//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Barrier Breaking // Story: Heart of Steel // by That One Bastard //------------------------------// Chapter 2 - Barrier Breaking --- Applejack huffed out several breaths, walking to her home slightly tired. The being on her back had seemed so light minutes ago, but its unnatural weight made itself known halfway to the family home. Arriving at her front door, AJ turned the knob and pushed, swinging the door open. She cantered inside, Winona behind her panting lightly as they moved to the kitchen. The smells of breakfast lingered long after, the aroma of fresh griddlecakes and apple syrup floating in the air. Applejack took in a long, drawn out sniff, sighing happily. She made her way to the deep brown table, sidling up beside it and, with several shimmies of her back, deposited her companion on the table. It stirred slightly, curling into a little steel ball. AJ sat down atop a chair, placing her forelegs on the table and resting her head upon them. She examined the little creature before her, taking idle fascination in the sheen of its silver carapace. She noticed her own reflection in it, clean and shining as it was. She couldn't help but chuckle lightly at her complexion, a rough-and-tumble cowgirl reflected to her. Beside her, Winona curled up next to her chair, resting easily alongside her master. On the table, the metal one's eyes squeezed, then fluttered open slowly, meeting the sight of the orange mare. They widened quickly, staring at AJ as she looked back, confused at the sudden alertness of her compatriot. --- Huh. So I'm not dreaming after all. Sebastian looked tiredly at the orange horse in front of him, who had now opted to remove her cowboy hat, setting it a ways off to the side. She blinked slowly, looking at Sebastian with her brow arched slightly. The mare parted her lips, puffing out air to move the long, blonde strands of hair out of her eyes. She clicked her tongue, before speaking. "So..." she spoke in that rough, yet sweet tone Sebastian now found odd. "You awake now?" she asked, hinting at humor. Holy shit, this is way too weird for me, he thought, cringing at the way her mouth moved when it formed the human speech. God damn it, now I gotta say something back. He concluded that answering her question would probably be the best way to move the case of first contact along. He opened his mouth to speak, but the new jaw structure was still so very alien to him, and he could only manage a pitchy grunt as his wide, stiff tongue lolled lazily around his lips. MotherFUCKER! Really? I sound like a fucking lizard or something! He held his head in his stumpy feet, caressing his throbbing silver head. "Ya'll just try and talk just then?" he heard the mare ask, lowering her voice. Sebastian looked up, noticing the horse had inched a tad closer to him, her head cocked curiously. He nodded his head quickly, thankful to get at least a small bit of communication across the apparent language barrier. The rust mare only nodded, leaning back into her chair and picking up her head. She hummed deeply, a low, crooning noise that surprisingly alleviated some of Sebastian's stress. "Well, this is gonna be a problem." she said, glancing around the kitchen. "How about this," she asked. Sebastian looked back up to her with curiosity. "Lemme just ask you yes or no questions, alright? Then ya just have to nod." Immediately, Sebastian nodded. The mare chuckled at the eagerness of her guest. Sebastian smiled in his mind. Hey, at least I got something through. Now come on, ask me a question already. He sat down the best he could, his hind legs sticking out while his forelegs lay against his chest. "So," she started, tapping a hoof against the table, "do you know where you are right now?" She awaited the answer patiently. Well shoot, that's a damn good question... In response, Sebastian shook his head, wincing at how much his vision wavered with his large eyes. "Okay then," she continued, "Well, you're in Sweet Apple Acres, mah family's apple farm, just outside Ponyville." she elaborated, waving her hoof in circles. Sebastian cocked his head. Ponyville? What the hell!? The mare seemed to have noticed Sebastian's stance, for she explained the topic further. "Haven't heard of Ponyville, huh? Well, what about Equestria?" What!? "Not even Equestria? Darn," she crossed her forelegs, leaning forward. "So, you really don't know where ya' are right now?" she asked. Sebastian shook his head, sighing the best he could. "Huh, well, that's a real downer..." The mare looked away for a moment, seemingly thinking. "Aw shucks!" She perked up, quickly turning to Sebastian. "Where are mah manners? The name's Applejack, sorry fer not saying earlier." She smiled kindly, putting her hoof forward to face Sebastian. He stared awkwardly at the appendage, periodically glancing back-and-forth between it and its owner, who was still smiling. Well, uh, what do I do, pound it or something? Or is it a... Oh hell no. He stared at the hoof as Applejack still smiled, albeit awkwardly, to Sebastian. They do NOT have that here. "Uh," Applejack finally started, "Put 'er there?" Oh my god, they DO have it here. Sebastian sighed, slowly raising his own leg to meet Applejack's hoof. They touched, the surprisingly soft hoof meeting the steel edge. Finally, they moved up, then down, before seperating. Sebastian looked at his leg, then to Applejack as she crossed her forelegs once again. "Alrighty, then," she said, "Well, I would ask your name, but uh, well, you know, language and such." She rubbed the back of her neck. "So, otherwise, would ya mind if I kept up with the questions?" Sebastian shook his head. Meh, might as well get it out of the way. "Okay," the mare continued, "So, do ya' come from around here?" Sebastian shook his head. "Huh," she cocked her head, "Do you know how you got here?" Another shake of the head. "Wow," Applejack whistled, "that's just terrible, that is..." She let the sentence hang, idly chewing her lip. "So, you don't know where you are, how ya' got here, and, I'll say, why ya'll're here?" Sebastian nodded, looking down at his stumpy legs. That, and I have no idea what the hell I even am. "Well, if you'll excuse mah manners again," Applejack continued, "Ah'd say that sounds like a pretty bad hangover there." She smiled playfully. Sebastian laughed on the inside, noddiing his head in return. "So, partner," Applejack started again, "are ya' hungry? 'Cause I'm a mite peckish right about now." Whoa, food? Finally, yes! Sebastian nodded eagerly. "Alright, how do ya' feel about some biscuits an' gravy?" Another feverishly quick nod. Applejack smiled, rising from her seat. "Good, I'll just get it all ready, you just make yourself at home, buddy." She smiled, then turned to the cooking area behind her. As she did, Sebastian noted three red spots on her hips, seeming to have been tattooed onto her fur. Is that seriously a tramp-stamp?, he thought, before realizing he was looking at Applejack's behind. Ah shit. He quickly looked away, careful to not embarrass his host. Alright, well, at least she's nice enough to let me stay here for now. The sounds of cooking quickly started from Applejack's work, batter being mixed and the smells of baking. Sebastian took he time to take in his surroundings, noticing the patterns of red and yellow along the walls and shelves. Apple-shaped wooden decorum was everywhere, bordering the drawers and emblazoned on the wooden doors. The theme was obvious enough, so Sebastian crawled over to the edge of the table, looking over it to see the smooth floor. Nearby, the chair Applejack had sat in was still jutting away from the table. Hey, I think I can get down with that. Crawling to the back of the chair, he attempted to crawl over it onto the cushioned seat, but slipped and fell over it. He bounced off the cushion and, with a devastating crack, crashed into the floor. Wood splintered and sunk down into a crater, nearly breaking open into a hole as Sebastian picked himself up, shaking splinters and wood-dust from his body. Wow, what am I, the Hulk? Jeez, I'm heavy. "You okay there, friend?" the cooking Applejack asked, turning from her work. "What just- Holy Celestia, you alright?" She rushed over to the smashed floor and Sebastian, who had been calmly poking at the splinters jutting from the floor. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, I just destroyed her floor! Sebastian reeled back from Applejack, worried of a scolding. "Aw crud, sorry, buddy," she said worriedly, "Ah shoulda helped you down, this is mah fault." She lightly patted Sebastian's back, being careful of the large spine jutting from his back. Wait, she isn't pissed at me? Sebastian looked up, seeing the kind, but worried expresion his host carried. She apologized again, stooping down to his level. "Sorry again, pal, but lemme make it up to you; do you want me to take you over to the sofa over yonder?" she asked, flicking her head in the direction of a furniture-filled room connected to the kitchen. Sebastian looked to Applejack, attempting to arch his nonexistent brow. What the hell? No one's this nice! Eventually, he just nodded. Applejack nodded in return, then started around Sebastian's back. Before he could protest, she grabbed him by the back of the head with her teeth, struggling to heft him up as she slowly made her way over to a red couch, then, with evident difficulty, set Sebastian down. Beads of perspiration ran down her face as she panted lightly. "Whew! When'd ya' get so heavy?" Applejack asked, to which a simple shrug was her response. She shrugged as well, letting out a small laugh. "Well, Ah'll be back with the food when its done, alright?" she stated, turning back to the kitchen. Anothernod her way, and she was away, humming a short tune to herself. The guest sighed as he found a comfortable corner in the seat, settling down and curling up into a glossy little ball. He patiently awaited his host as his stomach grumbled in earnest. --- The table was set, the food was ready, and the two entiries were eager to dig in. One had already started, calmly savoring the salty, firm biscuits with gravy. Opposite her, her guest was struggling to make use of his utensils, trying to grasp a small, plastic fork, which his host had retrieved for him, between his slippery metal feet. On the outside, he seemed to only be slightly frustrated, but on the inside, it was a different story. SON OF A BITCH STAY IN MY HANDS OR FEET OR WHATEVER THESE THINGS ARE! The string of expletives was still running rampant in Sebastian's head as he attempted once again to grasp the simple equipment. Eventually, he gave up, tossing the fork to the side and, manners having become absent, plowed into his dish face-first. Applejack paused midchew to watch her guest plunge into his food, the sounds of ravenous chewing flying from him along with bits of food. As Sebastian ate, he noticed something strange about the food. As he inhaled his food, he felt it with his broad, short tongue, attempting to find a sense of flavor in the surprisingly tasteless food. As it passed, he could feel the food passing through his throat, yet he didn't feel any less hungry than before. When his plate of food diminished to emptiness, Sebastian removed his face, wiping the mess of leftovers from his face. He noticed Applejack smirking from across the table, still calmly eating her own food. Well then, that's embarassing, he thought, his belly still sore even with the food he had just consumed. "Did you enjoy it?" the mare asked, to which Sebastian automatically responded with a nod. "Good, Ah hate to disappoint." As she finished her own food, Sebastian hopped down properly into an empty chair, keeping his footing, then climbed down the leg of the chair and onto the floor. He walked toward the furniture room, his silver legs clicking against the hardwood floor as he moved. Reaching the sofa, he curled up next to it. Nearby, Winona glanced to him momentarily, her nap disturbed. She shifted her position, snorting out a breath as her eyes closed once again. Sebastian closed his own eyes, the uncomfortable groan of hunger still present. God damn it, I guess I don't eat normal food, then, he concluded, rolling onto his side and gazing around the room. The smell of baked biscuits lingered on the air, permeating his nostrils as he breathed. Something else was on the air, Sebastian noticed, but he couldn't quite place the smell. Jeez, what is that? Smells like... Smells like wet cement, and... He sniffed heavily this time, attempting to trace the smell. ... And is that... Beef? Sebastian rolled back onto his belly, hopping up to his feet and sniffing loudly. A stray breeze from an open window moved more of the wonderful smell to meet Sebastian, and his stomach immediately roared. Aw man, where's the beef!? Gotta have my beef, damn it! Sebastian scurried hurriedly to the front door, pushing it open with his head and looking outside. A massive landscape stretched out before him, At least three-quarters of the space being taken up by acres of trees in straight rows that expanded to the left, where it met a line of massive trees that formed into a dense forest. Beyond and to the right was a small town stretching across alongside the farm grounds. The smell of meat, though, was the primary thought on Sebastian's mind as he stooped low, sniffing the dirt around him. An animalistic desire overrode his human faculties as he scampered around in a crooked line toward the source of the wonderful aroma. He closed his eyes, putting more effort into smell as he raced forward, now determined he was on the right path, as the dirt under his feet gave way to concrete and rock. The smell was becoming even more powerful, so tantalizingly close- Clonk. The sudden impact against Sebastian's head wasn't enough to awake him from his stupor as he looked up and opened his eyes. A towering pillar of gleaming, silver material stood over the changed man, sparkling in the midday light. The smell was pungent and overpowering as it drilled into his skull through his nostrils. Sebastian looked down to the base of the structure, where it flowed seamlessly into the concrete floor. For all Sebastian knew the structure was endless, an infinte supply of irresistible sustenance. Sebastian dove at the metal, sinking his powerful teeth into it. --- In the construction sight, the only sounds were that of grinding metal as workers looked in shock as a strange, shiny animal devoured one of the foot tall metal bars they had only just finished installing. One pony, a short yellow stallion wearing welding goggles and a hardhat spat his wrench down in anger. A colorful stream of curses erupted from him as he turned from the destruction and toward home.