Out of the Sky (Private)

[Avery]

Changeling... that's something he hasn't heard in a long time, those vile creatures that suck the love out of anything. They were deadly creatures, taking the shape of anyone they meet. Avery's only heard tales of them, never having seen one in person before. Could this pony be a changeling? It could be a possibility, you never knew with changelings around. Though it was till uncertain about what this pony was doing here on the mural, and not somewhere else.

 

Stiletto has a point, it wouldn't be right if someone here in town would know about it, someone would have to know this by heart. Someone like Celestia and Luna, the only two that has been in that lost castle of the two sisters that remember how it was in the past. However, one question was brought up: what did Avery see in this mural? He wanted to get it, but he had no idea why, and now looking at it, he still didn't have a clue as to what made him want to get it. It was a strange feeling, like something came over him. Still, he looked at the mural closely, trying to see if there was anything that stuck out to him.

 

No, there was nothing. He scratches his head "I don't know, there's nothing eyecatching about this, but I just had the feeling of... getting it. I don't know why, but something in me just yelled at me to get this stone." he said as he looks over the mural once more. He didn't know what to say, he just had the feeling that he needed to get this slab of stone for whatever reason, it jut felt strange to him. By this time, Stiletto was talking about what the mural was telling them, still not making any sense of what these pictures truly mean. They needed the whole picture, and this was just a part of it, nothing to build off, but something to really think about.

 

He then heard that Stiletto had work in the morning, which made him think about the work he needed to do around here. He hadn't thought of it before she brought it up, serving more questions to the plate of mystery. He had no idea what types of work there was to do here in Ponyville, or in fact if the same type of work was still accepted here than wherever he came from. He thought for a while, trying to think of what to say so that he didn't seem like a complete moron in front of Stiletto.

 

Avery sighed and tilted his head "I... actually have no idea. Now that you mention work, I feel like I need to do something too. But what can I do around here? What is there to do around here? ...I guess I can perhaps, walk around town for a bit, to see what's here a-and maybe find somewhere to work for now."

[Zealot]

Stiletto listened to Avery as he said that while it wasn't eye-catching, he just had the vague feeling that the tablet was important. The pegasus again turned away from him and back to the tablet. She didn't know what he was talking about. It was a hunk of rock, not some eye-catching masterpiece. Still, maybe she had to see it with his eyes to know what he was really talking about. Well, maybe it was a little more than a hunk of rock. She supposed the mural was pretty in its own way. Stiletto could tell that he was interested in it though from his emotions. There was a deep curiosity when the tablet had been mentioned, more so than her own interest. Maybe the story had been important in the past, or maybe there was more to the mural than had survived in the ravages of time. The pegasus had no idea, and it was getting a bit late for that kind of thinking. She was just worried about tomorrow.

 

Worried, was perhaps too much of a strong term. She was merely concerned about getting to work on time and getting Avery sorted out with something to do. Still, he posed quite a serious question. If he had no memories, then what was he even good at? What did he want to do? What was there to do?

 

Of course, there were many job and opportunities around the town of Ponyville. One of the reasons Stiletto had chosen to stay here for a while was the abundance of odd jobs that needed doing. Ponyville was a growing and productive town, even if it seemed small and quaint. There were a lot of things to do. One day Stiletto would work the fields, the other she would take a job with the weather team, the next she would escort a convoy in the Everfree forest. Heck, some days she even ended up delivering goods to other towns. "Well, I guess that's up to you Avery," she began. "I don't have a solid job here, I just do odd jobs. Some days I work on a farm, other days I work with the weather team. Though I'm sort of a regular with the weather team, I always think of that as my permanent job around here, along with my scouting. I don't know, maybe you could come with me and ask to be put in a team to help with the weather. We're going to have a bit of rain tomorrow so I expect they wouldn't object to you helping." Besides, it would be fun to work with Avery. Some of the weather team ponies could be a bit dull.

 

Then there was the possibility of him going around Ponyville and trying to find some work to do. "Well, umm. I have a friend who might be free tomorrow. She could help you find something you like. Maybe you could go to the local smithy and umm," her wings rose a little, moving away from her sides. "Well you could work the bellows, or maybe see if there was something there you wanted to do." Again Stiletto found that she just couldn't look at him straight as she thought of that and looked away. "Because, you know. You seemed to like it. What is your special talent anyway? Maybe you can find something that uses that?" Stiletto still didn't look back at him, instead focusing on the bookshelf as her wings lowered a little. Trying to think of something else...

[Avery]

Avery looked at the mural one last time before having his full attention to Stiletto, the mural was such a strange piece of history, it didn't fit anywhere that either of them knew. But Stiletto told him about how there were many different types of jobs for him to try out, such as: working on a farm, or... working with the weather team? As soon as he heard that, Avery looked confused about what she had meant by that. At first, he thought that she was talking about the ponies that check the skies that guess what's coming, though that was blown out of the window when he heard about him helping out with a bit of rain.

 

He asked almost instantly after "Huh? What do you mean 'help out'? Doesn't... doesn't the weather occur when it wants to? Why do you need to help with... rain? That... what? That doesn't make any sense. How can ponies that's labeled as a weather team actually help out with the weather? Oh, maybe we should have it rain sunbeams or something?" his tone was rather distraught, almost disapproving of how the weather is handled here in Equestria. But... why would he think that? shouldn't he know how the weather works and where it comes from? No, he doesn't seem to understand. That's a first, a pony that doesn't know how the weather works? He was certainly curious to see what Stiletto's answer would be, because right now, she was talking about something he never even thought would be true.

 

But, he wouldn't be like this for long as Stiletto would tell him of a friend that could be free tomorrow that may help him in finding something for him to work on that he likes. It would be fun, the town is still fairly new to him, and it would be nice to get to know other ponies here and make new friends.Stiletto then suggested the local smithy, to which he saw that her wings were starting to act strange once more. Was it something that she said that made that happen? He couldn't put the picture together, especially not with Stiletto looking away from him. He couldn't tell what was wrong about she had said to try and make it better.

 

She then asked about his special talent, something that was also represented by a cutie mark that appears on the flank of a pony once they find their purpose in life. Sure, Pinkie Pie had balloons and Stiletto had a translucent whispy cloud, but Avery had nothing. He was bare with no mark. He looked back at where his cutie mark should be and shrugs. "I don't know. I don't even have my cutie mark yet, so I don't know what's good for me or not. ...Though... uh, I do... do" he yawns lightly, getting closer and closer to the point of passing out. "...I do like to fiddle with making stuff. Like... little stuff, like small wagons or maybe even a doll. ...I can't remember the last time I made a doll, but then again, I wouldn't have amnesia if I did know." Though he noticed that Stiletto wasn't looking at him.

 

So he asked "Hey? Is everything okay? You seem a bit weird tonight... not to be rude, but... you seem to be looking away from me, and you're unfolding your wings when don't need to. I mean, I thought you were hot upstairs, so I thought you were letting some air through your wings, but... I don't know, it just seems off to me, I just want to be sure that everything's alright."

[Zealot]

Stiletto's eyes turned wide at that. What did he mean by that? Of course ponies needed to help out with the weather. Right? "Umm, what?" she asked, very confused. No, he seemed to be serious. "You're kidding right? The weather doesn't just..." she trailed off into raucous laughter. The idea that the weather simply did it's own thing was ludicrous. Absurd. That was like saying the sun and moon didn't rise every day at the whim of the Princesses. The pegasus fell onto her back, on the sofa, in fits of laughter. "Just occurs when it wants to, bwhaha." It was silly, really silly, to think that the weather could just manage itself. Clouds didn't move without the direction of a local weather pegasus and it didn't rain without the help of the Cloudsdale water cycle. That was where the weather was made after all. Once Stiletto's laughter had subsided she realised he was serious. "What? Come on. The weather..." she bit back another chuckle. "The weather doesn't just happen Avery. The weather patrol manages it."

 

She ignored his other probing questions for now and felt the need to explain. It has always been the duty of the pegasi, ever since the three pony tribes. Heck, even before. To manage and maintain the weather for the earth ponies. That way they can grow the food and share it with the rest of us." Stiletto smiled at that. "Come on, you have to know that. Right? Cloudsdale, where I used to live, is the weather capital of Equestria. That's where they make snowflakes, produce clouds and distribute the rain and manage the seasons." Clearly Avery's knowledge of Equestria was still lacking. "Well, maybe you should come tomorrow. Then maybe my boss can show you how it all works."

 

Well, that had been an eye opening minute or two. Stiletto shook her head in disbelief, still not quite understanding how he didn't know that. After all, that was pretty basic. She frowned though, feeling that her previous outburst had been a little too much. Now all she felt was regret. "Umm, I'm sorry. It's just I sort of grew up in Cloudsdale, everypony knew what we did. Wait, you're a blank flank?" she asked, again insatiably curious. 

 

Stiletto peered at Avery's flank, and low and behold he was a blank flank. No cutie mark there. "Wow," she exclaimed. "I didn't notice that, sorry Avery." She looked up again and towards the bookshelf, trying not to think about how nice his flank was. "Ahem, well. Umm," she stammered, trying to get that picture out of her head as her wings rose a little again. "I guess you could go to the repair shop and try out there. Maybe your amnesia meant your cutie mark went away." Well, at least he knew what a cutie mark was. That was something right? After all, he couldn't have been all that insular if he knew what that was. She turned back to him and said, "Sorry for laughing, again. At least you know what a cutie mark is, that's good, right?" She just hoped he accepted her apology.

 

Then came the question. Great, he'd noticed her slight lapses. That wasn't good, wasn't good at all. Stiletto looked away nervously, trying to think of how she could minimise the damage here. No, she shouldn't have been thinking about her friend like that. She couldn't help it though, he was cute. The pegasus could hardly be blamed for that, right? "Umm, well, I erm, well..." she stammered, her wings folding back in embarrassment. Stiletto looked at Avery again, and her cheeks turned the colour of rose.

 

No, she couldn't deal with this right now. She needed an excuse. In panic, her mind turned to the first one that came to mind. She looked away quickly and stated, "I need to pee," before rushing off in the direction of the bathroom. Once she got there she would slam the door and lock herself in for a minute or two. That would allay suspicion, right? It might give her a few moments to calm down as well.

[Avery]

Laughter was her answer to Avery's question on the weather, rather unexpected too. He raised an eyebrow at her laughing, becoming slightly annoyed at the fact that she's laughing at his knowledge of what is done. As he remembers from what little memories he has, the weather was unexpected, it would turn harsh at a moment's notice, or even rain in the middle of a sunny day. But no, she just laughs at his thoughts of how the weather was, telling him that it was controlled, that the weather patrol carried the duty of putting what weather goes where. Is that was truly goes on here in Equestria? That seemed odd to him.

 

She seemed to retract her laughter in order to explain to him why the weather was to be controlled like it was, and spoke of the three pony tribes, which he had no knowledge about. The pegasi were supposed to maintain the weather for the earth ponies so that they could grow food? What does she mean by that? Anypony in the world could grow food if they knew how, why should it be for earth ponies only? He simply shook his head when she asked he should know that, of course he didn't know that. He didn't even know about a city called Cloudsdale until now, an entire city for managing the weather? What kind of system is this?

 

But then he heard something he's never heard of before, when she explained what they do up in Cloudsdale, saying that they produced clouds, rain, managed the entire seasons, and made snowflakes. He slowly tilted his head in curiosity as to what she even meant by that. A 'snowflake'? He had to ask "A... snowflake..? I... hmmm. What kind of creation is that?" he put his hoof to his chin, thinking of what in the world a snowflake would look like. He simply shrugged at the idea of coming with her to her boss and showing him what goes on, he was too into his thoughts about the snowflake that he almost didn't hear her.

 

Avery then heard her apologize, to which he looked back to her and shrugged saying "Not that it's a big deal... I would've probably done the same thing if you came to me and said that ponies move the clouds and make it rain where I was... wherever that may be." He then heard a strange phrase, that made him confused. "B... Blank.. flank..? What kind of phrase is that? It's almost something a child would make up to make fun of others" he stated in a baffled manner, almost unsure if he should take it as fact.

 

Though she suddenly apologized for almost nothing, to which he tilted his head "Sorry for what? Nothing you did wrong." He then noticed that she was acting weird again, stammering as her wings started to unfold further. What's going on with her? He's too curious now. Though she suggested that he might visit the repair shop to see what's there; a repair shop here? It might be a good place to check out, but the smithy might also be a good place to start at least. She mentioned that it might be because of his amnesia that his cutie mark might have disappeared, to which he looked at his own flank and furrowed his brow. "...Maybe, I don't know. ...Did I even have a cutie mark back then?"

 

Stiletto then apologized again about laughing, to which Avery simply says "It's fine, like I said, I might've done the same thing. ...Or maybe be confused and ask you what you were even talking about like I just did, not sure." but then his concern came to mind as he asked what was wrong, to which he was again confused about why she was stammering and having her wings folding back suddenly. Then she looked at him as her face burned, causing him to look confused. She then looked away and quickly said that she had to go to the restroom, to where she rushed off towards its direction, causing his hair to be blown in that direction as well. Then the slamming of the door was heard, causing him to wince slightly, turning to the way that Stiletto went.

 

"H-Hey! Was it something I said?!" Though she probably couldn't hear his concerned question. He looked toward Stiletto's disappearance for a moment before turning back and sighing. "Man... that was weird. I should probably put this... uh... what were they called? Oh yeah, mural back on that stretcher, so it's not on the table." He then instinctively used his magic to try and pick up the mural, to a very stressful degree. He then stopped before saying to himself "Right... magic isn't good..." He then unfolds his wings and picks the mural up slightly before dragging it over to the stretcher and setting it down. Though he was worried about Stiletto still running off to the restroom like that, though bothering her wouldn't be polite. He sat back down on the couch and closed his eyes, putting more focus on his hearing, just incase something went wrong so that he knew. He couldn't hear anything that Stiletto might say, but any loud noises would be clear enough for him to hear and suggest that something happened.

[Zealot]

Once Stiletto got into the bathroom she slammed the door and quickly locked it to make sure she wouldn't be disturbed. The pegasus sighed in relief at getting away from Avery for a moment. What was with her at the moment? She'd been fine around him since he got here, why was it all of a sudden now that she was having these kinds of thoughts. Stiletto let her mind wander to earlier when Avery was working the bellows and slapped herself across the face. "Calm down Stiletto," she told herself. "Keep it together, he's your friend and he's lost. He has amnesia okay, so he needs your help to find himself again."

 

The pegasus started pacing the bathroom to calm herself down, wings aflutter. "I mean, come on. He's a prince for Celestia's sake, he's not for you." But it didn't hurt to dream right? She mused. It was true, Avery was a Prince. That was why this made no sense to her, why of all ponies would she like a Prince? He probably wouldn't even like her anyway, right? Wasn't that what Princes did? If they took a liking to some piece of flank they would have it because their title allowed them. She didn't know if he really cared for her right? Though his aura was positive there was no way to know what he was hiding in the centre there. Maybe it was some way, some new way of blocking her senses. He had been abducted by ponies like her right? Maybe they had taught him how to block and use empathy abilities. Maybe he couldn't. There was too many unknowns. 

 

Stiletto moaned a little as she contemplated her conundrum, "But he's so cute..." she whined, not being able to structure her argument any longer. Avery had been nice to her and he was a good friend. He would probably make a good coltfriend for Stiletto to hold close and snuggle while she... She slapped herself across the face again. Stiletto just couldn't quite bring herself to contemplate that. He was a Prince and she was just a pegasus. He was not for her and it wasn't likely that she would have a shot anyway. She would just have to be content being a friend. Although...

 

A thought occurred to her in the corner of her mind. Avery already liked her right? All she needed was to use her empathy, maybe she could make him like her more? Stiletto shook her head. No, that wasn't her. It would infringe on his freedoms and Stiletto felt sick at the very thought. What good was an ability if you couldn't use it? Well, at least she would be able to tell if he liked her. That was a start.

 

To allay suspicion Stiletto used the bathroom and then centred herself, forcing herself to remain calm despite her rampant emptions. She was tired, confused and a little sad as she exited the bathroom to see Avery put the tablet back on the stretcher. "Umm," she began, feeling very awkward. Still, at least her wings weren't flaring and her blush was under control. "Sorry, err, mare problems..." she said, trailing off. Hey, that excuse would get him to back off right? She still couldn't quite look at him squarely. "Look, it's late. I don't know if your bed is quite done yet but it should be getting there. Did you have any plans for tomorrow? I have to get up early for the weather patrol, it's sort of a first in gets the job kind of thing, and if I don't get in then I sort of want to spend that time looking for something else. Were you coming with me or did you want to look around Ponyville or try-out at the forge or something?" she asked, sounding a little distant. 

[Avery]

Avery snapped up as soon as he heard the door open and Stiletto speaking, he had almost fell asleep right on the couch again. He turned and looked at her, seeing that she wasn't acting strange anymore, though still looking away from him, possibly hiding from embarrassment from suddenly leaving like she did. Then trailing off saying that it was mare problems. It... slightly made sense, after all, there were some problems that mares do have that stallions could never have and viceversa. It was probably something working up in her system that made her act like that, she probably actually had to use the restroom all this time and had been holding it for so long.

 

He rubbed the back of his head "Eh... I'm sorry for prodding. I was just curious as to why you were doing that, but I shouldn't bother ponies like that... Sorry if I was rude by doing that." he bowed his head in shame, he didn't know and he didn't need to ask. Though Stiletto went on to ask him if he had any plans now for tomorrow, to which he had to stop and think about it. He could go with Stiletto and see that weather team that she talked about, seeing if what she said was true and that pegasi are in control of the weather. Or he could at least get to know Ponyville a bit more, at least see what there was before trying to find a job to work partially at.

 

Though he heard that Stiletto sounded a little distant than usual, almost trying to separate herself from him. Was it truly 'mare problems' or was it actually something he said? He shook his head, he didn't need to prod any further into the matter, she freaked out last time and he didn't need her to do so again. But he answered with "I'll... probably go with you to that weather patrol meeting. I want to see if what you said was actually true, in that you do actually manipulate the weather. But, I'll most likely look around Ponyville a bit, get to know the town before trying to just run around trying to find a job. That'd be a disaster and a half, I'd probably trip on somepony and get my head knocked up! Hahaha."

 

He laughed, thinking about the situation he'd be in if he actually tried to find work without knowing the town at first. He just hopes that he didn't meet Pinkie Pie while walking around, at least not in the way that he's been meeting her. First out of a can, then out of a mailbox, then suddenly a cake falls on his head for no reason other than it fell on his head. That pony was crazy with a pinch of chaos, it was funny, but a bit too hectic for him to handle. But he had to agree that it was getting late, he needed to get to bed before he takes up to the couch and falls asleep there.

[Zealot]

Stiletto gives a nervous smile as Avery mentions his prying questions. Granted, she usually didn't mind asking questions just... not that one. If she answered that one then there would be no telling what would happen. She didn't say anything to that, she simply looked away and felt awkward. No, she couldn't just come clean about her feelings. Not now, not ever. Stiletto had hoped that saying it was mare problems would dissuade him from asking, clearly that was not the case. Still, it sounded like Avery was going to keep things to himself for now and that was good enough. She just had to keep her cool and it would all be fine.

 

When he said he was going to help out at the weather team Stiletto smiled, and she mentally cried out in joy. It would be nice to work with him moving the clouds for tomorrow's rain. Having her friend beside her would be fun since she never really connected all that well with the other members of the weather team. They just didn't get that she hated following orders and liked to be asked to do things instead of being told to do things. Orders held a special ire in Stiletto's mind. "Yeah, cool," she says with an air of detachment, trying to remain calm. "The weather does work like I said it did, but it will be fun having you on the team. Though like I said, there will be rain after we're done working, not the best weather to be walking around town in. You can do that later this week though. It will be good to have you earn some bits though." Indeed, she would need him to pull his weight if they were to keep the roof over their heads. In fact she would need to factor in what it would take to feed an extra person. She'd have to make some cutbacks. 

 

Still, she smiles again as she hears him laugh and looks at him properly this time. "Yeah, well. I'm sure you'd find your way. Come on, it's late. I'm tired, and you look dead on your hooves. Just be gentle with that air mattress and you'll be fine I think."

 

The pegasus moves to head past him and up the stairs to bed. It had been a long day. A fun day, but long and she was tired. Not to mention confused and embarrassed. She needed a good night sleep before work tomorrow with her new friend. Yes, sleep, it would all be better with sleep.

[Avery]

Avery softly smiles, seeing that Stiletto was being happy again. He was still curious about what had happened before, but it was clear that she wasn't going to tell him anything anytime soon, so he'll just have to wait until he has enough trust with her to let her tell him what had happened before. Granted it was still possibly nothing for him to worry about, he was just curious as to what it was that made her leave like that. Though he still has a bit of trouble trying to believe that the weather worked like she said, it just didn't click with him, it didn't make sense that pegasi would need to do something like that. It seemed like too much of a hassle for a job like that.

 

Still, Stiletto made a valid point, if it was going to rain tomorrow, he'd have a tough time trying to get anywhere with it raining above his head. He'll just have to wait until it passes, or until the pegasi... push it away? He scratches his head in confusion, it was all too confusing at the moment to register what was going to happen. He was tired, he was curious, he didn't know what to expect, it didn't meld well together and that was trouble. He let out a yawn before he heard Stiletto again, telling him it's finally time to sleep.

 

"Yes... of course. I need a good sleep right about now." he mumbles as he wobbles off the couch, following Stiletto up the stairs. A long, rather fun day, mixed with a couple of clashes at the end. He was excited to see what Equestria had to offer to him, but also excited to explore that with a friend, helping him around. Once he had gotten to Stiletto's bedroom and to the air mattress, he pushed on it lightly to see what it felt like. It was still a bit tense, though it had eased out just enough for him to lay on it without any problems if he was gentle. So, he climbed onto the air mattress, feeling the difference between how the couch felt and this. It felt more relaxing to lay against, now that he has a chance to properly cover up.

 

Using his magic to lift the blanket from the mattress, he laid down and settled in cozily as he wraps himself up with the blanket. It felt much better than the couch had been, giving a nice relaxed sigh as he rested his head on one of the pillows. He gave a tired "Goodnight." to Stiletto, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

[Zealot]

Stiletto yawns as she approaches the stairs. She was a lot more tired than she'd thought she was. Everything started moving slowly as if through a stupor as she ascended the stairs. Still, Avery was in agreement. That was a relief, while it had been a really good day it was time for it to end. She needed a rest before tomorrow, though hopefully this wasn't the end. Tomorrow would herald a new adventure and new challenges for her. She'd have to work with Avery and teach him about the weather. That was what would be happening next. He'd have to find some way to pull his weight and she'd have to figure out how to handle herself around him. 

 

Granted, it wasn't good to be having those kinds of feelings but she couldn't stop herself. It was as if she hadn't noticed it before, but now that she had it made things very different. Either way, Stiletto was glad he was a little uptight. The offer to share a bed hadn't been inappropriate by her standards, though judging from what she'd felt earlier then it would probably have not been the best idea. 

 

At any rate, it was time for bed and she walked around Avery's air mattress and clambered into her own bed.

 

Stiletto had spent quite a bit of money on her bed. It was very soft and very comfortable. She pulled the duvet over her form and spent several minutes snuggling in, trying to find a good position on the right side of the double bed. "Goodnight," she called back to Avery. "Sweet dreams." Granted, it was a large bed, but she always felt uncomfortable about using all of it. She preferred to leave the left side for somepony who might share it some day. Sleep came quite easily to the pegasus and soon she was off in the land of dreams.