”So, jus’ take a seat anywhere ya like.” Applejack smiled as they entered the kitchen, motioning a hoof to the table, continuing as he entered the room and looked around.
“What?”
“..Nothing, it’s a nice home you got here.” He said as he took a seat, watching Applejack taking the pot and placing it on the table.
“It smells good.”
“Thanks ah hope it tastes as well as it smells.” She smiled as she filled his bowl up with soup.
“Are we expecting more?” He asked as she begun to fill up several other bowls and placing them out at the other chairs.
“Yup and they should be here riiiight.” She nodded dragging out the last word until they both heard the door open.
“Now.”
“Smells good is it- oh hello mister didn’t think ya were gonna eat with us.” A small yellowish filly with a big pink ribbon in her mane begun as she walked into the room, stopping herself as she saw their new guest sitting at the table.
“Applebloom mind yer manners.” Applejack warned giving the filly a harsh look.
“Oh right, ahem hello there mister name’s Applebloom what’s yers?” The filly turned her attention proper towards the guest holding up a hoof to him.
“Greetings to you too Applebloom, yes I will be dining with you and you can call me Hawke.” Hawke nodded, reaching out his own hoof towards her so they could shake.
“Like the bird?”
“Yes but with an e at the end.” He corrected turning his attention back to the bowl infront of him.
“Mhm so what’l it be fer lunch?” The little one nodded at him before turning her own attention over to Applejack and sniffing the air.
“Onion soup with a bit o’ garlic.” Applejack smiled as she filled up her bowl
“Eew garlic.” The little one complained sticking out her tongue in disgust.
“Well to bad, if ya had done yer shores we wouldv’e had something else.” Applejack frowned at her, causing her to squirm a bit and avoid meeting her eyes.
“It’s good for your health and it keeps mosquitos away.” Hawke said as he looked down at his soup bowl and the spoon he was wondering how to use, finding it best not to ask about it again.
“Yes who don’t like tah eat bug repellant.” She mumbled as she sat down at her own bowl.
“Did ya tell Big Mac?” Applejack asked deciding to ignore the remark.
“Eeyup he’s jus’ unhitching tah wagon.” Applebloom nodded before turning her attention back to the guest taking a seat at the table.
“So how long will ya be staying with us?”
“No longer than needed, but it mostly depends on Applejack.” Hawke answered motioning a hoof towards Applejack and slowly grabbing his spoon with the other, turning it around in his hoof surprised that he could actually hold it with a hoof just like Applejack had done earlier with his medicine.
“Well ah ain’t against havin’ ya here, but ah hope yer gonna make yerself usefull.” She smiled taking a seat herself.
“I did break your barn so I am willing to work off my debt, all I ask for is food and lodging.” Hawke said taking a spoonful of soup and enjoying the taste.
“Well ah ain’t sayin’ no to some help around here.” Applejack shrugged, grabbing her spoon and tasting the soup and turning her head towards where Apple Bloom had come from.
“Hmm not bad ah Big Mac take a seat.”
“Nice to see ya up.” A large red stallion said as he walked inside, giving Hawke a slow nod before taking a seat himself.
“Say Applejack should we invite yer friend?”
“What do ya mean?” Applejack asked raising an eyebrow at his question.
”Well Rainbow Dash is on the roof so ah guess she wants to come in.” He continued pointing a hoof towards the roof.
“Oh uh well ah go hear…. what she wants after lunch.” She answered, hesitating for a moment hoping Hawke wouldn’t notice and the large red stallion would pick up on her trying to secretly wink at him and shake her head without their guest seeing it.
“Okay then, so how’re ya feelin’?” He nodded at her words and then turned towards their guest quickly changing the subject.
“Better than I thought I would after falling through a barn.” Hawke nodded moving his joints a bit feeling the small ache from his bruises and cuts.
“Good to hear.” The large stallion nodded, holding out his one of his large hooves for him to shake.
“Oh right names Big Mac.”
“Hawke, tell me does this Rainbow Dash have a rainbow colored mane?” Hawke said taking the hoof.
“Uh yes she does why do ya ask?” Big Mac asked tilting his head slightly to the side and chewing on his straw for a moment before placing it down on the table for further use after the soup.
“I suspect I saw her earlier in the window.”
“Well Rainbow Dash is usually sleepin’ up on tha roof unless she finds a nice enough cloud or a comfy tree.” Big Mac said, scratching his chin a bit blowing a bit on the soup before taking spoon of it.
“She sleeps on a cloud?”
“Uh yeah, aren’t there pegasi where ya come from?” Applebloom asked tilting her head to the side.
“No there were none of them in my homeland.” Hawke shook his head, before looking up at his own horn and continuing.
“Are they as common as ..us unicorns here in Equestria?”
“Uh hmm well it’s kinda even among unicorns earth ponies and pegasi.” Applejack said thinking on it for moment.
“Earth ponies?” Hawke asked glancing up at his horn and letting his eyes wander among the little family, already expecting their answer as soon as he said it.
“No horn or wings.” Big Mac answered motioning a hoof towards his head and back.
“Ah we just called those…you regular ponies.” Hawke said, catching himself not wanting to sound like a racist or whatever they would call it in this world.
“Oh huh kinda like that better.” Big mac said tilting his head slightly and tapping his chin.
“I’m glad to hear it, but let us get to business what could I help with on this farm.” Hawke said giving the large stallion a quick nod before turning his attention towards Applejack,.
“Well there ain’t no need to rush it, but ah guess if yer up to some muscle work we need some fields plowed and a lot of apples to be transported and well if ya got the legs for it ya can help buck some trees and the barn also needs repairing and the animals needs feedin’ also-“ She said counting each task aloud as she ticked them off on her usual work list.
“Ah think he got it we need alot o’ work round here.” Applebloom said putting a hoof on Applejacks own stopping her from rambling on about the chores.
“Right sorry. but why not take it easy for now and maybe start small so ya don’t strain yerself too badly after the fall.”
“Very well why don’t you show me around the farm today and I will begin working off my debt tomorrow?” Hawke said as he took the last spoonfulls of soup.
“Sounds good ah could show you the throne so we can decide what to do with it.”