Bush Whacker

“When I have foals one day I’ll make sure to treat them better than you!” The door to the young pegasus’ room slammed shut, echoing down the hallway. A small thud of something being propped up against the door from the inside followed.

Bush Whacker’s eyes opened slowly to the afternoon sun shining on him and his favorite log. Sadly it wasn’t just Celestia keeping him from a restful nap, his mind seemed to be pushing all the fights and arguments he had with his father to the forefront, all the ugly things he had said. He breathed out a long sigh trying to push the memories back farther but to no avail as another floated it way to the top.

“I know it hurts you to hear these things mom but while he’s my dad, he’s not my father.” Loyal Heart looked equal parts hurt and confused by her son’s statement as he continued between light sobs. “We always fight over nothing, we have nothing in common. He has destroyed numerous breaks from school, including a summer! He’s just not a father to me.”

The red stallion’s head fell back into the pillow between him and the log, his hooves rubbing his face. “Oh Princesses…I said some awful things didn’t I? He never was a bad dad… we’re just too similar and I never wanted to be like him. He was always trying to teach me things or building things for my convenience… Tartarus, I still have that workbench and writing desk…”

Bush Whacker’s attention was switched from his thoughts to his surroundings by a rhythmic sound all too familiar to the pegasus, his own hoofsteps on the forest floor. After a quick look around found him an old, knotted, dead standing oak, a small pile of moss covered rocks, and a fork in a creek. The only way this path leads is back towards town, back to Ponyville. Yet another memory surfaced, making the somewhat short walk even shorter. It felt like his subconscious mind was forcing him to remember everything he didn’t want to. Everything he had regretted and tried not to think about.

It was shortly after he had decided to drop from college in the Crystal Empire, too many failed classes and a pulled scholarship didn’t leave him many options. It was still early in the summer when Loyal Heart checked on Bush Whacker, he was still in their basement, somewhere between moping and sulking. “… It’s not the failing that’s the worst part, it’s that dad and everypony on his side expects me to graduate. Especially Grandpa… They’re going to constantly remind me of how I had ‘so much potential’ and just make it worse. Grandpa even told me that without that degree I’ll be flipping hayburgers. Dad has never been supportive of me, never been one to encourage me to do anything… I just want to go back to my friends but I can’t even do that… This doesn’t feel like home.”

The drab earth pony mare looked her son straight in the eyes with as best a caring look as she could give. “Your father didn’t graduate either, yeah he has a lot of credits but he didn’t graduate, neither have a couple of his brothers. He will absolutely support you, no matter what. And I will tell you right now, that stallion will be the first to chew your Grandpa out if he starts.”

Bush Whacker only half smiled. “I’d love to believe you but I can’t. He’s never been supportive of me. I don’t expect it.”

“He talked to me the next day… and he got Grandpa off my back…” Yet another deep breath left Bush Whacker as he found his steps had reached an intersection on a cobblestone road through Ponyville. His voice barely audible to anypony save himself. “Yeah… Guess I’m doing this, a bit overdue but better now than never.” There weren’t very many turns he had to make. Only one or two due to the layout. His steps took him farther from the Everfree and closer to the edge of town nearest Canterlot, until eventually he was able to see it. That deceptively large one floor house with a basement as big the main floor, built to entertain a large crowd. Just what Loyal Heart always wanted, the two stone manticores still stood out front, she never could get rid of them as much as she wanted to. One of the last things Bush Whacker had done with his father was help them move out of storage and into the new home, they had even paid him an hourly wage to do so and that was Dusty’s idea. It was those bits that really allowed him to have the necessary supplies to live in the Everfree. His hoofsteps stopped in front of the darkwood door, his mind still somewhat racing and he could feel a cold sweat on the back of his neck. After a few seconds Bush Whacker finally raised his hoof and knocked.

“I’ll be right there!” An older, very familiar voice called from inside. It sounded like Bush Whacker probably would in a few decades time. The door open after a few moments and the pegasus found himself at eyelevel with the aluminum gray stallion, his mane still had that distinct light yellow even in his age. “Oh, hello Bush Whacker. Didn’t expect you today; if you’re looking for your mother she’s out and about right now.”

“Actually dad… I was hoping to talk to you… can I come in?”