//------------------------------// // The Gingerbread Man // Story: Dead Man's Luck // by kurapica //------------------------------// When I woke up it was still dark, so I tried to go back to sleep but to no avail. After I put on my belt and tunic, I decided that if I couldn't sleep I might as well do something productive; so I grabbed my pack and headed to the lumber yard. Along the way I ate the last piece of salted meat, took a drink from my water skin, and quickened my pace. After I arrived I began searching for an axe and, after a few minutes of searching; I found one. After about an hour or so the sun began to rise and marked the time I took a break. After about fifteen minutes, and a quick drink, I began to get back to work. After around another half an hour the first few of the lumber ponies came to start the work day and one of the first Among them was Heartwood. After seeing me she she walked up and said,"Well, I see you're an early riser." "Not really, I couldn't sleep so I decided to make use of that time." I replied. "Either way, you seam to be a decent worker; now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get working myself." she said as she walked away. After two more hours of work I was completely exhausted and was about to quit when my body switched to burning fat instead of my leftover energy. I continued working for another hour before counting up the number of wood pieces I had and going to heartwood for that days pay. "You are quite the fast worker, aren't you? it takes most of my workers at least twice as long to make a pile that big." she said as she looked over the pile. "One of the bonuses of having hands, I suppose." I replied. "Anyway, here's your pay, and I don't suppose you'll be coming back tomorrow?" Heartwood asked as she handed me the bag of bits. "No I don't think so, this should last me at least three days." I replied as I poured as many of the bits into my coin purse as I could and put the other one in my pack. I headed back to the in and asked the innkeeper what he had in the way of food. "I've got meat, bread, corn, fish, eggs, and several kinds of fruits and vegetables." he answered. "Alright then, I'll have a slice of bread, an apple, and two scrambled eggs." I ordered. With a nod the innkeeper went to the fireplace and began cooking the eggs, occasionally adding onions, oyster mushrooms, and some spices. After ten minutes it was done and he handed the plate over to me, "That's going to be fifteen bits please." the innkeeper asked. I handed him over and began eating. It was by far the best meal I've had in weeks and I'd like to say I savored every bite but I scarfed it and the bread down in a minute. After I was done eating I went to my room and began to count my coins. After about ten minutes I came up with a total of 176 bits; after counting again to make sure I was correct I sat on my bed and began to think how I'd spend the rest of my day and the next few days ahead. I decided that splitting wood would be strength training, then the next day would be speed and agility, and the third day I'd find a unicorn to teach me how to use magic. after about an hour I went downstairs and ordered a piece of ham, a cucumber,and an orange. After paying the innkeeper and eating my food I decided to walk around town and browse the stores. I found a blacksmith but the cheapest sword at 125 bits for a notched iron sword which would only be useful for training. I also found a general store, a sweet shop, and a butcher I went to the sweet shop to see what they had; and as expected there were a few colts and fillies wandering around and asking their parents for an obscene amount of candy, only to either be told no or not in that amount. I grabbed a four inch cloth bag for the small candies and went to work picking out the flavors I liked. I grabbed several pieces of raspberry, orange, apple, and watermelon flavored candies. I then took two bars of chocolate which used a thin piece of paper to cover them and a gingerbread pony. I waited in line until it was my turn the children occasionally turning to look at me and whisper to their parents. When it was my turn the shopkeeper, a female yellow pegasus with a blue and white mane that looked like frosting asked, "Is that everything?" "I believe so." I answered, getting out my coin purse. "Thirty bits please." she asked, holding out a hoof. I counted out the money and walked back to the inn to eat some of the candy. I was about halfway there when I heard a couple ponies talking, " Have you heard, another townspony has gone missing." the first said in a hushed tone " That's the second one this month, how long until the guard do something about it?" replied the second. I decided that once I was a little more prepared, I'd try to find who or what was taking them away. When I finally arrived back at the inn I went straight to my room and began to pick out a few candies to eat. I chose a few hard candies, and half a chocolate bar. The hard candies varied in size but they tasted much better than jolly ranchers, likely do to the fact that they used artificial flavors instead of regular berry juice. The chocolate was a bit bitter for my taste, but still good. I went outside to the town well and refilled my water skin, and decided to go in the woods to see if I could find a decent spot to practice acrobatics and running and also decent for flying maneuvers. After about an hour and a half I found an area where the trees were spread far enough away to provide room for running and flight, but also close enough that I should be able to jump from tree to tree. on the way back I noticed an area with several dead maple trees, so I walked around to see if I could find some oyster mushrooms, and, after a few minutes of searching found some that had them on it. I collected the ones that were low on the trees and left the ones higher up to spread more spores and make more. When I arrived back at the inn it was starting to get dark. I walked in and went over to the innkeeper, "Here, how much are these worth?" I asked as I opened my pack to reveal the mushrooms. "About eight bits a pound." he replied as he put them on a scale, which stopped at roughly five pounds. He handed me the bits and I proceeded up to my room. When I got there I took off my tunic and belt and placed them in the drawers and my dagger on top of it. I then grabbed the rest of the first chocolate bar and finished it. As I was getting into my bed I thought of how funny it would be if the gingerbread pony came to life and started running around. I woke up a little after dawn and went to grab some candy from my bag but, just as I opened my pack what would be one of the strangest things that happened during my time in Equestria happened; the gingerbread pony that was in my bag jumped out and on to the drawers right next to my dagger. " Uhh... hey there, little guy." I said obviously confused. The Gingerbread pony waved in response. "So um, how did you come to life anyway?" I asked It simply pointed at me. "Me? How could I- oh, I see. Well, since you are alive, I have a job for you." I said, which caused the gingerbread pony to give a mock salute. "I need you to run around the town and draw as much attention to yourself, without hurting anyone or breaking anything; try to get them to chase you but don't let them catch you, alright?" I stated, putting it into my pocket and getting dressed. When we got outside I took it out of my pocket and it started running around. After a minute or two a young filly saw it and began to chase it as a game of tag almost; soon enough a few of her friends joined in on the chase and it had to start running a little faster. At this point I was starting to laugh. In the next few minutes some of the adults, seeing the running pastry began to watch and laugh as well; a few even joined in themselves. After another five minutes I got bored and called the gingerbread pony back, and with it a good deal of ponies. One of the foals, a unicorn colt came up to me and asked, " How did you do that, I thought only unicorns could use magic like that?" "Well, where I come from some, but not all of my people can use magic. In fact only about ten percent of us can use it, I just happen to be one of them." I lied as I turned the gingerbread pony into a simple cookie. "Wow, could you do that again?" another foal asked. I was about to say no but their eyes just seemed to inflate with faces of sadness and hope. "Sure, why not." I said as I set the gingerbread pony to run again.