Out in the woods, the two ponies were heading out for their typical work, this time they were standing by the river, the two needed to construct a walkway for transportation. The two were looking around for a tree with weak roots. “So what we gotta do is unroot it from the bottom and latch the edges and in betweens, all exactly four feet apart.” Woody added as he took out the harnesses.

Mocha Jon was trying to listen but because Braeburn was pouncing around on him and attempt to knock him down, he had trouble following, “Uh yeah, sure, I lick them as soon as this big guy lets me go…” Woody rolled his eyes and grabbed Braeburn by the leash and tied him up.

“Not that, that’s for later, I mean until it gets to the water, the harnesses need to be four feet apart.” He said as he saw an unearthed tree near by. “Perfect! You can see the roots rising up over there.” He said as the unicorn walked by it.

“Let me guess, we cut it down one root at a time until it starts to topil?” Mocha sked.

“Um hum, you’re catching on quickly. Why don’t ya take the first swing?” Woody asked as he handed the axe over.

“With pride Sir!” Mocha said as he held the axe up in excitement… until he let go of the axe and it cartoonishly flung out of his hoof and landed right where Braeburn’s leash was tied up, letting him go… “I’ll get better at that…” He said as he was embarrassed.

“Never mind… I’ll do the cutting…” Woody said as Braeburn fetched him the axe and he started cutting the roots.

As Braeburn went back to playfully accosting Mocha, he had a few questions to ask, “I know I ain’t going back to my original home anytime soon, but I still gotta ask, what do ya do with all this wood if we don’t take it to Equestria, what do we do with it?”

Woody seemed suspicious in his response, but then he remembered that the stallion was completely under his control now so he couldn’t do anything, “Oh it’s simple really, I mine all the sap out if the wood as possible and keep it for flapjack syrup, there’s a special quality in the sap that’s allowed me to live this long and gave me mah power ta control stallions like yas.” He said as he sliced one root open effortlessly.

“So THAT’s how you got us all here? That explains a lot!” He said as he tried cutting it again and finally used the axe properly. “So how’d you know it would hypnotize stallions? If you were alone for all those moons before the others came here, what did you use it on?”

“Oh there were lots of animals around the woods, I used them to do all the hard work for me, but after a while I realized stallions were sexier and better workers, so I tried it out, but the first one died many moons ago and ever sense, I’ve been replacing them with new stallions who come in the Everfree Forest,” He said as the tree began falling slightly.

“What happens when mares come by? I mean I’m pretty sure the Elements of Harmony have been in here lots of times, and something tells me they both wouldn’t take too kindly to their brothers’ being turned gay and the only thing being washed is their brains.” He said as he returned the axe to Woody.

“Oh I cause it on them too, but mares are such sissies, I just convince them to leave, that’s all.” He said as the tree fell halfway down. “In fact Sweat Stain’s old wife came by a few days ago, but a simple pit hug got her to forget he even existed.

Jon’s eyes widened in that response, “Okay… I may be under your spell and all but that’s pretty bad to…” He tried to protest until Woody rolled his eyes and shoved Jon’s muzzle into his own pit, he was wearing Woody’s shirt after all, “Oh, never mind, pretty smart idea!” Jon said as he started harnessing the falling tree.

“Rule number one, anything I do is good, got it?” Woody asked.

“Um hum, no protests aside from snarky comments, got it,” Jon responded as he handed the rope to Braeburn who started running it down to help the tree fall. “So you never go into town? Kinda scary thought to just be out in one spot for all eternity if ya ask me.”

Woody threw the axe cartoonishly to another tree, “Actually I go to town once a week, where do you think I get all those cakes you eat from us?” Woody asked, “That yellow stallion who works at that cake shop almost joined me but turns out he’s allergic to maple syrup, couldn’t kill him could I?”

Jon looked confused, “I don’t get you, you are okay with hypnotizing stallions into working for hours and lick your armpits but not giving them hives? I can’t tell if you’re Lawful Evil or Chaotic Good.”

Woody looked a bit angry at that comment, and he didn’t want to deal with that, so he just stomped his boot three times and Mocha Jon fell in his trance again, “Now stop talking until we get back to the cabin, I ain’t wantin’ to talk ‘bout no sissy feelin’s of guilt or compassion, now get to work!”

As the unicorn simply nodded and started chopping limps off the tree (and taking a few whiffs of his boots between swings), Braeburn could tell there was some kind of hostility in his Master’s voice, he wanted to speak up and try to calm him down, but his concern could not be heard outside his loud barks. He just whimpered and decided to wait until night time to ask Shining Armor and Big Mac for help.

Author's Note

After a long hiatus I feel refreshed and am ready to start writing again!