“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Olivine Facet grumbled, igniting her horn as she and Pile descended into the cave.

“W-Well, that Maud Pie said Ponyville had the best caves to find gemstones,” Pile replied, having shifted back to his changeling form. His compound eyes easily adjusted to darker environments. “Besides, you seemed like the best pony I know for the job—”

“Because I’m a crystal pony?” Olive shot a frown over her shoulder, one eyebrow raised.

“What?” Pile spluttered. “N-No! You just said you’d been practicing your gem finding spells, and I figured this would be the best place to try them.”

Olive blinked and turned back to the trek at hoof, her cheeks darker. “Ah. Right,” she muttered. “Still, what do you need a gemstone for so badly?”

Pile swallowed. “Well, uh… Creek’s birthday is coming up. At first, I wanted to make her a tiara, but then I realized I didn’t really know how to make one of those. And besides, Creek rarely wears hers as it is. So, I figured I could make her a necklace! I know a little about weaving,” he explained.

“And you couldn’t just buy her a nice necklace?” Olive huffed.

“Well, no. I thought it’d be special if I made it myself. Something from the heart, you know?” Pile said, looking around as the cave around them grew darker.

Olive snorted. “And here I thought you were fixing to find a stone for an engagement ring,” she said with a smirk.

“What?!” Pile’s voice reverberated around them. “No! N-Not yet, anyway! Besides, I don’t know how kirin propose or do marriage, it might be something completely different than how ponies do it. Especially royal kirin.”

Olive hummed in response, focusing on the task at hoof. A flat beam of green light emitted from her horn and danced up and down the walls as they went. She turned down a series of tunnels, following the way the beam flickered.

They walked in silence, until Pile spoke up: “So, uh, why were you practicing gem finding spells anyway? Didn’t take you for a spelunker.”

Olive spluttered, and her horn briefly sputtered out. She grumbled as she reignited the spell and continued on, her pace a little brisker. Pile frowned and hurried after her.

“That didn’t answer my question,” he said.

Olive muttered something under her breath, but even in the stillness of the cave, Pile couldn’t quite make it out.

“What?”

“I said I’m looking for stuff for Snare!” Olive stopped and shouted, her voice roaring back at her around the cave. Pile winced at the volume.

With a huff, Olive continued on with Pile close behind her.

“You’re looking for gems for Trap?” he asked. “Does she need them for a project or something?”

Olive stopped and stared at him, eye twitching. “Is the chitin of your skull that dense? I love her, you clod! Have you not been paying attention?!”

Pile winced again, blinking. “Well, you’re not the best at socializing so… I mean, I know you and her spend a lot of time together—and I know, you’re roommates, yeah—but I didn’t know how close you were.”

“We sleep in the same bed, Pile,” Olive said flatly.

It was Pile’s turn to blush. “Right. Ah… let’s just find those gemstones then. I’m sure we can find something nice for Creek… and Trap, too.”

“Yes, let’s,” Olive muttered, thankful the darkness of the cave at least hid her blush.

Author's Note

Fun fact: Olive is just a little bit of a tsundere. Again, she's inspired by Peridot.