A Not So Normal Day
The surrounding land was dry and barren. Winter continued to trot along the wasteland with a few of her followers. They had reached land only an hour ago by raft and air. They had landed here because it was the closest part of land to their island. Winter of course had Obelisk cast a waypoint spell near the raft just in case they needed to leave and fast. It however didn't look like they needed to any time soon. Even in this barren wasteland Winter had sense something…something worth investigating.
The other ponies she had brought with her quietly followed her. They however remained diligent, keeping an eye out for anything that cause trouble. Winter stopped trotting to catch the attention of her group. Once they were all looking at her she motioned to a rock pillar with her head. Understanding what she meant they nodded to her and proceeded to the pillar. The pillar provided excellent shade from the morning sun. Upon reaching the shade the ponies all sat down to rest. "Red Bark, Flashforce, I have a job for you" Winter said calmly. A reddish-brown earth pony with a black mane and tail and a teal Pegasus with a red mane and tail yellow highlights trotted up to her. "I want the two of you on recon…report back to me if you find anything…"Winter paused for a second before continuing. "Also if you find any food…you may indulge yourselves, but tell us about it once you returned. "Yes my lady" the two ponies said in unison before trotting off.
Once the two left a tall dull yellow earth pony trotted up to Winter. He had a mane and tail that were grey from age along with a beard of the same color. He was about the same size as winter but looked much older. "My lady…do you sense something…" the earth pony asked. "Nothing I didn't sense before Storm Watcher…but still I wonder if there is something I cannot sense, out there". The yellow pony smiled "It seems that years on that island has not dulled any of our ancestor's teachings …I wonder how much time has passed since the seal was casted…so much has changed". Winter nodded in agreement to the old pony's last statement.
"They return" Obelisk called out to Winter from where he kept watch. Winter's ears pricked up as she made her way to Obelisk. Red Bark trotted along the dusty ground with Flashforce flying next to him. The two of them stopped half a yard away from Obelisk and Winter. Winter stared at the two sternly "That was quick…I assume you found something or else you would be back so soon." "Yes my lady…I saw creatures that appears to be mix between a bug and a pony…and there was quite a few of them" Red Bark reported. Flashforce flew closer to Winter as he reported his findings "I took to the air to get a better look…from what I saw I would say there is a colony of them" Obelisk raised an eyebrow "A…colony, how is that possible on this barren wasteland?" he asked. Flashforce cleared his throat "I saw cone shaped rock pillars coming up out of the ground… they had a bunch of holes in them, big enough for those things to go in and out…they must have a underground lair or something". Winter sifted her eyesight to the sky behind her followers as she took in what they said. Finally she turned to her brethren behind her. "Everyone it is time to move…we are not alone here…Red Bark and Flashforce have dutifully found what appears to be intelligent life…we are going to pay them a visit". Within moments all the ponies were on their hooves ready to follow their leader.
XXX
Hours earlier in Ponyville
It was like any other day on Sweet Apple Acers. Applejack woke up half an hour before the rooster crowed like see normally did. Sitting up in bed she blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes. She got out of bed and trotted over to her nightstand. She picked up her brush with a hoof and started combing her mane. Applejack was never really interested in making her mane and tail fancy like Rarity but she did maintain it like and mare should.
Applejack would have normally trotted to the kitchen to get her breakfast after she was finished brushing. This time however was going to be different. Instead of heading to the kitchen she trotted to her parent's old room. She opened the door slightly to peek inside. In the bed was a stallion resting. He had a dark red coat, one that reminded Applejack of a radish. The stallion also had messy bright green mane and tail.
Applejack felt odd letting him sleep in her parent's room. She didn't even let her own relatives use it. She however could not leave the earth pony out in the open where she found him the day before. She did of course get a doctor to look at the sleeping pony. The doctor said that he was just over exhausted but otherwise was fine. Applejack was about to leave when she saw the pony shuffle under the bed covers.
He opened his eyes revealing light blue orbs. Applejack tuned her head away from the door as she decided her next move. It only took a few seconds for her to come to a decision. She push opens the door and trotted inside. The stallion who was sitting up in bed focused his eyes on her as she walked up to the bed. "How ya doin sugarcube" she asked. The stallion opened his mouth but no words came out. Apple couldn't help but smile a little. "Ya know if ya keep that mouth open for to long flies might fly in". The stallion eyes widen before he closed his mouth. "Why don't ya tell mah yer name…The nam's Applejack nice to meet ya" Applejack said.
The stallion didn't speak at first; instead his eyes darted back and forth across the room. Applejack started to worry that he had lost his memory. Before she could say anything the stallion spoke. "I'm…my name is Harvester" He sounded nervous but Applejack decided that it was because he had woken up in a different place then where he was before. "Well howdy there Harvester…how ya feelin" Applejack asked not knowing what else to say. 'I…I'm fine, where am I?" he asked. Applejack smiled "Yar at Sweet Apple Acres, sugarcube. Harvester nodded in acknowledgement but stopped short looking at the bed. "Um…I'm not in your bed am I…Miss Applejack?" Applejack's smile disappeared "Na yar in mah parent's bed" she answered. "They don't mind do they…I should apologize…I've probably been in their bed for a while, they must have sacrificed a comfortable bed for me". Harvester tied to get out of bed but Applejack raised a hoof to stop him. She shook her head softly before speaking. "It's alright sugarcube…mah parents won' mind…ya just stay in bed and rest up" Harvester stared at her inquisitively for a moment. His eyes widen as he came to understand the hidden meaning behind Applejack's mood and slightly shaky voice.
A moment of silence passed before Applejack spoke again. "Ah was bout to get some breakfast so ah will bring ya something too". Applejack turned and trotted toward the door. "Miss Applejack…" Applejack turned her body around a bit to look at Harvester. "…thank you…for ah…helping me" he said. "No problem… and just call ma Applejack, don't need the Miss in front o' it". Harvester nodded in compliance. Harvester waited till he could no longer see or hear Applejack before looking down at his hooves. He had arrived at a farm; somehow he had found the chance to fulfill his goal. Now all he had to do was convince the residence to let him stay. Harvester's only real worry was that he had taken too long to make up a name. Only time would tale if that mishap would cost him.
It didn't take long for Applejack to fix up breakfast for her visitor She carried to the room on a tray she held in her mouth. Applejack trotted over to the bed and placed the tray on the empty nightstand next to the bed. Harvester looked at the food for a few seconds before looking up at her. He smiled a little "Thank you mi…Applejack". Applejack smiled in response "like ah said befor' no problem...". Applejack paused for a moment before speaking again. "ah got a few question I want' a ask ya but that can wait for later… got' a eat by breakfast and began work now, ah'm already behind as it is…ya just stay here for now and rest up sugarcube ah'll come back later."
Applejack cantered out of the house. There was no doubt in her mind that Big Mac was already out in the fields working. She only slowed her pace once she reached the field she would be working at today. Thankfully the buckets were already underneath the trees. All Applejack needed to do was start with the nearest tree and start bucking till the apples came down.
XXX
The morning pasted on without a hitch. The only thing different was that she saw an unfamiliar tan unicorn trotting past her farmland. She could only assume it was one of the new ponies Twilight had talked about. Applejack however hadn't gone to meet them the other day since she had been busy taking care of the stallion. She had to turn down Pinkie's invite as well. Pinkie had been sad at first but returned to give her cupcakes so she wouldn't feel completely left out of the party and to give to her visitor once he was awake.
Applejack reared up and bucked the tree she was on. The apples fell into the buckets below. As applejack turned her body around she once again saw the tan unicorn. This time however he was trotting back the way he had come. He spotted her and gave a quick nod. Applejack returned the nod with a wave and then bent her head down to pick up a bucket. She stopped short as she blinked at the empty space before her.
Out of the corner of her right eye she saw something red. Knowing it wasn't Big Mac Applejack jumped away from whatever it was that had been beside her. Once she landed she twisted her body around to face the thing head on. There was however, no need to. It was none other than Harvester with the bucket in his mouth. Harvester looked at Applejack, startled at her sudden actions. "Harvester…wha…what are ya doin'…ya should be restin." Applejack said relaxing her muscles. Harvester let out a muffled sigh. "Wewl I nead…" Applejack raised a hoof "Put down the bucket first ah can barely understand ya" Harvester did as he was asked. "Well I need to repay the kindness you have given me for letting me rest here…which by the way I don't need to do anymore, I'm well rested as it is" He said scratching the back of his ear with a hoof. "ya don't hav'ta repay anything ah'm just doing what anypony would do" Applejack said, trotting up to Harvester. Harvester lowered his gaze to the ground in front of him. "That may be true…but isn't the only reason I want to help". At this Applejack stopped moving and gave him a confused look. Harvester to her response as an incentive to continue. "Well I have no place to go…I had set out from my home to find a farm to work on…since I love taking care of plants and what not…"Harvester laughed a bit before continuing "Though I found out the hard way that trotting through Everfree Forest is not a good idea".
Applejack looked at Harvester up and down. It was at this moment Applejack notice his cutie mark. It looked like a plot of dirt with a bud growing out of it. "Well…ah don't know…" Applejack rubbed the back of her head. "Please, I don't have anywhere else to go and I don't think I can make another journey to find a place…I'll be working hard for my stay of course" Harvester stopped talking turned to the nearest tree and cantered over to it. He turned around and bucked the tree with his back legs several times. Unfortunately only tree apples fall from the tree. Harvester and Applejack looked at each other than at the fallen apples. 'Well I learn things pretty fast so I…" At this point Applejack intervened. 'Alright ah get the point" She said. "Well I guess it wouldn' hurt to have another pair of hooves to help out…" Applejack found herself in a bear hug by Harvester. "Thank you thank you thank you" He said with over spilling happiness. Realizing that he was hugging his employer he let go and back up a few inches. "Sorry...so what do you want me to do" was all he said. Applejack shook her head a little before letting a grin appear across her face.
XXX
Winter and her brethren were waiting silently for the queen of the changelings to appear. The colony of changelings as they were called belonged to an underground town. Luckily the town itself was the closest to the capital. It was hard to convince them to tell their queen to meet with the newcomers at first. They were however, more compliant when Obelisk knocked out six changelings with one magic blast. While they sent a messenger through the underground roads the rest of the changelings never took their eyes of their visitors.
The sun was setting when the queen finally appeared from one of the cone pillars. The changeling queen wore an annoyed expression upon her face. Winter could sense her own followers tense up at the sight of the queen. The queen stopped trotting toward the group a few yards away. Taking the initiative Winter spoke first. "Greeting I'm am lady Winter and I-" "Leave, I will not tolerate any attack on by subjects, nor would I ever deal with the likes of you…just be glad that I am letting you leave in one piece" the queen snarled at the end. Winter was taken aback at first by the queen's words. Winter dipped her head slightly not in compliance but in anger. The Changeling noticed this and raised an eyebrow. Several of the queen's charges began to move toward the newcomers. They however, froze due to the anger filled glare she gave them.
"It appears that in the time we have been sealed ponies have forgotten their formalities" Winter took a step closer to the queen. The Changelings gathered around their queen ready to intercept Winter. A gasp escaped the crowd of changelings before they could make their move against Winter. "My…Queen I…I can't move" A changeling announced. The queen jerked her head to the left and right. She could visible see some of her subject struggling to move against an invisible force.
The Queen once again looked forward, this time Winter was right in front of her. "It is time you learn proper indicate…now how about you introduce yourself". "Never" The queen replied, venom in her voice. Immediately she felt pressure on her body forcing her to bow down. Winter merely continued to look onward while her horn glowed with white light.
The queen tried her best to resist against the magic but it only resulted in more pressure. Little by little her body drew closer to the ground. In order to keep herself from falling to her face the queen had to bend her forelegs back. The queen looked up to Winter from her forced bow. Winter in turn stared coldly down at the Queen. The queen lowered her head to the ground. "I…I am Queen Chrysalis ruler over the Changeling race" Chrysalis's head snapped back up glaring at Winter with defiance. As sudden as the pressure came it was gone. Chrysalis looked around at her subject who had also been released from the spell. Slowly she rose to her hooves, weary that the pressure would return. It, however never did and though she was relived Chrysalis did not show it. Winter's expression retuned to a calmer setting. "Now that is how to the correct way to introduce yourself, I Apologize for attacking your subject but they refused to inform you of our presence, me and my brethren seems to have been absent in the world for quite some time I was hoping you could help tell us everything you know". Chrysalis stared blankly at the alicorn before her before answering. "What do you want to start with" She said with a hint of disgust in her voice.
Winter sat on her hunches with a hoof on her chin ignoring the stares she was getting. "Well I guess the first thing a guess I would like to know is…do Specter Soul and Paradisa still oversee the land of Equus?"
