The otherworldy adventures of Cain and Abel

Sue promises on starting supper but insists that Cain and Abel get something to drink first. Both men thank her repeatedly when she brings a large pitcher of iced tea out for them.

“I have a veggie casserole cooking,” Sue tells them, “would that be okay?”

“Sounds wonderful.” Abel answers with a happy grin.

“Fine by me.” Cain agrees.

“It’ll be ready soon.” Sue assures them all and looks over to her husband who is reading a local newspaper contently. “Clyde, could you go fetch Inkie and Blinkie for me and tell them about supper and our quests?” Clyde rises from his chair and nods to his wife and guests.

“I’ll be back in a bit.” He tells them and leaves.

Sue waves to him as he walks away and returns to her station in the kitchen. “So where are you colts from?” she asks.

“Detroit.” Cain mumbles, ignoring their hostess’s odd choice of words.

“Chicago.” Abel practically yells.

“Hmm,” Sue hums curiously, “I’ve never heard of either of those places… are they near the Griffin kingdom?”

“No,” Cain answers, “they’re cities in America.”

“Oh…” Sue sounds surprised. “Is that near Japony?”

“Nope,” Abel corrects her, “to be honest I don’t even think it’s on this world.”

“Wha?!” Sue exclaims. “Then how in Equestria did you arrive here?”

“We’ve been axing ourselves the same thing ma’am.” Cain replies.

“My oh my, so do you colts have a place to stay?” Sue ponders.

“Not at the moment.” Abel admits.

“Well you two are more than welcome to stay here until you find your own place, I’m sure Clyde will be fine if you help him out a bit with the farm.”

“I think we could do that.” Cain says with a slight shrug.

“So who are Inkie and Blinkie?” Abel asks out of the blue.

“Two of my daughters,” Sue explains, “they and Pinkie will all be joining us for supper tonight. I hope that’s okay.”

“It’s all cool.” Cain assures her.

“So when will they be h-” Abel’s question is cut short by a slamming door and a long squeal.

“OhhhHHHHhhhhHHHH my gossssshhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!” a high pitched voice squeals. Cain and Abel look over at a slightly pudgy mare who could be none other than the aforementioned Pinkie. “Ican’tbelieveit’sreally,actually,totallytrue!” he says suddenly and without any pauses between her words. “Dad told me you were here and described you but I know they aren’t any humans in Equestria, that’s just an old mare’s tale, but you are here and you are humans and he wasn’t exaggerating and oh my gosh and wow your skin is dark, but not dark like coffee but not dark like hazel either and your friend is so pale and why’s your hair all messy and why are you clothes wrinkled and…”

“PINKIE!” Clyde’s deep voice booms from the doorway as he walks in with two other mares, one light grey and the other mild blue, presumably Inkie and Blinkie, following him. “Please don’t disturb our guests.”

“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie hops in the air and slowly drifts back down. “So anyways…”

“Supper’s ready!” Sue calls from the kitchen just in time to spare Cain and Able from any more of Pinkie’s rapid fire questions.

“Inkie, Blinkie, Pinkie,” Clyde nods at each of his daughters and then towards his guests, “I’d like you all to meet Cain and Able, they are travelers who will be staying with us for a while.”

“…” Inkie silently acknowledges the two men.

“Good afternoon.” Blinkie politely greets them.

“Ohmygosh!” Pinkie exclaims, “It’s so totally awesomeriffic to actually meet a living, breathing, smelly human!”

“Heh,” Cain chuckles at Pinkie’s overwhelming excitement, “it’s nice to meet you all too.” He looks at Inkie, Blinkie, and Pinkie and smiles at each of them. No one but Abel notices how Cain looks at Pinkie just a few seconds longer than he had at her sisters or that his courteous smile turns into an honestly pleased one just for her. Abel considers mentioning it but decides to bring it up at a later, more appropriate, time. Right now there was food waiting for them.

Sue ushers her daughters and guests into a small dining room and busies herself with setting out plates of rolls, pitchers of tea, and a large casserole dish containing the delicious smelling main course.

“Everypony go ahead and sit down,” Sue sweetly orders as she finishes her work, “we’ll let our guests say grace, if that’s okay I mean.” She winches slightly at the thought of accidentally offending Cain or Abel.

“No problem.” Cain says as he pulls an oddly shaped chair out and sits down without thinking. “Dear Loroohh shit!” the beginning of grace swiftly morphs into a pained swear as the chair legs crack and send Cain tumbling to the ground. “I am SO sorry.” He apologizes after hitting the ground.

“Are you alright?” Clyde jumps from his seat to help Cain up.

“Yeah,” Cain mutters, “I think I’ll just sit on the floor to eat, the table’s low enough down and I’d rather not take any chances with another chair.” He looks at the splintered wood and sighs. “Sorry ’bout that…”

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” Sue tells him in a motherly tone, “so long as you’re alright we could care less about a simple chair, besides, it was old and wobbly anyway. Would you still like to say grace?”

“Sure thing.” Cain accepts as soon as he finds a comfortable position to sit in which Abel also adopts, “Dear Lord, um, we thank you very much for, uh, letting us live through today and delivering us into the care of such kind people… ponies as these. Also, thanks a load for an actual meal! Amen.” Cain finishes his impromptu prayer.

“Amen.’ Abel echoes.

“Oh dear…” Sue whispers.

“Tsk.” Inkie rolls her eyes.

“In Celestia’s name.” Clyde announces solemnly. Blinkie and Sue both copy his words.

“Dig in everpony!” Pinkie joyously concludes the prayer.

Sue fills plates with casserole, rolls, and steamed veggies and passes them around to all seated at the table. Cain and Abel both follow Pinkie’s advice as soon as their plates arrive and are quickly asking for second helpings.

“For two weary travelers,” Sue smiles at their request, “of course.”

“So Cain,” Clyde swallows a mouthful of casserole and wipes his muzzle with a napkin, “when you said grace…”

“I take it you all believe in a different god than we do,” Cain smiles nervously, “I hope I didn’t offend anyone because of that.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Clyde closes his eyes and rubs his left temple slowly, “I just hope that you would respect our beliefs as we will yours.”

“I can do that.” Abel blurts out.

“Deal.” Cain says and reaches to shake Clyde’s hoof.

“Deal.” Clyde says.

“Sooooo,” Pinkie suddenly speaks up, “when can I throw you two a party?”

“A party?” Abel questions the pink mare.

“For what?” Cain asks.

“To introduce you to everypony in Ponyville!” Pinkie exclaims. “Duh!”

“Oh.” Cain grunts.

“How about tomorrow?” Abel suggests.

“Tomorrow it is than!” Pinkie says with a large, toothy smile.

The meal continues on without much more excitement; Clyde tells Cain and Abel about the rock farm, a type of organic quarry, and Pinkie goes over every possible bit of planning for the party. When all of the plates are cleaned and everyone is stuffed supper is proclaimed to be over.

“If you’ll give me just a moment I’ll have the quest room set up for you.” Sue tells Cain and Abel.

“That was my old room!” Pinkie reminds everyone as her mother scurries off to put down clean sheets on the bed.

“Good night.” Blinkie says to all and heads to her own room.

“…” Inkie nods and follows her sister out of the room.

“She sure is talkative.” Cain jokes.

“She’s not much of a socialite,” Clyde explains, “please pay her rudeness no mind.” The aging stallion rises from his chair and turns to leave the house. “I’ll be on the porch having a smoke.” He says as he leaves.

“I’m gonna go find out where the toilet’s at.” Abel says and hurries away leaving Cain and Pinkie alone together.

“A real, live human.” Pinkie stares up at Cain making him more than just a little uncomfortable. “I never thought I’d see the day… But I did and you know what?” she asks suddenly.

“What?” Cain takes the bait.

Pinkie hops onto Cain’s lap and kisses him straight on the lips. “I like them.” Before Cain can even utter a word Pinkie giggles and jumps off of him. “See ya tomorrow!” she singsongs while walking out the door. Cain sits deathly still for a moment before taking a gasp of air and speaking to himself.

“Damn…”

In an attempt to clear his head Cain vacates the kitchen and joins Clyde on the front porch.

“Mind if I sit with you?” Cain asks when Clyde looks over to him.

“Go ahead; these chairs are much stronger than the ones in the kitchen.” Clyde invites him and Cain takes the proffered seat.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a match on you,” Clyde asks, nodding to his unlit pipe as he speaks, “I forgot mine in the kitchen.”

“I got something better,” Cain withdraws a cheap plastic lighter from his pants pocket and lights the pipe for Clyde, “there ya go.” Cain says as Clyde takes a puff and blows a few smoke rings. “You mind if I light up?”

“Suit yourself.” Clyde answers with another barrage of misty, floating ovals.

“Thanks.” Cain says as he retrieves a crumpled package of cigarillos and lights one.

The two fellows, one human and one pony, sit there for a good half hour without even speaking, they just enjoy the night and compete to see who can make better smoke rings. Sue comes outside after a while to inform Cain that his bed is ready and that Abel is already sound asleep. Cain thanks her and raises to leave but a worn, rugged old hoof presses down on his hand and stops him short.

“Pinkie and I had a brief conversation before she left.” Clyde states matter-of-factly.

“And?” Cain asks.

“And she seems to be quite stricken with you.” Clyde tells him.

“Strucken,” Cain repeats, “how so?”

“Not really sure; I didn’t ask, though I assume it to be as more than just a friend or an interesting pony” Clyde admits, “but whatever happens just remember that Pinkie IS my little girl and I do love her very much.”

“I’ll remember that,” Cain promises, “but even if she is interested in me as more than a friend I don’t think I’ll feel the same way. Goodnight.”

As Cain walks inside Clyde can’t help but laugh softly to himself.

“Not even the same race as I but I can still tell when he’s lying, even if he can’t.”