A Fair Soul

CHAPTER 5

Experiments. and... Foals?

I awoke the the sound of birds in song. The sun was now out and warm light crept into my cave. I however was far from warm. My mind was still frozen from last night's dream. The new memory felt fresh and new in my mind but at the same time old and distant. The memory brought about conflicting emotions in me. I felt that my character was so vastly different then the one that was in the dream. While I did not want to the fight the other me seemed to enjoy it. I shuddered at the thought of all the people I had killed. But on another note I deduced that I can absorb iron as well as other minerals that make up my shards to further my abilities. This iron could be obtained through ore, constructions, or...

"Blood" I said in a sad tone."Well at least I guessed my name right."

"Chirp Chirp."

I turned my head to the entrance Where I had heard the sound. There at the caves lip was a bird. The bird was blue with a white underbelly and sprinkled with white specks over it's feathers. It stared into the cave cocking it's head from left to right. After a minute the bird lost interest in the cave and flew away singing happily.

"Well I better get up too." I said sitting up. I had forgotten how low the ceiling was in my home and hit my head. With a sigh I hunched and dragged my feet to the mouth of the cave.

Sunlight poured onto my crystal body with every step I took out of my dwelling. I found that the scenery I had loved at night was just as beautiful in the day. The light from the sun was reflected by the pond into the tree's vibrant pink peddles revealing energetic birds going about their business. Just like yesterday the sky was bright and sunny with just enough cloud cover to keep the temperature pleasant. I took a moment to drink in the sights around me before heading into the forest.

"Alright." I said to myself placing a talon on my chin. "Today's schedule is: 1. Observe the ponies, 2. continue experimentation with powers." With a light nod I continued through the forest. I was searching for a path or trail of sorts. From what Luna told me ponies have advanced into a civilization, and that means if I can find a path I can trace it back to a settlement. Not 20 minutes later I spotted a path out of the corner of my eye. I bent down so I was crouched and approached the trail remaining in the bushes. What I found was a white pony with black stripes with a tail and mane to match.

'Well isn't this curious.'

I followed the striped quadruped for some time making careful note of how it walked. After a few minutes I could see the forest around the trail end and open into open fields. I stopped were the tree cover ended and watched the stripped pony. It was heading to a town that was just beyond the forest. I made a mental note of it's location and sent one of my shards at the pony. The shard actually managed to embed itself in it's mane. Happy with the result I slinked back further into the tree line. When I thought I was safe from being discovered I walked back to my camp.

When I arrived the sun was almost at it's peak. It was just a little before noon and the sun would soon begin it's decent.

"Alright. Let's see if this will actually work." I said taking a seat on my stone chair.

I closed my eyes trying to concentrate. I was focusing on the shard I had planted on the pony. I could feel it. It was a very strange feeling one I could not fully comprehend. I could feel myself being here but also over there. It was not like I was stretched it was like I was being in two different places at once. I could not shake the feeling that it was so close but yet so far.

'Ok it's now or never.'

I tried to open my eyes, but not the ones on my body. The eyes I was trying to open were the ones I attached to the pony. Suddenly my vision was filled with vibrant color. What I saw was not the clearing I was resting in, but a village.

'Well i'll be dammed it worked.'

I could see much activity as ponies went about their daily lives completely unaware I was watching. It appeared that my host was in a market area of sorts. There were many vendors stalls strung about all over the streets. The vendors sold things from flour to fruits to vegetables and other commodities. The area was bustling with activity giving many ponies to observe. They went to and from the vendors carrying the items they had bought with happy faces.

Even the pony I was joy riding was on it's way to a stall to get what it had come here for today. I watched with interest and horror as we approached and apple stand. The vendor was the same orange pony from yesterday sporting her western hat. They exchanged pleasantries which I could not understand before conducting business. Though from the tone of both their voices I could deduce they were female.

'that would make them mares right?' I was unsure if that is what they were called. 'Maybe I will ask Luna tonight.'

My host gave the orange one some shiny gold coins for the apples.

"This must be their currency." I said to myself making another mental note.

After my host's transactions with the apple fiend were finished she was moving again. I was now observing how the ponies walked and interacted with objects. I was confused how they opened doors with out fingers or thumbs. But when I watched as a few mares opened some doors I found they just could. They could even open the ones with door nobs which made no sense but decided I would just take it as is. By now I realized that she was heading back to the forest.

"Does she live here?" I wondered with my curiosity peaking again. I was tempted to keep the shard in her but decided against it. I had invaded her privacy enough for one day. When she reached the tree line I ordered my shard to detached and return to me.

I opened my eyes to be greeted with the familiar surroundings of my clearing. The sun was still high in the sky and it might have been a little past noon. This meant I still had plenty of time to do the experiment I wanted to do all day. With a mental smile I hoped to my feet eager to conduct the experiment. I stood in the open air of the clearing brimming with confidence.

"Alright in theory this should work..." I pause feeling my confidence wane slightly. "In theory."

I closed my eyes again and began to focus. I could feel the strange sensation of my body compressing. I could hear and feel the crackling of my form as it shifted stances. The clothing that I was wearing began to loosen on my shrinking form. It stopped when I was standing on four legs. I opened my eyes eager to see the results only to be greeted by darkness. The clothing I was wearing was obstructing my view. I trying to wiggle out of it but I got tangle and fell to the ground. I was trapped in my fabric prison for a good two minutes before I escaped.

"*Sigh* In hindsight It would have been a good idea to take off my cloths first."

Now that I was liberated I looked down at my front feet which were now hooves.

"Well would you look at that."

In the excitement of the moment I thought I would go to the pond to see my refection. However when I took one step my hind hoof kicked my front one and I can crashing down. My chin hit the ground hard causing shards to leave me.

"Looks like I'm going to have to practice walking." I groaned.

The next hour was spent walking around and falling over. It was aggravating to have to learn to walk all over again. However it was understandable seeing as I was never a quadruped before. After awhile I could feel I was getting better, but I had to focus hard and stay in certain rhythmic walk.

I had had enough of walking and made my way to the pond where I initially wanted to go. I looked into the reflective water to see something staring back. This new me was much shorter then my previous from and smoother but I could still make out the noticeable edges. I thought back to the almost perfect sphere I had made and realized compressing shards applied to my body as well. My eyes still glowed dimly with a tint of blue but were at least double in size. With that discovery in mind I turn slightly to look at the rest of my body in the mirror water. My pony tail was still there but now more smooth and still defying normal laws flowing as freely as ever. Lastly my tail was now wider in structure to natch that of the ponies.

"Hmm... Still no mouth." I said with disappointment."*Sigh* I guess I should get my things."

I carefully walked over to my things without falling. Levitating them with my shards I brought them to the cave. On my way over there I was starting to think my power's limit was very high and I would never reach it. It almost felt like I could do anything. Then again why can't I remember anything? Something bigger must be going on here.

I was a little happy to be back at my modest den, but I wondered how I was to store my equipment. I light lit up in my head.

"IDEA!"

I released a bunch of shards drastically making me become less smooth. The shards formed a small container that stuck to the wall. I folded my close and placed them inside. I sent out a few more to make a lit and placed it on top. The seem that was between the box and the lid disappeared pressing air out the box becoming an air tight vacuum. The lid and box were now one. With a happy nod I made long strides to get out of the cave. I quickly lost my rhyme and crashed on the ground. I ground as I picked myself up again. to take a seat on my rock which was quickly becoming my favorite place.

It was just after school for the CMC and with a long weekend ahead do to Hearts and hooves day on Monday, and a prode day tomorrow (Friday). They were going to make the most of it. They were walking to the town center to decide on what they should try to unlock there cutie marks.

"How about Skydiving?" Suggested Scootaloo.

"We tried that already." Pointed out Sweetie Belle. "Rock Climbing?"

"We done that too." Said Apple Bloom.

All the crusaders let out a heavy sigh. They all have tried many things to get their cutie marks but all their efforts had yet to bear fruit. They were starting to lose hope.

"I'm startin to think wer not good at anythin." Said Apple Bloom lowering her head.

She wasn't alone in her feeling as all the crusaders did the same. The three fillies shared the same sadness and fear. The fear of not having a special talent. The atmosphere around the three was getting darker by the second.

"Hey Apple Bloom?" asked Sweetie Belle trying to lighten the mood. "Did you bring your ball?"

Apple Bloom raise her head.

"Ya. Why?" she asked back. Sweetie Belle's frown instantly changed into a wide smile that only came second to Pinkie herself.

"Want to play ball while we go to Zecora's!" Asked Sweetie Belle still excited.

Apple Bloom And Scootaloo Smiled and the game began.

They passed the ball back and forth smiling and laughing. They had forgotten about there worries with cutie marks and simply enjoyed their time together. So they carried on the trail slowly but surly to Zacora's hut just being the foals they were without a care in the world. Until there ball rocketed off course into the Everfree of course.

Sweetie Belle cleared her throat trying to speak but the words did not come out. They all stared into the gape that the Ball had disappeared looking nervous. They all looked at one another with a concerned nod and took a few steps into the brush.

They were walking down a slope that the ball had found it's way on so it probably got pretty far. They side stepped down the slope keeping an eye out for the ball. But as they got further down they relaized it probably made it all the way to the bottem of the slope.

They were about to turn back when they heard a loud pop. They all looked at each other the fear clearly sowing in their faces but they dared to continue forward. And that's when they saw it.

Now the everypony in the CMC had never seen a crystal pony before but they did know that their empire has recently resurfaced thanks to Twilight and the elements and especially Spike. But there he was a crystal stallion or at least that's what the CMC assumed. There looks of fear sifted to ones of excitement to be meeting their first crystal pony. So without further ado they stepped into the clearing with him.

The stallion turned his head to look at them. The fillies stopped in there tracks to meet his glowing blue eyes.

"You guys sure this is a crystal pony?" Asked Scootaloo still trying to break her gaze from the stallion in question.

"Ah don't know..." Apple Bloom paused. "WAIT HE AIN'T GOT A MOUTH!!!"

All the fillies gasped as they all searched the stallions face for his none existent mouth. They did not find it.

"How is that possible?!" Asked Scootaloo

"It isn't possible!" stated Sweetie Belle

"Well it's obviously possible!" Exclaimed Scootaloo. "He's doing it right now!"

"Girls calm down!" Yelled Apple Bloom. "Y'all bein rude."

They all stopped yelling to look at the crystal. The stallion was still staring at them with it's light blue eyes. They continue to stare at one another until he cocked his head at them. The girls then notice that Apple Bloom's ball was right beside him in all its flattened glory.

All the girls looked at Apple Bloom's ball disheartened. They lowered their heads and brought them close to converse together.

"What do you girls think?"Asked Scootaloo. "Did he break Apple Bloom's ball?"

"I don't know, but he looks like a nice stallion." Responded Sweerie Belle

They all looked up to see the stallion holding up one hoof. They stared at him as he stared at the tip of his outstretched hoof. In a few moments pieces of him began to break off like glass and converge over his it. Sweetie Belle winched at the sight as she though it was painful while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gawked at it unable to collect their words. In the air they could see a sphere beginning to form. As all the crystals flowed into it they could see its rough form smooth out until it looked perfect.

"Wha..." Said apple bloom trailing off.

The crystal stallion looked at her causing her to shrink. He then motion his hoof to them and the sphere floated over. Once the sphere reached them it hovered in front of Apple Bloom's face and waited to interacted with. All The CMC could do was blankly stare at the The floating orb.

After a few seconds Apple Bloom placed both he front hooves on it and sat down. She felt the smooth clean serface of the sphere and looked at her friends for help.

"Don't look at me." said Scootaloo perplexed. "I am just as confused as you."

"I think he is trying to apologize for breaking the ball." said Sweetie Belle trying to sound less confused.

"Well if he wanted to apologize he could have just..." Scootaloo trailed off. "Right. no mouth."

The three fillies then looked at each other with looks of sadness plastered on their faces. They felt sorry for the stallion who was unable to speak. Tension began to built in the air again, but unlike last time it was Apple Bloom who broke the gloomy atmosphere.

Apple Bloom Hurtled the Ball as hard as she could at the Stallion with a wide smile on her face.

'Oh no.'

The little one with the bow was looking at the ground dejected with the rest of her little friends. I was unsure on how to proceed. With my most recent attempt to make amends failed I just sat on my boulder waiting to see what they would do. To my surprise The one that had taken the ball gave me the widest smile I had ever seen.

'Ok either she is happy with the ball or...'

She then hurled the ball at me with out warning. The ball came rocketing at me but veered to the left. I had stumble off my seat to catch the ball before it could hit the ground.

Now on all four hooves I stared at the child balancing the ball on my head. I could see the small foal sitting again and smiling with out a care.

'Is she... Clapping her hooves?'

She was indeed clapping her hooves and her fiends were sharing her smile now as well. I looked at them with confusion unsure of what they want. The other two were waving at me and performing strange motions that I could not comprehend.

'What is it they want?'

It finally hit me.

'They wish for me to play with them?'

I decided it would be easier to test my theory rather then ask seeing as they would not understand me. I Looked at the one with a purple mane and white coat and launched the ball at her.

She smiled catching the ball on her horn allowing it to spin on it's tip. The rest of her friends were trotting in other directions ready to receive the next pass. The white one past it to the orange one who immediately bucked it at me, but I was ready this time and swatted it back at the her with my tail.

This game continue for hours, and the foals seemed to be enjoying themselves very much. I found there trust unnerving and how easily it was to gain. Unless my disguise convincing but I doubted that.

I continued to entertain the little fillies until the sky turned a noticeable orange. The three must have decided to go home because they handed me back the ball. As i brought it back into myself I could still see the sight of awe on their faces which made me a little happy inside.

As they left into the brush they waved to me and I waved back looking happily into their grinning faces. I could not help but feel that today was a very productive day. Sure I made contact with out actually speaking but I think it went very well, I returned to my favorite seat to await night fall to further converse with Luna.