Cobalt's Promise

  Canterlot. The glorious capital of our nation. Tall white buildings stacked upon one another reaching up into the skies with golden spires and domes for roofs, all built on the side of a mountain and held there likely by magic alone, as it is doubtful traditional architecture could support such feats of design. Brilliantly colored flags and banners and awnings decorated the plaster-faced facades, and ponies of all sorts walked the cobblestone ways that ran between them. Near the top were the homes of the elite; below, shops and restaurants for those of fine tastes. But far down, just above the base of the city, is where you find the homes of the lower class ponies just trying to make their way in the city, and the smaller, more varied and... odd shops. That, my friend, is where you'll find me.

  I run a small shop down in the Canterlot slums, a crafts and crafting supply business, and live in a small apartment above it. No fancy name, just a large sign that reads "Fine Crafts & Supplies". My talent, as I mentioned earlier, is making most anything. And so I do just that. I make toys and devices, models and furniture, really just about anything. My business looks like something of a rummage sale at all times, but I assure you that you can find exactly what you need when you come in my door. Everypony does.

  You might think that just because my location is in an area I've called a slum means that the ponies that frequent the area are of ill repute and that the place itself is somewhat run down and glum... and you'd be correct in that assumption. However, there are very good ponies here too, and if we pay the guards enough, they tend to keep the true troublemakers at bay.

  I don't get much business, if again you were stabbing a guess in that direction, due mostly to the understandably strained incomes of those living in this lower Canterlot. But I normally get by. I've only once failed to pay both protection and rent, and I was merely late. It was only a small thing that was stolen, though, apparently just the thing that someone needed, so it wasn't too bad.

  And this is where my story starts. Late one night, down below all the ponies that really matter in Canterlot, where the sun only lights the streets at the end of the day, when it isn't shining on the fanciful streets above. Tonight was like any other night. Slow. No sales. No trouble. No nothing. Quiet for me to work on my next thing that would be added to the shelves.

  But tonight wasn't like any other night. I had received a letter, earlier in the day. It was from my beloved. The pony I had fallen for back when I lived in Ponyville. Shoeshine. Bright sky blue coat, dusty blue mane, sweet gal who worked hard and loved carrots. Today, I learned that she was through with me. She had met someone else, and didn't want to wait for my business to go big so that I could support the both of us. Really, I knew deep down it was a long time coming. But that didn't ease the pain of actually having her words before me.

  So tonight I almost broke things, but stopped myself because I couldn't afford to. I almost shouted and bucked at the wall, but I didn't want to get evicted over a noise complaint and damages. I almost broke down and wailed and cried, but I didn't. Because the tears just wouldn't come. So I sat in the back room of my shop, and I poured my heart into a project. Something I had been working on for months.

  You see, tomorrow was the Summer Sun Celebration. And at the celebration, there is a judged arts and crafts show. The winner gets an award, and a few bits, but above all they get prestige. The honor of having Celestia herself say that their piece is the finest in all the land. And if I had that win, I'd have enough business to afford a better place again, one where me and Shoeshine-

  I threw a spool of thread across the room, the small object clattering harmlessly against the wall. I levitated it up again, setting it with its brothers and sisters before resuming work once more. My piece was going to win, and I would be able to afford a better place. For me.

  All night I stitched and cut and pinned and sewed. And finally, just before dawn, I was done. The Celebration would be starting soon, but the craft show wasn't until nine this morning. So I took a brief nap before heading out with my small covered cart. I locked up shop, and started towards the upper levels, to where the celebrations were being held.

  I passed ponies I had gotten to know over my year living here, and I smiled sleepily and exchanged greetings as I made my way to the center of town. It was 8:30 by the time I arrived at the tent dedicated to the art show, and I shook my head one last time to get the sleepiness out of it before I walked in and found my reserved table.

  I set up in no time at all, tucking the small cart away behind the table, before finally, at 9:00 sharp, I whipped the cloth off of my display, and listened with pride at the "ooh"s and "aah"s I imagined would have been uttered if somepony had been there to witness it. My table was near the back corner of the craft section, and all the artsy folks were looking at paintings and sculptures.

  What was on my table was a brilliant display of the Royal Pony Sisters in plush form, scaled 1:2. Princess Celestia, wings spread wide, had her head lifted high as she balanced a brightly colored plush sun on the tip of one raised hoof. Princess Luna had one hoof raised as well, balancing a large moon that hid the sun almost completely when viewed from the front. The sisters looked with love at each other, their poses suggesting play. I had enchanted their celestial bodies, horns, and eyes to glow faintly, more noticeable in the dimmer light of the tent than in the bright light of the outdoors. I called the piece "Jubilant Eclipse".

  I was just adjusting the wire holding Luna's wings in position when I heard something I had been hoping I wouldn't hear all morning. Something that could change a day of wondrous possibility into something more likened to the worst day of my life. Second worst day of my life.

  "So, the little craftspony likes to play with dolls, does he?" came the grating sound of an all-too familiar voice. I turned and found myself face-to-face with a rather mean looking earth stallion, Crooked Arrow. Behind him were his two lackeys, both equally as rude looking as he. And they looked like they weren't here to appreciate any art. "Figures. Hey, do you remember last month?" he said, stepping in uncomfortably close. "When you paid that guard to stop me from having my fun with the flowerfilly down the block?"

  "You were harassing her, Crooked. As I recall, trampling her flower beds as you forcefully suggested a 'date'," I glared.

  "Nopony asked you what you "recalled", crapspony," he sneered, twisting my title into the most clever insult he could come up with on the spot.

  "Why do you make your dolls with such big asses? Can't get any of the real thing so you overdo it on your dolls?" the second one started in, shifted the teasing to focus on my work.

  "It's a stylization," I defended calmly, starting to look for a nearby guardspony in case the situation escalated. But I was all alone. "It's a purposeful design exaggeration for aesthetically intriguing results. I just like the way it looks is all."

  "It's dumb. Maybe a bit insulting, if you ask me," said Crooked Arrow, starting to step towards my display. I did /not/ like the direction this was going. "Maybe I should do Celestia an honor and-"

  "I rather like the way he did their rumps!" came a soft, foreign accented voice from behind the bullies. All eyes fell on the filly that had just spoken up, and that's when I saw her. "I mean, I think it's kind of cute..."

  She was a brilliantly white freckled pegasus, with flowing golden locks of mane. Her eyes were the deepest sapphire, and it sounded like she was from the Equestrian island state of Horsetrailia. Her cutie mark was a snake, and oddly, her hooves were sort of dirty. It looked like they had caked mud partway up them, which contrasted starkly with her coat. She also had leaves tangled in her mane and tail, and if I were to say, I'd say she looked pretty dang cute. And as she looked angrily at the stallions teasing me, my talent was triggered.

  I... make things. All sorts of things, but the neat thing is I make them for a time and place that they'll exactly be needed. Little unimportant things that mean the world, or big important things that end up an everyday fixture. But they're things needed. And I see them just as they're needed, hours, days, weeks, or years in advance. I'm just gifted with the knowledge of how to make what it is that needs making.

  And she set me off. Instead of the normal knowing, I saw it all. I felt it all. She'd try to fend off the cruel stallions. Somepony else steps in. We talk after. She digs what I do, I dig what she does, and we hit it off.

  It's been so long since we've seen each other. We meet again, and the feeling is different. We talk, we walk. Together. We're alike, and we know it. And then I protect her, when she needs it. She was safe. And then she... That night I show her the most beautiful place I know. But I can only see her. And then we...

  It's morning. Trouble. She's hurt, but I do something and almost... to see her smile again, it was worth it. She's so... It's safe again. We do so many things together. Time is so short.

  It's been so long. Seeing her again, it makes me so happy. I've traveled so far. She shows me a world unlike any I've seen. There are mountains, and forest, and life I'd never seen. It's all hers. And she wants to share it. We're in her home, and can see everything. She smiles softly. Says something important. I love her voice. It was something I had been thinking, hoping for so long. And I agree to it. Home is where the heart is.

  Much time passes. It's been so long, but this time I ask her something important. The most important thing I've ever asked. And what she replied with- And now we're- and we have- and then they're- now we're old, and gray, and happy. We pose for a picture, and there's the flash. It turned out well.

  And then she's gone. I remember it all, and I miss her so. But I can wait.

  There was happiness. There were such times of sadness, but they were towered over by the times of glad. The things shared. The wonder. A pair of joined lifetimes. There are memories I'll never forget from a life I never lived. I saw a great many things I'd need to make for a pony I'd love, and then for... And it all was in the blink of an eye. It was all there, and then it wasn't. For just a moment, I could have sworn I felt like I'd lost something I needed. Like I'd found something I'd been looking for forever. And then it all disappeared, and it hurt so bad. And then it was gone.

  "Oh yeah?" said the third bully, "Well who asked you?" He looked like he was trying really hard to come up with something more nasty to say, but just as he opened his mouth another voice announced somepony’s arrival on the scene.

  "I agree, I think the stylization is rather cute." Princess Celestia stepped onto the scene, making her rounds of the craft section now, judging the entries. “Overall this is a beautiful piece that shows an artist of great potential. Albeit a little generously proportioned,” she said with a wink. Promise kind of froze as the bullies scrambled away.

  “Th-thank you, and I’m sorry, I mean maybe? I mean, thank you!” he stammered, blushing and hoping he wasn’t making a fool of himself as the muddy white pegasus mare giggled.

  "You're quite welcome," she said with a smile. "I rather like the scene you chose to portray... It reminds me of simpler times. Luna would very much like to see this one, I'm sure."

  "I love both of my princesses, my princess, and I wanted to include your sister in my piece because... well, I don't think that enough ponies show her proper respect, if I might say. It's something I've always felt strongly about. They fear her, or they pity her, but they don't love and respect her anything near as much as they should," I said, passion in my voice. "Sorry if I spoke out of line..."

  "Do not apologize for your feelings, my little pony. I agree that my sister's reception has not been as warm as I'd have liked... And so far as I've seen, this is the only piece to have the both of us in it," she added. "May I inquire as to if it has a price?"

  That caught me completely by surprise, naturally. I gave her a price that was a combination of my rates for large plushies, and she offered a generous bit more than that, and was off to continue looking at the rest of the entries for the craft show. I was somewhat dumbfounded.

  "Wow! That was something," said the white pegasus. I jumped a bit, surprised by her sudden closeness.

  “Yeah, it definitely was,” I laughed. “Thanks for, uh, y’know… helpin’ me out back there. What’s your name, by the by?”

  “Oh, it was no problem. And I’m Cobalt!” she said cheerily, her voice probably the most adorable thing I’d ever heard.

  “Cobalt, eh? I’m Promise. Pleased to meet you proper,” I said, taking her hoof and giving it a kiss. Then promptly spitting and sputtering on leaves and mud while Cobalt had a giggle fit. “So- *cough* what brings you out to Canterlot?”

  She grinned as though the answer was obvious. “Well the Summer Sun Celebration, of course!” I closed my eyes behind my glasses, feeling stupid. “More specifically,” she continued, “I’ve got something here in the craft contest!” she said with glee. An indomitable spirit, this one.

  “You don’t say?” I replied with intrigue. “What did you make?”

  “Oh no! Celestia’s going to be to it soon!” she exclaimed. “C’mon and I’ll show ya!”

  Cobalt took off towards the sculpt and figure tables, and I followed close behind. She suddenly stopped, causing me to ram face-first into her backside, dazing me for a moment before I looked up and blushed deepest scarlet. Cobalt didn’t seem to care, as she was looking at something with that wide-eyed grin of hers. “That one’s mine!” she beamed, pointing a hoof to a statuette.

  It was a sculpt of Celestia, wings spread wide and legs in a broad stance, eyes open and glowing with power, a massive ball of fire and light on her back. The attention to detail was unbelievable. It was like looking at a miniaturized version of the princess herself. “I had a unicorn friend of mine help with the light enchanting spells, but other than that, it’s all hoof-sculpted!”

  I looked at her work in awe. “You… with the… woah.”

  “Playing with mud has its perks,” she said with a wink. I couldn't do anything but stare open-mouthed.

  Celestia arrived and judged Cobalt’s soon thereafter, and as hers was last to be judged, she declared the winners of the Summer Sun Celebration Art & Craft Show. Cobalt's sculpt got first, and I found myself in a tight hug for a few seconds before she picked up bouncing like a certain pink pony I used to play with as a young colt. Second was given to a painting of Celestia's sun rise, done just this morning. And in third was my plush scene. But... I was ok with that. Celestia praised it herself, and even bought it. Ah yes. Then there was her.

  Cobalt and I stepped outside the tent and sat down, watching the celebrations continuing in the streets. “You know, yours was pretty good,” Cobalt offered, trying to cheer me up. “Probably the best I’ve seen as far as plushies go.”

  I smiled widely. “Eh,” I shrugged. “I just do what I can. You’re, like, totally amazing with clay, by the way.”

  Cobalt poked me in the side. “Thanks for saying so… You know,” she said thoughtfully, “I’ve always wanted to make plushies.”

  My ears perked up at that, and I raised an eyebrow. “You have?”

  “Yeah! It’s been something I’ve been workin' on, but I’ve got a few things I keep getting stuck with… Think I could bother ya for some tips?” she asked, batting her eyelashes and getting a chuckle from me.

  “Why ‘course you can. I’d be more than happy to help ya out,” I replied with a grin. “I’ll answer whatever questions you can think up, little darlin’.”

  She gave me another sudden hug, to which I froze up just a bit, before awkwardly returning. It was... nice. She then broke the contact with a little hop. “Awesome!  Here, let’s  trade addresses so I can mail you questions and… things,” she nudged me playfully again.

  “Most definitely,” I agreed with enthusiasm, taking out a pen and jotting down the address of my shop. “So, what can I help you with first?” I asked, intent on answering anything I could to show the extent of my plush prowess.

  After deep conversation on the nature of plushies and a bit more playful talk, we said reluctant goodbyes and assured one another that we would remain in contact. She got on the train to the coast, where she would board a ship that would take her far, far away back to her home. I gave her another hug, and for the first time since yesterday, I felt... good. Like maybe things were going to be looking up for me. Like, despite everything that was going on, and everything bad that had been accumulating, like now I had somepony who might just be the friend I'd always needed.

  I felt good, I had a few bits to spare, and I had gotten a little more recognition and business thanks to the art show. And... I now had somepony who was not only interested in the work I was doing, but also who wanted to learn from me. That thought she thought I knew something well enough to teach them something. Things, as I said, were lookin' up.