"Hey, why are you in such a hurry to eat, little Hercules?" Bright Mac asked his younger sister when he saw her devouring her pancake plate too quickly.
"The cider season is coming, we have to work twice as hard." She replied with her mouth full, which was almost intelligible, but they understood.
"Honey, you know that talking with your mouth full is rude." Big Mac said.
"Sorry daddy." She said, before swallowing the food she was chewing and gave a little burp.
"And as for the cider season, now that you're back to school, you can leave it to Dad and me for now." Her brother assured her.
"What? But you have the bakery to look after and Dad's too old to look after the farm." She protested.
"Hey, your old man is not that old, don't worry my little caramel apple, we'll take care of it. I'm so proud that you like taking care of the family business so much, but you're still 8 years old, you also need to study and play like other foals your age."
"And I already put someone in the bakery administration, so I have plenty of time to help here on the farm now." Bright Mac said, giving Apple Belle her bagpack packed with everything she needed for the first day of school. "I made your favorite things for lunch."
"Thanks big bro. So it's okay." She said with a smile.
"And if you want, you can help here on the farm on weekends when you don't have class."
"I liked the idea, okay dad!"
Suddenly, they started to hear knocking on the door. Bright Mac answered and smiled when she saw that they were her friends/cousins.
"Good morning, girls!" He greeted them with a smile.
"Good morning Bright Mac." Rocky greeted him cheerfully back.
"Is Apple Belle ready to go?" Andesite, whom everyone called Andi, asked.
"Yes, little sister, your little friends are waiting for you to go to school!" He screamed.
Apple Belle went there and when she saw her best friends, she felt that getting away from the farm chores wouldn't be that bad.
"Hi girls!"
They joined in a group hug and walked together to school. The young purple stallion watched them for a while, before returning to the kitchen.
"Let me do the dishes, dad." Bright Mac offered, starting to collect the dishes to put in the sink.
"Okay, thank you son." Big Mac thanked him with a smile and went to the living room.
He sat on the couch and took a deep breath. Despite missing Sugar Belle every single day, his life was good. She would be really proud to see what their son and daughter have become. Shortly thereafter, he picked up the family photo album from one of the bookshelf shelves, opened on the page of his wedding photos and looked at it affectionately.
After washing the dishes and saving the leftover breakfast things, Bright Mac went looking for his father to start the chores on the farm, smiling when he found him looking at the great family photo album and joined to look and remember.
"You two look so happy in this picture." He said, when they were looking at the photos.
"And we were. That was the happiest day in your mother's life, after the days when you and your sister were born, of course." Big Mac said.
"... Hey dad." He called, but he was still a little apprehensive if what he would say might upset him.
"Yes, son?" Big Mac said, while turning the album page.
"I've been thinking, it's been 7 years since mom died and I know we're going to miss her forever. But I remember very well that you promised that your life would go on even without her."
"What do you mean? I'm moving on ..."
"This year's already your seventh 'Day of the 4 Loves' alone, I know mom would like you to meet an interesting, nice pony lady to love and who would gives you love too. You don't have to forget my mom, but you don't have to spend the rest of your days alone either."
Big MacIntosh became thoughtful. He had thought about it before, but he never thought one of his children had that reaction.
"You're right, son. But what about you and your sister? Do you both agree with that?"
"We'll agree with any decision that makes you happy, Dad." The young stallion replied, leaning over and leaning on his father's body.
"So it's all right, on the next
'Day of the 4 Loves', I'll try to find my second special somepony."
Bright Mac smiled happily.
"Now we better get cracking, the cider season's coming!"
They got up and went together to the barn and choose the apples.
Meanwhile, Marble and Pinkie arrived at the wedding in time and managed to fix the bride's dress.
"Look what a beautiful start, the couple in love, at the beginning of the walk." Marble said with a smile, as she contemplated the bride and groom exchanging the wedding rings.
She remembered her wedding day, she was so happy and in love with the pony she married. Why did things had to change that much?
"Yes, when I see weddings I also remember mine, although mine was a bit more cheerful." Pinkie said.
"I think I have entered a comfort zone, it's not only because he's my daughter's father that I'll have him forever, I have to invest in my marriage."
"That's it, you can't invest in your wedding without desire. So, this weekend you travel with him to a beautiful place, like Canterlot. To see if the passion between you two resurfaces ok? I'll take care of Rocky for you."
"Are you seriously going to do this for me Pinkie?" Marble said, controlling herself not to scream for joy and interrupt the wedding.
"Of course, you're my sister, I do anything for you. Oh and after work I'll take you to a store where I buy my little toys."
Marble's smile widened even more and she hugged her sister tightly.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Marbs!" Pinkie whispered back, stroking her back.
Time skip ...
"I think that's what I needed, do you know what a beige wedding looks like, with no color at all?" She asked, when she and her twin sister left the store with bags on their backs.
"Hmm, I really don't know, but for a colorless wedding I recommend this dildo here." Pinkie said, taking a rainbow-colored dildo out of one of the bags, which made Marble burst out laughing.
Meanwhile, Bright Mac finishedthe farm chores and he couldn't get Chee Chee out of his mind. He started looking for Marble all over Ponyville, he had friends, but Marble was his most trusted confidant, the first pony with which he felt safe in telling all his insecurities, fears and secrets.
Finally, after hours of searching, he found her, still in Pinkie's company.
"Marble, I'm glad I found you!" He said between paintings when he ran up to her. "Oh, hi Mrs. Pie."
"Brighty wity, we've already talked about it, you can call me what everyone else calls me: Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie warned him again.
"Okay, I'll try to remember that." He said, giving a nervous laugh.
"But were you looking for me dear?" Marble asked, since he said her name when he arrived.
"Yes, I really need to talk to you, it's... It's one of those conversations." He explained, making their secret gesture.
"Oh, I get it."
"So I think I'll let the two of you talk to each other alone, see you later Marbs?" Pinkie said.
"Of course sister and thank you again, see you."
"See you, for both." Pinkie said, before heading home.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" She said, in a sweet and understanding voice.
"Well ... Recently I ... There are times that ..." Bright Mac said, seeming to be unable to find the right words, while his cheeks turned a strong shade of red.
"Hey, you know you can trust me, say what ails you." She assured him.
He took a deep breath and decided that those words would come out anyway.
"Well, there's a girl ..."
"Ohhh I already suspected." She said between soft laughs. "So are you in love?"
"Yes, she's so amazing, sweet, funny and somewhat hot-headed, but even that I like about her." He described his object of affection in one of the most passionate ways Marble had ever heard.
She knew he was talking about her niece, but decided not to ask who was so as not to make him uncomfortable.
"And what are you waiting for to tell her that you love her?"
"Well, I'm so scared, I feel that if I'm rejected by her, I'll end up dying of heartbreak." He replied.
"That's horrible, dear, don't think so, you're such a great guy, you're loving, loyal and attentive. Any mare would be very lucky to have your love."
"Thank you, but I feel that if my heart isn't hers, it won't be anyone else's. I feel deep down that she's my special somepony."
"Well, are you okay with keeping that feeling so great for yourself?"
"... No."
"So if she happens to reject you, at least you'll have your conscience clean for declaring your love. I know everything will be all right."
Bright Mac smiled at her and gave her a hug.
"Thank you Marble, thank you so much for listening and for the advices!" He thanked her and immediately ran back home, as he had a plan in mind.
Marble smiled genuinely. At first, she just took care of him and Apple Belle for her best friend's request to her, but over time, she felt she started to get attached to them and love them as if they were her own children.