I stood outside the workshop with Cider, suckling from a hose to replenish my lost water. The slightly coppery water wasn't the best, but I couldn't complain. The rushing cold was acting like any other water cooling, taking my overheated body and flushing it with cold. I tossed the hose down into the grass. "Oh god...like hangover breakfast all over again." I took a deep breath. "Oh god...that was today, wasn't it?"

Cider stared at me with a smile, leaning against the concrete box in the middle of the field. "Partner, you drink like a fish."

I shook my head to throw water off. "I know." I rubbed my face. "Cider...can I tell you something without you getting offended?"

Cider stretched her arms, her red vest jangling along its metal bits. "Depends."

I looked the strong mare up and down. "Eh, I'll risk it. You're really hot. You have a body that could make an asexual renounce that." I frowned hard as she shifted her hips, bumping her flank against the building. "Darcy said you're related to most of the people at the Acres, so, as an outside, you've got a body like a model." I wiped my hands together, "That's all."

Cider tugged at her vest, sliding her hands down her front to her jeans. "Uh, that's a little bold." She frowned ever so softly. "Thanks I suppose...not sure what I'm supposta do with that."

"Nothing." I shrugged. "I just thought you should know. Probably don't get told that often enough for that uh...that body." I turned around to face the fields. "Darcy's got it too, but I have a thing for pale skin." I rubbed my face. "And a body like-- I'm really sorry, I feel like I'm coming across as a pervert."

Cider walked up next to me and kicked a stone. "Ya are." She put her hand on my shoulder and jostled me. "Still not really sure what ya meant by it though." She looked up to me with a smile. "Odd way to ask for a date, ya ask me."

"Oh no no no--" I crossed my arms in front of me and backed up. "No.... If I wanted to date, I'd just tell you." I shook my head, ending it looking dead on Cider's freckled face. "I'm very honest." Green eyes, beautiful. "But I've had some rather abrupt ends to my other relationships recently." Soft smile, soft skin. "I just felt you should know, because I can't imagine many people around here tell--"

Cider patted her hand against my ass, making me shoot forward hit first. "I get it partner." She laughed as I stumbled forward. "Ya ain't terrible yourself."

I felt my face burn like wildfire. "Uh.... Please don't do that." I rubbed my ass. "Please, please--"

"Partner, be glad I didn't do more." She laughed softly. "Colt calls a filly cute, something's gonna happen." She smiled wide and tipped her hat. "Make ya feel better ya can do it to me. Just a quick pat, worker's show, ri--"

I opened my eyes, the blue sky rolling overhead. "...Why am I on the ground?" I looked around my world swimming as Cider pulled me upright. "What happened?"

Cider started snickering as I got to my hooves. "I think ya fainted, partner."

"I don't flirt...." I walked about like an idiot, eventually stopping and leaning against the rough concrete wall. "You don't flirt--"

"You were." Cider shot in, leaning against the wall next to me.

I shook my head. "No...I wasn't." I shook my head. "You don't flirt in Storm Side. You like someone, you say it--"

"That's flirting, partner." Cider started to laugh. "And sorry to say, don't look like you're all that good at being flirted at."

I shook my head. "Again, you don't flirt where I'm from. You be completely honest, and see where it g--"

"Flirting...sounds like flirting, maybe a little less subtle." Cider stretched out.

I huffed softy. "I'm going to go find Darcy...forget I said anything, alright?"

Cider shrugged. "Alright, if ya say so."

I pushed off the wall, hurrying across the farmland yet again. My mind flitted to Cider, her smile, her eyes, her hair and her tail. The whole time she had it wrapped around her leg, and I was only thinking about it now. "God damn it...." I rubbed my face as I walked past the Acres, into the town again. "I don't know, brain, I don't know." I mulled over the prospect of dating.

I rolled the thought around while I walked, the town thickening up around me as I hit the market square. I'd been in a relationship most of my life since I hit puberty. Dating was how I felt normal, but after Marin things felt odd. Five mares in my life, more stable than my friends as they moved on to specialize in math or science, leaving me with the blue collars of Storm Side. But I could always count on them, even Marin in earlier days was kind and listened to me.

I sighed loudly as I slipped past a crowd, spotting Darcy towering over a crowd of ponies. I walked to the back of the crowd, Darcy's face sporting a tight smile. I pushed my way through. "Darcy, what's going on!?"

Darcy snapped her head over to me. "Oh my god, Glass!" She ran over, a bag of bits in her hand. "This guy-- this-- Oh my god!" She pulled her hands up, shaking them together and prancing in place. The girliest I've ever seen her. "Glass, someone bought it!"

I took a step back, nudging a pony's flank. "Sorry about that. Darcy, how much?"

Darcy pushed the bag into my hands, heavy coins weighing down my arms. "Some human in a white coat! He- I think it was- the-- Celestia's stallion!"

I felt my eyes force themselves open. "Wait...how much is in here!?"

"Like a thousand bits!" Darcy grabbed me by my shoulders. "Dude, he like-- Oh...hey, she'll like that. And then he like-- He-- fuck!"

I grabbed her by her sleeve, her new shirt barely more than a tank top. "Darcy, come here...." I dragged her through the crowds, over to an open spot in the market. With the crowds clear I straightened out the giddy girl. "Darcy, look at me.... What happened?"

Darcy grabbed my arms. "Money! Lots of money!"

I looked at the bit bag in my hand. "Darcy...did you get the groceries...?"

Darcy's expression went flat. "Glass, are you not excited?"

I shrugged. "It's not my money, it's yours. Now can you go get the groceries?"

Darcy's face deflated. "...My money?"

I shrugged. "Darcy, it was a gift to pay for the shirt, its your money, it--" Darcy snapped forward and bear hugged me. "Ow ow ow, my ribs!" She lifted me off the ground again, squeezing my arms against my ribs, and my ribs against my insides. "Darcy, crush me!"

Darcy swung me about. "Thank you! Like, a lot!"

"It's bloody fine, I've got someplace to work now! But you're fucking crushing--my--lungs!"

Darcy gave me one last squeeze, my ribs aching as she released her hold. "Glass, I'll make this up to you--"

I stepped back and rubbed my ribs. "You showed me where to work...it's fine." I let out a weak squeak, holding my sides. "Darcy, you need to stop, stop with the exercise before you turn into Lennie."

Darcy took the bits from me. "Lennie?" She tugged her headband, her white shirt snug against her.

"Of Mice And Men." I looked towards Rarity's home, the circular white building calling back to me. "Now can you bring the groceries to Mrs. Rarity, or not?"

Darcy frowned hard. "You should really be more excited about this than you are."

I shrugged. "I was excited today. If I'm excited at least once a day, I'll be happy." I put my hand on her forearm and gave a soft squeeze. "Now seriously...I need to get back to Mrs. Rarity--"

Darcy pushed my arm off and hugged me again, her embrace warm and soft. "Glass...thank you, for real."

I didn't complain, for once she wasn't slinging me over her back or breaking my bones. "It's fine Darcy. You're blowing this way out of proportions."

Darcy set me down. "Or maybe you're underwhelmed. Either way, I'll see you soon, alright?"

I shrugged. "Sure." I turned to the boutique. "Hopefully Rarity won't question things...say I got lost or something." I hurried over, across the buzzing market square. I slinked around through the kitchen door, Jewel waiting for me in the kitchen, just like I'd left.

She smiled at me, a wry, sneering smile. "What...what's--"

"Mr. Work." Rarity's voice came from the next room. "You're not wearing boots."

I held my mouth open. "Uh.... No?" I walked through the half built kitchen, finally ready to settle down and be civil again. "Was I--"

Rarity peeked into the kitchen with a smile. "You said you were going to go put on a pair of boots before you left."

I bit my lip. "I did say that, didn't I--"

"And you're covered in soot." Her eyes narrowed.

I rubbed my face, black smudges rolling over my cheeks. "So I am...."

"And that ruckus in the market." Rarity limped into the kitchen, standing off with me. Her smile matched her child's. "A replica of Celestia's cutie mark was just sold to a rather high bidder." She walked up to me and turned her nose up. "Couldn't be that, and perhaps I'm speculating--"

"It was me." I threw my hands up. "I went to Sweet Apple Acres and used their forge." I held my arms up high as I could. "Sue me."

Rarity pouted, her lips pushed out hard. "Oh you're no fun." Rarity swished her tail around. "How much?"

I sighed loudly. "I don't know. I gave it to Darcy."

Rarity lowered her head, looking up at me from under her eyelids. "Hmm?"

I looked over to the table and hurried over. I stuck my tongue out at Jewel, getting one right back as I dragged a chair away. "Little monster." I sat down before Rarity, crossing my legs as she settled down onto her haunches. "Darcy needed to tailor her shirt, so I said I'd craft something for her to trade. She got a new shirt, you got groceries, I got to work." I crossed my arms. "Mrs. Rarity, I regret nothing."

Rarity laughed, a haughty, prissy laugh. "Oh dear...you gave an ornament worth that much to Darcy? You- you sir make your intentions known!"

"What!? No!" I shot up. "No!"

Rarity just laughed. "I must admit, most are intimidated by her. She's rather-"

"No!"

"-tall."

"Yes she is, but no I'm not!" I looked back to the market. "I'm not...right?"

Rarity smiled at me. "Unsure of yourself now?"

I grumbled softly. "I've only been here a few days...I'm not sure where I stand with this place. I need...time, I think."

Rarity smiled at me. "Well at any rate, you've done what I wanted you to do."

"Oh?" I sat back down and rubbed my head. "And what was that?"

Rarity smiled at me. "You've loosened up, even if it's only the slightest bit. And maybe you made a friend."

I groaned loudly. "Mrs. Rarity, I have friends--"

"In Ponyville?"

I sat there, quiet. "This is going to be a long week, isn't it?"

Rarity laughed to herself. "Only if you make it. And by the way--" Rarity walked over and put her hoof on my knee. "That was very nice of you. But thousands of bits might have overdone it."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "I didn't sell it. I just gave it to her." I put my hand on Rarity's hoof. Her coat was soft under my fingers. "Apparently someone in a white coat bou--"

"Oh no...." Rarity pulled her hoof back. "Oh...please no." She lowered herself down, hunched over slightly. "Abrasive, sandy mane?"

I shook my head. "I wasn't there. Something about Celestia's stallion?"

Rarity's ears went flat. "I know him.... He's not exactly well liked."

I shrugged. "A thousand bits for that small piece, if it wasn't charity then I'd have to question his mental fortitude."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "I suppose. And it was probably a gift." She looked out the window. "I'm never going to enjoy his company. But I'm glad to see he isn't lighting anything on fire."

I leaned back in my chair. "Is he an arsonist!?"

Rarity shook her head and brushed off her chest with a hoof. "No, simply something I could imagine him doing."

I frowned hard. "That's a bit harsh."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "At any rate, I suppose it is sweet...in some sort of way."

I shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Now, can I go shower? Settle in for a while?"

Rarity waggled her hoof at me. "Groceries?"

"Darcy's going to get them."

Rarity smiled at me, wrinkles showing around the corners of her mouth. "You really like her, don't you?"

I pursed my lips, my eyes blurring slightly. "Rarity...please." Next Chapter: Darcy Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 12 Minutes