PART(ie) Hard

Celestia sits in an old chair, hands gripping a small box that sits on her lap and her colorful hair covering one eye while the other stares straight ahead. She is sure her white and gold dress has become stained from sitting on the chair, and right now she is surprised that the chair has not snapped. Or that she has not fallen through the floor. Or that the roof has not been ripped off from the wind. She is also surprised that none of the three girls has tried to brutally murder her.

Next to her, counting and sorting a variety of colorful pills with a pick axe next to her, is Maud Pie. Her grayish violet hair is straight, stiff, and peppered with grains of stone, and her gray-blue frock is stained with mud like her steel toed boots, and a rock pouch is tied to her belt. Next to Maud's impressive display of pills are a pair of gloves with metal plates and spikes on the knuckles.

Directly across from Maud is her younger sister, Marble. Her dark gray hair is tied into a bun and covered by a white prayer cap, unlike Maud's who's free flowing hair barely reaches her shoulders. The dark dress she is wearing reaches her ankles, with a white apron tied around her body and in front of her is a leather-bound book. She has yet to look away from it. Also, unlike Maud, she does not appear to have a weapon or tool nearby, but that lone fork next to her book is a head scratcher.

Lastly, sitting directly in front of Celestia from her seat across the table with a fat pistol half an arm's length away is the oldest and most terrifying of the daughters: Limestone Pie. Her light gray hair is cut short and spiked up, her black shirt with the pick axe and wreath of the Rock Town Police Department stamped above the heart is tight on her. Tight enough that it outlines her muscles, squeezes her chest and show the bulges of her bra straps. The heavy duty utilities pants and black combat boots seem fitting for her, as do the crazy eyes she has, but while Celestia remains calm on the outside, inside she is looking for a reason to justly incinerate this particular girl.

“-And that criminal thought he could get away with it, so I smashed his face in the brick wall. His girlfriend was uncooperative, too, so I pistol whipped her right in the mouth,” says Limestone. "Those wimps needed an ambulance and now they are suing the PD for police brutality. And you know what, that is the problem with these snowflakes. They think they can break the rules and get away with it, and when we enforce the rules they cry to the courts like a bunch of cry babies!"

Limestone finishes by slamming her fist on the table, scaring a squeak out of Marble. Maud -much to Celestia's surprise- has not faltered in her robotic motions of pill organization.

“Your method was excessive for a parking ticket,” says Maud.

“The department said the same thing, so now I got IA up my ass and I got to 'justify myself' or something,” says Limestone. She then points at Celestia, sneering. “And what's your story? What's your business here?”

“My story is too long and it involves your father,” says Celestia.

“You aren't a call girl, are you?”

Marble gasps and looks at Limestone, whispering her name in a failed attempt at chiding, but Celestia keeps an even face.

“No. I'm the Principal of the Royal Canterlot Academy,” says Celestia.

Limestone grunts and digs into her pocket to pull out a jerky stick. “Right. Okay. With that chest of yours and your open dress, you had me fooled for a high wage slut.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” says Celestia, her lips hooked to a small frown. She does take a quick peek at her own chest, though. Limestone is a bit exaggerating on the openness of the V-cut of her dress, and she doesn't think that her chest is that big. Or big at all. Normal comes to mind.

Luckily for her, the continuation of the potentially awkward conversation is averted when the door opens up and Cloudy Quartz and Igneous walk in. The former is carrying groceries and the latter is carrying mail, and both stop in their tracks and stare at Celestia in a surprised and unkind manner when they see her. In turn, she smiles and stands up, keeping the box held tight.

“Good evening,” says Celestia.

“Oh, goodness, this is unexpected! What a pleasant surprise seeing you here,” says Cloudy Quartz, her face that of shock. “Hath we'd known of your visit we would have brought more food.”

“I won't be here long. I just wanted to have a quick word with your husband about Pinkamena.”

“Does it have anything to do with the troubles at the pier a few weeks back?” asks Igneous, his tone as unkind as his venomous stare.

Celestia shakes her head. “No. Is there somewhere private we can talk?”

Igneous nods and motions Celestia to follow him, and as the two pass Limestone, he grumbles and shakes his head. She returns the sentiment with a scoff and plucks her long-sleeve uniform shirt from the back of the chair and slips it on with one fluid motion.

“I'm going to work,” says Limestone while buttoning up her shirt.

“May I pray for your safety?” says Cloudy Quartz.

Limestone sighs and reluctantly nods. “Fine.”

Celestia does not hear the prayer, though. She only sees Cloudy Quartz putting her hands on Limestone's shoulder and forehead before she enters a room with a couple of chairs, a small desk, a bookshelf and a space heater. On the desk is a stack of books, pencils, and a small box. Not a piece of advanced technology or a photo is found.

“You have certainly gotten bland, Tungsten,” teases Celestia.

“Don't call me that,” says Igenous. “Now, pray tell, what words doth thou bring about Pinkamena? It must be serious if thou art here and not a message."

“I would call you, but you don't have a phone. Or a computer.”

“Pen and paper work just fine. But since thou art here, tell me, is Pinkamena well? I hath not heard from her in months.”

“Your daughter is fine, but something interesting developed during a training session.”

“What is it?”

“Pinkamena is a Warper.”

Igneous remains calm, barely a fluctuation in his features, and Celestia studies Igneous, trying to decipher his neutral expression.

“She is a late bloomer, but there is no denying that she is one. It would explain how she was able to gut that store in one blast,” says Celestia. “On that note, there was only one Warper that I knew about.”

Igneous holds up his hand. “Before you ask, it is yes. I hath known about my wife and Star Swirl's adultery. I know Pinkamena is not of my seed, but that hinders not my love of her or my wife.”

Celestia scrunches her brows and steps forward, meeting his eyes with mild condemnation.

“So you knew about the chances of her being a Warper and you didn't tell me?” says Celestia.

“Why should I?” says Igneous. “Our obligations to each other ended a long time ago.”

“You know how dangerous Warpers can be.”

“I am aware of what I know.”

“Then why didn't you tell me?”

Igneous' lips curl to a frown and he steps back, motioning to the humble objects of his study.

“Doth thou see any signs of me wanting to remain in contact with anybody?” says Igneous. “I hath spent a very long time trying to erode the past, to erode the memories of the Academy, CSTL. You. Yet, thou hath shown up after all these years the minute my daughter unleashes some of her power and you threaten her and my family with choices that we cannot win under the guise of good will. Then you lecture me on secrecy?”

“I had no choice," says Celestia. "Pinkamena is dangerous and the prison would have only made things worse. With this path we can at least help her hone her abilities so she is not blowing up everything.”

Igenous shakes his head. “There must be an alternate reason for this. What is coming, Celestia? What reasons doth thou have for recruiting Pinkamena?”

“You should have told me that Pinkamena was Star Swirl's, not yours.”

Igneous clenches his fists. “Do not evade thy question! You hath gotten what thou desired for many years and even on our last encounter thou still had your show. I still played dumb for thee whenst thou stole Pinkamena from me. Now thou shall speaketh only truth! No deception! What doth thou want with my daughter? What is coming to where you would risk training a Warper?”

Celestia swallows ad grips the box tighter to keep her shakes hidden. “I'm not sure who they are, but they are pure evil without doubt and I believe whoever they are, they are connected to us from our time as Team CSTL. Specifically the raid on Midnight Castle.”

Igneous's stiff body gets tighter and his red face pales. “What do you mean?”

Celestia opens the box and holds up the burnt plane. “Star Swirl survived.”