A stallion is terrorizing all fruits that are not pears. Grand Pear reveals to Applejack, Big Mac, Applebloom, and Megan who he is and why.
A stallion is knocking fruit carts down and has a hatred against the Apple Family. Grand Pear says that he is Peary Bits, his youngest son and Applejack's uncle. From there, Grand Pear tells the Apple Siblings and Megan about what happened after he left his daughter and what led him to his reformation and Peary Bit's anger.
It’s time for the Farmer’s Market in the Town Square.
There’s lots of hustle and bustle going on today. Farmers from all over Equestria had come to Ponyville to present their harvest and the goods baked from their fruits and veggies, as well as customers who are wanting to buy the harvest presented and take a sample of it.
There was a grape cart, with a female purple pegasus with a grape cutie mark behind it.
“Come get your grapes!” shouted the grape pony, “Nature’s medicine is ripe for the picking!”
There was also an orange cart, with a male tangerine unicorn with an orange cutie mark behind it.
“Fresh oranges and orangeade!” the orange pony said, “Freshly squeezed and right for the day!”
There was also a lemon cart, with a male yellow earth pony with a lemon cutie mark behind it.
“Get your lemons and lemon squares!” said the lemon pony, “You can’t go a day in the sun without lemons for lemonade!”
And finally, there’s Applejack and Big Mac’s cart with Megan helping them.
“Come and get your apples!” shouted Applejack, “Freshly picked and perfected! Courtesy of the Apple Family!”
“Eeyup!”
“We even have apple-baked goods! The finest and tastiest in Equestria!” Megan cried while holding an apple pie.
A female gray pegasus by the name of Ditzy Doo (or Derpy, as most would call her) suddenly flies to the apple cart and lands in front of it.
“Can I have an apple muffin, please?” she asks.
“Of course,” Megan responds, “Coming right up.”
Putting the pie down, Megan opens up the cart, reaches in, and brings out an apple muffin.
“There you are.” Megan says, while handing the muffin to the pony with ease.
“Thanks, Megan.” Derpy thanks.
“You’re welcome, Derpy.”
With the muffin in her hooves, Derpy flies off into the air as Megan watches her leave.
“Seems like we’re doing pretty well today, Applejack.” Megan states to her friend.
“You said it, Megan,” Applejack replies with a giggle, “I don’t think we’ve had so many apple-hungry ponies since a couple years ago.”
Applejack suddenly saw a pear booth set up from across her cart and recognized the old pony handing out samples of pear jam.
“Hey, Megan, there’s my old grandfather Grand Pear, over there!” Applejack tells her.
With a hoof pointing to Grand Pear, Megan sees who Applejack’s talking about
“Hey, Grand Pear!” Applejack calls out.
Hearing his name, Grand Pear turns his attention to find Applejack not too far from his stand.
“Applejack! How’s my eldest grandfilly?” he asked as she trotted up with Megan.
“Doin’ great. This is my human friend Megan. I told you about her, right?”
“Yep.”
“And Applejack told me a great deal about you and her parents.” Megan said as she shook his hoof.
“Only the good stuff about me I hope.” Grand Pear blushed.
Suddenly, the three turned toward the sounds of clattering and boards falling. Applejack’s and Grand Pear’s ears were held high, while Megan had herself at full-on attention.
What they found once they had their eyes and ears in the direction of the noise is something that shocked the three of them to where their mouths went agape...
They saw a young stallion with yellow squares for a cutie mark, and... he was knocking down the grape stand.
“My stand!” the grape pony cried.
“No non-pears allowed, you grapevine!” the stallion shouted.
Then, he kicked down the lemon stand over the orange stand, turning both into a pile of rubble covered in lemonade and orangeade. The two salesponies lifted each other from out of the rubble.
The stallion turned his sights onto Applejack’s cart and gritted his teeth.
“I especially hate apples!” the stallion yelled.
The stallion quickly buck-kicked the cart and caused the baked goods and apples to fall all over the square.
When Applejack, Big Mac, and Megan saw what he just did, the expressions they had went from shock to furious.
“Hey! Who do you think you are knocking over carts?” Applejack shouted with anger.
“You could have hurt somepony!” Megan yelled.
“Eeyup!” Big Mac said.
“Who cares! Anypony who hates pears deserves a good kick, and anypony who sides with non-pears is no good!” the stallion shouted.
The stallion’s hooves take him to an immediate run. He ran and ran, until...he was no longer within sight. Applejack and Big Mac ran to the other ponies and looked at their legs, making sure there are no injuries. The ears of the two apple-loving ponies were still held high enough for them to be hearing any sound surrounding them.
“Oh no! Not again! He was supposed to be helping his mom this week!” Grand Pear complained.
“Grand Pear, do you know that vandal?” Megan asked.
Grand Pear sighed glumly, “His name is Peary Bits, and...he’s my youngest son.”
Applejack, Big Mac, and Megan gasped. Shocked beyond anything.
Applejack, Big Mac, and Megan gave first aid to the two injured farmers, a white medical kit with them to help with their mission, such as putting bandages on what hurt the most from the cart crashing. While they did, Grand Pear was sitting nearby, looking at a puddle containing his reflection.
The puddle contained not just his reflection, but also an expression of melancholy.
As if he could barely look at himself anymore, he stamps one of his front hooves down into the puddle, causing a splash, and making the water ripple. He closes his eyes as he kept his hoof in the water.
“Oh, my son,” he muttered to himself, “Why did things have to come this way?”
“Applejack!” a female voice suddenly calls out.
His ears perked high, he stands up and turns himself around to find Twilight and the rest of the Main 6 and Spike approaching Applejack, while Big Mac and Megan continued attending to the injured.
“Applejack, I heard there was trouble in the Farmer’s Market,” Twilight said with concern, “What happened?”
“It’s a long story, Twi. Kinda hard to explain, really.” Applejack said.
“I can explain it for you, Applejack,” Grand Pear speaks up.
The entire Main 6 turn their attention towards Grand Pear.
“You must be Grand Pear.” Twilight said.
“Indeed I am, Princess Twilight.” Grand Pear says with a bow.
“Applejack told us about the delightful love story of her parents,” Rarity quivered, “So much romance and feels.”
“Well...there are some parts about me that I could have rewritten,” Grand Pear dropped his head glumly.
“Hey! Your mistakes are all in the past, Old Timer.” Rainbow Dash consoles.
“Besides, what’s a love story without a nemesis to test the love of the lovers.” Pinkie said.
"Oh yes.” Fluttershy agrees.
“Forget the love story,” Spike speaks up, “Who was the pony that attacked the Farmers’ Market?”
With a sigh, Grand Pear decides to go ahead and tell them.
“The one causing trouble all the trouble here...was my son, Peary Bits,” Grand Pear said, “I’m very sorry, Princess Twilight.”
“You don’t have to apologize, sir,” Twilight says to him, “But, why would your son do all of this?”
“He’s been that way ever since I left for Van Hoover,” Grand Pear said, “I’ll explain everything at Sweet Apple Acres.”
****
A little while later...At Sweet Apple Acres...
Granny Smith was in the kitchen with Apple Bloom. They were making some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch for when the others got back from all the hard work at the Market. Just after Granny finished using a knife for spreading peanut butter on a piece of bread, she heard the front door open. Apple Bloom heard it as well. They saw Applejack, Big Mac, and Megan, with Grand Pear and the rest of the Mane Six close behind.
“Applejack, if you’re gonna bring company over here, help me make more lunches next time.” said Granny.
“Hi, Granny. Apple Bloom,” Grand Pear said.
“Grand Pear!” Apple Bloom exclaims, running over to give him a big old hug.
Grand Pear returns the embrace.
“Well, how ya doin’, you prickly pear?”
“Pretty good, you old crabapple.”
The two elders gave each other a hoof bump.
“Granny, a stallion came and knocked over every fruit cart in the Market, including our cart!” Applejack said.
“What?!” Granny screamed.
“Was anypony hurt?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Eeyup. But he didn’t care.” Big Mac said.
“Our biggest shock however is what Grand Pear told us about him while we were there.” Megan said.
Granny Smith raised a confused eyebrow at what she was just told.
“I’m sorry about what he did to the cart, Granny,” Grand Pear said, “I’ll pay the damages.”
“The cart vandal someone you know?” Granny asked.
“Yes. He’s my son, Peary Bits.”
“Peary? You mean that youngin’ who snuck into my farm once to taste my apple butter? That Peary Bits?”
Grand Pear nodded yes.
“Strange. Even for a pear, he was a sweet kid.” Granny said.
“So you knew our uncle, Granny?” Applejack asked.
“You’re darn tootin’,” she responds, “I never told anyone, but, even though the Apples and Pears were rivals at the time of his youth, after the day he was about to taste my apple butter, he and I interacted every now and then to where we grew very friendly with one another.”
Grand Pear chuckled, “And even though I would’ve stopped it, I actually decided to let it keep going. I felt that it was good for my son.”
“For that I was much obliged,” Granny Smith commented, “But, Grand Pear, what happened to him that caused him to change from a sweet kid to a cart vandal?”
"Well…”
Before Grand Pear could say anything, a ruckus was going on outside. There was the sound of struggling and tussling, as well as the sound of shouting.
“There he is! Get him!” a voice shouts.
“Take your hooves off of me!” another voice shouts.
“We won’t let you get away with this!” a third voice shouts.
“What’s that?” Megan asks.
The Mane 6, Megan, and Grand Pear run outside to see what’s going on and saw Flim and Flam getting into a fight and dog-piling over Peary Bits.
“I’ll buck you into Tartarus, for this!” Peary Bits yells angrily at the brothers.
“Yay, well even if you did, we could use our horns blindfolded!” Flam warns Peary.
“Quite right, brother of mine!” Film agrees.
“Hey! What’s goin’ on!?!” Applejack shouts as she runs over to the three.
The three ponies turn their attention to see Applejack running towards them.
“Applejack! Thank Celestia. We just came by for a visit when we caught this hooligan trying to spray black paint all over your barn.” Flim said.
“It’s just a barn belonging to sour apples!” Peary Bits said.
“Watch your tongue, boy! One apple helped me mend fences with my brother back in Las Pegasus!” Flam said.
Peary bucked the two off himself and faced Flam.
“You lookin’ for trouble, Apple Lover?” Peary mouthed, using a hoof to kick dirt back.
“I’d be obliged!” Flam said, readying his horn.
The two ponies charged at each other, but before they could, Flim and Grand Pear blocked their path while glaring at them.
“Don’t get this stallion started, Flam,” Flim said, “Besides, fighting does nothing except cause messes!”
“Listen to this pony, Peary!” Grand Pear said, before grabbing Peary by the ear, “Now it’s time to go home to your mother!”
He drags his don out of Sweet Apple Acres, all the while Peary screamed “OW!” as he was dragged away.
“Be right back!” Grand Pear said.
Finding that everything seemed to be under control, the Main Six and Megan head back inside of the house, with Flim and Flam following close behind because it seemed like they were here for more than just a visit.
What everyone didn’t know however is that Apple Bloom was also outside with them, hiding behind a barrel. Having grown curious about what was happening, she followed everyone outside.
“I better follow Grand Pear,” Apple Bloom said to herself.
With careful footing, careful hiding. as well as excellently being quiet, Apple Bloom followed her grandfather, with the pulled-on-the-ear Peary Bits in tow of him.
Grand Pear and Peary Bits were standing in front of a flower shop, with a sign post that said “Spring Flowers Shop”. While nearby, Apple Bloom was peeking from a nearby crate of pears.
Grand Pear knocked on the door, and opening the door was an old mare with hair like her mother’s but with gray streaks and a pink posy for a cutie mark. Behind her is a mare with a brown mane in ponytails and a pear blossom cutie mark and a stallion with peach-colored fur, pear-colored mane, and a half-sliced pear cutie mark.
“Afternoon, everypony.” he says in greeting.
“Hello, Grand Pear,” said the old mare, “Thanks for bringing our son back. A friend told us what happened in the market.”
Grand Pear enters the shop with Peary in tow, his head down and facing the ground. Entering the household gave Peary nothing but ire inside of him.
“Big Bosc, take your brother up to his room! I’ll have a word with him later.” the old mare orders the stallion.
“Right away, Mom,” responded the stallion.
Big Bosc took Peary Bits upstairs. When the big stallion looked at his father, he noticed his father waving to him. But, instead of waving back to him, he gruffly turned away. Grand Pear dropped his head when the young mare lifted his chin.
“He’s still working through his grief, Daddy,” the young mare said, “Give him time.”
“I’ll have a word with Big Bosc, too,” said the old mare.
Grand Pear’s ear swiveled in the direction of Apple Bloom’s crate, and he smiled as if he knew something no one else didn’t.
“Apple Bloom, you can come out now.” he says.
From behind the crate, Apple Bloom couldn’t believe what she heard and just found out! Grand Pear knew she was following behind the whole time! Her mouth was agape at the prospect, but she composed herself and decided to come out of hiding.
Slowly, Apple Bloom came out from behind the crate, and trotted toward Grand Pear and the family.
“Uh…hi,” Apple Bloom said shyly, “I...I’m Apple Bloom...Grand Pear’s grand filly.”
The two mares, “Apple Bloom?!”
“Yep. That’s her,” Grand Pear says with a chuckle.
The old mare and young mare suddenly gasp upon what they just heard, and they step outside to come closer to her.
“Oh my gosh,” the young mare shouts with glee, “It’s really you! You’ve gotten so big!”
“Why I can’t believe how much you’ve grown already,” the older mare says, “The last time I ever saw you, you were wearing diapers!”
“Say what now?!” Apple Bloom said, a confused look on her face.
The two mares giggled at the look on the filly’s face.
“Allow us to introduce ourselves, Apple Bloom,” the old mare said, “I’m Posy Spring, owner of the Spring Flowers Shop, and your grand-mare.”
“Grand-Mare?”
“That’s right! So call me Nana Posy.”
“And I’m your aunt Pear Blossom,” the young mare said, “Your Nana Posy’s assistant and daughter. You already met my evil twin Peary Bits.”
“And I’m your Uncle Big Bosc.” The Big Stallion’s voice suddenly says.
Facing the direction of the voice, the group finds Big Bosc standing on the stairway, before he started walking over to them. He stopped when he was close enough to tower over Apple Bloom in height.
“I’m your mother’s slightly older brother. I help farm and grow the flowers.” Big Bosc said to Apple Bloom.
“So all of you are my Mom’s and Grand Pear’s family?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Well…” Posy says with a sigh, “Yes and no.”
“What do ya mean?”
“Well, Apple Bloom,” Grand Pear said, “Posy and I use to be married a long time ago, but...we’ve been apart for some time.”
“Y-You mean that you and Nana Posy have been divorced?” Apple Bloom stutters.
“Yeah. A result of your mother’s death.”
“Tch. No thanks to you, Old Timer!” Big Bosc said.
“Big Bosc! That is no way to treat your father!” Posy yelled, “We may not be together, but you still have to treat him with respect!”
Despite her authoritative tone though, all Big Bosc did was just roll his eyes in response, as if he didn’t care to begin with. Posy and Pear Blossom saw that, but, they decided to let it pass until later, because they just decided on something very important.
“Now, you stay here with Peary while your sister and I escort Apple Bloom home. We’ll be back in a little while.”
“Yes, Ma.” Big Bosc said.
Big Bosc leaves the group alone, figuring that it was best to find something else to do.
When he left, Pear Blossom and Posy exited the doorway, and went out on the road to escort Apple Bloom and Grand Pear back to Sweet Apple Acres.
“Apple Bloom.” Pear Blossom said to her.
“Yay?” Apple Bloom responds.
“When we get you home, we’ll tell you everything about what happened.”
The pink-bowed filly smiles upon hearing what her Aunt just told her, and Grand Pear and Posy Spring nod in agreement.
As Apple Bloom and the Pears trotted back to Sweet Apple Acres, the pink-bowed filly was telling her two newly found Pear relatives about Applejack, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and their adventures. The two Pear gals were impressed to the point of where their eyes were wide with awe.
“And just when Chrysalis had her hold on Equestria, Starlight, Trixie, Thorax, and Discord infiltrated the changeling hive to save the day. Chrysalis’s army reformed in the end, both physically and in character.” she said.
“Sounds like you and your sister have been through a lot with your adventures,” Posy said.
“And who’d have thought Applejack would have so much stubbornness and pride,” Pear Blossom said, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the pear tree, Daddy.”
“N’ah! Unlike me, Applejack learned her lesson right away.” Grand Pear said with melancholy.
“Grand Pear. You got to stop beating yourself up about the past,” Posy said, “You still have a family with our foals and grand-foals.”
But instead of feeling encouraged or cheered up, Grand Pear’s head goes down with shame.
“Try tellin’ that to Big Bosc.” Grand Pear said.
Apple Bloom showed a look of concern toward Grand Pear as they walked, while Pear Blossom uses her own muzzle to lovingly pull his head back up.
****
At Sweet Apple Acres...
Apple Bloom and the Pears finally made it.
“The place hasn’t changed a bit,” Posy said.
As the group of four continued on, they catch sight of Granny Smith, attending to some barrels full of apple cider and rolling them into a wagon.
After rolling a barrel up and while standing on the incline of the wagon, Granny Smith sees Apple Bloom with Grand Pear and his family.
“Apple Bloom, we were wonderin’ where you went,” Granny said.
“Sorry, Granny,” Apple Bloom said, “But Grand Pear and I brought some relatives over.”
Granny gazed in awe when she saw Posy and Pear Blossom.
“Posy Springs! Long time no see!” Granny said.
“How are you, Granny?” Posy said.
“Doin’ fine,” she tells her, before turning her attention to Pear Blossom, “And is this L’il Pear Blossom? I haven’t seen you since you were as itty-bitty as Apple Bloom.”
Pear Blossom giggles after Granny Smith told her that.
“It’s me, alright.” she confirms, “Where are Applejack and Big Mac?”
“Oh, they’re in the house. Don’t worry, I’ll call them out for ya,” Granny says to her, “Applejack! Big Mac!”
Within a second, Applejack and Big Mac slammed the door to the farmhouse open and ran straight to Granny Smith. They ran so fast, they never noticed the other ponies that were with her.
They stop in front of Granny, catching their breath from all the rush they put themselves in.
“You called Granny?” Applejack asks.
With one last inhale, she and Big Mac suddenly take notice of the two new mares in front of them.
“Applejack. Big Mac. This here’s yer Nana Posy and Aunt Pear Blossom.” Granny says.
“Hi.” the two mares greet.
“Howdy.” Applejack and Big Mac greet in return.
Posy Springs walks right over to Applejack, deciding to get a closer look at her.
“My, oh my! Applejack, I can’t believe how much you’ve grown since the last time I saw you!”
“Uh...” Applejack says with confusion, “When was that?”
“Why, that was when you were a newborn, really!”
Applejack blinks with shock in response to that.
“And Big Mac,” Pear Blossom speaks, “I see you’ve got your father’s eyes.”
Big Mac giggles in nervousness with a slight pink blush on his face.
“Thanks.” he responds.
“So...you’re the rest of Grand Pear’s family?” Applejack asked.
Upon hearing that question, Pear Blossom and Posy Springs couldn’t hold back from keeping their smiles from turning to looks of sadness.
“Well… yes and no.” Posy said.
“Pardon?” Granny and Applejack said.
“We’ll explain everything inside.” Grand Pear said.
****
A few minutes later...
Grand Pear, Posy, and Pear Blossom told Granny, Megan, the Mane 6, Spike, Flim and Flam, and the Apple Sibs about the divorce of the Pears. It completely shocked everyone.
“You and Grand Pear have been divorced for years?” Granny Smith said, “Since when?”
“About two years since Grand Pear moved us to Vanhoover.” Posy sighed.
“What happened that caused you two to break up?” Apple Bloom asked.
“It was my fault, Apple Bloom,” Grand Pear said.
“How?” Granny said.
Grand Pear sits himself down on a chair that was behind him.
“It all started shortly after our move to Vanhoover…” Grand Pear narrated.
****
“We got settled in a warehouse outside of town...”
The Pear family was standing in front of a warehouse that a proprietor had sold them, watching the business pony take down a sign that said sale and replace with a sign that said sold.
****
“...There was vast land to replant our pear trees in, and the warehouse had the space we need to make my pear jam. At the same time, I was angry over your mom’s choice to stay with the Apples...”
Middle-aged Grand Pear was at his desk in his new office, looking over some bills and checks that had come in the mail. But then...something caught his eye.
It was a pink envelope containing a letter from his daughter, Pear Butter. On the front of it, it said “To: My Dearest Daddy; From: Your Daughter”.
But the prideful pony wasn’t moved. Instead of reading it, he just put it in one of the drawers of his desk, which contained several other pink envelopes. He slams the drawer shut.
‘I’m no monster,’ he reminds himself, ‘I am angry, but whatever comes from Pear Butter can still be for keeps.’
****
“...I was so angry, I told the rest of the family, including my immediate one, that no pony was allowed to have contact with her in anyway. Most of my nieces and nephews who were with me during the feud were all for it, but Posy, Pear Blossom, and Big Bosc were a different story. They were angry over the fact that I chose the feud and my pear pride over my daughter’s feelings...”
It was a normal day for Grand Pear. He was supervising the work before him, and was taking note of everything happening so far. One of his nieces sees him passing by and waves a hoof in greeting, to which he happily greeted back. While he passed by, he was unaware of the scowls that were given off by Posy Springs, Pear Blossom, and Big Bosc, who were nearby organizing some crates.
****
“...Over the next two years, production for my pear jam became a success. Everyone in Equestria wanted some, and I became the biggest business pony before Filthy Rich. Peary was a little colt at the time, and he idolized me. He even wanted to make the best pear butter in Equestria and follow in my hoofprints...”
Peary was in his bedroom, making his own pear jam. He was just about finished by closing up the jar, when he hears a knock on the door.
Directing his head in the direction of the knock, he yells, “Come in!”
The door opens to reveal his father.
“Hey, Son.” his father greets.
“Hey, Dad,” Peary greets in return, “How’s it going?”
“Oh pretty good,” Grand Pear responds, “What do you have there?”
“Just making some of my own pear jam,” he tells his dad, “Wanna try it?”
“Sure.”
Peary unscrews the lid with a spin, the lid flying off until it landed on his bed.
He runs right over to his father and holds out the jar of newly made pear jam to him.
With one dip of the hoof, Grand Pear takes a taste of the pear jam his son made. The taste of what he just had caused his eyes to go completely wide with astonishment.
“Peary! This is delicious!” he exclaims.
“Really?” Peary asks with hope.
“Yay!” Grand Pear assures him, “You should definitely make a career out of jam-making.”
When he heard those words, Peary became teary-eyed upon the positive feedback from his dad. He runs to hug him lovingly, with his father returning the embrace.
“Thanks, Dad.” Peary thanks.
“You’re welcome, Son,” Grand Pear replied, “Don’t back down from what you love and dream of doing, alright?”
“I won’t.”
****
“...However, I took notice of how unhappy Posy, Big Bosc, and Pear Blossom were. Even though they helped with the pear trees and my pear production, they kept giving me death glares every time they pass me. Other times, they just don’t look at me at all...”
Grand Pear was passing by the kitchen of his new house, catching a glance of Posy, Big Bosc, and Pear Blossom as he strolled by, and smiling as he did. He expected them to smile in return, but instead...they gave him death glares. It causes him to flatten his ears and walk faster upon how they were looking at him.
****
“...One day, Posy called me to the living room…”
Middle-aged Grand Pear trotted in and saw his wife on the couch with her eyes leering and her front legs crossed.
“Pear Blossom told me you wanted to see me, Posy,” Grand Pear said, “Is everything alright?”
“No, Grand Pear! Everything is not alright! And it never will be thanks to you!” Posy yells.
“What do you mean?”
Posy took some pink-colored envelopes out of the drawer next to the couch and showed them to Grand Pear.
“I found these in your office while I was cleaning them! All of them are letters from Pear Butter to you, explaining why she chose the Apples over her family as she told every event that has happened in her life, including the birth of our two grand-foals, Big Macintosh and Applejack!” Posy tells him disappointingly.
“So what?” Grand Pear questions, “They‘re apples nonetheless!”
“That’s not the point! You have been choosing the feud and your pear production over the feelings of your daughter! You don’t even care about the rest of your family! Pear Blossom and I were planning to start our floral shop in Ponyville until you abruptly moved us to get away from the Apple Family!”
“You two can still start one in Vanhoover!”
“I tried, but there’s no space! You took our children and me away from our own dreams! Our friends in Ponyville! And especially Pear Butter and her children because you refuse to swallow your pride! Well no more!”
“Posy? W-what are you saying?”
“I’m saying…I want a divorce, Grand Pear.”
Middle-aged Grand Pear gasped and gave a look of shock upon what he heard.
****
The flashback is cut short because the Mane 6, Megan, and everyone else gasped as well.
Everyone was shocked to hear about Posy wanting a divorce, including Apple Bloom, who had no idea that something like this would happen.
"So...you wanted the divorce, Nana Posy?" she asked.
"Yes. Ever since our move, I resented Grand Pear for forcing me to leave your mom and my dream behind.” Posy said.
"Though looking back, it was my fault for caring more about the Pear business and being so short when things go wrong," Grand Pear said.
"Like with Mom and the water tower?" Big Mac asked.
"Yep. Anyway, the next day came the hardest part about our upcoming divorce."
"Let me guess. Is it tellin' the youngins?" Granny said.
"Bingo!" Grand Pear said.
****
In the flashback of the next day, Posy and Grand Pear gather Peary, Pear Blossom, and Big Bosc into the living room, unsure about their reaction.
"You called us, Daddy?" Pear Blossom said.
"Yes," a middle-aged Grand Pear said, "Your mom and I have something to say, and it's hard for us to say it."
"What?" Peary Bits.
"Well, Peary, before we say anything, know this,” Grand Pear says, “You'll always have a mother and a father who love all three of your very much."
"Dad? What are you saying?" Peary asked.
"Well," Posy sighed, "Your father and I decided that we're better off if we separated."
"For how long?" Pear Blossom said.
"I'm afraid I don't know that. But long, that’s for sure.” Posy said.
"I don't understand." Peary said.
"Don't you get it, Peary?" a teen Big Bosc huffed, "Mom and Dad are getting a divorce!"
Peary and Pear Blossom gasped.
"Big Bosc!" Posy shouted.
"Why not! It's about time you threw him out of our lives after he disowned Pear Butter!"
Peary's eyes filled up with tears and yelled, "It's because of Pear Butter leaving us, isn't it? I followed Dad to help find her when I heard you two talk one final time!"
"You were there when she declared herself an apple?" a shocked Grand Pear said.
"It's because of her our family is torn apart!"
Peary ran to his room crying and slammed the door. A downtrodden Grand Pear lowered his head, while Posy and Pear Blossom glared at Big Bosc.
****
"A week later, Posy and I traveled to Canterlot and told Celestia of our situation. We wanted her to decide which of us gets the kids..."
The two to-be-divorced parents stood before Celestia as she was on her throne.
"This is a very serious matter," Celestia said, "Are you certain you can't work out your marriage."
"I'm positive, Your Highness," Posy said, "Grand Pear refuses to swallow his Pride and let me see my eldest daughter."
"Ex-daughter," Grand Pear said curtly.
Celestia glared at him.
"To determine which of you get the children, I must hear from friends and family who know you well enough first."
****
“For weeks, we had close neighbors and friends come before Celestia to plead our case,” Grand Pear narrated, “Unfortunately, most of them said stuff about me and my pride and how I once yelled at Pear Blossom for mailing a letter to Pear Butter. Before long, Celestia called us to her to tell us her decision..."
"After hearing friends and neighbors who know you, and careful consideration, I have decided to finalize your divorce, and present Posy custody of the Pear Foals."
"I understand, Princess," Posy said.
"But, Princess,” Grand Pear tried to say.
"I'm sorry, Grand Pear, but considering how hard you were on your eldest filly and how you put hatred and pride before family, I don't think you're the right role model for them. Especially Peary Bits," Celestia lectured, "You encouraged your family to hate the Apples, even though it was Granny Smith who founded Ponyville, and you disowned your daughter for showing more love and understanding. I'm sorry, but it is what's best for your foals."
"Yes, Princess.” Grand Pear sighed with understanding.
He bows his head with sadness, knowing that he was likely never going to see his children for...who knows how long.
“The next day, Posy and the foals packed up their things and moved back to Ponyville. Before they left, Peary showed a look of sadness at me, like he was still crying. Same went with Pear Blossom. Big Bosc, on the other hand, gave me the cold shoulder when he left...”
Posy packed the last of their stuff onto their wagon and trotted into it with their foals in tow. With a wave of her hoof forward, she gave the signal for the cart pony to go.
Peary cried and shedded tears as he saw his father from the cart one last time, thinking he will never be part of the family business. Pear Blossom turned away from her father in silence, and though it was never shown, she too was going to miss him. Big Bosc just harshly turned away from his father and never looked back.
****
The flashback ends temporarily when Applejack spoke up.
"Hold up!" Applejack said, "Now I remember! You were the neighbors mom visited when you came to Ponyville. I remember us having tea together when I was the cake twins age."
"Nice of you to remember our tea parties, Applejack.” Posy said.
"But why didn't any of you, Mom, or Dad tell us we were related to ya?"
"It was your mother's wish. She didn't want to risk you meeting Grand Pear and going through the same pain she felt when she was disowned."
"Considering what I was like in my youth, it was for the best," Grand Pear glumly agreed.
"What happened next, Grand Pear?" Megan asked.
Grand Pear continued, "As the years went by...”
****
“...I went back to work on my pear jam production. I continued making my special jam in order to make ends meet for Posy and the foals. Besides, my business was all I got left. Red Bosc and Pear Spice, my niece and nephew, were there to help me run and manage things. Business never felt so good."
Grand Pear is in Vanhoover, selling his pear jam at a stand just like he did in Ponyville. He’s giving away one of his jars to a customer, who happily paid five bits for it and took the jar without a second thought.
The customer left Grand Pear’s stand, leaving him to look on with happiness at the joy the pony had on getting the jam.
****
"Meanwhile, I already started up my flower-growing business,” Posy narrated, “My shop may not be a big business, but it was good for the family. Pear Blossom enjoyed growing and arranging flowers, while Big Bosc enjoyed planting seeds and soiling them. Peary Bits, however, stayed out of the flower business and focused more on making pear butter...”
The time was 3:00 in the afternoon, and Peary was in the kitchen making his own pear butter like the time he shared some with his dad. With a dip of his hoof, he tasted the prepared jam, and knew right away that it was ready.
Unknown to him however, not even after the door made an opening sound, Big Bosc came into the kitchen. At first, he was only coming in to grab a snack from all the hard work he did today, but then...
He noticed what Peary was up to! Making pear jam! He gritted his teeth at the thought of Peary taking part in the pear business, because to him, it was the same business that his father chose over his big sister.
He walked up to Peary while the latter wasn’t looking, and bucked the jar of pear butter out of his hooves, causing the jar to fall on the floor and break. He barely knew what hit him until he saw Big Bosc standing in front of him.
"No pear products allowed in this house, Peary!" Big Bosc yelled.
As if someone had just taken away something precious to him, Peary cries because of what his older brother did and said to him. He cried until his mom came in a saw the scene. She glared at Big Bosc when she trotted in.
"Big Bosc? What happened?" Posy demanded to know.
“Nothing of your concern.” Big Bosc bitterly replied.
"I was making pear butter when Big Bosc took the jar full of it and broke it!" Peary answered for him with a sob.
Posy gave Big Bosc the stare to no effect on the stubborn pony.
"I don't want any trace of that jerk in this house! Peary is forbidden from making anything involving pears!” Big bosc shouted.
Peary stopped crying and contorted his face into anger. He bucked his brother in the face and ran upstairs while his brother rubbed the pain away from his snout.
"OW! That little twerp!"
"You deserved it after the way you treated him!" Posy yelled, "Now clean up this mess you made while I go talk to him!"
Big Bosc growled when his mother left.
“That was the start of Peary's Change,” Posy narrated, “but not for the better.”
"I can't believe Uncle Big Bosc would forbid Uncle Peary from his dream to make his own pear butter. All just to keep you out of his life, Grand Pear!” Applejack said in aggravation.
“I agree, it was very frustrating.” Grand Pear says.
"Big Bosc was very close with your mother, Applejack," Posy said, "When Grand Pear disowned her, he felt backstabbed and furious that he wasn’t allowed to see her. After we divorced, Big Bosc swore to keep his father and pears out of his life since he thinks it's pears that tore the family apart."
"What happened next?" Spike asked.
"Well...” Grand Pear started.
****
“...As the years went by, Peary grew up angry and troubled like some teens are," Grand Pear narrated, "When Big Bosc forbade him from pears and anything involving them, Peary felt without purpose. Big Bosc tried to get him involved in the flower business to help Posy out, but Peary was unhappy. He felt that the rest of the family wanted to isolate him from me. That made his anger toward the Apples and the rest of the non-pears in Equestria become great.”
At the Farmer's Market in the Town Square, a pre-teen Peary was sulking at his mother and brother's booth while they sold a few flowers, twirling his hoof in a circle on the booth and looking down on it. Big Bosc noticed his expression and bumped him in the shoulder.
"Try and smile for the customers, will ya?" Big Bosc growled.
Peary showed a fake smile as he waved to other ponies. He moaned until he saw a pear booth with Pear Spice selling pear jam to customers. He felt so relieved to see her.
With steady and quiet movements so Posy and Big Bosc wouldn’t notice, as well as ducking below the booth to not be seen. He crawls a few feet away from the booth before standing himself up. He puts on his happy face and trots over to see his cousin.
"Pear Spice! Hi!" a happy Peary says.
"Peary! It’s been a long time since any of us saw you last month! How've you been?" Pear Spice says.
Peary blew his mane up and says, "Miserable. Big Bosc has me planting seeds and watering flowers for work. I never have time to make pear butter for Dad. I want to fulfill my dream, but my big brother says I'm part of the family business."
"Just give your brother time. He'll come around."
“I hope so, but it seems like that sort of thing won’t be possible,” he says glumly, “How’s Dad?”
“He misses you terribly.”
Suddenly, Peary is harshly pulled by the tail by a really strong grip. It was enough to make him fly a little until he lands on his rump a couple of feet away from the one who threw him: Big Bosc. He didn’t look happy either according to his scowl.
Big Bosc stomped toward Pear Spice and says harshly, "Hear me out, Spice! Neither you nor Dad are allowed to talk to us unless Princess Celestia allows it!”
Flabbergasted beyond anything for what Big Bosc was saying, all she could do was say, “Wh-? Now wait just a minute, Princess Celestia didn’t say-!”
“I don’t care!” Big Bosc loudly interrupts, before turning towards Peary, “And as for you, Peary! You're not to bring pears into our lives. You'll stick to the flower business, and like it!"
Having had enough of his brother, Peary growled and gritted his teeth.
“This is what I think of your stupid flower business!" he yells.
Peary angrily ran up to the flower booth and bucked it, causing the entire booth to fall on his mother's flowers and crush them, as well as fall on top of his mother who was still inside of it. Horrified beyond anything, Big Bosc and Pear Spice rush over and helped Posy up.
Peary angrily spotted a grape cart and kicked it down as well. Then, he kicked down an orange stand, and a coconut stand.
****
Many minutes later...
Almost the entire market was destroyed, and Peary breathed heavily from the exhilaration and frustration within him. Angry ponies swarm around Peary as they looked at him with dagger-eyes and trotted toward him.
"Come on! I'll take you all on!" Peary said as he held up his hooves and threw punches.
Two stallions grabbed Peary and started to tussle with him, but he was strong enough to take them down without any hesitation. Other ponies begin to pile on him to make sure no one else gets hurt.
Posy and Pear Spice ran to stop the fight, and they even tried to get through the crowd forming around Peary, but it was almost to no avail.
"After the fight, I received a telegram from Pear Spice about what happened with Peary," Grand Pear continued, “I rushed over to Ponyville by train, hoping to get there before Peary caused anymore trouble. When I got there, I saw a horrible sight: carts and booths in rubble, food splattered all over the street, and my youngest son covered in more bandages than a mummy straight from Southern Equestria...”
Grand Pear gasped when he saw how much of a mess the Farmer's Market became. Baked goods were splattered all over the street, booths and carts were knocked over, and his son was getting wrapped in bandages by Pear Blossom and Posy, with the exception of his mouth. Grand Pear showed a stern face and marched toward his injured son.
"Peary Bits! What did you do?!" he yelled.
"I knocked out the competition!" Peary responded, "Just like you always keep saying."
"Not like this! You can’t just go around knocking over cats and hurting ponies And who says you can knock down your mother's booth too?!”
"What happened here?" a voice suddenly says, drawing everyone’s attention.
They look to find that Princess Celestia was here, along with some royal guards. Celestia and the guards were shocked by the damage.
“Unfortunately, the damage Peary caused was so bad, Celestia was called in to settle the dispute,” Grand Pear narrated, “When she saw what I saw, she was horrified...”
As the royal guard spread out among the damaged Market Place, Grand Pear walks over to Celestia, his intent being to explain to her what caused the mess.
"I'm sorry, Princess," Grand Pear said, "My son, Peary Bits, got into a brawl with some of the competitors due to an argument he had with his brother, Big Bosc. I'll help clean the mess up."
"Grand Pear, you have to do more than "Clean-up"," Celestia said with a motioning of her hoof, "You have to talk to Peary.
This sort of thing is why I never gave you custody of the children in the first place. By getting into a feud with the Apple family, you wound up teaching your children to hate anything that isn't a pear."
"B-but pears are my life." Grand Pear said in defense.
"And so is your family,” Celestia lectured, “I will send a clean up crew to fix all of this. But, if your son gets into this kind of trouble again, I will have him face a trial for his actions."
"No need. I will personally talk to him." Grand Pear assures.
After Celestia trots away, Grand Pear trots over toward Peary to talk to him. His trotting came to a stop when he noticed somepony in a red hood. When he stopped to look at her, she stood up and ran away, showing her orange, permed tail. Grand Pear recognized her right away.
"Pear Butter?" he said.
He shrugged it off and trotted back to his son, thinking that if it was her, she probably wouldn’t want to see him.
****
“That day, I thought I saw Pear Butter," Grand Pear said.
"You did, Grand Pear," Posy said, "But she was too frightened to see you."
"I guess I can't blame her.”
"I still remember when we had our last tea party together...” Posy narrated.
****
“...Pear Butter was sipping tea with me at our house while her family was in the middle of Applebuck season. We were sitting down and talking about how it was going with Bright Mac and the kids, who never at the time that we were related...”
"And Big Mac almost got operated on thanks to Applejack's lie," Pear Butter giggled.
Posy giggled as well.
"Guess your daughter spun a web of lies,” Posy said as she stirred sugar in her tea, “How’s your youngest?"
"Apple Bloom said her first word: Apple!"
Both mares giggled when Peary comes into the living room with an angry glare. Pear Butter gently put her tea down and trotted to Peary.
"Hey, Peary," she said softly, "It's been a while."
"Yeah. It has," Peary gruffly said, "How does it feel to be an apple?"
"Peary, don't be like that,” Pear Butter said while trying to console him with her hood, “I missed you."
But Peary shoved himself away.
"Then why did you abandon me? Why did you break up our family? Why did Big Bosc forbid me from my dream to make pear jam?!” he yelled.
"Peary! The divorce is not Pear Butter's fault!" Posy yelled.
"Yes it is! I wouldn't even be this way if not for her and her choice to stay with the apples! As far as I'm concerned, Dad is my only family!"
Peary ran upstairs and slammed the door to his bedroom, leaving Pear Butter to shed tears and cry. Her mom hurries over to comfort her.
"Is it really my fault that you and Daddy broke up?" Pear Butter asked as she sobbed.
"No, Sweetie," Posy hugged her, "Your father and I had problems before your choice to stay. He was more involved with the feud than any of you, and he taught you all to hate. I was against what he was doing, and your disownment was the final straw.”
“But what if he’s right?” Pear Butter asks, “What if I shouldn’t have left.”
“Pear Butter, you have every right to follow your heart like any pony. You showed a lot of courage standing up for yourself against your father. Best of all, you stepped away from a fight rather than get yourself involved. Your father was just too stubborn to see it."
"Sounds like Mom blamed herself for what happened?" Applejack said.
“That she did, Applejack,” Posy sadly confirmed, “That she did.”
"Say. Pardon me for asking this, but what did you mean by your last tea party with her, Ms. Posy?" Flim asks.
Silence suddenly filled the room as Applejack and her family, both apples and pears, dropped their heads, confusing Megan, the Mane 6, Flim & Flam, Spike, and especially Apple Bloom.
"Was it something I said?" Flim asks again.
"Eh... Apple Bloom, if you want to leave the room while we tell the next part, we'll understand," Applejack said to her sister.
"Eeyup," Big Mac said.
Apple Bloom suddenly realizes what the next part was going to be about and dropped her head too. Then she bravely says, "It's okay, Sis. I want to know what happened to Mom and Dad."
"Well. You have a right to know," Granny Smith says, "All of you do."
Granny nodded at Posy to continue.
"According to a letter Pear Butter left behind...”
****
“...They were going to meet someone in the Everfree Forest who could help expand the Apple Business". She and Bright Mac said they were going to be out for a day or two, but then a week passed since they left," Posy continued, "I got so worried for her and Bright Mac, I asked their closest friends, Burnt Oak and Chiffon Swirl, to help look for them..."
Burnt Oak and Chiffon (Mrs. Cake) search at the edge of the Everfree Forest. They searched high and low, until they gasped to a horrific sight: A part of the Everfee Forest where trees were knocked over and the ones still standing had huge claw marks on them.
“Oak. Do you think...?” Chiffon asked with a worried voice.
“No. It can’t be.” Burnt Oak says.
Fearing the worse, the two ponies look everywhere for evidence on their fearful theory. Suddenly, after pushing aside a bush...the two gasped in horror.
What they saw...was Bright Mac's hat and Buttercup's scrunchie, all torn up.
They now knew what happened, with tear-dropping dismay.
****
"...I awaited their return...”
Posy Springs paced back and forth, anxiously waiting for Chiffon and Burnt Oak to come back, and especially waiting for Pear Butter and Bright Mac to return, when, all of a sudden...
She sees something.
It was Chiffon and Burnt Oak headed in her direction. But, they looked miserable.
She runs right over to find what’s going on, stopping close enough to find the tear marks on their cheeks.
“...When they came back, they gave me horrific news...”
With Despair written all over their faces, slowly...they show Posy Springs the broken up scrunchie and piece of hat.
“...The timber wolves...got my daughter and son-in-law.”
Shocked and dejected beyond anything in her whole life, she becomes the third pony to shed tears because of this, covering her eyes while sobbing for the now long gone Pear Butter and Bright Mac.
****
“Soon, everyone in Ponyville heard the news. We all took it hard, but Peary and Big Bosc took the news about what happened harder. They didn't talk for weeks, and Peary hardly came out of his room...”
In the gardening room, Posy, Pear Blossom, and Big Bosc were working on giving life to more flowers. Each of them were glum about the recent news, but...Big Bosc...he could only stare off as if he was in his own world while working, hardly speaking or blinking which deeply concerned the two mares.
They had no idea what they could do.
****
In Peary’s bedroom...
Peary was sitting on his bed, staring down at the floor, completely miserable. But this time, it wasn’t just because of his dreams being taken away or Big Bosc’s sister. It was because of his sister and brother-in-law, and their death.
Ever since the news, and ever since he began looking back on the last time he saw Pear Butter...he felt completely guilty and deeply regretted what he said to her the last time they spoke, as well as realize that he still loved her despite the fact she left the family.
As a tear goes down his cheek, he looks up towards a dresser, which contained a large mirror on top of it. But, it also contained pictures. Pictures of himself, and his family. Even his sister.
He walks towards the mirror, and with one grab of the hoof, he takes a picture of him and his sister, sitting side by side lovingly. Just looking at it caused his pain to grow even more.
Then, he speaks two words which would be the first time he had talked in a while since the news: “I’m sorry.”
****
“Two weeks after the discovery, all of Ponyville held up a funeral for Bright Mac and Pear Butter. Each Pony, including Princess Celestia, brought a flower of remembrance to the spot where Bright Mac's Hat and Pear Butter's scrunchie was found.”
Today, everypony was gathered at the funeral to mourn the loss of Pear Butter and Bright Mac. They stood in front of two tombstones: One had the name Bright Mac and contained his hair in front of it. Everyone they were close to sent their condolences by putting flowers in front of the tombstones, even Princess Celestia.
Pear Blossom and Posy Springs mournfully hug each other in comfort.
****
A few hours later...when the sun was beginning its decent.
The funeral was empty. There was no life anywhere near the tombstones because it ended a while back. But...there was one pony there who had arrived much later than everyone else: Grand Pear.
“By the time I came to Ponyville on account of the funeral, everypony was gone, and I was the only pony there,” Grand Pear narrated, “Why I never heard about all of this until that day is something I’ll never know.”
Grand Pear arrives with a bouquet of buttercups and a pear gift basket marked "Family". Grand Pear had tears in his eyes, because he never thought that this sort of thing would ever happen.
He walks right up to the tombstones...and puts the buttercups and gift basket to where they would be sitting in front of both of them, so that both wouldn’t be neglected in his opinion.
“Pear Butter,” he says with a sad sigh, “I’m sorry, for not being a good sport to you and Bright Mac.”
He bows his head in woe.
“I miss you dearly, and I wish that we could speak to one another again, and that I could get to know your husband better.”
“Grand Pear?” a familiar female voice says behind him.
He turns around to find Pear Blossom, Posy, and Big Bosc standing behind him. Pear Blossom and Posy are happy to see him, but Big Bosc snorted.
"I came as soon as I heard," Grand Pear said, "I wanted to give my regards for her."
"Why? You think it would be good for your pear jam business?" Big Bosc cynically said.
"Big Bosc!" Pear Blossom yelled, "Daddy is here to mourn our sister!"
But he never listened.
“I don't recall inviting you to this cemetery, Grand Pear!”
"It's not Grand Pear, Bosc, it’s Father," Grand Pear said sternly.
"You never once acted like a father!”
What Big Bosc said hit a mark on Grand Pear, because his expression went from stern to put-down.
“You treated us more like employees than a family, and you spent more time with your pear jam making than with us! When something goes wrong, you always get mad at us! That water-tower incident and how you treated Pear Butter was proof! The reason she ever turned to Bright Mac for comfort was because you were always hard on her!”
“I-“ Grand Pear tries to speak, but gets cut off.
“It's always your way or else! We were not allowed to try any fruit! Especially apples, because you forbade it! You moved us out of the only home we have ever known to get away from the Apples and Pear Butter! You never once listened to her or us about what we really wanted in life!”
“Big Bosc-“ Posy tries to say, but gets cut off by Big Bosc.
“You’re the worst father in the world! You want to be a good father, LEAVE AND NEVER COME BACK! And take your junk with you!" he finishes, before kicking the basket and buttercups away from the tombstones.
Big Bosc turned his back and ran, leaving his mom and sister horrified and his father hurt by his words, ears flopped down because of it.
The girls would have none of that, they went to comfort the downtrodden stallion right away.
"He's just grieving for Pear Butter, Daddy," Pear Blossom comforted her father.
Grand Pear sighed, "No, Pear Blossom. Everything he said about me is right. I'm sorry for not being a good father."
Posy Springs suddenly brought a forehoof to Grand Pear’s shoulder.
"It takes a great father to say that," Posy said.
Pear Blossom wraps Grand Pear in a tight hug, to which Grand Pear returns.
After hearing from Grand Pear and Posy about what Big Bosc said to him, everyone, including the Mane 6 and Megan, were outraged with what they heard.
"I can't believe Big Bosc yelled at you that way!" Megan angrily huffed, "And on the day of his own sister's funeral too."
"Even Celestia was outraged when she eventually heard about it," Posy said, "I took Big Bosc home and demoted him to weed puller after what he did."
"Oh, Grand Pear! I had no idea about what you’ve been through," A teary-eyed Apple Bloom said.
"That wasn't the worst part of it, Apple Bloom.”Grand Pear said.
****
“After I went back to Vanhoover, I went back to my pear jam production...”
Grand Pear is getting dropped off by some cab ponies who drove him from the train station in Vanhoover. They were in front of the station, and Grand Pear was stepping down from the carriage.
He faces the two cab ponies and pays them a large amount of money for the help, the ponies responding by taking off after getting paid.
Grand Pear directs himself to his factory, and proceeds inside.
****
“...But, as time went on, I became very depressed. Big Bosc's words wouldn’t stop replaying in my head. I had such a hard time concentrating on my work, I had to put Pear Spice and Red Pear in charge while I rest. I never got over it.”
Grand Pear is in his bedroom, lying on his bed facing towards the ceiling while the words Big Bosc said to him kept replaying inside of him. His eyes were full of bags.
****
“Then one day, shortly after your sister and her friends turned Nightmare Moon back into Princess Luna, I was in my bedroom, contemplating what Big Bosc said when I finally snapped...”
Grand Pear began breaking everything in his room that had his face on it. He buck-kicked his vanity mirror; he ripped the pictures with his face from his albums; he smashed the family photos hanging on his walls, leaving cracks on his face; and he even bucked his reflection in the window, causing him to injure his hind legs and scream with pain.
Pear Spice came into the room because of all the commotion and saw her uncle lying on the floor with two broken legs. She was horrified beyond anything and gave immediate comfort to her uncle.
****
"I couldn't help it. It felt like all the grief for Pear Butter and all the self-hatred I had for disowning her and losing my family caused me to lose myself. I was smashin' and rippin' everything that had my face on it. I was fiercer than an attack dog that had his nap interrupted until I smashed my bedroom window. Unfortunately, that caused my legs to become injured and wounded from all the glass. Pear Spice heard the commotion and saw how hurt I was...”
"Well that explains why you looked wobbly when you walk.” Granny says.
****
“My niece rushed me over to the Vanhoover Mercy Hospital and got me to the emergency room. According to the doctor, I only sprained my legs, and I needed ten stitches on each of them. They said it was best if I stay overnight for observation, in case I brought internal injuries too. That night, when I was asleep, I had the most unusual dream...”
Grand Pear fell asleep in his bed, and when he woke up, he finds himself in the courtroom of the Canterlot Castle. He finds the place filled with ponies who are glaring at him from the stands to the bottom. He also sees a jury of twelve ponies from the Apple Family.
"What's going on here?" Grand Pear said.
He turned around and saw Princess Celestia, standing at a podium before him with a grim look and a gavel.
"Princess Celestia, what is going on?" Grand Pear asks.
"We are at your trial, Grand Pear," Princess Celestia said.
"Trial?! What am I accused of? What are the charges?" Grand Pear asks.
"The crimes are being a horrible father and intolerance to fellow farmers due to pride!" Celestia stated.
"What!?!"
Grand Pear turned around and saw the prosecuting attorney. To his horror, it was Big Bosc, who was for some reason also wearing a prosecutor’s wig. Big Bosc presented himself to Celestia and the jury.
"Fillies and Gentlecolts! We are here to see that justice is done! I wish to prove that that former father of mine is a horrible father and a pony of pride! The worst kind!" Big Bosc harshly speeches, "I have with me evidence to prove his guilt!"
Big Bosc took out a pink scrapbook that his father recognizes.
"That's Pear Butter's scrapbook from when she was a filly!" he said.
Celestia uses the gavel to quiet Grand Pear.
“Order.” she says, “Go ahead, Big Bosc.”
"August 21, 1987!' shouted Big Bosc.
"Pear Butter's birthday? Oh no!"
The scrapbook magically replayed the very mentioned birthday of Pear Butter.
****
Pear Butter was Apple Bloom's age having a birthday party with her mom, her brothers and sister, as well as the rest of the Pear clan, with the exception of Grand Pear. She was sitting at the table as she blew the candles on her cake.
"Happy birthday, Pear Butter!" Posy said as she gave her a present.
Pear Butter was about to open her present when her father busted in looking stern.
"What are you doing?!” he shouted, "It's harvest time for our pears, and we need to catch up to Granny Smith and her apple kin!"
"But it's Pear Butter's birthday!" Posy shouted, "Can't the pears wait until after she opens her presents?"
"Not while the pears are still ripe! Everyone to the pear trees now!"
Everyone groaned as they went outside. Grand Pear noticed Pear Butter in front of her cake, looking upset.
"You too, Birthday Girl!"
Pear Butter silently walked out with her head hanging down.
****
The memory ends, and the jury ponies start to murmur to themselves about what they saw, which Celestia immediately decided to quiet down.
"I-I just wanted to keep up production! I never meant to ruin her birthday like that!" Grand Pear panicked.
"That’s not the worst of it," Big Bosc said, "June 21, 1991!"
"The water silo incident?!"
It magically played back to the day when Bright Mac wrecked their water silo.
****
Grand Pear trotted toward the field when he saw it flooded and the silo wrecked.
He angrily trotted toward Pear Butter and said, "Pear Butter! What did you do?"
"I-I'm not sure," Pear Butter nervously said.
"I asked you to pull weeds, and you wind up wrecking a silo that took me six weeks to build?! I should have trusted Peary with this chore!"
Pear Butter was about to cry when a familiar voice spoke, "She didn't to it, Sir!"
Bright Mac appeared.
"Excuse me?" Grand Pear said.
"The water silo! It was my fault.” Bright Mac said as he took off his hat.
****
The memory ends.
"I know I was hard on her, but I didn't know what happened at the time," Grand Pear excused himself.
"Let's see if you have an excuse for this memory," Big Bosc said, "Pear Butter's Wedding!"
To Grand Pear's Dismay, he saw the scrapbook play the last memory he had of Pear Butter: her wedding and the night he disowned her.
****
Grand Pear was confronting Pear Butter and Bright Mac.
"Are you choosing to be an apple over being a pear?" he yelled.
"Are you making me choose?" a teary-eyed Pear butter asked as she sobbed.
"Yes, I am."
Pear Butter gathered up her courage and said with tears, "Then yeah. I am."
Grand Pear was appalled on hearing those words.
"Fine!" Grand Pear yelled as he angrily trotted away.
Pear Butter cried as Bright Mac and Granny comforted her.
****
The memory ends.
Grand Pear hung his head in sorrow, seeing that was the last memory he had of his daughter, and one that he couldn’t deny on why he was here.
He quietly approached the Princess and said, "I'm ready for my punishment, Princess."
But before she could say anything in response, the doors to the courtroom suddenly slam open.
"I object!" shouted a familiar voice.
Grand Pear and everyone gasped when they turned and saw Princess Luna bursting through the doors.
"Sister! I wish to act as defending lawyer on Grand Pear's behalf," Luna requested.
At first, it seemed like Celestia would say no, but...she couldn’t deny her own sister.
"I will allow it.” Princess Celestia said.
Luna gives a nod of thanks to her sister for allowing her to participate. She turns to face the jury, and the appalled Big Bosc.
"Fillies of the jury! You may see Grand Pear as a horrid father and pony, but I went into his memories and I saw the opposite of what you saw. I wish to replay the aftermath of the first two memories.” Luna said.
Luna's horn shone and it replayed to not long after Grand Pear ruined his daughter's party.
****
Pear Butter came into her home. She was tired and sad from what happened earlier at her party when...she saw a big present in the room...right next to her father, who looked at her with a loving smile.
She was awestruck upon what she saw, and trotted straight towards her father and the present, until she was only a few inches across from him.
"Is this for me, Daddy?" Pear Butter asked.
"Yes. It is," Grand pear said, "I just needed a distraction while I had a friend of mine bring it in."
Pear Butter opened her present and gazed with awe when she saw what she got: a pink dollhouse she saw at the window of a Ponyville toy store.
"Happy Birthday, Pear Butter!" Grand Pear said.
Pear Butter became teary-eyes with joy, and jumped up to her father and hugged him. Grand Pear returns the embrace.
****
The memory ends, and the jury and Celestia were awestruck by what Grand Pear did to make up for the mistake. Big Bosc was immediately shocked, but it didn’t keep his stubborn self from trying to oppose.
“T-that doesn’t help anything! He still-“
But Celestia and her gavel interrupt him.
“Continue, Luna.” she says.
With a lighting of her horn, Luna showed what happened after Pear Butter and Grand Pear came home from the water silo.
****
Grand Pear and Pear Butter were walking back to the house, until...Grand Pear stops in front of his daughter and looks at her with an apologetic look.
"Pear Butter...I'm sorry of those things I said," Grand Pear said, "I'm just scared. The Apple family is doing better business in Ponyville than us Pears. I got nervous and lashed out.”
Pear Butter smiles in understanding upon the explanation her Dad gave, and she nuzzles his cheek to show that everything was okay.
“It’s okay, Dad,” she whispers, “I understand.”
“How's about if I take you to Sugarcube corner for tea and cupcakes?"
"Sure, Daddy," Pear Butter said.
****
The memory ends, and Grand Pear smiled as his eyes filled up with tears.
“I found myself in the presence of Princess Luna, Sister of Celestia before she became Nightmare Moon,” narrated Grand Pear, “I was both honored and confused..."
"It is nice to meet you, Princess Luna," Grand Pear said, "But how did I get to this courtroom, and how did my son and these ponies get here?"
"To know, you must take a closer look at them, Grand Pear.” Princess Luna instructed.
Grand Pear took a closer look at the ponies, and to his shock, they all turned into him as they glared. Even Big Bosc turned into him.
"It's me,” he says with realization, "I tried to declare myself guilty. So this is a dream?"
"It's a nightmare," Princess Luna said, "It represents the negative emotions you have inside your mind and heart. You've listened to your son say about how bad you are, so you forgot the good things about yourself just as he did. I came into your dream to help you through and remind you of the good inside you."
Grand Pear sighed and sobbed, "A lot of good that did for me. Pear Butter is gone, and I'll never get a chance to tell her how sorry I was about the day I left."
"I understand. I too have regretted my actions against my sister and Equestria, but you can't let guilt and self-hatred eat you up inside, Grand Pear. You just need to find a way to make things right."
"How do I do that?"
"There are three grand-foals who would love to meet their grandfather. One of them is one of the six who saved Equestria. Her name is Applejack, and she is a hard worker as you are."
"You think they will have me after all I did to hurt their mother?”
"I can't tell you that, but I know your daughter would want you to get to know your grandchildren and end the feud. Just promise me you will do that when you feel ready."
Grand Pear thought for a moment. He may have lost two of his children, but he doesn't want his grandchildren growing up without knowing him. He spoke up and said as he bowed, "I promise, Princess Luna."
With that, Princess Luna ascended herself into the sky and left Grand Pear.
****
“Soon after, I saved up enough money for my retirement and left the business to Pear Spice. I decided to set up a small booth in the market like I used to. Not long after, I met Apple bloom, and...you know the rest.” Grand Pear said.
"So that’s why you came back,” Applejack said.
"But Luna was in my dream before," Apple Bloom said, "Why didn't she tell me about you?"
"I told her I'd rather be the one to tell you about myself, and she respected my wishes," Grand Pear said.
"What happened to Peary?" Flim and Flam asked.
"Our son became a whirlwind of emotions," Posy said, "One minute he would get angry, and the next, he'd sulk in his room. Other times, he would sneak off and come home the next day. When I caught him sneaking home one night, he told me he found a friend who understood how he felt to be alone. I'm very glad he found someone to help him through his pain, but he won't tell me who this friend is."
"I take it that cart act today is just his whirlwind of emotions, huh?" Granny said.
"Yes. It is."
Granny Smith suddenly couldn’t help but feel guilty about how she had thought of Grand Pear before.
"You know, Grand Pear," Granny said to him, "When you left your daughter the way you did that night, I made a wish that you would get what you deserved for what happened. But, after hearing your story about what you, Posy, your sons, and your daughter went through, I wish I had taken that wish back."
"No, Granny," Grand Pear said, "I deserved it. This is what happens when you let pride get to you. You hang on to it so much, it can cause a lot of damage in your life. Pride can even drive away the ponies who matter in your life until you're alone. That was a lesson I had to learn the hard way. That's why it's best to swallow your pride and take responsibility for your actions."
"And I learned something from your story, too, Grand Pear," Apple Bloom said, "I learned why it's important to forgive someone after what they did. If you stay angry at someone, it just makes everyone hate you."
"That's why it's called the Hate Plague," Pear Blossom said, "It’s also why I've forgiven Daddy for what happened. I don't want anymore anger spread to my family."
After the story was told, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Flim, Flam, and the Pear family trotted home with nothing but silence. The Apple Siblings were particularly quiet, but also sad. The story of what happened to Grand Pear and the Pear Family brought back the wounds of how they lost their parents.
It was Megan who noticed right away.
Megan sighed and said, "Guys...”
Ears perked high and their heads up, the Apple siblings hear Megan’s call and turn their attention to her.
“I'm sorry if your grandpa's story made you feel this way. And about what happened to your parents, and your Grandfather back then.”
"It's okay, Megan. Talking about it can help with the grieving process,” Applejack said, a smile suddenly forming on her face, “Besides, it gave me a better understanding about our uncle. When he tore up our cart, I thought he was just a jerk out to ruin the business, but after hearing what Grand Pear and his family went through after our mom's disownment, I now see him as just a poor kid put in a bad situation.”
“Applejack’s right,” Apple Bloom agreed, “It's easy to judge somepony as a jerk because of how they act or treat others. But, when you take a look at what their lives are like, you begin to see them in a whole new light. You start seeing them as just a lost soul who had something go wrong with them and their lives."
"Eeyup," Big Mac said, "And our Uncle Peary was truly a victim of bad circumstances."
"Indeed," Flim said, "I'm just glad Peary found a shoulder to cry on from this mysterious friend of his."
"Indeed," Flam said, "I wonder who his new friend is."
Megan and the Apple siblings shrugged it off.
“By the way, Applejack,” Flim speaks up, “Consider our apprehension of Peary when he tried to vandalize your barn...”
“Our gratitude of thanks for helping us get rid of Gladmane.” Flam finishes for him.
In response to this, Applejack blinked with surprise upon hearing what they said.
“Really?” she asks.
“Why, of course,” Flam says, “If it weren’t for you and your friend, Fluttershy...”
“Then we would never have found any other way to earn money besides conning.” Flim finishes for him again.
The brothers tip their hats off to Applejack, who couldn’t help but shyly blush and smile at the gesture.
“Well, yer welcome, partners,” she says.
Flim and Flam move on from Megan and the siblings to catch up with the others and thank Fluttershy, with the siblings and Megan watching with a smile as they went.
“Well, that was awfully nice,” Megan comments.
“Eeyup,” Big Mac says.
****
Later that night...
Peary was sneaking around the Everfree Forest with a burlap sack full of something. He trotted with caution as he looked behind himself. He kept trotting through the trees until he reached a cave with vines hanging at the entrance. Peary walked through them, and into the darkness of the cave, before going down through a tunnel.
When he reached the end of the tunnel, he saw Cerberus scratching the ears of the head on he had on the left. The canine’s other heads rolled their eyes.
The place Peary went to is Tartarus, a well-known prison Celestia and Luna set up to keep those who are a threat to Equestria locked.
Peary dug through his bag and took out a plate of lemon squares. Then, he set the plate down on the ground, and slid the plate in front of Cerberus. The guard dog took immediate interest in the newfound treats in front of him. While he chowed down on the lemon squares, Peary snuck past him without even making a sound.
He trotted quietly until he reached a cell, the intent being to visit someone who was a prisoner here. It wasn't just any prisoner he was seeing. It was Tirek, Scorpan's brother and enemy of the ponies. The old centaur turned around and saw Peary, but he was happy to see him.
"Peary! Good to see you!" he said.
"Hi Tirek," Peary said, "I brought you more goods."
Peary gave Tirek his sack. Tirek opens the bag, and sees baked goods in it. Ones that Peary stole during his lash-out at the Farmer's Market. Tirek gleefully licked his lips and began eating the baked goods.
"Thank you, My friend," Tirek said, "You really know how to make me happy."
"It's the least I could do," Peary said, "You're the only who gets me, and the only one who understands what it's like to be betrayed. Especially by someone you love."
“Quite right, my boy,” Tirek agreed, “Scorpan was my brother, but his double-cross had left nothing but a scar on me for telling the royals and sending me here to this light-less place. Just as your sister and older brother did with you.”
Peary smiled upon the words Tirek gave him, when suddenly...
He heard a sound coming from his chest. He pulls a small mirror out of his cloak, and it shows Grogar's face.
"Peary Bits!" Grogar shouted, "Have you found any information about my long lost Rainbow of Darkness?"
"No, Master," Peary said, "I got into some trouble, but the knights were somewhere else at the time. I haven't heard anything about it.”
Grogar sighs upon hearing the news, “That’s too bad. It would have been interesting if they were there.”
“Master, Grogar, why do the knights have to be around anyway? Wouldn’t it have been better if they weren’t?”
“Because they know where the Rainbow of Darkness is, you pear-headed idiot!”
His shout is enough to make Peary drop the mirror to the floor. It was a good thing that it didn’t break, otherwise Grogar would have been really mad. After the mirror fell, and Peary kneels himself down to be at eye level with the mirror, Grogar composes himself.
"Find something and do not come back as a failure, next time. Otherwise, I may be tempted to tell a little secret, like how I was able to acquire some...,” he pauses while twirling his hoof, “...certain trophies as you would put it.”
Even though Grogar made that threat as if he was giving the pony a riddle, Peary knew exactly what he was talking about. Peary sweated and said, "R-rest assured, Sire! I'll find something out as soon as I can!"
"You better!"
Grogar disappeared from the mirror. When he was gone, Peary got up from the ground and hung his head low as Tirek comforted him and put a consoling hand on his shoulder.
"It seems we have another thing in common, don’t we?" Tirek said.
Peary smiles upon the consoling Tirek was giving him.