To Greener Pastures

"So... A job, then?" Ashton said as he sat down in the 'map' room with Twilight and Spike in their respective seats and he was sitting in Rainbow Dash's seat.

"Uh, yeah. That's what I said." Twilight said in a bit of an annoyed tone. "While I don't want to force you to be out on your feet already, I want you to be prepared for any situation. For example, there might be a time where I don't want you here anymore and you have a place to yourself."

Ashton looked a little perturbed by this but he kinda understands the reason why this could be one of the cases. "What, so you can have alone time with a boyfriend or something? Totally understandable."

This flustered Twilight a little, but she chose to ignore it in the long run. She was getting a little too used to Ashton's shenanigans at this point. "Right, so... How about it? At least try for me?"

"I mean... I just got here a day and already been told to go outside. You're a like a mom who wants their child to head outside so they can have alone time." He sighs a bit and rests his cheek against his knuckles on the armrest. "Can't I just rest for today and do it tomorrow?"

Twilight uses her hoof to wave off. "And lose the day? Come on, aren't you a LITTLE bit curious about Ponyville?" Looking at Ashton, hoping he would say yes.

"Jeez! Fine! I'll have a look around. You're impossible." He said before getting up from the seat and looks at her. "But you're gonna have to guide me to the entrance, cause I can't remember my way around."

Twilight rolls her eyes. "Fine, I suppose I can." She said before hopping off her seat and walking with Ashton to the entrance of the castle. Spike, on the other hand, was reading a comic book and only finally said something. "Huh?" He looks around to see it now empty and shrugs. He goes back to reading.

As Ashton walks out of the entrance and saw that there were ponies around, doing their own thing whether it be work or play. Twilight starts speaking behind him. "Take in the sights, make friends and don't look too hard."

This made him shrug and sigh. "Broken records are still broken, Book Horse."

Scoffing at the nickname, she just had to correct him. "Twilight. But you're right, I guess just take your time and things will come naturally to you. Also be back by 5, dinner will be ready by then."

"Yeah, yeah..." Ashton mutters before taking the steps down to the grass, this was it. The start of... Whatever this was.

Truth be told, he was glad he got out of that place. He stretches and yawns, feeling the fresh and cold air seep into his lungs. So refreshing.

After his much-needed stretch, he starts looking around on where to start first. He first starts off looking through this marketplace and probably at that town hall to see if there were jobs for him to take up.

He starts going into a jog, seeing a few ponies gazing at him. It seems they aren't used to his presence just yet and were startled to see him go into a jog. This didn't stop him however as he looked around while his feet did all the work.

After a minute of exercise, he finally makes it to the marketplace. The smells of herbs, fruits, and vegetables were so enticing that he sorta wishes he had cash on him to get an apple or something. Though with how they treat other species here they would probably screw with him and overcharge him. Not that it has happened yet, but he's expecting it once he does get a job and gets some 'bits' on hand.

The marketplace itself was colorful... There was nothing else to it but the designed looked historic in nature, almost similar to 1800s Victorian-era design. Ashton was no historian but that was the only thing that came up in his mind.

Though this morning has been a tad strange to him. Why did Twilight want him out of the house all of a sudden? Was it because of their earlier talks? Did she figure out that he was messing with her?

"Eh, I'll make it up to her." He said to no one in particular.

A southern accent was then heard from his left. "Make it up to who, sugarcube?"

This made Ashton look to his left, to see Applejack, the orange pony with a stetson and a tied up blonde mane. She looked pretty adorable with the hat. "Oh, I'm talking about Twilight." He replied.

She got a little defensive. "What did ya'll do to Twilight?!" She said a little pissed that he may have harmed her.

He puts his hands up. "Whoa, whoa... I didn't do anything to her. I guess we just had a falling out is all."

She didn't really seem to believe him, but she can't really say with how vague he was being. "Well, alright. Ah'll take your word on it for now. So, what ya need?"

Ash then wondered. "So, is there anywhere that's hiring? Or do I need to go to the town hall?"

Applejack puts her left hoof on her chin and taps her chin before shaking her head. "Sorry, Ah don't know anywhere that's currently hiring."

"Hmm... In that case, don't worry about it, I'll find my way." He gives her a slight wave before he walks off from the stands, sighing in relief that she wasn't gonna stomp his face in for that little misunderstanding.

For the time he knew these girls, they were quick to forgive... But Twilight was an odd one, it was like she was more careful. Fearful even, that wasn't too odd but the whole ordeal felt very wrong. Staged, almost.

He shook his head and heard a clash of metal on metal in a 'twong' sound. It almost sounded like blacksmithing was going on as he could smell and feel the heat coming from his side, where a black door was seen as an entrance. It was cracked open slightly, perhaps to get the air in or out?

Regardless, Ashton opens the door and could feel a wave of heat assault him. But due to the resistances he obtained from this weird power boost thing it didn't bother him as it should have... Just took him off guard is all.

"Careful with that, ya blitherin' idiot!" A thick and heavy Irish feminine accent was heard from behind the counter where a giant forge was beside said counter. It was made of wood, so how the hell has it not burned down is beyond him.

He could hear an equally pathetic stallion state. "Y-yes, sorry mammy!" He whimpered. "Mom?" Ashton said out loud but to himself mostly.

The mare sighs. "I'm not your ma during work hour, ya know this! Do it again and RIGHT this time! If ya buck up again, Oi'll skin ya!" She sounded like one tough cookie and the stallion whimpers. "Y-yes ma'am!" He said hurrying off out back to start the metal process again.

This stallion was a cookie dough colored fur and sky blue mane pony with a bit of spike on the fringes. Well... Stallion wasn't exactly the RIGHT word, he looked MUCH younger and feminine looking but he had crystal blue eyes and a short matching blue spiked tail.

Ashton saw him rush past that he completely was taken aback when the mare surprised him. "Oi!" He jumps and looks at the mare was almost the same in fur color except she had a long brown mane with a matching brown fluffy short tail. The mane was tied in a hairnet or... Manenet? Otherwise, she was staring up at him with a pretty pissed off look on her face.

Ashton could do nothing but gulp and feel overwhelmed at this mare's incredibly energy, was she suffocating him with her strange pony power? Or was it the heat in the room?

After a few moments of staring, she finally speaks. "Come on, out with it. What ya want?"

Sighing in relief that the tension was cut like that, and just as soon as the tension WAS cut, the temperature suddenly died down... How ... Odd.

"Erm, I'm just looking around is all. Don't mind me." Ashton replied with a sheepish smile and rubbing the back of his head in the same sheepish motion.

She tilts her head, a little annoyed and disappointed. "Well, if ya just standin' there and starin' with nothin' needed, then buck off, monkey! Oi'm busy!"

"W-wait!" Ashton said before cursing himself a little for being awkward. "Uh... Do you develop weapons per-chance?"

This seems to take the cookie mare's attention and she looks at him with a neutral stare. "Oi'm listenin'." She said with a much more calm and smooth tone. This one must have been a charismatic one in her time.

Taking a bit of a deep breath, he finally said. "A sword, could you perhaps hold an order for me until I get the 'bits' needed?"

She puts a hoof up to her chin and looks at Ashton up and down, sizing him up it would seem. "You don't have money?"

"A-ah only temporary! I'm looking for a job so I can get the--" Ashton was interrupted by the cookie mare. "Alright, you're hired."

This took Ashton aback. "! Huh? Wait, I don't have any blacksmithing experience! I could get injured without this kind of experience in my belt!"

She smirks and gave a shrug. "Yeaaah, you don't look the type. But no, you're not gonna be the one developin' or makin' anythin', you're gonna be ma delivery colt."

Then Ashton felt a little dumb for thinking too deep there. Truth be told he felt a little dismayed over the fact he wouldn't make or develop something but gotta start somewhere.

["Hold the phone, this is like my old job... Sorta. I'm like a freakin' late night clerk again!"] He groans out loud. "Okay, I accept..." He said begrudgingly. "When do I start?"

She had a grin on her face. "Ya start now!" She then goes behind the counter and back in front with a parcel in her mouth, she speaks rather well with the string being in her mouth. "I need YOU to deliver this t' Sweet Apple Acres on the other side of town. And don't slack! If you're not back in 8 minutes, you can forget about this job AND your 'sword'!"

He actually salutes. "Y-yes ma'am!" He said as he accepts the parcel and holds onto it. "I'll be back quick!" He then starts jogging out, passing the stallion standing by the door, who now came back in seeing it was finally time to see what that was all about. "What was that all about, mammy?"

The mare grins and pokes her chin with her hoof. "I think we finally have ourselves an answer to our prayers, boyo." She then realizes what he said. "! Hey! Back to work, ya little--"

The stallion gasps a bit and goes back outside to cut the metal again. But when he was out of sight and earshot, she smiles and then sits her haunches on the chair as she starts her break. "Such a lovely boy."

Ashton tried to remember where he saw a map, but it was too late for maps he had to go there quick or he'd lose his job and any chance of self-defense until he finds another job and gets the money for it. However, it sounds like it would be expensive to custom order a weapon.

He decided now would be a time to ask for directions and ANYPONY would do, he then talks to a nearby stallion. "Hey, do you know where Sweet Apple Acres is?"

"Huh? Oh, it's that way. There's this one girl and she's reall--" He points at the east and Ashton ran for it. "Thanks, bye!" He couldn't stay around and talk as much as he'd love to, he had a job to fulfill." He kept running, feeling the chilly air of the winds washing over the sweat coming from his forehead, it almost felt like ice now, he shivers but kept going.

In his way, Rarity then called out. "Yoohoo! Ashton, dear! Would you care for some--" Ashton had however ran past her. "No thank you, rain check?!"

Rarity blinks in surprise and then turns her head to see him run off. "I... Suppose so?" She then had a smile on her face. "You better keep that a promise~." She said in a singsong voice.

That made Ashton shiver a bit, not that the cold already did but something about that sounded a little off to him.

Now a few other things ended up getting in his way, and those were the marketplace ponies. He starts sliding to the side and dashing through the open points, squeezing through them only barely as some ponies shield their children, thinking he was gonna snatch them up.

["Oh please..."] Ashton thought to himself as he near misses the last pony and continues with his sprint. His lungs were giving way now as breathing became very laborious.

Despite the fact that his lungs were practically begging him to stop, take a breather, get a gun and shoot himself he thought through it and kept on running with the package still by his side.

One final skid and corner pass, he exits the town and starts going down a natural road. "This is starting to look a little 'acre-y'." He said to himself out loud through gasps of air.

He was gonna make it! He was going to do this in great time! He had this in the BAG!

And after a few moments of inner monologue, he finally sees it, Sweet Apple Acres in all of its glory and much to his pleasure. If he delivers this, he could take a minute break and sprint back! Easy wheezy apple squeezy!

He makes it through the gates and through the foliage archway that he could have sworn were fake apples, possibly to entice business? Either way, he was so glad he finally got here in such a short amount of time.

Seeing the barn door closed he hoped someone was in to take this as he lands hands first to the wall of the barn, panting and wheezing with a few coughs and whimpers of relief here and there, three loud knocks was all he did as he starts receiving that precious O2.

After hearing a few hoofsteps, he got ready and got ready to greet whoever it was... That is until the barn door was quickly and forcefully opened on the outside, it bashed Ashton in the face, making him throw the parcel up in the air and land on his back.

Yelling muffled in pain as he puts two hands on his face as blood starts profusely spills from his broken nose.

"Huh?" An elderly feminine voice saw the poor kid writhing in pain. "What do ya want, sonny?" She said in the similar southern drawl as Applejack. "Well spit it out! Ah ain't got all day! Ah have somethin' ta--" As if to answer her, the package landed on her head and into her hoof rather comically.

Her eyes lit up and she gasps with a smile on her face. "Oh, would ya look at that! Those special utensils Ah ordered! Thank ya so much sonny!" She said with another smile and starts digging into... Err... Pockets? And puts three shiny silver coins on the floor for him. "That's for speedy service!" She chuckles a bit. "Don't spend it all in one place!" She then closes the door behind her, leaving the poor boy to suffer such serious pain.

All he could muster was a cry of pain, this was all too much. "I jush wanna go home..." He said in a whimper.

After a good few minutes, the mare back in the blacksmith shop was getting a little worried, pacing back and forth. "Where is that monkey? He should have been 'ere by the time the 8th minute was up." She said before the door opened and the said 'monkey' finally came back. "There ya are! You're lat--"

She noticed the bloody nose the minute he entered. "! O-oh dear! Here, have sit down!" She instantly changed her tune when she saw this 'monkey' was injured, leading him to the nearby chair.

This was a little bit to take in for the stallion, he was out of the loop for the most part, but now he was on his break and saw that this kid was getting more attention than he was. Not that it wasn't to be expected, he was hurt and she was very motherly to nearby hurt ponies.

"Go get the first aid kit!" She said and he nodded in response. "Yes, mammy!" He hurried on to the back and came back with the said kit.

This was the first time in such a long time Ashton felt such blinding pain that made him wish to be with his mother. She really knew how to make a young kid feel 100% again when they had such a silly injury that would be considered poultry when you grow older.

The mare starts going to work on cleaning the wound, making him wince a bit but he just lets her get on with it. After the cleaning, she made sure to wait until the bleeding stopped before putting the bandage on his nose.

She really felt bad about this, she sighed and said. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have made you hurry like that. It was suppose' ta be a fun little test, I didn't know you would get injured because of my stupidity."

He then looks right at her, feeling bad himself. "Hey, it's not your fault... I got a little carried away and I should have expected it." He said a little muffled from the fact his nose was pretty much broken.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head and then opens her eyes once more, she begins applying the bandage on his nose, being oddly gentle for a tough blacksmith mare. "Either way, you got the job. You don't have to rush anymore, but don't slack off neither!" She said looking stern at him and she finishes with the patch up.

Ashton just nods and smiles at her. "Of course, I wouldn't dream of it."

This made her grin a bit and look away. "Good, now go home and rest. Be back here Monday mornin' 8:30, no later or earlier. Oh and no more injuries in line of work or I'll deduct your pay."

He then responds with a kind. "Okay, thank you." He said before getting up and waving. "See ya on monday miss..." He then realized. "Oh, I haven't introduced myself... I'm Ashton, but you can call me Ash if you like." He gives off another smile.

She responds with a mild. "Steeler. Kettle Steeler. And this is my boy, Band Steeler." She said introducing herself and her kid to him.

Giving them one final smile, he waves again. "Nice to meet the both of you and thank you for this." He starts heading out of the blacksmith shop and made a tired walk back to the castle. Even if his nose was treated, the pain was still there and it took all his willpower not to faint or burst into more tears.

[End of Chapter]