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Post by wanderingmagus on Dec 4, 2017 3:01:32 GMT
"I don't think you know just how good I am at cooking," Candycane giggled with a proud smirk...which turned into a very puzzled, cheerful, and overall flustered smile when she realized she was walking in on a party. With her name on the banner? "Th-this is... well, you did say I could be part of the family..," she said, starting to tear up a little. "This is just like... what my family used to do for birthdays," she giggled, managing to put off the thought that everypony she knew was gone. "Thank you all so much!" She'd managed to keep that tragic reality off her mind so far, but if she kept holding off on it, it might come back to emotionally slam into her at a bad time. Candycane laughed as she looked over the table laid out with tasty rocks. "You kiddos must really like rock candy! Have you ever tried doughnuts?" Sandstone hugged her close, then let go, letting Candycane pick and choose a time for her emotional troubles later as the little ones raced up to the newest member of the Family. " What's a doughnut?" " Is it like granite?" " Are you really a thousand years old?" " Are ya gonna join our family?" An ancient stone statue of a middle-aged stallion wearing a stetson hat chuckled and walked over, gently nudging aside the little ones. " All right, children, give Miss Candycane a little breathing room. There'll be plenty o' time to talk an' answer questions, on all sides." He smiled and held out a hoof to the mare. " Name's Rock Pie, or as everyone here calls me, Grandpa Rock Pie, or jes' Gramps if ya want. Ah help watch over the lil'uns here most o' the time while the rest go out doin' more dangerous work like overground rock farmin' or chaos storm scavengin'. Welcome t' Apple Pie Rock Farm. Have some rocks 'n pebbles, don'cha worry, they're the perfectly edible kind, soft as pound cake, really, if mah memory serves me right. A thousand year's a long time, ya start fergettin' what th' old world's like now n' then, though tales n' shipments from Avalon help, when they come, n' that's once in Cadence knows how long. But where are mah manners, there Ah go ramblin' again!"
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Post by Wavelength on Dec 4, 2017 3:10:05 GMT
Candycane nodded as she absorbed Grandpa's words--and she took to calling him that surprisingly quickly--and held a hoof to her mouth when he finished. "So... this isn't rock candy... and they've never had a pastry before?" she asked in disbelief. "What cruel power would rob anypony of such a life experience? ...B-back on track, it's a delight to meet you, Gramps! I see we have something in common," she giggled, "though you're clearly handling it better than I did."
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Post by wanderingmagus on Dec 4, 2017 3:46:31 GMT
Candycane nodded as she absorbed Grandpa's words--and she took to calling him that surprisingly quickly--and held a hoof to her mouth when he finished. "So... this isn't rock candy... and they've never had a pastry before?" she asked in disbelief. "What cruel power would rob anypony of such a life experience? ...B-back on track, it's a delight to meet you, Gramps! I see we have something in common," she giggled, "though you're clearly handling it better than I did." The old statue chuckled. " Ah wasn't always this calm, young lady. But a thousand year's a long time, long enough t' give ya plenty o' time t' think, almost long enough t' make this life feel normal." He smiled wistfully, going silent for a bit as ancient memories resurfaced, then shook his head. " You'll learn, girl. Cadence willing, a mite faster than Ah did. But no, these youngn's ain't never had a pastry in their life. Trade's too dangerous these past few decades, though we had some calm 'round a century ago. You should'a seen th' looks on some o' them faces, first time we got shipments o' real apples from Avalon! Cost us a fortune it did, but it was worth it. Ah couldn't taste any of it, but that's a story for another time. Ya git some, ya lose some, ya learn t' live with whatcha got. When life gives ya lemons, don't throw 'em back, and don't try to burn life's house down with a combustible lemon. Ya'll be left with nothin' except yer pride, which ya can't eat. Or ya'll be hated by everypony who actually LIKES lemons. And ya'll only get squashed by the skyscraper sized angry mommy-lemon as it falls on ya anyway." Grandpa grinned. " Got that one from Apple Pie's ma. She's a dragon now, but when she was around, boy howdy, she had some words t' say. Them mommy lemons 're real, y'know. Seen a few mahself. Ain't nothin' t' spit at. We ship 'em lemons straight t' Avalon, ain't no good tryin' ta do anythin' with 'em out here." Some of the children were pushing random treats into Candycane's hooves, or staring at her cutie mark; with how this world was, it's likely even candycanes might not exist here, outside of this "Avalon" place ponies kept referring to.
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Post by Wavelength on Dec 4, 2017 5:32:55 GMT
Candycane fidgeted a bit as the kids kept pointing and talking about her cutiemark, trying to finish her introduction with Gramps as her hooves were overloaded with rocky treats. "Combustible? Mommy lemon? Sounds like the world needs some good old-fashioned botany to get it back on track," she mused with a smile. "All right, all right!" she laughed, turning to interact with the foals. "I'll tell you about it. This is a candy cane, just like I was named after. It's one of the many popular treats made back in my day. Does it look good?"
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Post by wanderingmagus on Dec 4, 2017 22:00:04 GMT
Candycane fidgeted a bit as the kids kept pointing and talking about her cutiemark, trying to finish her introduction with Gramps as her hooves were overloaded with rocky treats. "Combustible? Mommy lemon? Sounds like the world needs some good old-fashioned botany to get it back on track," she mused with a smile. "All right, all right!" she laughed, turning to interact with the foals. "I'll tell you about it. This is a candy cane, just like I was named after. It's one of the many popular treats made back in my day. Does it look good?" The children giggled. " Ah think it's cool!" " It's pretty." " What's a candy cane taste like? Is it sweet?" Grandpa smiled, letting the mare have her fun with the little ones. It was always comforting, finding another pony who remembered the Old Times. Most of them left for Avalon these days, but the few that didn't, he cherished. It reminded him that things were different, once, that THIS was the dream, not the reality, and that there truly was something to strive for. How the world would change after that, he wasn't too sure, but he was all right with that. Centuries come, centuries go. Maybe this time, things will change for real. "Thinkin' 'bout old times, Grandpa?" He turned and smiled at Sandstone as the filly came and stood next to him. " Eeyup. Ain't had a pony like her in, oh, almost a century, Ah think." The filly nodded, falling silent. The old statue's eyes softened. " Ah felt that ripple back there, lass. Somethin' ya wanna tell me?" He smirked a bit. " Lemme guess. A prophecy just came flyin' outta yer mouth, an' now ya wanna join Miss Candycane over there an' save the world, right?" "G-grandpa!" The stallion chuckled. " You've got a good poker face there, girl, but Ah've been 'round since b'fore yer great-grannies were even born. Ah knows a born adventurer when Ah sees one. You jes' took a mite longer than yer sisters. Ah've seen how ya watch Apple an' Minty an' th' rest." The filly's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Ah guess ye're right, Grandpa. Ah jes'... Ah jes' wanna DO somethin'! 'Staid o' sittin' 'round doin' nothin', Ah mean, Ah love everyone here, ye're all Family, there's no changin' that ever, but Ah knows there's more t' life an' th' world than rock farmin' an' chaos storm scavengin'! Ah know it ain't easy, in fact, Ah knows fer certain, best case, Ah'll end up dead, an' more likely than not somethin' worse. Ah've SEEN what Fluttercruel an' Angry Pie kin do, much less th' Big Banana. But Ah'm willin' t' risk that, if it means them liluns o're there kin grow up in th' world you an' Miss Candycane remember, or somethin' even better!" The statue put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. " Ah understand. Ain't nopony's decision but yours. Ah won't stop you, shucks, Ah'll do what Ah can t' help you an' Miss Candycane git whatever ya need an' to wherever ya need t' go. That prophecy o' yers, it came t' you, and at this time, fer a reason. Not t' Apple Pie, not t' Minty, not even t' Queen Cadence Herself, long may She reign. Fate chose you an' Candycane, Sandstone. If ye're willin' t' risk everythin' fer this, Ah'll be happy t' help. Jes' remember, this here fight, it ain't 'bout strength or magic or none o' that. It's about savin' ponies. Ain't nopony started out th' way they are now, not even Fluttercruel, especially not Angry Pie. They all got th' way they did 'cause o' Construction Boss, an' even HE might have some tiny, itty bitty part o' Him still worth savin', buried under all that hate an' cruelty. Not sayin' He does, but ya never know. Let Fate decide. Ah have a feelin' yer gonna see an' do things Ah couldn't even imagine right now. Keep yer chin up! We'll see each other again. Maybe not this life, but Ah swears, Ah'll see you again." Sandstone sniffled, wiping her eyes and hugging the statue. "Thanks, Grandpa."
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Post by Wavelength on Dec 4, 2017 22:14:31 GMT
While the filly and her grandpa wrapped up their exchange, Candycane and her flavor descriptions in the background suddenly came back into focus as she ended with a loud proclamation--and she had tears in her eyes at this point, hugging everypony present in thanks for keeping her safe all this time: "I don't care how hard it'll be! I swear as surely as I live and breathe thanks to all of you... I'll put an end to this mess and bring each and every one of you the best doughnuts in history before the end of the year!" Well, if anything was for sure, this mare could get a little too emotional sometimes. It was hard to say if she'd be able to back up that promise, but she had a sparkle in her eyes that said she was ready to die trying.
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Post by wanderingmagus on Dec 4, 2017 22:51:16 GMT
While the filly and her grandpa wrapped up their exchange, Candycane and her flavor descriptions in the background suddenly came back into focus as she ended with a loud proclamation--and she had tears in her eyes at this point, hugging everypony present in thanks for keeping her safe all this time: "I don't care how hard it'll be! I swear as surely as I live and breathe thanks to all of you... I'll put an end to this mess and bring each and every one of you the best doughnuts in history before the end of the year!" Well, if anything was for sure, this mare could get a little too emotional sometimes. It was hard to say if she'd be able to back up that promise, but she had a sparkle in her eyes that said she was ready to die trying. Everyone present, ponies, diamond dogs, deer, hippogriffs, everyone hugged their new sister tightly. " An' we'll be with you every step o' th' way," smiled Grandpa Stone Pie, joining the group hug. One of the littlest ones wriggled out with a grin. " So can we eat yet? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Grandpa laughed. " Eeyup, Ah reckon we can!" There was a cheer as they all passed around plates and began loading up on the oddest food items Candycane had ever seen, pretty much entirely rock-themed. Granite, limestone, marble and all sorts of other rocks were present, all of different consistentcies and textures, but none of them particularly tasting anything like actual rocks. It was yet another strange part of this upside-down world, unless she visited this fabled Avalon that Grandpa and Sandstone kept talking about.
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Post by Wavelength on Dec 4, 2017 23:12:46 GMT
Candycane happily joined everyone at the table, enjoying the smell and flavor of the various rocks for what they really were... rather than what they looked like. She presumed they must have been prepared with love and care to some extent, even if there was no easy way to tell if a rock was, erm... cooked. That didn't stop her from being careful with each bite, though. Cautiously sinking her teeth into a hayburger-sized chunk of what should have been granite, half-expecting it to stop her teeth at any moment, Candycane pondered the task before her. Big daddy... big boss... construction boss...? Whatever he is, at least everypony I've heard so far seems to agree he shares the name "Discord," and he's definitely powerful. He apparently threw the entire world into disarray, but I still don't know just how bad it might be outside. Staring off at the wall in thought, she took another bite. The only thing that can stop him is an artifact--or, rather, a collection of artifacts--that need to be used together to make some kind of magical beam. The artifacts draw the power for that beam from half a dozen or so ponies with virtuous character traits. Those ponies shouldn't be that hard to find; heck, look at this crowd! She paused to look around the room and smiled at all the wonderful souls gathered here... her little angels. If an artifact needs positive character traits to power itself, this room alone could probably make it glow like Celestia's sun! Candycane frowned a little, staring idly down at the tablecloth. So the big problem... is getting the artifacts themselves, right? Did Sandstone really mean... they're... inside somepony? R-replaced their... hearts? Without outward warning, the mare retched a little. She held a hoof to her mouth, but fortunately, her stomach managed to keep a hold of itself. "S-sorry...," she said to those sitting to either side of her. "I just... was thinking about something else. Th-the food's wonderful," she assured them, suddenly looking around for Gramps. It couldn't be true, she must have misheard... How were they supposed to get those tools if they were...?! No... N-no details, I'll just ask him if there's some other way...
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Post by wanderingmagus on Dec 5, 2017 0:46:50 GMT
Candycane happily joined everyone at the table, enjoying the smell and flavor of the various rocks for what they really were... rather than what they looked like. She presumed they must have been prepared with love and care to some extent, even if there was no easy way to tell if a rock was, erm... cooked. That didn't stop her from being careful with each bite, though. Cautiously sinking her teeth into a hayburger-sized chunk of what should have been granite, half-expecting it to stop her teeth at any moment, Candycane pondered the task before her. Big daddy... big boss... construction boss...? Whatever he is, at least everypony I've heard so far seems to agree he shares the name "Discord," and he's definitely powerful. He apparently threw the entire world into disarray, but I still don't know just how bad it might be outside. Staring off at the wall in thought, she took another bite. The only thing that can stop him is an artifact--or, rather, a collection of artifacts--that need to be used together to make some kind of magical beam. The artifacts draw the power for that beam from half a dozen or so ponies with virtuous character traits. Those ponies shouldn't be that hard to find; heck, look at this crowd! She paused to look around the room and smiled at all the wonderful souls gathered here... her little angels. If an artifact needs positive character traits to power itself, this room alone could probably make it glow like Celestia's sun!Candycane frowned a little, staring idly down at the tablecloth. So the big problem... is getting the artifacts themselves, right? Did Sandstone really mean... they're... inside somepony? R-replaced their... hearts? Without outward warning, the mare retched a little. She held a hoof to her mouth, but fortunately, her stomach managed to keep a hold of itself. "S-sorry...," she said to those sitting to either side of her. "I just... was thinking about something else. Th-the food's wonderful," she assured them, suddenly looking around for Gramps. It couldn't be true, she must have misheard... How were they supposed to get those tools if they were...?! No... N-no details, I'll just ask him if there's some other way...The statue had somehow come up beside her almost silently while she'd been pondering, and was now looking at her with a calm expression. " Ah take it ye're thinkin' o' yer mission, an' jes' now realized some... complications." Some of the foals and kids stood up politely and made room for him to sit down, understanding that this was "adult business".
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Post by Wavelength on Dec 5, 2017 0:51:59 GMT
"O-oh," Candycane breathed, just short of a surprised gasp. I didn't think a statue would be so quiet... Maybe I was too distracted. "Yes," she replied, turning to face the ancient stallion. "I... I was wondering... Is there any way to use the elements without those, um... objects... I was told about? ...Since they're..." she trailed off for a moment, covering her mouth with a hoof as she practically whispered the words, "...out of reach..."
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Post by wanderingmagus on Dec 5, 2017 1:12:27 GMT
"O-oh," Candycane breathed, just short of a surprised gasp. I didn't think a statue would be so quiet... Maybe I was too distracted. "Yes," she replied, turning to face the ancient stallion. "I... I was wondering... Is there any way to use the elements without those, um... objects... I was told about? ...Since they're..." she trailed off for a moment, covering her mouth with a hoof as she practically whispered the words, "...out of reach..." The statue smiled grimly. " Lemme tell you a story. A long, long time ago, there weren't no Elements o' Harmony or nothin', no magical trinkets what could save th' world at th' drop o' a hat. Instead, there were heroes, superponies the likes o' which you'll seldom find today. Rockhoof, whose shovel could dredge a canyon. There was Mistmane, who gave up her beauty t' restore beauty to th' world. There was Somnambula, who solved th' Sphinx's riddle. Mage Meadowbrook, whose mask could charm even the deadliest o' creatures. Flash Magnus, whose shield could stop dragonfire. An' o' course, Star Swirl th' Bearded, greatest sorcerer o' all time. Together, they protected th' land from evil after evil, an' over time, they embodied th' principles o' Strength, Healin', Hope, Bravery, Beauty an' Sorcery so perfectly, their own tools, a Shovel, Mask, Blindfold, Flower, Shield an' Book, all became magic in themselves. They were th' ones who poured those first echoes o' Harmony long forgotten into a crystal seed, which sprouted into a Tree. From this Tree came th' Elements o' Harmony, what have been warped into th' Elements o' Chaos. But as you kin see, Harmony ain't jes' some collection o' trinkets, an' hadn't been only 'round twice mah age ago. An' b'fore that, why, there were folks like th' Breezies what could summon th' Rainbow o' Light jes' by flappin' their wings, Ah tells you! Don't matter them trinkets got shoved in some poor ponies' chests. Harmony ain't so easily trapped away. It lives here," he tapped Candycane's chest, " in th' hearts o' ponies, o' hippogriffs, diamond dogs, all creatures big an' small. Why, if Ah were t' guess, Ah'd wager there's a few ponies out there right now with an Element shinin' right on 'em without even knowin'! An' some might jes' be waitin' fer a friend t' show 'em their true path." He leaned back in the chair the children had brought over. " Ah reckon Ah knows more'n a few o' them new Bearers already, an' if Ah weren't saddled with this here stone body an' havin' t' take care o' all these liluns, Ah'd join ya. But adventurin's fer th' young."
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Post by Wavelength on Dec 5, 2017 1:21:35 GMT
Candycane managed to start putting down a little more food as she listened, but the mention of trinkets in ponies' chests again made that last bite a little harder to swallow. She decided to just give up on eating for now, just resting her hooves on the table as Gramps finished. "So it's a type of magic... that's pretty much present in everypony? Why don't we see its effects more often?" she asked, trying to puzzle together whether or not this would be as easy as it sounded. "What does it take to make a pony's element, uh... 'shine...' in the way that accomplishes something, like overwhelming Discord?"
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Post by wanderingmagus on Dec 5, 2017 1:44:26 GMT
Candycane managed to start putting down a little more food as she listened, but the mention of trinkets in ponies' chests again made that last bite a little harder to swallow. She decided to just give up on eating for now, just resting her hooves on the table as Gramps finished. "So it's a type of magic... that's pretty much present in everypony? Why don't we see its effects more often?" she asked, trying to puzzle together whether or not this would be as easy as it sounded. "What does it take to make a pony's element, uh... 'shine...' in the way that accomplishes something, like overwhelming Discord?" Grandpa just grinned. " Ya heard what Sandstone was tellin' ya, didn't ya? That there was prophecy, it was. It takes more'n jes' everyday kindness or loyalty, that's somethin' anypony could do. But givin' up everythin' t' help others, even when yer soul's bought an' owned by th' Big Banana Himself? That there's true Kindness. Walkin' 'round th' Chaos Castle th' size o' th' ol' Canterlot Mountains fer a thousand years an' countin', jes' t' save yer daughter? That's Loyalty, that is. Ya might not know who those are, but Ah reckon Ah do. An' there ain't no other pony in th' last thousand years what showed better than ANY pony exactly that sort o' shinin' example o' those Elements. But jes' one Element ain't enough, can't summon th' Rainbow o' Light alone, not even with jes' two or three, 'less ya got a True Alicorn, an' Queen Cadence, She's too sad an' brokenhearted t' bear 'em all at once. Ya need all six, all at th' same time, an' that ain't happened fer th' last thousand years, sure as sugar it ain't. But this time, it's different. Everythin's jes' right, ready t' tip over this here Tartarus of a world. All it needs is somepony t' help 'em find themselves an' each other." He smiled at the mare. " An' Ah reckon, if you'd sleep here tonight, ya might git some sorta vision t' help ye along. It's how these sorts o' things tend t' work, ya know."
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Post by Wavelength on Dec 5, 2017 2:00:38 GMT
"A... vision?" Candycane repeated. "No, I... don't know," she giggled. "I'm not from around here, remember?" Sighing, she looked around at the rock-based feast one more time and shrugged. "I've never spent a night here yet, though," she confessed, "so I'll take your word for that. You already know ponies with those traits, though... That's... encouraging to hear, but you said I'd need to help them find themselves... How hard will that be?" Her daunted expression gave Gramps the gist of it: Candycane had very little faith in her understanding of psychology.
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Post by wanderingmagus on Dec 5, 2017 2:11:51 GMT
"A... vision?" Candycane repeated. "No, I... don't know," she giggled. "I'm not from around here, remember?" Sighing, she looked around at the rock-based feast one more time and shrugged. "I've never spent a night here yet, though," she confessed, "so I'll take your word for that. You already know ponies with those traits, though... That's... encouraging to hear, but you said I'd need to help them find themselves... How hard will that be?" Her daunted expression gave Gramps the gist of it: Candycane had very little faith in her understanding of psychology. Grandpa chuckled, patting her shoulder. " You learn as ya go along, Candycane. It ain't easy, but you'll have help from all sides. You've got a family now, right here, an' we're all with ya, every step o' th' way. Not jes' in spirit neither! Sandstone's insistin' on comin' along with yer li'l adventure, an' 'fore ya go on 'bout how dangerous it is, she already knows." His face went serious for a moment. " We all know what danger's like in this world. That there barn ya woke up in ain't no accident, we built it. Ponies don't always come outta that barn. Sometimes they go in. Sometimes they don't come back from chaos storm scavengin'. Surface life's hard an' dangerous, shore as sugar it is. All these li'luns, half o' them's orphans, most have seen death an' worse in some shape or form. Y' don't grow up in this world all innocent-like. But that's why Ah trust Sandstone when she says she's ready t' give everythin' up t' help ya save th' world." He smiled. " We're not th' only ones helpin' neither. Queen Cadence is probably already preparin' a welcomin' party fer ya, an' like as not Guru Fido's got brand new tunnels all dug out fer th' more dangerous journeys. Goddess-Queen Tiamat o'er in Dracotopia probably's got somethin' fer you as well. We're all willin' t' work together fer a better world, one free o' chaos."
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