Chapters Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
It is ten o'clock in the morning as a lone mare sleeps peacefully in her bed. But the silence would ruin by her bedroom door slamming open as another mare entered the room. Intruder stares at the prone mare, "Marble, wake up!" Limestone said to her sister, which caused her to stand up in bed, looking at her and rubbing her eyes. Before Marble could talk Limestone interrupts her, "You have overslept, and breakfast is almost over. Do something about it." Shocked, Marble quickly hurries out of the room, leaving her bed a mess as Limestone shakes her head. Limestone sometimes thinks she is the only one who takes her job seriously.
A Rock Farm doesn't sound like much at first, but the natural beauty comes from all the variety of stones available here. They have it all, from your pretty obsidian rock to diamonds. Of course, the latter takes much longer to find than the other, but enough of that. The Pie family has been living on this farm for a long time. They never needed to leave the farm, for they have everything a pony could want in life. Warms bed, a roof over their heads, and all the rocks anypony could wish. However, that couldn't be said for her sister Pinkamena Pie or, as her friends call her, Pinkie Pie. She is nothing like the rest of her family, too hyper for Limestone’s taste, but she is loved as much as any other family member. She lives off the farm in a town called Ponyville and visits now and then. Limestone would be lying if she said she didn't miss her sisters. Another one of her sisters, Maud, left the farm shortly after Pinkie Pie to continue her research in the ancient ruins near Ponyville. "Lucky," Limestone thought to herself, "Just imagine all the rock formations she gets to see every day."
She makes her way downstairs. "Hey, Mom." She calls out to her mother.
"Yes, Limestone?" Cloudy Quartz replies from somewhere in the home.
"Are there any orders that are behind schedule?"
"Not that I know. Perhaps Papa knows. He should be in the east fields looking for some Sedimentary rocks."
"Thank you." Limestone replies and heads out to the east fields. "Marble should be making her way to the North fields looking for WOAH!" Limestone stopped talking to herself when her hoof goes into a small sinkhole. It wasn't one to be worried about. You will find at least one or two of these around here. Limestone lifts her hoof out and starts patting down the area. "Darn sinkhole. Always causing problems to anypony that finds you." With one final pat, the hole was gone. "There. Now, where was I? Oh yes." Limestone continues to the east fields.
Limestone had arrived at the east fields, but something was wrong. "Dad!" Her dad was nowhere to be found. "Dad, where are you?"
"I am down here, Limestone," Igneous Rock said, "Don't get too close."
Limestone follows the voice to an enormous sinkhole. Testing the ground in front of her, she knows that it is not safe to move closer. "You, okay?"
"I am fine, Limestone. But I can't get out."
"I am going to be right back."
"Don't worry; I won't go anywhere."
"DAD!"
Limestone had returned with the rest of the remaining family and started pulling Papa out of the hole. It didn't take them long to get him out. Everypony moved away from the spot as they hugged their Papa. Limestone was the first to break the hug, followed by her mom except for Marble who started to cry refusing to let go.
"What happened?" Limestone said.
Her father calms Marble down by brushing her mane. "It came out of nowhere. One second I looked at the Sedimentary rocks, then the ground ate me." He looks at his wife. "This is the first time I fell into a sinkhole this big without time to get out of the way."
His wife put a hoof to her chin, thinking. "You don't suppose this is the work of those Diamond Dogs Pinkie told us about from the mines near her town?"
"It could be." He said as Marble finally calmed down. "Those varmints dig through the earth as fast as Maud through rock."
"If that is the case," Limestone said, "I will need to talk to Pinkamena to find out how she got rid of them. Let’s hope it is not more than one." Limestone went to get reinforcements.
It didn't take much for Limestone to convince Pinkie to return to the farm. After she heard the word Diamond dogs and the farm, she raced back to the farm faster than anypony could see. However, Limestone was confused as to why Pinkie Pie had bought along a mare she had never seen before to the farm.
"Pinkie, why did you bring a fancy mare here?" Limestone asked Pinkie, pointing at Rarity, who is putting on boots on her hooves.
"Oh, that is Rarity." Pinkie said, smiling. "She knows how to deal with Diamond dogs better than anypony that I know."
"If you say so." The sisters join Rarity with the rest of the ponies on the farm in front of the house. "So, what do we got to do first?" Limestone asked Rarity.
Rarity has dealt with Diamond dogs before; and has learned to avoid them, and one time got them to work for her for free for a moment. However, she never had to flush them out of an area. But the Pie family needs help, and she is the pony they turn to help. And she was confident that her knowledge of Diamond Dogs would help them. She composes herself and addresses the Pie family.
"We first need to find where they are. That hole could have just been one of their tunnels caving in. There must be a hole reaching the surface somewhere so they can breathe." Everypony spread across the farm, searching for the breathing hole.
After two hours of careful searching, they found the hole. It was towards the edge of the farm and went down deep. They know this because they drop a rock down it and didn’t hear anything for a few seconds.
"So now what?" Limestone asked while looking down the hole. "We go down the hole or something?"
Rarity had a look of terror on her face. It wasn't for the fact that she is suggesting that we should go down the hole to flush the Diamond dogs out, but instead, she just came out of the spa before Pinkie Pie picked her up. And would have to wait two days before she could go back. The spa was not cheap, and they are always so busy. "Don't be silly, dear. We have everything we need right here." Rarity said, pulling out a megaphone from her saddlebag with her magic. "Diamond dogs have sensitive ears. So, any loud noises will drive them away." Rarity gives the megaphone to Pinkie. "Pinkie, if you would be so kind," Rarity said before giving everypony earplugs and moving away from Pinkie. The others didn't get it at first, but once Pinkie took a deep breath, they put on the earplugs and moved away from Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie shouted as loud as she could down the hole, which caused everypony nearby to jump off the ground for a second. "HELLO ARE THERE ANY DIAMOND DOGS DOWN THERE!"
Pinkie's voice echoes across the land before everything goes quiet. Pinkie puts down the megaphone and looks back at everypony who is in a daze. "You think they heard me?"
"I think you killed them, dear." Cloudy Quartz said, getting back on her hooves.
"Well, good riddance, I said." Limestone said, pulling out her earplugs. "They would have caused us more problems if they stuck around. Just wish we had some way of knowing if they are gone or not.”
Just then, they felt the earth shaking as if something was digging. Looking around, they saw a pile of dirt moving up. Everypony moves closer to the pile, ready to finish off the Diamond Dog or Dogs once it comes out. But they weren’t expecting a brown Unicorn to pop out of the ground with a pickaxe and a shovel. He has a brown cloak and dirty goggles covering his eyes, and everything about him is earth brown. He came out of the ground screaming, holding down his ears to his head and rolling around on the floor.
“OW! OH SWEET CELESTIA I CAN STILL HEAR IT IN MY BRAIN! I CAN HEAR PAIN! OW! OH THE AGONY! IT’S HORRIBLE!” He screams, not knowing that he is surrounded. “WHO SCREAMS DOWN A RANDOM HOLE TO GET SOMEPONIES ATTENTION!" Getting to his hooves, he stumbles forward, holding the side of the head with a hoof, and bumps into Limestone. "Hello," he said calmly before backing up and lifting his goggles to show his Turkish eyes. His eyes widen as he sees the flat stare of Limestone. Not sure what to make of the situation, he tries to back away from her, smiling, only to find out that he is surrounded. Scared, the Stallion looked at his options before quickly using his magic to grab his tools and digging back into the ground.
Nopony knew what to make of this. He is as fast as a diamond dog while digging, but. "Honey."
"Yes, dear."
"There is a stallion digging in our farm."
Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
Later on, that day,
Rarity and Pinkie pie returned to Ponyville once they determined that the rock farm problem wasn't Diamond dogs but a stallion. They figure that Limestone can get rid of it and that they weren't needed anymore. Marble and her parents returned to the sinkhole to fill it up. That leaves Limestone to deal with the groundhog. Limestone walks to the hole where the stallion had disappeared to. She picks up the megaphone and shouts through it.
"Hay Squatter! I need to speak with you!" She puts down the megaphone and waits. And waits. And waits... Nothing. She picks up the megaphone again. "If you don't get up here, I will have my sister shout at you again!" Soon after she said that the ground started shaking again, and out popped the stallion covered in dirt. He sits in his hole like the mole he is with only his upper body sticking out. He lifts his goggles glaring at Limestone.
"What seems to be troubling you, mam?"
Limestone moves closer to the stallion. "What wrong is that I got a stranger digging holes and tunnels all over my Rock Farm, making sinkholes everywhere!"
"A Rock Farm?" The stallion looks around before looking back at her. "Is that what this is? I thought this was a deserted land with many rocks."
"That is the idea of what a Rock Farm is!"
The stallion nods at this. "Right. It would appear that we have come across a bit of a problem on our hooves."
"That can be solved right now with you leaving, so Beat it!" She said, stomping the ground and leaving an indent in the ground around her hoof.
The stallion is unfazed by this and snorts at her. "Not going to happen, mam."
The was a slight twitch in Limestone’s left eye. This never happened before. "What did you say?!"
"There is still much work for me to do here and I am not going to let some mare tell me to get lost."
Anger started filling Limestone’s voice as she stared down at the stallion. "My family has owned this land for years! There is no way you could have been here before them. So, we say who gets to stay and who gets lost." She got in his face before saying, "UNDERSTAND!"
The stallion didn't get mad or shout back. He pushed back Limestone’s face away from his with his hoof before answering. "That is a very sound agreement you make there.” She nods at this, “By all rights I have invaded your property causing problem for you and your family.” She agrees, “And you can even have the guards come here and escort me off your property.”
“Natural,”
“However, there is one slight error you are unaware of.”
“What?”
“Your statement only applies to creatures that live above ground. So, you have no say about what I do underground. Besides, the guards can’t touch me since I am just trying to do my job." He then lowers his goggles. "So, I bid you a good day and goodbye, mam." With that, the stallion goes back underground covering the hole as he leaves.
This makes Limestone Furious. "GET BACK HERE!" She shouts as she stomps the ground continuously. Little did she know that ground she was standing on wasn't very stable, and creaks were forming around her. "IT SO DOES APPLY TO YOU! YOU NO GOOD LIAR!" more creaks, "NO PONY TELL ME WHAT I CAN'T OR CANNOT DO ON MY OWN ROCK FAR-" the ground gave out underneath her hooves, and down she went. "BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!"
The feeling starts returning to Limestone's body as she moves her limbs but quickly brings her left foreleg back to her body when it hurts badly while stretching it. She opens her eyes to see that her hoof is wrapped in bandages, and some sticks are firmly bound to the sides. Noticing that she was in a bed with an old blanket covering her. Her eyes gaze across the room.
She appears to be still underground but in some pony's bedchamber. There wasn’t much to look at, just some glowing mushrooms lining the walls to light the room in a Hud of light blue, a table to the far side with small tools and boxes next to it, an old curtain covering the entrance to the room, a small table with a bucket of water next to her along with a stew of some kind.
She moves the blanket off her and tries to stand up, which is a bad idea. Pain ran across her body as she fell back on the bed. Limestone catches her breath as she hears somepony approaching. The curtain to the room was moved to the side, and the pony entered the room; it was the Stallion digging in her farm. He puts his pickaxe and shovel on a bench and notices that she is awake.
"You are awake. That is good." He said before turning to his bench and moving smaller tools with his magic.
Despite the pain. Limestone grits her teeth and stares down the stallion. "Where Am I?"
"In my bed chambers at the moment," He said while working on his tools. "Sorry for the mess, but I wasn't expecting any guests."
Limestone relaxes a little. Figuring that if the stallion meant her any harm, there would be easier ways of doing it. Like leaving her to deal with her injuries, lost in one of the many tunnels, this stallion had no doubt made. More than she would have done for him. After all, he is not family.
"What happened?"
"After our last meet and shout. You started stomping the ground underneath you, causing it to give out underneath you. I found you shortly afterward and brought you here after binding your wounds. Nothing life-threatening, but you will be bedridden for a while."
Anger filled Limestone’s body as she stared at the stallion. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't started digging holes all around my farm!"
"Not true, miss." The stallion replied calmly.
This confused Limestone, "What?"
"The hole you fell into was not of my making. It was there long before I got here."
Limestone grunts angrily and looks away from the stallion, "So what? You are saying I should be thanking you then?"
The stallion put down his tools quickly and loudly, getting Limestone’s full attention. He stares into her eyes from his workbench. A hint of anger in his eyes captures Limestone's eyes as she can’t look away. "I am saying that you should be thanking Celestia that you didn't die when you fell down that hole." He turns back to work on his tools, breaking the trans as Limestone blinks her eyes. "Can't somepony help another out of courtesy anymore?"
Limestone looks away in shame and replies in a quiet voice. "Sorry."
If he heard her reply, he didn't show it, "You focus on getting better. It is too soon to move you from here without hurting you. Once you get stronger, I will take you back to the surface." The stallion picks up his pickaxe and gives it a swing with his magic before grabbing the shovel and putting them on his tool belt under his cloak. "Now, if you excuse me. I have a lot of work to do." He left the room, calling over his shoulder, "Shout if you need me. I know you have the lungs to do that."
Back on the surface,
Limestone's parents have been searching the farm for any signs of their daughter. She never leaves the farm, and she has been missing for Hours. The Father searches the farm’s perimeter while the mother searches the area where they meet the stallion earlier. Marble was told to wait at home in case she came back.
"Limestone!" Her mom called out to her. "Limestone, where are thou?!" She felt the ground moving and saw the stallion from earlier coming out. The mom rushed over to him. "Sir, have you seen my Limestone?"
The stallion lifts his goggles and replies calmly. "She is the purple mare with the lime next to stones as a cutie mark, correct?"
"Yes! Where is she!"
"She is my care right now. She fell a hole and hurt herself." The mom was about to say something, but the stallion raised his hoof to stop her. "And before you accuse me. I had nothing to do with it. I found her at the bottom of the hole and bandaged her wounds."
"Can I see her?" the mom asked frantically,
But the stallion shakes his head, "Not yet. She needs to rest. But I will bring her back to you when she is ready. You have my word."
The mom was taken aback by this, "Your word of honor? No pony has used that since my father’s time."
The stallion nods gently, knowing what she said is accurate; however, "I may have been born in this generation, but I was raised in the old world if it makes you feel better. I will take you to her tomorrow when she is feeling better. Will that be alright with you?"
"Yes, but please take care of my daughter."
"Of course, mam." And with that, they departed from each other.
Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
"ACK!" LImestone said before falling back down on the bed. She breathes heavily as her body acks in pain. 'That was a bad idea.' She thought to herself. 'I don't want to be down here but it looks like it is unavoidable. NO! I can do this.'
Limestone got her hoof to the side of the bed and push herself up when her hoof give out and she fell out of bed. Limestone closed her eyes and waited for the impact to come but it never did. Just the feeling of something warm holding her up. She opens her eyes to sees that she is covered in a light blue magic glow. Looking at the entrance of the room, she can see The Digging Unicorn is there with his horn glowing brightly. Gently he moves her back onto the bed with his magic.
He gives her a deadpan stare, "Just what do you think you were doing?"
She gives him one of her own, "Getting out of here."
He shakes his head before answering, "I already told you. You can leave yet, your body hasn't recovered enough for that. Do you want to extend your stay here?"
Limestone gives out a frustrated grunt and looks away from him, "No."
The Digging Unicorn moves to his workbench and uses his magic to pull out a metal cylinder from the shelf. He opens the top before pouring the contents into a wooden bowl, bringing it to Limestone. "Here." Limestone just looks at it unimpressed and disinterested. The Digging Unicorn shakes his head before letting out a tired sigh and putting it on the table into Limestone, before returning to his workbench.
As he continues his repairs, Limestone takes a closer look at the bowl. 'Hum. It looks like Mom's stew, but the smell is different.' Limestone thought to herself. 'It is an interesting smell, definitely something I never tried before. Not to mention that a lot of small things are flowing in it. What is this? Wait. Could this be what I think it could be!'
"Don't tell me that this is medicine?"
"Okay, I won't." He agrees with her calling over his shoulder.
This frustrates Limestone as she yells at the stallion, "That doesn't tell me anything!"
"You told me not to."
Limestone grunts in frustration again, "I hate you." She said, not noticing that the stallion stopped moving at the workbench for a second before continuing his work. Feeling hungry Limestone shallowed her pride and took a sip of the stew. Her eyes widen, 'Hay, this is not bad.' She thought to herself and finish the bowl quickly.
Minutes pass in silence with only the sound of the stallion working on the workbench. Bord Limestone grew curious about what he is doing. "What are you doing anyway?"
"Fixing my tools."
"That is it?"
"They wear down quickly at the speed I use them."
"That makes sense. The only creatures I know that can dig through the earth as fast as you are two of my sisters and Diamond Dogs. But you are the first unicorn I ever heard about that digs the way you do. But why? You are a unicorn." He looks over his shoulder at her, "Don't you unicorns normally use your magic for other things than this? Like casting spells or whatnot?"
"Not every unicorn can be all-powerful like Twilight or Starlight. Or care for learning everything there is to know about magic," He looks to the wall sliding a hoof down it, "My future lies within these stones. My magic is as strong as it needs to be. That all there's to it." He sighs, going back to work.
He lifts a pickax inspecting it before the handle breaks in half. Frustrated, he tosses the pickax to the side and works on another one. After a few minutes in silence, Limestone speaks again, "Who are you?"
"No pony important."
"I mean, what is your name."
"It doesn't matter."
"What are you talking about? Of course, it matters. It is your name. How else am I going to know how to call you?"
He inspects the new pickax calling over his shoulder, "If you must. Call me the Digging Unicorn."
"I wasn't asking for a long nickname. What is your real name?"
"None of your business."
"You are not making any sense."
Gently he puts down the pickax, not looking at her. "What I am saying is that. There is no point in telling you more about me or my name. Once you are reunited with your family and once I finish my work. You will forget me. Like I was no more than a bad dream. Just like the rest."
Limestone wanted to say something, but what could she say? He was right. Once she was back with her family and him gone, she will forget about him. So why does she feel so bad about it? She hates this stallion who has been only kind to her. Treats himself as nothing more than a fleeting shadow to those around him. Why does he act this way? He is a pony too. This stallion infuriates her to no end!
He puts his new tool down as he turns to face her, "Now get some rest, Limestone. Your Mother will be seeing you tomorrow."
"How do you know my name?"
"I meet your mother above ground and inform her that you were in my care. She wanted to see you, but I told her to wait until tomorrow."
"Whatever for? I am perfectly fine to see her right now." A small rock magically touches the right side of Limestone's ribs gently. "EEEOOUUCCHH!" Limestone grabs her side in pain. She wishes nothing but death for the stallion before her as his horn dims dropping the stone.
"If you couldn't handle a small rock touching your side. Imagine a hug from a worried Mother." He says emphasizes his point on worried.
She grunts, slowly letting go of her sides, "You could have just reminded me that I have sensitive ribs right now."
"That won't have work."
"What?"
"With your current bedside manners. Unless I used a painful reminder. You would have insisted anyways."
"Are you always like this to your guest?"
"I wouldn't know. You are the first in a long time. Now, if you are done trying to hurt yourself. It is time for some sleep."
Limestone glares at him as he moves to the side of her bed, "Don't get any funny ideas, buster."
"Now, what are you going on about?"
"You have made it clear that this is your bed that I am currently using."
"And,"
"Don't And Me, mister! You and I both know that I am a mare, and you are a grown stallion who can take advantage of this situation to share it with me! Well, I am not that easy! And if you think I will let you try and sleep with me! Than You have another thing coming!" She says, trying to look intimidating despite her injuries.
There was a moment of silence before the Digging Unicorn magics an extra blanket to come out from under the bed, "What are you talking about? Why would I share a bed with a mare I don't know? I was getting a blanket for myself to sleep somewhere else. Why did you think I was going to sleep with you?" He says in a calm and confused voice, as Limestone looks at the blanket in embarrassment as he puts it on his back.
She struggles to find a reason to be angry with the stallion and finds none. "I just thought-"
"That I am scum that will do whatever he wants without caring for anypony around him?" He stares at Limestone with anger in his eyes, causing her to flinch. "Like taking advantage of a mare in his care. One that can't defend herself properly? One that he has done no wrong to. And has given her no reason to think that he would ever do such a terrible thing to a lady!" His anger rages out of him as firmly talks to her.
"No, I-" She struggles to talk back, not used to being on the losing side of an argument.
"Never thought you would meet a stallion that just wanted to help out his fellow pony because it is the right thing to do!"
"No. I didn't-"
"Consider just once in your life that not every pony is as bad as you think!"
She looks away in shame, having nothing to say to him, "Good Night Miss Limestone. I hope you enjoy your stay." The stallion exits the room in silence. Leaving behind an uneasy feeling in the air. Limestone had no idea what that was about. She has never seen a stallion so hurt on the inside.
She lays downs on the bed to sleep with one thought going through her mind. "What happened to you, D.U.?"
The Digging Unicorn walks down a hallway and enters a freshly dug short cave. He moves to the end of where a pile of dirt lays before using his tools to create a makeshift bed and pillow. Once finished, he levitates his toolbelt and cloak off himself before the handle of the shovel rolls across the floor and stops at the wall. He sighs heavily at this and grabs the handle. He stares at it for a while before punching the wall with his other hoof causing creaks to spread around the impact area. "Way to go." He said to himself. "The first mare you were able to talk to in years, and you blow up in front of her." He pulls his hoof out from the wall, leaving behind a hoof print and causing some rocks the fall from the ceiling but not in danger of caving in. He notices this and lets out another heavy sigh. "And now I have another cave to fix. Well, I not sleeping here." He gathers his things and inspects the broken shovel. "Looks like this is the end of the line for you." He tosses the broken tool over his shoulder and leaves the cave. "Just like me someday."
Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
Limestone wakes up from her sleep. She feels weak, but she has to try again. She pushes herself up and off the bed. On shaky legs, she walks out of the room. Moving the curtain aside, she can see a hallway going to the left and the right. Glowing mushrooms are lighting both ways. There are no signs on the wall about where to go. He must already know where to go, so they are not needed. He could always dig his way out if he gets lost. But that makes things harder for Limestone, who has enough trouble standing up. She can't afford to get lost down here. But she is a very stubborn mare and will not let a stallion tell her what she can or can't do. Slowly she makes her way down the path to the right. Not noticing that from the shadows to the left, where something moved.
Limestone has lost track of how long she has been walking. Her side hurts with every step, but she will not let up. She is a Pie, and Pies let nothing stand in their way. The hallway seems to go on forever. But she can't stop now. She is unsure if her legs could get her back up if she sits down to rest. There is a room coming up to her right. Curious, she takes a closer look and sees that it is blocked with a familiar-looking curtain. She moves it to the side to find out that it is the same room she had left earlier.
Her jaw drops in shock, "That's not possible." But there it was, everything was in the same spot she had left. "I couldn't have gone in a circle. I only went down one hallway."
"Good for you." A voice said behind her.
Limestone turns around to see The Digging Unicorn again, "When did you get ther- HAY!" She was lifted into the air by his magic, moving towards the bed; this annoyed her, "Put me down!"
The Digging Unicorn looks at her unamused, "I thought you were a smart mare and would listen to me when I said to stay and rest in the bed." He drops her half a foot above the bed to bounce a little.
She grits her teeth knowing that he did that on purpose. This is why she hates magic. Not that she could do anything about it. But first things first. "What was that earlier!"
He is unfazed by her outburst and replies, "One of the reasons why I was sent here. Not that you need to know about it. It will be gone once I am finished with my work.
She turns away in a huff laying back down on the bed. He shakes his head at her, "Limestone, why can't you wait until you are better before you do something like that again?"
"Why can't you take me up to the surface? Wouldn't that be easier?"
He puts a hoof to the side of his head and lets out a heavy sigh closing his eyes. "These tunnels are not like the ones you would normally find across Equestria. They are different and can be dangerous if you have no idea what you are doing. To get you out of here as you are now. I would need another pony to help me. I can't act as your wagon and your guide simultaneously down here. You are going to have to trust me on that. However, since you have just proved that you are unwilling to stay put until you are well. I will talk with your family to see if we can get you out of here faster."
"Good."
The Pie family waits for the stallion to appear on the surface. Ever since the mother returned to tell the others what she heard from the stallion, they have been waiting for him to appear again.
Maud had also arrived and waited with them. She initially came here for the Diamond dogs' problems, but she had to run there due to missing the train. It took her a whole day, but she did it. Before long, the stallion emerges from the ground.
"Hello." The Digging Unicorn simply said,
The father got into his face mad, "WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER!"
The Digging Unicorn gently pushes him away before wiping his face, "She is safe. And I am glad that there are more of you here."
The mom moves close, worried, "Did something happen?"
He nods at this, "In a way. Limestone refuses to stay in bed to complete her recovery."
The mom nods at this, "That sounds like Limestone."
"So I will need one of you to accompany me to bring her to the surface."
The dad raises an eyebrow, confused, "Why only one?"
"Any more will make it harder. Now then, who will help me?"
"I will do it," Maud said; no one argue her decision. If anypony can handle themselves in a mineshaft, it's Maud.
"This way." Maud followed the stallion down the tunnel. During the descent, Maud speaks up,
"So, what are you doing here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play around with me D.U. unlike my family, I know who you are and what you do. So why here?"
The stallion was surprised by this. Not many ponies know about him or his job. Those that do are one way or another, related to his field of work, "The caves under this land have become unstable. I came to correct that, along with other things. However, your sister's accident has slowed down my progress."
"How long until you are done?"
"In two weeks or more, depending on how severe the damage is."
"May I ask what is causing the problems down here?"
"Can we focus on getting your sister out of here first?"
"Sorry. I simply appreciate your work."
"Thank you."
"Can I ask you another question?"
He sighs and looks back at the mare, "I am not giving you my true name."
"Please."
"No."
This goes on back and forth until the two walk in silence all the way to Limestone.
"Maud!"
Maud moved quickly to hug her sister. "I came as soon as I could."
Limestone returns the hug and looks at the stallion. "So I can finally get out of here?"
"Yes. Now let's make haste." Maud pulls her sister onto her back.
"Hold on a second." He said out loud, turning his head and ears from side to side, listening for something. Limestone was going to say something, but Maud stop her with a hoof to her mouth. "From this point on you don't speak a word. It is not safe."
"What are you talking about?"
"Trust him, Limestone." Maud spoke up, "He knows what he is doing."
Limestone doesn't know what to make of this situation. Her sister, Maud, has the most challenging time making friends and is one of the most protective of her siblings. Is telling her to trust this stranger. Just who is D.U.?
But she trust her sister and remained quiet as they processed out of the underground. As they continued their journey, they find themselves in a vast underground cavern. There are relics of old pony life and buildings. But what stood out the most was that she could see all of this despite being underground. The reason was due to something glowing a soft blue moving between the buildings. It was too far away to see, but Limestone could see that there are a lot of them. As the ponies moved away from the cavern, Limestone thought she saw something move in the shadows nearby. She couldn't see anything. Not to mention that she was told not to talk, so she remained quiet. But that didn't mean she didn't look behind them now and then.
Before long, The Digging Unicorn leads them to an upward tunnel. And at the end of the tunnel, the Pie family greeted their members with open hooves.
"Limestone!" they called out to her as she got off her sister to hug her family.
Limestone leans against Maud for support as she looks back at the stallion to see him still in the ground, with only his head popping out. "What were those things?"
"What things?" Her father said, "What is going on?"
The Digging Unicorn scratches his head, "I guess I am due for an explanation then. To answer your first question. Those were spirits of past-earth ponies trapped within the ground. One of my jobs is to find them and help them move on."
"There are ghosts under our farm!" The mother said,
"But why did we have to be quiet?" Limestone asked,
"They tend to get violent when Somepony or something causes loud noises."
"So that's one of the reasons why you came up to the surface when we called out to you?"
"Yes. That and my ears hurt badly."
"How do they get stuck down there, to begin with?" The father asked,
"It could be several reasons why. From dying with unfinished business to having a strong will to protect their home."
"But why would their Spirits be underground and not above ground?" The mother asked,
"Well, you don't leave a dead body above the ground, do you?"
"So they are underground because that is where their bodies were laid to rest. But wonder the underground due to reason known only to them?" Limestone said,
"In a nutshell, yes."
"Do we have to worry about this?" Marble asked,
"No. So long as I don't have any more interruptions with my work. You won't have to worry about ghosts haunting your house soon."
"Is that why there are haunted houses sometimes?"
"Yes. That would be due to not getting to the spirit in time before they move above ground."
"Is that you do, sir?" The mother said,
"Well, yes and no. I mostly help reinforce the underground cave system from collapsing in on itself. But whenever I stumble around something like this, I do what I can for them to move on. Now, if you excuse me, I must get back to work."
"One more question." Limestone said,
"Yes?"
"Why is only your head popping out of the ground?"
He briefly looks down at himself before looking back at her, "I don't see what you are getting at."
"You are a pony, not a gopher. You can get out of the ground every now and then."
"No, thank you. Now, if you excuse me. I must get back to-" For some reason, the stallion's eye got big before he cried out in a loud shout,
"YEOW!"
He shoots out of the hole and falls to the ground in pain, holding his rear. The Pie family turns to the hole to see another stallion holding a sharp needle in his mouth. This stallion was red and had a red and orange stripe mane. He smiles at The Digging Unicorn before spitting out the needle.
"I told you that I would get you."
Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
The Pie family doesn't know what to make of this. First, they had to deal with one stallion digging under their farm, and now there are two of them.
Limestone's eye twitches in annoyance, "Now who are you?"
The stallion chuckled to himself as he climbs out of the hole, "Red Comet at your service." He said dusting off his coat and shaking his wings free of dirt.
The Digging Unicorn gets back on his hooves enraged at Red Comet, "What are you doing here?!"
He just grins at him, "I came to check up on you. You were supposed to send your report already. So what is the holdup? And who are these ponies?" He said, just noticing that their audience is a family of ponies, not just someponies who so happen to be passing by.
"They are the owners of this property."
"Is that so? I know that there was no pony here beside you. I guess somepony slacking on the job."
"If I recall, it was supposed to be your job to survey the area above and below ground."
"Hay, I wasn't the one who wanted to start early before I got there," Red said defensively,
Both stallions continue to argue with each other as the Pie's watches them. Unaware of one mare among them who has reached her breaking point.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Limestone shouted, startling the two stallions. "I don't care who you two are or what business you have here, but it ends noOW." she hugs her side as her mom looks her over.
"Limestone, you need to rest in bed. Least before you are bedridden longer than needed." Her mom said, rubbing her daughter's back.
"But these stallions-"
"Your father and I will deal with them. Maud, please take your sister to her bed."
"Fine," Limestone submits before glaring at the two trespassers, "This is not over, you hear me!"
The Digging Unicorn rolls his eyes, "Whatever, Sweetcheeks."
Everypony in the Pie family gasp as they slowly look at the boiling red mare with steam coming from her ears.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!" Limestone screams, forgetting about her injuries as she tries her best to get past her sister, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE CALLING ME THAT! LET ME AT HIM, MAUD! I WILL KILL HIM! I WILL RIPE OUT HIS SPINE AND-" Maud cuts her off before she starts swearing.
"No, Limestone." Maud said, having no trouble dragging her sister back to the house, "No pony killing for you, only bed rest."
As the two sisters leave. The remaining ponies are taking the comment in different ways. Marble is looking away shyly with a light blush. Her father glares at D.U. while her mother looks at him with interest. All the while Red Comet had fallen over laughing holding his sides. "I can't believe you actually call a mare Sweetcheeks! Oh, dear sweet mare I just meet, let me flirt with you in front of your whole family! Hahaha oh, it hurts to laugh!" He continues to laugh much to the discomfort of his friend who blushes heavily at what he said.
The Dad coughs to get everyone's attention. "First off. I would like to extend my greatest thanks for thank care of my daughter, sir."
"You are welcome."
"And secondly. I would advise you to restrain yourself from calling my daughters such things."
"My apologies sir," He quickly said, rubbing his forelegs against themselves, "I have no idea where that came from. Normally I have more control over my words."
"Oh, does he ever." Red Comet says putting a hoof on D.U.'s shoulder, "You have no idea what I had to go through just for him to talk to me. And after all this time, I thought that he wasn't interested in mares. But it turns out that he was just waiting for a particular one to fall for him!" Red Comet grins before he got a sharp pain in the butt. "YYYEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!" He shoots up into the air.
The Digging Unicorn puts the needle away, "That is enough out of you." He turns to face the family, "Now that's all of out of the way. Was there anything else you needed, sir?"
"Yes, can you tell me who you are, young lads?"
Two weeks later,
The stallions had continued their work underground with visits to the Pie house every now and then. Be it from using their restrooms to food, the stallions were more than willing to pay for their hospitality. Limestone and her father agree quickly much to the mother's disappointment. It would mostly be Red Comet coming out to chat with them with D.U. only coming out if needed. Red did try to flirt with Marble, but one look from her father quickly change his mind.
During this time, it has been difficult for Maud to keep her sister from overdoing things, but she made do. It will be a couple more days before Limestone can get back to the heavy work, but that hasn't stopped her from trying though, which unfortunately had extended her bed resting time. Several times Maud had to drag her back to bed. So there Limestone laying on her bed, bored out of her mind; with her sister watching her like a hawk. Being a hard-working Mare, Limestone doesn't have many things in her room to help pass the time, except for a rock catalog her sister got her.
As she read on, one particular rock caught her eye. It was a green jade stone. A very pretty stone but not very valuable to ponies or rock lovers. This also applies to her to an extent. She could always go and buy a jade stone from the market, but that is not the one she wanted. For that one won't be her jade stone. That one was long gone, and thinking about it brings back some unpleasant memories. She leans back as she remembers the event like it was yesterday.
She was a little filly in school walking outside during recess, when she found a pile of dirt near the edge of the playground. As a rock farmer's daughter seeing such a thing wasn't unusual for her, but as she stared at it. She wondered how it got there since her family wasn't working on the school grounds. Not to mention that most of the other fillies and colts in her class weren't that good at digging as her family was. Just then more dirt was through on top of the pile from the other side.
Going to the other side, Limestone saw a hole in the ground nearby, and at the bottom of the hole. She can see a blue, turquoise, she believes, unicorn colt digging with a small shovel. he was covered in dirt and mud and he continue to dig.
"What are you doing?" Limestone asked,
"I making a castle," He said sarcastically turning to face her, "What does it look like I am doing?"
"I get that. But I want to know why?"
"Because I want to?"
"Well, you are making a mess."
"Then go away, I am so close!"
"Close to what?"
"I don't know yet, but I know it is down here." He continues to dig, tossing dirt over his head and making Limestone dodge out of the way.
"Okay, you got me curious. What are you digging for?"
"I told you." He stops briefly before resuming, "I don't know yet, but I know it is down here."
"Well, can I help?"
Stops and turns to face her pointing his shovel at her, "NO!"
"Why?"
"Because you are a filly."
"What does that have to do with anything?
"Fillies have cooties, and I don't want them."
"I don't have Cooties."
"That is something that somepony with cooties would say."
"Fine then, be that way." Limestone turns to leave before something hit her on the head. She rubs her head before seeing something green coming out of a piece of dirt. She picks it up and removes the dirt to find a green stone. She didn't know what it was then, but it was pretty. The lines running across the surface remind her of the inside of a tree or when a drop of water hits the center of a pound. As she was admiring the stone, the colt came out of the hole and tried to take the stone from her.
"Hay, that is mine!" Limestone said,
"No, it is not." The colt said, pulling at the stone with his hooves, "That was the something that I was digging for. I just so happened to toss it out of the hole by mistake. It is mine!"
"No, mine!"
They continue their game of tug-a-war, not seeing another colt moving next to them. He watches them continue to fight over the stone. He can see that they are glaring at each other, not even noticing that he is there. A sinister smile comes to his face as had got an evil idea. He quickly moves behind the other colt and gives him a good shove forward. This causes the blue colt to fall forward and land on Limestone. The second colt was chuckling to himself, hoping they would fight for his entertainment; however, that didn't happen for some reason. Instead, they were silent and motionless as rocks. The blue colt had landed on Limestone, and they were staring at each other with big eyes. But that's not what they are in shock of. What stopped them from fighting was the fact that they are kissing each other.
The two quickly moved away from each other, the stone was forgotten as they gagged and spit anything in their mouths as if they had shallowed poison.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT!" Limestone shouted, rubbing her mouth and lips, trying to get rid of anything the colt got in her mouth.
The blue colt was having no better luck as he tried to forget what had happened by eating dirt. "I DIDN'T DO THAT! SOMEPONY PUSHED ME!"
Limestone turns her attention to the other colt, who was slowly trying to get away, "YOU!" she shouted, startling the colt. He looks at her in fear, "YOU MADE HIM KISSED ME!" Limestone chased the colt all over the playground, forgetting about the stone. When she returned for it, the stone was long gone, and so was the blue colt. Limestone smacked the ground, "One day, I will get that stone back if it is the last thing I do!"
Limestone gags a little, remembering that she lost her first kiss to a colt she didn't even know. "I never did find that stone again. But hopefully, I will find it and make that colt pay!"
"What colt?"
"Nothing Maud." Limestone never did tell her family about what happened that day. She could never let them know. "Can I leave my room? I need to use the restroom."
"So long as it is the one down the hall, away from the stairs."
Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
At the Underground city, Two stallions quietly roam around with lanterns looking at the buildings. They can see the spirits of past ponies moving in and out of buildings. The Digging Unicorn looks closely to the walls of the building before regrouping with Red Comet. He gives him a hoof sign and then they both start leaving the city.
They make their way to one of the many repair stations the DIgging Unicorn has made underground. As he was making repairs to one of his tools he could feel the stares coming from his companion. Looking over his should he sees Red Comet just smiling at him. He uses his magic to pour some water on some dried mushrooms. This causes them to spring to life, filling the room with a blue glow and before he spoke.
"Drop it."
"No."
"Comet! I am not going to tell you again. Nothing is going on between me and that mare."
"You expect me to believe that after you told her whole family that you like her?"
"I said no such thing. It was a slip of the tongue. I meant to insult her, not falter her. Besides, that was weeks ago. Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Why this is the best thing that has happened since sis got caught with a stallion in her room."
"Yes and if I remember correctly you got a nice shinner on your face for not dropping it after a day."
"Hay it was for good fun. Besides, I think that mare is into you considering how she reacted to 'Sweet Cheeks' Ahahaha-OW!" Red Comet rubs his head where his friend hit him with a rock.
"You are lucky that these mushrooms allow us to talk safely down here otherwise we would be in serious danger with how much you have been laughing this whole time."
"Okay okay. Enough funny business." He moves next to him, "How is it looking?"
"Better than expected. Although I am going to need more limestone to fill up some crakes in the walls."
"I bet you-" Red Comet stop talking when he saw a pickax threatening to be thrown at him, "Hushing up now."
"Anyways, How are we doing on supplies?"
Red Comet thinks about it for a bit, "Not good. Very bad. We are almost out of food and water."
The Digging Unicorn looks at him is a puzzled look, "What happened? We should still have three days worth of food left."
"A cave-in that what."
"That's just great," He lets out a sigh, "How deep is it?"
"Don't even think about it. That food is spoiled by now. We are better off getting something else than retrieving it." Both stallions started thinking of a solution to this predicament, then Red had an idea. "Maybe the Pie family can help us out."
His friend thinks about it and starts to nod his head in agreement, "Well, it won't hurt to ask," He picks up his tools, and they both start making the way to the surface, "Besides, it would be great to finally have a home cook meal again."
Meanwhile,
"I wasn't doing anything wrong." Limestone said as Maud was pushing her back into her room,
"You were taking too long in there. Any longer, and you might have made it outside."
"I was not trying to sneak out of the house." She lied,
However, before the two sisters could argue more about what one was don't trying to do, their mother's voice called to them from downstairs, "Supper time."
Before Maud let her sister go to eat, she had to clarify one thing, "Remember, Limestone, I am watching you." Limestone rolled her eyes at her sister's comment as they proceeded to the dinner table. Limestone was rather hungry and couldn't wait to eat more of her mother's home cooking, however her train of thought came to a stop when she saw that there were two unexpected guests at the dinner table.
"What are they doing here?" Limestone asked her mother,
"They got hungry and asked if they could join us for a meal."
"That is not what I meant. I was asking why are they still there. In our rock farm!"
"Calm down, Limestone," The Digging Unicorn said from his seat, "Our work is nearly completed underground. It will take us by the end of the week to be done at most."
"Good."
"And then another week to ensure we didn't miss anything." Red Comet said,
"Are you guys ever going to leave?!"
Red put a hoof to the side of his cheek in thought, "I don't know, a house full of mares," A smile comes to his face, "A stallion could have some ideas, you know-OW!" Red got slapped upside the head by his companion.
"You said you would behave yourself," The Digging Unicorn said glaring at his companion, "And mind your manners. There are ladies present."
Limestone's dad nods at this before addressing the rest of the ponies in the room, "Now then, let us eat."
Dinner was relatively quiet and uneventful as everypony eat their rock soup. However, Limestone was somewhat surprised that the two stallions didn't argue over having to eat rocks for dinner, instead, they enjoyed it and even asked for more. Not just anypony can eat rock soup for the first time and enjoy it. It makes Limestone wonder what had the two stallions been eating that they would eat rock soup without a second thought. And if she were honest, she wouldn't have minded having more of that mushroom soup that she had before. It was a nice change of pace for food, even though it wasn't rocks.
The silence was broken when The Digging Unicorn got up from the table, "May I use your washroom?"
"You don't have to ask us to go poop you know." Limestone said without thinking. This got her stares from everypony in the room. But she didn't care. If her attitude got these stallions out of here faster, then good.
"I was referring to a shower or a bathroom," The Digging Unicorn said, not fazed by her comment, "It has been some time since I have had a proper bath."
"Oh! But course," The Mother said, "It down the hall to the left."
"Thank you."
"And don't use up all the hot water!" Limestone called out to him, walking down the hallway.
"Limestone, behave yourself." Her mother scolded,
She grumbles to herself while crossing her forelegs. She doesn't know why she has been acting this way. Typically, she is a little grumpy and cranky with everypony, but not like this. For some reason, that stallion rubs her the wrong way.
The Digging Unicorn closes the door behind him as he pulls off his coat, sending a lot of dirt into the room. He cringes at this, but he decides that he would clean it up after he bathes. Before he goes into the tub, he pulls out something from inside one of the pockets on his coat. He wipes it on his coat to get a little shine off it before setting it on the counter and commerces with his bath.
"Oh, Limestone."
"Yes, Mom?"
"Could you grab some towels and put them in the bathroom? I forgot to put them there before our guest went there."
"Couldn't I wait until he is done with his bath first?"
"Why so you can see him just out of the bath?" Red Comet added, getting a glare from the father, making him gulp.
"You know what, never mind. I will be in and out before he knows I was there."
She enters the bathroom without knocking with some towels on her back and moves to the counter. However, as she puts the towel on the counter, she sees something shiny, which makes her forget what she was doing as she drops the towels. There was a jade stone on the counter, but it wasn't just any jade stone; it was her jade stone. She picks up the stone and takes a close look at it. She has seen other stones similar to the one she found when she was a filly, but there is no mistaking it. The patterns on the stone could not be fake. This was her stone. The one she lost to...
"May I help you?"
Limestone turns to the voice of the Digging Unicorn to see that his coat has turned a completely different color. He is now a turquoise coat-colored stallion with a brown mane. His coat wasn't brown at all! It must have been all the dirt he has gotten from digging underground all this time. Which only confirms one thing. It was him.
"You!"
"Me?"
"IT IS YOU!"
"Where are you going with this?"
"You are the little colt that stole my stone from me!" she said hugging the jade stone close to herself.
"What are you talking about? And give me back my jade stone!" He said using his magic to pull at the stone which Limestone refuse to let go.
"NO! It was mine first!"
"No, it's mine."
"NO mine!"
"Let go filly I dug up that stone first!"
"No! I found it first! You just took it after you kissed me."
This cause the stallion's eye's to widen as the memories of all those years ago came rushing back, "You? YOU!"
Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
A crash could be heard from the bathroom, which got the attention of everypony in the house. When they look at the sound, to see Limestone running out of the bathroom with a stallion they don't recognize chasing after her. They chased each other until they were outside of the house. When the ponies inside the house came outside, they see the two ponies in a tug-a-war with their hooves for something that they couldn't see. As they argue back and forth, the other ponies turn their heads side to side depending on which one was talking.
"Let go!" Limestone shouted angrily to the stallion,
"Are we really doing this again?" He replied with a shout of anger.
"Yes, we are. And now I know why I didn't like you."
"Why?"
"Are you kidding me? Did you forget what you did to me already?!"
"That wasn't my fault, and you know it!"
"Regardless, this stone is Mine!"
"No, it is mine!"
"Mine!"
"Mine!"
"MINE!"
"LIMESTONE PIE!" Igneous Rock shouted to his daughter, which stop both ponies in their tracks. They stare at each other with wide eyes and gulp. Igneous Rock just shouted at them, but it wasn't just any shout. It was the kind of shout that every child knows and fears. It is the shout a parent uses when you are in big trouble.
Both ponies slowly turn their head to look at him, "Yes, dad?" Limestone replied, not letting go.
"Stop this foolishness and let go of whatever you two are fighting over." He turns his attention to the other stallion, "That includes you colt."
Both ponies let go of the jade stone at the same time and look to the ground in shame. Cloudy Quartz tilts her head to the side. She knew that Limestone listens to her father but was a bit surprised that it also worked on the stallion. He must have been brought up similarly to Limestone to respond the same way even though he wasn't family. She moves between them and picks up the stone to closely inspect it. "A jade stone?" She looks to her daughter, "We don't grow these stones here, Limestone. Where did you get it?"
Limestone nervously looks at her mother, "I found it on the ground a long time ago, but it was stolen shortly after I found it," She frowns looking to the stallion on her left. "by him."
"Is that true?" Cloudy Quartz asked the Digging Unicorn,
He glares back at Limestone before lifting his head to Quartz, "I was digging for the stone first and tossed it out of the ground by mistake, and when I went to retrieve it. Limestone had got to it first."
"But did you steal it from her?"
"No."
"Explain."
"I got the stone shortly after she left it behind on the ground."
This confused her. This stallion, for all she knows, could be lying to her, but so far, their stories match up except for the stallion's last comment. Uncertain, she looks to her daughter to clarify this, "Limestone. Why would you just leave a stone behind that you care for so much?"
Limestone blushed a little and replied to her mother rather quickly, "I was preoccupied!"
Taken back by her daughter's outburst she pushes for more information, "With what?"
Limestone was looking at everything but where her mother was, "Can we change the subject?"
"No." She said firmly, wanting to know the truth behind all this nonsense,
"I drop the stone because he-" Limestone mumble the last words.
"What was that?"
"Because he- kiss me"
"Speak up, dear."
"It's because I kissed her." Everypony looks at the blue unicorn with a sizeable blush on his face. He composed himself and spoke up, "It was an accident. Another pony nearby shoved me into her. We kissed each other, and she dropped the stone."
"But why didn't you get it after you clobbered him, Limestone?" Maud asked from the sideline of the other ponies nearby the house, "I thought you would beat up anypony that would steal your first kiss. Also, why have we never heard of this?" Every other Pie member nodded at this.
A blush spread across Limestone's face. She never wanted her family to know what happened, but now that everypony in her family knows. There is no need to hide it anymore. "Because I went after the colt who made us kiss in the first place. By the time I got back, he and the stone were long gone. And I was too embarrassed to tell you guys."
Cloudy Quartz nods at this and moves next to her husband, "It sounds like the stone belongs to both of you. So settle this like adults, or neither of you gets the stone."
The Digging Unicorn didn't waste any time speaking up, "Miss Limestone, I will give you a thousand bits for the stone."
She scoffs at him, "You could say a million bits, and I would still refuse."
"Why you-" The parents cough to get his attention. He composed himself and tried again, "What would it take for you to give up ownership of the stone?"
She puts a hoof to her chin, thinking about it. True, she never thought of ever giving up the stone, but something about this situation intrigues her. Making her open to negotiation, "An apology would be a good start," A smug grin spreads across her face, "And for you to say that it was mine first."
The Digging Unicorn grits his teeth and hits the ground making sizeable cracks form from the impact zone. He lets out a low growl trying to calm himself. He looks to the parents, "I will fix it later." turning to face Limestone, "So an apology is what it will take for you to give me the stone?"
"And I want you to kiss my hoof."
"Limestone!" Her mother said,
"Sorry," Limestone coughs, "Okay, forget that last part. But I still want to hear you say it."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I am sorry."
"What was that?" She said with a grin on her face and leans in close to him,
"I am sorry."
"Sorry I didn't catch that," She puts a hoof to her ear, "Could you speak up louder?"
"I am sorry! I stole your stone when you weren't looking!" He shouts at her making her mane fly and her ears hurt. As she rubs her ears, as the stallion huffs at her, "Happy?"
"Quite, and don't forget the bits."
The Digging Unicorn uses his magic to get the stone from the mother and pulls the cloak to him she brought from the house, "You will receive your payment in due time. Red Comet, we are leaving!" He said, putting on his cloak and grabbing the toolbelt he left outside the house.
"But I haven't finished-"
"Now!" He said, putting the stone inside his cloak, pulling out his tools with his magic, and glaring at Limestone "Out of the mares I ever had to deal with. You are the second most infuriating one I had the displeasure to deal with. Don't expect anything from me in the future, Limestone."
"I doubt that I would need it." Limestone watches as both stallions go into the ground as the Digging Unicorn makes a new tunnel for them. Limestone smiles to herself, so she didn't get the stone, but she got something even better than it. She got self-satisfaction and a side of bits to go with it. It made her feel very happy, which she lost instantly when she looked at her father and saw the anger and disappointment in his eyes. "What?"
"Filly, you have no idea the damage you just caused with that stallion."
"What do you mean?"
"Limestone," Cloudy Quartz spoke up, "That was the pony known as The Digging Unicorn. He is head of the stonework production in Canterlot. He specializes in finding rare and valuable gems all across Equestria. And has enough bits to buy a city if he wants to. And he was going to be a new customer of the Rock Farm and expand our business to Yakyakistan with a multi-million-bit contract. We were going to discuss the terms of the deal after dinner. And you made him destroy his pride to get his most precious stone back."
Limestone's eyes grew, and her mouth dropped as her mother explained how vital that stallion would be to the rock farm. "What?" she said dumbly,
"We will discuss this later, everypony," The father said, "For now, I believe everypony need to cool off and think about what has happened. In the morning, I will try to talk to him again to see if there is any way for us to continue our business with him."
"What?"
"Maud, help your sister to her room." The mom said, "I think she is out of it." Maud nods at this and pushes her sister into the house.
"What?"
Meanwhile, down in the mines in a safe area, Red Comet looks concerned to his friend.
"You okay there?"
"Never better," he said over his shoulder,
Comet sighs at this and steps in front of him, stopping him in his tracks, "Look. I know that you are upset with what happened earlier. But if you continue acting like this. I will pull you out of these tunnels and drop you in a lake to cool off."
The Digging Unicorn sighs at this and looks down in shame, "Sorry, Comet."
"It is alright." He hugs his friend on the side. "You had a bad day it happens to all of us." They shared a hug and broke off to begin their work when Comet spoke up, "SO, how was it?"
"How was what?"
"You know the kiss. You never told me that you kissed a mare before."
The Digging Unicorn let out a sigh and look at him, "You know what, because you calm me down. I will give you a three-second head start." He said, lifting a small pile of pink rocks behind him with his magic.
Comet sees this and slowly backs away. "Hay, hay, not Corundum that hurts."
"Two."
"Hay, come on, I was just teasing."
"One."
"You will never get me!" He shouts, sprinting down a tunnel with the rocks following after him.
"You are a pain in the flank, but you somehow always know how to make me smile."
"Now, if I can only stop you from hurting me. That would be GREAT!"
Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
I will forgive you on one condition
A few days have passed since the Pie family saw the two stallions together above the surface. Occasuly, they would see Red Comet come out of the ground to collect some water, but that was it. No pony wanted to talk with each other — Exspceaily from the Digging Unicorn. No pony from the Pie side has seen him since Limestone had him swallow his pride a few days ago, which infuriates Limestone. Not that she misses him, mind you. She hates the stallion; However, what she hates, even more is that she just cost the rock farm a major potential business partner by settling a personal score against him.
Limestone spent the past few days looking into what this so-called Digging Unicorn was. Not only did she find out that everything that her father said was true about the stallion, but she also found out that not only did he have enough bits to his name that would make the nobles in Canterlot turn heads. He is also the only stallion in Equestria that can single hoof find the rarest gems and stones in one week when it would take a whole mining crew two years to get the same amount.
Limestone Pie, a strong-headed mare and hard as nails, is currently slamming her head against the wall of her room.
"Why," WHAM! "Why," WHAM! "Why," WHAM! "Why."
As she was doing this, Marble peek from the doorway to see her sister trying to make a new hole in her wall, "Ah, Limestone?"
She stops for a moment before turning to face her sister, "Yes?"
"Why do you hate the wall?"
"It's not the wall I am upset about, Marble. It is myself." She bucks a table to the wall, not breaking it, "I might have messed up big time."
"I am sure Father can get the stallion to listen to reason."
"Not likely. And I am mostly to blame. If I had known who he was and how important he would be for the rock farm. I would have never done what I did." Limestone throws herself onto her bed, grunting into the mattress.
"Well, no pony is perfect. Even you deserve a break."
Limestone lifts her head off the bed and looks to her sister, "I know you are trying to cheer me up, Marble. But I want to be left alone, please." A moment of silence passes as Limestone lays down her head again with a sigh. "Why does life have to be so unfair?"
As she was lost in her thoughts, She soon heard the approach of somepony into her room, "I thought I said I want to be alone."
"You didn't tell me that."
Limestone raised her head off the bed to see that Maud had entered her room, not Marble, "What do you want?"
"Dad finished talking with Red Comet, and he is certain he can get his friend to continue business with us."
Limestone gets off the bed quickly, "That great news. Once the business deal is made, we can finally have proper funding for everything! Imagine all the things we could afford; imagine all the rocks."
"But there is one condition."
"And that would be?"
"You want me to WHAT?"
Red Comet rubs his ears, "As I said, I want you to help us."
Limestone's left eye has a twitch to it as she talks to him, "Why would I ever want to work with him of all ponies?"
He sighs, putting a hoof to his face, before looking back at her, "Look, I know that you two don't get along. But we have a job to do and are short a hoof down there. So this will be killing two birds with one stone."
Limestone looks to her family behind Red Comet. They aren't giving her any help. She only got a hoof sign from Mom saying to continue. She rolls her eyes before continuing the conversation, "Are you sure there isn't any other way?"
He puts a hoof to his face in thought, "Well... You could go on a date with m..." His stomach drops as Limestone growls at him, showing her teeth, "Never mind."
"So what is it that we are going to be doing?"
"To understand that, you need to understand what we are and why we do what we do."
*AHEM*"A long time ago, there were the three tribes of Ponies, Unicorn Pegasus, and Earth Ponies. The Earth ponies would cultivate the lands, the pegasus would make the weather, and the unicorns would move the sun and moon. I am sure you heard of the tales of Hearts Warming Eve and the powerful Windigos. And that through the power of friendship, the windigos were defeated, never to be seen again. But that is not the whole story. What if the division of the tribes did not cause the arrival of the Windigos? What if the hatred among the ponies what not the cause of the Windigos? After all, if that was the case, then where are they now?"
"Windigos cause a cold northern wind when the tribes don't get along. But that happens every day, so that can't be the reason. If you think about it, the windigos would still be here, causing the cold for those ponies that don't get along. So why did they only show up when all the ponies in the tribes each tribe hate each other and not before? What if the Windigos had never existed before that moment? What if the Mystical Windigos are not natural creatures in these lands?"
"Okay, so where are you going with this?" Limestone interrupted him scratching the side of her head, "Because I have no idea what you are going on about." She looks at her family to see they aren't fairing any better.
Red Comet sighs at this before summarizing his speech, "To put it simply, the reason that the Windigos only showed up when they did is that somepony summon them. Or rather, somepony made them."
"WHAT!" Everypony exclaimed.
"How is that possible?" Limestone asked,
"An old ritual with a lot of ponies. You have seen them already."
"You mean that spirits in the city underground? I thought that you said they were put there because they have a strong attachment to the town they are a part of. And that is why they are still there."
"Yes and no. For the most part, what we have told you earlier is true. However, recently we have found signs of a ritual circle in the underground town binding them there. So even if we finish our job to reinforce the walls and ceiling of the city, they can't move on so long as the ritual circle is still there."
Limestone nods at this, "Okay, so what do you want me to do?"
"Nothing too serious. You will mostly stay quiet most of the time, chant a few words after a little dance, and that is it."
"That is it?"
"That is it."
"So, why do you need me?"
"Because for the removal of the ritual circle to work, we need three ponies. One from each tribe."
"And that is where I come into play?"
"That is right."
"So, how long will it take?"
"Not long at all. Five minutes at most."
"Five minutes? If it takes that long to free those spirits, how is this still a problem?" The other Pies nod in agreement,
"It's not common knowledge of how to free them, and this is far few in between to raise awareness about them. It would be a waste of time. Also, I believe we might have found the last one. So there is no point in telling anypony about it. But performing the ritual to free them is very dangerous for anypony that don't know what they are doing."
"If it's so dangerous? Why are you asking me for help?"
"Originally, we had another earth pony coming to help us. But he got on the wrong train, and you can guess the rest."
Limestone rolls her eyes, "But why me?"
"Well, I thought you could do it to help patch up your relationship with D.U."
"Nothing is going-"
"Yeah, yeah, nothing going on between you two;" Red waves his hoof dismissively, "I get it. But I hate for your family to miss out on a great opportunity over an argument. I can guarantee you that if you help us. D.U. will forgive you."
Limestone takes a breath before giving her answer, "Fine,"
"I know, right? It is a win-win for every pony."
After Limestone bid her family goodbye. She and comet head into the underground, where the Digging Unicorn was waiting for them at one of his workstations. But he was less than enthusiastic at hearing from Red Comet what happen earlier.
"No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No!" The Digging Unicorn screamed at Red Comet, he tried to speak up, but D.U. interpret him, "NO!"
"Bro, come on."
"No, you come on. You know what will happen if we let her participate in the ritual removal?" This got Limestone's attention but could not voice her concern as the two stallions bicker amongst themselves.
"That will only happen if we don't do it correctly. Not to mention that the process is so simple that a foal could do it."
"Regardless, what makes you think I would ever what to work with her?"
Getting annoyed, Limestone spoke, "I am right here, you know."
"No, Pony cares!" He turns to face glaring at her,
Red Comet puts a hoof on The Digging Unicorn's shoulder, trying to calm him, "Calm down already. We don't have many options, and she is willing to help. You know better than any pony that the longer we wait, the harder it will be to remove it." He removes his hoof, "Besides, we are running out of time,"
He huffs at him, "Fine," he turns to face Limestone, "Just do what we say, no questions asked, and for the love of all that is good, stay quiet." Limestone didn't say anything, "Will you speak up so I know that you heard me."
She smirks, "I am sorry, but I was told not to say another word."
"I hate you so much."
"And I hate you."
Red Comet shakes his head, "Can we get this going?"
As they move further down the tunnels, Limestone speaks up, "Hay Comet?"
"Yes?"
"Well, during these past few days, I was researching your friend."
"Did you know?" He had a smirk on his face,
She glares at him, "Business reasons only. During my research, I noticed that no pony or text record has ever mentioned his real name. The only thing I got is that he goes by the Digging Unicorn. Not even Maud knows his name; she is more into the rock community than me."
"Oh, that. Well, I can't tell you."
"Can't or won't?"
"Let's say that nopony is not allowed to speak his name." Comet pointed at the Digging Unicorn, "But that is a tale for another time."
"Why, what happened?"
"A mare that couldn't leave me alone, that is what happened," The digging Unicron said, looking back at her, "Now, are you done stalking me? Or do we have to sit around for an hour sharing painful memories?"
They continue their journey in silence, with one thought bothering Limestone the whole way as the city came into view. Just what happened to you?
Limestone and the Digging Unicorn
The journey into the village under the rock farm was short and quiet. Limestone wanted to say something to end the silence but couldn't. Least she gets the spirits nearby angry. Looking around the city, she can see spirits flying in and out of the builds with a cold chill in the air. Of course, being underground is cold, but this feeling she was getting didn't feel natural. And it got colder the closer they got to the center of the town. Her body shivered against the cold she could see her breath. At the center of the city, she can see a small pagoda with no walls supported by six pillars. She notices that it's surrounded by a group of blue glowing mushrooms in pots similar to the one she saw when she was in the unicorn's care.
Once they are inside the pagoda, she sees four circles carved into the floor. Three of the rings are big enough for a pony to stand inside. All are connected to the fourth one in the center of the others in a triangle formation. Looking at the carvings, she can see that one of the circles has an earth pony carved into the ring, with a unicorn and a pegasus cutting in the other two. As for the fourth one, she can see what looks like an alicorn running in the wind. And for some reason, the center one was a little lower into the ground than the rest.
"Okay, let's get this over with. You are going to need to mesmerize this." The Digging Unicorn speaks up, alerting Limestone as a piece of paper floats in front of her, " Relax, as long as we are within the glows of those mushrooms, we are fine."
"Oh, so now we can talk?" Limestone says relieved to be able to talk again as she grabs the paper.
"Yes, but please don't shout as you learn the chant."
After looking over the paper she notices that is similar to one of the songs from the Hearts Warming Eve play. Or was it the book about the Windigos? It took her some time to get it right but she was ready. "So, what do we do now?"
"We each must step into the circles with our tribe's marking. And then we can begin."
The three of them step into the circles facing the center. Limestone was expecting something to happen when they did that but was disappointed nothing did.
"Now we each have to use our tribe's magic, and before you ask Limestone. You have to stomp your circle."
She did just that, and nothing happens, "Well?"
"You have to charge the circle. Do it a few more times," He replies with his magic glowing from his horn as Red Comet flaps his wings in his circle,
She rolls her eyes and continues to stomp. Before long, she notices that the lines around her circle started to glow lime-green. This causes her to stop, and the glowing stops.
"Why did you stop?"
"Are you saying I have to keep that up the whole time?"
"What do you think?" He replied as his circle glows blue as Comet's glow orange,
She huffs at him and proceeds to stomp the ground into oblivion. Surprisingly the ground didn't give away as it starts to glow again. The colors of the circles slowly follow through the lines around the ponies forming three solid circles before following into the final circle, causing a rainbow of light to appear from its engraved lines.
While Limestone stomps the ground, she thought she heard something calling her. She turned around to see if something was there but didn't see anything.
"What's wrong, Limestone?" Red asked,
"I thought I heard something."
"Ignore it." D.U. said, "You are starting to hear the voice of the spirits nearby. It is a side effect of the ritual circle." As he said this, the lines around every pony started to fill with silver liquid before flowing into the center circle, "Now don't let up we are almost done with the first part."
As they continue, the spirits of the ponies nearby start to gather around them, silently whispering to them. This makes Limestone feel uncomfortable. "Relax; so long as the mushrooms are nearby, they will leave us be." The Digging Unicorn said to no one in particular. Soon the center circle started to fill up with the liquid before completely submerge. "Okay, that is enough, every pony."
Limestone pants as she stares down the Digging Unicorn, "I thought you said I had to keep that up for the whole time."
"I never said that." He said with a smirk as Limestone shook a hoof at him.
"Can we get this over with already?" Red Comet said, "If I have to stand another minute of you two flirting with each other, I am going to leave."
Both ponies looked at him shouting with all their might, "WE ARE NOT FLIRTING!" As soon as they said this, they covered their mouths, looking around. The spirits nearby didn't seem to be bothered, making the two sigh in relief.
"Whatever you two say."
"Keep it, Comet." D.U. says glaring at him, "I know where you sleep."
"Staker."
"Annoyance."
"If we are done insulting each other." Limestone interprets them, "What is the next step?"
"Next, we have to say a chant. In this order, Unicorn, Pegasus, and then Earth Pony." He clears his throat as he begins to sing in a deep voice,
We see a warm wind blowing through
We see days that are fun and free,
We see a future caused by us,
We see a path meant to be
As he chants the words, the colors surrounding him start to glow brightly, alarming Limestone. But she calms down when she notices that Comet is not worried.
The future will be filled with magic
Dreams and wishes brought to life,
The days ahead are Bright with Magic,
There is hope for all is good
It might be Limestone's imagination, but is it getting warmer? Moving around her circle, careful not to leave it. She found that the warmth she was feeling was coming from where D.U. is standing.
Whatever that will be
All the dreams that ponies share
And because of us here,
The future will be a sanctuary.
Once he finished this, a pillar of blue light came from his circle, touching the ceiling. Limestone can still see him inside the pillar of light, but his eyes are glowing blue for some reason. He didn't say anything to them as Red comet starts singing the chant. Figuring that this was necessary, she waits patiently for her turn.
Once it was LImestone's turn, a lone spider was woken up from sleep. It looked down from its web to see what was happening and why it was getting warmer. Wanting to get warmer, it let itself down by a web string dangling in the air. And it so happens that the circle above was Limestone's circle at the time. Limestone was about to finish her chant when she got a close encounter with a new friend. But let's be honest, what would you do if a spider the size of your hoof lands on your face out of nowhere?
"And because of us here, the future will be a GET IT OFF!" Limestone flails her hoofs around, trying to get the spider off her. She took a step out of the circle, causing the color to change from lime green to red.
"Limestone, NO!" D.U. cries out in alarm,
Before any of them knew what had happened, the fourth circle glow a bright red, filling the underground with a deep red light before turning to a bright blue, making everypony shield their eyes before everything goes dark.
Limestone's body felt cold, very cold. She shivers violently, trying to wake up, and hears some ponies nearby arguing. She can't make out what they are saying. But one sounds like her father, and the other is the Digging Unicorn. Why do they sound so far away? Why is it so cold? Where is she? And why can't she open her eyes? She can hear his voice fade away as darkness consumes Limestone again, going back to sleep to the numbing cold.
She wakes up once again this time, she is in a train's sleeping cart bed lying on her side, along with a thick blanket and a source of heat greeting her from behind. She can barely move her head as she moves closer to the heat source behind her. She hears somepony approaching, and with great effort, she slightly opens one eye to see that it is Red Comet with a hot beverage. But she is so weak to grab it, so why did he have it, and why was he moving it towards her?
"How are you doing, Bro?" He said, moving the beverage over her as her heat source moved,
"I... I... I have... been...been better." The Digging Unicron replied with chattering teeth,
"That is good to hear."
Wait, is there a Stallion behind me sharing my bed? Under a blanket! And is it that Unicron Stallion!? I am going to kill him! After he stops being so warm. Limestone thought, closing her eye as the two stallions talk away as darkness consumed her again.
Limestone doesn't remember much after the train ride. She must have passed out shortly after waking up. But now she feels warm, very warm, it feels so lovely and... wet? Slowly her eyes start opening, and she finds that she is indeed wet. Except for her head, her whole body is submerged underwater. Looking around, she can tell she is in a hot spring. She had only heard about them but had never been in one. The spring was small but roomy, even to give three ponies a comfortable space. A towel is on a rack for her to dry off near the door. But first things first.
"I am going to kill that stallion," She said out loud, getting out of the spring, "All I have to do is stay quiet before saying a few words, he said," Limestone says to herself as she dries herself off, "It will be over before I know it he said," She throws the towel at the wall, "It is a win-win for everypony he said," She shakes herself dried, "Well I don't think so. When I get my hooves on that stallion, he will never be able to walk again!" She opens the door to find a pair of silver eyes waiting for her on the other side.
This startles Limestone causing her to back up to see that it was an earth pony mare with a light yellow coat and deep yellow mane with curls. Before Limestone could say anything, the mare spoke, "Hello, it's good to see that you are up and about. I was worried I would have to get you out myself again."
"Who are you?"
The mare giggles into her hoof before she lowers her head in a slight bow, "I am Daisy Glow, Lady Pie," She raises her head, her smile never leaving her face, and closes her eyes, tilting her head slightly, "And I would like to welcome you to our humble home."
"Your home? And where might that be?" Limestone says, trying to figure out where she was.
Daisy Glow shakes her head slowly, "That is not important right now. What is important is that you follow me and don't talk to strange ponies." She starts walking down the hallway with Limestone following her,
"You are a strange pony." Limestone says flatly,
"I know, right," Daisy said, looking back at her, "It is a strange saying that one is. I mean. Come on, if you can't talk to strange ponies. Then how will you ever meet new ponies? I have always wanted to change that saying into something else, but I got nothing. The closest thing I have ever gotten is to only talk to ponies you can trust. But then you can only talk to ponies within your friend circle. So that won't work. Did I mention that it is good to have another mare to talk to yet?"
Limestone sighs as she rubs a headache coming along, "You talk just like my younger sister."
This gets Daisy to gasp and gives Limestone her full attention as she slowly advances towards her, "You got a sister! How many? And do you have any brothers? Are they little cutie pies? Or are they all grown up and have families of their own?"
Limestone backs up to a wall getting nervous by this mare. She never had to deal with ponies like this very often, so her only defense to this is to answer their questions and hope they go away, "Aah, Three sisters, no brothers, they are adults, and no."
Daisy backs away as she stomps the floor, "You are so lucky; I got stuck being the oldest of five brothers."
Limestone tilts her head, confused at this, "That doesn't sound too bad."
"Well, true, but nothing of them are mares. So I can't do any mare stuff with them. Besides, most of them are quiet, except for the middle brother. No telling what is going on with that one." She huffs and starts leading them down the hallway until they arrive at a sliding door, "Here we are." She said, opening a door and showing Limestone inside. The floor was covered in green mats, a sliding closet to the side, one small dresser, and a small table in the center of the room with hot tea ready to be served, "This will be where you stay for now. I will be back with your meal, and I hope you enjoy your stay."
"Wait!" Limestone halting Daisy, "I WANT ANSWERS!"
"To what, Miss Pie?" she says innocently as if nothing is wrong,
"What happened to me, how long have I been out, and what will happen to me."
Daisy puts a hoof to her chin in thought while looking up before answering her, "To put it simply, you goofed up a ritual removal about a week ago, I am not sure; and BYE," she says quickly before closing the door behind her.
"WAIT!" Limestone shouted, trying to open the door to find it locked, "I WILL NOT BE IGNORED!"
Author's Note
I know those old readers that have read this story before will be confused as to what happened to the next two chapters. Well, I figure that this was a good point to end this point in time, for D.U. and Limestone and I can make another story for their adventures to continue.
But I hope you enjoy this story and come back for more later.
