I felt my skin creep as I plodded along the grass. "Darcy...this is yokel. This is extremely, very, massively yokel." I stretched my legs, causing Misty to giggle. "What...what's funny?"

Misty covered her face with her sleeves. "Your leg's all twitchy." She flapped her arms, slapping her sleeves against her wrists. "It's funny looking."

I sighed loudly. "You know, I'd think a mare in a sweater wouldn't make fun of me for dressing oddly! It's so damn hot out, how can you wear a damn sweater!"

Misty wrapped her covered hand around her other sleeve. "It's not hot--"

Darcy looked back, still leading us through the dirt paths through massive fields of freshly planted vegetables and grain. "He's a snowpony, he thinks anything above freezing is hot."

"Damn right!"

Misty looked back to me. "But- I'm not hot." She looked into her sweater. "I uh...it's not hot."

I looked her up and down, slowly realizing one horrid fact. "Misty, how long have you been wearing that one jacket?"

Misty looked down at her sleeves. "Um, a few days."

I tightened up my right eye, staring at the mare, her collar bare. "Are you wearing anything under that?"

Misty fixed her buttons. "Like, underwear."

I let out a strange grunt. "Eugh, Misty, you've been wearing the same clothes for at least two days?"

Misty stretched her arms, swinging them to the sides and causing a loud crack from her back. "I change. I just have the sweater--"

"You've got underwear, pants, and a sweater! That's not--"

"I'm not wearing pants." Misty grabbed the edge of her sweater and pulled it down.

I held my hand in the air as I walked forward aimlessly. "Okay, so you're basically wearing the same dress for days at a time? Good gods...you do realize how gross that is, right?"

Darcy and Misty both stopped to watch me walk. "Why?" Darcy asked, grabbing me by my shoulder. "Why is that gross?"

I shook my head and kept walking. "Like, dead skin and sweat and junk. Just...eugh."

Darcy ran up to lead me again. "You know it's not like underwear, right? You can wear a dress without it getting all gross for a few days." Darcy shook her head. "I've worn the same bra a few days in a row for a while, just easier than having to grab a new one, and less laundry."

"Savages." I looked across the farms. "Is that it?" I pointed out over a field of budding carrots, to a large concrete building that looked like it had gone through quite a few additions.

Darcy softly kicked the back of my legs. "Yeah, that's it. Jerk."

I whirled around. "Oi, at least I change my clothes every day!"

Misty rubbed her lap and walked towards the building. "It's not bad...do I smell?"

I shook my head and turned back around. "No.... It's just not good."

Darcy shoved me with her shoulder, nearly throwing me into a passing pony. "Why? What's not good about it?"

I threw my hands up. "It's just gross. Icky, just--"

"Oh shut up." Darcy shoved me, backing against the concrete building. "How long is this gonna take?" She pulled a small metal lock off the door and pushed it open. "I'll go get the grocery--" Another button popped off as she turned to face me.

"Ha...." I walked past her, spotting a switch on the wall. "Mr. Big Bust--"

Darcy tried to force her shirt together. "It's not my boobs...it's my shoulders...." She tried to fix the clip in her shirt. "Damn...."

I looked her over, she still looked like any other giant girl to me. "Darcy...just take it off, or go change."

Darcy's face curled up into a heavy frown. "Glass, just--"

"It's not going to stay closed." Misty walked beside me, standing in the blank concrete entry. "I really don't care, just stop with the--"

Darcy undid her buttons and tied the shit together at the base. "There, bett--" Another set of buttons came off. "God damn it!" She stomped a hoof. "This is crap!"

I rubbed my forehead. "Darcy--"

"I can fix it!" She tried to keep her shirt together, her bra was bright red against her tanned skin, like her father's coat.

"Darcy--"

"Wait!"

"Darcy stop." I walked up to her and pulled her hand away from her shirt. "Darcy...go change."

Darcy's frown hung heavy on her face. "My shirt's dead...isn't it?"

I nodded. "It was never alive, but yes. Shirt is kill."

Darcy let her hands fall to her sides. "I'm just- you can get to work, look around, I'm sure you'll find everything." She turned to the door. "I'm gonna go change. I'll be back in a few."

"Yep." I nodded and turned around. "I'll just-- Uuuuuuuuh." I felt myself drool, a large concrete box with a load of doors poked between machines and furnaces waited for me. Tools on racks, boxes and shelves, the smell of metal and ash, the clean concrete, the stone and steel littering the shop. "Oh god above, thank you."

Misty scratched the floor with her hoof. "What's wrong?"

I turned to Misty with a flash, her odd eye poked over towards the tools. "What's wrong? What's wrong!?" I leaned over her and grabbed her my the upper arms. "What's wrong is I died! I am dead! This isn't real!" I ran across the cold concrete ground, over to a large furnace, stone, still covered in coke and filled with crucibles. "Oh god...yes...." I hugged the stone creation, slowly caressing the wonderful stone beast. "I'm gonna cry...."

Misty's hooves clicked over to me. "Um, Glass...you're weird."

"I know," I cooed, reaching into my jacket and tossing a few coals into the furnace. "And I love it!" I pulled my lighter up and tossed it in after the coals. A flash of blinding heat swam around my back, causing Misty to put her arm up. I held my arms out like an idiot. "Oh man...I love that feeling."

Misty backed up, already starting to sweat in the bright burning light. "Um...I thought you didn't like the heat?"

I laughed and took my jacket off. "This? This isn't heat, this is work." I turned to the fire spitting furnace. "This is art!" I felt like singing, swinging myself around the shop. "Oh by Luna, by Celestia, by the sun itself, this is what I live for!" I ran to the shelves, running up and down the aisles. "Glass powder, silica, machine rollers and coloring powder! Cutters and hammers and scorers oh my!" My voice was high, jubilant, my face forced up into a smile. "Oh my god!" I spun around the solid metal shelves. A stack of boxes full of broken glass lay on one of the lower shelves. "I'm gonna pee my pants!"

I turned my head and started grabbing fireproof jackets and clothes to keep the flame out, all of them neatly stowed along a set of lockers on the wall between two doors. "It's got a bathroom! It's got a bathroom in its own building!" I turned to Misty, smiling wide as I could. "Are you not excited!?"

Misty smiled and pulled her arms into her sweater. "You're blushing...."

"I know!" I trotted in place. "I know I know I know! It's awesome!" I threw the heavy safety equipment down and started getting dressed. "It smells like soot and dust, and everything is so leathery and-- ahhhh-ha!" I put on a pair of gloves and ran back to a small shelf, grabbing a pair of heavy iron tongs. "Misty, don't just stand there! Find a crucible!"

Misty swung her arms. "Um, a what?"

I shook my head and ran over to the furnace. "I got it!" I picked up a large crucible and started throwing glass into it. "Oh- crap...ahead of myself." I stepped back from the shard filled crucible. "Um...okay, need colored sheets." I rubbed my face, leathery gloves scratching my face. "Tail wrap, need to--"

"Glass-" Misty walked up to me, a soft frown on her tweaked face, "-can I help?"

I looked at the mare, sweating heavily under her dress. "I uh- sure." I tossed my gloves down. "You know, I didn't even realize I'd gotten dressed." I laughed to myself and turned to the shelves. "I need to mix silica powder." I looked across the room, so much passed up in my frenzied haze. "Okay, alright." I walked back to Misty, taking a quick look around the entry to the workshop. "Okay, okay, table over there-" I pointed to a small metal table, "-find some seats. We'll have some time while the fires stoke."

Misty tapped her covered up hooves on the ground, her shoes wrapping half way up her lower legs. "It's hot in here."

I shook my head. "Yep. Yes it is." I hurried over to the shelves past the furnace, the room much longer than it felt upon first inspection. I grabbed a bag of silica, stepping on a bunch of iron and steel fragments littering the floor. I grabbed a bag of glass powder and a scanned for a few pigments. I found a few powders that looked to be about half a century old. "Alright, this should work."

I hurried over to the table in the entry area, throwing down the bags. I grabbed a few crucibles and drudged them over, "You know, you don't have to be here."

Misty shrugged. "Should I leave?"

I sat down with a leathery thud, now wrapped up in iron worker's apparel. "It's going to get hot.... Like, I complain about how it is outside, but this is going to be really, not just me bitching, hot."

Misty stared at me, or attempted to with one eye cocked to the side. "I'm alright." She tapped her hands on the hard metal table. "You like Darcy?"

I felt my throat dry out. "W-what? I just got here--"

"You're friends?" Misty asked again, still smiling.

I sat down and dug my hands into the silica bag, a scoop already laid inside. I started measuring out the proper doses into each of the crucibles. "Orange...yellow...other yellow." I looked up to Misty. "And yes, I'd call her a friend. As loose a word as friend is."

Misty smiled at me, teething showing slightly. "We're friends, right?"

I sighed loudly. "Sure, yes." I loaded up a crucible with the proper powders. "Why is everyone in this town so friendly? Oh, let me get that for you! Oh, let me help you! Oh, come hang out! Oh hi, let me shake your hand and show you my abs!" I let out a long sigh. "...Cinnamon was actually really hot...." I rubbed my face. "Stomach you could sharpen knives with...." I started to grow uncomfortably aware of the girl at my side.

Misty just smiled. "She's pretty."

"Yep." I nodded. "She is."

Misty looked around nervously, swinging her arms at her sides. "Sorry if I'm not talking much...everypony thinks I'm dumb...I just.... Sorry."

I snapped my head up, the unexpected words slamming into the sides of my head. "Um, I never ass--"

"Because my eyes." She pointed at her right eye. "Everypony used to think I was dumb. I just, don't talk much."

I bit my lip and looked down to the filled ceramic and stone jars. "Thank you, for sharing I mean." I picked up a crucible and carried it over to the furnace. "And I'm not being facetious, I know what it's like trying to open up." I got prepared, wrapping myself up in the leathers yet again. "Everypony used to make fun of my- uh...doesn't matter. Changed things about me...got better."

Misty looked over to me, leaning over a small railing that separated the entry from the main floor. "I'm glad."

I worked slowly, placing each of the pots into the furnace. "So am I." I finished up quickly and looked around, the walls of the shop lined with machines. "Kiln...kiln--there is it-- is it? It is." I laughed at my screwed up words. "Oh boy, so excited." I flicked on the electric kiln, the warm whirl in the air making my hair stand on end.

"I'm back!" Darcy shoved the door open, "Cider came--"

"Howdy!" Cider's chipper voice shot in. "Whoa, who's the one in the suit?"

I could barely see, the tinted mask on my head blinding me. "Uh- wait...when did I--" I pulled the mask off. "I don't even remember putting that on.... I'm working on automatic! I love it."

A rough cough came from behind the girls. "Darcy...can we talk?"

I stared up at the door, orange legs, red legs, and grey legs all stuck around the door. "Oi, who's there--" Darcy ignored me and walked out. Cider and Misty started talking, leaving me standing in the concrete pit. "Right, so I'll just...stand here and work." I turned back to the furnace, an electric feeling in the air as I masked up and peered in. The powder was already half melted, a bright orange bubbling pot of gold.

I sat and watch as my coals did their work, infused with powders and gems pulled from the Crystal Empire and north lands. "And here we go." I ran to the shelves again, grabbing a ladle and fork. I raced back to the fire spitting forge and dipped in, a glob of bright glowing glass gooey and thick in the large metal dipper. I dolled a load of glass onto a rolling table, the whirling machine on before I could realize my hands were moving. I started to hum to myself as I squeezed the glass into the rollers, watching a line of molten glass lay out in a sheet.

A roll done, a sheet of bright orange glass pressed and ready to cool I reached to the pile of tools near my jacket and grabbed a scorer. My arms hissed smoke as I accidentally leaned against the mess. "Bugga!" I pulled back, shaking my arm to stop the burning. "Piece of piss...."

I kept on, carving out the curves I'd use for Celestia's rays. My body felt warm, eyes wide as I fell into my groove yet again. "Don't take me down tonight, I don't wanna sleep till I mmm-neh-ne." The rays of Celestia's cutiemark were done and ready to be remelted. The excess glass tossed over onto a shelf with some metal brackets.

Glass from the furnace, to the rollers. Cooled by magic and the heated forge air. Score, score, pop. Score, score, pop. Pieces falling into my hands with each deft movement. I placed the pattern out in the kiln, the glass melting together to form up a perfect glass replica of Celestia's cutie mark. All that it needed was time.

I hurried and started to load up the furnace with more glass for future days. "Oh wait--" I turned to the crowd of humans, ponies, and stayrs watching me work. "I- uh...."

Darcy smiled and pointed to each. "Uncle Jack," a man with a large hat. "Auntie A.J." an orange pony with another hat and a kind look about her. "Caramel!" A yellowish pony with brown hair. "He used to work with the machines, carriages, supplies."

I felt harrowed, my heart beating like a drum. "Uh.... Hello?"

The man nodded at me and left unspoken. The orange pony smiled and walked down to me. "Howdy, welcome to Ponyville." She hugged me across the chest, a quick, loving hug.

Caramel smiled too. "Glad to see this place working again, just...you gonna watch it or should I?"

I bit my lip. "Yes, someone should make sure it doesn't catch fire." I turned to the furnace. "Check every few hours...I'll be back--"

Applejack shook her head. "Well, you gonna be using this place? Because, if somepony is, gotta work something out."

I frowned hard. "I can pay rent if I start making--"

Applejack shook her head. "I heard you're from the fancy smansh college up north, right?"

I ran my fingers together. "Yes."

Applejack smiled at me. "You know anypony that works with metal? Leather? Tool maker?"

I felt my spine straighten. "Yes, yes, and also yes!"

"You think--"

"Yes!" I smiled wide and pulled my mask off. "I met a lot of workers back in studies. I'm sure if you put up a work for stay like I took, you'll get someone quick as light!"

Applejack smiled. "Then I think we can start buildin' again."

I coughed roughly. "Mostly.... I'm still work for stay with Ms. Rarity." I laughed softly. "I'm not actually supposed to be here."

Applejack smiled and cocked her head. "Then maybe ya should get back to it."

I cringed and let out a sharp groan. "She asked me to talk with ponies...."

Applejack put a hoof on my leg. "Sweetheart, you're talking to a pony right now."

I groaned again. "Yeah...but this is work talk, not, oh hi can I milk!"

Applejack frowned sharply and turned to the group in the entry. Misty shrugged. "Well, finish what you're doin, then go on, go listen to Rarity." Applejack patted my hip. "Go on, get."

I looked over to the kiln. "Well it should be done by now." I walked up and pulled the kiln open, scooping the glass art out and passing my hand over it. A strong heat zipped into my hand, then in a moment the glass cooled. "Yep. Darcy, here! Sell this." I dropped out of my gear, setting everything down and turning off the machines. "Darcy." I shook my body, cleaning off the glass with a rag and a buffing piece. "It's a little warm."

I walked up to the giant, holding the smooth glass sun out for her like a sword. She slowly took it, backing towards the door. "Oh- you made this!?"

I stretched my arms, sweaty and spent. Truly satisfied by the glossy opaque glass, the sun brought down to earth and forged into beauty to match Celestia herself. "Yeah." I turned to Misty, "Oi, who wants to go get some water?"

Cider, Applejack's obvious child, was standing with Darcy, looking at the piece. "Heck in mud...."

I pushed past everyone, out into the clean cold air. "Oh that feels good." I wiped off my brow. "Lov--"

I felt myself lift off the ground, "Thank you!" Darcy's voice was high and squeaky.

I kicked my legs like a bike rider. "Oh god!" I grabbed her arms, wrapped around my stomach. "Down, down! No!"

Darcy swung my about. "It's really nice!"

"I bloody know, now put me down!" I tried to kick free. "It's not a big deal!"

Darcy tossed me over her shoulder. "Come on! I'm gonna buy lunch!" Next Chapter: Apples Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 23 Minutes