The Way
A Father’s Day Story about Bright Mac
The sounds of all of the Apples gathered brought some joy to Applejack. She watched as they began to visit, and in that visitation she saw old friendships blossom, new friendships form, and of course she saw the new additions to the families. A soft smile fell on Sugar Belle who had officially joined the Apple clan. She looked toward the barn where Baldwin Apple was tuning up his guitar. He held it carefully, his hooves having been sharpened slightly to allow the easier strumming of the strings.
She listened as he played a few experimental notes, and then his family who joined him began to prepare to play as well. Another guitar, a bass, and of course a set of drums. She heard the first few strums, and then she saw Baldwin look out over the collective group of Apples, and more than a few Pairs that had decided to join as well.
“Well, we’ve got a full barnyard full, and seems to me that it’s a perfect time to do a new song,” he said with a smile, “Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Apple Bloom, I wrote this song for yer Dad and Mom.”
Every eye turned toward him, “I felt it right to sing it here, and I figured that it would be right to sort of give it as a gift to ‘em. I hope that ya like it.”
He strummed the guitar a few more times, and then he began to sing. The song was a sweet melody, tender, and it brought memories of the two ponies to the minds of those listening.
Applejack blinked back the tears as she remembered the last few days of that horrible summer. They’d gotten more orders for apples, jams, pies, and everything else than they ever had before. And of course both of her parents were determined to get the orders out. It wouldn’t be right to leave ponies without what they ordered, and in doing so they had nearly worked themselves to death.
The Apple family cart had broken down that damned day. It’d been overloaded, and her dad had said that he could pull it, and he was sure the old cart could handle it. But going through the fire swamp had proved too much for the old cart. A broken axel and it had laid down half way through. She’d been with him, the second time that she’d gotten to go on the trip through the swamp to the swamp ponies that lived just beyond the edge of the swamp on the other side.
She hung her head as the memories surfaced. She’d gone back for the new axel, the tools to fix the cart, and of course to get help from her mama. Big Macintosh had stayed out with him, helping to keep everything from spilling over. The two of them seemed determined to make sure that everything went well. She got back in time to see her mother nursing Apple Bloom. Her little sister seemed so peaceful, and she just couldn’t stand the idea of bothering her ma, but it didn’t matter. The cart needed fixed, and that was that. She softly knocked on the door and got her Ma’s attention.
“Ma, the cart broke down in the swamp. Pa said to ask ya to come and help fix it. Ah’m a gettin the tools and the Axel.”
She nodded, a soft smile on her lips, “I told him that he needed to replace that axel before now,” she shook her head, “Oh well, thanks. Give me a minute.”
She watched as her mother slowly got Apple Bloom loose, rocked her softly, and then laid her down to sleep. A few moments later she walked out with her, and they grabbed the tools and spare axel. Heading back to the swamp they saw her father, helping Big Mac with the cart, and together they worked getting the old axle out, and the new one in. It was about an hour to fix, but when it was done the four of them began to move again, and that’s when she remembered hearing it.
It was a growling sound, coming from around them.
“The Fetta cheese,” Bright Mac said.
Big Macintosh handed it to him, and he prepared to throw it, but only it wasn’t the chimera that was growling. It stood, angry, and Bright Mac looked at towering hydra. It had managed to get into the fire swamp from Froggy Bottom Swamp.
“Okay, everypony, really slow, move. Don’t let it see you.”
It was too late. The hydra growled again, and although it wasn’t a full grown one it was more than dangerous.
“Big Mac, get Applejack out, now!” her mother shouted.
She felt Big Mac grab her up, even though she was fighting, and she watched as her parents threw rocks at the hydra to get its attention. It howled in pain, turned toward them, and then took off after them. Both of them left the cart there, not bothering with it. She fought with Big Mac all of the way back to the farm where he yelled for Granny Smith. She ran out, and he said what happened. She didn’t waste time, and instead she had them watch Apple bloom as she ran to Ponyville to get help.
Over the next four hours everypony, including Stinkin’ Rich, went out into the swamp, but when they came out Granny hugged the two of them. She cried as she passed her Pa’s hat to Big Mac.
“What about ma an pa?” she asked.
She shook her head, “Ah’m sorry, Ah am,” she whispered.
She looked toward Baldwin as he was singing the last few lyrics.
She looked down, the memories of that day were hard, but it didn’t do any good to bottle them up either. She felt a wing across her withers and looked to Rainbow Dash.
“You Alright?”
She nodded, “Sure, Jest the song reminded me of a few things,” she said, “Ah’ll be fine.”
Rainbow watched her, “AJ, don’t do that,” she said, “I know that it’s bothering you.”
She sighed, “The song is a goodun, It really is, but it jest reminded me of that day we lost Ma and Pa.”
Rainbow Sighed, “I get it, I know that I’d be lost without mom and dad, but they said something once, and I think that it applies here too.”
Applejack looked at her, “What’s that?”
She smiled, “They said that all of the best parts of them were in me, and that made them happy. AJ, I didn’t get to meet your parents, but I bet that the best parts of them are in you, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom. So, they’re not really gone. They’re here, in you.”
She smiled, “Thanks, and Ah can’t believe ya said something so sweet.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes, “I’ve got my moments, now comeon, we need to get some of that cider before it’s gone.”