rather ridiculous encounter one day. I don’t know the whole story, but she was most likely tending to the forest animals, she was so comfortable that she began singing which she has extremely stage fright over; although somepony saw her. The poor thing flew off and was worried to death. Even I learned about her singing by accident one day. Soul’s eyes grew wide, his heart skipping a beat. He couldn’t believe his ears. “Um, Rarity...’’ he rubbed his neck. “I might actually know her after all...” The mare composed herself in an instant, sitting up and tilted her head. “Unless you’ve stalked her that is simply not possible.” Soul shook his head, he kept his head down but faced his teacher the entire time. “No, not me, but… Well no pony has stalked her, but remember when Noble mentioned that 'angel' he saw a few days ago?” “Yes, I do. What about tha--- OH, WAIT!” Rarity’s eyes lit up as she sat up and gasped, a big smile spreading on her face. She jolted forward, and held herself over the table, she almost pressed her head against Soul’s causing him to lean backwards. “That was Fluttershy?!” While he had pulled himself back and retreated his hooves close to him while giving small nods with gritted teeth. “Y-Yes, I’m pretty sure it was her. ...Uh… would you mind…” Soul glanced at Rarity’s hooves and flicked a hoof at them in a shooing motion. Rarity’s eyes drifted to her hooves. “Oh right... Pardon me.” She backed away and coughed, trying to act like it was nothing, even though her cheeks were rosy. "So it was Noble who heard her singing that day…?’’ Soul grinned and rubbed one of his his temples. “Yep…. I’m sorry to announce, as awkward as it is, that your friend is Noble’s current love obsession… or at least one of them.” With a large squeal the mare clopped her hooves together. “Why that is perfect!” “It is?” His eyes were large and he kept his mouth open slightly as he leaned in with eager ears. “Fluttershy; Noble! Let’s take Fluttershy to the farm before her and I head to the castle!” She beamed at her own idea and noticed her coffee again and pulled it closer with her hooves. Soul immediately frowned and waved his hooves while his head shook. “Hey hey, hold it right there, I’m not gonna start pairing anypony up.” Rarity chuckled, covering her mouth and shook her head. “No, that’s not what I was thinking silly. I want to help them break the ice. I remember you explaining how those crushes are usually fleeting once he meets the pony and becomes disillusioned, correct?” “More or less...” The stallion’ tapped the edge of his lips while his eyes peered upward. “But yeah I get what you’re chasing here.” Rarity nodded and looked out of the window with a sigh, pulling her cup close to her. “Oh I don’t dare to even imagine how long it would take till Fluttershy would agree to come out of her cottage again. We just need to have them meet and do away with this problem.” Drifting his eyes back to his teacher Soul nodded and with a sigh explained, “I understand and to be honest, Noble hasn’t been exactly easy either. One way or another we end up having the same one hour conversation where I need to convince him to move on, till he remembers again and the loop starts over.” Rarity launched up, slamming her forehooves against the table. “Actually! That’s precisely how it is with Fluttershy too! Most of the time she just worries about the pony that saw her singing. It’s become a nuisance to simply have a nice discussion with her.” She sipped the last drop from the cup, and pushed the empty mug to the side. “So I think it’s about time for them to encounter, don’t you agree?” “Yes, absolutely,” Soul said. “I have to bring Noble’s lunch to him anyway so this played out nicely. This will be... interesting.” He took and turned up his cup, drinking every last drop before hooking Rarity’s mug in his magic and taking them to the sink. “Oh, excellent dear. Now that we’ve made plans and have had a spot of coffee we can practice your stitching more.” She walked over to the doorway and extended a hoof for Soul to go first. At the mention of more stitching his ears drooped a bit and he walked by her slowly. “Let's see if I can make them any better this time...”
19. Well This Is AwkwardOn the outskirts of town, two stallion were surrounded by trees, bucking apples and enjoying the pleasant weather in the shade of the apple trees. Even though they were engulfed in the orchard occasional breezes would whip by them as they worked in silence. Noble would occasionally look at the fellow worker and open his mouth but would quickly close it. He scrunched his eyebrows and frowned with half his face but continued working loading apples. With one bucket left he let the big red stallion load it as he went and harnessed himself into one of the waggons, swiping his forehead. “All ready, Big Mac.” Putting the last bucket on and securing it before he went and got under the other cart the Big Apple flanked stallion let out a powerful country, “Yyyep!” and began to pull forward. While Big Macintosh was easily able to casually walk through the orchard in silence, Noble kept glancing over and looking around for something to spark a conversation, finally like a bolt of lightning it hit him. “Big Mac, thank you for the suggestion. The hot mint and epsom salt bath did just the trick for helping my aching hooves.” Big Mac turned his sight toward Noble, gave a smile and nod. “Yyyep!” “Yeah, I would have felt pretty embarrassed asking Applejack. Err, well... just easier to ask another stallion sometimes, you know,” Noble stumbled through the words and forced a grin, slowly wishing he could just sink down into the ground to hide. Big Mac looked at Noble out of the corner of his eye and couldn’t help but sulk slightly. He understood and replied with a softer, “Yep,” with another nod of his head. Noble looked over at the stallion and allowed himself to weaken the smile into his typical slight frown. This time as they walked, Noble simply kept to himself, wishing he could explain what he really meant but he couldn’t bring himself to speak another word for fear of further embarrassment. As the barn appeared in sight Big Mac cleared his throat. “Ya ready?” Lost in thought the words quickly pulled Noble back to the moment and he looked at the stallion tensely. “Err... what?” Big Mac dipped his head toward the barn and repeated the question. “Ready?” Noble looked out for a moment and then recognized the question. “Oh yes! The red apples go to the back left of the parn, yellow apples to the right of them and green on the back left. Right?” With further nods the big stallion confirmed and gave another nodding point to Noble, this was recognized as when Noble should continue. Noble walked slower, Big Mac following his lead. “Well I know the buckets tend to be stacked up on the front right of the barn and any unused buckets can be put there, then additional ones are up top in the back right by the additional hay bales.” As he recited this, growing more confident with the image clear in his head his voice improved to be louder and less reserved. As they arrived back at the barn, Noble immediately offered to open the door and quickly untethered himself, but when he pulled the door open just a bit a paper airplane hit him in his snout making him wince and back up. On top of a stack of hay bales was Applebloom laying with her head and right back leg hanging off. She looked at the ground with dull, half closed eyes that had followed the airplane, her right leg swinging along her side. When she saw the stallion get hit she jumped up. “Sorry ‘bout that!” “It’s alright…” Noble rubbed his nose for a moment then pushed the door open the rest of the way. “Hey Applebloom. You look like you are having a thrill a minute. I’m surprised by how much time you spend around here, don’t you have other things you like to do?” “Yea, but not today. Scootaloo is still in trouble for burning down Rarity’s kitchen and Sweetie Belle is spending a day with her parents.” The filly yawned, then hopped off the bale and stretched. “Anyway, Applejack asked me ta stay here ta help while yer learnin the ropes so Big Mac ain’t too distracted. Ya remember where to place everything?” “Well memory isn’t my strong point but, yes. Actually, Big Mac just quizzed me on that.” Noble said with a little smile while shrinking ever so slightly, he took a step back before turning around and walking back over to his cart. He put the straps on, though when he tried to pull, it didn’t move an inch. He blank and leaned over trying to look at each of the wheels for anything blocking the way, but there was nothing. He turned to Big Mac, tilting his head with eyebrows raised, he had clinched his teeth hoping he hadn’t broken it somehow. Big Mac took a step back and pointed at the small clip on top of the wheel. It took a minute but eventually Noble took off his harness and walked around before he saw it. He smacked himself in the face with his hoof, shaking his head in it. “Oh! Yes, the lock!” He immediately unclipped the lever and looked at Big Mac. “I… never put it on did I?” “Nnnnope, I did,” Big Mac stated and started pulling his cart into the barn passing Noble. Noble rubbed the back of his head and sank down a little further. “Sorry, my bad… I really need to stop forgetting that.” He went to the front and strapped himself in again, this time moving forward with ease. The filly jumped up on the hay bales again, standing over the stallions. “Don’t worry, learnin the ropes doesn’t happen’ in a day or two, right Big Mac?” The big stallion smiled with a nod. “Yyyep” “Thanks, I’m trying my best. Even if it has been almost a week...” Noble mumbled his last sentence to himself, after he did his eyes grew wide. “Oh Applebloom!” he turned to look back at the filly. “Before I forget again, did you deliver the letter I asked you to give to Soul?” Applebloom puffed out her chest, with one hoof stepping forward. “Yes sir! He read it and told me that he’d get yer food for ya around 2 o’clock.” Noble let out a breath of air and gave a grateful nod, “Excellent! Thank you for going through the trouble for me, I can’t even express how much I appreciate it.” The filly wagged her tail and stood taller at the comments with a smile widening on her face. She waved her hoof at the stallion while still enjoying the praise. “Ah it was nothing. I’m just glad I got something ta do.” While the two were talking, Big Mac had taken the apple buckets off the waggons and started sorting them. He walked by them giving a glance over Noble’s shoulder to Applebloom. The stallion’s little sister knew exactly what he meant. “We got it from here brother, you can get ta other tasks. We’ll try ta get Applejack if we need anythin’ important.” The big red stallion nodded and walked out of the barn. “Try?” Noble repeated and scratched his head. “Come to think of it I haven’t seen head nor tail of her since this morning. Is she even around today?” His eyes peered back out of the barn scanning for his boss. The filly cleared her throat, attracting attention back toward her. “You can say that again, I don’t think you should expect to see her much today. She’s having this ‘the most daring pony’ competition with one of our friend.” The stallion’s eyes widened and he walked around the filly, checking the brake on the cart to ensure he locked it. “So… it’s just three of us taking care of the farm today?” “Pretty much, I mean Granny helps but mostly offers guidance. As fer Applejack, ah don’t think she would stop the competition unless there were some kinda emergency.” Applebloom rolled her eyes, letting them rest on the floor. “That’s our thick headed sister for ya.” Just as Applebloom said that she felt a cold wet hoof press down on her head and ruffled her mane. “Who’re ya callin’ thick headed there, little sis?” Applebloom scrambled backwards as the cold water struck the back of her neck sending ice cold shivers through her body. “Heyyyy Applejack...! Ah... I didn’t know you were listening.” The mare let out a chuckle and shook her head sending cold droplets all over and wrapped a towel she had over her back around her a little better. She shifted her attention between Noble and all the apple buckets lying in the barn. “Seems like ya’ve once again been workin’ hard there partner.” The stallion smiled while he looked back and down, rubbing his neck. “Well, I definitely can’t take all the credit. Big Mac worked with me and did a lot of work, I just tried to keep up.” After Applebloom shook the water off her mane and coat like a sprinkler, she walked towards the cart Noble had brought in. “Come on, ya went and filled yer cart just like Big Mac. That’s great fer somepony that started ah week ago.” The mare nodded. “You’ve been workin fer a few hours right sport? How ‘bout you take ah break, ah might as well introduce you to the reason I haven’t been around much.” She put her hat to the side and towel dried her mane then made sure it was dry before putting her hat back on. “Applebloom mentioned the competition you are having. I… assume it has something to do with why you are,” he looked up and down the mare, waving a hoof in front of himself in her direction, ”soaking wet and ice cold.” Applejack nodded, taking the towel and rubbing it over her flank, trying to get her tail more. “Yep! We spent a heck of ah long time in ice water.” While she saw her sister having trouble drying her tail Applebloom walked over and pressed her hooves on both sides of the towel rubbing them together to dry it off. Noble nodded with one raised eyebrow and eyes hovering over the mare again. “I kinda figured…” Applebloom finished drying and fluffing Applejack’s tail and tossed the towel over Applejack’s back. As they stepped out a large winged shadow flashed over the ground and is followed by a loud, “WHOOHOO!” The group looked up at the noise, Noble squinted, ducked down and became tense while Applebloom’s eyes got wide and she jumped forward looking up while her sister didn’t even flinch. Noble looked over at the mares that were both casual about the flying being. He looked up, rising up, his eyes were greeted by a pegasus cutting through the air, swirling around the clouds making them puff away at breakneck speeds. The pegasus seemed to fly with ease but had a fierce power to it. Noble watched in awe and out of the corner of his eye he noticed Applejack looking up with a smile on her face. Noble paused thinking about Applejack’s smile and how she hasn’t given one like it the entire time he was there. “Applejack, that is the most intense flying I’ve ever seen a stallion do!” Applejack’s ears twitched, she turned to face Noble with a raised eyebrow. “Huh? A stall---?” Before Applejack could say another word Noble sprang to life. “That’s your special somepony isn’t it! I-I’m so sorry for flirting with you awhile back. I would never want to get between the relationship of others. It does suit you to find someone that has power and a level of intensity in the way they fly. I-” “Whoa there partner!” Applejack covered his mouth with her hoof. “How’s about ya let me explain before ya go off with accusations.” She pulled her hoof back and pointed at the pegasus. “That’s Rainbow Dash, she’s just ah friend ah mine. And definitely not a stallion.” Noble’s eyes were wide and lips narrow as he heard the explanation. A small sweat was forming on his forehead and his stomach tightened. “Oh… uh… I… I’m so sorry,” was all he could mutter, as he hung his head. Upon hearing her name Rainbow did a barrel roll and dove for the ground aimed right at the group, she picked up ever more speed narrowing her eyes coming straight for Applejack like a missile. At the last possible second she flipped her wings and pushed air with all her might but still slammed down on the ground making it shake and leaving a cloud of dust to spread out around her. “How was that for daring!?” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Yea, like we’re gonna count that.” The pegasus laughed and simply shrugged it off. “Well at least that took care of drying.” She granted herself a moment to stretch and then shifted focus to the stallion. Gently nudging Applejack to the side Rainbow stepped forward looking with raised eyebrows at Noble. “Is this the new guy you’ve been talking about?” Applejack took a deep breath and sighed. “Yep, this fella here is Noble Poet. Noble, this is Rainbow Dash. And err… well he’s mighty embarrassed I reckon cause he thought ya were a stallion when ya were flyin’.” The group was quiet for a minute and Noble’s head continued to lower. After the moment of silence Rainbow’s lips began to curl and she burst out laughing followed by the other mares. “Y-- you thought I-- was a stallion?!” She grabbed her side then wiped her eyes as she started to calm down. “Why in Equestria would you think that?” Noble glanced up gritting his teeth in an awkward fearful smile as the adrenaline was slowly taking over his body and his cheeks began glowing pink. “W-Well.. by the way you flew. It was pretty... aggressive and well… stallions statistically tend to be more aggressive than mares. That and you were far away, I couldn’t see well. I’m sorry I didn’t mean anything by it...” Rainbow continued to chuckle. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day! No worries, I’ll show you that this mare is way cooler than any stallion pegasus you know. Well it’s nice to meet ya.” She extended a hoof with a wide pleased smile. “You’re friends with Wild, right? I met the guy at Rarity’s when the fire was out. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.” This time Noble looked up with wide eyes and raised eyebrows at the mare. “S-Soul? Y-Yes we came here together b-but um… Y-you aren’t mad? None of you are?” He looked around at each of the mares, trying to get a read on them. The blue mare shook her head even more amused, the crack on her face sure indicated anything but anger. Applejack kneed him in the side and laughed. “Mad?” she repeated with a chuckle and larger smirk. “Naw, that was hilarious, though I guess I could be mad at that romantic talk if ya want. I did ask ya ta lay off that,” she said with a chuckle. The stallion began standing up a little more and quickly shook his head when he looked at his boss. “No of course not. I… no don’t worry, I honor ponies wishes when they ask me to stop. I of course still recognize the mare’s beauty though, I... just don’t do anything.” Applejack’s face turned red while Applebloom and Rainbow had to cover their mouths to prevent themselves from laughing. Rainbow couldn’t hold it and fell over on her back almost crying. “This is too much! Noble and Apple sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” Noble’s eyes grew wide and his head twisted and turned about, looking between the mares chanting and Applejack. ‘Oh no... T-This is bad....’ His pupils drew narrow and while standing in place he shook. The thought of all those rich ponies laughing at him in the ballroom flooded back. ‘No. Not again.’ He looked over at Applejack again. ‘Oh she is sure to hate me now. She may even fire me for this. Why am I such a hopeless idiot?!’ “Cut that out!” Applejack quickly threw her towel over Rainbow who stopped her song and groaned. She then turned back to Noble and looked into his dilated, shaky eyes and quickly put a hoof on his shoulder, giving him a shake pulling him back to reality. “Ya ok there partner? Maybe we should just let Applebloom show ya what yer next job is.” Noble closed his eyes forcefully and jolted his head down once before returning his sight to his boss. He felt himself getting hot again with a cold sweat making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He took a moment and heard Applejack repeat herself, he nodded, sulked and rubbed the back of his head then looked at the mares laughing. “No, it’s not like that.” He turned back to Applejack, “I’m sorry, it was just meant to be a complement...” The apple flanked mare held up a hoof and looked into Noble’s eyes that had stabilized. “I know and thank ya. It was very nice. Now though we got a few more things ta teach ya today and I got ah competition ta win. Ya sure yer alright?” Rainbow pulled the towel off her head and tossed it aside, giving Applejack a piercing glance spiced with a confident grin. “Oh we’ll just see about that. Let’s go find Pinkie, I’m aching to go on already.” She turned and was about to jump up to take to the air but turned to look at Noble again. “Oh yeah. Nice meeting you Noble, maybe I’ll meet you in the stallion’s bathroom sometime.” She laughed with a smile back and flew off. The stallion waved to her, his lips were turned up in a wide forced tooth smile and tightly closed eyes as he nodded, he felt his forehead get warmer at Rainbow’s joke. “That’s Rainbow for ya.” The stallion’s boss put a hoof on his shoulder. “Um, Noble… we didn’t go overboard now did we?” “Oh no. I just…” He thought for a moment about explaining himself but shook it off. “Umm nevermind. No. I’ll be fine.” He hung his head with a smile and hoped that it would end the interrogation. Applejack lowered her eyebrows, looked the stallion in the face with a frown. She knew there was something more he wanted to say but she couldn’t bring herself to force it out of him. “Well alright. If there’s ever a time where ya feel uncomfortable just say the word. No pony should feel uncomfortable at work.” Noble nodded to thank his boss and turned to Applebloom who was shaking her head with a wide smile. “Umm, so where is this next task and what is it?” “Just follow me, I’ll tell ya when we get there.” Applebloom beckoned Noble with a hoof and started walking off the opposite way as the others. After a couple short hours passed it was finally time for Rarity and Soul to call it a day. After making the quick turn at Soul’s house to pick up the food, they headed to get Fluttershy and finally they were heading to the farm. Though, when Fluttershy saw Soul it certainly added a level of difficulty for Rarity’s job of getting her to come outside. For the next half hour it was nothing but Rarity trying to get her friend out in the sunlight and eventually, she managed to almost drag her outside, well partly thanks to Fluttershy’s pet bunny Angel who helped and agreed to come along. The pegasus that Fluttershy was, didn’t seem to be too bold in meeting the stallion, then again Soul isn’t the best at meeting new ponies either. During their trip to the farm, it was mostly just Rarity talking to Soul and Fluttershy like she was keeping up two different conversations at the same time, though she did try to act as some kind of mediator between the two, asking questions the two would be interested in, leading conversations, and explaining why they are going to the farm. Although it was clumsy, she did manage to get them speaking and even managed to break the ice by bringing up Opal, she then lead the conversation to cats in general. Even if it wasn’t much, Soul and Fluttershy finally did exchange a few words without Rarity’s assistance. As they approached the entrance of the farm, Rarity turned to look at Fluttershy, “Fluttershy, if you ask for my honest opinion, I believe you and Soul’s friend should exchange a few words. I have a very strong feeling that you two will find some common ground darling, he really is nice after all.” Fluttershy glanced back down the path from her home, she was keeping her body tucked small and inward even as she walked, her voice trembling, “U-Um… I-I can try but… I’ve never been very good at talking with stallions…” She glanced at Soul lowering her head. “N-No offense of course. I, I just feel so small around you…” she fiddled with her mane letting her hair fall partly covering her face. The unicorn stallion exchanged a quick glance with Rarity then spoke up with wide eyes. “Hey, I’m the only stallion in this group, if somepony is supposed to feel small, it’s this one. You two would mop the floor with me.” The pegasus stopped in her tracks and stood up tall, leaning forward on the tips of her hooves with large eyes, gasping, “But I don’t want to mop the floor with anypony…!” Rarity stopped and walked back to her friend whom she patted her on the back. “Come now Fluttershy, just imagine Soul as a mare on the inside, it’s not hard to forget he’s a stallion.” Soul rolled his eyes and stood about a meter away. “At this point I take that as a compliment…” Fluttershy shook and crouched down, she couldn’t even look at the stallion now. “H-How could I forget…?” Rarity turned at Soul, waving her hoof. “Oh don’t mind that darling, she doesn’t mean anything vindictive by it.” Soul put on a grin. “I can put on a dress if that helps.” He gave a laugh but his face almost immediately drew flat as if he saw his grandparents in the shower. “No wait, actually I will not. Sorry for that extremely creepy image….” Fluttershy couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle at the comment since the thought of seeing the stallion in a dress gave her a much needed moment of amusement. As the trio were arriving at the entrance of the farm, they could already see Noble and Big Mac in the distance. Soul picked up more speed but it already seemed like Noble was waving goodbye to his superior. Soul immediately picked up the pace and trotted over to his friend. He shouted as he began to gallop, “Noble!” Noble’s ears flicked and turned toward the sound. He turned and his eyes were greeted by the sight of the pale unicorn rushing towards him and his rather flat face brightened up a bit. He took off galloping himself to meet halfway. “Soul, hey!” As the stallions reached one another they slowed to a halt. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving already,” Soul exclaimed, his eyebrows sulking. Noble sat down and pulled back his head as he rubbed the back of his head, letting out an uneasy chuckle. “Y-Yeah, sorry…Big Mac thought we did enough so we finished very early so I’m free to go… I don’t think they would mind if I eat it here though! Thank you very much for bringing it.” “Good.” Soul slid a hoof into his saddlebag and after a bit of digging he drew out a blue lunchbox, handing it over to Noble, tilting his head. “You wouldn’t mind company, would you?” Noble shook his head with a pleasant and welcoming smile. “Not at all, you are always welcome to eat with me and it seems you brought Rarity too, but who’s that pony with her?” All Noble could see was a small slender frame with a large tuft of flowing pink hair that had been attempting to hide behind Rarity, he immediately dropped the lunch box which Soul barely managed to catch. Soul’s heart started to race faster in anticipation, he couldn’t wait to see what would come out of this. He fixed his composure, putting a hoof over his heart to feel his heartbeat and looked at the mares further away. “Yeah, you might know the other---” The tan stallion looked over at Rarity and the other pony just in time to see her eyes grow wide and the pink flowing mane dart behind Rarity. He leaned over and caught himself with a hoof as he was about to fall but didn’t dare get any closer. “Who-- who is that beautiful mare? What do you mean I know her? I thought I would remember such beauty!” The mare blushed and continued her attempt to hide behind Rarity, burying her face in her back while shivering and whispering to herself just loudly enough for Rarity to overhear, “Oh no no no no... Why? Why did it have to be him? Please let this be a bad dream!” Rarity looked back at her friend with a frown but took a deep breath as she tried to sidestep to no avail. The unicorn twirled around her friend with a chuckle and placed a hoof on her back to prevent her from hiding. Fluttershy couldn’t move a single limb on her body yet shook rapidly. Rarity couldn’t help but let out a giggle but tried her best to muffle it. She slid her hoof over her friend’s shoulder, leaning in and innocently glancing the farm in general. “Fluttershy, I assume you’ve seen the stallion over there before, now haven’t you?” “Y-Yes! And I just decided, I will spend the rest of my life under a rock with worms and other lovely adorable bugs,” she squirmed, trying to put distance between her and the stallions. “Please darling, I’m only trying to help. Think how much better you will feel after you just talk to him. Who knows, you two may hit it off.” The white mare took the pegasi’s other shoulder in order to keep her still then pushed on her back. The pegasi let out a loud squeak. “R-Rarity, please... I-I would REALLY like to go under that rock right now please...” Fluttershy shoved her hooves into the dirt, dragging them as she felt the feverish heartbeat throbbing in her chest, her vision grew blurry from the adrenaline that was agitating her brain. Rarity stopped pushing and rolled her eyes with a huff, “Oh Fluttershy, it can’t be that bad! Just talk to him; this is getting simply ridiculous. I’m sure mocking your singing is the last thing he will do.” Fluttershy squeaked and turned around with wide damp eyes. “D-Did you know about this? You took me here on purpose?” The purple maned mare replaced her hooves on Fluttershy’s shoulders, softly this time, she gave a soft chuckle. “Of course I did darling. But I did it as your friend. Please, just give it a try.” With the mare in plain view now, Noble looked up and down her, seeing the cascading, almost glowing pink hair, thin supple body, and light green eyes that were turned away but that he saw when she was slouching and looking at the ground. Noble’s heart thumped loudly in his chest and his breathing almost stopped. His mind was blank and he couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Soul sighed and brushed his hooves over Noble, patting him on the back. “Come on, don’t you recall the mare that you’ve been talking about for weeks now? You know, the ‘angel’.” Noble’s eyes bulged, he looked closer, her beauty was among the top 10 most beautiful mares he’s ever seen but he looked over how she looked away and noticed she had been shaking ever so slightly, which almost made his heart crumble. “W-What?” He looked at her scanning over her for something to spark his memory. “She’s the one?! I uh… are you sure…?” Soul nodded, stepping forward with a smile. “Well considering Rarity told me a pretty identical story about her, matching what you told me, yes, I think the chances are high here.” The earth pony turned his body towards Soul but looked over at Fluttershy again, his eyes growing wide and damp as she trembled and Rarity began to rub her back as she looked over Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I see… So, how high do you think they are…?” The pale stallion looked between the three and turned his body to face Noble and leaned in, whispering to him. “Why are you questioning this? I imagined you would be all over her by now.” Noble bit his lip and leaned in closer, where they could almost feel one another’s breath. “Umm… Well… you see, I’m not sure if that’s her.” Soul’s eyes narrowed and he glared at his friend. “Why in Equestria would you not think it’s her?” He leaned down to look Noble in the eyes. “Seems close enough to me.” While he shook his head Noble replied, “No, I mean think about it. The mare I saw was obviously a pony that was kind hearted, comfortable with herself, brought joy to everything around her and had a strong heart. While she... seems shy, soft spoken, nervous, anxious, and like she isn’t comfortable with herself... Not that those are bad, I if anyone sympathizes with her...” Soul’s lips narrowed and he gave Noble a dull look. “You saw her for just a few seconds, you don’t know anything about her, not a single thing. We can just tell her to go if you want so.” “No!” Noble shouted then blushed, retreating back to a whisper. “I still want to meet her.” “Boys! It’s impolite to keep mares waiting!” Rarity called, still rubbing Flutttershy’s back. Noble quickly turned around and hesitantly made his way over to Fluttershy. After one final push from Rarity’s end the two ponies were face to face, eye to eye, standing just a leg’s distance away. The tension could be cut with a knife and the awkwardness was alarming. Noble’s eyes scoured the ground then came up to see the pink mane covering the mare’s face even while she covered it up. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth. “I… Hiya.” Fluttershy’s wings tightened like she was about to take off any second, but the pegasus was too rigid to even turn her head away. Rarity cleared her throat before raising a hoof toward the pegasus, “Now, why don’t you introduce yourself Fluttershy?” “Um… I... I’m…” The yellow pegasus stuttered as Angel hopped over to her looking up with one eyebrow glaring and the other up, “I’m Angel and this is Fluttershy--- No, w-wait, I mean...” she turned to look for her bunny to point out, who was already facepalming. Fluttershy immediately turned back at Noble shaking her head. “I-I mean this is A-Angel and I’m… um…” The mare paused, starting to tap her chin. “I-I think I’m… um...” Rarity’s expression drew flat and dull as she quite bluntly spoke. “Fluttershy. Her name is Fluttershy.” “Right! I’m Fluttershy!” A dark red tint eclipsed the pegasi’s face, she sat with her legs tucked inward and head bowed down, just getting up the courage to look up at the stallion. “I-I’m very glad to meet you... Fluttershy? I’m Noble Poet.” His lips quivered and he rubbed the back of his head looking down beside the mare. He debated if he should say what he wanted to not but with his lips opening then closing once without words he took a shot. “I... really gotta ask this. Did it hurt? Fluttershy’s heart jumped to her throat. “W-What?” She sat up straighter with widened eyes and quickly twisted her body around, examining herself. “A-Am I hurt?” “W-What?!” The stallion jumped gritted his teeth with wide eyes as they jolted between Rarity and Soul, beckoning for help with a lump forming in his own throat. Fluttershy lept up still examining herself, a film of tears coming over her eyes. “Oh no Rarity, I knew something bad would happen, I should’ve never left my cottage!” “I--- I didn’t mean it that way…” Noble uttered, his voice getting higher and faster as he looked away looking around to find the quickest way to get away if need be, though after a brief moment he turned to Fluttershy again giving a large eyed sympathetic look, stretching out a hoof to touch her shoulder but quickly pulled it back thinking better of it. Soul’s face was burrowed deep into his hoof, the whole scene was too painful to watch. “Okay, maybe this was a bad idea…”
21. The CastleAs the horizon caressed the sun, the shadows climbed towards Fluttershy and Rarity who had just arrived within sight of the door of the castle and stood in it’s shadow. They took a moment to look back at the bridge they just crossed. The setting sun allowed for the natural scenery’s beauty to bloom before them where light and shadow intertwined. The sun’s flare shimmering behind the castle made it to look like a gorgeous, ancient piece of history that held many secrets and events inside it. The castle where the Royal Sisters used to live, where Princess Luna, the ruler of the night turned into Nightmare Moon. Where Celestia banished her sister to the moon and a thousand years later, the elements of harmony were reborn in a new image and Nightmare Moon was defeated, thus leading to arguably the most significant event, the Royal Sisters being united once more. “Oh sweet Celestia! I can’t believe this happened to me! Of all the worst things that could happen this is, the, worst, possible, thing!” Rarity cried shrilly and stamped the ground crunching her eyes closed. Fluttershy looked around the surrounding forest cautiously keeping close but calmed down when looking at Rarity. She placed a hoof on the unicorn’s back gently. “Oh don’t worry Rarity… I’m sure somepony at the farm will notice the bag and pick it up…” Letting out a loud groan Rarity hung her head for a moment collecting herself. “I know darling, but I had some important things with me for this trip. And now I must make an unnecessary trip to the farm and it will be ever so late when I get home, then I still have important things to do this evening. I even had the most gorgeous ribbons to tie the tapestries with.” Fluttershy held a hoof off the ground turning her body slightly toward the forest though her ears fell back at the sight of it. “Well… we could go back to get it now… That is, if you want to?” “No thank you dear, that will take even more time and require two more trips through these woods in the dark; I will... simply improvise when it comes to tying,” Rarity said with a gentle wave of her hoof and smile. “G-Good… I’d rather not spend more time here than I have to, the castle doesn’t look very safe from here. And it is star spider season after all; I’d rather not still be here after dark.” The pegasus moved closer to Rarity looking up at the castle as her eyes widened. "Oh yes, those pesky creatures.” A cold shiver ran through Rarity’s spine. “As much as I detest those spiders, nothing is going to stop me from getting those tapestries from this castle tonight," she said raising her voice and stopped planting her hooves firmly on the ground. “Y-Yes, of course, and I’m glad I can help, but…" Fluttershy fretted looking around the castle and trees once more while she stayed close to Rarity. "This castle just… spooks me…" Rarity smiled and held of a giggle. "Fluttershy darling, it’s just a dusty old castle. Besides, getting those tapestries and restoring them from here is the most important reason I’ve ever had in my entire life!" She looked at the castle doors that were opened just a crack and cried, "Can you imagine that horrible tragedy? Those valuable and gorgeous tapestries rotting away in those ruins! I’m here to give them a new chance! …Besides I was hired to gather and restore them after all.” Fluttershy tiled her head, still staying low to the ground sulking. "...Well… it does sound important when you say it like that..." "Well..." Rarity stopped and cleared her throat, and turned around. "Maybe it’s not the most important thing in my entire life. But trust me when I say; it is important." "Whatever you say… And of course I don’t want Angel to stay up too late, it could have terrible effects on his heal---" As Fluttershy reached over to pet the bunny’s head, she felt nothing but air. As she turned to see him she felt a piercing stab inside her when she saw the bunny was gone. "Wait… where is Angel?!" The pegasus looked around in a tizzy. Angel had ceased the opportunity to jump off her back when she wasn’t paying attention. They only caught a glimpse of a bunny tail entering the castle. “Angel, wait!" Fluttershy yelled and took flight soaring straight through the doors. “Fluttershy, wait for me!” Rarity called and took off galloping in following the mare. The main hall that they entered had not fared well against the test of time. Wild overgrowth clung to the floor and walls, which deteriorated the walls further leaving cracks and caused them to practically fall apart. The hall had seven different paths; three leading left, three leading right and one leading upstairs that went off into two different directions as well. Over the balcony to the sides of the staircase hung two enormous tapestries. One on the left was dark blue and black with a darker blue alicorn on it with a crescent moon facing right, while the one on the right was a deep yellow and white displaying a white alicorn with a sun facing left. Rarity’s wiggled her hind legs while tucking in her forelegs containing her excitement as her eyes sparkled before the archaic, but beyond restoring masterpieces. Fluttershy on the other hoof was far more concerned about finding Angel whom a second later emerged from the second hallway on the right. Fluttershy immediately galloped over to him and crouched. “Oh Angel, please don’t do that anymore! You made me very worried there!" she said and gasped, turning to glance back at Rarity. "Oh Rarity, do you really need me here…? A big scary castle isn’t a place for a small bunny. Angel could fall, stumble on a fallen rock or get hungry and we don’t even have food with us! I knew I should’ve been stronger and stayed home where he would be safe and cozy!" As she continued to fret, Rarity just closed her eyes dropping her head with a sigh, entering the hallway and motioning for Fluttershy to follow. Angel also rolled his eyes, crossing his front paws as he glared at Fluttershy and tilted his head down and tapped his foot then motioned for her to follow. “Sorry dear, but this isn’t a picnic, remember? I have a client to please,” Rarity said, she put the back of her hoof over her forehead tilting her head up in dramatic fashion. “Oh imagine if I returned without a single tapestry. That would be disastrous! Please Fluttershy, I need your help. I simply cannot allow my customer to be disappointed.” “Why would it need to be Angel and me? I’m sure the others are much more qualified than I am. I mean, I’m probably the least qualified pony to help you here. Umm that is, unless you think otherwise.” She softly retracted her statement while rubbing her foreleg and turning away. Rarity reached a hoof over turning Fluttershy’s head face to face with her own. “Of course I need you darling, I need your eyes and wings to help me getting the tapestries down. Besides, you are the only other friend here in Ponyville besides Soul that has an eye for aesthetics.” “Well, maybe... Are you sure Rainbow or better yet Twilight couldn’t have done this? I’m sure she’s read books on it.” The mare gently slid Rarity’s hoof off her face placing it on the ground. "Well even if she read a book that can’t match a true artistic eye. Besides, I simply had to get you out of your house for a change," Rarity added and giggled, raising her head and emitted a light on her horn since the hallways were getting pretty dark. “Though making a stop at the farm was just a last second decision thanks to Soul.” "Y-Yes, u-um… That was a pretty embarrassing situation you brought me into… I-I’m sure you meant well though..." Fluttershy’s pitch in her voice grew higher and her cheeks gave off a pink hue like cherry blossoms on her cheeks. Slowing down, Rarity’s lips curled and her head raised seeing the blush. "Darling, that was for your own good. Admit it, you felt much better after meeting that earth pony, did you not?” she inquired with a giggle and patted Fluttershy’s back tenderly. "Not much...," Fluttershy whispered dragging her head down and closer to her body mimicking a turtle while peaking up at the unicorn. Rarity leaned in with a soft voice and twinkle in her eye. “Oh, but it DID help? Even just a tinsey little bit?” Fluttershy lifted her head slightly higher putting a hoof to edge of her lips. “...A bit I guess.” “That is simply marvelous! I admit I was wrong believing that you two would hit it off. But see?! He had nothing but positive things to say about you. He even enjoyed your singing as I said he would. Now don’t you feel that we can put this entire fiasco behind us?” Rarity inquired, tilting her head to the side looking at the mare. The pegasus sat still for a moment and looked up, doing anything possible to keep from staring into Rarity’s eyes that were locked on her, staring with hopeful sparkles. “S-So… who exactly is he other than one of Soul’s friends? Why did he move here?” Rarity instantly started beaming at Fluttershy’s curiosity and already had her mouth open, ready to explain everything she knew about the earth pony. As much as every fiber of her being wanted to speak, the scene and talk back at Canterlot between Noble and Soul struck her which caused her to close her mouth and second guess herself, thinking it might not be wise for her to blabber about it. Instead she simply cleared her throat and flipped a hoof. “All I’m willing to say is that he moved here with Soul, looking for a fresh start. He wasn’t doing well in Canterlot…” Fluttershy’s heart jumped to her throat and she practically jumped. “What do you mean? W-Was he in trouble?” Rarity had turned her horn trying to examine the path they should take. She looked back and raised a hoof in front of the pegasus. “I don’t believe it is my place to speak for him any further. If you want to know more I’m afraid that is something you have to ask him yourself.” “Oh… I-I understand.” Fluttershy nodded and stood up taking a step forward as Rarity lead the way into the castle. A little time later behind the mares, the stallions finally emerged from the forest unharmed. Noble’s tracking skills came through for them after all, along with a little luck as they found the path by following the three fresher tracks from the mares and then followed other indicators, feathers and broken twigs left by the groups. Once out of the forest Noble sat down for a moment to close his eyes, giving his head a break and drank some water, while Soul tested the strength of the bridge leading to the castle. “Unbelievable... I can hardly believe how easily you actually tracked Rarity and Fluttershy’s trail all the way out here,” Soul said his eyes wide open as he stared at the castle. “Though it’s odd we never saw a glimpse of Rainbow and Applejack…” “Thank you... Though it’s not that great. A lot of ponies could track somepony, I just looked for their fresh hoofprints in the dirt along with how deep the tracks were for each pony and any of Fluttershy or Rainbow’s feathers, not to mention broken branches or twigs,” Noble said, taking another big gulp from his bottle and taking in a deep breath as his lips popped off the bottle. Soul let out a sigh and shrugged, slightly shaking his head. “Noble, I don’t know a single pony who knows how to track. You navigated through the Everfree Forest. That is definitely something worthy of getting praise for.” He put a hoof on Noble’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes before looking over at the castle. “And we’re alive so… that’s a plus.” “Well… Out of all the ponies in the world, you only know three...” Noble chuckled and gave a soft smile as he scrunched his head in toward his shoulders, looking down after he spoke. The unicorn turned his head with an eyebrow raised. “Family and relatives don’t count?” “Oh right, yes. I didn’t think of that,” Noble said tapping his chin then set his water back in his pack and rose, turning towards the bridge. Soul nodded and took a deep breath and gulped before stepping on the bridge. His steps were gentle as a falling leaf. “AAnd none of them can track, so trust me when I say you are talented.” “Thanks pal…” Noble’s lips curled up slightly with somber eyes as he walked and tried not to look down at the canyon below. Soul nodded and kept walking slowly behind Noble keeping his eyes strict on the castle as if his life depended on it, cold sweat slowly starting to drip down his forehead. His heart pulsed more rapidly with every single step they took. Even if they had already reached the hallway, the bridge just seemed to get longer and longer, and he couldn’t shake the thought of what if he stepped on a board that would fail and send him to his doom. The anxiety became immense that Soul went and gave a small inaudible prayer too. As they finally made it all the way through the bridge to the other side, Soul immediately dropped his flank on the ground and put a hoof on his chest and checked his heart rate. “So after we find them and tell everypony everything, and give Rarity her bag, do you promise to leave without a second thought?” “Yes, of course…” Noble paused for a moment looking at Soul who stood there calming back down after they had both grown a little tense after the bridge walk. As a minute passed Soul’s hoof dropped and he simply stared ahead at the castle. Noble looks at Soul questioningly. “Soul… are you even remotely scared or worried about what could be inside this castle? I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a Shadow Pony or more likely something happening and the remains of the castle crashing down on top of us.” “It’s an old castle, anything can happen.” Soul turned to look at the castle again and sighed. “That bridge walk was easily the scariest part so far… And now it’s just my allergies that are gonna give me hard time, I know I’m gonna scratch myself for days after this." Noble’s shoulders dropped as that realization struck him, he moved closer and gently patted Soul’s back. “Oh dang, right; sorry I completely forgot about that…” He trailed off in silence as he drew a blank as to how to help this situation other than patting Soul’s back. Soul jumped a little upon contact, he tensed up and slowly moved his back out of reach of Noble’s hoof. “It’s fine, I’ll be fine. It could be worse. Mineral’s lungs would probably fail the very second she stepped into this castle.” Noble nodded and gave a small forced chuckle. “I don’t doubt it,” he said and made another move towards the castle. He looked at Soul who passed him, by how Soul was walking Noble could tell his skin was bothering him. He frowned and gave a morose sigh. He knew he needed to help Soul somehow, just like that a gear clicked in his head. “Oh, speaking of Mineral! Have you two been in touch?” “Um, a few times yeah,” Soul said and looked around further. The scene was surprisingly pleasant to him, seeing the light shining dimly through the trees. Noble’s eyebrows raised as he persisted further, taking a step forward as he wanted to get Soul speaking more. “Nice, how is she? Anything interesting going on?” Soul raised an eyebrow for the question for a bit but then paused to think for a moment and tried to gather everything worth of mentioning. “Well nothing too radical,” he said eventually and shrugged. “She’s started to promote her company more actively and when it comes to Spectrum, well it’s the same as always. Designing and organizing and such. She still keeps offering me to be a part of her projects even if I’m this far away.” Noble nodded and felt his heart melt a little as his posture shrank, he put a hoof over his heart. “D’aww, she’s just making sure you aren’t forgotten. She’s another perfect friend for you, crafted just for your personality.” Taken aback by the statement Soul tilted his head. “What is that supposed to mean?” he asked with a lower tone, a hint of defensiveness could be heard and his eyebrows scrunched together. The earth pony shrank a bit, rubbing his foreleg and dove into his thoughts. “I-I mean… Well, I don’t mean it in a bad way, so please don’t be offended. Just… Aside from me and Rarity, she’s the only other pony you’ve been able to befriend. And why is that? Just like me, she put in the initiative toward you and eventually asked to be your friend. And now she’s even staying in touch with you even if you aren’t around her daily. She probably sees the same great friend I know.” He gave a cowering smile as if begging for approval. Soul’s full attention snaps back to the stallion and he glares a little more. “How can you know I don’t stay in touch with her?” “Well have you initiated any of those conversations?” Noble crossed his hooves and lifted an eyebrow with a flat drawn mouth, he turned his head and perked an ear up listening carefully. “I uh…” Flying though his thoughts and all the times he and Mineral messaged one another, Soul reluctantly had to shake his head. “Not really...” “See? Don’t worry buddy, if anyone understands you, it’s me. That’s why I’m just glad Mineral understands your mindset too and is socially initiative towards you. She’s not a pony to be taken for granted, especially in Canterlot. Though it wouldn’t hurt if you messaged her every now and then.” Noble quickly reached out and snatched the medallion before Soul could react; he knew Soul wouldn’t jump back and risk breaking the gift. “She even made that medallion for you as a farewell gift.” Soul swatted Noble’s hoof away, taking his medallion back with squinted eyes towards the earth pony. Looking down at his medallion he gave a small smile but then instantly stopped and blocked Noble’s way with his hoof, turning to look at him with strict eyes. “Noble, what’s up with you? Why are you suddenly pushing to have this deep analysis of my friendship with Mineral? That’s a little out of place, don’t you think?” “S-Sorry, I just don’t know what else to do to distract you from scratching your skin… I mean it’s me and my poor memory’s fault I dragged you here and I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.... I'm really sorry you are going through this but I just know I can’t do this alone. If there was somepony else I trusted enough for this here I would ask them and save you this. I’m really sorry Soul.” Noble looked down, preventing eye contact as his eyes narrowed and his eyebrows sharpened while he grew angry with himself. Soul tilted his head. “You think I feel uncomfortable..?” He waited for a moment for the answer and Noble eventually eased and gave a timid nod and as he did Soul couldn’t help but sigh softly. “Look buddy, don't worry, I wouldn't be here if I didn’t want to do to this. I'm just a little itchy. Let’s simply get this over with and you can just let me have the shower for a while when we get back home. Okay? No need to beat yourself up.” The stallion lifted his head nodding again. “Of course, and if the itching persists I will go get you ointment and any medicine you need.” Soul gave Noble a small smile and he motioned for him to come toward the castle. The looked at his friends face that bothered him and he knew he had to do something to make it even a little brighter. He cleared his throat and spoke, “But yeah, about Mineral. She’s been fun to be around and as a co-worker she’s ideal. She’s the only one I actually like working with when working alone is not an option. Mineral is so relaxed and passionate about every task she gets and never slacks.” Noble’s expression leveled off with each additional word Soul added. Once he finished Noble couldn’t help but facehoof and shake his head. “Back to talking about work huh?” “I enjoy working, can’t help it.” The unicorn shrugged and looked at the castle again, he shook his head slightly in disapproval. “I know buddy. I know.” Noble got up and stretched out his legs and back, then finished by cracking his neck to each side. They finally walked up the steps and entered the castle’s main hall. Unknown to them it was the same room Fluttershy and Rarity entered into a while ago. Just the size of the room made their heart throb in awe. They both sat for a moment looking around thinking about all of the historic events that unfolded within this hall. Guards back then, walking through it every morning and night, standing by the entrance ensuring no strangers entered the castle without permission. The unicorn’s eyes swung from one tapestry to the next and he walked toward them. "Huh... no wonder somepony is so eager to get some of these. Those sure aren’t tapestries you see on every wall." Noble looked from one tapestry to the other and looked around the room. “Seems fairly similar to what I’ve seen…” His eyes went back to the tapestries and then looked over to see how Soul reacted to them and another gear clicked in his head. “By the way, has work gotten any harder here? Do you get fewer jobs because of your teachings? I’m sure you'll to be able to make tapestries like that one day.” Soul’s eyes scanned over the fabrics, admiring the details and his mind raced as he thought of the styles that he read about being used here. “It’s stayed pretty much the same. I get tasks at the same rate as before, though of course meetings with clients is handled by somepony else.” He turned his head and looked at the earth pony. “Though what about you? How has working at the farm been?” With lowered eyes the sparkle of a troubled smile was on Noble’s lips while he looked down at the ground a few feet away. “Heavenly compared to Liakada. Applejack’s gotta be the fairest boss I’ve ever had through all of my jobs. It’s physically challenging but by no means overwhelming, I actually enjoy that part a lot.” His eyes rose to meet Soul’s. “Moving to Ponyville was the best choice I’ve managed to do in a long time and I still can’t thank you and Rarity enough for it…” “You don’t need to thank us at this point anymore. I’m just glad this this town has started to drive Canterlot away from you,” Soul said with a smile recalling the scene back at the farm. “Yes… I wouldn’t move back there even if the offer was to become an alicorn princess.” He let out a huffing snicker and slowly walked in a circle around the room, going to darker areas in order to let his eyes adjust to the dark more. “What about you, how have you been adapting to your studies and everything in general here?” Soul followed Noble with his eyes and perked up his ears, turning about just to ensure nothing had been around them. “It’s been surprisingly easy, though that’s partly thanks to Rarity since she’s been introducing me to the ways of Ponyville bit by bit. Though the most challenging part has been ponies…” “Ponies?” Noble scrunched up his face, puzzled by the response. With a lower, agitated town Soul waved a hoof as his brows narrowed. “Yes, no matter where I go there’s at least one pony saying hi or asking how am I doing. Like, why do the ponies here have to be so intrusive?! I have no idea who they are.” “Of course, I should’ve known…” Noble chuckled with a shake of his head and a friendly eye roll. Soul nodded as he opened his muzzle, “But yeah, mostly it’s been rather easy. I feel a bit closer to home with Rarity since she has that certain Canterlot vibe in her. Plus she definitely isn’t the kind of ‘spoiled’ fashion designer Mineral suggested they are.“ At the mention of Rarity’s Canterlot vibe Noble gave an abrupt scoff, his eyebrows turning down for a moment but slowly rose back upright as he prevented eye contact; he did however look over to ask a question, “Mineral has a grudge for fashion designers?” “I don’t know what her deal is. But I got no complaints at all. Rarity definitely knows what she’s doing and as a tutor she’s really nice. Though she tends to drift off into her own world and causes scenes that could be straight from an over the top theater act…” Soul looked around the room, focusing on all the dark paths they could take which could hold the mares or some dark mysteries. “So um… How are we gonna go on from here?” “That should be pretty easy,” Noble said with a smile and sniffed the air, near the right doorway. “Come smell this.” Soul walked over to the doorway beside Noble and had a few sniffs too, and it immediately clicked to him as he clacked his hoof on the ground. “Huh, do doubt who that perfume smell belongs to.” Noble stood up a little taller than before. “We’ll just follow it and we’ll find them in no time.” “This got pleasantly easy,” said Soul as they enter the hallway and he ignited a light on his horn. There was a small silence while Noble lead the way. “By the way Noble, I’ve been wondering... How are things with your poetry? Has Ponyville given you any motivation or inspiration?” “Right… poetry…” The bit of pride the earth pony had crumbled as his lips wrinkled and he took a large silent gulp. “I… I haven’t really had any time to sit down and recover from all these changes, much less adapt...” Soul’s ears drooped and he moved next to the earth pony and he softened his tone, speaking slower and more thought out. “I really hope you start working on that aspect. I don’t wanna sound like a broken record but it’s your special talent and you should nurture it. I know a lot of big changes have happened, but that won’t work as an excuse for long.” Noble’s ears dropped and he sighed, his eyes slid away, not wishing to be seen. “I know and I really want to. I just want to focus on getting back up on my hooves fully first, that’s my main priority for now.” “Of course, I understand that. It’s just that the longer you keep dragging it out, the harder picking up the pen becomes. A small break can do wonders but a longer one…” Soul shook his head and pointed at himself. “Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.” “Yes of course. To be honest it’s just been getting harder to come up with anything. Back at Canterlot, I at least felt extreme emotions, mostly negative, but still, that gave me inspiration every now and then… Here… I don’t feel like i’m being pulled in any direction. I mean… I’m a lot happier than in Canterlot, but...” He sighed dropping his flank to the ground and looking blankly through the floor. Soul stopped with Noble, turning his head to look at him. He knew that look on Noble’s face and he had to do something. “I see… What about… Well before Hotel Liakada? I know you wrote more actively before Double Bit, before even working at the hotel, you’ve told me you used to participate in events and contests. Where did the inspiration come from?” “Uh… It was the environment in general, ponies I worked with and one special pony… Well I’ve told you all about it.” The tan stallion refused to look Soul in the eyes as his tone became colder and quicker. “Maybe we should talk about this another time, we have things to do.” “Yes you told me...” Frowning and with a wrinkled forehead Soul took a breath to push on for Noble’s own good. “Do you… ever miss your old life and job way before you even met me?" he asked cautiously, trying to make it sound like an innocent, random question. Noble raised his head and looked up to the sky, letting out deep shaky sigh. “Well, to be completely honest I do… I made several close friends, was taught many valuable things and had a stable path… but things change. Everything goes away and withers with time." His eyes narrowed and his head lowered, his expression was stoic and he looked at Soul. The unicorn looked into those still eyes, he couldn’t stand seeing Noble like this, those eyes almost caused him pain. “... I don’t.” There was a pause between the two before Soul spoke again. “I’m sorry I brought this up. I should have just let this be.” "Oh, no it’s fine… I’m sorry." Noble spoke blinking and lowering his eyes. "I know you just want to help, but I would rather leave that be… Thank you.” He got up, pulled his water out of his bag having another drink and took one step then looked back at his friend. “You know, no matter what, I’d endure it all again just to make sure I met you.” In that moment Soul saw a little curl of Noble’s lips, a true smile which made it impossible for him not to smile. He stepped forward and threw his hoof around Noble, giving him a hug and even let Noble pat him on the back without a shake. He let go and stood smiling at Noble then looked down the hallway. As they were examining the dark dreary hall, Soul had noticed how he had started to scratch his skin far more frequently than usual. “Dang… my skin is already getting itchy…” Noble watched on as Soul scratched his back, rubbing his hoof wildly then put it down, he was obviously trying to ignore it. Noble wanted to say something but even apologizing seemed useless, his ears folded down, drooping as he began moving forward again to get this over as fast as possible. “...This castle sure has suffered from the test of time.” Moving forward as he put his discomfort aside Soul replied while looking at each statue or stand they passed, “You can say that again, though look at all this neat stuff here. No pony has touched any of this in centuries, it’s like a trip to the past.” “It’s strangely like I imagined it. I don’t know, it looks somehow similar to modern appearance… Much greyer though,” Noble said, looking around and up at the holes in the ceiling and walls, at the pieces that somehow stayed intact throughout the ages. Soul stopped in front of a dusty glass box that held spears in it and took a closer look at it without touching it. “I can’t believe all this was just left here. This stuff belongs in a museum.” He then noticed an old suit of armor and walked next to it. It was a dark, grim, set of battle armor covered with dust and rust. It looked like it could cut somepony even if they touched the smoother pieces. Soul tilted his head and grinned. “You know, I’ve always wondered if you can you actually wear these or are they just for the show,” he stated and laughed. Noble looked over at the suits of armor then down at himself for measure. “Yeah. I mean, they look right and I’m pretty sure they are wearable if the pony is the right size.” His eye stuck on it for a moment, he found it difficult but he pulled away. A sudden loud scream and shake quaked through the halls, the castle walls rumbled and the rattling of stone and steel filled the hall, Noble jumped on Soul pushing him down and standing over him. They sat there looking at the ceiling and walls for any stones that may fall. Recognizing the quake was over Noble still tried to keep Soul down to watch for anything that may fall but still spoke out loud. “H-Holy…! What the hay was that?!” Feeling safe Soul gently pushed Noble back and dusted off his belly that now had dust on it and his skin felt like it was crawling. “Sounded like the mares... Maybe they got possessed?” he said with a faint laugh. “D-Don’t even joke like that!” Noble stood up and brushed himself off after stepping away from Soul. He took a look at him and recognized where his reactions pushed him. His ears fell again. “I’m sorry I pushed you into the dust there. My body reacted faster than my mind and… it’s just an instinct to protect your friends---” “It’s fine it’s fine!” Soul said waving his hoof and looked up with gritted teeth forcing himself not to scratch. “Thanks but let’s save explaining yourself for later.” Noble immediately waved his hoof feverishly as his eyes bulged. “Y-Yes, sorry! Let’s find the source of all that, who knows what happened to them!” Soul nodded and he started the gallop which forced Noble to race on after him rushing through the abyss as he desperately looked for rare item markers to come up with some lay out of this castle in his head. Armors flashed by in a blur as they ran as fast as they could, though keeping close eye at everything around them so they wouldn’t run straight under a falling rock or into any displays or suits of armor. After a few curves and a turn they finally got to a point where they thought they heard the sound, but there was absolutely nothing at sight. The smell of perfume was intoxicating but not a single glimpse of anypony was seen in the hallway. “R-Rarity? Fluttershy? Applejack? Rainbow Dash?” Noble called but received nothing more than an echo through the corridors. Soul looked around, gritting his teeth and swallowing. “Okay, yeah… I gotta admit, I’m getting chills.” Noble galloped ahead of Soul trying to find if the perfume trail continued further, but no, as he now got further and further, the trail grew weaker. Suddenly, he heard a rusty click and something pushing down beneath his hoof. The whole hallway started trembling the same way it did before, though much harder this time. He had accidentally stepped on a trap switch which opened a door just beneath Soul. There was nothing he could do at that point, the unicorn fell straight down to the trap giving a yell of his own. The moment the ground opened below him, nothing but horrifying thoughts rushed through his head for what could await him in the bottom of the pit. What if he landed in a pit full of rusty spikes? Snakes? Spiders? Poison gas? There were so many possibilities that worried him, though he was hardly able to scratch the surface before he landed on something the oddly enough cushioned his blow but filled the pit with screams. The object Soul landed on flung and squirmed violently underneath him. “Get off! Get off! Get off! GET OFF ME whatever you are!!!” As Soul’s vision and head was piecing itself back together a solid strike to the muzzle shook his head and he saw just what broke his fall. In a flash he jumped off feverishly pressing against a wall on his hind legs, holding out his hooves in defense and surrender as Rarity still blindly swung at her supposed attacker. “That wasn’t meant to be harassment, I swear!!!” “Soul!?” Rarity yelled, opening her eyes to see the stallion, her mouth agape as she got to her hooves. “W-Wha… Why are you here?!” Still holding his muzzle the stallion slightly rose his glare at Rarity. “R-Right now I’m probably wondering that same thing even more than you are.” His attention drew to Fluttershy who held her wing, holding it tenderly in her shaking forelegs. He was about to speak but suddenly they felt shaking from above and the trap door opened again The earth pony leaned forward, trying to catch the lever with a back hoof and praying that Soul would be okay, his heart had begun to feel like an anvil in his chest. With clenched teeth he screamed down. “Soul are you ok?!” Soul looked up and turned around putting his hooves on the wall, pushing down realizing that there was no traction but caught himself before he fell. “I’m fine, nothing is broken!” Rarity had been getting up and was brushing herself off, when she heard the familiar voice she jumped and looked up as well and illuminated the trap with a spell. “Noble, you are here too?!” Taking a step forward Noble placed one of his hind hooves on the stone switch and carefully moved to the edge, looking down just enough to see inside.“Yes, I’m safe up here. Fluttershy, Rarity! What about you are you both alright?” “I’m fine too but I can’t say the same thing about Fluttershy here!” She turned her head so the light was more directly on Fluttershy who was leaning against a wall. The tan stallion’s eyes widened and his voice became frantic and his eyes darted looking for a rope, or something to bring them up with. “What’s wrong? Can she move? Can she fly?” Fluttershy shook her head and looked sadly upwards at Noble, her voice cracked as she spoke, "N-No… I hurt my wing… I-I don’t think I can fly with it anymore..." Nobles ears sagged. "Oh, so flying here certainly doesn’t work..." he stood and closed his eyes for a moment, touching his forehead with a hoof. When he lowered his hoof and opened his eyes he held a much more serious look then he normal. “Listen, try to look around the walls and floor for any kind of switch that may get you out of there.” “What?” Rarity said tilting her head with wide eyes that frantically spun around the walls. “Please, just… just trust me. You can question me later,” Noble said and waved a hoof. “Those places always have a way out. If we’re lucky, it might get you to somewhere on that lower level. I’ll try to find a way down there.” “W-Wait, Noble!” Fluttershy fretted and struggled to sit up and look up at the stallion with trembling eyes. “D-Do you see Angel anywhere? He didn’t fall down here with us.” Noble blunk and looked up, squinting to search through the hall but saw nothing that resembled the little white rabbit. “N-No, sorry I don’t…” His tone lowered fading out with his posture dropping. Fluttershy hunkered “O-Oh no…” She turned to look at Soul hoping he may have some answer of reassurance but was instead met by a shrug and shaking head. “So, a switch,” Rarity said moving closer to the wall near a hole she had spotted. “This is the only opening down here. Maybe I can…” She looked at her hoof and carefully tried to slide it through, she bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes in terrified anticipation of what may be on the other side. “Do you feel air?” Noble asked hunkered down as he peered over the edge, ears up. “Yes, yes I do!” Rarity chanted. “Let’s see if I can find anything here…” She started tapping around the wall on the other side and eventually felt something solid. Without a second thought she tried to pull it and immediately the wall spun around taking Rarity with it. All three ponies winced and jumped back, Soul and Fluttershy exchanged glances with one another and looking up at Noble who held his breath as his eyes practically burned a hole in the wall. After a moment of silence Fluttershy’s heart jumped to her throat and she rushed to the hole with her fur standing on end as she begged through it. “Rarity! Oh goodness, are you alright? Please be alright.” “Don’t worry darling, I’m perfectly fine. I ended up in a hallway and it looks safe.” Rarity sighed and brushed her fur then continued speaking into the hole. “It was the torch on the right that works as a switch. Simply pull it downwards. Do be careful though, I would simply die if you got hurt any further because of me. I am dreadfully sorry once again, please let’s just get you out of there quickly.” Wild Soul called up as he backed away from the wall. “Hey pal, you think you can find a way down here?” A simple second look around was all Noble needed and he nodded. “I see a staircase over there. I’ll see where that leads and will try to meet all of you down there. You go ahead and flip the wall with Fluttershy; I’ll be fine.” The earth pony’s entire demeanor had changed, his eyes glared a bit, his posture more solid and even if he was afraid from this distance he seemed calm and vigilant. Soul couldn’t help but stare for a moment before nodding. “You do that, be careful.” He walked next to the torch by the hole, placing a hoof on it and looked at Fluttershy, tilting his head. “Are you ready?” Fluttershy slid against the wall and took a breath pressing her hooves and underbody tight against it and turning to protect her injured wing. “R-Ready…” Soul’s horn glew to hold Fluttershy’s wings in and attempt to help her if need be. “Coming!” With a deep breath he pulled the lever and the wall spun, swinging them into the hall where Rarity was ready to help support Fluttershy and greet them. Seeing the successful flip Noble let go of the lever, closing the trap and traveled to the stairs.
22. Shadow PassagesIn the halls of the Castle of Two Sisters, Noble Poet slowly made his way down the stair passage. He walked slowly, keeping his eyes open and ears perked, listening for any further traps that may be hidden within the castle walls. His only goal at this point was to get to the others and get them out of the castle as quickly as possible. Meanwhile Rarity tried to examine Fluttershy’s hurt wing, but all she could do was look and glance it awkwardly and try to reassure Fluttershy that everything would be fine. "I’m sorry darling… but I only know the basics of first aid, like how to act when one's ankle is twisted or if somepony is unconscious, but...“ Rarity gently stroked Fluttershy’s wing that she had lift upwards with her magic and quickly placed it back down at Fluttershy’s shutter. “Pegasus anatomy isn’t something I happen to know much about, so I’m completely helpless here…” she said with an empathetic look on her face. With a grimace and an eye closed the pegasus held her wing while laying on the ground but still found the strength to reply. "No, Rarity, it’s fine… I’m more concerned about Angel… Oh he’s probably lost and not to mention scared… He’s all alone in this big scary castle without a single friend around to help him...!” Fluttershy couldn’t stop thinking of Angel for even a second. She even tried to start walking again to go search for Angel regardless of her injury. Rarity didn’t allow her to do more than stand before using her magic to lower her back down. “Please dear, you can’t find Angle in the state you are in; let Noble come back and us figure out a way to get you the help you need first.” While Rarity and Fluttershy discussed what they wished to do Soul stood to the side focusing on keeping a light going and tapping his hoof to make it easier for Noble to find them. After a few short minutes Noble arrived at the group without seeing any further traps along the way. “Thanks buddy, the light and hoof tap were good ideas.” He looked over at Rarity who was hunkered down next to Fluttershy. He went over tapped her on the shoulder, “Rarity, may I?” Rarity blank and got up and backed up to stand on the other side of Fluttershy. “Do you know first aid somehow? Please tell me if there is anything at all I can do,” she said and lit up her horn for extra lighting as she bit her bottom lip watching them. Noble nodded in agreement and sat down next to the pegasus. “Fluttershy, how bad is it? Can you feel your wing?” He placed a hoof against her wing patting down it gently and watched the mare’s face. A sharp squeak escaped from Fluttershy as she tried to slide back grabbing her wing while her face was flushed in pain. “Y-Yes, somehow… b-but it still hurts very much! I don’t know how well I can support it right now.” After taking a closer look Noble nodded and gave a half face frown. “Well it does seem like it has swollen up quite a bit..." Noble turned to look at Rarity with a raise of his head and made eye contact. "Could you cast some kind of cooling spell on Fluttershy’s wing? We have to prevent it from swelling more.” Rarity’s cheeks grew rosy and she looked away, rubbing her neck "Oh, um… uh, well… This is really embarrassing, but finding gems is the only ‘special’ spell I capable of performing...” she chuckled awkwardly and darted her eyes from Soul to Fluttershy attempting to get him to step in but had to move toward nudging her head for Soul to notice her hints. Soul blank and shook his head, clearing it then stepped forward. "No worries, I’ll do it.” He walked next to Fluttershy and his horn started to glow orange, that was followed by an orange aura forming around Fluttershy’s wing. Small hits of blue and white waves crossed over the yellow feathers. The pegasus shook and squeaked closing her eyes and laying her head down on the ground as she attempted to limit her movement. "Oww! Cold…” "Don’t worry, this shouldn’t take long. It’s probably just a ligament injury…” Noble waved a hoof for Soul to stop and leaned in taking a better look at the wing and thought for a moment. He turned to look at Rarity and Soul again. “We need at least two light, clean objects we can use as braces, and then something clean and soft we can use as a bandage.” Jumping to action Rarity and Soul both nodded and ran in different directions. Rarity galloped over to a weak looking fabric that would be strong enough to hold Fluttershy’s wing, but weak enough to rip into smaller piece. On the other side of the hallway, Soul managed to find two sticks that seemed sturdy enough to work as braces. They both hurried back to show Noble what they found. Taking the materials Noble examined them in the light and attempted to move them away from everypony when he shook the cloth to dust it and wiped the sticks to be sure. "Yes, these will do. Now, Fluttershy, stay still and relaxed, I’ll try to be gentle.” “I’ll try…” Fluttershy said and looked away as she laid her head down. Noble asked Soul to hold the sticks on both sides of Fluttershy’s wing as he folded the cloth and began wrapping it in strips around the broken wing. With each pass Noble made around her wing he would look up at the mare’s face that for once was not covered by her long flowing pink mane. He watched her face for shutters or signs of pain but rarely saw any. Even in her condition and knowing next to nothing about her, Noble couldn’t help but get caught up in watching her. He would look down at the soft gentle feathered wings, her bright yellow fur that shined in the light and that extravagant mane. She was clearly among the most beautiful mare’s he has ever encountered and his heart beat rapidly while he tended to her. The pegasus laid relaxed through the bandaging and was surprised at how gentle and professional Noble was, she was able to close her eyes and relax in his care as if she was being treated by an actual nurse. She sat in silence, trusting herself over to the stallion remaining almost completely relaxed. Finally Noble finished with the wing and wrapped supports around her waist. He then wrapped the last layer around Fluttershy’s waist and tied it up. "There… That should be enough, it’s not hurting you is it?” he asked politely as he moved his gaze upward meeting Fluttershy’s eyes and pulled on them with a hoof to ensure they were tight enough. Noble slowly moved the hoof up, extending it to Fluttershy in order to help her up. “...It… it feels much better now… Th-thank you.” Fluttershy placed her hoof on his allowing him to help her get back on her hooves and after another glance at him looked down and back at her wing to examine it. Rarity cleared her throat, stepping forward. “Thank you so much for tending to Fluttershy’s wing ever so gracefully Noble. I’m simply amazed by your abilities… How ever did you know to look for a switch in that dusty old trap?” Noble’s heart jumped to his throat and he began to sweat and draw back from the inquisitive mare. “I-I, uhh… T-That’s the only thing I could think of, that’s all…” Before Rarity managed to inquire further Soul stepped forward, scratching his neck and keeping his eyes down with a pink color to his face. “You know, I’m surprised you’re still able to walk even after I crashed right on your back…” Rarity couldn’t help but give out a chuckle, covering her mouth. “No worries darling, I’m a tougher lady than you might think.” The pale stallion nodded. “Apparently.” He sat up straight and looked Rarity in the eyes as he continued with the pink now completely erased from his expression. “How the hay did you two end up in that trap anyway? The switch was located after the trap door.” Rarity blushed, her eyes hovered towards Fluttershy for a moment but quickly rose to the ceiling as she took a deep breath. “Wellll… I hate to jump to conclusions but, Angel must’ve stepped on it…” The horned stallion nodded maintaining eye contact with Rarity the entire time. “Ah… of course.” Fluttershy quickly lept up. “I-It wasn’t his fault! He couldn’t’ve know it was there…” “No no, darling of course not,” Rarity said and rubbed Fluttershy’s back and then turned to look at the stallions. “Now, I’d like to know how in Equestria you found your way here and why?” Rarity’s chin and eyebrows were raised though she realized it may not be the best angle and quickly whipped her hair turning her head with perked ears. “Not that i’m not glad or grateful you are here, but this castle is hidden deep within the Everfree Forest after all.” Soul nodded and pointed a hoof at his tan friend. “Well you have Noble to thank for that. I wanted sushi but he pushed us here. Though now seeing the situation I’m actually happy he did…” he said and lowered his head, bringing the hoof up and scratched his neck. The earth pony nodded and rubbed his other leg while watching the floor. “Y-Yeah, I suppose… I happen to have some small tracking skills, so I managed to track you and such…” He rubbed his foreleg more and clammed up. Eyes beaming Rarity stepped forward gazing at the stallion in a new found admiration. “You tracked us all the way out here? Wow… That is highly impressive, but… why? If you wanted to come with us, you could’ve simply asked and you wouldn’t have to go through all that effort.” Noble lifted his head up and looked at the artisan, shaking his head. “It-it’s not that, we came because I wanted to warn you about a Shadow Pony.” Rarity exchanged a glance with Fluttershy who raised a hoof puzzled but sunk her head down letting her hair blanket half of her face again. Rarity stepped forward and waved a hoof in small circles towards the stallions. “A Shadow Pony? What?” Soul looked at his teacher out of the corner of his eyes then looked back at Noble and gave a slow nod when their eyes met, urging him to continue. Eyes still scanning the room Noble paced slowly. “R-Right, that, um… It’s a story we heard from Applejack, that this castle is still haunted by Nightmare Moon’s old magic; and that at night it takes the form of a Shadow Pony. It is known as the Pony of Shadows apparently.” He stopped his story sitting down and looking up at the light peeking through cracks in the ceiling. Fluttershy shook and hunkered down, calling out with clattering teeth. “W-What?!!” A loud hoof stop came from Rarity with a huff as she put a hoof on Fluttershy’s back, rubbing it to calm her. “Wait, honestly? You came all the way through the Everfree Forest to warn us about a ghost? With all due respect, that must be the silliest thing I’ve heard all day.” Noble’s head reared back, his eyes narrowed towards the artisan and his voice grew deeper as he spoke to his and Soul’s defense. “It wasn’t just that… I was really worried about this castle and that something might have happened to you two. And seeing that something really did happen, I’m more than happy that we came.” Soul nodded and slid off his saddlebag. “There is one more reason though…” He rummaged through the bag until he pulled out the light blue purse and held it up in the light so Rarity could see it. “You might’ve missed this.” Jumping up Rarity clapped her hooves together. “My bag! Oh goodness, yes!” She immediately grabbed it with her magic and made sure not a single thing was missing from it and after rummaging gave a nod indicating that nothing was. “Thank you… for everything you’ve done so far. I might actually want to thank Applejack for telling you that silly little ghost story.” Fluttershy nudged the mare’s shoulder while staying close as she looked down the hallway in each directions. “B-but Rarity, what if it’s true! What about those screams I heard when I tried to get the tapestry down and the wall flipped?” Rarity patted Fluttershy’s hoof and set it down. “Darling, I already explained, that was most likely just an old security spell to scare away intruders.” Soul’s ears twitched and he leaned forward. “Wait, what screams?” The unicorn rubbed the back of her head gritting her teeth as she looked at the ground. “Oh, well you see... When we were trying to get this one tapestry down, it turned out to be some kind of secret passageway and it took Fluttershy with it, and while she was on the other side she claimed to hear some kind of screams there.” Nodding Noble lifted a hoof mid way in the air in order to interject. “I might actually have an explanation for that.” Rarity looked at him putting her hooves down with raised eyebrows. “Oh, what might that be?” While he spoke Noble moved his hooves, tapping them together and pointing around. “We… aren’t the only ones in here. Applejack and Rainbow kind of headed here shortly after you two left the farm in order to settle their ‘the most daring pony’ competition.” At the sound of the news the pale mare’s eyes widened and she drew back. “Applejack and Rainbow are here too?” Containing herself she lowered back and held her chin while speaking to herself, “Well, that explains a lot I presume.” The earth pony’s eyes opened wide and he snapped to attention. “Oh right! We need to find them and get out of this castle as quickly as possible so nopony else will get hurt.” He looked at Fluttershy disheartened then looked down the hall behind him and around the room thinking about all the other traps and problems the castle could hold. Rarity’s eyes grew wide and she took a moment to think then shook her head. “No, those two know how to take care of themselves. We need to get Fluttershy out of this place and to the hospital as soon as possible. And my client… well she will need to wait.” “What? No! Rarity, I’m not going to leave without Angel. I’m sorry but I absolutely refuse!” Fluttershy cried and sat down turning her nose up with closed eyes. Rarity leaned in wide eyed. She placed her hooves on the pegasi’s shoulders looking her in the eyes. “Fluttershy, you cannot intend to keep going around this castle in that condition. What if we come across another trap and your break your leg next? I can’t let that happen, it’s my fault I dragged you here in the first place.” With a loud gasp Fluttershy stepped back getting away from the mare’s hooves. “A-Are you really suggesting that I should abandon Angel?!” Rarity let out a loud gasp. “No, of course not darling! I simply want you out of here and to get that wing examined. I can stay here with…” she glanced back and forth between the stallions. “With Noble, and Soul can take you to doctor.” Soul’s mouth narrowed, pulling his head back and he just kept staring at Rarity for a moment. “Well that’s dominant.” Rarity flicked a hoof at her pupil. “I’m just trying to think of the best solution darling. For one reason or another Noble clearly knows what he is doing so it would be safer if he accompanied me here while we look for Angel.” As the group sat there Noble grew ever more restless darting his eyes around the hall with a hoof elevated to move. “I think that sounds reasonable. Whatever we are doing we should get going.” Fluttershy crossed her hooves as she planted her flank firmly on the ground. “I-I am not! I would never forgive myself if I left. Angel would think I abandoned him and what if he was hurt? I’m the only one he knows well enough to trust.” Rarity stammered and looked between the stallions with pleading eyes and could only get out a single word, “Fluttershy---” Soul sighed and smacked his face. He stepped between the mares holding up hooves to both of them, cutting their conversation short. “We are just wasting time here. Fluttershy isn’t willing to leave and that’s it, so let me sum up this conversation for you.” He pointed towards Fluttershy. “‘I want to come.’” He then pointed at Rarity. “‘No!’” He shifted back to Fluttershy. “‘I won’t leave without Angel; Period.’” He faced Rarity again with a dull expression. “So now your only option to save time is to say ‘okay’.” The whole group froze in silence for a few moments, just staring at the unicorn stallion with no idea how to react to the mild but sudden outburst. “Wow, Soul...” Noble eventually said, blinking while he stood on the edge of the group. “H-Harsh, but... I think he does have a point...” Fluttershy said crossing her hooves and looked to Rarity again giving a flip of her hair and huff. “What if it was Opal out there instead of Angel? Would you really want to leave and let other ponies look for her while you lie in your bed worrying about every single possible thing that could’ve happened to her?” With a wrinkled nose Rarity hemmed and hawed to herself. “...I see your point.” She dropped her head and sighed. “Alright, we look for him together.” She turned to the stallions and pointed to each of them. “What about you two? I would really appreciate it if you would stay with us, just in case something happens again. Please?” Her eyes grew wide and damp and she lifted up her bottom lip trying to beg. Noble looked at Soul. He knew the promise he made but he felt pulled toward Rarity by his heart strings. He turned his head further away from Rarity, trying to prevent eye contact. He connected with soul and shifted his eyes, pointing to the mares. He tried to keep a flat expression but his eyebrows were still sulking. The unicorn stallion thought about how late it was getting and shook his head with a shrug. “I’m not sure how much use I can be, but I can’t leave all by myself either. So I guess it would be best if we stay.” The earth pony let out a breath of air and nodded, standing slightly taller. “No pony or animal left behind after all.” “Perfect! Thank you so much.” Rarity had jumped back to her usual charming self and hovered over the pegasus a bit. “Fluttershy, I do have one condition please, I’d like you to stay close to Noble for your own safety.” “Alright, I guess that would be best…” Fluttershy agreed as she stood up and walked over to Noble slowly and turned her head away from him when she was beside him, still embarrassed by their introduction. Rarity nodded approving of Fluttershy and Noble standing by one another’s side. She then pointed at her pupil. “And Soul, somepony needs to keep you safe too so you can stay close to me.” Soul sighed and nodded in agreement, getting up and moving closer to his teacher. “Again, dominant…” With everyone straightened away, Rarity took the lead but as she took her first step Noble cleared his throat. “Umm, Rarity, no offense but I feel like I should take command here. I have already noticed some other traps, like one on the stairs and got around it safely.” Rarity blank rapidly and looked down the hall then back at the stallion. “Oh, well… you did know best with that trap. Yes, if you would lead that could be magnificent.” The group nodded once more and Noble walked past and stopped up front to allow Fluttershy to get close to him so she could walk two steps behind and beside him while Soul and Rarity stayed close, taking up the rear. As Noble lead the group through the halls, his senses alert as he scanned the corridors while they traveled. Rarity kept a creative eye out for art pieces she could gather for her client, as through all the commotion she decided that if she were to stay she must fulfill her job. While attempting not to interrupt Noble’s obvious concentration, Rarity leaned in to whisper to Soul, “Could you help me keep an eye out for some creative tapestries, dear? I desperately need some that are in good taste for my client.” Her eyes cut back to Noble and she furrowed her brow. “Soul, does Noble seem… different to you?” Soul looked at the tan stallion raising an eyebrow, he took a moment to look but he knew what Rarity was talking about and there was no hiding it. “Well yes, I don’t want to discourage him though. This could be a good situation for him after all.” While Rarity and Soul talked behind her, Fluttershy couldn’t resist watching Noble as they walked. She of course watched where she was going but looked at the stallion puzzled by how different he seemed as opposed to earlier. She would open her lips to speak but fell silent, not allowing herself to interrupt his focus. Without another word as they all kept their eyes peeled for first and most important Angel as well as a second for artwork that Rarity could take with her they walked through another passageway into yet another voluminous room. The group stayed together, there was not much furniture throughout the room except for old carpets, dusty tables and minor tapestries bordering the walls and hanging from the remains of the ceiling. Even though the ceiling had holes and the entire castle was rotting away the stone held firm. In the moonlight the ponies all noticed the centerpieces of the room. Two large thrones with large dark tapestries hanging above them. Everypony sat in awe, the light seemed to gleam off the thrones as if beckoning the group closer. Noble looked over the floor and around the room. “It seems safe enough, just of course be on your guard. We don’t need any more surprises.” As they separated Rarity rushed to the tapestries. Her eyes twinkled in joy as she saw through the dust and tares that accumulated over the years. “Oh the things these tapestries could say if they could speak.” “Umm, is this really the best time to be thinking about tapestries…?” Fluttershy asked with a light groan, her eyebrows dropping flat and ears falling back. “We still haven’t seen a single sign of Angel or the others.” “Oh Fluttershy, I know you are worried sick, but it will just take me a second to get those tapestries down,” Rarity said as she turned to look at her pegasus friend and smiled, drawing in a little and tightening her lips, feeling slightly uncomfortable then cut her gaze as she proceeded over to the over to the left throne. Noble took this opportunity and stepped toward Fluttershy. “How is the wing? Has the pain decreased?” He reached up with his hoof and gently touched her injured wing still watching her to gage the pain. He was worried about her both as a possible future friend and as the injured member of their group knowing she should get the most attention. Fluttershy winced as Noble touched her wing; while the regular pain had stopped it was still very tender and delicate. “Oww…!” She cringed with a shake down her spine but didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry, it wasn’t you… or it was you,… it’s still just a little tender. It is better thanks to you though.” She put her hoof on Nobles and gently moved it down giving a small smile. “Thank you Noble.” Noble nodded. “Of course... Um… Just tell me immediately if you feel like the bandages are getting loose or... W-Well if something else comes up...” He stammered all the way through barely able to put his words together but finishing his sentence. He gulped and shook his head trying to clear it before he continued. “I’m sorry for your pet Fluttershy... I really have to admire your care and determination for him, you clearly care about him a lot.” Fluttershy nodded back looking slightly more pleased but the hint of happiness disintegrated as the conversation shifted. “Thank you… I’m sure no pony would leave their pet behind.” The stallion turned and sat next to the mare facing away from the others. “Yeah… I can imagine how you feel, I would probably be just as worried as you if my cats were in the same situation.” Fluttershy’s interest peaked and she looked Noble in the eyes as she spoke more quickly. “Oh… You have cats?” “Yes, I do. Back at my dad’s place. I have two, one boy and one girl, Threads and Fangs.” He chuckled at the memory, looking up. “They are like my children and are so loving and loyal. My dad of course takes care of them while I’m away but they are right there when I get back. I just can’t bring them with me since they hate traveling and no apartment I’ve been in accepts animals. Also I couldn’t stand separating them from my dad. I know he likes having them around too.” “Aww, They sound lovely… Cat’s are such wonderful creatures and it’s sweet that you feel like they are your babies,” Fluttershy said turning her head with a wide charmed smile. Soul, who was sitting listening to the conversation had found his moment to interject. “Cat’s are the best creatures in this whole land. Period.” Fluttershy nodded. “Oh yes, well I actually love all animals, but well I understand your thought too.” She then turned back to Noble. “S-So… I heard you are from Canterlot too?” Noble leaned back, looking over the newly curious mare. “Yep, that’s right.” Fluttershy scraped her hoof on the ground. “Well… Y-You really don’t seem like a Canterlot pony at all… No offense of course.” The earth pony chuckled through his nose. “I might actually take that as a compliment, thank you... Yeah, I’m not born or raised in Canterlot. I was born in Horseshoe Bay and later moved to Appleloosa with my parents. I didn’t move to Canterlot till much later age.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened and she became more at ease. “O-Oh! I see. Appleloosa sure is a nice and small town, one of the most ideal places a pony could live in my opinion… So quaint.” Noble chuckled, and still looked out the corners of his eyes to see Rarity and then over to Soul before looking back. “I can agree with that. After living on multiple places, I have to say Canterlot certainly wasn’t the right place for me.” “Y-Yes, I wouldn’t like to live there either.” Fluttershy fiddled with her hooves and made another push in, looking up with big eyes. “M-May I… ask what made you to move out of there?” The stallion became more rigid and focused on the conversation. “I-I uh… Well it was because I happened to get a job from Canterlot, and it was the kind of job I had been preparing for for quite a while so I immediately took the chance.” “Oh, so it wasn’t the kind of job you would’ve gotten elsewhere?” Her eyebrows lifted and she tried to back up after seeing Noble straighten up, allowing him to have more room. Wrinkling his mouth Noble rubbed the side of his head. “Not really, it was a special kind of job that only Canterlot could’ve offered… Um, look it’s a subject I would rather not talk about.” “Sorry Noble! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come off as rude...” The pegasus quickly waved her hooves, scared she crossed some line and she didn’t want to start off on the wrong hoof any more than she already had. As Fluttershy apologized Noble was able to relax his muscles and could return to looking about the room and thinking of the paths they took so far without the worry of further questioning for now. “N-No it’s fine, you didn’t!” Soul, who felt out of place near Fluttershy and Noble’s conversation, walked over to Rarity who was just staring at the tapestry. “You think that thing will come down?” Rarity nodded. “Most certainly! At least I think so. This one doesn’t seem as thick as the other one’s Fluttershy and I have come across. I’ll get it down in no time!” A blue aura appeared around the blue fabric. But as she tried to pull it down, she met resistance and after trying to lift her head to help she had to dig in her hooves pushing with them trying to strengthen her magic. Rarity stopped and coughed. "Huh… This might take a second or two... “ Soul triggered his magic and pointed his horn to the tapestry. "I could help.” Rarity raised a foreleg in front of Soul. “Oh, no you don’t have to! I shall figure this out. Besides, old fabrics like this must be handled with care and finesse so as it does not rip.” “You are the expert,” Soul replied, dissipating his glow and feverishly scratched his joints. Rarity couldn’t help but notice how Soul had been walking funny and would rub his sides as he walked earlier. “You’ve... been scratching yourself for a while now there darling... “ She leaned to the side to see his ruffled fur and red skin underneath better. “It’s starting to look pretty ugly.” Speaking through gritted teeth Soul put his hooves down which shook. “I can’t help it, this place is like poison to my skin.” “Goodness, wait a moment.” Rarity opened her purse and started digging until she pulled out a small tube. “Here, this should be helpful.” “Oh, thanks…” He turned it to look at the label and noticed it was the same cream he had at his apartment. “How come you’re carrying salve with you?” The mare looked around and only seeing Noble and Fluttershy a distance away she leaned in. “Well, don’t tell anypony about this, but…” She moved mane away from her neck, revealing a bright red spot. Soul’s head jumped and he blunk a few times not believing his eyes but a smile formed on his lips as he recognized how he found another that shared his problem. “You have atopia too?” Rarity nodded and shielded her lips from the others, “I do. Well, that and a dust allergy. A simply dreadful thing to have, isn’t it?” “You can say that again.” He nodded, keeping his voice low for the mare and stayed close. “It’s robbed me of many good night sleeps.” The mare sighed and sat down after inspecting the ground below her and finding it acceptable. “I don’t know about you but for me having such a unsightly allergy is an extremely good motivator to avoid any kind of dirt, don’t you think?” “Ah, I’m extremely bad at that…” He squeezed out a dab of the ointment and began rubbing it against his fur. “I tend to keep it under control with creams and ointments.” Rarity took the tube back with her magic and after she turned away from the others applied some herself. “That sounds really expensive though.” The stallion let out a relieved sigh as the cream began working rapidly. “No, my mother works at a pharmacy back in Manehattan so I get them from her.” The cream send a shiver through Rarity’s back and she nodded. “Oh well that is handy.” Soul nodded as response and started walking away. "Anyway, try to manage, I will see if this room contains anything else interesting. ” Rarity nodded and waved a hoof dismissively. “Yes, you do that. I’ll call for you all when I’m done.” As Soul went down the short stairs, he tried to search for something that would actually be useful for something, but all he saw were pony head statues. Though one statue caught Souls attention. He walked over to it and turned his head and craned it in, rather impressed by the sight. It was a regular pony head statue but with a gorgeous, sparkling, grand emerald necklace that glimmered in the moonlight. He sat there for a moment, as he watched and examined the stone leaning in and looking around it for imperfections. If it really had remained in the castle for this long, it surely had lasted almost unrealistically well. Not a single scratch could be seen on it and the only thing taking away from the look was the dust it had acquired. Soul frowned and then looked down at the medallion hanging around his neck. Even if it was a gift, he never would be able to shake off the feeling that he should do or get something for her in return. He thought that now he might’ve found just the right thing. He grinned and reached up at the gem. Rarity’s eyes darted from the tapestries and noticed Soul about to take the emerald. She looked up at her horn and noticed that it had no reaction even at the short distance between her and the gem. “Soul! No, something is wrong with that gem!” Noble caught wind of Soul reaching for the fixated orb and lunged toward him though he and Rarity were both too late. Soul took the gem and a door unlatched below him, Soul fell through along with Noble whose hooves had just reached the ground the moment the trapdoor opened. The stallions laid on the ground and slowly rose to their hooves again as they regained their composure, checked for injuries and noticed their situation, being on the other side of the trap this time. Soul resided over to Noble. “Uh… W-What happened just now…?” he glanced around himself, but the room around him was twisting like a funhouse from his perspective. He looked at Noble whose forehead was scrunched up and huffed as he brushed himself off. Noble puffed his cheek slightly. “Soul… I thought we already learned that this castle is full of traps…” He sighed, releasing tension after thinking about how Soul must feel then looked up. Soul flinched as his heart sank and he looked up. “Wait, a trap door, again?! Ugh, yes, great, lovely…” He let out a groan and ran a hoof through his mane. “Are you two alright down there?” Rarity’s voice echoed into the room from above as she appeared by the edge shining light down. “Soul what happened up here?” Soul shook his head and looked up defeated. “My bad! Didn’t think there would be a trap set in such weird spot… I shall take my punishment for my stupidity!” Suddenly, they felt the floor under them as it started to shake intensely. None of them were sure what was going to happen but they knew it couldn’t be good. Then everypony realized the severity of their situation. The walls in the room had begun moving inward. Rarity instantly screamed and Fluttershy jumped back covering her head with her hooves. “Oh no… no no no no no NO, I didn’t mean it literally!! This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening!” Soul yelled loud enough to make his throat sore as he trotted back and forth through the small and shrinking room, aimlessly just trying to press against anything that his hooves could reach, his heart pounded like a rock song in his chest. The pressure on his chest made him hyperventilate as his sight grew blurry from the danger of the situation. “Oh my Celestia!! We have to get you two out of there immediately! Oh, come on Rarity, think, think!!” Rarity scribed her hoofs so quickly in panic that she almost fell into the room herself, but luckily she managed to push back to maintain her balance. Fluttershy gasped heavily as tears started forming in her eyes. She was unable to say even a single word between her hyperventilating, as she looked back towards the pit hearing the awful scraping. Panic has clearly start to take over Noble too but he seemed surprisingly calm considering how bad situation they are in. He clearly trembled in fear, but his eyes darted around the room as if he was searching every inch for something. His concentration though was broken by the blue aura that surrounded him and Soul. Rarity was desperately trying to get them out of the pit, no matter what. “Don’t worry! You’ll be fine! You-will-be-fine!!" She yelled as she tried to lift the stallions, but just barely managed to keep them in place Souls heart beat faster and faster as the walls threateningly approached them second by second. "Rarity, stop! That’s pointless! Even I don’t have enough strength in my magic to lift one of you that high!" “Rarity, listen to Soul! There’s a mechanism that will stops the walls, I just have to find it. But the walls will most likely crush us if you don’t let go of us!" Noble commanded as he tried to struggle out of Rarity’s grip. Rarity immediately released them and fell to the ground, crying hysterically, "Please, just hurry! I can’t watch!" She covered her eyes with a foreleg and turned her head away. Noble trotted back over to the approaching left wall and started examining it again and thought to himself, "Come on come on… Remember Noble, stay calm that’s what you’ve learned in training… Ugh…. Now i just have to remember exactly what she thought me about traps in there too… think… think…” Noble’s eyes lit up as they widened. “That’s it! Soul look for a button on the walls that are moving in. The reset mechanism has to be on there!” Noble quickly scanned over his wall, sweat beginning to drip off of him as the walls moved ever closer and he knew there were mere seconds left. Soul shouted back to Noble after in a panic, his voice cracking, “I don’t think it’s on this side!” Noble scanned moving closer and finally noticed a small square just barely jutting out, it’s sides had been cut so that it blended in with the main wall more and was more difficult to locate. Noble lunged at it pushing it in as far as it would go. The walls stopped dead in their tracks before finally retracting back to their original locations. The stallions both breathed a sigh of relief, their legs shook but they were relieved to be safe, practically falling over. A loud metallic bang echoed through the small room sparked Rarity and Fluttershy’s attention making them jump. They looked down into the pit fearing the worst. They saw both Noble and Soul still there unscathed, staring at a newly opened door. Rarity and Fluttershy, pierced by the sound of the walls retracting looked back down in the pit and collapsed in the throne room letting out big sighs. Rarity crawled over to the edge and looked down, holding her chest. “I almost had a heart attack!” "I think I’m going to pass out…” Fluttershy said and held her head while her heart practically was on the edge of stopping. Soul looked up at Rarity with wide eyes. “We are the ones who almost got crushed!” Rarity looked at Soul her ears pinned back on her head, glaring down. “We’re the ones who almost lost friends!” she sobbed. Soul paused for a brief moment, just staring upwards at the mares before giving any kind of respond, his serious look becoming more calm. “But everything’s fine now and we’re alright. That’s what matters in the end.” Noble whom had been been regulating his breathing stood at the new doorway, opened his eyes and looked up at the mares. “Hey! We will try to find our way back up there!” Fluttershy crawled to the edge and peaked at Noble. "I’m so glad you are unharmed… P-Please, keep your eyes open for Angel too! I’d really appreciate that…” Noble nodded and gave a fading timid smile, “Of course we will.” He tapped a hoof to his forehead and raised it as he walked through the door. As the two stallions stepped out of the room, Rarity and Fluttershy took their time to put themselves together. Rarity stood up, let out a sneeze, and brushed off her mane and legs since she deplored getting dirt on herself. Fluttershy simply sighed and stood up, she turned toward Rarity seeming more relaxed. “Well... While we wait…” Rarity looked at the thrones out of the corner of her eye. “I shall try to pull these other tapestries down again,” she said walking toward the moon tapestry once more. “Umm… are you sure we should still be trying to gather tapestries? I mean after all that has happened that is.” Fluttershy’s voice quivered as she questioned Rarity’s goal, trying to be polite. “Don’t worry dear, I’ll simply use my magic and won’t have to touch a single thing,” Rarity said as she walked up to the throne and put her front two hooves on it craning her neck up. She triggered her magic and once again tried to figure out how to get the tapestry down. Fluttershy looked back, putting a hoof to her bottom lip, the hair on her back raised further in this spooky castle. “Rarity, I still have a bad feeling about this. I think we should-” A loud sparking sound and a grown from Rarity cut Fluttershy off mid sentence, and the tapestry fell back onto the hooks with a loud clank. Hearing what happened to her friend almost made Fluttershy’s heart stop as she flung around in time, and saw the unicorn fly backwards and collapse to the ground. “Rarity!!!” Fluttershy screamed her throat sore and ran to the side of her friend. “Are you alright?! What happened?!” “Ohh, my head...!” Rarity held her horn as the magic surrounding her horn slowly dissipated, her eyes were still closed but she lifted her head up toward Fluttershy. “I feel like I fell from Canterlot…” Fluttershy sat beside Rarity and trembled and rubbed Rarity’s back as she looked around the room wishing somepony would appear to help. “Oh please please please tell me you are alright! Please, Rarity please! Oh; I knew we should’ve just stayed put! I just--- “ “Fluttershy, calm down! I’m alright!” The unicorn shoved a hoof over her friends mouth silencing her and pushed her back forcefully making Fluttershy take a step back while she kept her eyes closed tight and rubbed her temples as she kept a hoof out keeping Fluttershy away. Rarity’s sudden outburst left Fluttershy completely speechless, but at least she was relieved to see her friend still breathing. Eventually she found the words she was looking for. “Oh thank goodness, Rarity !-I thought something really bad happened again! I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened to you! I’m glad to see you are---” Rarity’s voice eased, “Fluttershy, you can calm down, really. I’m alright…” Rarity was still dizzy from the shock, which was clearly visible through her lack of balance and her speech being a bit slurred. Fluttershy tilted her head “Are you sure…? You don’t… seem alright… And your eyes, I thought I saw---” she said, leaning in toward Rarity reaching out a hoof to comfort her again, reaching for her forehead but Rarity cut her off and turned to look at her. She shook her head closing her eyes and blank a few times seeing Fluttershy back in focus. She grabbed Fluttershy’s leg that had reached for her head. "Hmm? What about my eyes?” Fluttershy took a good look at Rarity’s eyes, but she eventually just pulled away and shook her head. “Oh, never mind… I was just seeing things I guess…” Rarity kept staring at Fluttershy her eyebrow raised. “That shock was undeniably harsh. It must’ve been another spell cast for thieves for real this time… Ugh, I should’ve known better! Valuable pieces of art like these in a throne room must be protected!” Suddenly she let out a sneeze. "Ugh, and my dust allergy doesn’t make this any better… I’ve got too much of it on me already.” She walked over to the left throne and climbed halfway on it, looking up at the piece of fabric. Fluttershy timidly followed her. “Are you sure you should get near that tapestry again? I mean... umm… never mind,” she mumbled and stepped backwards a few steps, lowering her head. “Don’t worry darling. I’m sure the danger has passed, after all what else could go wrong? There wouldn’t be two traps for one tapestry now would there?” Rarity sat down and turned around as she attempted to reassure Fluttershy though as soon as she finished speaking, the room filled with the sound of an organ playing. The throne where Rarity sat, flipped backwards casting her into a different room of the castle leaving Fluttershy alone in the throne room. Fluttershy let out an earth shaking shriek. “Rarity!!!” She leapt forward as the throne span back into the room now empty and almost collided with it. After looking at the throne for a moment and biting her lip she hung her head down and backed up, shaking. When she got to the bottom of the stairs between the thrones she sat and looked back around the empty and decaying room, brushing and holding her tail for comfort. “I need to go after her… wait… no I need to wait until Soul and Noble get back. It would be better to go after her together… Please get back soon...” She shrank into a ball moving down to the base floor between the two thrones, cowering like a mouse in a trap that could only look out at the open sky.
23. Rampage InsideAuthor's Note Just if you're getting a bit numb with the castle chapters, good news: There's only one chapter left for the castle episode. 23. Rampage Inside Deep within the labyrinth that is the castle, Noble and Soul walked through the halls, trying to find their way back to Fluttershy and Rarity, who they had to leave in the throne room. The moon was rising higher into the sky and anxiety and fear drove the stallions onward. Noble’s eyes scoured the hall as they walked while he remained vigilant for any kind of traps. Even while he lead the path and continued his attempts to map out the castle and search for the white rabbit, within his head his mind buzzed with questions for Soul. After minutes of walking and some silence he stopped and forced the unicorn to stop with him. Noble turned his head only slightly so that Soul could hear his low mournful voice. “Soul… Did I do the right thing, when I agreed to let Fluttershy stay? Do you think I should’ve been more… assertive and demanded she leave?” Soul sighed and shook his head, he pushed Noble’s flank to the side and walked beside him. He scratched under his chin then his back but stopped long enough to look out of the corner of his eyes at his friend. “I don’t think you could’ve done anything to change her mind even if you brought an army here.” “I just felt like I should’ve done more… I mean I barely did anything...” Noble sighed, half of his mouth sulked while he watched the floor replaying the events earlier in his head. “It’s irrelevant now, you need to focus on navigation and traps. I just want this whole trip to end already,” Soul said as he started to grow impatient as he looked up at the rising moon, thinking about all he could be doing tonight right now instead. “Are you sure this is really the right way after all? I mean, I trust you and all, but we’ve been walking this hallway forever and everything looks the same.” Noble looked up and around at windows, holes, suits of armor and displays to verify along with rethinking of the basic paths they took and shape of the castle. “Yes... Most likely. If i’m correct, above us should be the crossroad we’ve gone through before.” Soul shook his head, he still almost couldn’t believe that Noble seemed to know where to go. “You’re impossible, you know that…?” After a while of walking again, they finally came across the crossroad. Noble tried to figure out where they were and what way they should take, but before he finished his analysis, his thoughts were interrupted by horrified screams coming from the both sides of the crossroad. They both winced at first and got back to back, but when they listened as the screams grew more focused, they could actually recognize the voices and what they were saying. “Applejack!! Applejack stop fooling around already, this isn’t fun anymore!” the yelling from the right echoed as hooves galloped closer. “Rainbow, I can hear ya!! Where are ya?!” the other voice echoed through the other hallway. The horrified mare's hooves echoed through the hallway as they both grew closer to the stallions at the ready. A second later Soul and Noble saw Applejack and Rainbow galloping from the shadows toward them from opposite directions. The two scared mares were running aimlessly, their eyes closed and just yelling each other's name. The stallions were clearly in their collision course and Soul was already moving out of the way, as Noble turned seeing both and braced himself, ready to try to stop both mares. The mares continued their blind charge, seeing figures in the dark they leapt toward the stallions with open forelegs. They gripped the stallions tight believing it to be one another. Rainbow rubbed her cheek on Souls chest and was gasping. “Applejack! I-I’m not scared or anything but I thought you left and I didn’t want a forfeit!” “T-That’s right, it’s the same for me! A-Ah want ya to say it right to my face w-when you give up!” Applejack replied trying to keep her confidence but not being able to control the trimmer in her voice as she squeezed Noble tight in a cheek to cheek embrace. Soul grunted and his eyebrows drew flat. “Somepony kill me now…” He pushed at Rainbow’s chest trying to get away. “WHY IN THE WORLD ARE YOU PONYVILLE FOLKS SO CLINGY?!” Rainbow’s jaw dropped as she opened her eyes and realized who it actually was. "Wild?!” As Applejack heard the commotion, she realized she couldn’t be hugging Rainbow. “Wait what?” She opened her eyes and pulled back her head as she spoke in a nervous tone still holding on while her entire body hovered above the ground by Noble’s neck. Noble stood there with a his face bright red and ears pinned behind his head, his heart throbbed rapidly. “H-Hi boss…” “Noble?!” Applejack quickly hopped down getting back on her hooves, not liking to be seen in such a helpless light, especially by a pony like Noble. “Don’t get any funny ideas, pal!” Rainbow Dash got up after being pushed off of Soul and dusted herself off regaining her cool and calm composure. “Uhh…” She cleared her throat. “What are you guys doing here?! You have totally ruined our competition now!” she scoffed, not being able to come up with a good excuse as to why she grabbed him. Rainbow’s voice registered again in Applejack’s head, while she held her mouth tight with wide eyes looking at Noble. She jumped at the distraction. “Oh Rainbow, you are still here after all. Good. I, uhh.. didn’t want ta win by disqualification after all.” “Well that doesn’t matter much anymore!” Rainbow said and looked at the stallions with narrow glaring eyes but also looked off to the side tensing up as she thought about being in the castle alone again. Soul groaned and rubbed his eyes. “If you would’ve listened to what I had to say back at the farm, you would not be wasting your time here in the first place. You would’ve bumped into Rarity or Fluttershy sooner or later.” “What was that?” Applejack said, her eyes bulging while her ears twitched. “Yer tellin me Rarity and... Fluttershy are here too...?” Soul nodded, placing his hoof back on the ground with a dull fed up look. “Rarity’s got a job to gather tapestries from this castle for a customer and restore them.” Applejack and Rainbow winced and looked away as not to allow Soul to look them eyes at their mistake, they both sat and wished they had listened to him now. Pushing her hat back to rub a hoof through her mane Applejack scoped over the ground then looked up at the stallions, still mighty embarrassed before them. “But, uh… That explains why they would be here, but what are y’all doin here? You two are some ah the last ponies I reckoned I’d find here.” Soul and Noble looked at each other knowing it would take far too long to explain everything to the mares in detail. Soul was clearly not willing to go into any long story and tried to push everypony along but the mares refused to take another step without an explanation. The stallions looked at one another, Noble stricken with the decision and Soul fed up with the castle. They plopped their flanks on the floor and took a breath to begin their explanation. They tried to make everything as short and quick as possible, especially Soul who would tap his hoof on the floor when Noble began going off on his long winded explanations. The stallions only stated the most important details like how they decided to come to the castle and why, how they found their way there in the first place. When they got to the part where they described Noble’s tracking and navigation, Applejack and Rainbow immediately tried to inquire as to how in Equestria Noble has such skills, but the conversation was dismissed before it even began. The stallions continued and got to the point where they found Rarity and Fluttershy, told them about Fluttershy’s condition and how Noble treated Fluttershy as soon as he got to them. They also mentioned how they may have unknowingly collided previously too and all the unexplained situation were caused by Rarity and Fluttershy bumping into traps or passageways. The mares were shocked to hear that their friend was injured and began to realize that although they were still worried about the ghost, they both recognized that they had to focus on the dangers hidden within the castle’s walls. The stallions concluded their explanation by stating how they fell threw another trap and were attempting to reunite with the others when they met the two in the hall. The mares let the information sink in for a minute and looked at one another before Applejack broke the silence. "Oh, uh… Well I feel pretty silly now… we’re just lucky we didn’t get hurt runnin around, going all haywire on account of a old ghost story.” Rainbow scoffed. “Don’t worry. I’m sure if there was any danger I could have gotten us out of it. Also I never believed in the shadow pony for even a second.” She puffed out her chest putting her hooves on her hips as she smiled and a drip of sweat formed on her head as she worried about being found out in her lie. Applejack frowned. “Sure ya weren’t and we just gotta hope we didn’t hurt no pony runnin around. Anyway… We gotta find the others and get outta here.” Applejack raised a hoof, pointing at Rainbow Dash, speaking in a glum concerned tone. “But that means we have to drop the competition…” The pegasus lifted off the ground flapping slowly above the others, stretching her arms out. “Bah, who cares about that, it’s ruined already! Our friends are out there in danger at the mercy of this castle! We have to go and save them!” “Right, we can settle it some other time.” Applejack nodded and looked around at the four possible paths then scratched her mane under her hat. “So uh… does anypony know where ta go?” “Give me a minute...” Noble turned to the direction that he and Soul were headed toward when Applejack and Rainbow showed up. Noble put the tip of his hoof between his eyes as he focused and scoured the room looking for markers to remind him where to go. When his eyes transfixed to a one certain tapestries, it clicked to him. “Wait! We’ve passed that tapestry before!” He rushed over to a slightly torn tapestry to verify that it was one he had noticed earlier as a marker. He closed his eyes for a moment then opened them with intense eyes. “I know how to get to the throne room from here. Follow me everypony.” Rainbow and Applejack looked at Noble confused, wondering how in Equestria he could possibly know the way by just seeing a single tapestry. Applejack especially was surprised to see Noble being so assertive. She hasn’t known him for long, but long enough to notice Noble’s timidness. At this point, they just wanted to find their friends as quickly and possible and get out of the castle, so they bottled all of their questions for now and followed behind the stallion. As the group began to progress again, almost everypony started to relax as the larger group brought a sense of comfort and stability to the mares. While Noble kept his guard up because he was leading, Soul could not find a bit of relief and only grew more anxious and annoyed the longer they stayed. He trailed the group as he scratched all over and huffed at the situation he allowed himself to be dragged into. During the walk, Applejack and Rainbow went into detail about everything they experienced in the castle so far. They talked about tapestries moving on their own, creepy legs touching them and trapdoors. The stallions were almost positive that all the mares had to have been accidentally scaring one another all night. Noble in turn described what happened to them on their journey in the detail he wanted to give earlier. Rainbow bursted out laughing when Noble described how he convinced Soul to come to the castle with him. Applejack was still having hard time processing the fact that Noble was in the lead. The country mare wasn’t one to ponder questions she had for long and quickly asked the stallion straight where he learned to keep such a cool head and handle in the situations they had been in. Once again Noble deflected the question quickly stopping the group, lying about a trap and informed them that he should stay focused on being a lookout. “We are almost there everypony,” Noble said looking back at the group behind him as they were mere meters away from the entrance. As the entered the room, Soul couldn’t believe his eyes. “Noble, you deserve a medal…” “Ah can’t believe it! Ya were actually right!” Applejack replied as her eyes were greeted by natural moon light and the opening into a larger room that made her gleam with hope that they could get out. The group entered further into the room but froze as they noticed a shadowy figure in the corner at the opposite side of the room which made the group slow down and stare, but suddenly they heard the familiar voice. “Ra-Rarity… Noble… anypony?!” the small voice squeaked into the darkness. The group instantly knew who the voice belonged to and a spark of positive energy flashed through them all. “Fluttershy!” Rainbow flew through the opening almost glomping the pegasus but managed to stop right in front of her muzzle. Fluttershy let out a squeak and almost fell, but calmed down immediately as she realized who it was. She was so delighted to see her multicolored friend there in front of her that she jumped at her, throwing her forelegs around the mare’s neck. The other three ponies galloped through the entrance greeting Fluttershy who was relieved to see that it was her friends and not somepony or something else. Applejack mosied over to hug Fluttershy as the stallions remained behind and allowed the mares to finish their moment. As Applejack pulled back, she noticed Fluttershy’s eyes were damp and gloomy. “Sugercube, have ya been cryin?” The group went silent and took another look at Fluttershy, them also noticing the damp, red, puffy eyes that had to be from fresh tears. Soul flinched and quickly looked over the group to the throne room, not seeing his tutor anywhere. “Don’t tell me your current mood has something to do with Rarity not being here…” Sinking into the ground with every passing second, Fluttershy nodded slowly as if expecting to be scolded. “I-I heard this loud noise from an organ echoing through the room; a-and suddenly that throne on the left just flipped and took Rarity with it! It was awful, just awful!” The entire group was caught paralyzed by this. “An organ that… activated a trap...?” Soul restated his muscles growing more tense. “Are you fricking kidding me?!” he barked and stomped his hoof as hard he could and approached Fluttershy with clenched teeth, his gaze practically pinned her against the floor. “We have to head out once again for ANOTHER fricking search quest and roam this damn castle ALL OVER AGAIN?!” The group froze again, this time due to Soul’s outburst. Mixes of anger and loss filled the other’s faces. Rainbow’s eyes widened. “Wild! What in Equestria?!” With a scowl she tried to race at the stallion ready to give him a piece of her mind but was stopped by Applejack that knew how close the pegasi are. After she pulled Rainbow to the ground with her teeth and held up a hoof to stop her, leaving the blue pegasus crossing her hooves. Applejack took a breath and stepped forward. She wanted to push Soul away too with all her heart but knew it wouldn’t solve anything. She spoke in the calmest voice she could. “Hey pal. What was that for?” The unicorn glared and as soon as he opened his mouth to respond it was covered by Noble to turned him around to face him away from the group. Noble looked into Soul’s eyes with lowered concerned eyes, speaking slowly and softly. “Soul… You’re raising your voice at her... I know this is hard, please just hold on for little longer.” Soul instantly pushed the hoof away and triggered his horn. “DON’T YOU SAY EVEN A---” At that instant when he felt his magic had triggered, the stallion flinched almost as if he was struck. His anger filled eyes faded away and he shook with a cold sweat starting to drip from his head. Noble let out a big sigh and sat down, he dug out a water bottle from his saddle back giving it to Soul. The unicorn took deep, long breaths and grabbed the bottle, taking a good sip of the water and swiped the sweat away. He took a moment to recompose himself and when he spoke again it was much softer, almost scared tone. “S-Sorry… I’m just so exhausted I can barely even think straight… I mean we almost got crushed tonight...” His pupils were large and shaking as he looked at Fluttershy. “A-Apologies, I didn’t mean to be so aggressive… It won’t happen again. Forgive me...” Fluttershy was silent and just nodded timidly; she held her forelegs close in front of her. Soul hung his head and walked away from the group in silence as the mares watched for a moment then tended to their yellow friend. Noble looked at Soul, he felt like a weight was in his chest and wanted to call out or hug his friend but knew it would be of no use given their current situation. Applejack walked over to Fluttershy and helped her up and rubbed her back. “S-So there actually is somepony else in this castle…?” With a turn of his head Noble pulled himself together enough to stand tall to retake command as he looked over the ponies he had before him that made the weight in his chest grow. “Well if it’s somepony that knows the castle and isn’t scared to play an organ here, I don’t want to run into them.” Everypony nodded and watched Noble rub his chin while he glared at the ground. It was obvious he was thinking intently about something and they looked to him for guidance. As everypony sat there quietly for a moment Noble’s eyes shot open wide as if in a flash of lightning. He jumped to his hooves and tapped a hoof on the ground with a smile. “I think I have an idea that everypony would be happy with.” The group looked at the earth pony stallion with hesitant, judging eyes but were ready to listen. Clearing his throat Noble began, “As a group we make our way back to the main hall searching for any sign of Angel or Rarity along the way. Assuming we don’t find them in that short time, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Soul can all go back home through the woods and get other ponies to come help us search with proper supplies. Everyone were listening carefully to Noble and nodded as he talked. Noble continued, “I will stay here with Fluttershy, ensuring her safety and helping navigate the halls in the search for Angel. That will be the most efficient.” As he finished he looked around for reactions, dwelling on Soul the longest. He couldn’t imagine how he must have felt and what he’d need to do to make this night up to him. The group nodded and Soul piped up. “Can I make one other suggestion?” He waited to see Noble’s head nod before he continued. “I think we should have Rainbow dash fly up to that window over there and maybe even out through a hole in the ceiling if she thinks she could get through safely and look for Rarity from an aerial view. That could save time.” Noble looked at Rainbow, the window and the ceiling. “Well I guess that would be fine. Needless to say, just be careful Rainbow Dash.” Applejack nodded too. “Great, then it’s agreed! Rainbow, fly up there and see if ya can see Rarity.” She pointed at the window between the two tapestries. Rainbow stood up right. “G-Gotcha!” She flew over to the window and wiped the glass clean, then scanned the ground outside. “Well, it seems like she’s not there anymore!” She flew over to the holes in the ceiling and after looking at the stone for a moment decided against trying to get through it and flew back to the group, passed them and flew into the entrance of the hallway they just came from. “Come on everypony! Hurry up!” The group looked at one another and Noble took the lead walking at a brisk pace through the halls, this time focusing strictly on getting back and feeling much more at ease about traps in this part of the castle. As they walked Fluttershy continued to call out for Angel as others watched for anything out of the ordinary, that could be coming for them. After minutes of walking the group arrived at the main hall. Just as they entered, the main hall, it was filled with a high pitched yell and horrifying scream that caused everypony to jump together holding one another or looking around for the source of the noise in horror. Out of nowhere a hole opened in the wall above them and two figures flew in colliding with the group. Everything went momentarily black for everypony as they got back up or scurried away from the figures that landed on top of them. All still in shock they heard laugh coming from a figure that was sitting atop the other. “See Rarity! I told you I knew this castle like the back of my hoof, didn’t I silly? This is the best playground EVER!!!” She threw her hooves up in the air as she made enough noise to wake the dead. “Pinkie Pie, I would appreciate it if would be a dear and, PLEASE GET OFF OF ME!” Rarity got to her hooves as Pinkie rolled over the ground landing on all four of hers. “I’ve had quite ENOUGH! I shall claim a war against this ugly, filthy piece of rock!!!” Soul flinched as he turned and could perceive the ponies better. "R-Rarity…? P-Pinkie Pie?” “Rarity?! Pinkie?” everyone repeated perking up and turning to see the mares with open mouths. Rarity looked like like she had been thrown through the Everfree Forest itself. Her mane and tail were frazzled and filled with leaves, sticks and small rocks. Though Pinkie Pie was just smiling and looked more like she’d been through a funhouse. Everypony began walking back towards the mares and Soul was the first to address the artisan’s looks. “At least you seem to be mostly alright---” Rarity jolted her head to look at Soul, Soul could see the fire in her eyes and she sent a chill down his spine as she got directly in front of him glaring into his very soul. “I am most certainly not alright!!!” The pale unicorn cowered and backed up. He held a hoof up in an effort to prevent her from getting any closer. “Well apologies, I sure can relate!” With a huff Rarity turned around so quickly, her tail almost smacked Soul in the face. She froze and her eye began to twitch. She realized she was face to face with the very first tapestries she saw as she entered the castle. "I am so so so SO DONE WITH THIS CASTLE! I don’t care anymore! Big or small, a tapestry comes with me and that is it! I won’t leave without one! PERIOD!” She charged the tapestry and taking it in her hooves started to pull it down. Applejack walked towards Rarity and spun her around, holding her shoulders forcing her to stay still and look her in the eyes. “Rarity calm down! You’re acting like a nutcase! Just breath!” Rarity squirmed in Applejack’s hooves, trying to look back at the artwork and finally exhaled deeply going limp, she was still frazzled but seemed to be coming down but still spoke sarcastically with flat eyes. “Well I’m delighted to see you too darling.” “Oh Rarity!” Fluttershy lunged and wrapped her forelegs around the unicorn mare. “Thank Celestia you’re alright!! Where in Equestria did you go? I was so worried.” Rarity sighed again, falling to sit and shook her head. “Oh I don’t even want to know myself...” Noble walked over to Pinkie Pie with a curious eye. “Well… Seems like we have another story to hear…” “Noble!!!” Pinkie immediately grabbed the stallion into a hug and startled him. She caught him and they fell to the floor mid leap. Rainbow looked back and forth between the two new mares and then up at the wall where the passage they fell through was nowhere to be seen now. “You know I’m not even surprised...” “Surprised? For what? That I’m here?” She giggled and let go of Noble, getting to her hooves again. “I come here to play all the time!!! This place is like a funhouse!!!” Applejack’s ears twitched as she caught wind of the conversation. “Play…? I thought you were gonna spend the whole day at school ringing a bell?” “Oh yes, that’s the funny thing! I thought I was going to ring it all week but I only had to ring it for 5 minutes.” She giggled to herself recalling the teacher quickly dismissing her after many minutes of ringing the bell. Applejack looked away, preventing eye contact and ruffled the back of her mane. “So, have ya been here the whole time...?” Pinkie nodded. “Yep! Ever since I left the school. It was lucky Rarity bumped into me, I come here to play so often that I know the castle in and out! All the best slides lead to the main hall!” Something clicked in Rainbow’s mind and she jumped forward piping up. “Whoa whoa whoa, hold on there! Are you saying you’ve been making traps go off just for fun?!” Pinkie giggled but turned her head at Rainbow’s bitter mood. “What’s the point of leaving them set? That’s no fun.” As soon as those words left Pinkie’s mouth Rainbow almost exploded at the mare. “Pinkie, you’ve been scaring and endangering all of us with those traps and you’ve been setting them off just like that! You might’ve put all of us in danger by doing that! You even actually hurt Fluttershy! Just look at her wing!” The pink mare’s cheer crashed as if it hit a brick wall. She leaned around Rainbow and saw the bandages wrapped around Fluttershy’s abdomen. As her hair deflated she spoke softer with sorrow in her voice. “W-What? I did that…? Fluttershy, I’m sorry!!!!” “N-No! It’s alright, i’m sure it must’ve been An-” Fluttershy tried to reassure her friend but was cut off mid sentence. “Sorry?! You’re sorry?!” Rainbow continued to lay into Pinkie Pie about how foolish she was, while Noble frowned as he knew just how Pinkie must be feeling and wanted to say anything he could to distract the pegasi from her rant. Wild Soul grunted and rubbed his head. A headache was taking over and he didn’t want to be in that castle another moment with all these ponies. He walked for the door already thinking about how well he will sleep that evening. As he reached the door he pushed to no avail, he pressed harder, thrusting his body into the door with no give in sight. “Noble! Come help me with this stupid door.” Focus on the mares was broken by the command. “Huh? Oh right, door.” Noble walked over and pushed on the door without a bit of give. He stepped back turning his head looking at the door baffled. “This doesn’t have a latch does it?” He noticed a lock and turned it hearing and seeing it lock then turned it to unlocked once more. He tried pulling on the door with no results either. “What’s going on?” Soul’s vision turned cloudy. “WHAT?!” He shook his head violently side to side as he moved it down then rubbed his temples before jumping up. “Okay, that’s it, I can’t take any gimmicks anymore! Stand aside!” He dragged Noble behind him and ignited his horn and charged a huge energy blast towards the door but it ended up bouncing away almost hitting Rainbow and Pinkie. Rainbow jumped back then glared at Soul crouched as if she were ready to pounce. “Woah hey, what’s your deal?!” Soul huffed through his nose and only turned his head slightly to acknowledge the mare as little as possible. “This door is kind of locked!” “What?! Are you serious?!” Rainbow Dash huffed too and glared at Pinkie standing her ground. “You didn’t lock the door too did you?” Pinkie Pie slammed her hooves on the ground and puffed out her cheeks before screaming at the top of her lungs, “I DID NOT!” Getting her mane blown back by the scream Rainbow was rumbled but shook it off and pointed a hoof at the pink mare. “Well then who did?! It definitely wasn’t locked when we got here!” “Maybe that blasted organ player?” Rarity interjected frazzled and annoyed as she also glared around the room. Applejack spoke looking at Rarity, “Well it did flip you with that throne!” A lightbulb lit up in Applejack’s head and she stepped up next to Rainbow Dash focused on Pinkie. “Pinkie, I swear if you’ve been playing an organ here, I---” Pinkie screamed and flailed her forelegs to her sides, she looked for a moment like she herself was about to explode. “Why is everypony yelling at me so angrily?! I haven’t been playing any organs here!” Rarity joined the group blaming Pinkie. “Well you’ve still been activating those horrible traps!” She turned to Applejack and Rainbow with a hiss in her voice. “And you two! You and your barbaric competition was what got you into danger into first place and maybe even us too!” The arguments showed no signs of stopping and fatigue and hunger only exacerbated the situation as they lashed at one another’s throats with their shrill sharpened words. They were trapped, the team crumbling and resolve was stretching thin like a rubber band about to snap. The only pony that showed any sign of calmness and a desire to repair the situation while she cowered was Fluttershy. The feat and slight anger of seeing her friends like this almost paralyzed her, but she knew she couldn’t just stand around and watch. She timidly tried to approach the group and calm her friends but instead was coldly snapped at and her efforts were ignored and rendered futile. Soul stomped his hooves and screamed over the others. “SHUT UP!!! SHUT UP SHUT UP, JUST SHUT UP FOR A SINGLE MOMENT!! I CAN’T TAKE THIS CRAP ANYMORE!!! YOU ARE ALL UNBEARABLE! I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M STUCK HERE WITH ALL OF YOU FOALS OF A GOAT, WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST... JUST DIE AND ROT!!” Everypony froze in their tracks and looked at Soul with wide eyes. Stammering for words Noble put some together and tried to speak in as calm a voice as he could. “S-Soul! W-What the I-I… That is not how you talk to friends!” Soul’s blood boiled and he waved an entire leg as he shouted. “FRIENDS?! Are you kidding me?! Excluding you, not a single pony in this room is a friend to me!” Rarity gasped and flipped her head getting hair out of her eyes as she marched over to Soul looking him dead in the eyes. “I beg your pardon?!” Soul huffed smoke out of his nostrils. “No Rarity, not even you! Even if you tell me to be your friend, I have never considered you as a friend for a second! That’s just not how it works for me!” The artisan pulled back covering her mouth. “WHAT---” Eyes full of fire Soul spat. “That’s not how it works for me Rarity! It’s just not the way it freaking works for me damn it!!! You don’t just come to me and ASK for my friendship!!!” Just as some of the mares made moves toward Soul, Noble leapt in front and blocked their path. “Everypony, STOP!” he exclaimed boldly glaring darting his eyes around from one pony to the next. “Everypony calm down. You’re all acting like idiots. Soul, please just take a breather, you’re becoming…” He looked Soul in the eyes to show what he was thinking. Soul’s anger had almost completely overtaken him, every thought he had was pushing him towards destroying the castle down to the last brick. He could barely see anything behind his hazy vision. “I-I…” Soul knew exactly what his friend was getting at, he withered where he stood, his face grew stoic. He started to feverishly rub his head and screamed at the top of his lungs almost bursting into tears. It was like he was getting torn apart. With that Soul turned and trotted slowly to the door through the group, he sat down then leaned his head down and fell over sliding into a fetal position looking like an infant sent to the corner. Rarity spoke while she walked toward Noble looking around him at her pupil. “Soul wait just a moment!! I want to hear your explanation-!!!” “Who cares! He doesn’t need us and we don’t need him. I’ll find my own way out of this castle if somepony doesn’t block it with some trap,” Rainbow said folding her forelegs over one another and turned her nose away from Pinkie. The pink mare turned red and shook. “FOR THE LAST TIME I DIDN’T LOCK THE DOOR!” Rainbow, Pinkie and Applejack began screaming at one another once again while Rarity tried to get around Noble who blocked her way and Fluttershy crawled back laying on the ground and began crying out for Angel once again. “Noble, let me through this instant! I must speak with him he’s my apprentice!” Rarity ordered as she pushed left and right but getting blocked every way by Noble. “No! Please he just needs time. He’s my friend, I’ll handle this, just try to calm down the others,” Noble pleaded, his eyes looked back at his friend clearly worried but his mind was set. He knew if Soul spoke to anyone in this state it would only end poorly. Rarity put her hoof down and looked Noble square in the eyes. “I don’t know how you two handle one another but you must know the Canterlot way. When there is an issue as sophisticated ponies we must talk them out, post haste!” Just hearing her boast about Canterlotians filled Noble with memories of scorn and frustration. His mind swirled with everypony that that tried to take advantage of him, how he struggled while serving ponies that looked down on him, the times he was replaced by ponies that would ‘look better in the public eye’ and worst of all everything he went through with Double Bit. He grew silent and bowed his head. Even though she saw a chance to pass Rarity noticed the sudden abrupt silence that overcame the stallion. Noble’s eyes were closed and covered in a shadow of darkness. His mouth was slightly tilted down, he breathed slowly but his heartrate was elevating. His blood began to boil and the veins in his forelegs began to become more pronounced. “You… You don’t know anything about that!” He exclaimed roaring like a dragon then lifted his forehooves and slammed them on the ground as hard as he could sending shots of pain that he was almost too angry to recognize. The vibrations from Noble’s slam shook some nearby podiums that were already worn. One supporting a large bust shook enough to crumple and smash against the wall and shook the ceiling over their heads. A large piece of rock fell loose and hurtled toward Rarity right below it. Noble saw the piece falling and looked at the mare. “EVERYPONY! That is enough!” At that moment a magic aura surrounded every last one of them along with the rock pulled the ponies apart forcing their muzzles closed as they all shook in panic as they looked around as best they could to see what held them. Silence landed upon the hall, rendering it as haunting as it was when everyone arrived there the first time.
24. The "Shadow Pony"The group laid helpless enveloped in a strange aura that silenced them and prevented them from moving. A familiar voice came from the top of the stairs where the glow from three candles flickered. “What in the name of Equestria is going on here?” She looked over the group and moved the rock that she was lucky to stop just in time and gently placed it on the ground by the wall. “I guess I got here just in time.” Applejack was the first to speak as she recognized the voice. She could spot the familiar face out of the corner of her eye and spotted a speck of green scales. “Twilight? Spike?” Along with the others, Fluttershy looked toward the top of the stairs and her eyes bulged as she saw her pet standing on the top beside Twilight. “Angel!” she yelled and fidgeted more as she wished to embrace her beloved pet but stopped and looked at him. “You’re alright!!” Unable to see Twilight, Rainbow’s eyes widened. “Twilight?! Why are you here?” “I’ve been doing research here all night with Spike. What are YOU all doing here.” Her gaze shifted to the stallions and she waved a hoof between them and glared momentarily at Noble who she had seen slam the ground causing the rock to fall. “Especially you two...” Noble didn’t fight the spell but looked up at Twilight while his head was stuck facing down and he remained silent as his heart raced. Spike stretched his neck out looking closer at each of the stallions. “Are those two the stallions you told me about?” Twilight nodded and looked back down at Noble. His eyebrows were down and even under her control she felt like his eyes were intensely glaring at her. Spike chuckled looking over everypony there. “Boy, you all look rough. You look like you’ve all been through some kind of madhouse or something; even from here.” The alicorn nudged Spike and gave a disapproving look. She then looked over everypony and released her friends, and then looked at both stallions again before she released Soul and with another moment of hesitation, Noble. Suddenly regaining their mobility caused many of them to trip or fall to the ground as she let them go. Soul who had finally opened his eyes and was ready to observe the surroundings was immediately drawn by the sight of Spike. “...Is that a dragon?” Spike waved to Soul and leaned against the banister, breathing on his claws and rubbing them on his chest as he tried to look cool, hoping for some attention. “Hey there.” Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes away and shaking her head at her assistant. “Now can somepony please explain all of this to me and why I found all of you fighting here?” Everypony looked at each other and after they had a chance to calm down they all sulked or rubbed their forelegs thinking of all the awful things they said to one another. Out of the seven Rainbow Dash and Applejack were the ones that stepped forward. They first looked at each other waiting for one another to start, but after a moment Twilight suggested Applejack go first. Applejack nodded and started giving a short version of her and Rainbows story on how they got to the castle and what they experienced. After Applejack had finished her story it was Rarity’s turn, who stepped up and explained in short her and Fluttershy’s own reasons why they came to the castle and explained how they met Soul and Noble and how big of a help they were with Fluttershy’s wing and what happened after that. Applejack looked at the group and then Rarity. “I reckon we all have some apologies to say…” With some awkward pauses the group nodded and walked around apologizing to one another and making amends. Noble and Rarity looked at one another. Noble exhaled composing himself and felt a release of his anger but Rarity was the first to get in a word. “I-I’m terribly sorry if something I said upset you. I didn’t-” The earth pony closed his eyes and held up a hoof. “No. I’m sorry, I’m glad you are ok.” His tone was cold and concise. The two walked over to Soul and helped him to his feet brushing him off together as if they were his parents dusting him off after he fell in dirt. With a far more soft and tender voice, Noble questioned, “Is everything alright buddy...?” Soul instantly pulled away when he barely got onto his hooves and rubbed his face, still shaking noticeably. He shook his body and waved away the hooves. “Yeah yeah...” Everypony looked at Soul, their questioning eyes filled with uneasiness of what to say to him but it was clear an apology was expected from him as well. A hush fell over the room, Soul’s ears fell and his eyes scoured the ground before looking up at the group. “I’m so sorry everypony… I can’t believe what I said to you all…” Rainbow spoke out for the group speaking in a light hearted tone. “Well all I’ve got to say is, wow. At least you made it clear early on that we shouldn’t make you stressed. I mean yikes.” She chuckled which lead to the group breaking out and chuckling together as they looked at one another. The laughter crashed to a halt as a clang and roar from the organ filled the halls with a low note. The castle shook and ponies fur stood on end as they looked around and shivered. Fluttershy dropped to the ground covering her head and pulled Angel in underneath her. “T-There’s the organ again!!!” “Yes, the organ… I was on my way to figure out who was playing it when I bumped into all of you.” Twilight raised the candlestick with her magic. She stood tall and called out an order to her friends. “Everypony, calm down and follow me. Be on your guard.” The group galloped to Twilight without a second thought, the fear still present but a light forming within them where they refused to let each other down. They gathered behind Spike and Twilight in a circle with Twilight at the head. The princess looked down at Soul and Noble who stood together at the bottom of the stairs, Noble’s eyes still looked stern and unwavering. Twilight knew she couldn’t leave the stallions at the entrance and didn’t want to, she wanted to keep an eye on Noble personally but felt slightly more comfortable about Soul. “Soul, I’d like for you to get in the middle of the group. Noble… you stay beside me and help me look for traps and maneuver through this castle.” The stallions looked at one another then back at the door and Soul took the lead up the stairs forming in just as Twilight asked of them. The group moved through the halls that twisted and turned. Twilight recalled the layout of the castle she read about while with Spike and Angel and knew many of the traps, though Noble still kept an eye out for traps as he walked beside her. While they walked Noble felt tense, he had a lump in his throat and a nervous cold sweat down his spine. He looked back occasionally to the group that walked approximately a meter behind Twilight and himself. As he continued to scour for traps he leaned toward Twilight. “Princess, I think it would be best for us to speak, in private some time. No need to bring others into this.” Twilight’s eyes grew larger and shifted toward the stallion. She slowed down unsure of what to do but knew it was not the time to make a scene. She thought quickly and came up with what she believed would be the safest option. “Oh? What do you mean? What do we need to speak in private about that my friends can’t hear?” The stallion’s stomach turned and he almost tripped over his own hooves and looked back at the ponies behind them that seemed to barely notice what Twilight said. “I- uhh. Oh, what? No sorry, it’s nothing. Err- I just… hopeless flirting, that’s all.” He chuckled taking the lead. The others looked puzzled and AJ and Rarity facehoofed but followed as Twilight galloped and took the lead once more with a feeling of relief as she claimed a small victory. Through the twists and turns the organ grew louder and more clear. The melody filled the halls and penetrated the ponies hearts, it was a slow gentle melody that both ripped at the heart and pushed them forward toward the torturous resonance. They followed the crashing base and floating soft cords until they reached the entrance of another large room on the right in a hallway. The room was filled with pipes from the organ and illuminated by candles throughout the space. Twilight froze in the hallway before a single hoof stepped out of the shadows and peeked around the wall into the room. Everypony came to a halt behind Twilight and peered around her or jumped to the other side to look inside to see a single shrouded figure in the center of the room playing the organ. On a stool spinning the song was a black cloaked figure that seemed to blend in with the shadows and forced everypony to draw back together. Not much could be gathered from the figure other than it seemed to be in the shape of a pony. The entity continued to play a low wavering tone. It filled the air with a light mellow desire while low notes crashed down on the ponies very souls, weighing down their hearts in the sea. The high notes make them yearn for more and nopony could help feeling uplifted. Twilight stood at the head of the group, still pressed back into them and whispered among them. “Who in Equestria is that…?” Spike clung to the wall and turned away from the door grabbing hold of one of Twilight’s legs hiding his head. “A-a ghost gardener obsessed with it’s job, w-which it clearly isn’t very good at…?” Cowering at the other wall, ready to bolt from the scene if need be, Soul looked up in toward the figure, his head nearly touching the floor. “N-Not a bad guess at all.” Rarity held tight to her friends but closed her eyes tightly where she couldn’t help but become deeply enthralled in the music. “That melody she’s playing surely is something unique…” Pinkie peeked over Twilight’s head, pushing her down. She spoke in a whisper but louder than others. “Oooh! Maybe she comes here to play too!” Others quickly covered Pinkie’s mouth and hissed for her to quiet down. Twilight gently pushed Pinkie off and she stepped forward on her own, pushing Spike back to safety. “You all, stay here. I’ll see what this is all about.” She ignited her horn, ready to take any kind of action if the situation needed it and stepped into the moonlight. “You there!” They playing immediately ceased and in a flash the figure jumped off the bench turning to face Twilight. The pony’s face was still shrouded by the shadow of the robes and it quickly pulled it down further and backed up. It looked about, pausing at every possible exit and tried to ensure it was alone, luckily it did not see the group of ponies peering in from the darkness of the hallway behind Twilight. The princess lowered her horn and opened her wings showing her authority and tried to deter the figure from attacking. “Who are you and what are you doing in this castle? How have you found your way here?” The figure spoke in a soft light voice that showed the figure was a mare without doubt. The voice was slow and simple but was very reserved and sent a chill through the ponies spines. “You… You’re an alicorn!” The group almost calmed down simply by hearing her speak, but the chill shook them and made them hunker down once more. Twilight took a step forward which seemed to push back the cool air filling the room and gave the others some much needed reassurance. “You didn’t answer my question. Who are you and what are you doing here?” “Why does it have any matter to you? This place is owned by no one anymore so such things as trespassing no longer exist on these grounds. We’re all free to be here.” The hooded mare stood tall without fear even with Twilight threatening her with magic. “I didn’t expect to see any of your life here… Especially an alicorn…” Rarity huffed and took the moment to stomp into the room drawing attention to herself as she appear behind and to the side of Twilight. “Well just so you are aware, missy! That organ you have been playing has been releasing traps throughout the castle endangering my and my friends lives!” The hooded figure stepped back quickly and raised it’s head as Rarity entered the light. “Is that so, unicorn?” She looks toward the area where Rarity came from trying to see around Twilight without revealing herself then looked back at the organ for a moment. “I have not been aware of this...” Twilight took another step forward to stand between Rarity and the dark pony. She watched the figure for movement like a hawk and felt more confident as Rarity entered the room. “Right... Look, I suppose it doesn’t matter why you are here or how, but if you are intentionally here to cause harm for anypony, I can’t and won’t let you go on any further!” The voice became faster as the figure turned and looked about. “No! I wish no harm for any.” Rainbow Dash roared into the room flying above and just behind Twilight. “Then what’s your deal? You’re not… a ghost, right?” The shadow mare winced and jumped back the moment Rainbow flew in, becoming more and more on guard. “No, I’m not a ghost. I’m not here to cause harm. I’m simply passing through and looked for shelter in this castle.” She took a step forward, hesitating while looking at Twilight still ready to strike. The princess closed her wings and lifted her head up enough to look toward the shadow covered face with more ease. “Passing through?” The figure nodded. “Yes…. I… You see, I used to live here long ago and I’m here to reminisce my past home...” “What?!” Everyone shouted as they jumped out of the shadows. “Wait, how is that possible?!” Noble’s voice echoed and he pushed his way through the group and stood up near Twilight. “This place has been vaccant for thousands of years! There is no way you could’ve lived here!” When the figure saw Noble, she immediately leapt back and gasped, lifting a leg as if trying to shield herself. Soul reached out a hoof towards Noble. “Noble, let’s stay back, I don’t think we have any right to interfere.” “Look out!” Twilight yelled and casted a big shield over the group just in time for i to protect them from certain injury as a rock flew right at them and crashed on the shield. The spell and rubble put out several of the candles leaving dark patches throughout the room. The princess shrunk her barrier as soon as she saw everyone was alright and flapped her wings, taking to the sky. “Hey! What’s with you all of the sudden! I thought you didn’t want to cause us any harm!” “STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU TWO!” The figure yelled and pointed at the stallions. She was gasping and turned her head away holding it through the cloak and holding herself in the shadows. While still ready for other debris Twilight landed, her face was scrunched together and she took a step forward pressing forward with her light. She desperately wanted to see the mare’s face. “What’s the matter? What’s gotten into you all of the sudden?” The figure backed off flailing a leg toward the group. “P-Please just whatever you do, keep those two stallions away from me!!! No one come near me!” At that instance the mare lept in the air, wings opened and before anypony could react all of the candles were extinguished and the figure vanished. “H-hey! Wait!!” Twilight yelled and looked about for the pegasus filling the room with light. “You won’t find her.” Rainbow took to the air and flew over to a broken window looking out of it through a small hole. “She was faster than any pegasus I’ve ever seen. She may give me a run for my money. How did she get out through this hole?! Even I can’t do that!” She held a hoof up and shivered at the sharp glass then flew back down to the others. “She’s long gone, no sign of her outside.” Filled with awe Twilight looked over the ground and up at the hole that only Rainbow was able to notice she vanished from. “If you say so, Rainbow. Thank you... Is everypony ok?” A moment passed as everypony looked around at one another seeing that they were all still there and safe and the room filled with nods. As Twilight sighed in relief and continued searching the ground for anything, she noticed two large feathers, barely noticeable on the floor. She picked them up and instantly noticed that they weren’t just normal pegasus feathers. As she held them up in the room she noticed the light passing almost completely through them. She turned off her horn for a moment and held them up to the moon light with the same result before illuminating her horn once more. “Transparent feathers…? I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a thing… I can’t even remember reading about anything like this from anywhere.” Abruptly turning Twilight glared at the stallions. “Noble, Soul!” “Do speak,” Soul said as he stood beside the earth stallion now. Twilight spun around and walked up to the two. She squinted her eyes, glaring as she looked each of them in the eyes. “Do you know that pegasi from somewhere? She didn’t fly off the handle until she saw you two.” Soul looked at the opening the figure flew out of and rubbed his left temple. “I didn’t recognize her voice from anywhere at least… Kinda hard to recognize anypony under a hood anyway.” Noble was shaken by the look but shook his head glancing back and looked about. “I can’t think of anything either…” Applejack and Rainbow saw a glimmer of something on the ground by the organ. When the two approached the organ they immediately noticed some gears and parts on the floor, and an open door on the side of the organ. A huff and Applejack brushed her hat up, lifting a gear and squinting at it. “Well that explains those single keys we heard. Guess she had to do some repair work…” Once the group decided they could no longer do anything with the organ except take a few parts off it to make sure it was no longer functional anymore, they returned to the tower Twilight set up in. They decided it was far too late and dangerous to venture through the woods unnecessarily and after enjoying some of the snacks Twilight brought for her reading and enjoying water from a flowing spring channel in an extra room, the group was able to calm down. Once the group calmed down and made their way back to the tower, they finally got to to fill their bellies with the food Twilight had brought with her, and clean themselves up with bright water. With everypony reunited, things were finally calming down. Rarity had finally found a piece of cloth she was able to mend, Fluttershy sat and cuddled with Angel finally at ease even with her injured wing, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash finally calming down. Noble gazed out the window while Soul sat in the corner writing to Mineral and telling everything that has happened to them tonight. Twilight sat by candlelight as she tried to read another book but found herself drifting off the page to look at the translucent feathers left by the hooded mare. Even though he was enjoying a comic Spike couldn’t help but notice Twilight. “Still thinking about that pegasus?” Speaking softly, the princess leaned in so the others wouldn’t be disturbed, her eyebrows turned down as if she ended a good book. “How could I not be thinking about her? Nothing about her made sense. Ugh, I just wish I could’ve stopped her and gotten more answers before she got away...” Spike opened his arms wide palms up being far less discrete then threw them across one another. “Well there’s certainly nothing we can do about it now.” Twilight sighed. “I know Spike. The thing that bothers me the most is how… anxious she got after seeing…” She turned to look at the stallions, seeing them out of the corner of her narrowed eyes, leaned in closer to Spike lowering her voice to a barely audible whisper, “Noble and Soul.” Spike nodded and scratched his chin and tried to lean back with his comic book. “Yeah, it was super weird… Maybe she was just having… you know, those mares issues.” “Huh?” Twilight’s eyebrows raised and her head tilted as she drew back speaking more casually now. “Mare issues?” The dragon sighed and rolled his eyes. He put his comic over his stomach and raised a hand. “You know, that thing you told me about where you mares once a month get---” “SPIKE!!!” Twilight flushed bright red and immediately grabbed him and wrapped his mouth closed with her hooves. “THAT’S ONE OF THOSE HUSH HUSH THINGS.” Everyone’s attention snapped to the two. Spike shoved the hoof away, rubbed an arm over his mouth and made spitting and gagging noises, “Geeze Twilight, wash those before you shove them in my mouth.” He then walked over to the stallions to join their company. “Hey, you two. We never had time for proper introduction.” Soul looked up his book and from rubbing in more ointment that Rarity had for him, he tilted his head with a raised eyebrow. “Is it necessary at this point?” The dragon shrugged. “Well not really. I’m Spike and the number one assistant of Princess Twilight Sparkle. That’s pretty much all you need to know.” “Plain and simple. I like it.” Soul bowed his head with a small smile and sent his next message to Mineral. Spike couldn’t help but smile wider and gave a full bow in return. “You are Wild Soul? The new apprentice of Rarity?” he questioned and then looked up and down at Noble. “And you, Noble Poet. The pony who lost his job and got one from Applejack?” Noble nodded to greet him as well. “Pleased to meet you, Spike. I’ll try to remember your name, please forgive me if I forget.” The pale stallion nodded as well as he looked up after reading the reply that just appeared. “Yeah, your kind are a rare sight for us.” Before Spike could strike up any further conversation with the stallions, Rarity joined the group’s atmosphere walking with an air of caution. “Soul…” Soul immediately frowned and sulked. “Rarity. Um, just a second…” He picked up his pen and wrote a goodbye to Mineral and then put the book aside. The mare’s hooves were sweaty and she couldn’t maintain eye contact as she bit her bottom lip. She stood in silence for a moment as her eyes wondered around the room. “Back in the main hall, what you said…” she finally said and even managed to speak clearly and directly. “Did you really mean it? That we’re… not friends?” Taking a moment of silence before he breathed deeply and sighed. “Look, I… yeah, I did. I meant it.” He pulled his hooves in, tucking them under him. “Is that… outburst gonna have a negative effect considering my future as your apprentice…?” Rarity’s ears flinched and she drew back wide eyed at the very idea. “You cannot be serious… THAT’S what’s on your mind?!” When Noble saw where the situation was going he immediately stood up and tapped the mare on the shoulder. “Um, Rarity… Come here for a second.” Noble’s request was almost completely unheard by the mare who waved a hoof but froze as the words registered in her head. “I’m kind of busy dealing with---” The earth pony stepped forward coming between the two and catching Rarity’s attention. He looked her in the eyes. His eyes were large and the light blue brought out the mare’s heart. “P-Please, just come.” Rarity looked between the stallions, she yearned to go with Soul but her mind told her otherwise. With a deep sigh she nodded and solemnly followed Noble out into the hall. “Alright then, what is it?” Taking a deep breath before he spoke Noble looked Rarity in the eyes. He reached out and after having a hoof hoover around Rarity’s shoulder for a bit he placed gently touched it as he spoke. “Please, forgive Soul for how he was and what he said back in the main hall…” “I won’t do anything before I get some explanation out of him!” She turned her head looking back towards the room practically fuming. Noble’s ears dropped even lower and pulled his hoof back but waved it, pulling her attention back. “T-That’s not a very good idea to ask him straight about it…” Her voice sharpened and she leaned in directing her frustration towards the earth pony. “He’s the one who said all those nonsensical things so he’s the one who shall explain to me!” With a step back Noble cringed keeping a hoof up in an attempt to stop the unicorn. “Rarity, just give ME a moment to explain, you’re not going to get anything you'd like out of Soul.” “Alright, fine…” Rarity sat down and snapped her chin up in the air. She waved a hoof through the air with closed eyes. “Speak.” “Thank you...” Noble closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes slowly gathering his thoughts about what he needed to say. “First, don’t hate Soul for how he acted back in the main hall. That’s not typical for him at all, and this was the first time I’ve see him that angry. This whole night has been absurd and put him under an exponential amount of stress.” Rarity nodded while she held a hoof under her chin. “I can understand that, yes…” Noble put his hooves together and sighed. “You see, I don’t know how it works for your group, but for Soul…” He took another deep breath before continuing, “You can’t just ask to be his friend.” Rarity drew her neck back and tilted her head raising an eyebrow. “What? What do you mean? Please, elaborate dear.” The stallion rubbed the back of his head and spoke slowly, choosing his words. “I’m sure by now you’ve noticed what a reserved pony Soul can be. He’s... not good with opening up about his emotions and he hates to take shots in the dark when it comes to relationships. He requires time, time to get to know the pony well enough for an actual bond to form and not just wish that him and the other pony feel the same way.” The mare blank again. “But… why did he originally seem so friendly? Back in Canterlot when I told him to treat me as a friend, he smiled. And back when he first came here and we had the same talk, he didn’t show any signs of refusal or distaste.” Scratching his head as he put himself in Soul’s hooves. “I’m sure he simply didn’t want to have a bad impression…” The artisan’s brow furrowed again as her voice raised. “So all this time he has been pretending?” “No no no.” Noble quickly waved his hooves in front of him. “You see, I know for sure that he likes your company, even if he won’t say it out loud. I really hope he will see you as a true friend one day and when he does, he will open up to you like he did to me. It took months before he called me a friend for the first time. Please, just… give him time. A clam needs time to become a pearl” Rarity held a hoof by her lips and nodded. “I… I see…” “I hope you understand now… If I let you talk to him about this, he would’ve just belittled the whole thing, or maybe grown grouchy again, it is very late. He apologized to you though and that should mean a lot.” Rarity nodded more and now somehow understanding what goes on inside Soul’s head, her frustration melted away. Of course it would’ve been much nicer to hear this from Soul, but just as Noble just explained, she wouldn’t have gotten it from him. This explanation really was something she needed to hear. Upon returning to the room Rarity walked over to Soul who was clearly holding his breath as he saw Rarity coming back. However, the mare spoke in a more pleasant tone. “My apologies for that... Earlier that is... No, we shall not let your little… episode affect your studies. We shall continue like before. It’s not like I’ve never had outbursts myself, I can relate.” Soul let out a sigh of relief and looked at her with big thankful eyes. “Thank you Rarity. You’re golden...” Twilight, who had been piling up all the books and papers she had been working on, turned to the stallions. In a overly feminine and pleading voice Twilight questioned, “Excuse me, Noble, Soul, would you two stallions mind going and getting some books from Celestia’s old room for me? I don’t think we could carry all of them back here.” The stallions looked at one another a little confused but shook their heads in agreement. “Alright, sure I suppose we could do that. I’m sure you don’t really need our help though.” Soul laughed as he spoke or both of them. They left the room giving one another questioning glances as the odd request and manner that Twilight asked for it in. Once the stallions were out of earshot Twilight leaned in over the books. “Girls, now that those two aren’t here, I want to tell you something. I have been looking through these books and I believe somewhere in this castle is something that could lead to us getting the Elements of Harmony back, or at least find some kind of power that could save Equestria if we need to.” The entire group leaned forward giving Twilight their full attention. “Really? That’s wonderful news Twilight!” Rarity cheered in a lower than usual voice, keeping an eye on the door. Twilight nodded with a smile. “But…” her expression dampened and even her mane sulked. “I’m still not sure about anything, I only have slight assumptions. So, remember girls; you have to keep quiet about this. That goes for all of you” Twilight looked at Rarity and Applejack. “Especially you two. I don't mean to call you two out, but you two are around those stallions the most. Keep your eyes peeled and don’t let your guards down.“ All the mares nodded and put their hooves on their chest, whispered in unison. “Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye” “A Pinkie Promise is forever.” Pinkie winked and giggled. As the mare’s huddle finished Noble and Soul walked back through the door carrying a small amount of books. “This is all we could find in the room with a sun on it,” Soul said as he placed the books he carried over on the ground near the other stacks before helping Noble set his down. “Sorry guys, I must have forgotten how many books there were. Thank you for getting them though.” Twilight was back to her bookshelf and had a difficult time selling herself as she gave a corny laugh. “No problem, I just enjoy looking around the castle a little more.” Noble having spoken up this time, he looked at the princess accusingly then over the others in the group. “Though if I may ask, what were you six talking about just now?” Twilight, not being a good liar jerked back and gritted her teeth. She looked back at her friends as she struggled for words wishing one of them would help. “W-We uh... were talkinggg abooouut… about some, uh...” Soul stepped in. “Noble, let’s not be nosy. That stuttering tells a lot already---” Rarity halted Soul by extending a hoof. “Why, we spoke about what a brave and grand leader Noble was navigating through the castle earlier! I don’t know what I would’ve done with Fluttershy if you weren’t there,” Rarity chimed in gracefully, to the bewilderment of the others. “Oh…!” Noble’s cheeks grew bright red as he took a few steps backwards. “I-I don’t know, I just improvised… There are a lot of ponies that can do all that better than me…” Applejack walked over to the embarrassed stallion. “Don’t be like that! Ya sure seemed to know what ya were doin’! Tracking us all the way here, avoiding all those traps and mapping the castle!” she said as she rubbed his back. “And how you took care of my injured wing…” Fluttershy noted in a small squeaking voice only looking up through her mane. “And let’s not forget about that trap you and Soul fell into. You were almost killed, but you managed to avoid disaster, because you knew what to do,” Rarity cheered with a warm glowing smile. Soul turned to look at Noble. “I gotta say, I was highly surprised today too. I know you are… skilled, but I’ve never seen you like this before. I hardly recognized you,” he said and laughed and patted his friend on the shoulder. “T-Thank you everypony, but…” Noble pressed himself against a wall and sank his head back into himself. “I don’t know if it was all that great…” “It was totally awesome!!” Rainbow flew over to him, hovering in the air. “Where in Equestria did you learn something like that, huh?” she questioned, crossing her front legs. Soul put out a leg then stepped between Noble and the mares. “Come on, give him some air. We didn’t stick our noses into your business so I expect the same respect from you.” With a glance around the room Rarity clenched her teeth. “He has a point, let’s back off everypony.” “Soooooo, Applejack,” Rainbow flew over to the mare who had already got back to her place next to a window. “We still have a competition to settle!” she landed next to her. Applejack groaned and smacked her head against a pillow. “That’s right, another competition ruined like a rotten apple!” Pinkie Pie lept up between the two, she threw her forelegs around them pulling them in. “I will gladly keep score for you again!” Twilight gave them a chuckle and shook her head, rolling her eyes playfully. “Can’t you even for once agree on a draw?” “Oh hay no!” They both answered at the same time, giving Twilight two piercing deathly glares. “Fine, fine, have it your way” Twilight chuckled, “But you have time to think about it some other day.” She jumped off her couch and looked at a clock. Finally seeing the time now that things were calming down sent a shiver down her spine and made her grimace. “Wow it’s gotten really late. It must be at least 3am I’m going to get more blankets and pillows for us” The pale stallion’s eye twitched as he immediately flinched at the suggestion. He trotted over to Twilight with wide eyes. “Wait, we aren’t going back to Ponyville?” The princess shook her head. “Sorry, the Everfree Forest is too dangerous at night. For everypony’s safety, it’s better to spend the night here.” “Oh… well, how dangerous is it exactly?” Soul looked out of the blue moon window to the dark forest, he looked back at Noble and the others trying to gage the difficulty. Spike walked into the room with a book with him, laughing, “Well, why don’t you go and find out? We can have a bet here if you will make it back there or not” Air huffed from the stallion’s nostrils. “I might be stupid but not suicidal.” Spike shrugged and gave Soul a sly smirk. “Whatever.” Twilight stepped toward the doorway, “Anyway, I’m going to get those blankets for us. Stay put everypony.” Spike walked over to Noble who had made himself comfortable next to a bookshelf. “Here’s the book you asked for, hopefully it’s something you will enjoy.” The dragon smiled and held up the book, a bit of tension throughout him as he hoped this was the right one. “Thank you Spike, hopefully it wasn’t too much of a trouble.” Noble smiled and bobbed his head in admiration. “Oh, not at all!” Spike waved his claws. “Just ask me if you’ve got anything else you need. Spike, number one assistant at your service.” Noble gave him a nod and chuckle as he pulled the book closer setting it on the side away from others. “Thank you.” “Don’t mention it. I’ll go help Twilight with those blankets.” Spike headed to the reading room, stretching his arms and yawning, “I could really use a good night sleep.” Soul listened in on Noble and Spike’s small talk while listening to the tips Rarity was giving him about sewing at the same time. After Spike had left the room, Soul stood up and walked over to Noble, who stretched then looked down at the book Spike brought him. Soul laid next to him. “What book is that?” Soul questioned as he glanced down at the old book with a red cover, his eyes narrowing. Waving his hoof, Noble beckoned Soul closer. He whispered as not to attract attention. “This is a hundreds of years old poetry book. I’m interested to see how poetry was back then, and what kind of things they wrote about.” Noble blew the dust off the book and opened it, revealing old, yellowish pages. “Here are the blankets!” Twilight’s voice suddenly filled the room as she and Spike came back with a huge pile of blankets and pillows, cutting Noble and Soul’s conversation short. “Ooh, that white one with a lavender pattern must be mine!” Rarity pointed at the blanket on top of the Twilight’s pile. Spike immediately placed his pile down and grabbed the blanket Rarity was pointing at, bringing it her carrying it like a prized artifact. “Here you go, Rarity! At you service.” Spike held out the blanket as he got onto one knee like a knight. Rarity took the blanket with her magic and smiled. “Why thank you, Spikey. How kind of you.” Rarity giggled and shook it lightly, knocking off any additional dust. “Anything, Rarity. Anything.” Spike stood up and bowed. Twilight placed her pile down too. “Alright, everypony. I think we’re all ready to hit the hay” She grabbed one of the blankets and walked over to her place, yawning. Everyone took a blanket and pillow one after another and searched for a comfortable spot to sleep. Applejack and Rainbow claimed a spot under a yellow sun window. Fluttershy, Rarity and Angel chose a place under the blue, moon window, while Soul and Noble picked their place next to a bookshelf. Twilight and Spike obviously had already picked their place on the couch. Everyone wished each other goodnight and burrowed under their soft, warm covers. It was not long till the room was filled with stuffing and mild snoring. It came as no surprise after the hard day all of them just had, getting good night sleep felt like a gift from Celestia herself. As the other ponies quickly fell asleep, Noble sat awake, gazing up at the ceiling full of cracks, his gaze slowly sliding to look out into space. He was reminiscing about his day and all it’s wonders, meeting Fluttershy who he felt indecent to look over at, seeing the castle, finding all of these traps. His mind wandered further as he had begun to think of his past, the good, the bad… and the dark.” As his memories swelled and got away from him causing him to fidget, flex his muscles and force his eyes closed while baring his teeth as his heart raced. Suddenly he heard a soft sigh from one of the ponies as they rolled over. Noble snapped back to reality; with a final deep breath that relaxed his body, he was finally capable of drifting off to sleep. As he drifted to the world of dreams, he ended up to a familiar place. Small homes around but with plenty of trees and wilderness. The kind of area that always brought a smile to his face. The stallion walked slowly across the grass toward the gentle woods, admiring his environment, of course without realizing it was a dream. He lived in the moment like every living creature in Equestria does in their dreams. As he continued his walk through the woods, he stepped on something that immediately caught his eye. On the ground by the base of the nearest tree was something familiar to him. A dark purple piece of metal with a symbol of an eye. This was a chestplate from a suit of armor; armor that Noble was very familiar with. It wasn’t just a random object dreams pick from peoples subconscious, no. This piece of metal made Noble instantly snap out of his unconscious dream state, and become lucid. Noble’s heart jumped to his throat, since he knew what this meant. Closing his eyes and standing up tall, Noble literally felt the area around him change. The skies darkened, a rush of wind shook the grass and trees and a dense fog slowly rolled in. “The perfect setting,” Noble thought to himself as he opened his eyes to this new display. He looked down at himself, he saw the dark purple armor pieces covering his body. The chestplate with a silver symbol of his cutiemark in the center of it, a helmet and the rest of his body covered with a guardian seal and light purple lower body armor. It had been so long since he has visited this place that he had almost forgotten what it looked like. Noble’s heart raced in his chest as he just stood there, examining his surroundings. It was like he was waiting for something. Though, the wait was short lived. Noble heard a loud stomp of a hoof on rock echoing behind him. The armored stallion turned around to face a dark shadow figure that slowly approached him. Noble felt a strong flutter in his stomach, his breathing becoming heavier and longer, but still remaining quiet. The lips of his mouth turned up in a small smile as he took a deep bow before the figure that was just mere meters further. “Noble Poet!” The figure spoke. Noble remained bowed and closed his eyes before he responded with a slow long, “Princess Luna.”
25. Slumberland of Old Friends“Noble Poet!” The figure spoke. Noble closed his eyes while he bowed before the figure, “Princess Luna.” Within the darkness and surrounded by fog Noble Poet laid crouched down bowing before the one and only Princess Luna, the mare of the moon. As the stallion opened his eyes he rose up standing tall at attention, this face stoic and eyes locked straight forward at the princess. His foreleg sprung up to a salute and with a loud booming voice he barked, “Your highness! Noble Poet at your command! What are your orders your majesty?” Luna drew back, her face contorted in a grimace and she looked around the area as if she didn’t know what was occurring. The silence was awkward until she broke it with a light whine, “Noble!... Has it really been that long a time since I visited you last? So long that you’ve started to speak formally before me again? Please don’t do that here, I don’t care for it. Has thou forgotten that?” Noble stood still for a moment, his nose wrinkled and he burst out laughing at the complaint. “I-I’m sorry Luna. I just- I just wanted to tease you a bit.” He laughed holding his sides and wiped his eyes as he teared up. Luna rolled her eyes and smiled while shaking her head. She nudged her head up towards the sky and when Noble nodded she waved her hoof across the sky and produced a sky full of stars along with brightening the moon to light up the area. “You know you don’t need to change the atmosphere for our meetings, it could be whatever area you like. It doesn’t need to be so… dramatic.” The stallion had begun regaining his composure and stood up, removing the helmet and placing it on the ground. He bowed his head as all of his armor faded away, leaving him with his usual dogtags. “I’m sorry again, it was just a joke. We haven’t spoken in so long I thought it would be a nice way to break the ice. Don’t worry, I do like this. It shows it is a dream and seems... fitting.” Luna sighed and nodded. “Yes. I am sorry Noble....” She paused and glanced up to the dream sky, her smile drooping. “I had not meant to leave you alone for so long. I merely had other matters that needed tending to. I do hope your situation has improved since we last spoke.” Noble sat down and waved his hooves with a sympathetic smile. “Oh no, I understand, I’m just happy we can meet like this sometimes. Quite a lot has happened in a short period of time. It, may take awhile to explain it all though…” His eyes lowered as he thought of all the events that had transpired since their last talk. “Please, tell me how you’ve been first.” The princess produced cushions for both of them and sat down, her expression soured seeing the stallion sulk. “Well, royal duties, helping anypony I can in the dream realm and common sisterly moments with Tia. She thinks she can eat my muffin and get away with it. NOPONY STEALS MY MUFFIN! I AM THE NIGHT!!!” Luna roared with fire in her eyes throwing her hooves to the sky, but the outburst was short lived, she calmed down, put her hooves down and cleared her throat. She reached over and put a hoof on Noble’s shoulder. “You speak first though. I must know how you are. Tell me are you still working at the hotel under Double Bit’s command? Is Wild Soul still present in your life?” “Um… Well, you see a lot has happened recently… It’s a long story.” With a deep breath Noble recited every detail he recalled about the problems at the hotel, from the point where Double Bit ordered him to work two shifts, how she was most likely fudging numbers and taking tips for herself, took over areas of management she was not trained for and blamed others for the problems, and how she refused to give Sharp Melody the freedom to play his own music along with many other tragedies. He reached the final day, telling her about how Bit waited until the end of their shift to announce that she was firing many of them and the awful exchange Truffle, himself and her had. He still shook in anger, his voice growing squeaky as he recited the words Double Bit said to him that were branded into his mind. “I… I can’t believe I did all that and… ugh!” He slammed his hooves on the ground and shook, his eyes were damp but clenched shut, his teeth grinded together. “Noble,” Luna reached out and producing a blanket from thin air draped it over the stallion’s shoulders and putting a hoof on his shoulder. She stepped closer to stand tall while doing so in attempts to make him feel secure next to her powerful prowess. “It will be alright. I am here with you, be angry if you wish. It is my deepest sorrow that you had to endure that.” She paused for a moment, giving Noble time to breath. “I could order an investigation be placed upon her and the hotel if you wish.” Slowly piecing himself back, Noble stomped a hoof and shook his head as if he was trying to shake the ideas out of his head. “No. She probably hid it or would find a way to pin the problem on some other pony. Also I would rather not draw attention to myself like this if somepony looked into why a princess ordered the investigation. Thank you very much though. I appreciate your offer. Don’t worry, Soul has helped me with this, and like most stuff; more than any other pony could. No offense princess.” Luna nodded in a bow. “There is none taken. I am glad of your relationship with Soul. I do wish to meet him one day.” She looked at her hoof on his shoulder, she pulled it back but hesitated then patted his shoulder and released him before she turned to sit in front of him once more. “I know I will never know the full extent of how it feels to be called a ‘lowly earth pony’... but at least here you can relieve your anger any way you wish to. Just remember to keep your mind open to support so I can have influence over your dream and protect us from harm.” Noble sat for a moment, his head still lowered but his body growing warmer. Luna could feel him shaking, he turned around and opened his eyes. Looking up he saw a dark shadowy figure with a menacing face looming over, surrounded by clouds and fog that rolled in surrounding them. He put his hooves together and separated them producing a spear and threw it at the figure making them vanish as a flash of lightning struck where they collided. Luna sat and watched the outburst, blinking. “I… really hope you don’t plan on doing that to Double Bit.” She looked past him at the area where the spear and figure were then back at Noble and her lips curled. “You should know as well as anypony, regular spears leave far too much evidence. You would need a far more elusive way of getting rid of her.” The stallion’s ears dropped and his head spun around. His lips were pointed and eyes drawn back. “Umm, Luna… shouldn’t a princess be condemning violence, not condoning it?” “Details details. I am simply speaking aloud. Now continue, I believe we should brighten up our conversation before I begin inquiries. I would very much enjoy hearing more of your move and this new small town you moved to.” Luna walked back sitting on her cussion and waved for Noble to reclaim his spot. Sighing Noble sat back down and looked up, closing his eyes and thinking of how to word his thoughts. He explained how things looked dim in Canterlot, how he began using his savings and even bought a ticket to go back home but was saved by Soul’s new mentor. “So because of her I am in this quaint little town. So far it has been… decent. I have met several ponies that, seem nice.” As soon as Noble stressed the word ‘seem’ Luna frowned, her eyes and tone grew soft. “Noble, dost thou still happen to have those problems? The issues with allowing ponies in and trusting them fully? And especially not understanding genuine good nature from those harassing you?” Lowering himself and rubbing his foreleg while looking away Noble’s expression said what his lips refused to admit. “I know it does not mean much, but I am deeply sorry for what happened that day. I am aware you had these issues long before, but I still feel as though they exacerbated them.” She looked down into Noble’s eyes, trying to make eye contact to no avail while he looked at the ground. The smile drained from her lips and she took a deep breath. Noble’s eyes glossed over and all the will seemed to leave his body in that moment. He lifted his head and made eye contact. “Luna, I really don’t want to discuss that further. It isn’t your fault. If anypony’s… the blame is mine and the burden too. I’m sorry about that day. I’m sorry…” He trailed off As he hung his head the field the sky grew dark and clouds eclipsed the moon. Lightning struck nearby with a loud crack, making Luna jump toward the stallion. She lifted a hoof and waved it at the sky with nothing occurring. Her eyes widened and she grabbed the stallion. “Noble, no! My control! Don’t release all of that at once or I will have no control!” Another crack of lightning crackled closer as rain began to pour. “Please, pull yourself together!” The stallion shook and waved his head back and forth rapidly. “I can’t! I can’t Luna! I just feel…” His eyes were wide and aged by fatigue. He hung his head as lightning almost struck them but was deflected by a dark blue barrier Luna produced. Spreading her wings and stomping the ground Luna roared in a deep royal commanding voice, “Noble Poet! I Princess Luna, ruler of the night, command you to cease this at once!” At that instant Noble jumped to his hooves standing at attention holding his legs back from quaking before her. The storm immediately halted as well though the dark clouds remained. Luna took a deep breath and reached out a hoof. She rubbed Noble’s shoulder and leaned forward to give him a big hug rubbing his back. “I apologize, but I had to do that. You were getting consumed by those emotions and there was no other way.” She pulled back and looked him in the eyes. “Always, ALWAYS remember that you must let me in, give me enough power to control the atmosphere of your dream when you are releasing emotions.” She pulled him back in and gave him a tight squeeze. Reluctant to move Noble blushed. “L-Luna… isn’t it inappropriate for you to hug a subject like me?” The princess loosened her grip but then pulled in tighter. “Hush! Let me have this.” Noble’s shoulders fell and he let his hooves fall over Luna’s shoulders, he closed his eyes and wrapped his forelegs around Luna returning the embrace. The remaining clouds departed and a shooting star flew across the sky. Luna released him and with a pause gave a bow. “I simply wish I would’ve known sooner of your situation… If you ever wished it, there will always be a place for you within my guard once again.” The instant Luna said that, Noble felt like a small needle stung his chest and he pulled away, shaking his head. “No Luna, sorry… Thank you, but no… I cannot take that again. I... my time in your service is over.” For a moment Luna just looked at the earth pony. She couldn’t pull her eyes off of him as her eyes scoured over him and she shook with a bit of pain, as if he had suddenly become something completely different and foreign to her. Her mind came to, her head shook slowly before turning it to a slow nod, she just sighed with a glum smile. “Fine, as you wish...” The princess held her head up and turned her back to him. She turned her head enough to let him hear her. “Do you feel better?” Noble could cut the tension with a knife and could feel the area grow darker and more silent as his discomfort grew. His eyebrows bowed and heart sank he slid his forehooves forward. “Oh… N-No, I didn’t mean it like that, please I-” Luna sighed, she turned around and raised a hoof as she would to her service to dismiss them. “Noble, I understand, there is no need to explain yourself.” “Luna please, I-it’s not that I don’t miss the castle and my old friends that are left but I just… I just can’t---” He looked at the hoof and lowered his head looking at his hooves he cupped together; he stared at them as he wished to produce some words that would make Luna understand his feelings. The princess jumped as she realized the sign she made. She quickly dropped it and gritted her teeth recognizing her mistake. Her desire to change the subject was far greater than her feelings to reach a conclusion, she knew she had to change the subject. “Now... The small town you moved to, what is it’s name?” Luna inquired with a smile. She scooted her cussion closer placing her hooves in a proper pose. “I care to see how much I know of it.” “Luna…” Noble thought and looked up at his friend. He wanted to explain himself like he always does, but this time he couldn’t. Noble knew Luna would not allow it. As bad as it felt, he needed to swallow it and just move on. He took a deep, long sigh and cleared his throat. “Right, the town… Um… Let’s see… It seems to be a quant little town just southwest of Canterlot, Ponyville.” “Ponyville?!” Luna lept up and clapped her hooves together. “Oh delightful! I do adore Ponyville, I happen to know several ponies in that town. I hope you grow to enjoy it as much as those I know there have.” The stallion drew back, unready for the zealous reaction. He rubbed the back of his head, looking down then looked up. “Well like I said, I’m unsure about the ponies there. I can’t get a good read on if they are genuinely nice or not; I’ve just never seen ponies like these since I was a little colt.” He muttered under his breath, “And one is… making me very anxious there... Putting a hoof under his muzzle, Luna raised it so his eyes met hers. “Well I know some ponies there that are truly genuine, and actually happen to make up the elements of harmony. Do you remember anything I have said about those ponies?” Noble stood narrowing his lips with a blank expression as he looked into space trying to recall anything from that talk so many moons ago. “Umm... “ Luna rolled her eyes and let out a loud drawn out sigh. “No matter. It matters not, I simply wanted to test your memory again. I know it is not your strongest suit but you have many other grand attributes.” “Uhh, thank you.” Noble blushed, when he looked down a small smile curled his lips and his cheeks gained the faintest hue of pink. Luna nodded, sitting taller as she lit up like the night sky seeing Noble’s smile once again. “You see, there are actually six elements of harmony. I happen to know all of them, though that may not be surprising. I happen to know some of them quite well. Have you met any of them yet? Especially Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, she should be quite a celebrity in Ponyville right now.” Once Luna said the name Noble looked up with wide eyes. “So you know her? I mean, sorry, it shouldn’t be a surprise...” Luna extended a hoof moving it towards Noble’s head but paused and pulled it away upwards. Feelings swirled in her head to comfort Noble but the idea of ruffling his mane seemed distant. She recognized the long silence and quickly placed her hoof down with a stomp and raised her head swishing her mane back. “Of course I know her, she’s a princess after all and used to be Tia’s student. She’s also the little sister of the former captain Shining Armor. You remember him when you were still part of Celestia’s guards before my arrival, correct?” Noble’s mind swirled with emotions of surprise and worry, his face twitched and eyes grew wide. He brought up a hoof to cover his mouth as his teeth tightened against one another and dark clouds circled above. “She is?! I… oh no… Y-yes, of course I remember the captain.... But, um… I… yes I know Twilight and met her. She seems… different. Well… she’s actually one I’m worried about...” He cringed, hunkering back with eyes tightly closed, he refused to allowed himself to look up at Luna as if he was about to be scolded. “Wait, you are worried about Twilight, the Princess of Friendship...?” There was a brief moment of silence as Luna looked down at the stallion in deep thought attempting to understand the reasoning but failed by her own efforts. She reached out a hoof to touch him but as her hoof approached he cringed causing her to draw it back and place it on the ground. She tried to speak softly, “...Why?” The stallion opened his eyes looking over Luna, with a deep breath Noble closed his eyes and spoke with a lowered head as the storm clouds engulfed the moon. “I’m worried that… well she is a princess; so she has access to all the files of the royal guard members… What if she finds out who I am? What if she knew I was serving during the royal wedding and my involvement in the changeling invasion?” “You are afraid that Twilight might hate you for the problems on that night so long ago...? Noble, that is simply ridiculous! Why in Equestria would you think Twilight Sparkle would do that? Her family, friends, and friend that is now her sister all proved to be fine in the aftermath.” She looked to the sky then raised Noble’s chin and nudged to the sky with her horn to warn Noble. Seeing the glooming destructive force Noble rubbed his leg holding himself as she slid back slightly. He breathed out and with tightly closed eyes forced openings in the clouds before he allowed himself to speak again. “She is a pony too, just like you and me. I have no idea what might be going on in her head… And now I’m even more worried! If she really is the sister of Shining Armor and friend of the other Princess, who knows what kind of resentment she may have if she knew…” His breathing grew heavier as the wind picked up. Luna shivered at the memory and lit up her horn dispatching the wind and gave a nod of approval to the stallion for letting her in enough for her to stay in control. “It is natural that you worry she could easily feel strongly if she ever learned the truth; it is also understandable to be worried, she may tell others and put you in a negative light. I will do what I can at your request, these have been troubled times for many. I feel that if you became friends with her then explained it she would have a better understanding of it. Of course I shall do what I can to prevent her viewing of those documents.” A wave of relief cascaded form Noble’s shoulders and he bowed. Even though he felt relieved, he couldn’t help but keep tension from his ever worrisome thoughts. He opened his mouth thinking of how to explain how she needed to improve her skills on cheering ponies up but bit his lip and moved on. “ I’m sure she’s a great pony who would do anything for her friends, but what about those who are not her friends? What if she comes to see me as her... enemy?” Though Noble looked away and at the ground, Luna stood up and looked down at the pony spreading her wings. “Nobe, if it ever comes to that, you will contact me immediately and I shall speak with her. When this dream ends, I can go and check if she has accessed the files and alert you in the next dream. That way you will have a peace of mind.” A sigh of relief escaped Noble and he nodded with a deep bow of his head. He lifted a leg as he questioned a full bow but knew of the situation. “Thank you, Luna.” “Now let’s put an end to this blasted dark conversation. Tell me more of Ponyville, has thow met the other elements?” She tucked her wings back to her sides and sat down. With a hoof wave she directed Noble that he had the floor and to begin. Noble nodded placing his hooves close together on the pillow. “Yes, I actually have met all of them now… some I didn’t start on the right hoof with, but they all seem decent. Actually I wanted to tell you about how I met two absolutely astonishing mares~” As his mind sank into thinking about the mares and the dream began manifesting hazy images of them behind him as his imagination ran with them causing them to be more appealing in his mind. The image of Applejack had a sparkle to her. She stood tall and powerful, with flowing soft mane that she whipped back before nudging her hat up to reveal sparkling green eyes. She had saddlebags on and a lasso wrapped to one side, she lifted her head smiling confident with her chest puffed out and batted her eyes in Noble’s direction. The image of Fluttershy was slightly different, she was thin and small. She kept herself tightly tucked and hid behind her long flowing pink mane, light almost radiating from her. One eye peered from behind the hair with a bright blushed smile. Her eyes were filled with innocence but she smiled and wiggled giving a small wave toward Noble. “NOBLE!!!!” Luna could barely believe her eyes and blank rapidly in hopes that her mind played tricks on her. The stallion scratched his head, taken aback by the sudden outburst. He looked behind him and jumped quickly making the mares disappear into the empty field of space. “N-NO, DON’T LOOK, YOU SAW NOTHING!” He spun around and gasped for words, his forelegs flailing about. “I-I... I am so sorry, Luna!” “Well I… I admit I have seen worse within here but... Well it seems you have taken to Fluttershy and Applejack… The images I just saw will be our little secret. I feel confident that if Fluttershy saw it she may never speak to you again and; well I feel you may not be living much longer if Applejack caught sight of it.” She gave a nervous chuckle as she felt warm and rubbed her hooves together. Noble looked down at his hooves as he tucked them together and bit his lips. “M-maybe… Thank you.” “Of course.” She nodded and rose to her peak. Her eyes shot open and she dropped down wiggling her tail. “Now tell me ALL the juicy details! You didn’t use any of your extremely sappy love lines on them, did you?” He jumped back at Luna’s sudden excitement but he quickly drew himself back in, even flipping his tail closer. His eyes looked left and right and then peeked at her for a moment before he spoke while pointed away from her. “...M-maybe… mayyybe I did.” Luna smacked her face hard enough to leave a red mark on her forehead even in the dream. “Noble! How many times have I told you not to use those lines!? Why don’t you simply obey or even listen to what I have to say? Just listen to one tip of mine. I may be a princess but I’m a mare too after all!” Noble’s eyebrows arch and he huffs and raises a hoof towards Luna, his cheeks were flushed with a rosy shade. “Because usually your tips involve submission and hooves on places they shouldn’t be...” Luna’s eyes widened as she lunged back in defense. “Noble, everypony loves belly rubs.” Noble’s face had turned bright red and wind picked up around them as he fussed. “Y-Yes, but much later on in a relationship when it’s at a deeper level!” With her mane being blown back, Luna covered her eyes and waved a hoof asking Noble to relax, as she did the wind slowed down and Noble kept his blush but held to himself. “They are wonderful ideas once you find a special somepony. I shall guide you.” “N-No Luna, please don’t. I’m not quite as… dominant as you can be.” He shook his head as he grew tongue tied and warm in the face. Luna sighed and rolled her eyes. “I feel bad for those poor mares. Please continue, I would love to hear more.” The stallion chuckled and rubbed the back of his mane, drawing back a smidge. “Umm, alright. Well, first, Applejack, I met her because she hurt her ankle and I helped her by bandaging it for her and even helped her with her work to ensure she didn’t injure herself further. I just took her wagon back to the barn and did some apple bucking for her. I apparently did so well that she gave me a job.” The news of a new job caused Luna’s brows to rise. “You got a job from Applejack? Marvelous, that’s splendid!” She brought a hoof to her lips. “Though… Noble… this is your first job in Ponyville; and Ponyville isn’t that big of a town. Don’t you think pursuing your employer is… a bit of a bad idea?” She raised her head giving nudging shakes of her head in her attempt for Noble to get the hint. Noble sighed and nodded. “Don’t worry. Unfortunately she has already made it clear she is not interested... I am trying to back off, but of course I can’t help but notice that she is a pretty mare…” Luna held her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. “Phew. For a second I thought you would plan do something silly there.” Noble huffed and pushed himself towards her. “What!? Hey! I am right here and I know what I’m doing. I don’t screw EVERYTHING up. Applejack is a great mare, pretty and has that fantastic accent. But I don’t know her that well beyond work. Besides so far she seems like just a huge workaholic and like she may be far too bossy and bold for me.” Luna drew back, looking puzzled as she leaned in pointing a hoof at the stallion. “Wait, isn’t Soul like that? So you accept such a pony as your best friend but not as your special somepony?” Noble shook his head and furrowed his brow. “Luna, I’ve had a bold and bossy pony as my special somepony. I can tell you there is a huge difference.” “If you say so,” Luna said with a chuckle and rolled her eyes. “So Applejack was just a typical shooting star for you.” “She had potential!” Noble yelled but then took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he pulled himself together. “I simply hope to keep this job and hope it continues to go well.” “Of course,” Luna replied with a nod and produced a teacup for herself. “Now, what about Fluttershy?” Life came back into Noble’s eyes, brightening the second Luna mentioned her name. “Y-Yes, Fluttershy. Oh Luna… she is among the most beautiful mares I’ve ever seen. Bright fur, full flowing mane, delicate and reserved nature with eyes that speak like the cosmos…” He trailed off while thinking of her. The chirp of crickets filled the silence and stars twinkled above. “Now this sounds like somepony that you would’ve made a little more progress with,” Luna said with a sly chuckle covering her lips by sipping at the tea simply for the effect. “How did you meet her?” Luna leaned in, her ears perked up, alert for every detail. “Well that’s the strange thing. Soul introduced us but claims I saw her once before in a field where she sang, soaring overhead like an angel. She believes it too but…” His lips twitched and ears fell. “That mare seemed confident, strong, energetic and the only thing they have in common could be their fear or shyness. Even with all the evidence I find it hard to believe. How could that be Fluttershy?” He shook his head while he explained his theory. Luna’s horn glowed and she brought her teacup to the side.“Wait, Noble. Answer this, did you make any progress with Fluttershy, or did you not?” “It’s… It’s complicated. I mean our first real meeting was extremely awkward… We didn’t even really have any good things to talk about.” He rubbed his hooves together, fidgeting as he wished he could just leave. A loud sigh escaped Luna as she fell back holding her face. “Noble! Please! We must improve your skills when speaking to mares you like. Also I yearn to know where all these doubts come from.” Noble’s eyes drew dull and flat. “Luna, I would love to overcome both of those but I don’t think just talking about it will do anything.” “Of course, of course..” She chuckled and she looked at Noble with a sly shady smile. “But If I were you I would already have both mares right in my lap.” Noble rolled his eyes and shook his head smiling. “With belly rubbing?” Luna nodded with her head high. “With extreme belly rubbing.” Tapping his cheek Noble thought to himself. “Okay, so when was the last time you had a stallion or mare in your lap?” Luna raised a hoof to her lips silencing her former guard. “No no, We’re not talking about me right now, our focus here is you. When was the last time YOU had a mare or stallion in your lap?” Noble blushed and looked away. “You know very well not since the royal guard… She wasn’t really that type though. Phases...” His cheeks puffed out a big as his lips narrowed and he glared. “But yeah… Not a perfect meeting with Fluttershy. But! I think I managed to make a better impression in the castle, or at least I hope.” Luna’s ears immediately twitched at the word and her head shot up with wide eyes. “Wait, what castle?” “Oh right…! I never told you… You’re not going to believe this but we are actually in your old castle together currently. Soul, myself and all of the elements of harmony.” He smiled and looked up thinking about the past day. “Wait what?!” Luna sat up quickly bringing a hoof to her mouth and spoke with great sass in her voice. “You are in my old home!? And you didn’t even ask permission. I hope you had the decency to wipe your hooves.” A loud huff escaped Noble’s nostrils and he stood up. “Your castle sure had some nice ‘welcoming gifts’. I prefer a welcome mat.” “Welcoming, wha-?” It took a moment but Luna’s lips narrowed and eyes bulged as she came to the realization. “The traps are still active?! How many?! I thought my sister would have ordered them disabled years ago. Oh Tia…” She grumbled her sister’s name under her breath. “Is everypony alright? Must I send aid?” Noble shook his head and waved a hoof before himself. “No no we are staying there for the evening, that’s the safest bet. Trying to cover everything: they are still active and it’s hard to say, but they made for a stressful evening. In fact, Fluttershy hurt her wing because of one of them, but I don’t believe it will be that serious. I put a splint on it and she didn’t seem to have issues with staying the night. Here, let me explain…” The stallion sat down and cleared his throat and recapped the events of that night within the castle, how they ended up there in the first place, what they experienced within it’s walls, what happened to Fluttershy, and how by the end they were all at one another’s throats arguing until they were pulled apart by Twilight. Luna was enchanted by Noble’s story, but could only listen with a heavy heart. As a princess and it being her former home, she felt responsible for the problems the castle had caused. “It sounds like you had a very stressful night there...” He exhaled deeply and waved his hoof over the grass. “Yes, we did…” Suddenly, Noble’s ears jumped up as he remembered what happened in the organ room. “Wait! I almost forgot the organ!” Luna tilted her head to the side and opened her eyes a little more. “The organ?” Noble nodded feverishly. “The organ that was; let’s see, first floor on the right and well I remembered it by a large brown tri-handled pot. The piano activates traps though.” “Oh! THAT organ!” She lept up and clopped her hooves together. “Oh I have so many memories with that thing too. I remember how Tia and I used to play it for one another, we’d go play on the traps while the other played and argue about who played it better. Of course as far as music I was the superior one, she never stood a chance.” She chuckled at herself holding her head high, though when she took a look at Noble’s expression she lowered her hooves and sank back into her cussion. She cleared her throat. “So… You came across the organ?” Noble glared furiously at Luna and the moon hid behind the clouds. “We did; also it was still active. Or well… Somepony made it active.” Luna smiled sheepishly and felt guilty about flaunting her joy at the implement of Noble’s current misery. “My apologies, we had very different experiences with it it seems. Can you elaborate? What do you mean somepony made it active?” Seeing the long face Luna made, Noble couldn’t allow himself to yell at her. He held back as he spoke and kept the clouds at bay, even having them dissipate a bit. “The organ was the very reason why we were trapped in the castle in the first place and why all those traps were going haywire. After Twilight had calmed us down we reached that room with her and found a cloaked pony playing it.” Luna’s eyes wondered seeing the clouds thin out and suddenly her ears perked up and she leaned in. “A cloaked pony? Who?” Noble shook his head. “We didn’t find out. She was… really really strange. She acted like she was some kind of royalty and that she was very entitled to things. She even claimed it used to be her home… That can’t be right, can it Luna?” Luna lowered her eyes and put a hoof to her lips and looked away from the stallion. “No, it cannot… Beside alicorns, there are a very few species’ who have such a long life span and I cannot think of any that resemble ponies…” Scrunching his face up Noble scratched his head. “I see…” Feeling more intrigued Luna squinted and prodded the stallion more. “Is there anything else you can tell me about her?” Noble scratched his head and closed his eyes to re-envision the scene. “Appearance-wise, no… She was cloaked and structured like a pegasus mare but that’s about it. However her behavior was… sophisticated and it quickly got really weird. When I rushed to question her, she freaked out as if she was about to die. She went into a total frenzy and yelled for me and Soul away from her, and then she escaped from a small hole in the window that Rainbow Dash claimed she couldn’t get through.” “Wait, she knew you two?” Luna’s eyes widened and she gave a jump. Noble’s eyes opened and he shook his head. “I don’t now. I have no idea if I have met her before, though I don’t think I’ve made any mare so angry at me that they would despise me that much… And I don’t think Soul has either. As far as I know she’s a complete stranger to us.” “And she only freaked out because of the two of you? She didn’t mind the others?” “Just me and Soul.” He shrugged his shoulders and put out his forelegs showing he had no more information. “I see…” Luna lowered her head as she pondered further. “I shall most certainly look into that, I do not like the sound of this… She didn’t hurt any of you, did she?” Noble rubbed his temples, trying to be as accurate as possible. “No. Or, well... She did try to throw a rock at us but Twilight stopped it, but that was after she saw me and Soul. I actually still can’t believe she threw something that big that fast. I’ve never met a pegasus with that amount of strength, much less a mare… no offense. But she was very calm and had a passive nature before we showed up.” Luna stepped forward and looked around the area for irregularities. “But she did show hostility! Aren’t you worried she might come back and do something worse while you sleep?” Jumping up Noble waved his forehooves rapidly. “No Luna, it’s fine. She didn’t seem like she wanted to fight before that. She didn’t seem like the type. I assure you, if I thought we were in danger I would have insisted that we all go back to Ponyville tonight.” A sigh of relief came from the princess as she gave in. “If you say so.” Having averted disaster Noble breathed easier. “I’m just glad nothing worse happened. I’m just glad to be asleep now and that we can go home tomorrow. I’m sure this would’ve been a much better trip if I knew what was waiting for us. I should’ve known better and packed for anything.” Luna shook her head. “Everypony involved should have known better. It would be dangerous entering that castle at any point now. Regardless of how rough the day was I am pleased that it did not end far more tragically. Luckily your skills are still sharp, it seems that they saved you today. You are a far better soldier than you think Noble.” Noble smiled to the side and rubbed the back of his neck and forced out a light laugh. “Aww, well thank you but… wait, are you just trying to butter me up to get me back on your guard?… I mean, I couldn’t do any of this alone, they are the elements of harmony after all.” Luna couldn’t help but smile at Noble still being so humble. “Yes, though I think this is a little out of the job description for them. But are you certain you all will be alright in that castle? Just give me a word and I will send---” Noble raised a hoof which cut Luna off. “Please, we are fine and will leave together in the morning. I would rather not have the question of why royal guard members had to come to an old abandoned castle in the middle of the night to bring back a group of ponies and a princess.” A moment passed but Luna reluctantly nodded. “As you wish, as long as everypony is going to be alright. You are different than most Noble. Many ponies would take pride in the fact that they have an alicorn friend, yet you hide it.” “Well, it’s not that I want to hide it. You know as much as I do how most ponies would raise questions and of course there would be rumors about how we met, and as you know I don’t care for publicity. Besides, you have many royal duties you must perform. I’m just lucky to have you around occasionally, Luna.” He bowed before her. Luna looked about as if somepony may see Noble bowing. She tapped him on the shoulder and nudged him up. “Thank you Noble. I still feel that bows like that are unnecessary here, but thank you.” “I have to say, this night and putting my old skills to use again sure brought back some memories. All the missions we had with the other guards, all those nights patrolling the castle…” He sighed looking up at the stars then shifting his gaze to Luna. Finally seeing more of that fleeting smile Luna chimed in, “The night you and I met?” The smile on Noble’s face grew wider and his head rose at the thought, he nodded softly. “Yes, the night you and I met…” Luna leaned forward raising her eyebrows at Noble. “Do you really recall it or are you simply saying that so I don’t get irritated with you? I do hope you would remember it. If not maybe I should send some guards to take you to a doctor to have your head examined. Many ponies dream of a chance to meet a princess in person one on one.” “Trust me, it’s one of the few things I’m never going to forget.” Taking a moment to think, Noble touched his forehead to focus, when he did everything rushed back. “The night Silver Arrow, I am pretty sure it was him, and I were in charge of guarding your chambers. Is that right?” Luna backed up sitting up straight, her lips curled and she gave a small nod. “Well I do recall the other guard had to leave and you were alone. His wife having her baby early I believe, I remember excusing it completely and writing in for his paid time off, yes Silver Arrow.” The memory triggered Noble to practically jump in excitement as he remembered everything. “Oh yes! I was there alone and overheard crying in your room. It took a few minutes but I eventually was sure of it and knocked to see if you were alright. You know how I can’t stand seeing ponies cry, especially mares. But you were less than fond of anypony checking in on you...” Luna’s eyes narrowed and she looked away puffing out her cheeks. “Come now, I wasn’t that bad.” Noble’s hoof sprung to point at Luna and he stood up straight putting a hoof on his chest and cleared his throat before lifting his chin up and spoke with a deep voice as he tried to mimic Luna’s royal tone. “ ‘Your job is to guard the door, subject; nothing else! Thou shalt not even speak to me unless I tell thou so!’ ” Luna put a hoof on her chest as her eyes widened with a gasp. “Well I had my reasons. I had not been back for but a week and so much had changed over those thousand years. I had so much to learn and so many things to atone for. I still know little as to how I could allow myself to do such a wretched thing.” Noble understood the feelings Luna must be having and reached over, he slowly placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Don’t worry Luna, Equestria is far better with you around now. We all fall, but we must learn to pick ourselves back up. I mean if we want to talk about problems… I fell asleep while on watch for Equestria’s sake…” Luna couldn’t help but snicker at the memory and roll her eyes. “If you hadn’t fallen asleep back then, I’m sure we wouldn’t be speaking here currently. I have to admit that I was ready to report to your commander for some severe punishment immediately when I saw you sleeping. Though I found out the worst they could do nowadays was to dishonorably discharge you...” Noble rubbed his neck with a nervous, embarrassed chuckle filling the air. “Um… what did you think they were going to do to me…?” “You surely wouldn’t wish to know… Let’s just say it involves chains.” Luna gave her mane a little quick whip full of confidence pared with a devilish grin before she cleared her throat. “Although, luckily I noticed how you appeared to be suffering… You were suffering while within MY land of dreams. I knew at once something had gone awry, such things had never occurred a thousand years ago.” Noble gave an uneasy grin and slid back while he nervously scratched at the ground. “I still remember the reaction you had when you found out about the existence of nightmares…” Luna shook her head and moved her hooves as she spoke. “I couldn’t believe it back then, I refused to believe what I saw. I had infected the dreams of ponies with darkness. I mean, I wasn’t Nightmare Moon for long in Equestria, but it was long enough to pollute the land…” Her head hung but she snapped out of it, shaking her head furiously. “N-No, I must not dwell upon it! Not any longer, I’m doing everything I can to help ponies with their nightmares now.” Hearing the confidence from Luna, Noble stopped leaning away from her and even felt a twitch from the corner of his lip. “I envy your attitude Luna… And yes, you helped me back then. Thanks to you, I learned to fight my nightmares... ” “We learned to fight them TOGETHER. Thanks to you, I learned to understand nightmares and how to reach one in the darkness and help to overcome it… or at least combat it,” Luna said and folded a hoof over the other and laid down completely. “Tell me... do you still suffer from those nightmares or any new ones?” Silence filled the dream and Noble rubbed his foreleg as fog began thickening around them. “Noble It is far more difficult for you to hide things from me here than in the real world.” The princess’s voice became more bold but she illuminated her horn shining a light between them and unfolded her hooves as she tried to be mindful of whom she was speaking with and the atmosphere. The stallion let out a deep sigh and a deep breath to prepare himself. “Well, I of course have had some nightmares but they are far better than when we met. They are far more infrequent though and consist of many different things. I promise Luna, I am keeping them under control, I know I can always get your assistance but there is no need to worry.” He bit his bottom lip and lifted a hoof up defensively while he watched Luna’s face and pushed backwards ready to move back. Luna looked over the stallion that looked as if he was about to be struck by a bear. Her heart dampened and her strong stance gloomed in his presence and she slowly got up and softly touched his hoof lowering it. “I believe you. After all you are still one of the few ponies who can overcome nightmares without my presence. I’ll be here if you need me though.” “Just like I was there for you that night? I am still glad you invited me in eventually and that we became friends.” Noble’s breath released and he bowed his head before the mare looking at her gentle hoof on his. “Me too. I would like to believe that even if you weren’t there that I would have learned about nightmares eventually and learned how to combat them. Even if I did then I would have only met you in a dream and you wouldn’t have been able to help me as you did and we wouldn’t have become friends…” Noble shook his head. “Most likely not…” Luna’s eyes opened and looked up upon her moon then toward the stallion, she patted his hoof allowing him to release her. “You were the first pony besides my sister that I truly was capable of speaking to of my problems over those years. Then when I was starting to form my own guards I hoof picked you… I am sure some ponies were shocked when I requested that. I can’t recall the countless moons we spoke but I am still glad you didn’t oppose to joining me.” Hearing the praise caused the stars to beam brighter as Noble wagged his tail and sat up straighter. “Thank you. Well, let’s just say I was very ready for the change, even if it was rather… sudden. I’m glad you hoof picked me though, however I remember them telling me I was ordered to join your guard. It sounded like you demanded it.” “Did I…?” Luna stopped to think for a second and laughed awkwardly. “I guess I did… I didn’t ask much back then.” “N-No worries though! As soon as I heard about the formation of your own guard I jumped at the opportunity. Besides all those nights and how you introduced me to these dreams and how you helped me with my… nightmare problem.” He rubbed his cheek feeling his heart almost give a flutter. “Gosh, it’s been so long since that… I’m almost tearing up.” “Me too Noble, me too.” She lowered herself back down gently as if the ground cradled her. “But you have moved on and you have a new life, friends and job. Though you shall not be getting rid of me so easily.” The stallion shook his head and held up a hoof. “That won’t happen. I might have new friends and Soul as the closest pony I have, but I will never forget you. And I have a few others from Canterlot that would kill me if I forget them too. And I wouldn’t get free cookies or muffins anymore...” “That is good to hear.” Luna nodded with a smile and a pleasantly hummed to herself. The ponies looked at one another with smiles. Neither could come up with anything to say and it felt like they had finally concluded their talk and had said everything they needed to say. They used the silence to catch their breath and let everything sink in. Luna produced more tea for herself and Noble was simply twirling his hoof on the ground. “Sooo…” Noble finally said as he lifted his eyes to Luna. “We have talked for awhile now, haven’t we? Is it ok for you to be here this long? Normally you need to leave to help another pony.” Luna took a long sip of his tea and made the cup vanish, she raised her hoof at Noble. “Don’t worry, my divided mind is doing my job all across Equestria as we speak.” “But you don’t have many of them, normally you need to leave for a bit to help a few other ponies then come back?” Noble craned his neck up. “Are there just fewer ponies with bad dreams tonight? “Oh, well I wouldn’t say that. As you hopefully remember, since early on I’ve been trying to expand the amount of ways I can divide my mind in order to help everypony in Equestria while we all slumber. I was up to five last time we talked and I am proud to announce that by improving the magic for this as well as strengthening my mind my doing this, I am now able to produce 7 ‘clones’ in order to patrol and help as many ponies as I am able.” She curtseyed as she accepted praise for the accomplishment. Noble clapped and nodded at the accomplishment. “Oh wow, that’s wonderful, congratulations! I do hope it isn’t too stressful on you though.” “I admit, it does take a rather large toll on me and uses a large chunk of my magic. However this way I can reach more ponies around Equestria and protect them from the evils I plagued them with.” Luna let out a long sigh. “Noble do you really wish to know? I fear it is complicated to explain.” The stallion thought for a moment and scratched his cheek. “Well I am curious. I don’t mind and I’ll try to keep up.” "Very well. You see Noble, I gain power from the love of my subjects that I protect. It is not the same way as my sister but a more familiar bond. That fuels me and keeps my magic from depleting. I have also found ways to get past the fatigue. I normally do not need much sleep and if i didn’t do this, I wouldn’t need it at all, but with this amount of focus I nap when I can and allow one of my minds to stay as it's own inside my own dreams. Was that too much at once?" Noble shook his head. “No, I think I get it, at least a bit. Thank you.” He looked around looking for things to spark any other topics he forgot. “So um, what now? I have ranted for who knows how long already. Let’s talk about you for a change, I have barely let you tell me anything of how you are nowadays.” A smile formed on Luna’s face as she tapped her chin and chuckled. “I may have a thing or two to tell you.” Noble got down on the ground and looked up with ears perked. “Then please tell me, I’m itching to hear everything.” Luna took a deep breath and then fell down to her stomach and began going through her time since their last encounter. She explained how she’s had to go and make some new rules for her guard, how bogged down she’s been with paperwork that she wished only to go outside and stretch her wings for a bit. At one point she complained about how she felt like she gained weight where Noble quickly assured her she wasn’t with a natural flirt which fell to uncomfortable silence. The princess even mentioned a family road trip that ended horribly. “She didn’t want matching sister tattoos, kept being a troll and drew a mustache on me twice whilst I slept! I must get my own carriage for our next trip.” At once Noble burst out laughing and rolled on his back. “I-I-I can’t believe you two are princesses sometimes!” He laughed more and Luna couldn’t help but chuckle herself. As he recomposed himself he rolled back onto his stomach. “Well thank you for telling me. It sounds like you can at least always find something to do.” Luna brushed her hair back and looked at the ground. “I suppose, but a lot of it can be quite boring as well. And when I say a lot, I really mean a lot.” “I don’t mind, I want to hear about those too. I want to hear about every single little detail you can---” Before Noble could finish, an extremely bright light shined behind Luna, drawing both of the ponies attentions to it. Immediately as Luna saw this, she stood up and took in a deep breath. “I’m sorry but our time seems to be up. It is time for me to lower my moon and retire for this night.” “Of course.” Noble stood up too and bowed to his princess. “Yes Luna. Thank you for spending another night catching up with me. I enjoy our talks and hope you enjoyed it too. Should I keep looking towards the stars and have our usual method of communicating when we need to speak?” “Of course. I will have it no other way.” Luna spread her wings and nodded in greeting. “Now, you can wake up and enjoy my sister’s day perfectly well rested. Good bye Noble, until we next meet.” “Good night Luna. Thank you again.” A light filled the area with blinding white light then everything became dark. Noble twitched and wiggled his body. He felt the blanket over top of him and the stone floor on his side. He rolled over and stood up, through the window he could see the morning sun shining in, putting an end to his wonderful night. Author's Note
26. Soul DayA few days has passed since the night in the Castle of the Two Sisters. Ever since the ponies got out of the Everfree Forest, things started to settle down again and they quickly went back to their everyday lives. Wild Soul had begun work on the project for town hall while Noble Poet went back to working at Sweet Apple Acres. They were settling into their new home and new routines well, with help of friendly ponies throughout the town who were more than willing to help them find their way around, regardless of Soul trying to avoid them at all cost. Of course none of them could forget the night there, especially the dark unknown mare who was playing the organ. It was yet again another busy morning in Ponyville’s lively town square. Wild Soul was leaning against a railing at Ponyville Town Hall’s terrace, simply looking out at the flow of the day going by him and breathing the fresh, slightly humid air after a drizzle. He was wearing his classic outfit, red jacket and a black collar with a white tie. Ponies were going from stall to stall buying beverages and groceries. Mostly beverages since a majority of the customers were working ponies with long work hours. It was lunch time and everypony was in a rush to get their things and get back to work. Soul could hear some irritated groans coming from a stagnant line due to an old mare getting too carried away with her “good old days.” Such groans weren’t too common in Ponyville, unlike in Canterlot. The sun was shining on nearly clear skies with only a few clouds occasionally blocking the warm rays. Finally, his two hour meeting had come to an end and this was his first chance to relax. The meeting Soul had with the Madam Mayor considering the project she was working on with him. His job was to brand Ponyville, give it a visual identity. In this meeting, Soul had presented visual material and ideas for the Mayor, like color palettes, bearings etc. The meeting had left Soul with a sense of relief. It was like any other typical meeting for a designer. You walk in with your presentation, show and explain your ideas, take notes and leave the meeting with a notebook that has everything listed down that you need to change or rethink. Again, a typical but luckily not too monotonous of a meeting, there is no such a thing as a client who doesn’t want to change anything. Such a client would be a fantasy or fairy tail character. Luckily for Soul, the Mayor was far from one of his worst cases. She was a client who demanded reasonable amounts of changes but didn’t try to push on any artistic views. Being left with room for his own interpretations and being pleased with their talk, Soul was ready to move forward with the project. It was the first time Soul was in charge of such an important project; one which would give a branding symbol for an entire town that was rapidly gaining prestige in Equestria. Soul raised his head and once again glanced over at the Town’s Square, seeing the buildings and stalls he breathed a breath of fresh air. It had it’s own vibrancy of earthy and elegant flair. When Soul had absorbed the scenery enough, he pulled away from the rail and finally decided to head off to get food. He still had plenty of time on his hooves before he could meet up with Rarity for coffee. Even after their problems the night in the castle, they were able to continue their lessons regularly, with professionalism and more surprisingly still an atmosphere of delight and kindness; even after dropped the “not friends” -bomb. However her behavior had slightly changed, she doesn’t address Soul with a term “friend” anymore but now talks twice as much as before. The stallion pulled out his notebook and started to review all the changes the Mayor wanted as he headed towards the stairs. “Let’s see.. More color options, another background picture, less--- Oh CRAP!” Before he could finish his thought he ran into a stack of papers someone had left on the stairs. He almost slipped as he fell to the next step but caught himself. He immediately triggered his magic, put his book away and started gathering the papers back together. “Soul?” “Huh?” Soul turned around to look in the direction of the call and saw a couple familiar faces helping him pick up the papers. “Oh, Twilight, Spike... I uh... well hi….” He looked at both of them checking papers for smudges and dirt as they picked them up. “Judging by the look on your faces, these are yours...” “Well at least this wasn’t my fault this time,” Spike said with a smirk and looked toward Twilight out of the corner of his eye. Soul picked up a few more papers keeping them all in a stack and offered them to Twilight who wrapped her magic around them so he could release his and continued picking up more. “Sorry about that... Should’ve watched where I was going. I will gather them, you two don’t need to worry.” Twilight immediately waved a hoof and shook her head. “No worries, it happens. And we were trying to spread them around town after all,” she said with a small laugh and helped collect the remaining flyers from the ground. “How are you doing? I haven’t seen you around since we got out of the castle. Have you recovered well from that night?” He continued picking up papers, and checked to ensure none got too dirty as he made another stack.“Yes, I’m good. I mean, I just try not to think about that whole night. Luckily I’m plenty occupied with this and that to keep me focused on other stuff.” “Good. So you don’t have some kind of post traumatic stress disorder?” Twilight said and tried see Soul’s face clearer around the papers. “What? No no, nothing like that. I’m perfectly fine, I just don’t want to stay stuck on that night.” As Soul had collected the last remaining flyer, he took a better look at it to see what they were all about. “Huh… A writing contest?” He looked back and forth between Twilight and Spike as if asking who he should be handing it to, but Spike was the one who offered to take the last and largest stack. Twilight nodded and jumped at the chance to talk about the contest. “That’s right! Spike and I have been planning this for weeks now! It’s an open contest for everypony who is interested in writing and wants to contribute their passion for it.” “I see...” Soul’s ears perked and he began to scratch his cheek. “What kind of writing exactly? Do you give a topic for the participants to write about or something or specific styles?” Twilight’s shook her head and immediately raised her hooves before her, waving them from side to side “Oh, no no no no! Every participant are free to choose what they write about. Fiction, romance, drama, even a documentary if they are willing to.” The stallion nodded in understanding and held his chin. “Well there won’t be a shortage of variety, that’s for sure.” Twilight nodded and held her head up high. “The more, the better! I’ve barely hosted anything public and thought this would be a great first thing to do since reading is a passion of mine!” Spike looked up at Twilight with a raised eyebrow. “I think you mean ‘obsession’.” Rolling her eyes Twilight continued. “The line is thin.” She handed the rest of the fliers to Spike and released her magic. “I’m just glad we finally get to do this after so much planning.” Spike placed the papers back on the steps but farther to the side than Twilight did prior. “Yeah, especially since she’s done nothing but work since we got back home. All that’s been on her mind is the organ pegasi and well, other important stuff---” Twilight nudges Spike with a sharp jab to Spike’s side with a hoof. She glowered down at him speaking through gritted teeth. “Things we should not talk about.” Soul shook his head, waving a hoof and extending it as if about to step back. “I wasn’t going to ask.” “Good. However, now that the organ pegasus was brought up, I have to ask…” Twilight glanced down at herself then stood up straight and cleared her throat to speak clearly. “You… Or, you haven’t been able to come up with any way in which she would be connected to you from your past do you?” Soul shook his head again furrowing his brow. “Twilight, she was a stranger to me back there and she’s stranger to me right now. I have no idea who she was nor does Noble.” Twilight looked over Soul again and nodded. “Right. I just had to check that one more time.” She relaxed as she took a step back, pulling one of the flyers off the stack and holding it up next to her head. “Anyway, why don’t you take one of these? As a creative person you might have something to contribute to this competition.” “Well… I did use to write some scripts during my studies and even attended a writing class…” The stallion scratched his head and looked away searching for a distraction. “I think I’m going to pass. Writing isn’t really an area I’m interested in. Thanks for offering though, Twilight.” “I understand, it’s no problem at all.” She moved the flyer back towards the stack making it flush. Before Twilight finished placing the flyer back on the pile a switch clicked in Soul’s head. “Wait, I think I’ll take the flyer though. This is the perfect thing for Noble to attend.” Twilight pulled back at the mention of Noble, she looked at the flyer then slowly lifted it towards Soul, her tone had immediately become cold. “Uhh, sure.” Spike huffed and put his claws on his hips looking directly as Soul. “Come on dude, give it a shot at least. I’m gonna attend too, we could be a team or something! Twilight won’t favor us.” “Sorry but persuasion isn’t gonna change my mind.” He shook his head as he took the flyer from Twilight’s spell. Spike shrugged. Twilight lifted the pile as she turned back to the stairs. “Anyway, we’re going to move on now with our chores. Take care Soul.” Soul nodded with a smile and waved a goodbye. “Yeah, likewise.” After seeing Twilight and Spike pick up the pace getting further away, he put the flyer in his saddlebag and finally exited the terrace. The writing contest sure seemed interesting and something Noble should definitely be interested in even if it may take some encouragement to get him to join. But now, one thought was on Soul’s mind, what kind of food to eat. He could go to his usual sushi buffet place, it would be a safe option, but on the other hoof he kind of desired something much more… filling. Pizza could be good. No, a hayburger. Hayburger it is. It’s Wednesday after all, yeah not the best day for a special treat but he tends to call that day an early Saturday. Plus he just finished a long meeting, so that justified it to himself. With the decision now made, he headed to the nearest restaurant he could remember to get his treat. The grill worker stuck a bag out of the small grill window. “Here you go sir, Triple Cheese hayburger with fries, soda and cucumber mayo. Have a swell day!” “Thank you, likewise,” Soul said and took his order, and walked out of the way of the next customer. The warm smell of onions and grease made his mouth water already, it had been a while since he had gone for a burger. Around the grill were multiple empty tables for Soul to sit at. He picked the one with a large umbrella since it was a bright and rather hot day making it a good day to eat out. As he sat down, he dug out all the food with his magic. He placed a napkin under the fries, opened the little container with mayo and lastly unwrapped the burger. Typically, it wasn’t as big or pretty as in the menu picture, but the taste is what matters. However, he didn’t even get to take a single bite before he felt a tap on his shoulder. “Hiya Soul. How’s it going?” Noble looked over the unicorn’s shoulder, noisily trying to see what was on the table. He turned around only to see Noble with a large apple carriage in tow trying to peek around him. “Noble! Hey there buddy.” Noble smiled standing up straight again. “Mind if I join you?” “Of course not,” Soul said and shook his head, tapping the seat on the other side of him. “Aren’t you supposed to still be at work though?” Noble unshackled himself from the carriage and did his ordinary routine, making sure the brakes were on and a block in place. He then sat across from his buddy. “I am. I was here to deliver some apples. Though I’m ahead of schedule and Applejack has told me I shouldn’t overwork myself as much so I don’t think sitting down with my bosom buddy for a moment will do any harm. Besides I haven’t used my full lunch break yet.” Soul’s eyes lowered as he glowered with an unpleased expression. “You’ve been in touch with Truffle, haven’t you?” The earth pony looked away then glanced back at Soul before looking away again while he snickered. “It shows?” With a large eye roll Soul smiled and lifted his burger to take a bite after he spoke. “It shows, ‘bosom buddy’.” Noble crossed his forelegs on the table and leaned in comfortably to speak. “Yeah, she’s still messaging me at least twice a week and keeps sending her cookie or muffin baskets. We’re not going to run out of sweets anytime soon.” Soul raised an eyebrow as he lifted up some fries to eat. “Isn’t that gonna be expensive…?” Noble shrugged and then looked up and down Soul noticing his clothes. “I see you are wearing your trademark attire.” The unicorn nodded and patted his shirt. “Yes, for the presentation I held for the mayor. I figured I couldn’t just go bare naked.” He then took his first bite of the burger, closing his eyes in delight. A note clicked in Noble’s head. “Oh right, you had that today. How did it go?” After he swallowed his bite he lifted more fries before he spoke. “Well, it was long but overall it was a success. Of course she wanted changes and such but in this occupation, everypony does.” “I see, alrighty. Well I’m glad it seemed to go well.” The earth pony gave his friend a smile then looked around for a topic while the aromas from the burger stand distracted him. “So um, you picked a burger for lunch?” Soul looked at his burger and then presented it to Noble, opening it and browsing through the ingredients and letting the smell of onions and garlic reach Noble’s nose. “Yep, big and greasy. I haven’t eaten a single bite today so I’m starving.” “I haven’t eaten too much today either except breakfast and a very small lunch. Today’s been especially busy and I feel completely drained.” The scents teased Noble’s nose and he began to drool. Soul noticed how Noble looked at his food and chuckled then cut it in half, giving a half to Noble. “Here.” “What? N-No, I didn’t mean for you to split it with me.” Noble pulled back and attempted to offer the half back to Soul as he sunk his head down. “T-Though it looks soooo good… err I’m sure I could order something.” The unicorn held out a hoof of refusal and gently slid it back to Noble. “Come now, there’s no need for that. Take it, it’s not like I could eat a burger this big in one sitting.” He levitated his slice and looked over for a moment before biting. “If you feel like doing something for it, just buy us pizza’s someday.” Noble nodded his head vigorously and gave Soul a little squeeze. “Deal! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!” Soul wiggled in Noble’s grasp, forcing the release then rubbed his ear. “No need to yell in my ear…” “Sorry.” Noble backed away with his head hunkered down and an embarrassed corner of the mouth smile. He moved the burger half in front of him and lifted it. “Um, anyway, what have you been up to today?” The unicorn rubbed his chest before he spoke. “You know, this and that. Had the usual lesson with Rarity and had my presentation for Mayor. I’ll also meet Rarity later today.” Noble held up a hoof as he finished his bite. “Nice. How are things with Rarity and your studies? Has it become weird or harder since you dropped the... ‘not friends’ bomb?” The mention of Soul dropping the bombshell on Rarity made him pause mid bite of fries. “Well… yes things are somewhat different and there is definitely a different atmosphere… But it hadn’t become any more difficult or bad. I mean, yes Rarity doesn’t address me with the term friend anymore and such, but otherwise we’ve been rather comfortable in each other’s company.” Noble chewed his second bite, swallowing before he spoke. “That’s good to hear.” Putting his food down Soul looked over at Noble with a frown. “Really, it’s because of you… If you hadn’t talked to Rarity… Well… I’m sure it would be a whole nother situation. You really saved my flank back then and I can’t thank you enough for that... To be honest, I feel a bit ashamed… for needing help in such situations.” Soul hung his head, looking at his food with a long face, his hooves on the edge of the table. Noble wiped his hooves with a napkin and put a hoof on Soul’s shoulder. “Come now buddy, of course I did it for you. You’ve been helping me far more than I’ve been able to help you. I… might sound a bit mean now but I’m really glad it was one of those times I could help you. Ironic though, you are the most confident and straightforward pony I know, but still I have to help you out when it comes to explaining your feelings and I’m glad I can.” The corner of Soul’s lips arched upwards as he looked at his friend out of the corner of his eye. “Don’t you just love having such a prig as your bestie?” Noble chuckled and gave Soul a light thump on his shoulder and reached for his hooves, lifting them up to hold them a moment but quickly moved his hoof for a fry, pulling it back to him with a joking smile. “Hush. At least you acknowledge it. You’re the best darn prig I’ve ever known!” Soul couldn’t help but smile and let out a little laugh at the comment and Noble’s joking deception. After eating quietly for a moment, Soul perked up as he remembered what was waiting for his friend in the saddleback. “Oh right! I needed to show you something,” he said and started digging through his bag. Noble’s eyes perked and he stopped eating for a moment, sitting up straighter trying to get a peek at what this was. “Well, after meeting Mayor I came across Twilight and Spike.” Soul then pulled out the flier and presented it to Noble. “They were spreading these across town.” The earth pony took it and pulled it closer as he read; after reading a bit of what it was all about, his ears dropped and he gave a large gulp. “Oh… A writing contest?” “Yes, I took this with me since I figured it would be a perfect opportunity for you. I mean, you still haven’t written a single poem for a while, have you?” Soul could see how troubling this was for Noble but knew that it was the best thing for him. He touched Noble’s shoulder as he finished his question, trying to look him in the eyes. “Um… No… No I haven’t. I do have some ideas though!” Noble’s breathing had grown heavier and he seemed to shake a bit as he tried to defend himself. “Well that’s good. You now have a stable job and don’t have to worry about a rent for another month. Don’t you think it would be a good time to start getting back to the thing you got that mark on your flank for?” Soul questioned as he pointed at the quill on Noble’s flank. Noble clenched his teeth and looked at the paper, turning it this way and that. “Ye-yes… Yes, of course. This does seem rather interesting... I’m just not sure if this is a good place to start. Something smaller would probably be much more suitable for me right now. Right?” Soul raised an eyebrow looking directly at Noble’s face with a questioning demeanor. “Something smaller? What do you mean exactly? Aside from work, you’ve got nothing but time.” “Yes. it’s not that, I just…” The stallion gave a huff and put the flyer down. “I don’t know… I was thinking about just waiting and seeing if something nice pops up.” Soul put his hooves on the table and spoke loud and sternly while he watched for any actions that he may be pushing Noble’s buttons. “Noble, I can tell you from experience, that’s a path you definitely don’t want to take. The longer you avoid writing, the bigger that step grows for you. You’re a great writer and I know you can do this. I know you and I brought this flyer to you because I truly believe in you.” Noble sat in silence for a moment squirming his lips around as he thought about his answer. “Fine, I’ll think about it...” His voice was uneasy and his eyes rapidly scanned over the paper multiple times as if he were trying to search for some kind of catch. Soul sighed but tried to hold up his smile. “I’m sure you would do great in it.” He patted his friend’s shoulder before lifting the burger for another bite. “Thank you, buddy. And thank you for showing me this.” Smiling back at Soul, Noble’s eyes jumped and a hoof raised. “Wait, I just thought…” Soul tilted his head. “Hmm?” Noble scratched his head and looked between the flyer and Soul with a scrunched up sceptical face. “Can there be more than one pony working on the same story?” After a moment’s recall Soul nodded reluctantly. “I guess so. I mean, Spike told me he is going to attend too and asked if I wanted to team up with him.” With the new information Noble’s curiosity and anticipation grew. “Oh, well… Did you?” Soul shook his head. “No, I’m not going to attend. It is not really my thing and it would require too much of my focus.” “Ah, I see. I just thought- maybe we could’ve teamed up or something but nevermind then,” Noble said with a faint laugh. Soul’s lips fell, he didn’t mean to cause Noble distress but had to stick with his morals. He put a hoof on the table, leaning to catch the attention of Noble’s eyes. “Sorry buddy, I would but I don’t want to get involved if I can’t put my heart and soul into it.” “It’s fine, I would feel bad If I forced you to.” Noble took the last bite of his hamburger and stood up. “Well, I need to get back to work and the farm. Thank you for the burger and letting me know about the contest.” “No problem. Hey, wanna watch Magi tonight? The whole season pack came from the mail today.” Soul lifted his last bite as well and gave Noble a few more fries to take on his way. “You mean The Labyrinth Of Magic? Awesome! You bet!” Noble replied as he refastened himself on the cart before taking some fries and eating them quickly. “Yep, I’ll look forward to it. I’ll see you at home!” Soul waved a hoof half turned, watching Noble leave. “Yep, bye Soul! See you later!” Noble gave a small salute with the edge of his hoof and nodded to Soul. After waving goodbye to his friend, Soul went and finished his meal, sat up and tossed out the trash they left and let out a big satisfied sigh. “That meal sure was something else.” As Soul turned around and was about to leave, he was immediately stopped by somepony. “Excuse me, sir?” the pony said. She was a tan, fit unicorn mare with purple eyes and a straight mane with a long ponytail. She was wearing a purple jacket and black pants, and on her neck under the jacket seemed to be some kind of red tattoo-like mark. It was too covered for Soul to make out what it was. “Yes?” Soul said taken aback, lifting a hoof to step backwards. The mare looked Soul up and down. “Are you a local?” With a scratch of his cheek Soul thought about his knowledge of Ponyville so far. “Um, kind of. Do you need help?” The tan mare stood up cleared her throat and sat for a moment producing a pen and paper. “Actually, yes. I’m a bit lost you see. Do you happen to know where Ponyville’s Schoolhouse is?” “Ponyville’s Schoolhouse? Um, yes I do. Do you know where you are right now?” Soul raised his eyebrows as he awaited the reply. The mare looked rather ashamed as a slight blush grew on her cheeks. “I’m afraid I do not…” “Well here, let me show you.” Soul took his saddlebag off and dug out a small map of Ponyville that he held onto since he got to town. He laid it out on one of the tables and he also dug up a pen, pointing at one location. “This is where we are right now, and this is Ponyville’s Schoolhouse. Following these directions you will get there.” The mare looked at the map and directions, scrunching her eyebrows. “I see…” It was clear she hadn’t understood the directions completely. “You can have the map if you want. I have no use for it.” The mare didn’t look any less tense or reassured. “Thank you very much, but… Oh I’m so embarrassed to ask, but could you please take me there? I’m really, REALLY bad at reading a map.” With a few blinks Soul just looked back and forth at the mare and the map. Did she really need a guide for such simple directions? “It’s… It’s not really that far. I’m sure you will find it without any trouble.” The mare leaned in with large begging eyes and a long face. “Please sir! I really need to get there as soon as possible and I can not risk getting lost again! I beg of you!” Soul looked at the map, calculating how long the walk would be and if he had other options. He held up a hoof that prevented her from growing closer. “Alright, alright, I’ll take you there miss…” “Thank you so much! I cannot express enough gratitude.” She quickly took Soul’s outstretched hoof, mistaking it as a shake. She shook feverishly, clutching it with both forehooves. Jumping Soul jerked his hoof away from the mare. He didn’t want to insult her so he quickly disguised his displeasure by trotting around her to the path they would need to take. “It’s no problem. I had to go there to see my tutor anyway at some point.” “I’m sure she won’t mind if you show up a bit early!” The mare gave a curtsy and bowed her head to Soul. “I’m Belladonna. Donna for short.” Soul gave a small bow of his own, his lips curled as he felt a little more like he was back in Canterlot. “Wild Soul.” Donna put away her things and tightened her satchel back before moving next to Soul, ready to follow. “Pleasure to meet you Wild Soul, and thank you again.” “It’s no big deal. Just know that I will notice immediately if you try to pickpocket me.” He gave a forced grin and turned to lead the way down the path. Belladonna held her head up high as she walked with grace and pride, planting each step with purpose. “...And that’s how I achieved my 20th medal in swimming! When all those ponies were praising me and cheering my name, I knew I was made for the spotlight. That golden medal reflecting the lights and blinding the audience with my grace. 20 medals, it’s simply amazing, right?” Soul walked with her, he looked over with an eyebrow raised, he kept his distance past a leg’s length. “I see… You sure are an overachiever.” “You really don’t talk much, do you Wild Soul?” Belladonna retorted. Through their entire trip she had continued to be unsuccessful in whipping up some small talk out of Soul but remained unsatisfied as she had yet to find a single topic that drew him in. Soul wanted to smack himself in the face but instead he just let out a deep sigh, hanging his head a bit and snarled his eyes tightly for a moment before rising to address her. “Pardon me, but I speak if I have something to say.” Belladonna scrunched up her face as she was taken aback and even stopped mid strut and waited for Soul to stop and look back at her before she spoke. “You’re a really weird pony. You should go to some kind of therapy.” Soul’s mouth almost dropped wide open. Did she really just say that? He sat in utter disbelief of how straightforward she was with her thoughts. “Wow… Well that’s bold.” As soon as Soul responded she covered her muzzle with great alarm. “Did I say that out loud?! Oh my gosh, pardon me! I sometimes can’t keep the door between my thoughts and mouth shut. I’m so sorry! I can’t control my thoughts! I mean I’m sure you can be talkative and such, I mean you can be a nice pony I’m sure, SHUT UP ALREADY BELLADONNA!” She bellowed, stomping her hooves. Soul stood and watched the display, he had raised a leg and was prepared to run if he had to, but simply stood for a moment without words questioning his next move. “...Ok.” In an attempt to save herself and against her better judgement Belladonna continued her attempts to salvage the conversation. “I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me, I-I stutter and blabber when accompanied by such handsome stallions that I just want to throw myself in front of you, chain up your limbs and make you all mine for eternity and be with you forever and ever and ever and ever… BELLADONNA!!!” Soul was speechless. For the first time in a long time, not even one word came from his mouth, not even a simple jokey statement to ease the atmosphere. He was completely lost and his brain was reduced to a chaotic cluster. He wanted to just gallop and get as far away from her as possible. He took a few steps back and watched her closely for any movement. They were frozen staring at one another for a moment then Belladonna jumped up laughing. “Just kidding!” She pranced by with a bead of sweat on her forehead. With a sigh of relief Soul began walking along side Belladonna again in silence but with a wider girth between them. The school emerged in sight and even for the remaining distance they both kept their muzzles tightly shut. As they approached the entrance, Soul viewed the school yard and all the fillies and colts playing there. Some were having fun at the swings, some were sliding down the slide and overall everypony was having a fun time. Though this one colt caught Soul’s attention, a colt who was playing on his own with no friends. However, he didn’t look sad. Instead, he was smiling, having fun just like others were, just alone. He couldn’t help but see himself as he was many years ago in that colt. Sure, he had no idea who he was or why he is playing alone in the first place, maybe he had a friend who was just sick or getting something from somewhere, but Soul wanted to imagine. However, Soul’s attention was drawn away; he saw Sweetie Belle and her friends in the distance with two other mares. At first it just seemed like they were talking but when the other two started poking Applebloom and even pushed her backwards, Soul knew precisely what was going on. He immediately felt a stitch in his chest as he watched the scene. “Oooh, Soul! Hi!” A voice chimed from the distance. Soul’s attention was instantly snatched away from the fillies as he heard the call. His attention was torn between the fillies and the voice, but then he saw how a purple mare split up the ponies, giving Soul’s mind closure to turn towards the mare. Rarity was at the entrance of the school, the sight immediately made him smile and shout, “Hey there, how’s it going?” Rarity waved and looked at the clock on the wall of the school house. “Oh, just fine! What are you doing here already? It’s not even near the time we agreed to meet.” She turned to look at Belladonna, putting on a curious smile. “And who might this be?” Soul turned to look at the mare beside him, almost forgetting she was there for a minute. “Right. This is Belladonna. She ran across me at Town Square and asked for guidance to get here.” Belladonna stepped forward and extended a hoof with her head held high. “Pleasure to meet you, Rarity! I love your mane and well now that I look at you more closely, I like everything about your appearance, if I was into mares I would ask you out!” Blinking rapidly Rarity simply stared at Belladonna for a moment. She didn’t know what to say. She attempted to form a thought but only mumbled the first few word of sentences she could think of, without actually managing to form one. Belladonna immediately charged to smack her head against the school wall. “Why is silence not something I’m blessed with?!!” Rarity gasped and stepped back at the sight. “My goodness, miss! Don’t go and harm yourself like that!” The orange unicorn quickly turned back to Rarity and bowed, closing her eyes. “My deepest apologies for what I just said! I can’t control my blurtings! Your friend here already unfortunately witnessed that…” Soul raised a hoof to draw Rarity’s attention away from the mare. “Y-Yea but let’s not get any deeper into that.” “My apprentice,” Rarity quickly corrected and gave a small clenched smile as she didn’t want to offend Soul again but still had to adjust to this herself. “Please you can stop bowing.” “Thank you very much and sorry again.” Belladonna bowed to Soul briefly. “Now, the thing I came here for in the first place… Do you know where I can find miss Cheerilee?” “Cheerilee? Yes, she’s over there at the swings The purple mare.” Rarity pointed her in the direction. Belladonna waved to both of them and smiled. “Thank you! And thank you very much Wild Soul for guiding me here! Let’s chain each other up some day.” Soul’s ears fell. “Wha---” Belladonna flushed bright red again. “IGNORE THAT!” She shook her head and laughed awkwardly, taking steps backwards and bowed once more before trotting off. “Bye now!” “Bye…” Soul replied and waved ears still flat. Rarity and Soul both watched Belladonna trott off and didn’t move for a bit, since they had to give Belladonna’s persona time to sink in for a couple second. Eventually Rarity walked closer to her apprentice and tilted her head. “My… That pony’s friends must never have a dull moment when she’s around…” Soul nodded and sat down rubbing his ankles. “Rarity she wanted to chain me up and make me hers for all eternity... ” Rarity blank and just sat there in utter confusion. “Oh my.” “Yeah” He kept his eyes transfixed on the mare as if fearing for his life. Lips curling Rarity’s eyes moved towards Soul. “Well she’s not the only one…” “What?” The stallion jumped, his body facing away as if about to gallop back to Canterlot. “What? Nothing?” Rarity turned back at Soul and laughed awkwardly. She then quickly perked up then looked about and gave the air a little whiff then looked towards her apprentice. She gave another whiff and drew back covering her nose. “Soul… I… I can’t believe you…” Taken aback Soul jolted and gave himself a look over. “What?” Rarity took a few large steps away, holding her nose whilst holding back a gag. “Have you smelled yourself darling? That stench of garlic and grease floating around you… It smells like utter death, and you let that pungent smell float around in such lovely lady’s company!” Soul’s lips fell. He turned and gave himself a sniff and even lifted a leg to check himself further but shook his head with a frown. He checked his breath and twirled his tongue around his mouth. “You might just have an overly sensitive nose… I don’t smell or even taste a thing. And she didn’t seem to notice anything either. Plus I ate at least six pastilles during our trip here.” Keeping her distance Rarity waved a hoof in attempts to fan the smells away from herself. “You must be kidding… What else have you eaten?” The stallion’s eyes dropped and his expression grew flat, he watched the dramatics but shook his head. “A hayburger.” “I’m going to faint!” Rarity dug a diamond-shaped bottle from her purse and sprayed it all over the stallion. “Gosh!” The spray hit Soul’s eyes like sharp needles, he immediately started coughing as some of the perfume got into his mouth and nostrils while his eyes watered. “D-Does that make you feel better now?” Rarity nodded with pride. “Much better.” She placed the bottle back and stepped forward once more, taking in the new fragrance. “Now, since you are here, you might as well come inside and see what I’m working on? There’s no point in leaving anymore.” Having pulled himself together he smirked. “Only if you have coffee to offer. It’s the least you can do after almost choking me.” Rarity squinted and leaned in with a smile. “Look who’s talking,” she said and chuckled. The mare pulled back and turned to move inside. “We have a large thermos inside. Feel free to help yourself.” “Thanks,” Soul said with a pleased nod and followed Rarity inside. “So what kind of thing are you working on here? You haven’t even revealed a word about it.” “I will tell you in a moment darling. It’s been something we feared could never come to fruition, but now it all seems to be starting to come together splendidly.” She divulged as she walked him inside. “By the way, how did the meeting with Mayor go? You had it already, correct?” Soul’s eyes crossed the room as he entered, greeted by the sight of fillies artwork and learning materials to nurture young minds. “Yes, it went rather well. Things are rolling at a nice pace and she’s a good client overall. I’ll spare the details for a better time though.” “Okay!” Rarity chanted with a smile. They reached the end of the hallway and came to a half-open door that said ‘staff lounge’ on it. Rarity lead Soul into a crowded room. “The thermos jug is over there.” She raised her hoof over her head, singling out the location among the crowd. “Gotcha,” Soul said with a nod and walked over to the jug. As he did he observed everything around him. All the ponies were focusing on something which meant there was definitely something going on. At the table he poured coffee for himself and added a little bit of cream and walked back to Rarity who had moved over to open a window. She was also accompanied by another familiar face, Fluttershy. “Oh. So you are here too it seems.” Fluttershy approached the group with her head tucked down but gave a small wave. “Oh, h-hi there Soul.” The stallion waved back as a small introduction but quickly looked back at his teacher. “So… What is this all about?” Rarity made sure her pose was perfect before proudly announcing, “We’re going to host a charity event!” Soul’s brow raised. “Oh, you are?” Rarity stepped back to present the room. “Yes! To raise money for the school and support the young foal’s future possibilities. We have already planned so many wonderful things for it! Selling self-made products is a necessity of course, setting up stands to try out different areas of different occupations, shows on stage and also having professionals speak about their career, cutie marks, and answering questions from the audience.” “That’s right,” Fluttershy spoke up, raising her head smiling softly. “The money will be used for new equipment that makes it possible to start up new club activities; that is, if we make enough of course. The Ponyville school sure is a wonderful place to study, but all it has right now is a newspaper....” “Yes, and I’m certain not all the foals plan to be journalists or work in print.” Illuminating her horn, Rarity took a cup and poured some water. “Though yes, that is what we have been working on. So many ponies are working on this, even Rainbow Dash! Wonderful thing to set up, isn’t it?” The more Rarity spoke the more Soul’s enthusiasm rose as he lifted his head up and his lips curved upward. “Rarity, you have no idea how much more I appreciate and respect you for this. Education and encouraging foals to explore possibilities are some of the biggest values for me, that’s one of the greatest things you can raise money for!” Taking a sip and placing it down Rarity practically beamed. “Thank you darling! It’s delightful to see it’s close to your heart as well. Everypony here is putting their heart and soul into it so I’m sure it will be a delightful event!” Soul nodded. “At least. Do you already have performers and such?” “We most certainly do! I will introduce the magnificent world of fashion for fillies and colts, and will also introduce them to what running a business is like.” She squared up the room searching for imperfections. Without missing a beat Fluttershy filled in. “I’m also in the show, showing off some lovely animals.” Soul dialed it back and faced the pink maned mare. “What was your official title again?” Fluttershy moved a hoof out as she seemed to fall ever more at ease but still leaned towards Rarity for emotional support. “I’m an animal caretaker.” “Oh, okay then.” Being at a loss to keep up his conversation with Fluttershy he focused on his teacher. “Need a graphic designer to perform?” Rarity blank, placing a hoof on her chest. “YOU want to perform? In front of a crowd?” Soul nodded and lifted up his head. “I’ve done it for four years already. It’s kinda part of my job, you know. And was during studying. Plus I’m passionate about my job.” Rarity rubbed her neck and glanced at the ceiling. “True... I hope you have enough thoughts to share for a larger audience.” “If you need convincing I can give you a long long lecture of layout and composition, which alone includes proximity, contrast, repetition white space, alignment and from that I can go to explaining color theory and typography---” “I’m convinced!” Rarity said as she lifted up her hood and her eyes journeyed the room once more before she nodded. “Alrighty! Let’s sign you in!” In that instance Soul slammed on the brakes and held out a hoof. “Hold on. I still need to make sure I have time, so don’t set anything in stone yet. I’ll inform you later.” “Oh that’s fine too! I’m delightfully surprised you wish to be part of this.” Rarity continued with a pleasant smile that practically glimmered. Soul gave a shrug and smiled. “Now, let’s get back to work! We still need to do a lot before we can call it a day here.” Rarity took another sip of water and pulled out her reading glasses which she rested on the bridge of her nose. To the side Fluttershy rubbed her hooves together. “I-I think I have done everything I can here so I should leave in a moment… I still want to be able to start writing for Twilight’s contest today. If that’s okay.” Soul’s ears twitched up. “You are going to participate in Twilight’s writing contest?” “Oh, so you have heard of it. Y-Yes, I-I mean I’m not that good of a writer nor do I care about winning, but I thought; it would be really nice for Twilight if I took part in it, since she is really excited about it and needs ponies in it after all.” She stumbled through her explanation and kept looking down as not to meet Soul’s gaze too long. Soul’s tail gave a wiggle and his eyes grew larger as he leaned in. “Are you going to write alone?” Rubbing her foreleg with her other while averting her eyes Fluttershy muttered, “I don’t think I can get anypony to write with me.” He almost couldn’t believe how perfect this was panning out. “You should ask Noble,” he said without a second thought. “What do you mean?” At the more enthusiastic response the pegasus pulled her legs in closer. She was still not particularly familiar or especially comfortable with either of the stallions but knew they should be safe enough. With such body language it was plain obvious she was uncomfortable. Soul didn’t want to pressure her but was too far in at this point. “He’s participating too but is in need of a teammate. Maybe you could fill in and team up?” “O-Oh, I see! Yes, Noble IS a writer... Or a poet, rather…” Fluttershy’s eyes were glued to the ground, moving about, she wiggled a hoof on the ground as she thought about the offer. Soul dug his small book from his saddle bag. “Well here, I can give you his contact info. It’s up to you if you wanna do anything with it.” Fluttershy practically jumped. She clumsily but quickly lifted her satchel off too and dug her own book and pen. “S-Sure! Please, if you wouldn’t mind that is.” The first flip sent Soul directly to Noble’s page. He recited the information and made sure the mare copied it down correctly. The finishing touch of letting the information glow and a confirmation message was sent to Noble. “Thank you very much.” She put the book away, then gave a nodding bow. Soul returned the nod and with a glow of his horn slid the book back in its spot. “You’re welcome.” “I should be going now. Goodbye you two.” Fluttershy waved to Soul and Rarity and disappeared through the doorway. Once Fluttershy was out of sight Rarity draped three outfits over Soul. “Now then, carry these and come along. I can’t interfere with what ponies wear to work but I can spruce up the assistants’ wardrobe.” Soul was caught off guard and looked back hearing the explanation. “Wait, what? You’re gonna make me a pack mule now?” Pausing with a roll of her eyes Rarity looked back. “Oh heavens no, of course not dear, this is still a lesson. Besides, pack mule has such a negative connotation. You are… a following wardrobe. Come along, we must account for time.” With a huff Soul followed Rarity as she began her work for the event again.
1. You Got CompanyIf somepony has not heard about the city of Canterlot, he or she probably doesn’t live in Equestria at all. The great Canterlot (the capital of the even greater Equestria), where high society and quality shines under Celestia’s sun. No matter where you go in that city, you can see that almost every store presents the name “Canterlot” within it’s title: Southern Canterlot Cafe, Canterlot Fashion, Northen Canterlot Grocery, Canterlot Sushi Resutoran, Canterlot Academy. The title Canterlot is abundant, and it may not be too outrageous to say that it has gone to some of the residents’ heads. It is surely to no fault of their own, it is only common that ponies would take pride in their nations capital and its accomplishments. The fact that ponies there are directly under the supervision and protection of their fair Princesses further entitles them to uphold themselves to higher standards. The city, as many may know, is made up mostly of rich entrepreneurs and creative designers, along with other fortunate, gifted, and well off ponies. Of course among the talented ponies are those who work hard and have pushed to get everything they have. Among these many successful, hard working, design and fashion companies is a place called Canterlot Spectrum Ltd. One of the busiest and most ambitious agencies located in Eastern Canterlot, which has employed many talented designers, advertising managers, art directors etc. The company holds a record of being the oldest design companies in the history of Canterlot and its reputation is well honored among artists. To a creative mind coffee is considered an essential beverage, it can even be considered to be a necessity. So of course, a fully stocked cafeteria with high quality coffee is a no-brainer for everypony who works at Canterlot Spectrum. When the clock hits 11:00, for most of the employers it meant lunch time. Even though the designers are free to pick break times for themselves, most would much rather use their company benefits for free lunch. Two mares stood in line for the food counter holding their trays with their magic and placing them down as they began to move down the line. One brown coated with a blond, curly mane. The other one was a bit plumper, yellow coated with a long, thick and dark brown mane. The thinner mare was presenting her left ankle to her friend, flaunting a golden bracelet covered with gems, with her head raised. “...and when I opened the present, awh the sun just hit these gems and; ahh Si! …it just dazzled my eyes! I’m telling you, Mineral, this present is the most spectacular gift anypony has ever given me!” The other mare was pressing her hooves against her cheeks while still standing, a long squeak escaping her mouth “Oh my gosh Meadow! That must’ve cost a fortune! How did your special had so much heart to buy that?” she hyped and was smiling so widely that if her smile got any wider, her face would probably tear apart. “Um, excuse me,” they heard a voice behind them, and turned around, and saw a white unicorn stallion with a tray, who was wearing a red collared shirt with a black shirt under it with his sleeves rolled up. “Can I get through?” he asked and looked over their shoulders, moving toward a table just past them. “Oh, of course,” the yellow mare said and immediately gave way for him, though the other mare remained silent. “Thanks.” The stallion nodded with a smile and slipped through the gap. The yellow mare gave the stallion a joking grin, her eyebrow raising. “Are my eyes lying or am I really seeing the Wild Soul coming to dine in the cafeteria?” she noted following it up with a chuckle. The stallion slowed his pace and turned to look at the mare, giving a short laugh, “For once they have food I actually like. Plus I have a meeting with a client,” he stated and glanced away, walking over to the empty table. The the brown mare tilted her head, looking at her friend. “Mineràl, who es that?” Mineral turned her attention away from her friend and used her magic to grab a coffee cup and from a display case, she took a big baguette, placing them on her plate. “Yes, that’s Wild Soul. He’s one of the designers in the East Wing like me. He’s quite the nice guy. He doesn’t start many conversations though.” Meadow followed her friends example, taking a coffee cup, and a low fat sandwich. “So you know him?” Mineral nodded and then shrugged, grabbing a coffee pan “Somehow. We have nice chit-chats every now and then, and we’ve worked on the same projects, but most of the time; it seems likes he would rather be alone.” Meadow scrunched her eyebrows together as she poured hot water into her cup. “Solitary Soul, eh?” Mineral jokingly rolled her eyes, stopping at the cash register. “Aw, come on. That’s corny.” She turned her attention to the cashier, who had a big book opened at the counter. She placed her hoof on an empty page, and when she lifted her hoof, it had a hoof print on it which started to glow bright green for a brief moment, indicating that she was indeed one of the employees. “But yes, pretty much. I wonder if that stallion even has any friends, or does he even want any...” The brown unicorn lifted a tea bag package from a box and placed it on her tray. “Ah, si. It only makes sense. Though it’s not our business to become friends with stallions if that’s what you had in mind,” she noted and raised her head high, stroking her hair. “Stallions and mares are just supposed to make one another look muy caliente. Appearance is everything after all. I would even call them our accesoras.” Mineral’s brows immediately dropped and her smile was replaced by a deep frown, and she stomped her hoof down. “Your philosophy is still as horrible as ever...” She let out a long groan and shook her head, and then gave the other mare a not so friendly gaze. “Your special one just gave you an expensive bracelet for your birthday and you still think of him as your accessory?” Meadow placed her hoof on the book, and spoke with the same calm voice. Even her heart rate failed to increase during Mineral’s slight outburst. “Well that’s what mi familia has taught me and I have no reason to question them.” The yellow mare simply scrunched her eyebrows together and lowered her head. “Let us just stop this conversation before it escalates. I’m too hungry to argue with you.” The mares lifted their trays with their magic and finally got through with the line and headed to their claimed table, passing Wild Soul who didn’t seem to have much food. Just a bowl of horseshoe fries, eggs, soda and an apple. Though Mineral’s attention was caught by a paper Soul had taken out from his folder, that was filled with different logo ideas. The mare stopped and took a few steps backwards. “So that’s what you’ve been working on. Looks good, sis!” The yellow unicorn stated with a bright voice. Soul immediately raised his head and turned to look at the mare behind him. “Oh, thanks,” he said with a smile, and turned to look at the paper again. Mineral dipped her head to the side and raised her eyebrow. “What’s it for? No, wait!” She quickly raised her hoof. “I want to guess.” “Or,” Soul stopped the mare before she got a chance to continue, and moved the paper so she could see it from a better angle. “You could just read the title,” he noted with a laugh. “Or I could do that too,” Mineral said and gave some slightly forced, laughter. Her eyes bulged as she read the name on some of the typographic logos. “Faztable?!” she squeaked and turned to look at Soul. “You are making a new logo for the Faztable!? Oh my gosh, their chocolate is the best in all of Equestria!” she chanted with a huge smile upon her face, giving the paper back to Soul. Soul put the paper back to his folder and nodded with a smile. “Gotta agree with that. Their white chocolate is my personal favorite.” Mineral nodded back at him. “It’s very good, but mine is chili.” The blank expression that formed on Soul’s face from the word “chili”, made it impossible for the mare to prevent a chuckle from escaping her lips, though she quickly continued with her speech, raising her hoof and pulling herself together. “But why are they willing to change their logo?” she asked and tilted her head scrunching her nose as she tried to think, “The one they have now is almost too iconic to change in the first place.” Soul leaned against his chair and let out a big, relaxed sigh. “Because I paid them pretty nicely.” The answer caused the yellow unicorns eyes to bulge. “What?!” Soul immediately raised his hoof and gave her a laugh. “Kidding. The reason I got this was that their chocolate is more popular in Manehattan than anywhere else in Equestria. They say that the logo they have right now is too Canterlot-ish, with all it’s curvy letters and such.” Soul showed the paper to Mineral again. “So my job is to make it appeal more to Manehattaners.” Mineral dipppd her head to side. “By making it bolder and reduce the curves? Very nice! If you get free chocolate samples, you have to let me get a taste too!” Meadow, who has just been standing idly by, interrupted the conversation, not giving Soul a chance to say anything. “You should trim up your waist first,” she noted and tapped Mineral’s hip and chuckled. The yellow unicorn immediately, turned to look at Meadow as those words entered her ears, her eyes widening as she leaned towards her friend. “But there’ll be nothing left of me anymore if I do that!” she noted with a high pitched, overdone voice, like a drama queen and then swiped her left leg across her body as if she were presenting it. “I couldn’t be more proud of this wholeness and the day when somepony changes my bodific image is the day Princess Celestia stops rising the sun,” she stated with her head raised, followed by a bright chuckle. “Admirable attitude. I respect that,” Soul noted with a nod, Mineral giving him a glance with a thankful smile. Though Soul turned to gaze at the brown mare with quite the disapproving look upon his face. He didn’t say anything, he just gazed at her. Meadow barely paid any attention to Soul, but she did notice the gaze, though when she turned to look at the stallion, she immediately turned her head away not able to meet his gaze. “Alright, sorry I even mentioned it,” Meadow laughed and rolled her eyes. Soul started to scratch his chin. “Sooooo… This is just my opinion…” he spoke with a very slow pace, putting his hooves together. “...but that food would probably be much easier and more comfortable to eat if you sit down.” Mineral immediately flinched and braced up. “Oh! Sorry, we won’t bother you anymore. Bring it all home with the logo,” she chanted with a smile and turned away from the stallion, and started walking away with her friend. Though before they managed to take even a couple steps, Soul stopped them. “No, I meant you could sit down here,” he quickly corrected himself as he pointed at the two seats next to him. “I’m supposed to have a meeting here with the Faztable salespony soon, and I could use two additional pairs of eyes to give their pre-judgements before the actual meeting.” He paused for a moment. “Or… if some group is waiting for you, then just fuggedaboutit.” The yellow unicorn along with Meadow stopped as if they hit a wall, turning to look at the stallion again. “Oh!” Mineral exclaimed and gave Meadow a glance, who clearly wasn’t willing to stay, but this only put a smirk on Mineral’s face. “Well; gotta help a comrade designer when he asks for it, naye?” she said with a chuckle and pulled the chair back next to Soul, she put her tray on the table and sat down. The brown mare sneered and peered at the table on the other side of the cafeteria. “Well, I want to sit next to a window,” she stated with a firm tone. “My latest masterpiece is up on the other side of the street.” Mineral looked at her friend and jokingly put on a serious face, having a brief moment of silence as she made strong eye contact with the mare. “And I’d like to keep my flank right here,” she stated and place her forelegs on the table and leaned against it, a grin raising upon her face. “Come now sis, just sit down. You can “admire” it later.” Soul quickly cleared his throat, drawing attention to himself. “We can of course, move over to the window if you want?” The yellow unicorn gave Soul a short glare. “No, she’s gonna sit down here,” the mare stated and turned back to look at Meadow, and then suddenly grabbed Meadow’s tray and put it next to hers. “Right?” she said with her eyebrow raised before giving a chuckle. “Alright, fine. Gosh...” A big groan escaped Meadow’s mouth as she sat down next to the grinning mare, and seeing Soul lightly shaking his head which caused her to frown further. Mineral gave the mare a bright chuckle and tapped her back. “See? That wasn’t so bad.” Meadow rolled her eyes without saying a word and swiped over the spot on her back where Mineral had tapped her. Mineral just shook her head and levitated her baguette, and unwrapped the plastic on it. “Besides, those seats wouldn’t have been any warmer since it’s raining, and the windows here are poor insulators, ” she noted with a chuckle, and then turned to look at Soul, who had already turned his attention elsewhere, and had spread a few papers on the table. “Oh! I didn’t introduce you two at all!” Mineral flinched and turned to look at the mare on her left, raising her hoof. “Soul, this is Meadow from the North Wing. Meadow, this is Wild Soul from the same wing as me, like I just told you.” Soul turned his attention to the brown unicorn, tilting his head. “From the wing for painters?” Meadow was just barely looking at Soul, she rubbed her hoof against her chest and then stretched it out, looking at her hoof’s shine with a smirk on her face, “One of the greatest ones there,” she announced and chuckled. Mineral rolled her eyes then turned looking toward her fellow mare. “You are so humble,” she noted with a sarcastic tone. “Also you could be polite and shake his hoof.” She looked at her friend while resting her head on her hoof. “I was about to do that; I am a proper lady after all,” The dark coated mare declared before raising her hoof in Soul’s direction, hoof facing down and wrist bent. Her head was tilted away and in her pleasant spanish accent she uttered, “I’m sure the pleasure is all yours.” The stallion could not help but feel a bit disgraced by those words but took a final look in Mineral’s direction where she wore a frown but shook her head, indicating that it was not worth making a scene over. Not that Soul was about to make one in the first place. Without further delay Soul took her hoof, turning it and shaking. “It is... nice to meet you, Meadow.” Meadow gave the stallion a slight nod. “It’s not too unbearable to meet you either,” she said with a chuckle and pulled her hoof back to herself, and then grabbed her own sandwich and unwrapped it from the plastic. Mineral cleared his throat and put her hooves together. “Alrighty, now that we’ve got this `pleasant´ introduction out of the way, why don’t you show us the designs you’ve got so far?” Soul gave her a nod. “Works for me.” He took the paper on the right and passed it over to the mares. “The ones I’ve chosen for final are these two.” The stallion pointed at two logos, one being blue, stretched hexagon with white Faztable text on it, and it had a chocolate trail under it. The other one was a bit simpler, golden Faztable text also with a chocolate trail under it as well. Mineral immediately leaned towards the paper and started to analyze the logos in her mind, a brief moment of silence landing upon them. Or not really a proper silence since the Cafeteria was full of folks and Mineral couldn’t stop tapping her hooves on the ground. Though Meadow just gave the paper a quick peak and then pulled his head back and continued eating her food, constantly glancing at the window. After a brief moment, Mineral started nodding and turned to look at Soul with a smile. “My, not bad at all sis! It seems like you kept the iconic color blue in most of these. Good choice, though I really love this golden one too! The colors are in better harmony in it.” A light but bright smile rose upon Soul’s lips, fixing his posture. “Thank you. I’m really proud of them, even though I say it myself.” The yellow mare nodded and took a small bite of her baguette before responding. “Definitely not your worst work in history.” The stallion shook his head lightly. “Nope. I’m still not quite sure which one I should recommend for him as my number one choice” Mineral leaned back against her chair and started tapping her chin. “Hmm… The blue one would be slightly better if you ask me. It has the iconic colors and it’s elegant but not curvy.” “Yes, I’ve kinda waved to the blue logo’s side too, Maybe that golden one seems a bit… silly for such a big company like Faztable.” Mineral put her hooves together and spoke with professional tone. “My thoughts exactly.” She turned to her mare friend. “Come on, aren’t you going to say anything?” “Huh?” Meadow immediately snapped back to reality again, turning her attention to Soul, and then quickly darted to look at the paper. Though she just gave a simple shrug and swiped her mane “It’s nice I guess.” A big sigh escaped Mineral’s mouth as her eyebrows dropped halfway. Soul lifted the paper he had. “So the blue logo it is?” Mineral turned her attention toward Soul once more and nodded, lifting her coffee cup and took a sip before answering. “The blue logo it is. But of course the final decision is made by the client.” “Of course.” Soul piled up the papers with his magic and put them aside, and then lifted his fork and grabbed a piece of the egg, dipping it to mayonnaise. Mineral also shifted her attention back to her food and the three ponies continued eating. Silence once again engulfed them and none of them spoke a word, though Mineral constantly tapping her hoof against the ground while her hind legs were crossed didn’t exactly indicate that she was comfortable with the silence. Her eyes constantly darted from side to side at the two ponies beside her. The mare was about to start biting her hoof, though before it reached her teeth, she lightly brought it down bumping it against the table. “Anything that anypony would wish to share?” Both of the ponies beside her just gave a simple shrug. Soul looked up at the clock above the door to the cafeteria, “Well, I should finish eating and be ready to present these designs to Faztable’s marketing director.” Beginning to take a final look over his work while quickly finishing his meal. Except for the apple. The mares looked at one another before Mineral spoke up, “Soul, what does this pony look like?” asking with a raised eyebrow looking out the glass doors past Soul, just outside the building at a tan furred stallion, in a suit with a blond mane parted in the middle, blue eyes and a small pair of glasses who was splitting his attention between his watch, some papers he had and the company sign. Soul thought for a moment trying to recall exactly how the stallion described himself. “He said he would be in a suit, would have his hair parted, he’s a unicorn… tan fur and glasses...” The stallion flinched and his heart started pounding slightly faster, “Why? Is he around here?” Soul asked sitting upright and looking left and right scanning the crowd for the associate. Meadow finished the last bite of her sandwich and once again cleaned her mouth by dabbing it with her napkin then placed it on her tray. “Oh! Could he be the muy guapo gentlecolt who just come inside?” The mare pulled a small makeup mirror out and quickly fluffed her hair and ensured nothing was in her teeth, obviously ready to make a good impression. A loud smack came from the other mare who face hoofed at the very sight of Meadow freshening up. “You have a very special somepony who bought you a very expensive diamond bracelet sis! You do not need to be freshening up for other stallions!” The unicorn’s tone had become very strict and shrill as she glared at mare but quickly turned to smile at the stallion that Soul was waving down, she only gave her friend a final jab in the ribs before scooting a few seats further so they wouldn’t cause any distractions for Soul’s unveiling. Mineral leaned towards Soul and whispered loud enough for him to hear. “We’ll be over here. You bring it all home.” Soul gave the mare a nod before he walked over to the stallion that was approaching him. “Mr. Wild Soul! It’s a pleasure to meet in person,” the brown coated stallion spoke up with an elegant tone like most of the Canterlot ponies have while offering his hoof to shake. “Likewise Mr. Golden Gavel,” Soul responded and shook hooves with the stallion.. “I have everything ready, so if you are ready to see the logos I’ve come up with, then please take a seat.” Soul pointed at the seat opposite of his. The tan stallion tilted his head slightly. “Getting right to business it seems. That’s good, I like that kind of attitude,” he stated and put his soaking wet umbrella onto the table, though far enough away so it doesn’t soil Soul’s work. “What a horrible weather out there I must say.” Both of the stallions got settled in their seats, Soul nodding to Golden Gavel’s statement. “Definitely not the best if you have to go outside a lot. Otherwise it’s kinda relaxing,” he said and looked out of the window further. “Anyway, let’s take a look at the logos, shall we?” The white unicorn turned his attention back at the thin paper pile he had. Gavel removed his glasses and blew on them, using his magic to polish them with his white cotton pocket square. “With pleasure. I’m thrilled to see what you’ve come up with, sir. I have high expectations of course,” he said putting his glasses back on his muzzle. “That’s why contacting our company was a smart move,” Soul stated with a smile, receiving a pleased nod from the customer. Though the smile Soul had wasn’t exactly a sincere one, just a forced and frozen business smile which is of course required to make a good impression with the customer. Soul slid the paper on top of the pile to Golden Gavel, rotating it to face the tan unicorn. Gavel pushed his glasses higher on his muzzle and took a good look at the logos. Soul used a pencil and pointed out the two logos that he showed to Mineral and Meadow earlier. “So, while this paper is full of logos, these two are the ones I have personally picked as my top two.” A slight but controlled smile appeared upon Golden Gavel’s face. “I see,” he said and started tapping his chin. “I like what I am seeing here. Would you mind telling a bit more about these logos that are your top two?” Soul cleared his throat before speaking up, “Absolutely.” He pulled his chair closer to the table and leaned in towards his document, first pointing at the blue one. “So in a nutshell, this one right here is more loyal to the Faztable brand with it’s iconic colors. But like you ordered, I made the design much simpler and clearer. Just like something you would see in Manehattan.“ Golden Gavel was simply nodding through Soul’s presentation, though his eyes were constantly glancing at the other, golden logo Soul had picked for his top two. After Soul had finished presenting the first logo, Golden Gavel raised his head looking at Soul and crossing his hooves one over the other. “Yes, yes. Very fascinating. It’s highly appreciated that you considered the classic colors,” the tan unicorn boasted with a rather indifferent pace, already glancing at the other logo without giving any further opinions on the first one. “Although, this second one really speaks to me. Mind telling me more about it?” Soul drew his neck back and slightly scrunched his eyebrows together. “Well, of course…” He leaned against the table again with a taken aback look on his face, since he was sure the customer would be more interested with his first choice. Acting quickly Soul explained everything he went through with Mineral and Meadow. How it’s a simple design, colors match better together and it seems more like a logo of a chocolate factory. The marketing director seemed to pay far more attention to this one. His eyes were concentrated and steady as they examined the logo. After Soul’s second quick presentation, the tan stallion spoke up, “Yes, you’ve done a very good job with both of these Mr. Soul.” “Thank you. I assume you have decided your favorite already?” “Indeed, I do. But if you don’t mind, I would like to have a moment to think. I must be absolutely certain of my choice” Golden Gavel crossed his forehooves before raising one to begin rubbing his chin. “Of course, take your time. Though if you want my opinion, I would suggest---” Before Soul even had a chance to finish, he was cut off mid-sentence by a loud crack of thunder erupting from outside, and that was followed by a loud squeak and thud not too far from him, causing his and Gavel’s hearts to jump to their throats. Soul and many others immediately turned their attention to where the sound came from, seeing Mineral who had fallen from her chair and was gasping heavily for air, holding her chest. Meadow though, was nowhere to be seen anymore. Soul instantly sat up from his place and turned to look Gavel who had blank look upon his face. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back,” he said with a quick pace and immediately galloped over to the yellow unicorn, who was practically shaking while being unable to get up. Soul who trotted over to her, squatted down with a worried look upon his face . “Hey Mineral, what’s wrong?” The yellow mare’s coughing had gone even worse. She was barely even able to speak anymore. “A-Asthma attack. I-- need my inhaler-- from my bag-- or I’m gonna choke!” She pointed at her bag she had lying down on the other chair, her eyes practically shedding tears. Soul nodded, he immediately lifted the bag with his magic and brought it over to Mineral, he started digging up the inhalator, though his vision was getting slightly blurry from the adrenaline since the situation was very acute. He quickly managed to find the inhalator and immediately placed it in her mouth, and pressed the button on it. A soft whoosh could be heard from the inhalator as it released the medicine. It started to take effect quickly. Mineral’s blurry vision started to become clear again, her gasping and coughing calmed down and the wheezy breathing was becoming normal again. Soul put the inhalator back into the bag before he helped his friend up, whom’s breathing had become steady again. She took a deep breath before turning her attention back to the white unicorn with a light smile. “Thank you Soul… This was an unusually harsh attack…” she groaned and sat down on her chair. “Mineral!” A shout could be heard in the distance and soon they saw Meadow trotting from the bathroom over to them, placing both of her hooves on Mineral’s shoulders. “Oh my gosh Mineral, are you alright?” Mineral drew her neck back, and gave her friend a nod. “Yeah… Just an unusually bad attack…” Meadow let out a sigh and sat down on her chair, clearing her throat as she returned to her typical attitued. “Well, that’s a relief. Not that I was worried or anything.” Mineral took a deep breath and shook her head with a small grin upon her lips. “Of course you weren’t…” Soul placed Mineral’s bag back onto the chair he took it from, he tilted his head while raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you have asthma.” Mineral grabbed her coffee with her magic and took a sip. “Well, sis... It’s not like we’ve ever talked about it or that you’ve seen me taking my medicine.” Soul gave the mare a nod. “Ah, true.” His attention though, was caught by the ponies around them who had their attention locked on the three. “Well, we’re being watched...” Mineral peeked over her shoulder at the ponies, and a light but forced chuckle escaped her mouth. “I just had an attack. No wonder, I might get a few looks.” Her attention was drawn away from the ponies by the dark sky and rain hitting the window. A cold shiver ran through her body and she took a big, bothered gulp, and then stood up, picking up her tray. “W-Well, I think I could use a little laying down time. I’ll head back to my office.” Meadow lifted her tray and stood up as well. “I suppose I need to take you there. ” A grin, even though it was a forced grin, rose upon Mineral’s face. “Thank you, but I’ll be fine.” Meadow shook her head, letting out a sigh and lightly nudged her flank against Mineral’s. “Sure you will. Come now.” She started walking towards the tray cart, holding her head high. Mineral gave a slight smile and followed Meadow’s example, though she gave the stallion a quick look. “And Soul, get back to your client.” Soul nodded as he turned around. “Of course. Try to manage now.” Mineral gave the stallion a nod with a smile, and started walking away rather quickly. Soul finally returned to Golden Gavel who was watching the clock on the Cafeteria wall rather impatiently, though he quickly snapped back to reality as he heard the sound of a chair dragging on the ground. Soul sat on the chair and dragged himself closer to the table, letting out a sigh. “Really sorry about that.” The tan unicorn let out a chuckle and raised his hoof. “It’s quite alright. You can’t leave a lady in trouble, right?” A forced grin rose upon Soul’s face as he scratched his neck. “Definitely not.” He quickly cleared his throat and turned his attention toward the logo paper. “So, have you made up your mind?” Golden Gavel gave Soul a nod and leaned against the table, putting his hooves together. “Indeed, I have.” He lowered his gaze, focusing on the paper and pointed at the golden logo. “This one is the one I’ve decided upon. It might not have the iconic colors but it’s fresh, gold represents being number one and the logo clearly shows the company is a pure chocolate company.” Soul was digging through his coat pocket and pulled out a package of lemon pastilles, he then raised his gaze back to the client. “Well, the customer is always right.” He leaned back in his chair and placed a pastille into his mouth then raising his eyebrow. “So is there anything you wish to change?” The tan unicorn simply shook his head in response. “Well then, the only thing that’s left to do is give you the rights and the bill.” Soul started browsing the thin pile of papers next to him and took the one on the bottom, handing it over to the client. “So all I need is your hoofwriting and name in block letters down there.” Golden Gavel was already digging for a pen in his pocket, but he still read the whole contract before writing his name under it. Finally, the contract was signed and the deal was final. Soul used his magic taking the paper for himself again and signed it too. He then took a closer look at the corner of the papers, and split it into two copies.The other one was the original and the bottom one had everything copied through onto it. Soul handed over the copy to his client, and then dug up a bill from the pile, handing it over too. “Here you go Mr. Gavel. Faztable now has the right to use this logo and have full rights after the payment is complete. The full prints will be sent to your company as soon as possible.” Golden Gavel stood up from his seat. “Fantastic! I shall go and inform our manager immediately.” He folded the papers and put them into his coat pocket, he then offered his hoof for an official shake. “It’s been a pleasure to do business with you.” Soul followed his example and stretched out his hoof, shaking it with his client. “Likewise Mr. Gavel. I wish all the best for your company.” “One quick thing before I go.” The unicorn turned to look at his bag he had on his back, digging up a collection container. “I was wondering if you would be interested in donating a few bits for charity. It’s going to the Children’s Hospital in North Manehattan which desperately needs to be expanded.” Soul slightly tilted his head. “A Children’s Hospital? Well…” He started to dig through his pockets. “I happen to have five bits with me.” He showed the bits to Golden Gavel and dropped them into the container. “Hopefully the hospital will be alright.” A wide smile rose upon Golden Gavel’s face. “Thank you so much, sir! Every bit counts.” The unicorn put the container back into his bag and turned around. “I shall take my leave now. Have a pleasant day now.” “You too.” Soul simply gave him a nod and wave, he wiped his forehead as the tan stallion walked towards the exit. Soul gathered the papers and put them into his folder and put it on his tray, lifting it with his magic and heading towards the dish cart. As he put the tray in it, he took his folder and headed towards a staircase, though before he proceeded further he stopped at the window and for a moment, just staring and listened to the raindrops hitting the window. The sound and the rain made his muscles relax and brought a small smile to his face. Soul’s attention was soon drawn to a tall, white building a few blocks away, which made his smile fade. On top of it, it had a big sign presenting its name; Hotel Liakada of Canterlot. Author's Note Mineral calling even stallions "sis" is not a mistake, it's intensional characterstic in her :)
9. Bonjour, Mon Ami! Part 1Sitting on a chair in his kitchen, Noble just stared blankly at a paper he had in front of him, “Lease termination”. The earth pony was shaking in his seat and rubbed his temples, keeping his sight locked on the title. “So this is what it’s come to after all…” he thought to himself as the title carved it’s way deeper into the canvas of his mind. In the end, the job search never produced any fruit and Liakada ended up being Noble’s last work place in Canterlot. He was constantly cursing Double Bit in his mind and why the old manager had left. Without Bit, he would most likely still have his job and nothing would be different. But the facts were facts, he was jobless and he wasn’t going to get another one. Noble finally got his eyes off the paper, turning it upside down and walked over to his bed where he had his safe, giving a deep sigh while rubbing his face. His eyes darted to the safe and he just stared at it for a long moment. The stallion’s chest was heavy and he brought a hoof to it, he hung his head as he thought to himself, “Well Horseshoe Bay, I guess you are the town I’m destined to be in after all…” The time drew near; the pale stallion sat on a soft chair in Ink’s office. He constantly checked the clock on Ink’s wall while sipping his coffee. Every tick echoed with his very heartbeat, as he placed a hoof to his neck to listen to it’s rhythm. “Nervous I assume?” Ink spoke as he clapped his hooves together a couple times, before he lifted his glasses and repositioned them upon his face with a magic glow. Soul gave a small forced laugh and gave Ink a quick look, releasing his neck but maintaining his focus. “Naw, time is just going slow.” The orange stallion put his hooves together and laid his chin on them. “Whatever you say, but an acute amount of tension is natural. We’re about to set your place of study in stone. And didn’t you say she sounded quite positive? That’s anything but a bad sign.” Giving a nod and taking another sip of coffee before placing it on the edge of Ink’s desk, Soul took a deep breath and exhaled. “When interviewing you must always be positive, right?” At that moment, the sound of buzzer they had both waited for finally came. It caused Soul to flinch and for Ink to fix his posture. Ink cleared his throat and gave Soul a final intense look. “I’m afraid we don’t have time to discuss if that is true or not. Now Soul if I were you, I would burry every doubt I have in my mind. That is if you have any.” Soul nodded and relaxed, his body before he took in a deep breath tensing his body as he closed his eyes, then exhaling slowly as his eyes opened while his body relaxed again. “Done and done.” Ink rested back in his seat and supported a smile as he nodded, turning to look at the speaker as he pressed the button. “Ink’s office, Ink at your service.” A cheery, elegant voice greeted the stallions through the speaker, “Pleasant day Ink, it’s Rarity. Could you please be so kind as to allow me in?” Ink’s lips parted into a smile before giving his response, “Just a minute.” As he was about to contact Flare, he instead turned to look at Soul, he put his hooves together on the table and opened the door with his magic. “Actually, you could go down there and welcome here and lead her here yourself. It will give her a more polite impression that way. She’s also a valuable associate that I would like to keep happy.” Ink said the last phrase under his breath, as not to sound rude. For a moment Soul’s ears stood up, his eyes became full and his body sat up straighter. Although he was taken aback he almost instantly snapped out of it as he pushed off and stood up on all fours while he gave a nod. “Oh yes, very true. I’m on it.” “Excellent.” As Ink closed the door behind Soul, he contacted the front desk once more. “Flare, open the front door please and let the mare behind it in. Soul will come to get her.” Soul tried to make his way to the lounge as quickly as he could while simply walking. His heart had started beating slightlyfaster than it did just a minute ago and a cold sweat had begun to gloss over his forehead. He tried to convince himself that this would be just another client meeting and he should treat it as such, even if in reality it would be a meeting that could lead him down a new path and fulfil his dreams. It helped him to calm down a bit though. As he finally arrived at the lounge, he didn’t spot Rarity immediately but after a bit of searching he just barely spotted the lavender maned pony behind two other mares she seemed to be talking to, both of them wearing overly big hats. As Soul lifted a hoof, about to approach them, Rarity spotted the pale stallion between the mares and immediately pointed at him with a hoof and waved. She closed her eyes giving a pleasant smile as she seemed to conclude the conversation. The mares gave Rarity room to go between them as she now had her eyes locked on Soul as the smile on her face grew wider. Soul naturally put on a smile too as he brought his hoof down and started to approach Rarity. A small lump had formed to his throat but the tension had not grown unbearable or uncomfortable. He covered his mouth with a clenched hoof as he cleared his throat. Extending his hoof and relaxing his wrist he was about to speak up. but before he got a chance Rarity had already preceded in making her introduction. “Oh, Wild Soul! It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you in person mon ami,” Rarity chanted as she quickly extended her own hoof and shook hooves with Soul. For a short moment Soul’s mind was blank as the first introduction was snached from him but he quickly shook it off and put the smile back on again, nodding. “Hello Rarity, it’s a pleasure to me too.” Pulling his hoof back, the stallion let his foreleg glide through the air presenting the room to the artisan. “Welcome to Canterlot Spectrum. Do you want coffee before we head to Ink’s office?” Rarity raised her leg to her chest while she was looking up and to the side before she spoke up. “Why, I haven’t had time to have any today, so I suppose one cup of latte would feel pleasant.” After he nodded, Soul gave the mare a smile as he was about to lead her off. “Great, there’s one cafe kiosk just around corner. Let’s not keep Ink waiting.” Rarity immediately reached toward Soul stopping him, which left him with a blank look on his face. Clearing her throat, Rarity spoke up, “Hold on, one quick thing before we go.” She slowly started walking circles around Soul, scanning over him, looking up and down. “Dark brown mane, white coat… no wait..." She squinted her eyes. "A very light brown coat, red jacket…” Soul would not allow himself to move his body and simply scrunched his eyebrows together and watched as the mare circled around him. He finally cracked, reached up and rubbed his neck. “Uh… What might this be about?” Rarity made a final round until she stopped in front of Soul, letting out a short chuckle as she put a hoof on her chest and lifted her head, her eyes closed. “Oh pardon me, I just wanted to take a quick closer look at your style.” Opening her eyes, she pointed at Soul’s jacket. ”Which is very warm if I may say. I can see you like red.” Soul blinked but a smile quickly crawled back to his face as he relaxed, leaning his weight on his other leg as he glanced down at his jacket himself. “Well, thank you. Red is my favorite color so I guess I naturally prefer warm colors in general too.” Rarity nodded and spread her lips into a smile while her eyes were still closed. “Indeed, it matches well with your natural colors and red is a splendid color to like. A color of sincerity and passion.” “And energy,” Soul added raising a hoof and leaning his head inward as he spoke. “Oh yes, that too.” The artisan opened her eyes then began to turn her body as she had a hoof in the air and paused to speak mid stride. “Anyway, let’s hurry to get that latte and then to Ink. I can’t even remember the last time I saw him. Lead the way, if you may.” After agreeing, Soul led Rarity to the kiosk and after picking up their coffees, they started heading to headed to Ink’s office. On their walk Rarity told Soul more about her past deals with Ink and how through their business relationship, she has sold more of her designs and how Spectrum has been part of helping her reputation thrive to what it is today. She asked Soul about his time working there and how his experiences have been, being delighted to hear that it is still a heartfelt company. As they arrived at Ink’s office, they were surprised to see Ink was not there. Though they figured something might have just come up that he had to deal with, which lead them to occupy the couch in Ink’s office. Rarity peeked over at Soul as if she was still trying to analyze something. Her eyes especially darted between Soul’s mane and his clothing. “Pardon me if I’m wrong, but you weren’t raised in Canterlot, were you?” she inquired with her head tilted and eyebrow raised. The stallion, whom had been watching the door, calmly awaiting his AD’s return turned toward the mare after his ears twitched when she spoke. “Huh? You can tell?” Rarity nodded and smiled holding her snout up. “I can. It’s the way you dress, it stands out from other Canterlot citizens. Almost wherever you go you see more high-class suits or manes combed and parted or some other smooth coiffure, but you…” Her eyes returned to gaze at the stallion, her eyebrow raised and mouth formed a grin. “You are the type of pony I would imagine seeing in any big city other than Canterlot.” “That’s quite impressive, you sure know your stuff,” the stallion replied as he pushed back in his seat and crossed his forelegs, his eyes wider now and focused on where the mare’s eyes were looking now. “But yes, I’m not born and raised in Canterlot, I’ve lived here only a couple years. My roots on the other hoof belong to the big apple Manehattan.” Upon hearing the last word of the stallions statement, Rarity turned to look at Soul with wide open eyes. “Did you just say Manehattan?” The gentle smile on her face instantly crawled all the way up to hear ears as she put a hoof on her cheek, leaning closer to the stallion with her eyes downright glimmering. “Oh my goodness you are from one of the most fabulous cities in all of Equestria! I absolutely love that place! Oh I can’t believe I’m getting an apprentice who is both Canterlotian and Manehattanian.” She let out a high pitched chuckle, shaking her forehooves. Soul looked at the mare with a rather amused face, giving a tiny half smile while his eyes glistened as he watched her but he couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward since a highly spohisticated pony he doesn’t even know got such a boost of excitement out of the blue. Rarity seemed like she was drifting away with her thoughts but when her eyes focused on Soul, she immediately fell back to Equestria. She fixed her posture and clearing her throat, she straightened up giving a professional smile as her head rose. “Now that is if no problems arise that prevent me from taking you on since nothing’s been set in stone yet.” “You will be giving your final judgement soon enough.” As they sat in silence, Soul checked the clock in Ink’s office again. Soul took the last sip of his coffee and threw the mug into trash before rocking in his seat. “I wonder what's taking Ink so long though...” Rarity nodded then took another sip of her latte, levitating it and setting it on a small table next to the couch. “Ah, I’m not worried, I remember that Ink is a busy stallion and this is the only plan I had actually scheduled for today.” In a rush the door to the office was opened and Ink galloped in, panting and he reached up to dab the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief he keeps in his right pocket “Pardon me for your wait! I had to run off to fix an issue I thought would only take a few seconds but it seems I couldn’t beat you back.” The stallion ran over to his desk and laid some papers on it, panting like he could’ve just run a marathon. Rarity shook her head and lifted a hoof. “It seems like you’re still the same busy stallion I remember.” She got up and met Ink at his desk, offering her hoof facing down. “It’s been such a long time, it’s a delight to see you.” As Ink took her hoof, placing one of his hooves under hers and one on top. “Ah, Rarity. It is such a pleasure to have you here again.” The mare closed her eyes and smiled, bowing her head and taking her hoof back to curtsy before the director. “The pleasure is all mine, it is wonderful to be back in Canterlot again and I must say that I really appreciate your recommendation of having Soul contact me.” The art director lowered his hooves and bowed along with the mare. “How could I not recommend one of the most recognized artisans of all time?” As both the stallion and mare rose they chuckled and shared a hug. Once they released one another, Ink pointed to the pillow seats in front of his table.. “Ah, I’m sorry to drag this out like this, please take a seat, both of you. I’m sure Soul would rather not wait.” The two nodded as they got onto their pillow seats, Rarity set her light blue saddlebag down. “I already got my most important errands done so I am not in a hurry. I need to focus on this after all.” Ink pushed his glasses higher and grabbed his envelope, giving Rarity a smile. “That you do.” He took the first paper he had and cleared his throat. “So, the first thing we have to look at are the terms of this co-operation and education. Soul of course explained in his mail the most important details but there are a few things I want to point out and make sure you agree.” Rarity gave the stallion a deep nod and crossed her fore legs, covering them in proper lady like fashion. “Yes, a co-operation deal isn’t that right?” “Exactly.” Ink put his hooves together and lifted his head slightly. “So as you educate Soul to be an artisan, Canterlot Spectrum will naturally pay his education expenses but on top of that, offers to advertise your business and do co-operation by offering our talent to something robust, like events if you are in need.” Soul beamed with a grin. “Not many companies offer things like this.” Rarity shook her head with a grin. “Certainly not! It’s a quite impressive looking deal, but getting an apprentice is what really caught my attention in the first place,” she said with a chuckle and then cleared her throat as she turned to look back at Ink. “So what are the things you wanted to point out?” The papers glowed with Ink’s magic as he lifted them and placed a few of the papers out on his desk. “Well, the advertising would only last during the time you teach Soul. And the other thing is that we want to convince and ensure you that Spectrum won’t be a threat to your business.” Ink opened a drawer and produced a pen he used to highlight sections that he just mentioned. “We are willing to offer co-operation even after the education process by doing collaboration projects, for example our future artisans helping you execute your designs or vise versa.” Rarity instantly rose her head and leg as a confident chuckle escaped her mouth, her eyes closed. “Now Ink, I wouldn’t have considered this if I thought your company would be a threat. No offense of course.” She brought her hoof to her chest and opened her eyes halfway. “My boutique may not be the largest one but I have some highly recognized customers nowadays, and that means if some other company tried to take me out of the picture, they wouldn’t have much of an impact on me.” Soul leaned backwards slightly and gave Rarity a smile. “I’ve taken a look at your work, I was surprised, not to mention impressed by how many important ponies you’ve made clothes for.” “Under my teachings I’m sure someday you will experience the same honor.” She fluffed her hair, leaning back in her seat and flipped her hoof as she bat her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you have worked on logos and such for big clients yourself too.” Soul rubbed the back of his head with a tiny smile. “You could say that” While she turned the mare crossed her hind legs and placed her hooves on the table, looking toward Ink again. “Anyway Ink, I’m not worried about my career and will educate Soul without hesitation.” With an open tooth grin, Ink clapped his hooves. “That’s good to hear! I expect nothing less from a pony like you.” The director pulled his chair closer to the desk, tapping the papers with his hoof. “Now, there are still some minor details I’m willing to go through” Ink dug through his papers and for the next half hour they went through almost every detail and protocol for each possibility, like that Soul continues working for Spectrum as a teleworker, and also possibilities, complicated as they may be, for example if Soul wants to stop his studies or if something would happen to Canterlot Spectrum. Luckily nothing came up that made Rarity second guess her decision or worried her about this arrangement. As it was nearing three pm, Ink drew the last paper from his folder and put the others back in it. Spinning the folder around and slid it over to Rarity so she could read them if she so desired. Ink leaned back, rocking in his desk chair. “Now, I’ve already printed the contract for you ready to sign, but there’s one last thing we need to sort out.” He turned his chair and stretched his legs while he rocked. “And that is Soul’s living arrangement.” Soul started to rub his neck and scrunched his eyebrows together. “Oh that’s right. That’s something I’ve really been struggling with…” “You mentioned something about how you haven’t made a decision on that, isn’t that correct?” Rarity tapped her hooves together and extended her eyebrows. “Why is that?” Ink asked his eyebrow raised as he tapped his chin. Even though there really are many things to consider, one of the main issues was still Noble but Soul wouldn’t dare say that. He crossed his hooves and began to speak, “You see, I didn’t want to make any decision before I heard a bit of your thoughts too if I should move to Ponyville or stay in Canterlot. There are quite a lot of things I should consider.” The mare nodded as she kept her body posture open as she listened to the pale stallion’s plan. “You have a point. Please continue.” “Well first, if I stayed in Canterlot it would be an easier choice since I wouldn’t have to move, but the price of a train ticket back and forth is just ridiculous. And considering I would have to pay for it for a year and a half, I would be out of money in no time.” Soul turned to look at Ink and laid his hooves on the table. “So, I wondered if Canterlot Spectrum would be the one who pays for my trips back and forth too?” Ink suddenly went surprisingly silent as he nervously started tapping his hoof against the table, closing his eyes and frowning. Rarity was about to ask about what’s wrong but Ink opened his mouth to speak before she got the chance, “That’s… unfortunately not possible. All travel and living expenses are your own responsibility, didn’t you read that on the application?” Soul’s eyes grew wide. “What? I… No, I must’ve missed that part somehow..." His voice became high pitched and frantic. He sighed with his eyes closed while sitting up straight and opened them slowly, staring into Soul’s very core. “Well I’m sorry kid but if you don’t have a way to expense your tickets, then I’m afraid that your only option is to move to Ponyville.” Soul started to rub his neck as the last hope of staying in Canterlot faded away. The stallion tried to keep the smile on his face but found doing so a struggle. “Dang… that’s too bad…” A bright smile grew to Rarity’s face as she leaned towards the stallion her leg raised. “Don’t worry Soul, Ponyville is a lovely place to live and I’m sure you will eventually adapt there!” She turned and leaned toward the glum steed, extending a hoof. As the hoof touched the glum stallion’s shoulder he shivered and slightly jumped, leaning away from the mare. He felt how a lumb started growing in his throat when he realized how rude that must've seemed like. When he shivered at her touching his shoulder, Rarity frowned but tried helping with her words. “Besides, it’s nothing permanent, you will only be there for a year and a half. You can come back to Canterlot eventually and nothing prevents you from visiting this divine city.” “She’s got a point,” Ink chimed in with his forelegs crossed. “I’m sure your friends here in Canterlot could understand you wanting to expand your horizon and while you are away you can see the piece and wonders that a quaint little town has to offer.” Soul’s ears flopped down and he scowled, as his voice grew louder. “Well, it’s like I have done research on Ponyville and it seems like a fine place, but---” “Perfect!” Rarity exclaimed without letting Soul finish and ignited her horn, opening her saddleback and digging out a thin pile of papers. She placed the pile on the desk right in front of Soul. “Now, I have gathered all kind of different ads of available apartments in Ponyville. Just in case and you must be thrilled that I did?” She raised her eyebrow and chuckled. Soul tried to interrupt Rarity a few times but it was no use, the mare was too thrilled with her own speech. Seeing the pile Soul’s eyes widened again. “She sure seemed to want an apprentice,” Soul thought and scratched his chin as he lifted the pile and started browsing through it. “You… wow you sure haven’t wasted any time with this...” Rarity raised her head and smiled, batting her eyes. “I tried to take everything I could possibly think of into account.” A smile began to emerge on Soul’s face as he was was scratching his cheek. “Impressive.... Though what if I haven’t managed to get an apartment when I start my studies?” Rarity’s smile grew even wider, it was like she was hoping for that question to come. “Oh I can promise that there will be an apartment waiting for you by then.” She put a hoof on her chest. ”I happen to have a contact who has asked me to find a pony to do a ‘little’ branding job for her. Instead of paying in bits, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if I suggested an alternative of granting you an apartment that’s rent is equivalent to the price she would pay. The white stallion’s eye grew wider as he put the papers down, turning to look at Rarity and raised his hoof. “Wait, just in case let me get this straight… You know a pony I could do a job for, and in return I get an apartment I don’t have to pay rent for…?” Rarity nodded and pulled a paper up from the stack, pushing it toward the stallions. “For a couple months at most, but still. Just do the job for the pony and you will get an apartment. Oh and the pony you would perform this job for is the mayor herself,” her voice chimed and caused the stallions to both grin. “The mayor?” Soul repeated as his eyes widened, putting a hoof onto his head. “You sure weren’t kidding when you said you have big contacts.” The mare flipped her mane and put on a pleasant grin. “Never underestimate a true ladie’s skills. All I have to do is pay the mayor a little visit, tell her about you, your situation and your qualification and the apartment is guaranteed.” “If that’s the case these is nothing to worry about.” Soul’s tone was beginning to brighten and he leaned in listening and looking over all the apartments and the note that explained more about the mayor’s needs for the branding job. Tapping his desk to get the ponies attention Ink sat his forelegs on the table and bent them, resting his head on them while he spoke. “That is actually an excellent and smart deal. I remeber Mineral doing a similar thing when she was off planning a long event in Baltimare.” Perking up to his normal self the pale stallion clenched his hoof and bent it at the wrist. “Oh, I see. Well if it worked for her I don’t see a reason why it would fail for me.” “Soo…” Ink spoke up as he lifted the original contract. “Are we ready to bring this meeting to an end?” The artisan leaned forward taking a pen with her magic leaning in ready to sign. “With a pleasure, right Soul?” Soul glared her eyes while a smile was on his face and he nodded. “Absolutely.” “Excellent, all I need is your signatures and... “ he paused, lifting his head and tapping his hooves together. “Oh wait, the starting day of Soul’s studies.” Placing the pen down the mare spoke up, tilting to look at Soul. “Would it be acceptable to you to start in three weeks?” “Three weeks? I….” He scrunched his mouth and looked down at the floor thinking. “I don’t see why not... Can you arrange things that quickly because I thought I would take at least a month?” She gave a nod with her eyes closed and a smile on her face. “I could arrange this in a week, but you need time to settle things here in Canterlot.” Soul nodded in return and sparked his horn lifting the pen slowly. “If you say so, then it’s settled, Three weeks it is.” The thoughts of Noble and Mineral were still in the back of his mind, but the adrenaline in his veins and the thought that confirming this only depends on his signature slightly blurred those thoughts momentarily. That said, Rarity levitated the pen again, following it with her signature. She put the pen down in a cup on the desk and slid the paper to Soul. The white unicorn was still waiting with his pen, still having a lump in his throat but without minding that he quickly wrote his signature. It was settled, it was finally settled and set in stone. Soul was now officially Rarity’s apprentice. Even though Soul typically didn’t show any sign of excitement, his heart was pounding fast and he felt the enthusiasm pouring inside him. Ink drew the contract back to himself and stamped it, which was the final confirmation. The orange stallion drummed his hoofs against the desk and put them together, giving both ponies a big smile. “Congratulations, you two have a deal now!” “Magnifique!” Rarity exclaimed as she sat up straight with a big smile, looking at the stallion next to her. “I promise to educate you and make you one of the finest artisans, Soul.” “I’m really looking forward to that. This means a great deal to me.” The smile on the stallion's face said it all. His eyes were closed and he slowly exhaled putting his worries aside and returning to the situation at hand before he spoke again. “As it’s probably clear at this point already.” Ink stood up from his seat and headed to his door. “I still need to make a copy of this for you two. After that you are free to go.” Soul and Rarity stood up too, Rarity picking up her saddlebag and they exited the room. Ink told them to wait near his room until he brought back the copies. As he went, Rarity sat down on a bench near the door and let out a small pleased sigh. “Thank you very much for the meeting, Soul. I’m simply thrilled that I get to share my knowledge with somepony who has the determination to take it in.” A wide smile had spread upon Soul’s face and he gave Rarity a nod. “Thank you, Rarity. I’m honored to be the one who you are willing to share your skills with.” The stallion turned his eyes and tilted his head up. “Can you excuse me for a bit? I’ll quickly go get my stuff from my room and come back to get the contract. You then get to go back doing your errands.” She moved quickly, reaching for the steed’s foreleg. “Hold on just a moment, I didn’t plan for our ways to part this soon.” Soul stopped and turned to look at the mare with eyebrows raised, pulling his foreleg slowly away so he wouldn’t seem too rude. “What do you mean?” She dropped her hoof and stepped toward Soul. “Well I am willing to get to know my apprentice better. I was about to ask if you aren’t busy, to come with me to run my errands. You would see what kind of stores I get some of my materials from and I can introduce you to my current project a bit.” “Oh, you mean like… creating a base for this education?” His ears perked up and he turned his body back towards her. “Something like that, yes.” “Well…” Soul tapped his chin for a moment but eventually a smile formed on his face and he nodded. “I suppose getting to know my tutor is anything but a bad thing.” “Oh far from it.” The mare fluffed her hair and turned her head showing her good side before the stallion spoke again Soul started walking away again. “I’ll just grab my stuff and come back to take the copy. It won’t take long.” As Soul left, it didn’t take long before Ink came back from a printing room with two copies. Rarity stood up from her seat and walked over to the stallion with her eyebrow raised.. “We should definitely meet up before I leave Canterlot today. I’m eager to know how are you nowadays.” “Good idea! I’m free after 4pm so message me when you can.” Ink spun his head around noticing Soul was gone. “Where did the kid run off?” “Oh he went to pack his things in his office. I can give his copy to him,” Rarity replied and took both of the papers, surrounding them in blue light, sliding them into her saddleback. After she did, she looked behind her and then leaned towards Ink, clearing her throat and whispering, “Though now that he’s not here, I have to ask; Is he always that… reserved?” A blank look flushed over Ink’s face, though he quickly gave Rarity a nod as he walked to his door, opening it. “That’s the Soul I see everyday, no differences. He doesn’t usually get more energetic than that, well at least not around me. “ “I understand…” Her tone was dreary and her shoulder drooped a bit. “No worries though, that stallion literally gets along with everypony.” He pulled out a pocket watch and checked the time. “Anyway, I really have to work on a few things now but I’ll message you at some point.” “Yes, I certainly will. Au revoir, mon ami,” Rarity chanted raising her head and twirled her hoof as she gave a curtsey. Ink followed the example and smiled at the mare and bowed then rose, closing his door behind him. As he did, Rarity sat back down on the bench and started lightly rubbing her chin, lowering her eyes and few times looking at the direction Soul headed, just thinking of his behavior. She didn’t have too much time to think about it when the white stallion came around the corner, now with a black and white saddleback. Rarity brushed her hair with her hoof quickly before standing up and walking over to him, digging up the contract Ink just gave her. “Ink just happened to get back and returned to his work I’m afraid, so...” She presented the paper and smiled, sliding it into Soul’s bag. “Here you are.” “Oh.” Soul blinked at Rarity and he then peered at the paper. He quickly shrugged and grabbed the paper, nodding. “Alrighty then. Thank you.” The stallion fixed his saddleback to draw Rarity’s attention to it. “Well, I’m all set. Can’t wait to see what you have in mind.” The corners of Rarity’s lips crawled upwards as she was already taking steps towards the stairs. “I have a feeling this will be very rewarding for both of us.” Soul held the door to the stairwell for Rarity and allowed her to take the lead, following behind her. His hooves were heavy as he looked out the windows following down the stairs wondering when he could tell Noble that he will be gone in just three short weeks. Author's Note Phew! We had more issues than normally with this chapter, but in the end i'm quite satisfacted how it turned out The reason we call this "part 1" is because of the scene with Noble at the beginning, which will have "redemption" in the part 2.
12. Welcome To Ponyville“Mommy, mommy look! There’s Ponyville!” a young filly yelled who was practically glued to the window of a train cart. The yell snapped Wild Soul out of his thoughts and his ears perked up. When he focused on the sight in the distance, he saw a town full of humble but stylish buildings. A smile rose upon his face and he turned to look at Noble sleeping next to him. “Hey, Noble.” he said and gently shook his friend awake. “We’ll be there soon.” “Huh, wha…?” Noble let out a big yawn and rubbed his eyes, then stretched his forelegs. “Already? How long was I asleep?” Soul turned his attention back at the town in the horizon. “Felt like forever. My stomach was twisting in knots like a coil of rope....” Noble yawned once more and sat up straight on his seat, and looked out of the window. “So that’s Ponyville?” His eyes widened as he got grew more alert and got a better view of it and a smile rose upon his face. “Wow, it looks great!” The unicorn inched to the side to allow Noble to look out the window. “It’s a bigger place than I expected.” He turned to look at Noble who was rubbing an eye again. “Still tired, by the way? You didn’t sleep that long.” One more yawn escaped Noble’s mouth and he fell back on his seat. “Yes, still tired. I’ve been so excited for this trip that I couldn’t sleep last night. All I thought about was how I could finally leave Canterlot behind, even if I will miss some of the memories.” Soul let out a little laugh and leaned against the window frame. “Well, luckily we get off this train soon and you can go and take a nap or something.” Noble laughed too and looked at the Ponyville again.“That is a possibility. You will probably meet with Rarity right away, right?” “Yes, she said she’ll be waiting for me at the train station, and from there she will take me to and introduce me to her Boutique.” The unicorn nodded smiling as he looked out the window, enjoying the approaching town’s look. Noble’s eyes bulged and he spoke up with an overly corny tone. “Wait, what about me? Are you just going to leave me somewhere sleeping on a bench?!” Soul lowered his eyelids halfway down his eyes putting on a serious, sophisticated face and placed a hoof on his chest. “Yep, that’s exactly right. I will come to get you at some point when I can.” A laugh escaped Soul’s mouth and he swiped his hoof forward. “Just kidding, I suppose Rarity doesn’t have anything against it if you come with us.” Noble let out a little laugh himself. “Thank you, but I think it would be better if I begin searching for a job as soon as possible, most likely as soon as we get there.” “Whatever you see fit. Do---” Soul was cut off mid sentence by an announcement stating that the train would arrive in Ponyville shortly. All the passengers began taking their luggage off the racks. Soul and Noble did so too, though all they had for now was saddlebags. After taking them down, they walked over to the train car door before Soul spoke again, “Anyway, do you have something in your mind already?” There was a brief moment of silence before Noble spoke again, “No… I figured I would just go around and ask for a job. That’s how I got one in Canterlot.” A bell started to ring and the train’s pace started to slow down. Finally, they had arrived. The doors opened and passengers started walking off of the train. There they stood, in the quaint station of Ponyville. Soul looked around at the ponies around them, with a wide grin upon his face he looked forward into the station opening. “Hello Ponyville,” he whispered to himself. The very first thing Noble did was take a deep and slow breath, breathing in the fresh, sweet countryside air, before letting it out peacefully. “Yes… This is the smell of fresh air and new beginnings.” “And smoke,” Soul added holding his muzzle and they started to walk towards the building nearby, while he constantly scanned the groups of ponies. “No sign of her yet. I guess we’re a bit ahead of time.” As they arrived to the building, they sat on a bench under a window. Noble looked at his friend with a sly smirk while squinting and sliding his eyes to the side. “Maybe she stood you up?” Soul untied his saddleback and laid it on the ground. His eyebrows dropped and he put on a grin. “She would get a pretty bad reputation if she did that.” Noble let out a slightly forced chuckle. “Of course, I’m just kidding, buddy.” He then untied his own saddlebag as well and watched the ponies go by. “But don’t you think this place seems amazing?” Soul turned to look at the tan earth pony and let out a little laugh as he scrunched his eyebrows. “Um… We’ve only been here a few minutes and have only seen the station. You can’t say something like that yet.” “Sorry,” Noble murmured, he shrunk down a little and rubbed the back of his head closing his eyes with a typical wide, overly dramatic smile. Soul rolled his eyes with a smile and just watched the ponies go by like Noble. After a brief moment of waiting, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder, followed by a calm but elegant voice. “Wild Soul!” the voice chanted. When the pale stallion turned around, there was a pleasant sight waiting for him. He immediately stood up and stretched his hoof halfway between them. “Rarity,” he said with assured tone. “ It’s pleasant to see you again.” Her lips parting into wider smile, Rarity extended her hoof and lightly shook with Soul, bending her legs in a curtsey like fashion. “Likewise. My my, those three weeks went by much quicker than I thought they would.” “They sure did.” Soul didn’t exactly follow the mare’s lead with bowing, but simply gave her a nod. Releasing Soul’s hoof she offered it to Noble with a pleasant glimmer of a smile. “And Noble, it is a pleasure to see you too. You must be thrilled to finally be here, no?” The earth pony tilted his head to the side at the slightly formal greeting, he reached his hoof out facing up and took her hoof from below and he even gave bow. “Hello there, Rarity. I couldn’t be any more thrilled.” As the ponies rose and finished the greetings Soul looked around, craning his neck to see as far as he possibly could. “So… this is Ponyville.” “Oh right, my goodness where are my manners?” She said while holding a hoof on her forehead, tilting it back with her elbow out dramatically. Rarity dropped her hoof and turned around, spreading a leg out to the side. “I warmly welcome you to my humble hometown! Things are quite a bit different here but you will adapt eventually.” Narrowing his lips as he stood silently for a moment, looking over the town. The mare had a wide smile on her face, though it which started to become a bit more of a struggle as Soul face was carving into her mind, a drip of nervous sweat forming on her forehead. Was he disappointed? Soul finally opened his mouth. “Yep, back to Canterlot…” He turned around to face the train again and began to take a step forward. Jumping at the exclamation and performing a speedy about haise, wide eyed and on his toes he exclaimed, “Wait, what?!” Rarity’s heart also jumped to her throat. “Kidding kidding,” Soul reassured as he turned around to face the town again. “How did things look at the apartment?” The mare gave a very awkward laugh and swiped the sweat off her forehead, fixing her posture. “Oh the movers arrived just in time. I took the liberty of directing them in placing some larger pieces of furniture in places I thought they would look well in, but I didn’t touch the boxes. And of course I have your keys.” Soul nodded and gave a smile. “Excellent, thank you for all the help.” Rarity raised a hoof. “Don’t mention it, I am happy to help,” she chanted with a smile and looked toward the town though she turned back again, this time looking at the earth pony.. “Oh, Noble, will you be coming to see my Boutique too?” Noble took a step back and shook his head, raising a hoof between them. “Thank you for the offer Rarity, but I’ve already planned to go out searching for a job. I’m hoping to find one as soon as possible. I’m sure I won’t get one today, but… if the word about a stallion searching for a job spreads, maybe it would reach somepony who needs some work done.” “I completely understand.” The stylish mare nodded feeling better. She had been wanting to test Soul’s knowledge of artistry more and had hoped Noble would not feel left out as she focussed on Soul and this was a big relief for her. “I’m quite sure you will find a job in no time. Here in Ponyville, earth ponies are an important part of our income, so the fact you’re an earth pony is actually an advantage.” “We’ll see how things will turn out.” Noble took a few steps forward and turned his head back towards the duo. “I think I’ll head off to search for that job now so you two can proceed with Soul’s education.” While in mid wave Soul stopped and lifted an arm up, shouting to Noble before he had a chance to take off, “Wait, where should we meet up when we’re both done? Rarity has to guide us to our apartment and well, when I look at this town, everything looks pretty much the same for a newcomer. I mean you’ve got an incredible sense of direction, but me...” Noble halted and furrowed his brow, looking at the ground and turned one corner of his lip up as he scratched the side of his head. “Oh, true… and thank you.” With her head held high and eyes closed Rarity chimed in, “Excuse me, but don’t you think my Botique would do just fine?.” “Maybe, but how hard is it to find?” Soul said with his eyes transfixed on the artisan. Giving a look about to ensure both stallions were listening before she continued. “Oh it’s fairly easy to find indeed. it’s one of the most unique and artistically enhanced building in Ponyville. If you need further detail look for a round two story home that simply screams, devine.” “Umm, sure... that sounds good to me.” Noble closed his eyes and recited the name a few more time, trying to cement it in his memory. “Carousel Boutique, Right?” “The boutique it is.” Soul nodded in agreement. “So… is this all for now?” “Well, before you go, you might want one of these,” Rarity said with a giggle and lit her horn, taking off two keys from a thin necklace she had. She gave both stallions their own keys. “There we go. That’s all I think.” “Oh right, thank you very much,” Noble said with a nod and then put the key into his saddleback. He turned to look at Soul. ”I’ll be on my way then. I’ll see you later buddy,” he said with a smile and extended a hoof before going. Soul clopped hooves with his friend. “Right. Don’t fall asleep or anything.” Letting out a laugh, Noble jumped off the edge of the station and gave a final wave to the two before heading into the town. After they waved and saw Noble drifting out of sight, Rarity and Soul started proceeding towards the other stairway of the station, her head raised and a big smile on her face. “How were things at Canterlot Spectrum when you left? I hope you came here in high spirits.” “No worries, I’m one hundred percently functional. Or at least ninety-nine if not hundred.” He gave a stretch as they moved on, slowing down for just a moment before jolting forward to walk next to the mare. “And well, let’s just say change is always better than loss.” “I believe I understand what you are trying to say.” Now that they were alone Rarity looked the stallion up and down, giving a little pout that made her flip her head up to cast her mane upward out of her field of vision once more. “Oh and I also happened to notice that you’ve drastically lightened your ensemble… What happened to the red jacket, collar and tie?” Soul started rubbing his neck and gave the mare a small grin while lightly scrunching his inward. “This might sound funny, but I consider those being my Canterlot identity. Canterlot exclusive if you may,” he explained with a small laugh. “I want to develop something new for Ponyville so for now, my coat is all I’ve got.” “No that’s not ‘funny’ at all!” Rarity chanted and extended her hoof reaching for Soul’s shoulder. “I completely understand that mindset. I always wear something if I feel like the situation needs it, so it’s not hard for me to understand if somepony claims one style for one city.” Soul jumped back as soon as the faintest sensation of a hoof on his shoulder registered in his mind, leaving Rarity to lower her hoof. “Y-Yep, well that’s me for you then,” he said and shifted his attention to their environment. “Though when I look at these ponies, I can see they don’t exactly wear anything around here… So, I suppose something subtle would fit.” “Like a necklace?” Rarity said as her eyes were now purely focused on the gem Soul had hanging around his neck. “I’ve been watching that gorgeous piece of jewelry for a while now. I absolutely must ask where you found such a piece?” Soul touched the necklace with his hoof giving a small warm smile. “Oh this. It was a farewell gift from a friend and co-worker. You see, she’s a very skillful mineral artist who can craft basically almost anything out of blocks of minerals. She even runs her own small business on the side.” “Oh my, she sure doesn’t seem to be an amateur!” She stopped, leaving Soul with no option but to stop as well and let Rarity look closer at the amulet. Rarity simply looked closely at the necklace, not wanting to reach for it, for an obvious reason. “Does that gem happen to be topaz?” The stallion shook his head and put a hoof under the necklace, lifting it up to give Rarity a better view. “Actually, she told me it’s a citrine. According to her It’s said to protect from bad thoughts.” “Very interesting. If I ever get a chance to meet this friend of yours, I might want to try some co-operation projects with her.” She placed a hoof to her cheek and sighed, leaning into her hoof as she imagined the possibilities. Soul couldn’t help but quietly let out a laugh at the irony as he thought of Mineral’s mindset of fashion designers. “Good luck with that.” “Excuse me?” The laugh had broken through Rarity’s day dream and sparked her attention. “Ah, nevermind.” He covered his mouth and was finished laughing. He switched gears standing slightly straighter and taller. “Anyway, we’ve talked about how you want to pretty much just introduce me to your boutique today. Is that still the plan?” “Pretty much, though I might want to ask your help with moving a few things,” She spoke in a softer more pleasant tone and began to walk again. Soul raised his eyebrows and put on a grin, galloping a few steps before returning to his usual pace beside her. “Putting your new slave to work immediately after all, huh?” Rarity’s eyes bulged in terror when those words reached her ears, she leaned towards the pale stallion and waved her hoof wildly. “Oh heavens, of course not. I would never dream of such a thing." “Why not? Just put some chains on me and be hush about it. Embrace the opportunity and I was looking forward to the chains you know.” The mare leaned away and pulled a hoof to her chest and looked around to ensure no one was around to hear their conversation. “Did you... not sleep well or something…?“ Soul instantly gave the mare a quick glance but turned away from her to look down the path they were walking on and frowned. “Yeah umm that was awkward… Very awkward, forget what I just said...” Rarity stood there wide eyed in silence for a moment as Soul passed. She turned her head to the side and opened her mouth with a hoof raised in the air toward Soul but she still could not speak and finally just dropped her hoof and began walking again, giving her head a shake. When they approached a bridge, a strange smell caught their noses. Soul looked forward and saw black smoke rising from the other side of it. The sight of it makes him slow down the pace and his ears dropped behind his head.. “I-Is it just me or is somepony setting up a campfire...?” “Oh Celestia, my sister and her friends are probably trying to send smoke signals to one another again. Oh what will they not try in order to get their cutie marks?” Rarity picked up the pace a bit and her eyes were growing wider as her eyebrows grew further apart. Noticing that the pace picked up Soul began to move quicker just a step behind Rarity, though he had brought a hoof to cover his muzzle, his eyes locked onto the smoke. “Little sister?” Rarity nodded. “Yes... Our parents happen to be active travelers, so she stays with me frequently. I swear for the love of my passion for fashion, if there is a black spot in my yard she will... Ugh, I don’t even dare to say!” As the ponies scurried ever closer to the Boutique the smoke grew larger and their pace quickened. They ran around the Boutique but what they saw brought a look of sheer terror to Rarity’s face followed by a loud scream. Her eyes grew wide pupils dilated. “W-Wh-What in Equestria is happening here?! What has Sweetie Belle done?!” When the mare finally stopped Soul caught up, he saw huge, not to mention brutal flames bursting from a window. His eyes grew wide while the flames danced before him while he froze. His heart started to beat rapidly and cold sweat started dripping on his forehead while his breathing was growing unnaturally frequent. “W-Wow, dang… Your house is on fire.” “You don’t say and is that really all you have to say and the reaction you can muster for this situation?!” Rarity yelled as she gave the stallion a piercing glare. In an instant the mare bolted for the front door. “W-Wait, what are you going doing? You can’t just run inside and dive into the flames!” Soul’s eyes were still wide open and he tried to rush after Rarity, but as he took off he felt something like a snap in his head making him nauseous and he was wobbling as he tramped behind her. Rarity stopped and makes a quick one-eighty. “Well stay outside then!” She puffs out her chest and put a hoof on it like some overly dramatic soldier. “This is not the cruel way it ends for my sister!” “I-I know but… Those flames are brutal! You still need some way to put the flames out or protect yourself--” Soul was cut off mid-sentence when the door behind them swung open and a filly ran out of Rarity’s boutique with extremely heavy looking bag behind her. “Sweetie Belle!” Rarity yelled and ran over to her sister, grabbing her into her arms and squeezing her like a plush toy. “Oh heavens you scared me half to death, I had feared that the worst had happened to you! Are you alright, you aren’t burned are you?” She leaned her body around tilting the filly's head to the sides as she examined here for burns. Sweetie Belle was sniffling holding back tears as she shouted. “Rarity, I didn’t expect you to be back so soon, I---” “Phew! You sound healthy!” Giving a sigh of relief and hugging her sister away then pulling her away from the door Rarity quickly let go and spoke up in a harsh brittle tone. “Sweetie Belle, what in the name of Equestria have you done!” Sweetie Belle hugged Rarity back and pulled the bag back toward her out of the doorway still sniffling but her eyes opening into a glare as Rarity scolds her. “Can’t we leave that for later, big sis! I-I managed to gather some of our most important things b-but I can’t find Opal anywhere and I know she’s still inside!” “W-What…?!” Rarity drew her neck back as her eyes grew wide open, her other eye twitching. Without saying a word, the mare rushed inside. Ruffling his mane and stopping to hold the back of his head, Soul immediately reached for the mare as she ran through the doorway. “Rarity, wait!” His voice didn’t reach her at all and for a brief moment he just stood there shaking, looking back and forth between Sweetie Belle and inside the boutique. He bit his forehooves as he looked, his legs shaking slightly and heart ramming against his chest so hard it felt like it’s going to burst right through. In the end he ended up just clenching his teeth and run inside after her. “I’m Sweetie Belle by the way!” the filly called to Soul, then looked left and right and slowly proceeded to walk backwards. Soul didn’t have time to take in the introduction, he made his way over in the direction Rarity headed in and when he reached near the kitchen, he saw Rarity standing there not too far away from the flames holding a hoof on her forehead. The mare’s voice was high pitched and barely audible as she held her cheek then moved her hoof next to her mouth to focus her voice. “Opal! Opal try to be brave little kitty, mommy promises to get you out of there!” The cold sweat started forming on Soul’s forehead again and he backed off a couple steps, his ears drooped. “W-Wait there’s a cat in there?” Rarity’s voice was beginning to crack as she cried out in high pitched cries. “She is meowing in there but I can’t get close enough to see where she is!” Rarity turned back to face the kitchen, stretching her neck. “Opal darling, please just hang in there, I will come up with something!” “I-I could... “ Soul couldn’t finish when he started holding his head again, his body gently collapsing against the wall. He couldn’t maintain his balance anymore. Rarity heard the bang and turned and saw the stallion leaning against the wall and quickly reached out and put a hoof on his shoulder, her eyes still beginning to water as she looked at the fire then back at Soul. “Soul? What’s wrong with you?” Soul closed his eyes and grabbed his stomach as a sharp pain shot through it and his head span. “I-I’ve never been good around even small fires… Just the smell of smoke twists my stomach and seeing flames bigger than a candle makes my head and body feel like mash...” Rarity quickly gasped and got next to him. “Pyrophobia---” Looking at the flames as they grew she took his outermost foreleg and draped it over her back in order to pull him to his feet. Reaching up and holding his mouth with his other forehoof the stallion called, “D-Don’t worry about it now, we need to get you close enough to that opening and I might have an idea how. I just hope I remember how to do it...” He pulled away and put his weight back down on his own four legs and closed his eyes and clenched his teeth, lifting up his horn. His orange magic quickly started expelling a blue aura from the tip of his horn that swirled around Rarity. The moment it did, it caused the mare to squeak as icy waves ran through her entire body, her eyes bulging and teeth clenching. “S-So chilly all of the sudden! W-What did you do?” Soul focused on continuing the spell and keeping it as cool as possible. “That’s just a first aid spell to cool down swelling that I learned years ago, but I’ve applied it around your whole body. With that you can get---” “Get close enough to the flames and levitate Opal away!” Rarity exclaimed her eyes widened again and this time her lips turned upwards. ”Oh you are a lifesaver!” The mare immediately bolted right next to the flames without feeling the slightest bit of heat from them. As the flames drifted closer to her they puffed and hissed as they were extinguished. It was hard for her to see in the kitchen through the waves but she managed to spot her cat right on top of a shelf where flames hadn’t reached yet. Rarity’s horn lit and magic surrounded Opal, lifting her from the shelf and although she tried to cling on it with her claws, Rarity managed to pull her off and levitate her to safety along the ceiling only lowering her when she was close to Rarity and quickly jolted away from the door where the flames had been pushed back. “Opal oh my goodness are you alright mommy’s little darling? You’re in safe hooves now!” After the quick reunion Rarity trotted over to Soul who looked worse than just a moment ago. It was good he wasn’t collapsing right there. Rarity put her hoof on the stallion’s shoulder and lowered her head to look him in the eyes. “Come Soul, let’s hurry! Can you walk?” The touch gave Soul a spark which caused him to wince and jump off the wall and reach of her hoof, though it didn’t make him to feel any less out of it. He could barely see through his blurred vision. He simply nodded and started wobbled his way out of the boutique. Rarity followed behind making sure he wouldn’t fall and eventually they managed to get out of the building with lots of coughing even though they held their muzzles and had their heads lowered. Soul ran away from the building for a ways still holding his muzzle. “Rarity!!” Sweetie Belle yelled as she trotted over to her sister, panting. “Is Opal alright?! Please tell me she is!” The mare let out a big and deep sigh of relief and sat down. She felt a sharp pain on her back and looked back to see Opal standing up straight, a little dark with ash in her fur and shaking. Rarity winced and reached back to pet Opal but received a scratch instead. Opal then lept off her back and walked away out of reach, laying down in the grass and patting at it’s tail to knock soot off. “She will be traumatized for life the poor thing, but otherwise she is perfectly fine.” “Oh that’s a relief! ...I guess...” Sweetie Belle turned toward the cat and took a few steps toward it extending a hoof. “I’m so sorry Opal, this is all my fault…” As the filly’s hoof reached for Opal, the cat sprung up and hissed at her extending a paw with claws out that caused Sweetie Belle to run and hide behind her sister, peering around to look at Opal who layed back down. Rarity put a hoof on her sister’s head and walked around to face her before speaking. “Now, that everyone is safe I’m fairly comfortable saying; Opal is right, it is your fault! What in the name of Equestria were you thinking?! I’ve told you dozens of times not to cook by yourself!” Rarity scolded and huffed, standing tall and being firm. She put a hoof over her heart. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if something had happened to you! Do you even realize how dear you are to me? And I won't even get started on the appalling mess you have made of my kitchen!” The filly hung her head and looked up with teary eyes as she was scolded. “I’m so sorry Rarity! I… I just wanted to surprise you by making lunch for you and your new apprentice and it just got out of hoof…” She quickly lifted her head up and explained, “But don’t worry! Scootaloo was here helping me and immediately when we noticed the fire, she---” “Sweetie Belle!” A voice called from the distance where a young orange filly riding on a scooter approached at high speed gritting her teeth and flapping her wings as hard as she could. Sweetie Belle jumped up and down, extending a hoof toward her friend.“Finally! They’re here!” Scootaloo pulled back on the brakes and stopped right in front of the sisters and stood straight up supporting herself with her handlebars to give Sweetie Belle a salute. “Mission accomplished! Operation Flame Slayer has been ignited!” “What are you talking about darling…?” As Rarity shielded her eyes amd looked up into the sky through the horizon, her eyes were greeted with the sight of a group of pegasi in formation pushing a huge rain cloud towards the boutique. “That fire is as good as gone!” Scootaloo said extending a hoof up to the sky, though her attention was captured by Soul who was sitting by the stream. “By the way, who is that guy over there? Is he confessing his love for a river?” she said pointing at the stallion who was holding his chest. Soul’s ears twitched at the comment, indicating he could still hear regardless of the distance. Although he didn’t look back and continued staring at the river and continued to breath deeply while holding his chest, feeling his heartbeat. He just shook his head and grinned, pretending he didn’t hear it. Before any of them had a chance to speak, a loud voice rang from above. “Alright everypony; let’s get those clouds just in front of the window, Alpha team you go and blow the rain in the window with me, Bravo team make it pour! Break!” Once the mare shouted out the order the pegasi broke off and began pushing the rain into the window, taming the flames. Just as the filly said the pegasi got the fire under control quickly, as soon as the window was clear the ponies kicking the cloud stopped and the leader ran up and took a piece of the cloud and flew into the house followed by the other pegasi that followed her lead. Rarity and the two fillies sat in awe as they listened to the last of the flames hiss and become extinguished. Soul wiped his mouth and looked back. He still felt nauseous but could not look away from the teamwork and technique that went into putting out the fire. When there was nothing else but smoke left, the pegasi all emerged from the house followed by their leader who called out, “Thanks a lot everypony, awesome job! Can you guys take the cloud back for me? I think I have explanations to hear and gratitude to collect.” As the formation pushed the cloud off back toward the horizon the lead pegassi soured through the air performing a barrel roll and made a circle around the sun before stopping right in the center of it. All of the ponies on the ground looked up at the pony that was hovering just in front of the sun causing her body to become a silhouette. “I would go and say that was awesome but I suppose this isn’t the right time--- Awe who am I kidding I can’t hold back, that was awesome!” Author's Note Not the most creative title ^^;
20. An Awkward Walk In The WordsThe air was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Fluttershy continued looking over herself and wrapped a hoof around a lock of her hair, brushing it with her other hoof as she shook after being unable to see any physical problems with herself. Noble opened his mouth and then abruptly closed it, clenching his teeth as he reached up an outstretched hoof but pulled back thinking better of it. He passed the panic ridden pegasus to Rarity who’s face grew longer at the sight, then turned back to Soul with wide begging eyes. Soul looked at Noble’s poor expression and sulked, drooping slightly. He faced the pegasus but quickly realized he was out classed. He locked eyes with Rarity giving a nudge of his head towards Fluttershy. Rarity lowered her eyes with a deep sigh, placing a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder as she took a seat next to her. She took her purse off of her shoulder and shook her head fanning her hair out, and set it under a shady spot under a tree to prevent further sun damage and then pried the pegasus’ hoof away from her mane, holding her still. “Fluttershy, please, compose yourself! You seem to be making a scene. You are perfectly fine darling.” Even when Rarity held her, Fluttershy was unable to stay still. “B-But he just said I’m hurt! Why would he say something like that if I wasn’t actually hurt?” A bright blush filled Noble's cheeks, he rubbed the back of his head with it tilted down. “L-Look! I never meant you were hurt! You’re fine, y-you seem perfectly fine!” With wide, damp yet prying eyes, Fluttershy leaned forward while she kept her legs tucked closely by her side. “A-Are you psychic? C-Can you sense inner sickness in me, o-or can you see the future where I get hurt?” Noble waved his hooves and shook his head feverishly. “N-no! Nothing like that. I... I just meant to compliment you…” He hung his head and bit his bottom lip, unable to make eye contact. Fluttershy brought a leg across her body, hugging herself and turning to the side. “B-By telling me I’m hurt…? “Fluttershy you’re going to run out of breath and pass out if you don’t allow yourself to calm down,” Rarity said as she put a hoof under Fluttershy’s chin and turned it to face her. “Just look me in the eyes and count to ten.” The pegasus immediately squeaked. “B-But---” Raising Fluttershy's jaw Rarity gently cut her off. “Ah ah ah. Do as I say now darling, please.” Fluttershy took a deep breath and exhaled. She began counting slowly and faintly and with each number her body grew more relaxed. Soul let out a small groan and kept his face buried deep in his hoof. Noble looked at each mare before leaning back and concealing his mouth as he whispered quickly to Soul, “Hey, you brought me here…” His heart still pounded as if he ran a mile, though he still glowered at his friend, noticeably frustrated. Soul continued rubbing his forehead as it throbbed in his hoof, he couldn't even look up when he replied. “I had no idea it would get this complex… Plus it was not even my idea.” With another look at the mares that were working together to ease Fluttershy's nerves, Noble believed it was safe to turn away. He spun around and leaned in, his teeth gritted. “W-What should I do? I have no idea what to say whatsoever...” Soul let go of his head and motioned for Noble to turn around. “Short and simple; apologize for startling her.” Noble’s eyes darted back, checking the mares but quickly came back pleading while looking into Soul’s. “These things aren’t simple!” Rarity dropped her hoof and nodded with Fluttershy, a smile returned to her face as she spoke with charm, “Alright, I think we’re ready to try again.” “R-Right!” The earth pony scratched the ground with a hoof, his eyes staying focused on it as he gulped. He took a deep breath and turned around, his body shaking slightly. He attempted to gather his fluttering thoughts and closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaled deeply one more time. “Look… I… I never meant to startle you back then. I simply heard your singing and wanted to know who the voice belong to; so I could tell them how beautiful it was! I would’ve done anything if I could’ve found you and simply apologized… I’m deeply sorry, can you forgive me? Please?” Fluttershy’s mouth trembled and it still took a good bit before she could speak a single word. “I-I… It’s okay. Y... you just startled me...” she stuttered while she turned her gaze away from Noble. She turned her head letting her hair fall like a curtain protecting her from Noble's eyes. Her eyes however still took short quick peeks as she spied back toward the earth pony, just able to spot him through her pink mane. Rarity elegantly cleared her throat and presented a hoof forward. “What Fluttershy means to say is that it’s quite alright and she apologizes for causing any displeasure to you. She simply isn’t comfortable with anyone hearing her.” Noble rubbed his left front leg with his right hoof and bit his lower lip softly. “R-Right, of course, I understand. I didn’t know.” Turning her head to move her hair out of the way Fluttershy sunk down almost below her shoulders, her lips turned up gently with sympathetic eyes. “Thank you…Noble…” Her eyes darted from side to side, up and down as the bothersome silence took over their conversation. Uncomfortable in this situation, she backed up slightly, met with Rarity’s hoof and tucked her hooves close to her own body. She wished somepony would say something to break this silence or that she could simply fly back to her cottage and save herself this embarrassment. Noble rushed through any possible topic he could think of in his head dismissing them all as silly, shallow, or too personal, leaving him open as he stood quietly, moving his lips about, trying to form words before the timid pegasus, but unable to speak. It was all he could do to shift dirt around with his hooves, both having their ears pinned back while their bodies pushed back away from one another. Noble gritted his teeth tightly and his left eye twitched. Soul and Rarity looked at each other, both acknowledging this wasn’t going well at all. Soul had already started giving her a look by angling his head and cut across the air with his hoof as if to say ‘this is good enough’, but Rarity immediately dismissed it and braced up. Moving her hoof off of Fluttershy's back, Rarity leapt between the two, leaning in toward Noble. “Soooo Noble, do you happen to have any favorite color of clothing you like to wear?” Taken aback by the question, Noble blank rapidly as the question registered in his mind. He looked side to side feeling uneasy, though seeing no harm in the question. “U-Um… I used to wear a blue collared shirt.” Ignoring Noble's reluctance and abruptness, Rarity immediately started beaming and clopped her hooves together. “Ooh, I can imagine how well that fits you. Don’t you agree Fluttershy?” The pegasus kept her head low and faintly shrugged. “I-I don’t know…” Soul’s eyes wandered up to the sky and he scratched his cheek. “I made him switch to white collars at one point. Weren’t you there when he wore it? I think it fits Canterlot’s theme much better.” Rarity nodded and spoke moving her hoof in front of herself. “Yes but what is most important is that the color should fit the pony itself.” Tan ears twitched as Noble looked at Rarity with a puzzled look on his face. He had never heard any pony that was as pronounced and eccentric. “That’s… nice.” “Isn’t it? You should visit my boutique sometime for business. I'm sure I could easily find something that would make you look absolutely fabulous.” Her eyes glimmered as she stared off, getting lost in her fantasy world surrounded by design, coming back. “That is, even if stallion apparel is not my strong suit.” She covered her lips giggling to herself, though slowly fading as she lacked Pinkie Pie’s comedic charm. Noble’s shoulders sulked again and his expression grew more stoic. “Umm… sure. If I can afford anything that is.” The whole conversation had began to sidetrack. With every word Rarity and Soul spoke, well mostly Rarity spoke, they drifted off even further and further from the task at hoof and eventually it was a whole nother conversation just for two of them, leaving Fluttershy and Noble completely hanging. “Wouldn't tailoring suits be vastly different from tailoring a dress?” Soul’s voice emerged from the sidelines. The mare’s attention repositioned again. “Well yes and no. Also I don't like to always say I tailor clothing, I craft it. Now about your question...” Rarity elaborated on the differences between making suits and dresses. Noble and Fluttershy sat there, at a completely loss as to how the conversation transitioned to the teacher and student discussing fashion but both were slightly relieved of it. For a good moment, they sat exchanging awkward looks and looking around, of course their eyes did fall back on the ponies speaking that arranged this catastrophe. Though eventually, with a sigh, Noble peaked over at Soul with a small grin; his eyes met Fluttershy’s as he nudged his head, pointing to Soul and rolling his eyes very exaggeratedly, chuckling to himself after the fact and covering his muzzle. Surprisingly, Fluttershy did the exact same thing. Even if she was allowed a perfect opportunity to grab her pet bunny and fly away at that instance, she didn’t. No, she gave a glance at Rarity and allowed herself to laugh. She gave her first, actual laugh, not to mention smile during the whole scenario. It was barely noticeable but it was a laugh, no doubt. For that very short moment, they finally felt comfortable and even relaxed facing each other; giving an eye contact that didn’t feel like torture. Even if it wasn’t much, it was something, and something is always better than nothing. Unfortunately the two didn’t get to enjoy the moment that much when everypony was cut off by the explosive sound of Noble’s sneeze that seemed almost made the ground shake beneath them. In fact, it was so loud that it caused Fluttershy to jump up in the air with a scream and fly behind a tree nearby. Rarity jumped, almost falling on her back and held her chest, gasping as she looked at the stallion, completely abandoning her previous conversation. “My goodness, I almost had a heart attack!” Soul on the other hand only tensed ever so slightly and gave a slight wince as he turned at his friend. “Bless you, pal.” While holding his chest Noble shook his head rapidly then brought the hoof up and rubbed his nose before looking over. “S-Sorry about that! I feel like my sneezes can rival an earthquake sometimes...” “You uh… have a gift of amplification, that’s for sure,” Rarity said and forced a smile, dropping her hoof off her chest. “You can say that again,” Noble said softly, darting his eyes off to the side. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a little white rabbit tapping its foot and glaring at the pegasus with his ears back. Noble immediately recognized what had happened and spoke softly taking a step toward the tree. “Oh I’m sorry, you don’t need to hide there…!” “Actually I think that sneeze was perfectly timed.” Rarity looked over at the tree batting her eyes for a moment but remaining unsurprised. “Fluttershy and I really should be heading to the castle already.” Soul nodded, slightly pleased that he could finally get a break and some much needed time to allow himself to breath after the long first week. “Yes, you do that. I’ll see you on Monday in that case.” Rarity nodded and smiled with her head held high. “Most definitely. Enjoy your first weekend, both of you! And Soul, if you feel so inclined I do suggest you practice your hemming stitch, by hoof of course.” “Yes, I shall. You too enjoy the weekend, Rarity. Bye.” Soul waved with a solemn smile of his own. “Bye bye!” Rarity chanted and passed the pegasus, beginning to bounce in a skip. ‘’Come on, Fluttershy dear. Let’s go.’’ Fluttershy gave a timid nod with her head hanging down. She and Noble looked at one another in silence, neither aware of what to say. Noble felt a bit bad he couldn’t spend more time around the mare but then again, he still didn’t have anything in mind what to say. Fluttershy’s lips curled up slightly, she had forgiven the stallion for seeing her guilty pleasure and while still tense she brought up a hoof waving it only slightly. Noble’s lips followed suit curving upward as well while his eyes were sorrowful. He waved a foreleg as the mare let her bunny jump onto her back and then began following Rarity. His legs felt like jelly as he dropped his hoof back down and took a step back. “Soul…” “I know.” Soul let out a deep sigh and rubbed his eye. “That whole thing got unnecessarily complicated and unnecessarily awkward…” “Yes, it did...” His lip quivered and he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a lump in his throat as he thought of how to say what he desired. “Thank you for doing that for me but… uhh, Rarity kind of got off topic with you there.” The unicorn gave a bothered laugh and an innocent shrug. “My bad.” He stepped towards Noble, perking his ears up and leaning in turning his head to the side. “Though what are your thoughts now? Are we finally done with this crush phase?” “What?” Noble glared as he walked back to his lunchbox, finally pulling out his food that turned out to be a PB&J sandwich. “Come on... You don’t need to dismiss all of them right away. She does seem like a nice, pretty mare… Again, not what I expected, but fine, I’m alright… for now.” He tried to offer his second sandwich to Soul but the offer was met with a wave and utter look of disgust. They sat in silence as Noble ate, Soul looked up at all the apple trees and occasionally looked back at the path the mares took out of the orchard. Soul put his hooves together and stretched as much as his body could give in with a yawn. “Well, how about we head home then? Well, after you are done that is. I want to get some sushi from a buffet before it closes.” Noble gave a nod checking his lunch, then looking back at his friend, tensing up as he thought about how quickly he could eat to not hold Soul back. “Yes, sure. I still don’t understand how you can like that stuff though,” he said with a laugh. Soul looked at Noble’s bread and frowned. “Right... You have your PB&J, I have my sushi.” He noticed the tensing and looks Noble gave him and the lunch. “Take your time though, there is no pressure.” Noble searched for his water, chugging some to wash out his mouth so he could speak. “Anyway, is there anything you wanna do this weekend? I thought we could check out Ponyville’s pubs.” Sighing Soul extended a hoof while shaking his head. “Naw, I’m not really in the mood for that. It’s been exhausting getting adapted to how things work here. I simply wanna sit home and work on my stuff for Spectrum and start doing a presentation for the Mayor.” “Work work work.” Noble chuckled, “How about we try taking a lazy weekend to the max for a change? Sit on the couch all day and watch every episode of Stray Alicorn, OVA’s, play poker and talk about mares.” He paused to think for a moment. “Okay, maybe not that last one, but I’m itching to finally do some real roommate stuff!” “I’ll make sure to put that in my calendar,” Soul said with a laugh. As Noble finished the last bite of his second sandwich and closed up his lunch box Soul’s eyes rested upon a light blue bag that laid on it’s side by the base of a tree. His hoof once again immediately smacked his face. “Ooooooh boy, you must be kidding me…” Once the box was in his saddle bag Noble looked up and looked at the area Soul was looking at with peaked curiosity. “Huh? Oh, a bag? Wait, isn’t that Rarity’s?” “Yeah... She just forgot something preeeeeetty important." He rubbed the side of his head and looked down the path the mares went down. “It’s probably too late to catch up to them now.” Noble walked over and picked it up, ensuring nothing seemed to have fallen out then looked inside, gently shuffling through it. “I.M. book, keys, wallet, sewing supplies…” “Yeah, she is not gonna be very happy when she realizes...” Soul said and walked over to the bag as well and closed the buckle with his magic, and levitated it up to Noble’s shoulder. “Let’s just take it with us, we can’t find them in the woods, I’ll leave a note on her door to come see us to get it.” The tan stallion looked up at the sky, shifting his body to peer through the trees checking for clouds before he replied, “Don’t you think we should leave it here instead---?” A rustle fell over the pathe and charged toward them, growing louder from the direction of the farm house. The blue pegasus was the first to be seen, blowing the leaves as she flew but made a quick circle around the stallions. Lighting a fire galloping down the trail, Applejack followed in hot pursuit, slowing to a halt with the others. Noble stood tall as he saw the blond mare. “Where are you two off to? More dares?” Rainbow swooped down before him stealing the thunder before landing in front of them landing next to Applejack. “The final one! So far it’s just been a tie but this one settles everything for good! I can prove that I’m the most daring pony.” AJ glared, walking up next to the pegasus and looking her dead in the eye. “Over my rusted horseshoes! I ain’t gonna let this day go ta waste.” ‘’Yeah yeah, let’s save it for when you’re scared out of the castle!” The pegasus held her head high and opened her left eye, as she noticed another familiar face. “Hey, Wild! Anything interesting up? Haven’t seen you around after the fire.” Soul lifted his eyebrows with an otherwise blank expression. “You care about design stuff?” The mare crossed her arms, looking away. “Not really,” she said bluntly. The unicorn shook his head and hoof dismissively. “Then no, nothing interesting is up.” Applejack stepped forward before Soul and tipped her hat to him. “Hey, ya must be the fella who brought Noble here!” “The one and only,” Noble said with a chuckle and he raised a hoof in front of Soul as if he were a prize on a gameshow. Soul crossed his hooves plopping down in the grass. “I don’t admit anything.” Applejack stretched her hoof out to shake hooves with the white stallion. “I think I should thank you, pal. Without you, we woulda never got Noble’s fine horsepower ta help out on the farm!’’ Soul tilted his head, squinting at the mare as his eyes connected to the mane and his ears twitched at the thick southern accent. ‘’Oh yeah, you must be the blond beau--” “SOUL!” Noble yelled immediately blushing bright red. He leaped and wrapped his leg around the unicorn from behind pinning him down and covering his mouth. As Soul’s eyes grew wide he jumped up with a shock going down his spine as he freed his mouth and pulled away from his friend. The unicorn grabbed his chest, but had realized what he just let almost slip out of his mouth. “I-I mean what I meant to say, yes Noble has talked about you. Mostly about your mane.” A loud smack echoed off of Noble’s face as he slapped it. “Soul! Please stop!” Applejack looked at Noble, even her hair drooped as she glowered at him for a moment and sighed. "Well, at least he talks about work at home." Rainbow bursted out laughing holding her sides already. “Oh my gosh, here we go again!” Glaring at Rainbow Dash, Applejack jabbed her in the ribs with her fore knee. Noble grimaced and shrank a little and rubbed his foreleg. “S-So… What exactly is this dare you’re gonna do if you don’t mind me asking?” Applejack gave her hat a nudge up and sighed. “Well partner, simply put, we’re gonna spend a night in an old nearby castle, that’s said to be haunted by the Pony of Shadows.” Rainbow shrugged boldly, as if she didn’t have a care in the world about the story. “Yeah, or something like that. It’ll be an easy win.” Noble put a hoof on his lips, his eyes narrowing as he sat down crossing his forelegs. “Pony of shadows?” The orange mare followed suit and sat down as well. “It’s an old legend Granny Smith used to tell me. Just to make sure; y’all do know history right? You know about Nightmare Moon?” Noble blank with pointed lips and nodded. “Of course...” The unicorn gave a small chuckle. “That’s the most general knowledge you can get nowadays.” “Just chekin’.” Applejack began moving her hooves as she talked. “Anyway, Granny Smith explained that the legend says that when Nightmare Moon was banished by Princess Celestia, not all of her magic went with her. It stayed in the old Castle of the Two Sisters that’s deep into the Everfree Forest, and when the sun goes down, this magic takes a form of a pony that haunts the very walls of the castle.” Rainbow smiled and rolled her eyes, letting them rest looking away from Applejack. “The pony of shadows.” As the name crossed Rainbow’s lips Noble’s back snapped up straight and his eyes widened. He felt like his heart got misplaced for a second. “Wait... what?” Rainbow smacked Noble on the back chuckling. “I know right, pretty stupid, huh?” Applejack scoffed, pointing at her and leaning in narrowing her eyes. “We’ll see about that when we get there.” The earth pony’s body shook and his eyes grew wide as his heartbeat echoed against his chest. His fur stood on end while his lips quivered as he stood breathless. “Y-You… You’re going to the Everfree Forest?” Lips narrowed and eyebrows rose, Applejack looked closely at the poet. “Yeahhh?” Noble’s eye kept twitching. “You mean the Everfree Forest? The monstrous unnatural jungle of strange creatures where plants and animals thrive without pony intervention and are fully capable of devouring ponies whole?” The mares looked at one another for a second before Applejack turned back at Noble, turning her head to the side as if she didn’t know what she was looking at. “Uhh, yeah that’s it. That IS where the castle is after all.” Soul took a step forward getting the prying eyes off Noble, even if just momentarily. “You know, you should think twice before you go there.” Rainbow laughed boldly and flew over to Soul, wrapping her hoof over him and ruffled his mane. “Oh come on! You don’t have to worry about us. We’ve been out in that forest many times, not to mention that we’ve been to the castle. Even if there is a Pony of Shadows, which I doubt, I can tootally handle it.” Soul jumped and pushed Rainbow Dash away from him, keeping his eyes on both mares and stepping back from the group. ‘’Let’s maintain distance! Anyways, I wasn’t gonna start babying adult mares, but that’s not exactly what I was thinking,’’ he said as he glared, keeping a hoof extended and moving it around him indicate his space. Noble was relieved to hear this, breathing a sigh of relief but still, the whole Shadow Pony story had already become engraved into his mind. “Um, sorry to barge in, but Applejack, where did Granny Smith hear this story?” Applejack shrugged and scratched her head under her hat. “Good question. I would tell ya if I knew. When I asked her when she told Applebloom she couldn’t remember ah lick ah how she heard it.” “I see…” said Noble while he rested back, putting a hoof on his chin. He looked at the ground losing himself in thought. Applejack dipped her head to the side narrowing her eyes. “Why are ya asking?” Noble shook his head. “J-Just curious… and you have been fine in the forest?” He tapped his chin and whispered to himself. “Even we needed to remain cautious there.” Blinking, Rainbow frowned and scrunched up her face looking at AJ then looking back, her wings already spread to take off, but she brought them back in. “Umm, what?” Noble immediately snapped back, eyes wide. “Nothing!” he said and backed up, growing more tense. “Nothing… Just be safe. Sorry. I didn’t mean to doubt your abilities or annoy you with all these questions.” Rainbow took flight between the two stallions, she curved around and thumped Applejack forward a bit. “Alright… Well, sorry to cut it short but we’re kinda in a hurry. See ya around guys. Good luck with… well whatever you’re gonna do.” She looked at the bag on Noble’s shoulder. "Noble, take an advice from a fellow ‘stallion’, get a new bag," she said and laughed as she flew off down the trail. The stallion huffed and puffed out his cheeks glaring at the mare. He wanted to come up with some kind of insult but nothing came to mind. “Right.” Applejack glared at her friend who took off and gave Noble a pat on the shoulder before running after Rainbow. “Enjoy the weekend Noble, you did great for your first week!” “Wait!” Soul called stretching a hoof after the two, but they were already too focused on outdoing one another that they blazed down the trail. The unicorn groaned and let his head dangle off his shoulders like a wilted flower. “Right, okay then… All I was gonna tell you was that Rarity and Fluttershy were gonna go to the same castle, but okay...” Noble was still sunk deep in his thoughts, his breathing was heavier and more erratic as his eyes dodged around the area without seeing anything. “So…” Soul spoke with careful tone as he saw Noble’s behavior and gently placed a hoof on his shoulder, dragging him back into the moment. “What do you know about that infamous Everfree Forest? It seems like it’s not that mysterious to you.” “Of course, I’ve been there… It’s like the black sheep of nature itself… Like that family member who always pulls pranks, rebels and acts of it's own accord. I still can’t believe it’s so close to the Apple farm; much less that I didn’t recognize it...” He frowned and knocked his hoof against the side of his head harshly, groaning as he did. “Wait, Rarity said they were going to a castle. Did she mean… the same castle those two are going to?” Soul rolled his eyes and shook his head, he was used to this but it didn’t make it any less frustrating from time to time. “Yeah... She got commissioned to retrieve and restore some old tapestries from there.” Noble’s heart jumped in his chest and began to pound like crazy again as he started shaking involuntary. “How in Equestria is a sophisticated fashion designer and a frightened pegasus supposed make it there?!” Shrugging the unicorn replied, “Come on, all of them are the elements of harmony. And you heard Rainbow, if she and Applejack have been in that forest before, I have a feeling Rarity and Fluttershy have too. And if they didn’t know how to handle themselves, well, we wouldn’t even be talking about them right now, yet alone be in Ponyville.” Noble’s eyes grew wider and his mouth hung open. He closed it and looked back at the farm with a cool concentrated but worried look. ‘’What?! They are elements of harmony too?!’’ He couldn’t help but think about how close all of them were in this small, little known town. “Oh, right. You didn’t know…” Soul said, scratching his face with a narrow grin. “Make sure I tell you everything at some point.” Noble shook his head. “Yeah, i didn’t...” He slowly sat down, closing his eyes with a hoof on his chest and took a few frequent breaths and moved to deeper ones in order to calm himself down. After a short moment the shaking started to reduce and his heartrate went back to normal. He took one final breath and turned to look at Soul with eyes wide glistened over eyes that captured the worry in his heart. “No need to have a heart attack over it,” Soul said with a laugh though gave a light pat on Noble’s shoulder with a gentle smile. He then tilted his head at the path, already taking steps forward. “Well, let’s go. Buffet awaits.” The earth pony didn’t move, he stared blankly ahead and in the last second turned his head slightly and slid his eyes, looking at Soul. “Wait, do you think we should… go and take this bag to Rarity instead and at least warn them about the Shadow Pony?” Soul immediately stopped and turned to face his friend, rising an eyebrow. He just looked at him for a moment before speaking. “You think the Shadow Pony is real?” “I-I don’t know, I mean it’s not like I’ve ever been in that castle. And I feel like a story like that would be more common knowledge than just a campfire story… Or even if it was just a common campfire story, it’s odd that neither of us have heard of it before now. But still, don’t you think we should go warn them at least? I mean, even if there is no Shadow Pony, we could still warn them to be careful if it’s falling apart, how old would this thing be?” Noble’s face was long and his hooves were clenched together to beg. Soul shrugged and sighed. ‘’Look, I understand your concern and I am open minded, but I’m quite positive they can handle themselves and know to be careful.. Let’s simply go and leave a note on Rarity’s door about that bag and go home. Or… yeah, leave it here.” He turned to look at the eerie forest with a frown. ”Besides, we have no idea how to navigate there, we’ll get lost for sure.” “How can you be so sure? The Everfree forest is legendary for it’s danger. There are stories about ponies that have gone in time and time again and one time, they just don’t come back.” Noble’s eyes dilate as he realized what he said. “You know this isn’t helping your case. How would we even find them?” Soul huffed. “Okay, maybe I overstated that, but…” He turned and rummaged a hoof through his saddlebags and pulled out a small compass that he opened and showed Soul. “I have a compass.” Soul’s face flattened and he silently stared at his friend. “How in equestria is that gonna help us? Even if we find them, don’t you think it will be a little pointless? I mean, I know I can do a lot more with my night and I'm sure you could too.” Closing up and putting the compass away quickly Noble kept his chin up, smilingly slightly slightly and gently nudged Soul. “Come on, I’m sure we can figure this out. It’s like tracking animals. It’s… not that difficult.” “Wait, you can track?” The unicorn tilted his head to the side and blinked a few times. Noble scrapped his hoof against the ground and looked down and to the right, his lips curled upwards and the air in his throat grew dense. He let out a puff of air through his nose. “Maaaybe…” It took a moment for Soul but eventually he snapped to attention. “Oh right….!” He gave a deep sigh and bowed his head. “You really want to go, don’t you?” Noble nodded, he tightened his bags securing everything and took a few steps down the trail. “Why don’t you want to?” Soul looked up at the sky then lead his eyes down to Noble. “I want sushi.” Noble immediately tensed up and looked at the stallion with wide eyes, he stepped closer and put a hoof on Soul’s shoulder. “Soul, please. I know I’m asking a lot of you to go out there with me to check on them, but there is power in numbers. If you come with me now I will leave you alone for an entire work day in the future.” Soul sighs and stops to think, rubbing his head and peering blankly ahead. There was a long pause as Noble twisted his lips, he bit his bottom lip every so often but finally couldn’t wait and broke the silence. “You know…” Soul turned to Noble, his ears alert and twitched. A slender but extremely sly smile slowly started crossing Noble’s face and he chuckled even though his body twitched and tensed up. ‘’It’s actually quite fine, I understand, you don’t want to go. You’d rather stay here and relax with me.” Then, without warning, he moved closer to Soul and draped a hoof over the stallion’s shoulders, pulling him close. “Noble, what the---?” Soul jerked back to no avail; he was hooked by Noble and could only remain tense and pull his head away, he felt like even his tail was standing up straight. Noble put his other hoof over Soul’s mouth and giggled. ‘’Shhh. Forget about them, they can have their adventure. We finally have a chance to be all alone.’’ Noble said with a tender, wavy tone in his voice. He leaned in and whispered softly with warm breath into Soul’s ear, ‘’We can have our own adventure; Alone. You don’t need to be bashful around me, my darling Soul.’’ “NOW YOU ARE GETTING WAY OVER THE LINE!” Soul immediately slipped away from under Noble’s hoof and took a huge leap away from him with such force that he fell over on his back with a terrified gasp. His eyes were cracked wide open and he was gnashing his teeth like being in frost. Noble’s sudden, approach left Soul dazed and confused, laying on his back on the ground. ‘’Fine! Let’s go find them! SHEESH!’’ he said his voice trembling, cold waves sweeping through his entire body as he pulled himself to his hooves and brushed himself off keeping out of a two leg distance of Noble. “Aww, you don’t want to spend an evening alone with me anymore? ’’ Noble winked and gave an exaggerated skip to his trot, the air he felt in his throat felt like it could burst. ‘’NOBLE!’’ The earth pony collapsed on the ground bursting into hysterical, tear filled laugh and held his sides, almost unable to breath. ‘’I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I promise I’ll stop now!” He was almost bawling as he clenched his aching sides, he could barely speak as he gasped for air. “I-It was just too good to pass up!’ Soul sighed and puffed out his cheeks. He didn’t care for Noble’s trick but broke a smile at the sight of the earth pony laughing on the ground, he got in a few chuckles as well and waited as Noble laid in a state of hysteria for over five minutes. This was the first time in a long time that Soul had seen Noble look this happy and there was no way he was going to cut it off early. Once the bust of the joke was over and Noble simply caught his breath Soul moved closer and looked down. ‘’Good, then lead the way.’” With heavy breath Noble got to his feet, readjusting his bags while ensuring he didn’t drop anything he he declared himself ready. “Yes, I will.” He nodded to Soul getting by his side on the trail “Sorry, I promise I’ll never do that again.” His voice flexed a little with his last statement as his tail twitched and he smiled looking off away from Soul and spoke softly under his breath. “Unless the situation calls for it.” Soul’s ears perked up as he heard a mummer. “Wait what was that? Noble!” The earth pony began at a slow trot moving ahead and chuckled taking off in a gallop, Soul quickly following behind him. Even as they ran Noble looked ahead as the sun cast glints of red and orange over the ground with growing shadows from the trees.
