//------------------------------//
// 1. 
// Story: The Mystery of Applejack's Parents 
// by Musical_theatre_demon 
//------------------------------//

Every day felt like a battlezone and it never got any easier for Pear Butter and Bright Mac as they watched as their grandparents argued day and night. Their screams and yells woke them up at night, as the two farms were right across from each other. They wanted to know exactly what was going on, but they were always too afraid to ask - too afraid of what their answers would be. So they just kept to themselves. 

But one night, Pear Butter and Bright Mac could not take it anymore. They rose out of bed and snuck out of each of their respective barns, careful to be quiet as to not raise suspicion from Grand Pear and Granny Smith. 


As soon as they met up, Pear Butter and Bright Mac made their way to their special spot. In their special spot was a very special tree that they planted long ago. It was the only thing they had that connected them together, and made them feel more at home than at home. 

"Can't sleep, Buttercup?" Bright Mac asked. 


Pear Butter lifted her head at the sound of his voice. It was clear that she just was not paying attention. "Oh, uh, yeah," she replied, not really knowing what Bright Mac said. 


Bright Mac put a hoof on Pear Butter's chin, who pulled it away. "Pear Butter, what's wrong?" Bright Mac said. "You never shy away from me. Something must be going on. You know you can tell me everything." 

"No," Pear Butter said. "I should just get home. I shouldn't be out this late, Grand Pear's gonna be worried sick." Her voice broke, "We can't be together. We will never be together. Can't you see our families? They hate each other. No way we're ever gonna work out." 


"Didn't I always tell you to listen to your heart?" Bright Mac said. 


Pear Butter blushed. She hated when he did that. It made her rethink every little thing she knew just couldn't be true. Could it? Pear Butter shook her head. No, it couldn't be. There was no way that her and Bright Mac were meant to be, and there was no way they could prove it either. It was in her fate to stage a betrayal that ended in everything but heartache and hurt.

But it was the only way. She had to do it, and felt like she had no choice. Fuck the whole song she played on that lute that day. It did not matter now. All that mattered was the feud that was never ending anytime soon. If she continued with this fairytale that she created for herself, she would only bring herself hell in the end. She turned around. It was no use being there - in front of the pear and apple tree where their initials were engraved in the tree bark. It was over - it was done. And she was going to be the one to end it. 

"I can manage," she said. "I can just cover my ears with my pillow and wash you out of my head. It may not be as easy as it sounds, but I'll do it. It's for the best. I really hope you get that someday, Bright Mac, because right now, you're too naive and think the best of everypony. But I'm a realist, and I don't see that future for us." 

Bright Mac followed after her, eventually catching up and placing a hoof on her shoulder. "You can't possibly mean all this! Did Grand Pear set you up? This ain't you, Pear, and I know it!" 

Pear Butter turned away, pushing away his hoof. "Thanks, but no thanks." 

Walking away with tears in her eyes, Pear Butter left Bright Mac in the dark all alone. Now she was in the dark all alone as she cried herself to sleep, the reality of the situation burning her heart in ways she had never felt before.