Cold Edge Anon Part 15

> You wake up blearily, then stop.
> You are back in your ice mansion and
> Yes, that is your wife happily pillowing your head.
> You roll over and hug Frozen, resting your head on her neck as she mumbles something contentedly.
> The horror of the dream is fading.
> You take a deep breath, and exhale. Moving seems to help.
> You nudge Frozen Hart and say,
"Wake up, beloved."
> She slowly opens her eyes and looks at you anxiously.
"Have you... recovered?"
> You kiss her forehead.
"Somewhat. It is less frightening on this side of dreaming."
> She gets to her hooves.
"Shall we be off, then? I am somewhat anxious to begin helping out."
> Running interference against Maud?
> Oh, that's right.
"Just so you know, there will be a fair bit of work before agricultural makeouts."
> Frozen nods.
"I'll be watching with interest."
> Her gaze shifts to your barrel and she bites her lower lip.
> Dat waifu
"Fair enough. Let's rustle up some jimmies. Er, grub."
> Frozen gives you an odd look.
"Sprinkle maggots?"
> You facehoof.
"Food. Let's get some food."

> As you approach the kitchen, you hear overly cheerful humming.
> Oh yeah, Pinkie Pie is still here, isn't she?
> Inside, you see several trays of muffins on the counters, and the cook herself painstakingly frosting a cake.
"Good morning, Pinkie Pie. Mind if I have a muffin?"
> She finishes the last rosette.
"Morning, Nonny! Help yourself!"
> She proceeds to eat the entire cake in one gulp.
> Maybe it's your last dream, or because you are seeing it in person, but you can actually see space bend and waver.
> You catch a glimpse of something vast and dark, pulsating and undulating in a way that reminds you of an anthill, or maybe a snake pit.
> Then Pinkie swallows, and winks at you.
"Like what you see?"
> Your face pales.
"I'm. I'm just going to eat one of these muffins, thanks."
> You deliberately do not face Pinkie as you eat.
> You hear some whispering behind you, and
"Aw, you sure? Even on the side?"
> You give Pinkie a flat look over your shoulder and shake your head.
> She pouts, but doesn't look too heartbroken.
> You go back to eating breakfast.
> You are just brushing off the crumbs from around your mouth when Maud enters, wearing pajamas, bed head untamed, and holding an irregularly shaped rock.
> She takes one look at you, then turns around and leaves.
> Pinkie giggles.
"Oh Maud, always a late riser."
> Well, she did go to college.
> Moments later Solmgers walks in and looks around in confusion.
"Methought all had assembled in this place? Wherefore art the good Rocktor?"
> That's odd, he also made this place, so it should be as simple as listening to the citadel inpu-
> Maud slowly shucks her shirt, a light blush on her cheeks.
> -t. Okay, that's a good reason to use mundane methods.
> Pinkie giggles into her hoof.
"Oh~, she's making sure she looks her best for her first day!"
> Green Eggs and Som turns to her.
"Ah, forgive mine rudeness. I wish thee a merry repast, Miss Pie, Miss Hart, my brother. How doth Celestia's orb find thee?"
> You glance at Frozen.
"It finds me well, and eager to go forth."
> Frozen considers this, and says,
"By radiation."
> Pinkie licks her lips.
"Full of cake!"
> It says something, that this passes for normal in your new life.

> Yumbra nods decisively.
"It is good to hear. Now, I shall begin dispensing thy tasks. Anonymous, I would that ye go forth as mine emissary to the Dragonhold. This day we begin the labor of planting."
> You bow slightly.
> Cream Soda turns to Pinkie.
"Thou... Ah, thou shalt watch over the laborers, seeing that they do follow thy sister's instruction."
> He continues.
"As for myself, I shall be laying up stock unto the dragons, that they have somewhat to eat. Betimes I and Rocktor Pie shall be..."
> Maud walks in, wearing her usual dress, as well as Rarity's dishrag scarf.
> She blinks at you, then Somnambula, and looks at the back of her hoof.
> She looks back up, and does a little head toss, her mane swinging around a little like what you see in shampoo commercials.
> Viet Som's mouth opens and closes for a bit, and you continue on in his stead.
"Thou and she shall be raining affection upon the parched seeds. If thou wilt show me to the dragons' wages, I would begin my task."
> The Belgian Somgo blinks, then shakes his head.
"Of course, brother. Let us hence."
> he leads you to one of the storerooms along the main roads of the citadel.
>As you walk, you ask,
"Brother, how many hirelings shalt thou require of the dragoness?"
"The full ten score dragonlings. A quadruple portion for the capitol, and single portions for the villages round about."
> Let's see here, two hundred by fifty is... ten thousand gems. Which is a lot.
> But how much is that? 2 in. by 2 in. by 4 in..... Or 1/6x1/6x1/3 for feet cubed...
> So 10000/( 4x27)
> 2500/27
> You round it out to about100 cubic feet of gems.
> Which is like, somewhat more than a cube with three feet per side.
> It's still a lot, but it isn't as mind blowingly huge as it seemed at first.
> Now if only you could sell those gems to dealers across the country...
> Although, gems are only valuable because of scarcity. These would be fairly common of you sold too many of them.
> In fact, they probably aren't worth too much, precut gems are literally a few feet from the surface in places.
> Seriously, what is with the abundance of gemstones? Some kind of thaumic field that encourages their growth?
> In fact, there are the elements of harmony, and yours and Sombritalin's wishy magic, and maybe windagoes.
> So there probably is some connection between magic and crystals.
> Sombravioli pokes you.
"Oh brother, where art thou? We have arrived, and thou art unresponsive for some time."