//------------------------------// // Arc XXVII Episode VIII: Like A Knife Through Pear Butter // Story: Family Begins With You // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// With the Applebloom, Appejack, and Big Mac together, Keiji walked with them all to the police station. The vampboy had previously stated that he had turned over all of the evidence to them and was currently awaiting a verdict. “Once the officers and his crew are done, we’ll finally have the answer, you guys.” He stopped and turned to look at the Apple Siblings to ensure that they were ready for the truth. “But I gotta ask--just wanna make sure here: Are you all prepared to hear what they have to say? Can you bear to face the one who killed your parents?” “...Sugarcube, I’ve been preppin’ fer this day for the last dozen or so odd years,” Applejack replied as her hands twitched and balled into fists. “I won’t ever forgive the varmints, but I just wanna know why.” “Same here,” Applebloom spoke up, “I got’ta spend the least amount’a time with ‘em and they was taken from me. I want an answer.” Keiji looked at the eldest sibling. “...Mac?” For a moment, Mac had been staring off into space with a neutral expression on his face before hearing Keiji call his name. He spoke in a low, oddly sinister tone, “I want ‘em to know pain. That’s all.” “Brrrgh…” Keiji shuddered to shake off the cold sweat that went down his spine from Mac’s words. “Ya’ll are…ya’ll are scary when you’re upset. Remind me to stay off your bad side.” “Don’t fret none, sugarcube,” Applejack replied as she kept walking, “Yous a family friend, and ain’t done nothin’ta warrant us directin’ our ire at ya.” “Yeah, bud,” Applebloom consoled him, “Yer a mighty fine guy ya know that? Tiara and Spoon have been in a better mood thanks to ya, which I’m grateful for.” “For real? You guys were rivals at one point, right?” “Somethin’ like that. But we cool now,” Applebloom explained, “You done quite a bit for us, so I’m happy yer around, Keiji.” “No problem. You’re good people,” Keiji replied, “You deserve to have a better life even if your parents aren’t around. They loved you guys, and I’m sure they would’ve wanted you to know the truth.” The group approached the police station, and Applejack took a deep breath. “Welp…no time like the present, ya’ll.” They all entered and were greeted by Officer Pale Vestige who had been reviewing the details of the evidence that Keiji had brought in the day prior. “Ah. I’ve been waiting you all. After careful understanding of the evidence and witness reports, I was able to make an arrest--” Applejack stormed up to his desk and slammed her hands down upon it--causing cracks to spread all over the wood! “You caught someone? Who is it?!” “...” Pale hesitated for a moment, “...if you would please be so kind as to give me some room, I’d gladly explain.” “...C’mon, Applejack,” Applebloom urged her sister to relax while holding onto the latter’s arm, “Give him some space, yeah?” Applejack backed away and idly grabbed at her hat. “...sorry, sir. I’m just a bit--it’s like I got ants in my drawers.” “Perfectly fine,” Pale replied as he stood up. “But I have to ask that you please do your best to keep your emotions in check as I reveal who was behind all of this. Can you all do that for me?” “Yes, sir,” Applejack answered. “I’m ready,” Applebloom spoke up with a stoic tone. “Eeyup,” Mac added. “Alright…first, follow me,” Pale beckoned them all to follow him to the back of the station where he kept criminal files. Once there, he pulled a file out of a cabinet, and handed it to Applejack. “This is the woman that killed your parents.” Applejack opened up the file and they’d all see a mugshot of a middle-aged woman with pear-green skin, dirty blonde hair, and pink eyes. “Her name is Pomme Barlett. We found her at her home having mixed together loads of different chemicals using the natural chemicals in pear seeds. We also found that she was peddling illegal substances to people at various parties. The usage of pacifiers immediately tipped us off to ecstasy.” “Gyatdamn…” Applebloom blurted out reflexively as she stared at the woman’s file with fire in her eyes, “This…this gardenin’ hoe drugged our parents?!” “I’m afraid so,” Pale continued, “We couldn’t exactly decipher a motive, though it’s interesting to note that she is a member of the Pear Family. Grandpear’s daughter to be exact.” Big Mac remained silent, tilting his head downwards so that his hair casted a shade over his eyes, rendering his expression unreadable. Applejack meanwhile…she was visibly shaking. The file slipped out of her hands as she let go of it--which Keiji quickly caught and handed to Pale before it hit the ground. But the middle sibling was like a rumbling volcano--her fingers twitched with each knuckle bone cracking into place before she balled her fists. The floor beneath her boots had started to crack. She ground her teeth together as tears streamed down the side of her face. Her aura of pure hatred had caused the tension in the room to boil to the point of being thick enough to cut through. Now that she finally knew the truth, she only had one question. “Where. Is. She.” Applejack huffed in a low tone. Pale took a step backwards. “...We’ve arrested her and she’s currently awaiting her hearing in court. We would like you to be present to give testimonies if possible. But please, do not let anger overtake you, Ms. Jack.” “...Guys? Guys!” Keiji yelped to catch their attention. “When’s the hearin’?” Applejack asked. “Tomorrow,” Pale replied, “I will do everything in my power to ensure that she’s brought under the highest order of the law. As far my job allows, anyway.” After all, once Pale had done his job, it was out of his hands. It was up to the court to make a decision on the woman’s sentence. “...Alrighty, then,” Applejack turned and left the room. “We’ll be there. Won’t we, ya’ll?” “That’s right,” Applebloom replied as she followed her sister. “Eeyup,” Mac muttered as he left the room last. Keiji breathed a sigh of relief as they left. “I swear, it’s like when they’re angry--it’s like a goddamn…black hole.” He held his hands in an orb-like shape to add emphasis, “A black hole where all the tension gets sucked in and you feel like you can’t even breathe!” Pale sighed as he adjusted his hat. “...it’s just another one of those days. We’ll need you to be present as well, Keiji. You were the one that gave us the evidence to make the arrest.” “Alrighty. I’ll be there. Don’t you worry,” he said with a proud armfold. “...For their sake.”