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// Side: Father and Son 
// Story: Dear Twilight Sparkle 
// by Penmore 
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	"We gather today to say goodbye to Charles Ross Apple, who was cut down before his time due to unfortunate circumstances. We knew him as hard working, loyal, kind, generous, and brave stallion. He was a father of three and a loving husband to Autumn Gold Apple. He took over the farm at a young age when he showed tremendous talent in business and helped shape what the Sweet Apple Acres is today. There was no pony in town that did not know him as anything less than a great friend. Ponyville has lost many great ponies in the time was founded, and Charles is no less as inspiring with his help towards developing the town alongside his best friend, Filthy Rich." The pony clad in a dark robe and white collar stepped down from the podium as Filthy Rich took the stage.

Everypony around A.J was crying and wearing the same dark clothing. She, herself, wore a black dress which made her extremely uncomfortable and fidgety. The only thing that kept her in place was Big Mac to her right as he held her hoof and squeezed each time she started to move. She didn't quite understand why everypony was crying. She didn't know why Mr. Filthy and that pony from before were talking about her father. She had less of a clue as to why Granny and her mom hadn't said anything all throughout the week about her dad.

"Big Mac?" she asked quietly and got his attention.

"Why are we here? Why is everypony talking about daddy and crying?

"Not now A.J, just sit still and pay attention."

"But why? I want to go home. I want to see daddy."

"A.J, not now. Keep quiet and pay attention to what is happening."

She frowned at the denial of returning home, she looked to her left and saw her mom and Granny Smith crying as time went on. Mr. Filthy was talking about her dad on the stage as well, and she could see that he was having a hard time to keep from crying. Why was everypony crying? Why was there a stage? What was the point of having a big picture of her dad on the stage and some box? Was it a party? If it was then, it wasn't a good party with everypony crying around her.

As Filthy Rich finished his eulogy and stood to the right, A.J noticed Granny Smith going up there this time. She sat up and paid attention as ignoring anything Granny said would result in punishment later on. She didn't want to go another day without dessert and especially since tonight was zap apple turnover night.

"Thank ya kindly Filthy." Granny said as she took her position behind the podium with help from Filthy Rich.

"Please Granny Smith, it's just Rich."

She nodded and turned to face the crowd; she looked out to see more than half of the town had turned up for her son. Their friend and one of the few ponies looked to for guidance other than the mayor. She was about to speak when she noticed her family, the family that Charles had left behind. The family that was her last connection to him, a sudden wave of emotion came over her. She tried to speak, but could do nothing except cry and wail. Filthy had to support her as she kept trying to compose herself, only to help lead her offstage when it was fruitless. She sat back down next to Autumn, and they both held onto each other crying.

It was then that A.J felt her hoof become lighter and saw Big Mac going up the stage. It caught everypony by surprise as he was the last pony they expected to have something to say. Though, with this being the type of event it was it only seemed right to let him do as he pleased.

Big Mac was big for his age and quickly took the spot Granny had previously walked away from a mess. He looked to Filthy and thanked him for everything he said. Big Mac had no speech ready; this was spur of the moment, and it looked as if he was blanking out on what to say.

"Before anything else, I want to thank everypony here on behalf of my mother, sisters, Granny, and myself, for your efforts, large and small, to be here today, and to mark the passing of my father. I am honored to be here to speak to all of you. Honored to be able to talk about my dad for the stallion he strove to be all his life."

"Each of you here had your relationship with my father, each with your set of memories and words to describe him. I don't know what kind of stallion he was to all of you individually. What I do know is the type of stallion he was in my eyes, the kind of father, and role model he was to me. He will never truly be gone as his will lives on inside each of us, and will continue to do so until the day all of us here have passed."

"Big Mac?" A.J called to him, only to receive a short glance as he continued.

"My father showed me how to do everything he did on the farm the first chance he got. He taught me how to plow, how to harvest, how to plant, and how to tend to every bit of the farm that might be in decline. He was a harsh teacher, I was a stubborn student, and he never once went easy on me for anything. It was those lessons that shaped who I am today; it was those punishments for spilling cider, slacking off, crushing apples, or leaving thing half done that kept me from giving in completely. My father was a hard stallion, but despite his lessons and the way he taught, he was my father."

"He showed up for all of my events at school; he cared for his family when they were ill or injured. He showed me that despite being such a hard stallion, family always came first. I remember once, not too long ago, I had tried to run away. I was sick of his lectures, tired of the work put on me, and tired of not being able to do what I wanted."

Silence had taken hold of the crowd; they had not expected him of all ponies to try and run from responsibility. From the looks Granny Smith and his mother had, it was the first time they had heard of this as well. A.J just kept staring at her brother, taking in everything he was saying.

"I was halfway towards Canterlot having taken the train and getting off at a town a couple of hours away. Just as I was boarding the next train, my father came up from out of nowhere and grabbed me kicking and screaming. He led me to the field outside the town, and that was when I got a good look at him. He was breathing heavily, his fur was caked in sweat and dirt, and his hat was missing. The same hat that he would tan my hide for messing with, the same one that was given to him by his father. He loved that thing more than anything else as it was the last gift given to him by Grandpa."

"My father strode up to me, and before I could even ask what he was doing, he started to wail on me. He kept doing so for a good hour, and I fought back. When we were done, and I was lying on the ground he picked me up and put me on his back, going back in the direction of the farm. It wasn't until we reached the outskirts of the farm when he let me down and looked at me."

"That was when my father said these words:"





"Mac, I know exactly how you're feeling. I ran away from my Pa too; the only difference is that I kept running. I ran and ran never looking back as he kept yelling. I kept running for years, wandering from place to place, and never truly knowing what it was I wanted to do with my life. It wasn't until I met your mother and she asked to meet my folks that I started to realize that, even after running for so long, I would never get away. So I came back, I came back here to the place I hated only to find my Ma, your granny, alone and the farm practically in shambles. It was when I met Ma again that I discovered pa had left years ago to search for me. He kept searching and searching year after year. Apparently, I was always gone a couple of days before he got close. Ma received word that he had died of a heart attack a year before my coming back. He died somewhere that wasn't home, somewhere out there searching for me. His jackass of a son who was too stubborn and ignorant of his feelings. All my life I felt like I wasn't good enough for him and in the end I was the only thing he thought about on his deathbed. That hat was the only thing he left me and while I would sooner give my forelegs than lose it. I would sooner die than lose you."

"Family will always come first Mac, and while I might not say it out loud, know that I love you. I'm proud of you and the type of stallion you're becoming; I have never wished for you gone and never want to lose you. If you feel the need to leave once then let me know before you do so, because if you don't, I'll just hunt you down again and beat some sense into you. I'll do what my Pa tried to do to me. Now let's go home, your Ma will probably have both our hides after she sees us like this, but don't worry, I'll say it was my fault."





Big Mac could be seen crying, and yet he stood firmly behind that podium. He stood tall and proud talking about his father. His voice never cracked and wavered, and while he was visibly crying, he spoke as if it was the single most important thing he would ever do in his life.

"It was at that point, that I realized I was much like my father. Seeking approval from the only father figure I had in my life only to never get it. But, unlike my father, I received it in the end. I got what had been searching for more than half his life only to be denied when grandpa died. I took it upon myself to always be there for my family and never waver when it concerns them. My father taught me many things, and he wore many masks. I will never forget him."

He left the stage thanking Filthy once more before stepping down. He sat back down next to A.J and held her hoof again. A.J kept starting at him until he grabbed her hoof, it was at this point she realized that he was shaking, he had been shaking this whole time, and she hadn't truly noticed it. Nopony had noticed it, as the shaking was so small that it could not be visible. That's when it hit her. This gathering was not a party; this was a gathering to say goodbye. It was to say goodbye to her dad, and from what Mac had said, it was a final goodbye. She broke down crying and didn't stop until she passed out in Autumn's hooves.