> The Way the Pears Fall
>  by Darkblaze15
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1:  Something to Hide
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Thanks again, Ms. Cogsworth!" a dark red stallion says farewell as he departs from the Golden Oak Library.
"Anytime, Pyre," the elderly librarian returns the gesture with a friendly wave to her favorite customer.
Pyre Fahren closes the door behind him as he heads home for the day.  He had recently gotten off of work at the Ponyville bookstore and stopped by the library to check up on his order.  In his aura rests several volumes of books comprising of The Complete History of Griffon Culture and Its Implications on Society, which he'd been waiting for weeks on end to acquire.
"This will fit along perfectly with Uses and Misuses of Ancient Griffonian Artifacts," he tells himself, anxious to start studying up on more history.  After working in a bookstore for many years, Pyre has developed a keen interest in all things related to history and mythology, particularly that of foreign nations and cultures.  He has already read nearly everything about pony history and culture and is now working on studying the various practices and beliefs of other races in Equestria, from seaponies to griffons to zebras.  He has become so fascinated by history that he constantly lives by his self-proclaimed motto:  "History is like going on a quest: your starting point is just as important as your destination."
As Pyre makes his way across the countryside to reach his house, he passes by the Apple and Pear farms.  Almost every pony in Ponyville knows about the feud between the rival families, and nopony ever bothers to interfere.  Pyre knows many of the Apples personally, but he has never met anypony from the Pear family.  And yet, as he trots by, he notices a lone beautiful mare trudging about the orchard, dragging baskets packed to the brim with freshly-picked pears.  Her orange mane and cream coat are caked in dirt and mud, yet she does not falter in her step as she bounces between trees collecting her bounty.
Pyre watches the mare work for a little while before noticing that, as an Earth pony, she cannot reach the pears on the highest branches of the tall trees.  Being a unicorn himself, he feels obliged to help a fellow pony in need, so he sets his books down and trots into the orchard just as the mare tries reaching up again.
"Perhaps you could use a little magic touch?" Pyre asks jovially as he uses his magic to pluck several pears from the very top of the tree.  The mare turns around, surprised by the sudden address, but grateful for the help.
"T-Thank you very much," she says nervously, "You have no idea how hard it can be to reach the tops somedays."
"Actually, I've helped the Apples with harvesting on occasion," he states, "so I can understand where you're coming from."
She suddenly becomes wary, "You're not an Apple, are you?  Because ah'm not supposed to be talking with Apples."
"Oh, no, no worries," he says, "My name's Pyre Fahren, and I work at the bookstore in town."
The mare seemed to relax at the news, "Oh, good.  I'm Pear Butter," she says, offering her hoof in greeting, "Nice to meet you.  Actually, while you're here," she adds hopefully, "would you mind helping me finish up here?  I don't have much to do and, as you've seen, I can't reach them all."
"Of course, I'd be happy to help!" Pyre says as they grab their baskets and head off to the orchard together.
"Are those your books by the fence?" Pear Butter asks as they approach another tree.
"Yeah," he says sheepishly, "I'm a bit of a history fanatic.  Wouldn't want to bore you with all that, though. . ."

* * * *

". . .and that's why Neighpolean's charge was considered the greatest failure in pre-Equestrian history!" Pyre finishes enthusiastically.  He and Pear Butter finished their work relatively quickly, so they decided to take a break, which lasted into the night, with Pyre telling a very intrigued Pear Butter about the great pitfalls and conquests in history.
"Wow, you certainly know your stuff," she says impressed.
"Well, when you start reading textbooks for fun as a colt," he chuckles, grabbing another juicy pear from their pile, "you manage to pick up on a few things."
"Indeed," she says as she takes another bite of her pear, "What made you want to pursue history?"
"Well, my dad owned a bookstore when I was younger," Pyre says reminiscently, "so whenever my mom ran errands, I would spend the day under his watch.  Which isn't to say much, because I was often hiding amongst the shelves, reading whatever I could reach at the time.  I never knew it before, but you'd be surprised how much history has impacted how we live our lives today."
"That's fascinating," Pear Butter comments.
"Indeed," he says, "Well, I'd better get going, Mr. Cogsworth wants me to work early tomorrow," he begins to trot away, but Pear Butter suddenly calls out.
"Wait!  Um," she begins, "could you please do me a favor?"
"Hm?  Okay, what is it?" he stops and turns around, intrigued.
"Well, uh, you mentioned how well you know the Apples," she says nervously, "so, um, I was wondering, c-could you tell Bright Mac to go to the Whitetail Woods around noon tomorrow?"
"Sure, but I thought you weren't sup-" Pyre begins, but stops as realization rolls across his face, "Ah, I see what you're going on about," he finishes, giving her a sly look while she blushes.
"I-If it's not too much trouble for you, that is," she adds quickly, "I-I wouldn;t want you to get caught up in all this, too."
"Hey, it's no big deal," he says reassuringly, "I can stop by before I go into work tomorrow.  If I know ol' Bright Mac - which I do - he's bound to be up before then, anyways."
"Oh, thank you, Pyre!" she says, giving him a quick hug in appreciation, "This really means a lot to me!"
"It's no problem," he says, returning the gesture, "Wouldn't want a couple of lovebirds like you two to be kept in your cages," he adds, winking at her.  Pear Butter blushes again, but suddenly becomes very serious when she sees a light come on in the Pear family house.
"But PLEASE don't let anypony else know what we're up to," she says in a hushed tone.
"Of course not, I promise," Pyre says with understanding.
"I'd better get going.  Thanks again!" Pear Butter says as she makes her way back home.  Pyre picks up his books and heads home, preparing himself for a very early morning.
> Chapter 2:  Secrets Revealed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day, Pyre trots into Ponyville for yet another day of work, yawning all the way to the bookstore.  He had woken up earlier than usual in order to make sure he did not miss Bright Mac before he left for the fields.
"Are you sure she said, 'Whitetail Woods'?" Bright Mac repeats.
"The very same," Pyre states, "Is there a problem with that?"
"No, not at all," Bright Mac says quickly, "I just have no idea how I'm gonna sneak away for so long."
"Well, love always finds a way, I guess," Pyre says, winking at his Apple friend, who smirks sheepishly in return.  "Anyways, I'd better get going," he adds, "You two have fun now!" and he trots away from Sweet Apple Acres.  When he arrives at the bookstore, the owner, Mr. Cogsworth, is already waiting for him.
"There you are," he croaks in his old age, "I was wond'ring when you'd get here, sonny!" and he unlocks the store.  For the rest of the day, Pyre continues his routine of keeping the shelves stocked and helping any ponies who walk through the door.  At the end of the day, as he makes his way home, he passes by the Pear orchard again in hopes of saying hello to Pear Butter again.  He sees various ponies working amongst the trees, even Grand Pear himself, but the orange-maned mare was nowhere to be seen.  She and Bright Mac must still be out, he thinks to himself as he continues on his way, thinking nothing more about it.
Several days pass in a similar fashion, with Pyre working all day and trotting home without seeing Pear Butter - or Bright Mac, for that matter - ever since he first sent them off to Whitetail Woods.  Fearing the worst, he begins to speculate about the whereabouts of his two friends.
"I hope everything's alright," he says to himself after yet another day without seeing them, "Maybe they're just staying out in the woods later than usual.  Or what if something really bad happened to them?  Or worse, what if somepony found out about them and told Grand Pear and Granny Smith?!" He then vows to try and find them the next day, and if he fails, then he will go straight to Granny Smith or Grand Pear to ask about them.
The next day, on his lunch break, Pyre scouts all throughout Ponyville, looking for any sign of his friends.  After nearly an hour of searching, he is about to give up and go back to the bookstore when he notices Chiffon Swirl, the baker's apprentice at Sugarcube Corner, departing from the store, looking determined.  Even if he didn't know that she and Pear Butter are close friends, Pyre could have surmised that she is on her way to see her due to the large, pear-themed cake resting on her backside.  Seeking answers, he secretly follows behind her as Chiffon Swirl continues on her journey.
He tails Chiffon to the outskirts of the Apple family farm, where she peers over the fence looking for any sign of her friend.  "Looking for somepony?" he finally asks, startling her.
"Who-" she whips her head around and breathes a sigh of relief, "Oh, it's just you, Pyre.  Have you seen Pear Butter?"
"Not lately," he admits, "Have you?"
"Well, we work together every so often," Chiffon says, "but she hasn't been coming into the store as of late.  I wanted to thank her for all her help with this cake, but I don't know where she can be."
"Then how did you know to come here?" Pyre asks suspiciously.
"Well, whenever I pass by here around this time," she explains, "I've seen her walking along this path and straight into the Apples' orchard.  I tried to get her attention, but she acted like she didn't even hear me."
"Ah, that makes sense," he thinks out loud.
"Why do you say that?" Chiffon asks.
"I guess you'll find out soon enough," Pyre states as he trots into the trees, with Chiffon following close behind.
They eventually poke their way through some bushes along the Pear-Apple farm border; they immediately hide in the bushes again when they see two ponies having a picnic in the clearing.  They quickly recognize Bright Mac by his infamous Stetson, sitting next to Pear Butter; he then proceeds to give her a bouquet of buttercups, only to sneeze them all over her mane.  They share a hearty laugh and suddenly lean in to kiss each other; "Ohmigosh!" Chiffon squeals, startling Pyre and causing him to step noisily on a pile of leaves.  Bright Mac and Pear Butter look up, horrified looks on their faces at being found out, but they eventually relax when they recognize the intruders.
"Sorry," Chiffon apologizes, blushing as they emerge from the bushes, "I just wanted to bring you a little something to say thank you, but I see you're, ah. . .busy," she adds, winking at the couple, who blush and chuckle lightheartedly.
"Well, thank you very-" Pear Butter begins to say, but they suddenly hear a rustling coming from bushes in the apple orchard as Granny Smith trots out into the open.
"Where in Equestria did that noise come-" she begins to say, then gasps as she notices Pear Butter with Bright Mac, "What in tarnation are you doing, Bright Mac?!  We do not fraternize with Pears!" She grabs her son by the ear and forcefully drags him away, but not before he winks back at Pear Butter, who smiles and waves in return.
"Wait, Pyre," Chiffon suddenly asks once Granny Smith is out of earshot, "You knew about this?"
"He figured it out the first time we even met," Pear Butter says.
"Well, I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," Chiffon comments, "Your families hate each other!"
"I can't help it," Pear Butter says innocently, "We just sort of. . .happened," she finishes, looking off dreamily in the direction Granny Smith dragged Bright Mac away.  she is suddenly pulled out of her reviere when they hear a shout from amongst the trees.
"Pear Butter!  Where are ya?" Grand Pear calls out, "That darn girl better not be sleeping on the job again."
"Oh, I'd better get going!" she says as she heads in the opposite direction towards her father.  Before disappearing among the bushes, she turns towards her friends, "Promise me you won't say anything about us?"
"Oh, of course not!" Chiffon says eagerly.
"You have my word," Pyreadds, bowing dramatically.  Pear Butter smiles and trots off to meet up with Grand Pear as Pyre and Chiffon make their way out of the orchard.
"My, this is certainly exciting, isn't it Pyre?" Chiffon asks the stallion enthusiastically.
"It sure is," Pyre says, then becomes very serious, "but don't forget what we promised Pear Butter.  We can't let anypony know, not even our closest friends.  You never know who you can trust to stay away from the Apples and the Pears."
"I know, I know," she says, collecting herself, "I guess I just got a little ahead of myself there.  It's just, we're part of something pretty big here; I can't help but be excited for them!" She looks up at Pyre as they exit the fields, "Where do you think this will go?"
"I'm not sure, Chiffon," he says honestly, "but I certainly hope for the best for them." The baker-in-training agrees as they split away for their own homes, thinking about their friends' potential future.
> Chapter 3:  Where Loyalties Lie
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few weeks after his and Chiffon Swirl's run-in with Bright Mac and Pear Butter, Pyre Fahren makes his way to the bookstore for work.  He had neither seen nor heard from the happy couple since the incident; the only way he ever knew what was happening was through Chiffon herself, and even she was hearing from them less and less.  The last story Pyre heard from Chiffon was about the anniversary of their first meeting, when she sang the most beautiful song they had ever heard.
Now, as he gets back into his daily routine, he cannot help but let his mind wander to his friends and what might have become of them.  As he day dreams throughout the day, he almost does not notice when Chiffon sudeny brusts through the doors of the bookstore, looking around frantically.
"Oh, there you are Pyre!" she exclaims, "You'll never guess what's happened!"
"What in Equestria are you talking about?" he inquires.
"Oh, it's just awful!" she adds, "I saw Pear Butter in the orchard on my way to work this morning, and she looked devastated.  As if she'd been crying all day."
"Oh my, that's terrible!" Pyre says, "What's wrong?"
"Well, um, I think she'd better be the one to tell you," Chiffon says.
"OK, my shift ends at two today," Pyre says, "So I'll be over in a couple of minutes."
Alright, but do be quick," Chiffon says as she exits the shop, "I don't know how much more suffering the poor dear can take."

* * * *

After clocking out, Pyre arrives at the Pear family orchard in record time and searches among the trees for his friend.  He eventually finds her hidden away in a thick copse of trees, silently sobbing and sniffling.
"Pear Butter!" he exclaims, "What's wrong?"
She wipes the tears from her eyes as she looks up at her friend, "Pyre?  How did you know I was out here?"
"Chiffon told me," he admits, "Now tell me, what happened?"
"Well," Pear Butter sniffs, on the verge of tears again, "My father just told me this morning that. . . .we're moving to Vanhoover!" she bursts.
"Oh, well, I'm sorry to hear that, but-" he says cautiously, "What's so bad about that?"
"Well, I told Bright Mac about us moving,"  she explains, nearly reaching her breaking point, "and he got mad so we fought for a while, and he suddenly called us off!"
"Wait, he did what?!" Pyre says, changing his mood on a dime.
"He said it would probably be better. .if. .we. . .w-went our separate ways!" The emotional strain eventually becomes too much for Pear Butter, and she bounds forward and hugs Pyre hard, crying into his shoulder.
"There, there," Pyre says comfortingly, "It's alright, it's alright.  Tell you what," he adds, wiping the tears from her eyes this time, "I'll talk to Bright Mac and see what his deal is."
"T-Thanks, Pyre," she says gratefully and the hug each other one more time as they part ways.

* * * *

Pyre searches all over the Apple family orchard for sight of Bright Mac, but to no avail.  He cannot believe that such a loyal and honest stallion like Bright Mac would give up on the best thing that ever happened to him.  "I've certainly got a few choice words to say to that stallion when I find him," he says angrily to himself, "But, where in Equestria could he be?" he adds as he trots back towards town.  Suddenly, an idea pops into his head, "He just might. . ." he adds as he races away in the opposite direction, headed for Whitetail Woods.
When he arrives, he finds Bright Mac just where he thought of:  sitting in front of the stone he carved his and Pear Butter's cutie marks into as a symbol of their relationship, seemingly contemplating something.
"What in the wide world of Equestria do you think you're doing?!" Pyre exclaims, startling the cream stallion out of his stupor.
"Fahren?  Wha-how-w-what do you mean?" he stammers in surprise, "Oh, I was just, you know. . ."
"You can save your breath, Pear Butter already explained everything," Pyre continues.
Bright Mac sighs heavily at this news, "Well, then I've got nothin' else other than to say that I'm right."	
"How can you even say that after all that you two have been through?" Pyre asks curiously.
"Well, I-I" the cream stallion stammers, "B-Because you weren't there, man!  When she told me about her moving and all, I tried to keep things together, saying that we'll work it out, but she was so adamant about staying with her family that I thought 'Well, if that's how it's gonna be, then I'm not gonna waste any more of my time arguing'."
"I can't believe you," Pyre says disappointedly, "Either of you.  Listen, if you're truly not in love with that mare anymore, then that's it, you're done.  But I've seen several instances over the past couple of months that lead me to believe that's just not true - am I right in assuming that?"
"Well, I-I guess," Bright Mac admits, "But how are we supposed to keep things the same if we're so far away from each other?"
"If you're really in love, then you'll work it out," Pyre continues, "My point is that you can't let anypony else dictate your true feelings and desires.  So what if your families hate each other?  So what if Pear Butter will be moving away?  None of that matters in the long run.  The only thing that does matter is how you feel towards each other.  I may not know much about how love works myself, but from what I've observed from all this, I can tell you two still have feelings for each other, right?"
Bright Mac looks down at his hooves solemnly, "Of course I still love her; I wouldn't trade her for all the bits in Equestria."
"Then you can't let her get away, Bright Mac," Pyre says, "Don't let your families' issues come between you, because if you do, you'll be living with that regret for the rest of your life."
Bright Mac looks back up at his friend, eyes sparkling with gratitude, "Thanks, Fahren.  You've always been there to ground me when I needed it," he adds as he stands up and pulls him into a hug.
"No problem, man," Pyre responds.
"And you're right; I'd be a rotten fool for letting Pear Butter go," Bright Mac continues, "But I'm gonna change all that, but I'll need your help, if you're up to it?"
"Of course, anything to help you guys out!" Pyre says.
"Good," he says, "then can you and Pear butter meet me at the edge of the Pear farm a week from today?"
"Sure, but, wait a minute," Pyre says, expressing some confusion, "That's the day before the Pears move.  What are you getting at?"
"Just trust me, I'll figure it all out," Bright Mac says confidently, "Just make sure both of you are there?"
"I'll do my best," Pyre says as heparts ways with the cream stallion, pondering what he could have come up with on such short notice.
> Chapter 4:  Happy Endings?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day, Pyre Fahren manages to find Pear Butter and set up the meeting, trying not to reveal Bright Mac's intentions.
"Sweet Apple Acres?" Pear Butter asks suspiciously, "Why there?"
"Oh, well, I-" he stumbles on his words before answering, "Well, I was just thinking that it would be nice to say one last goodbye before you leave town."
"Aw, that's so sweet!" she says gratefully, "Thanks, Pyre, I'll see you then!"
For the rest of the week, Pyre wonders what Bright Mac has planned to fix his relationship with Pear Butter.  He was incredibly vague that day in the Whitetail Woods, and Pyre had not seen the cream-colored stallion all week.  When the day before the Pear family moves finally arrives, Pyre and Pear Butter meet up at the edge of Sweet Apple Acres.  "Hi Pyre," she greets her friend.
"Hey," he returns the gesture, "How have you been doing?"
"Alright, I guess," she says with a sigh, "considering this'll be the last time I see any of you guys.  I was hoping to say goodbye to Chiffon Swirl, but she wasn't at Sugarcube Corner when I went there."
"Well, Im sure you'll be back to visit, right?" Pyre says hopefully.
"Honestly, I'm not sure," she admits, "I mean, I could take the train, but Vanhoover's extremely far away.  I'll try my hardest to visit, but my dad's gonna want me working as much as possible."
"Well, whatever may happen," he says, "I just want to say that I'm really glad I got to know you over these past few months."
"I am too," Pear Butter says as she pulls Pyre into a hug.  When they pull away, Pear Butter sees Bright Mac trotting towards them and freezes in place.
"What're you doing here?" she asks, sounding intimidating but nervous at the same time.
"I'm actually the one that called you here tonight," he admits.
"What?" she turns on Pyre, "How could you lie to me?"
"Now hold up," Bright Mac says, "before things turn rotten, let me say something." He takes Pear Butter's hoof in his and continues, "Buttercup, I've been thinking about us a lot this past week, and I've realized that, the more time I've spent away from you, the more miserable I felt.  It was wrong of me to cut us off like I did, and I'm truly sorry." Pear Butter looks into his eyes, searching for some semblance of faith in his words.
"How can I trust what you're sayin is true?" she asks warily.
"I thought you might still think that," he responds, "That's why I called you here - both of you - to prove myself.  Follow me," he finishes and guides Pear Butter into the apple orchard, with Pyre following close behind.
When they arrive in the clearing between the Apple and Pear properties, Pyre and Pear Butter gasp at the sight.  All the trees bordering the clearing are draped in flowing strands of white ribbons and bows and buckets of pears and apples form two rows leading to an elegant arbour.  Beneath the arbour stands Mayor Mare, clutching a book, and off to each of ehr sides are Chiffon Swirl and Burnt Oak.
Pyre simply stands rooted in his tracks, too stunned to speak, "Bright Mac," he breathes, "is this. . .?" But Bright Mac is turned towards Pear Butter, looking longingly into her eyes.
"I don't want to be apart from you.  Ever," he begins, "I'm not sure of what we'll do, but I'm sure of us.  So sure that I'd marry you today," he finishes, getting down on one knee, holding his hoof out to Pear Butter, who looks even more surprised than Pyre.  Almost immediately, she smiles and takes his outstretched hoof.
"I would too," she eventually says and they look over at Mayor Mare, who smiles back.
"I think that's my cue," she says, and they prepare for the ceremony.  As Pear Butter and Chiffon chat, Pyre trots over to Bright Mac talking to Burnt Oak.
"Bright Mac, I gotta say," he begins to say, "When we last talked, I never imagined that you would go and do something like this!" he gestures around the clearing, "Not that I'm not happy for you two, I'm just - surprised, is all."
Bright Mac chuckles, "Well, I owe it all to you, Fahren," he says, "Your words really opened me up to think more about us as a couple, which allowed me to put my own desires to rest.  For that I am eternally grateful," he gives Pyre a warm hug before walking over to stand next to his bride as they prepare to walk down the aisle.
"I must say," Burnt Oak comments, "I've never seen him talk so highly about somepony like he did to you.  You two must be really close."
"Yeah," Pyre sighs contently, "I guess you could say that. . ."

* * * *

". . .and the rest, of course, is history," Pyre finishes his story.
"Wow, Uncle Pyre!" a small orange filly with golden locks squeaks, "That sure was a fun story!"
"You liked it, Applejack?" he asks playfully.
"Yeah!  I 'specially liked the part when you scolded Daddy 'bout almost leaving Mama," she says, "I bet he cowered like Big Mac does whenever he sees a spider!"
"Hey, ah'm not that bad AJ!" a red-coated colt pipes up in protest.
"Ya are too!" Applejack says.
"Am not!" Big Mac retorts
"Settle down, you two," Pyre chuckles, "Well, I wouldn't say he cowered, but he certainly was surprised."
"That's because you were the most passive stallion I knew of until then," a voice cuts through the room as Bright Mac and Buttercup, who holds a small pink bundle in her arm, enters.  Applejack and Big Mac race over to gret their parents and little sister.
"Hi Ma!  Hi Pa!" they say as they hug the newcomers.
"Hello, sweethearts," Buttercup greets her foals, "I hate tu cut storytime short, but it's time to go home."
"Aaawwwww," the siblings sigh sadly.
"Now why the long faces?" Bright Mac says playfully, "Maybe, if you two finish your chores early, you can come back and visit Uncle Pyre tomorrow!"
"Yaayyy!" they exclaim as they bound out the door to follow their father home.  Buttercup, on the other hoof, stays behind for a moment.
"Thanks for taking them on such short notice again, Pyre," she says gratefully, "Between working the farm and looking after little Applebloom here, we're finding it harder to keep track of the lil' rascals."
"Hey, it's no big deal," Pyre says cheerfully, "I love the little buggers!  Beides, anything for friends in need."
Buttercup smiles and, as best as she can with the filly in her arm, wraps Pyre in a hearfelt embrace.
"And thanks again," she begins to say, "for everything you've ever done for us."
Pyre smiles, too, "Like I said, I'l do anything for a friend."  They let go of one another and Buttercup trots after her family, waving back to him.  Pyre turns back inside his home, still feeling immense joy, as he remembers that no matter what happens, they will still have their memories.