//------------------------------// // Finding a Friend Part 9 // Story: Finding a Friend // by TGMEQ //------------------------------// Big Mac held the door open for Twilight as they entered Big Mac's home. She thanked him, and got a glance inside his home. It was like any normal kind of family home, you got your: couch, rug, chimney, a coffee table, and a recliner. Big Mac offered her a seat on the couch which she gladly accepted. He trotted into the kitchen to get some refreshments for both of them. As he did so, Twilight started looking around the living room some more. On the wall, were some pictures of his family. Going from left to right, there was a baby picture of Applejack wearing her hat, little filly Applebloom in a crib, and a picture of little Big Mac wearing an over sized hitch around his neck. And finally, there was a picture of teenage Big Mac, slightly teenage Applejack, a little younger Granny Smith holding toddler Applebloom, and an adult mare and colt. Then Big Mac came back into the room with two glasses of water. "Hey, uh Big Mac, who are those folk in that picture?" Twilight asked while pointing to that certain picture. He sighed, "That's my ma and pa." "Really? They looked so young." "Eyup, it was a blast being with mah parents. Ah don't think ah can ever remember a time, where I was happy, then back in the day." some tears started swelling up in his eyes. "Oh my goodness, are you okay?" Twilight asked. *sniff* "Eyup, ah'm fine." "Do you want to talk about it?" He stopped for just a moment, "You don't mind do ya?" "Absolutely not." she said with a smile. "Thanks." "Don't mention it." --- The beautiful sun was shining down on Sweet Apple Acres. The birds were chirping, the clouds were moving very slowly across the sky. And apples were falling. His dad out somewhere in the field, bucking apple trees. Inside the Apple Family home, his mom was cooking dinner, Big Mac was helping Granny Smith take care of Applejack and little baby Applebloom. Applebloom was chewing on one of her toys, and Applejack spelled the word "Apple" using her word blocks. "MACINTOSH! Come out here!" a colt's voice called out to him. He instantly knew it was his father. He quickly ran out the door, and started looking for his parents. "Macintosh!" his father called again. He was glad he called out again so he can follow his voice. Finally, he found him. "Ah, there ya are son." "Hey dad, whatcha need?" Macintosh asked him. "Well son, ah think it's about time you learn the ways of the Apple Family." He gasped, "Really?" "Eyup." Macintosh started jumping with joy, "Yay, ah can finally help out with the family! Hey, maybe ah can get mah cutie mark with apples!" "Now, calm down son, you have a lot to learn." Macintosh stopped jumping, and looked back at his father. "Now, first lesson: try and get some apples out of this apple tree." he pointed to the tree next to him. Macintosh trotted to the tree, and kicked the tree. But when his back legs made contact with the bark, he fell to the ground. "You all right son?" his father asked as he helped him up. "Eyup." he stretched out his legs to show him that he was fine. "Good, first of all, that ain't the way ya do it. Ya can't just go and kick the tree like a goofball. Ya gotta find the sweet spot first." he trotted to the tree, and started knocking on it using one of his hoofs. He started walking around the whole tree, while still tapping it with his hoof. Finally, there was a distinctive noise, and he tapped it some more so Macintosh can hear it. "Ya here that? That's were the sweet spot is. Now go ahead, try again." Macintosh turned around so his back hoofs were facing the direction were his father tapped. "Right here?" Macintosh asked "Eyup, right there. Now, remember, lean forward with yer front legs, and kick the weak point." Macintosh aimed his back legs at the weak point. He stabilized his front legs so he won't fall over again. Then, he finally kicked with all his might. He nearly fell a second time when he kicked the tree again. He looked on the ground, and saw a couple of apples on the ground. "Great job son!" his father exclaimed, "If you work real hard at this, you might become the best apple bucker throughout the whole Apple Family." After that day, Macintosh got up early every morning, to go on a run. He would run from his home, all the way to the school and back. And if he had time, he would run back to the school again. Every time he finished running, his mother would be up, cooking breakfast. "Macintosh, were you out on one of yer runs again?" his mother asked. "Eyup, ah really wanna make you and dad proud." Macintosh replied. "Oh sweetie, you already make us proud for just being yerself." she said while kissing his forehead. "Thanks mom." "Yer welcome. Now, how bout some pancakes?" "Oooh, mah favorite!" After eating his breakfast, Macintosh would head outside to the orchard, and look for his dad. When he found him, he would ask if they can start on their lessons. They would do some stretching first, then run a few laps to get their blood flowing, and finally, they would buck apples. Near end of the day, Macintosh's legs would feel like they've been replaced with rubber. It was quiet a work out for a small colt as himself. But later through the weeks, he was getting stronger. One day, Macintosh and his pa were working out on the field and something unexpected happened. Macintosh heard his dad call out to him. When he found him, there was a large branch on top of him. "Dad!" "Ugh, Macintosh?" he said weakly. "What happened?" "A...a large branch fell on top of me when I was about to kick this here tree." he replied. "What do ah do?" "Go an git yer mother." "Okay, I'll be right back." Macintosh quickly ran back to his home, and found his mom in the kitchen. "Mom!" "Macintosh, there is no yelling in the house." "Sorry, but a large branch fell on top of dad." She gasped, "Where?" "Follow me." Macintosh led the way were his father was. After a couple of minutes, they finally found him. "There!" Macintosh pointed out. "Honey buns!" his mother called out to him. "Hello dear." his father replied. "Are ya hurt at all?" "Ah think so, mah back is killing me. Can ya git this branch off mah back." Macintosh and his mother worked together to get the branch off of him. It wasn't that hard, since they worked on a farm and all. "Don't worry dear, we're gonna get you to a hospital." his mother said helping him up. "Ah don't think that's necessary." "It is, come on now." She walked him to the barn, and got out their cart. "Now Macintosh," she began, "we are gonna be gone a couple of days. Tell Granny Smith, to look after ya'll, okay?" "Eyup." "Now son," his father began, "even though ah'm gonna be gone for a while, ah'm counting on you to get yer chores done. Can you promise me that?" "Ah promise dad." "Thanks son." Then his mom carried his dad with the cart, into Ponyville. Macintosh trotted back to the house, hoping that his dad will be okay. He entered his home, and started looking for Granny Smith. She wasn't in the living room, and she wasn't in the kitchen. So, he thought maybe she was in her room. He went upstairs to her door, and knocked on it. "Uh, Granny Smith?" Macintosh called out from the other side of the door. "Yes Macintosh, come in." she replied. When he entered her room, it had a funky smell at first, but eventually he got used to it. Granny Smith was on her rocking chair, with a sleeping Applebloom in her arms. "What is it Macintosh?" she asked in a whisper. "Pa got hurt from a branch falling on him." "Oh dear, is he alright?" "Don't worry, ma is taking him to Ponyville Hospital." She sighed, "Oh, that's good." "And ma told me that you have to look after us 'till the get back." "Alrighty then." "Okay. See ya Granny." The next day, Macintosh trotted back out into the fields. He started on a random tree, and got to it. However, he didn't really feel like himself today. He usually found it better working with his dad. Since he wasn't here, it was difficult to keep his mind focused. But, he promised his dad that he would get these apples out of these trees. So, he used all of the lessons that his father told him, and worked his tail off. Later that day, his face was practically, filled with sweat. He has never worked this hard in his life. Finally, Granny just had to stop him. "Macintosh, how long have you been working?" she asked him. "Almost all day, ah can't let pa down." he was just about to kick another tree, but he passed out. When he finally woke up, he was in his room. He had an ice bag on his head, and a tray of food on his side table. It was one of Granny Smith's apple pies. He happily gobbled it down, and got out of bed. His legs were still very sore. He went down stairs to see if anypony was home. To his surprise, his mom and dad were already home. "Mom? Dad?" "Macintosh! You finally woke up." his dad exclaimed. "But, yer back..." "Oh, it was nothin' serious. But the doc said to keep away from the chores for a whi-" he stopped in mid-sentence. "What?" Macintosh asked. "Look." his mother pointed to his flank. He looked at it, and saw that there was half an apple. "Oh mah goodness! Ah finally got mah cutie mark!" "Son?" his father got up slowly. Macintosh stopped cheering, "Ah'm very proud of what you did with yer chores." "Really?" "Eyup, ah don't think ah could do all of that. But you showed real maturity, and ah proud of ya." he then hugged him, and Macintosh hugged him back. "Thank you dad." --- "So, that's pretty much it." Big Macintosh said while finishing his glass of water. "Wow, so that's how you got your cutie mark?" Twilight asked. "Eyup. Ah think, mah promise to mah dad that day, pushed me on getting mah cutie mark." "But, it didn't seem you actually knew what your cutie mark represented." Twilight pointed out. "Ah know. But hey, you don't see me complaining." "Yeah." They sat their in silence again, but Big Mac wanted to say something. "Twilight?" "Hm?" "Thank you." "For what?" she asked. "For listening and all. Yer the closest friend ah ever got." he said while blushing. "Your very welcome." "Sometimes, maybe...more than a...friend." he said quietly. "Really?" she said in a surprised tone. "Um, yeah. Even though we only hung out a couple of times, ah truly like every part of hanging out with you." "M...me too." she replied blushing as well. "Really?" he asked the same question as Twilight's. "Yes, I have the same reason as you do." They sat in silence again, but they maintained eye contact. Suddenly, they both moved towards each other very slowly. Their bodies and faces were both slowly inching towards one another. This time, there was nopony around to stop on what was about to happen next. Their lips were finally touching and the kiss sent chills to their spines. Twilight pushed Big Mac's body, so they can have more comfort. Big Mac was on his back with his strong hooves around her well fit body. Twilight had her arms around his neck, but his hitch was in the way. She slowly started taking it off. She only broke the kiss to put it down on the floor. She started kissing him again, this time, she finally had her arms around his very strong neck. Big Mac felt something against his teeth, and found out, it was Twilight's tongue. He slowly opened his mouth, and their slippery tongues had more of a kick to the kiss. He heard Twilight moan a little bit, and he assumed it was pleasure. Big Mac wanted this moment to last, but, a mare with a blonde mane, broke it up.