Building Ponies

Thistle had never seen the herd so excited. Chains of flowers were strung between huts. Ponies with crafts were working day and night to make things to show off and trade at the festival. Summer Showers was showing a new kind of woven basket with darker reeds showing pictures along the sides, like ponies or trees or mountains. Clay and Pebble were burning the kiln non-stop. Brown Branch and Morning built new carts.

As the day of the festival crept closer more preparations appeared. Ponies began wearing beads in their manes and tails. Mimic and Melody practiced their music. Thistle even heard a rumor they’d invited Emerald to sing with them. Some ponies dragged logs to the flat clearing that had been declared as the Festival space and split them, providing places for the food to be set out. There were hurdles set up and markers for some kind of race. By the willow tree somepony had marked three spots with circles for the fighting bouts.

And ponies were talking about it. It was just about all they were talking about.

“Are we going to show something at the Festival, Thistle?” Cam asked, stirring another pain relief potion over the fire.

“Medicine isn’t really shown off like that,” Thistle shook her head. “Besides, I’m not trading medicine for beads and I’m not looking for a student, as I’ve already got you. There’s no need to make a showing.”

“Sooo,” Cam cleared her throat nervously. “Since everypony is taking the day off, does that mean we get the day off too?”

“Unless there’s an emergency, yes.” Thistle chuckled. “We’ll both have plenty of time to enjoy the Festival.”

“Yes!” Cam pumped her hooves, momentarily forgetting that she was supposed to be stirring. She nearly lost the stirring stick in the pot and scrambled to get it before it fell all the way into the boiling liquid. “Uh, whoops? Eheheh.”

Thistle shook her head, amused. She ruffled Cam’s mane, still unbraided but tied back for the moment. Pretty soon Cam would start wearing braids, like all the older ponies.

First braids, now beads. What else would she introduce to the herd as a trend setter? Some days she honestly feared the answer.

She looked out the window and saw the light. It was well into the afternoon now. There should be time for one more errand before she sent Cam home.

“Cam, how’s the potion?” She asked.

“Nearly done, we can take it off the fire now.” Cam decided. She was better at judging when a potion was finished. Thistle had to rely on what she could see, smell, or taste. Cam just seemed to know. Was that her mark? Her magic?

“Let me,” She nudged the filly away from the fire. Her biggest pot had a thick branch worked through the upper lip. It jutted out for a hoof’s length from opposite sides and gave a place to grip to move it safely. A special commission from Clay after she’d grown tired of fighting her normal pots off the fire without spilling any precious medicine.

The pot was easier to move with two ponies, but Cam was too little to help her balance it properly so she did it on her own. Now they had to let it cool. Thistle would pour it into gourds later in the evening.

“Alright, grab your baskets, Cam. We’re going to go see Soft Touch.” She announced.

“Soft Touch? How come?” Cam did as she was told.

“Every so often I deliver a bushel of special herbs to Soft Touch. After we finish this errand you’ll be free to go home.” Thistle told her.

“Oh, okay. What kind of herbs do we give her?” Cam began eyeing the bundles tied to the ceiling.

“I’ve already got them packed up.” Thistle shouldered her own baskets.

“Aren’t you gonna tell me what they are?” Cam pouted.

“Cam, these herbs are special ones for Soft Touch. And she doesn’t want anypony to know what they are. It’s private.” She couldn’t exactly say they were contraceptive herbs. “One day, when you’re the herd’s healer, somepony will require help that they find embarrassing or personal, so they’ll ask you not to tell anypony else about them. It’s best to respect such wishes. After all, you wouldn’t want somepony spreading your secrets around, would you?”

“I guess not.” She pouted. “Then why am I coming with you?”

“Because I plan to ask Soft Touch if she minds you knowing, and if she says it’s okay then I’ll tell you about her medicine.” Thistle promised. “You can play outside with Pine Needle while I talk to Soft Touch.”

“Pine Needle’s nice!” Cam perked up. “Sometimes I wish Busy would act more like Pine does and listen to me.”

“You do, do you?” Thistle’s lips twitched. Now there was a colt who needed a firm hoof.

“I love him and all, but he’s so annoying!” She complained. “Mom told me he was so bad yesterday that he spent half the day on the stump.”

“Really?” Thistle raised a brow at that. Busy Bee was rambunctious and prone to misbehaving, but to be that naughty?

“Mama says they let him get away with it too long and now they’re not allowing it anymore so they have to teach him to do stuff the first time they say it.” Cam kept up a steady stream of words as they left the hut. “I’m glad I don’t have to foalsit him anymore. I don’t think I could make him stay on the stump for the whole punishment.”

“Sounds like I ought to be preparing headache remedies for your family.” She commented. “You remember how to make those?”

“Willow bark, steeped in water with flower petals for taste because otherwise its bitter. Steeping it in hot water makes it more effective.” Cam recited diligently.

“Good, can you tell me what else helps with headaches?” Thistle prodded her.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“I blame you for this.” Soft scowled as the healer walked in.

It sure took the good healer back. She actually froze in the doorway, one hoof still raised and eyes gone wide. Soft decided to put her out of her misery and gestured for her to get inside and shut the door.

“I don’t know how, but you’ve somehow led Shiny Rock to think I will be a good student for her. And I don’t have a good reason to refuse anymore!” She stood and turned her flank towards the healer.

“You got your mark!” Thistle gasped. She struggled to keep a straight face but Soft could see that smile from a mile away.

Some of the spite drained out of her.

“Yeah,” She groaned, flopping down onto her sleeping mat. “A little pyramid of stacked apples. Turns out my talent is counting stuff or whatever.”

“Not pleased?” Healer Thistle coughed awkwardly, setting her baskets down by the wall.

“Ugh!” Soft rubbed her temples. “It’s not that the job’s difficult or anything, but the festival is tomorrow and instead of doing whatever I want all day I now have to go see Shiny Rock first thing every morning.”

“What does Pine do when you’re at your lessons?” Healer Thistle asked, cocking one ear towards the window. Soft focused for a moment and could make out the sounds of a young filly laughing. Healer Thistle had brought her student then.

“Holds his spear and watches Water Shimmer, usually.” Soft shrugged.

It wasn’t…Okay, it probably wasn’t the best thing for him to be following her around all day. At home she could set him at the garden and he’d roam and romp their shared space, playing guard. She couldn’t take him into the forest anymore, not after Healer Thistle herself had been chased out. And the patrol groups wouldn’t allow foals to come with them, so likewise Soft had been staying away from patrols.

The garden only needed so much work and without the option of foraging or patrols Soft Touch had been feeling a little cooped up. Shiny Rock’s offer had come at the perfect time and, against her better judgement, Soft Touch had agreed to it.

It probably wasn’t healthy for a young colt to follow his sister around everyday. He should’ve been running around with his friends, watching the patrol ponies, trying to find his Magic Mark.

Not trying to stand guard over his big sister.

“Soft Touch?” She’d been quiet too long, now Healer Thistle had that dopey concerned look on her face.

But…well, Healer Thistle was genuinely the only pony she could talk to about this. Keeping herself to herself kind of limited her options for advice and Current wasn’t much of a talker.

“Healer,” She settled her shoulders. “Am I restricting Pine too much?”

The healer’s eyes darted to the window. The foals were playing outside now, Soft could hear their hoofbeats. They’d better not run into the garden.

“…He thinks he needs to protect you.” Healer Thistle sighed, sitting down. “I do believe he’ll make a good patrol pony someday, how can he not with all the practice he does now? But it stems from not being able to protect you.”

“And I don’t want anything happening to him either, so I keep him close to home even though he’s at that age where colts should be running wild and free and getting into trouble.” Soft groaned.

“You could try leaving him with Holly Berry during the day,” She offered. “At the very least he may meet some friends. And Holly and Light can keep him out of trouble.”

“Eeerrggghhh, but they watch so many foals,” She argued. “How can they keep track of all of them?”

Healer Thistle didn’t respond immediately. It was one of the things Soft Touch liked about her, she always thought before she said anything. As a result she very rarely said anything stupid.

“To be honest, I have no idea.” She also wasn’t a liar. Much better than those simpering mares who talked about her behind her back.

“There are days when Sapphire Cut, the blue unicorn mare,” She described, knowing that Soft didn’t get out much and certainly didn’t talk to anypony. The description was appreciated. “She helps out with the foals. More often now that her pregnancy is making it difficult to work in the fields. Emerald, the other unicorn mare, helps out occasionally but I don’t think she really enjoys it.”

“He’d be in the village, and if he’s so set on guarding somepony, then you could probably just tell him to help guard the foals.” Huh, now there was an idea.

“Think he’d go for that?” She wrinkled her nose. Foals were…Not something she’d ever have now, not if they required a stallion’s touch.

But once upon a time, Soft Touch had looked forward to having a family again.

“I think so,” Healer Thistle looked thoughtful for a second. “And I’m sorry, Soft Touch, but there was something I wanted to talk to you about and I don’t want to keep Cam long.”

“Yeah?” She raised one of her eyebrows.

“I brought Cam today to ask for your permission to tell her the truth about your condition.” She explained.

Her tails lashed. Her instinctive reaction was to refuse and refuse hard. Curses might be involved. Bucking might be involved.

Mares were supposed to, to want to, have foals. So the Herd could grow stronger. To be able to and not? There were easier ways to make herself an outcast. It was bad enough when they pitied her but to be actively turned against would break her.

Her and Pine Needle. He’d feel the sting by association. No mare would want to Follow him, he’d end up as alone and bitter as she was.

Soft didn’t want that for him. She could handle it, she worked hard for that reputation, for the strength to be able to look stallions in the eye without flinching.

Pine didn’t need that.

Healer Thistle was watching her reactions. There was a voice in the back of Soft’s head that told her to pick up the nearest pot and fling it at her head. Soft told that voice to go buck itself.

Healer Thistle wasn’t like the vipers that masqueraded as the herd’s gossip mongers. She was kind and thoughtful and always wanted to help. It was amazing a pony like Healer Thistle even existed!

She wouldn’t throw Soft Touch to the wolves like that.

“Can she keep a secret?” She made herself ask.

“Yes.” No pause, no hesitation.

“Why do you want her to know anyway? Can’t you just keep doing it?” She glared.

“I could,” Healer Thistle nodded, though one hoof began to rub her stomach. “But as time goes on I’m going to get more busy. In two years I’ll be Lead Mare.”

A year to have the foal, a year to raise it. Ponies were probably making notches on sticks to count down the days.

“And the herd is only growing bigger. I have a hard time keeping up with everything as it is, so it would be helpful if I could delegate some tasks to Cam instead.” She considered. “Things like delivering herbs and medicines without worrying she’s going to discover what’s inside them, and she would discover it sooner or later. I haven’t gotten to that part yet, but we’ll be covering foaling pretty soon.”

“Yegh,” She stuck out her tongue. Healer Thistle did crack a small smile at her expression though.

Soft Touch thought for a moment. Well, it was more like stalling if she was honest with herself. She knew Healer Thistle took time out of her busy day every week to bring her those herbs. Herbs Soft Touch would be glad to grow in her garden if it wouldn’t draw questions. And Healer Thistle had never complained about it. Complained about Soft making fun of everypony’s perspective, but not the task itself.

For three years. Just helping Soft keep her body from going into heat. Helping her perpetuate the illusion that her rape had somehow damaged her, made her barren.

After everything Healer Thistle had done for her, couldn’t Soft do just one thing to make her life a little easier?

“Ugh, fine!” She barked. “But she’d better not breathe a word of this to anypony.” She bit her lip to keep from adding Or I’ll hold you personally responsible. Healer Thistle would hold herself responsible regardless.

“Thank you,” Stupid, dumb dopey smile.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“AND IF I EVER CATCH ANY OF YOU DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN I WILL PERSONALLY ESCORT YOU TO THE ENDLESS PASTURES MYSELF!” Pink finished off the tirade by rearing up and slamming her hooves down. The three ponies in front of her were doing their absolute best to appear small and harmless.

They had, possibly because they were inbred morons, decided it would be fun to lay a log on a finished portion of the wall and then roll it towards an unfinished part just to watch it crash down.

Crash and ruin a WEEK’S WORTH OF PROGRESS ON THAT SECTION!

“What made you think that would be a good idea?” She growled. Please, Sun and Moon, let there be some sort of rationale behind this. She could accept a week’s delay if there was something innovative behind it!

“We just…” The mare of the group shrunk back. “thought it would look cool and get it to the festival grounds faster.”

“YOU THOUGHT--!” Pink physically restrained herself from pouncing. These were still her workers. She couldn’t afford to banish them to patrols or the fields. As much as she might want to.

“It kinda worked,” The stallion on the left offered weakly. “It just, um, kinda broke that part of the wall there. But it landed in the festival grounds so that’s good!”

“And what if somepony had still been working in that section?” The section closest to the lake. They started the earliest and thus went home the earliest. Thank Mother Earth for small favors, no pony had been hurt.

This time.

“I don’t want to hear another word out of the three of you!” She stomped her hoof when they looked like they would open their mouths. “The festival is tomorrow, but the day after? I want you three here bright and early to fix this mess. And that will be all you’re doing. No patrol, no field work, not until you’ve fixed what you broke and made up for the time lost.”

“What!?” They protested. The stallion on the right recovered faster. “But Pink Peach, we’ve got responsibilities! Marsh Steps is expecting me back in the fields the day after tomorrow!”

“Not anymore she isn’t, I’m going to go and inform Marsh Steps and Lead Rockslide of what you three did here.” She saw them blanch. Good.

“And if the three of you complain about fixing WHAT YOU BROKE,” She paused to give her throat a small rest. “Then I will expand that punishment. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma’am!” They stood to attention.

“Good, now the only reason I’m not having you start now is because it’s getting dark and I don’t trust you three idiots with a fire, so go.” She pointed back at the village. “And if I were you? I’d stay out of my way tomorrow because I will not be in the mood for your foolishness.”

“Yes, ma’am.” They groaned, nodding.

Pink waited until they were gone to lean up against the wall. Her Wall. Her baby as much as the foal in her stomach was. And now it would take an extra week to build and she’d have to tell everypony in the council why she was late.

She’d known it would be impossible to finish before the Pegasus arrived, but so much progress had been made that she’d started getting hopeful about getting it done by mid-winter.

With an ache in her throat and a throbbing in her head, Pink turned towards Lead True’s hut for the meeting.

“Pink Peach, we were starting to get concerned.” Lead True welcomed her with an arched brow.

“My apologies, my Leads,” She settled into her place. It felt good to sit down after a long day. “Some…Some…Someponies with the brains Mother Earth didn’t give to fleas, decided today was a wonderful day to demonstrate how awful it would be to allow them to procreate!”

“My, oh my,” Woodpecker tutted. “Whatever did they do to so earn your ire, dear sister?”

She told them.

“I see,” Shiny Rock’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, that would be quite vexing wouldn’t it? And how did you respond to this?”

“I gave them a good tongue lashing and then I told them that until I was satisfied they’d made up the difference, they’d be doing nothing but construction work.” She informed them. “Oh yeah, and Lead Rockslide? The ponies involved are Grass Bluff, Steep Hill, and Round Rock. If they try to go on patrol, can you turn them away? I’m going to go to Marsh Steps and ask the same thing.”

Rockslide nodded seriously. At least that was one thing done. She’d have to hunt down Marsh Steps tomorrow, during the festival.

“They’re lucky work was finished for the day,” She sighed, letting Thistle shuffle closer to nuzzle. “If that log or those rocks had landed on somepony,” She didn’t finish the thought.

Ponies died and sometimes there was nothing that anypony could do about it. But by the light of Sun and Moon that didn’t mean they had to die from stupidity!

“I’m glad there’s not going to be any work tomorrow because I need a break.” She decided. Ugh, she felt way too tired and sore for a normal day’s work.

“How are preparations for tomorrow?” Lead True asked Shiny.

“Good, everything’s well in hoof.” She answered tiredly. “Soft Touch has been a good help and she’s absolutely ruthless when it comes to ponies trying to wheedle extra food out of her.” She sounded approving.

Pink would almost like to see somepony try that on Soft Touch. She’d especially like to see how far Soft Touch could buck them away after they annoyed her. What was the record now? Ten, eleven body lengths?

“She showed me her mark today.” Thistle mentioned, straightening up now. “A pyramid of apples.”

“The same talent as mine, but a different image.” Shiny nodded curiously. “Curious, isn’t it? I don’t believe I’ve seen any marks repeating, even in ponies of similar talents.”

They all took a moment to think of the marks they knew. There was her little pyramid of rocks, Onyx’s stairs, nopony else had a building mark.

Even ponies with similar looking marks had different talents. Thistle and Light both had stars, but Thistle healed and Light told stories. Apple Blossom had apple slices and Lucky Streak had an apple falling into a basket, but her talent was actually working with apples and his was being lucky.

“Something to ponder, but perhaps we should get back to our discussion?” Lead True cleared her throat.