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// The True Father Of Bright Mac 
// Story: A Bright Day Of Fatherhood 
// by Lonely Fanboy48 
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When they leave Starlight’s Village, Applejack and Big Mac thinked about returning back in Sweet Apple Acres but not only they’re in the middle of the day, but their father is walking behind him with his ears lowered down. Today had been the saddest day he had in a long time. Almost making things ugly with Rainbow Dash, made the Quibble family leave and didn’t make a good impression to Big Mac’s girlfriend, Sugar Belle.

As they walked in the middle of the desert, Applejack couldn’t take it anymore. She tried to be cool but she decided to put her hoof down. “Everypony, let’s just stop for a moment!” She shouted which causes her brother and father to stay in place. She signed to let out the air of her lungs while turning her attention to her father.

“What seems to be the problem Applejack?” Bright Mac asked.

“You know what the problem is. Please don’t bother to ignore me.” Applejack took off her hat, whenever she does that she’s either serious or emotional. This time, she’s on both sides instead of one. “We’ve been walking since this morning and all we ever did is seeing you get into situations with others.”

“She’s right.” Big Mac chiming in. “I thought Sugar Belle can help us but you made it really hard for yourself. What’s going on?”

Bright Mac thought he would get the chance to get away from this but he had no choice. His son and daughter caught him, blocking his way from returning to his hike and they refuse to move without an word from their father.

“Okay I’ll tell you but please don’t tell this to Pear Butter or Apple Bloom.” He replied to which their siblings nodded their heads. “Just before we left Sweet Apple Acres, I told Granny Smith to take care of both of you and Apple Bloom. I was going to miss both of you because I spend most of my time playing with my favorite children.”

While his daughter and son felt warm in the inside, they still wanted more from their father about his problem. “But what about Apple Bloom?” Applejack added.

Then Bright Mac’s eyes look straight to the ground while his face is away from Applejack’s sight. “I agreed with Pear Butter that we can have a third sibling of the family, but I had zero plans on that.”

“Zero plans?” Big Mac reacted.

“Before Apple Bloom was born, I always loved you two because you were enough for me. I showed you how to harvest apples, I took you two to Appleloosa and best of all, we always got along so much.”

Applejack never felt so pleased to hear her father’s honest words, but it didn’t last long once he got back on explaining. “But when Apple Bloom was born, Pear Butter did everything she did for her. I did have my chances whenever I wanted do show my love, but you two are a heartbeat to me. Three siblings in a family isn’t something I can handle.”

He then sits on the ground unable to stand in place with the disappointment in himself.

“What’s wrong with Apple Bloom?” Big Mac asked while trying to focus of his father’s daughter problem.

“Nothing at all but I still don’t know. Even to this day, I still couldn’t get along with her. I'm not into the stuff she’s in because she’s more...different then you two.”

A huge silence occured as Bright Mac took out everything he needed to say. Now that it finally happened, he won’t be able to find a way to show Apple Bloom what he feels about her, unlike his wife did. However Applejack understood everything. She placed her hoof under her father’s chin with her honest smile on her face.

“Dad, don’t feel this way.” She said. “I know in the future, I may never find somepony to marry, but I know how it feels to have Apple Bloom in the family.” She sits by him on the left while Big Mac sits on the right. “I love Apple Bloom because she’s always helpful in her own way. Everytime I see her with her friends, she’s more of a outsider than a harvester like us.”

Big Mac then wrapped his hoof around his father’s shoulder. While he isn’t as sweet talking, he will say anything for his family when they feel this way. “And here’s something you need to know. I tried to do the same thing by…” He then whispered in Bright’s ear. “I dressed myself up as a girl in the Sisterhooves Social one time.”

Bright Mac made an awkward look with his son doing a bizarre thing.

“When Applejack left Sweet Apple Acres, it was the chance to show Apple Bloom how much of a brother I am. We got disqualified,but she forgave me afterwards which made me happy.”

“You still felt happy, even when you didn’t succeed?” Bright Mac asked which Big Mac nodded.

Then Applejack returned to her side of her feelings about Apple Bloom. “What we’re trying to say is, you don’t need to get into the things Apple Bloom is in. I mean she’s really occupied with our mom more than you and she’s happy that way. Some of our family have the same problems of getting to know each other. Yes, we look out for each other, but that doesn’t mean we hang out. I only know the names of those who are part of the family because even if they aren’t the ones we’ve known since the beginning, they still deserve to be mentioned in the Apple family.”

She also hands her hat to her father because inside, she had a family photo of the Apple Family Reunion she had a long time ago before Bright Mac and Pear Butter returned. Bright Mac had a small, but powerful tear after looking at ponies in this picture. He did remember most of the city folk who live in Appleloosa before he left, but never got the chance to meet them again once he returned.

As he continues to look at the image, Applejack finished up her sentence. “Dad, if you can’t impress my sister,  don’t get caught up with that. I’m sure she will be okay with you being her one and only father in the Apple family. But if something goes wrong, we will be able to help you. Because that's what families are supposed to do.”

After that, Bright Mac cried in joy from the honest words his daughter told him. He may have had a rough time in the last five hours when he encountered several ponies but now, he finally realize to keep an open mind to the ones he spend less time on. He slowly gets on his hooves while his son and daughter took notice.

“Applejack, Big Mac,” He slobbed. “Thanks for teaching me something I should’ve learned the moment I returned.”

Both Applejack and Big Mac got on their hooves and gave their father a hug. “Like what my sister said, we look out for each other.” Big Mac commented.

“And keep that in mind forever.” Applejack added.

The hug continued for a solid minute until they broke it with Bright Mac feeling better then before. “Sorry I almost ruined our day together.”

“Dad, this wasn’t a go to place to hang out, this is still a hike, like you mentioned this morning. We still have a lot to show you before we head home.” Applejack putting her hat back on.

Then his father smiled, they only went to two places, there’s a lot Bright Mac hasn’t seen in Equestria. “Then how about you and your brother take me to anywhere you go? I’ll be happy to have you two lead the way.”

“Then let’s not waste anymore time and let’s hit the trail!” Applejack cheered.

For the reminder of the day, Applejack and Big Mac took their father to places in Equestria like Canterlot, Seaquestria and of course, Appleloosa where they had dinner there and met several ponies he missed when he was away for so long. Once the sun was setting and the moon rises in the night-time, they finally headed back to Sweet Apple Acres. While the first half of their walk was questionable, their other half made it up with the places Bright Mac missed, but also discovered for the first time in his life.

Today was something Bright Mac has not only enjoyed, but also learned something. There are some who will remember him for his disappearance for so long, but others who will accept him no matter what. Especially Apple Bloom. As long as he stays with the Apple Family until the end of time, everything will turn fresh as an apple.