The Dresden Fillies: Kindred Spirits
The autumn air was crisp, and the breeze that blew off Lake Michigan was cold. Mac was not bothered by the temperature. Not only was his tavern mostly underground, but the fire in his wood burning stove provided plenty of heat.
The low light from the windows and irregularly spaced lamps revealed a room that was rough and homey, but meticulously clean. Everything was ready for a new day of business, so all Mac had to do now was wait for his usual clientele to arrive.
A series of knocks, patient but powerful, sounded from nearby. Mac frowned. It was too early in the morning for any of his usual business, and besides, none of his customers knocked before entering. The knocks came again and Mac realized they were coming from the service entrance. It was a delivery.
The back door opened with a small squeal of the old hinges. Mac grunted; he needed to oil those. On the other side of the door was a red-coated pony hitched to a large wooden wagon. The draft pony looked like a Clydesdale, but built on a smaller scale. He was stocky, only about five feet tall, but heavily lined with muscle. Most people would have been surprised, if not by the presence of an actual horse-drawn wagon or the appearance of the pony pulling it, then certainly by the absence of any driver.
Mac just nodded and asked, “Cider?”
“Eeyup,” Big Mac replied, shrugging off the yoke set on his considerable shoulders.
Mac ran his hands over one of the large casks on the back on the wagon. There were two full of non-alcoholic cider, four of hard cider, and a pony keg – Mac gave a mild snort at that thought – of applejack. He gave a grunt in appreciation and moved aside so they could start unloading.
The work went quickly, both of them long used to such labor, and soon the casks of cider were squared away. Mac shouldered the apple brandy and carried it back to his aging room. He’d wait a bit longer before bottling it. On the way back, he stopped in his office to grab a few items.
He re-emerged to find Big Mac stoking the fire in his stove. The jingle of coins caught the pony’s attention, and he turned to face Mac. The small bag was full of gold coins − a necessary part of business when not all of your suppliers used American currency – and Mac tossed it underhand into a waiting hoof.
Big Mac considered the bag carefully, and judged it to be the proper weight. He raised an eyebrow at the other items the barkeep had brought with him: a pair of dark bottles and a tankard with an oversized handle.
“On the house.” Mac promised before pouring one of the dark bottles into the tankard, careful to achieve just the right amount of head on the beer. Big Mac took the drink with a nod of thanks and Mac replied with a grunt.
One sip of heavenly stout later, Big Mac nodded in approval. Mac opened his own bottle and took a seat next to him. They enjoyed their beers in a companionable silence as the noise of the city above drifted by them. Eventually both bottle and tankard were empty.
“Good brew,” Big Mac said.
Mac grunted with an air that clearly said ‘of course’, but he softened it with a slight smile of gratitude.
Still, deliveries didn’t make themselves, so Big Mac ambled back to the waiting wagon. Mac followed and watched as the pony shrugged back into his yoke.
“Next year?” Mac asked.
“Eeyup,” Big Mac replied.
The barkeep waved as the workhorse plodded off. Then, he turned and went back inside to get some oil for those squeaky hinges.
It was almost an hour later that his first customer appeared. The tall wizard sauntered his way over to the bar while his guardian waited closer to the door. The massive dog sniffed the air, then gave a chuffing, almost amused, bark before settling down.
“Hey Mac,” Dresden said, visibly relaxing as he sat down at the bar. “How’s my favorite chatterbox?”
Mac just grunted and started making a steak sandwich. The wizard always ordered one for himself, often sharing it with his dog.
Dresden glanced up at the chalkboard behind the bar, just noticing the large message Mac had scrawled on it. “Fresh cider? I was going to order a beer, but that sounds tempting. What do you think; is it worth missing out on one of your excellent ales?”
Mac smiled. “Eeyup.”
………
Big Mac stepped out of the Way onto the fresh green grass of Sweet Apple Acres. He paused for a moment to wipe the ichor stains and flecks of exoskeleton off his hooves. A few minutes of trotting brought him within view of the main barn and the orange pony repairing the old plow.
“There you are, Big Mac,” Applejack said, giving a small sigh in relief. “I’ve been lookin’ fer you all day.” She glanced behind him at the empty wagon. “I shoulda known you were just makin’ some deliveries. Still, it’d make me feel better if you’d tell me when you’re goin’ somewhere. So who’d you visit? Was it anypony I know?”
Big Mac thought for a moment. “Nope,” he replied.
The Mostly Silent Inter-planar Order Of Macs... This is truly glorious.
3847779
I have a vision of Mouse doing the doge thing now.
3847801 such cider, much flavor, very yum?
Now all they need is for a McLeod to walk into the tavern and order some cider.
hehehehehe, they're a pair those two
These were all great. Bob is such an epic troll and the double-Mac scene makes it almost seem like one of the characters may have been inspired by the other. It is probably coincidence, but the similarities are rather amusing.
How does Mac manage to get all the way across the planes to Mac's bar.
Don't answer I already know how. With the power of alcohol! With the power of alcohol anything is possible.
Im wonderng just how rapidly the Way evils are evolving round there, given if they are dumb enough to attack Mac, they dont propagate the dumbness.
Wouldnt Dresden recognise things, from Mouse behaviour, flavour of drink, Way resonance?
Im glad theres non alcoholic cider. Realities far too broken for me already.
3847853 If they are, I'm willing to say Apple-Mac is based off of Beer-Mac, 'cause Beer-Mac came first.
3848026 Yeah, that was what I was thinking as well, although it seems like a bit of an odd direction for things to travel all things considered.
Can't believe I, having read False Masks with such enjoyment, that I never considered how perfect the interaction between, well, two Macs would be. Awesome.
Good
gfpktgdfoobmkfgnodjvmeihbdkvndshfs
That was my hands going crazy over what to actually type, psychic. Why?! WHY!? WHY ARE THESE BOTH ENTERTAINING AS HELL, AND YET ALSO FIT PERFECTLY INTO CANON?! WHY?!
3848649
Alternatively:
Jim: Challenge accepted.
Nothing here seems off. I am both confused and filled with glee.
rarasaur.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/smile.gif%3Fw%3D470
3849081 Somehow I believe that "Origin of Bob" story completely it seems like something Jim would do.
Those poor eldritch abominations... surely he could have gone just a tad easier on them?
3849357
Oh, please. They've been having a grand ol' time each year, waking up from their nap to wrestle. After all, exoskeletons grow back. For them, at least.
The occasional interloper that ruins the fun every couple of years, though, they don't get the friendly beatdown. They get the angry beatdown.
Mac, and Big Mac... I see what you did there xD. Greatest use of silent humor ever.
Is anyone going to comment on the giant pony and wizard pile cover art?
3851628
Nope, too adorable...
Just D'awww and move on.
3850695
Well hey, Twi's a young mare in love. It's only natural that she'd try to stop her future husband from being stolen. ^_^
...Are you entirely certain you aren't Jim Butcher?
3852913
Ssssh. You'll ruin the magic and scare him off!
3849357
Nope.
Also, Mac/Mac crossover was good crossover.
That... was freaking amazing.
Took me WAY to long to figure out what was going on though, was stuck in Pony mode, and had to shift to Dresden mode to get it. But, holy shit.. that was perfect and, yeah could actually see Mac doing that. Both of them.
3847875
Alcohol? Nope, Mac just bucks down the walls between dimensions and leaves the universe to fix the damage.
3848420
Like I said, that story has been sitting around in my computer for a long time. The moment I thought about how similar the two Macs were, I had to write it.
3848196
T-that lecherous brute tries to convince Twilight that I would just immediately hop in bed with a stallion I fancied like a... a cheap broodmare, pardon my Fancy, and you would call him the greatest character in the history of the universe?!
Spike! Fetch me some ice cream and tell me I'm pretty!
3848698
Because reasons.
3849195
That would be a bit difficult as A) Harry doesn't know she exists until Book 12, and B) She's only about 2-3 years old at the time of False Masks. That said, I understand your feeling, bro.
3851628
You just did.
3849043
SPOILER ALERT!!!
What was it that "He Who Walks Before" called Mac in Cold Days? Watcher, I think. And when questioned he just says "I'm Out". Maybe this is it, he is out and Big Mac is in.
As a matter of my own canon, I would like to imagine they all work in alcohol to one extent or another, and operate in a Masonic manner, their rank being determined by exactly how influential they are concerning alcohol. A big Mac for instance would be a part time supplier of weaker alcohol, whilst a large Mac would be a full time supplier and somewhere there is a Most Grand Worshipful Mac who runs the whole of Scotland and heads the order. Ah, to dream damn silly dreams, there is no better way to waste time....
3855031
Only if they actually knew she was there, though. Otherwise, it's Spike's home too - and it's not like Twilight's paying rent any more than he is.
This actually makes lots of sense to me... I can totally see it. I can also imagine some little girl being up early enough to spot Big Mac and running outside to hug him.
Amusing but meh. Like eating a sachet of sugar instead of a few gumdrops.
3855031
Well you OFFERED the place to stay. I mean, yeah, they SHOULD be doing it HER place, where they're not intruding, but if it's "the best sex I've ever had" I think you can wait to tell them to wash the sheets themselves and do it at her place from now on until AFTER she's gotten it.
The thing I think is so weird here is that Twilight is so offended that her friends might enjoy a good fuck with a handsome unicorn stallion like Mr Dresden. It's as if she thinks he's doing something wrong by having sex with a mare, or maybe she means a mare that isn't TWILIGHT SPARKLE!
If you ask me, someone might need to be transferred to Jelly-School the next time they have an opening...
Glorious! I've been following this series on fanfiction.net for the most part, and seeing omakes for it over here brightened my day. A solid dose of assorted emotions in the first chapter, entirely-deserved Bob-torture in the second, and an appropriate meeting of Macs in the third were all cracking stuff to read.
3854183 : *Fetches ice cream with Pinkie-like speed* You're beautiful.
3856243
I think it's a mix of her being protective of her friends, having a baby dragon living in the house, and that she likes Dresden. Since when has jealousy been rational anyway?
3897381
The question wasn't jealousy, though, it was rudeness. Twilight having a thing for Dresden wouldn't make it rude of him to hook up with someone else unless he was aware that she did and was openly snubbing her.
I just realized that I don't think Dresden has ever actually met Pony!Mac. I have a feeling that if he did, he'd leave the farm a thoroughly weirded-out man.
3856164 Would think, given the differences between their names, that Big Mac outranks "just" Mac.
3956505
Maybe upon retiring they relinquish the prefixes.
Following you because Dresden Files.
And because your profile picture is Bob.
3847810. That's me! I'm a McLeod!
-NEW HEAD CANON ESTABLISHED...how did I not read this chapter before?
Mac shoulda' brought his little sister back some beers, just sayin'.
Oh, now that's what I call home delivery!
3847810
It would have to be Colin. Connor and Duncan both talk too much, and nobody wants Quentin around.
3856164
I subscribe to theory that Mac is an Outsider; more specifically, He Who Walks Beside.
3847801
Brilliant. There are quite some types that transcend realities. Mikes are always assholes (in webcomics, anyway). Mac is silent and strong. Bob was there, too.
static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Bobwastheretoo.png
(for reference: Bob Was There, Too)
WE DEMAND THIS BE MADE CANNON FOR THIS WORLD.
i.imgur.com/9rPot3h.gif
This is awesome to the Macs!
...It's pretty awesome to the rest of us, too.
3852913
Try asking Jim Butcher himself in person. This author has been asked that at least a dozen times, and we always get the not-quite believed answer.
I did not know that I needed to see this but I did. The two Macs are so great! They'll answer the question just as its asked and not get crazy with details.
I wouldn't be supprised if Big Mac was actually able to open a Way and suvive the Nevernever
This explains everything!