//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Afternoon at the Spa with Pear Butter // by Mirror Star //------------------------------// At the train station, Sugar Belle is getting off and heading to Sweet Apple Acres with a surprise present for her boyfriend, Big Macintosh; it's her special apple custard cake that she's been working on for some time now and she wanted him to be the first pony to taste it. However, when she knocked on the door, it wasn't Big Mac who answered; it was his mother, Pear Butter. Pear Butter said "Sugar Belle, what a surprise." Sugar Belle asked "Pear Butter. Good to see you. Is Big Mac here?" Pear Butter said "Sorry dear, he's not. Grand Pear had an emergency in Vanhoover and he and Bright Mac had to go with him to fix it; he won't be back until later tonight." Sugar Belle said with a disappointed tone "Oh, I see. I brought him a special apple turnover cake that I wanted him to be the first to try." Pear Butter said "Well, it will be a while before he shows up so why don't you put in the fridge while you wait for him." Sugar Belle said while putting the package in the fridge "Ok, thanks. So, are you by yourself?" Pear Butter said "I am. Applejack and Apple Bloom had to leave to solve a friendship problem for the Princess and Granny Smith is playing cards with some friends of hers. I plan on meeting Chiffon later for a spa day; you can join us if you like." Sugar Belle said "That's good. I've been meaning to get my hoofs done sooner or later. So, what have you been doing now?" Pear Butter said showing her a photo book "Looking at the "Welcome Back Bright Mac and Pear Butter(Buttercup)" party photos that were taken a month ago. That party was really fun and exciting; Pinkie Pie sure knows how to throw a party." Sugar Belle asked "She sure does. I've been meaning to ask, but how have you and Bright Macintosh been feeling since being back?" Pear Butter said ""A lot has changed since being imprisoned by Grogar for our potential danger in becoming elements that could prevent him from plunging Equestria into eternal darkness. but we've managed to adjust as best we can despite missing so much. Luckily, we have all these photos to help us." Later, the two of them stopped by Sugarcube Corner to pick up Mrs. Cake for the spa day. Unfortunately, they were told that Mr. Cake has the flu and she and Pinkie Pie are taking care of him. Pear Butter and Sugar Belle offered to help but she told them that they have everything under control and don't want this to spread to anypony else; she insisted that Pear Butter and Sugar Belle go to the spa without her since the special that she booked expires today and she didn't want it to go to waste. Sugar Belle asked about the Cake Twins and Mrs. Cake explained that they are having a play date with Flurry Heart and Twilight's castle for the time being. Since Mrs. Cake insisted that they go without her, Pear Butter and Sugar Belle went to the spa. When they arrived and got into some white robes, the first thing that they did was head to the deluxe steam room; unlike other steam rooms, this one blows in special herbs that are good for the mane and skin. Sugar Belle said "The steam feels great; no wonder it's called the deluxe steam room." Pear Butter said "Chiffon said that she only experience this once and told me that it's worth the money and the coupon for it too." Sugar Belle said "She's right." Pear Butter asked "So Sugar Belle, how are things going between you and my son? He's told me that things are going great between the two of you, despite a few misunderstandings; but I want to hear it from you." Sugar Belle said "It's like Big Mac said, things are going great between us. He's made me the happiest mare in Equestria; as long as he doesn't try anymore fairy tale romantic stuff on me again." Pear Butter said "Believe it or not, when Bright Macintosh and I started dating, he tried a few fairy tale stuff with me too; he was trying to hard to impress me despite the fact that I already liked him. I eventually got him to stop." Sugar Belle asked "Why "eventually?" Pear Butter said "Because it was funny the first few times." Sugar Belle said "I take it you also didn't have any other stallions trying to flirt with you." Pear Butter said "There were a few, but I turned them down immediately for Bright Mac; I already knew he was the stallion for me." After leaving the steam room, the two of them are receiving massages while getting their hooves done, their manes washed, and receiving mud mask too. Sugar Belle asked "So, how have things been for you and Bright Macintosh now that you two are back in terms of seeing family?" Pear Butter said "It's been very exhausting. Bright Mac and I have visited every member of the apple family and the pear family. It's a lot to take in given that we've missed so much after being captured by Grogar. But with everypony's help, we've managed to get condense everything that we've missed along with reconnecting with the family at the same time; mainly, my side of the family." Sugar Belle said "Grand Pear told me that the Pear Family broke apart after what happened during your wedding; some supported your decision to marry Bright Mac while others agreed with his actions to disown you. It wasn't until your "death" that many that supported Grand Pear turned against him and furthered the rift between the Pear Family." Pear Butter said "Yeah. However, I've heard that Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Apple Bloom were helping Grand Pear get the Pear Family back together long before we came back so the rift was already being healed; that and the animosity between the Apples and the Pears is fading away. We're even planning on an Apple-Pear Family Reunion in a few weeks." Sugar Belle said "Sounds like that's going to be fun." Pear Butter said "I'm sure it will. But you know, you'll be there to see it yourself; I'm sure Big Macintosh would want you to attend." Sugar Belle said "But isn't that for Apple and Pear family members only?" Pear Butter said "Nope. Honorary family members can attend; especially future family members." Sugar Belle blushed heavily thanks to Pear Butter's words since those words, in her mind, translated into approval of being Big Mac's wife in the future. This caused her to release a magic beam from her horn and into the roof. Afterwards, the two left the spa and headed back to Sweet Apple Acres. Pear Butter said "Sorry I made you blush like that." Sugar Belle said "It's ok. I was just caught off guard by what you said. You said a similar thing to me that my mom said to me about Big Mac and I getting married." Pear Butter said "Really?" Sugar Belle said "Really; although your way of saying it was more tamed than hers. She wants a son-in-law and grandfoals real badly." Pear Butter said "Well, I only meant that to tease you, Sugarcube. But you should know that you and Big Macintosh have my and Bright Macintosh's blessing. However, you two have plenty of time before you two decide on such things." Sugar Belle said "Thank you. " As soon as they arrive at Sweet Apple Acres, the notice that Bright Macintosh, Big Mac, and Grand Pear are back early. Sugar Belle runs to Big Mac while Pear Butter watches on. She says to herself: "One day."