//------------------------------// // Prologue: Sweet Apple Acres // Story: The Perfect Pear // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// 13th February, 2014. The sun rose gently into the sky, illuminating the ground still covered with the soft white snow. The paths were covered in the soft stuff, and Sweet Apple Acres glimmered like a jewel in the firmament. At least there was no more ice, which was good for the streetcars. Ice seemed to be attracted to the overhead power wires like a magnet. It was a school day as well, Thursday to be precise. Apple Bloom rose from her bed, to hear beautiful music flowing through her door. “What’s that?” she asked, before observing the sound was coming from her parent’s bedroom. Slipping on a pair of...well, slippers, she headed down the corridor and stood outside, where the sound of a guitar playing could be distinctly heard. And not only that, but the voice of her father. His voice was a beautiful sound, ringing clearly in the air and creating a wonderful noise. “You fill up my senses, Like a night in a forest. Like the mountains in springtime, Like a walk in the rain! Like a storm in the desert, Like a sleepy blue ocean. You fill up my senses; Come fill me again!” He paused, more conviction in his words as he sang with strength and confidence. “Come, let me love you; Let me give my life to you! Let me drown in your laughter; Let me die in your arms! Let me lay down beside you; Let me always be with you. Come let me love you; Come love me again!” Then followed a short guitar solo, as ever played perfectly. Then again, as talented musicians, the Apples were almost guaranteed to play something perfectly. Then Bright launched into the final verse. “You fill up my senses, Like a night in a forest. Like the mountains in springtime, Like a walk in the rain! Like a storm in the desert, Like a sleepy blue ocean. You fill up my senses; Come fill me again!” After he had finished, Apple Bloom heard the voice of her mother. “Aww, yer such a sweetheart, ain’t ya?” “Anythin’ for the woman Ah love,” Bright replied, before an abrupt silence. Apple Bloom pushed the door open, to see her parents embracing. “Mornin’!” Both parents abruptly turned to see their youngest child looking at them. “Well, look who’s up early!” said Pear. “Did ya here that?” Bright asked. “Every note!” Bloom answered. “But Ah was wonderin’ ‘bout somethin’.” “What’s that?” Bright replied. “Ya sing that song to Ma every single year, one day before Valentine’s day. May Ah ask why?” Pear smiled. “It’s a bit long ta explain now.” “But this evenin’, we will tell ya everythin’, sparin’ no detail,” Bright added. “Now, Ah think it’s Mah turn to cook.” Another thing it is impossible for Apples to do wrong is cook. This truism was certainly maintained today, and the three Apple siblings went off to school with full stomachs and smiles on their faces. At lunch, Apple Bloom joined her friends at the table, and immediately began thinking. Thinking long and hard about all that she had seen so far. It certainly confused her, and she was so stuck in her own thoughts that she didn’t even notice her friends addressing her. “Is everything OK?” asked Diamond Tiara. “Yeah, you're not usually this quiet,” Scootaloo observed. “Is there something on your mind?” asked Cozy Glow. Apple Bloom sighed. “Yeah, there is. Fer all the years Ah’ve been alive, this very day-February 13th-has started with Pa singin’ a song to Ma.” “Which one?” Sweetie Belle asked. Apple Bloom sang a short extract from it. “Ooh! Ooh!” Silver Spoon interrupted. “I know that one!” “That’s Annie’s Song,” Scootaloo interjected. “I know, my mom taught it to me on guitar.” “So romantic,” said Sweetie Belle dreamily. “Especially if played by a certain Mash on a keyboard,” Diamond Tiara interjected. “Hey!” Sweetie Belle replied. “You can’t talk! Who’s that boy you go out with, Philton?” “Pharynx!” Diamond replied. “And no, he doesn't has a twin sister.” “Aren’t they the kids of the Police Superintendent, Chrysalis?” "Who?" Apple Bloom asked. “We’re off topic!” Silver Spoon interrupted. “Anyways, Ah want ta know why they do this...ritual. So, hopefully Ah’ll know by tonight.” “Then, you can tell us all about it!” Sweetie Belle added. Apple Bloom got up from her chair, and picked up her tray. “Well, Ah’d better be on my way,” she said, as she pushed the chair back in with her shoe. “See y’all later!” The Apples had returned home by that evening, and after supper and homework, the entire family gathered in the living room. Bright and Pear sat in the centre, with Granny Smith on the left and Grand Pear on the right. The three kids sat down on the floor, looking up at them. Pear looked at the clock. “Well, would ya know it!” she exclaimed. “It’s nearly me and Bright’s 20th.” “20th what?” Apple Bloom asked. “20th anniversary of our marriage,” Bright smiled. “Or the 8, 395th anniversary of when Ah first called her Buttercup.” Granny Smith groaned. “This is so soppy,” she deadpanned. “Well, Ah was there when in all happened,” Grand Pear observed. “And may Ah say it is one helluva story.” Apple Bloom piped up again. “Ya know, Ah’ve never heard the story of how you met.” Applejack nodded. “Yeah, it’s been a while since Ah last heard it. Please, do tell us again.” “Ah concur!” Big Mac added. The two parents looked at each other. “Well, OK,” Bright said. “We shall tell ya the entire story, from start to finish. But Ah do warn ya, it is a very long story, which rivals Lord of the Rings in length.” “Ah read that in two months,” Grand Pear commented, unhelpfully. “Well,” Applejack nodded, “We have got 3 hours until bedtime, and school’s off tomorra so we can do Valentine’s Day stuff.” “Ah’d safely say we can spare the time,” Mac added. “OK then.” Bright Mac stood up, and cleared his throat. “It all began 23 years ago or thereabouts, in a town far away from here...”