Hot and Cold in the Capital Cityby Casketbase77ChaptersCuteness at the CaféMuseum MusingsStreetside SightseeingTalk at Town's TopsideHomeCuteness at the CaféSandstone Shine flipped through his menu. Getting a grip on the pages wasn’t easy for him, since his hooves were bulkier than a native Equestrian’s. He glanced up at Sapphire, who sat across the open air table. She was studying an appetizer list. “I gotta say Saph, Canterlot foodstuffs sure are…” “Exotic?” “Expensive.” Sapphire giggled and shrugged her shiny shoulders. “I’m not good at gauging prices. Ya know, since the Crystal Empire is a thousand years behind Equestria when it comes to inflation.” “You’ve lived in Canterlot for the past five years.” “Sure, but only as a ward of Heart Manor. That trip I was on when we met, that was the first time I'd traveled with my own purse of money.” Sapphire’s cheeks were getting red. “I also… haven’t been on a lunch date before. Or any date at all.” She buried her embarrassed face in her menu again. Sandstone didn’t know how a bloodless creature like Sapphire was capable of blushing. But he also didn’t know what he was going to order for lunch, and between the two unknowns, that second one was more important right now. He re-examined the drink selection. Then his sunbleached eyebrows raised in surprise. A glass of water was free of charge? Sandstone most certainly wasn’t in Saddle Arabia anymore. “Can I take you dolls’s order?” Sandstone flinched. In the Kalahorsey desert, the only sounds that snuck up on you were rattlesnakes and sand pirates. Not pink-scaled dragon waitresses. Had Sandstone panic whinnied? He hoped not. The goal was to get through lunch without anything embarrassing happening. “I’ll just start with a water,” Sandstone managed. “Good choice, doll. ‘Specially on a hot day like this.” Sandstone’s definition of ‘hot day’ was different from an Equestrian lifer's. He tugged at the sleeve of his windbreaker while Sapphire held up her menu to the waitress. “What’s this here? The Gem Of The Day?” “Ah, that'd be imported Dragon Cuisine, ma’am. Today’s stock is topaz crumbles with dipping syrup.” “Oooh, I had a topaz night light when I was a foal. I had no idea they were edible! I’ll take a plate of that.” The waitress nodded and plodded briskly away. Sapphire beamed at Sandstone until she noticed his downturned mouth. Her coltfriend was a weathered workhorse, his features so wrinkled from desert life that strangers couldn’t tell his default face from his concerned one. Sapphire, however, was not a stranger. “You okay, big guy?” “Are you sure about that dish you just ordered?” “Whaddya mean?” “You are what you eat is an Equestrian saying, right? I didn’t think it's supposed to be literal.” “Huh?” Sapphire examined her forelegs resting politely on the table. They glinted glassy and cerulean in the sunlight. A similar shade to the gems being prepared in the cafe’s kitchen. “Oh, you mean cuz I’m made of… hm. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Like, seaponies eat fish all the time, right? And Griffons hunt small birds.” Sandstone shrugged. “Wouldn’t know. Their types don’t visit Saddle Arabia. Or at least not the region where I give tours. I’ve seen dead vultures get ignored by live ones though.” “Aw, no carrion for carryout?” Sandstone’s bushy eyebrows shifted again, this time in obvious confusion. Sapphire stuck her tongue out. “That was a pun. Don’t think too hard about it, Sandy. And back on the whole eating gems thing, you worry too much. This is a gourmet restaurant! The best that Canterlot has to offer!” “If you’re sure, then you’re sure. You know the capital city better than I do.” Sapphire bit her lip and Sandstone silently fretted. Was he coming across as mopey and snide? He wasn’t trying to; that was just how he was. Just like how he didn't try to tower above everypony else on the street, and how he didn't try to shiver at this supposedly warm weather, and- No, Faust dangit! Sandstone had already decided he wasn’t a mopey horse! Must course correct. Must make this afternoon a good one worth making a treasured memory. When Sapphire smiled, she did so for both of them. But right now, she wasn't smiling at all. Sandstone rubbed his leathery nose. “Erm… how about we check out the downtown history museum after lunch? There’ll probably be exhibits on the Crystal Empire and on Saddle Arabia. Maybe even some relics we’d recognize. Ya know, old world types that we both are.” Sapphire Oasis pondered. Then nodded. Then to Sandstone’s relief her regular comfortable smile returned. “It's a date,” she confirmed. And as if on cue, the waitress reappeared. “One water,” she announced. Sandstone was floored by the sight of real honest to Faust ice cubes in his glass. Also perched on the rim was a slice of some fancy exotic yellow fruit. “And one Gem Of The Day Special.” Sapphire’s plate was piled high and shining bright. Not as bright as her eyes when she saw it, though. “Will that be all for now, dolls?” Sapphire was too transfixed to answer, so Sandstone nodded brusquely and the waitress bowed out. A pregnant pause followed. “Those look pretty flashy,” Sandstone commented. “But as a flesh and blood pony, I’m not really an expert. What’s the verdict from your, um, Crystal point of view?” Sandstone sucked on his straw, watching his date palm a piece of deep fried topaz. “This feels…” Sapphire looked off-kilter. “It feels like me. Or… like someone I know. Shrunk down or something.” She prodded the appetizer with a free hoof, then prodded her cheek for comparison. Her smile was wavering again. “You know, if you’re having second thoughts, you don’t have to eat tha-” “Second thoughts?! That’s a laugh! Ha! You hear that? That was a laugh. Just now.” “Saph,” Sandstone warned. He was drowned out by loud, over-enthusiastic crunching. Sapphire Oasis swallowed, making a face like a foal who’d just choked down a salt lick supplement. Then she wolfed down another gem. And another. The dipping syrup was so far going untouched. “These taste like… urgh!… you ever bit the inside of your cheek? They’re just like that.” “You look really pale.” “Huh? Nah, I uh…” Sapphire tossed back a fourth gem, this time not even chewing. Sandstone swore he heard it hit the bottom of her calcified stomach. The sound wasn’t a good one. “They’re just dry, is all. Or maybe spicy? I feel hot. Do you feel hot? It feels hot all of a sudden.” Sandstone hoofed his half empty water across the table. Sapphire wordlessly gulped it down, ice and all. “Need a refill on that, doll?” Sapphire locked eyes with the attentive waitress. Sandstone swore he heard the sound of glass breaking. Sapphire suddenly pushed back from the table, bolted to some nearby bushes, and barfed out a dusty stream of powdered topaz. The waitress shook her head. “Ya know, the chef gave me a funny look when I told ‘im somepony wanted to sample the gem special. ‘Tween you and me, our Gem Of The Day has actually been Gem Of The Past Few Months, since no one with hooves has been bold enough to order it.” Sandstone buried his face in his forelegs. Then he heard the waitress soften her tone. “That sir, is a brave mare you managed to bag.” Sandstone hadn’t thought of it like that. When he picked his head up, Sapphire was still doubled over in the bushes. Her legs were shaking but she held herself steady. The illness seemed gone, replaced by simple embarrassment. Even her smile was coming back, with all its brightness. Sandstone knew he wasn't good for producing brightness himself. But what he could produce was a generous hoofful of Bits from his windbreaker pocket. “This covers our check, right?” The waitress nodded, too stunned by the amount to answer. “Then the rest is your tip.” Sandstone pushed back from the table and trotted over to Sapphire. He was a heavy horse with even heavier steps, so she heard him coming and straightened up. “We still on for the museum?” she asked sheepishly. Museum Musings“-and this piece,” the Changedling guide was saying, “is a rather famous landscape painting. Can anyone here guess what it depicts?” Mumbles rippled through the tour group. Some of the present ponies were putting their heads together to ponder the painting. Sandstone and Sapphire were two of them. “I don’t know a thing about this type of art, Saph. I’ve been around pots, hieroglyphs, and textiles, but not anything made of paint.” “I’m in the same cart. Ya know, I thought the museum would have, like, taxidermied manticores. Or ancient dragon bones. Guess not.” Her tail was swishing apprehensively. ‘B-but, this tour hasn’t been bad so far, right? We’re um, we’re learning about new stuff. New stuff is good in its own way, isn’t it?” Sandstone stroked his date's ears. “It’s good, Saph. I promise.” At the front of the tour group, a colt with big glasses raised his hoof. “Are those the Manehatten Mountains in the background?” The Changedling guide nodded approvingly. “That they are, kiddo. But where’s Manehatten?” “It… it…” the colt’s face was scrunched as he connected the dots. “It wasn’t built yet!” “That it wasn’t, very good. This is a commemorative landscape piece, painted by one of the first settlers to that region. It hung in the first building erected there, the Manehatten Town Hall, until it was donated to the Canterlot Art Museum you all stand in now.” The murmurs picked up again, this time in full appreciation of the painting. Sandstone however, was staring silently. Sapphire noticed. “You good?” “I’ve heard of Manehatten. Plenty of tourists come to Saddle Arabia from there. Biggest city in Equestria, they say. Bigger than Canterlot, somehow.” Sapphire rocked on her heels thoughtfully. She was an aspirational world traveler, but the key word in there was 'aspirational.' Ninety-nine percent of her life had been spent in either Crystal Empire cram school or, when she was old enough to move out, a boarding room in Heart Manor. That last, precious one percent of her time had been a two week trip to Saddle Arabia. That was a month ago. She’d met Sandstone there, and the rest was Sphinx-slaying history. All that said, Sapphire had no knowledge of Manehatten. “A great big city sprung up from wild countryside.” Sandstone was regarding the painting and shaking his shaggy head. “All I’ve ever seen in my life are ruins. Stuff that’s long gone. Never anything that's just starting its story.” “Ya know big guy, maybe ‘new’ isn’t necessarily a good thing. Not if it prompts an existential crisis.” “This next piece,” the Changedling guide was saying, “is our oldest Yak-made textile we have open to the public.” Oohs and aahs accompanied the sight of an ornate expanse of burlap. It took up most of the wall it occupied. Yaks were big creatures. Sapphire chuffed in satisfaction. Blankets were her second favorite thing to snuggle up with at night. She glanced at her number one favorite snuggle buddy, and was surprised to see his hoof raised like he was a schoolcolt with a question. Sandstone looked surprised with himself too. "Aha! Yes?" The Changeling guide was openly thrilled to field an unprompted question. "Can I answer the Namib Perd in the back?" "What are- oh wow, you know Saddle Arabian." Sandstone seemed even more off-balance now. Sapphire leaned against him reassuringly. "Well, not have pride in something unsavory," (the Changeling guide bowed to hide his bashfulness) "But my people know most languages instinctively. An evolved quirk that helped our ancestors... keep up appearances, if you know I mean." He straightened up and gave a winked his compound eye. "I taste a fair bit of curiosity from this group. If you want to learn more about Changelings, catch me the next time I'm doing a shapeshifting demonstration in the theater hall. There's an event board in the foyer has details." "Shrewd self plug there," Sandstone complimented. "But I did want to ask about those older Yak blankets. The ones not open to the public. Any story to those?" The guide shrugged playfully. "If you're fantasizing about national secrets encoded in patchwork stitches, I'm sorry to disappoint. Best we have are old clothing scraps too damaged from age. Not any fun for tourists to look at. This piece however-" he gestured behind himself- "has bright colors and a story to go with it. It's no blanket, but a former Equestrian embassy rug. See the hoofprints still visible on it, everyone? The larger ones are from Yak diplomats. The smaller ones are from Ponies who met with them." Sandstone nodded, and the Changeling guide gave the group a well-rehearsed recitation of the first time Yaks and Ponies encountered one another. In typical Yak tradition, there had been much celebratory smashing of the surroundings. The only surviving objects of the happy meeting would have been unsmashable textiles like the rug here. Sapphire of course was hanging onto every word of the anthropological story. She didn't notice the first nudge from Sandstone. Nor the second. The third got through her concentration though. "Hm? Oh. What's up?" She kept her voice politely quiet to avoid interrupting. The guide's story was currently explaining how yaks created art with no tools: they smashed the materials together. "He knows more than he's telling," Sandstone whispered. "You really think so?" Sapphire regarded the Changeling, who was basking in the attention of his audience. No doubt feeding on it too. "He doesn't look like a bad bug to me." Sandstone chuffed. "I didn't say he was a 'bad bug.' He's not. At least, I don't think he is. But he's definitely a pro at deflecting tough questions. And he knows how to endear himself to tourists." Sapphire held her apprehensive breath. Then Sandstone snorted softly. "What I'm trying to say is I tip my hat to him, one lifelong tour guide to another. He's a master of the craft. Wish I could shake his hoof." Sapphire gasped and bounced excitedly, earning a few annoyed glares from the surrounding museum goers. She lowered her head but not her energy. "We should go to one of his shapeshifty performance whatevers he plugged earlier! Attend the meet-and-greet afterwards, have you introduce yourself personally by name-" Sandstone stayed stonefaced, but never in a million was moons would he swagger up to a creature who could literally taste awkwardness. "-and you could ask his name too. Then you and him could talk about guy stuff, swap trade secrets,-" Sapphire was ready to burst with anticipation. Sandstone was ready to melt with anxiety. "-and he could be the first friend you make in the new city! It'd be great! Whaddya think? Should we go check that bulletin board? Reserve some spots at his next show?" Sandstone was trapped. Like a flea in an ant lion pit. If he went forward with Sapphire's idea, he'd embarrass both of them. But if he backed out, he'd break Sapphire's overly optimistic heart. He needed a miracle to save him now. A miracle was what he got in the form of the Changeling's sudden announcement. "This next piece is a commemorative wax sculpture of King Thorax. The first modern leader of my people, you know. Hey, fun food-related fact: Changelings were prone to pretty bad nausea when we first began metabolizing our own love. Can anyone here think of a time they themselves ate something that was too familiar to sit well?" "I changed my mind, Sandstone. Let's leave. Now. Please?" Sandstone made a show of tapping his lip, pretending to deliberate. "Hmm.... Okay. Only if you really want to though." Sapphire bolted for the museum foyer and Sandstone waited until she was out of earshot. Then he exhaled. He spared one last look back at the guide. The two of them made eye contact, and the psychic bug gave his signature knowing wink. I just bailed you out, habibi. No need to thank me. Sandstone snorted in amusement and plodded away. Perhaps Sapphire's friendshipping idea worth pursuing after all. Ah well. He'd hit up the sly Changedling some other time. Sandstone hurried outside after his date. Streetside SightseeingThe Canterlot Art Museum had wide steps outside its entrance. Wide enough for ponies to mull around without blocking foot traffic. Sandstone moved with purpose past a filly drawing with sidewalk chalk. Then he stepped gingerly past a tourist Pegasus frowning at her train ticket. Finally, he caught up to Sapphire near the sidewalk. His marefriend was wistfully watching an old unicorn toss crumbs to pecking pigeons. “The Crystal Empire never had any birds,” she explained. “Except penguins of course. My neighbor Opal Bloom liked to sneak outside the biodome and try to catch one so she could have a pet. She was never quick enough. Boy oh boy, Opal would flip her lid if she could see the way wild Canterlot pigeons eat right out of a pony’s outstretched hoof.” Sandstone didn't have any avian-related foalhood stories of his own. Except maybe one about owls, but it wasn't a fun memory. He stood idly by, trying to think of something to say. A voice nearby piped up instead. "Pardon my eavesdropping, but pigeons aren't the only birds out here looking for crumbs." Plates. That was what Sandstone first noticed about the creature who'd just spoken. He didn't recognize its species, but the thing's front limbs (the ones with claws) gripped four well-worn dowel rods between their digits. And at the end of each rod was a spinning, colorful plate. "Oh wow, Sandstone! A street performer!" The hybrid clicked its beak invitingly and flared two densely feathered wings. The dowel rods tumbled to the ground and the plates went from a spinning pattern to a juggling one. By now, Sapphire's rump was on the sidewalk, freeing her forehooves so she could tap them together in foalish applause. Sandstone himself was transfixed by the mishmashed creature's movements. Colors flashed from those rapidly tossed and re-tossed plates. Red, black, blue, green, repeat. The creature was audibly panting from effort, and so the routine ended with a final flourish: The plates dropped into a neat stack near the sticks. A curtsy from the exhausted performer. A celebratory whistle from Sapphire. Sandstone realized that even he was nodding with approval. "Whew! Very kind of you both to gimme undivided attention. Though if this were Griffonstone, your pockets would've certainly been picked clean before my distracting act was over." Sandstone's hoof went reflexively to the coinpurse in his windbreaker pocket. The creature, which he now guessed was a griffon, laughed heartily. "At ease, Pone Bunyan. I don't steal Bits. Still, if you wanted to toss me a few, they'd be the first ones I earned today." How was a beak able to smile like that? It wasn't natural. It wasn't like how Sapphire did it. Speaking of whom, she was currently nose deep in her purse. "I got some Bits! Not a lot, since Sandstone and I have been around town all afternoon, but yeah! You've earned some for sure!" She pinched a few between her teeth and flicked them into the air. The griffon's quick claws made sure no coin hit the ground, earning another impressed whinny from Sapphire. "You're generous as you are shiny, miss. I'm guessin' you both are tourists?" "Immigrants," Sandstone corrected. He winced at his unintended harshness. The griffon didn't. "Cheers to that, ya lovely odd couple. I'm a vagrant griff myself, so the guess was probably just projection on my part." "Aw, it’s okay." Sapphire's signature smile was back in full force. "And you were kinda-sorta half right. About Sandstone at least. He's newer to town than I am, so we're spending the day sightseeing." "Sapphire!" Sandstone's rebuke was half embarrassment, half caution. This griffon was a stranger. He hadn't even introduced himself to them. As if reading Sandstone's mind, the griffon tutted in repentance. "I go by Gabriel. Old world name, I know. But it's the one I was given, so I stick to it. And apologies 'bout being overly friendly. You two're just the first to cough up any charity pay since I set up in this stingy town. So much for rich folk having Bits to spare, eh?" Sandstone finally pinpointed something about the griffon that made him uneasy. Out of politeness, he chose to not comment and wordlessly pulled his own hoofful of coins. "Whew. I won't say no to pity pay," Gabriel joked. He accepted the peace offering with a silent swipe of the wing. "Day's winding down, anyhoo. So where've you two been? And where're you going next? Oh fiddlesticks. I'm being friendly again." "It’s fine," Sandstone assured through tight teeth. "We ate and took a tour. No real itinerary for the day. Just taking the interesting sights as they come." The nomadic griffon nodded approvingly. "Oh hey, speaking of eating!" Sapphire was bouncing again. "Maybe Gabriel can settle that debate we were having at lunch." Sandstone blinked, his memory blank. "Gabe, what do griffons eat? Stuff that looks like you or stuff that doesn't?" Oh for Faust's sake, how come today's only uniting theme was Sapphire's food fascination? At least Gabriel didn't look offended. In fact, he tapped his beak thoughtfully before supplying answer. "I'm not a picky eater m'self. Field mice are plentiful between towns. Fruit too, if I look hard enough for it. And anything cheap in the markets I see. Quite flatterin' to know talk of muh humble race came up between a pair of Canterlot fancypantses." Sandstone reeled from being called 'fancy' for the first time in his life. Sapphire, in better composure, was the one who answered. "The context is kind of an embarrassing story, but what happened was I'd just ordered... um... oh hey! Sandstone! You mentioned at lunch you'd never actually met a Griffon before!" "Did he now?" Gabriel smoothed his facial feathers to look more presentable. "That explains all his staring. Hope that -heh heh- hope that I've made a good first impression." Internally, Sandstone cursed his floundering stoicism. Outwardly, he opted to play dumb. "I've been staring?" "Like a cornered field mouse from the moment you saw me. Didn't wanna press it, since I was holding out hope the little lady would toss some wages my way." Sapphire blushed. "But hey, now that she has..." a flick of Gabriel's talons presented of his newly earned coins. "Penny for your thoughts, friendo? What is it about my macho physique that has you forgettin' your blink reflex?" Sapphire pursed her lips, looking between the cocky griffon and her reticent coltfriend. The mood wasn't uncomfortable, but it was certainly expectant. Sandstone's tail swished once, twice, and then held steady. "You're an owl," he said simply. That much was true; Gabriel had the face, wings, and forelimbs of a common Equestrian strix. His eyes were bigger than the Saddle Arabian desert breed, which Sandstone was far too familiar with. And the facial feathers framing them weren't as drab. But those features were still familiar enough to bring up certain memories. "Ooh, an owl. I didn't even notice." Sapphire was musing aloud, as she tended to. "Bet I would've noticed if Opal Bloom were here. Oh wow, I wonder if there are penguin griffons out there too." Gabriel's oversized eyes surveyed Sandstone. If the Saddle Arabian were more comfortable, he'd have shrugged playfully. He wasn't comfortable. "You don't like owls, do ya Big Stuff?" Sandstone flushed with cold. Not from the question, nor from the setting sun behind his back. But because Sapphire's smile disappeared the moment she realized something was up. "Sandstone? Babydoll? Are you okay?" "I'm... fine. It's fine. It'd be a long story." Gabriel clicked his beak in bemusement. "Well now you have to come clean. Give this ramblin' griff a memorable yarn to fly off with." His oversized eyes swiveled to Sapphire now. "Your lady looks ready to faint with worry. Can't you open up for her sake?" Damn it all. Sandstone could count on one hoof the things he wouldn't do 'for her sake.' He was obligated now. "My m- ahem!" Sandstone shut his eyes and forced himself to keep talking. "My mom hammered it into my head when I was little: rattlesnakes are dangerous. Rattlesnakes are the worst. The number one thing that can end a foal's life in the desert is a rattlesnake." Words were pouring out like he was a broken hourglass. "So I always watched where I stepped in the sands. Gave every rattler I saw a wide berth, and I saw plenty of them. Then one time, when I was maybe four or five, I saw an owl kill and eat one. Kill a rattlesnake! Like it was nothing! So after that and until I was teen who'd grown out of it, I wasn't so scared anymore of snakes. But did have... because of that... I had this pointlessly intense fear of owls." Sandstone's eyes were still shut tight, and his tail was swishing again. Then he heard Gabriel burst out laughing. Sapphire joined in, and Sandstone regarded them both, scowling impotently. Gabriel was the first to catch his breath. "What a roundabout compliment. I'll certainly take it, though. There I was spinning plates on sticks, scaring the living daylights out of a horse twice my size." "I wasn't scared," Sandstone grunted defensively. "It was just a strong memory is all." He felt a nudge and saw Sapphire leaning against him again. "Thanks for sharing," she reassured. "I'm sorry we laughed." Sandstone sighed in exasperation. Gabriel meanwhile was picking up his street performance props. "Whew! What a wild note to kick off my evening flight. Don't expect anything in this town to top that story, so I'd best be moving on." "Really? So early in the day?" Sapphire looked around, finally realizing that the street was empty and the sun had set. "Huh. Scratch that last comment, I guess." "You two are adorable. I can report that much." A few flaps got Gabriel airborne and he jokingly patted his new friends' heads. Sapphire giggled when Sandstone involuntarily flinched. “I'm off to wherever it is I'm called to," Gabriel announced. He rubbed his hands together, since a few stray mane hairs were stuck to the talons. "Thanks for gifting something to carry with me, lovebirds." Sandstone nodded curtly. Over the years, he'd gotten comfortable meeting creatures once and then never again. Still, Sapphire looked sad to see this new friend go. Perhaps a stronger goodbye was warranted. "It was pleasant to meet you, Gabriel." "D'aww, I appreciate the lie. I really do. But do try to look inwards for some peace and calm, my little pony. I can tell you firsthoof it is no fun to see the world through jaded eyes.” With a few more flaps, the griffon was gone. Sandstone and Sapphire were alone, staring upwards from the quiet street. "The stars are pretty today," Sapphire observed. Sandstone stood reticent. He wanted to look down, to see whether Sapphire was still smiling, but he disciplined himself. He continued stargazing. Gabriel had left, but his parting advice stayed in Sandstone's mind. Pulling his marefriend close, the Saddle Arabian immigrant took in the skyline of Canterlot. His attention settled on a public terrace far up the cliffside. "You up for a hike, Saph? I want to make one more stop today." Author's Note Fun fact: Opal Bloom is a canon character, seen in the middle of this groupshot from Season 3 premiere. Since this story (and its prequel) take place after the mainline series, I decided Sapphire and Opal must've grown up together. Talk at Town's TopsideNorthpoint Scenic Lookout. That was the inscription on the railing where Sapphire Oasis rested her chin. Sandstone was too tall to recline the same way, but he still stood nearby. Street lights from Canterlot twinkled below. Star lights from constellations twinkled above. The desert stallion and the arctic mare were between worlds. Alone together. Sapphire spoke first. As she often did. "It’s windier up here than on the streets, huh?" Her coltfriend adjusted his windbreaker. "If you say so. I can't feel any difference." Sapphire cozied up, the crown of her head barely meeting his chin. "Crystal Ponies are real good at retaining heat, you know. Gimme a squeeze if you're feeling numb." When a muscular foreleg draped over Sapphire's withers, her heart quickened. Sandstone was so hard to guess at. So private about his thoughts and feelings. Yet every once in awhile, Sapphire was able to read him. To intuit what he needed. To offer some humble comfort. Moments like these were more precious than a pentillion plates of topaz crumbles. But moments like these were also too rare for her taste. Sapphire and Sandstone's trek from the street to this lookout had been long. And quiet. Sandstone was the one who led the way of course, and Sapphire had followed behind with only her sense of trust for encouragement. Because it was only fair that she follow, right? Every choice today had been hers, and look where they'd led. To a mess at the cafe. To a premature flight from that tour right before Sandstone made a new friend. To a owl she'd been brainless enough to laugh about. Every mishap today had come from Sapphire's fumbling flights of fancy. Sapphire leaned further into Sandstone's chest fluff, hoping he didn't see her bite her lip in frustration. Why did Sandstone put up with her? She was such a selfish excuse for a lover. Inconsiderate. Fickle. More of a babysitting project than a companion. By Faust, Sapphire wasn't good with silences like these. She wasn't cool and controlled like Sandstone. Right now she was actively forcing herself to stay quiet because if she opened her mouth, it'd be all over. She'd spill what they both knew, but didn't want to say: that Sapphire Oasis is a bad marefrien- "Saph, am I a bad coltfriend?" Sapphire Oasis gasped at the blasphemy she'd just heard. She wasn't big enough to properly hug Sandstone, but in an instant she was on her hinds pawing at his broad shoulders anyway. "Never!" Sapphire babbled. "Never ever! How could you even think that?" She felt Sandstone patting her back. She wanted so badly to smile, to broadcast that she was happy simply being near him. But truthfully, she worried he didn't like her habit of smiling. Did he consider her airheaded when she did it? Utterly embarrassing to be around? He never smiled back at her, after all. The patting on her back faded. Sapphire sighed. "How could you even think you're a bad coltfriend?" she repeated in a dull mumble. Sandstone shifted, and with her head so close to his chest, Sapphire could hear his breathing. Quick. Shallow. As if he was nervous. But that was preposterous, since Sandstone wasn't a nervous pony. Was he? "You talked me into moving to Canterlot, Saph. The capital. This shining city on a hill." He gestured to the buildings below. To the homes, businesses, well-to-do-estates. The highest spire belonged to the Princesses. Nestled somewhere in the chateau district was Heart Manor. Credit to the artist Minty Root "It's a grand place." Sandstone went on. "I knew it would be, once we saw it from above. From up here." He sighed. "But a grand place is still just a place. For me, anyway. It has people, food, public things to see and do. Like anywhere. Like Saddle Arabia. And don't get me wrong, I'm not homesick, I don't want to leave, but I worry..." Sandstone's stolid face wasn't accustomed to sadness. Wrinkles folded his mouth uncomfortably. "I worry I'm not grateful enough. For how hard you tried to make today special." Tried, sure. But failed every time, Sapphire reckoned silently. If she were Sandstone, she'd feel no guilt in calling today a failure. But she wasn't Sandstone. She was her, and he was him. They'd been guessing at each other's feelings for too long. If they were going to be a couple - a real couple with a future together - the guessing had to be replaced by sharing. "H-hey Sandstone, when we were trekking up here... what were you thinking about? I know I myself was thinking about a whole mess of things, but what about you?" Sandstone was clearly caught off guard by the question, He pondered before answering. "I was thinking that if I saw the Canterlot from above, I'd feel the way you do about it. The same way you do about everything. You know what I mean: Enchanted. Hopeful. Eager and excited." Sapphire squeezed his hoof in hers. As much of his hoof as she could grip, anyway. "You flatter me, big guy; Peppiness is just a hobby I have. On the walk up, I was actually fretting that you put up with too many of my quirks. Guess we're both too hard on ourselves, huh? But at least we both see the other as... someone worth admiring." Sandstone didn't take compliments well. He coughed, trying to clear a sentimental lump in his throat. The lump persisted, so he gave up and wordlessly stroked Sapphire behind the ears. She leaned into him, wiping her eyes. "You're right," Sapphire eventually admitted. "Canterlot is just a place. But it's a place you came to. To be with me. That makes it the best place. In all of Equestria." "Poetry certainly isn't your Special Talent," Sandstone teased. He received a playful push to the shoulder, and made Sapphire yelp when he retaliated by scooping her up onto his back. "Lovely view from up here," Sapphire reported to the back of her coltfriend's head. "I do love looking at your sweaty mane instead of those harsh old city lights." "Sweaty? I haven't shed a drop of sweat all frigid day and you know it." Sandstone tossed his head in mock pride. "I'll tell you something though, I'm looking forward to burrowing into some blankets back at the mansion. There's a comfy pillow I've been dearly missing lately." "Manor. Not mansion. If you're going to live in Canterlot long term, you're going to have to learn the overly-specific local lingo." Sandstone tossed his head again. "I'm a bumpkin with no proper schooling, remember? I call things as I see them, little lady." Sapphire smiled at her man, and for a moment he looked like he might actually be about to smile back. Then he chuffed and began trotting down the hillside. "Whoa! Hey, I have four legs that aren't broken you know!" Sapphire shifted to hang on. Sandstone was so fast. So strong. "I know you do. But... I remember when one of them was broken. Back in Saddle Arabia. When we first met." Sapphire draped her head over Sandstone's shoulder. It made it easier to nuzzle his cheek. "I remember too, Sandy. I cracked my hoof in the first hour of our hike, so you-" "So I carried you. Until it was time to lay down and rest." Sandstone nuzzled his marefriend back. "We're in a new town now, but we're still the same ponies. I'll carry you wherever we go." The rest of the trot home was silent. The good kind of silent, unlike the trek up. By the time Sandstone's hooves hit pavement, the only lights still on in Canterlot were streetlamps. It was midnight, so most ponies were asleep. Sapphire was one of them, and she snored delicately into Sandstone's ear as he crossed the lawn of Heart Manor. Sandstone pulled at the sleeve of his windbreaker, since for the first time all day, Sandstone didn't feel cold. As his uncovered foreleg pushed the front door open, he didn't notice he was smiling. Not until Sapphire's eyes fluttered open, saw him, and answered his smile with one of her own. She kissed his cheek as the door eased shut behind them. HomeAuthor's Note As mentioned in the summary box, the epilogue is about overarching, worldbuilding stuff. It is worth reading Jaded Hearts's prequel fic before this part. TIn Search of Sand and Signs MLP: FiM Adventure Sandstone Shine, a guidepony to the Saddle Arabian desert, goes on a trek with a strange client. Violence Profanity Alt. Universe OC Jaded Hearts · 8.3k words · 27 2 · 597 views Home Shadowheart, marquis of the family estate, was the only one up and around. His sister was out prowling (or 'patrolling' as she called it). Vesperal, one of the family wards, was in her room either sleeping or working. Maybe both, since she had that bizarre lucid-dreaming hobby. The only unaccounted tenants were the two other wards, Sandstone and Sapphire. Out on a day date, last Shadow had heard. Though judging by some fumbling noises in the foyer, they were back. "Didn't know you lovebirds were such nightingales," Shadow quipped in greeting. A sleepy-looking Sapphire smiled and waved at him. Then she went back to helping Sandstone tug off his stubborn windbreaker jacket. "I can help with that," Shadow offered. He lit his horn, and after a self indulgent flourish, had Sandstone's jacket draped over a nearby hat rack. "Good evenin' Shadow," Sandstone acknowledged him with a yawn. "Or morning, I guess. What're you still doing up?" The dining room table, where Shadowheart had been sitting, was littered with newspaper clippings. Stacked among them were polaroid photos, hasty hoofwritten notes, and other evidence for his current forensics case. Face-down and away from prying eyes was today's inventory report from Stemma. Shadow was fond of Stemma, despite how new the changedling was to the family's informant network. The downtown museums had bad things in their backrooms best kept away from the public. "I wasn't doing anything interesting," Shadow dismissed. "Just reading. Did you two have a magically whimsical time around town?" He'd expected Sapphire to give a bubbly, motormouthed recap. Instead she just shivered shyly while Sandstone chuckled. Sandstone. Chuckled. Shadow was only an amateur sleuth, and not even Fetlock Holmes would’ve been able to puzzle this one out. "We had a good day," Sandstone assured. He pulled his marefriend close, and she nodded blissfully. "Saw sights, talked to locals, even met another out-of-towner." Whom you didn't let touch you, I hope. The comment formed in Shadow's head, but he made sure it died there. Not every random creature on the street was a bad actor swiping hair samples from Infuseds. He was just being paranoid. "I'm uh... sure you two can tell me all about it in the morning. See you then?" Sandstone nodded stiffly, which was more on brand for him. Then he hefted a giggling Sapphire onto his back. Shadow was no stranger to being left out of inside jokes, so he simply waved the pair off as they ascended the stairs. He had a feeling they wouldn't be sleeping in separate rooms tonight. Shrugging that bawdy certainty from his head, Shadowheart returned to his seat at the table. Pensive, he traced a hoof over the week's relevant newspaper clippings. All these covered-up crimes. These buried conspiracies. Deep-rooted lies and dangerous subterfuge that made Canterlot barely able to front as a normal place. If Sapphire and Sandstone were truly here for the long haul, Shadow couldn't keep them protected forever. What would they be left with after the innocence was all gone? Shadows’s hoof continued tracing. "Each other," he finally murmured with a lonely smile. "They'll still have each other." He resumed his work.
Cuteness at the CaféSandstone Shine flipped through his menu. Getting a grip on the pages wasn’t easy for him, since his hooves were bulkier than a native Equestrian’s. He glanced up at Sapphire, who sat across the open air table. She was studying an appetizer list. “I gotta say Saph, Canterlot foodstuffs sure are…” “Exotic?” “Expensive.” Sapphire giggled and shrugged her shiny shoulders. “I’m not good at gauging prices. Ya know, since the Crystal Empire is a thousand years behind Equestria when it comes to inflation.” “You’ve lived in Canterlot for the past five years.” “Sure, but only as a ward of Heart Manor. That trip I was on when we met, that was the first time I'd traveled with my own purse of money.” Sapphire’s cheeks were getting red. “I also… haven’t been on a lunch date before. Or any date at all.” She buried her embarrassed face in her menu again. Sandstone didn’t know how a bloodless creature like Sapphire was capable of blushing. But he also didn’t know what he was going to order for lunch, and between the two unknowns, that second one was more important right now. He re-examined the drink selection. Then his sunbleached eyebrows raised in surprise. A glass of water was free of charge? Sandstone most certainly wasn’t in Saddle Arabia anymore. “Can I take you dolls’s order?” Sandstone flinched. In the Kalahorsey desert, the only sounds that snuck up on you were rattlesnakes and sand pirates. Not pink-scaled dragon waitresses. Had Sandstone panic whinnied? He hoped not. The goal was to get through lunch without anything embarrassing happening. “I’ll just start with a water,” Sandstone managed. “Good choice, doll. ‘Specially on a hot day like this.” Sandstone’s definition of ‘hot day’ was different from an Equestrian lifer's. He tugged at the sleeve of his windbreaker while Sapphire held up her menu to the waitress. “What’s this here? The Gem Of The Day?” “Ah, that'd be imported Dragon Cuisine, ma’am. Today’s stock is topaz crumbles with dipping syrup.” “Oooh, I had a topaz night light when I was a foal. I had no idea they were edible! I’ll take a plate of that.” The waitress nodded and plodded briskly away. Sapphire beamed at Sandstone until she noticed his downturned mouth. Her coltfriend was a weathered workhorse, his features so wrinkled from desert life that strangers couldn’t tell his default face from his concerned one. Sapphire, however, was not a stranger. “You okay, big guy?” “Are you sure about that dish you just ordered?” “Whaddya mean?” “You are what you eat is an Equestrian saying, right? I didn’t think it's supposed to be literal.” “Huh?” Sapphire examined her forelegs resting politely on the table. They glinted glassy and cerulean in the sunlight. A similar shade to the gems being prepared in the cafe’s kitchen. “Oh, you mean cuz I’m made of… hm. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Like, seaponies eat fish all the time, right? And Griffons hunt small birds.” Sandstone shrugged. “Wouldn’t know. Their types don’t visit Saddle Arabia. Or at least not the region where I give tours. I’ve seen dead vultures get ignored by live ones though.” “Aw, no carrion for carryout?” Sandstone’s bushy eyebrows shifted again, this time in obvious confusion. Sapphire stuck her tongue out. “That was a pun. Don’t think too hard about it, Sandy. And back on the whole eating gems thing, you worry too much. This is a gourmet restaurant! The best that Canterlot has to offer!” “If you’re sure, then you’re sure. You know the capital city better than I do.” Sapphire bit her lip and Sandstone silently fretted. Was he coming across as mopey and snide? He wasn’t trying to; that was just how he was. Just like how he didn't try to tower above everypony else on the street, and how he didn't try to shiver at this supposedly warm weather, and- No, Faust dangit! Sandstone had already decided he wasn’t a mopey horse! Must course correct. Must make this afternoon a good one worth making a treasured memory. When Sapphire smiled, she did so for both of them. But right now, she wasn't smiling at all. Sandstone rubbed his leathery nose. “Erm… how about we check out the downtown history museum after lunch? There’ll probably be exhibits on the Crystal Empire and on Saddle Arabia. Maybe even some relics we’d recognize. Ya know, old world types that we both are.” Sapphire Oasis pondered. Then nodded. Then to Sandstone’s relief her regular comfortable smile returned. “It's a date,” she confirmed. And as if on cue, the waitress reappeared. “One water,” she announced. Sandstone was floored by the sight of real honest to Faust ice cubes in his glass. Also perched on the rim was a slice of some fancy exotic yellow fruit. “And one Gem Of The Day Special.” Sapphire’s plate was piled high and shining bright. Not as bright as her eyes when she saw it, though. “Will that be all for now, dolls?” Sapphire was too transfixed to answer, so Sandstone nodded brusquely and the waitress bowed out. A pregnant pause followed. “Those look pretty flashy,” Sandstone commented. “But as a flesh and blood pony, I’m not really an expert. What’s the verdict from your, um, Crystal point of view?” Sandstone sucked on his straw, watching his date palm a piece of deep fried topaz. “This feels…” Sapphire looked off-kilter. “It feels like me. Or… like someone I know. Shrunk down or something.” She prodded the appetizer with a free hoof, then prodded her cheek for comparison. Her smile was wavering again. “You know, if you’re having second thoughts, you don’t have to eat tha-” “Second thoughts?! That’s a laugh! Ha! You hear that? That was a laugh. Just now.” “Saph,” Sandstone warned. He was drowned out by loud, over-enthusiastic crunching. Sapphire Oasis swallowed, making a face like a foal who’d just choked down a salt lick supplement. Then she wolfed down another gem. And another. The dipping syrup was so far going untouched. “These taste like… urgh!… you ever bit the inside of your cheek? They’re just like that.” “You look really pale.” “Huh? Nah, I uh…” Sapphire tossed back a fourth gem, this time not even chewing. Sandstone swore he heard it hit the bottom of her calcified stomach. The sound wasn’t a good one. “They’re just dry, is all. Or maybe spicy? I feel hot. Do you feel hot? It feels hot all of a sudden.” Sandstone hoofed his half empty water across the table. Sapphire wordlessly gulped it down, ice and all. “Need a refill on that, doll?” Sapphire locked eyes with the attentive waitress. Sandstone swore he heard the sound of glass breaking. Sapphire suddenly pushed back from the table, bolted to some nearby bushes, and barfed out a dusty stream of powdered topaz. The waitress shook her head. “Ya know, the chef gave me a funny look when I told ‘im somepony wanted to sample the gem special. ‘Tween you and me, our Gem Of The Day has actually been Gem Of The Past Few Months, since no one with hooves has been bold enough to order it.” Sandstone buried his face in his forelegs. Then he heard the waitress soften her tone. “That sir, is a brave mare you managed to bag.” Sandstone hadn’t thought of it like that. When he picked his head up, Sapphire was still doubled over in the bushes. Her legs were shaking but she held herself steady. The illness seemed gone, replaced by simple embarrassment. Even her smile was coming back, with all its brightness. Sandstone knew he wasn't good for producing brightness himself. But what he could produce was a generous hoofful of Bits from his windbreaker pocket. “This covers our check, right?” The waitress nodded, too stunned by the amount to answer. “Then the rest is your tip.” Sandstone pushed back from the table and trotted over to Sapphire. He was a heavy horse with even heavier steps, so she heard him coming and straightened up. “We still on for the museum?” she asked sheepishly.
Museum Musings“-and this piece,” the Changedling guide was saying, “is a rather famous landscape painting. Can anyone here guess what it depicts?” Mumbles rippled through the tour group. Some of the present ponies were putting their heads together to ponder the painting. Sandstone and Sapphire were two of them. “I don’t know a thing about this type of art, Saph. I’ve been around pots, hieroglyphs, and textiles, but not anything made of paint.” “I’m in the same cart. Ya know, I thought the museum would have, like, taxidermied manticores. Or ancient dragon bones. Guess not.” Her tail was swishing apprehensively. ‘B-but, this tour hasn’t been bad so far, right? We’re um, we’re learning about new stuff. New stuff is good in its own way, isn’t it?” Sandstone stroked his date's ears. “It’s good, Saph. I promise.” At the front of the tour group, a colt with big glasses raised his hoof. “Are those the Manehatten Mountains in the background?” The Changedling guide nodded approvingly. “That they are, kiddo. But where’s Manehatten?” “It… it…” the colt’s face was scrunched as he connected the dots. “It wasn’t built yet!” “That it wasn’t, very good. This is a commemorative landscape piece, painted by one of the first settlers to that region. It hung in the first building erected there, the Manehatten Town Hall, until it was donated to the Canterlot Art Museum you all stand in now.” The murmurs picked up again, this time in full appreciation of the painting. Sandstone however, was staring silently. Sapphire noticed. “You good?” “I’ve heard of Manehatten. Plenty of tourists come to Saddle Arabia from there. Biggest city in Equestria, they say. Bigger than Canterlot, somehow.” Sapphire rocked on her heels thoughtfully. She was an aspirational world traveler, but the key word in there was 'aspirational.' Ninety-nine percent of her life had been spent in either Crystal Empire cram school or, when she was old enough to move out, a boarding room in Heart Manor. That last, precious one percent of her time had been a two week trip to Saddle Arabia. That was a month ago. She’d met Sandstone there, and the rest was Sphinx-slaying history. All that said, Sapphire had no knowledge of Manehatten. “A great big city sprung up from wild countryside.” Sandstone was regarding the painting and shaking his shaggy head. “All I’ve ever seen in my life are ruins. Stuff that’s long gone. Never anything that's just starting its story.” “Ya know big guy, maybe ‘new’ isn’t necessarily a good thing. Not if it prompts an existential crisis.” “This next piece,” the Changedling guide was saying, “is our oldest Yak-made textile we have open to the public.” Oohs and aahs accompanied the sight of an ornate expanse of burlap. It took up most of the wall it occupied. Yaks were big creatures. Sapphire chuffed in satisfaction. Blankets were her second favorite thing to snuggle up with at night. She glanced at her number one favorite snuggle buddy, and was surprised to see his hoof raised like he was a schoolcolt with a question. Sandstone looked surprised with himself too. "Aha! Yes?" The Changeling guide was openly thrilled to field an unprompted question. "Can I answer the Namib Perd in the back?" "What are- oh wow, you know Saddle Arabian." Sandstone seemed even more off-balance now. Sapphire leaned against him reassuringly. "Well, not have pride in something unsavory," (the Changeling guide bowed to hide his bashfulness) "But my people know most languages instinctively. An evolved quirk that helped our ancestors... keep up appearances, if you know I mean." He straightened up and gave a winked his compound eye. "I taste a fair bit of curiosity from this group. If you want to learn more about Changelings, catch me the next time I'm doing a shapeshifting demonstration in the theater hall. There's an event board in the foyer has details." "Shrewd self plug there," Sandstone complimented. "But I did want to ask about those older Yak blankets. The ones not open to the public. Any story to those?" The guide shrugged playfully. "If you're fantasizing about national secrets encoded in patchwork stitches, I'm sorry to disappoint. Best we have are old clothing scraps too damaged from age. Not any fun for tourists to look at. This piece however-" he gestured behind himself- "has bright colors and a story to go with it. It's no blanket, but a former Equestrian embassy rug. See the hoofprints still visible on it, everyone? The larger ones are from Yak diplomats. The smaller ones are from Ponies who met with them." Sandstone nodded, and the Changeling guide gave the group a well-rehearsed recitation of the first time Yaks and Ponies encountered one another. In typical Yak tradition, there had been much celebratory smashing of the surroundings. The only surviving objects of the happy meeting would have been unsmashable textiles like the rug here. Sapphire of course was hanging onto every word of the anthropological story. She didn't notice the first nudge from Sandstone. Nor the second. The third got through her concentration though. "Hm? Oh. What's up?" She kept her voice politely quiet to avoid interrupting. The guide's story was currently explaining how yaks created art with no tools: they smashed the materials together. "He knows more than he's telling," Sandstone whispered. "You really think so?" Sapphire regarded the Changeling, who was basking in the attention of his audience. No doubt feeding on it too. "He doesn't look like a bad bug to me." Sandstone chuffed. "I didn't say he was a 'bad bug.' He's not. At least, I don't think he is. But he's definitely a pro at deflecting tough questions. And he knows how to endear himself to tourists." Sapphire held her apprehensive breath. Then Sandstone snorted softly. "What I'm trying to say is I tip my hat to him, one lifelong tour guide to another. He's a master of the craft. Wish I could shake his hoof." Sapphire gasped and bounced excitedly, earning a few annoyed glares from the surrounding museum goers. She lowered her head but not her energy. "We should go to one of his shapeshifty performance whatevers he plugged earlier! Attend the meet-and-greet afterwards, have you introduce yourself personally by name-" Sandstone stayed stonefaced, but never in a million was moons would he swagger up to a creature who could literally taste awkwardness. "-and you could ask his name too. Then you and him could talk about guy stuff, swap trade secrets,-" Sapphire was ready to burst with anticipation. Sandstone was ready to melt with anxiety. "-and he could be the first friend you make in the new city! It'd be great! Whaddya think? Should we go check that bulletin board? Reserve some spots at his next show?" Sandstone was trapped. Like a flea in an ant lion pit. If he went forward with Sapphire's idea, he'd embarrass both of them. But if he backed out, he'd break Sapphire's overly optimistic heart. He needed a miracle to save him now. A miracle was what he got in the form of the Changeling's sudden announcement. "This next piece is a commemorative wax sculpture of King Thorax. The first modern leader of my people, you know. Hey, fun food-related fact: Changelings were prone to pretty bad nausea when we first began metabolizing our own love. Can anyone here think of a time they themselves ate something that was too familiar to sit well?" "I changed my mind, Sandstone. Let's leave. Now. Please?" Sandstone made a show of tapping his lip, pretending to deliberate. "Hmm.... Okay. Only if you really want to though." Sapphire bolted for the museum foyer and Sandstone waited until she was out of earshot. Then he exhaled. He spared one last look back at the guide. The two of them made eye contact, and the psychic bug gave his signature knowing wink. I just bailed you out, habibi. No need to thank me. Sandstone snorted in amusement and plodded away. Perhaps Sapphire's friendshipping idea worth pursuing after all. Ah well. He'd hit up the sly Changedling some other time. Sandstone hurried outside after his date.
Streetside SightseeingThe Canterlot Art Museum had wide steps outside its entrance. Wide enough for ponies to mull around without blocking foot traffic. Sandstone moved with purpose past a filly drawing with sidewalk chalk. Then he stepped gingerly past a tourist Pegasus frowning at her train ticket. Finally, he caught up to Sapphire near the sidewalk. His marefriend was wistfully watching an old unicorn toss crumbs to pecking pigeons. “The Crystal Empire never had any birds,” she explained. “Except penguins of course. My neighbor Opal Bloom liked to sneak outside the biodome and try to catch one so she could have a pet. She was never quick enough. Boy oh boy, Opal would flip her lid if she could see the way wild Canterlot pigeons eat right out of a pony’s outstretched hoof.” Sandstone didn't have any avian-related foalhood stories of his own. Except maybe one about owls, but it wasn't a fun memory. He stood idly by, trying to think of something to say. A voice nearby piped up instead. "Pardon my eavesdropping, but pigeons aren't the only birds out here looking for crumbs." Plates. That was what Sandstone first noticed about the creature who'd just spoken. He didn't recognize its species, but the thing's front limbs (the ones with claws) gripped four well-worn dowel rods between their digits. And at the end of each rod was a spinning, colorful plate. "Oh wow, Sandstone! A street performer!" The hybrid clicked its beak invitingly and flared two densely feathered wings. The dowel rods tumbled to the ground and the plates went from a spinning pattern to a juggling one. By now, Sapphire's rump was on the sidewalk, freeing her forehooves so she could tap them together in foalish applause. Sandstone himself was transfixed by the mishmashed creature's movements. Colors flashed from those rapidly tossed and re-tossed plates. Red, black, blue, green, repeat. The creature was audibly panting from effort, and so the routine ended with a final flourish: The plates dropped into a neat stack near the sticks. A curtsy from the exhausted performer. A celebratory whistle from Sapphire. Sandstone realized that even he was nodding with approval. "Whew! Very kind of you both to gimme undivided attention. Though if this were Griffonstone, your pockets would've certainly been picked clean before my distracting act was over." Sandstone's hoof went reflexively to the coinpurse in his windbreaker pocket. The creature, which he now guessed was a griffon, laughed heartily. "At ease, Pone Bunyan. I don't steal Bits. Still, if you wanted to toss me a few, they'd be the first ones I earned today." How was a beak able to smile like that? It wasn't natural. It wasn't like how Sapphire did it. Speaking of whom, she was currently nose deep in her purse. "I got some Bits! Not a lot, since Sandstone and I have been around town all afternoon, but yeah! You've earned some for sure!" She pinched a few between her teeth and flicked them into the air. The griffon's quick claws made sure no coin hit the ground, earning another impressed whinny from Sapphire. "You're generous as you are shiny, miss. I'm guessin' you both are tourists?" "Immigrants," Sandstone corrected. He winced at his unintended harshness. The griffon didn't. "Cheers to that, ya lovely odd couple. I'm a vagrant griff myself, so the guess was probably just projection on my part." "Aw, it’s okay." Sapphire's signature smile was back in full force. "And you were kinda-sorta half right. About Sandstone at least. He's newer to town than I am, so we're spending the day sightseeing." "Sapphire!" Sandstone's rebuke was half embarrassment, half caution. This griffon was a stranger. He hadn't even introduced himself to them. As if reading Sandstone's mind, the griffon tutted in repentance. "I go by Gabriel. Old world name, I know. But it's the one I was given, so I stick to it. And apologies 'bout being overly friendly. You two're just the first to cough up any charity pay since I set up in this stingy town. So much for rich folk having Bits to spare, eh?" Sandstone finally pinpointed something about the griffon that made him uneasy. Out of politeness, he chose to not comment and wordlessly pulled his own hoofful of coins. "Whew. I won't say no to pity pay," Gabriel joked. He accepted the peace offering with a silent swipe of the wing. "Day's winding down, anyhoo. So where've you two been? And where're you going next? Oh fiddlesticks. I'm being friendly again." "It’s fine," Sandstone assured through tight teeth. "We ate and took a tour. No real itinerary for the day. Just taking the interesting sights as they come." The nomadic griffon nodded approvingly. "Oh hey, speaking of eating!" Sapphire was bouncing again. "Maybe Gabriel can settle that debate we were having at lunch." Sandstone blinked, his memory blank. "Gabe, what do griffons eat? Stuff that looks like you or stuff that doesn't?" Oh for Faust's sake, how come today's only uniting theme was Sapphire's food fascination? At least Gabriel didn't look offended. In fact, he tapped his beak thoughtfully before supplying answer. "I'm not a picky eater m'self. Field mice are plentiful between towns. Fruit too, if I look hard enough for it. And anything cheap in the markets I see. Quite flatterin' to know talk of muh humble race came up between a pair of Canterlot fancypantses." Sandstone reeled from being called 'fancy' for the first time in his life. Sapphire, in better composure, was the one who answered. "The context is kind of an embarrassing story, but what happened was I'd just ordered... um... oh hey! Sandstone! You mentioned at lunch you'd never actually met a Griffon before!" "Did he now?" Gabriel smoothed his facial feathers to look more presentable. "That explains all his staring. Hope that -heh heh- hope that I've made a good first impression." Internally, Sandstone cursed his floundering stoicism. Outwardly, he opted to play dumb. "I've been staring?" "Like a cornered field mouse from the moment you saw me. Didn't wanna press it, since I was holding out hope the little lady would toss some wages my way." Sapphire blushed. "But hey, now that she has..." a flick of Gabriel's talons presented of his newly earned coins. "Penny for your thoughts, friendo? What is it about my macho physique that has you forgettin' your blink reflex?" Sapphire pursed her lips, looking between the cocky griffon and her reticent coltfriend. The mood wasn't uncomfortable, but it was certainly expectant. Sandstone's tail swished once, twice, and then held steady. "You're an owl," he said simply. That much was true; Gabriel had the face, wings, and forelimbs of a common Equestrian strix. His eyes were bigger than the Saddle Arabian desert breed, which Sandstone was far too familiar with. And the facial feathers framing them weren't as drab. But those features were still familiar enough to bring up certain memories. "Ooh, an owl. I didn't even notice." Sapphire was musing aloud, as she tended to. "Bet I would've noticed if Opal Bloom were here. Oh wow, I wonder if there are penguin griffons out there too." Gabriel's oversized eyes surveyed Sandstone. If the Saddle Arabian were more comfortable, he'd have shrugged playfully. He wasn't comfortable. "You don't like owls, do ya Big Stuff?" Sandstone flushed with cold. Not from the question, nor from the setting sun behind his back. But because Sapphire's smile disappeared the moment she realized something was up. "Sandstone? Babydoll? Are you okay?" "I'm... fine. It's fine. It'd be a long story." Gabriel clicked his beak in bemusement. "Well now you have to come clean. Give this ramblin' griff a memorable yarn to fly off with." His oversized eyes swiveled to Sapphire now. "Your lady looks ready to faint with worry. Can't you open up for her sake?" Damn it all. Sandstone could count on one hoof the things he wouldn't do 'for her sake.' He was obligated now. "My m- ahem!" Sandstone shut his eyes and forced himself to keep talking. "My mom hammered it into my head when I was little: rattlesnakes are dangerous. Rattlesnakes are the worst. The number one thing that can end a foal's life in the desert is a rattlesnake." Words were pouring out like he was a broken hourglass. "So I always watched where I stepped in the sands. Gave every rattler I saw a wide berth, and I saw plenty of them. Then one time, when I was maybe four or five, I saw an owl kill and eat one. Kill a rattlesnake! Like it was nothing! So after that and until I was teen who'd grown out of it, I wasn't so scared anymore of snakes. But did have... because of that... I had this pointlessly intense fear of owls." Sandstone's eyes were still shut tight, and his tail was swishing again. Then he heard Gabriel burst out laughing. Sapphire joined in, and Sandstone regarded them both, scowling impotently. Gabriel was the first to catch his breath. "What a roundabout compliment. I'll certainly take it, though. There I was spinning plates on sticks, scaring the living daylights out of a horse twice my size." "I wasn't scared," Sandstone grunted defensively. "It was just a strong memory is all." He felt a nudge and saw Sapphire leaning against him again. "Thanks for sharing," she reassured. "I'm sorry we laughed." Sandstone sighed in exasperation. Gabriel meanwhile was picking up his street performance props. "Whew! What a wild note to kick off my evening flight. Don't expect anything in this town to top that story, so I'd best be moving on." "Really? So early in the day?" Sapphire looked around, finally realizing that the street was empty and the sun had set. "Huh. Scratch that last comment, I guess." "You two are adorable. I can report that much." A few flaps got Gabriel airborne and he jokingly patted his new friends' heads. Sapphire giggled when Sandstone involuntarily flinched. “I'm off to wherever it is I'm called to," Gabriel announced. He rubbed his hands together, since a few stray mane hairs were stuck to the talons. "Thanks for gifting something to carry with me, lovebirds." Sandstone nodded curtly. Over the years, he'd gotten comfortable meeting creatures once and then never again. Still, Sapphire looked sad to see this new friend go. Perhaps a stronger goodbye was warranted. "It was pleasant to meet you, Gabriel." "D'aww, I appreciate the lie. I really do. But do try to look inwards for some peace and calm, my little pony. I can tell you firsthoof it is no fun to see the world through jaded eyes.” With a few more flaps, the griffon was gone. Sandstone and Sapphire were alone, staring upwards from the quiet street. "The stars are pretty today," Sapphire observed. Sandstone stood reticent. He wanted to look down, to see whether Sapphire was still smiling, but he disciplined himself. He continued stargazing. Gabriel had left, but his parting advice stayed in Sandstone's mind. Pulling his marefriend close, the Saddle Arabian immigrant took in the skyline of Canterlot. His attention settled on a public terrace far up the cliffside. "You up for a hike, Saph? I want to make one more stop today." Author's Note Fun fact: Opal Bloom is a canon character, seen in the middle of this groupshot from Season 3 premiere. Since this story (and its prequel) take place after the mainline series, I decided Sapphire and Opal must've grown up together.
Talk at Town's TopsideNorthpoint Scenic Lookout. That was the inscription on the railing where Sapphire Oasis rested her chin. Sandstone was too tall to recline the same way, but he still stood nearby. Street lights from Canterlot twinkled below. Star lights from constellations twinkled above. The desert stallion and the arctic mare were between worlds. Alone together. Sapphire spoke first. As she often did. "It’s windier up here than on the streets, huh?" Her coltfriend adjusted his windbreaker. "If you say so. I can't feel any difference." Sapphire cozied up, the crown of her head barely meeting his chin. "Crystal Ponies are real good at retaining heat, you know. Gimme a squeeze if you're feeling numb." When a muscular foreleg draped over Sapphire's withers, her heart quickened. Sandstone was so hard to guess at. So private about his thoughts and feelings. Yet every once in awhile, Sapphire was able to read him. To intuit what he needed. To offer some humble comfort. Moments like these were more precious than a pentillion plates of topaz crumbles. But moments like these were also too rare for her taste. Sapphire and Sandstone's trek from the street to this lookout had been long. And quiet. Sandstone was the one who led the way of course, and Sapphire had followed behind with only her sense of trust for encouragement. Because it was only fair that she follow, right? Every choice today had been hers, and look where they'd led. To a mess at the cafe. To a premature flight from that tour right before Sandstone made a new friend. To a owl she'd been brainless enough to laugh about. Every mishap today had come from Sapphire's fumbling flights of fancy. Sapphire leaned further into Sandstone's chest fluff, hoping he didn't see her bite her lip in frustration. Why did Sandstone put up with her? She was such a selfish excuse for a lover. Inconsiderate. Fickle. More of a babysitting project than a companion. By Faust, Sapphire wasn't good with silences like these. She wasn't cool and controlled like Sandstone. Right now she was actively forcing herself to stay quiet because if she opened her mouth, it'd be all over. She'd spill what they both knew, but didn't want to say: that Sapphire Oasis is a bad marefrien- "Saph, am I a bad coltfriend?" Sapphire Oasis gasped at the blasphemy she'd just heard. She wasn't big enough to properly hug Sandstone, but in an instant she was on her hinds pawing at his broad shoulders anyway. "Never!" Sapphire babbled. "Never ever! How could you even think that?" She felt Sandstone patting her back. She wanted so badly to smile, to broadcast that she was happy simply being near him. But truthfully, she worried he didn't like her habit of smiling. Did he consider her airheaded when she did it? Utterly embarrassing to be around? He never smiled back at her, after all. The patting on her back faded. Sapphire sighed. "How could you even think you're a bad coltfriend?" she repeated in a dull mumble. Sandstone shifted, and with her head so close to his chest, Sapphire could hear his breathing. Quick. Shallow. As if he was nervous. But that was preposterous, since Sandstone wasn't a nervous pony. Was he? "You talked me into moving to Canterlot, Saph. The capital. This shining city on a hill." He gestured to the buildings below. To the homes, businesses, well-to-do-estates. The highest spire belonged to the Princesses. Nestled somewhere in the chateau district was Heart Manor. Credit to the artist Minty Root "It's a grand place." Sandstone went on. "I knew it would be, once we saw it from above. From up here." He sighed. "But a grand place is still just a place. For me, anyway. It has people, food, public things to see and do. Like anywhere. Like Saddle Arabia. And don't get me wrong, I'm not homesick, I don't want to leave, but I worry..." Sandstone's stolid face wasn't accustomed to sadness. Wrinkles folded his mouth uncomfortably. "I worry I'm not grateful enough. For how hard you tried to make today special." Tried, sure. But failed every time, Sapphire reckoned silently. If she were Sandstone, she'd feel no guilt in calling today a failure. But she wasn't Sandstone. She was her, and he was him. They'd been guessing at each other's feelings for too long. If they were going to be a couple - a real couple with a future together - the guessing had to be replaced by sharing. "H-hey Sandstone, when we were trekking up here... what were you thinking about? I know I myself was thinking about a whole mess of things, but what about you?" Sandstone was clearly caught off guard by the question, He pondered before answering. "I was thinking that if I saw the Canterlot from above, I'd feel the way you do about it. The same way you do about everything. You know what I mean: Enchanted. Hopeful. Eager and excited." Sapphire squeezed his hoof in hers. As much of his hoof as she could grip, anyway. "You flatter me, big guy; Peppiness is just a hobby I have. On the walk up, I was actually fretting that you put up with too many of my quirks. Guess we're both too hard on ourselves, huh? But at least we both see the other as... someone worth admiring." Sandstone didn't take compliments well. He coughed, trying to clear a sentimental lump in his throat. The lump persisted, so he gave up and wordlessly stroked Sapphire behind the ears. She leaned into him, wiping her eyes. "You're right," Sapphire eventually admitted. "Canterlot is just a place. But it's a place you came to. To be with me. That makes it the best place. In all of Equestria." "Poetry certainly isn't your Special Talent," Sandstone teased. He received a playful push to the shoulder, and made Sapphire yelp when he retaliated by scooping her up onto his back. "Lovely view from up here," Sapphire reported to the back of her coltfriend's head. "I do love looking at your sweaty mane instead of those harsh old city lights." "Sweaty? I haven't shed a drop of sweat all frigid day and you know it." Sandstone tossed his head in mock pride. "I'll tell you something though, I'm looking forward to burrowing into some blankets back at the mansion. There's a comfy pillow I've been dearly missing lately." "Manor. Not mansion. If you're going to live in Canterlot long term, you're going to have to learn the overly-specific local lingo." Sandstone tossed his head again. "I'm a bumpkin with no proper schooling, remember? I call things as I see them, little lady." Sapphire smiled at her man, and for a moment he looked like he might actually be about to smile back. Then he chuffed and began trotting down the hillside. "Whoa! Hey, I have four legs that aren't broken you know!" Sapphire shifted to hang on. Sandstone was so fast. So strong. "I know you do. But... I remember when one of them was broken. Back in Saddle Arabia. When we first met." Sapphire draped her head over Sandstone's shoulder. It made it easier to nuzzle his cheek. "I remember too, Sandy. I cracked my hoof in the first hour of our hike, so you-" "So I carried you. Until it was time to lay down and rest." Sandstone nuzzled his marefriend back. "We're in a new town now, but we're still the same ponies. I'll carry you wherever we go." The rest of the trot home was silent. The good kind of silent, unlike the trek up. By the time Sandstone's hooves hit pavement, the only lights still on in Canterlot were streetlamps. It was midnight, so most ponies were asleep. Sapphire was one of them, and she snored delicately into Sandstone's ear as he crossed the lawn of Heart Manor. Sandstone pulled at the sleeve of his windbreaker, since for the first time all day, Sandstone didn't feel cold. As his uncovered foreleg pushed the front door open, he didn't notice he was smiling. Not until Sapphire's eyes fluttered open, saw him, and answered his smile with one of her own. She kissed his cheek as the door eased shut behind them.
HomeAuthor's Note As mentioned in the summary box, the epilogue is about overarching, worldbuilding stuff. It is worth reading Jaded Hearts's prequel fic before this part. TIn Search of Sand and Signs MLP: FiM Adventure Sandstone Shine, a guidepony to the Saddle Arabian desert, goes on a trek with a strange client. Violence Profanity Alt. Universe OC Jaded Hearts · 8.3k words · 27 2 · 597 views Home Shadowheart, marquis of the family estate, was the only one up and around. His sister was out prowling (or 'patrolling' as she called it). Vesperal, one of the family wards, was in her room either sleeping or working. Maybe both, since she had that bizarre lucid-dreaming hobby. The only unaccounted tenants were the two other wards, Sandstone and Sapphire. Out on a day date, last Shadow had heard. Though judging by some fumbling noises in the foyer, they were back. "Didn't know you lovebirds were such nightingales," Shadow quipped in greeting. A sleepy-looking Sapphire smiled and waved at him. Then she went back to helping Sandstone tug off his stubborn windbreaker jacket. "I can help with that," Shadow offered. He lit his horn, and after a self indulgent flourish, had Sandstone's jacket draped over a nearby hat rack. "Good evenin' Shadow," Sandstone acknowledged him with a yawn. "Or morning, I guess. What're you still doing up?" The dining room table, where Shadowheart had been sitting, was littered with newspaper clippings. Stacked among them were polaroid photos, hasty hoofwritten notes, and other evidence for his current forensics case. Face-down and away from prying eyes was today's inventory report from Stemma. Shadow was fond of Stemma, despite how new the changedling was to the family's informant network. The downtown museums had bad things in their backrooms best kept away from the public. "I wasn't doing anything interesting," Shadow dismissed. "Just reading. Did you two have a magically whimsical time around town?" He'd expected Sapphire to give a bubbly, motormouthed recap. Instead she just shivered shyly while Sandstone chuckled. Sandstone. Chuckled. Shadow was only an amateur sleuth, and not even Fetlock Holmes would’ve been able to puzzle this one out. "We had a good day," Sandstone assured. He pulled his marefriend close, and she nodded blissfully. "Saw sights, talked to locals, even met another out-of-towner." Whom you didn't let touch you, I hope. The comment formed in Shadow's head, but he made sure it died there. Not every random creature on the street was a bad actor swiping hair samples from Infuseds. He was just being paranoid. "I'm uh... sure you two can tell me all about it in the morning. See you then?" Sandstone nodded stiffly, which was more on brand for him. Then he hefted a giggling Sapphire onto his back. Shadow was no stranger to being left out of inside jokes, so he simply waved the pair off as they ascended the stairs. He had a feeling they wouldn't be sleeping in separate rooms tonight. Shrugging that bawdy certainty from his head, Shadowheart returned to his seat at the table. Pensive, he traced a hoof over the week's relevant newspaper clippings. All these covered-up crimes. These buried conspiracies. Deep-rooted lies and dangerous subterfuge that made Canterlot barely able to front as a normal place. If Sapphire and Sandstone were truly here for the long haul, Shadow couldn't keep them protected forever. What would they be left with after the innocence was all gone? Shadows’s hoof continued tracing. "Each other," he finally murmured with a lonely smile. "They'll still have each other." He resumed his work.
