The trip down Ponyville road felt serene for Pear Butter. It wasn’t like her trip down Ponyville Marketplace, where the streets were loaded with stalls and the buildings got in the way of the scenery. The road toward Sweet Apple Acres had none of that. Surrounding her were nothing but lush green hills and a sun that shone brightly in the horizon.
Pear was at ease. For her, it felt like she was at home. Not to mention she was accompanied by her Applejack, who was more than happy to lead the way.
Though her happiness was a bit of an understatement. Ever since they left the marketplace, Applejack had been merrily skipping up and down the road. It was if she were a young girl prancing about a new toy she’d gotten.
“Applejack, would you please slow down,” Pear said to her daughter. “There’s no need to rush. It’s not like we’re in a hurry or anything.”
“But Ma, there’s so much Ah have ta show ya,” replied Applejack. “Sweet Apple Acres is a really big farm now. The place is pretty much half the size of Ponyville! Trust me, yer gonna be amazed at all the hard work we’ve done.”
“That may be so, AJ, but the farm ain’t goin’ anywhere. Let’s jus’ calm down and have a nice relaxing walk, alright. Also, could you please stop bouncing all over the place. Yer acting like a child!”
Applejack’s eyes widened. Her cheeks flushed red as she pulled down her stetson down in embarrassment.
“Oh, uh, sorry ‘bout that. Guess Ah got a little too carried away.”
“That would be an understatement, sugarcube,” said Pear Butter as she approached her daughter. “Skipping up and down the road, really? Yer a full-grown adult, Applejack. There’s no need to act like that.”
“Well excuse me if Ah’m a bit excited! Ah haven’t seen you in years, remember.” Applejack moved her head timidly away from her mother. “In fact, Ah didn’t think Ah’d ever see you again. You poppin’ up so suddenly at the marketplace caught me by surprise. Didn’t even know how to react when I first saw ya.”
“You yelled at me and accused me of something I’m not,” Pear bluntly replied. “That jus’ happened a few minutes ago. You do remember that, don’t you?”
Applejack’s eyes widened, then gave an awkward smile in return.
“Heh, whoops. Sorry ‘bout that.”
Pear Butter sighed. “It’s alright dear, I forgive you. But now that I have your attention, I’d like to take this time to get to know you.”
“Huh? Get to know me? What do ya mean by that?” asked Applejack.
“What I mean is that…. well.” Pear stuttered, a bit hesitant to answer her daughter’s question. “Look, AJ, I don’t mean any offense. But right now, you’re nothing but a stranger to me. Yes, you are my daughter, but you are not the same one that I raised. Just like I’m not the same mother that you grew up with.”
“Um, okay. What does that have to do with anything?” asked Applejack. “Yer still my Ma and Ah’m still yer daughter. Ain’t that enough?”
“Maybe, but that’s not the point, sugarcube. Even if you share the same qualities, I’d still like to know more about you. Who knows, maybe there might be some differences between you two. But we’ll never know if we don’t talk.”
Pear Butter watched as Applejack froze stiff, then rubbed her neck with her hoof.
“Gosh, Ah never thought about it like that. Ah jus’ assumed that you were the same Ma that Ah always knew.” She tipped her hat up and looked at her mother. “So, what do ya wanna know about me?”
“Well for starters, I’d like to know how you’ve been doing?” replied Pear Butter. “Have you been taking good care of yourself?”
“What are ya talkin’ ‘bout, Ma? Course Ah’ve been takin’ care of myself,” said Applejack boldly. “Why jus’ this morning Ah hauled in barrels full of apples. All of them were rip n’ ready to be sold at the store. In fact, we made a bunch of bits before we ran into you, Apple Bloom, and Ms. Cheerilee today.”
“Well, looks like my little girl has become quite the hardworking adult,” Pear said, chuckling. “I take you had plenty of help with your Big Mac and Apple Bloom?”
Applejack nodded. “Yeah, they’ve helped me a lot over these past few years. Been needing it, too. Ever since Ah became a national hero, things have been mighty hectic. There were plenty times when I couldn’t take care of the farm because it.”
Pear blinked. “Wait a second, Applejack. You are a national hero?”
“Yup, sure am. Ah’m the bearer of the Element of Honesty. Which makes sense because Ah’m the most honest pony there is in Equestria.”
Pear stared at Applejack with an eyebrow raised. Okay, so my daughter is considered a hero in these parts. Wasn’t expectin’ that.
“Maybe Ah should start from the beginnin’, Ma. Fill ya in on all the details while we make our way toward Sweet Apple Acres,” proposed Applejack. “That way, we can have our talk and you can get ta know me n’ everyone else better.”
Pear Butter smiled. “That would be lovely, sugarcube.”
As the two ponies trotted down the road, Applejack told her mother about Equestria and all the adventures she had with her friends. Pear was surprised by everything her daughter had been through. From the cleansing of Nightmare Moon, to Princess Twilight’s ascension, to her capture by the changelings.
“Gosh, AJ, you’ve really been through a lot. I’m surprised that you’ve managed to go through all that and still have time to take care of the farm. Even more so than Celestia and Luna being magical princess ponies.”
“They’re not princesses from where yer from?” asked Applejack.
“No. They’re just a principal and a vice principal at a local high school. The only sense of authority they have is that every student must heed by their rules. Though managing a school full of teenagers may prove just as difficult.”
Applejack chuckled. “Ah hear that. What ‘bout you, Ma? How’s life goin’ on over there? And how’d ya make it ta Equestria?”
Pear Butter smiled. In return, she told Applejack her story. From her childhood friendship with Mrs. Cake and Cheerilee, to the Apple and Pear family feud, to her eventual marriage of Bright Mac, and how she got to Ponyville in the first place.
“Wow, I can’t believe it. Everything’s almost like the same for my Ma n’ Pa,” said Applejack. “Ah’m kinda surprised that you knew Cheerilee when you were little. Over here she grew up with me.”
“Yes, she did mention that. She admitted that she often came over to the barn to play with you.” Pear smirked as she thought back to her conversation with Cheerilee. “And her childhood crush with Big Mac.”
Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, well, Ah think she’s moved on from that crush a long time ago. Besides, it’s not like she can get him anytime soon. Big Mac’s got marefriend now.
“Wait, marefriend?”
“Yeah. Couple months ago, he hooked up with a unicorn mare named Sugar Belle,” continued Applejack. “The mare doesn’t live here, but Big Mac makes trips to her town occasionally when he’s free. Same with Sugar Belle too.”
Pear Butter froze. Her eyes twitched at the mere thought of her son dating a girl.
“Uh, Ma? Are you okay?” asked a concerned Applejack.
Pear Butter flinched, snapping herself out of her stupor.
“Oh, yes, I’m fine! Sorry ‘bout that, sugarcube. It’s just that…. when you said that Big Mac is dating, I kinda froze.”
“Yeah, Ah should’ve guessed you’d react that way. Being that it’s kind of a delicate topic n’ all,” replied Applejack. “Still, I’d like you to meet Sugar Belle. We’ve met before and she is a good pony. Thing is, she’s not in town right now.”
“Oh, that’s fine Applejack. I can jus’ meet her at another time,” said Pear Butter. And when I do, I’ll see if she really deserves my son.
“So, um, are there any other questions you wanna ask, Ma? Like how me n’ Apple Bloom are doin’ or how’s Granny feelin’?”
Pear’s ears perked.
“Oh, yes, ‘bout that. You see, I’ve been meaning to ask you this for some time now. I know that you ‘an your siblings took care of each other well, but there’s something I gotta ask.”
Before Pear could ask her question, Applejack interrupted her. “Ma, Ah don’t mean to be rude, but that question is gonna have ta wait. Look! We’ve made it to the farm.”
“What?”
Pear Butter shifted her head in Applejack’s direction. She gasped. Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth in shock. In front of her laid Sweet Apple Acres in all its beauty. Apple trees stretched for miles and the lush green hills gave the farm a great scenery.
It’s…. beautiful. Why, it looks jus’ exactly like the Sweet Apple Acres back home, but I think it may be bigger! There’s so much land here. Nothing but apple trees green hills as far as the eye could see!
“Ya like what yer seein’, Ma?” asked Applejack. “This is all the hard work we’ve done. Me, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom too. We worked our flanks off to get Sweet Apple Acres the way it is now, and we’re proud of it.”
“Yes, I can see why.” Pear Butter smiled. She trotted up to Applejack and gave her a hug. “You’re amazing, Sugarcube. Not only did you learn how to take care of yourself, but you managed to raise Sweet Apple Acres to its peak! You have no idea how proud I am of you right now.”
Applejack blushed. “Aw shucks, it’s nothin’ Ma. Ah did the best Ah could raising the farm the way it is now. Had a lot of help from Big Mac n’ Apple Bloom. Granny helped out a lot too despite her age.”
“I see. That reminds me, Applejack, how is Granny right now? Is she movin’ about okay?”
“Granny’s doin’ jus’ fine,” replied Applejack. “In fact, she’s one of the ponies that I wanted you to meet today.”
“Really?!” A smile crept up on Pear’s face. “That’s great! I was hopin’ I’d meet her sooner or later. How’s that big old lady doin’?
Applejack tilted her head. “Big? Who Granny? She ain’t big at all, Ma. She’s skinny! As skinny as a garden snake, but she’s doin’ fine.”
“Wait, are you serious? Granny’s thin?!” Pear asked in shock as an image of a skinny version of her mother-in-law popped in her head. “That’s…. strange. Back at home, Granny is big! Healthy, but big!”
“Granny is big? That’s…. a bit hard to believe,” replied Applejack. “Uh, maybe we can talk about her at another time. We’re kinda gettin’ off-topic here.”
“I agree. Besides, there’s no point in dragging this conversation if we’re gonna run into her sooner or later,” Pear said while nodding in agreement. “So, where we heading next, Applejack?”
“Oh, um, Ah was hopin’ that we’d drop by the house first. Been wantin’ ta pick up something before Ah show ya round the farm. If we’re lucky, then maybe we can run into Granny and Grand Pear while we’re there.”
“Wait, Grand Pear?” Pear Butter raised an eyebrow. “Applejack, who’re you talkin’ about?”
“I’ll explain later, Ma. Jus’ follow me!” Ignoring her mother’s question, Applejack turned tail and ran, going deeper into the farm.
“Applejack, wait! Oh, darn it! Can I at least have my question answered?!” Pear sighed. Having no choice, she followed her daughter into the farm. As she ran, a gush of wind blew on her face, carrying the scent of apples. She took a sniff and exhaled, sighing happily as the scent gushed down her nose.
Bein’ here on the farm; it feels like I’m at home. Which is…. strange. I wonder if it’s because I’m at the pony equivalent of Sweet Apple Acres?
She soon spotted Applejack at a distance, waving her hoof at her. Immediately, Pear planted her hooves onto the ground and stopped her momentum.
“We’re here, Ma!” said Applejack. She pointed her hoof her right side. “Look n’ see the proud home of the Apple family.”
Pear Butter looked to where her daughter was pointing and saw Apple Family house. Much to her surprise, the house looked normal. In fact, it looked exactly like any other farmhouse she’s been to.
She trotted closer, examining the building and the area around it. The house itself was painted in red, decorated in all things relating to apples. Surrounding its exterior were animal pens and other farm crops. She could also see a small carrot farm from a distance, most likely belonging to the Apple family.
Wow, this farm! It’s so big! Much bigger than our own farm back home. How in the world did the Apple family get so much land?
“So, what do ya think?” asked Applejack.
“Honey, I-I don’t know what to say,” replied Pear Butter. “This place, it’s amazing. The house, the farm land. Everything here is so…. wonderful. I’m surprised that our family owns so much!”
“Yup, Sweet Apple Acres is one of the biggest farms in all of Equestria,” Applejack boldly claimed. “Though if it weren’t for Princess Celestia, this farm wouldn’t be here at all.”
“What do you mean?”
“Princess Celestia gave this land to mah great-grandparents. Granny’s Ma n’ Pa,” Applejack explained. “If it weren’t fer the Princess, we wouldn’t have any of this. Heck, Ah don’t think Ponyville would’ve existed if it weren’t fer her. It was our family that turned this patch of land into an entirely new town.”
“The Princess gave the Apple family all this land?! And this entire town was built because of Granny n’ her parents?!” Pear stared at her daughter in disbelief. “Gosh, that’s…. incredible. I’d never dreamed of having farmland like this. Especially one this big.”
Applejack, confused by her mother’s words, tilted her head again.
“Wait, so ya don’t have a big farm like this back in the other world?”
Pear Butter shook her head. “No, we don’t. The Apples have a farm located at the edge of Canterlot City. It’s pretty big for one jus’ outside city limits. But it doesn’t compare to the farm you have here, Applejack. Not even close.”
“Well, ta be fair, all this land didn’t belong to us. We bought some of it when the Pear’s moved out of Ponyville.”
“Wait, what? The Pears were here too?!” Pear asked.
“Well, yeah. Of course, they were here, Ma,” replied Applejack. “How else were ya—Ah mean mah Ma supposed to meet up with Pa?”
“Oh, um, right. Yes, that does make sense,” said Pear Butter. Of course, they’d be here. How else would I be talking to Applejack or see my other kids? “Tell me, AJ, when did the Pears arrive in Ponyville? And when did they leave?”
Applejack shrugged. “Ah actually don’t know when the Pears arrived in town. All Ah know is that they arrived sometime after Ponyville began growin’ as a town. Granny may know something ‘bout that. But what Ah do know is that the Pears left after you—Ah mean the other you married Pa.”
“I see. So, the pony Pear family left after my counterpart married Bright Mac.” A frown formed on Pear Butter’s lips. “Tell me, sugarcube. Did the Pear family happen to move to another city?”
Applejack nodded. “Yeah, they moved ta Vanhoover.”
“Did you ever hear from any member of that family at all?” Pear asked.
Applejack shook her head. “No, not really. ‘Cept for Grand Pear. He came back to Ponyville jus’ a couple of months ago.”
“What?!” Pear Butter shouted in shock. Her voice was so loud that it caused Applejack to flinch. “Your grandfather is here?! In town?!”
“Yeah, he is,” Applejack said. “He came back to make it up ta Granny after all these years. And he wanted to meet with me, Apple Bloom, ‘an Big Mac. He…. he never came back ta see ya—I mean before mah Ma passed away.”
Applejack pulled her hat down. Her eyes drifted away from her mother, trying her best to hide her frown. Though Pear paid no attention to her. All she could think about was her father.
Daddy’s here? Right here at the farm? A tear dripped down her cheek. He…. he came back. He came back n’ apologized to Granny. He also came back to get to know the grandkids.
“Ma! You’re cryin’, what’s wrong?!”
“What?” Pear snapped out of thoughts and looked at Applejack. The mare clung to her like a child, desperate for some answers.
“Are you alright?” Applejack asked. “When Ah mentioned Grand Pear, you started cryin’ all a sudden.”
“I did? Oh, gosh. Sorry ‘bout that, Sugarcube. I didn’t mean to make you worry.” Pear said as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “You don’t have to worry ‘bout me. It’s jus’ that…. when you mentioned your grandfather bein’ here, it caught me off-guard.”
“Do ya want ta talk about it?” asked Applejack.
Pear shook her head. “No not right now. Maybe some other time, okay Applejack.” And I pray that I will not run into him today. No way am I ready to talk to him. Not yet!
“O…. okay then.”
Without saying a word, Applejack trotted toward her home with Pear Butter close behind her. They soon reached the front door. Applejack opened it. Immediately, a sound of a bell was heard as the door opened wide.
“Granny, I’m home!” shouted Applejack as she entered her home. “Is anyone here? Ah have a guest.”
As Applejack looked for her Granny, Pear stepped inside and examined the house. The Apple family home looked just like any other home. There were furnishings and tables, some apple themed decorations. Everything looked normal.
Wow. I’d never expect ponies to decorate a house like this. Feels like I’m home, already. Pear thought. All that’s missin’ is the rest of my kids givin’ me a warm welcome and Bright Mac givin’ me a kiss.Speakin’ of my husband, where is he? I haven’t seen him yet. I wonder if he’s working at the farm right now? Or maybe he’s with Granny?
“Hey, Ma! It looks like Granny ain’t home,” Applejack said as she came back to her mother. “Ah looked everywhere. She ain’t here.”
“Then she’s probably out somewhere in the farm,” deduced Pear Butter. “Should we go look for her, or should we stay here and wait?”
“Nah, Ah wanna show you ‘round the farm a little bit before we reunite with Twi’,” Applejack replied. “Besides, there’s something Ah gotta show ya first. Then after that, we’ll meet up with everypony else here.”
“If you say so. But what is it that you want to show me, Sugarcube? Is it something important?”
Applejack hesitated to answer, but then replied, “Y-yeah. It’s something important. Look, we’ll head out in a minute, but first, let me get something from my room. Jus’ sit tight somewhere n’ stay here. Ah’ll be back in a little bit.”
Pear nodded. “I understand. Go and do what you need to do, Applejack. I’ll wait here.”
As Applejack went off deeper into the house, Pear sat at a nearby couch. She breathed a sigh of relief as she relaxed herself on the comfy furniture.
Finally, a little break. I was hopin’ I’d get one after this hectic afternoon. Walkin’ back n’ forth around town and dealin’ with these ponies is tiring. But at least I’m here with Applejack. And that Princess pony will be here along with my friends and the rest of my kids. Though I’m a bit worried about meetin’ Daddy. I wonder, what should I say to him?
“Ah told ya, Ah ain’t doin’ no such thing!”
Pear’s ears perked up. “Huh?”
“Granny, please be reasonable. There’s no harm in doing it.”
“No! There’s ain’t no way Ah’m doin’ something like that. Especially with you!”
Pear Butter tilted her head. Is someone outside? Who’s there? Is it the Princess? She was about to make it for the front door; but before she could get up, it flung open. Soon, two ponies stepped inside the house. One was an elderly mare, while the other is an elderly stallion.
“Granny, I thought we agreed to put the past aside and move on. Didn’t we talk about this with the grandkids at our kid’s wedding grounds weeks ago?”
“Ah know that, but Ah still don’t like it. Sorry if Ah’m soundin’ a bit cranky Grand Pear, but Ah’m not ready ta work with ya jus’ yet!”
“It’s just one afternoon at the marketplace, Granny. Surely you don’t mind working together for just a few hours.”
“Ah said no and that’s final!”
The elderly mare rebuked the stallion’s offer while the other attempted to reason with her. They were so focused on each other that none of them had noticed Pear watching from afar. Though she didn’t know what they were arguing about, she did recognize them.
Oh my gosh. These ponies. It’s Granny Smith and…. daddy. Pear’s body began to quiver. I can’t believe he’s here! And he looks so thin. Granny too! Oh boy, Applejack wasn’t kiddin’ when she said Granny is like this! I’m surprised she ain’t fallin’ down or have any crutches to help her walk.
“Look, my offer still stands, Granny,” said Grand Pear. “If we’re finally going to put an end to this feud, we need to work together. We have to show both our families that we’re willing to let the past go.”
“Ah know that, but lettin’ the past go is hard, Pear!” Granny replied. “Our families been fightin’ each other fer years. Competin’ in all sorts of manner. Ta be honest, a part of me still wants to hold a grudge, but my old body is tellin’ me enough is enough.”
“Tell me about it. It took me years to let go of all my hate. For you, your son, and my daughter.” Grand Pear sighed. “I just wished I’d let go of my anger sooner. If I did then maybe I could’ve seen my Pear Butter before she passed away.”
Pear watched from a distance as her pony father began to whimper. There was a look regret in his eyes. She could see it. All these years of resent against the Apples had left him tired and frail. It almost looked like he could collapse at any moment.
Pear’s ears wilted. Seeing her father like this made her upset.
Daddy. You look so tired. All those years of hate, and you end up like this. She frowned. Seeing this pony version of him makes we wonder how my daddy’s doing? Is he like this too?
“It’s alright. Ah know how ya feel,” said Granny, comforting her old rival in her own way. “Trust me, Ah would’ve done the same thing ta mah son, but Ah loved too dearly. But that don’t mean Ah’d let go of mah grudge jus’ because he married a Pear. No sir ree! Took me a long get over it, includin’ the rest of the family! We eventually did, but that wasn’t until after Big Mac was born.”
“I see. To think Pear and your son went through all that.” Grand Pear bit his lip. “Tell me, do any of our grandkids know anything about that?”
“Anything about what?”
Granny, Grand Pear, and Pear Butter all jumped. A voice had seemingly come out of nowhere, interrupting the elderly pony’s conversation.
“Uh, Granny, Grand Pear, Ah’m over here.”
They looked to see Applejack standin’ not too far away from them. The mare had returned from her room, and was now wearing a bag over her neck.
“Uh, hiya Granny. Hiya Grand Pear. Ah’m back!” Applejack replied as she gave the two ponies an awkward smile. “Um, am Ah interruptin’?”
“What in tarnation! Applejack?! You were here the entire time?!” Granny shouted. “How long were ya here? And when did you get back from the marketplace?”
“Uh, jus’ a while ago,” replied Applejack. “Ah’ve been home fer a while now.”
“Well, don’t go creepin’ up on yer elders like that!” Granny scolded. “Fer lands sake, you scared the willikers outta me!”
“Same here,” said Grand Pear as he tried to catch his breath. “Please don’t do that again. I don’t think this old body of mine can take any surprises.”
“Uh, yeah, ‘bout that.” Applejack rubbed her neck, drifting her eyes away from her grandparents and toward her mother. “Didn’t y’all notice that there’s been another pony here in this room?”
“Huh? Sorry, Applejack, Ah couldn’t here ya. Here let me take this out.” Granny soon pulled out an ear trumpet out of seemingly nowhere, and placed the smaller end on her ear. “That’s better! Now, what was it that ya said again?”
“Ah said we have a guest!” said Applejack in a louder tone.
“What?! We have a guest?! Why didn’t ya say so, Applejack!” Granny shouted in surprise. Her response got so loud that it caused Applejack to flinch. “Well, don’t jus’ stand there. Introduce us to this guest of yers!”
Applejack sighed. “Fer one, Granny, our guest has been here the entire time. Ah brought her home with me. In fact, she’s sittin’ right over there on our couch right now.”
“Say what! Ya mean she’s been here in our livin’ room n’ we didn’t notice?!” Granny panicked. “Dang it, are my eyes deceiving me or something? Ah swear, Ah didn’t see anypony at all when Ah came in.”
“Huh. Guess it must be our old age,” Grand Pear replied, casually. “Why don’t you go ahead and introduce us to this guest of yours. We’ll be happy to meet this pony.”
“Uh, actually, Ah don’t think any introductions are needed,” said Applejack. “Both of ya already know this pony well.”
Both elderly ponies exchanged looks. Then, Grand Pear spoke.
“What do you mean by that?” he asked.
“Jus’ turn around n’ see fer yerself,” replied Applejack.
Grand Pear shrugged. “Well if you say so.”
He and Granny Smith did what Applejack instructed, and spun around to face their guest. As soon as they caught eye of Pear Butter though, they nearly collapsed to the floor in shock.
Granny was the first to recover, speaking up in a loud tone no less.
“What in tarnation?! Are mah eyes deceivin’ me?!” Granny rubbed her eyes intensely, then looked back at Pear. “Buttercup, is that really you?! How…. How’s this possible?”
Pear swallowed her throat. At first, she did not want to reply to her mother-in-law. If she did, then she would have to talk to her father as well. Something that she wasn’t prepared for. Nevertheless, Pear sighed and waved back.
“H-hi, Granny. It’s me. No, you’re not hallucinating or anything. What you’re seeing is real. It’s me, Buttercup.”
Granny stared wide eyed at Pear, then at Applejack, and then back to Pear again.
“Uh, yer gonna have ta excuse me. Ah really need to lie down.”
Pear Butter watched as her mother-in-law trotted over to a nearby couch. She laid her hoof on top and collapsed, seemingly fainting on the spot. She wasn’t moving.
Applejack rushed over to grandmother, trying to wake her up. Pear was about to get up and follow, but soon came in eye contact with Grand Pear. The two of them were deadlocked. Neither one of them looked away, nor talked to the other.
Then, after a moment of silence, Grand Pear finally spoke.
“Pear Butter? Is that you?” he asked as a tear ran down his cheek.
Pear opened her mouth to reply, but immediately stopped. Unable to get herself to answer her father’s question, she closed her eyes and looked away.
“Yes, she is,” Applejack said out loud, answering Grand Pear’s question for her mother. “Ah know it’s kinda hard to believe, but what yer seeing now ain’t a lie. That’s Momma standin’ over there!”
“Are you certain, Applejack?” Grand Pear asked as he looked at his granddaughter for answers. “Do you have any proof of this?”
“Ah don’t, but Ah swear by mah element, Ah’m tellin’ you the truth,” replied Applejack. “She’s the real deal! Go on n’ try to talk to a her!”
“I…. but.” Grand Pear flinched. He continuously shifted back and forth between Pear and Applejack, unsure of what to do.
Pear watched as her now anxious father struggled to maintain his composure. She had no doubt that her appearance caught him and Granny off-guard. And who wouldn’t be? After all, she is supposed to be dead.
She looked at her father and then back at the now collapsed mother-in-law. She sighed.Regaining her posture, Pear called out to Grand Pear.
“Daddy?”
Upon hearing her daughter’s voice, Grand Pear’s eyes went wide.
“P-Pear?”
Pear’s ears perked. She’d gotten her father’s attention. Now all she needed to do was talk.
Realizing this, Pear slowly trotted to him, doing her best to remain calm.
However, remaining calm it wasn’t easy. Pear felt her legs shaking with every step she took. Dizziness encumbered her head as questions popped up in her mind. What should she say to her father after all these years? Should she forgive him or not?
“P-Pear? Is that you?” Grand Pear asked again. His eyes watered as tears flowed down his cheeks. “Is that really you?”
“Y-yes, daddy, it’s me,” Pear hesitantly answered. “I know all this is a bit difficult to explain, but what you’re seein’ is real. I need to…. No, we need to—”
Pear froze. Despite her posture and willingness to talk, Pear could not say a word. Her lips quivered the moment she attempted to speak.
“I…. I”
Seeing her mother’s hesitation, Applejack spoke up.
“Ma? What the hay are ya doin’?” she asked. “Why are ya bein’ so quiet? Aren’t ya gonna talk ta Grand Pear?”
Pear gritted her teeth. If only it were so easy, Applejack!
Calming herself down, Pear looked directly at her father again and forced herself to talk.
“Dad…. I know that you have a lot of questions right now; but I assure you, what you’re seein’ is real. It’s me, Daddy. I’m…. I’m back.”
“I-I see.” Grand Pear’s eye lids began to water as he sobbed helplessly in front of his daughter. “That’s wonderful. Oh, Pear, it’s so good to see you again.”
“Y-Yeah, same here,” Pear replied while watching her father cry. As she gazed at him, her past echoed in her head. Memories of her wedding day flowed through her, as well as her father outright disowning her.
Pear bit her lip. “Daddy, I want to ask you something. You see, It’s about my wedding. Why did you—”
“Wait.”
Pear stopped talking as she heard her father’s voice. He was looking straight at her, and his hoof was raised. It seemed like he wanted to speak first.
“Pear Butter,” he said, softly. I just want to let you know that…. I’m sorry.”
Pear’s jaw dropped.
“I’m sorry that I left you on your wedding day. I’m sorry that I disowned you, and I’m sorry for not trying to make contact with you.” Grand Pear whimpered as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “I never should’ve left. I should’ve stayed here, with you and your husband. Supported you and our family. I let my anger and the feud get the better of me, Pear. And for that, I am so sorry.”
Pear gawked at her father. Her jaw was still hanging.
“Ma?”
Pear blinked. The sound of her daughter’s voice snapped her out daze.
“Ma, your crying again,” said Applejack.
Again, Pear blinked. She touched her cheek with her hoof and felt a touch of water flowing down her hoof. She’s crying, just like Applejack said. And not only that, her face was completely covered in tears.
Pear bit her lip. Immediately, she turned away from her father and ran straight for the front door, surprising both Applejack and Grand Pear.
“Ma!” Applejack shouted. “Where are ya goin’?”
Pear stopped dead in her tracks. She was hesitant to answer, but then replied, “Applejack, I’m sorry. Your grandfather, I…. I’m jus’ not ready!”
“Not ready for what?” asked Applejack. “Aren’t ya gonna at least try to talk ta Grand Pear?”
“No!” Pear shouted back. “No, I’m not! At least not yet. I’m sorry, AJ, but I need some time alone. Tend to your grandmother and meet me back outside. We’ll think of something to do once you’re done.”
“But Ma!” Applejack’s pleas were ignored as her mother opened the door and went outside. Pear Butter turned back one last time at her father, her panicking daughter, and a collapsed Granny before slamming the door shut.
Applejack stared wide eyed at the door. Her jaw agape. She looked at her grandparents, before finally pulling her hat down in shame.
“Oh, horseapples.”