//------------------------------// // 98: Unwilling Hearts and Hooves // Story: An Equestrian Witcher // by OblivionShadow //------------------------------// Oblivion moved away from the barn as Apple Bloom and her friends went past him dragging a very large card of some kind. He felt his head give a slight tilt as his magic covered it and lifted it over their heads for a moment to allow them to get themselves situated. “Thanks, big bro.” Apple Bloom shouted out as he lowered it back to their waiting hooves. “Hmm.” He simply made a noise in reply as he watched them totter out the front gate. “That was a very large card.” Sasa laughed. “I agree. But what is the purpose?” “It's most likely Hearts and Hooves Day.” She replied. “Excuse me?” “It’s a holiday.” “I figured as much.” He replied, his tone sarcastic. “Sorry. It’s a romantic holiday for couples. Well, typically couples but it is also allowed to show your love and care for others. They are most likely giving that to Cheerilee.” “Interesting.” “Nothing like that where you’re from?” “Not that I know of.” He admitted. “I stayed out of the cities if you recall so if something like that was real then it stayed in the cities.” “That’s a good point. Those there would have the disposable income to spend on others like that.” Sasa agreed. “Well I suppose we should get ready to go into town with Mac.” Oblivion gave a slight nod to her as he made for the far side of the barn to join the roan pony on his errand. Oblivion's ears flicked as the sound of music went over his ears. He turned to look up at a nearby haystack as Apple Bloom and her friends looked down at the pair of them. Her eyes were wide as she looked at her two brothers. “You guys doing anything special for Hearts and Hooves day?” Scootaloo asked the pair of them as Mac looked up at them as well. “Nope,” Mac replied. “No,” Oblivion said to them as the girl’s ears went forward and glee spread over their features. He watched as the girls gave a delighted noise as they vanished from the haystack. He could hear them singing and he managed to shake his head before he tuned out their joyful singing. Sasa chuckled as she climbed up the haystack to watch them. “They're quite excited about something.” Sasa said to him as she watched the trio. “I’m sure.” He replied to her as he focused on his task. Oblivion was quiet as the fillies stared up at him. “Can I help you?” He asked them as they stared up at him. “Not sure if he is the right one girls.” Sweetie Bell commented. “Pardon?” Oblivion replied. “Let’s try Mac first.” Apple Bloom advised and the three of them fled from him. “That was odd, even for them.” Sasa commented and he nodded in agreement. Sasa moved to the side of the girl’s clubhouse as she moved through the orchard. She watched as they saw her and their grins spread wide. Apple Bloom ran up to her, put a hoof in her fur, and began to tug the feline up the steps of the clubhouse. “I’m going to be a moment Chosen.” She said to the waiting Unicorn. “Oh?” “I have been waylaid by three fillies.” “Better you than me.” He replied and she huffed in response. She squeezed through the small door and for a moment she was concerned as she could see the materials for potion making on the table. She paused as Apple Bloom was pushing her from behind. She sat down heavily beside the table and waited for the fillies to address her. They knew enough to ask yes or no questions of her so she was sure they would be asking her something. “Sasa. This is super important.” Apple Bloom said to her as she came to stand with her friends. Sasa nodded in understanding and waited. ‘This should be good.’ She thought to herself as they seemed to be gathering themselves for something. “Where mah brother is from does he have a special pony?” Apple Bloom asked her. Sasa shook her head in reply. The filly’s smiles grew as they looked at each other. Sweetie bell looked especially pleased with the information. “See he’s perfect. They know and like each other already. So it’ll be perfect.” She replied. Sasa tilted her head and the three fillies seemed to be ignoring her now. Scootaloo looked a bit less convinced as the other two smiled. “Are you sure?” She asked. “I mean he’s nice and all but he’s out of town every now and then.” “Cause the Princesses ask 'im ta be. 'E’s all that she would need.” Apple Bloom pointed out. Sasa listened intently as they talked as if she were not there. ‘Oh this is getting good. What are these three plotting?’ “What makes you so sure?” Sweetie asked. “He works really hard and he has enough magic to make anything real.” Apple Bloom pointed out. “What if Miss Cheerilee likes Earth Pony’s?” Scootaloo asked. “She and Mac didn’t seem to hit it off like they were supposed to.” Apple Bloom pointed out. “So we have one other stallion ta try.” “I’m still not sure Oblivion is the right one,” Scootaloo said. “He’s not a lot of fun.” “Yes, he is.” Apple Bloom argued. “He’s lotsa fun with me. Plus if he needs ta he can protect her from anythin’ that tries ta ‘urt her.” The others looked at her and finally seemed to agree with her. Sasa bit back a loud laugh as she realized what the three fillies were going on about. She watched as the three of them moved to look at the feline with them and smiles grew on their faces that made her worry about her own safety as they watched her in turn. “So they want me to meet them in the park and help them with something?” Oblivion asked the feline. “Yes.” She replied simply. “Is there any point to them giving you the message versus getting me themselves?” “I think it was easier.” She answered. “This had better be worth my time.” He growled under his breath as he made for the front gate. Behind him, he missed the wide grin that spread over Sasa’s mouth as she fell in behind him. Oblivion looked up as he neared the park and he looked back as Sasa pointed her head toward the fillies and he maneuvered to meet up with them. Next to them, he saw Cheerilee giving them a dubious look as they waved for him to join them. His hooves were silent on the grass as he neared them and Cheerilee was giving him a bit of an odd look now that he had arrived. “Hello, Oblivion.” “Cheerilee.” He replied. “So what is so important that we needed to meet you three here…” She asked as the fillies jumped to reply. “Punch!” Sweetie shouted and Oblivion pinned his ears at her volume. “Excuse me?” Cheerilee asked. “Punch! We made punch and we were gonna set up a stand and sell it to ponies. But we needed some ponies to test it for us.” Sweetie explained. Oblivion watched as their spirits fluctuated and he could see the lie as it flowed through each of them. He almost opened his mouth when Sasa chuckled in the back of his mind. He took her laughter to mean she knew as well and was humoring them. He sighed gently and chose to allow this to go on until they hung themselves and he needed to bail them out as usual. “Yup we need a couple of taste testers.” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Bell nodded happily. “We thought you two would be the best options to taste it… Together. So umm... We will just leave it here.” She said as she set the two glasses down in front of each of them and back up. “And we will leave you two alone.” The fillies zipped off to the side and he blinked blankly at them for a moment as they vanished behind a bush. He sighed again as they called out for Sasa to join them. ‘The day just gets stranger when they get involved.’ He thought to himself as he looked down at the cup in front of him. Cheerilee shook her head and gave him an apologetic look. “I am so sorry about this.” She said to him. “For?” “I may have told the girls that I did not have a special somepony for the holiday, they first tried to match me with Big Mac, and now it seems that it’s your turn.” She admitted to him with a chuckle. Oblivion stared at her for a moment before he shook his head. “For the love of the Gods.” He chuckled lightly under his breath. “So what do we do now?” “I think if we humor them a little bit then it will blow over.” She said to him, her expression laughing. “I suppose it can’t hurt.” He admitted. “Though since this is over I will be informing them of a few things about matching up unwilling or un-wanting ponies.” She giggled and picked up the glass in front of her. She held it aloft and his magic reached out and did the same. “To good friends?” “To friends.” He said as he tapped his glass against hers. She tipped her glass back and he swallowed the contents of the glass, his eyes went wide as she stared at him. He put his head forward as his stomach lurched. He leaned off to the side and quickly spat out the liquid he had just drank and tried not to be sick further. “Great, I think I was just poisoned.” He said under his breath. “Are you all right?” He looked back at her and she was happily staring at him. Her eyes were wide and a little smile sat on her muzzle. She leaned forward and sighed happily as she watched him. “Cheerilee?” “Yes?” “Are you all right? I think they honestly tried to poison us.” He said to her. “Will you be my special somepony?” She asked him and leaned even further toward him. “I thought we had agreed that we were humoring them and that it was not serious?” He said to her. “But you’re my shmoopy-doopy sweetie-weetie pony pie.” “I’m sorry, I’m what?” He asked her as he leaned farther back on his haunches. “You’re my cutie-patootie lovie-dovie honey-bunny.” She cooed at him and reached out to brush her hoof over his face. “Apple Bloom!” He shouted. “It worked!” She cried out as she raced up to him with her friends and Sasa on her heels. “Is she your special somepony now?” “No. What have you done?” He asked her. “It’s okay you can be honest with your feelings,” Sweetie said to him as she patted his hip. “And what feeling should I be feeling right now?” “Love, of course,” Scootaloo said to him, her tone matter of fact. Sasa chuckled off to the side and he felt himself growing more and more annoyed. “Sasa?” “Yes Chosen?” “Did you know about this?” “Yes I did. It’s just harmless little pony antics.” She reassured him. “Harmless? She is calling me by names that I don’t think are in any dictionary.” He argued with the cat as the fillies looked at their teacher. “Are you happy now Miss Cheerilee?” Sweetie Bell asked her. “Yes, I am. I have a special somepony. A kissy-wissy snuggy-wuggy sugar bear.” Oblivion leaned even further back on his haunches as she scooted to be closer to him. “A what?” Sasa asked him. “Did you approve of that name?” “Of course not.” He griped at the cat as Cheerilee snuggled up to him. “What was that drink?” “It was a love potion we found in a book from Twilight. It worked just how it was supposed to. But maybe we gave her a little bit too strong of a loving nudge.” Scootaloo admitted. “Can this be fixed?” He questioned. “But she’s your special somepony.” Apple Bloom argued with him. “You love her. Right?” “No. I am a Witcher. I do not have that emotion, Apple Bloom.” He replied as he grimaced as the mare snuggled his shoulder. “You don’t?” Apple Bloom said to him. “No. As far as that potion of yours went all it did was make me lose my lunch.” He pointed to the puddle a foot away from him. “So as far as this goes it needs to be reversed. She seems to be fixated on me and I do not feel the same.” “But it was supposed to work right away,” Sweetie said to him. “And it did. My body rejected it. You say it was a love potion?” They nodded at his question. “My body treated it like a poison.” The filly’s eyes went wide as they stared at him. Their eyes went to the mare now snuggled tightly against him and the black Unicorn glaring at them. “But maybe we didn’t add enough cloud?” Sweetie asked. “Not enough Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked in reply. “What if it really is a poison?” Apple Bloom asked her friends as horror went over her face. “Cheerilee please get off me,” Oblivion said to her as he tried to get to his hooves. “How do we fix this?” “Can you heal it?” Sasa asked him. He looked at her as his magic lit and he reached out to her, his magic covering her. He tried to cleanse her but the World Spirit did not react to anything that was within the mare. “Shit.” He cursed as he shook his head. “Oh boy. Okay, so we need to undo this now.” Sasa said to him. “They had a book that had the potion in it so maybe there is something about it within the book.” “Where is the book you got this out of?” He asked them. “It’s in the clubhouse,” Sweetie said to him. “Go get it and meet me at Twilight’s Library.” He said to them. “You go with them Sasa.” The cat nodded as the four of them took off for the farm. He looked at the happily snuggled mare who was now staring at him. “Okay. So let’s go for a walk.” He said to her. “Of course my smoopy pony.” He groaned at the name and made for the library. His hooves nearly tangled with hers and she plastered herself to his side. “Oh for the love of… Walk straight.” He growled. Sasa loped behind the galloping fillies as they raced up the steps to the clubhouse. Sasa paced up the steps and put her head into the room. Sweetie was the first to use the book as she scanned its pages. “Oblivion was right!” She shouted. “What was ‘e right bout?” Apple Bloom asked. “It was a love poison.” She said as she turned the book around for them to look at. “What happened is this prince gave it to a princess he liked and it was supposed to be a love potion.” “But it isn’t one?” Scootaloo asked, prompting the other filly to go on. “It turned out to be a horrible mistake. There is something about a dragon, the kingdom falling into chaos, and nothing ever making sense. It was all because the two of them were so busy staring into each other’s eyes that they couldn’t perform their royal duties anymore.” “Oh great.” Apple Bloom replied. “So we turned our teacher into a nonsense spouting nincompoop, mah brother hates us, and put our school in jeopardy.” “There is an antidote,” Sweetie said after interrupting Apple Bloom before she could spiral further. “What is it?” “If we can keep Miss Cheerilee from looking into Oblivion's eyes for one hour then the curse is broken.” “Only an hour. Oh, that will be easy.” Scootaloo said with a confident look. “We can blindfold Oblivion and that will fix it.” Sasa looked concerned as the fillies made it sound so easy. She felt unease rising within her as she found herself wishing she had simply told the stallion to tell the mare what had been about to happen and stopped everything before it happened. ‘I’m sorry Chosen.’ She thought to herself. “So she’s in love with you?” Twilight asked him. “Yes. Please tell me you can fix this?” Oblivion said to her. “Well I don’t know what the antidote is but I do know there is one.” She admitted. “It’s actually an interesting story about Hearts and Hooves Day.” “Oh?” “Yes, it came about when a prince dosed a princess he was fond of with the love potion and it caused the ruin of the kingdom.” She informed him. “Perfect. So now we need the antidote. This cannot continue.” He said as Cheerilee moved to sit in front of him and stared back at him. “Sasa?” “Yes I know what you need to do.” “Which is?” “Put on a blindfold.” He blinked in surprise and Twilight was watching him closely. “I need to wear a blindfold?” He said aloud and the purple mare stared at him. “What?” “I have no idea.” He said as he looked at Cheerilee who was smiling brightly. “According to Sasa, I need to wear a blindfold.” “What in Equestria?” “I don’t know. Do you happen to have one?” “I think so. Let me look.” She said to him as she shook his head. The Library door flew open as the fillies and Sasa barged into the room to find Twilight affixing a blindfold to Oblivion's head. “Oh, good Sasa told ya.” Apple Bloom said to him. “Why in the God's name am I wearing a blindfold?” He asked, his tone curt as the blindfold slid into place. “It’s for the antidote,” Scootaloo informed him. “Which is?” Twilight asked as she tied it in place. “You can’t look into each other’s eyes for one hour. That will break the curse.” Sweetie bell explained further. “Oh, you have got to be kidding,” Oblivion muttered. “And how is she doing now that I can’t look at her?” “She looks distressed, to be honest.” Twilight informed him. “Perfect. What are the odds of her making it long enough to last an hour?” He questioned as Twilight climbed down off the chair. “I’m not sure. She may rip it off you if you’re not careful.” She admitted. “Just perfect.” He growled. Behind the blindfold, he had closed his eyes to avoid having to start the hour over if she did lose control and take the blindfold off of him. Minutes ticked past as Twilight patted his shoulder and he heard hooves on the floor as they moved around him. “This is going to be the longest hour I have ever been part of.” He said and Twilight giggled off to the side of him. “I do hope the three of you realize that your tails are in the fire when this curse is broken.” “Well, we were just tryin’ ta help.” Apple Bloom argued. “Forcing ponies who are not already romantically involved together is wrong,” Oblivion growled. “Poisoning two ponies are even worse. You’re lucky I spit it out.” “Why did you spit it out?” Twilight asked. “My body did not approve and rejected it.” He admitted. “Does not happen often but it did this time thankfully.” “And there is nothing to heal?” She whispered to him. “No. Tried it already.” He said back to her. “If I thought one of my potions would work I’d try it but I don’t think they can do anything except maybe kill her.” He didn’t see the horrified look on the filly’s faces and she moved to make sure they didn’t panic. “And that would be very bad.” “Of course. It’s an innocent pony caught up in another pony's machinations. She holds no blame.” He assured the mare. “See?” She whispered to the three girls as they relaxed. “Stay under the blindfold.” Sasa advised. “I’m sorry Chosen.” “For what Sasa?” He said aloud. “For not telling you so you could tell Cheerilee what it was.” “What would that have done?” “The way I understood it is if the ponies are made aware of it then it won’t work. Or will only work partially.” She explained. “Then why didn’t you tell me?” “I thought it would be funny.” She admitted. “I thought it would make you both act a little silly and then wear off with your metabolism. It would be nothing more than a fun experience.” “Next time they are plotting against me I would advise you to tell me.” He said to her through their link. “I will.” She assured him. “Sweetums?” Cheerilee called out to him. “Oh, Gods,” Oblivion muttered and groaned under his breath. “Yes?” “Why are you doing this?” “Because you are not in the right mind to be looking at me.” He admitted. “Maybe take her for a walk?” “Cheerilee?” Twilight said to her and he could hear the mare approach her. “Twilight?” He heard the dark pink mare reply. “Why don’t you take the girls for a walk so I can get the nasty blindfold off his face for you?” She reasoned. “Yeah, we could use a walk Miss Cheerilee.” Scootaloo quickly jumped on it. “But my shmoopy is here.” She replied. “You need to let me work on him so you can stare at him some more.” She went on. “All right.” She finally gave in and he assumed the girls and their puppy eyes helped sway her. He jerked as she rubbed her nose against his and trotted away from him. He remained still as he heard the front door close. “What in the…” Twilight broke out laughing at his tone and he pushed the blindfold up to sit on his forehead under his horn. “Oh by Celestia the look on your face.” She howled with laughter. “Glad you’re so entertained.” He grumbled. “You went completely rigid when she did that. I have never seen you freeze before.” She gasped out. “It does not help that I did not see it coming nor did I expect her to rub my nose with what I assume was her own.” “As I said, you were so still.” She giggled. “When was the last time you froze like that?” He sat in silence for a moment as he thought back to the past and he felt something akin to annoyance creep over him. “Never.” That brought a bout of laughter from the purple Unicorn as she held onto the table to keep herself from falling to the floor. “Oh my.” She said as she wiped her eyes and smiled brightly at him. “I have never frozen like that in my life. Well not since leaving for the Path anyway. Training is different.” “See even you can be so shocked you freeze up.” She chuckled. “Again I am so glad you’re entertained by this predicament.” He grumbled further. “It was so funny.” “I exist to make you laugh.” He replied sarcasm dripping from his voice. “Okay, I’ll drop it.” She said to him as she put her hooves up to placate him. Sasa watched contentedly as the pair of Unicorns spoke. She was hoping that this would bring them even closer if she was being honest. Twilight was not afraid to speak to him and he was more relaxed around her. She could see that Oblivion was trying to remain annoyed but even a chuckle broke from him as he looked at the purple mare. “You two are adorable.” She said to Oblivion who spun his head to look at her. “Pardon?” “Nothing, nothing.” She said to him. “How long has it been?” He asked the mare. “Since the blindfold was put on or since they left?” “Since it went on.” “About twenty-five minutes.” “Great.” He growled. “They can’t stop her for very long. If this poison acts like any of the ones I know it grows more intense as time passes.” “Do you think it will get worse? Well if you’re talking about regular poisons then I would agree.” She said to him. “So we should be careful of when they come back?” “Yes. She might try to remove it on her own.” “Just keep your eyes closed if you can. Can you hold her in your magic until the time wears down?” “I might have to. I am thinking I will silence her though. I may not be able to be embarrassed but that is horrifying to hear her butcher the language.” Twilight blinked at him for a moment before her lips pursed as she tried not to laugh. “Oh you mean you don’t like being called sweetums or schmoopy?” He looked to the mare and his eyes were just wide enough to tell her what look he was giving her. “No.” Twilight broke as laughter spilled from her. She laughed brightly as he watched her spirit flow with laughter and happiness. He was pleased that she was in such a good mood but he was not thrilled that it was at his expense. He opened his mouth to say something when there was a loud thud on the front door. He looked at the door as Twilight looked alarmed at the sound. “Oh no.” He said to her as the door began to open. “Put it back on!” She shouted as he put the blindfold back in place. “Sweetums I’m back,” Cheerilee announced as she came into the room. “We tried to stop her from coming back but she dragged us all back here.” Sweetie Bell informed them. “Good try girls.” Twilight praised. “Thirty more minutes Oblivion.” “Beautiful.” He replied with more sarcasm in his voice. “Time?” Oblivion grumbled as the mare was beginning to paw at his face to see him and he deflected her as much as he was able without seeing her. “Five minutes,” Twilight replied. “So close.” “And she is getting more desperate.” He grumbled as he tried to grip her hooves in his to hold her back. “You were right about that,” Twilight commented. “It has been getting worse with time.” “I am not pleased about being right in this case.” He said to the mare. “Ouch.” He jumped to his hooves as Cheerilee nearly bloodied his nose with her hoof as she swiped at the blindfold. He held his head as high as possible to keep her from removing the blindfold. He felt it tug to the side as Twilight gasped and it was yanked off his head. He clamped his eyes shut as he felt Cheerilee’s hooves on the sides of his head. “Keep your eyes closed!” Sweetie yelled. “No kidding,” Oblivion growled. He spun on his heel and he opened one eye for an instant as his magic threw open the door. “I can outrun and stay ahead of her for five minutes.” He said as he took to his heels. “Run!” Twilight shouted. He raced out the door and he could hear the maddened mare on his heels. He flicked an ear back as Twilight and the fillies ran as well. He could sense the mare close on his heels, though he didn’t dare look back for worry of making eye contact. “Pony pie!” She cried out behind him. He cringed and put his claws into the dirt to go even faster to try to outrun her. He said nothing as his legs churned and he could hear her behind him. “Go faster Chosen. She’s right on your tail.” Sasa shouted to him. He dug in and his legs moved as he raced for the edges of town. The black Unicorn snorted as a wagon came to rest in front of him. He galloped harder and angled his body for the wagon. “If I can jump it she will have to go around.” He muttered to himself. He gathered his muscles as he aimed for the wagon and he leaped it with some clearance. He didn’t dare look back as he plunged ahead. The Witcher could hear the hooves behind him and he knew that the love-addled mare was not far behind him. He watched as ponies looked at the group of them as they raced through town. “Time?!” He shouted to Sasa. “Three minutes at the longest!” She called back. “Bloody Hells!” He yelled back to her as he gigged down an alley to try to trip up the plunging mare. He raced for the outskirts of town and leaped more than a few fences to encourage her to go around and slow her. The Witcher panted as breath tore from him as he kept up his frantic pace. His legs churned at a pace he knew that if he fell it would be the end and they would have to start over with the mare being even more desperate than she was before. “Run Oblivion!” Twilight yelled from behind him. “Hells.” He muttered under his breath as he leaped another fence. “You’re down to seconds I think!” Sasa shouted. “You think?!” He yelled back. “Yeah I don’t exactly have a clock!” She argued. He was about to argue with her further when something hit him from behind. He grunted under the impact as he was quickly tangled up with the pursuing mare. He rolled over her as he closed his eyes and clenched them tight to avoid seeing her. He came to rest on his back with the feeling of being straddled. Hooves fell on his face as his head was shaken back and forth and then it stopped as quickly as it had begun. “What is going on?” Oblivion chanced opening one eye and he was pleased to see a bewildered Cheerilee straddling his belly. “Oh thank the Gods.” He said to her as he let his limbs untangle from hers and fall to the ground. “Oblivion are you okay?” Twilight asked him as she reached him. “I’m fine.” He replied. “And it’s over.” “Cheerilee? Are you okay?” She asked the still befuddled mare. “Why am I sitting…? Oh, Celestia.” She said as she looked down to see where she was sitting. The mare gave an undignified squeal as she scrambled to get off of him. He sat up once her weight had been removed from his body and he breathed out a relieved sigh as Sasa nuzzled him. “Better Chosen?” She asked. “Much better.” He replied. “Why was I...? What happened?” Cheerilee asked. Her voice was a bit on the hysterical side. “Let me explain everything,” Twilight said to her. Oblivion sat in silence as Twilight finished explaining what had led up to the situation she was now in. Her eyes were wide as she listened and she looked at Oblivion and gave him an embarrassed smile. “I am so sorry.” She said to him. “For what? You were not in control of yourself when it happened. So I do not blame you.” He said to her. “Them! On the other hoof.” He said as he pointed an accusatory hoof at the three fillies. Cheerilee nodded in agreement with him as he put his hoof back on the ground as the girls came forward to speak to them. “Now girls. I appreciate you wanting to see us happy and together. But…” “But no matter how good our intentions might have been, we shoulda never meddled in yer relationship.” Apple Bloom said, interrupting the elder mare. “Nopony can force two ponies to be together,” Scootaloo added. “It’s up to everypony to choose that very special somepony for themselves,” Sweetie said to them. “We’re sorry!” The three of them intoned as they looked at the group of adult ponies who were watching them. “I’m sure you are,” Oblivion said to them. “I know you’re sorry. But you will be showing how sorry you are by doing Oblivions work for the next few days. Does that seem fair?” Cheerilee asked him. He glared at the three of them for several seconds before he nodded in agreement. “That will do. So long as you agree to never do anything like this again.” “We promise!” They shouted. Oblivion sighed and leaned back on his haunches as Twilight patted his shoulder. He got to his hooves and leaned on the mare for a moment before he righted himself. “That was enough work for a day I think.” Twilight giggled and nodded in agreement with him as he motioned for the fillies to start walking to the farm.