Fighting Freedom

I woke up the next morning to a hacking cough. Very unpleasant as it shocked me awake, not to mention my stomach that was writhing in pain. I brought my hands up to my mouth and covered it. Twilight came down the stairs as I finished.

"Are you alright?"

I shook myself and said, "I'm fine, no worries. Must have swallowed a bug or something."

Twilight just nodded at me. She began trotting around the library, moving books around. She didn't say anything else to me, and I looked down at my hands. I was mildly surprised to see a little blood on them. I could've cut my mouth or something when I slept, at least that's what I told myself. I looked at the clock to see that it was 9 am. I wasn't quite sure what time it was when I went to sleep, but I knew it wasn't that late. Well I sleep in if I can help it.

I stood up off the couch and asked Twilight if I could use her shower. When she confirmed that I could I did so. Once I finished with that I threw my clothes I had worn yesterday on. They didn't smell too bad. I walked back into the main room, but Twilight was nowhere to be seen. I stepped outside and took a deep breath.

I had two options at the moment, but I wasn't sure what to do. I could either go to the farm and start on that simple job, or go explore. One seemed like the responsible thing to do, but the other sounded like a lot more fun. I decided that I would make just a little bit of cash first. How hard could picking apples be?

I started on the trek to the farm when I saw Caramel doing the same. I approached him and said,

"Hail stranger!"

Caramel waved at me, and we began walking together. As we walked he said,

"So you planning on working at the farm for awhile?"

I nodded my head and said, "Just for a little bit yeah."

"A lot of people do the same when they first move here. Same with the people who are too young to know what they want to do. They work here for a few days and then move on. Usually they find a job doing what they want to do, or they move on to the next town. Always seems to be enough jobs to go around."

"Well that's good to hear. Although I'm not particularly sure what I want to do can earn me money."

"Well what do you like to do?"

"I love to travel and explore. If I'm not doing that, I love to hang out with my friends. I think that's about it. Oh and I love to eat, even if I do forget to do so sometimes."

Caramel laughed and then said, "Plenty of things to do with that. You could write articles about places you go, or be a photographer."

I responded by saying, "Me a writer? I don't think so. And I don't think I've ever touched a camera in my life. Besides that would kind of mar the journey."

Caramel shrugged, "Maybe you aren't the type to hold down a steady job then. I know a pegasus who doesn't ever stay in one town for more than a week. Just keeps on going and going. If you want my true opinion, you may not even need a steady job. We got food everywhere, and the weather will never turn against you."

"I still need clothes though. And what if I want to own a house around here?"

"I'm just calling it as I see it. What good is a house if you're never gonna be there?"

"I would just like to know I have a place to come back too. The only issue I see is that I'll need to work for quite some time if I want to own my own house. Especially since I'll have to build it from scratch.

Caramel raised an eyebrow at me, "Living spaces aren't that expensive, and land is pretty cheap around here. Just call up one of the carpentry services recommended by the town. They'll stop by and set up the house according to your plans lickety split."

"Where I'm from, houses aren't cheap. They take teams of men to set up over a long period of time. Then you have to pay for all those materials."

Caramel chuckled and said, "Well you haven't seen a team of unicorns in action then. They just conjure everything up and set everything in place. A few magic spells later and the house is done. Course you have to furnish it, and then paint it, and all that stuff after."

Well that would be bloody convenient. I was worried about having to build a house myself.

"So question. If unicorns can just conjure anything up, then how does the economy even exist? They could just magic anything anyone ever needed."

"Well I'm not a magic expert, but I imagine there are some limits. I know that they can't conjure up living things. You'd have to ask a unicorn about that though. Honestly what we have now works, and works well. So I don't really care about why."

I would have some questions for Twilight when I got back. Although he had a point about not questioning what was going on. I'm just too curious for my own good.

We reached the farm and Mac was waiting for us. Caramel picked up some baskets and headed off into the forest of fruit trees. Mac handed me a basket, and Applebloom bounced out of the house. As I walked off in a separate direction she began to follow me.

"Mornin' Mr. Silver!"

I sighed, my body didn't want to work yet, "Hi Applebloom."

I didn't try to start a conversation hoping she would entertain herself, but no such thing happened.

"Ah heard about your party from AJ. How did ya like it?"

"It was fun. Met lots of interesting ponies."

"Mah sis says you were being awfully friendly with one of the mares."

I wanted to slap my face in an effort to wake up. "Rose? Nah we're just friends. Nothing special."

Applebloom was quickly trotting to keep up with me. My legs were longer than the average ponies, but she had to nearly run to make up for the size. It was so adorable that I almost stopped and put her in one of the baskets I had. I might have collapsed f I did that though.

"So do y'all plan on staying around for awhile."

I shrugged and said, "I'm not sure yet. Part of me really wants to, the other part wants to leave."

"Where would y'all go?"

"Oh that's the fun part. You never know where you'll end up. It's the journey there that makes it worthwhile."

"Well if it counts Ah hope ya stay."

"You only just met me. Don't say my dashing good looks got you hooked that fast."

I said that without even really thinking. When I realized I was talking to a little pony, I just shrugged it off.

"Wha…? Nah Ah just think y'all would get along real well with everypony in town. Ya seem to be friendly enough."

"I am pretty friendly. Well if it makes you feel any better, I don't think I'll be making that decision for a couple of days."

I reached the end of the barren trees, and looked out over the forest of red and green. I put my basket down and looked at a nearby tree.

"Now how do I do this?"

"Aren't ya gonna kick it?"

Worth a shot I guess. I walked up to the tree and gave it a kick. The tree just shook, but nothing fell. I tried a spin kick, and even a running kick. Nothing I tried by kicking it seemed to work. I looked at the bracelet and said,

"I don't suppose you could turn into an apple magnet could you?"

The bracelet just tightened on me. I took that as a no. Instead of wasting more time smacking the tree, I decided to climb the tree. I put the basket handle in my mouth and began to ascend. Once I reached the branches with apples in them, I began picking them and putting them in the basket. After I had emptied the tree of apples and filled up the basket to the brim, I jumped down.

I looked at Applebloom and said, "Now what?"

"Well now ya fill up some more baskets and take 'em back to the barn."

I looked at the barn in the distance. It was probably about a mile away by my guess. Couldn't really be sure. The best way to do this would be to fill up two baskets, and then run to the barn. I clambered up another tree and filled up the next basket. Once that one was filled I jumped back to the ground.

"Wow ya didn't bruise a single apple! Them hands must be awfully handy (HA!)."

"I wouldn't give 'em up for the world." Ya sorry to disappoint, but there was little that would make me give up my hands to become a pony. I don't care if unicorns have magic, or if pegasi can fly. I like my hands, and they're here to stay.

"Y'all could make some quick money if you could get the baskets back quick enough."

Too bad there wasn't two of me running around. Now there's something to look into. I could form my own band!

"Well for now I'll just have to run 'em back myself."

"Ah could try ta…."

"No way. I don't even know if you could lift one of these. Besides then I'd have to split the pay!"

Speaking of which, this work was going to be one heck of a work out. Seriously, like running with weights. The apples didn't weigh that much, but they would stop me from using my arms. I picked up the baskets in my hands and looked at Applebloom.

"I'm taking these back now. If you want you can come with, or you can stay here."

Applebloom decided to go with me, but I wasn't sure how long that would last. I began at a slow jog, but when I realized that it would still take forever, I ran at a brisker pace. Not at a sprint, but still pretty fast. I felt somewhat silly doing so because my arms were locked at my sides. Applebloom had a hard time keeping up with me, but somehow she did it.

I reached the barn and saw Caramel talking to AJ in front of it. I didn't bother listening it, but brought the baskets up to them.

"I brought you some apples… obviously."

"Well if ya take them to Granny Smith, she'll count them out and hand ya the bits. Oh be sure to tell her how many trees you bucked as well."

"Well not so much bucked, but picked."

"Ah forgot y'all acted like a monkey. So how many apples did ya bruise?"

"Uh… None?"

None of the apples were damaged actually. No worms or anything. I guess the old fashioned way is the best way.

"Well Ah suppose if y'all were in the trees, the apples wouldn't have ta fall down. Granny is outside the house."

I walked away from the two, but blocked out what they said. I was more interested on the money system thing. I kind of hoped Martin hadn't already made a conversion factor. I wanted to invent one. I walked up to the house which was only a short distance from the barn. Granny Smith was in her rocking chair in front of the house. I walked up the stairs on the porch and dropped them in front of her.

Granny took one look at me and said, "I didn't know we were hiring small bears to work here."

"Actually it's more like a monkey, but bear is good. I like being a bear."

Granny got out of her chair and examined the baskets, "Now let's see here."

She dragged them into the house one by one and stayed inside. I waited outside for her on the steps. A short time later she came back with a pouch in her mouth. She dropped it on the porch next to me and said,

"52 bits fer 52 apples. How many trees ya buck out there"

"Only 2 ma'am." I don't know why, but I didn't want to annoy her. So I treated her with as much respect as I could.

"What did ya do? Catch every single one before it fell?"

"No ma'am, I climbed the tree and picked out each one."

"We ought ta get more of ya fellers. Waste a lot of good apples by bucking the trees."

"Thank you for the money ma'am."

"Nonsense. Ya did the work didn't ya? And none of this ma'am stuff. I'm not that old. Just call me Granny."

"Yes ma… I mean Granny."

"Now there's a good boy. Well up and at 'em."

She sat back down on her chair, and I walked away. I decided to do another two baskets and get around 100 bits for the day. Then I needed to figure out how much things cost.

I picked up Applebloom from the barn, and then together we walked back to where I had left off. Applebloom initiated conversation almost instantly.

"So how much did ya get?"

I think it's rude to ask people about how much they make, but I didn't care.

"52 bits for 2 trees."

Applebloom just said, "Wow. That's really good."

I shrugged, I would figure this out later. I didn't say anything, but Applebloom kept on talking,

"Ah was listening to my sis talk ta Caramel. She said that you were a bit creepy."

Well thanks AJ. That was actually a very fair judgement in all honesty though.

"She wouldn't say why though. Do ya know why my sis thinks your scary?"

Applebloom's voice was becoming ingrained in my head. I'm not usually a huggy guy, but she was asking for it.

"It might just be how I look." Or that I knew everything about her. I wasn't really sure how everypony was going to react to that. Apparently AJ still needed some time.

"Caramel vouched for ya though. He said you were just confused."

Looks like no one is on my side. Why can't anyone just compliment my good looks. 'Oh hey there goes Silver, doesn't he look dashing today?' I never get any of that though.

"Then he went and asked my sis out ta dinner."

WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS! That was what I shouted in my mind anyway. Can't people just walk in silence and be okay? I finally answered her by saying,

"What do you think about that?"

"Ah like Caramel, he's a bit silly. Plus he and Mac are good friends. Ah think that's why he hasn’t asked her out yet. Too afraid of mah brother."

"Well that's good. At least your sister isn't going out with a jerk."

We reached the trees and I clambered up another one. When I filled both baskets, I began running back. I figured out that if I sprinted the apples would fall out of the basket. Before I reached the barn I stopped and waited for Applebloom. When she reached me I said,

"Do you think AJ would mind if I had an apple?"

Applebloom just shook her head and said, "She usually lets the workers have a snack."

I pulled out two apples and handed one to Applebloom. I stuck the other one in one of my many pockets.

"Thanks for keeping me company today. I know you would rather have been with your friends on your day off from school."

Now that I thought about it, it must have been a weekend. Whether it was Sunday or Saturday was a good question though. I've been here for four days meaning I arrived on either Tuesday or Wednesday, I think.

"Ah don't mind helpin' out on the farm. It's a family business after all."

I left her at the barn again and brought my baskets to Granny. She counted them out, and brought me another sack of coins.

"At this rate, Ah'll need ta write you a check."

I told her not to worry, and that I was done for the day. I began walking away from the farm when I saw Caramel. I gave him a wave as I passed by. He waved back with his hoof. I began the trek back to the town on my own.

When I reached town I stepped into the Boutique. I knew the land back by the forest was only 300 bits per acre. The land through the hills was much more than that though. I really hadn't known anything about buying land back on earth, but I assumed that was dirt cheap. I mean you are living next to a forest full of deadly mythological creatures. I was more interested in the section that seemed to go nowhere though.

The forest behind where I had landed was the everfree forest, and the opposite one was actually the farm. Both of these touched the last road. Both thinned out when they got somewhat close, and stopped before getting very close to the road. Same was true for the road that led to Canterlot.

When I opened the boutique the bell rang. Rarity came out from the back room and said,

"Welcome to Rarity's-- oh hello Silver. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

I smiled and waved. Then I realized that was a stupid thing to do. I said,

"I was just wondering how much it would be to order a few more sets of clothes."

Rarity clopped her hooves together and said, "Well that depends on what you want dear. I hope you don't want multiple of the same clothes."

I thought about this, and had a few ideas of some things I might want to wear. Rarity got excited when I told her I had several things I wanted, and that I would need to go over them with her. I described to her in the best detail I could what I wanted. She just wrote everything down on a note pad with her magic. When I finished she read over it.

"I must say dear, are you sure about this? It seems rather… odd."

"I am certain. How much will that run me?"

"Well the fabric choice you made for the first few is very high quality. However you didn't put any gems in anything. Are you sure about that? I think emeralds would go great with the-"

"I don't want any gems, of this I am also certain."

"Alright then, if you say so. Since I'm giving you a discount, I would say 30 bits for everything."

Huh, for some reason that seemed really cheap.

"How much of a discount are you giving me? I don't want you to lose money."

Rarity just waved me off, "I assure you I am not losing money on this transaction. Besides this will be quite the challenge. I estimate these will all be done in three days. Maybe more if I don't have everything necessary."

I nodded and said, "Thanks Rarity, you're a doll!"

I walked out of the boutique and towards the market. I wanted to do this conversion thing on my own. I walked up to a stall and said,

"How much for a loaf of bread?"

The owner told me it was only one bit. I've bought bread for only a dollar before. I was kind of disappointed on that. I wanted to feel smart when I did the conversion. That's when I remembered how much the land cost. I could buy an acre of land for only 300$? With deadly mystical creatures included? That wasn't dirt cheap, that was… something worse than dirt cheap! Then again, I wasn't exactly sure how big that was.

My math skills aside, that meant getting land would be much easier than I thought. Before I did so though, I wanted to check out the eastern area. I made my way to what I assumed was a bank. It looked like one anyways. After a very complicated hour inside the bank, I had my own account. I put the rest of my money inside the account.

I stepped outside again and headed for the eastern road.

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I'm sorry if this seems rushed or something. I was trying to finish it quickly and I wasn't even able to. I cut it here so you guys could have another chapter. I'll try to get more work done on the rest later. Weekends are pretty busy for me though so I make no promises. Sorry ._.