Catching Up

by BronzeLoki

Rating: everyone
Tags: Alternate Universe, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 4644

A new age is coming, one of metal and machine. What does an old stallion do when the world he's known is changing?

Fields is an old stallion trying to live the way he's always lived, but times are changing and things are only getting harder by the year. When he receives a letter from his son urging him to visit the city, he's forced to set aside his country life and deal with the new and unfamiliar world of industry.

--Written for the Fifth Equestria at War Write Off--

Published 2022-06-09 20:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-06-09 20:00:00 UTC

Out of the Blue - 1

"Thanks again."

Trodden Fields surveyed the vast farmland as he unhitched the dirt laden harvester upon his back. A matting of golden hay seemed to unfurl from the rear of the ancient equipment, coating the entire field in the enchanting glow of the year's labour. With a deep thud, the harvester fell from the aging stallion's back, hitting the black earth. He breathed a sigh of relief, turning towards the earthpony mare beside him.

"Don't mention it, Fields." She turned away from the stallion, heading back down the farm path, although after a few steps, she hesitated. "Are you sure you can handle the rest?"

"I've been doing this for forty four years, I know how to wrangle a couple strands of grass, Petal", he smiled assuredly. Her concerned look remained but, unwilling to argue, she continued down the farm path towards the great tractor she had rode in on.

Fields watched as the hulking piece of equipment roared to life. It spat black clouds of smoke from its exhaust at the rhythm of the engine's humming. A harvester trailer, at least twice the size of his own, was attached to the rear of the machine yet it was towed away effortlessly with resounding metal clattering. It wasn't long before the tractor's engine completely faded into the distance; the calming silence of the cool autumn breeze returning with the distant cawing of crows.

He gazed over the fields the mare had harvested, where a great landscape of cut crops should have resided. Instead, scattered at sporadic intervals, were large cylindrical bales of hay. They were colossal, with the blackish dirt beside them deformed with striped furrows where the tires of the machine had driven. He sighed at the thought of moving the weighty bales, about to turn back towards the matted field, when something caught his eye.

In the sky just above the field, there seemed to be a lone crow. A large lone crow. A large lone crow speeding right at him!
"What in Celestia's name!?" He dove to the ground, hoof over head, as a wave of rushing air washed over his flank.
THUMP
...
Fields raised his head cautiously. Small strands of hay rained upon him like yellow confetti as he peaked over his shoulder to see what was once a hay bale. What used to be a bale of hay rustled and groaned, startling Fields. He rushed for a pitchfork, picking the tool up as swiftly as his age would allow, and turned to face a dazed black pegasus crawling from the pile.

"What the heck are ya doing on my farm!" Fields forcefully stabbed the fork into the dirt by his side, but the pegasus stallion just grinned cheerily. Fields put an assertive hoof down as he noticed the small saddlebag attached to the winged pony's side. It was double buckled with a small insignia resembling a windmill at its base. It looked familiar. The pegasus clumsily righted himself with his forehooves, lifting his rear with a quick flap of his wings. He dusted the strands of hay from himself and began to unbuckle the saddlebag, not waiting to finish before talking.

"Express delivery! Sorry about the whole..." He waved a hoof towards the piles of hay now building up around Fields. Fields grunted, the air blowing a small strand of hay from his muzzle. "But I've got a letter here from Mr Fields!". He drew from the saddlebag a letter with a matching windmill wax seal. "Must've been important, he said he'd double my pay if I made it here by six!" The pegasus muffled behind the letter.

"It's half two!" Fields cried. The pegasus grinned proudly. "And I'm 'Mr Fields'! Trodden Fields!". The winged pony tilted his head with a look of confusion as Fields stepped towards him and took the letter unceremoniously. He bit off the wax seal and spat it to his side as he glanced at the pegasus. "What's your name?".

"Oh!" The pegasus snapped out of his confusion and puffed up his chest with a proud smile, "My name's Raven Ruffle, express courier for Miller Fields'! Although my friends just call me Raven.". He looked back to the Fields who was engrossed by the letter, taking no notice of him. The old stallion's look became more stern by the second as he read each line; Raven's puffed up chest deflating. "Is everything alright?"

"Just... dandy" The old stallion murmured, distracted by the letter. He stopped reading, seeming to stare through the paper in thought, before casually folding it up and taking notice of the pegasus again. "You wouldn't happen know how to get to my kid's place without a pair of wings would you?".

Railroading - 2

"Don't mean to worry you, but we've got a train to catch!", Raven flew ahead down the almost empty streets of the village, swinging up into a hover only to see Fields far behind. His attempts to hurry Fields were constantly thwarted by genial conversations between the old stallion and seemingly everypony in the village and it was only a matter of time before the train would reach the station. He flapped his wings, gliding to the side of the stallion, landing with the agitated tapping of his hoof on the cobbled streets.

The village was a sleepy place, only ever really picking up during holidays such as Nightmare night or the Hearths warming celebration, yet it had a charm that Fields embraced with every visit. The streets were far from bustling, but the ponies that did trot along them always greeted him with a short wave or a quick 'Good morning'. They were the type of ponies you could depend on, the type to make even the most outcast of newcomers welcome, the type to help out just for the sake of it. Shandy ran the local bar, Ginger Ale never strayed too far from a bottle of scotch, Rusty and Dusty were always playing in the streets, Rhubarb baked fresh pastries in the morning, Treble exercised his skill with a banjo on his porch and Fields was just another part of the tightknit community they had created. He knew everypony and everypony knew him, It was hard to feel out of place.
"We need to hurry, Mr Fields!" Raven flapped his wings and flew into the air ahead of Fields. The pegasus glanced at the village's clock tower a sudden wave of worry washing over him, "The train will be here any second!".

"And we'll be at the station any second now won't we?" Fields remarked, continuing to trot at the same tempered pace. The station was just in view when a low pitch whistle broke the silence, followed by high pitched metal screeching. Before a word could escape Fields' mouth, Raven had already bolted to the station's entrance.

By the time Fields had reached the station, Raven had paid for the two tickets and was hovering by one of the few passenger carts. The platform was empty besides the conductor and a few workers who were loading the rear of the train with an assortment of different goods. Fields continued trotting towards the pegasus, the winged pony gesturing for him to enter first as he stepped onto the carriage. They sat at one of the empty booths with Raven taking the seat opposite Fields after a prompt landing. Fields observed the pegasus with a questioning look, "You're a real stickler for time aren't you?".

"It's my job to be, Mr Fields. Wouldn't be a very good courier if I wasn't!" He grinned jokingly, sitting up from his relaxed position. The pegasus yawned and almost fell back into it, correcting himself as soon as he realised what he was doing.
"Talking about being a good courier," Fields leaned forward, "How in Celestia's name could you tell which farm was mine from up there?"
"Oh, Miller just told me to look for the only farmer stubbor-", the pegasus caught himself mid sentence, smiling awkwardly to the stallion across the table, "I mean, traditional enough to not use a tractor. So when I saw you carting that piece of work on your back." He made a gesture with his hoof towards him. Fields nodded in understanding. Just then, Fields caught a glimpse of Raven's cutiemark. Where he had expected to find a pair of wings or a letter, there was an assortment of looping, white calligraphy that stood out against the pegasus' black coat.
"You're a writer?" Fields asked with a hint of interest in his voice. Raven shuffled in his seat awkwardly.
"Well, I'm a courier first and foremost." He stated matter of factly. "But when I get the chance", he hesitated looking out of the trains window to avoid the stallion's gaze. "I do like writing calligraphy.".
"Why don'tcha do it for a living?" Fields asked, noticing Raven's strange reaction, "After all, it's what makes you, well, you.". Raven thought for a while, staring out the window.
"There aren't many ponies in the city that really need that kind of service when everything's in print.". He turned back to face Fields with a slight grin, "But there are those that need couriers like me.".

The train suddenly jerked forwards. A shocked Fields propped his hooves on the table to steady himself as a tired Raven finally gave in and leaned into his seat. With a stern look, Fields watched through the window as the landscape began to shift. The steam engine of the train began to chug rhythmically, accelerating faster and faster, until the fields just outside the window were passing by at a dizzy rate. Fields diverted his gaze back into the booth, back to a peacefully sleeping Raven as he wondered how the pegasus could possibly sleep in the jostling train.

Miller Fields' - 3

Fields felt a slight shove to his shoulder, then another, and another. Opening his eyes with a frustrated mumble, he awoke face to face with Raven. Raven withdrew his hoof from the stallion's shoulder and took a rapid step back. The train continued to rattle its way down the tracks.
"Sorry to disturb you, Mr Fields, but our stop's coming up soon." Raven began tapping his hoof against the floor. Fields sat himself back up, having fallen asleep against the carriage's wall.
"Where are we?" The stallion put a hoof to his head, leaning over the booth's table to peer through the window.

The train was upon a raised platform, speeding along the line with a small brick barrier between it and a five story drop. Down below, the city stretched to the horizon. Buildings, many stories tall, bordered bustling streets. Ponies of all walks of life trotted together, looking like ants by the astoundingly large structures. In the middle of the streets, automobiles of various shapes and sizes drove harmoniously by as Fields looked on with awe. Yet, despite its greatness, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. There wasn't a plant in sight, not a trace of dirt. Any memory of the land before the city had been erased, and in its place remained a testament of the new world he found himself in.

Unnerved, Fields leaned back into his seat, distracting himself with the carriage's interior. He was surprised to find that it was just as empty as when he had first stepped on. "I thought a city train like this would be filled to the brim?" he curiously looked over to the attentive pegasus by his side.
"Oh it was! You must've really needed the rest to sleep through that." Raven fluttered upwards to peer through the Booth's window. Fields' firm glare returned.
"If there were so many, then why ain't there anypony on board now?" Fields put a hoof on the table and sat himself up. Raven glanced briefly down at the stallion.
"Miller Fields' isn't exactly a place that most ponies visit", his focus shifted back to the window, "That and we've passed the last passenger station."
"What?!" Fields hit the table with both hooves, quite startled by the revelation.
"Don't worry, Miller should still be at the works by the time we arrive."
"Works?" His shock dimmed yet still remained in his voice. With a surprised look, Raven turned his attention to the stallion.
"Miller Fields' Steelworks? Your son's business?".
Raven landed back into the aisle, his attention fully occupied by the old stallion, as the train jolted backwards. The piercing sound of screeching metal filled the carriage, Fields wincing as he braced his hooves against the table as Raven barely kept his balance with a slight flap of his wings. The train slowed to a stop, its engine hissing, as a deep, long whistle sounded. The whistle stopped and the carriage fell into a brief silence. Raven's look of astonishment fell into a small grin. "I would give you an explanation, but it'd be easier and quicker if I just showed you." He nodded his head to one of the trains many exits and started to lead the way. Raven open the carriage's door and hopped into air, hovering beside the entrance. "Mind the step.".

Fields heeded the warning and dropped from the carriage onto the gravelled ground. The air felt thick and heavy, Fields barely suppressing a cough before surveying his surroundings. It was a railyard with many tracks, most of them occupied by wagons carrying huge mounds of coal and iron, yet dwarfing the mounds was the immense brick building towering before him. Huge smokestacks pumped clouds upon clouds of black smoke into the air from the jagged sawtooth roof of the factory, the face of the building windowless and bare. There was one defining feature upon the wall, a circular logo of painted and polished steel depicting a windmill with a rising sun over yellowed fields.

"That right there is Miller Fields' Steelworks." Raven stared up at the logo, "Your son should be just beyond the factory floor.". Fields stepped closer to closed gates of the building, entranced by the logo. "Mr Fields, over here!" Fields glanced over to Raven, still in awe, as the pegasus landed by one of the corner's of the great building. Fields trotted over to the pegasus, still peering over his shoulder at the logo.
"My son owns this place?" Fields turned to face the pegasus with an incredulous look.
"Cross my heart, Mr Fields." Raven made quick cross over his chest with a hoof before trotting around the corner of the building.

Across the side of the building was a scaffolded, steel staircase leading to plain, metal door. Raven flew to the top, leaving Fields to climb the stairs, much to his displeasure.
"Why are we taking the side entrance?" Fields shouted up through heavy breaths as he ascended the stairs.
"The front entrance is for factory floor workers only." Raven stated, "Miller would have my head if anything happened to you.". Fields had managed to reach the door, but hesitated to open it.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He questioned as he faced Raven who avoided his gaze uncomfortably.
"Well the factory floor isn't the safest place. What with all the molten metals and dangerous equipment.". Fields stared at Raven for a brief moment, that seemed to last an eternity for the pegasus, before putting a hoof to the door.
"I know how to handle myself.".

He pushed open the door as a wave of hot, dry air struck him. He closed his eyes as they teared up from the blasting wave, rubbing them clear before stepping onto the meshed walkway inside. His hooves rattled the steel mesh, yet it could barely be heard over the droning of machinery, clattering of steel and the occasional screech of braking trains that he had become all too familiar with. If the air was thick outside, then the inside could be cut with a knife, with the entire factory floor being coated in a dense grey mist, gathering at the roof like a layer of miasmic clouds.
"Just follow me, Mr Fields" Raven shouted, barely managing to be heard over the clamouring of the factory floor, as he put a hoof over his muzzle and began to trot quickly down the catwalk. Fields was about to follow behind, but stopped at barrier by the edge of the walkway, with a rough cough.

Far down below, he watched the fiery glow of the factory floor. Dozens of buckets filled with incandescent liquids were heaved above the ground on hefty chains by mighty hooks. At the clattering of drawn chain-links, the buckets poured their contents into a wide, descending channels. Brilliant white sparks sprayed in all directions with the flow of the liquid, as it filled an assortment of huge cast molds mounted on train carts. Fields watched on dismayed, there were workers down there on the burning floor, Raven had said as much, yet as he searched through the smog and heat distorted air, there was no sign of life. That was until, there by the dozens of furnaces lining the distant factory wall, he saw the silhouette of a pony. His worry was only heightened when the furnace behind the silhouette roared with blazing embers, illuminating them in a deep red glow. What he saw was no pony.

Its coat was coarse and hard, with intermittent metallic buckles racing up its spine up to the back of its neck. Above its steel spine was a thick steel plating that seemed to encase its head fully, but its face truly horrified the stallion. Where a muzzle was supposed to end, a strange multi-holed protrusion hung and where eyes should have stared back at Fields, a thin black visor glistened red.

Fields stepped back in fear, refusing to take his eyes away from the thing as the smoke shrouded it once more. For a moment he was frozen. Then he felt the tap of a hoof on his shoulder. With a rugged cry of fear, Fields fell back to find Raven at his side who looked down at the stallion with a smirk behind his hoof.
"You should really listen when I tell you to follow me." The pegasus yelled over the ever-present noise of the factory. He offered a wing to help Fields up, the stallion muttering something that Raven presumed was a 'Thank you' before reluctantly grabbing onto the wing. Raven pulled Fields onto his hooves. He matched the older stallion's pace with a brisk trot, as they rounded the walkway to meet a rather out of place sight. It was a wooden door with a finely crafted inlay, which wouldn't have been out of place at a mansion. At its centre, Fields noticed, was the very same logo he had seen before at factory's entrance. Raven stepped up to the door giving it no heed, as he rapped a quick succession of energetic knocks. He turned to face Fields who was staring at the door stone-faced. How long had it been since he'd last seen Miller? What did Miller want? He steeled himself, watching the door with an intense glare. A few seconds passed and the brass handle turned.

Reunion - 4

The door opened inwards, revealing a grey mare in a black suit and tie. She glanced at the two, pushing her glasses back up her muzzle, before poking her head back behind the door.
"Mr Fields, you have visitors." She said with an almost musical tone as she turned to the two with a practised smile. She stepped to the side of the door and, with a wave of her hoof, offered the two in. Raven dusted himself off and stood up straight, giving Fields a quick grin before trotting ahead. Fields hesitantly followed. He thanked the mare with a nod before turning his attention to the room around him.

The walls were paneled in a dark, glazed wood with shelves embedded within them and upon the shelves stood row upon row of meticulously aligned books and papers. Furniture filled the room, from leather chairs to finely carved tables, all illuminated by the golden glow of a chandelier. Cigar smoke luxuriously sullied the air with the subtle scent of tobacco as the mare closed the door and plunged the room into silence. That's when Fields saw him.

Sitting behind a desk at the end of the room sat the mirror image of Fields. Dusty yellow coat, dark brown mane, if it weren't for Fields' greying hair, he would've been identical. That was until cold grey eyes stared deeply into him and he remembered who exactly he was visiting. The stallion straightened a set of papers on his desk watching Fields all the while.
"I wasn't expecting you to arrive so soon." Miller said with an accent unfamiliar to Fields "Please take a seat, we have much to discuss.". Fields approached the desk, maintaining a stoic expression. "Oh and you, courier." Miller pointed a hoof at Raven who immediately stood at attention "Take a seat somewhere, I may need you soon" At his request, Raven trotted to a chair by one of the many bookshelves and sat, attentively waiting. Miller opened a drawer at his desk as Fields sat. He pulled out a bottle of bourbon enough for Fields to see. "Do you drink?"
"Nothing fancy like that." Fields bluntly stated. Miller put the bottle away and closed the draw.
"You've not changed a bit have you?"
"Don't need to, perfect as I am." Fields retorted with a jokingly proud tone. Miller nodded solemnly. He put his hooves together on the desk as he settled into a more formal position.

"You're probably wondering why I called you here on such short notice.". Fields leaned back in his chair with a growing sense of unease. Miller spoke carefully as though stepping through a verbal minefield, "It's about the farm.". Fields' ear pricked up as he watched Miller with tense eyes and his full attention. Miller hesitated but with a cool voice and determined look he spoke clear. "I would like to purchase the farm and make it the property of 'Miller Fields'"

Fields stared on slack-jawed, completely bewildered by the offer. He made an attempt to collect himself, Miller glancing at his watch. He returned his gaze to Fields who was now standing with an irritated scowl.
"There ain't no way short of bringing Celestia to kick me to the damn moon that I'm giving you old Blackmud." he turned for the door, Raven watching on in astonishment.
"Please don't get sentimental." Miller watches as his words had no effect in slowing the stallion. He took his hooves apart and urgently pushed himself up "Father!". Fields stopped in his tracks, turning to glare at Miller.

"I raised you, watched you grow into a strong stallion. You were the best son a father could've ask for, I...", He looked to the ground, frustrated, "But ever since you left all those years back, I've been working on that farm. I've been waiting everyday for a letter, maybe even a visit to finally meet you face to face", Fields put a resolute hoof to the ground, reigniting his fury, "And now after all these years of silence, you want to kick me out of my own home and take the land that you've never cared for? Don't tell me not to get sentimental."

The room fell into silence.

"I'm sorry I wasn't a better son to you." Miller met Fields' gaze with genuine sincerity. "I understand how much the farm means to you and if by the end of this all you want to stay there, I'll be glad that you're happy. But, please, listen to me.". Fields stood stiff. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his rage subsiding with a lengthy exhale.
"Go ahead."
Miller took the opportunity and drew from the side of his desk what appeared to be a map. He slid it across the desk to Fields who stepped closer to inspect it. From what he could see it was a map of the farm, however scattered across it were marks of varying sizes.
"These locations", Miller pointed a hoof to some of the larger marks, "Are all sites where samples of coal have been located.", Fields looked to Miller with a mixture of anger and confusion.
"How did you get this?"
"I had some suspicions about the farm stemming from pub talk with other entrepreneurs. They were on about the signs of coal reservoirs. One thing lead to another and I sent a geology surveyor down to the farm."
"But why!" Fields demanded, betrayed at the revelation, "Why wouldn't you at least tell me about this!"
"Because I thought you were happy!", Miller snapped. He looked to Fields with a defeated expression, "That farm is everything to you, I just wanted you to make the most of it while you still can."
"What's the supposed to mean?"
"You're getting old Fields, it can't be long before the farm's just too much work for too little. I couldn't bear the thought of you trying to make your old ways work when the world's already so far beyond them." He adjusted a paper over the map, holding his hoof over it. "So I thought I could be your guide, to help you find your footing when the farm is gone." He raised his hoof revealing a similar map of the farmland, yet across it was a tidy array of line and boxes sorted into a variety of basic colours.
"What is it?" Fields stared at the page with a cocked head.
"Miller Fields' Blackrock Mine."
Fields took a step back, visibly perturbed.
"How in Celestia's name is this supposed to help me 'find my footing'?"
Miller looked into Fields' eyes with resolution, "Once the farm is gone there will be no going back, it means that you'll have to change." He put a hoof back down on the map. "This mine will ensure that you'll live comfortably, that and you won't be conned out of your land by some big business wanting to exploit you."
"Big business?" Fields shook his head, "This is a lot to take in."
"I understand, but it is necessary."
"But why are you telling me this now?"

Miller scowled, "I've been having some trouble with the coal supplier to the works, she's increased costs two-fold after she realised she was the only supplier within a hundred miles. The furnaces are running dry and if we stop exporting steel" He nervously tapped a hoof on his desk, "This works supplies the majority of the city's steel, a shortage could be nothing short of catastrophic."
"A steel famine." Fields concluded, although it did make him wonder, "What could possibly consume so much steel?"
"Everything!" Miller exclaimed, "The amount Friendship Express demands around here is large enough alone, but with the whole changeling situation and the new arms factory?" he put a hoof to his head, "It's quite the responsibility"
Fields tried to process what he meant by changeling situation when Miller grinned. "But it's a rewarding job."
"I'm sure it pays well if it's in that high a dema-"
"No as in what those businesses and their fancy engineers can do with the stuff"
Fields curiosity grew
"Well what have they done?"
"They've opened up the world for everypony. Now anypony can fly like a pegasus with a plane or harvest a field in a tractor with the efficiency of an earthpony. The magical gifts of any of the three races can now be substituted or even improved for anypony to experience. As far as I'm concerned, it's only brought us closer together."
"You aren't kidding are you?" Fields grinned. The room entered a brief silence "Well?"
"Well what?"
"...Where do I sign?"