4 The Two Legs

After two hours of walking, and getting lost twice, Beta found his way to Ponyville. It was a very quaint, little village. He marveled for a moment that it was filled with... well... ponies. "Well I suppose that's why this land is called Equestria" he chuckled to himself.

Beta then realized he was the only biped in sight. Swishing his tail nervously, he began to look for something to eat. He quickly realized he had no money.

Seeing a fruit stand, he decided to approach. "Um... hi?" he asked sheepishly, deciding that it would be a better approach than to storm the stand, roaring. "Um.. how much for an apple?" he asked just as his stomach rumbled. Smiling kindly at him, the pony simply rolled and apple his way.

"No charge for you, sweety" The fact that she found him rather attractive didn't hurt either. "So who are you cutie? I'm Apple Berry" she said swinging her rump a little, showing off her cutie mark of an apple half with a strawberry in the middle. She smelled older than Rainbow Dash... not that it was a bad thing at all. Her fur was a beautiful middle shade of green, like an apple. Her mane and tail had very seductive, very candy red stripes.

'I wonder what they taste like' he thought.

"I’m the grocery pony around here." Apple Berry said.

"Um.. I’m Beta... I'm new around here" Beta said, stating the painfully obvious.

"Well, welcome to Ponyville Mr. Beta" she said with a smile and a soft southern drawl that made him want to melt like butter.

Taking the proffered apple, Beta bit into it and savored the juicy sweetness. "Mmmmmm this apple is delicious! who grows them?" Beta asked out of genuine interest. After all a farm often needed farm hands and he needed a place to stay.

“Well" she started in that sweet, soft southern drawl "My kin do! My cousin Applejack, her older brother Big Macintosh, and old Granny Smith run the orchard just outside of town, about 10 miles, that way". she said pointing with a hoof “down Equestria Way. That road eventually leads to the capital city, Canterlot." Beta couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the name as if to say 'really? that's what it's called...Canterlot?' but he was distracted by Apple Berry's two-tone eyes, one blue, one green, as she blinked softly at him. He nearly gave up any thoughts that didn’t include taking this filly home...

Looking deeply into her eyes, Beta blushed as he asked "Are all ponies here as beautiful as you? er... I  mean... so beautiful?" he stumbled a moment later for words.

Apple Berry blushed, coloring her pale cheeks, making her clomp the ground a little with shyness, whinnying a little... she rather liked this one. "Oh, flattery will get you rather far Mr. two legs." she replied, secretly thankful for the compliment. "Do you have a place to stay, my cute friend?" she asked, fluttering her eyes seductively at him, causing Beta to nearly choke on his next bite of apple, blushing at the implication she had just made, though the offer was tempting.

"Um... what?" he asked stupidly, foolish thoughts running through his head. Thoughts that were backed up from a particular scent this filly was giving off. Realizing what Beta was probably thinking, Apple Berry began to blush as well. Not that she would mind a few rolls in the hay with this rather attractive male.

His cheeks still colored, Beta shook his head no. Apple Berry then pointed again with one of her hooves down the trail, towards the orchard. "Big Mac may have a place for you if you're willing to work for it" she said, trying to hide her own thoughts on where he could bunk. "Big Mac can always use a nice strong pair of paws such as yours" she added, noticing how strong and muscular his upper body and arms were.

Still red from her attention, Beta asked "Do you live there?" only half hoping what she probably thought.

"No" she said with a long, sad sigh "Applejack and her kin live there and run the farm. I'm just visiting for a family event... so Ah guess Ah do 'live' there but that's not mah home. Also" she added "Don't let Big Macintosh intimidate you. He's really just a big softie" then she added in a soft, longing voice "a VERY, big softie..." 'But not always' she thought, smiling almost to herself, remembering a few times, many summers ago.

"Thank you" Beta said, truly grateful for the help. "I wish I had some way to properly thank you" he added, then noticed a glint in the pony's eyes.

'Oh dear Celestia, it's soo tempting, he's so beautiful!' she thought longingly. It had been a time since she'd had a good roll in the hay.

Then Beta added, almost absent-mindedly "Oh... if you see Rainbow Lightning..." he said, thinking of her cutie mark.

"Who?" Apple Berry asked, but sure, she knew who he meant. "Um... do you mean Rainbow DASH?" she asked as her hopes were crushed. 'Rainbow Dash... if he has eyes for her, I haven't got a hope in Equestria... damn!' she thought, not quite bitterly.

"Yeah" he said brightly, slightly embarrassed he’d forgotten part of her name "Please tell her I'm at the farm. She's been helping me since I got here.”

With a crushed spirit, Apple Berry replied "Yeah... no problem I'll let her know if I see her"

Gently taking one of Apple Berry's hooves in his paws, he gave it a small kiss "Thank you, truly, you’ve been a ton of help. I wouldn’t have found a place to earn my keep without you." he said looking into her eyes, truly grateful.

Her heart swooned. 'Damn he's a good catch' she thought, before nodding in acceptance of his gratitude. Then he was off. She watched him walk out of town, looking at his tail swaying from side to side, those strong thighs... 'If only he wasn't wearing pants' she thought longingly, as another customer tried to pay her for some apples. She took his money dazedly tossing him one coin too much in change, not really caring, just enjoying the view as long as she could.

About an hour later, Beta reached the farm: Sweet Apple Acres. As he passed through the arches, he was over whelmed with the wondrous smell of apples of all kinds. Some he'd never even know of before assaulted his senses. It was like his nose was being raped by a delicious stick made from apple.

He was also greeted by the signs and smells of life. And farms had plenty of life. A farm tended by horses... it made him chuckle... life. He smiled. He noticed he was doing that more since he arrived in Equestria, and that made him chuckle a little more.

Half way to the main barn, he was greeted by a horse. A large Horse. A Very large draft horse. A very Large, well built... Beta shook his head clear of amorous thoughts. Smiling, Beta looked up to the apple red horse "Um... hi, I'm new here... I underst..."

Big Mac cut him off "Why are you here two-legs?" he asked. The question boomed from his large frame, projecting a very strong and intimidating presence. If Beta wasn't sure of his skill, he WOULD have been truly intimidated and scared.

Beta knew the difference between a protective male and a jerk. Big Mac was clearly the former, as well as being able to back up his intimidation. He was looking at a warrior, and his estimation of Big Mac went up several notches. "Umm.. I just... I'm just looking for some work" he stammered on purpose. "I heard that you need um..." Beta held up his paws, wiggling his fingers a little "hands around the orchard and farm... as it were" he finished, unable to contain the tiniest of smirks at the irony of the statement.

Big Mac let out a booming neighing laugh, clopping Beta on the back with one of his massive hooves, affectionately... knocking Beta face first into the soft ground and into what he prayed, and then confirmed with a sigh, was mud "I like you. You're honest and direct. And yes we do need... hands. I'm Big Macintosh, but you can call me Big Mac."

As Beta got to his feet, shaking the mud from his face, he saw Big Mac offering a muddy hoof up. Smiling broadly and feeling relieved, Beta took the proffered hoof and was helped up by Big Mac. "I'm Beta. I'm very pleased to meet you. Where should I begin?"

Turning around, swishing his tail, Big Mac began to walk towards the main barn. Following, Beta's eyes wandered to Mac's haunches to look at his cutie mark, then his eyes widened as they followed Mac's tail... Beta then looked anywhere BUT at Big Mac's backside, grateful, not for the first time today, that he was wearing pants however muddy they were.

Inclining his head towards Beta as they walked, Big Mac began "We need someone to help shovel.. well... you know. We use the manure for the vegetable farm, as you can imagine. With the extra family visiting for a semi-yearly reunion we have more than usual. Normally me, Jack, Gran, and Bloom are very careful where we... go. But with all the kin... we've kinda had to... lower our standards, as it were." Big Mac explained, a slightly embarrassed, flustered look crossing his strong equine features.

Mac then added, almost as an afterthought "Do you have a place to stay two legs?"

Actually stammering a little this time, realizing his situation finally, Beta replied "N-no. I only arrived in Equestria last night. I was hoping you might have a small area or large tree I could sleep around?" Beta replied, head down, truly humbled from having to ask. He could make shelter if he needed it. But the weather seemed mild enough he could sleep under the stars safely. 'Well.. I’m the one who ran from the lab, aren't I?' he thought rebukingly. "I'm good to work" he reassured the massive equine, hoping he wasn’t talking himself out of a job.

Big Mac chuckled "I'm sure you are. Apple Berry is a good judge of character. I imagine she would have taken you back to her place if she could have." he said with a smile, knowing his somewhat amorous cousin well. This caused Beta to blush a great deal, making Mac neigh-laugh loudly again. He really liked this guy. He was innocent in all the right ways yet... "If Apple Berry had thought you useless, she would have given you bad directions or sent you away completely. As opposed to giving you an apple." This shocked Beta a little, hoping she would not get in trouble "I could smell it on your fur. Those apples are very juicy and have a distinct smell. Especially to someone who had live around apples all his life... well... most." Hearing that made Beta raise an ear.

"Actually we do have a small shack at the edge of the property, with a small plot where you can grow your own vegetables. It's rather private" Mac said, ending with a wink, causing Beta to continue his reddening. His fur was starting to turn purple, for he was blushing so much. "Normally it's for our gardener, but as we don’t have one, it's currently empty. Earn your keep and it's yours as well as the fruit from the surrounding trees and any veggies you grow."

"T-t-thank you! That is very generous of you" Beta said, truly thankful. He wasn't expecting the Apple family to be THIS generous. He would have to think of something very nice for Apple Berry as a way of saying thanks.

"HA! Don't thank me yet. You haven’t started your job" Big Mac laughed humorously winking at him. "We haven’t had a two-legs in a long time. The dragonlings stopped coming here 3 seasons ago. The unicorns are generally too stuck up to help out with such 'menial labor' that you'll be doing and we. There are a hoofful of males that we do manage to draft, sometimes a unicorn even. But they don’t stay around for much more than half a season. And... well you get the idea." Big Mac finished with a heavy sigh.

“I did notice the sparseness of males around here, especially strong studs like you." Beta commented, hoping to sound off handed, not realizing he called the rather desirable stallion a stud.

"Yeah, males aren’t that common.” Big Mac began, smiling but choosing to dismiss Beta’s comment of attraction. ‘Yes, he might be fun to play with.’ he thought, then continued to Beta “Most colts are taken away to be soldiers or guards in Canterlot or wherever else they're needed. And most of those are either Pegasai or Unicorns" Big Mac seemed to say ‘unicorns’ with great disdain. "Some just... drift off..." Beta made a mental note of that last comment, "There are some here and some like Mr Cake, and Dr. Whoves, but that's them. Yes, females outnumber adult males roughly 3 to 1." Beta let out a long low whistle.

"That must make you popular on valentine's day."

"Valen... what? You mean Hearts and Hooves day? I get the occasional card, but rarely anything more, sadly." Big Mac replied, somewhat downtrodden. Then he looked at Beta, dead in the eyes and said in a very serious tone "This is a little girl's paradise. No males or stallions, save a few idiots, are common here. There is me" he chuckled self-deprecatingly "a royal guard drop-out." Beta's eyes widened in shock and respect, even though he had guessed it already.

"Really? How did you drop out?" he asked , unthinking. He then slapped his paws over his maw, to show he didn't really mean to ask... but he had.

Big Mac laughed humorously. "It’s ok. I can tell you're also a warrior. Not like me, but I could smell the blood on your fur" Beta stopped pretending to be meek, and stood up straight, casting a long shadow in the late afternoon light.

"How did you know" he asked Big Mac.

"It’s clear to me. The way you walk, even acting like a beggar, you carry yourself ready for action. You are never unprepared, and your eyes move too much. You know this area better than Apple Bloom, my little sister does... and you've been here 10 minutes. That’s the mark of an assassin." he said, suddenly towering over Beta.

Looking up, Beta nodded "I was programmed to be an assassin... but no more. I ran away from that place... I..." Beta faltered for words... the pain still too fresh for it not to bother him so. Big Mac saw Beta's sudden fragility in admitting that much and gave a long, whinnying sigh.

"I'll tell you my story then, I suppose" before picking up and tossing Beta a large shovel "but you have to work for that story boy. Agreed?"

"Agreed" Beta said. It would be a good way to pass the time anyway.

“I was a young colt when they came. All colts have to go through a basic training. I had excelled in school, especially sports, so there was no question of it. I was perfect Royal Guard material. I was immediately drafted into the Canterlot palace security program. No one could defeat me in combat. I was too tough, too strong, and very fast. I had no equal for a very long time.”

“I moved up through the ranks fast enough. I went from soldier to guard to royal guard to lieutenant, to captain of the guards... I protected the princess from countless enemies... Oh yes, we have battles that no one sees. That’s the point of the Royal Elite Guard. We go out, find those that endanger the princess and... deal with them.” Big Mac’s demeanor turned cold and steely for a moment, as he recalled some of his adventures… dragons, centaurs, and one or two humans. All had to be killed because they either directly or indirectly threatened the peace or the princess.

“That blood on my hooves is very real." Both paused a moment. Mac looked at his fore hooves, Beta at his open, dirty paws. They knew the blood never washed off. "I see you understand ... it's the kind of stain that never comes off.” Beta nodded. He could smell the blood on Mac as soon as they met. It wasn’t ‘real’ blood. That did wash off. But there was a stench, a taint of the soul that could not be cleaned away. It was something other killers could see on each other. Because in the end, that’s what they were… killers. You could mask it in pretty language. Call it duty to the kingdom, assassination, protecting others… but in the end you were murdering someone, killing them for whatever reason. Ending their life cycle.

Beta had been on many assignments before he escaped the lab. He had murdered... assassinated. He felt justified in his actions. Those deaths... they were for his country... Uncle Sam... but words didn't comfort your soul. He still ended the life of another living, thinking being. Those that got in his way of escape… he tried not to think of them. Some were innocent, most were guards. The Lab's hunters, however, he had no remorse for, especially the bastard that sliced his midsection. That still ached, he noticed. He must have been cut pretty deep.

“There was this one I could not kill. WOULD NOT kill. I refused and I fought off my entire squad. I helped the stranger escape into the forest.” A look of misery crossed Big Mac’s face. This incident had scarred him deeply. He must have found this person’s situation compelling enough to fight his own brothers in arms. That was never easy. Big Mac had a good heart, and a very strong sense of justice. This much was at least clear. Beta wasn't sure if he would have been able to fight off his squad mates. But there was a chance they might have.... the pain was too much, and he closed off thoughts of his team mates... all dead now.

“I was drummed out, and returned to the farm. I’ve been here ever since. I’m lucky I wasn’t executed for treason. But the Princess owed me a favor or two and here I am. Semi-officially retired from service”

"How do you mean SEMI officially?" Beta asked

"I still retain the active rank of Captain of the Royal Special Forces. I can still order other guards around but... I'm as good as drummed out!" he exclaimed “I stay in the background. Listen my boy, we stallions... we, males of action, must do so in the background... Equestria is a little girl's paradise, and we have no place in it. We are needed, but can never interfere in their day to day lives. We MUST live in the shadows… a place you are clearly comfortable with.” Mac added with a note that Beta couldn’t decipher. It was either respect or disdain… perhaps both. Assassins are never looked upon kindly by regular troops, even elites.

“Once the ponies grow into full mares they also fade into the background most of the time. That is simply the way of things.” Big Mac finished. “Teachers, grocers, bakers… witches” he said, thinking fondly of Zecora “all are there but… not there. We’re here to make the ponies' lives enjoyable and make them wiser. Help them grow and mature. But nothing more, if we can avoid it.”

“YOU... have thrown a bit of a monkey wrench into things just by existing here. I don’t mind, hell, I love a bit of mischief now and then... but be careful you don't catch Celestia's eye... hers is not a forgiving one, if you threaten her paradise.” Big Mac added darkly. He clearly knew Celestia well.

“I was lucky to get away with being "retired". That was the official reason I was released with full honors, and sent to pasture.... I even get a pension now and then... it's what keeps this farm in place. That and the perpetuity land grant Celestia herself gave my family, 3 generations ago.”

“We owe her everything. And I gave her everything, but... I couldn’t give up my soul... you understand that.” Beta nodded. He did. That was the reason why he left, HAD to leave… that and the fact that they were going to kill him.

"I do" Beta said and that was that. There would be more sharing of war stories later. For now, each respected the other's privacy and pain. But knowing... understanding... that was what was important. They had a connection in blood and vocation.

They spent the rest of the day mucking and cleaning the stables and grounds. It was more poop than Beta thought he'd ever seen in his life... And he knew that as long as the family gathering lasted, it was only going to increase. But that was his job now, and it paid well. It also as gave him a place to stay... right now it was perfect for him.