//------------------------------//
// 7 - A Task Undertaken 
// Story: The Apple Falls Far from the Tree 
// by David Silver 
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Reginald sent the Crusaders off into the changing room to try on their new attire, then approached Applejack. "You mentioned they were not all your blood relatives. It must be difficult, watching three foals at once."

Applejack raised a brow. "Least ah can do, being the only responsible adult around."

Reginald nodded quickly, "Of course, but you aren't the only one... I could watch one of them for you, if you like. I'll even pay a fair price. Is the darling little earth-bound yours?"

Applejack flipped her ears back, "Ah don't like the direction this conversation's headed. How about ya give a fair price on the clothes ya rustled up and we leave before ah have hard feelings."

Reginald held up his paws, "No offense is intended! I am no brigand or scoundrel. If you don't wish to sell, then I won't be buying today. Thirty gold pieces will settle the balance."

Applejack snorted softly, "That before or after Sweetie's discount?"

Reginald clapped his paws together, "Ah, how forgetful of me, we'll make that twenty, and give Sweetie Belle a free outfit for that mesmerizing little voice she has. Are you certain you wouldn't part with that one? I'd give you the other two for free, and fifty gold on top of that, a fair price for a household servant."

Applejack's eyelids narrowed. "She ain't a servant, she's practically kin! She ain't for sale so stop askin'." She produced the coins angrily. "Here, now kindly be quiet. Yer really working mah nerves."

The three emerged from the back, gussied up as their chosen profession. Apple Bloom looked quite pleased with her plentiful leather hoops to hold her potions and vials, Sweetie Belle looked like a little performer, and Scootaloo was presentable in her explorer's attire. Apple Bloom rushed up to Applejack, practically bounding in place. "How do we look!?"

Reginald nodded at the three. "You look like three angels descended from the upper planes to grace my store."

Scootaloo looked baffled. "What's an angel?" 

Applejack gently nudged them towards the door. "Ah'll explain later. Thanks kindly, mister. Bye." She couldn't be out of the store fast enough, and let out a breath once they were safely outside. "Y'all never going back in there ever again, ya hear?"

Scootaloo repeated her question. "What's an angel? And what's wrong?"

Applejack shook her head, "Ain't nothing ah wanna talk about. Y'all look good. Let's find a place ta rest, it's getting mighty hot out here."

Sweetie raised a hoof, "I know where to go!"

Applejack hiked a brow, "How?"

Sweetie tapped her ears with a hoof, "I've been listening while we walk. People talk about things."

Apple Bloom held up a hoof, to be met by Sweetie, "Ah didn't know ya were so good at listening."

Scootaloo bobbed her head, paused, then peeked at Sweetie's flank for any changes. Nope... "Well lead the way, Sweetie!"

Sweetie did a slow turn in a circle. "I think we're... That way." she pointed. "That should lead to the main street. There's a nice, but not too expensive, inn ponies were talking about not far up on the left side called the shiny something or other."

Applejack nodded, "Alright, let's get moving." They set off together down the road, emerging onto the main thoroughfare as Sweetie had predicted. There were more purrsians about, but Applejack's eyes fell on a pegasus perched on a crate. She pushed towards the winged stallion, "Hey, mister."

The pegasus looked Applejack and her wards over quickly. "What kin I help you with?" He wore loose and airy clothing that seemed to fit both his flying nature and keeping the heat off. Strapped at his belt was a small dagger, a compass, and a few other things in pouches.

Applejack smiled, "Don't mean to be a bother, but it's nice to see a fellow pony. Do ya know a good place to get a job or at least directions?"

The pegasus extended a wing before folding it down and across himself in a sort of bow. "I am Hot Zephyr, pleased to meet you. This is no city for ponykind, it's true. It depends what manner of work you seek. You look like an adventuring party?"

Scootaloo perked her ears up, looking over Hot. "What makes us look like that?"

Hot pointed at Applejack. "You have a warrior." Then Sweetie Belle, "A bard." Then Apple Bloom, "Clearly an alchemist." He paused on Scootaloo, looking uncertain.

Scootaloo puffed herself up. "I'm a warrior too!"

"Of course. If you are being adventurers, there is no lack of work to be found, pony, purrsian, or something else entirely." Hot leaned back on his perch. "I don't mean to be very rude, but it is custom in this city to trade favors with money. You understand?"

Applejack's happy expression fell to suspicion. She sighed out heavily. "How much are ya talkin'?"

Sweetie interjected, "What if we paid you after we got lots of treasure and stuff?"

Hot barked out a laugh, clopping his hooves on the box he was seated on. "Oh, what spirit in that one! I would feel bad sending her to her death, but you chose the life of adventuring, not me."

Applejack hesitated, stepping back. "Ah'm not trying ta get the girls mixed up in more danger."

Apple Bloom looked up at hot and rolled a hoof. "Is there another way to get money?"

"Quickly? As a pony? No." Hot crossed his arms. "I will trust you, because you may go far, or die. Either way costs me nothing. If you succeed, find me and return the goodness I show you now." He gave directions to a different inn several blocks away. "Look for a purrsian, male, green cloak, brown eyes, calico coat. Name's Louis Bristletail. He has all the jobs and will give you something to do for quick gold."

Applejack's head sunk a little. "Don't suppose ya could just point the way to Viljatown?"

Hot extended a wing, pointing in a direction. "Just go that way. You'll have to pass through dangerous desert, then across fields of hungry monsters, cross a river, and likely cut through a forest of wild fey creatures-- besides us, I am meaning. I'm sure you can manage it in about a month of hiking."

Applejack blanched at the idea. Apple Bloom nodded her head firmly. "Looks like we're going adventuring!" Her upraised hoof was met swiftly by the other two girls. All three looked to Applejack. She added her own hoof to the bump with a grumble.

Applejack nodded at Hot. "Appreciate the spot of kindness. This whole city seems plum out of its mind."

Hot saluted with a wing. "I know the feeling all too well. These cats have some kind of shared disease I am thinking. You watch out for yourselves, eh?" He spread his wings and took off, ascending into the sky with lazy circles before heading off into the city.

Their destination settled on, they started through the streets, passing by 'The Shining Goblet' that Sweetie Belle had mentioned and eventually arriving at the far less reputable looking 'Six Feet Brew'. The door was ajar, allowing them to see the dimly-lit interior. "This time y'all stay by me, no wandering, no touching, and definitely no meddling."

The three smiled with innocent expressions that did little to relieve the tension in Applejack. She nudged open the door and stepped in. A few purrsians loitered at the bar alongside a crystal pony. Scootaloo pointed to the right, where private booths were. A wealthy-looking purrsian with a ring on every furry finger was sipping from a goblet while reviewing papers. "I think that's the one!"

The barkeep, also a purrsian, bellowed out at the newcomers. "Hello! Welcome to Six Feet Brew! We have drinks so strong they'll put you that far down." He barked out a loud roaring laughter, while his clientele groaned softly at the repeated joke. "What can I get for you and your little friends? We have fresh-squeezed agave for the little ones."

Applejack shook her head, "Maybe in a moment, thanks kindly." She ushered the girls towards the back, her eyes taking in the pampered features of their contact. "Ah hear ya can get us a job?"

Louis leaned forward, "We don't get many ponykind in here looking for work. What are you good at?"

Apple Bloom piped up quickly before Applejack could get in a word. "We can do anything ya want! We're adventurers!"

Applejack shot an intense if brief glare at Apple Bloom before chuckling nervously, "Ah heh, foals, ya know? Whattaya got?"

Louis snorted softly, "I'm quite happy to report all my kittens are earning their own livings now." He fingered through the papers on his table a moment, eyes scanning them before he pulled out out and slid it towards Applejack. "We'll make this easy. Rich cat can't even hunt rats in her own basement. She's nice enough, if a little loopy. Be nice to her, don't damage her property, kill the rats, get paid. Can't get easier than that."

Sweetie made a face, sticking out her tongue in disgust. "Yuck, rats?"

Applejack accepted the letter, "We'll take it. Do ya know how much she's paying?"

Louis shook his head as he shrugged. "Afraid she never specifies, but she's always fair. I don't take bounties from someone twice if they aren't, and we've been doing business a long time." His eyes wandered over Applejack. "I'm going to be forward. I'm appreciating the half-naked warrior motif you have going there. Stetson and a saddle? Nice."

Applejack's ears sunk, "Uh, yeah, thanks partner. Do we come back here after we're done?"

Louis wobbled a furry paw. "If you want more work, or want some strong drink, yes. She should pay you herself, so don't leave without being paid. The rooms are clean and reasonable, if you don't already have a place. Avoid the food. I've seen better in trash cans."

Sweetie hopped up suddenly, landing lightly on the table before seating herself. "How do you get money out of this?"

Louis pointed at Sweetie. "Now you, you could go far. You wouldn't believe how many saps run through here and never ask that question. It's real simple, kid."

"I'm not a goat."

"Whatever." Louis waved dismissively. "The clients have to pay to post the bounty. She already paid me, and it's good until the job's done. It's my job to find people like you to make her happy. Everyone gets paid, everyone gets happy."

Applejack nodded as she glanced towards the bar and its selection of drinks. "Any rush on this, or would taking care of it first thing in the morning be alright?"

Louis lifted his shoulders. "It's waited this long, the morning should be fine. Just don't sit on it. I look bad when my agents get lazy."