Gel stops at the front desk of the post office, unsure. ...I guess I could do this job...it's the same as relaying a message, right? You just...have it written down, instead...and aren't allowed to read it... She sighs and, ringing the bell, smiles kindly.
A light blue earth pony stallion comes from the back, he has on a customer service smile with more sincerity behind it than one would usually expect. "Welcome ma'am, how can I help you?"
She blinks, stunned by the smile. "...um...h-hi. I-I'm looking for a job, and I was hoping I could...apply for one, here?"
"Oh? What specific job were you looking for? Do you have any experience?" He looks over her quickly as if to gauge her ability.
"...well...I've delivered packages, before...and letters, too..." She puts a hoof to her chin, thinking a bit. ...it could be true...I don't remember all of my past... "...or maybe I could try sorting? I'm also good at that..."
He thinks for a moment. "Well, unfortunately, we are fully staffed when it comes to sorters..." He consults a piece of paper. "Some of our carriers were asking about alternate routes or package specific couriers though..." He jolts upward. "Oh, where are my manners?" He holds out a hoof. "My name is Post Haste. It's nice to meet you."
She shakes it, smiling shyly. "A-Angelic Grace...b-but you can call me Angel..." She leans forward, interested. "...y-you said something...about a courier?"
He nods as he writes down her name. "Yes ma'am. You see, we normally have the mail and packages carried by ponies going to the same neighborhood, but this can cause delays if ponies aren't home or are asleep. So, what I'm going to do is give you a little test to see if this will work, and if you have what it takes." He goes to the back and brings back an official mail satchel with about a half dozen packages in it. "This is a light day so it's an excellent one to do this on. Simply bring these to their destinations, retrieve a signature if they are home and leave a note if they are not." He sticks a pad in at the last part of the sentence. "Any questions? Oh, by the way, no you don't get the cool postal hat," he flicks at the one he is wearing, "until you are officially employed by us."
She slowly nods, carefully floating the bag onto her back. "...o-okay, then..." I bet I could get one for myself from that place in Canterlot. "...I-I can't think of anything off the top of my head...s-so I guess I'll be going, then?"
He smiles and waves a hoof. "Good luck Miss Angel! If any dogs bother you, there are treats in the side pouch!"
Gel waves back as she leaves, reading the list for her first assignment. ...let's see...my first stop is...my house? Oh, hey, it's from Canterlot - Rhino's parents must have sent him a birthday present! She giggles, skipping off. Maybe he's still there?
She arrives at the house and pushes open the door, glancing around curiously. "...Rhino? Are you there?" She steps inside, looking back and forth.
He descends the stairs with a squirrel asleep in his mane and a smile on his face. He doesn't say a word before he take one of her hooves and twirls her once before dipping her down and kissing her. After he breaks the kiss he still holds her above the floor as he says, "Welcome home, love."
She blushes brightly, smiling softly at him. "...that was a warm welcome..." She gently kisses his cheek. "...um...I-I have something for you..."
He tilts his head. "Oh?" He sets her back down on all four of her hooves. "What is it?"
She pulls out the package, holding it in front of him. "...it's from Canterlot...I think your parents sent it..."
He takes the package and slits it open with magic, removing two cards from the inside. He reads them quickly as a small smile forms on his face. "Heh, no matter how far apart they live, they still like to package the presents as one..." He opens the box properly to reveal a small gem on a necklace as well as a collection of larger gems. He chuckles happily. "They always know what to get..."
Gel leans in, looking at the items in confusion. "...um...w-what are those, Rhino?"
He turns to her with a knowing smile. "These Gel, are part of what I do." He holds up the necklace. "This is enchanted." He gestures to the gems. "And these are full of potential. I'll definitely be working on some of this in the next few days. If you're curious about what I can do with my mark, you are welcome to sit in and learn."
She smiles back, nodding a bit. "...that sounds...fun...I think I'd enjoy that..." She is about to say more, but her stomach growls. She stares down at herself, confused. "...what...was that? Why does my body do that, in this form?"
He raises an eyebrow. "Have you been forgetting to eat? That's not good for you, you know. Plus it makes me worry." He turns to the kitchen. "I guess I'll just have to fill you up."
She places her mailbag to one side and follows him, ears flat against her head. ...you forget to eat just one meal... She sighs, shaking her head.
He sends his own thought back. Think of it this way, I can whip you up something that needs ketchup. How about... a nice daisy sandwich and hay fries? It's not the fanciest meal, but it's good for a quick feed..
She brightens up immediately, leaping over and tackle-hugging him. "Yes! That sounds fantastic!"
Meanwhile, a certain silver vulpine has made his way down the stairs and is now sniffing the new bag on the floor. He scratches at it with no results before sitting down in front of it and thinking.
'Don't even think about it.' A grayish-blue feline steps next to him, giving him a disapproving look. 'You know none of that is yours.'
He looks back at her. 'They left it on the floor so I have a right to explore it.' He quickly climbs up and into the bags, his swishing tail now the only visible part of him.
'You realize you'll be in trouble if something gets broken.' She glares at his tail, her own flicking idly.
'Relax it'll be fine- Uh oh...' The bag starts to tilt back and forth before finally falling over and spilling it's contents out, including both packages and fox. He lays sprawled out among the boxes. 'I'm okay...'
'Not for long.' She backs away, not wanting to get in trouble for this. 'I think Dad heard that...'
The green unicorn pauses as he puts the completed plate onto the table in front of Gel. "Did you hear something?" It all stays quiet so he shrugs it off.
The white mare looks up, her mouth full of sandwich. ...I'm sorry, hear what?
Selena grumbles, crouching on the floor. '...you got lucky this time.'
Mercury springs up. 'And now to celebrate my luck by doing more snooping!' He starts sniffing and pawing at each individual package. Even climbing up and seeing if he can tip some over.
‘You're a fox, not a rabbit.' She sighs, shaking her head. 'Your luck is bound to run out...'
He rolls his eyes, reaching for a package that's long and narrow. 'Yeah, yeah...' He paws at the side of the package until something inside clicks. Suddenly, a buzzing noise starts coming out from the package, spooking the fox and causing him to scamper away. 'It's cursed, run!'
Selena stays right where she is, looking at it in confusion. '...why does that sound familiar?'
Gel's ears twitch, and she looks to the hall in time to see the silver kit running away. "...I wonder what caused him to act so scared...and what is that noise?"
Rhino pokes his head out of the kitchen and sees the vibrating box closing in on them. He notes the shape of the box, causing his ears to fold back slightly. "Oh dear..."
She peers out, her head below his as she stares at the package. "...um...i-is that...what I think it is?"
He grimaces as he looks at the package. "If you think that's a package meant for intimate times, then yes... it does seem that way..."
She picks it up in her magic, looking at the address. "...strange...there doesn't seem to be a name anywhere on here..."
He looks at her. "I guess maybe the label came off at the post office... Is there a way you can turn it off?"
"...n-not without opening...it...o-oh my..." She blushes bright red, a wisp of steam coming off her head. "...I-I have to deliver this...i-in the middle of town..."
"You can't deliver it remember? You have to bring this back to the post office to see where it goes." He cringes. "And... ponies will hear it as you walk... making them think that..." He blushes heavily. "Yeah... you see where this is going..."
"...I think I'm...gonna go..." Her eyes roll up in her head and she falls forward, just barely missing the kitten sitting there.
Rhino catches her with his magic just before she hits the floor. The vibrating package bumps him on the leg, causing him to reflexively kick it back into the pile where it continues buzzing. As he strokes Gel's mane waiting for her to wake up he ponders what to do.
***
Gel quietly groans, cracking an eye open. ...that was a weird dream... She shakes her head before looking up at the silver form above her. She smiles softly, raising a hoof to gently pet him. "...how's my little kit, today?"
"I think he's wondering how you are, as are the rest of us." Rhino says from off to the side. He is sitting in the chair with Specter on his head and Selena in his lap, gently purring as he pets her.
She stares at the stallion for a moment before groaning, covering her face with her forehooves. "...it wasn't a dream, was it?"
He glances over to the still buzzing package. "No... no it wasn't..."
She jumps up, catching the fox in her magic before he flew too far. "That's it. I can't handle this job! I don't want to be delivering packages like that!" She gestures towards the parcel. "...I still have to return the packages, don't I?"
He nods solemnly. "Yes," he brightens up, "but, thanks to this little one," he points to the squirrel on his head, "I have an idea." He nods towards the small pile of towels he put next to the bag. "Just stuff those in there around it and it should muffle the sound enough for you to get minimal glances. Just put them in your own bag before you leave the post office."
"...that's a fantastic idea!" She hugs him happily, giggling brightly. "I should do that right away!" She runs to the mailbags and, putting the towels and packages in her bag, rushes out the door, elated
Selena looks up at the squirrel, bemused. 'She realizes she took Mercury with her, doesn't she?'
He shakes his head in amusement. 'I'm sure she'll figure it out eventually.'
Soon enough, the white mare arrives at the front desk, sighing softly. ...thank goodness no one stared... She rings the bell. ...wait, how do I give the packages back if I take away the sound dampeners? Would the vibrating package cause him to be curious?
Post walks in from the back, but stops as he sees something over the mare's shoulder. "Umm, Miss Angel... why do you have a fox with you?"
She blinks, looking over her shoulder and smiling brightly. "Oh, hey, Mercury! Did you follow me here?" She gently nuzzles him, giggling softly.
The kit hugs her face happily as the postal pony clears his throat. "Umm, alright then, how did your route go? You seem to have most of the packages still in your bags, was there trouble?"
She turns back to him, blushing softly. "...k-kind of...y-you see, I...well, fainted, during my route..." She pulls off the mailbags, discretely pulling the towels out and shoving them into her saddlebags. "...I-I just...don't think I'm cut out for this..."
Post shakes his head but still comes back up with a smile after he stashes the bag. "Very well, Miss Angel. I'm sorry things didn't work out, but I do hope you feel better."
"...t-thank you..." She smiles kindly before she turns to leave. "...have a nice day, Mister Haste..." She looks at the fox on her back, giving him a small kiss on the forehead. "...come on, little one...let's get you back home..."
***
Later that day, Gel and Applejack are walking down the path towards the barn in Sweet Apple Acres. The orange mare shakes her head as she looks at the unicorn. "Ah gotta admit, Ah'm still a might surprised you came to ma family for a job. Nothin' personal, Ah just wouldn't peg ya fer this kinda work at first glance."
"...neither would I..." She sighs, looking down at the ground. "...but I'm running out of ideas..."
The earth pony gives her a hearty pat on the back. "Hey, nothin' clears yer head like hard work, so Ah reckon this'll be good fer ya."
She smiles, nodding a bit. "...thank you, Miss Applejack..."
Applejack smiles knowingly as they reach the barn. "Don't thank me yet." She walk into the barn and walks out with baskets on her back. "We've got a lot of work to do, and if ya ain't bone tired by the end of it, ya'll be doin' somethin' a bit different than thankin' me."
She blinks, lifting the baskets off her new employer's back with her magic. "...if you say so..." ...this should be easy...maybe one day I should thank the General for his intense training regimen...
They proceed out into the orchards. "Alright, since it ain't quite Applebuck season yet, we've just got a small section of the orchard to do." She positions herself in front of the tree. "Just grip with yer hooves, rear up and..." Her hooves thud into the tree, resulting in a shower of apples neatly in the baskets. "See?"
Gel stares blankly at this, confused. ...how does that work? Is it because the apples are heavier than the leaves? She taps her chin before nodding, smiling softly. "...I think I understand..." She sets herself up at the next tree. Gauging her shot, she rears up her hind legs-
And immediately falls flat on her face. "...ow..."
Applejack laughs as she offers a hoof. "Yeah, that happens to everypony first time around..." She pulls the unicorn up. "Ya gotta find yer balance. Ah'm sure you'll get the hang of it. After all..." she gestures around them, "we still got about a hundred early bloomers to take care of."
The white mare's eye twitches slightly. ...this is going to be a long day, isn't it? She sighs, setting herself up once more and kicking the tree with both hooves. Half of the apples fall, and she frowns softly. "...I was...expecting more than that..."
Applejack calls after she perfectly bucks another tree. "Hey, yer doin' better than most! Just try to aim for the baskets so the apples don't get brusied!" She points to where half of the apples had missed the baskets.
"O-okay!" She bucks a few more trees before a thought occurs to her. ...why can't I just use my magic to pick the apples? She turns to her boss, sheepishly smiling. "...um...m-might I be able to use my magic, Miss Applejack?" As she asks, she bucks the next tree. All but one apple fall into the baskets, and that one lands on her horn, impaled there. ...well, isn't that just dandy?
The farm mare stops and thinks about this. "Ah suppose... most ponies just say that the magic needed to pick all the apples at once is above them. That and the fact that using magic like that usually tuckers them out as much or more than not using it, usually means that they pick applebucking, but feel free to try it yer way. Maybe ya'll will get lucky."
She shrugs, turning to the next tree and quickly picking every apple out of it with her magic. "...I think I can handle it...I use magic a lot, after all..." Though I don't think fire magic would be a bright idea, here...
She picks a few more trees clean with her magic before she starts to feel the drain on her stamina. A few more trees later and she has resorted to picking the fruits one at a time. She lets out a huge breath as she turns as sees the many many trees still left.
Applejack has moved farther down the row of trees, effectively doubling Gel's output.
...maybe I overestimated my magical stamina...how will I catch up, now? She flexes her hindlegs, thinking a bit. ...I could try my flame boost...but that might tire me out even more...but I suppose it's better than nothing... She sighs, stomping her hooves against the dirt and lighting them up with blue flames. I just have to be sure to disperse them before I hit each tree. No big deal, right? She lowers her stance, eyes narrowed. Here I go! She leaps, spinning so one hindleg propels her while the other strikes the tree, landing after hitting ten in a row. ...wow, I feel dizzy...how did I do?
Every apple on the tree neatly falls into the baskets... Except for one stubborn one at the very top of the tree.
"...you've got to be kidding me..." She facehooves, groaning quietly. "...fine, you stubborn fruit..." She picks it out of the tree with her magic and places it in a basket. "There. Now to do the...rest..." She shakes her head, stumbling over to the other tree. "...w-what's going on? W-why's everything...spinning?"
She feels increasingly light-headed as she steadies herself by placing a hoof on the tree. The hoof however, gives way and she crashes into the dirt. She lies there, trying to catch her breath and sense of balance.
The sound of hooves makes her look up and see the apple farmer above her. "Ya'll okay, partner?"
"...I...could be better..." She gulps, holding up a hoof. "...do you...have any water?"
Applejack goes over to her bags she had set down and brings out a bottle. She walks over and sets it in front of the mare. "Apple juice alright?"
"Even better." She takes it in her forehooves and gratefully drinks it. "...y-you know...I might not be cut out for this..." She leans against the tree, finally taking the apple off her head. "...especially since I just don't have the endurance for it..." As a pony, at least. I could probably take care of this whole section in five hours, as a changeling...oh, well...
The orange mare waves a hoof. "Eh, Ah understand. Not everypony's cut out fer this. Besides, ya've got a healthy taste fer apples, and that's good enough fer me."
She nods, smiling kindly at her. "...thank you, Miss Applejack..." She gets up and walks off, wobbling a bit. "...h-have a nice day..."