Doing the Dirty Work [Open!]

[appletastic]

How did Applejack stand working so hard around the farm? Her secret was simple: combining work and play. She'd brought the same styl to Hydroponics, where she'd sectioned off a small patch of the ground to be a place for some of the animals to play. The grass was dug up and seeds were planted elsewhere, water was poured, and Applejack herself was pounding her legs into the dirt. Making mud! Her bright orange coat was now coated in brown, and the longer she worked, the further she sank.

But this wasn't very fun. Back home, she'd done---yeah, that was what was missing! She hopped out of her little mud pit, tracked dirt across the grass, and set off at a fast trot. "Yee-haw!"

If anypony happened to be hanging about, they'd be splattered when the large pony came crashing down, rolling in her little pit of dirt. Her hat sat some distance to the side, miraculously untouched by the splattering of mud. Surely most would know to stay away from such a display.

Comments

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"I came from a feudal world... your world in some ways sound rather similar to my own." Well, with less knights and violence and more farming, but the ideas are more or less familiar to him.

[appletastic]

"Feudal? What's that?"

...yeah, there were some concepts that just didn't translate to Equestrian language. To them, home was just home.

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"A society ruled by barons and other nobles, owing fealty to a King. There are other definitions as well, but I shall not bore you with them."

[appletastic]

"Huh." She thought about that for a moment. It almost sounded familiar. "All we've got back home is our Princess, Celestia. She's here, you might've heard of her. She's teaching everypony about friendship."

Not that that was likely to be something Erhart was interested in.

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"I have not heard of this princess, no. So you have your own version of royalty, then?"

He sounds vaguely intrigued.

[appletastic]

"Yup! Princess Celestia raises the sun and Princess Luna raises the moon. They rule Equestria together, up from the castle in Canterlot." Their version of magic. "It works for us. Eveypony's happy."

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

Erhart is silent. He can't really imagine a world where EVERYONE is happy. And this sounds rather sorcerous to him.

[appletastic]

"Well, not everypony all the time," Applejack amends. "We fight, o'course, and things happen, but in the end it all tends to work out."

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"And what do you all fight about?"

[appletastic]

"Nothing too serious. Usually somepony's being arrogant and driving us up the wall, or somepony's making a mess of town, or somepony's not taking care of herself when she should."

She smiled sheepishly. "Uh, that last one might've been me."

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"Indeed?"

He chuckles. "What you describe is more... arguing and less fighting. But your world seems a peaceful place."

And, terminally naive, but he's not going to say that to her just yet.

[appletastic]

"It is...er, it was. I really miss it," Applejack said quietly.

"But I've got a war to fight now."

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"Some wars are best fought through logistics." He nods to Hydroponics in general.

[appletastic]

"Logistics?" Nope, never heard of it.

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"Supplies. Growing things here will keep us fighting. Battles aren't won simply with Bolter and blade, you know."

[appletastic]

"Oh, right, right! Apples. I gotcha. There's always that slop stuff, but I thought some real food might cheer y'all up."

She was proud of her little growing orchard. "I'll have a nice apple pie for ya as soon as I can."

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"What are apples?" He cocks his head quizzically at Applejack.

[appletastic]

Applejack's eyes almost bulge. What are apples? WHAT ARE APPLES?

"What are apples?" She's surprised, but she has a chance here. Galloping right over to the nearest tree, she kicks just hard enough (a fraction of her usual strength) to dislodge a single apple. It's not quite ripe yet, but it should be good enough.

"This is an apple," she explains, kicking it up so that it flies at his hand. "One of the greatest little fruits you'll ever see."

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

Erhart catches the apple left handed, and removes his helm, exposing a scarred, bald face with just a bit of beard growth, holding the apple thoughtfully for a moment. He opens his mouth wide, and shoves the whole thing in, closing it with a resounding CRUNCH!

He chews thoughtfully for a moment, and nods.

"The fruit is sweet, and the core is... bitter. A good combination."

Erhart approves.

[appletastic]

Applejack continues to look surprised. Not by his face, all humans look about equally weird to her, but by the way he eats the thing. "...uh, we don't usually eat the core. It's pretty tough, ain't it?"

But she's smiling a little. She's glad he likes it.

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

Erhart slides his helmet back on and shrugs. "We Astartes can eat nearly anything."

[appletastic]

'Uh...you mean any food, right? You wouldn't go eating a wheel, wouldya?"

Because that was just weird.

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"A wheel of cheese, a wheel of metal, or a wheel of wood?"

[appletastic]

"Any of 'em. Well, except the cheese. That's normal." She's trying to imagine anypony chewing on a metal wheel and shuddering. Just think of their teeth!

[swordofdorn.livejournal.com]

"I could eat a wheel of wood, and depending on the metal I might be able to eat that as well."