//------------------------------// // Farming Rocks // Story: The Trick to Rock Farming // by Silent Strider //------------------------------// Trixie eyed the farm; like everything else in the town it was gray and brown. In the center of a large field covered with loose stones stood a fenced area; inside the fence there was a gray tower silo, a windmill, and a two-story farmhouse. The small fenced area was also notable for what it lacked; stones. “Now, sugar, wait here. I will get my husband.” Trixie nodded and tried to smile, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. She had never worked for another pony before — or, at least, not after leaving Celestia’s school, but that didn’t count — so her head raced through everything that could happen. And, the longer she waited, the worser the possibilities she imagined. Trixie was ready to bolt when a large brown stallion left the house. She couldn’t help but stare at the old fashioned way he looked; his mane was close cropped, light gray and white, and he wore a black necktie and a black wide brim hat. His cutie mark was a pickaxe. The stallion focused on her, his face unreadably neutral. “All right, so you are the helper Cloudy found. Any experience with rock farmin’?” Trixie gulped, remembering her promise to Cloudy. “Uh…” The corners of his mouth quirked up. “Calm down... Trixie, wasn’t it? The job is hard, but simple; I’m sure you will learn fast. The work starts just after the Sun rises, so you better be an early riser or learn to become one. We can’t pay much, but lodgin’ and food is included. Still interested?” Trixie let go her breath, noticing that she had been holding it. For her first job interview it wasn’t as scary as she thought. “I am. Mister...” “Igneous Rock. You will be working with Maud; she can teach you all that you’ll need.” He looked to the field, where a gray mare was… sniffing? … the rocks. “Maud, come here.” Maud looked at them and started walking, never raising her pace. Watching her, Trixie almost groaned; she was slow, her purple mane styled with a straight cut, her cutie mark a stone. This Maud seemed to embody the opposite of everything Trixie learned as a showmare. When Maud finally arrived she surprised Trixie again by being so un-Trixie. Her face never changed expression, her voice kept to a single tone, as she asked her father, “Did you call me?” Working with Maud was a… unique experience. She seemed unable to express emotions, no matter how happy, frustrated, irritated, whatever she should be; Maud would talk to Trixie in the exact same tone whether she was instructing her, reprimanding her, reciting some rock poetry, or even attempting a rock joke. For a showmare like Trixie, for whom learning to read the audience is a survival trait, it was deeply unsettling. Trixie made various attempts at small talk while working, telling stories of her days at Celestia’s school and about her travels, but she soon gave up; not only it was impossible to gauge if Maud was interested, her answers were invariably monotonous. Soon Trixie was concentrating only on her work, talking to Maud only when needed. The end of the work day, when the Pie family got together for supper, was a relief, but it wasn’t the end of Trixie’s problems. Without practice in using her levitation for such a long period of time, and with such heavy things as stone, Trixie could feel her neck and horn throbbing, the effort of the day taking its toll. Her magic was unsteady as she attempted to lift a spoon, wobbling all the way to her plate, so much that for the rest of the dinner she used her hooves to eat earth pony style. At least nopony laughed at her misery; at that point, Trixie was glad for any small blessing that came her way. After supper Trixie went directly to bed, complaining under her breath when she found out that her mattress was as stone hard. Despite that she slipped into sleep as soon as her head hit the hay despite the stone hard bed, but not even sleep brought relief; Trixie dreamed she was back in Ponyville, but this time, instead of the myriad ponies watching her, every pony had the same unreadable face as Maud. She woke in the middle of the night, desperately clinging to her pillow while whimpering softly. Trixie blinked, groggily shaking her head in an attempt to clear away her drowsiness. “What?” “The Sun has risen,” repeated Maud in the same deadpan tone. “Breakfast is on the table.” Trixie got up wondering what Maud was feeling. Annoyance at having to wake her? Concern? Was she just being friendly? It was strange, not having a clue, but Trixie just shook her head; if she was going to spend any time here she needed to get used to it. Descending the stairs Trixie found the Pie family around the table, talking in polite, if animated, tones. She noticed the two younger sisters, one a pale gray mare with darker mane, the other a darker purplish-gray mare with almost white mane. Sitting, Trixie took a daisy sandwich with her magic and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry about yesterday, I was too tired.” “Your magic is steady now.” Trixie looked at Maud, eyebrows furrowing together. “Thanks… I guess?” Cloudy’s clear laugh cut through the conversation. “Don’t worry, dear. You’re not the first to be stumped with our Maud here. But she does seem to like you, I’m sure you will be understanding each other in no time.” Maud looked from her mother to Trixie. “If you want I can say what I’m feeling.” Trixie took a hoof to her chin, wondering how it would sound; certainly strange. Kindness; your magic is steady now. Her face contorting in an effort to suppress a laugh, she looked back at Maud. “No, thanks. I will take my chances with guessing.” “Can you handle today’s chores?” Trixie looked at Maud; she was going to assume she spoke in concern. And her horn was certainly feeling better. “Well, I am the Great Trixie. I can handle a few rocks.” It certainly was more than a few rocks. On the other hoof, Trixie didn’t feel as tired as in the previous day; she had eaten well and slept in a good, if hard, bed for a change, and that had done wonders to her disposition. The hard work also helped her forget about how she was humiliated whenever she attempted her show routine those last weeks. She looked back at Maud, effortlessly moving a rock Trixie could barely shift. Now that she knew Maud cared about her even deciphering her mood seemed possible, if still hard. Making small talk with her was more enjoyable than silence, at least, and Maud seemed to enjoy it even if she didn’t show. Of course, with how her luck had been, something had to go wrong. “What, is this all?” Trixie was pointing at a paltry pile of bits in front of her. “I do back-breaking labor the whole day and that is all I get?” Igneous Rock looked impassive. “That, plus food and a bed. I said from the start that we can’t pay much.” “Of course, you can’t pay more.” Trixie waved her hoof. “Look at this. I bet I could run the farm better than you.” Igneous Rock’s eye was starting to twitch. “You bet, you say?” “Yes, I bet my wages! The Great and Powerful Trixie can do anything! Of course —” “Mother will be disappointed.” Maud’s monotone voice shattered the discussion like a stone thrown at a glass, leaving the two arguing ponies looking sheepishly. “Sorry —” “I got carried —” The two ponies looked at each other, then looked down. “Trixie needs her wages. We need a farmhand.” Trixie tried to look at Maud’s eyes, but couldn’t hold her gaze steady. “You are right. I need the job. But I need to get my life back, and at this rate it will take months —” “Trixie and I will do our chores; Trixie will get her full wage. I will help Trixie make the farm earn more bits; we will split the extra income. Is this acceptable?” Igneous Rock gave her daughter a shy smile. “Can you keep this a secret from Cloudy? If she finds out I lost my temper…” “I will not tell.” Trixie felt her cheeks burn as Igneous Rock fixed at her. “Your secret is safe with Trixie.” He laughed. “Then I accept. I don’t know what Maud saw in you, but if she trusts you, I can trust you too. I’m goin’ to tell of our arrangement to Cloudy; see you at lunch.” After Igneous Rock left, Trixie allowed her eyebrows to furrow as her head tilted. “Thank you; I really need this job. But why did you make that offer?” “I know you can do it.” “So,” Trixie lifted her head high, laughing. “you are using the Great and Powerful Trixie to help the farm? Well played.” “You can’t do it without me.” Trixie blinked. Sarcasm? It was hard to tell with the monotone voice and the expressionless face. But she had a point. “Well,” Trixie rubbed her neck, “how exactly does the farm earn bits?”