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// 4 - So, What are You?// Story: Ponyfinder: Roots of Stone// by David Silver//------------------------------//

They each had a human to their right. Both of the humans looked quite curious about them, though the first was obviously still nervous. They all walked together along a faint forest trail that wove through the trees.

Tree Hugger spoke in her gentle tones, "Like, chill out, man. We're here to harmonize with your groove and be totally righteous."

Maud shook her head. "I don't know what she's saying either."

The second one smiled. "So it isn't just me!"

Tree Hugger blinked softly. "I thought I was being as clear as a spring morning. We're friendly."

The first shrugged. "Why didn't ya say that in the first place. Uh, so, where ya two from anyways?"

Maud tilted her head at that first one. "First, why did you dig us out of our rock?"

The second one grinned. "Paul's convinced if he can find the right magical disturbance, he'll be rich by sun up."

Paul colored. "It ain't so wild and fancy! Fae leave little trinkets around, we just gotta keep our eyes open for 'em."

Tree Hugger stood up straight as she walked. "Like, totally cool. We're your hidden treasure. That's completely radical."

Maud pointed at the human they didn't have a name for, yet. "What's your name?"

He hiked a thumb at himself. "Me? I'm Four-finger Flint. But I don't see why you can't just call me Flint."

Paul hissed. "Now ya done it! Ya gave her your name. She'll have your soul soon!"

Flint shrugged. "I already gave them your name."

"Not the whole thing! I'll say some nice things at your funeral."

Flint reached out and set a hand right on Maud's head. She looked mildly perplexed by the gesture, but it clearly didn't bother her enough to react outright to it. "I think they're both nice. Stop acting like a scared little kid." Just as Paul opened his mouth, Flint thrust up a finger, "Need I remind you that insulting a fae's worse than attacking them?"

Paul looked petulant a moment before he kicked a rock off the path. "Shoot, I'm... sorry. Ya won't throw no hexes at me, will you?"

Tree Hugger tilted her head mildly. "You're cool, man. We're all cool."

Maud knew this one, and quickly added, "she means you are fine."

Hugger nodded swiftly. "We should all be, like, cool with each other. There's no reason to be a total bummer about it."

Flint frowned a little. "Let me try... Cool is good, so she's sayin' to be good to each other." Maud nodded, and he continued, "I didn't get the second part."

Paul threw up his hands. "Don't go learnin' their language! It'll make it easier for them to brainwash you. You'll be taken away and made into their slaves or somethin'."

Hugger frowned a little. "Am I really playing a whole other wavelength? I'm trying to groove with your vibe, but you're not getting me."

Flint patted Tree Hugger on the back. "You talk funny, but I think you're saying nice things, so you're alright in my book."

Tree Hugger gently pushed his hand back. "Like, thanks, but we should have respect for our, like, personal spaces and stuff? My chakras will get cloudy."

Maud translated, either because she could or because of some building pride in her ability. "She says she wants to have some room."

Flint put up his hands and backed away from Tree Hugger. "Didn't mean no harm by it."

"I did the same thing." Maud nodded lightly. "She doesn't like being too close."

Paul looked towards Maud. "So, where're you from? You from this forest?"

Maud shook her head. "None of the rocks look familiar. I don't know."

The town came into view and Flint circled in front of the group, putting his hands up to slow them down. "One thing. Now, the way I sees it, yer a bunch a great, uh, horse things."

Tree Hugger smiled. "Ponies."

"Right, ponies, but if we just go on in wit' ya, people're likely ta start gabbin'."

Paul went a bit pale as he made a warding motion with his finger against some unseen threat. "Ya think they'll call us forest witches?"

Maud pointed down the road, where a horse could be seen, tied to a post outside some building that showed signs of life. "They don't mind that."

Flint chuckled a little. "Ya ain't related to no regular horse. They're bigger, dumber, and stronger. I bet ah could knock ya right over if ah wanted." He suddenly moved to give Maud a shove.  To his surprise, she felt like a tree embedded in the ground for all she had moved from the effort.

Maud blinked, then raised a hoof and shoved Flint in return, sending him sprawling onto his back.

Tree Hugger shook her head quickly. "Like, please don't try that with me. That'd totally ruin my karmic balance. Way uncool."

Paul threw his arms wide. "Ah'm serious 'bout this! I don't want to be burned at no stake."

Flint rolled his eyes. "Shut your fool mouth. We aint even women folks, so how can we be witches?"

At this point, Tree Hugger noticed that Flint's name wasn't just an edgy title. His left hand only had four fingers instead the of the five all the other hands present had. "Woah, way gnarly. Are you alright?"

All eyes turned to follow hers, homing in on his left hand. "What, this?" He held up the hand with its missing pointer. "What ya git for bettin' with money ya don't have." He laughed suddenly. "I'm lucky I didn't catch worse."

Paul let out a slow sigh. "Look, why don't we try somethin' clever like?" Eyes turned to him curiously. "Now just hear mah out! Maud, that's yer name, right?" She nodded softly. "Good. Ya seem plenty strong what with you knockin' Flint over like he weren't even there. What if we said you were some kinda crazy exotic fighting beast."

Tree Hugger frowned a little. "Deception really puts my inner energy out of order."

Paul held up a hand. "Ya don't have ta say anythin'. Heck, you can be her companion, like you keep her calm. That's accurate enough, right?"

Tree Hugger smiled at Maud. "I don't think I could make her waves more tranquil if I tried."

Maud tilted her head. "I'm very nervous. Are you sure this is going to work?"

Flint raised a brow. "You don't sound very nervous fer being nervous."

Tree Hugger looked dismayed. "I didn't know. Poor sister, your inner colors are so obscured that I couldn't see your calls for help." She moved  up alongside Maud with a little smile. "I'll keep you safe and centered, stone warden."

Paul smiled broadly. "See! It's already workin'! We say they belong ta us, and everyone leaves 'em alone."

Maud raised a brow. "We don't belong to you."

Flint quickly raised his hands. "No no, I know where he's going with this. You're free to go any time, just let us escort you out of town."

A human exited the building with the horse and spoke gently with it before hopping up on top of it. It wore a saddle that kept the human secure. Both ponies stared at it curiously as it moved to ride past, only to slow down.

The man aboard looked down at them two. "What are you two troublemakers up to?" He pointed at the brightly colored Tree Hugger and the more subdued Maud. "Where'd you get such outlandish horses?"

Paul slid between the ponies and the man. "Oh, hello m'lord. Always nice ta see ya. We brought some mighty fine arena beasts for ya."

He raised a brow suspiciously. "You're not talented enough to catch one, rich enough to buy one, or influential enough to be owed one. How did you come across this?"

Maud stepped forward. "They seduced me."

The man blinked... Everyone went silent for a time. The deadpan nature of the announcement left them all lost. "I... see... Paul, you have interesting tastes."

Paul rubbed behind his head lightly. "'twas quick thinkin', m'lord, to calm them down."

He snorted with laugher. "I should think so. Calm down indeed! You're lucky they didn't break you in half. Well, it's your problem where to stable them. Until I see them win a few fights, you aren't getting a copper piece out of me."

Flint gestured to Maud's frock. "They're very well tamed and mannered. See, they both got clothes on."

He raised his brows high. "Are you thinking to let these beasts share your beds? Your depravity knows no limits." A soft chuckle escaped him. "Whatever amuses you, but I want to see them in tomorrow's match. We'll discover if they're worth the trouble, or spare you from further sin by being rid of them."

He rode off on his horse out into the countryside, quickly lost to sight.

Tree Hugger turned to her new friends. "I didn't understand all of that. What kind of 'match' is he talking about?"

Maud had put the pieces together with a soft nod. "They want to see us fight things."

Hugger's eyes widened. "I don't want to do that! That's way unharmonic. That's totally uncool." She stomped a hoof. "You can't, like, force me."

Paul shrugged and pointed to Maud. "She seems like the scrapper of the lot. As ah said before, we'll tell everybody you're just here to keep her calm."

Flint grinned as he looked at Maud. "So... how good are you at scrappin'?"

Maud raised a brow. "I'm alright."

Tree Hugger shook her head. "My sister is far too humble. Her skill makes me amazed to even, like, think about. I can feel my chakras growing warm with excitement. You were so brave, yesterday."

Maud tilted her head. "I just did what I had to do, to keep you safe."

Hugger threw her forelegs around Maud suddenly, hugging her. "You don't even think about it. You're so radical..."

Paul developed a slight smirk. "See, it'll work out just fine..."