Heavenly Crusaders

Once Mayor Mare finishes writing the final details onto the deed, she turns it around, saying, "Now if you just sign it, you will officially become a new member of Ponyville and a part of this community." When she watches him put his name on it, she nods her head and brings the quill back to her side. Picking it up with her mouth, she draws a square indicating the town's newest expansion beside the river and right between Fluttershy's and Sweet Apple Acres.

After bringing the map up to date with their newest residency, True Heart then blows on the ink to help it dry before rolling it up and sliding a golden ribbon tied in a bow around it, asking, "Are there any building codes or anything of the sort I should know about before I start planning out my new place?"

Shaking her head, she says, "Not at all, though if you want it to also be a store, restaurant, club, or anything like that, you will have to let me know so that I can put out flyers to let others know of your new business venture." Returning to the floor from her chair, she walks around the desk and says, "Now, if you would stand and clap our right hooves together to seal the deal so I can properly bring you into the community, I would very much appreciate it."

Tucking his new land deed into his saddlebags, he nods and gets out of his chair, saying, "Alright then. I look forward to my time in your quaint little town."

As she raises her hoof and brings it wide, she then swings it in front of her and feels her hoof meet his in the center with a loud clop echoing throughout the room. Taking notice of his larger hooves, she smiles widely, saying with a slightly raised tone, "Please allow me to be the first to welcome you into the community, True Heart. Now let's go out and introduce you to everyone..." then trots towards the door, saying, "Let me head out first so I can get everypony's attention." She then opens the door a little, and sees that all the windows have been closed. With a smirk crossing her face, she removes it and then sighs, closing the door and playing up her age a bit, asking, "My eyes aren't what they used to be dear, would you be so kind as to go out first and provide a gentle light for me to see by since these eyes are so sensitive to the shift from dark to light?"

Realizing that it is a setup and that there are ponies hiding out there with excitement radiating off them, Lillith remains quiet about it and says through her link to her husband, 'Will you stop dawdling already and go out there, don't make your horn too bright or you'll blind the poor mare.'

Nodding his head, True Heart walks around to be in front of her and opens the door then walks through, saying, "Wow, it really is dark in here, let me shed some light so that we both can see..."

He doesn't get the chance to use his magic, as if his last word was a cue, curtains are pulled back to let in the light. Hearing a multitude of voices cry out, "SURPRISE!" while ponies jump out from behind tables set up around the room with long tables on two sides of the room fully loaded with all kinds of sweets and drinks. Realizing that it is a surprise party as they whistle and cheer happily, he laughs, saying, "You all are good, though Mayor Mare's last comment seemed a little off to me."

Happy to get a new neighbor, Applejack trots up to True Heart with a few ponies following behind her and sees Pinkie Pie talking animatedly about their first meeting. Wanting to save him from having his ear talked off, she bumps her foreleg against his shoulder, saying happily, "Welcome to Ponyville, neighbor! If ya ever need anything, drop on by Sweet Apple Acres sometime and I'll be happy to lend a hoof."

As other ponies walk up to him and introduce themselves along with welcoming him to Ponyville, he introduces himself and talks to them a little. Making his way toward the refreshments table to get a cupcake to snack on, he spots a light gray mare with a purple mane and tail having blue eyes heading his way with a smile.

The light grey mare with a curled mane and tail walks up to him and introduces herself, saying, "Hello darling, my name is Rarity Belle, and I am a fashion designer that prides herself on making the best designs possible. I live on the upper floor of my shop called Carousel Boutique, for fashion is ever moving. Feel free to stop by if you ever need a garment, my door is open from dawn til dusk." Recalling overhearing his conversation with Mayor Mare, she twirls a part of her mane around her hoof, saying, "I couldn't help but overhear that you are willing to offer labor in exchange for a place to stay. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't generously extend an offer for you to stay in my spare bedroom upstairs."

Catching Rarity's last comment causes Applejack to lightly knock herself in the head with a hoof, saying, "Ahh ponyfeathers, I gone and fergot that he's also looking for a place to stay. Well, better late than never..." then trots over and sidles up besides Rarity to shoot him an offer as well, saying, "Pardon my rudeness, but I gone and plum fergot that ya were needing a place to stay until ya have a place of yer own. If ya don't fancy working with gems, fabric, and all that fru-fru stuff, ya can borrow the guest room upstairs and help us round the farm. What do ya say?"

When both mares look at True Heart expectantly with a grin, bumping each other back and forth as if battling silently over him, he chuckles and says, "With a pair of lovely mares as yourselves both wanting to offer me a place to stay, how can I say no to either of you. Therefore, since I am accustomed to going from place to place, I shall spend one week with one of you, then move to the other and so forth. Does that sound acceptable to you both?"

Happy at hearing that solution, both mares look to each other and stop bumping each other before turning back to face him, asking simultaneously, "Who's first?"

Not wanting to pick one over the other, he pulls out a bit, saying, "To be fair, why don't we let chance decide?"

Seizing the opportunity first, Rarity lifts her head up and says, "I pick heads to stay at my place."

Chuckling at her antics, Applejack says, "Alright then, I'll be tails then. Don't bother me none anyway."

Flicking the coin up in the air, True Heart says, "Alright girls, best out of three." As the coin flips end for end, it heads towards the ground and bounces off the wood floor a couple of times before rolling around in a circle and falls onto one side, showing tails, causing Applejack to hold her head higher, saying, "Well that's one fer me Rare."

Rolling her eyes and lifting her nose a bit higher, she huffs and says, "Just you wait, Applejack, the next two will go to me."

Lifting the bit up again and flipping it into the air, it flips end over end before hitting the floor and bouncing a few times before falling on heads, making the fashionista smile and preen at her victory, saying, "See?"

With a light huff, she says, "Yep, but now we're even. The next one wins the match and takes this stallion home!"

Rarity giggles and says, "You might want to watch how you word things, Applejack, or some ponies will think you are looking to have a foal."

Applejack turns beet red at hearing her say that and quickly says, "WHA-bu-but I'm not, I swear! We just could really use a little extra help around the farm is all."

True Heart smiles as he hears a few snickers around the room at how loudly she said that out loud, picking the bit up again, saying, "Last flip, and the winner will get a new house guest and an extra set of helping hooves."

All eyes around the room are on the coin as it is tossed into the air, flipping end over end slowly as time seems to slow. Eventually, the coin makes its way back toward the ground and bounces on the wooden floor, landing on its edge with enough horizontal force that it starts rolling across the floor. Seeing the rolling bit, ponies lift their hooves and watch it go by anxiously, until it hits the edge of a platform and bounces back. When the coin starts to spin on its axis, they all hold their breaths as they wait to see how it lands.

He watches the bit spin slower and slower until it stops, remaining on its edge and causing several ponies to say awe. However, True Heart just laughs at it and says, "That right there is a thousand-to-one chances." then uses his magic to retrieve the bit as ponies laugh at the extreme odds and flips it again, saying, "This time it will be either heads or tails."

As Applejack watches the bit rise and fall, flipping end over end, it hits the floor and rolls in a circle before falling on tails, resulting in her saying triumphantly, "TAILS!" She then turns to True Heart with a smile, saying, "See ya when the party's over, True, I have some cleaning to do in the guest room." Turning to Rarity, she smiles and says, "That was fun, wasn't it Rare."

Smiling and nodding her head, Rarity turns to Applejack and says, "The suspense was a little enjoyable, yes, though I have some work to do in my own guest room, darling. See you again soon." She looks at True Heart and says, "Since today is Tuesday, I shall see you next Wednesday, mister Heart."

Nodding at her as she turns and starts to head out, True Heart says, "I look forward to finding out what tasks you will have me perform next week."

The farm pony looks at True and asks, "I'll show ya where Rare's boutique is at so ya know how to get there before guiding ya to where the farm's at, just let me know when yer ready to go."

Having not slept yet a yawn crawls its way out of him as he smiles sheepishly, looking around the room, saying, "I would love to stay and meet more of you, but I have been walking for most of yesterday and last night. So regrettably, I will have to say farewell and goodnight to you all. I look forward to seeing you around town when I start trying to figure out what kind of residence I would like to build just outside of town." Turning to Pinkie Pie, he then walks up to her and says, "Thank you for the party, for I enjoyed it during the short time I was here." then kisses her cheek, which causes her to jump for joy as confetti shoots out of her mane and she starts talking rapidly.

After taking his leave with Applejack, he follows her as she takes him by Rarity's boutique and Sugarcube Corner, informing him that Pinkie Pie works there occasionally and is ran by Mr. and Mrs Cake. When they pass by her stall, she quickly packs everything up into the cart and hitches herself up to it before heading down the road to her farm, asking, "If ya don't mind me asking, what is it ya do? I ain't not met a pony yet that don't got something they like doing, be it for themselves or bits."

Following her across the bridge, he says, "I make my way around Equestria, helping others that need it. Occasionally, I take bits for providing labor. However, I know how to protect myself and I go out of my way to protect others from harm free of charge and of my own accord, though I won't share details of my past fights with others as I wish to remain anonymous."

Applejack looks at him curiously, then asks, "Hmm...ya said yer from Canterlot, right? So do ya have any family around here? If so, perhaps I know 'em already!"

True Heart thinks for a moment, then says, "I'm not sure, but I don't think so. I have a sister named Derpy Hooves, though I nicknamed her muffins and call her that, but I have no idea if she lives here or in Canterlot still..."

Smiling widely, she says, "She's yer sister! I know her alright, she's a light bluish gray pegasis that tends to crash into things occasionally, with blonde hair and wonky eyes, correct?"

Nodding his head with a smile, he says, "Yeah that's definitely her, do you know what she's up to now?"

Applejack nods and keeps walking, saying, "She's our accident-prone delivery pony, she tries to keep damage to her parcels to a minimum by letting herself take the brunt of the collision. She has a small cloud home just above Ponyville, she came here about three years ago and always talks about ya and how much she loves and misses her big brother."

When they reach Applejack's home, she puts the cart in the barn and grabs the basket of bits by the handle with her teeth, then heads up to the house and opens the door, saying around the handle in her mouth, "Howdy everypony I'm back early and brought a friend!"

As True Heart meets Applejack's family and sees Big Mac again, Applejack takes Applebloom upstairs to prepare the guest room after telling everyone that he agreed to help both her and Rarity out in exchange for a place to stay while he works on building his home.

After having a meal with Applejack's family, he heads up to his room for a decent night's sleep. He wakes the following morning by Applejack knocking on his door, letting the others go before him so he can do his morning ritual. Once his ritual is finished, he uses the bathroom and washes his hooves before heading downstairs for breakfast

As Applebloom eats her blueberry pancakes, she sees True Heart making his way to the dining table. However, her eyes, along with everyone else's around the table are fixated on his flank as Applebloom is the first to speak up, asking in a shrill tone, "Why haven't you gotten your cutie mark yet!?!" She then turns to her sister and asks, "Is there a possibility I will remain a blank flank forever?!"

Chuckling lightly, True Heart takes a seat at the table, saying, "I highly doubt that, little one, for it only means they will be that much more special for when we finally do get our cutie mark. I have a vague idea about what it is I must do in life, but I just need to keep trying different things until it does appear."

When breakfast continues, he goes out to learn what the family does and begins to help them out however he can. As he takes breaks, he thinks about what kind of a home he wishes to build. The rest of the week goes by relatively quickly as he helps them finish harvesting one orchard.

When the day comes to head over to Rarity's home for the first time, he wakes up early to go take a look at his property after his morning ritual. When he gets there, he walks through his new land to see what needs to be done first when he has an opportunity to come here and start doing what he can. The first things he makes notes of are that the tall grass needs to be cut down and the stones removed. Having a bit of time, he works at cutting the grass down around the corners marked with tall sticks, deciding to get some string so that he can tie it around the top of the posts to give him a general idea for how much work he needs to do for a wall no higher than his back.

Spending only a couple hours of getting started, he makes his way to Rarity's boutique so that he can begin helping her with whatever she needs aid with. When he arrives at her place, he sees a sign out front reading: I'm open, come inside! After seeing that, he heads on inside and hears the jingling of a small bell overhead and looks around the shop, saying, "Miss Rarity, I have come to lend you a helping hoof this week." When a moment of silence ensues, he wanders around and says, "Are you back here, Rarity?"

Maintaining her focus, she calls out from her back room, "Apologies, darling for not responding earlier True, I am currently trying to finish up an order for a client's dress. You can come on back here, you won't bother me at all as I am just pinning a piece in it's place. Once I finish this up, I would like your help in replenishing my stock of gems that I use in making dresses. By chance, do you know a spell to locate things?"

Walking into the back room, he sees her by a strange stand with a pony body form on it, saying, "Ah, I see that you use quite a few mannequins for your projects. I have seen wooden, full-bodied models before, though they may be a bit dated. To answer your question, I do have a few varieties of locating spells, yes."

Taking a moment to look away from her work and look at him with wide eyes, Rarity says, "Those antiques are STILL being used today?"

Nodding his head, he says, "I can't speak for other designers like yourself, but a relative of mine has a few serving as armor stands to honor warriors of the past."

Going back to the dress she's working on, she says, "I suppose that is a decent use for them, though do you have any idea how hard those are to come by these days and how expensive they are?"

Shaking his head, he says, "Unfortunately I don't have the slightest idea."

Rarity then picks up her needle and thread and begins stitching it onto the dress carefully, saying, "Just one of those old relics is worth at least four dresses far more elaborate than this one which I sell for the fair price of 80 bits per outfit."

Surprised at hearing that, he looks around the store and says, "Well, it looks like you do very well for yourself."

Smiling as she finishes sewing the piece on, she severs the thread then returns it to the pincushion before taking the dress off and moving it to a hanger, saying, "I do make enough to get by comfortably, but I am generous and will help a pony out if they are having a hard time of it." Carrying the hangar to a rack, she sets the dress on it and smiles happily at having the final order from the day before finished, saying, "Since that is out of the way now, I can see if you know a gem-finding spell."

Cocking his head a little, True Heart thinks about the locating spells he knows and says, "You know what, I don't think I know that one. I have one for locating and identifying a few different types of stone, metal ore, and finding underground water sources."

Rarity smiles and then says, "Perhaps I could teach it to you if you teach me the one to locate ore?"

Smiling back at her, he nods his head and says, "Sounds fair to me, shall I teach you first or do you want to go first?"

Thinking it over, she giggles saying, "Why don't we do it like we did it at the party a week ago and flip a coin? Oh and before I forget, how was your week at Applejack's?"

He pulls out a bit and asks, "just once or best out of three?" then says, "It was great, I managed to help them finish harvesting the east orchard."

Rarity then says, "Just once is fine, I pick heads."

When he flips the coin into the air, it falls and bounces a couple of times before landing on heads, causing Rarity to smile and cheer about winning this time. As Rarity teaches him the spell, he discovers that it isn't too much different from the other spells he has for finding things and starts to teach her the ore finding spell. While explaining to her that it reveals veins, pockets, or even rare pieces on the ground, he also explains to her that each ore can be identified by a certain color and which colors mean what ore.

After testing her new spell out on a couple different objects around her boutique, she gets used to what it looks like when the object is hidden from view, saying, "Alright, would you have any issue against pulling my wagon for me to where we will be searching?"

Shaking his head he says, "Not at all miss Rarity, lead the way."

Leading him to where she keeps her wagon, she says, "Alright darling, you can hang your saddlebags over the front of the wagon as they will hinder your ability to turn while hooked up to it.

As he takes his saddlebags off and sets them over the front boards, then heads over to the front and backs between the wooden double-bend poles connected by a single tree, but doesn't see where to hook himself up to it and turns to Rarity, asking, "Uhm...where is the harness at miss Rarity?"

Blushing at having completely forgotten to grab the pieces, she trots back inside to grab them and comes back out with the three pieces, saying, "Apologies for forgetting, darling, but I was so surprised by your lack of a cutie mark that I gone and forgot all about the harness." She goes to hook it around him, and asks, "Does the scent of a mare's perspiration bother you?"

Shaking his head, he says, "Not at all, but it might smell a bit like me once we bring this back to unload, would that offend you?"

The blush deepens as she shakes her head, saying, "Not at all, but feel free to call me Rare or Rarity as we are friends now."

After being hooked up to the wagon, he then asks her, "Do we need any supplies for digging the gems up?"

Smiling at the stallion, she shakes her head, saying, "The shovels and hand scythes are strapped to the outsides of the wagon as that is about the only time I ever use them."

As she starts walking, he asks, "So where are we headed to start our search?"

Continuing her way towards the southern road, Rarity says, "We are on our way to your new land to tame the wild and unruly prairie grass that claimed it, that way it will look less like wilderness and more like a city lot."

Curious about why they are going to his lot, he asks, "Might you be able to explain why we aren't searching for gems instead Rarity?"

Slowing her pace to walk alongside him, she smiles and answers, "Of course, we are going there to help you get a head start on your property. Since we are a community, shouldn't we help a new member out?"

Unsure about not doing any work for her, he says, "Well, I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I feel like I'm not doing my part in turn for renting your spare room."

Chuckling softly, Rarity says, "No need to worry your handsome head over small details like that, we will still have some time left to search for gems. We will also be spending most of tomorrow searching for gems to replenish my supply. So, tell me. Do you have any plans for the grass after we cut it down or the stones if we need to remove them?"

Shaking his head, he says, "Alright then, I have no need for the grass. As for the stones...ones smaller than an average pony's body can be discarded."

Nodding her head, she heads across the bridge ahead of True so that they don't hinder other ponies wanting to cross, looking back over her shoulder and saying, "That is good to know then, Applejack should be able to use the grass and I have another friend who might be able to use the stones."

Once they arrive at his lot, Rarity unhooks him from the wagon and they both take the hand scythes off the wagon to start cutting the grass. As Lunchtime comes around, Rarity moves a few stones aside to make room for her picnic blanket.

After setting out the picnic blanket and basket, the two of them have lunch that Rarity prepared herself. When lunch is over, True helps Rarity pack up by shaking the blades of grass and debris off the blanket and folds it back up for her, asking, "Shall we get back to work and finish up?"

With a nod, Rarity then says, "I shall get started on bundling the grass into bundles."

Finishing the five acre lot and clearing a bit past the edges a couple hours later, he cleans the scythes and sharpens them before putting them back in their place on the wagon's sides. Moving onto the bundles, he picks them up a few bundles at a time and lays them neatly in the wagon to make the most use of the room there is with the blanket and basket in the front.

As Rarity ties the last bundle, she sets it with the others she has made and looks around at the nice and clean lot, saying, "This now looks like a very nice lot with all the grass out of the way, do you plan to make sculptures out of the big boulders?"

With a smile, he says, "Not exactly art sculptures like you're probably thinking, but I plan on attempting to carve long blocks out of them to build my home with."

Cocking her head in thought, she then asks, "Something like how some of the older buildings in Canterlot and the Castle are?"

Nodding, True Heart puts a few more bundles in place, saying, "Yes, but on a less grand scale."

Curious, Rarity helps load bundles into her wagon, asking, "Would you happen to have any sketches of what you plan to build?"

Shaking his head as he puts the last bundle on the wagon, he says, "Not really, though I do have a few rough measurements started. With the grass cleared now, I will have to think of how much work I need to do to get a big enough spot leveled so that I can build a lower level to serve as the foundation once I come up with an idea of what I want to build here."

Hooking him back up to the wagon, Rarity then smiles and says, "Well if you need any help with designs or clothing, you are welcome to come and see me. Now, shall we head over to Applejack's with this load and come back for another?"

As they make their way to Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack accepts the grass all-too-happily and gets her siblings to help put the grass in the barn loft. Afterwards, her brother hooks up to the big wagon as Applebloom comes with her sister and big brother to help load bundles.

Once they get to True's cleared lot, Big Mac pulls his wagon up by the stack of grass bundles and waits for his sisters to be in position, hearing them say they're ready to catch bundles, responding with a nod and a word, saying, "Eeyup."

It only takes a couple hours to get the remaining bundles back to their barn at Sweet Apple Acres as Applejack watches her brother find a new place for the rest of the bundles, saying, "Hoo-eee! I am mighty thankful of y'all to bring this grass to us, I didn't realize how much grass one can get off of a five acre lot. We managed to stuff our barn loft clear to the rafters and still have to find a place for the rest! But that's a good thing 'cause it means we won't have to worry about running out of food for the cows anytime soon."

Big Mac comes back for another few bundles, chuckling and saying with a smile, "NNOPE!"

As the last bundle is unloaded, True and Rarity make their way back to his lot to load the stones too small for his use and head to where Rarity's other friend lives. When they arrive, Rarity knocks on a red door that has an upper half and a lower half, saying, "Oh Fluttershy! Are you in there?"

The upper door opens a slight amount as a cyan eye peeks out through the small opening, noticing the strange stallion behind her friend and saying in a barely audible voice, "Hi Rarity, do you need something?"

Able to hear her friend despite her soft voice, she smiles and says, "Yes, darling, True just moved into town a week ago and after clearing the grass off his lot, he has a bunch of stones he has no use for. So, we brought them over to you, thinking that you might have a use for them?"

Blinking a few times, she thinks it over and nods her head, saying ever so softly, "The animals could use them around their dens to provide more protection...I'll be out in a moment."

Stepping away from the door as it closes without a sound, Rarity heads back to where she left True and says, "My friend is extremely shy around new ponies, so keep that in mind. If you ask her something, she is going to reply in a tone barely within hearing if you aren't listening hard enough."

Nodding his head, he patiently waits until she comes out. When she does, he sees a butter yellow pegasus with a very long, light pink mane and tail making her way around the front of her house gazing at him with wary eyes occasionally. Keeping back to give her room, he continues to follow her around the house and into her back yard.

When she stops and flies over to the wagon to grab a small stone with her front hooves, True Heart stops where he is to see what she does with it.

Rarity watches Fluttershy drop the stone on the ground a short distance away and hears her tell him in a bare whisper to set the rocks there, when he does nothing at all, Rarity sighs mentally and says for her friend, "Fluttershy wants you to put all the rocks where she dropped the rock she just carried."

As the stallion begins to unload the rocks, Fluttershy looks at her friend and says in a soft voice, "Thank you, the animals will be very grateful for you bringing these stones here to better protect their homes."

Smiling and nodding her head, she says, "We took a bunch of tall, fresh cut grass to Applejack's, and they struggled to find room for it all. If you or your animals could use a few of the bundles, you could go visit and ask for some."

Nodding her head with a soft smile, she says, "I appreciate you telling me that, I will remember that. Is this stallion your special somepony?"

Rarity chokes on air at hearing that and spins her head to her friend with a light blush, saying, "Of course he isn't, darling. He is just new to the community and has offered to trade labor in exchange for staying at my place and Applejack's farm every other week. If you would have been at Pinkie's surprise party, you would have heard that he is your new neighbor." When she hears her friend hide under her mane, she sighs and says, "I'm sorry for raising my voice to you, but it was shocking to even hear you suggest that. From what I seen of him so far, he is a thoughtful stallion and kind, but I strongly suggest you get to know him better or at least raise your voice a bit so he doesn't mistake you for a light breeze."

Pawing the ground lightly, she looks at the stallion as he turns to return to the wagon, spotting scars on either side of his flank and gasps lightly. Moving closer to her friend, she raises her voice a bit and asks, "What happened to him to get those scars on his flank?"

Raising her eyebrow curiously, she watches True unload more rocks and then turn around to go get more, seeing that he has quite a few scars on either flank nearly identical to each other. She opens her mouth to ask, but gets a better idea and says, "If you want to know that, you will have to ask him yourself."

The suggestion of raising her voice causes Fluttershy to shrink in on herself and tremble, whimpering softly, "I...I can't."

Letting out a soft sigh, she says, "Sadly, you leave me no choice but to give you a slight push." and spots a large split hair in her tail and grabs it with her magic, saying, "Sorry, Shy, but you need to speak your mind."

When she feels a hair suddenly yanked out, she cries out, saying, "OW DID YOU GET YOUR SCARS?!" When she realizes she blurted her question out, she hides beneath her mane and curls up into a ball while her face turns red.

Unloading the last rocks, he sets them down with the others with a soft sigh, and turns to them, asking, "Do you want details or the short version?"

Deciding to just satisfy their curiosity for now, Rarity says, "The short version, if you don't mind. We don't want to cause you any pain."

Nodding his head, True heart says, "Well, I got these scars several years ago after I failed to control myself and caused an accident in Canterlot, which resulted in me being punished for nearly causing a family great heartache."

Rarity's eyes are wide at hearing that as her mind tries to puzzle out what could possibly have happened when she hears a flap and sees a blur of yellow rush over to the stallion, once she sees Fluttershy hugging the stallion and sobbing, saying, "Oh you poor, poor little dear! That must have been such a terrible and scary thing for you to have to go through, I'll be here to help you through whatever troubles you may have." Taking a moment, she then says, "My name is Fluttershy, and I'm so sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I'm really shy around new ponies until I open up to them."

As the weeks go by, True Heart tries to figure out what kind of home he would like to build. One day, when Rarity takes him with her to the spa after fulfilling a larger than normal order, he lies on the table getting a deep muscle massage and drifts off for a moment. He finds himself thinking about all the strongholds and cathedrals he visited when he opens his eyes again to find that it is time to go to his hooficure.

Once he and Rarity finish getting their treatments done and head back to her boutique, Rarity starts making a list of things she needs to order. As she is busy, True Heart sits at her design table and turns the lamp on, then pulls out one of her white sketching papers and a charcoal drawing pencil. Tapping the flat end against his head in thought, an idea starts to come to him that allows him to get started.

When Rarity finishes her list she goes to let True Heart know she's going to make a trip to Canterlot, but sees him focusing on a piece of paper thoughtfully with a small ruler and says softly, "I just wanted to let you know that I am going to change the message on the sign and head to Canterlot to get a few supplies since nopony in town is heading there anytime soon, be sure to lock up if you go anywhere."

Hearing her, he nods his head and says, "Alright, take care of yourself while in the big city and watch out for hoodlums."

Snickering behind her hoof, she says, "Oh, no need to worry about me...if anything, you should worry about those poor dears that try anything with me."

Smirking as he pulls out another piece of paper and says, "I know, because your whining and complaining is legendary and will bring even the angriest dragon to his knees begging you to stop and offering you gems."

Raising an eyebrow at his teasing, she teases him back, saying, "Careful darling, for somepony might think you and I are in a relationship."

Nodding his head, he says, "You're right, I should watch my tongue around innocent and beautiful mares such as yourself, for I don't think my wife would appreciate me flirting with other mares."

Her eyes shoot open wide at hearing that as she says in shock, "Y-YOU'RE MARRIED!" She then blinks a couple times before asking, "H-How long ago did you get married? Where in Tartarus is she, and why haven't we seen her around town yet?"

Turning away from the paper, he says, "I am, though it isn't a typical marriage as you are likely thinking, it is more along the lines of a contract of sorts. As for how long ago, it has been several years since we sealed the deal with a kiss. Presently, she is in a timeout in my mind for getting up to some mischief."

Rarity recovers a bit at hearing that, thinking, 'Oookay, so he has a bit of a strange personality quirk.' then plays along with it, asking, "Would it be alright if I meet her?"

Looking seriously at her for a moment, he hears his wife plead, whine and beg to be let out for a bit and sighs, turning his head and saying to his wife, "Dear, have you made any progress with your ability yet?"

Pacing around her sanctuary fitfully in boredom, Lillith morphs into her pony form and looks herself over, seeing that she has finally managed to make herself look like an actual pony, saying, "I have at long last dear, so can I please come out for a bit?! I swear I won't cause any mischief, just please let me stretch my legs!"

Blinking slowly, he turns back to Rarity and asks, "Can you Pinkie Promise me that you won't freak out and start panicking if I let her out, Rare? She can be a bit of a troublemaker."

Her eye twitches at having to make a Pinkie Promise, but takes a calming breath and then says, "Oh, alright...if I must, I shall."

After seeing her make the motions and saying the words to the official Pinkie Promise, True Heart gets up from the table and walks to the center of the space, saying to his wife, "Smoke to pony if you will dear."

Rarity watches curiously as he stands in the center of the room, closing his eyes before taking a deep breath and letting it out as a dark red smoke falls to the floor before him. Once it finishes coming out, she watches in astonishment as it moves to his left side as a soft light flickers from within when she sees it rise up off the floor. Her eyes bug out of her head as she watches the cloud form four black hooves and the legs of a pony, having a dark red fur coat. When the smoke finishes forming the body, she finds herself looking at a unicorn mare with a curved, pointed horn sharpened to a point with glittering silver eyes and a silky looking, jet-black mane and tail with a pair of burning pink hearts for a cutie mark.

Upon taking her pony form, Lillith prances around in front of her husband, saying, "How do I look dear?"

Looking her over closely, he nods and says, "Like you should, now please introduce yourself and try not to do anything wild enough to make her faint..."

Turning her head to look at him with a pouty lip, she huffs, saying, "Awwe...you're no fun." then rolls her eyes and says, "But I shall listen since you let me out so kindly." Trotting over to him and kissing his cheek, she then turns to face Rarity and smiles at her, saying, "Hello, miss Rarity. It is a pleasure to finally get to see you with my own eyes, you may call me Vale Lilly."

Rarity's mind struggles to process what she just saw as she looks the creature over from head to tail, finding herself asking, "Uh, what did you just do?"

Looking at her, Lillith smiles and says, "Oh, that was just me leaving my sanctuary inside my husband's body."

Nodding her head robotically, she tries to think of something else to ask, asking, "W-What are you?"

Thinking of how to answer her, she says, "It's better off that you don't know, so let's just say I'm from a place that is much warmer and scarier than this one is. You don't have to fear, however, because compared to how droll things were where I came from...I like how peaceful it is here, so I Pinkie Promise that I won't do anything truly evil while in your world." Getting an idea to put her at ease, she says, "In fact, to prove that I'm not lying...Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." while doing the motions for a Pinkie Promise.

Unable to hold back a snicker, True Heart chuckles and says, "Never in all my life, would I ever think I would see one of your kind make a Pinkie Promise."

Turning back to him, Lilly says with a pout, "Hey, I had to find a way to put her at ease somehow, or would you rather me walk right up to her and make out with her?"

Shaking his head, he says, "As much as I wouldn't mind watching that, don't do it because her mind is barely keeping up. Her mind might overload and cause her to faint, and that would mean I would have to carry her to her room. That is a boundary I would like to avoid crossing as much as possible because we are roommates at the moment, and I am pretty sure she would vehemently oppose to being carried into her room and gingerly placed upon her bed by a stallion."

Her mind forgets about processing what she saw moments before and decides to process it later, asking, "H-He's right, a-aren't you two married?"

She turns back to her and says, "We are through a contract I made with him via mixing my blood with his, though I consider us having an open marriage and could care less who he involves himself with as long as I get the chance to join when he introduces me."

It takes a couple hours before Rarity is comfortable with leaving the two alone in her boutique, saying, "If you two make a mess...please clean up after yourselves so I nor my customers have to put up with smelling sex and spread rumors about me being more than roommates with you."

Taking her leave, she makes sure to have her saddlebags for the things she needs to buy as she tries to come to grips with what happened earlier.

With Rarity gone, True returns to his sketching as Opal decides to come out of hiding and investigate the new arrival, saying, "I would behave if I were you Opal, my wife will get even with you if you get up to mischief with her."

Hours pass by as his sketching becomes more and more of a solid blueprint as he tries to think of something for the windows when he steps outside for a moment when he watches the sun set and the moon rise, saying, "Another beautiful cycle change..." The idea hits him then as he grins and heads back to the drawing table to finish the rough sketch of his plans.