No matter where you are, getting up every morning is a chore. Especially when you’re getting up to work early. And this is no exception. I, for one, like the scent of hay when waking up, just like on my farm back home. Here, well…
A nudge on my side made me groan tiredly. I took my blanket but another nudge forced me awake. I squinted my eyes to see a red muzzle. Again, I groaned.
“Now, now. Don’t ya fall asleep again. Ah had mighty trouble waking ya.” A male voice whispered, southern by accent but nonetheless friendly.
I sighed as I blinked awake… okay, as awake I could be in a dim room. I looked up to see night outside. Then looked half awake at him. A red coated stallion with blonde mane. His green eyes, almost as tired as mine.
“What time is it?” I asked, my British merging terribly with his southern one.
“Four o’clock. Now get up. Time for work.” He responded.
I yawned and was about to slam my knuckle on the floor as a habit but quickly remembered that I shared a room with his little sister whom I now heard snoring lightly in her bed, slightly within eyesight.
“Tell AJ I’ll be down in a few minutes, Mac.” I said as I slowly got up.
“Eeyup.” He responded and walked out.
I yawned again and got up to a full stand. I grabbed my workers clothes, a blue T, brown-grey workers pants and a buttoned short-sleeved shirt in the color beige. I sneaked out but took a smiling look at the little filly sleeping in her bed, with a bed-head. Her lemon-color coat and the red mane made her adorable. Her pink ribbon folded on her bed table.
I walked down the stairs, wobbly and groggy. The kitchen was dim-lit and an orange mare with blonde hair and three red apples on her flank was sitting by the table, tiredly nibbling a slice of bread. I walked in and her attention moved to me. She smiled.
“G’morning, Ben.” She greeted and my response was a single wave of my hand.
I was falling down tired if the coffee didn’t wake me up. I sniffed the smell of that very coffee being on a boil on the stove that was lit, probably by Mac. I sniffed again and took some paper and snouted. Autumn was always bad. Dark mornings, cold days and early nights. I walked to the coffee-pot, seeing Mac sitting down as I put fourth three mugs.
“Coffee?” I asked, getting nods from them both.
I poured up some coffee in the mugs, sitting down to eat a slice of Granny Smith’s sour-dough bread. I chewed slow and drank my coffee, almost choking on its strength. This was without a doubt Applejack’s brew.
“So we’re working the eastern field, Big Mac?” Applejack asked after a long tired silence.
I swallowed and drank down a glass of apple juice. Mac swallowed as well, responding with a: “Eeyup.”
“Ben, ya’ll take the buckets. The usual. Got it?” he said, never much for talking, that one. “Oh, and mind yer heart, got it?”
I nodded and placed a sugar cube in my mug for extra waking power. True, I have an injury in my heart so trying to match up to their working standards would be like a tortoise racing a cheetah. So, it was minimal amount with going over the limits. I noticed Applejack’s smug when looking at me. I held the mug close to my mouth to take a sip.
“Also, Ben. Twi and Pinkie was talking to me about something important. And thank Fluttershy for remindin’ me.” She said.
Already I began to sense something fishy.
“Yeah? That’d be…?” I asked sipping the coffee again.
Applejack smiled more, even Mac.
“Your birthday party.” She smiled making me choke on the coffee, the strength of it not being the case… for once.
I looked at her, my tiredness now gone, even without the coffee. I was quiet for a while before responding.
“Are you mad? I always keep it in family. I never invite friends to them!” I said, raising my voice but stopping when thinking about the sleeping filly.
Applejack, not worried, continued smiling. Mac got up and walked out. I drank down the rest of the coffee and got dressed. Applejack put on her hat, a slightly torn brown Stetson, and followed with me behind. We got out as the early morning darkness greeted us. It was chilly but I took the lantern and helped placing the buckets on the cart Mac was pulling.
Having been here a year now I was sent here by Celestia. A princess who raised the sun every morning. Seeing her the first time was harsh since my wounds were almost lethal. She fixed a deed for me to work on Sweet Apple Acres where I lived with Big Macintosh, Applejack, their little sister Apple Bloom who I shared a room with (although my bed consisted of three hay bales placed on the floor with a blanket and a pillow) and their Grandma Granny Smith.
I got my first assignment to take the buckets of apples they kicked, or rightly said “bucking”, and placed them on the cart. Some of them were already put beneath the trees and upon arriving I took the buckets from the trees Applejack bucked and took them to the cart.
“AJ, why did you talk with Twilight and Pinkamena about my birthday?” I asked, too tired to scowl.
She bucked a tree then faced me.
“It was Fluttershy’s idea, actually. Seeing as how ya do a fine work helpin’ us out Ah imagined we wanted to compensate.” She answered as she bucked another tree.
I nodded but needed another answer.
“Okay. Why did Fluttershy take interest in my birthday?” I asked again.
Applejack looked at me as if thinking ‘He isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, is he?’ She sighed defeated, apparently keeping it a secret. I took another bucket to the cart.
“She wanted to be kind to ya, Ben. You know she likes ya. Didn’t ya know that she has a crush on ya?” the last with a raised eyebrow.
I sighed, this time. About a few months after arriving before knowing Twilight Sparkle, the librarian and the student of Celestia, I was on a repairmen job when I saw her on the square, asking ponies for help with transporting sacks of animal food from the train to her cottage near the woods. Ever since then I helped her out once every week. Making her blush every time we meet. Don’t know when she fell for me but even I found it odd.
“It was only once and I helped her to be nice. I never let someone down, AJ. You know that.” I said, making her chuckle.
I chuckled back as we finished work at nine o’clock. We walked back and I checked mail. This was pretty much how the schedule was set: 04:00: Waking up and breakfast. 04:30-09:00: Work. 09:00-09:30: Second breakfast. 09:30: Contract repair jobs that lasted the rest of the day.
I sat down by the table, getting a hug from Apple Bloom who smiled widely, her amber eyes beaming at me. I chuckled, picked her up and hugged her back, getting a few smiles from Mac, Applejack and Granny Smith.
“Good morning, Ben!” Apple Bloom chirped, smiling brightly.
I pecked her forehead, making her giggle.
“Good morning, Apple Bloom. I didn’t snore tonight, did I?” I asked getting quick headshakes from her.
I chuckled, letting her down on her chair as I sat down, sorting through the mail.
“One to Applejack, one for Mac… a letter from Cherilee.” I said causing Mac to choke on his sandwich.
“Five contract work for me and finally a letter from Scootaloo to you Apple Bloom.” I continued as I gave the letters to each of the ponies round the table.
I opened the contracts and read them. Giving a few hums on three of them. My hums caught Applejack’s attention.
“Anythin’ good?” she asked.
“A few. Another bookcase request from Twilight, Mayor wishing to get the roof to the Town Hall that Ditzy accidentally ruined fixed and a repair of the stands on the square.” I explained as I let the letters on the table, getting started with my breakfast.
“Didn’t somepony fix that roof?” Mac asked, crumbs falling from his mouth.
I shook my head and Applejack nervously looked the other way.
“No, they hired me since I’m cheaper than your local carpenter. Have to since no one’s employing me.” I said with a frown.
I got my tools ready as I placed them on my cart. My writing block and pencil, measurement stick, hammer and nails as well as a screwdriver with screws. I placed my list of contracts in my back pocket and waited for Apple Bloom to get up as I got her to her school.
Apple Bloom and I always got along… well, not at first. The first time we met she shied away when I worked the barn. However, after some time we became close and I treated her as my little sister. She even reminded me of my little sister back on Earth. Even more so than Applejack, who I saw more as a friend than family. I dropped her off, getting a cheerful goodbye as we parted.
By the way, I never told you how it works, have I? Here is how contracting works in short:
Locals sometimes have their hands, or hooves, busy to take care of certain errands. It pays minimal and you yourself deal with expenses for the requirements. Some set up these notice-boards to help as a resume to hire better staffs. See it as a practice. I wasn’t the only one but I had better knowledge with carpentry, hence my work circles around it. If you’re lucky, you get employed. If not, well, better luck next time.
My first job was at Twilight’s library. Knocking three times, always three times. The door opened and a purple unicorn with darker purple mane with a strand of pink and same purple eyes looked at me, smiling.
“Good morning, Ben. Feeling well?” she greeted.
Giving her a smile of my own I entered with my block, pencil and measurement stick.
“Always good, Twilight. You needed another bookcase?” at this she smiled bright and trotted to the corner of her library. The only part that didn’t have a bookcase.
A small purple-green lizard was on the stairs reading a scroll as he looked at me.
“Twilight dragged you here again, Ben?” he quipped with a smile.
I chuckled while Twilight scowled at him. Spike was Twilight’s assistant/brother and not really a lizard, a dragon but he looked more like a lizard to me. I took measure, not responding but trying to focus on my task at hand. I hummed as I measured to near the roof of the room.
“Twilight, how would a slightly wider bookcase sound?” I asked as I continued measuring the width.
“Think you can do it? I mean, it would be more appropriate.” She responded, getting a hum from me in return.
She hummed thoughtfully until asking:
“Applejack talked to you about your birthday?”
I stiffened at the question. Slowly getting my block and pencil to write down my measures.
“Yeah, this morning. 260 centimeters in height.” I said, writing at the same time, causing me to say the measure out high.
Twilight walked behind me to come to a stop.
“And?” she wanted an answer.
“She said it was Flutters’ idea. 445 centimeters in width should do. And I’m not sure. I always kept my birthday within family. Didn’t even spend it with my girlfriend.” I answered back, starting with my drawing albeit a little sloppy, lacking my ruler.
Twilight nodded from the corner of my eyes. I turned to her and crossed my arms with the pen and block still in my hands. She tapped her chin with her hoof, thinking deeply. If I wasn’t working, being Saturdays and occasionally Sundays, I was at Twilight’s reading and learning etiquette from her and a purple-maned unicorn named Rarity who also made some of my clothes in return for repairing and making several of her furnishing.
“But Pinkie suggested making something big for your birthday. Fluttershy only wanted to make it up to you for everything. Some ponies even suggested helping preparing.” She explained but stared at my cocked eyebrow.
I massaged my forehead letting out a sigh.
“Bloody hell, Twilight. I’m only turning twenty, not being crowned king. A simple party with cake does nicely. Nothing too fancy.” I said looking at my measurements to double-check.
I walked to the door but glancing towards Twilight with a smile.
“Besides, Pinkamena is too busy to prepare a party for me. How’s she gonna get the time to…”
I opened the door to get a high-voiced, high-pitched, pink, up close and personal: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEN!!!”
“OH SHIT!!” I yelped in surprise as I fell down on the floor with a heavy thud.
Twilight looked down at me worryingly as I almost hyperventilated, trying to make my aching heart to slow down as it almost jumped out my throat. The pink pony skipped to stand at Twilight’s side, beaming down at me. Her mane was darker pink and puffy with blue eyes. I breathed carefully as I scowled.
“Hiya, Ben! Where you surprised? Where you? Huh, huh, huh?” she asked in a fast motion.
I sighed as my heart started to calm down.
“God damn it, Pinkamena! Think about my heart.” I growled.
She took this as a joke and laughed heartily. Until she saw me massage my chest. Her laugh died down slightly. Pinkamena Diane Pie or shortly Pinkie Pie was the party-maker in Ponyville. However, I called her Pinkamena. I got up as I looked at them both.
“So, Twilight and I figured we make this humongous party for your birthday, but since Fluttershy came up with the idea we figured ‘Hey, why not make Applejack part of it since we both take care of the baking!’ but Applejack thought it was bad to let two ponies make cakes so she suggested that I care for decorations with Rares but she said ‘I have something planned for Ben, surprise him.’ So that’s what I did! So: Surprise!” she said in a rapid motion, throwing confetti at me.
I took a deep breath to compensate for her not breathing during a whole sentence. It was a deep silence while I brushed of some confetti of my shoulder. Pinkamena breathed and I prepared for another barrage of verbal bullets.
“So I came here after looking like EVERYWHERE for you but seeing your cart outside of Twilight’s library I figured I come to ask you a very super-duper important question: What color?” she asked with a sudden halt, still smiling that almost split her face.
I blinked rapidly trying to understand what she’d just said and asked very appropriately:
“What?”
She jumped up and down, very anxious.
“The color. To the decorations. What’s your favorite color?” she asked, not halting her speed as she kept jumping.
Her poofy mane and tail moving as she jumped caught my eyes as it looked like a sugar-hyped kid jumping with her cotton candy in front of her parents.
“Um, marine.” I said after some time.
She stopped jumping as she pulled out a block and pencil out of her mane and started scribbling.
“Special things? Table cloths, drinks?” she asked again only to be hushed by Twilight.
I sighed as a tension left my body and a headache creeping up. I massaged my temples before answering.
“Pinkamena, I can talk to you after today. I have a lot of work to do. How about after five at Sweet Apple Acres?” I suggested but she already wrote it down.
“Okey-dokey-lokey! See you then!” she exclaimed as she skipped out, humming on a tune.
I left the library but turned to Twilight. She was just as surprised as I was.
“I’ll get on your bookcase after today. You’ll get it by the evening.” I said as I moved to my next job: The city hall.
I climbed up and started the measurements with the help of some pegasi from the lumber shop gathered around. Having been called by the mayor to help me out gave me some comfort.
Up above some more pegasi cleared some of the clouds for the promise of clear skies. How funny that sounded when I first found out that the weather was led by another pegasi named Rainbow Dash… and she was hovering just in front of me.
“So, Benny. How’s it looking?” she asked with a smirk.
Rainbow Dash was, according to her, the fastest flier in Equestria. Like her name told, her mane and tail was colored like a rainbow and together with her sky-blue coat she was a living prism. Her attitude on the other hand could be refined.
I folded the measurement stick as I wrote down the required items and measure. I looked at her and three other pegasi; a mare with messy red mane and cinnamon coat, a grey stallion with black and silver mane and tail and a black stallion with white mane… think they are brothers. I cleared my throat and spoke out:
“I need three logs with the length 205 centimeters and 30 centimeters in width. Two beams with the measure: 60 centimeters at all sides and length 160 centimeters. Tiles. Timbur, I’ll need you to get on that while Monochrome Bros. get on the wood. I’ll come back later today with nails. Are we clear?”
Getting an enthusiastic: “Yes, sir!” from them all as they got to their assignments. There was something satisfying about being a leader for once. I climbed down to get to my third job: The stands. It was more of a check-up since a mare complained while buying a cherry noticed the stand wobbled the cherry of the stand. I shook it gently then hammered the nails that stood out till it stopped. Doing the same with the other stands till they were safe.
I went to the local bakery/restaurant in Ponyville named Sugarcube Corner for lunch before continuing on with the repairs on the city hall. Having one of the brothers guide the beam for me to secure it before nailing it with the other planks proved tiring. But when done I talked with Rainbow Dash who asked me the one question I’ve heard all morning:
“Looking forward to your birthday, Benny?”
I nailed the next plank to the beam before answering.
“I talked to Pinkamena about it, Dash. We talk later today after I’ve finished Twilight’s bookcase. She was okay with it and now I want to return to get this roof finished.” I said waving my hand to the brothers to lower the other plank.
Dash chuckled as she saw me work but later flew away. Timbur returned with the note about the tiles. I hummed as I read. The most appropriate would be to use regulars made from mud instead of wood. I gave her the note signing under the requisition for brick tiles and she darted off. Tomorrow I’d once again find myself here to place the tiles.
However, we pulled a cover over the unfinished project for the time being until the tiles arrived. For now I was going to be busy building a bookcase… and talking with a pink vocal machinegun.
I took the cart home to Sweet Apple Acres and began measuring the wood for building. I placed the notes and sketches on the workbench and took the pen with the measuring stick to mark the exact lengths. Carving the sides to avoid splinters I began sawing the wooden pieces that was going to act as shelves, even them as well as carving.
What would have been about an hour I heard Applejack’s and Apple Bloom’s voices as Apple Bloom galloped towards me. I instantly scooped her up and gave her a big hug, welcoming her home. She put her hooves around my neck and nuzzled my chin in affection. I touched my forehead against hers as she giggled.
“School’s good?” I asked getting a happy ‘uh-huh’ from her.
I let her down as we saw Applejack smiling broadly at what she saw. She ushered Apple Bloom inside to talk to me in private. I continued with the shelves, waiting for her to walk over.
“Ya an’ Apple Bloom are gettin’ along nicely, Ah see.” She said, crossing her hooves with a smile.
I nodded, not looking. I took a nail to the shelf to make it stay in place. She cleared her throat to continue.
“Ah could swear that ya like her more than us.” She said, jokingly sounding hurt.
I chuckled and started on the next shelf.
“I have a sister like her on my world. I noticed how much their personalities matched and I started to treat her the same way. It’s out of family joy I treat her like that. She’s a kid, AJ. You’re an adult so can you blame me for treating her like one? With respect?” I asked as the next shelf was nailed in.
Applejack shook her head with a smile. I placed the final shelf to be nailed and with Applejacks help placing it on the cart. I was about to walk when she spoke up again.
“I know ya love her as a family, just like we love ya back. Ah’m just curious about yer behavior against her. She really loves ya as a brother, ya know.” She said, to which I nodded.
Checking the clock I decided to get to Twilight before five.
I placed the cart outside and was about to knock when I heard two voices. One was Twilight. The other was a sweet and soft voice I knew all too well. I opened and immediately recognized a pegasi mare with a coat colored butter-yellow and a mane and tail of light tint of pink that was as smooth as silk. She looked at me, eyes wide and a pink hue forming under her coat on her face.
“B-B-Ben! Y-you’re h-h-here?” she stammered, worse than usually.
I nodded noticing the three butterflies on her saddlebags. Her cutie-mark as they called it meant their special talent, placed on their flanks. In her case it was understand animals and communicating with them. I walked to Twilight to ask her for help with the bookcase.
She walked beside me to the cart. Her horn lit up with a magenta colored aura that surrounded the bookcase. I only hoped that it fit through the door. Unless she used magic which would’ve been a hell of a lot easier. And she did just that. Placing it on the selected spot at the corner of the room. I sighed, noticing Fluttershy gently scraping her hooves against the floor, still blushing.
“Perfect, Ben! Thank you. And, Spike!” Twilight hollered to the upper floor.
Spike came down with a bag of coins and a tired look. I took the coins and was about to leave when Fluttershy stammered.
“Uumm, B-Ben?” She said, hiding behind her mane.
I turned to her, making her blush redder and almost completely hiding her face behind her mane. Her ears dropped slightly. She searched for words before speaking.
“D-did, um, Pinkie Pie a-ask about y-your, um, p-p-party?” she asked, barely hearable.
I nodded, looking at Twilight who made a movement with her head that I think meant ‘Well? Speak to her.’ I sighed, knelt down to the same height as Fluttershy which made her crouch timidly.
“I spoke with Pinkamena earlier. She‘s coming to Applejack’s farm to speak to me. So I should get going.” I said, trying to sound as soft as possible.
She merely nodded in response. I walked towards the door and bid my farewell.
And as appointed she sat on her haunches when I saw her as a dog waiting for its master to come home. She smiled widely and eyes wide like she just had five cups of coffee that was bombed with sugar. I placed the cart in the shed alongside Mac’s cart and sat down with Pinkamena to plan… I wish I prepared for painkillers for an incoming headache.
“So…” she began holding her pen and notebook prepared. “Drinks?”
I thought for a while. I didn’t like any exaggerated parties. Something simple.
“A punch with strawberry and cherry should do.” I finally decided on.
She quickly wrote it down, ready for the next question.
“Muffins with berries was always something I liked back home. A cake with blueberry jam. Design it however you feel.” I continued.
She scribbled it down before asking:
“Decorations?”
I shrugged.
“Blue and white. The table-covers should have marine and white in colors.” I answered, making me sound like a decorations enthusiast.
“How would you like it placed?” She asked quickly, smiling widely.
Once again, I shrugged.
“Dunno. Surprise me.” I said and she nodded quickly before she skipped away.
I sighed in relief as I got in the house in time for supper. I sat down with my notes from the City Hall project. I smelled Granny’s apple-pie that was placed in a slice on a plate in front of me. I ate while looking at my scribbled blue-prints. Among those was a scribble on a bed that after a whole year didn’t get to be finished.
Apple Bloom spoke of their teachings as well as something Rarity’s little sister Sweetie Belle did during the lesson that made the whole class laugh at her. Something about singing aloud. I was probably the only one that was concentrated on my notes on work I’m supposed to finish by the end of the week. I had about five jobs I hadn’t completed.
Night came along and Apple Bloom fell asleep reading her homework. Applejack was outside with Mac looking over the pigs and Granny slept, gently rocking her chair. I yawned slightly, placed my notes on the table and picked Apple Bloom up to get her to bed.
I heard her snore on my arm as I gently let her down on the bed. I pulled over her blanket. I was going out when I heard her say in a very sleepy breath.
“Good night, Ben.”
I smiled and leaned in to kiss her forehead. Her mane flashing black for a second as her sleeping face turned human. My smile faded when I saw her sleep. I stroked her head with a sad sigh.
“Good night, Bettie.” I said as I left her to sleep.