//------------------------------// // 36~Field Trip // Story: Youngblood // by Centurion Pike-Wall //------------------------------// March 20th, 3096 Imperial Calendar (1523 AD) Pie Family Rock Farm Depressi came to a stop outside the fenced-off field, the rest of the exchange students in his special class. The classes teacher, Syllable, stepped around the small blob of students, saying, "Alright class. This is the rock farm we're visiting today. Now, as I've discussed in class, Rock Farming is a decent-sized industry in Equestria, and this is your opportunity to see how it is run up close. I want all of you to be on your best behavior, and follow all of the instructions that are given to you. Any questions?" DJ's paw shot up, Syllable turning and pointing to him. "Yes, DJ?" "Remind me why they're farming rocks? Isn't that just called mining?", he asked. A few of the other students muttered or nodded in agreement. Syllable sighed, shaking her head. "I'll let our guide explain that. I imagine she could lay it out better than I could. Anyway, if there are no more questions, let's go." With none of the other students spoke up, following behind their teacher as the class walked down the path. All around them, stretching as far out as any of them could see, was nothing but grey, grass-less fields full of rocks. All different sizes, types, shapes, and spaced in different ways, but rocks nonetheless. It was occasionally broken by a few nearly dead trees or lines of fences, but that was only occasionally. It reminded Depressi of- "It just me?", Gracelyn whispered, leaning down at ear height while hovering behind him. "Or does this remind you of a wasteland? Like in those 'Shockwave' comic books?" "Nullum", DJ said. "Really does." After about three minutes of walking, they reached a small collection of buildings. A large silo, a weathervane, and a large house that reminded Depressi of a larger version of the houses from Ponyville. On a small pedestal was a massive boulder, similar to an egg in shape. Behind the house, they saw a ringed-off area, with what looked like an elevator platform over it. Sitting on the porch was a small red pegasi with a swept-back blonde mane. At first, Depressi thought it was a kid, until he slid off the bench and turned to the door. After a few seconds, he realized that it was probably just a short stallion. However, some of the others hadn't caught on, as he heard the Yak, Yerik, ask, "Who is little child?" "I'M 34!", the stallion yelled, flapping his wings and getting to his hooves. Depressi could swear he saw flames licking out of the corners of the stallion's eyes. However, before he could yell something else, or anyone else could react, the front door opened and another pony came out. This pony was two shades of grey, with a steep side-cut and wearing an open jacket similar to Flurrys. "Oh, come off it, hot head." "Easy for you to say, Pebble Brain", the pegasi said, grumbling. The mare said, "Just up and go check on Thermite and Chromite. I'll take care of this." "Yeah, yeah", he said, heading for the door. He brushed his tail against the mare's rear leg, with them exchanging a few soft words between them. The stallion then walked inside, slamming the door behind him, as the mare came down the stairs towards them. "Alright, listen up!", the mare said. "My name is Limestone Pie, the de-facto head of the farm. Now, I'll show you around the place, but a few ground rules. One, don't touch anything use I give you permission. Two, stay with me; don't walk off. And finally, for the love of... well, the love of whatever you want, don't ask any stupid questions. Now, come on. My sister and her husband are currently in the mine, so we'll start with the fields and Holders Boulder." +++++~+++++ The trip had, thus far, been... rather interesting. He had to admit, he and especially DJ were in no position to comment on some of the weirder traditions that Limestone had explained to the group. Hell, the only one who really batted an eyebrow at the Pairing Stone and a few of the weird customs they followed on the farm. Finally, however, after about an hour of walking around the fields and by the Silo, they finally came back to the mine. As the group came up to the edge of the railing, they saw the elevator coming up from inside the mine. One was a darker grey mare, along with a massive brown and white stallion. "Oh, hey Limestone", the stallion said, while the mare simply waved. "Hey Troubleshoes", Limestone said. "You mind not goin' back down for about an hour or so? I wanna show the foreign kids the mine, and I don't want any more complications." "Oh, you got it", Troubleshoes said, pulling a minecart full of rocks off the elevator. "We'll look after Chromite for a bit." "Eh, probably best", Limestone said. The two others climbed off the elevator, with Limestone slipping past the massive stallion and onto the elevator. "Alright, listen up. This is perhaps the most dangerous area we'll look at today. Now, you've all done surprisingly well in not doing anything dumb, but I'll remind you. Don't touch anything, stay with me, and don't do anything stupid. Hardhats are down there, and you'll be putting those on when we get down there. Now, climb on; don't worry, this thing can take up to ten tons." They all climbed onto the elevator, Yerik being instructed to stand in the middle. Limestone hit a button, and the clicking of gears filled their ears as the platform began its descent. After about five minutes, the elevator came to a stop in a large cavern, with several tunnels branching off in various directions from it with tracks running along the ground. Next to the shaft, several racks of equipment had been set up; pickaxes, drills, hammers, and a big bucket full of hardhats. "Again, on", Limestone said, grabbing one herself. "Make sure you do the straps. I don't care if it messes up your fancy manes or whatnot; trust me, it'll look less good if it gets smashed in by a falling rock." A few of the students grumbled, most notably the Prench mare who was the last off, but they all put them on. They would follow her into the mine, following one of the tunnels as she explained to them the mining process. "Now, this is a family operation", Limestone explained, pointing to the various small branches off the main path. "We don't have the numbers nor the fancy equipment of those big Pryhan or Germane operations. So, this one mine has lasted us upwards of two centuries. Generation after generation of Pies pulling rocks and ore out of this one mineshaft. We mostly ship the ore to a few of the industrial bigshots up by Manehattan, though we occasionally also sell it to foreigners." "What do you do with the rocks?", Gracelyn asked. Limestone said, "Well, I told you we don't have the big storage spaces the "Professional" operations have, so we spread them out over the field. We sort through them, find any good quality ones. They're sorted into the fields based on how good they are; North, West, South, and East, as I said. Over time, we empty out the north field, shifting up the rocks that are good from the other fields. Best ones go to the construction companies; worst rot out in the sun until we can find somethin' to do with them." "Sustainable but efficient and able to be profitable", DJ said to his brother. "Surprisingly Pryhan-like." "I wouldn't really say that makes them more likable ", Depressi said, still listening to the lecture that Limestone was giving them. "But, yes. You'd be right." "I'm just saying", DJ said. "It's kinda surprising that this family, so Pryhan-like, is associated with Pinkie Pie, perhaps the most equestrian Equestrian I've ever met." Outliers exist in any statistical group. You of all creatures should know this." Depressi slowed his pace slightly, leaning in closer. "I-I'm sorry about that. Y-you know-" "I'm fucked up, not made of reed-paper", DJ said, clicking his beak. The two moved on, silent as they finished their tour and returned to the train later that day.