Unchained

A days work

After the incident that Twilight wouldn't leave him alone he explained to her what happened.
"So what happened in your dream why did you react like that".

He sighed, but answered the question.
"Twilight is one of many dangerous things to deal with especially with a war veteran it's a nightmare, making me relive those horrible times over, and over making me pay for what a politician couldn't handle on their own.
I was a soldier for well over eighty years. I was twenty-two when I joined in nineteen-fourteen I along with thousands of other men were sent to fight in a war because of some greedy idiot".

She wrote down what he said, but stopped to ask some very uncomfortable questions.
"Eighty years what's the average human lifespan"?

He scratched the back of his head, then looked at her.
"Well for me at least two-hundred years for the average depending on the lifestyle maybe eighty something to a little over a hundred give, or take".

She looked up at him confused as she wrote down the information.
"Why can you live so long"?

He rattled his brain a bit trying to remember the answer, then it popped in his head.
"Because in my family every so many generations one male gets a gene that extends our life span, and how we look when I was twenty-two I was going to stay looking like that until something killed me, or I hit my nineties".

She scribbled more until she hit a nerve.
"Who was Butterfield"?

He lowered his head in shame.
"Let me tell you something in the Marines your platoon is not just a bunch of soldiers you're put with throughout all the training, and the fighting you don't just become a team you become brothers, your platoon isn't just your platoon the Marines is a brotherhood, and everyone there is your brother in arms.
You form a very strong bond during your time not only as a soldier in training, but as brothers, and Butterfield was killed because I was to slow to save him, and to this day it still haunts me".

All three of them looked at him in shock, and sorrow.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that".
Applejack put a hand on his shoulder as he sat in silence.

He looked up at her with tears in his eye.
"Yeah, and I was in multiple wars after that, and went through the same thing over, and over until the day I died, but enough of that for now I believe we have work to do".

Applejack nodded her head, and he stood up they said their goodbyes before leaving to Sweet apple acres.
Steel, and Applejack walked in silence all the way down the winding road to the farms main entrance.

As they approached Applejack swole with pride as she spoke.
"Welcome to sweet apple acers".

He let out a long whistle looking at the long rows of perfectly planted rows of trees.
"It's beautiful reminds me of home".

They walked down the little path down to the barn, and house, but there was trouble brewing up already the sounds of arguing, and fighting was catching their ears.
Before Applejack could take one more step she felt a arm behind her knees, and another holding her back up she looked up, and saw Steel was holding her bridal style, and began running to the barn.

After a short time they stopped on one side of the barn, and listened in on what was going on.
"Big one come with, and small one".

"I ain't lettin' y'all take mah lil sis".
Applejack whispered that the deeper voice with the southern drawl was her brother Big Macintosh.

"No big one come with we take, and small one we take other female too".
The arguing kept going until Steel picked up on the sound of something coming close he used a hand, and lead Applejack further behind him, and waited for whoever it was to get closer when they were close enough he reached around the corner, and pulled them to him, and bit their neck while he kept a hand over their mouth.
Applejack watched in horror at what he was doing, and how he did it so effortlessly.
He let the body go, blood covering his mouth, he looked at the body, and saw it was some dog thing.

"What's a Diamond dog doing here"?
Applejack looked at the body, and pointed out a set of collars on it's makeshift belt.

Steel looked around the corner, and saw more focused on the ones arguing.
"Applejack no matter what you hear, don't leave this spot, it's time I got a proper meal".

He stood up, and handed his shirt to Applejack he closed his eye, and let the demonic energy in his body slowly flow out chancing his form his bones shifted, and changed into boney claws the chains in his body came out, and wrapped around his arms covering them in theirselves, his teeth sharpened, he looked down at applejack, and his eyes now completely red with one small beady black dot in the middle he turned around, and walked out around the corner leaving no sound from his heavy boots.

Mac P.O.V

I looked at the Diamond dogs holding sweetie belle at knife point demanding I come with them, while the others wait for applejack to come home.
"Y'all ain't gon' to take mah family".

"Big one want small one to live big one come with us".
The Diamond dog leading this group of slavers held out a very nasty looking collar out to me I was about to say something, but a large thing stepped out from around the front of the barn it towered over the Diamond dogs it had to have been at least a good two, and a half heads taller than myself.
I watched it lift a hand up, and swing it down into the head of the Diamond dog holding apple bloom hostage it's claws digging into the flesh of it's neck, then it put a hand over her mouth, and walked her out of my view before coming back. This time when it came back it started to attack the Diamond dogs I watched it drive a hand straight through one diamond dogs back with the very audible sound of it's rib cage crunching under the sheer force of the impact the now blood covered hand holding a still beating heart in front of it's owner.

Third person P.O.V

Steel's large hand hit the one holding the filly hostage, and killed him he reached down, and grabbed the filly keeping her from alerting the others, and took her to applejack, then walked back over, and put a hand through one of their backs holding it's heart in his hand the rest turned around, and saw their dead comrade's body, and heart being held by a monster most of them started to try to attack, but were quickly cut down by it's claws.
Blood was being thrown everywhere on the barn walls, and on the man himself some of them tried to attack him with not very well made swords, and knives, but were also quickly dispatched by swift movements of his hands the few who tried to escape were quickly killed as well.
One that had close enough stabbed him through the chest with his sword, but instead of going down he looked down at the grinning diamond dog before he grabbed it, and lifted it off the ground, and opened his mouth with a sickening pop showing his sharp teeth, then clamped his jaws down on the dogs head, and dropped it's body to the ground swallowing the head.
When the fighting was all over Steel slowly began to change back to normal, his chains retracted into his body, his mouth, and body soaked in blood.
"And the reaper once again collects the souls of the guilty sending them to their rightful place".

Mac stood in pure fear at what he saw before him, just a pure massacre the bodies of ten Diamond dogs laid before him.
Just mangled beyond recognition, Applejack looked from around the corner, and saw what was left of the Diamond dogs she had to fight from puking at the sight.
The filly was kept from seeing by Big Mac stopping her with a hug.
While Mac was reunited with his sister, and Applejack recomposed herself from the massacre, and the sight of a crudely made sword being pulled out of the man's chest like it was nothing new to him. The hole where the sword once was slowly closed until it was gone not even leaving a scratch.

Steel hid the bodies with a bunch of hay, and cleaned himself up before going to introduce himself.
"Howdy there I am James Smith, but y'all can call me Jimmy".

Mac looked at him apprehensively, but wordlessly responded to the now mostly normal looking monster with a grunt, and a nod.
He smiled, and put his shirt over his shoulder.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet Applejack's family I'm here to help 'round y'alls farm".

Granny smith at the moment walked outside from her nap, and saw a tall, muscular stallion without a shirt on, and the tattoo on his back.
"Applejack who's this young fella here"?

She looked at the older mare, and shook a bit.
"Oh Granny meet Jimmy he's here to help 'round th' farm".

"Help 'round the farm that's good, say sonny that's a strange cutie mark you got there, and on a strange spot too".
She watched him turn around, and look at her with a smile.

"Well howdy there young lady a lovely day we're havin' here today ain't it, and hate to be rude, but this ain't a cutie mark it's a tattoo same idea, but different your cutie marks are natural, and from magic showing your special skills a tattoo is put there using ink, and a needle".
He stood tall, and proud, and as well built as Big Mac if not bigger.
Even after what Applejack saw the aftermath of what he could do she found it hard not to blush at the subtle movement of his muscles under his skin, and the raw strength he had.

Granny had started to inspect him.
"Young 'un if you think flattery will work on me you're sadly mistaken, but importantly what brings you to our farm"?

He smiled as he pulled the hat he was wearing off his head, and put it to his chest.
"Well ma'am my name is James Smith, but y'all can call me Jimmy all my old friends used to, and your lovely granddaughter brought me here to help 'round here".

She raised her eyebrow, and looked to a blushing applejack.
"You're here to help out eh well don't let a old mare like me stop you Big Mac, an' Applejack could use some help getting the apples".

He tip his head like he was wearing a hat, and stepped up to Applejack, and put his mouth close to her ear.
"I'll dispose of the bodies later, just don't let her see them".

Applejack trying, and failing to hide her blush, but also in worry at what she allowed into her home.
"Ok".

He stood straight, and tall again before looking around, then back at her.
"So what's my job boss"?

She looked up at him, and straightened her hat, and started walking towards the orchard.
"Well since you appear strong enough for this we need some apple trees bucked, but I can't do it given I have ta help Mac, so I need you to do it".

He walked alongside her listening to every word spoken without replying back.
She walked up to the tree on the very end of the row of Granny Smith's he instantly started salivating thinking of sinking his teeth into the bitter fruit.
His attention was very quickly grabbed by the sound of one applejack clearing her throat.

She looked at him, and explained everything.
"Alright now all you have ta do is buck th' tree, an' the apples should fall right out".
She got into a wide stance, before bringing her well toned leg up, and gave the tree a good kick making the apples fall into the baskets.

He watched, then moved his eyes back to her eyes.
"Looks easy enough just kick th' son of a bitch, an' the apples will just plop right on in them there baskets, shit piece of cake".

He stepped in front of the tree next to the one Applejack had just bucked, and got into a low stance, his torso facing the tree, and his legs spread in a wide position.
He closed his eye, and took a deep breath in, then let it out very slowly, his legs became encased by the chain in his body, the material molding into artificial muscle, the metal instead of being stiff moved, and flexed like real muscle.
When he was ready he opened his eye, and swung a leg around, and slammed it into the tree hitting it with his shin with a loud crack.
The apples fell out of the tree, and into their baskets applejack looked at him with wide eyes because he just kicked the apples out of the tree on the first try most other stallions couldn't come close to doing that on the first try, but even stranger he left a spot in the wood that almost molded to the shape of his leg the bark had broke.

He brought his leg back, and set it back down.
"So what now"?

Applejack shook her head, and came back from her stupor.
"How in tarnation not many others 'sides me, an' mac can buck th' apples outta one of these trees that easy, but makin' it do that I ain't seen it before, an' what was with that fancy kick there"?

He tilted his head confused, and repeated the position.
"You mean this it's a common stance in the use of King Fu, or Karate why y'all've never seen this before".

"Sugarcube if I did would we be havin' this conversation".
She gave him a slightly annoyed look.
"Know what that don' matter just buck this here row of trees, an' I'll come get you round lunch, an' just load up the baskets into the cart right there, an' when me, or Mac comes back we'll help you get it over to the barn".

She walked off back towards the house to help out Mac around the barn while granny Smith did as she did, and took herself a nice nap.
He watched her leave his eyes glued to her rear like a fat man is to an all you can eat for fee buffet, her daisy dukes hugging her hips something fierce.
After she got a far enough distance away he shook his head, and continued to buck some more trees.

•Applejack P.O.V•

I walked back down to the barn house still hearing the sound of those metal legs hitting the trees hopefully he don't hurt himself, or the trees really.

Mac looked up from the barn moving some more baskets of apples that were just recently cleaned to the other cart.
"Applejack what's goin' on over there"?

I look up at my brother hearing his deep voice.
"He's buckin' apples".

He looked at me confused, then back down to the baskets continuing to work.
"Nope".

I walked over, and started working on cleaning up more apples to set up on the cart, then getting the cart ready for hauling them off.
Everyone did their part Granny cooking up some lunch, Mac, and Applejack getting apples ready for sale, and Applebloom doing as she did going off, and having adventures with her friends, and the sound of a large metallic leg hitting the trees of the farm.

Granny smith came out, and called for lunch me, and Mac got up, and headed out to help as I was on my way to go get Jimmy, but Granny called out to me.
"Applejack don't forget to get your friend he needs to eat too".

I nodded, and made my way over to where he was the sound of his metal leg hitting the trees.
I was a tree shaking coming up over the horizon, some leaves falling loose, and apples dropping down. What I didn't see was a full to the brim wagon the wheels dug into the dirt slightly with a black cloth hanging on the side.

"Well I'll be you filled that up mighty fast there part… ner".
My voice cut short as I saw him standing there his whole upper body soaked in sweat, the sunlight glistening off of his well toned muscles. I watched as they shifted, and moved under his scarred skin.
The scythe of the hooded figure on his back moved like it was real.

He turned, and looked at her wiping the sweat from his face with his metal hand.
"Oh howdy there Applejack shit sorry 'bout not havin' my shirt, but got a bit hot, and decided why not been a while since I felt a cool breeze been a while since I took a human form hey you're not lookin' to fresh yourself your face is burnin' red".

She was snapped from her thoughts not realizing she was blushing.
"Ah right, well granny sent me tah let you know lunch is ready. When we're done we can have Mac come help us move th' wagon".

He looked at me, then the cart, then back at me, and started laughing.
"I don' need your brother girl I'm dead not weak".

He walked up to the carts arms taking a hold on them, and giving a strong pull the wagon gave some resistance before the wheels began to move, and start rolling with him.
She just looked in sheer amazement as he was hauling an overloaded wagon all on his own, and with so little effort she just followed him back to the barn house.
She saw the roof of the barn coming into sight, then soon the barn house started coming into view the beautiful red walls, and white lining brightened by the non sun.
Big Mac, Granny, and Applebloom watched as the two approached the large man, and Applejack coming into their view the clearly overfilled wagon being pulled with little resistance.

Granny walked up, and looked at them.
"My that's a good haul ya'll got there".

He smiled, and nodded his head to her.
"Thank you kindly ma'am now if I'm not mistaken I believe I smell me some good ol' fashioned home cookin', an' it smells mighty delicious".

Granny beamed with a little pride at his compliment.
"Thank you kindly sonny now y'all go an' get them apples in th' barn, then come eat ya hear".

The two look at each other, then nod to Granny. They walk the apples to the barn, and get them in a good place for them to be cleaned. Applejack tapped her hands together, knocking some dust from her hands as Jimmy stretched, making all of his joints pop, and click.
He grabbed his shirt, and wiped his face making his way to the table of food that had been set up outside.
They sat down at the table full of food he looked at everything, and started toilet his plate high.

Granny started to smile as she saw him load up his plate with food, and start eating.
"You eat up now ya here figure ya can help Mac take them apples off to sell in town".

He nodded his head as to be respectful, and not talk with his mouthful munching away at the food in front of him until it was gone where he piled it high again, and started eating more as Granny beamed on pride Mac, and Applebloom look at their plates, then at the man as he scarfed his food down.

He stopped for a brief second to chug down his drink.
"Whoo. Let me tell you somethin' ma'am, an' don' let no one tell you otherwise, but this is the best damned meal I've had in the past thousand years hell even in my world I haven' tasted food this good since Nineteen forty-five".

She ate her food, and smiled at his compliment.
"Well thank you sonny, and y'all can just call me Granny".

He nodded to her again, then looked to Mac, and Applebloom.
"Aight which one of y'all is Mac well no actually if I recall right the small one was appleblossom, applepie, no Applebloom, then that would make the big man there Mac".

Mac nodded, and continued to eat.
"Eyup".

"Sorry 'bout that Mac ain't much of a talker, but he is a good pony".
Applejack looked at the man as he talked.

He closed his eyes, and nodded to her words.
"I can respect that, but on earth, and in hell we gave a saying the loud ones are th' least of your worries the silent ones are the one's you need to watch out for".

Everyone tilted their heads at that, then Applebloom spoke up.
"Well how come mister"?

He chuckled, and looked at the filly with some food on his fork.
"Because young lady the quiet ones all carry a secret, an' no one ever knows what they're thinking they're the unpredictable one's, an' they're intelligent".

Everyone looked to Mac for a second before returning to their food.
Everyone finished up Mac, and Jimmy got the cart, then headed off to Ponyville.