The Farmer and the Beast
Chapter 1: The Beast

Long ago in a castle far away from most villages lived a princess known as Princess Aurora or Rainbow Dash as she liked to call herself. She had everything anyone could ever ask for, servants to do whatever her bidding was, a wealth of gold and jewels that could buy her anything she ever needed, and an entire garden that provided her with all the food she would ever need.

Rainbow Dash was also considered one of the most beautiful women in all of Equestria. She had a pair of stunning magenta eyes, she walked with the grace of a goddess, and some even said she was the fastest runner they had ever seen. The most stunning and alluring part of the princess however was her rainbow colored hair. The colors were natural and were more vibrant and beautiful than any rainbow that villagers could remember.

But this made the princess selfish and arrogant beyond reason. She would often describe herself as the coolest and most awesome person in the world, and to simply look at her was a treat that people should grovel at. Her servants knew that she was vain but would never question her on anything in fear that she would turn on them and cast them out into the cold. For life was not easy for those outside of the castle and very unforgiving.

One winter night an old ugly beggar man came to the castle seeking refuge from the icy winds and deathly cold, for anyone who was trapped outside would surely die. All he had to offer to stay the night was a single shiny red apple. The servants begged the princess to let the old man stay for they would not want him to die in the cold. However the sight of the man disgusted the princess and told the servants for no one as ugly and uncool as he would ever be permitted to stay in her castle.

At being rejected the old man revealed himself to be a handsome and young man, the princess had never seen anyone as handsome as him. At once she offered him a room to stay in, but he rejected her after seeing the wickedness inside her soul, for she did not know how to love anyone outside of herself. So he put a curse upon the castle and to all that lived there transforming the once beautiful women into a Beast.

As the man left a forest grew around the castle hiding it from the world. People went out to search for the castle but could never find it for the paths were long gone and now wolves roamed the woods. Soon people forgot about the castle and the beautiful princess who lived there dooming the princess to live alone as a Beast.

The princess and all those inside the castle would be forever cursed until she could truly learn to love and is loved in return, but who could love a Beast?
--
Many Years Latter

A large man stood on top of a latter with a hammer in one hand and nails in the other. The man had blond hair that reached halfway down his neck, large mussels gained through honest work, and pair of the greenest eyes you would ever see. This was Macintosh Apple known to most as Big Mac. He tended to the barn making sure the old building would be able to survive the upcoming winter. There were many repairs to be made to the barn and the home he lived in but there was little money for such things and the harvest that year had been bad. Being the oldest out of his family it was his job to provide for them but the young man could only do so much to support his family.

Big Mac was the only breadwinner in his family for his parents died many years ago leaving him to take care of an elderly grandmother and two younger sister. His mother died giving birth to his youngest sister, and his father later died from a broken heart. Earlier that summer his grandmother had taken ill and was bed ridden unable to leave her bed for weeks at a time.

Mac’s second sister Applejack had married a well to do man named Sorain a few months back but he had broken both his legs in an accident making him unable to work and thus losing his job. He still tried to earn money however possible but the work he could was limited and sometime would be cheated out of his pay.

Applejack and Apple Bloom his youngest sister helped him on the farm the best they could, but the siblings could only do so much with a bad crop. Applejack had taken to helping around town trying to mend clothes or do other household duties, but she was never a woman that was to stay home and do household chores. Like her brother she was a farmer and only knew how to do a man’s job and was unable to find constant work. Life had never been easy for the Apple Family but they were not the kind to give up, and would try again and again till they could succeed.

As Mac finished the last of what he could do for the barn he looked over the orchard that his father had owned and tended. He knew that this farm could grow the best apples in all of Equestria but with drought and storms those apples never came to be. With a sigh of sadness Mac climbed down the ladder and towards the house. Applejack was out trying to find work to do for the winter and Applebloom was helping her in her quest leaving only Sorain and Granny at home. As he opened the front door he was greeted by Sorain who was sitting in the front room.

“How is the barn holding up?” Sorain asked as he offered Mac a glass of apple cider. He knew the answer already but still he needed to ask. Mac took the glass and sighed as he sat down in the chair across from this brother-in-law. Seeing Mac’s glum expression Sorain gave a sigh. “That bad?”

“Eeyup.” Mac replied, Mac was a man of few words and would answer most people with the phrase ‘Eeyup’ or ‘Eenope’. The two males sat there in silence, the only sound being the light snoring of Granny who was sleeping in a room close by. Knowing that they would alone for quite some time Sorain looked up and Mac.

“The farm is not going to make it another year unless we have a good harvest is it?” he asked. Though he was unable to work himself he did spend time looking over the budget and expenses of the farm, the job Mac normally did. Mac looked to his brother and just like him sighed.

“Eeyup” he said glumly now just looking at the amber liquid in his cup. Again silence fell upon the two.

“Well we have to do something about that.” Sorain said in as calm of voice he could muster up. “I know we don’t do much work in the winter except for you going around fixing buildings up, so what about you leave the village for the winter and work in another village away from here.” Sorain suggested which only Mac glare daggers at his brother for suggesting such a thing.

“If Ah leave, who look over the family? Applejack can’t support it on her own, and lord knows you can’t do nutthin.” Mac said sounding harsh in his words, normally Sorain would be offended by this, but he knew Mac was right.

“That’s why I have this.” Sorain pulled out a bag of bits from between the pillows he was sitting on. He threw it onto the table between the two making a large clunk. Mac stared at the bag for a minute unable to process what he was looking at.

“Where did you get that?” he asked his voice shaking with anger knowing that they could have used that money months ago.

“I have been saving it up for the last few years.” Sorain admitted as he looked at the bag. “I have been saving up to buy Applejack a proper ring.” He said with a light smile on her face. “You know I love your sister more than anything and wanted to marry her as soon as possible, at the time all I could afford was a simple gold band. Sure she loves it but she deserves so much better, but how much use would a ring be when there is no money for food.” Sorain added a tone of sadness in his voice.

“It’s the least I can do Mac…I love this family as my own and I want to do everything in my power to help provide. If that means I have to start from scratch again to buy a ring that Applejack deserves so we can keep the farm I will.” He had curled his hand into a fist by this time and it was shaking with emotion.

Mac looked at the emotional display of the man in front of him. At first he was against Applejack marrying him seeing that Applejack was just marrying him so they would be financially stable for a time. However he was proven wrong time and time again by the love between the two, that it was true love that brought them together not money. Nodding Mac pushed the bag of bits towards Sorain again.

“You give her the bits, you earned the money not ah.” Mac said as he stood up. “Ah’m gonna start packin.” Big Mac said and without waiting for a response the farmer walked up to his room and closed the door.

--

The next morning Applejack and Applebloom stood outside watching Big Mac as he prepared for his journey. “Now remember to be back by spring so we can start the harvest.” Applejack said trying not to look into her brothers eyes, she was angry with him for leaving but knew that it was the right thing to do. “And don’t you go runnin off with the first woman ye see.” She added knowing her brother was looker and was a head turner.

Mac just let out a deep laugh as he looked to his eldest sister. “Ah won’t.” Big Mac said as he looked down at his youngest who had tears in her eyes as she looked up at her brother. “Now don’t you cry sugarcube.” Mac said kneeling down in front of his sister and smiling at her. “Ah only be gone for a few months, Ah’ll be back before ye know it.” He said with a confident smile.

“But ah will know it!” she said hugging her brother tightly as she started to cry into his shirt. “Ah don’t want you leavin, who’s gonna read to me at night?” she asked looking up at him tears still flowing down her eyes.

“Ya got Applejack and Sorain still.” He said smiling trying to remain strong for them. He wanted to cry himself seeing his youngest sister get so worked up about him leaving. He knew Applejack wasn’t trying to look at him because though as proud as she was she would start to cry as well. Standing up and dusting off his pants he grabbed his bag and adjusted his cattlemen hat. “Now you two behave while ah’m gone.” He said still smiling warmly at the two before turning to walk down the path out of town. With one final wave he braced himself for his journey to one of the larger villages where he could hopefully find work.

The path that led to the larger village crossed through a forest long believed to be cursed by some townsfolk, but Big Mac knew that it was all hogwash and superstition to keep children from playing in the woods and getting lost. He would think the wolves would be enough to scare off most children and travelers at any rate. Mac knew as long as he got through the woods during the day he should have no problems with those mutts.

The day was still young when Mac approached the forest, it would take him the rest of the day to get through it but that didn’t bother him in the slightest. Taking an apple out of his bag he began to munch on the fruit as he entered the woods. Though Mac had travelled through these woods more than once he was still surprised about how dark it became after only a few minutes of walking.

Soon the larger man started to feel like a little boy as he heard the sounds of leaves and sticks being crunched somewhere in the woods. Whenever there was a sudden movement or a flutter of a bird Mac’s eyes would dart to where he thought he saw it stopping in his tracks. The fact he was acting like this embarrassed Mac, he was a strong and powerful man he could defend himself in a fight if he had to. Tried as he could to calm himself by reminding himself that he could take on any man in a fight, he was not too sure about wolves.

Calm down Mac, them wolves won’t be commin atcha in the middle of the day Mac thought as he kept walking. As he walked keeping an eye out for what might be coming after him out of the woods Mac had lost track of where he was going and was now walking down an old path that seemed to have been abandoned for years.

“Horse apples…” he said under his breath hours later as he started to realize he should have exited the forest a long time ago. The woods had grown even darker as the sun had started to set meaning creatures of the night would soon start there prowl. Looking around Mac had to find shelter for the night, anywhere he could find that would provide him with protection from the cold winds of the fast approaching winter and to protect him from wolves in need be.

As the thought of wolves entered his mind he heard a sound that sent a shiver down his back. A wolf’s howl broke the silence of the night. Though it sounded far off Mac knew that if there was one wolf about there was a whole pack of the creatures somewhere. Quickening his pace he tried to find anything that might provide him safety for the night, as he did he could hear the distant sounds of howls and barks getting closer. Soon Mac heard a howl so loud that he knew they were closing in on him and he needed to act fast.

Dropping his bag Mac took off in a full on sprint down the old path desperate to find shelter of any kind and soon. No sooner than he started to run the sound of paws breaking sticks and crushing leaves started to follow. They were closer than he had thought they were and closing in. Looking behind him for a split second his green eyes grew in horror as he saw the black fur coats of the wolves chasing him, there white fangs exposed as they ran after him.

No! Don’t let me die like this! Mac prayed as he ran as fast as his legs could take him. Running down the old path he saw in the distance a single light, a light from a candle! There was a place to hide! A place to stay till the morning! As the light grew closer Mac was surprised to say the least to see what he was fast approaching.

In the distance the outline of a large castle laid ahead, slightly illuminated by the half-moon in the sky. Thanking the stars above Mac used all his strength to run for the gate of the castle. Grabbing the handle of the large wood and iron door he pulled with all his might opening the old gate slowly but surely. Hinges creaked and moaned as he pulled the door open; it seemed to have been a long time since this door had been used. At last Mac had the gate open far enough that he could slip through. Reaching the other side he pulled the gate closed right as the black muzzle of a wolf almost made its way between the gap.

The wolves scratched and growled as they tried to get through the wooden door, but even with their numbers there was no way they would be able to break through the heavy wooden door. Mac gave a sigh of relief as he sat down on the stone path looking at the gate, knowing he had just out ran his own death. Standing up slowly and patting himself off so he looked halfway decent for a farmer he turned his attention towards the castle.

On closer inspection he saw that the castle looked as though it had been abandoned for years. Windows were broken, shingles had fallen off the roof in section, or the roof had completely fallen in others places. The light Mac had seen was now gone but he knew he had seen it. Walking slowly up to the main doors of the entrance Mac gave a few heavy knocks to see if anyone would answer, to his surprise the door slowly creaked open.

Mac slowly entered the castle sticking his head in first and looked around. The castle was dark and thin layer of dust covered the floor. Cobwebs hung in corners and around furniture with dust clothes over them.

“Um…hello?” Mac shouted out hoping for a reply. None was given however and his voice seemed to echo off the walls. “Ah don’t mean to intrude, but ah was chased by wolves and need a place to stay.” Again there was no answer but he slowly made his way inside. Walking through the hallway he noticed a small clock and candle holder on the desk. Unlike everything else in the hall they were free of dust. He wanted to expect them but decided against it for he did not wish to upset the one who lived here.

As he walked away the two items slowly came to life opening their eyes every so lightly so in case the stranger was to look back he would not notice. The clock was light brown and looked like a small grandfather clock with a sand hour glass in his chest. The candle holder was made of gold and had pink frills around the candles.

“Did you see that?!” The clock said excitingly as he ran to the end of the table to watch as the man disappeared around the corner. “A real male.” He said in a whisper to the candle. “This could be the end of the curse and not a moment too soon!” with that the clock jumped from the table and proceeded down the hallway following the stranger. The candle on the other hand seemed more reserved and shook ever so slightly as she watched the stranger disappear.

“Th…the prin…princess won’t be happy if she…she…she finds him here…” she finally managed to say through her stutters. “Whooves!” she said in a squeak as she watched her friend run off. “We…we…mustn’t let him…se…see us!” and like her friend jumped from the table and followed.

Mac was having difficulty navigating the castles halls seeing that he had no light to help him see. Each step was made in caution in fear he would trip over someone or something. In a flash he turned around and looked behind him. He could have sworn he heard people talking, but the only thing he saw was his own footprints in the light dust. Shaking his head he moved forward with caution.

The clock and the candle looked out from behind a shelf only managing to hide a second before the male had turned around. Whooves was smiling from ear to ear, or at least he would be if he still had ears so instead he was smiling from three to nine.

“Look at the size of him.” He whispered to his companion. “Surely the Princess would agree he is a cool looking man as she would say! Maybe even fall in love with him!” he said with a smile as he looked around the corner to see if it was safe to move.

“Whooves…don’t you think your get…getting ahead of yourself?” the candle whispered as she tried to take a few steps back wanting to find a place to hide before the Princess knew that there was someone else here.

“Fluttershy, if we don’t act now we might never be human again!” Whooves said trying to remind his ever so shy friend that time was not on their side. “And I for one do not want to die till I see my wife and little girl human once more!” with that he took off around the corner determined on meeting this mysterious man. Giving a soft squeak Fluttershy followed him still nervous at what the Princess might do when she meets this stranger.

Mac finally reached to what looked like a study after he had painfully walked around the castle without any indication of where he was going. Moving inside he saw that unlike other parts of the castle he had seen there was not as much dust here. The moon provided him with enough light that he could explore the room a bit more clearly. He spotted two large blue cushioned chairs in the middle of the room that looked as soft as clouds. Seeing these chairs reminded Mac of how late it was for he gave out a yawn.

Walking towards the chairs he didn’t notice the clock and candle enter the room and made their way up on to the desk. They watched him examine the chair a bit before sitting down. When he did he heard what sounded like a soft squeak and someone shushing them. Standing back up Mac looked around.

“Ah know someone is there!” he said in a loud voice making both object jump in shock. “Ah would be much oblige to talk to someone about stayin here.” He added trying to sound as kind as possible but he was a bit agitated that people were hiding from him.

Seeing the candle on the desk he picked it up and took the matches from his back pocket not noticing it was the same one he had seen in the front hall. Lighting the candles he held the holder out seeing if he could see anyone. “Hello?” he asked again now feeling as though he was losing his mind due to his long day of walking, running from the wolves, and his nerves being just about fried from walking around this castle.

“H…hi…” Fluttershy said looking at Mac. Mac looked up at the candle seeing a face with a pair of bright blue eyes. For a moment Mac stared into the blue eyes of the candle who only gave him a smile and a nervous chuckle.

“What in tarnation!” Mac shouted in surprise as he dropped the candle and jumped backwards stumbling and landing on his behind. The candle fell to the floor and gave a yelp of pain as the clock jumped off the desk to help her.

“Are you alight Fluttershy?” the clock asked in concern as he helped the candle up. Fluttershy just rubbed her head and nodded. The clock then turned his attention to Mac who was still on the ground not sure what to make of the situation. “And are you alright good sir?” the clock asked him walking over to Mac. “We are sorry for the surprise, I know our appearance must be…well…disconcerting…” the clock laughed as he took a few more steps towards Mac who was eyeing the clock intently.

“Well…ma Pa always told me not to judge other but what they might look like.” Mac answered believing he had finally lost it for he was talking to a clock. The clock just smiled and clapped its wooden handles together like hands.

“Wonderful!” the clock shouted as he walked all the way up to Mac’s right hand and began to shake it. “Well my name is Doctor Who…well former Doctor Whooves but you can just call me Whooves like everyone else!” Whooves said with joy as he shook Mac’s hand. Mac nodded and shook the clock’s hands back still unsure what to make of this.

“And over here is the lovely Miss. Fluttershy!” Whooves said turning to Fluttershy to see that she was gone. Looking around he saw her hiding behind one of the chair trembling a bit. Rolling his eyes in annoyance he turned his attention back to Mac. “Sorry about her, she is very shy.” He said as he took in Mac’s full appearance.

“Ni…nice to meet the both of yall.” Mac said tipping his hat to Fluttershy making the candle hide behind the chair even more with a light brush creeping up on her face. “Ma name is Macintosh Apple, but everyone knows me as ‘Big Mac’” Mac said letting go of the clock. Whooves just nodded overjoy with meeting this man.

“I can see why! You must be a blacksmith or something to be as big as you are!” Whooves said as he once again took in Mac’s appearance. There was no way that there Princess would reject him over looks, he was the best looking man he had ever seen besides the one that had cursed them. Mac blushed at the comment, he had always been humble and was not really used to compliments.

“Thank ye kindly, Ah’m actually a farmer.” Mac replied standing up slight. Whooves smile never faded as he watch Mac stand up.

“Come, come you must be tired and hungry! Let me wake my wife to cook you something to eat!” the clock said as he started to make his way to the door. Mac held his hand out to stop him.

“Now don’t do that, ah don’t want to wake up yer wife on account of me.” Mac said which made Whooves turn around, if his smile could get any bigger his face would have broken by now. He was truly the opposite of their Princess who would demand that his wife make her meals in the middle of the night.

“It would be no trouble at all; she would love to make food for company! We rarely have any, now give me one second and I will…” Whooves turned to fetch his wife when he ran into some large and furry. Looking up his smile faded into a look of horror as he saw the creature in front of him.

The creature in front of him was coated in a coat of matted blue fur, two large fangs protruding from its lower lips, black clawed hand, a snout like that of a wolf, and almost red eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness. But the most striking features of the creature were the rainbow colored fur that covered the top of its head and the wings coming from its back. The creature was growling as it looked at the stranger in its home. In a second the creature lunged at Mac standing in front of him growling still claws bared and ready to fight. Mac was taller than the beast by almost a foot, but whatever it was looked angry and could do major damage.

“Who are you?!” it shouted at Mac, its voice deep and menacing but at the same time had a light almost impossible feminine tone to it. “What are you doing in my home?!” it shouted once more teeth now become barred.

Mac was frozen in place, never in all his life had he seen such a thing that was in front of him now. Seeing that Mac was frozen in terror the creature turned to the two objects on the ground. “Who let him in here?!” she shouted making both object jump backwards before bowing to the creature.

“No…no…no one my lady…” Whooves said bowing deeply to the creature. “He…he…opened the gate himself to…to…escape…” before he could finish the creature gave off a howl of anger moving towards the two. That was when Mac notice that the creatures hide legs look like that of a wolf’s as well.

“Lies! No one could open that gate themselves! Who betrayed me?!” the creature shouted raising its clawed hand ready to attack the two. However before she could Mac took a step forward and spoke for the first time.

“No one let me in; ah open that gate and the front door to escape them wolves out in the forest.” Mac tried to keep his voice calm and steady though fear was threatening to escape with every word. He did not want to see these two get punished for nothing they did. The creature turned to him, their eyes truly meeting for the first time.

“So you broke into my castle!” it’s rage building as it moved closer to Mac. “The punishment of such a crime is death!” it howled teeth still barred and looked ready to attack. Mac stood his ground however and slowly raised his fists.

“Ah can’t die just yet, ma family needs me still.” Mac replied calmly trying to figure a way to fight off the creature that looked like it could rip him to shreds within seconds. With the mentioning of his family the beast got a wicked grin and lowered its claws.

“Then you shall not die, instead you shall be my prisoner!” it laughed, its eyes glowing with pure enjoyment of that statement. Mac looked at the beast in confusion his fists still raised.

“Now there is no way you can keep me here.” Mac said as he took a few steps towards the only exit to the room. To this the creatures just laughed once more.

“This castle does whatever I wish it to do. It can get food from the forest for me, can block out the sun in the room I am in, and even make escape impossible! Go ahead and try, but if you do manage to escape the wolves will find you.” The creature just continued to laugh as it exited the room now moving on all four like a wild animal. Mac stood there in shock for a few moments for running out of the room and towards the front door.

There was no way such a place could exist; he would be able to escape! Reaching the front door he pulled on the handles with all his might but they would not budge. Again he tried placing a foot on one of the doors so he could get greater leverage. However the door was locked and it did not seem like any amount of strength could pull it open. Running to another part of the castle he reached and window and tried to pull it open, but like the door it would not budge. Mac even tried to kick the window out, but the glass did not even shake under his blow.

Realization started to slowly set in on the farmer as he tried to find another door out of this place. However try as he might there seemed to be no escape. Any place where there might have been a door was nothing but a stone wall. After running around the castle for what seemed like hours Mac finally fell to the floor and pushed his back up against a wall. He was trapped in this castle with a talking clock, candle, and whatever magical talking objects there might be. But most of all he was trapped in the castle with a Beast.

As he sat against the wall trying to wrap his mind around his ordeal Whooves and Fluttershy approached him both timid unsure what they could say to the now trapped man. Looking nervously at one another Whoovse was the first to break the silence by clearing his throat.

“I’m very sorry that you are now prisoner here Mac.” Whooves began as the man looked down at the clock. “But at least you are alive!” he said trying to sound as comforting as possible but Mac just gave a sigh. “Here let us get your room prepared; if you are to be living here you should at least live in comfort.” Whooves said as he started his way towards the stairway. “Come now, a good night’s sleep will do you well!”

Looking up Mac could only nod as he started to follow the clock to his new living quarters. Never had Mac felt so low in his life. Not only was he trapped in a castle with a Beast, but he was now forever separated from his family unless he could somehow befriend this Beast to let him go. But who could ever be friends with such a monster such as it?

Author's Notes:

Well yea...this is my first fanfic ever for MLP and this website. I have been waiting a while to post this but I have not gotten anything back from my editor yet so...yea...going to post this for now and send it edits later. Please try to respectful of my work, if you have feedback or such message me and don't flame.

Hope you enjoy and this is also my entry for the MacDash contest.