//------------------------------// // Working for a Living // Story: The Simple Life // by Thornwing //------------------------------// Once again, at the crack of dawn, the antagonist extraordinaire blared his wake up call. Blueblood stared at the beast with a look that could kill. Another sleepless night of tossing in the hay put him in a sour mood. His joints creaked. His muscles rebelled. He got up and waved the bird off. So much for gradual. Right on cue, Applejack came calling. With a rap on the door, she hollered through the slats. “Granny’s got breakfast on the table. Let’s get a move on, Blue.” Dumping out his bag, Blueblood sorted through his personal affects. A mirror and a brush were the first interests that caught his eye. Looking down awkwardly, a dirty, disheveled muzzle reflected back in the ornamental frame. Try as he might, the brush still wouldn’t obey his lack of magical command. He nudged it with a hoof, concentrating with all his might to grab a solid hold. Finally giving up, he took the handle in his mouth and went in search of an assistant. The breakfast table was sure to have what he needed. Apple Bloom wasn’t his first choice, but the old mare and the crusty stallion sitting in the kitchen seemed less suitable to the task. Tugging through his golden locks, mane and hay fell away in clumps from his neck. On to the tail, the prick of pins in his dock had him flinch with each pull. “Ouch,” he repeated for the twentieth time as the filly mangled her way through his preening. “Where’s your sister at anyway?” “She went to check with the neighbors.” Apple Bloom grunted as the brush slipped through the bottom half of his tail. “Now hold still.” The last bits of hay fell away leaving a generally silky train behind. “Woah nelly!” Applejack burst in the door. “Have I got a day planned for you, Blue.” “Let me guess, more apples.” The color drained from Blueblood’s face. “Nope. Thought I’d change it up a bit.” Applejack beamed with pride. “Got a deal with the next farm over. You help plow their south field, and you’ll earn a pick of their main crop for supper.” A blank stare glared back. “Let me see if I understood you correctly. I help plow an entire field, and then I get to eat dinner.” Blueblood sat back on his haunches weighing his options. “Doesn’t quite add up.” “I figured you’d object, but that’s not all.” She reached under her hat and pulled out a surprise. Slapping down a large orange root, the instruction sheet came wrapped around the veggie. “Just thought I’d mention, they’re famous for growing carrots.” Having just eaten his fill of breakfast apples, the ripe juicy carrot taunted Blueblood all the same. “When do we start?” Applejack unwrapped the carrot from the scroll and held it out for Blueblood to sniff. He tried to snap at it, but she pulled it away. His teeth clattered against one another missing the bite. “Not so fast. Honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. You gotta keep your end of the deal or you’re skipping supper. Understood?” Blueblood rubbed his jaw. “Understood.” “Alright then. I’ll hang on to this.” She stuck the scroll back under her hat. “Only two more steps to go and you’re home-free. Let’s see if we can’t make some progress on that today too.” Blueblood’s pleading eyes worked their magic. She tossed him the carrot and headed for the door. “Follow me.” Blueblood snagged the carrot in his mouth. Wait a minute. Weren’t there four steps? Applejack was out the door before he could ask. The delicious crunch of the fresh carrot took his mind off the follow-up. The next farm wasn’t far—just down the lane and over a small hill. The fields behind stretched to the edge of the Everfree forest. A goal planted firmly in his head, Blueblood strode down the path with Applejack at his side. Big Mac brought up the rear. From above, another pony winged over the procession. Coming to rest a few yards ahead, Twilight folded her wings back against her body. “Good morning,” she called with a smile in her voice. Oh great, she’s here. Blueblood was past caring about the formalities concerning the arrival of Princess Twilight. The looming stallion behind gave him pause, but Twilight just added to the stress. He kept his head low and plodded along trying to concentrate on his reward. “Heya, Twilight. How you been?” Applejack trotted up and gave her friend a hug. “Busy as always,” Twilight replied. “The new arrival shelving work for A-F is done.” She leaned in and whispered in Applejack’s ear. “How goes the you-know-what with you-know-who?” “Got it all under control.” Applejack tipped her hat and continued down the lane. Blueblood barely registered the question posed by the Princess and would have liked to ignore her completely. “Blueblood?” Twilight fell back in line with the stallion. “How are you doing today?” “How does it look like I’m doing?” Blueblood grumbled. “It looks like you’re unhappy, but coping.” Twilight grinned supportively. “I wish I could help, but Princess Celestia specifically said—“ “I don’t care what she said.” Blueblood snarled. He pushed on ahead barely acknowledging Twilight. “Just take your wings, and your crown, and your magic, and go back to your castle—Princess.” “A-Alright.” Twilight broke off from the pack. “I’m sorry I bothered you.” With the stinging rebuke, Twilight unfurled her wings and took to the sky. “Twilight!” Applejack called out to her friend, but she was already gone. Turning back to Blueblood as Twilight streaked away, she scowled. “Now what’s the big deal? Why you gotta go and hurt her feelings like that? She’s just trying to help.” Blueblood shrank into a ball. “I-I’m sorry. I-I-I didn’t mean it like that.” Big Mac passed by giving the meanest of glares he had ever seen. “It’s hard for me, okay. She’s a princess—I was a prince. She’s got magic—I don’t. She represents everything I’ve lost and I don’t want to be reminded of it.” “Well, I ain’t a princess, and I don’t got any fancy magic neither. Doesn’t mean I get to squawk and jaw at some pony that does—or used to.” Applejack’s glare focused down on Blueblood. He hung his head in shame. “You’re right, Applejack—as usual. I’m just a horrible pony that doesn’t deserve any friends.” The tone in his voice suggested otherwise. “Now, don’t get all passive-aggressive on me.” Applejack smiled. “You’re here to learn how to be a better stallion. You just gotta stop thinking about yourself so much and start thinking about everypony around you.” “Easier said than done.” Blueblood broke into a full canter. “Let’s just get this over with. I’m not in the mood.” Applejack just shook her head and raced him to the neighboring barn. The trio pulled up on the edge of the south fields. In varying degrees, the crop sprouted across marked sections of earth. The portion on the far southern end near the forest looked to be the area in need of a plow. At the top of the section, a rusty old plow and harness sat idle. Blueblood sighed as he sized up the wicked contraption. Applejack waved him off and signaled for her brother to give a demonstration. Big Mac stepped forward and aligned himself with the plow. No sooner had Applejack tightened the harness, he took off across the field. The earth split in twain as the blade tore a gash down the stretch. A twin row formed alongside with the return. Faster than Blueblood could say horsefeathers, the demonstration was over. “That’s all there is to it. Just keep the lines straight and you’re all set.” Applejack hopped aside as Big Mac lumbered back in. “Let’s have you give it try.” She hoisted the harness off her brother and paused while Blueblood meandered into position. “I’m pretty sure it’s not that easy.” Blueblood twisted his neck to adjust the lay of the collar. All strapped in, he moved to take a step forward. “Here goes nothing.” The collar bit and the traces pulled taunt. That was as far as he went. “Really?” Blueblood drew back. “I didn’t sign up for this.” Along the fence line leading back up the path, a small assembly had formed. The resident farmer was to be expected, as was Apple Bloom or even Granny Smith. The rest of the crowd seemed a bit overkill. Blueblood shook his head and gestured toward the gawking onlookers—more joining with each passing moment. “Looks like you’ve got a cheering section, Blue.” Applejack chuckled and waved her hat at the crowd. Apple Bloom and her friends had front row seats hanging over the low fence rail. The rest of their school friends perched precariously down the line. With the fillies and colts in attendance, their parents weren’t far behind. It seemed a good part of town had gotten word of the event about to unfold and wanted to witness first-hoof. “Take this stupid harness off, Applejack. I want to go home.” Blueblood turned away and tried to hide his face. “Everypony’s here to make fun of me. ‘Look at the Prince. Isn’t he silly?’ I refuse to play the part of the fool!” “What?” Applejack turned back from the crowd. “Are you kidding?” She walked over to Blueblood and coaxed his head back around. “I’m pretty sure that’s not what they’re about.” The rising wave of a swelling chant met Bluebloods ears. “Blueblood, Blueblood!” Louder and louder it rang. “Blueblood, Blueblood!” Finally, it reached a screaming cheer as the ponies along the fence clapped their hooves, whistling and urging him on. His ears perked up, jaw slackened. “Are they… Are they, cheering?” Blueblood couldn’t believe it. Never in his life had anypony, let alone a whole group of them, ever cheered his name in what could be considered a positive light. His spirits rose; his chest puffed out in pride. He took a step forward and jerked back to reality as the plow blade bit hard. “Arghh…” His knees buckled and he faltered nearly falling to the ground. Applejack joined the second chorus. “Blueblood, Blueblood!” Renewed strength flowed through his body, the voices somehow buoying him up. He laid a hoof out in front. A second one followed. His hind legs quivered as they slowly edged forward. One… Two… Three… Four. The movement came naturally. The grating scrape of dirt against the leading edge of the plow underscored the chant. I… can’t believe I’m doing it. Gaining speed with each step, he drew across the field. “I’m doing it!” he yelled back to Applejack. “Woohoo!” she hollered in return. “Eeeyup!” came Big Mac’s approval. Reaching the other end of the field he stopped and turned back to the crowd giving a little bow. Applejack raced up beside him. “It’s a good start.” Looking back across the field, a zig-zagging swath of dirt lay in the plow’s wake. “Let’s see if we can’t fix up those lines on the next pass. The trick is to stay focused. Pick a target and head right for it. Don’t get sidetracked.” “And how am I supposed to do that?” Blueblood spun around and scanned down the line of trees. “They all look the same.” “I got an idea. Gimmie just a sec.” Applejack took off toward the barn. Nearing the edge of the neighboring field, she pulled up, reached down, and tugged out a plant. In a flash, she darted off toward the tree line. At the end of the current row, she signaled hoisting a carrot atop her hat. That was all the motivation he needed. The crowd began their chant. Blueblood lined up his shot focusing in on the carrot. One hoof in front of the other, he set off on his quest for a straight row. The dirt gave way as the plow drove through. Eyes forward, neck strained, legs shaking, he pushed ahead. Applejack’s chanting kept his movement in rhythm. At the end, the carrot would be his. Applejack bowed her head as Blueblood approached. “Take your time. Keep it steady.” Her words of encouragement helped fuel the burning fire in his belly. Blueblood panted as the sweat rolled down his cheeks. Reaching the end of the row, he stopped just inches from his prize. “How was that?” he exhaled between gasps. Applejack lifted her head and eyed the row. A valley as straight as any of Big Mac’s work ran the length of the field. “Darn near perfect, Blue.” She tilted her head and offered up the snack. Blueblood wheeled around and lined himself up for another pass. “I’m all set. Let’s go again.” Applejack took a moment to respond. “Don’t you want your carrot?” Blueblood smiled back. “It’s not mine until the work’s done.”