Interested in advertising on Derpibooru? Click here for information!
Champions of Equestria

Help fund the $15 daily operational cost of Derpibooru - support us financially!

Description

The softly-fading light was turning the fields of sweet apple acres pink and orange. The air carried a scent of the newly-bloomed Granny Smith apple blossoms. The swallows were trilling a gentle song. It was this time of day that Big Macintosh loved the most.
 
The stallion had finished the last of the plowing for the day. All the others would have to do tomorrow would be to properly sow the new field of pink lady apples. For now, Big Mac was plodding leisurely down the lane, heading for his favorite hill overlooking the farm. He did this every day for nearly fifty years now. He would climb up the hill, sit under his favorite tree Oswin, and watch Celestia pull the sun bellow the horizon. Then, by the time he finished and walked home, the girls would have dinner on the table and he’d be able to enjoy the rest of the evening with his family. It helped clear his mind and relax him after the days work.
 
Today had been all right, although he had gotten a stone in his horseshoe that delayed him for awhile. Plus, he had found some harness baskets abandoned in the east orchard. No doubt his youngest nieces and nephew had forgotten to tidy up after one of their games. So now, it fell to him to pick it all up. But Big Mac didn’t mind. They were light. Besides, tonight’s sunset promised to be a real beauty. They always were as the spring days lengthened into summer. He was expecting a great show.
 
Well, upon arriving to his hill, Big Mac certainly got a show, but of a much different caliber. His first reaction, on his son Biscovery on the hill with a big basket of unsorted apples beside him, was a feeling of exasperation. Discovery may be a little slow, but he knew better than to ditch his work and slack off. But then his ears caught what he was muttering to himself and Big Mac stopped to listen in.
 
“Oh my beautiful princess. Look at this fair moon out tonight. You remind me of the moon, ya know? Because it’s big an’ bright. But not chubby big, you’re definitely not fat or nothin’. I just mean your personality is so big an’ bright…Sorry bout sayin fat. I’m the one that’s kinda pudgy really. Kinda runs in my family, which reminds me… ah…oh fiddlesticks. where am I goin’ with this?”
 
“I was wonderin’ that myself, son.”
 
Discovery nearly jumped out of his skin. Even redder than normal, the young stallion sprung to his hooves and made for the big basket like he was on fire.
 
“Slow down son,” Big Mac said gently. “A rough hoof bruises apples.”
 
Discovery lowered his head. “Right, right, I know that. I’m sorry Pa. Really really sorry.” He began shakily putting the apples from the big basket into his own harness baskets.
 
Big Mac smiled. Taking pity on him, he sat down beside Discovery and began adding apples to his own harness baskets. The younger stallion gave his dad a small smile back.
 
Neither stallion was known for being chatty, so they packed up apples in silence for a few minutes. Discovery was still bruising every other apple due to nerves. Big Mac knew something was on his son’s mind, but he had never been very good at starting conversations.
 
“Pa?”
 
“Eeyup?”
 
“Could ya help me with sumithn?”
 
“‘Course.”
 
“Well, ya know my fillyfriend Primrose?”
 
“Eeyup.”
 
“Right. Well, ah been thinkin’ a lot an’ I wanna ask her to marry me-“
 
“Congratulations.”
 
“Thanks. But…well…I want it to be perfect. Prim is so classy an’ fancy an’ special. But when I try to talk all pretty to her, it comes out all sloppy like mud. Usually she laughs all pretty-like an’ says she don’t mind, but I don’t wanna be laughed at durin’ this. I’ve been laughed at a lot in my life an’ I don’t wanna mess this up. Pa, when words fail, what’ll I do?”
 
Discovery’s eyes shone with a glimmer of tears. Big Mac brought his hoof under his sons chin and tilted his head up to meet his eyes.
 
“You worry lots ‘bout what folks think?” He asked him softly.
 
“Jus’ her really.” Discovery sighed. “She’s perfect. An’ I still don’t really get why she picked a bumpkin like me.”
 
Big Mac couldn’t help the laugh that escaped his throat. Discovery cocked his head, confused. Big Mac clapped his son good naturedly on the back.
 
“How long have ya known me son?” He asked seriously.
 
Discovery thought for a second, then let out a low laugh. “Yer my pa, Pa, I’ve known you my whole life.”
 
“An’ have I been a real Chatty Cathy?” He asked.
 
Discovery shook his head. “You’re quiet.”
 
“An’ yet somehow son, your Pa has managed to win not one, but two beautiful mares. An’ to tell ya the truth, I have no idea how I did it either. I’m no Haykspeare.” With that, Big Mac put the last apple in his harness basket and stood up with a grunt. Discovery rose as well, now looking really confused.
 
“Son, I don’t claim to know everythin’. Hay, I know less than a lot of stallions. But there’s one thing I do know. It don’t matter how you say it or how deep you put your hoof in your mouth. What matters is her. If she really truly is the one and loves you as much as you love her, you could go to her in a pompadour wig and she’d still love ya.”
 
“Pom-pompadour?” Discovery cocked his head.
 
“Don’t ask.” Big Mac grinned. “The point is, son, if she is the one, when words fail, she’ll understand.”
 
Discovery smiled. “Ya really think so, Pa?”
 
“Eeyup.” Big Mac gave him a gentle nudge with his shoulder. “Come on, let’s get these apples to the barn.”
 
“Kay.” Discovery nodded. He plodded off down the hill, a slight spring in his step in his contentment. Big Mac watched his son go, a smile gracing his own face too. Before he followed, he glanced up to the sky. The sun was just disappearing below the tops of the orchard. He had missed most of it, but he didn’t really care. When it came to his values, Big Macintosh always put family first. And nothing in this wide world could change that.

Comments

Syntax quick reference: **bold** *italic* ||hide text|| `code` __underline__ ~~strike~~ ^sup^ %sub%

Detailed syntax guide