//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Parent's Day Assignment // by CrimsonRose97 //------------------------------// “Hold on every pony, we’re almost there!” Bright Mac called out to his family as he pulled the cart down the road. Young Big Mac and Young AppleJack were swaying by the movement, trying to make sure their stuff didn’t fall off. Buttercup was holding baby Applebloom in her hooves, the baby was in a pink swaddle, having her signature large pink bow in her very messy red mane. Applebloom was crying as she was not used to all this movement. “Oh it’s okay sugarcube, it's going to be okay.” Buttercup said in a soothing voice, rocking the tiny foal. “We’re going to have so much fun, you’ll see.” “Is my little princess upset? Should we stop?” Bright Mac turned his head to see she was crying. ~ “Hold up!” Applebloom stopped the story. “Pa called me his little princess?” She asked. Big Mac giggled and nodded. “Eeyup! If I recall correctly, the second you were born, you were the twinkle in dad’s eyes. Yeah he loved all of us equally, but something about you that made him go to a little stir crazy. Drove Applejack nuts." He chuckled in memory. "Whaddya mean ‘drove her nuts’?"  Applebloom asked, confused. Big Mac smirked, "Aj was a tad bit jealous of you back in the day. She used to get the attention but when you were born, the attention was turned on you. Since she didn't like frilly dresses, ma dressed you up and you loved it. Dad was extra protective over you so if you were to make any cries, he was on you lickety split. Now, can I continue the story?" Applebloom nodded as Sugar Belle finished her stack, decided to split it with the other two and placed plates of the flat jacks in front of them. " Thank you, Darlin', " Big Mac said. "Now, where were we… Oh yeah! " “Is my little princess upset? Should we stop?” Bright Mac turned his head to see she was crying. Buttercup giggled, shaking her head. "She's just a little fussy, big daddy. It's okay." She assured him as she continued to bounce the baby Applebloom. Applejack watched them before calling out, "Are we there yet?" "Almost there, sugar cube." Bright Mac responded. Soon enough, the Apple Family arrived at Ponyville Lake. There were a couple of other families at the lake basking in the mid-Summer day. "Alrighty, Apples, up and at'em Big Mac, could you help me unload while the fillies here find us a spot? " Bright Mac asked as he unhooked himself from the wagon. "Sure, pa!" Young Big Mac said as he hopped down alongside Applejack and her mom. "You sure you don't need my help too, hon?" Buttercup asked. "I'm sure." Bright Mac gave his wife a sweet kiss before sending the fillies out. The girls walked along the sand bank, Applejack looked at the families already in the lake playing. “Think this is the right spot.” Buttercup announced, finding a good spot with a bench that was in a clearing, the view of the lake was ten steps next to it on the left. “What do you think, Applebloom?” She looked at the infant. Applebloom babbled, her eyes not fully developed and most of everything was blurry, she could just make out blobs of green of the leaves and grass, big blue bath tub - in her mind it was tub with other moving blobs. The clearest she could see was her mother. “I think this is it.”  Applejack squinted her eyes at the two and huffed before looking up at the skies. She noticed two large eagles were flying around in the sky.   Eventually the colts appeared coming towards them, carrying items with a wagon and on their backs and helped set things up for the day. “Can we go swimmin’ now pa?” Applejack asked as Brightmac slid an umbrella into the whole on the center of the bench. He pushed the umbrella open before nodding. “Yeah go ahead, just keep where we can see ya two.” Bright mac responded to his eldest daughter and smiled before motioning his head to Big Mac to get. “Thanks for the help, son.” “Eeyup, no problems.” Big Mac smiled before walking over to his mother. He gave her a quick hug before looking at Applebloom. “Will she be able to swim with us?” Buttercup giggled. “She’s a little too young to swim at the moment. I do have a floaty for her to use though. We did bring it, right Bright Mac?” The wife asked her hubby. “I believe so. I’ll check it out.” Bright said, adjusting his hat as he went back over to the wagon to dig through the stuff. “Go along and play with your other sister, we’ll join you shortly.” Buttercup said before kissing Big Mac’s head. Big Mac nodded before ruffling Apple Bloom’s head, causing her to giggle and hug his hoof. “Ah need my hoof there, sis.” Big Mac laughs, gently freeing his hoof from his baby sister before running into the lake with Apple Jack. As the Apple children were jumping and splashing in the water, the parents were up on dry land. “How’s it going, Dear?” Buttercup asked Bright Mac. “Having a little trouble finding it. I could’ve sworn we packed it.” The stallion muttered as he dug out various things as beach balls, water noodles, super soakers, goggles, sunscreen, two floaties that were for big ponies and not infants, cooler with things to grill later on. But no infant floaty. Bright Mac grunted when he couldn’t find it, sworn that he packed it before lifting his head up. A serene smile spread across his lips when he longly gazed at his beautiful wife. Even after all these years, he still views her as the most beautiful mare in all of existence. Trying to contemplate how she had gotten even more gorgeous after having three of his kids. If possibly even more? Buttercup set Applebloom down on the bench, booping her child’s nose with her nose. “Ooh you are so precious, yes you are.” She cooed, nuzzling against her head. “Looking good there, pretty mama.” Bright Mac called out. Buttercup blushed before giggled, looking at him with the same expression on her face. “Thank you, you’re not so bad yourself.” She winks at him. “Did you find it, Bright Mac?” Bright Mac sighed, shaking his head. “Naw, I think it was left behind. Could’ve sworn it was packed.” Buttercup frowned for a moment before pulling her thick curly orange mane up into a ponytail. “I’m sure we’ll figure out something. Or otherwise we have to keep at least one pony watching Applebloom while the rest of us swim. She’s too young to start swimming yet.” “I can take the first shift. I wanna get stuff going on the grill first. I’ll swim after lunch.” Bright Mac volunteered. “Are you sure, love?” Buttercup asked, keeping a hoof on the baby. Bright Mac walked up to them, blew his tongue at Apple Bloom, who in turn blew her tongue back and laughed. Bright Mac picks her up with one hoof before kissing Buttercup. “We got this, you go join up. Ain’t that right?” He then messed with one of his child’s hoofs and shook it yes. Buttercup giggled. “If you say so. Love you.” “And I love you.” Bright Mac hummed, giving her another kiss before sending her on her way.  Now for the most part, the day at the lake was fun. The Apples had a sand castle contest, swam around in the waters, jumping off of rocks and creating huge splashes. But at least one pony had to stay and watch Apple Bloom and rotate at least once every thirty minutes so at least all could enjoy themselves. When Big Mac and Applejack took a break from swimming, they were tasked with watching the baby. At the time, Applebloom was taking a nap in Big Mac’s arm as the two were under a tree near the family bench. While Applejack was doing a bit of exploring with a stick. Big Mac loved holding his little sister in his hooves, making his heart flutter knowingly she was comfortable. After all, babies are just so precious. However, when nature calls, one must answer. He raised his head up to call out for Applejack. “Hey Applejack, c’mere.”  Applejack swung her stick on a rock before tossing it aside and galloped up to him. “What is it?” “Ah need to go really, really bad. Could ya hold her for a sec?” Big Mac asked, holding the baby out in his hooves at his sister while crossing his hind legs. Bladder filling up. AJ looked at Applebloom, seeing her napping before looking back up to Mac. “Yah serious?” “Ah don’t know if ah can hold much longer, just hold her already.” Big Mac grunted. AJ shook her head before reluctantly reaching out and grabbed her from their brother’s hold. “Thanks.” He quickly murmured before going out to find the nearest restroom. Now, no one really knows what happened in that short moment of time that Big Mac went to use the restroom, the parents were having their own fun, splashing about before Bright Mac hugged his wife from behind. “You’re so beautiful, you know that?” He asked in her ear, causing her to squeal. “Not right here, later you.” Buttercup giggled before looking up, expecting to see the children where they were supposed to be. She didn’t see AJ nor Big Mac. “Uh Bright Mac? Where’s the children?” “Huh?” Bright Mac looked up and he stiffened. He didn’t see his eldest kids. The parents swam up to the shores to find baby Apple Bloom was on the ground, trying to nap. “Where in tarnations are Big Macintosh and Applejack??” Bright Mac asked before the two began their way back. On their way back, the two hawks that were circling before suddenly swooped down. One took one of the grilled corn on the cob off of the table and the other grabbed Apple Bloom by the blanket and took her away! “APPLE BLOOM!!” Buttercup screeched in panic and dashed forward. She galloped to the cart, grabbing the rope that was used to keep the items in place and ran after the hawks.  She quickly fastened a lasso as she ran after them with Bright Mac following, bull dozing anything that got in his way besides his wife. It took a moment before Buttercup was able to toss the lasso up, seeing it fly and wrapped around the bird and baby. Once she got them, she pulled and yanked the bird down. The hawk lets go and Apple Bloom free falls. Dad shot up, gallops past Buttercup before taking one massive leap, hooves out, he catches the infant and the two collide to the ground. Bright Mac was in a bit of a daze, but shook his head when he quickly checked on his baby girl. Apple Bloom was laughing and giggling, clapping her hooves together, sitting on his chest all safe and sound. No ounce of fear in the baby’s eyes, babbling nonsense. “Oh sweet Celestia!” Bright Mac let out a huge sigh of relief and hugged the baby. Buttercup ran to them, hugging them both. “Are you guys okay?” She asked before looking at both of them to check and see if they were fine. “Seriously? I was carried away by hawks?” Apple Bloom asked Big Mac. “Eeyup! Ah came out just in time to see you were free falling and dad caught ya.” Big Mac responded as he pushed his empty plate to the side. “Like Ah said, the lake was a bit of a doozy.” “So you were using the restroom, what was AJ doing to leave me alone?”  Big Mac shrugged. “Ah have no clue, ah will say that it was the day she was served a big ol’ slice of humble pie for being irresponsible with you.” He reached over across the table and ruffled Apple Bloom’s mane, causing her to giggle. “Thank you for telling me, Big Mac.” Apple Bloom said as she quickly jotted down what he said before looking back at him. “I’m gonna ask AJ now.” “Want some more stories?” Big Mac asked. Apple Bloom shook her head. “I only have a couple things I need to use for the project, I’m gonna ask AJ and Granny Smith for help, thanks for your input again.” “Anytime, sugar cube.” He smiled. Apple Bloom got up from her chair, walked over to her brother and hugged him. “Love you bro.” He hugged her back before watching her leave and he let out a sigh. Sugar Belle nuzzled him. “You did well.” “Eeyup.” he said before rubbing her pregnant belly.