2
"Mister Apple! Mister Apple, wait!" Mac stopped halfway down the steps of the courthouse as a free pony, waiting to see who had his name stuck in their mouth.
Cinnamon... he thought. He knew better than to help ponies anymore, yet he continued to do it. "What is it, Ms. Cinnamon?"
"Mr. Apple, please, a mare must be allowed to repay a debt owed. Let me put you up for the night, I have a room at the finest inn across the—" Mac held up his hoof, silencing her.
"Ma'am, Ah appreciate the thought, but I'll be gone by tomorrow. I have no need for a roof of any sort," he insisted, turning to leave.
"Wait!" she called again. Mac was too kind for his own good.
He turned. "Yes?"
"At least allow me to buy you something to eat," she pled. The look in her eyes tugged at his heart in a way only Apple Bloom's could. He cursed his soft spot for mares and gathered himself to refuse once more.
"As Ah've said before, you ain't gotta—" Before he could finish his sentence, his stomach decided to accept her generous offer. He sighed, his shoulders slumped. "Ah suppose one meal wouldn't hurt..."
"Wonderful!" Cinnamon sang. "Come with me, we simply must wash that dreadful soot from your coat!"
"I didn't say nothin' about a bath!" But by then he already found himself being nearly dragged through the street and toward one of the few inns in town. Before long, he found himself in a rather small room with frilly drapes and various other feminine touches on display.
"Home sweet home!" Cinnamon said sweetly as she trotted in, loosening her corset. Mac quickly shielded his eyes, though his modesty only brought on giggles. "Come now, it's only a corset!"
"My apologies ma'am, but it ain't right for a married stallion ta—" Mac stopped himself, wishing he could take back his last few words.
A sly smile crept across Cinnamon's lips. "A married stallion, eh? No reason to fret, I've had married clients before..." she added seductively as she sauntered over towards Mac, flicking her tail back and forth.
"Miss, I don't mean ta waste your time, but Ah'm not here for pleasures like what you're offerin'." Cinnamon held her bedroom stare for a few more seconds before breaking away.
"That's very noble of you, Mr. Apple," she admitted, taking a seat on her bed. "There aren't many stallions like you out there anymore."
Mac felt his blush break as he finally allowed himself to breathe. "Thank ya kindly."
"Not many stallions would have stood up for a call mare like you did." Though she had dropped her act, parts of her still called to Mac like they would to any stallion. Especially one that had been out on the road for nearly a month. "I know you're married, and I respect that," she whispered. Without even realizing it, Mac found himself seated beside her on the bed, her hoof tracing the buttons on his chest. "But you're a brave stallion. And brave stallions deserve rewards..." She licked her lips and drew her hoof down his chest to his navel, and even farther south. His instincts were screaming at him, but only his heart held them at bay. Every inch of him wanted to take out all his frustrations and anger and lust on this mare, just as she was practically begging him to.
As he thought about giving in, a brief flash of memory came into his head. His son, playing in the empty applecart as he pulled it back from town with his wife hovering overhead, making silly faces at him. As quickly as it had come, it was gone, but it had left Mac all the strength he needed to keep his mind on his mission.
"You're a beautiful mare. Cinnamon, but you and Ah just ain't meant to be," he whispered back to her, taking her hoof in both of his.
For a moment, she looked hurt. But she managed to swallow it as she stood up from her bed. "Loyal to the end. It's a rare quality in this world," she said, looking at herself in the mirror as she used her magic to take the bobby pins out of her mane.
"It is, but Ah learned from the best."
After Cinnamon had readied herself for dinner, she gave Macintosh use of the bathroom. "Take your time, dinner bell's not for another hour."
"Thank ya," he said, stepping inside the small, tiled room.
"Don't worry, I'll try not to peek," Cinnamon smiled, closing the door behind him. Mac returned a grin as he heard the handle click in place. He turned to the mirror, dimly lit by the candles beside it. His mane had grown a bit shaggy since he began his journey. His tail was no longer the short, cropped affair it had been. His chin fur had grown out considerably as well. He set his sister's dusty stetson on the counter, and removed his duster. Along his chest, there were scratches and cuts, as well as a sizable scar across his shoulder, coming around it and ending in the middle of his chest. Each one told a story, each one marked a hardship he endured with a single goal in mind. He hardly recognized himself in the mirror. Something about his eyes had grown a bit more tired every time he stopped to look at his reflection. He folded his duster and set it on the counter next to his hat. Cinnamon had already drawn him a bath. Ordinarily, baths weren't his style, but beggars can't be choosers, as they say.
Before setting hoof in the warm water, he reached into his folded coat and pulled out a locket.
Illegitimi non carborundum he read to himself as he opened it. Inside were a picture of a handsome pegasus stallion and his wife, and opposite them were Rainbow Dash, himself, and their son, Zap. Nothing brought him more joy and relief than the item resting in his hooves. It was both his motivation and his willpower, his strength and his courage.
Mac set it on top of his coat before turning back to the bath. Slowly, he allowed himself to sink into the tub. It was honestly the first time he'd let himself relax in as far back as he could recall. As he lay there, time seemed to melt away like the dirt from his coat. Soon, he was stirred from his trance by a knock at the door.
"Mr. Apple? It's nearly supper time! Everything alright in there?"
"Er... yes, Everythin's fine," he mumbled, half asleep.
"Need any extra hooves?" she asked from beyond the door hopefully. If nothing else, he admired her persistence.
"No, thank ya." Mac quickly dried himself off and got dressed. While he was in the bathroom, Cinnamon had changed into an entirely different outfit, much more formal than before.
"Well, I'm sure the rest of the boarders will be ever so jealous of the handsome young stallion on my arm for dinner this evening."
Mac smiled cautiously. "Ah suppose it's the least I could do." He lead her out of the room and down a long hallway full of dusty portraits. At the bottom of the stairs waited the finest meal Macintosh had seen in ages. Punching that drunk in the mouth was one of his better decisions, it seemed.
After dinner, the plates had been cleared, and Mac sat beside Cinnamon as he contemplated the chilly night he'd spend beneath the stars.
"Mr. Apple, I simply cannot allow you to stay in the elements with such a chill in the air."
Mac knew what she was getting at, though the air of seduction in her voice had long since evaporated. Now she spoke with a more motherly tone. Truth of the matter was, he was certainly having trouble saying no to a bed and blankets.
"Alright Miss Cinnamon, I'll stay one night."
Her eyes lit up like the lanterns themselves. "Lovely! Come now Mr. Apple, it is well past this young mare's bedtime."
She hurried up the stairs and beckoned him to follow. Before long, they found themselves back in Cinnamon's room. Mac found her couch and began to settle in.
"And just what do you think you're doing over there?"
Mac blushed, straightening up before addressing her. "C'mon now miss, it wouldn't be decent for me ta—"
"Hush now," she insisted. "I give you my word that my loins will remain chaste. Even call mare's have their honor, Mr Apple."
Mac hesitated for a moment, though the memory of how soft her mattress had been was making it difficult to refuse.
"Okay, But we keep a pillow between us. Sound fair?"
Cinnamon smiled. "But of course."
Mac climbed beneath the sheets after disrobing and felt the bed shift as Cinnamon followed suit. Strangely enough, he was not as tired as he thought he'd be.
"Tired, Mr. Apple?" Apparently, neither was she.
"Not as much as Ah'd hoped."
A brief silence covered the room like the blankets they hid beneath.
"I know, we can play a game I used to play with my sisters when we couldn't sleep!" A lump of concern rose in Mac's throat. "We called it; 'questions'. We simply take turns asking each other questions until the other falls asleep!"
It sounded like a pretty dull game to him, but he was nothing if not courteous to his host.
"Alright then, who goes first?" he asked.
"The guest. By all means, Mr Apple."
Mac thought for a moment.
"What's your favorite color?" he asked.
"Blue," she replied. "My turn!" she said with filly-like excitement.
"Okay, go ahead."
Almost instantly, she asked him one of the hardest questions possible.
"What happened to the mare you're looking for?"
Seconds ticked by slowly as Mac tried to pick the best way to answer. For a moment, the silence soaked into their very souls.
"Someone took her. I aim to get her back."
Holy Celestia!
Merry Christmas indeed. The next instalment of RainbowXMac? My body is so ready!
What a great christmass present! I really want to know more. Who took Rainbow and Zap... And will they ever have another kid? What? That was Mac's dream from the first part of the trilogy... What does he show to the judge for him to let him free?
The flim and flam's brothers are back!! coming soon in the fic
Sorry about that one, I'm hungry and working right know (and in pain... lots of pain).
Next chapter please!!!
Strap in and fave, folks. Trust me, this is gonna be one hell of a ride!
Woah woah, hold your horses. Let me see if I've got this straight so far…
This is sort of like the film Taken but with ponies, and Big Mac is Liam Neeson?
Bucking sold!
Love it so far. I'm curious to find out exactly how Mac got away in the first chapter as a free pony. Only time shall tell…
Also, great to have you back too Bronius Maximus. Merry Christmas and everything
These... "I wanna get revenge" people... Who are they? I didn't notice them in Breaking Barriers, and I haven't read the first of the stories
Well then...all I can say is...THANK YOU SANTA! Second best Christmas gift I have ever gotten!
3677604 they were in the first story.
3677724
Huh... What were they/what happened?
3677730
Perhaps you should read At Home On The Range friend.
I'm sure you'll be enlightened of the questions you ask and throughly enjoy it.
Woah, this series has taken a dark turn. I see that following you was a very good choice.
Hopeful for more excellent work soon!
Ach, Jawhol! Dank Gott! It's been too long in coming my good man; My heart swells in gladness to be seeing this finally culminated! Now I seek culpability in my wait by reading it and meditating upon it! Danke, danke sehr mut!
And so it would appear that the wait has been vindicated. This is already a powerful story filled with visceral imagery and the high quality I've come to expect from you. To start off with action and then build back story is a new approach in the story and it is much appreciated. I will continue looking forward to new content as it arrives. Until then.
Ahh yeah!
I wonder what Mac showed the courtroom, a tattoo or brand indicating some sort of special commission from the Princesses, perhaps?
First Rust, now you BM its a Christmas miracle!
ONE OF THE BEST CHRISTMASS GIFTS EVER!!!!!!
Hey Bronius Maximus? Just want to say, I really enjoy reading your short novels because these stories could and should be published (With the consent of Hasbro/MLP). You have made my Hearths Warming eve special with your wonderful stories. I can full-heartedly say that I platonically love you. As I'm sure many others on FiMFiction do. So Thank you for your amazing writing.
Thank you santa Bronius!
Thanks for the Christmas presebt
New work from Bronius, all right! I gotta go back and read AHOTR and BB 'fore I dig into this, tho.
Glad you got through BCT and got a break, Bronius!
So much yay
'Kay. I'm liking this. I mean, I knew I'd like it when you originally mentioned it, but this is way more than I originally thought it would be.
I look forward to more.
Next chapter, please!
Two whole intricately woven and interesting stories leading up to this. I have my eye on this now.
3683834
I assume its a guard brand
Marking him an auxiliary guard or something or he could be an actual guard
3677524 If that is the case...
Big Mac: I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you're looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money... but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired throughout my entire life. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my wife and child go now, that will be the end of it - I will not look for you, I will not pursue you... but if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you... and I will kill you.
Unknown bad guy: ...Good luck.
3722687
Ha
If that's the case, lets hope there isn't a Macintosh Unhitched 2, where relatives of the Flim Flam brothers kidnap Rainbow Dash and Big Mac, and their colt Zap has to rescue them.
3722865 There would have to be a twenty years break for that.
Cinnamon... you just asked the wrong question there!
3677604 I know I'm late, but this is still important; GO THE FUCK BACK AND READ IT!
Ahem, if you don't mind that is.
Oh no! Zap!!
...You will not live to regret this Flim/Flam!
(Live being the key word)
Oh yes finally a Breaking Barriers sequel, can wait to rea-
Wait... Does it says...
imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/404x674q90/543/p98z.png
Gore?
Goddammit
Best of luck big mac. You are going to need it. I can't wait to read this story. Best of luck to the author.
can't help but draw some comparisons to red dead. the biggest difference is the badass main character knows where his wife and son are as he goes out and fights to ensure their safety.
3910762 I believe the name is meant to be a reference to Django Unchained. The scene at the beginning with the stallion under a fake name being a wanted criminal is from the movie too. Similar concept as well - Django searching for his wife.
4128701 never actually saw that one...
Why wasn't I notified?!?!
You made a 3rd? Holy shit