//------------------------------// // The Promise of a Son // Story: Dear Twilight Sparkle // by Penmore //------------------------------// Twilight took a moment to take everything she had just heard into consideration. She replayed the events of the past few days in her head and realized how insensitive she had been to Applejack. She had tried to pry into a subject so sensitive that, even as the Element of Honesty, Applejack had trouble being honest. Not to mention letting Applebloom hear the fact that she had a chance to know her father only to be denied due to some random foal. She understood why Big Mac acted the way he did towards her, despite saving all of Equestria. "I need to see her… I have to find her!" Twilight sprang from her seat and rushed out the kitchen door only to collide with Big Mac as he blocked the way once again. Omphh… Mac! Sorry I..." "Stop, just stop Twilight. You've done enough, I think it's time for you to leave." "But I can fix this! If you'll just let me talk to Applejack you'll see that I can fix it." "Twilight…" "I know what happened now, I just need to talk to her about what she felt and why she's avoiding the issue. Given time, I can have her back to normal no problem." That was when Twilight found herself on the ground, her face in pain from something that came so suddenly. Big Mac had just smacked her for all he was worth, him, the gentle giant. "Normal? Normal?! What do you know about normal?! You're part of the reason she's been feeling so crappy in the first place. Now you come here and try to "fix" her? She's not some project or assignment gone wrong! She and Applebloom are my sisters! I'll be damned if I let some crazy, self-centered pony like you get anywhere near them again!" He grabbed Twilight his mouth and dragged her to the entrance of the farm. She didn't resist; still in shock from the sudden violent action. Once they arrived Big Mac threw her out onto the ground. She grunted from the slight impact and started to cry, wondering how it had come to this. But, she knew how it was her inquisitive nature that lead her to this point. Her need to "fix" what she thought broken or off. Her want to solve a problem, especially one about the subject she had been tasked to learn by the Princess herself. "If I see you here again I'll call the cops. So leave, go back to your tree, and do my family a favor by staying away." Mac walked away leaving her as she picked herself up and continued to cry. He knew that A.J would probably have some words for him later on, but he didn't care. His family's well-being came first and foremost. "Mac.." "I'm here Ma." He grabbed hold of her hoof as he got close to where she lay. "Mac, my handsome little foal… No… My big strong stallion. I'm sorry for having to leave you so soon. I'm sorry I couldn't teach you more about the farm." "Don't Ma, you've done more than enough. You've taken care of all of us when Pa died, you're a wonder mother. Nothing will ever change that, so, please… please don't do this to us… to me…" He brought her hoof to his head and cried. It was the second time he had cried in his life since his father passed away, and it was just as painful. He felt Autumn stroke his mane and hug him as he continued to cry. They held each other until he stopped and regain his composure, each of them wiping away the tears left behind. "Mac, you're in charge of the farm now. I've left it so it'll be under Granny's name, but you'll inherit it and manage it. Take care of them Mac, take care of all of them. Be as strong as your father, but remember to be yourself as well. I've wanted to see you have a family of your own someday, I'm sorry that neither I nor your father will be able to see it. I'm so sorry…" "I'll take care of them Ma, no matter what happens. I'll take care of all them, even if they come to resent me. I'll protect them, I promise." "Thank you Mac, I know you will." She squeezed his hoof once more and kissed his forehead. "Get A.J for me." Big Mac stood up and wiped his face of any indication he'd cried. He walked to the door and was about through when he heard his mother one more time. "Mac, I love you. I'm sorry." He wanted to cry again, he wanted to yell and curse the world for being so unfair. But, in the end, he didn't do either. He just closed the door and headed to get A.J. Twilight cried all the way back to the treehouse, just outside she noticed the lights were on and saw Spike awake still cleaning. She did her best to compose herself and walked in, surprising Spike as she did. "Twilight? Why are you here so late?" "I uh… talked to A.J about finding some new ways to cultivate a field. I'll be doing some research for a while. Don't worry I'll go back tomorrow." She tried her best to smile and reassure Spike that nothing was wrong. Spike put away the mop and bucket he had out. He went to the kitchen and came out a few minutes later to find Twilight sitting on the couch. He put a plate of carrots and celery in front of her along with a cup of Jasmine tea. "What happened?" he asked as he sat next to her. "What do you mean? Nothing happened, I'm just trying to figure out where to start that research." "Twilight, I've known you all my life. Give me some credit, if I didn't know when you were depressed then what kind of assistant would I be? What kind of friend for that matter?" Twilight was surprised, only slightly, at Spike's words. It was true that he had helped before and she was always with him but was it really that obvious to him that something went wrong? Was she really that easy to read? No, it wasn't that, it was the fact that Spike was her friend and family that made it obvious to him. "Wait, what's that on your face? How did you get that bruise?!" "Oh, uhh nothing. I just tripped and fell on an apple tree root." "Twilight, stop trying to hide things from me. I may be a baby dragon, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid." She looked away with a slight blush from trying to hide it. "Big Mac smacked me…" "He what?!" "It's ok, I deserved it… I messed up. Oh, Spike! I messed up so bad! I've lost Applejack! I've betrayed her trust and now she hates me!" She grabbed the miniature dragon and hugged him as she cried. The anger that was welling inside him dissipated as he hugged her back and stroked her mane. It had been a long night for her as she cried herself to sleep. He let her lay on the couch and covered her with a blanket. He had a lot of questions racing through his mind as to how it had come to this. But, those could wait until the morning when Twilight was awake. For now, he let her sleep and stayed by her side holding her hoof.