Building Ponies

“Have I mentioned how much I am not looking forward to this?” Pink groaned as came to a likely outcropping of Gem Mountain. There was more than enough loose stone for them to cart away. They were jagged and much larger than the smooth gully stones.

“None of us are looking forward to this, Pink.” Puck pulled his sledge to a pile of rock. “Everypony keep close and keep your eyes peeled for anything odd.”

“Do misshapen blobs count?” Light smirked, prying at a large stone.

“Okay, everypony but Light keep your eyes peeled.” Puck amended. “You didn’t have to come with us, you know.”

“A chance for the four of us to spend time together, even with the addition of my sister’s stallion?” Light lifted a brow. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“I saw enough of him to last a lifetime when we lived together.” Pink muttered, hopefully quiet enough that Woodpecker, who’d pulled up to the cliff wall, wouldn’t hear.

“Pink,” Thistle scolded lightly. She would’ve liked for the four of them to spend quality time together, but she’d decided to give Woodpecker a chance. They were learning to work together and part of that was actually working together. Woodpecker didn’t know anything of healing and Thistle had never raised a spear against another living creature. This was their first joint task.

Well, the others weren’t likely to include him without some prodding by her. Thistle sighed and pulled her sledge up next to his.

“Pulling these is not going to be easy.” He commented as she unhitched herself.

“I know, but hopefully seeing me pulling some will inspire others to do so as well.” She dug a large stone free and laboriously moved it onto the sledge.

“Are the rumors true? That some monster was spotted on this mountain in our first year and that’s why few ponies come this way?” Woodpecker asked her.

“Pucker Thorn was the first to explore this part of the valley. While he was here, he found footprints.” She started explaining. “Big ones, big enough to trod on a stallion, and belonging to some kind of reptile. There were also chunks of gems, like the ones Starlight has in her hut.”

“Many a mare on the patrol team has wished for such a collection.” Woodpecker nodded along. “What do gems have to do with a monster though?”

“Some of those gems had bite marks in them.” She remembered the sapphire sitting in a basket at home. The one that had been half-eaten she’d kept. The other two gems she’d given to Cam for her games.

“Nothing else was ever found though. No new tracks, no newly bitten gems, the monster left just before we arrived and hasn’t come back.” She wiped her brow, wishing she’d thought to tie her mane up before leaving the village.

“Huh,” He hummed.

For a while they didn’t say anything else. Everypony worked on filling up their sledges without making them heavy enough to break or too heavy to pull. When the last sledge was filled, the five of them sat down for lunch.

“Even with five sledges of stone it’s not going to be anywhere near enough for the wall.” Pink moaned. “In fact, this isn’t even enough for the foundation.”

“Are you sure you’ll be able to build it before the end of summer?” Thistle asked with concern.

“Materials aren’t going to be an issue,” Pink waved her hoof around at all the rocks. “It’s the horse power. Namely, the lack of it. Building their own homes, sure, but try getting them to help me build anything else and everypony suddenly has a million other things to do.”

“We are spreading the word that the wall will protect us from timberwolves, right?” Thistle checked.

“But very few of the beasts have actually chased ponies far beyond the trees.” Woodpecker pointed out. “While nopony will protest the protection, not very many of them will see it as necessary. Everypony knows timberwolves hate leaving the forest.”

Thistle couldn’t think of anything to refute that. Ponies liked the idea of a wall but rocks were heavy and it was a long walk back to the village.

“Hey, Puck, what’s on your mind?” Pink nudged her mate.

“Hm?” Puck pulled himself back to the present.

“You were pretty deep in thought there. Did you get lost?” Pink teased him.

“Ha, ha.” He shoved her. “I’ve just been thinking about the gem-eater. There’s still gems here so why didn’t it ever come back?”

“Who knows?” Pink shrugged. “Just count it as a good thing. Just because the thing eats gems doesn’t mean it won’t step on us too.”

“I wonder where it went.” Light mused. “Did it go looking for another of its kind? More food? While we know it ate gems we don’t know if that’s all it ate.”

“I don’t want to think of something that big being carnivorous, Light.” Pink shuddered. “Why can’t you guys just be happy its gone?”

“I honestly can’t think of a single way we could defend against a monster of the size you describe.” Woodpecker admitted, looking disturbed.

“Ugh, you guys sound like foals. Thistle, back me up on this.” She groaned.

“If it really is a reptile then we should aim for the underbelly. The scales are weaker there. Eyes too.” Thistle presented her wisdom with a laugh. “And most reptiles don’t come out in winter.”

Pink’s groan was even louder this time. She dropped to the ground and placed her hooves over her ears as they continued to laugh. Even Woodpecker was amused, laughing with the rest of them.

“Hellooo?”

Thistle’s ears went straight up.

“Did anypony else hear that?” She climbed to her hooves, ears swiveling this way and that.

“Hellooo?” Everypony else sat up. That voice was coming from the wrong direction to be from the village.

“Hello? Who’s there?” Thistle shouted, walking slowly towards the voice.

“Answer if you can hear us!” Woodpecker bellowed, much louder than she could manage.

“Thank Sun and Moon, other ponies!” They stared as three ponies came into view. They were a little higher up on the path coming from the other side of the mountain.

Another herd had found them? They weren’t flying so these weren’t the Pegasus.

“Pink, would you be our representative?” She turned to her cousin.

“Fine by me.” Pink smiled. She started walking forward to meet the Other ponies. Thistle waited to see who they’d send forward. It looked like two mares and a young stallion, or perhaps a colt. If they were scared or aggressive it would be the stallion.

All three walked forward to meet Pink Peach.

“Thistle,” Puck dragged his hoof in the dirt. “I don’t like this.”

“Wait,” She put a hoof on his shoulder, not daring to tear her eyes from the strangers. Pink had stopped short when they’d all moved, looking over her shoulder tentatively. She turned to face forward again and they could see the stallion say something but not hear what was said. It must’ve been friendly, because Pink looked at them again and waved them forward.

“This is our next Lead Mare, Thistle Burr, and her sister, Dim Light. That’s my brother, Woodpecker, and my stallion Pucker Thorn.” She introduced them. “Everypony, these are unicorns.”

Unicorns. Thistle’s eyes widened. Enduring’s stories came back to her. The stallion was the same size as Pink. The mares were more Light’s size, putting them at Thistle’s chin. The horns that spiraled from their heads matched their coat colors and was around four to five inches long.

“Future Lead Mare,” The stallion bowed his head respectfully. “I am Onyx and these are my mares, Sapphire Cut and Emerald Daze. I humbly beg you allow us to run with your herd.”

“You wish to join our herd?” Thistle blinked. “Where is the rest of yours? Are you scouts?”

“Neigh, Future Lead Mare,” He shook his head. “We are alone. Our herd is many days north of here and heading west now.”

Something inside unclenched now that she knew it wasn’t a monster attack. She looked them over again with a more careful eye.

Onyx was a black stallion with equally dark eyes. His mane was a fine silver. He barely met her eyes at his full height. Sapphire Cut, she thought, was the blue mare with an acorn brown mane. Emerald Daze had a soft white coat and rich green mane. None were obviously injured but Sapphire was heavily pregnant and all looked like they’d had a rough few days of travel. Their legs were caked with dust and their manes were tangled.

“Very well,” She reached for the words True Blue would use. “If you speak honestly, then we will be glad to have you in our herd.”

“Pink, run back and let the Leads know about this.” She ordered.

“Got it!” Pink saluted. She started to trot but stalled by the sledges. “Uh, what about mine?”

“I’m sure one of these ponies can help pull it.” Thistle assured her.

“Pull? These things?” Onyx looked dubiously at the sledges. “Why ever would you be pulling rocks behind you?”

“They’re to be used as material for a building project.” Light answered vaguely.

“What?” They all stared in confusion.

“You’ll see when we get back to the rest of the herd.” Thistle promised. “Now, are you strong enough to pull one of these? We can fix the rope to allow two ponies to be hitched instead.”

Onyx insisted he could pull it on his own. To his credit, he could but not all the way. At the bottom of the path he nearly collapsed. The gravity of walking downward had helped immensely and without it he couldn’t get the sledge to budge. Puck worked the lines until Sapphire and Daze could be hitched together. Even so, it took them a little time to work out how to move in sync and they were starting to flag when they reached the edge of the graveyard.

“I don’t think they’ll be able to get it to the village.” Puck whispered with regret. “Are they sickly? Light’s their size and she doesn’t have any trouble.”

“I think unicorns are just naturally smaller than us. They’re all adults.” Thistle looked back to make sure the two mares were still following. The graveyard was only a few minutes from the village. “That’s far enough, you two! We can leave the sledges here.”

“Thank pant Stars!” Sapphire whimpered, dropping to her knees. “I thought pant I was going pant to die!”

“Stop complaining!” Onyx snapped. “Those mares pulled theirs along without any complaint!”

“We are also bigger and more accustomed to this work.” Thistle reminded him. “Take a moment to catch your breaths, then we’ll continue without the sledges. Somepony will come get them later.”

“Where are we?” Daze hadn’t dropped to her knees, but she was trembling. She’d barely turned her head in order to look at the gravestones.

“The graveyard.” Thistle answered sadly. “This is where we bury our dead. Beneath every standing stone you see is a pony of our herd.”

“A monster attack?” Onyx asked gently. “I am sorry you lost so many.”

“We did not lose them all at once.” Thistle reassured him. “We have been living here for three years.”

She could see they didn’t understand. Well, their herd hadn’t settled down. They still ran through mountains and valleys, didn’t they? Theirs was still the only herd to have built a village.

“Come on, we’re not far now.” Puck encouraged them. “You’ll be able to see the village soon!”

“What’s a village?” Sapphire questioned him. Rather than answering, the four of them left their sledges and led the way.

The village slowly came into view.

“Welcome, to True Village.” Thistle smiled proudly.

It was like nothing he had ever seen before. Onyx had thought he knew what he was dealing with when he realized the group they’d stumbled across were Earth ponies. They had no horn, no wings, but they had strength and size aplenty. The stories he knew said the ground trembled when they ran.

He’d thought them timid when only one mare had dared step forward to meet them.

He’d thought them wise when they revealed themselves to be the honor guard of their future Lead Mare. A mare his size, he felt small under her gaze. Naturally one pony had stepped forward to see if they were hostile, while the rest lingered around her.

The stallions and the pink mare had spears, but these ones had stone tips that seemed more dangerous than the ones he’d seen before. They had blocks of wood too, strapped to one leg for a purpose he didn’t yet understand. The future Lead Mare and her sister had no weapons, but carried baskets.

The future Lead Mare herself had an acorn brown coat and a dark brown mane. Dull, plain colors, but she adorned herself with leaves and strips of bark braided into her mane and tail. Like the forest itself grew from her mane.

He couldn’t imagine what purpose they had for large rocks, though he marveled at the way they were conveyed. These sledges were quite a boon. He could imagine many ways they would be useful.

But why rocks?

The…graveyard…was a shock. They were lined up in neat rows. Twenty-two large rocks marking the place where a pony was buried. Some herds buried their dead, some didn’t, but he’d never known any to mark where the dead resided.

Yes, the graveyard was a shock, especially learning that these ponies had not died in a catastrophic monster attack but had actually died over the course of three years. Why would any herd stay in one place for so long?

And then they saw the village.

A village was a collection of…of shelters…made from stones stacked on top of each other. At the top of each shelter was some kind of covering, built in a smooth arc that must shed rainwater. One he could see had an opening covered by branches, thick ones, tied together and swinging open so a young filly could burst outside and play.

The biggest one was in the middle of the village. It was easily ten times the size of the other huts. It even stood half a length taller and a stony faced stallion of truly mammoth proportions stood guarding the entrance.

Ponies watched them as they grew nearer. Conversations stopped, hooves pointed. Had they ever seen unicorns before? Did they know what the Light-That-Wasn’t had done to them?

One shadow gray mare nearly walked into a wall because she was staring at them. His eyes were drawn by mistake to her flank. He looked away hurriedly, hoping nopony had noticed, but something about it struck him as…odd.

He looked again.

She had fire on her flank!

Not a true flame, he realized after a heart stopping moment. It gave no light and did not flicker. The mare didn’t look to be in pain at all.

There was a young stallion, again nearly his size. This one was clay brown and had a red mane. His flank had a mark too, but he didn’t recognize the object.

That pony had an apple. That pony had a tree. That pony had hoofprints.

Finally, he looked at the ponies leading them towards a structure near the biggest one. The stallions first. Woodpecker’s flank was bare, but Pucker Thorn had crossed spears on his. The mare named Dim Light had two hooves, sharing a star between them. The future Lead Mare Thistle Burr had a pony holding a star on an outstretched hoof.

Were they painted on? They must’ve had a skilled painter, the images looked so sharp and fine. Was it a symbol of status? Stars perhaps signifying a pony of higher status?

Another check and he saw that some ponies didn’t have the marks. The youngest foals and some of the older ones. The ones without were in the clear minority.

“This is the home of our Lead Mare, True Blue.” Thistle Burr informed them. The wooden branches were already open and fire flickered inside. Baskets and woven grasses covered the floor. A few of the strange objects he’d seen on that young stallion’s flank were there too. One of them held water.

He quickly refocused his attention on the Lead Mare. She was an aging mare with a sky blue coat and yellow mane. She had the same look on her face that her eldest daughter had, back when Thistle Burr had inspected them on the mountain. Between her hooves was a young filly with her coloring, save for the black mane. By her side was the stallion who must be her partner. He was nearly twice Onyx’s size, with an orange coat and black mane.

“Greetings, Lead Mare True Blue,” He bowed his head as deeply as he could. “I am Onyx and these are Sapphire Cut and Emerald Daze. We stumbled across your ponies while wandering in the mountains, and promptly asked if we would be allowed to run with you.”

“I have been informed,” She gracefully gestured to Pink Peach, who he now noticed was sitting back by the wall next to a piebald mare.

“…Pucker Thorn, Pink Peach, Light, would you please wait outside? It is a touch cramped in here. Take Bluebell with you.” She nudged her filly towards them. “Close the door on your way out, please.”

“Tell me, Onyx, what do you think of this village, from what you have seen?” She asked him.

“It is…impressive.” He searched for the right words. “I have never seen anything like it. Ponies staying in one place for years? And…” The foals.

How many had he seen just walking here? They’d stopped their playing to stare as they passed by. So many colts and fillies for one herd.

“I don’t understand how you can feed them all?” The words tumbled out of his mouth. Three years should have been more than enough time to strip the valley all but bare of edible things. That was why herds moved, so the land would have time to recover.

“You will, in time.” The Lead Mare chuckled. “Welcome to my herd, Onyx, Sapphire Cut, and Emerald Daze. So long as you abide by our laws, we shall care for you as our herdmates.”

“Thistle Burr,” She looked to her daughter. “It is only you and Light in your hut now, isn’t it? Please house these three until their own hut can be built.”

“Yes, Lead Mare.” He blinked curiously.

“I shall see the two of you at this evening’s meeting.” She sent them on their way.

“Come on,” Thistle urged them to follow her. “I’ll show you the way to my hut and then we’ll give you a tour of the village.”

“Your mother is most kind to accept us into her herd.” He told her gratefully.

Thistle Burr stopped and exchanged confused looks with her companions.

“…She isn’t my mother.” She informed him.

“Oh? Forgive me, your companion Pink Peach told me you were the next Lead Mare, and Lead Marehood passes from mother to daughter in our herd.” He explained, feeling the cursed heat of a blush stain his cheeks.

“Huh, really? What if the filly doesn’t want the job, or just isn’t good at it?” Pink asked. “Is it always the first filly or just any of the fillies, whichever one wants the job?”

“The first, traditionally.” He blinked, now trying to reorganize what he knew. “How is it done among Earth ponies?”

“To become Lead Mare, a mare must raise a foal past one year of age and gain the support of half the herd’s mares.” Woodpecker recited. “Thistle Burr is universally loved among the herd, so she has no competition for the title. Lead Mare True Blue has been grooming her for the role since before we settled in this valley.”

“This is my hut,” Thistle opened the door. Before walking in he noticed a plot of land with plants sprouting from cleared dirt. All the plants were growing in neat little rows. Some he recognized as edible and good for illness, others he couldn’t begin to name.

Thistle Burr’s hut smelled of herbs. Plants hung from the ceiling and walls. Others were bundled in baskets. The fire here was low and Light set about building it up.

“Please, have a seat. Are you hungry?” Thistle Burr looked between them.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.” He watched her pull up a section of the ground. It revealed a small cave that she ventured down into. A minute later she came back with a basket of food, passing it to the three of them. She dropped the wooden cover again and covered it back up with a leaf of woven fibers.

“Future Lead Mare, can you tell us what those things are?” Sapphire spoke up boldly.

“This is a mat.” She patted the woven fibers. “And that is a pot. These structures are called huts, the biggest one is the herd’s food storehouse.”

“And what of those marks so many of you have?” He asked the question that had been burning inside.

“They are magic marks.” He leaned forward eagerly. “They are a symbol of a pony’s truest talent, their purpose in life. Mine is for healing. Light’s is for storytelling.

“Mine is for construction!” Pink looked down at her own flank. “I was the one who invented these huts after all!”

“Mine is for weapons, making and using them.” Pucker ran a hoof over the stone edge of his spear.

“As far as we know, no other herd has magic marks. Thistle here,” Pink elbowed her jokingly. “Was the first pony to have one. Now almost everypony does!”

“Why do some ponies not have them then?” He looked to Woodpecker.

“It simply means that pony has not discovered their truest talent yet.” He shrugged, seeming unconcerned.

“Perhaps it would help you to hear our herd’s story?” Dim Light smiled, as gentle as any unicorn mare he’d ever met.

“It starts, of course, with a Light-That-Wasn’t.”

Thistle found herself awake an hour before dawn. If she didn’t look across the room it was easy to pretend it was her family there, Morning, Mountain, Hornet, Cam, Bee, and Brook. They’d had three days to get used to sleeping with just the two of them and suddenly they were almost as crowded as before.

Outside she could hear the songbirds greeting the new day. There’d be light enough to see by soon.

Sitting up, she shook the vestiges of sleep from her mind to plan out her day.

A walk in the forest was in order. There were a few herbs she wanted to try growing in her garden. Who would be free to join her?

Oh, but she had guests now.

After the story, they’d toured the village. The fields had stunned them into silence. The whole herd seemed eager to greet and welcome these strangers. Showing them everything their herd had accomplished since coming here.

Onyx had put himself nearest the door. Sapphire and Daze were curled together. Onyx had dominated most of the conversation yesterday.

What circumstances had cut these three off from their herd? It wasn’t quite as alien now to think of ponies traveling by themselves since Hope Springs did so to great effect, but most ponies didn’t have half of Hope Springs’ experience. These three didn’t even have spears. A horn required you to get awfully close to your opponent.

It was curious, to say the least. And that also made it suspicious.

But until they did something, until they in some way proved to be monsters, they were now herdmates. Hopefully, they’d all get along. Besides, it would be nice to hear about other herds. Light would love the chance to hear more stories too.

Pink needed help building the wall and while lugging the stones had proven to be beyond their abilities, surely they could help with the actual construction. The presence of the unicorns might even inspire more volunteers since yesterday’s plan hadn’t worked out.

So, meet up with Woodpecker to figure out today’s schedule first. Drop the unicorns off with Pink. Visit Soft Touch and Pine Needle. See who was free to walk through the forest with her. Evening meeting and then dinner.

Maybe she could see how her cousins were doing too, somewhere along the way.

Carefully avoiding Light’s body, she made her way out the door. In the pre-dawn light, Thistle yawned and walked to the trench dug for refuse. The smell woke her up enough to make her wish, again, that there was some way to make the waste disappear.

A quick trot back to the village brought her back in time to meet the other early risers. Some ponies were stumbling towards the trench, others were inspecting their gardens. One mare discovered a rabbit had gotten to her lettuce and was cursing loud enough to wake the occupants of the next three huts.

Outside True Blue’s hut, the two Leads were already talking to Woodpecker.

“Healer,” Rockslide grunted.

“Lead Stallion, good morning.” She returned politely.

“It would appear I am off patrol duty for the next few days, Thistle Burr.” Woodpecker informed her. “Rockslide believes it would be better to keep an eye on the new ponies for a few days.”

“What do you think of them, Thistle Burr?” True Blue looked at her.

“…I want to know how they got separated from their herd.” She admitted. “Beyond that, Sapphire and Daze didn’t talk enough for me to get their character, but I think Onyx is nice enough, if a bit self-important.”

Privately, she thought he reminded her of Cardinal.

“Then perhaps it would be wise to separate them and get their stories.” True Blue suggested.

“I could,” She worked it out. “I could put Onyx with Pink to help with the wall. Daze could be put with Light, she’d like to hear unicorn stories. I can leave Sapphire to Marsh Steps in the fields.”

A quick word with all three of them and they should know the full story in time for the evening meeting.

“Sounds like an excellent plan, Thistle Burr!” Woodpecker sidled up to her. “And once those three are packed off, is there anything in particular you wanted to do?”

“There are a few herbs I don’t have in my garden.” She shuffled to the side, schooling her expression. “Let me just, go have a word with a few ponies.”

She didn’t run, but it felt like a retreat.