For Pear Butter, her life was spent with her father taking care of the pear fields. One day, her father told her, she’d find a stallion that’d give the pear family foals that’d carry the farm, and their foals would, and so on.
With her father having turned his back to her, running off into the night, his words had become sounds that faded away into the wind. The day that had brought a symphony of therapeutic music to her heart had been paused by the sight of her father bolting out of sight. Her hooves had begged her to follow, but she willed them to turn away and sob into her new husband’s chest. She felt a much more delicate hoof resting on her shoulder, and she glanced at the green mare’s frown.
“Come now, darlin’,” Granny told her. “Let’s get you settled in.”
Pear Butter wiped her tears, the weight of what just happened still tugging on her heart. But as she looked up at her husband’s bright green eyes and gentle smile, her heart soared despite the weight. Granny Smith’s frown gave way to her own small smile as she beckoned the newly married couple in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Mayor Mare, Chiffon Swirl, and Burnt Oak ran to the couple’s side. Chiffon pressed her head against the orange mare’s shoulder, before resting her foreleg over Pear Butter’s shoulders.
“I’m so sorry about what happened,” Chiffon gasped. “I can’t believe he just…”
“Maybe he just needs time,” Mayor Mare told Pear. “He did learn all of this at once, must’ve been a shock.”
“Oh I hope that’s what it was,” Pear whispered. “Thank you, everypony. But I don’t need him to move forward with my marriage, all I need is Bright Mac.”
“For the rest of our lives, darlin’,” Bright Mac draped his head over the mare, kissing his wife’s forehead. “And we’ll have our honeymoon start in the morning.”
“Honeymoon?” Pear asked.
“Why of course,” Mac lifted his head from his wife’s mane, galloping a few steps forward as he grinned at his wife. His expression was glowing bright enough to reach into Pear’s chest and cause her heart to beat like every time the stallion came to her aid, or smiled at her from across the stands. In her life of helping with the pear fields, over and over again, his grin felt like the sun at its brightest. The shadows in her mind gave way to his light, and Pear trotted away from Chiffon and over to her husband, pressing her lips to his own. Feeling the fire sparking inside her, Pear felt Bright Mac kissing her back before they pulled apart.
“Well, good to see that you’ll be okay,” Chiffon told her friend. “Thank you for everything, Pear. You two take care.”
“Thank you, Chiffon,” Pear waved as she glanced over her shoulder, watching her dear friend turn around and trotting the opposite direction with Mayor Mare following shortly behind. Pear glanced over to see Burnt Oak speaking to Bright Mac, before the dark brown stallion followed the two mares in his exit.
Pear Butter watched as the three ponies walked out of sight, before turning back to Bright Mac. Leaning her pelt against his, she smiled at him.
“So,” Pear batted her eyelashes at the stallion. “What kind of honeymoon did you have in mind?”
After a few minutes of walking, Pear walked down the hill that led to the barn that she’d never stepped hoof in. But now, she’d get to see the building that Bright Mac grew up, the building that they’d likely raise their foals in. Foals, the image made Pear feel as though the hill beneath her hooves was clouds. She could imagine her filly, with a coat identical to her father’s. Possibly a stallion that had his strength, or a mare with her kind spirit. There were no words that could describe the warmth bubbling in her chest at the thought of bringing new ponies to the world, the possibilities for their future endless.
“Did you want anything before bed?” Granny asked. “Ah think we have some apple pie leftovers from earlier.”
“Maybe in the morning,” Pear stepped from Bright Mac’s side and wrapped her forelegs around her mother-in-law. “Thank you.”
“Oh! Y-You’re welcome, dear,” Granny stammered, briefly patting the mare’s shoulder before Pear Butter stepped back and followed her husband.
Bright Mac opened the door for her, and Pear took in the barn’s interior design. It was nearly identical to the home that she grew up in, only a little more compact. Stepping up the stairs, Pear glanced over her shoulder and saw Bright Mac behind her. With her tears spent, the thought of being cuddled up against Bright Mac in his bed was just what she needed for their beginning that would start first thing in the morning: waking up, eating breakfast, and embarking on the adventure that Bright Mac had planned for them.
Stepping into Bright Mac’s room, Pear Butter could see the midnight purple sky from outside the window. A big bed in a room with green walls and little else, Pear could see her husband’s simple tastes as clear as day. Bright Mac slowly stepped onto his bed, rolling onto the side closest to the window. Glancing over at Pear, he smiled as he patted the empty side of the bed.
Pear trotted forward, jumping onto the bed with ease. Curling up into the covers, Pear rested in the strong embrace of her husband, her head rested on his chest. The heat of his body and the soft feeling of his heartbeat against her ear slowly lulled her into closing her eyes.
“Here’s to the rest of our lives, darlin’,” Bright Mac whispered, kissing Pear’s nose before using his free hoof to place his hat on the nightstand.
Pear thought back to the day where the last pony she’d expected came into her life. Defending her, and showing his bond for her time and time again, Pear Butter felt pure peace in her mind, untouched by what obstacles may have stood in their way before.
Tomorrow, would begin the first full day of their lives no longer apart. Their lives, which they’d never predicted as becoming one with each other, had been tied together by a mysterious force.
One that’d strengthened their bond more than they could ever know.