Of Providence and Plain

Chapters

Profit
Pride
Proposal
Parents
Pair
Progeny

Profit

Days tended to be long and grueling for young Igneous Rock Pie, but he had to make the most of those fleeting hours. He rose before the sun and worked long after it set until his body refused to work anymore. He needed money, and he needed it quickly.

The rocks he produced were of excellent quality; he used his magic exactly how his father had taught him, the same way his forefathers and foremothers had done for eons. He called into the ground upon which his ancestors had cultivated and subsisted for generations and created miracles. Yet, he could not find any stone capable of appeasing the ponies of Rockville.

It was a busy day at the Rockville Market. Igneous could count up to thirty ponies, a grand departure from the usual fifteen. He gave his stall one last look over. Usually, being surrounded by this many ponies would make him uneasy, but he hoped that their presence meant increased sales. He would use the profits to secure an appointment for his father and maybe fix the windmill.

One cursory look around showed a group of ponies that were foreign to Rockville. They were outsiders commonly referred to as the ‘Equish’ by the Plain ponies of Western Equestria. Igneous could tell by the groups' coats and manes alone.

The Plain Ponies tended to resemble the environment that they lived in; their coats and manes had earthy tones and muted colors. Ponies in the area styled themselves conservatively and reasonably. There was only one pony in the group of vibrant colors that could pass for Plain: a young mare with a light gray coat and a muted blue mane. She stood at the center of the group, speaking to them amicably.

Igneous looked like most of the stallions around Rockville: he had amber eyes and a light brown coat. He wore a black tie over a collar, and a black hat with a white band. There was something recognizable about her, but he could not place the face with a name. A part of his tired brain desired to analyze his memory and identify her, but he was too busy to ruminate on other ponies.

He would have forgotten her and her friends’ presence had she not broken from the group and spoken to him. Her refined voice disturbed his thoughts as the rims of her glasses gleamed around her cyan eyes. A breeze blew her steel blue mane gently.

Her hooves hovered above his produce as she raised an eyebrow. “What might this be?” she brought her face closer to get a better look.

“Tis limestone ma’am,” Igneous provided with a resolute nod.

She hummed as she tentatively took one of the limestones into her hooves and inspected it. Igneous allowed her to do as she wished. He was far from talkative, so he preferred to let the goods speak for themselves.

The unforgiving sun was bearing down on the ponies of the Plain, and the cloudless sky and barren landscape offered little refuge. Igneous conscientiously removed his hat, intending not to draw too much attention. He used his hoof to smooth back his purple mane before swiftly putting it back on.

Igneous' thoughts drifted until the mare held up the limestone with an expectant expression.

“I find thy limestone supply exquisite. I request five samples at thy soonest convenience.”

The price for five samples would put him over his goal for the day. Igneous bowed his head slightly, overjoyed by his good fortune.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The door let out a prolonged creak as Igneous entered the Pie family homestead. He and his father, Feldspar Granite Pie, had been the sole residents of the Pie Rock Farm for the majority of his life.

His father’s wheezing emanated from the living room. It would be an hour or two before sunset, and he had no time to waste. He swallowed his hesitation and followed the noise.

Feldspar Pie sat in his favorite lounge chair, which blended into his dark brown coat. In the past, he had been strong and bulky. But now, he was an atrophied body struggling to breathe through smokey lungs.

Igneous stuck to the entryway as he waited for his father’s coughing fit to end.

Feldspar wearily eyed his son. “What art thee doing here? Shouldst thee not be in the field, completing thy work?”

Igneous tried to ignore his father’s glare. “Aye father. I am here to inform thee that I hath acquired the funds to receiveth visitation from a doctor.”

“A doctor? There art no doctors here. I refuse to depart from our home! I shall not be treated by the Equish. I am Plain, I shall stay with mine ponies!” Feldspar sputtered, trying and failing to get out of his seat.

His short outburst left him winded and out of breath. Igneous took the opportunity to explain further, “This doctor is not Equish. He is liketh us. Thee knoweth the gent, Dr. Burdock Boil. We useth his ointment for burns. He travels the West helping our ponies, and he hath returned to Rockville.”

The elder Pie rubbed his chin as he thought it over. “Thee speaketh of the stallion who madeth the B&W ointment?”

Igneous nodded his head. “Aye father.”

Igneous hoped that the conversation was over, but it seemed that Feldspar had another issue.

The old stallion cursed under his breath. “Ei, ei, ei. I doth not needeth treatment son. I hast faith that all shalt transpire as it shouldst."

All shalt transpire as it shouldst because I shall make it so. Igneous thought as the day’s stressors became apparent on his body.

Irritated by a lack of resignation, Feldspar scowled at Igneous and forcefully spat black sputum onto the floor. “What gives thee the power to order me around? Why doth thee insist that I be saved?”

Leave it to Feldspar Pie to question why a son might want to save his father. Feldspar scooped up his favorite book, worn and torn from years of devoted usage. The old tome was full of scriptures and verses about the importance of unity and harmony.

For as long as Igneous could remember, his father had been obsessed with studying every written word in that book. The elderly stallion’s fixation had only intensified since his illness debilitated him. The only significant difference was that he could no longer work the fields.

Igneous saw it as a small mercy. His father tended to complain and was only pacified when he was doing something ‘more important’. Despite the lack of time that Igneous had in a day, he made an effort to get his father to congregation. It was common knowledge that nopony was quite as devout as Feldspar Pie. Although, this was a given since nopony had to atone quite like Feldspar Pie.

Igneous Pie placed his hat back on his head, opting to leave his father’s question unanswered.

“Farewell father,” he mumbled, trying to part as respectfully as he could. In Igneous’ eyes, it was inadmissible to show any sign of disrespect or belligerence when in the presence of his father. Even now, as his father sat wasting away, that demanding scowl the elderly stallion wore still made Igneous feel insignificant. But, they only had each other.

Igneous knew that his life was nothing more than working too hard, caring for a miserable stallion, and occupying a dilapidated home on a barren plot of land. But he loved his work, and he loved that stallion, and he loved his home, and he loved that barren land, and he would do anything to save them.

He decided that he would use the rest of the daylight to complete his chores on the farm, then he would make his father dinner, and then spend the night tidying up the house for Dr. Boil's visit. Dr. Boil was a rarity in places like Rockville. He was a native Rockvillian raised in the ways of the Plain and accommodating to the culture and practices.

Igneous stepped into the kitchen and was pleased to see that it was relatively tidy save for the collection of invoices from the bank. Igneous tried not to grow overwhelmed as he stacked the crumbled unpaid bills and hid them in a cabinet. It was a troubling sight, but not an unfamiliar one. They had come close to missing their dues many times throughout Igneous’ life, although it was becoming more frequent since Feldspar fell ill.

His father was depending on him, and Igneous refused to let him down. Dr. Boil’s services were not cheap, but he was the best option. Igneous would not prioritize his farm over his father’s health, even if his father disagreed. His good luck at the market covered the consultation fee and gave a little extra to put towards a new rotor for the windmill.

He opened the kitchen door and overlooked the vast field covered in speckles of gray.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The energy around the dinner table was about as excitable as one could get from the average Rockvillians. A special occasion brought two families of old friends together to celebrate their bond and accomplishments. Dr. Burdock Boil stood up and tapped his glass to gather everypony’s attention.

“I wouldst liketh to taketh a moment to thank the Mill family for hosting mine own family while we stayeth in Rockville. It is at each moment a pleasure to returneth to our birthplace, but it is a blessing to be in the company of friends.” He raised his glass, “May Providence bless our families for generations to come. And may we accept those blessings with equanimity.”

Burdock raised his glass one final time and drank its contents with satisfaction. As he sat down, his wife, Rose Quartz, took up his hoof with her own. She smiled at him fondly, warming his old heart to its very core. She knew that his words were disingenuous, but he put up a convincing performance.

The couple had traveled Western Equestria for years now, hopping from one gray town to another. Rose lifted the ponies' spirits with her beautiful voice while Burdock healed them with his expertise. In truth, the ponies of Rockville were not too different from the ponies in the other Plain communities, but there was something about his hometown that irritated Burdock to no end. At least, in other places, he could pretend that his life was progressing.

But in Rockville, it was obvious that nothing had changed since the day he was born. His wife hummed a happy melody to herself while Rod Mill, the patriarch of the Mill family, recounted his day's activities to the group. Burdock silently admired her song as he studied his plate, then he noticed that the table was set for eight, but there were only seven present.

Burdock held his tongue, not wanting to draw attention to the absence. But it seemed that Rod Mill’s eldest son, Stamp Mill, held no such regard for decorum.

The young stallion interrupted his father’s story with an inquiry, “Dr. Burdock, where might Cloudy be this evening?”

Stamp’s mother, Arrastra, shot her son a disapproving look. “Oh, hush Stamp. Doth not fret over poor Cloudy liketh that. She is trying to maketh the most of her time at home. I am certain that she is simply exhausted after her long journey and spending all day touring her classmates through town.”

Rose Quartz wiped her pale pink muzzle with her napkin and looked at Arrastra with gratitude. “Aye, young Stamp. It hast been a long day for her and I feareth that she hast gotten caught up in her interest again. She hath shown me quite a quaint limestone that she purchased at the market today. I am certain that her studious mind refuses to let her focus on anything else.”

Burdock rested his chin against his hoof. “I recall her insisting that she returneth home to ‘be in the presence of her beloved mother and father,’ not to lock herself away,” he muttered, quoting the letter written by his daughter weeks before her academic break.

Rose maintained a characteristic smile. “She is home. Just as you go about your passions while at home, as doest your progeny. She is at her business, leaveth her be.”

Conveniently enough, at that moment Cloudy Quartz finally arrived. She greeted her family and friends before sitting down.

“Good evening everypony. I apologize for mine own tardiness. I hope that this late entrance is not a disturbance to thy dining experience.”

Rod Mill shook his head and stood to pull her seat out for her. “Not a disturbance in the slightest young Cloudy. Thy presence is always a pleasure in this household.”

With that minor distraction out of the way, the rest of the dinner went well. However, though one might think that Cloudy words were sufficient, to some, it was not enough.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

After dinner, the respective families returned to their rooms. Everypony was exhausted, yet Burdock still found the energy to be irritated. He paced around the Mills’ guest room and muttered to himself while Rose watched him round the room for the twenty-somethingth time from one of two guest beds.

“I bid thee, these ponies art just as dull and backward as I recall,” Burdock sneered.

His words were harsh, but it was nothing that Rose Quartz had not heard before. She massaged her temple and spoke soothingly, “This is our home, and these art our ponies. Didst thee not enjoy today’s festivities?”

He loosened the tie around his neck and sighed in resignation. He and Rose had known Rod and Arrastra since they were foals. Yet, he found with each meeting, it was getting harder to tolerate his lifelong friends.

He stopped his pacing and focused his attention on another more pressing matter. “And where is mine own daughter?”

“I believe that she is speaking with Stamp Mill at the moment or studying those rocks of hers,” Rose explained.

Burdock tapped his hoof against the floor, punctuating each word as he spoke, “She shouldst be focusing on succeeding at her studies, not on drossy pursuits.”

“There is nothing drossy about one’s destiny, Burdock,” Rose Quartz snapped. This was not the first time they had had this conversation, and it probably would not be the last. But Rose preferred that they have, at least, one night where the semblance of peace was upheld.

When Cloudy finally returned, she placed her saddlebag on the second guest bed and looked around the room lazily. The room was tense, and she knew that she had a choice to make, so she chose to make things worse.

“Good evening beloved mother,” she greeted with a sickeningly sweet voice, “and good evening father.”

Burdock snorted indignantly. “And this is what thee learned at the academy? Thy companions did teach thee that it is acceptable to scorn thy parents?”

Cloudy made herself comfortable on her bed as she glanced at her father with disinterest. “Twas to mine own understanding that I was to learneth from mine own peers and become more liketh them. Was that not thy intention in sending me away to school?”

“I didst desire that thee wouldst learneth from thy peers…while retaining thy manners.” He looked to his wife, hoping to find some sort of support. Seeing no reinforcement in his future, he waged on alone, “And we didst not sendeth thee there. Thee were accepted due to thy natural brilliance and ambition. I adviseth thee to wasteth neither on trivial matters.”

The young mare raised an eyebrow as she considered her father’s words. “And when thee speaketh of trivial matters,” she questioned, “doth thee refer to mine own ‘drossy pursuits’ or the act of conversing with thee?”

To the outside observer, it would seem as if the guest room was overtaken by a resolute and icy silence, but this could not be further from the truth. Words and sentences buzzed inside Burdock’s and Cloudy’s heads as they reloaded their weapons of choice.

But before any exchange of vitriol occurred, both sides were silenced by the incensed command of Rose Quartz, “Be silent and settle down this instant!”

The matron remained seated on the bed as she scolded her husband and daughter. Her sonorous voice maintained a subdued cadence as she spoke her mind, “As I hast grown older, it hast become rare for me to be in the presence of mine own family, yet mine own husband and daughter continue to bicker. I hadst desired that we all might enjoyeth our time together in peace.”

The older mare threw up her hooves in woe. “But it appears that I was wrong. My Providence! Useth thy light to guideth me through the darkness! How hast I failed so greatly as a wife and mother that such disharmony hast festered in mine own family!”

Sorrowful sobs replaced sweet songs as Rose buried her head in her hooves. The father and daughter knew that Rose was a masterful manipulator, a high accolade coming from two ponies that were also masterful manipulators. Nonetheless, their hearts ached at the sight of Rose’s displeasure. The duo eyed each other, agreeing on an unspoken armistice.

Burdock cleared his throat and spoke gently, “Beloved, I apologize greatly,” he turned to his daughter, “and to mine own daughter, I apologize. I am happy to be home and in thy presence.”

Cloudy nodded, appreciating her father for going first. “I too owe an apology to thee, my beloved father. It was improper for me to arrive to dinner late, and I apologize for slighting thee.”

Rose clapped her hooves with a broad grin that her husband and daughter did not return. “Now that we hath accounted for our faults, let us prepare for bed.”

Despite playing a role in escalating the tension in the room, Cloudy was glad that things were simmering down. Her father could be a pest when he wanted to, but Cloudy still adored him. His intellect and wit alone earned her respect, but he also possessed the heart of a healer. Cloudy hoped that in time, her father would see the merits of her convictions.

Cloudy's thoughts drifted to the limestone waiting in her saddlebags. Limestone was not particularly rare, but the piece that she had acquired was well cultivated. Had she not been distracted by her friends’ chattering she would have asked the farmer his name. The carbonate was a darker shade of gray with an exquisite blend of calcite and aragonite. As a raw material, it was valued for its reliability and strength. Agriculture, architecture, preservation, and more. It remained, long-lasting, and dependable.

She closed her eyes, challenging her senses to feel the limestones' presence within the room. Her father seemed to read her mind. The gears in his head began to spin as he thought of a graceful solution.

He turned to his daughter and disrupted her deep concentration. “If thou art so fascinated by the life of a Rock Farmer, then I shall show thee the life of a Rock Farmer.”

Burdock's confidence grew as his words caught Cloudy's attention, “In a few days, I intendeth to visit the Pie Family Rock Farm and holdeth consultation. Accompany me, and thee shall seeth first hoof what it entails.”

Pride

“I heareth that thou shall be accompanying thy father to the Pie Rock Farm today,” Stamp said with a chuckle.

Cloudy and him had known each other since they were foals, and even then, Cloudy found him obnoxious. Perhaps it was his pride or his tendency to propose to Cloudy at the most inopportune times. Which was every time.

He always carried himself with a little too much pride, but that is not to say that he did not have anything to be proud of. Like Cloudy, he descended from one of the more influential families in the area. Their massive physiques made them proficient at crushing and pounding ores.

Recently, the pair had seen each other less frequently since Cloudy began her next level of education. It was apparent that distance did not make her heart grow fonder.

“Aye Stamp. I look forward to departing in a few short hours,” she stated curtly.

Cloudy hoped that her short answer would ward off any further advances from Stamp, but he was never one to take the hint.

“Mine own cousin, Alluvial, works down at the bank. He hath said that the old Pie Rock Farm is in the red. It is only a matter of time before he and his dust container of a father art thrown out into the street.”

Cloudy rolled her eyes and scoffed. She was not surprised by Stamp’s cruelty, because she knew that most ponies were cruel when they thought there would be no repercussions. Even in places such as Rockville, where harmony and community were highly valued in accordance with the Principles of Providence, it often took little to no prompting for a pony to show their true colors.

“Farewell, Mr. Stamp Mill,” Cloudy concluded. She had no patience for those who derived pleasure from other ponies’ misfortune. And, she had a very important meeting to prepare for anyways.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The sound of rattling instruments shifting inside Burdock’s medical bag filled the air as the sun shined down on Rockville. His fine brown hat sat comfortably atop his balding head and, according to Rose, his matching satin necktie looked quite dapper. He moved with purpose and distinction, nodding to the few ponies that they passed on their way. The gesture was small, but an acceptable greeting in Plain communities. The Equish might not recognize the solidarity in sterility, but that is what made the ponies of the West so special.

Even Burdock could not ignore the infinite source of wisdom hidden in patches of gray. He looked forward to witnessing the indispensable lesson that would be bestowed upon his daughter courtesy of Feldspar Pie. It was important to know one’s neighbors and their strengths. Feldspar’s greatest strength was being a walking cautionary tale, an example to every filly and colt on how not to conduct themselves.

He could feel his daughter leave his side as they approached the Pie Family Rock Farm. He looked up at the cracked and dilapidated banister that confirmed that they had arrived at their desired destination.

It was eerie, the silence and lack of life. Other farms had large families that worked together to bring a sense of vitality to their lands. Burdock did not dare to imagine the dreadful state that the homestead would slip into once there was only one Pie remaining. At least, it all ends with the final Pie, putting the measly farm and its legacy out of its misery.

A gust of wind swept through the vacant fields, sending dust in all directions. Burdock hastily procured his handkerchief and covered his muzzle.

“Quite the breathtaking landscape,” he quipped, partially muffled by the cloth covering his face.

Cloudy ignored his sarcasm as she admired the diabase, diorite, and gabbro scattered before her. Her father could not see the beauty of the area, but she definitely could. At her hooves sat a black stone. She turned it over in her forehooves and she could see splotches of green deep within the stone.

“Peridotite?” she whispered to herself, admiring the majesty in between her hooves.

They continued along the path to the farmhouse where they ran into a young stallion moving briskly to meet them. Cloudy immediately recognized him as the pony from the market.

The young stallion lowered his hat to greet them, but Burdock cut him off. “Good morrow Igneous. I hope that thee doth not mind the early arrival and that I hast brought mine own beloved daughter, Cloudy, to accompany me.”

Seeing that the elder stallion had made his greeting, Igneous rushed to make his own. “And a good morrow to thee esteemed Dr. Burdock Boil. Thy presence upon our homestead is an honor. Mine own father and I oweth thee the greatest of thanks. If Providence wills it, may thy hooves of healing carry thee far.”

Igneous politely bowed to the doctor before remembering that there was somepony else present. He briefly locked eyes with Cloudy before pressing his hat back into his chest and launching into a formal first greeting, “And greetings to thee ma’am. I am called Igneous Rock Pie, son of Feldspar Granite Pie.”

There was a beat of silence before Cloudy realized that it was her turn to reciprocate. She watched him put his hat back on while he avoided eye contact. Despite the delay, she responded smoothly and gracefully, “Thou shalt know me as Cloudy Quartz, daughter of Burdock Boil and Rose Quartz.”

Igneous completed the introduction by closing his eyes and placing a hoof on his forehead. “May Providence favor thee well,” he moved his hoof to his chest, “And to thy quest for knowledge, may our humble homestead contribute.”

Cloudy bowed with a polite smile, then mimicked his motions of favor. “And may Providence favor thee Igneous, thy father, and thy homestead.”

“And may Providence favor me, for Celestia only grants us so many hours. Let us maketh haste young Igneous, thy father’s health is nay trivial matter,” Burdock interposed impatiently.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cloudy had to admit that seeing her father in action never grew old. His focus and his professionalism were admirable and inspiring. It took patience to treat others, especially those as traditional and old–fashioned as the ponies of Providence and Plain.

If Cloudy had to picture an archetypical Rockville Plain Pony, she would imagine Feldspar Granite Pie. He was in and out of prayers to Providence, quoting every idiom that she had ever struggled to understand, and even occasionally slipped into Ponyslvanian Dutch mid-sentence. It was as if she was in the presence of her grandfather or even her great-grandfather.

Cloudy admired Igneous Pie’s benevolence. She observed that Igneous spoke little, and he was frequently deep in thought. Having seen the vastness of his property, Cloudy could only imagine how busy he was, trying to handle everything by himself. Despite this, he made the time to be by his father’s side. A dutiful son, a compassionate son, and a patient son.

She stood by Igneous at the entryway to the living room and watched as his grizzly father spat and argued with Burdock. It was amusing, but not what she wanted to see. She tried to think of a polite way to ask to see Igneous’ fields, but her father beat her to the punch. He dismissed both of them so he could speak with Feldspar in private.

As they walked, Cloudy could tell that the taciturn stallion was uncertain of what to do or say; luckily, she had no problem taking the lead. She did not mind that Igneous knew few technical terms and found him a capable conversationalist with a little coaxing. He politely answered all of her questions and gently deflected all of her praise.

After showing her his family's prize, Holder’s Boulder, he trotted behind her as she came upon a mineshaft. In her excitement, she moved to enter without further consideration, and Igneous rushed forward to stop her.

“I doth not wanteth to stray too far from thy father,” he explained anxiously.

Cloudy offered him a comforting smile. Aside from being humble, Igneous was also a gentlecolt. “Fear not, Igneous Pie. Dare I say, mine own father desires that I stray far, far away.”

Igneous grew visibly nervous as he scratched his chin in confusion. Cloudy cleared her throat and stepped closer to the entrance. “He sends me to an academy a great distance from Rockville. So far away, that I am the only pony of the Plain present. Everypony else is Equish. Thou might hast seen a few of mine own classmates at the market the other day.”

“Aye. I noticed that I didst not recognizeth any of their faces,” Igneous admitted, stepping aside to lead Cloudy through the mineshaft.

The walls of the cavern resembled the night sky, as fragments of crystals twinkled and shined from within the stone. She brushed her hoof against the wall while she followed Igneous further.

She opted to continue their earlier conversation, “I hadst assumed that thee were much too preoccupied with thy work to notice other ponies,” she joked, “I am certain that thou wast unsettled by how strange they looked. They madeth quite the ruckus doth thee think.”

For a second, Igneous’ stony face portrayed a deeper emotion. He stilled himself quickly and maintained his walking pace. “Nay. I found them quite agreeable. It is easy to stick out in a place such as this, they hast no chance of blending in. Although, I assume that thou knew this already.”

There was a glint of mischief in Cloudy’s eyes as she heard his words. He was a clever one. They were her classmates, but they were also her friends. She paid no mind to the attention she garnered while showing them around because she had nothing to prove to the townsfolk.

Igneous had done a good job with deflecting her first prod, but it was only a matter of time before he showed his true colors. She pushed him further. “Thee didst not consider their presence a distraction? How about an intrusion? Their kind tends to be vain and ostentatious. ”

“Nay. To think that way wouldst be hypocritical.” Igneous responded without hesitation.

Cloudy blinked, then pushed her glasses up. “Hypocritical? In what way?”

He was silent for a moment. “It is not a pony's place to cast judgment upon others. Especially upon those who conduct themselves so differently than us.”

Cloudy could do nothing but nod in agreement at his words. It was rare to hear such impartial words from anypony, Plain pony or Equish. She had thought that she knew everpony in this town, especially all those close to her age, but she could not recall speaking to Igneous before their meeting at the market. He was a bit older than her, but not by an egregious amount. It might have been beneficial to make his acquaintance sooner.

She came to his side and stood before a mound in the ground that caused her hooves to tingle as she approached.

“Feeleth the Earth before thy hooves. By Providence, we art not in service to it or above it. We art one with it; assembled from its ashes and destined to returneth to it in our final slumber,” Igneous serenely stated.

Heeding his words, Cloudy closed her eyes, feeling it intertwine with her hooves. “I-I believe that I feel something. It’s strong, to our right…a few meters below.”

Igneous nodded and removed his hat. Locks of his purple mane came loose as he rifled through his hat. It took him a second, but he retrieved two pickaxes from the confines of his garment.

“I hath felt it too. A deposit of arkose must sitteth there. Best to use this to retrieveth it.” Igneous explained, offering a pickaxe to Cloudy.

“Impressive, Mr. Igneous,” Cloudy admitted. She knew something was hidden in the depths, but she had no inkling of a guess.

Igneous bowed humbly. “Thank you, Ms. Quartz.”

They walked together, agreeing on the best spot to start digging. It was only after Cloudy had thoroughly dirtied her hooves that she realized something rather bizarre had occurred. She gawked at Igneous and spoke in disbelief, “I apologize…but, did thou just pull two pickaxes out of thy hat?”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

It was midday when Cloudy and Burdock finally returned to the Mills' homestead, and the pair decided to settle down for some tea. The illusion of peace was strong in those silent moments, as the they sipped their drinks slowly.

Burdock was the first to break the ceasefire. “I hope that thou found today's trip educational. In truth, I hadst ulterior motives in bringing thou there. I am certain thou saw the destitution inherent to their lifestyle.”

Cloudy took one last sip of her tea before placing the cup down. “I wast aware of thou’s intentions the whole time. Thou thought our trip would dissuade me from my convictions, but it hast madeth them stronger than ever.”

“Thee wish to be liketh Feldspar Pie? The stallion who hast failed in every conceivable way? His lungs art black! Infested with soot and dust! That is what his destiny has led him to, an early grave. And now his child will waste the remains of his inheritance in a futile attempt to postpone the inevitable. This is what you wanteth? To die as a victim to thy fruitless endeavors?” Burdock snapped, his teacup clattered as he dropped it on the table.

“How can thou speaketh so callously about those in thy care?”

“Callous? I am far from callous! I am one of the most compassionate ponies thou will ever meet. I hath devoted mine own life to caring for others. I treated Feldspar Pie despite his wretched reputation. I hath devoted money and effort to sending thou to one of the top academies in all Equestria!” Burdock shouted, no longer trying to maintain his calm.

He rose out of his chair, but spoke quietly, “Thou think that I wanted to spend mine only life in a place such as this? Thou art not the smartest pony in all the world. And thou art not the only pony who earned the opportunity to leaveth this town.”

His hooves clopped against the hard floors as he paced the tiny kitchen. “I couldst hast studied at the top universities and academies. But, I knew that other places have plenty of doctors. The ponies here art mine own ponies. They had nopony to help them.”

Cloudy pressed a defensive hoof to her chest. “I apologize that thy life didst not go according to thy plans or desires. But that is thy discrepancy to fix, not mine.”

She placed her hooves on the table to steady herself. “Ever since I wast a filly, thou hath done everything in thy power to turneth me against mine own home and ponies. Thou sent me away. To a faraway place full of ponies that were nothing liketh me, knowing full well that I wast happiest at home…And for what? Because of a natural brilliance that madeth me more worthy of opportunity, or because that is what thou wouldst hath wanted for thyself?”

“Hold thy tongue Cloudetta Desiree Quartz! I am thy father, and thou will speaketh to me as such! I hath madeth sacrifices on thy behalf to nurture thy aptitude. The other ponies of these towns see thy potential, why can thou not?”

“I am well aware of mine own talents. But I am no fool! I hath noticed that the townsfolk all speaketh liketh thou because thou hath manipulated them to obey thy will!”

“Preposterous. Thou intend to portray me as some evil enchanter?” Burdock mocked incredulously.

“Nay. I portray thee as thee art. An intelligent and powerful stallion with close connections to many important ponies. Ponies that regard thou so highly that they fear slighting thou in any way. They see my potential, and yet when I implore them for work the discussion always falls through. Some of them even repeat thy dismissive words verbatim!”

They both knew that it was true, that Burdock had effectively blacklisted his own daughter. He knew that if she could not find any work in the Plain communities, that she would have no choice but to build a life elsewhere. Despite its faults, it paid to be one of the only doctors in the area. Ponies had to respect him, whether they wanted to or not

Cloudy was disturbed by how cold her father looked. He spoke gravely and sternly, “Call me callous and call me cruel, but I will not allow thee to ruin thy life. There is nothing here for thee in Rockville. Nor is there anything for thee in Stoneburro or Sediment Town or any other Plain community worth its salt. Thou do not belong here.”

She looked at him with watery eyes, seeing nothing more than a stranger. She sniffed and turned away from him, and he did not call out to her as she forced her way through the kitchen door.

She stumbled around the property blindly. She was hoping that she might find a place to be alone, but Stamp Mill was a master at appearing at the worst possible times.

Stamp had never seen Cloudy this visibly upset. “A-art thou okay Cloudy?”

The young mare rubbed her eyes. “Nay Stamp. I find that I am a prisoner condemned to have everything in this life excepteth for what maketh it worth living.”

“Thou…speaketh of thy studies,” Stamp admitted, uncertain of what he should do in this situation.

“Aye Stamp. Nice to seeth that thou art well aware of mine own father’s scheming.”

Stamp swallowed as he considered his words, he knew that he was pushing the limit of what he could say, “I-I doth not understand why thou findeth such misery in thy position.”

Cloudy bit her lip. “I hath seen the world, and I know that I am exactly where I wanteth to be. It is rare for one to findeth a place where they are content, especially one so young. But I am at my happiest when I am here,” her voice quivered as she thought about it, “and every moment spent away from all this is unbearable. I doth not desire to waste my time or resources pursuing a life that I hath no interest in.”

“But thou still hath time. There art plenty of places thee couldst calleth home?” Stamp countered.

Cloudy shivered while thinking of all the places she had been. The endless snobbery and classism inherent to Canterlot. The overcrowded and labyrinthine streets of Manehattan. The gaudy vibrancy and frequent monster attacks that defined Ponyville. She had seen so many places, yet all of them made her feel insignificant and stupid.

Cloudy stomped her hooves defiantly. “This is mine own home! This is the home of mine own ancestors for generations. This is the ash and dirt and dust that I am madeth from. This is who I am. I am not me without this place.”

She glared at Stamp and stepped forward. “For the longest time, thou hath pestered me in every way imaginable to get me close to thou. And yet, I show that I need thy help, and thou art hesitating.”

Despite being significantly bigger than her, Stamp seemed to shrink under her gaze. His eyes filled with sadness as he reluctantly spoke, “Thy father… is very proud of thy academic prowess as am I. I wouldst hate to take thou away from the life that is owed to thee.”

Cloudy did not know why she was surprised. She looked away in disgust. “I see. Then I guess this a farewell, Mr. Stamp Mill.”

Proposal

There was sunshine and light everywhere. That is what every day felt like when she was still around. In those early days, when everypony was trying to make things work. Those days were fuzzy and hard to see, but he could remember her smile and her hugs and her laughter. She lit up their world just by being there.

No wonder everything became so dark when she left.

Perhaps he would have seen it coming had he not let the light blind him. He would have seen her pain and her unhappiness and her yearning. He wanted nothing more than for her to love him, for her to choose him, but her heart always belonged somewhere else.

It was all a lie, too good to be true. When things finally fell apart, it left them all in shambles.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Despite the pitch-black outside, Igneous' body obediently awakened at its conditioned hour.

He cursed himself for his discipline; there was no way that he would coax himself back to sleep, yet he felt that staying awake was pointless. He was not quite expecting a miracle, but he never would have wasted so much if he knew that the truth would cause him such sorrow.

His father was dying.

That was not surprising to Igneous. He had spent his entire life by his father’s side and watched each day as the illness took more and more of him away. But Dr. Boil's diagnosis made it all the terrifying. Feldspar’s condition could not be cured, it could only be managed.

He needed money. He needed to work harder. He needed help.

But who could he count on? His father deserved to live his last few years unaware of the darkness looming over their household. Igneous knew nothing of his extended family and he had no friends.

He recalled the lessons of community taught in congregation, but he knew they would never consider the Pies their own.

He rolled over and off of his cot. The floorboards creaked underneath him as he ignited the kerosene lantern on his nightstand. He could not shake the feeling that something unexpected would happen to him soon, which was unfortunate since he hated surprises.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cloudy did not care for relationships. Whether in Rockville or away at school, she primarily focused on her studies and work. Not to say that she was completely friendless, quite the opposite really. She held cordial acquaintances with most ponies in Rockville and was ingrained in an adequate friend group of like-minded ponies at the academy.

In the realm of romance, she had received her fair share of gestures. Ponies were attracted to her; she was intelligent, carried herself with dignity, and descended from a respectable family. Cloudy had become masterful at evading other ponies’ attempts at courtship over the years.

In the past, she had appreciated her parents for never pressuring her to conform to any standard. Other Rockvillians her age were in the process of, if not already, getting married. Despite what one might think, the differences between her and her peers did not bother Cloudy in the slightest. Although she might admit she was a little jealous of all the gifts and the nice-sized checks that newlyweds received, the commitment was not worth the momentary festivities.

But now, she was finding great discomfort in her solitude. Not because she was lonely per se, but because it was forced upon her by her over-controlling father.

Cloudy was neither ignorant nor arrogant, she was a realist. She was capable and qualified to work most jobs in the area, and it paid to be well acquainted with the daughter of Dr. Burdock Boil and Rose Quartz. She spoke to the ponies around town and found them amicable at a surface level, the greetings were genuine, and the inquiries into her studies were good-natured. But any push further was met with stark resistance.

Word of the vacancy at Mr. Gangue’s farm had spread throughout the town, yet when Cloudy offered her services, he suddenly had no idea what she was talking about.

When she spoke to Blossom Rock, her childhood friend and the inevitable successor of the Float Family Rock Farm, she found no solace. Blossom explained that Cloudy might be, "too overqualified,” for any work on the homestead.

Mr. Sluice said his work only required one pony. Mrs. Bonanza said she got all the help she needed from her nieces and nephew. The twins, Rocker and Cradle, insisted that their parents’ farm was too far out. Blind Lode claimed that he did not need any help with his stall.

She wandered the emptying streets speaking to anypony she came across, finding the same over-rehearsed replies that she received in every town her father had touched. It was not a new experience, although she still ridiculed herself for not picking up on the pattern sooner. Cloudy could almost pinpoint the date at which other ponies' advances and friendliness vanished from her life in the West.

She walked the streets for some time before she saw the peculiar sight of Alluvial marching through the streets, while Igneous Pie followed close behind grasping papers. It appeared that Igneous was trying to carry out a conversation with Rockville’s resident banker, but Alluvial was dead set on ignoring him. Cloudy knew it was not her place to intervene, but she had nothing else to do at the moment.

She waved her hoof at Stamp Mill’s cousin. “Good evening, Alluvial. It is a pleasure seeth thee.”

Alluvial’s expression changed drastically as he greeted her. “Ah! Good evening, Cloudy. I hath heard that thee were backeth in town. I apologize for not returning to mine own uncle’s to greeteth thee and thy family properly.”

“I assure thee, it is fine,” she stated with a dismissive hoof wave, then turned to Igneous, “and how art thou, Mr. Pie?”

Igneous pulled on his tie, clearly overwhelmed and exhausted. “I am well, I thank thee Ms. Quartz.”

“Well, Cloudy, wouldst thee liketh an escort home? Mr. Pie and I art finished with our conversation,” Alluvial harshly clarified.

After hearing his words, Igneous almost stopped in his tracks, but Cloudy used a hoof to gently prod him forward.

“Nay, nay. Doth not alloweth me disturb thy discussion. Mr. Pie is a business owner, I am certain that he requires thy expertise,” she assured.

“Aye, he certainly doest, but not at this hour,” Alluvial sneered.

“I understand that it is an inconvenience, but one look at these numbers maketh his impropriety quite reasonable,” Cloudy declared while peering over Igneous’ shoulder.

Both stallions stopped dead in their tracks. They were both horrified at Cloudy reading Igneous’ bank statements for very different reasons.

Despite his efforts, Cloudy had managed to apprehend Igneous’ papers. She studied each page with growing revulsion. “I wouldst think one wouldst at least double checketh their math. And what is this additional fee here? And thy consultation fee seemeth a tad higher than normal.”

Alluvial fidgeted where he stood. “C-cloudy, this is unacceptable. This business is between Mr. Pie and me.”

Cloudy feigned shock as she finished calculating numbers in her head. “Not at this hour it is not. I wilt sayeth, raising his mortgage by this percentage then punishing him for being late on a payment, especially after thy lackluster job is…duplicitous.”

She flipped to another page, and her jaw dropped. This was the most egregious scam of all. “And thou expect him to pay this much, or his assets will be seized? Be sensible Alluvial, this is robbery! One week to pay all this?”

Igneous bit his lip. “Ms. Quartz, it is fine.”

“But it is not. And thee knoweth that Igneous. Doth not alloweth him to do this to thee,” she turned to look at Alluvial with disappointment, “Giveth him at least a month to rectify this.”

“I-I will not,” Alluvial nervously insisted.

Cloudy intensified her disappointed face, and Alluvial began to feel as if he were melting. "Okay, okay. Two weeks.”

Cloudy shook her head. “Maketh it three so that thee may hast time to fixeth thy mistakes too.”

It looked like the ‘nay’ was on the tip of Alluvial’s tongue, but he finally relented after an impossible staring contest against Cloudy Quartz.

“Fine. Igneous, thy deadline is now three weeks. In the meantime, I shall look over thy bank statements. Good day to the both of thee,” Alluvial grumbled with forced friendliness.

He did not wait for a response as he galloped away from them. They watched him go, unsure of how to recover from the situation.

Igneous rubbed the back of his neck and avoided eye contact. “I-I, thank thee for the help Ms. Quartz."

Cloudy tried to reassure him with a smile, “Nay, nay Mr. Pie. I must say, I do not wish to hold thee any longer, but consider this a thank thee for thy guidance the other day.”

“The pleasure wast all mine Ms. Quartz. Mine father and I owe thy family a great amount. Thy father hath given us a way to manage mine own father’s illness, and thy mother’s piety is an inspiration," Igneous admitted.

“Thou art well acquainted with mine own mother?”

“Aye. I often accompany mine own father to congregation. She has shown him and me great kindness over the years whenever she visits. Her voice is a true gift of Providence.”

Cloudy could not help but smile at the compliment. Nopony could deny that Rose's voice was magnificent. Her mother was often invited to sing solos and partake in choirs during congregation.

Hearing her mother’s singing was often the highlight of attending congregation, especially as Cloudy’s natural skepticism grew more astute. Like her father, Cloudy appreciated the teachings and followed them accordingly, but whether or not she truly believed changed on a coin flip.

Thinking of her mother’s quirks was the first thing that brought Cloudy any semblance of joy that day. She felt oddly at ease when she was in Igneous’ presence. Perhaps she would have met him sooner had she attended congregation whenever she was home from school.

She stretched out one of her hooves as she thought it over. “I appreciate thy kind words, Mr. Pie, perhaps I shouldst attendeth congregation while I am home.”

She could practically hear her mother thanking Providence from afar that her prodigal daughter was finally returning to congregation. Cloudy recalled that Rose had spoken highly of Igneous’ character when her father invited her to visit the Pie Rock Farm.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

As the sun set, Igneous guided his father along the arduous journey to Corner Stone’s homestead.

He opened the door to let his father into the dimly lit room, and everything looked about the same. None of the few attendants present bothered to greet Igneous or his father, except for Cloudy. The young mare noticed them from the front of the room and swiftly rose to join them in the back row.

Corner Stone tapped the podium with his hoof and began his sermon. Igneous could have sworn that he had heard this exact speech several times before, a testament to how many services he had sat through. His focus fluctuated as he ran through his responsibilities, only returning in full when Rose Quartz began to sing. Since he was small, he enjoyed hearing her singing voice whenever she came to town. The rest of the choir was not present, but Rose was perfectly capable of handling it on her own.

The song established a sense of coherence throughout the room, which Corner Stone utilized to power his sermon. As Igneous listened to Corner’s impassioned words, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him. He tried to remain awake, but his head periodically lulled and drooped without permission. He knew that his father was watching him, and that the older stallion was furious.

Feldspar flashed his son a grave expression and might have scolded him right then had Cloudy not interfered. She grabbed Igneous’ forehoof.

“Igneous? I think I need to step out for a moment, would thou care to accompany me?” she whispered, already pulling him out of his seat.

“A-aye ma’am,” Igneous mumbled thankfully.

They walked outside to find that everything was illuminated by moonlight. Cloudy unceremoniously sat down on Corner Stone’s porch, resting her back on the wall and beckoning Igneous to do the same. They silently studied the Mare on the Moon together for a few minutes before Cloudy tentatively spoke.

“I am sorry…about thy father,” she offered kindly.

Igneous was not expecting that. He shut his eyes to stifle his growing sadness. He swallowed and rested his head on the wall. “I…thank thou for thy concern. We will do our best to manage.”

Cloudy played with her hooves. “I saw that thou were struggling back there, and I thought it best to get thee to a space where thou couldst rest…Thou look tired. Forgive me, but I am certain that thy father couldst survive staying away from congregation for one evening. And mine own mother would not hold thy absence against thee.”

He shook his head and sighed. It was clear that Cloudy knew nothing about him or his father. She had spent the majority of their youth away at a boarding school and then at the academy. She was too kind, and it was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Cloudy looked at him and frowned.

“Well…if thou must be here, thou might as well rest. I shall not judge thee for being a pony, Igneous. Even if thy father looked quite displeased, nopony can fault a young stallion for accompanying a young mare outside. There art many dangers that lurk in the darkness,” Cloudy explained with an inkling of playfulness.

Igneous hated the idea of falling asleep in the company of another pony, especially one as new to him and well respected as Cloudy. But the calm of the night coaxed his eyes to flutter shut as Cloudy stood guard beside him.

Cloudy’s thoughts began to wander as she listened to Igneous’ soft snores. Her return home was not going as planned. Her father was still being controlling, and she was incapable of finding a stability independent of him.

Her situation was simple in concept but tricky to solve. She wanted to stay with her fellow Plain ponies and devote her life to rock farming. She just had to find a rock farm and a Plain pony willing to give her a shot. Igneous’ hat tilted forward atop his sleeping form, and Cloudy absentmindedly readjusted it for him. It was nice to see him at peace.

It was then that Cloudy had an exceptionally mischievous idea.

She waited for the end of congregation to grow nearer before nudging Igneous awake. He sat up with a start, straightened his hat, and cleared his throat.

His cheeks grew pink. “I-I apologize Ms. Quartz; it was rude of me t-”

Cloudy waved her hoof to quell his apology. “No, no Igneous it is fine. Thou simply didst what I asked of thee.”

His amber eyes seemed to relax as a pregnant silence developed between them. Cloudy knew it was rude to stare, but she reasoned that she and Igneous would, hopefully, get to know each other much better over the next few days.

She rubbed her hooves together and spoke tentatively, as if cornering a skittish animal, “Igneous…I have… a proposition for thou.”

Igneous raised an eyebrow. “And what might that be ma’am?”

“I apologize for my lack of propriety by discussing this matter so brazenly but…” Cloudy ears twitched as she considered her words, it was not like her to be this nervous even if her idea was crazy, “It is unfortunate circumstances that have befallen thou Igneous, and I assure thou that mine own knowledge of thy hardships doest not impact mine own perceptions of thou.”

“If anything…In the short time that I have cometh to know thee, I hath found thou quite agreeable. Thy humility, perseverance, loyalty, and expertise are truly exceptional. Thou shouldst be proud of thy accomplishments and vigor,” Cloudy finished with a resolute nod.

Igneous’ blush grew more noticeable; he was not used to this type of flattery from anypony. He was not sure what to say in this circumstance, so he went with the first thing his malfunctioning brain could muster. “A-aye…okay ma’am.”

“I am certain that thou find mine own words extremely confusing and discomforting. Once again, I apologize. But…my words do come with another agenda.” It was endearing to see Igneous so flustered. Cloudy continued with a soft smile, “Much like thyself, mine own future is in peril. And so, I propose an unconventional solution to both of our respective struggles.”

She took a deep breath, knowing there was no going back. “I-I believe that arranging… a marriage between thou and I wouldst alleviate both of our hardships.”

“I-I am…I…what?”

“I know, I know. This is all absurd but think about it, Igneous. We wouldst be guaranteed a nice payment if we wed. The traditions of the Plain indicate that newlyweds receive money from the communal pool to celebrate their union. Plus, if there is a significant wealth disparity between spouses, the wealthier in-laws are to pay bits to the newly-weds to promote marital harmony.”

“I-I guess bu-”

“Therefore, thou will receive money from this town and mine own father. A pay-out good enough to secure thy homestead for the time being.” Cloudy placed a proud hoof to her chest, “And I will live out mine own destiny of rock farming. I suspect that thou cannot afford to hire assistance on thy farm, but under these conditions, it is no longer an issue

“B-but would thou not prefer to wed somepony that thou art at least acquainted with?”

“It is not unheard of for the ponies of the Plain to wed with little-to-no interaction. If anything, marriage between two ponies rarely ever blossoms from mutual affection. Thou seem to show little interest in marriage, and I am much the same. Although we hath not known each other for long, I recognize that thou art an upstanding gentlecolt who shall treat me fairly. That is all I can ask for in a partner. In return, I assure thou that I shall serve as a dutiful wife, who will treat thee fairly as well.”

Igneous was silent for a good few minutes before speaking, “I-I am honored…but I cannot accept. It is unbefitting for me to marry thee.”

“And why is that Mr. Pie? Hath thy found thyself firmly under the controlling hoof of mine own father?”

“I know not of what thee speaketh of. I assure thee that thy father has nothing to do with mine own reluctance. Thy proposal is absurd, but I agree that the benefits are appetizing. However, I will not allow thee to defile thyself by associating with the likes of me. Thou say I shall treat thee fairly; well, this is me being fair.”

Igneous removed his hat, taking a soft tone, “I cannot give thee everything that thee deserves. Thou art brilliant, and thou cometh from good stock. Thou will never be happy among us Pies. The work is arduous and grueling, and I fear that we wouldst never have enough to live comfortably. Please, I beg of thee, reconsider and find someone more befitting of thy station.”

Cloudy shook her head. “Igneous…I do not care for riches or wealth. I am not afraid of hard work or getting my hooves dirty. I am not troubled by the idea of living my life coupled with an acquaintance rather than a lover. I simply wish to farm rocks. In my years, I have found that peace is found in simple stability. The strength and resoluteness of firmly formed stone brought into our unworthy hooves by the grace of Providence. A simple marvel; the odds so infinitesimal and small. That is what I live for…surely, thou understands?”

“Of course, I do.” Igneous could not think of any other objections. He hated that he was not completely opposed to the idea since he did need money to help his family. He had never entertained the idea of marrying.

He scratched the back of his neck. “It becomes more and more apparent that thou know nothing of mine own family’s reputation, Cloudy Quartz. I live this way for good reason.”

“I care not for thy family’s reputation, Igneous. To me, thou stand alone as a unique individual. An individual deserving of peace… I hope that thou see the merit in mine own words fore they art the truth. Please, please honor me by considering this proposal.”

“Very well Cloudy. But I urge thee to look for other solutions in the meantime,” he offered hesitantly. He wanted to say more, but he was distracted by the sudden influx of light pouring onto the porch as the front door opened.

The pair were quick to stand up and separate as the attendants of the congregation filed out of the parlor. The illusion of privacy for the two was firmly destroyed and neither knew how to carry themselves in the public eye. Crickets chirped as ponies pushed past them and entered the cool night’s air.

Minutes passed before Igneous came to his senses. His father was still waiting for him inside. The young stallion pulled his hat low enough to cover his eyes and stumbled back into the parlor, but not without a fumbled farewell to Cloudy.

She watched him go with a mixed feeling of wretchedness and relief. She felt like a fool for asking a stranger to marry her on a whim, but he did not shut her down completely. She could only imagine the look on her father’s face when he heard the news. He had such a disdain for everything that represented their home, and Igneous was the epitome of all of it.

Rose Quartz used a hoof to tuck a loose strand of Cloudy’s mane away and flashed her a look of faux disapproval. “And what trouble hath mine own beloved daughter gotten into instead of listening to Providence’s good word?”

Cloudy had always considered herself tactful when breaking big or important news. But, on this night she might have gotten too caught up in the euphoria of a ridiculous idea almost working. She smiled to herself as the Mare in the Moon frowned upon her. “I hath requested Igneous Pie’s hoof in marriage. And he hast agreed to consider.”

There was a moment of silence between the mother and daughter as the gravity of the confession bore down on them. Rose’s normal cheer and warmth all but disappeared as she took on a grave expression and tone that Cloudy had never witnessed before.

“Thou what?”

Parents

After dragging her daughter home from congregation, Rose Quartz slammed the door and slumped against it while watching her daughter wearily.

“Thou…Thou shall not marry Igneous Pie,” she stated firmly. It was unlike Rose to not give her daughter a choice.

Unnerved by her parents’ display of uncharacteristic traits, Cloudy forged on cautiously. “And why not, mother?”

“Young Igneous is a… fine stallion…but I fear that he is not a sufficient partner, beloved.”

“Why not? Thou hath never spoken ill of him.”

“Aye. I hath watched him grow from a babe to a stallion. Which is why I know him well enough to know he is not a good match for thou.”

“Thou hath yet to answer the question. Why? Why is he not a match for me? I care not for his fortune or lack thereof. We will find a way to live our lives freely and happily.”

“I am certain that thou will be happy Cloudy, but not with Igneous. Although I believe that Igneous may not be able to provide, I am confident that thy father and I could fill in the gaps. But that is not what I am afraid of.”

Cloudy fell on her haunches as she threw her hooves up in exasperation. “Then what is it? What is so awful about Igneous Pie that he is treated with such disdain?”

Rose shook her head and massaged the bridge of her muzzle. “Poor Igneous hath done nothing wrong on purpose. His status is simply a consequence of his father’s forbidden behavior.”

“Forbidden behavior? What doth tho-”

“Igneous is the product of the Equish,” Burdock supplied as he strolled into the room, “Igneous’ father is a full-blooded Plain pony. Meanwhile, Igneous’ mother is an Equish invader who enchanted poor Feldspar and led him astray.”

He looked disgusted as he spoke, “She seduced him and produced a child, Igneous, then abandoned them both after years of embarrassing them with her impudence. It was an unfortunate situation. Young Igneous’ very existence is collateral damage.”

Rose was more sympathetic than her husband. “She left them, her husband and baby, to pursue her passions. It was a tragic occurrence that devastated their little family. But I hate to say that everypony saw it coming. Even Feldspar must hath seen the cracks in his facade. They didst not even consult the Pairing Stone when they finally wed.”

“Now I hope thou understand why those Pies art no good. They maketh bad decisions, and it is not out of range to sayeth that a father of poor mind inevitably raises a son of poor mind,” Burdock lectured apathetically.

Cloudy frowned at them. “Nay! Holdeth thy tongue when thou speaketh of Igneous Pie, father. Might thou know that I didst request his hoof in marriage on this night.”

Burdock’s face contorted from self-righteousness to shock in mere seconds. “Thou intend to wed the by-blow!” he shouted.

“Indeed father. I hath asked for a reason why Igneous is not a suitable match, and thou provided a bunch of information about the time that preceded his very existence! What doest his character hadst to do with his parent’s ‘misdeeds?"

Burdock turned to his wife and growled, “How couldst thou let this befall our daughter?”

“Me? I warned thou against bringing her anywhere near the Pie’s homestead. She only doest this to scorn thee. I am an unwitting victim of both of thy excessive pride!” Rose Quartz cried and she rushed to cover her face.

The commotion at the front door had awoken the Mill family from their slumber, giving the three arguing ponies an unnoticed audience. Rod Mill cleared his throat to interrupt the late-night drama.

“Perhaps it wouldst be best to sort through this matter at a more opportune hour? I am certain that all of thou might findeth it easier to discuss among thyselves with cleareth and well-rested minds.”

Burdock ground his teeth as he stomped out of the room, but before he left, he grabbed Rod’s shoulder and grumbled, “What about this discussion is unclear to thou, Rod? I hath sent mine own daughter away to be schooled, and she hath returned to me stupider than ever.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The attic of the Pie Family homestead was hot, small, and stuffy, but that did not stop Igneous from scooting and contorting his way between the boxes and dust.

Igneous could never explain why he came to this place when he had a lot to think about. But, he partook in his usual ritual year after year. He squeezed in, laid down, tried to breathe, overthought, then dug through the assorted boxes.

He reached into a box and picked out a small wooden chest. His father had warned him about doing many things. And, for most of those things, Igneous had listened. But disobeying his father and opening this chest was worth the trouble.

He opened it tentatively and studied the familiar ceramic and glass objects hidden away in the attic. The items were delicately crafted and molded by expert hooves.

They were his father’s creations.

A truth that became more absurd to Igneous with each year because Feldspar Pie was anything but delicate. The idea of that fusty stallion tediously carving and forming bowls, cups, and miniature figurines was laughable. But, there was a version of Feldspar that was willing to show such attention and care.

Back when Igneous’ mother was still around, his father would gift these objects to her. They expressed his endless love and devotion. The same love that continued to torment him years after she abandoned them.

Feldspar would fly into a rage at any reference to her, yet he kept all her mementos locked away for safekeeping instead of destroying them. Feldspar still loved Igneous' mother more than anything, and it ruined his life. Maybe she loved him too, but she loved exploring more. More than her marriage, more than her stability, more than her son.

It frightened Igneous to his very core. To give somepony else that power. He prayed that he would never suffer the same fate, which made Cloudy’s proposal so enticing.

At the least, they would have to tolerate each other, and at the most, they could become good friends. She did not have the same background in rock farming that he had, but she was well-educated and passionate about rocks. He could help her fine-tune her abilities while she could help him with the business side of rock farming.

Igneous' lack of formal education made it hard to discuss business. Most Plain fillies and colts attended communal schools during the non-harvest months and received additional schooling at home if their parents were willing to teach them. Igneous had received neither form of education since his father needed him to work full-time.

It did not help that Feldspar also lacked a sufficient education. It was strange, but one of the few memories that Igneous had of his mother was when she taught him and his father how to read. They would all sit in the living room after supper and read verses from his father’s tome together. Sometimes, Igneous wondered if Feldspar's obsession with that old book was more rooted in those memories than it was in a desire to be redeemed.

Igneous held a miniature glass cockatrice in his hooves. It must have taken hours to get its tiny head just right, which is why the act of almost dropping it was the second scariest thing to happen to him on that day. The scariest thing to happen was having the serenity of the household shattered by his father shouting his name.

The young stallion moved in a flash as he stowed the box of ceramics away and raced to his father’s location. He entered the living room fearing the worst, that his father might have collapsed or may be convulsing or suffering in any way.

Instead, he found his father relatively well and in the esteemed company of Dr. Burdock Boil.

He almost felt relieved until he noticed the intense dissatisfaction on both stallions’ faces. Igneous’ troubled mind went with its first instinct.

“Uh…Good M-morrow si-”

“Be silent!” Burdock pointed at Igneous with an accusatory hoof, “How dare thou speaketh to me as if thou doth not intend to ruin mine own legacy!”

Igneous eyes fell to the floor as he struggled to come up with something to say. Luckily, or unluckily, his father stepped in.

“Now, now. Thou shalt not speaketh to that boy liketh that in his homestead. Pick thy words carefully and speaketh liketh a stallion, not a boppli.”

Burdock huffed and took a quieter tone, “Very well then, Feldspar. Thy son hath partaken in secretive discussions with mine own daughter on the topic of marriage. I doth not desire to offend thy son or thy family, but thou must understand why this is unacceptable.”

“Aye, I understand,” Feldspar muttered as he pulled himself out of his cozy chair.

Igneous moved to help him, but the older stallion rebuffed him with the swipe of the hoof. He spat on the floor before shouting at his son, “Igneous! This shall not stand! Thou shalt not commune with the likes of Burdock Boil or his kind!”

Feldspar pointed a shaky hoof at Burdock. “That stallion is a heretic and a fraud! He doth not followeth the Principles of Providence nor doest he abideth by the customs of the Plain!”

“Well, I-I! How dare thou! A heretic? A fraud? On what basis doth thy maketh these claims?”

Now, all of Feldspar’s attention was focused on Burdock’s reddening face. “I seeth what thou truly art Burdock Boil. Thy wife is as devout as they cometh, but her piety doest not cover thy absence at congregation.”

“I am an exceptionally busy professional! I am certain Providence will forgive mine own abandonment.”

“Nay, nay. Thou still speaketh as if thy hath any faith in any power other than thyself. I seeth thy pompous displays of grandeur. Looketh Igneous at his shiny hat and tie! He doth not believeth in the powers of Providence, he believes that he is Providence!”

Burdock, unintentionally, looked at the satin tie around his neck that matched his hat. “T-thou hath no room to speaketh,” he stammered.

“I must looketh out for mine own son’s well-being. Thy daughter is certainly as arrogant and wayward as thee.”

“Hold thy tongue, foul lecher! Thou shalt not speaketh of mine own Cloudy in any way,” Burdock warned.

“Why not? Thy dochder lives among the Equish, and she carries herself as they do. Igneous shall not be led astray by her wiles. I implore thee to keepeth thy succubus away from the good youths of this town,” Feldspar spat out, unleashing droplets of black from his muzzle.

Burdock Boil lost all composure as he came dangerously close to Feldspar. “Thou art a fool and an oaf! Thou sit upon death's door, yet thou continue to plague this world with thy wretched existence. Thou confidently identify mine own daughter as a succubus, yet thee failed to do so with thy wife! I demand that thy idiot son stay far away from Cloudy! Or he shall face the wrath of Burdock Boil!”

Igneous could recall the last time he had seen his father move so swiftly. The old, sickly stallion reclaimed his strength and used it to hoist Burdock Boil out of their home. The doctor was launched out of the front door and was left laying on the ground in astonishment.

Feldspar spat black sputum at the doctor's hooves from the doorway and harshly spoke, "Gaze into the eyes of Feldspar Pie. Thou art banished from this homestead. Leaveth now and never returneth.”

Burdock pushed onto his hooves and matched Feldspar’s intensity. “As if I wouldst ever returneth to this accursed place. Providence forbid that thy son ever produces any progeny. And if he doest, may they face the same ill fortune as thee.”

Burdock brushed himself off and scurried away before Feldspar could brutalize him anymore. The father and son watched him retreat into the distance.

Feldspar finally spoke once the doctor was out of earshot, “Thee shall stayeth away from that girl.”

“Father, I-”

Igneous’ was silenced by Feldspar's hoof firmly impacting his chest. “If it is not by the will of Providence, then it is not to be. I hath seen this all before. I shall not alloweth this hardship to befall thee.”

Feldspar removed his hoof to cover his muzzle. He wheezed and shook where he stood, but rejected any aid from his son.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“So, thy father fancies mine own father a heretic?” Cloudy asked, smiling despite herself.

“Aye. Among other things,” Igneous mumbled.

She was the last pony he wanted to see, yet she appeared and coerced him away from the market with relative ease. They found a secluded spot and rested beside his wagon, where they described the respective fallouts post-Cloudy’s proposed proposal.

Cloudy pressed the back of her head against Igneous’ wagon. “He is not wrong…thy father. His reasoning is a dram off, but I assume he examined Burdock through the only frame of character that he hadst. The good doctor is arrogant and vain.”

Igneous shook his head. “That doest not maketh it right. Thy father hast done a many good deed in this community.”

“Do not feeleth remorse for him. For neither of them,” Cloudy huffed, “they speaketh ill of thee. They do not warrant thy defense.”

“I know.”

Cloudy did not know why she was beginning to feel so irritated. “Then why doth thou continue to treat them amicably?”

Igneous thought about it before simply saying, “I am unsure.”

Cloudy groaned and removed her glasses. Igneous did not deserve to be treated as an outsider in his own home. He was a good pony, too good. It was hard to grasp why he did not just demand better treatment from the townsfolk.

“We can not change how other ponies feel Cloudy,” Igneous said after a long silence, “I can not controleth how they feeleth or what they do, I can only manage myself. I might crumble to pieces if I ever tried.”

“I assume that this is what thee were alluding to when thee warned against associating with thee?” Cloudy pondered, recalling their initial proposal discussion.

“Aye. To live among the Pies is to live with this shadow. They will no longer treat thee as the daughter of Rose Quartz and Burdock Boil, that joy will be thine no longer.”

“Joy? Half of mine own life hast been spent outside of their embrace. It is a mere facade.”

Igneous had to admit that she was persistent. He removed his hat and brushed his mane back while Cloudy hummed quietly to herself. He could not recognize the tune but found the melody quite pretty. A part of him knew that he had a busy schedule for the day and that it would be in his best interest to leave, but he stayed.

“Igneous?”

“Aye?”

“I think I have a plan.”

Perhaps he should have left sooner.

“What art thou thinking, Cloudy?”

“Thy father’s tirade hath given me an idea.” She looked at him, ensuring that he was listening, “If we were to wed, the ponies around here wouldst never support us, not as long as they obey Burdock. They hold him in high esteem, but not in the highest.”

There was a glimmer of mania in Cloudy’s eye that made Igneous extremely nervous. “Ponies can demean our bond based on their own principles, but if Providence decrees our union true, then nopony can defy us. Not even Burdock can raise a fuss, lest he run the risk of doing something heretical.”

“Thee intend to have our union sanctified by Providence itself?” Igneous asked skeptically.

“Not exactly, dear Igneous, but we can aim for second best. I hear that this is a perfect time of year to visit the Pairing Stone.”

Pair

“So the day hadst finally cometh, and I hadst madeth myself look quite presentable. And thy father. Well, he did look about as dashing as ever, but I knew that he didst not wanteth to be there. We cameth upon the Long Table and satteth across from each other, just liketh how hopeful couples art supposed to, and I knew.”

“Thou knew what, mama?”

“That I didst love him. And despite himself, that he didst love me too.”

“And then thee got married, and then thee hadst me, right mama?”

“Aye, aye. But not before we went to the Pairing Stone. We hadst to split up and go in alone into a mineshaft in the middle of nowhere.”

“Oh, what typeth of rocks were there, mama?”

“I am not quite sure, beloved, but we only did need to findeth one stone. Our stone.”

“What ty-”

“I doth not knoweth beloved, nopony knoweth. That is Providence’s miracle, the stones art unidentifiable and only illuminate in the eyes of the right ponies.”

“Illumininminate?”

“Il-lu-mi-nate, beloved. They gloweth. But only for the right pony. Thy soulmate's stone will gloweth the same color, and only thou and them can see them shine. Everypony else sees a regular old rock. Thy father and I’s stones glowed the most beautiful shade of blue.”

“I wanteth to seeth! Where art thy stones, mama?”

“The stones art sealed away for safekeeping… and then the couples get married…and then they have…”

“Me!”

“Aye, sweet Cloudy, and then we hast thee.”

“Will I get mine own Pairing Stone mama?”

“Perhaps, beloved. But I doth believeth that it is past somepony’s bedtime.”

“Mama?”

“Aye, Cloudy.”

“I wanteth to stayeth here with thee and papa.”

“I knoweth, beloved. Thou know it pains me to send thee away. I shall miss thee every single second of every single day.”

“Then alloweth me to stayeth. I-it is too far… and I doth not knoweth anypony there.”

“Thou shall be just fine in time Cloudy.”

“B-but I am scared, mama.”

“Thy father… believes that this is for the best, and I-I agree with him. Therefore, let us not wasteth thy last night at home bickering. How about another story?”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Being forced into a corner by Stamp Mill was not how Cloudy Quartz wanted to spend her morning. But alas, Stamp was Stamp.

“Cloudy Quartz, I wanteth thee to marry me,” he insisted a little too intensely.

He was much too sweaty for this early in the day, and the proximity of his face to Cloudy’s face made her deeply uncomfortable.

“As I hast toldeth thee many times before, nay,” she plainly stated.

Stamp's eyes wildly darted around. “Please Cloudy. Is this not what thee wanteth? Thee hast madeth thy point, and he is trying to compromise.”

Cloudy pushed Stamp back. “It is not enough. With thee, I shall never be free. Thou bendeth over backward to appease him. What more shall thee do to protecteth thy owneth interest?”

Stamp’s brow furrowed. “I am doing the wise thing. Sometimes, we must maketh choices even if we doth not liketh them. I must consider mine own future!”

He looked away from her. “Thou art sacrificing thy potential to spite thy father. It is petty, and it is stupid. Igneous pie is nay more than a mistake, but even he doest not deserve to be thy pawn. Thy father may hast his pride, but so doth thee.”

Cloudy was growing sick of everypony acting as if they knew better. Perhaps there was some truth in Stamp’s words, but that did not make him right. She pushed up her glasses and put on her bravest face.

“It is true, I do wish to wound Burdock as he hath wounded me. It is childish, but this is no mistake. Igneous is not a mistake. He is twice the stallion that thee shall ever be, and I wouldst be lucky to call him husband.”

Stamp grasped at his chest and moved back with wide eyes. Part of Cloudy felt pity for him, but that did not stop her from continuing.

“May thee inform Burdock that I intendeth to validate mine own union with Igneous at the Pairing Stone and that we shall wed in a fortnight.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

If one were to ask Igneous how he ended up in this situation, he could only say that Cloudy Quartz was very persuasive.

He fiddled with his nicest tie to make sure it was straight. His father’s initials were embroidered on the back of it, indicating that it was a gift from his mother.

Igneous would have avoided this tie like the plague had Feldspar not insisted he wears it. The elderly stallion even took the time to tie it for him. Igneous assumed Feldspar would fight this union every step of the way, but he calmed down considerably once Igneous told him about the Pairing Stone.

The elder Pie had even insisted that he accompany Igneous to the ceremony despite it being a congregation night. He sat in the wagon as Igneous towed him along the path and loomed in the background as his son took his seat at the Long Table.

The young rock farmer found an odd sense of comfort in his father’s stern glare boring into the back of his skull. He readjusted his hat for good measure and tried to avoid eye contact with the other young ponies at the table. Those in attendance were not all Rockvillians, but they were certainly Plain.

Yet, they all knew that Igneous was the odd pony out. Word of his origin had spread far beyond Rockville as a cautionary tale. It also did not help that he was one of the oldest ponies there.

He readjusted his hat again and then three more times to be sure. The nervousness was a byproduct of his mind buzzing with activity. He had made the unfortunate decision to follow one of Cloudy’s ‘unconventional’ plans.

They were going to fake the age-old tradition.

Her plan was simple. They would both collect a stone and then lie about having a true love connection. They agreed to claim that their color was blue, and then call it a day. It sounded easy enough, yet Igneous could not help but feel they would get caught. Cloudy clearly did not consider the ceremony legitimate, but Igneous could not say the same. He had seen many strange and fantastical things, and this tradition had to exist for a reason.

Ponies filtered in and sat across from their desired match until everypony had their pair except Igneous. A new fear of this whole plan being a long-running prank began to wreak havoc in Igneous’ frantic mind.

And then, Cloudy arrived. She looked nice, winded from the long walk, but nice. All eyes fell on her as she approached the Long Table. Igneous assumed that most ponies present recognized her due to her family’s frequent traveling. Even if they did not, they could not ignore the eloquent way she trotted. Cloudy held her head high and found her seat across from Igneous.

The other hopeful couples looked surprised as the pair traded brief greetings. They both wanted to say more, but the chaplain overseeing the ceremony ushered them to get moving. Igneous gave Cloudy one last tentative look before he separated from her and entered the cave alone.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Igneous had spent a lifetime in mine shafts and caves, but he had never experienced one like this. He could not identify any of the stones that surrounded him, and his earthpony magic could not connect to the earth. It was as if his hooves were suspended high above the ground. He could not help but feel nauseous and light-headed as he blindly navigated the mines.

Everything was so conflicted to him in this place. He could not tell if seconds or weeks had passed. He felt as if he was walking in circles, but he could not recognize any of the surfaces around him. He felt tired but energized. Hungry but full. Alone but surrounded.

He traveled the tunnels by himself, but found other ponies reflected in the surfaces despite the absence of light. First he saw himself, then his father, and then Cloudy. Finally, he saw a mare with a white coat and a purple and yellow mane. Igneous did not know her name, but he knew who she was. He could never forget the face of his mother. The pony who abandoned him when he was a little colt, leaving him to survive alone with his angry and broken father.

Her voice called out to him, but he refused to follow. The world was much brighter in the infinite darkness of the caves. Where everything was ambiguous and confusing, yet clear and understandable. He looked for a stone that he could take so he could escape, but there were none. He laughed at the idea of a mineshaft with nothing to mine, then cried at the implications. This place had its purpose, but it was empty.

His weary hooves carried him aimlessly forward until the apparition of another pony appeared before him. He feared that she was a hallucination, but he could never imagine Cloudy as she was at that moment. She was disheveled, unkempt, and he could tell that she had been crying. Igneous ran to her without hesitation, and she immediately enveloped him in a hug.

It seems that they both understood the flaw in their plan. Nopony had faked the ceremony because the cave would not allow it. It knew them better than they knew themselves, and it would not free them until their intentions were pure. They simultaneously slumped against a wall to rest.

Cloudy rubbed her face with her hooves, paying no mind to the dirt she was spreading. “What didst thee seeth?”

“Mine own mother,” he wearily answered.

Cloudy looked at him with concern, but found him at ease. She spoke to him with caution, “Wouldst thee taketh offense if I asked what the she wast liketh?”

“Nay…In all honesty, she was a mystery to me. She called herself a 'storyteller', but a 'liar' may be a more appropriate title...there was something in her blood. Something that madeth it impossible to stayeth in one place for too long.”

“How didst thy father meet her?”

“There wast this creature called a snallygaster. Parteth bird, parteth reptile, parteth…octopus. It wast snatching ponies up around these parts. Mother enlisted mine own father to help capture the thing. They were…fast friends so to speaketh.”

Cloudy raised an eyebrow and leaned back. “A storyteller who catches monsters?”

Igneous chuckled darkly. “Nay, a liar who catches monsters. She always seemed preoccupied by something, always keeping secrets. For all it is worth, she tried those first few years, and she did not leaveth for good.”

Cloudy raised an eyebrow. “She cameth back?”

“Aye, a few times here and there. But each time wast more unbearable than the last. I became so angry that I shouted at her the last time we spoketh.”

“I doth not blame thee…perhaps thee shouldst take the same approach with thy father.”

Igneous tilted his head. “What doth thee mean by that?”

“He is quite short-tempered with thee, despite all thy sacrifices. Am I wrong to think that?”

“Nay. Mine own father hast his temper. There hast been…dark times for us, but I struggle to findeth fault with him.”

“And why is that?”

“Because, he wast the one that stayed.” Igneous whispered with glossy eyes, “He was far from perfect, but he is tormented by the memory of mine own mother.”

They ruminated on their conversation in silence. It was strange, this situation, yet Cloudy felt comfortable in Igneous’ presence. She spoke without thinking.

“I saw…myself as a foal…I-I…Sometimes I fear that I only wanteth to live in Rockville because I associate this place with the joys of early childhood.”

“In what way?”

“There was a brief time before I went to school when mine own father, mother, and I had a permanent home in this town. Back when everything was normal. Not only was I sent away, but mine own parents abandoned our family home to travel the West. I no longer had anything to return too. We were happy here... I thought we were happy.”

“Were thee not happy seeing the outsiders’ world?”

“Away from home, I was the outsider. Nopony understood or respected our customs. They mocked the way I looked, the way I talked, the way I carried myself, the very way I lived my life. I was alone. I was nothing. I missed mine own mother dreadfully. I even missed Burdock and his bragging.”

“Hmm. Thee and thy father art quite alike.”

A part of Cloudy wanted to feel offended, but she knew he was right. “Aye, we hast a lot in common. That is why he sent me away, because he thought I wouldst hast a better chance then he didst.”

“He entered the world of Equish as well?”

Cloudy nodded. “Aye. But he hath found much of the same hardship that I didst. Perhaps he thought starting me young wouldst soften the bloweth. It hurt mine own mother deeply, but I feareth that she doth feel indebted to him. He stayed in this place because of her, and she knoweth it.”

“But they art happy?”

“Aye. I liketh to think so. They love each other dearly…but the more I learn about them, the less I wanteth to be liketh them.”

“Hast thy changed opinion of thy parents altered thy perception of this place.”

It was difficult for Cloudy to think about, especially under these circumstances. She did not want to cry in front of Igneous, so she took her time to collect herself. In time she came to a hefty realization.

“Nay. I believe that I still love this place despite them.”

“That is good, Cloudy. Thy love for rocks is real, it draws thee to this place.”

“Aye, and something else I think.”

“What?”

Cloudy frowned. She wanted to explain, but could not understand what she was feeling. They looked at each other awkwardly until Igneous mumbled out, “Oh…”

She laughed and laughed. She did not know why, but it was good to finally laugh. This was supposed to be her break from school, a time to destress, yet she was trapped in a magical cage with a near stranger. It was clear that this was not going to work. Her head fell back as she slumped over in a sigh.

“I am truly sorry Igneous,” she whimpered.

“It is okay, Cloudy.”

“But it is not! I hath wasted thy time with mine own petulant actions, and now we shall both suffer the consequences. Thee must despise me. I am arrogant. I am proud. I truly hath led thee astray,” Cloudy shouted.

Igneous flinched as Cloudy’s words echoed through the cavern. “Thou and mine own mother art much the same. Thou art headstrong and assertive. Thou hath thy convictions, and thee stick to them, even when it causes others to hurt.”

“I-Igneous I-”

“Nay, it is okay. Thou didst not cause this by thyself. Cloudy…we art both petulant fools. We hath gone this far, forsaking our worth, to prove that we art capable.

For the first time, Igneous looked directly into Cloudy’s eyes. “That thou art capable of living the life of a rock farmer independent of thy father’s influence. That I am capable of maintaining mine own family’s legacy without help. What art we trying to prove, and to whom must it be proven?”

She mulled it over before coming to an understanding. “Thou…art right. Perhaps mine own actions art more befitting of a rebellious adolescent than an independent mare. I am sorry for causing this mess and dragging thou into it. I understand if thou intend to reject my proposal and never speaketh to me again. Regardless of our relationship status, I promise that I shall help thou keep thy farm in thy family’s name.”

“I appreciate thy words Cloudy Quartz, and I swear to thee that I shall help thee with thy ambitions. I shall not cast thee aside,” he promised with a smile.

Cloudy lifted up her glasses and wiped her eyes. “Very well, Igneous. May we collecteth our stones and face the consequences of our actions.”

“Aye, Cloudy,” he said as he stood up and pulled Cloudy to her hooves.

Comforted by the knowledge that they would see each other again soon, they shared one last nod before heading in opposite directions.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cloudy grimaced as the sunlight burned her unadjusted eyes, but she was happy to be out in the open again. She held a stone of brilliant color and vibrance; it had attracted her like a moth to flame because it reminded her of her mother. And by coincidence, her mother had found herself at the ceremony.

Rose Quartz moved as briskly as her legs could afford and wrapped her daughter in a crushing hug. “My beloved,” she cried, “I am so sorry. I hast been a dreadful mother. To think, I wouldst abandon mine own child to endureth this momentous occasion by herself.”

She buried her head in the crook of Cloudy's neck, while Cloudy struggled to console her and keep her grip on the stone.

“It is well enough, mother. Though I must sayeth that I am overjoyed that thou art here.”

“As am I! And…Ach! Look, thee hast recovered thy stone! Oh, please tell me, what shade is it?” she questioned, pressing her face against Cloudy’s to get a closer look.

“It is pink, mother. A very affronting shade of pink,” Cloudy answered as the bright colors reflected off her glasses.

Rose shaded her eyes with a hoof and surveyed the area. “Praise Providence, pink! A wonderful color beloved. Igneous must hast the same color.”

Cloudy sighed, preparing to tell her mother the truth, “Nay mother, leaveth poor Igneous and his family b-”

“Ach! There is Feldspar. Good afternoon, Feldspar!” Rose shouted with a wave, “what color might thy son’s stone be?”

Feldspar’s ears perked as he glared in Rose's direction, it took a moment to register who was talking. “Ah, it is Rose Quartz. What color stone? Igneous? What color stone doth thee hast boy?”

Igneous did not want to answer out loud, but his father pulled him closer by the neck and repeated himself, “What color stone doth thee hast boy?”

There was a whisper.

And then a shout.

“Pink? Pink! By Providence, quite garish is it not?” Feldspar questioned a little too loudly.

Rose, overcome with joy, hopped in place. “Pink! Pink! Wundarbar! Cloudy! It is a pair, it is a pair!”

“It is a pair?” Cloudy mumbled in shock.

Her month hung open as a pink light twinkled in the distance. It was the exact same shade as her own stone. The shine blazed brighter as the two young ponies approached each other.

“We passed?” Igneous questioned as Cloudy’s stone reflected in his pupils.

“Aye…we…did,” Cloudy muttered nervously.

Igneous looked at her apprehensively. “Doest this mean that we art-”

“Aye,” Cloudy answered dizzly.

Igneous looked at his stone again. “Oh…”

Progeny

They were married within two weeks, just as Cloudy had predicted. It was a modest affair held in Corner Stone’s parlor with only two guests. Corner Stone seemed skeptical of the entire situation, and asked the odd couple if they were certain about their union.

They both insisted, but they knew that Corner was mainly asking Cloudy. She affirmed that Igneous was her chosen pair and that she was happy with her decision.

Cloudy and her mother had spent the two weeks preparing a dress for the occasion: it was simple blue attire that complimented her eyes. Igneous grew out his sideburns to indicate his new status, and donned his nicest tie and hat.

Cloudy was happy despite not getting everything that she wanted. She could work on a rock farm, but her father did not beg for forgiveness as she hoped. He accepted the Pairing Stone's decree, but he refused to attend the wedding, opting to leave Rockville instead. He was surprised when Rose informed him that she would join him at a later date as she had somepony more important to support.

He refused to pay the monetary offering to his soon-to-be in-laws. Cloudy was initially upset on Igneous' behalf, but Igneous insisted they would manage. They had another week to meet Alluvial’s deadline, it would be a close call, but they would make it work. After all, that was the least important thing on their minds. They both realized the unforeseen benefit to their union that surpassed every other factor.

They loved one another, or at least, they were beginning to. It did not matter what they did or did not have as long as they had each other.

A mere four weeks ago, they were entirely different ponies. Now, they could begin anew together. They had fought back tears as they exchanged their vows as the sincerity in their proclamations felt refreshing to hear.

Their bond was sealed with a kiss, which overwhelmed them with the feeling that their lives had changed for the better.

At the end of the ceremony, the party of four sat out on Corner’s porch and enjoyed the nice weather. Rose presented her daughter with a gift.

“Now that thou art married, thee can weareth this collar to signify thy status,” Rose explained while a black dress collar with white cross stitching.

Cloudy smiled as she felt the smooth fabric with her hooves. Igneous’ chest warmed as he watched the mother help her daughter put it on. He was content to observe them until his father nudged him.

Igneous cleared his throat and reached into his hat. “Cloudy? I hast a gift for thee that mine own father helped me maketh. I wisheth that I couldst hast given thee a grand celebration and gift, b-”

“Husband, it is fine. Thy presence is what is most important to me. I cherish anything thou giveth me.”

“Right, I apologize Cloudy. I wanted to giveth thee something as breathtaking as thee, but this gift pales in comparison to thy excellence.”

Out of his hat, he pulled an ovate pendant made of blue glass. Igneous grew nervous as neither Cloudy nor her mother said anything. He might have collapsed had Rose not cheered and swiped it from his hooves.

“Oh, it is gorgeous! Cloudy?” Rose questioned as she held the pendant at the center of Cloudy’s chest, “Wouldst it not look positively dashing at the center of thy garment?”

“Aye, it wouldst mother.” Cloudy agreed, “Igneous, this a wonderful gift. I thank thee.”

Cloudy took the opportunity to hug her husband, squeezing him tightly without shame. Igneous held her back despite his nervousness, relishing in the experience of having her close.

Feldspar wiped some of the sweat off his forehead. “I am happy that thou liketh it Cloudy. It was the best we couldst muster in the time allotted. I madeth many of those items in mine own day, back when these hooves were still good.”

“Thou art not dead yet Feldspar and thy expertise survives in thy son. I doth recall a few of thy creations. Some of them must still be laying around in thy home?” Rose questioned.

“Aye. but they art not mine anymore. I stored them in the attic so that Igneous might sell them in the future.”

“But those art mothers,” Igneous mumbled in confusion.

“Exactly boy. They belonged to her, and she passed them down to thee. I stored them away to keep thee from breaking them. They art a gift to celebrate thy, ‘big moments,’ as she said. They sell for a good price, especially among the Equish.”

Cloudy pushed up her glasses as she thought of a new plan. “So thee think we might maketh a profit off thy crafts? How many doth thee think we can sell in one week?”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“And so you sold them, for a nice bag of bits, right?”

“Aye mother. I thank thee for thinking ahead on mine own behalf,” Igneous bowed his head politely. He did not know why his mother was here, but he chose not to ignore her for the first time in many years.

He usually sensed her lurking in the shadows, usually when something monumental was happening in his life. He had mixed feelings about it since he told her he never wanted to see her again when they last spoke. He found it somewhat endearing, if not a little creepy, that she continued to hover over him from afar. He had found her camping out behind a rock on the west field and decided to end decades of precedent.

“No need to thank me, Iggy. It was the least I could do for you. I hope you both enjoyed the wedding.”

Igneous raised an eyebrow. “I am certain that thee already knoweth the answer to that question since thee were there.”

She shrugged. “Maybe, perhaps, maybe.”

She looked around the vast fields for something to talk about, when she spotted a little blob of gray that moved among the stones.

She rubbed the back of her neck. “I thought I wouldst stop by to check on you since it’s been a few years. I must say, your little one is getting quite big! I remember when Cloudy was pregnant with her at that celebration you had.”

Igneous nodded. “Aye, at Holder’s Boulder’s quadricentennial. But that was not Maud. The little one thy speaketh of is Limestone, her elder sister,” Igneous corrected, pointing at the toddler currently scowling at his mother from afar.

“Two? My son has two babies?” she asked in surprise, suddenly feeling very old.

Igneous’ eye twitched. “Aye. Maud was born a year or so after her sister.”

“Ah, siblings so close in age, they may as well be twins!” she cried.

Igneous’ body jerked as she shouted. She stared at him with narrowing eyes as she put the pieces together. She knew Pies, and Pies did not twitch or squirm unless something was truly getting to them.

Reading her son like an open book. “You're having twins! How wonderful! Do you have names? How far along is she? What room will you put them in?”

Igneous’ mind began to melt as his mother bombarded him with questions. They were reasonable since he was also thinking much of the same after the news of Cloudy’s third pregnancy broke. The couple had hoped that they might have time to recover financially, emotionally, and physically from the two children they already had, but things happen.

They acknowledged that things might be a little strained and more complicated with a third, but they had a plan. Then, their third turned out to also be their fourth, and they no longer had a plan. All of the stress was rapidly turning Igneous’ purple mane grayer with each day.

Cloudy would need to be put on bedrest soon, leaving him as the primary caretaker for two toddlers and an entire farm. They would need to find the funds for a midwife since this pregnancy would be more complicated than the other two.

Rose could only do so much, and Burdock had resolved to follow Feldspar’s banishment and stay away from the Pie family homestead. Feldspar was gone, and Igneous missed him every day. He took solace in knowing that his father could meet at least two of his grandchildren before passing.

Igneous' mother tentatively placed a hoof on her son once she noticed the sadness in his eyes.

“Iggy, he would be so proud of you. He loved you so much.”

Igneous allowed her to squeeze his shoulder. “Not as much as he loved thee.” He looked at his hooves.,“I thank thee for leaving flowers on his grave.”

“How did you know that was me?”

Igneous stared into the distance. “There art no ponies in this town who wouldst leaveth him flowers other than Cloudy and I.”

“It…is a small gesture. It will never amount to what he did for me.”

For years, when it was only Cloudy and him, he thought he was at peace with his mother’s abandonment. But then, he had his own children and felt his heart breaking all over again. He loved his girls so completely, more than life itself, that he would give everything away to keep them safe. The idea of leaving them was unfathomable to him, and it was unbearable to think of hurting them in any way.

To think that his mother might have felt the same love, yet still chose to disappear devastated him. He did not look at her as they watched his children play.

“He didst his best, and I shall do the same. Not a day shall go by where mine own children shall feeleth unloved by me. I shall protecteth them and careth for them until the day I die,” he professed with more emotion than he intended.

“Good.” She said while shaking, but she still smiled.

“I doth not think I couldst ever forgive thee for what thee didst,” he admitted with tears in his eyes.

She nodded. “Then don’t. But know, that I am sorry Igneous, and that none of this was your fault. Everything that you have accomplished is through your own strength. You fought for the life that you deserved.”

Igneous shook his head. “Nay. I couldst not hast done this alone. I wast empty for such a long time. But by the most wondrous chance, Cloudy came along and saved me.”

“That's wonderful, son. She seems like a good pick. I won’t bother you anymore, but I appreciate you for taking the time to talk. And know that if you ever need anything, I’ll be around.” She rose to leave, but he grabbed her without thinking.

He did not know what had come over him, perhaps it was the stress or the exhaustion, but he held her hoof in his own. He thought about how the standards for being a grandmother were much more relaxed than they were for mothers. His mother could not be around all the time, but sometimes was better than never. Especially, when he had this many responsibilities to handle. Maybe it was a poor idea, but if his life had taught him anything, Igneous had learned that sometimes the wildest ideas could produce the most exceptional results.