//------------------------------// // Cold Hard Truth // Story: Love, Me // by BrushyBill1881 //------------------------------// Love can be hard and for some it can be harder. I am here to set the record straight and shine the light on this story. Let me introduce myself. I am the cold hard truth. Big Mac ran clear out of the country and right into Ponyville. He didn't know what he was doing or where he was going, he couldn't even think. Every time he tried, the feeling of Flim kissing his cheek dominated all other thoughts. Feelings of confusion, sadness and guilt swirled in his chest. After running hard for a long while, Big Mac came to a stop. His head hung low as he huffed and puffed, trying to recover from his panic attack. Tears were trying to force their way of his eyes but he wouldn't let them. It was evening and almost every pony was in their homes relaxing. The streets were dead, all except one part. From Big Mac's left he heard the distinct sound of twin fiddles and a steel guitar. He raised his head and saw he had stopped right in front of the Wild Horse Saloon. "Yes, a drink to calm my nerves." Big Mac huffed to himself and slowly made his way to the door. When he opened it he noticed hardly any pony in there. The music was coming from a record, and the only ponies in there was the bar tender and a purple stallion in a vest and hat placed on the bar. Big Mac collected himself and walked in. The bartender was bright yellow with a red main and a lemon for cutie mark. She noticed Big Mac and grabbed a glass to make a drink. "Well hi there stranger. Long time no see." she smiled. "Howdy Lemon Drop," Big Mac said trying not to sound down and rattled. Lemon Drop however being a bar tender and all noticed instantly. She decided not to ask but opened the drink cabinet. "What will it be tonight?" "A butter bronco, make it a double." Big Mac took a seat two away from the other pony. "Coming right up." Lemon drop began making the drink. The pony sitting down from Big Mac watched closely and then said. "That looks good," he downed the rest of his drink, "I'll take one too, and put both on my tab." "You got it." Lemon drop got another glass and started. Big Mac looked over to the purple pony. He had scruff on his chin and a short brown mane a tail. His cutie mark was that of a blue book that read history along the spine. "Thank ya uh?" Big Mac asked trying to get the strangers name. "Brushy Bill," he went to tip his hat but realized it was on the bar and let a small chuckle out. "But you can just call me Brushy." He smiled. "Thank ya Brushy." Big Mac nodded to him. Lemon Drop placed the two drinks on the bar. "You're racking up quite a tab Brushy." Lemon laughed. Brushy Bill waived his hoof, picked up his drink and moved one stool closer to Big Mac leaving one in between the two. "What brings ya to Ponyville Brushy?" Big Mac asked. "Not much history here." he gestured to his cutie mark. "Ah that is where you are wrong my friend. There is history every where," he took a sip from his drink, "Ooo that's pretty good." He then looked over at Big Mac, "I am actually here for you." Big Mac just stared at the stallion next to him. "How much have you had to drink tonight?" He questioned. Brushy let out a hearty laugh. "Not nearly enough. Now you don't know about me, but I know all about you Big Macintosh." He took another drink. Big Mac was confused. Who was this pony and what did he know about him? While thinking, he realized the he never gave Brushy Bill his name and Lemon Drop had never said it either. "And uh, what do you want with me?" "Well I've come to talk to you tonight about the things I've seen you do." "Farming?" Big Mac asked. Brushy thought for a second. "More like cultivation." Brushy finished his drink and pushed it back. "Another please, put some pumpkin in it too." He then turned back to Big Mac. "There's a stallion that we both know. I think you know the one I mean." he nodded to Big Mac. Big Mac stared and thought for second and then it hit him. His heart started pounding and sweat formed on his head. "F-F-F-Flim?" Big Mac stuttered the name out. Brushy smiled and nodded. Lemon Drop slid the new drink towards him. "Yeah, yeah him, Flim." "W...What about Flim?" Big Mac asked growing increasingly nervous. Brushy picked up his drink and observed it. "Well, it appears to me that he likes you. I saw him not too long ago and he seemed different. Seemed like he'd be willin' to give you his heart and soul," he took a sip, "But all you gave him tonight was some broken dreams." He side eyed Big Mac as he placed the drink back down. "W-W-W-Well, it's not my fault. He just sprung it on me. Out of no where he just kissed my cheek and confessed he likes me? It's his fault! I am not responsible for whatever he feels." Big Mac caught himself after saying that. Why was he talking to this pony about this problem, how did he even know, and why did he care. "You say you're not to blame for the love he feels for you; and for the heartache he feels now?" Brushy shook his head. "I say you're nothing but a liar. You're lyin' to yourself about your responsibility to his feelings, lyin' about what he is feeling, and you're lyin to yourself about what your feelings are. You're nothing but a fool. The way you run away from love and pretend it won't affect you." "And who are you to call me a liar and a fool?" Big Mac questioned angrily. Brushy slowly turned his head towards him. "I am the cold hard truth." Big Mac was taken aback by Brushy's response. Sensing Big Mac was reeling from what he had said Brushy continued. "Think about it Big Mac, when Flim and Flam first moved here, you could've just let it be. Let them figure it all out. But you didn't. You made them a pie. When you found Flim at your sittin spot you could've kicked him off, told him to never come back there, but you didn't. You sat and spoke with him every night for two weeks. Finally when you realized they wouldn't be able to grown a field this year, you could've left it. Think 'they will figure it out,' but you didn't. You went out of your way to help them, and built them flower beds. You really think you did all of that just because it was right?" Big Mac opened his mouth to respond but Brushy continued. "You did it for him. Not for him and his brother. For him." Brushy took a big gulp from his drink and sighed. "All your life that's how it's been Big Mac, always looking out for others and not your self. Giving more than you take, and ignoring your feelings when all is done. It's good to do right, but this time, look at your actions and feelings together. Why did you do it?" Big Mac sat and thought. Why did he do it all? Would he have done it for any pony else or was Flim special? The feeling that had been sitting in the back of his mind all this time started to grow in the front. He thought about how happy Flim was whenever they were together, and how happy he was when he was with Flim. He thought about Flim's excitement when he asked him to go to town, and when they built the beds. Finally the feeling was fully formed and he realized. "I did it because I like Flim...because I love how he gets excited, because." Brushy Bill cut him off by raising his hoof. "Don't tell me," he motioned to the door, "Go tell him." Big Mac nodded. Brushy smiled "Believe me Big Mac, with him you'll have it all. A partner in life and love to last. Any pony with any sense at all would want that." Brushy finished his drink, reached over grabbed Big Mac's and finished it too. "Get out there friend. Time is running out. Remember me and what we discussed." Big Mac nodded, got up and ran out the door. Lemon Drop looked over at Brushy confused. "Who the hoof are you?" she asked. Brushy placed several bit on the counter and walked to the door. "Me? I'm just an author."