//------------------------------// // Wind In Mac’s Mind // Story: A Bright Day Of Fatherhood // by Lonely Fanboy48 //------------------------------// Applejack, her father and her brother arrived at Ponyville to continue their hike. While Bright Mac has no plans in anything he can do in a town he went to several times in the past, he can still enjoy what he missed. Applejack and her brother think they can do something in Ponyville with the time they have, but on the other hand, they want to show their father everything that happened when he was gone. “So…..do you have any plans while we’re here?” Applejack asked to her brother. “Nope…” Big Mac replied. “Ahh come on, I was expecting we can do an activity together.” Bright Mac added. Applejack wanted to impress her father, but Ponyville just isn’t the right place for her. She may saved Ponyville numerous times, but it’s not her birthplace she  was accustomed to. “Maybe we can go to a bridge that’s over the river? I’ve been there when I take my hikes by myself.” She offered. “Sure, I guess.” Bright Mac accepted, despite feeling disappointed, but there's always next time. It didn’t take long, once they find where the bridge is located in Ponyville. It’s the same as it was everytime ponies walk on it, never unstable and never gets damaged. They saw three ponies looking in the distance of the river, the blue one is a filly while the others are her mother and father. “Hey, Rainbow Dash told me about these ponies.” Applejack commented. “That’s Wind Sprint and her parents Clear Sky and Quibble Pants.” “Is her daughter a buckball player?” Bright Mac asked, to which his son and daughter turned around in surprise. “You know all about buckball?” Big Mac reacted. “Yes, I remember when Granny Smith took me to a buckball game when I was little. During my school years, I was the defender in the team.” “So you have some knowledge of buckball?” Applejack asked to which her father nodded. “Well…..Quibble isn’t really a buckball pony. He only wanted to impress Wind Sprint since she likes buckball.” Bright Mac didn’t even think that somepony like Quibble would try to be a better father for his daughter. He was in the same boat he was when he tries to get along with Apple Bloom when he and his wife was running the family. But unlike Quibble, he had different problems he keeps to himself, since Apple Bloom was the third child, while Wind Sprint was Clear Sky and Quibble Pants’s one and only child. “How about we meet them and get to know them for a bit? You know, maybe we can play buckball with them?” Their father suggested. “But Applejack said Quibble isn’t really a buckball player.” Big Mac filling in her sister. “I know. I was just thinking of a family and family conversation.” The two didn’t know what to expect from their father. They don’t know a lot about Quibble Pants and Clear Sky, especially since Rainbow only mentioned to them about buckball and nothing else. They walked on the bridge together and just when Quibble and his family was about to leave, they ran into the Apple Family. “Howdy ponies.” Applejack greeted them. “Well, you must be Applejack right? Rainbow Dash told me about you.” Clear smiled. “Well I be, I guess everypony like you got the information.” “Well yeah, you're the element of honesty.” Wind Sprint added, which made the cowgirl blush. “So, is there anything you need? We’re going to leave, so we can head home.” Quibble said while smiling. “Actually, our father wants something from you.” Applejack replied. The Quibble and Apple Family are sitting on a picnic table by the sidewalk as they begin their conversation. “So, You’ve been part of Buckball before?” Wind asked as Bright Mac nodded. “Of course I have.” He answered. “I guess we do have something in common.” Clear Sky added. “Wind always wanted to find a teammate who can be strong and helpful.” “Unfortunately, I’m still on apple picking duty, so no you can’t pick me on your team.” “He’s always twenty four seven on Sweet Apple Acres. He’s only with us during our hike for today.” Applejack filling in for her father. “Yeah, I know how that feels to be a hard working father with two kids.” Clear commented until Big Mac corrected her. “Three siblings, Apple Bloom is staying at home.” “But what about your mother?” Wind asked. “She’s taking care of her.” On the inside, Bright Mac’s heartstring pulled in depression with his feelings towards the final child he had with Pear Butter. “I will say, she really knows how to take care of her right?” Clear added. “Yeah, you have no idea.” Bright Mac making a stressful smile until he changes the subject. “Anyway, so how is it with your daughter Quibble?” “Better than I thought.” He replied. “After we left Appleloosa when the buckball game was over, we got along.” “Is it because you showed her the buckball game?” Quibble Pants didn’t wanted to answer Bright’s question due to his decisions he made with Wind Sprint. While he did win over her approval, he still needs to move on from the things he’s not accustomed to, like her daughter is. “No…” Wind replied as Bright looked at the Blue filly. “I knew he didn’t like buckball before we arrived at Appleloosa. Before we made up with our differences, he tried to show how much he’s into buckball, but all I saw from him is getting advice from Rainbow Dash who did buckball.” Then Quibble lowered her head in shame. “She’s right. I just don’t want to come back to that day. I made myself more of an embarrassment in the family.” Applejack and Big Mac felt sorry while their father felt more hurt in the inside, making him more concerned if the same thing could happen to him with Apple Bloom. Even if he just met Quibble Pants today, he wanted to make things better for him to not make the same mistake before it’s too late. “You did what you could.” He spoked which made Quibble lifted his head up. “You’re serious?” He reacted with a dumbfounded look on his face. “I mean yes, you can’t do something your not a fan of, but I can give you the benefit of the doubt to get along with your daughter.” “But your missing the point.” Wind retorted. “I told him to-“ Clear Sky getting cut off until Bright Mac interrupted. I know what you mean because I’m having the same issue with…..with……” He tried to wrap his problems with others but he’s getting close to the situation Quibble was in. He didn’t know how to discuss his true feelings with Apple Bloom with little time he had with her even when he returned. “With what?” Quibble added. Bright Mac then made a quick but poor excuse. “With understanding some of the activities with my youngest daughter. But unlike you, she does want to spend time with me.” Both Applejack and Big Mac raised their eyebrows in confusion from Bright Mac’s statement. They never saw him getting along with Apple Bloom and the things she’s accustomed to. Even Big Mac tried to do the same thing, but it backfired on him The Quibble family made awkward expressions, since Bright’s problem is the same as Quibble Pant’s, but they decided to avoid it at all costs. “I think we should be leaving now.” Wind Sprint getting off the bench while her parents do the same. “Yeah, we really need to head home now.” Clear Sky added. “And I think I need to be alone while I think about this.” Without giving the Apple family a chance to response, they leave the picnic table as they make their way home. Applejack and Big Mac felt ashamed with their father. He just made a family who they just met in person, leave due to the poor excuse Bright Mac just blurted out. Bright Mac slammed his face on the table after embarrassing himself. Unlike his encounter with Rainbow Dash, his encounter with the Quibble family failed to be a better father. Especially it made them more concerned if they ever get involved with this situation like before. “Dad,” His daughter trying to help. “Do you think you have something to say to Apple Bloom? Bright Mac lifted his head up. “Yes, but I’m not ready.” He replied. “Sorry I made us look humiliating. I just think this would be the time I could express Apple Bloom and what I trying to prove.” Then Big Mac had an idea. With his father being in a situation similar to him, he wanted to show him something he spend most of his time on. “Dad, I think I can help you.” He spoked which Bright Mac took notice. “Really, what can you help me with?”