The Work Horse (Working Title)

Chapter 2

A New Start

"That's not really a choice and you know it," Sarah complained, dropping her head and lifting a hand to touch the brim of her hat. Propping a hand on her hip, she lifted her head again and glanced around at all the ponies, who each stared at her. Not a one of them deserved to die. According to what she knew about the show, each of them were good, kind people...uh, ponies...who wanted nothing more then for everyone to be friends with each other and live calm, peaceful lives in their small town. Looking back at the Princess, she said, "Fine. I'll become a...pony." Princess Celestia smiled beatifically. Sarah scowled. Expressions were weird on a horses face.

"It is a good choice," the Princess said.

"Maybe for you," Sarah muttered. "But I wasn't meant to be a pony. I was meant to ride them."

"Be that as it may, you have still made the right choice," Celestia asserted. "The lives of all the citizens of Equestria and your own world over your right to stand on two legs and ride horses." She dropped her horn to Sarah's shoulder. "I only wish I could have sent you home." There was a bright flash of magic and a buzzing sensation rushed through Sarah's slender form. The cowgirl felt her muscles and bones shift and change. When she opened her eyes, she immediately noticed that she was two feet shorter and on all fours. Blinking, she glanced back at her body and realized that she was actually a pony. Her vision tunneled and she staggered sideways into a tree. Shaking off the urge to faint, she spotted a nearby stream and raced over to it, feeling odd as she ran on all fours. Reaching the water, she hesitated. Cautiously, she peered into the rushing water.

Staring back up at her with a pair of huge, gold-green eyes was a small, snow-white pony with a wavy, golden-red mane and tail. Her hooves were the color of charcoal and her legs were long, making her stand several inches taller then the other ponies. Her body was also longer then the others and slimmer. She looked like a ponified version of an Arabian with a longer, slimmer face then the others. Closer to a pony her little sister liked called Fleur de Lis. Her hat was still perched on her head and her neckerchief was still tied around her neck, but the rest of her clothes had gone. Swallowing hard, she turned sideways to look at her flank. It was then she noticed the two feathery appendages just behind her shoulders, long enough to extend to cover her flanks. Stretching them out, the girl realized that she was a Pegasus pony. Blinking, she wondered why on earth she was a Pegasus. Lifting the wings, she looked at her flank. It was bare of any mark.

"Guess I still hafta earn that," she muttered to herself.  Shoving the thought to the back of her mind, she folded her wings and trudged back to the other ponies. As she rejoined the group, Princess Celestia was speaking.

"My little ponies, I do hope you'll help our new friend make the best of this life."

"Of course, Princess," spoke Twilight. "We'll do our best." All the other ponies chipped in their agreements.

"She'll need to be taught to fly and how to take care of herself as a pony," the Princess continued. "And she'll need a place to live until she can build a cloud palace.

"Well, she can stay at the farm," Applejack said. "We got plenty a room. An' Ah sure could use the extra help workin' it."

Sarah perked up at the thought of work. "Ah like work," she said, her voice quieter then normal. "It's good fer the mind when ya don' wanna think. Tires ya out so ya sleep at night. Makes ya strong." She frowned. "Apple farmin' ain't nuthin' lahk ranchin', but Ah learn fast."

Applejack looked over at her with a smile. "Tha's great! You don' look lahk much, but Ah'm sure I k'n fine somethin' fer ya ta do."

"Thanks." Sarah tried a small smile, but it was obviously fake when it didn't reach her eyes.

"You need a new name, of course," Celestia said. "Do you have one in mind?"

Sarah looked up at the Princess, then up at the sky. She thought idly for a second before she finally said, "Toola. Toola Lasso."

--

Toola had been formally introduced to all of the Mane Six as soon as Princess Celestia left. Rainbow Dash was quickly volunteered by Twilight Sparkle to teach the former human to fly. Then the student had said that she would be perfectly willing to teach her the history of Equestria and all there was to know about ponies. Everything a pony would have learned as a filly. It wasn't long before Applejack finally stopped Pinkie Pie from bouncing around their new friend and blabbering something about a party, saying that Toola must be tired and that they should head home.

Now Toola, who still couldn't get used to calling herself that, was following the orange and blonde pony to Sweet Apple Acres to meet the local Apple Family. Flicking her tail, Toola's head and wings drooped. She was a pony. Not only was she a pony, but her flank was blank. From what she knew from her little sister's constant babbling, being a blank flank at her age was sure to be horrifying. They finally made it to Sweet Apple Acres. As they walked beneath the sign, Toola felt her stomach drop. The farm was so similar to the ranch, except trees filled the area where the pasture had been. Falling back so she sat on her haunches, the new pony started hyperventilating. She couldn't handle this. It was all too much! For God's sake, she was a PONY! A pony who was going to throw up all the food in her stomach.

Applejack, noticing something was wrong, raced back to the taller pony. "Easy, sugarcube," she said, pressing against the mare's side. "Easy now. Slow yer breathin' sum and just concentrate on that an' nothin' else." Toola did as she was told, knowing to listen to someone who wasn't panicking when she was. As her stomach slowly calmed down, someone removed her hat and dropped a cooling cloth over her head. Her headache subsiding, Toola looked up to see an elderly green pony with her white mane and tail pulled into buns and a green apple on her flank. "Thanks, Granny Smith," Applejack said. "Feelin' better, sugarcube?"

Toola nodded. "Sorry," she murmured. "It's just...a bit overwhelming. Yer farm looks so much lahke ma Daddy's ranch back home.

"What's a ranch?" Toola looked down to find a small yellow filly with her red mane held in a ponytail by a huge pink bow sitting in front of her.

"Well, a ranch is a place that herds animals. Cows, mostly," the girl explained.

"What'd you herd cows for? Cain't they herd themselves?"

"Um..." Ah cain't tell 'em we ate 'em. Holstein cows it is. "Well, see, back home we liked to drink milk. And cows produce milk. So we took care a the cows and they gave us their milk." Ah think that went over pretty smooth.

"But don't the cows need the milk for their babies!" The little filly looked alarmed.

"Oh, our cows produced milk all year round and needed to be milked daily to keep them from splitting their udders. That's why we had the agreement." Ah shoulda been a story tella'. "Besides, milk is good for pe-uh ponies! Makes ye grow up big and strong."

"Really! Hmm. I got it! I'll be a Cutie Mark Crusader Cow Milker!" She jumped in the air. Startled, Toola planted a hoof on the girls tail.

"Hold on their, filly! The cows ye got here ain't Holsteins. Only Holsteins are good for their milk. Other cows don't produce near enough ta be sharin' with ponies."

"Awww," the filly said, kicking a hoof in the dirt. "And I was so sure that that would be my cutie mark."

Seein' the little foal so sad made Toola wanna kick herself. With a sigh, she finally said, "T'ain't so bad not havin' a cutie mark, yet. See?" She lifted a wing to show the filly her blank flank. "Old as I am and I ain't got one yet, neither."

"Really? You mean Ah might NEVER get mah cutie mark?!" Well, that backfired.

"No," Toola tried again. "Ah'm just sayin' yeh gotta let things come yer way. Ye never know what'll happen! Ah might git mah cutie mark tonight! And you might git yers tomorrow. Just be patient."

"Okay," the filly said, sadly. Toola lifted her hoot and chucked the girl under the chin with a wink. The girl smiled.

"Oh, by the way, mah name's Applebloom. What's yers?"

"Sa - Toola Lasso," the mare said, hiding her sadness.

"Well, it's a pleasure ta meet ya Mizz Toola!" Applebloom shook her hand. "Oh, this is my Granny Smith." She gestured at the green pony who'd provided the wet cloth, who smiled and waved. "And that's my big brother, Big Macintosh." Toola turned to look and her wings nearly shot out.

Standing behind her, next to Applejack, was a large stallion, about her height, with a maroon coat, orange hair, sleepy green eyes, a yoke around his neck, and half of a large, green apple for a cutie mark. With feathered legs and a cropped tail, Toola knew he was a work horse. And a right big one, at that! Handsome, too. Toola never thought she'd see the day when she'd be attracted to a horse, but if what her brother had said about a unicorns wings were true, then today was that day. Pinning her wings to her sides, Toola got to her feet and turned to face him. "Nice ta meet ya," she said, touching a hoof to her hat. A long moment passed before he replied, "Nice ta meet you, too, ma'am."

Applejack smiled happily, glad her new friend was getting along with her family. And it had been some smooth talking that had smoothed over the fact that Toola wasn't originally a pony. But that was fine. If Toola didn't want anyone to know, then they wouldn't. Applejack would just have to let the others know not to spill the beans.

"So, where exactly are ye from?" asked Applebloom.

Toola paused. No sense lyin'. "I'm from Texas where my Daddy ran a ranch taking care of our towns cows."

"Where's Texas?"

"It's...very far away," Toola said, nervously. Come on, girly, drop it!

"Wow!" Appleblooms already big eyes got even wider. "What's it like there?"

Toola smiled as she thought about Texas. "Wide, open spaces where you can run for miles and not spot a single soul, even from a distance. The grass grows taller then you; taller then Big Macintosh in some places. And there are flowers in places you wouldn't expect. Fields chock full of them, rocky ledges with little purple ones growing between the cracks. Even in the desert to the east of my hometown is covered in flowers, especially in the spring. And it's full of animals; the desert. Tortoise, birds, spiders, lizard; all kinds of animals!" Toola looked down at Applebloom where the pony lay on the dirt road. The little filly was looking up at her with wide, wondrous eyes.

"It sounds amazing," she said, her voice full of awe. "What else is it like over there?"

"Oh, um, well..." Geez, this pony don't let up none. How do Ah even explain this?

"Easy does it, Applebloom," Applejack finally interfered. "Toola's come a long way and needs to get settled. You can ask her more questions later. She's goin' ta be workin' the farm with us from now on, anyway."

"Really! Yay!" Applebloom bounced up. "Then you can tell us all about Texas! I'm gonna tell my friends!" With that, the little yellow filly raced off.

Shaking her head, Applebloom said, "Don't mind her. She's always full a energy. I'll take ya to yer room." Toola stood and quietly followed Applejack into the house.

Behind the two mares, a nag was watching a certain stallion with a knowing look. "Big Macintosh, what's this?" The large pony started and looked down at his granny, a blush flushing his cheeks. Granny Smith cackled and said, "Why if'n it tain't so! A certain filly done caught yer eye! An here I thought I wouldn't git to see any great-grand-kids! Ye-haa!" The old lady spun to take off and...tottered slowly into the house. Big Macintosh heaved a great sigh and shook his head, but his eyes were drawn to the window of their last, empty room just as the curtains were opened. Blinking up at the opening, Big Macintosh finally turned to go into the orchard. Bucking Season was next week and he needed to make sure all the apples on the ground were collected so no pony would slip and hurt themselves like last year. He winced as he thought of the muscled he had pulled in his side. At least if somepony did hurt themselves, a certain, pretty little filly would be there to fill in.