|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 1:16 pm
 To say the alicorn had been busy since the blast a few seasons past was an understatement. Chevalier had taken it upon himself to be as helpful as possible so that he might uphold his strictly chivalrous look on life and be the 'Prince' he felt his parents deserved. He still aspired to be great like they were, and still was in his mind. And that meant volunteering his services with even the smallest of tasks, such as seeking out a crystal pony by the name of Olea Aurum to acquire one of her baskets. One of their older ones had broken and his mother thought it would be a helpful chore for him to fetch a new one.
So here he was, on his way down to where he had been told the crystal faunie had set up her business. He was most curious indeed to be meeting one of these crystal faunies face to face instead of just from stories or far away glances. His father had no shortage of tales to tell about the old days in Equestria when his parents watched over the Crystal Empire. But they had always been just that. Tales. Stories. He had never seen the brilliant crystal palace or buildings, much of the faunies or anything else that had resided there. And he never would. It was gone and only a handful had made the journey with the rest.
With all that in mind, he descended the last few stairs, paused to allow a young faun with her children to pass first while giving them a low bow then proceeded onwards to seek out this Olea Aurum.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 3:35 pm
 "Oh crab apples, I'm out of red? Really?" Olea gave a sigh of frustration as she rummaged through some of her other dyes and powders and materials. How could she be out of- wait, she was out of this too? "Fine, that's it, errand time. I can't have my material reserves this low. Especially if I'm going to do this tapestry."
She went through her jars of dyes and ground pigments, taking note on which colors she was going to need to find, then slowly picked her way through her weaving materials. She sighed as she saw how low she was on cotton fibers. She was going to have to find some that were ready to be picked, as well as some plant stalks to turn into hemp for the main portions of her weaving.
With the final, rather alarming number of how much she needed to get, the fauny pulled out a large woven basket and left her room. Balancing the basket on the top of her head, she began making her way to the entrance of the tree. She turned a corner to go ascend the stairs, and found herself bumping lightly into a chest with a bright pink star on it. With a start, she took a couple steps back. "M-m-my ap-ap-apologies!" Her voice shook and she stammered and stuttered over her words, her cheeks burning and her face turning bright red all the way up to the tips of her ears.
She recognized the Alicorn almost immediately, and why wouldn't she? He was one of the three children of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor, the rulers of the Crystal Kingdom, and the royal family from her home land. She couldn't, however, remember which of the two brothers this one was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 5:31 pm
It wasn't hard to pick her out in a crowed, she had a lustrous kind of sparkle no one else had. Obviously this is why they were called crystal ponies, his parent's really weren't kidding. Not that...he thought they were he just...hadn't ever been so close to one before. Especially not having them bump into him. For a split second he almost feared she'd break, shatter into a tiny million pieces glimmering about on the floor. And then he reminded himself that that was silly, she was as much a pae as he was and just because she was "crystal" didn't mean she'd explode like one.
"No need to apologize miss, I should have moved clear of your path." he spoke with a low bow, hand sweeping to his chest, wings tucked behind his back. He was surprised her balance was so great that she hadn't dropped the basket off the top of her head. They weren't joking about her baskets either, it looked much crisper and well woven than the lats one they had. Perhaps that's why it broke. Never the less, he'd get one from this gentlewoman then see if she'd need any assistance before he was back on his way. So much to do on a made up schedule.
Standing up and folding his hands behind his back, he smiled an odd sort of smile. One that was more professional rather than friendly, but he certainly didn't mean to be rude either. Call it a force of habit. "Excuse me but would you happen to be Miss Olea Aurum? I was told by my parents you make exceptional baskets." he spoke sincerely, taking another moment to give her a full look over to ensure he hadn't hurt her when she bumped into him.
And because she sparkled.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 5:47 pm
Oh no, oh no, why was he appologizing? He wasn't supposed to apologize, he wasn't the one at fault! "P-pl-please don't apologize, the fault was mine!" Her voice squeaked at the end.
It wasn't that the basket was heavy, but rather it was empty and made of straw and hemp. There was really nothing much to it and there were no colors or designs, as it was one of her own personal baskets for work and storage and not those that she produced for others. Easily, she lifted the basket from her head and placed it gently on the ground.
Her ears perked forward when he asked for her by her name. "Y-yes, I a-am. Though everyone c-calls me just Olea." The drop about Princess Cadence and Shining Armor asking for her baskets specifically nearly gave the poor fauny a fainting spell right then, as her head became very light and dizzy.
"They did?" She asked, unable to keep her voice from getting even higher than normal. "I wo-would be ho-honored to make baskets for th-the Princess. I was just about to head out to gather materials. I'm.... out...." She shifted, feeling horribly embarrassed again. She was making the royal family from the Crystal Kingdom wait because she'd foolishly not gathered materials earlier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 11:19 am
Chevy tilted his head, unsure if her stutter was natural or he was making her that nervous. She looked faint as well, as if any second she'd pass out. He reached out a hand to help steady her, eyeing her with concern. He'd only let go when he was sure she wasn't about to hit the ground like a lead sack of potatoes. "No I insist. I was at a standstill, you in motion. I could have side stepped." he proffered, rather he take the blame than her if it would help to calm her down. "Yes, Mother told me she had not forgotten what work you did whislt there." he added, also hoping that would raise her spirits.
Unless that was going to just make her faint more..... good going Chevalier. Way to be a fine prince.
But when she spoke of lacking materials he glanced between the pink ting to her cheeks then towards the door to the outside. They were not allowed outside much and he only assumed what she needed would be located out there. "Do you have to travel far, Miss Olea? What with the new rules in effect." he stated, his thoughts flickering briefly towards the Chieftain. He doubted Rais would allow anyone to venture so far into the woods just for supplies to make a basket....at least not since the recent developments. Or at the very very least not without an escort.
That wasn't at all a bad idea come to think of it.
"I would be glad to escort you if you'd like." he offered, dipping his head politely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:51 pm
The touch of him steadying her helped to bring her back from her lightheaded feelings and ground her back down. She felt a sense of pride as the prince before her spoke of his parents remembering her work. Oh now she was certain to make her best baskets ever. This was a high honor, to make something for this family.
"I-It will be a b-bit of a trek, yes. But I will be sure to return before sunset. Anything I don't collect today, I'll leave tomorrow at sunrise to collect." She new it was dangerous to be about, but really, she didn't have another choice. She needed to replenish so much. The offer that came from Chevalier next startled and surprised her.
"E-escort me? Oh no, no you shouldn't have to do that. You-you-you-you're you! I-I mean, you're a prince! If something were to happen while we were out and you were to be injured... Oh gracious, or worse you were..." Her voice trailed, and she shook her head. "I couldn't ask that of anyone, especially of you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:55 pm
Chevy couldn't help but force away a frown. He had yet to run across someone who acted so nervous around him and so quick to dismiss his help. Was he doing something wrong then, to make her act this way? "Please, let me assist you. Its really the least I could do for someone from my Mother's past." he spoke, offering his arm out for her to take.
Even if she refused and he had to follow her, he had made up his mind to be of service to her. If she got hurt it would be a loss to the tree and a heavy weight on his heart that he had not done his job to the fullest. "Do not worry about me, is that not what a Prince does for his people?" he asked softly, titling his head. Ensuring his people were safe, sound and pleased? At all times, any hour of any day?
Not that he was technically a prince mind you, at least not here where rankings were different and the tree had its Cheif to follow. But in his mind he was. And in his mind it was his duty to help her right here and now, less any more of those blood pae be waiting in the shadows for a lone, weak straggler to pick off. He could at least provide defense if she needed to flee with his powers as that seemed to be more of what his particular skill set was geared towards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 2:17 pm
There comes a time where one realizes that no matter what they do, the other party is so stubborn that it will not change it's mind no matter what. The Alicorn before Olea was that stubborn party, and no matter how she protested he was going to escort her. He had already made up his mind on that, it seemed.
With a very timid smile, Olea picked up the basket and placed it on her head again, using one hand to balance it easily. She placed her other hand very timidly on the offered arm. "Th-thank you. I really do appreciate the protection." Plus, maybe an extra set of eyes wouldn't be such a bad idea.
As they left the tree, Olea leading the way to her usual gathering points, she explained to Chevy what sort of plants she was looking for, as well as what rocks she could grind up for dyes. As she became more focused on her work and the knowledge that was almost second nature, her nerves settled and her stutter left.
"...And when cotton is picked, it actually has these tiny little seeds inside of the ball that need to be removed first before anything can be done." Olea explained as she came to a small cluster of the plants. She set the basket down and quickly got to work harvesting, her fingers working simply out of muscle memory. "I need to speak with the Apple family, and ask them if there's any chance they might be able to grow cotton, and maybe a few of the plants that I get dye from, on their farm."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 11:22 am
Pleased that she accepted his offer, he made careful to move at her pace so as not to rush her. He was also slightly surprised that she felt as a normal faun would...not cold and....well...crystally like he had once imagined. How silly of him to have let his child like brain wander in such ways sometimes, though he attempted to keep those secrets to himself.
As they neared the place where she gathered all her materials, Chevalier noticed Olea seemed more at ease. She began to open up more, tell him about the processes and procedures, about the ingredients she was harvesting. Indeed he would not have known about much about cotton besides that it was white and fluffy. Not that it had seeds that must be removed first before a maker was to do what he will with it.
"You are most knowledgeable about your craft Miss Olea, it's quite impressive. But it would be silly of me to assume otherwise, this is what you were born to do, as it were." he smiled politely, offering her compliments while he stood guard over her, eyes keeping watch on their surroundings.
"It shouldn't be hard to reach a member of the Apple Family..." he said with a pause and then a slight tilt of his head. "Now that it's sort of merged with my own via my second cousin Wild Moon." he said in a mixed tone, one that you couldn't tell if he approved or not. Love was the farthest thing on his mind at the moment, which didn't help matters either. "If you can not find one to pass a message to I will ensure it is delivered personally." he nodded, taking a moment to actually glance away from the surroundings and down at her. Even in the sun she sparkled and Chevy found himself both amazed and in awe. There were many beings on this isle that he had learned of, some he had seen images of, but still none sparkled quite like a crystal faunie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 12:12 pm
Olea had done so well to calm herself, and was actually able to talk normally as she had her mind focused on her craft, not on the fact that the Prince was standing beside her, watching her every move. Of course, Chevy's compliment brought with it the reminder that he WAS there watching her every move, and she suddenly became hyper self aware.
"A-a-a-actually, my Cutie Mark just pertains to my ability to weave cr-cr-creatively. I still h-had to teach myself h-how to gather and pr-process my materials." She grabbed the last couple of clusters and placed them in the basket, then lifted the basket to balance back on her head. It still wasn't heavy, as the cotton weighed very little.
She didn't miss the mixed tone that came from her companion as he talked about his merged family, but she felt it wasn't her place to question it. An appreciative smile came over her face as he made his offer. "I c-c-could never ask for you to run such an errand. besides, this is such a-a-a favor that I wou-would need to a-ask them myself."
She fell into an awkward silence as she led the way farther into the island, on the look out for a specific plant that she could make a blue dye from. It was hard for her to describe exactly what the plant looked like, but she was familiar enough to know it on sight. If she remembered correctly, there were a few clusters down by a small river near by. As she walked, her eyes sweeping back and forth for any plants that she could pull up for dye, or use for hemp string. Periodically she stopped to gather something, setting the basket down to arrange her harvest accordingly before continuing onward.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:50 pm
Back to stuttering again. Maybe it was just a strange reoccurring problem? Did he really make her -that- nervous?
"Regardless, I'm sure it was most easy for you. Cutie marks here..." he paused, glancing down towards the shield on his flanks that had always been there since he could remember. "Well I'm told they don't work quite like they did back in Equestria. Mother said my brother, sister and I were all born with one." he tilted his head, fingers coming up to brush against the star on his chest. He hadn't ever felt some sort of ...calling... that made either of these two appear. He just knew in his heart what he wanted to be.
Shaking his head and offering his arm to her again he dismissed her refusal. "Nonsense, if it helps you produce what I seek here today then I will pass word along. It is within my duty." he said with a serious tone as always. Just as he had made up his mind to accompany her, he had made up his mind again now. But when she fell silent, he too fell silent, listening and watching all the sounds around them. Half wondering if he had spoken too much or if she had broke again.
"Miss Olea?" he asked, after the fifth stop for various plants. "Do you...remember much about the Crystal Empire?" he asked softly, for once not quite as serious and professional as before. He was interested in what she would have to say about it, from her view point as non royalty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:41 pm
Olea saw him looking at his own mark on his flank, the gentle touch to his star on his chest, and she felt instantly worse. How could she have forgotten that he wasn't born in Equestria? She wanted to say something to reassure him in some way, but what could she say? She couldn't relate to him in any way, and that frustrated her. She couldn't even talk right without stuttering.
The silence that had fallen between them was almost a relief: she didn't have to talk, have to stumble and stutter her way through her words. She felt a little more relaxed in herself as she did what was muscle memory. Her ears had flickered forward as she stopped for the fifth time, hearing the trickle of water, and she knew this was the last side trip on this leg of the journey.
The softer tone of Chevalier caught her attention, and she brushed some hair from her face and turned to see him, plucked leaves as she flickered her ears in thought. "The Crystal Kingdom?" And that guilt from earlier hit her hard in the gut. He'd never known the Crystal Kingdom...
"The-the river is ju-just ahead. Why don't w-we r-r-rest there and I'll te-tell you everything." She gave him a small smile, trying to hide the guilt she felt, as she led him through a few more bushes and out into a sloped clearing with a shallow river running through it. Olea found a fallen log, moss carpeting it, and sat in front of it to allow Chev to take the mossy seat. "A-alright, w-where should I be-begin?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 10:04 pm
He had wondered if he asked the wrong question at first when she her features changed after his question. Was it still a tender subject after all this time or had she already forgotten? But when she suggested going to the river to rest, he nodded. "As you wish Miss Olea. Though I do caution about being out too long, we still do have the curfew in affect."
As he followed her to the river and taking a seat upon the moss covered log (which felt strange, he had never before sat on moss that he could recall) he tilted his head at her, wings tucked to his back and hand folded neatly in his lap. "From the beginning I suppose, as where all stories begin." he proffered as kindly as he could.
As she began talking more and more about the kingdom he noticed her stutter went away again, coming to the conclusion that the subjects she knew a lot about must be the most comfortable for her to speak about. And the fact that it was actually him making her nervous. He could only hope that would change in time.
Her tales however, were just what his parents had told him and more. Everything just about, even down to the berries and other foodstuff seemed to be 'crystal'. A brief thought to pause her and ask how crystal corn might taste crossed his mind but he simply listened politely as she continued on. His ears perked when she mentioned the Crystal Heart, how it was the center of the empire so to speak and kept it safe. She even described things such as how their flags were made with iridescent fibers to shine many hues of purple and that the ringed snowflake represented their city layout.
When she finished going over the tiniest of details he paused a moment, letting the images linger in his mind a bit longer. "Much of what my parents speak of, but some differences. I can feel your passion through your words." he smiled softly, bringing his hand up to his chest. "Thank you for taking the time to tell me, I greatly appreciate living it through your words."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:12 pm
Olea had completely lost herself in recalling the Crystal Empire, from the most general descriptions down to the tiniest of details. By the time she finished, the sun was already past the middle of it's great arch above and just starting to begin it's decent into the west. She felt the ache in her heart and the wetness on her cheeks as tears slid down her face, homesickness overtaking her for a moment as she was pulled back into the reality of the island. The Crystal Empire was gone forever.
"M-my apologies." Her voice cracked a little as she attempted to regain herself, quickly wiping away tears.She felt so embarrassed to be crying like this in front of him. "I h-haven't remembered s-so much about the Empire since we first arrived."
She stood up from her seat on the ground, brushing stray hair from her face. "The p-p-plants I'm looking for are just f-farther up the banks. Be-be careful, th-the soil here is l-lose." She carefully began picking her way through the gravely river bank towards a large underbrush of plants with pretty purplish flowers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:51 am
Chev watched her as tears streamed down her face, a small frown gracing his lips. "Do not apologize. I should not have asked. I did not mean to upset you..." he said sincerely, but also half curious. He hadn't experienced having to leave his homeland so he had no idea what homesickness felt like.
But the sun was moving far into the sky and he had no intentions of keeping her past curfew or getting her in trouble. "Perhaps then we should make haste and return. I do not wish you to suffer the Chief's wrath for having kept you out so long." he nodded, standing up from his seat and following after her. He glanced down briefly at where she mentioned loose soil, testing a patch with the tip of his hoof. He watched as the dirt crumbled away into the stream before following suit, making sure she too didn't step and fall.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
