“Big Mac, go get your Pa, supper’s almost cooked,” his mother called to him. “He should be out in the barn.”
Big Mac gave a small sigh as he hopped off the couch and headed for the front door. It was storming out like nopony’s business, why would Pa be out in the barn? He just shook his head, not questioning what adults think. If he had a choice, he wouldn’t grow up, it seemed to suck the fun out of ponies.
The moment Big Mac opened the door to the farm, he gulped. The rain was coming down faster than he had ever seen, and not in small droplets. These were big things, and he would swear on his life that the raindrops were as big as apples. Still, Ma had asked him to get Pa, so he had to go out into the torrential rain.
It was just rain, what could it do to him?
As he raced into the open side door of the barn, he regretted asking himself that question. Not only was the rain freezing cold, but each drop felt like an acorn hitting his hide. Never again would Big Mac question the power of a strong rainfall.
Of course there was also the fact that his hooves were beyond muddy, and Ma would have a fit if he trudged into the house in such a state. So Big Mac sighed, more than a little annoyed at having to get his dad from the barn.
After a moment of shaking out his coat, Big Mac slowly trotted across the hay-filled barn, each step softened by the clumps of hay that were strewn from their piles. He knew that come tomorrow it would be his job to pick up each clump and put them back in the piles.
He rounded the corner to the main portion of the barn, expecting to find his Pa busy moving something, but instead he found an odd sight. His dad was sitting at the edge of the main door to the barn, the door itself swung wide open to allow a nice view of the entrance to the farm. Though Big Mac was confused as to his Pa’s reasons for such a thing. Wouldn’t everything in the barn get wet from having the door open?
There was a loud crack across the sky, followed almost immediately by a massive boom as thunder followed the bolt of lightning. Big Mac was scared of nothing, but even those afraid of nothing couldn’t deny being startled by that combo. In fact, he was startled just enough to give a small yelp in surprise, one loud enough to just make it across the barn and catch the attention of his Pa.
“Big Mac?” his Pa asked, turning his head just enough to see Big Mac. A small smile came to his father’s face before he spoke again, “Ahh, supper must be ready.”
“Eeyup,” Big Mac said in his toughest voice, though deep down he was still a little scared by the thunder. He knew it couldn’t hurt him, the weather pegasi wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen.
“It can wait fer a sec,” his dad said before scooching over slightly to his right before patting the spot he had just moved out of. “Come, take a seat.”
Big Mac immediately followed the request but his steps were a little bit hesitant, wary of being startled by the thunder again.
“Don’t be scared, son. Come watch the lightning with me,” he said in his typical ‘southern drawl.’ Of course Big Mac knew that wasn’t how he always spoke. Sure, Granny Smith spoke like that, but his dad often switched back and forth between that and a, as he put it, ‘more refined’ voice.
Big Mac was unsure of the request; why would anyone want to watch something like lightning? Yet he still took up a seat beside his father, though he pushed in a little closer, the cold air starting to nip at him more than he liked.
So for a few moments, Big Mac sat there, leaned up against his Pa while they both watched the thunderstorm in front of them. Every once and awhile lightning would flash across the sky, creating dazzling arcs that amazed his eyes, only to have his fear leap slightly when the loud roll of thunder came.
“Don’t be afraid, Big Mac. It’s just noise after all,” his dad said, somehow sensing the fear that Big Mac had at the loud noise. Still, it didn’t exactly calm Big Mac down, the sound was far too great to be from something that couldn’t hurt him!
Still, he stayed close to his father, both of them just sitting there in quiet, continuing their vigilant watch over the land and the water that was gracing it. Sometimes Big Mac wondered just how pegasi did what they did, how they created such awful yet necessary things. He knew the point of the rainstorm, yet he didn’t like them; what kid would?
“Ah remember when ah was young, and mah father would get me to come to the barn and watch with him,” his Pa spoke up, not directly talking to Big Mac, but he still knew that what his dad was saying was meant for him. “It was around your age that he started bringing me out to watch them. Ah didn’t like it at first, found it pointless. Yet as ah grew up, I started to realise somethin’.”
Big Mac just looked up at his father, keeping quiet so as to not interrupt his dad’s speech. Though the lightning in the distance did that unfortunately, drawing both of their eyes away to watch the white light strike down from the clouds, falling short of hitting the ground.
“It wasn’t about what we were watchin’, it was about the time spent. Sure the lightning and thunder became but a faint sound to me, allowin’ me to see the beauty in it, but it didn’t compare to the reason for watchin’,” his Pa said, his eyes focused on the distant flashes of lightning that lit up the sky. “With all the chores that needed to be done, and all mah time spent hangin’ with friends, I hardly had time to spend with your grandpa. Yet we would watch the lightning together because it was somethin’ we both enjoyed.”
Big Mac didn’t bring forth any words to respond to what he was hearing; he just listened. He couldn’t help but agree with his father; he had always been too busy with his chores, school and his friends to take time out of his day to just be around his father. So instead of herding his dad in for supper like his Ma wanted, he just sat and watched the thunderstorm.
“It’s pretty cool,” Big Mac managed to eventually say, not many words coming to mind to describe the lightning.
“It is, ain’t it? It’s amazing what pegasi can do,” his dad replied before reaching a hoof around Big Mac and pulling him in close in a sideways hug of sorts. It was a little awkward but Big Mac didn’t care. He was spending time with his father, after all.
Another flash of lightning danced across the sky, zigzagging this way and that in hopes of finding the ground. When it failed to do so it simply disappeared, fading into the night sky. Then came the soft roll of thunder, much calmer than the initial ones.
“There you boys are!” his mother called from behind them, her voice slightly stern. “Big Mac, I told you get your father for dinner, not sit in the barn with him.”
Big Mac sheepishly recoiled for a second at the scolding that he thought was coming, but it never did, his father stepping up for him. “We were just spending some father-son time. Don’t worry, we’re coming now.”
His Ma huffed slightly, the air from her nostrils visible enough in the cool autumn air. “You’d better be, the food is getting cold.”
Big Mac rubbed the back of his head slightly before being surprised by a small thud behind him. He turned around quickly to see that the barn doors had been closed shut, finally cutting off the view of the brilliant lightning show outside. His father merely chuckled at Big Mac’s startled reaction.
“Come, let’s go eat,” his Pa said before trotting ahead of Big Mac. For a second, Big Mac just stared at the closed doors of the barn, wishing to once more open them up to see the lightning flash across the sky. Yet he knew it was supper time, and he was starting to get hungry.
With a quick gallop, he shot past his father and out the side door to the barn, once more feeling the cold rain pelt against his back, the large drops never stopping. He didn’t need to turn around to see his father behind him, the second set of splashes telling him that his Pa was right on his hooves.
Big Mac gave a small laughter of joy at the feeling of racing his dad back to the house. Sure it wasn’t very far, but nonetheless it was a game he wanted to win.
And win he did, at least until his mother scolded him for tracking dirt and mud into the main room. Still, Big Mac didn’t care he had beaten his dad in a hoof race, because all that mattered was the time he spent with his Pa.
~~~~
Supper had gone and passed, with there being little of conversation for Mac to get involved in. His Ma and Pa discussed something while Ma helped make sure his youngest sister Applebloom actually ate some of her foal food. She had barely been born, yet she was growing up so fast according to Ma. Big Mac had been a little disappointed that he didn’t get a baby brother, he already had one sister, why did he need another? Of course he never said such thoughts; he loved his sisters of course … no matter how annoying Applejack could be at times.
Now Granny Smith always made time to talk to him even when the conversation was elsewhere. Big Mac always loved when Granny Smith visited, since she always brought gifts and gave him treats. It had been awhile since she had visited, even though the house was technically hers according to Pa. Her sister, Big Mac’s great aunt, loved to travel and took Granny with her constantly, so she had more or less given the house over to Pa. Big Mac could still remember how shocked he was at that.
Still, even with Granny Smith there, things proceeded as normal.
For example, Big Mac knew it was time for bed as he finished cleaning up the dishes with Pa. That was always the schedule unless there was some sort of holiday. Sure, he had protested at such an early bedtime; after all he was no longer a foal, having gotten his cutie mark two years ago. Yet his Pa gave him a good enough reason to abide by such strict bedtimes. Pa had told him that big ponies needed to be ready for the next day so that they could always give their all, and if Big Mac wanted to be a big pony then he needed to get his rest.
So he made his way to bed, of course stopping in the bathroom to brush his teeth first. Ma would have scolded him if she found out that he didn’t brush his teeth before bedtime, and Big Mac knew that Ma would give him quite the muzzle-ful..
As Big Mac crawled into his bed, thankfully having his own room because he was a big pony afterall, his mother came in to tuck him into bed. Big Mac didn’t need her to, but he let her anyway … for her own sake, obviously.
“Night my little Mac,” she said in a teasing voice before giving him a little peck on the forehead.
“Mooom,” Big Mac whined slightly, hating being called that, as a small blush filled his cheeks.
“Hehe, alright, I’m sorry. Goodnight, Big Mac,” she said before turning around and leaving his room, heading down the hall to Applejack’s room.
“Night, Ma,” he called back before sinking into his bed, almost ready to sleep finally. It wasn’t yet meant to be however, as his father slowly stepped into the room, a large smile on his face as always.
“Goodnight, Big Mac. Thanks for spending time with your old father,” he said in that same teasing tone that Ma had used. While Ma teased others directly, Pa always used himself as bait to allow others to make fools of themselves. It had trapped Big Mac more than he could even count.
“You’re not old, Pa,” he said simply, not going any farther, lest he spring the trap.
“That means alot coming from you, Big Mac,” his Pa replied before kissing him on the forehead as well. “I’ll see you after school, tomorrow.”
“Eeyup!” Big Mac said in a slightly excited tone. Sure there was school tomorrow, but after watching the lightning storm earlier, he was more than a little eager to spend time with his Pa.
His dad just smiled before walking to the doorway, turning off the light in the room with the flick of the light switch by the door. Big Mac smiled for a little bit longer before finally falling asleep in his comfy bed, eager to wake up tomorrow. Eager to see all his friends again, and eager to spend time with his Dad.
~~~~
Big Mac strolled happily through the entrance to the farm, his sister Applejack trotting beside him at an energetic pace to try and keep up with him, but Big Mac couldn’t help it if Applejack was that much smaller.
It was a nice day following the rain, which had stopped in the middle of the night; though it didn’t stop the ground from being soaking wet and filled with puddles. Of course it brought great delight to his little sister, who would often run over to splash in a puddle before catching up with Big Mac, all the while soaking wet from her little adventure.
He couldn’t help but smile; it had been a great day, afterall. School went great, all of his friends were there, they had loads of fun playing hoofball in the puddle-filled playground. He even got his recent test back, and he passed with flying colours! He knew that when he showed his Ma and Pa it, they would be proud beyond a doubt. It was the best day he’d had in weeks.
All he had to do now was finish his homework and chores before Ma and Pa got back from the market so he could spend time with Pa again. Big Mac couldn’t help but smile thinking about Ma and how she was happy to finally get back into the business, what with Granny having promised to look after Applebloom for the day. Everything was shaping up to be a perfect day for the entire family!
“I’m so sorry,” a voice murmured as they passed, snapping Big Mac out of his reverie. He glanced behind him at the passing stranger, who was simply a guardspony that trotted away with his head hung low. Big Mac couldn’t help but think that the quick interaction was beyond weird. Why had the guardspony said that, and why had he come from the farm?
At first Big Mac wanted to dismiss it, but he knew something was wrong. Instinctively he picked up his pace, causing Applejack to cry out in confusion as she tried to keep up. Big Mac barely heard her though, his mind racing with thoughts as to what was happening at the farm that warranted a guardspony’s presence.
It was as he crested the last little hill to the farm that he saw the group of ponies outside of the house. It was a small group, ones that he had seen before as they were friends of his parents. They had been house guests more than once, and he often said “hi” to them himself. Yet it wasn’t them that had Big Mac quaking in fear; it was Granny Smith on the steps of the house, her hooves covering her face.
Something was more than wrong ... something was more than wrong! Big Mac didn’t think as he ran as fast as he could to Granny. Even she heard the thundering of his hooves as he approached, her head perking up slightly before she rose from her seated position and moved forward to embrace Big Mac.
“Granny!? What happened?” Big Mac asked, still confused by the crowd and why Granny was crying.
“Ah’m so sorry, Big Mac,” she whispered as she held him and stroked his mane. He didn’t understand at all, what had she to be sorry for? Then that’s when the thought struck him. A sickening thought.
“Where’s Ma and Pa?” he asked, his voice shaking a little, hardly managing to get his voice to come out as more than a squeak.
“Ah’m so sorry,” she replied in a whisper, all but confirming the worst fear imaginable for Big Mac. His eyes were wide in shock, the sheer weight of the situation falling squarely on him, and yet not a single tear was shed then. His eyes were dry and seemingly empty.
“Big Mac? What’s goin’ on?” Applejack asked from behind him, her voice panting in an attempt to catch her breath from trying to keep up with her brother. Without hesitation, Big Mac squirmed out of Granny’s hug, to turn around and look at Applejack. He wanted to be blunt and push out all of his anger and sorrow towards his sister, but he couldn’t. Why would he? She had done nothing …
A new part of Big Mac came alive right then and there; the part that Big Mac never wanted to have to use. It was the part of him that knew that he was the stallion of the family and that meant he had to take care of his sisters now. His Ma had always said that one day it might happen, and that he needed to be strong for the rest of them.
Today was that day, and the time to be strong was then.
“Mom … Mom and Dad needed to go away for awhile,” he said with a small sniffle, taking up the mantle of telling his naive younger sister as best as he could. “They still love us, but something … something came up.”
Applejack wasn’t sure of his response at first, looking nervous and all the while glancing at the random ponies that had gathered around. Eventually Applejack replied, “Will they be back?”
“Yes,” Big Mac managed to choke out, lying through his teeth, but what else could he do? How does one explain to their younger sibling that their parents were dead and never returning? “How about you head inside and check on Applebloom?”
Applejack paused to think about it for a moment before nodding her head slowly and heading into the house. Big Mac watched her go, much like the rest of the crowd that were silent the entire time. Then he ran.
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
And only when his legs couldn’t carry him anymore did he break down and start screaming out all of his rage. All of the emotion he hadn’t felt back at the farm came pouring out in the middle of the eastern field. Out there only the trees could hear, and they gave no soothing words for the hurting colt. Since the trees felt no remorse for Big Mac, he felt none in return when he violently smashed his hind legs into tree trunk after tree trunk.
Yet over the span of a few minutes he wore himself out to the point of collapsing softly on the ground, having on sadness left within in; the rage finally out of his system.
For what was easily hours, there were no sounds other than small sobs coming from a devastated Big Mac, the sun getting close to setting. No matter how hard he tried to stop, he couldn’t cease the flow of emotions and yet the worst part was he didn’t know what he was the saddest about!
Was it the fact he would miss Ma and all the things she had done for him? Would he miss Pa and how he taught him how to run the farm? Or was he sad because he rationalized that perhaps he could have been a better son?
No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking it was his fault, his mind running on repeat, replaying everything that happened in the past week. If only he had been better … if only … .
“Big Mac?” Granny’s voice came from behind him. He didn’t bother to look at her, his entire body feeling numb from everything. He didn’t know what to do anymore, but he did know that he couldn’t just stay out in the Apple Orchard forever. “Why don’tcha come back to the house, Ah’ll fix up some food.”
Big Mac didn’t respond at first, his thoughts slow and sluggish after all the emotional turmoil. Yet eventually he came to an understanding with himself. No matter how much he wanted this to be a dream, it would never turn out that way. The pain would hurt for longer than he could imagine, but at the same time he had to be strong for his little sisters … and for Granny. So he summoned the only words that came to mind … the only words that mattered to him at all.
“Eeyup.”
~~~~
“Big Mac?” Applebloom called out, her voice echoing in the barn. “Supper is ready!”
Big Mac sat at the edge of the barn’s main doors which were swung completely open despite the thunderstorm raging outside. Her eyes were focused on the occasional dances of lightning that crisscrossed the sky. A single ear flicked towards Applebloom’s direction, the only indication that he had heard her.
“Whatcha doin’ out here again?” Applebloom asked him as he kept his eyes fixated on the sky even with the roll of thunder that boomed loudly overhead. The sudden sound caused his little sister to quickly huddle up against his side. He hadn’t even realised she was that close until she had pressed herself against Big Mac’s flank.
“Watchin’,” he replied simply, only briefly looking down at his youngest sister. A small smile crept upon his face as he realised the entire situation that was going on once more. Like he had many years ago, Applebloom huddle against him in order to be kept safe.
“Why are you watchin’? It’s just rain and lightning!” Applebloom protested slightly, still shaken slightly by the thunder.
“It means somethin’ more,” he replied once more, his thoughts drifting back to the only time that he had actually joined his father in the barn to watch lightning … the only time as well as the last time.
Another flash of lightning shot across the darkened sky, lighting up the night with a brilliant bit of showponyship. Rainbow Dash had outdone herself this night, and Big Mac would have to thank her for doing it for him. It was a nice way to commemorate the last evening he spent with Pa.
He smiled as the thunder rolled once more, again causing Applebloom to shudder in minor fear. No doubt she knew it was nothing to be worried about, but just like him when he was younger, it didn’t stop her from being scarred. So Big Mac simply wrapped a foreleg around his younger sister and keeping her close.
“Big Mac?” Applejack’s voice came from the back of the barn, interrupting the quiet moment. Once again though, Big Mac simply swivelled an ear in Applejack’s direction, letting her know he heard her. “Supper’s on, so get a-”
“Shush, Applejack!” Granny said out of nowhere, which did cause Big Mac’s head to turn around and see his family behind him. He had expected Applejack, but Granny’s appearance had been a surprise. Yet aside from that little line to Applejack, Granny didn’t say anything as she came slowly up and sat down on the other side of Applebloom. Big Mac simply smiled as Granny looked down at her youngest grandfoal and smiled at Applebloom’s amazed face.
The thunderstorm was pretty amazing.
“Supper’s getting cold, ya’ll,” Applejack said in a mild huff of annoyance. Big Mac just shook his head slightly in response at first. Applejack had always been a little impatient.
“Come watch the lightning, sis,” Big Mac said before patting the spot on his right side.
He didn’t watch her for the response, instead once more facing outwards to see the rain fall and the lightning split the sky. Though he didn’t need to watch, for the smaller warmth that pressed up against him told him that Applejack had figured that supper could wait.
Sometimes there were moments in life that if one passed up, they would regret it for the rest of their lives … Big Mac was lucky enough to not have one of those moments.