Moxxie opened the gate to the vegetable garden and shut it behind him in a huff. He was angry at himself for not standing up as he usually did.
Sure, Moxxie didn't want to cause problems in the home where he was under house arrest, but still. If this were any other circumstance, he would have fought back with everything inside him.
That desire to fight had been changing lately. Moxxie still fought when he thought the cause merited it, but it had been some time since he had attacked someone out of spite as he had done with the cherubs, the Loo Loo Land carnie, or the agents of DHORKS.
Moxxie had felt a desire inside him that wanted to turn the other cheek. It was a desire that he did not completely understand himself. It was a desire to behave in a way that was above the petty violence most of his kind took as gospel.
That desire had been taking over his thoughts and giving Moxxie more trouble than he thought it was worth, but he still gave into it. There was something so alluring about it, something beautiful, something holy.
The squawk of a hell crow flying overhead shook Moxxie out of his thoughts and reminded him of what he was there for. He had food in the kitchen and a group of annoying imps who needed vegetables, so he lifted his head to get to work…WOAH!
Moxxie's mouth dropped open to see the variety of vegetables there in front of him. There were more vegetables than he had ever seen in one place for his entire life. There were even some he didn't recognize. They were bright and brilliantly colorful and unbelievably tasty to look at.
Moxxie felt his mouth watering. His stew was going to taste scrumptious. He got to work picking vegetables right away.
Soon enough, his basket and his pockets were filled with beautiful vegetables.
Satisfied with his haul, Moxxie turned to walk away with the huge basket in tow.
That was until the hell crow squawked again. The noise drew Moxxie's eyes upwards where he saw a tree with some of the most delicious apples he had ever seen.
These had to be the same kind of apples that tempted Eve, Moxxie thought. They were simply too perfect.
Moxxie felt a slight rumble in his stomach from his labors. He could have eaten any of the vegetables in his pockets or in the basket, but something about that apple was just so alluring. Despite how out of reach they appeared to be, Moxxie felt drawn to have one.
So, with a slight shrug, Moxxie put down his basket, took off his jacket that was heavily laden with vegetables, and walked over to the tree to try to find a branch he could possibly reach.
The branches were thick and shaded the ground from the Hell Sun above.
Moxxie enjoyed the slight drop in temperature as he walked around the tree and studied the branches. At first glance, it seemed that the branches were all too tall for him to possibly reach. After one lap around the tree, Moxxie was ready to give up, but just as he was about to turn away, he spotted a branch that was lower than the others.
Moxxie smiled and reached up to the branch. He stood on the tip of his hooves, and it was almost enough to reach it. Moxxie reached and reached. It was almost enough. Just a little bit more.
After just a bit more effort, Moxxie grasped the apple hanging from the tree and pulled it free. He admired the apple, feeling proud and satisfied that he could reach the fruit without any help.
Moxxie smiled and prepared to bite the apple when he noticed something strange.
Moxxie heard a weird flapping noise like a bird was flying close to him. He looked around for the source of it and noticed that his feet weren't touching the ground. In a flash, he turned around and saw them, two cherubic white wings attached to his back flapping hard enough to keep him off the ground.
Moxxie's mouth fell open, yet no sound came out. Then, in another moment, the wings disappeared and Moxxie landed on the ground on his feet.
Not knowing what to make of what just happened, Moxxie grabbed his basket, stuffed the apple in his pocket, dashed out of the garden, and headed back towards the house.