When the day of the harvest came, the bounty all could see that the garden had provided was like something out of an old painting. Vegetables, all healthy and fully grown, were showing in abundance. Now ready for the picking, Habeas was the first to set upon collecting them after wheeling the wagon up to the garden when noon hit. And when he started, he nabbed as much as he could with that hallmark grin of determination glowing on his face, and it seemed especially brighter now that his leg had healed up enough for him to take the sling off.
His wings were clearly beginning their own healing process, but with his hoof now usable again, he found this to be a great time to exercise it. Instead of using his magic to snatch up the many vegetables, he used it instead. The hole-filled limb handled all it grabbed ahold of with ease, and from there he deposited them neatly into the cart, and then repeated the process.
Also joining him in this endeavor was Peach Blossom. She was more than happy to help him with the job, and that could be seen clearly with how she hard she worked alongside him. When they both eventually began to focus on the area of the garden containing the patch of squash, the changeling couldn't help but crack the worst pun imaginable.
"Ooh... you'd best be very careful now," Habeas spoke to Peach Blossom in an ominous fashion as she was just picking one of them up and balancing it over her back. "You don't want to trip and end up... squashing the squash, do you?"
The filly chuckled at his lame pun, but still brought the vegetable over to the cart in a careful stride. "Really, Mr. Brittle? That's the best you could come up with?"
"Little do you know how much of a fan of the cheesy jokes I am," he said back with a smirk of his own. "But even so, there's a certain brilliance in simplicity, am I right?"
From a short distance away, Persica was putting away the last of the gardening equipment and plant food into the deeper parts of the barn; storing them away for next spring. When she left the building through its front doors, clapping some dust from her hooves, she looked in the direction of the garden and at the changeling who was cheerfully working within it.
Habeas was mirthfully going at it with as much energy as when he started. Glad that he wasn't paying attention her way, she took the time to look him over while he toiled on. One thing worth noting was how he certainly looked less awkward now instead of when he was walking around on three legs.
But other things about him caught her eye, like a fish swimming toward a glittering lure in a cold stream. Aside from his odd chitinous exterior, he did at least have a... mildly attractive physique, she began to think. It was the sheer level of exuberance he had and gave off, and the amount of politeness he expressed when addressing her that was what made her see him in that light, she supposed. And the way he was so unfailingly helpful, played and got along with Peach Blossom as though she were his own child, and all-around did his best not to be a nuisance was quite... prepossessing. To say she didn't find him somewhat desirable would have been a lie...
Ugh... what am I thinking? The clear words were like a jolt of static electricity that snapped her away from the outrageous idea forming in her head. It was all just a crazy thought. Nothing more or less. Sighing, she watched the changeling as he went on with his business, digging around and hoisting up a particularly sizable squash with his changeling magic, since the thing would probably be quite unwieldy for him to lift away in his bare hooves.
"Mom, why are you looking at Mr. Brittle like that?" The voice of Peach Blossom ended the train of thought zipping around within Persica's head. Snapping back her regular self, she instantly stared down to her daughter who stood to the left of her.
Were this any other pony she was speaking to, Persica may have snapped up a quick and unfriendly excuse, but to her daughter, her response was calm, collected, and lacked any form of worry whatsoever. "Oh, I was merely staring at the large squash Habeas was carrying away. It must have been my bad eye you saw pointed in his direction."
The filly was quick to point out the flaw in her hastily-drawn defense. "Are you sure? It looked to me like it was your good eye looking his way. But I guess I shouldn't be so nosy. I only came over to ask you when you were going to help pick out some of the plants with us."
Persica peered down at Peach Blossom with a curled brow. She thought for a moment about chastising her daughter for her assumption, but ultimately found that she had nothing worth speaking of without causing a scene. "I'll be over to help in a moment," was all she replied with. Saying nothing and smirking, Peach Blossom passed by her mother and began skipping back to the garden. "Hmm, hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm..." she hummed into a tune positively reeking of teasing derision, merrily rejoining Habeas in the harvest.
Sighing again, Persica also went to the garden and entered it behind her daughter. As the changeling had started on collecting the tomatoes, smallest to biggest, she in turn focused on digging up the potatoes from the dirt. While Persica did that with some of her scooping tools, Peach Blossom noticed one more squash still remained, one of an impressive size that was partially hidden under a leafy vine, sitting just in front of a patch of cabbage. Dogged and determined to bring it to the cart herself, she severed its stem and hoisted it over her back. The moment she did so though, the weight of the object instantly made her top-heavy, and she started to teeter with instability.
"Uh-oh..." she mumbled to herself. Traipsing over a particularly moist patch of soil, she slipped on it, losing the last of what little balance she had and inevitably falling with a panicked shout.
"Wait, Peach Blossom!" came two voices at the same time. Just before she and the vegetable could collapse onto the dry soil, Peach Blossom felt as two pairs of hooves simultaneously caught her and the squash, holding them in place. Staring to either side of her, Peach Blossom saw, to her relief, that Persica and Habeas had saved her.
"Whew..." she puffed with a hoof to her chest, after the changeling and her mother set the vegetable to the side. "I almost really did squash the squash, hehehe..."
"And the squash might have also squashed you," joked Persica. "Good thing you're both okay."
"Yeah, it sure is," she smiled as she looked to her mother, and then Habeas. "If you guys hadn't saved me, we might've had one less thing to keep for dinner. Thanks for catching me."
Deciding to go after some of the vegetables in the garden more to her size, Peach Blossom trotted off. With the ordeal over with, Persica looked to Habeas as he raised up the large squash on his own with his magic to bring it away safely. Whether from the mild temperature outside or not, the second their eyes met, her cheeks seemed to pick up a light reddish tint to them, as though blushing. By the slightly wide-eyed look on her face right afterword, she knew about it, and reacted accordingly.
"Thanks for... helping to catch my daughter before she could get herself hurt, I guess," she said, looking to the peach orchard a ways away; the year now too late for the trees to bear fruit. "That was very nice of you."
Habeas chuckled sheepishly in return, rubbing his back with once-lame hoof. "You're welcome."
For dinner that night, the three dined upon the hardly-wrought spoils of the garden's exceptional bounty. Mashed potatoes, peas, pods, and Brussels sprouts littered everyone's plates, including the one belonging to Habeas. Persica had allowed him to join them at the table as part of a personal 'thank you' gesture for all he had done with the garden, and it didn't really help that it was Peach Blossom's goading that inspired her to do so in the first place.
Habeas was the first to clear his plate. "That was a great meal," he said, putting a hoof to his mouth as though he was about to let out a small belch, which never came. "If you both will excuse me, I need to go use the restroom."
"We'll be having some fresh peach cobbler when you get back," Persica mentioned, as her fork stabbed at another sprout. "It's still in the oven right now. Don't be gone for too long, or it might get cold."
Habeas smiled. "Sounds like a plan." With that, he got up from his seat and headed off to the washroom as the mare and her daughter finished up the last of their meals. He entered it, closed the door behind him, but instead of relieving himself, he filled the sink up with water and looked at his scrawny self in the mirror hanging above it. As what his image was currently doing, he came in here to reflect on some things.
He had shortly before come to a (rather grim) realization that being with Persica made him feel happier than normal, almost content with most things, and... very warm. Warmth that felt many thousands of times better than the kind experienced by lazily laying in a great sunbeam on a cold morning. It was a sensation in his chest that he noticed he was beginning to crave. A sensation that he didn't want to lose, and having the mare just staying in his vision ensured that it would remain.
He sighed and stared at his unsure face looking back at him in the mirror. So much had transpired in so little time, and his mind felt greatly weary from it all. One, single, damning word to describe these feelings came to his mind many times over the last few weeks, but he continued to ignore it until he could deny it no longer.
Was it love he was feeling? True, earnest, undeniable love? For Persica? The very same mare who once- no, twice nearly took his life without a thought otherwise? To this incredulous question, Habeas was not sure if he had the answer. Splashing his face with the cold water in the sink and then drying it off with the handkerchief around his neck, it seemed to help him refresh his mind a tad, though not truly by much.
He did find her quite attractive and simply blithe to be around - in the ludic and dry sense, anyhow. But there was a fine line between common desire and true, passionate endearment. A line as thin and perilous as the blade of a knife, and Habeas was starting to find himself balancing on its edge. Ever since that night where the two had drunkenly fallen asleep together, he could sense a greater amount of ease and peace with herself coming about her. He could feel that sulking murk within her faltering with every passing day he was around, and what replaced it was a warm feeling that he perceived was very similar to what he himself was enduring. Habeas only wondered if Persica saw it the same way he did.
As her scar told all, she had been through much. Too much. She had her own husband, one she seemed to love more than anything else, and she had lost him in the most monstrous way fathomable. That was the only fragment of gloom that rested within her soul, clinging to it like a cancer, and Habeas knew it wouldn't leave anytime soon.
But then, before he left the bathroom, that one question came back into his head. Was he actually falling for Persica? Had this mare, unintentionally or otherwise, ensnared his affections to her infatuating being like a moth flittering mindlessly to a flame, daring to be burned? Did he even hope to think that he was in love with that fierce, battle-scarred, warrioress-of-a-pony? To all of these queries that came into his head like a flood breaching a dam, Habeas finally came to his conclusion he felt comfortable with.
He believed he was.
And for quite an obvious reason, as he returned to the dinner table for the oncoming round of dessert, he felt extremely worried about it.
I do not get it. After previous chapter's ending ("Don't you think I've at least deserved to rest a single night inside this house for working for your kind self?"-"No") I would expect him to simply leave. Doesn't he have any self-respect at all?
After all she is exploiting him for several months already - she crippled him for no reason (and she clearly has no second thoughts about it), made him work for her for free (she would have to pay farmhand for his work in addition to providing place to sleep and food) instead of any compensation and moreso continues to treat him as animal desprite all those saying about friendship. You do not treat friends that way. You do not treat strangers that way. I doubt that however broken she is she does not understand that she is cheating him of at least small salary. And the same goes to his injury. If she thinks of him as a friend now - how could she not flinch every time she sees his shredded wings?
I do not get it…
7775317
...well I was going to check this story out until I read this comment.
That's fucked up abuse shit right there.
7775317 I believe she considers as a friend, but because of what he is and her past history with changelings, she still has small doubts even though there isn't any reason for any. As for crippling him, I think she could've handled it better. She is describing an entire species over the actions of so few which is worrying, so I think she could at least apologize for that and see their species as a whole in a different light.
Though Habeas could've left much earlier, his condition wouldn't allow it as it would be too dangerous. Maybe now that he is healed up, sure he can easily get up and leave, but at this point it sounds like he doesn't even want to leave seeing as how much he enjoys their company and, as stated in the last few paragraphs of this chapters, he is falling for her (spoiler just in case :P). I wouldn't say she is treating him as an animal, more like someone who has low access authorization to put it simply. Though she could let him stay in her house, I think that she still finds it a little bit uncomfortable with him staying in her house. You could argue that because they're friends so there shouldn't be any sort of tension between the two, but the reality of the fact is that even friendships doesn't mean that they agree 100% with each other.
And also, payment is another thing. That subject is a bit iffy, however you can argue that he isn't working for free. In return for his work, he is fed and has a roof over his head (even if it is a barn), and is also protecting him if anything were to attack- most likely. This isn't working, more like a trade that both parties have agreed on. Also, she didn't really force it upon him. As far as I can see from Habeas' reactions, he seems to subconsciously agree to work happily and enjoys working. So yes, you can argue that Persica is just exploiting him, but you can easily also argue that she isn't.
This is where matters turn into more opinion and perspective base. To a lot of people, this can be seen as unreasonable and simply outrageous, but some may see this as like a dream come true to them. In the end, this topic turns into a large argument and at the end of the day, this is all just opinionated.
So yeah, this is the end of my rant. Enjoyed? Probably not, oh well, I said my piece.
-King of Eggs
7775550
I have to agree with you on this.
Mmmm... this is turning into quite the conundrum for both our friends here, and then there's the other... problems... in town.
*coughcough*
Nicely done man, nicely done.
The plot thickens. And the web begins to become more and more complex with each passing chapter.
Love the chapter and inner conflict of the chapter BTW. Nicely done.
Ohhh Persica, just stop being such a Tsundere and just KISS that changeling already!
she has reasons for it, maybe not great reasons, but reasons nonetheless. Also, he also gives his reasons to stay in this chapter.
7775397
Best changeling fic I've seen a while, still. Can't wait to see what happens next, and I'm curious as to what'll go on when Habeas' leg is fully healed (as it seems to nearly be now), and Persica has to decide what to do with him.
7775550
Let's speculate a bit.
Imagine 2 situations:
Case A:
Somewhere not too far from your home you met bandit who was going to hurt your family. You attacked him first and broke his leg. Since he was surely going to die in wilderness if he tried to travel in this condition - you gave him place to stay for a while (empty barn - you would not allow this person to enter your home, but still place to stay) and food. But your required him to work for free during his stay.
Case B:
Somewhere not too far from your home you met innocent stranger who was traveling peacefully. You attacked him first and broke his leg. Since he was surely going to die in wilderness if he tried to travel in this condition - you gave him place to stay for a while (empty barn - you would not allow this person to enter your home, but still place to stay) and food. But your required him to work for free during his stay.
Is case A exploitation? Possibly. Is it just? In my opinion most likely yes. He got what was coming anyway.
Is case B exploitation? Definitely. Is it just? In my opinion definitely no. You ambushed innocent person and put him in condition where he does not have any other option than work for you for free. Kinda stinks of slavery and other bad things.
Both cases describe the same events and the same deal. Major difference is intention of stranger.
Of course at the start of the story we see clear case A from Persica's POV. But somewhere during the story there should be transition in Persica's perception from case A to case B. It could go gradually or in one moment as a revelation (with small or big mental breakdown I think). But in any case transition should happen.
Final scene in the last chapter would be totally ok somewhere early in the story while she saw the situation as clear case A.
But at this moment she is more or less sure at the moment he is harmless and did/does not have ill intentions. He helps a lot and does a lot of work - we know that she did not have time to start garden for years because of sheer load of work to keep business more or less afloat. She is not so paranoid around him anymore and even called him friend indirectly. Actually if she allowed him in the house while inebriated - she definitely does not perceive him as treat deep down. So in this case she is simply being mean imho.
7778152
You say work for free like he was being paid by Chrysalis (doesn't sound like it in this universe). A changeling working for only room and board is par for the course. As for keeping him in the barn? She might feel that letting him closer to ber would make her internal struggle on her feelings for him even worse. Besides, he spent how long with little more than a book in a hobo satchel, living under the stars?
7782182
So you feel it's justified to not pay someone for work you would have to pay for if it was other person because of this one's species?
Though you might be right and Persica is simply being racist which might be normal for ponies in this universe. I did not feel it from the story so far but it might be. We'll see - it could be even more interesting.
Though even in that case imho she should feel at least a bit guilty for injuring him when she knows him better and understands that he was indeed innocent.
Why do I have the feeling that Habeas' new wings will sparkle?
the plot thickens
7782206 is is sort of being paid room and board yes sleeping is the barn is a bad but one persica has had a very bad experience with changelings as well as a daughter so i can understand why and changelings are know for being deceitful
Remove the second "she" in the second sentence.
Last sentence, change "plans" to "plants".
Oh come on and take the hint already, you stubborn mare!