//------------------------------// // Trial Six: The Feared Future // Story: Born In Light, Forged In Darkness // by Jest //------------------------------// Kanathara looked around, only now realizing that she had gotten so focused on Pear Butter’s story that she hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings. During that time, the sun had risen higher in the sky, illuminating the grove they now stood in a less stark manner. The shadows were shorter, the darkness was no longer quite as deep, and all around them the chaotic wood had given way to an entire orchard of apple trees. The lines of plants were slightly wonky however, and the entire area was a little overgrown, though it was obvious that it received at least some care. The apple trees surrounding them filled the area with a lush, potent scent which tickled Kanathara’s nose and made her stop to truly enjoy it. The smell of cinder, blood, and stone were common to the keeper of secrets, unlike apple trees and the lingering aroma of blooming flowers. Together the pair of demons stood between two great rows of nearly identical apple trees, though the far line of apple trees seemed younger. Glancing to her right, Kanathara found that a little ways away was perhaps one of the strangest trees she had ever seen. At first it appeared to be one enormous apple tree with a split trunk, but upon closer inspection, it was actually two trees whose trunks had wrapped around one another before splitting apart several feet up. In their boughs were both apples and pears, though the pears were far less numerous and seemed almost sickly, being much smaller than average. Immediately upon seeing the strange plant, Kanathara felt as though she had intruded on something intensely personal, like she had trod on someone’s grave. Shaking off that feeling, the keeper of secrets looked expectantly to Pear Butter who was staring sadly at the strange twisted trees. “Is there something special about this place?” Kanathara whispered. Pear Butter nodded. “This is where Bright Mac and I got married in secret. It used to be the dividing line between our families’ properties. The other side was all pear trees at one point. Though it appears that's changed a bit since last time I’ve seen it.” “The pear trees didn't last long after the accident,” a familiar voice claimed. “They just withered away, and there wasn't a thing we could do about it.” “You can come out now,” Kanathara stated, her gaze fixed on the strange tree. “We know where you are.” “I suppose my cover is blown, ain't no point in hidin’,” remarked Applejack who strode out from behind the twisted trunks. The pony was not wearing her armor for once, and in fact wore nothing save for her trademark hat, and a length of rope which hung about her neck. Her stride was confident, and she stopped after reaching a dozen feet away from the two demons, fixing the pair with an appraising look. Her posture was relaxed, but not completely so, the pony evidently ready if things suddenly went south and she had to defend herself. “How much do you know?” Pear Butter asked. “Everything,” Applejack retorted, prompting Pear Butter to wince and shrink down even smaller. “As does Big Macintosh. The only one who doesn't is Apple Bloom, and she doesn't need to know about any of that.” “I suppose Granny Smith told you then?” Pear Butter continued. Applejack nodded slowly. “She did, but only after Big Macintosh made her tell me.” “H-how are they?” Pear Butter inquired, her voice barely above a whisper. “Granny Smith is gonna be seventy-two this year, and though she ain't looking as good as she used to, she’s tough,” Applejack replied. The wrath demon sighed. “That's good, I’m glad she's doing well. And the others?” Applejack spat on the ground between them. “I’m not sure you deserve to know about any of that.” “That seems a bit much,” exclaimed Kanathara who stepped forward. “She may not have always done the right thing, but she still deserves to know how her children are doing.” Pear Butter placed a hoof on the smaller demon’s shoulder. “Just because I gave birth to them doesn't mean that they owe me anything. Or even that I have the right to call them mine anymore.” Kanathara snorted. “I guess, but surely you could at least tell us if they are alive, and if they are healthy.” Applejack relaxed slightly. “I suppose there ain't no harm in givin’ ya that much.” She sighed. “Big Mac doesn't talk much these days, and he spends most of his time managing the farm, which is pretty big after taking over the Pears’ lands. As for Apple Bloom, she's doing well in her studies and spends most of her time with her friends raising holy hell.” Pear Butter chuckled. “Let me guess, she's gotten herself covered in tree sap and needed saving from the Everfree Forest at least twice.” Applejack blinked. “How did you know? Were you like that when you were young as well?” “No, actually that was your father.” Pear Butter smiled faintly. “For a while it felt like he didn't want to grow up and was content to just spend his days with his friends going on adventures and getting into trouble.” Kanathara smiled faintly, taking a small step back and pulling herself completely from the conversation. Applejack’s small smile slowly faded, and she looked up at the hulking demon with uncertainty in her eyes. “What were you thinking, coming back here?” Pear Butter sighed. “It wasn't my choice. Hell, if it was up to me, I would have stayed in Tartarus until I got killed a second time.” “I suppose that answers that,” Applejack murmured. “Though I have one final question, and this one is a might bit more serious.” The wrath demon stiffened ever so slightly. “Go ahead, you deserve answers.” “I ain't gonna ask you what the hell you were thinking when you did what ya did. I ain't even gonna question what made ya do it, as that’s fairly obvious,” Applejack exclaimed, gesturing to the towering wrath’s demon’s bulky golden form. “No, what I wanna know is: would you do it all again?” Pear Butter wanted to say no, and for a moment she almost did, and then she caught a glimpse of Kanathara standing off to the side. The pony-turned-demon caught herself, images of all the moments she and the keeper of secrets had shared flashing through her mind. She wondered what would have happened to her, had Pear Butter not been there to soften Tirek’s anger, and make him see Kanathara as something more than just a weapon. “I don't know,” Pear Butter admitted, hanging her head. “I regret the act itself immensely, but at least you three had someone, Kanathara, she had no one down there. I’d like to say that Tirek would have realized the error of his ways all on his own, but well, I don't know if that's true.” “Pear Butter…” Kanathara whispered. Applejack glanced from one demon to another, silently grinding her teeth. “Fine. I don't quite understand what you mean, but even I know that your choice ultimately ended up helping at least one person.” “I just wish I could have met you without all the heartache and loss that came before that meeting,” Pear Butter murmured, caressing the underside of Kanathara’s chin. “You mean so much to me, and I don't know if I could give that up. Even if doing so would give back my own children, which I don't deserve either way.” “Oh mom,” Kanathara murmured, touching a hoof against the wrath demon’s foreleg. “Regardless, there ain't no point in thinkin’ about the past. It's not like we can change it,” Pear Butter glumly muttered. Applejack shook her head and frowned. “Now that you are here, what do you plan on doing?” Pear Butter took a step back and shrugged. “I don't know. Tirek and I are in the area for business, but I’d like to see you all again, to visit Bright Mac’s grave, and to apologize to Granny Smith for all the harm I did her.” “Well, you can do at least one of those things right now.” Applejack took a step back and gestured to the twinned trees. “His ashes were spread right here, but he's still got a stone up on the hill. Even if there ain't nothing buried there.” “Do you mind?” Pear Butter asked nervously. Applejack shrugged. “Doesn't seem like my place to deny ya that.” “Thank you,” uttered the wrath demon before trotting over to the trees and lying down before it, head bowed. Kanathara turned away and awkwardly cleared her throat. “Thank you by the way. I know it would have been easy for you to betray us to the paladins.” Applejack snorted. “Ain't no point in doin’ that now. I ain't a ranger no more, and besides, I got a feeling everyone is gonna get what they deserve no matter what I end up choosin’ to do.” “What do you mean by that?” Kanathara questioned. The farm pony shrugged. “It's just a feelin’ I got.” The demon pursed her lips and studied the pony closely for several seconds. “So what happened with the rangers?” Kanathara asked. “They didn't believe me when I said y'all snuck right past me.” Applejack chuckled bitterly. “Pinkie Pie had to come bail me out again and back up my story. A good thing too, otherwise I’d be in a cell, and there would be no one here to meet ya.” Kanathara winced. “Oof, that bad?” “The rangers don't take lightly to failure.” Applejack gazed out over the rows of apple trees. “Can't say I blame 'em. If someone screws up, it could get not only them killed, but their whole squad and possibly the entire town as well. Makes sense for them to have such a tight policy on the matter, even if I think they ended up going a bit far in the end.” “Still, that does seem a bit extreme,” Kanathara murmured. “Ah, it ain't so bad. Now I finally have an excuse to help Mac run the farm and keep an eye on things.” Applejack sighed. “Hopefully Pinkie Pie doesn't hate me too much for the stunt I pulled.” “She doesn't seem the type to hold a grudge,” Kanathara pointed out. Applejack smiled. “True. I don't even think it's possible for that girl to hate someone.” “She’s pretty cute too, I wonder if she's dating someone,” Kanathara mused. “Now don't you dare start gettin’ ideas about Pinkie, ya hear?” Applejack stated, the pony glaring daggers at Kanathara. Who raised a hoof defensively. “It was genuine curiosity, nothing more. Though when you say it like that, it makes me think that someone has a little crush.” The farm pony blushed. “Well I err, uh. Look, Pear Butter’s back.” The wrath demon trotted up to the pair, glancing curiously at Applejack. “What did I miss?” Kanathara snickered. “Turns out your daughter has a crush on-” “Don't you dare finish that sentence,” Applejack growled. “Otherwise I’ll send you back to Tartarus so fast it will make your head spin.” The keeper of secrets giggled. “Okay okay. I guess that will just be secret between you and I.” “Great, now a keeper knows one of my secrets.” Applejack sighed. “Wonderful.” “Oookay then. Was there anything else?” Pear Butter inquired. “Nothing important. I’ll tell you on the way back,” offered Kanathara. “That's fine, though before we go, I was hopin’ to ask you a question of my own,” Pear Butter exclaimed, turning to the lone pony. “Shoot.” “Well I was, uh, wondering how likely it would be that I could do those other things I mentioned.” Pear Butter gulped. “Like the apology and seeing the rest of the family.” “To be honest, I don't know.” Applejack pushed back her hat and scratched her head. “It ain't like we discussed the possibility of you turnin’ out to be a demon and showin’ back up all these years later.” “I’d be amazed if you did,” Kanathara remarked. “I suppose that's about what I deserve,” Pear Butter murmured. “Ahh shoot. I didn't mean it like that,” Applejack hastily replied. “I’ll just have to talk to them, figure out where their heads are at and whatnot. It's gonna be a lot to take in, but I think they’d like to at least see ya once. Even if it’s just to yell at ya.” Pear Butter laughed bitterly. “That's fair. I’m surprised you didn't do so.” Applejack shook her head. “I never did have the heart for doing something like that. Besides, I’m sure Granny is gonna give you the what for anyway.” “Well, I won't be far, so just give me some kind of signal that you want to talk, and I’ll be there,” Pear Butter declared. “Provided we have had the chance to scan the area and ensure there isn't anything underhanded going on,” Kanathara added. Applejack grumbled, but reluctantly stowed her criticism. “Guess I can't blame ya for bein’ a little weary of us, even if it does chafe a bit.” “I bet it doesn't chafe nearly as much as that ugly hat of yours,” Kanathara quipped. The former ranger’s eyes narrowed on the demon. “I bet it doesn't chafe nearly as that sense of entitlement or those ugly, fruity-looking booties of yours.” The two stared at one another for several seconds before breaking out into a fit of laughter. Pear Butter, however, merely sighed. “Dammit girls. You nearly had me goin’ for a second there.” Kanathara wiped a stray tear from her eye and smiled. “You aren't so bad, Apples. Well, for some hick country pony anyway.” “And you aren't so bad either, for a soul-suckin’ monster, that is,” Applejack retorted, raising a hoof. Kanathara gripped the offered limb, clutching it tightly, while Applejack did likewise, and a moment later they released their hold and took a step back, a newfound respect passing between them. “Thank you, Applejack,” Pear Butter exclaimed, extending her own hoof. “You have no idea what it means just to speak to you in person.” Applejack nodded slowly and clopped her hoof against Pear Butter’s. “You’ve earned that much. Only time will tell if you deserve anymore than that though.” “The fact that you're even willing to do that much speaks greatly of your character.” Pear Butter smiled. “Granny Smith did a fine job raising you.” “She sure did, didn't she?” Applejack chuckled. “Though I wish she would learn to cook things that don't have apples in them. You can only eat the same thing for so many years.” “Some things never change,” Pear Butter quipped. Kanathara gestured toward the treeline. “I don't mean to rush you, but we had better get moving. It's going to be a long walk back.” Pear Butter grimaced, but reluctantly nodded along. “I guess it wouldn't be fair to make the ladies do all the heavy lifting.” “Quite,” Kanathara agreed. “Thanks again,” Pear Butter exclaimed, before turning and trotting into the treeline with the keeper of secrets taking the lead. Behind them, Applejack stood alone, watching the pair disappear in a shimmer of magical light, the sound of their hooves vanishing a few seconds after. Even after all signs of them were gone, still she stood there, her thoughts tumbling over each other until she finally let out a deep sigh. “Big Macintosh ain't gonna like this, and Granny Smith might very well tan my hide,” Applejack muttered to herself. “But stars above if it wasn't good to see her again.” Pear Butter stepped through the bubble hiding the cottage from the rest of the world and stopped, turning to Kanathara who had been following right behind her. “There's something I need to say to you,” announced the wrath demon. Kanathara paused and glanced up at her. “You aren't going to back out of the meeting you arranged with the rest of your family, are you?” Pear Butter shook her head vigorously. “Not in a million years.” “That's good to hear, I thought you might be getting cold hooves for a second there,” Kanathara replied. “No, that ain't it. There's something else I need to say, and well it ain't easy, but here goes. Kanathara, I...” Pear Butter opened her mouth to speak, only to find that the words she sought couldn't reach her lips. Instead of saying anything, the mother reached forward and clasped the smaller demon against her chest, squeezing her tightly. Kanathara stiffened briefly before hugging the wrath demon back. “It’s okay, mom, everything is going to be fine.” Pear Butter sniffed, her grip tight, but not so much that it became uncomfortable for the keeper of secrets. “Thank you. I don't know if I could have actually gone through with the meeting if you weren't there. And if I did, I don't think it would have turned out nearly as well as it did,” Pear Butter whispered. “You’re tougher than you look, and that's saying something,” Kanathara replied with a smile. “I think you would have been fine.” “Still.” Pear Butter sniffed and held the other demon at hoof’s length. “I didn't choose you, but if I could have, I would have.” “Oh mom, now you’re going to make me cry too,” Kanathara whispered back, tears already budding at the edge of her vision. “Then I guess we’ll water the grass together then,” Pear Butter murmured, before clasping her adopted daughter against her chest. A hug that Kanathara eagerly returned, this time tighter than ever. “I love you.” “I love you too.”