Author's Note

We are in Jayden's view point again. I'm on a roll with my writing I think I'm almost out of my writers block!!!! I would like to hear your comments on my story so please make them known.

IX - Back-Shattering Morning

Back-Shattering Morning

Waking up to the crowing of a rooster wasn't in my plans and nor was waking in an awkward position on top of Moon. Opening my eyes I'm staring into a abyss of the color black. Am I blind again? Did I perhaps dream all of the things that happened to me? I stare for some time before I hear clicking on the floor that same agitating clicking from the hospital. I groan softly and start to move into a position of sitting up. All the black slipped away and I was blinded by the sunlight I threw up my hooves to block the sun while my eyes adjusted. A very familiar orange mare wearing a Stetson.

"Rise 'nd shine sleepy head, time ta get off yer rear 'nd get ready for work." She said walking out of the room. I was left wondering for a moment. When did I get a job and how did I get it? looked down at Moon to find her laying there her mouth slightly agape her pearly white dagger-like fangs are showing slightly, her front hooves are pressed to her chest and every minute or so her right hind leg twitches. Should I wake her? I think for a minute or so before shaking my head. No, I wont, she deserves her sleep after getting us a place to stay the night while I passed out from all the ranting I did

Lifting myself off of the couch and away from the overall endearing sight of the snoozing Nightmare I made my way to the kitchen to get some answers. That's when things got even more confusing. The orange mare was sitting at a table eating with a greenish-yellowish mare, a very large red stallion, when say red I really mean a sharp brick red, and a little yellow fillie with a bow in her hair. I raised an eyebrow as they all stopped eating and stared at me.

A long silence filled the room until I spoke up. "Good morning..."

"Mornin'" They all respond and the familiar orange mare gets up and grabs a plate with some pancakes on it and places it across from her on the other side of the table. The rest of them started eating again as she did this.

"Come on over an' get somethin' in yer gut. Yer gunna need it." The orange mare stated sitting back down in her seat and starts eating once again. I, being extremely confused stood there for a minute or so until I made my way over and took the empty seat. A average stack of five pancakes sit with syrup drizzled on it. The syrup somehow reminded me of blood. Not exactly sure why but I believe I've lost my apatite and look at the plate of pancakes dully. I know if I don't eat and I work on an empty stomach it isn't exactly healthy. I unhappily take up the fork and start to eat to my discomfort.

After my distasteful and uncomfortably eaten breakfast I was lead outside by the orange mare. While I was completely in the dark as to what I was doing following her into a huge apple orchard. I would say something but I get the feeling that this is the work she was talking about.

"Alright, how strong are ya?" The orange mare askes walking along. "Cause for a pegasus you sure got a bit of meat on ya." I at first was thrown off by the question, do I really look that different? As far as I knew I was average all around. I assume she took my silence as a I'm not going to say nothing because she had stopped walking and turned to face me. "Alright look, I know your mad 'bout yesterday but could you at least by a little more friendly? Ah'm tryin' to be nice even after everything that happened."

I sighed and nodded. "Alright you win, I'll talk, as for my strength I have no idea... The last time I went to the gym I could bench maybe 125-135. That's with the bar being about 40 pounds so... maybe 165-175 pounds. What did you need that information for?" The mare stared at me then shook her head.

"175 max? Ya expect me ta believe that? A normal pegasus can only lift around 85-95 pounds except BuffBiceps and RainbowDash." I look at her blankly as she continued speaking. "Well if ya got the power, Ah wanna see ya use it. Give that apple tree a buck and lets see if ya got that power in ya." She says waving her hoof at a tree to her right.

"Um... would you care to demonstrate miss...?"

"AppleJack, and Ah don't mind demonstratin'" AppleJack goes up to the tree and with a swift, powerful movement her hind hooves slam into the tree and it shook apples right out of the tree. "That is how you buck an apple tree. Now howwa 'bout givin' it a try? If ya can do it ah might give ya a job assisting with the harvest, if ya cain't Ah'm pretty sure ya could find a job somewhere in town." I think for a moment before nodding. I make my way over to one of the trees and look at the worn in buck marks in the tree. These apple trees must be old due to how much wear they have. I turn around and square myself with the marks. "Give it yer best shot."

Thinking about the marks are it reminds me of the mirror. The mirror that had suddenly appeared in front of me in the old castle. If I had that mirror right now I could do what AppleJack did. I shake my head, I put my mind back to the task and popped my neck. "Here goes nothing." I mimic what AJ showed me to the best of my ability and slam my hind hooves on the tree. I shiver runs up my as i fall on my face because my front hooves buckled. "Ow..." I say as I lift my face from the ground. I look at AJ and her face was blank. No emotion, just as blank as a new sheet of paper.

"Ya did it, but Ah didn't think ya'd leave a dent in the tree..." I look behind me from where I am on the ground and see a new spot a bit lower than the worn out spot dented inward in the shape of my hind hooves. I look at the ground to see a bunch of apples all over the place. I was surprised that one didn't hit me on the head like in one of those cartoons where the lumberjack is hit in the head by an apple every time he takes a swing of his ax. I get up and shake myself a bit to get the dust off of me as AJ begins to speak again. "Ya got the job for taday. Tamarra ya'll have ta go ta town and find a job." I give her a cock-eyed look but give a nod in understanding. If I caused that to a apple tree in one buck I don't think me continuing to do that would be healthy for the orchard.

That morning I worked my flanks off and my back felt as if it was in 30 pieces by the end of it. I stubble into the house and onto the couch. "ooooooooooowwwwwwwww......"