//------------------------------// // Ponyville // Story: Farmhand // by MLP-person //------------------------------// Quill groaned and sank to the floor, water all over the tiles around him. He'd tried to stand-tried to do it himself-but what had made him think that he was able to in any way? Again came the waves of aching pain that felt enough to cripple him immediately, and his head swam. No, he wouldn't black out...but sleep was so tempting;the cold tile so comfortable. Surely he could just close his eyes for a few moments...he was to exhausted to even call out for Fluttershy's return, so he closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off into the murky fog of sleep. Almost at once, dreams came for him. He was sitting at a round table with two other colts, working his way through a plate of hashbrowns that were greasy and delicious. It felt so real-he could taste the fatty breakfast on his tongue. There were other tables around them with more colts sitting at them, and across the room was a cluster of tables with fillies sitting around them. This place sucked-he couldn't even talk to the fillies because the adults were worried that he would try to pull something with one of them. Near each of the two groups were a few adults, stallions with the colts and mares with the fillies. At least the food was good-he worried he might go crazier if there was nothing to enjoy about this place. "She is cute, though." The colt across from him-a green colt with a mane of jet black and forest green, was looking across the room at a white filly with a pink mane and tail-a little pegasus. She and the colt had been playing eye hocky for a while now and both seemed to wish for some way to converse with the other. It was cute, Quill felt, but hopeless when part of the adult's job was to keep the fillies and colts far away from each other. The cafeteria wasn't a sad room, though, that was for sure. The floor was tile and the place was chilly-but there were tall windows letting in the bright winter sunlight and offering a view of the drifts of snow outside. There were other touches to make the room not-quite-so-foreboding, as well;A grand piano in once corner, several plants around the room and paintings scattered around. Quill watched as a small filly with a purple coat and a black mane walked over to the piano and climbed onto the stool, laying down a few notes. "I know this one!" the third colt-white with a scarlet mane and green eyes-whooped excitedly. The filly at the piano began to play a slow melody, humming to herself. "He said will you, defeat them, your demons, and all the non-believers~" The colt sang quietly, unashamed. In this place you didn't have to be ashamed because, until you left, the other colts were your new family. You ate, slept, lived and breathed with them, almost with no exceptions. The forest colored colt laughed and watched the white colt sing. "You two would get along great~" Green teased. "-why don't you go over there and give her a big, wet kiss~" The unicorn frowned deeply and shut up so that he could properly glare at the green earth pony. "Because, you idiot, we aren't allowed to go anywhere near them-the adults think we'll try to rape them or something." Green just shrugged. "Never know. I mean, some of them arrrrrrre pretty cute." The unicorn frowned in disgust-but he wasn't as bad off as the green colt. Quill supposed they each had a...personal, shall we call it, degree of insanity. Even the most well put together ponies-like Luna-had their freakouts and meltdowns. "Cut him some slack-there's a little crazy in all of us when you think about it." The unicorn nodded and let his frown fade into a more manageable neutral expression. "But some more so than others-and that's why some of us will get out before others." The jab went right over green's head while Quill understood perfectly well. And it was true, of course, but that didn't mean it was nice or friendly at all. Quill sighed and went back to eating the hash browns, watching the filly carry her melody out to a dramatic close. He woke up with a groan of pain and looked around, turning his head first to one side and then the other. He was back on the couch-he could hear the cacophony of the animals again, and was weighted down by a heavy quilt. His torso and wings were bound under bandages, again, and Fluttershy was singing softly nearby, the same tune that the pianist filly had been playing, her cutie mark a music note even with how young she was. It was a huge coincidence, but at least now he understood why he had begun having the dream. "Alright, angel bunny-our guest needs some food and now, I'm going to go wake him up." There were a few hard taps on the flood and then the bunny in question could be heard scurrying off. Then Fluttershy was there, and her eyes were full of compassion. He could have stayed there for a long time, but he was absolutely starving-so much so that even MEAT sounded appetizing. Not pony meat, but maybe a fish... "There you go, Quill. Now, why oh why did you try to get up without my help? I told you to call me..." She sounded like a kind mother correcting her child when she said this. "S-Sorry about that, Fluttershy. I just...hate being helpless." He still felt weak but was sure that he would have a deal of strength back after he got some food in him. His gullet ached with that gnawing hunger-he vaguely entertained the thought of snatching something from the animals-but no he couldn't do that, he wasn't cruel. "I know that look, little pegasus. You need some food, don't you? Why, I can practically see your ribs. Come on, try and sit up..." She pressed her head to his shoulder and he, agonizingly slowly, managed to sit up and look around, properly. There were two green sofas with endtables beside them and a coffee table in the middle. Aside from that, though, there were signs of animals everywhere, more than he had thought before. Cat towers food and water dishes scattered birdseed feather toys laser pointers and more littered the wooden floor of the large-for a small cottage-living room. "You okay? Don't feel faint?" Quill shook his head-he had a raging thirst headache but he wasn't faint or in any immediate danger of blacking out again. Fluttershy nodded, satisfied. "Hm hm! That's good. Soooo what do you want to eat? I could get a salad, or I could get some oatmeal re-" "That!!! I mean-oatmeal, please." Fluttershy nodded. "You'll be okay for a moment while I leave the room?" He nodded, wishing he could stretch his wings rather than having them confined by the bandages. Unfortunately, he knew they were more than necessary. She talked to him while she was rattling around in the kitchen. "So! Why were you in the forest, little guy?" "I'm not little, I'm fourteen!" He protested defiantly. "Okay, then." He heard a giggle. "Why were you in the forest, BIG guy?" He thought about how to answer that for a long moment before he deigned to actually do it. "I was running from home." Fluttershy gasped softly like this was an absolute tragedy. "But, I'm sure you knew the Everfree forest was dangerous, didn't you...?" "Yeah, Yeah I did. It's a long story but when I left...a place, I didn't want to go back to what I knew. So I didn't, I ran. Tried to make it to Ponyville-where am I, anyway? I didn't really have a map.." "You're at the edge of Everfree Forest, only a short walk away from Ponyville. You must have an excellent sense of direction to have gotten so close to your goal through Everfree, if you don't mind me saying." Of course he didn't mi-why would he ca-ugh. That was a little annoying, but he didn't say so. "That's all I'm getting out of you?" "Yeah, sorry." For a moment Fluttershy said nothing at all. "That's alright, big guy, I understand there's probably a reason you don't want to discuss all of it." He nodded even though she couldn't possible see him from the other room. "Well, um, do you have any friends?" "Yeah, I did have two, but I don't want them to know...just, please no." Fluttershy fell silent again. "Alright, Quill. But do you have any idea what you'll do in Ponyville? Why'd you try to come here?" "Well. I'm not from the nicest place and I heard that Ponyville was a friendly town where anypony could make a good life for themselves. You know, I'm not in the books, so Twilight doesn't exactly know where to send me, therefor she has no grounds to make me leave Ponyville. And I know exactly who she is since she said she'd write to Princess Celestia, which almost assuredly meant I'd made it to Ponyville, but I had to make sure. I was close, anyway." Fluttershy poked her head through the door, staring blankly. "What?" "That's the most you've spoken since you got here, by far. I'll admit you looked grim, and you'll always have scars under your fur, but I really do believe that you'll be able to walk again before to long. Maybe in a few days, if you feel well enough, we could leave here and I'll show you around Ponyville, let you meet some ponies. Maybe even make a friend...if you're feeling well enough, of course. If not, there is no harm in waiting until you are, so don't attempt anythig you aren't ready for, okay?" He nodded, looking at her with a glint in his eye. The idea of exploring the town he'd tried so hard to reach appealed to him greatly. "I see you're excited-oh, the oatmeal is over the fire-but like I said, wait until you're ready. We'll put fresh bandages on before we go but the last thing that either of us wants is for you to collapse or pass out in the middle of town, am I right?" He nodded in agreement that she was right and she smiled a little self-satisfied smile. "I was worried, you know. I can say that now that I'm sure I was wrong." "Worried for me?" He blinked. "Yes, silly pony. I was worried that you were a goner, and that you wouldn't wake up. Especially when you fell on the bathroom flood-you were still somewhat bleeding and when I brought you out here I was worried that it was just a formality. But like I said-now I really believe you'll be okay." He sat there quietly, unsure what to say. "I'm not expecting you to be ready for a five mile hike anytime soon-no offense!-so if I do take you into town, you'll just have to deal with sitting down to rest every so often. And I won't take no for an answer-it's lots of breaks or you just wait to go anywhere." He had opened his mouth to protest but now he shut it-she'd perfectly read what he was about to say as though his mind had been an open book. "Alright, then, that's settled. After you get something to eat we'll see if you can manage walking around the cottage, okay? Your right side and left flank took most of the damage although luckily your cutie mark was spared. Point is that your legs were spared anything more than a few small scrapes and I think you'll be able to at least walk around the cottage." He smiled and nodded-that in and of itself sounded like he'd died early and gone to heaven. Again she giggled-it seemed like she did a lot of that-and disappeared back into the kitchen. "Honnnnney?" "Yes! I mean yes, please, it's just goddesses I'm hungry!!!!!!" Giggle giggle. "Alright, no need to be sorry." A moment later she carried out a tray in her teeth with a bowl of steaming oatmeal, the sweet smells of honey and strawberries wafting to his nose. His mouth instantly started watering and he groaned-he wanted to eat it right NOW!!! "Don't eat to fast, you won't keep it down." It would be a struggle but he nodded, noticing that there was a glass of some sort of pink juice on the tray as well. "What? You never had watermelon juice? It's really good, but I can take it away if you'd like..." "No no, this is perfect! Thank you soooooo much Fluttershy!" She smiled as he tried to let her know her ministrations were appreciated. "It was no trouble. Now, I'm going to go feed the animals outside and collect the eggs, will you be okay here for a moment?" He nodded and glanced at the tray as she gave it over. "Alright," a giggle, "I'll let you eat." And she was gone out the door. Now he didn't want to eat like a piglet…but no one was watching except for a few birds in their cages who were looking at him sideways-they could think whatever they wished and he'd be fine. He hungrily took a bite bigger than he should have. Fluttershy had indeed added honey, and it mixed with the sudden splash of strawberry juices perfectly. He hastily swallowed and took another bite. His stomach protested and he remembered what Fluttershy had said-slowly. He almost whined aloud as he took a slow drought from the glass;it was watermelon as said but it tasted like it'd been mixed with strawberry juice. It was delicious!! He ate the rest of the food quickly and finished the drink. When done, he set the tray carefully on the table-he was STUFFED. And sleepy…maybe it was a basic meal for Fluttershy but it was better than anything he'd gotten his hooves on in the forest, that was for sure. But he couldn't sleep. he took the tray in his teeth and went to the kitchen, making for the sink and washing the bowl and glass. He had to go slowly, and the steps made him ache, but he had to walk again. He hated feeling helpless in any way, shape or form. For a moment there was silence except for the water rushing down onto the dishes. “Quill? Did you go to the kitchen?” He didn't want to answer-it was taking focus to both stand and wash these. Luckily his sore wasn't dry and torn anymore. The moisture from the drink was making it all much more manageable. “Yeah, I d-did! I'm washing me stuff!!” Fluttershy walked in and shook her head, watching as he washed them and set them aside into an empty drying rack, leaning heavily on the counter. “Come on, Quill, you need to sit down. You did well getting here but you aren't ready yet, not to stand for very long.” Her tone was kind and not at all offensive but the words stung. He could walk! He just needed to lean here a moment longer and he'd be fine. Apparently not. Fluttershy lightly pulled him onto her back and walked back to the living room, setting him on the couch. “Now, I have to go into town. The animals badly need food, you know. Now I don't want to leave you here, so I want to take you with me.” He could've jumped for joy at those words. “But you'll have to use a wheelchair I have around somewhere, you understand?” “Bu-!!” “Do. You. Understand?” He sighed and nodded. “Good. I've got it here.” She walked out into a hall and returned a moment later with a black and gray wheelchair. He sighed- it was clean and well kept-but he didn't want to use a wheelchair! Still, it was better than sitting here instead of going, as lovely as the little cottage was. She nodded satisfactorily and took him with a wing, helping him into the chair. “This isn't for you to explore the town, you're just coming with me to the market for animal food, got it mister?” He nodded, anxious to be gone. “Alright, we can go.” She opened the door and he pushed the chair forward, out onto a massive with a dirt path leading down a hill the cottage was perched on, across a bridge and into a town that he could see in the not so distant distance. Among the houses he could see in the outskirts, some kind of tower rose into the air, seemingly at the center of the town. Around the cottage itself were a number of wire fenced areas and doghouses, and yet more food and water dishes. The smell out here was like wet dog, but somehow he didn't mind the smell. “I'll push for a while, then you can take over on the way back when I've got full bags.” She was wearing white saddlebags with butterfly clasps. Wait, how hadn’t he looked yet?? He looked back at her flank and saw that she had three pink butterflies identical to the one on her clasps on her. Must be for animals, he assumed. Caring for them? Nurturing them? Something animalistic, at any rate. Fluttershy straightened herself to her back legs and laid her front ones on the wheelchair, starting to steer him off the little cottage’s grounds. Ponyville was a friendly place from the moment he was pushed into it. Ponies passing by on either side of the wide dirt lane looked at the bandaged colt worriedly as he and Fluttershy moved through the town. He still felt he didn't need the wheelchair and would do fine without it, but the restriction was worth it to see this town at last. There wasn't any fighting going on, and there were no colts and fillies starving in the alleys. Ponies flashed him, Fluttershy and each other smiles, more worried glances cast in his direction. “FLUTTERSHYYYYY!!!!” A pink ball of pony barreled into Fluttershy and the chair skidded forward a few feet before stopping. He used his hooves to turn it around and look-a pink mare with a mane and tail of darker pink had pinned the nervous-looking Pegasus down. “HI FLUTTERSHY!!! So this is the colt you helped save? He's cute! Maybe Rarity should give him a haircut though, do you agree? Anyway! Quill!! I'm Pinkie Pie!! But my friends call me Pinkie and you're my friend now so call me Pinkie!!! As soon as you're back on your hooves I'm gonna throw you the biggest welcome to Ponyville party you've ever been to!! And there's no way you'll have been to a bigger or more super-duper fun one!!! Fluttershy says you'll heal up okay, so you can handle it! I like parties ya know!! They're my special talent and everything!!! It's the best, really!!” She turned and showed him her flank-it bore a trio of blue and yellow balloons. He couldn't help but laugh at the mare’s silly and carefree attitude. “I don't really need a party, Pinki-“ “OHMYGOSH!!!! Who doesn't need a party?? Trust me you'll have LOTS of fun, and it'll be a great way to meet some of the town's ponies!!! Everypony needs friends, that is, and parties are a great way to make them!! Who knows, maybe even you could get your hooves on a stiff drink!!” “Pinkie!!” Fluttershy sounded indignant. “Oh come onnnnn Fluttershy I was only teasing! Ponyville doesn't even usually have anything worse than weak wine or spiked punch. And vodka to spike the punch of course! The point is we aren't exactly the alcohol Capitol of the world!!!” “Why is that your point Pinkie..?” Fluttershy sighed like she was used to this. “Because! It's a fun fact! Anyway, see you later Flutters and Quilllllll!” And she zipped away so fast Quill wasn't even sure he'd seen her do it. Again they were alone there. “That's my friend Pinkie, she's very nice but she does get hyper.” She giggled and wheeled him further into town.