//------------------------------//
// 2. 
// Story: The Mystery of Applejack's Parents 
// by Musical_theatre_demon 
//------------------------------//

The next day, Pear Butter awoke bright and early. She had a damn good reason to, and it was not due to the constant arguing between the two farms. No. She was over that. In fact, now that she thought about it, the arguing was music to her ears that was now numb to her. She was so used to it that she did not think much of it. But today was the day to tell Grand Pear everything - to tell him what she did, although she did not want to admit that it broke her heart to do so. 

"Good morning, Grand Pear!" Pear Butter greeted him cheerfully. "What a grand morning to start on the farm work, ain't it?" 

Grand Pear smiled. "Looks like somepony slept well last night. Hopefully you weren't thinking about that Apple colt again." He shivered at the mention of him. It was like Bright Mac was a disease waiting to happen - and maybe he was right. 

Pear Butter gulped regardless, but swallowed it when Grand Pear turned around to buck pears off the tree. 

"Hey, I bet you Apples can't buck as well as I can!" Grand Pear bellowed. 

"Oh yeah?" Granny Smith bellowed. "I may be getting old, but I am still in my prime!" 

Grand Pear scoffed. "In your prime? How about in your dreams, little Apple? Looks like it was only yesterday that your scum showed up right next to our farm. Like karma was just waiting to show itself and come down on us all like a frickin' Timberwolf." 

This got Granny Smith started. "Well, y'all are pieces of shit! Let karma come for your stupid pears instead! There's no way pears are as good as apples! What can pears make you?" 

"Profit," Grand Pear said. "Obviously more than you." 

Granny Smith pulled Bright Mac aside. "Tell those assholes that pears can't make that good'a cider," she said. 

"But I -!" Bright Mac started to protest. 

"But what?" Granny Smith said, crossing her hooves across her chest. There was no getting past her now - when Granny Smith was angry, she was angry. There was no getting past it, causing Bright Mac to gulp and regret even speaking out of turn. 

"I'm sorry, Mom," Bright Mac said. "I'll let them know." 

Granny Smith smiled a victorious smile, which felt like she won against the Pears. And her son was going to be the weapon who brought the Pears down for good. When he did that, she believed that she raised him well. 

Bright Mac walked to the front of the Apple Family's stand which had apples on the shelves outside of it that ponies could buy if they truly wanted to. He gulped, unsure of what to really say. Should he betray Pear Butter and kiss his girlfriend and their romantic life goodbye? Bright Mac did not want to see that future, but knew if he didn't, she would betray him someday. He could see it in her eyes - the way Pear Butter just coldly walked away that night with not much as a word. Maybe she was right. There was no way that an Apple and a Pear could fall in love - not while the families wanted nothing to do with each other. 

He sighed.

"What are ya waitin' for? Stop stallin' and tell them Pears what's gotten into them!" Granny Smith bellowed. "Unless you're scared because of your relationship with that backstabbin' little girlfriend of yours." 

Bright Mac wanted to speak, but no words came out. He started to think that Granny Smith was right, but also thought that there was some way that Pear Butter was being manipulated by Grand Pear, and wouldn't tell him why she had to forget about him. But that was when Pear Butter spoke up. 

"Of course we make more profit than you. Pears are just better than apples, simply put. Just simply try a pear cobbler and it's freshen your taste buds much more than your average apple pie," Pear Butter said with a wink in Bright Mac's direction, making him try to hide his blush, but failing miserably. She took a bite out of the pear cobbler. "Mmm, mmm! Now this is something! Now, everypony, we all know about pear jam, right? Pear jam is used on bread and it can make a great addition to your morning toast." 

Bright Mac took a stand. He was not having this anymore. "Pear Butter, you can try all you want to fit in with your family's desires and wishes of what they expect of you, but I'm not gonna do that," he said. "I'm through with being just a part of the plan. I wanna be something more, Buttercup. I wanna be yours." 

The two families gasped, their anger rising as Granny Smith and Grand Pear butted heads. 

"You have to take control of your son! This is an outrage!" Grand Pear said. 

"I'm sorry for his behavior. I'll make sure I correct that right away," Granny Smith said. "Right after you make your daughter apologize!" 

Grand Pear scoffed, continuing to butt heads with the green, white-maned pony. "When pigs fly," he said. "She don't need to apologize for anything, and that's final." 

Pear Butter lowered her head, turning away from Grand Pear. She did have to apologize. Bright Mac was right. This wasn't her and it never will be. She was buying into her family's expectations of her, and that just wasn't going to cut it. Not anymore. But despite how she felt, she stayed on the sidelines, running her hoof through her mane.

And being the only one seeing this, Bright Mac felt a huge sympathy for her. It was like they were living the same exact life, just in different bodies and part of rival families that just wanted their relationship to flop. That being said, did they even suspect it or did they just not care at all. 

The day went on and consumers came and went until the sun fell on Ponyville. It was back to Sweet Apple Acres for Bright Mac and Granny Smith, and Pear Butter and Grand Pear back to Pear Farms right across from it. Pear Butter would find a way to sneak out that night, and she would apologize for everything. That she promised herself and Bright Mac.