Saturday
Mac jostled in his sleep as he groaned. Something was disturbing him. His eyes twitched as he opened them lazily.
“Whatta…” He started before he yawned loudly.
“Ack! Get off me you big lug!”
Mac’s eyes jittered as he recognized the voice. Feather Bangs. Mac realized he fell asleep at the tree with Feather last night! He looked down as he saw Feather Bangs’ muzzle sticking out from under him, his face had a mix of exasperation and pained twitches as the sunrise creeped into Mac’s view.
“Lemme get off ya’.” Mac stretched as he stood up, now over Feather.
“Geez Mac, does Sugar Belle have to always worry about you crushing the life out of her every time you two sleep? I was practically squished like applesauce under you!” Feather gasped as he tried to catch his breath.
“Eyup.” Mac smiled as he blushed a little. He looked down at Feather who had an annoyed expression that had a distinct blush on his cheeks.
“Wow. Such detail as always Mac.” Feather rolled his eyes as he pouted a bit.
“Why change what works?” Mac chuckled.
Feather sighed again as he splayed out, breathing fairly heavily. Some hoofsteps came into earshot as Mac turned his head to spot… Sugar Belle!
“Wow! This hill certainly has an effect on ponies.” Sugar Belle grinned wide as she tried to stop herself from bursting into laughter.
“OH!” Mac looked down at Feather Bangs as they both realized how their pose looked.
Mac stepped off to the side as Feather got up, both having an embarrassed blush plastered over their face. Sugar Belle walked up to them as she tried to contain her laughter. The two looked at her with guilty faces despite their supposed innocence.
“Pfft, that was so cute you two! And funny, and… Bwahaha! Gosh. That looked like a scene straight out of the cheesy romance novels I got from Rarity. At least the characters had the tact to do it in private~” Sugar Belle sneered as she giggled at them.
“Err, I can explain.” Mac started before Sugar Belle cut him off.
“Mac seriously, you think I don’t know it’s some crazy situation that ended up with you like this? Our life is pretty crazy in itself dear.” She planted a small kiss on his cheek. “You’re like an overly anxious foal who wants to make super sure he gets permission from his mama.”
Mac tilts his head in embarrassment as Sugar Belle looks over to Feather.
“We do this thing where we look at cute ponies together in those ‘fashion’ magazines and he always looks so guilty anytime he finds a mare or stallion he likes! He’s such a dork with these things.” Sugar Belle eyed Mac as he looked away.
“Can we not?” Mac said quietly.
“I think it’s deserved! You always act so sheepish despite me telling you I’m fine with it all. I swear you don’t trust me sometimes with stuff like this Mac. You could be in bed with Feather for all I care, I trust you to be honest, and you are!”
Mac and Feathers faces lit up red over the suggestion from Sugar Belle.
“Hey I have an idea, can we move on and forget this ever happened.” Feather walked past her as Mac perked up.
“I wish. Sugar ain’t gonna let you forget stuff like this.” Mac cringed a bit in embarrassment as he thought back.
“Greeeeeat.” Feather groaned.
“Mac seriously, you’re just gonna ignore all that?” Sugar Belle groaned as she caught up to Mac.
“It’s just not the best time in front of a guest, that’s all.” Mac looked a bit ashamed despite his statement.
“We will talk after breakfast. Anyways, I came out to ask you to watch Apple Muffin later today, Apple Bloom was too busy.”
“Eyup, sure. Can do.” Mac nodded as the mood lightened.
The family and their guest had breakfast as hours passed by. Feather was cleaning up in the kitchen as Mac and Sugar Belle went up to their rooms.
“There we are! So Mac, what’s with all the avoidance with this kinda thing?” Sugar Belle asked as she sat next to Mac on their bed.
“I guess… I just feel like no matter what it is or how small, it feels like I ain’t bein’ loyal.”
Sugar Belle brushed his cheek as she softly smiled. “Oh Mac, you are the sweetest. You seriously don’t have to worry about it, I trust you completely dear. The only pony more loyal than you is the dang Element of Loyalty herself!”
Sugar Belle kisses Mac as they cuddle up on the bed.
“Thank ya’ dear.” The couple lie in silence as they enjoy each others company.
“You know, you two do look cute together~” Sugar Belle chuckled as she gave him a small peck.
“Ya’ seriously should stop readin’ those books Sugar.” Mac deadpanned back at her.
“I’m serious! The teasing back and forth, he is always sheepish around you, and he even is pinker than Pinkie Pie when in your presence.”
“Not everything is a romance novel, Sugar.” Mac said, annoyed at the teasing.
“You seriously didn’t notice he likes you?”
“Nope… I guess not.” Mac sighed, rubbing his head against the blankets.
“Do you like him back?” Sugar Belle asked curiously, with a hint of playfulness.
“Do ya’?” Mac retorts.
“He’s cute no doubt, but I don’t think I’m really poly like you are Mac. Now back to you.”
“Hmm fine. Maybe I guess.” He blushes.
“Well you always said you wanted to explore your feelings more, this is a chance! I know the looks you give Mac, you don’t need to worry about being the perfect husband. Just try to do what you like for a change! I’ve got your flank~” Sugar Belle winked as she nuzzled his muzzle.
“Well I’ve got a family to think about, our family. How would Muffin take it, having an extra dad? Sometimes ya’ gotta put yur’ family first even at the cost of ya’ own wants.”
“But that’s all you’ve been doing Mac, for your whole life! And yeah that is a valid question, but leave that to me Mac, we will cross that road when we come to it.”
“Fine. I’ll think about it.” Mac snorts, defeated.
“Glad I could crack that hard shell of yours Mac. Remember that we all love you lots Mac.”
“I know.” Mac sighs. The two kiss as they get up to get started on the rest of the day.
Mac and Feather went throughout the morning doing their chores. It was a bit awkward at first but they warmed up after a bit.
Then after lunch came Muffin’s playdate with Lil’ Cheese. The two foals spent the time running around, playing pretend and generally being cute, excitable kids. Something was tickling the back of Mac’s mind though. Pinkie Pie had wished him a ‘Super-duper almost birthday’ cupcake. Mac was turning 50 soon. It reminded him of his own parents. Mac never got the chance to watch them grow old. Mac was now older than his parents ever were. He liked to remember the good times with them, but then the good times ran out and it was just the bad times. The bad time. Mac still had nightmares about the day they died.
Mac tried to keep his head clear throughout the day but it was hard with the depressive feeling looming over him. Lil’ Cheese headed home and soon after Sugar Belle came back from her delivery trip.
“Hey Mac I’m back! Did it go well?”
“Eyup.”
“Nothing else to report?”
“Nope.”
“Mac. I know that look. Are you thinking about your parents again?”
“Eyup…”
“Oh Mac, I’m here if you need me.” Sugar Belle hugged him as they sat in silence for a while.
Mac had been pondering since the playdate and decided on something.
“I think… that my parents would want me to be happy.”
“Well duh, where did that come from Mac?”
“I mean that while I ain’t the best with words, I wanna say this. I always thought I had to be stubborn and the like. You helped me not be so stubborn, but I still had some things that I was set on that were hurtin’ me, and hurting others.”
“How so Mac?” Sugar Belle asked, nuzzling him.
“I was so headstrong on making sure that I was a pony my parents would be proud of. A pony that was worth their praise one last time. A pony that wouldn’t leave his kid behind at a young age. A pony that allowed their kid to see their old dad grow old. I guess… I’ve always feared the idea of my parents, no matter how much I love them.”
“That’s… wow. I think I needa unpack that in a bit but I super appreciate all that Mac. That certainly must have been hard to think about…”
“Yeah. Yeah it was. Also, Sugar?”
“Yeah dear?”
“I think it’d be a good idea. The Feather Bangs thing, that is.”
“Daww Mac! You big lug, I knew you’d warm up to it! Wanna warm up the waters first? I can set something up for Saturday, same day he promised to play us a song.”
“That sounds nice.” Mac smiled.
Monday-Friday
Over the week they all got closer. Feather was going to write a song for the performance, Sugar Belle was prepping decorations and treats for Saturday, and Mac was just trying to mentally prepare himself.
It was a standard week of chores at least. Applebucking, animal feeding, pet cleaning. Feather got his first successful bucket of apples which he was so ecstatic about he practically choked Mac with a hug. Mac enjoyed the chill week but the approaching dread was nerve wracking.
Saturday
Mac walked back to the house with Feather as the two put away the apples and went inside. It was quite… lavish. Sugar Belle definitely went above and beyond for this Mac thought.
“What’s… what’s all this?” Feather asked, confused and bewildered at the sight.
“It’s for us, Sugar Belle set it up.” Mac said nervously.
“Ok? Seems kinda romantic. Heh.” He blushed as he sat down for lunch.
“Blame Sugar Belle.” Mac chuckled as he sat across from Feather.
“Hey you two!” Sugar Belle said as she approached the two, holding a platter of tasty treats. “Hope you are doing well, Feather!”
“Yeah! Yeah I am.” Feather definitely looked nervous even if his face was a bit flustered. “What… is this for?”
“Mac, why don’t you tell him!” Sugar Belle said sweetly as she backed up.
Mac took in a deep breath as he looked into Feather’s eyes.
“I… I think you feel the same way but. I think yur’ cute Feather.” Mac internally slapped himself for the overly sweet line.
Feather’s face lights up with blush as he goes slack jawed.
“Wh- wha! Oh! Wow.” He stuttered, looking around the room.
“Uh. Do ya’?” Mac nervously asked.
“I do too! I mean! I like both of you, but I didn’t want to say anything, I know you are poly and whatever but I didn’t want to encroach on your relationship and whatever. I didn’t really think you’d go for someone like me, Mac.” Feather confessed, clearly confused by if this was real or not.
“Maybe I’m a sucker for a pretty face.” Mac blushed as he admitted that.
“Wow! Is this a dream? Like is Sugar Belle ok with this?” Feather asked, looking around as if there was an answer for that.
“Nope and Eyup. This is real, Feather. It was Sugar Belle’s idea, blame her.”
“Wow. Y-yeah! I just wanna say ever since I got here I really have admired you Mac. You always are so big and strong and confident and… maybe I’m a sucker for a confident pony.” Feather twiddled his hooves as he had a hard time concentrating.
“Eyup! What now?”
Sugar Belle butted in, looking positively excited at what happened.
“Now eat! After this you gotta perform for us, remember?~” Sugar Belle teased as she booped Feather’s and then Mac's muzzles.
The three spent the time talking and enjoying each others presence. Once they finished dinner they cleaned up and Mac gave Feather a small kiss on the lips. Feather’s face turned bright red at that, freezing in place for a solid minute. They cuddled for a bit before finally they were ready for a song. They headed into the couples room as Feather got ready.
“Geez I wonder what Applejack and Rainbow will think of this.” Sugar Belle wondered.
“Let’s not worry bout’ that right now, let’s just enjoy Feather’s song.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Sugar Belle said sweetly as she nuzzled into Mac’s side.
Feather pulled out his sheet music as he pulled out his mic.
“I call this one, ‘Love in Red, Pink and Yellow’, it’s kinda something I thought of here!”
“Ya’ got this ‘sugar’!” Mac cheered on Feather as he blew a kiss back to Mac. Both stallions blushed at each other.
“3, 2, 1!”