//------------------------------// // Chapter 18 // Story: A Mirrored Reunion // by currentlemon //------------------------------// In all her years of being a farmer and business woman, Pear has heard her fair share of outrageous ideas. Some were odd. Some were stupid. Some were so stupid she’d never want to hear them again ever. But this proposal she just heard was bizarre. And what’s worse is that this proposal come from her own daughter. Pear leaned away from Applejack, giving herself some room between the two of them. She remained quiet. The proposal her daughter had given was so outlandish that it left Pear speechless. “Ma? Are you okay?” asked Applejack. “Ya got all quiet all of a sudden. Something wrong?” Pear shook her head. “Oh, um, sorry ‘bout that, AJ, I…. uh, couldn’t make out what you said earlier. Can you, um, repeat that please?” “Ah asked if you can do us a big favor and stay here in Ponyville,” Applejack answered. “Ya know, stay here in the Apple farm with me ‘an the rest of the family.” Pear’s jaw dropped. “Wait, what?! Applejack, you cannot be serious?! Why on earth would you ask me something like that!” “Because Ah want ya back, Ma! Ah want ya back in my life.” Applejack cried out. Her response was straight forward. “And it’s not jus’ me. Big Mac, Granny, Grand Pear, and Apple Bloom. They miss you. We all do!” Pear remained quiet and listened to Applejack’s pleas. Her daughter’s offer was still ludicrous to her, but she was willing to hear her out. “Please, Ma. Come back to us,” pleaded Applejack. “With you back in the farm, Apple Bloom can finally spend time with ya. Or maybe start makin’ those sweet Apple pies with Granny again!” “Applejack, I….” “Then Big Mac will introduce ya ta Sugar Belle when she’s in town. She’s a great pony, Ma. You’ll really like her once ya get ta know her! And after that, you can talk ta Grand Pear again ‘an finally make amends. Ah know ya ain’t ready ta talk yet, but I swear he ain’t a bad pony! All ya need ta do is jus’ give him a chance!” Applejack lowered her hat and looked at Pear Butter, waiting anxiously for an answer. Pear responded with a look of her own, and she did not like what she saw. Years of doing deals with business people allowed Pear to read facial expressions. Applejack was serious. The mare desperately wanted her to stay here in Ponyville. Pear sighed. Applejack. Just what on earth are you thinking, sugarcube? “So, what’ll it be? Are ya gonna stay here in Ponyville with me at the farm?” asked Applejack. “Please, Ma, answer!” “No,” Pear answered bluntly. “No, Applejack, I will not.” Applejack gasped. “What?! Why not?” “Because you don’t need me anymore,” Pear answered again. “You are perfectly fine of takin’ care of yourself.” “But Ah do need ya! Our family needs ya!” Applejack collapsed to the ground. She looked at Pear again, pleading for her to reconsider. “Come on, Ma, don’t say things like that! Please stay! Ah don’t want ta be alone again.” Pear shook her head. “I’m sorry, sugarcube, but my answer is no. And don’t you dare say that you are alone. Didn’t I tell you earlier that you have your siblings and grandparents lookin’ out for ya? Or did that jus’ cross yer mind?” “But…. Ah.” Applejack stuttered, completely at a loss for words. She looked at her mother again, believing her answer to be some sort of joke. To her dismay, Pear returned a stern look. Her answer was honest and straightforward. Nothing is going to change it. Upon realizing this, Applejack broke down and cried. She buried her head on the ground and bawled her eyes out. Pear sighed as she watched her daughter grieve. She didn’t like this. Seeing her children cry always made her feel bad. Usually when this happens, her instincts would kick in and she would do anything in her power to cheer them up. Yet, she made no such move. She remained still, waiting patiently for Applejack to calm down. As the last drop of tears fell on Applejack’s face, Pear moved to her daughter again. “Ya done cryin’, sugarcube?” she asked, bluntly. “M…. Ma?” “Come on, Applejack, you are a better pony than this. Wipe your tears and look at me when I’m talkin’ to ya.” “O…. Okay.” At her mother’s behest, Applejack stood up and wiped the last of her tears away.  Though she didn’t give any eye contact to her mother, much to Pear’s annoyance. “There, that’s better.” Pear said as she brushed away all the dirt off her coat. “Now that yer calmed down, we can finally talk. So, listen up, AJ. And again, look at me in the eye when I’m talkin’ to ya.” Applejack nodded. She moved her head and faced her mother. A bit slow, but at least Pear was finally able to get a good look at her. “Good. Now that I fully have yer attention, I can finally say this to you out loud,” said Pear Butter. “Applejack, I cannot stay with you here in Equestria. Period. Now don’t cry on me again, sugarcube, you’ve done enough cryin’ today. But let me make myself clear one more time. I can’t stay with you here.” “But why?” asked Applejack. “Can’t ya at least reconsider? We have everything you need here, Ma! So, why can’t ya stay?” “Because this place isn’t my home,” Pear answered. “I’ll be frank, I love it here, sugarcube. This town is so nice. So peaceful. But I live in another world, AJ. I don’t belong here. Not to mention that I’m not a pony to begin with.” “But, what’s that got ta do with anything?” “Everything! Look, I love you AJ, but the reason why I can’t stay is because there’s another family waitin’ fer me back home! Pear closed her eyes as images of her family back in Canterlot City popped in her head. “Bright Mac, he is takin’ care of the entire farm ever since Granny retired. He needs my help more than ever. Then we have our son, who jus’ got out of school a few months back ‘an is tryin’ to make a name fer himself. I need to be there, so he won’t make a fool of himself. And my Applejack, the other you, she ‘an Apple Bloom are young. They haven’t fully blossomed yet. I need to watch over them so that they’ll be ready fer the rough times ahead.” “But what ‘bout us?” Applejack asked.  “Don’t we have a say in this? We need ya too.” “Please, that’s nonsense, Applejack. Ya don’t need me piggybackin’ you anymore.” Pear watched as Applejack gasped. Her head flinched back too. Seems like the answer she had given surprised the young mare. She sighed. “Look, I know my words may be harsh, but it’s the truth. Turn around, AJ. See all those plains ‘an mountains full of apple trees? This entire orchid was done by you!” Applejack blinked. “M-ma.” “Now, when it comes to the farm, I know you had some help from our family, but that don’t excuse yer other accomplishments. May I remind you that you are a national hero, AJ? Does a pony that saved this nation so many times really needs a mother to cuddle to?” Applejack sat still as she took in all her mother’s words. All of Pear’s complements and praises seemed to have calm her down. She’d finally stopped crying, and even a smile crept up on her face. “And let me be frank, sugarcube, even if I wanted to stay here with you, I’d be leavin’ behind my other family back home in Canterlot City,” Pear explained. “Do you really want me to do that? To abandon one family over another?” “N-no!” Applejack answered. “Ah never want ya ta do something like that!” “Then don’t force me to choose!” Pear stated. “Again, I love you, Applejack, but ya have ta realize I can’t stay here. There are things I have ta do back home. You ‘an yer siblings are perfectly fine of takin’ care of yourselves.” Applejack sighed. “Alright, Ah understand. Ah’m sorry, Ma, Ah never should’ve asked in the first place. But, Ah’m still a bit worried ‘bout Apple Bloom. She never spent any time with ya at all, not ta mention that she hardly even knows you.” “Don’t worry ‘bout her. You can leave Apple Bloom to me,” said Pear Butter. “And AJ, don’t think this will be the last time you see me. I may not stay here in Ponyville, but I promise I’ll come by ‘an visit.” “R-really?!” Applejack asked. Her smile grew a bit wider. “Of course! You may not need me anymore, but that don’t mean a mom can’t visit her children. Who knows, maybe I’ll bring your father along next time.” “Really?! Is that a promise?” Pear Butter and Applejack both jump. A loud childlike voice had suddenly come out of nowhere and took them by surprise. They looked around to see who it was, but couldn’t find anything. It wasn’t until Pear saw a familiar pink bow popping up on the hillside. “Apple Bloom? Is that you, sweetie?” Pear asked out loud. Her question caused Applejack’s eyes to widen and look in her mother’s direction. Pretty soon she too spotted the bow and immediately called to her sister. “Apple Bloom?! Now when in the hay did she—never mind. Come on out, little sis ‘an say hi to yer Ma!” The two mares waited patiently for the little filly to respond. Sure enough, Apple Bloom came out of hiding spot and climbed up the hill. “Hiya, sis,” said Apple Bloom, meekly. “Apple Bloom!  Why are ya here?” asked Applejack. “Ah thought you were over at Twilight’s castle.” “She finished explain’ everything a while back,” replied Apple Bloom while avoiding eye contact. “Soon as she got done, Ah ran all the way back home. You weren’t there, but Granny and Grand Pear Pear told me where y’all might be.” Grand Pear Pear? Pear thought herself with a raised brow. “So, does that mean the Princess is done explainin’ everything?” “Y-yeah. She did,” Apple Bloom whimpered. For a while, the little filly did not do anything. She just sat still, kept quiet, and avoided eye contact. Her silence caused Pear to worry. Immediately, she stood up and made her way toward Apple Bloom. Though she was a bit cautious when approaching the filly. After all, their previous introduction did not turn out so great. Perhaps a slow approach might be best. However, the moment she stood up, Apple Bloom ran and delve head first onto her mother, knocking Pear back to the ground. Tears flowed through the filly’s cheeks as Apple Bloom bawled out on Pear’s lap. “Mama!” Apple Bloom cried her heart out. She hugged her mother tight as she let her tears fall down her mother’s coat.   “Mama!” cried Apple Bloom. “Ah’m so sorry Ah didn’t recognize ya earlier! Ah didn’t know that you were the real deal. If Ah did then maybe…. then maybe….” “Shhh, it’s okay, dear. You don’t have ta worry ‘bout a thing,” Pear replied in attempt to soothe her little filly. “It’s perfectly understandable why ya hesitated like that. You ‘an yer siblings would’ve done the same thing.” “R…. really?” Apple Bloom asked. “Well, of course! After all, yer sister yelled at me and called me a fake. What you did was a lot more civil than her!” Pear explained, which earned a disgruntled pout from Applejack. “Oh, Applejack, I’m just joking. There’s no need ta be upset.” “Yeah, I know,” replied Applejack with a sigh. “So, AB, how long were ya at that hillside over there? Did ya hear everything Ma said?” Apple Bloom nodded. “So, ya know full well that Ma has ta leave, right? She can’t stay here fer long.” Apple Bloom nodded again. She then squeezed Pear tightly as she whimpered on her mother’s chest. “Ma, do ya really have ta leave?” she asked. “Yes, ‘Bloom, I do,” Pear answered. “I have more family waitin’ back home.” Apple Bloom frowned. She then buried her face on her mother’s coat, saying nothing. However, after a moment of silence, she looked back at Pear and gave her an answer neither she or Applejack were expecting. “Okay, Ah understand.” “Huh?!” Applejack’s jaw fell open as she yelled at the top of her lungs. She stared at Apple Bloom with eyes wide, completely surprised by her sister’s answer. “Applejack, don’t yell!” Pear lectured. “What? Oh, uh, right.” Applejack chuckled nervously as her cheeks flushed bright red. “Sorry ‘bout that. Ah didn’t mean ta shout. Ah was jus’ surprised by Apple Bloom’s answer.” “Well, if that’s the case, then your sister is much more mature than you, sugarcube.” “Hey!” Pear rolled her eyes. “Again, AJ, it’s only a joke. But puttin’ jokes aside, I’m surprised that you are okay with me leaving, Apple Bloom. Did the Princess convince you that? Or maybe Big Mac or my friends?” Apple Bloom sheepishly nodded. “Yeah they did. Twilight said that ya can’t stay fer long ‘an yer gonna have ta go back home soon. Ah didn’t like that so Ah yelled back at Princess, but she kept tellin’ me that there’s no other choice.” “I see. Well, what ‘bout Big Mac? Did he take everything well?” Pear asked. “Yeah, he did. And so, did Mrs. Cake, Cheerilee, and Burnt Oak.” “Burnt Oak was there too?” asked Applejack. “Yeah, we kinda ran into him while we were headin’ toward the castle. He ‘an everypony else agreed that you need ta go back.” Apple Bloom frowned. “Ma, Ah don’t want ya ta go. Ah want ya ta stay here with us. But…. Ah know ya can’t. Twilight said that ya need ta head back because you have another family ta take care of, right?” Pear nodded. “Yes, I do, Apple Bloom. “They’re waitin’ for me.” “So that means there’s another me over in that mirror world place?” asked Apple Bloom. “Yes, there is. Yer Pa’s over there waitin’ too,” Pear replied as her response earned a smile from both her daughters. “He’s probably worried ‘bout me. Been gone fer way too long. Applejack and Big Mac are probably panickin’ right now too.” “There’s an Applejack over there too?” Apple Bloom asked. “Yes, but ta be fair, your sister is much more mature than my Applejack,” Pear answered, earning a giggle from Apple Bloom and a prideful smug look from Applejack. “Tell ya what. Why don’t we all go back to the Princess ‘an I’ll tell you jus’ about everything Ah know ‘bout my world. We can have some fun along the way too!” “Okay!” said Apple Bloom, gleefully. “Twilight’s should be at our house along with everypony else. We planned on meetin’ up over there once she got done explainin’ everything.” “Then it’s settled. Apple Bloom, Applejack, let’s go back home ‘an meet up with everyone, alright.” “Um, alright then. But Ma, what ‘bout Granny ‘an Grand Pear?” asked Applejack. “They’re still over at the house right now. Don’t you wanna say goodbye to them too?” Pear gasped. Oh dear. I completely forgot about daddy being at the house. She closed her eyes and thought about the possibilities. What should I do when I meet him again? Should I finally make peace with him? But does it make a difference though? He’s not the same daddy I grew up with. “Ma, what’s wrong?” Pear flinched. The sound of Applejack’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Yer awfully quiet. Is everything okay?” her daughter asked. “Oh, uh…. yes, I’m fine, Applejack. I was jus’ thinkin’ that’s all,” Pear explained. Applejack raised a brow. “Are ya sure? Ya kinda kept quiet when I mentioned Grand Pear again. Are you gonna talk ta him or not?” Pear sighed as she made her way toward the hillside. “I will deal with your grandfather when we get there, Applejack. Don’t worry ‘bout me. I will try to talk ta him. I promise.” “What’re you two talkin’ ‘bout?” asked Apple Bloom. “Oh, it’s nothing dear,” Pear casually replied. “Tell you what, ‘Bloom. Why don’t you climb up on my back? I’ll carry you all the way back ta the house. How does that sound?” “Yay!” Apple Bloom ran up toward her mother and immediately jumped on her back. Though Pear did not expect her filly to outright jump on her, she let it slide when she saw Apple Bloom snuggled up on her backside. Aw, how adorable. “Alright, ‘Bloom, hang on tight. We’re gonna be goin’ down this hill really fast!” “Huh?” Before Apple Bloom could react, Pear dashed forward and jumped off the hillside. Her action caused both of her daughters to panic. Applejack called out to her while Apple Bloom held on tight and covered her eyes. To their relief, no accident came. Pear landed safely on the ground, but to their surprise, they noticed her quickly sliding down the hillside. She had adjusted her forelegs upward, using the back tip of her hooves to accomplish the feat. Dangerous, yes, but Pear wanted to entertain her little filly as much as she could. Realizing she wasn’t in any danger, Apple Bloom smiled and cheered as she and Pear made their way down. When the two of them reached the bottom, she merrily squeezed her mother fondly. “Well, dear, was that fun?” Pear asked Apple Bloom, to which her filly nodded rigorously. “Good. Cause the rest of yer day is gonna be jus’ like that, Bloomy.” “Yay!” cheered Apple Bloom. “Oh, thank Celestia you two are safe!” Both Pear and Apple Bloom looked behind and saw Applejack making her way down the hillside. “Jeez, Ma! Don’t do something crazy like that again! You ‘an Apple Bloom could’ve gotten hurt!” “Oh, Applejack, you don’t have ta worry ‘bout me,” Pear casually replied. “I was jus’ havin’ some fun with ‘Bloom here, that’s all. Don’t see any harm takin’ any risks if ya know what yer doin.” “Uh, if ya say so. Anyway, let’s get back ta the house. Pretty sure everypony there is waitin’ fer us.” “Of course.” Pear looked back Apple Bloom one more time. The filly had buried her face on Pear’s coat and was happily cuddling her mother’s back. She smiled. With her filly saddled comfortably, she and Applejack trotted back into the Apple farm and headed home.