Chapter Three - New Beginnings (Needs to be spell checked and such)

Author note:

Well, this wasn't nearly as long as I had hoped for, but I enjoyed writing it and hope you enjoy reading as much as I do writing this. I didn't really do much effort wise into the time scale of this chapter (in our time - not fan fiction time) considering I last posted about 10 days ago, and started writing yesterday xD anyway, I think I've given you guys a nice snippet, enjoy as always!

-DerpyHooves MLP

It was early in the morning, the early birds were tweeting happily and flying around in a large group, synchronised like a whole city dancing to the cha cha slide by DJ Casper. The sky was a cyan-blue colour with several clouds scattered around the sky, which matched perfectly with the green grass surrounding the campsite the young ponies set up, along with the morning due, which could add clarity and elegance to any kind of picture of even a single blade of grass, the moisture in which was slowly dripping down making the scenery even more beautiful than picturing a couple in a deep romance, dancing away to music in which added sheer bliss to the atmosphere and that could make a couple absorb each layer of positive emotions expressed by simply looking in each other's eyes followed by the magical 4 words, "Will you marry me? " . Far in the distance was the city of Bristol, which was barely visible, it really did show how far the Apple trio had ventured the night before.

On the top of a small hill, stood a fairly large tent setup in between two trees and a burnt out campfire, which Big Macintosh had setup the night before, to help them build their' tent, since it was so dark when they stopped trotting. Inside the tent were three small sleeping young ponies, AppleBloom cuddled up with Big Macintosh for warmth and protection, and AppleJack on her own.

Just outside the tent landed a tall Stallion, his coat was a dark- regal blue, as if he were a member of the royal family, yet, lacking a horn, and wasn't dressed very regally either, just a pair of Ray-Bans. His mane was a sun-bleached natural blonde, which still had signs of brown from the winter and was somewhat Afro-ish but was more of a White Man's Afro as opposed to the Black Man's Afro. His sunglasses were totally blacked out, as if it he didn't like to show is eyes. He was quite shy after all, he had a quiet voice but not as quiet a the mare Fluttershy would end up being.

He attempted knocking on the tent door, but to no success. The material lacked rigidity to create a knock with half-decent volume. So he asked "Excuse me? Is there any uhhh anypony in here? Could you please come out? I'm sorta lost you see and uhhh, I was wandering if you could give me directions please fellow traveller? "

Luckily, Big Macintosh was already awake, but enjoyed the warmth of his sleeping bag and quilt, so he stayed in bed, but after he heard this mysterious voice from outside, he decided to wake AppleJack up before venturing outside, into the campsite where the voice was coming from.

Big Macintosh opened the tent, to be dazed by the bright sun shining into his eyes. There was a slight breeze on top of the pleasant warmth by the sun, making the temperature neutral, causing him to not really feel any warmth or cold. Outside, stood a surprised Pony at first, but the Pony asked Big Macintosh if his parents was inside the tent.

"Eenope" Big Macintosh replied casually.

"Wait, is there anyone at all?" the Stallion.

"Eeyup, may I ask you for your name?" Big Macintosh asked the mysterious stallion.

"Oh, me? Just call me Beats for now, but that's beside the point-" Beats said before being interrupted.

"Well Howdy, My name is Big Macintosh and it's a pleasure to meet you!" He said politely and shaking Beats' hoof.

"All the same to you, sir, but I must ask if there is anyone here that can give me directions to Canterlot. You see, I'm from a long way away and I don't know my way around these parts of Equestria." Beats asked honestly but still very shocked.

"Hey, you could come with us, we'll be leaving in an hour!" big macintosh said excitedly.

"Uhhh, sure, but may I ask who I will be travelling with?" he asked.

"Why sure! Come in!"

The two ponies entered the tent. One cheerfully and the other one shocked.

"Wait, isn't there any adults around!?" Beats shouted in shock.

Big Macintosh replied, "I'm afraid not. Just me, my two sisters, AppleJack" pointing to Applejack with his small hooves, "and AppleBloom" again, pointing but this time, to AppleBloom.

"Are you children travelling without an adult!?" Beats asked, shocked.

"Eeyup" replied Big Macintosh

"uh huh" replied AppleJack"

"Where's your parents!? You children shouldn't be walking around alone! Bad things can happen!"

"Well, long story short, we're doing what's best for us." AppleJack answered.

"You may think that, kid, and I respect your opinion, but you're just children! What would you're mother say!?" Beats questioned, expecting to them to agree and start the walk home, but much to his surprise, AppleJack simply shook her head.

"No." she said. However simple the two letter word is, it says a lot in situations like these, the message was clearly given to beats, who quickly changed the subject.

"So, umm, shall we head off now then?" Beats asked, feeling very awkward about the former conversation.

"Sure!" Big Macintosh and AppleJack replied, followed by a quite, but certainly cute sound from AppleBloom.

The quartet of ponies, ranging from an average age to young set off, after carefully packing up their' campsite and neatly packing it away in the bags supplied with the items.

By the time they started walking, it was late morning, the sun was high in the sky, giving off a very pleasant heat. The early morning dew had evaporated by now, making the grass underneath the hooves of each pony feel soft, like a finely knitted jumper on top of a humans' bare skin. As the four ponies reached the bottom of the hill, onto the flat lands, AppleJack decided to have a friendly conversation with the trio's new acquaintance.

"So fella, may I ask you whereabouts you're from?" she asked, smiling as always.

"Uhhm..." there was a long silence. Beats had a secret that he could tell nopony. A secret that would be classed as 'a need to know basis'.

"uhh, beats? Anypony there?" AppleJack asked, suspiciously.

"Sorry about that kid-o , I'm from somewhere far away, a place that you wouldn't know." Beats replied, keeping his secret secure, but at the same time being quite open with the young pony.

"ya said that earlier, Sugarcube." Applejack reminded beats, growing ever more curious a out him, wandering whether or not to trust him.

"I know." Beats lied, he'd actually forgot. "But trust me, you really wouldn't know. I might tell you later, if I feel comfortable about it. Can I you trust you, AppleJack?" beats asked the young filly, looking deeply into her luscious green eyes, glistening as the moment seemed like forever. After a short while of total silence, Big Macintosh butted in,

"Hello guys? It seems like we've reached a small lake , time to fill up on water!" but the two ponies didn't listen, their' eyes were fixed, however they kept on walking.

"Guys? -" Big Macintosh was cut off by a splash. As it turns out, the two ponies had trotted off of the small pier.

Big Macintosh fell on the floor laughing to his heart's content followed by two rather annoyed, and very wet ponies, walking out of the lake onto the sand next to the small pier.

"you can trust me, beats." AppleJack whispered into his ear followed by Beats replying "Thank you."

The four ponies then filled up on the water, provided at no cost by mother nature herself.

There was a small, wooden building at the other side of the lake, with a billboard signpost ontop clearly spelling 'Ice Cream' in bold, block capitals, which was spotted by Big Macintosh pointing and deciding to go there anyway. It was moderately hot, and was perfect weather for a good ice cream.

"Hey, should we get some ice cream?" Big Macintosh asked.

"Well can we afford it, Mac?" AppleJack asked Big Macintosh, rhetorically.

"well don't worry guys, I can afford this, I have plenty of money!" Beats replied, in a very friendly mannerism.

"Oh, yer don't have to do that, Beats, but it's a very nice thing to offer, but you really don't have to." AppleJack said to Beats, to which he then replied,

"I don't have to, but that certainly doesn't mean that I don't want to." Beats replied in one of the most friendliest tones you could ever hear. So friendly in fact, that it just makes you want to hug him and never let go. That kind of feeling you get when you're next to a person that you could take on a picnic deep in the countryside, on top of a hill with a tree at the top and with a view reaching as far as the eye is capable of seeing, yet, not another soul for miles, apart from you and that person, slowly falling asleep in each other's arms and watching the sun slowly make way for the moon to take it's place.

The quartet started walking again, but this time, towards the ice cream shop. The long chats between AppleJack and Beats had raised Beats from AppleJack's friend. However, Beats had not yet really had a long chat with Big Macintosh yet, but that was soon to be changed.

"So young fella, why are you heading to Canterlot?" Beats asked , in a friendly tone as always, yet clearly hinting for Big Macintosh to engage in a long chat.

"Please, Sir, just call me Mac, but uhh, we're not really heading to Canterlot, we're actually going to PonyVille." Big Macintosh replied, followed by Beats nodding saying "uh huh." then asking Mac "Do you need any further escorting? It's only fair if I do the same" Beats offered, but Big Macintosh declined, however, remaining happy by his offer.

"No, we're fine Beats, we can just catch the friendship express all the way from Canterlot to the PonyVille, it's no biggie." Big Mac went onto smile at Beats.

"Are you sure?" asked Beats

"Positive." said Mac.

"So, why exactly are you heading to PonyVille then, Mac?"

"For a new life of freedom." Mac replied. The message was clearly conveyed by Beats.

"oh, I see." Beats replied, awkwardly. "What happened?"

"Well," Big Macintosh answered, "I'd rather not talk about it to be perfectly honest right now, maybe later, but I chose what's best for us three. So that we can finally be happy. Before, we never had friends, since we weren't allowed outside, being inside was like hell, and we don't have any education at all. It's disgusting, I know, but none of this was our fault. We'd planned this for ages, but it only became a reality yesterday when I - We - Decided to act. Especially with our baby sister arriving about half a month ago. We knew we had to do it, most importantly, we did it so that AppleBloom here can have a better life that what has happened to me and AppleJack so far. Where we're going, She can get an education, she can make friends with some nice ponies, but most of all, she'll never remember what happened now, she won't remember anything, which means she won't have to have nightmares of the past. She can live... Free..."

The mood between the two ponies in deep conversation had advanced from friendly to personal, it was evident Big Macintosh was being as open as possible without revealing too much.

"Wow." Beats replied, with a tear rolling down his eye, "You must be the best big brother ever. I wish I had one like you, always thinking of others instead of yourself. You're a good Stallion."

"Thank you very much, Beats, but please, I couldn't have managed all this without our trusty AppleJack here!" he exclaimed, hugging AppleJack with all his might, but not uncomfortably at all. AppleJack then looked at her brother smiling, and whispered, yet was clearly audible to Beats "Thank you Mac, I love you." she then planted a kiss on her brother's cheek bone, catching Big Mac off guard, making him blush heavily in the process.

"Well, until we get to Canterlot, I'll make sure you're all safe. Its what you all deserve really. Your story; from what I've heard at least, is noble, and you should feel incredibly proud of yourselves."

By this time, they'd all reached the ice cream shop. Mac ordered a Raspberry ripple, followed by a banana split for AppleJack, a plain vanilla ice cream for AppleBloom, and a Rum & Raisin for Beats. Boy did he love raisins.

Surprisingly, for a hut as small as it was, the ice cream was lovely! Oh, the Raspberry! It was simply to die for by rarity's standards! And the banana split, it was easily the best banana split ever tasted by a tongue, and the vanilla, it was so soft and creamy! It was like somepony took a cloud and massaged your mouth with it, whilst feeding you the richest cream known to pony kind! The rum and raisin was just short of a delight however, the run just didn't taste right, but was certainly a pleasurable ice cream none the less.

After eating their ice creams, the four ponies set off once again, they continued walking, and talking about various things, nothing of real interest until a minor problem stood in their way. They'd just been walking into a trap. Suddenly, out of the floor, 3 Diamond dogs emerged, trying to take AppleBloom from Big Mac's back for ransom purposes, however, they underestimated the strength of the young colt. a strong buck of the back feet sent one of the dogs flying backwards.

"Beats! AppleJack! We have to protect AppleBloom at all costs! I've read about these! They'll take her and use her as ransom!"

The three ponies took position, Big Macintosh using his brute strength from his his hind legs to attack, with AppleJack to the side of him, guarding his flank (in war terms) whilst beats, very unexpectedly started fiddling around with some sort of electronical device, but very fast, then all of a sudden started playing... Music? Whatever he was doing worked however. His headphones were so powerful in fact, that not a single diamond dog could approach. He had a questionable music taste, however, as opposed to the standard classical styled music of Equestria. AppleJack spotted one of the diamond dogs, about to pounce at her, but was too late. The dog had her pinned down, and pretty much immobilised the young pony. Big Mac wouldn't let this go unnoticed however. But he had 2 diamond dogs coming at him from the opposite side from where AppleJack was. He had a split second choice to make. Go left, and stop his sister being pinned down and harmed, or, go to the right, and eliminate some of the threats first. Decisions decisions. But wait! He'd totally forgot about beats!

"Beats! Cover my right! Just hold them off quickly!"

Beats received the message instantly, and directed his headphones at the 2 dogs charging at Mac.

As quick as his body would let him travel, quickly turned to his right and faced the 2 dogs about to attack him.

"what the hell are you doing Mac! I thought I was covering your right!"

"just watch this! And turn your music off now!"

Big Macintosh launched off the ground into a backflip, the height gained look impossible to achieve, even with a trampoline! He was at least 9 feet off the ground, he then suddenly sped up on his way down, and managed to give a monster buck to the face of the the diamond dog securing his sister down to the ground. In the process of this, many loud cracks echoed through the small valley followed by a scream of unbearable pain from the diamond dog. Big Macintosh managed to shatter the diamond dog's jaw, leaving it in small shards of bone marrow which were falling out of the dog's mouth alongside the pool of blood on the floor surrounding the dog but by Big Macintosh's abilities, this was nothing... Yet. Using the momentum Mac achieved from the buck to the face, he managed to thrust himself forward through the air likes pegusi in a race. He the produced with both of his hooves two blades from his saddle bag. He used his right hoof to get the blade in the left saddle bag, Whilst using his left hoof to retrieve the blade from his right saddle bag.

Doing this in the air caused Mac's forelegs to cross. However, this was muchly used to his advantage. When the right time came, just as he was about to fly in between the two dogs, he quickly uncrossed his fore legs, slashing the 2 dogs necks with the sharp blades, but this action was not seen by the two other ponies. Yet. Big macintosh finally stopped flying forward and had stopped himself by hitting a tree, but he didn't exactly 'hit' the tree. Again, using the momentum, he thrashed himself back towards the small crowd of ponies, including Applejack who'd just got off the floor and picking up AppleBloom from the floor with her teeth, but standing next to them was a regal blue coloured pony, with an Afro blown backwards due to the intense speed achieved by the young colt, and a jaw that was as low down as possible, without unhinging, of course. Big macintosh flew in between the two dogs again, but this time, the gust of wind produced by the speed of the fly by caused the heads of the dogs to move forward, very slowly, but almost unnoticeable. Mac finally landed on the head of the injured dog, putting it out of it's agonising misery.

Big Macintosh then looked blankly at nothing important at all, looking the opposite direction from the group of ponies and 2 dogs, which were still standing there, not moving at all, not even slash mark were visible at all. The royal blue pony then looked at Big Macintosh in sheer awe until he heard two very clear thuds from behind him and then a clearly audible spray of blood from two separate bodies, which covered the floor in a red, sticky substance. The noise echoed through the village like the jaw-shattering buck from Big Macintosh less than five seconds ago.

The noise made Big Macintosh grin demonically, until after 10 seconds of utter silence, he turned around and casually started trotting back towards Beats, AppleJack and AppleBloom, with the grin totally removed from his face before even turning around.

There were two more thuds during his casual stroll to regroup. The the two headless bodies had finally fell to the floor.

"So, the time now is about 3:30PM judging by the trajectory of the sun, meaning that we have about two and a half hours until Celestia brings up the moon. So, that means we have 7 miles to cover in two and a half hours if we want to stick to our schedule. Does anypony have any objections to the occasional gallop?"

There was silence. Beats was still shocked by Big Macintosh's skills, and AppleJack shocked that he'd just killed 3 diamond dogs.

"Fine, I'll take that as a yes."

"WHERE DID YOU LEARN THAT!?!?!?" Beats shouted in amazement.

"He won't tell ya Sugarcube, he ain't even told me yet." AppleJack interrupted, but still remaining polite as always.

"Since we have nothing to hide from each-other anymore, I may as well tell the truth, since leaving Bristol means I am no longer a freelancer. Big Macintosh said calmly and sighed.

"Er wut now?" asked AppleJack, very cautiously.

"... What she said..." Beats stated. Unable to produce any intelligent thoughts other than 'What the buck did this colt just do!?

"I may as well tell you the whole story."

It was 7 years ago.

AppleJack was AppleBloom's current age, and Big Macintosh was AppleJack's current age.

It was an ordinary morning, Mac and AppleJack were at home, locked in, whilst their' dad was away work for his new job working in Las pegasus and their mother, Out around town with her friends - the friends that come before her own children.

When suddenly came a knock on the door. Big Macintosh went to the door and opened the post box to see a grey coloured pony dressed in all black and blacked out sunglasses. It wasn't sunny.

"Who is this?" Big Macintosh asked the mysterious pony.

"That is a private issue which I can only discuss with my fellow colleagues and you, nopony else can know. Can I please come in?" The stranger asked

"if I could open the door, then I'd let you in, but it's locked." Mac said sadly, dropping his head.

"is your mother home?"

"I'm afraid not, sorry fella." Big Macintosh sighed.

"Hey, kid, could to do me a favour and open the door to the balcony? "

The mystery pony asked.

"Sure!" Big Macintosh said, with surprise and excitement clearly being emitted through his young, high-pitched voice.

The postbox then slammed shut, followed by a door opening a few seconds later. Sour Apple hadn't bothered locking that door, since she knew it was too high to jump down, especially for Big Mac.

The pony then Jumped up onto the balcony, a 15ft high jump with little effort.

"WOW! HOW DID YOU DO THAT!?" Mac asked in amazingness.

"Us freelancers get that all the time, we get used to it, and so will you in due time." the mystery pony said to Big Macintosh, who replied "Really!? I get to be a freelancer? COOL!!!

Umm sir?  What's a freelancer? " Big Mac the asked, embarrassed by what he just asked, followed by his head sinking downwards.

"once again" The mystery pony said to Macintosh, "in due time."

The pony then leaped off the balcony, still looking at Macintosh whilst falling backwards. Big Macintosh then ran over to the balcony, just to check if the pony was injured, but to his surprise, there was not a pony to be seen.

Several weeks went by without anything different happening. Mac had grew curious about whether or not the pony that arrived at his house was a figment of his imagination, and seriously thought that; even if it was real, it was just a joke. But how did he jump onto the balcony? This level of skill must require a lot of strength, even with a trampoline, this would be difficult.

Mac then walked downstairs and had a talk with his father, Apple squash, to see if he thought that the jump and the entire scenario was real or not.

"Hey, Pa, could I ask you something?" Big Macintosh asked, with that cute little boy kind of tone.

"Why sure, Son, here, have a seat." His father replied, "What's on your mind?" he said, inviting Big Mac to a seat right beside him.

"well dad, I was wandering, I saw this man the other day, and I saw him jump onto next door's balcony, without climbing or anything. He was grey with black clothes and some black sunglasses, even though it wasn't sunny! Do you know what they are?" Big macintosh asked his father, yet lying about what balcony he jumped onto.

There was dead silence in the room.

Mac then looked round to his father, to find him with the most grim face that Apple Squash had ever worn. His muzzle was drooping as if he had just been stabbed in the stomach, His eyes were wide open, suggesting that he was in deep thought. Something wasn't right. The cheeks of Mac's father were also drooping, as if he had just been shocked by some tragic news given to him.

"Dad, are you there? Is something wrong?" said a concerned voice, coming from the colt.

"Stay here son, I have some business to attend to, I need to go now. Don't ask about it, and most importantly, don't tell. You hear me son? Do not tell ANYPONY."

"Dad, something is wrong. Just tell me! Mac shouted at his dad, but to no prevail. He ran out of the house, followed by a loud slam of the door.

Big Macintosh was left in the house alone in silence with the new-born baby Filly, AppleJack. He hated every minute of it. Not because he had to look after his sister, but because the house seemed scary. It was 7PM at night, and their mother wouldn't be home until at least 2AM.

The house was coated with an unforgiving layer of coldness, which made Mac feel incredibly uncomfortable. He was afraid of leaving any room in the house at this time of the time, because of the shadows cast by the night, but because he was alone, he galloped through the house, turning on every possible light. As he went through the house, every sound, even as minute as a quiet door squeak, echoed through the empty house vigorously. This made Mac feel all the more uncomfortable. about being pretty much alone in the house.

After what felt like a marathon to him, Big Macintosh climbed into the bed opposite AppleJack's baby cot. He then waited. And waited. And waited, until he could wait no more. He then started to fall asleep ever so silently, as if he was an undercover agent lurking around corners. Without a sound at all, Mac's eyes closed shut as he peacefully drifted off into a relaxing sleep.