Chapter 13: The Perfect Pear
Today, Apple Bloom and Clay had decided to do a little shopping together at Ponyville's open market area.
"We're making good time, Sis," said Clay, "We've got everything Granny Smith asked for on this list."
"Awesome," said Apple Bloom, "You know what that means right, Big bro?"
"I sure do," said Clay excitedly.
"Window shopping without the windows!" Clay and Apple Bloom cheered as they continued to walk about the market area. Clay suddenly stiffened up.
"Wait!" said Clay as he raised a fore-leg to stop Apple Bloom.
"What's-" Before Apple Bloom could finish, there was a huge stampede of ponies charging across from them.
Apple Bloom and Clay turned to see a huge crowd of ponies gathered around the stand belonging to an elderly stallion with golden tan fur, grey mane and tail with a thin streak of brown in the mane. He was also wearing a green bandana around his neck.
"Hmmm," said Apple Bloom.
"Wonder what the fuss is about," said Clay, "Come on."
Apple Bloom and Clay squeezed their way up to the front as politely as they could. The elderly stallion put a glob of pear jam onto a biscuit and offered it to Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom gasped at the gesture.
"Thank you!" said Apple Bloom.
The elderly stallion smiled before he gave Clay biscuit with the pear sample as well.
"Thank you very much," Clay said.
"You must be new," said Apple Bloom, "I'm Apple Bloom and this is my brother-in-law, Clay."
The elderly stallion smiled.
"I'm Grand Pear," the elderly stallion told.
"Welcome to Ponyville," said Apple Bloom and Clay together.
Then a pony named Goldengrape scoffed.
"You mean welcome back to Ponyville," said Goldengrape, "Grand Pear was originally from here before he opened his famous pear jam store in Vanhoover."
"Really?" said Apple Bloom.
"Surprised I've never heard of it," said Clay.
"Why'd ya move back?" Apple Bloom asked the elderly stallion.
"I. uh," said Grand Pear slowly and smacked his lips, "Well, I needed a change of pace."
"Too much hustle and bustle up in Vanhoover?" Clay asked, "I hear the place is close to becoming a metropolis ever since they hosted the Winter Equestria Games a few years ago."
"You could say that," said Grand Pear in a rather distant tone.
"Huh," said Apple Bloom as she and Clay took a bite of their biscuit and jam.
"Wow!" said Clay in amazement, "I'll be honest that I was never a fan of pears, but this..." Clay hummed as he took another bite and ate the rest of his biscuit, "...you may have just made me a pear fan my good sir. I've never had a pear or pear product this delicious."
"Yeah! This is delicious!" said Apple Bloom as she finished her biscuit as well, "I can't believe I've gone my whole life without ever havin' this."
"Glad you both like it," said Grand Pear with a smile. Apple Bloom looked at Clay, who smiled and gave her a nod.
"How much?" Apple Bloom asked. Grand Pear pushed the jar. Grand Pear pushed the jar forward and raised a fore-hoof in the air.
"Nah," said Grand Pear, emphasizing that it was on the house.
"Wow! Thanks, Mr. Grand Pear, sir!" said Apple Bloom and put the jar into her saddle bags, "It was real nice meetin' you!"
"We'll definitely be back for more of your tasty pear jam," said Clay, "See ya later, sir."
Grand Pear smiled as Apple Bloom and Clay left. Grand Pear then got back to work as more ponies came to purchase his wares.
(Scene changes)
Back in the barn kitchen, Big Mac, wearing a chiefs hat, and Applejack were working together to prepare some pancakes. Big Mac then tossed a pancake behind him as Applejack caught it with a plate and added it to a nearby stack. Apple Bloom and Clay had just arrived inside the kitchen.
"Honey, we're home!" Clay called to his wife.
"Glad you two are back, sugarcubes," said Applejack as she held the stack of pancakes, "Just in time for breakfast for dinner."
"Mmmm. Yummy," Clay replied as he licked his lips.
"We've got the perfect topper for flapjacks at the market today," said Apple Bloom as she grabbed the jar of pear jam. Applejack gasped and dropped the stack of pancakes when she saw the jar.
"Pear jam?!" Applejack exclaimed as she got into both of Apple Bloom and Clay's faces, "What were you thinkin'?!"
Clay rolled his eyes.
"Are you gonna flip out every time we offer a non-apple product into this barn?" Clay asked annoyingly, "You haven't forgotten your episode with the strawberry preserves."
Applejack went to retort her husband when she heard a distant door closing. She nervously peeked out of the kitchen doorway and cringed.
"Quick! Hide it!" Applejack told Big Mac. Big Mac ripped off a floor plank and Applejack began to desperately dig a hole.
"Huh?" said Apple Boom in confusion.
"I'm just as confused as you are, Sis," said Clay as they both winced at the sight.
*Main theme*
Now, both Applejack and Big Mac were digging a hole together as Apple Bloom and Clay watched.
"What's the big deal?" said Apple Bloom, "It's just pear jam."
"The big deal is that there is a long-standing feud between the Apples and the Pears!" Applejack said sternly as she poked the chest of both Apple Bloom and Clay.
"Eeyup," said Big Mac.
"And we were supposed to know this how?" Clay asked in a calmly manner, "We can't read your mind ya know!"
"Clay, there's nothing to read in her mind," Apple Bloom pointed out.
"Oh yeah, good point," said Clay as he and Apple Bloom snickered.
Applejack was indignant when she heard a loud snigger. Applejack shot Big Mac a dirty look as the red stallion looked away innocently.
"But all jokes aside, honey," said Clay said to his wife, "Exactly why is there a feud between our family and the pears?"
"Yeah, why?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Why?!" Applejack exclaimed, but then blinked, "Well, uh, a-actually I-I'm not entirely sure. You have any idea, Big Mac?"
"Uhhh...nope," said Big Mac.
"Well that's pretty suspicious," said Clay.
"Then I guess we should ask Granny?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Ask me what?" Granny Smith asked as she came into the kitchen.
"Well...mmph?!" Clay was cut off when Big Mac stuck his fore-hoof into Mario's mouth and sternly shook his head to keep quiet.
Then he quickly buried the jar of pear jam and put the plank on top of it despite the fact the plank was several inches above the rest of the floor.
"Uh, what goes better with apple fritter pancakes - caramel syrup or praline?" Applejack asked as she leaned against the raised floor plank. Granny Smith blew a raspberry.
"Praline," Granny Smith replied as she flicked away the caramel sauce bottle and sniffed, "Oh-ho-ho, that smells great, Applejack."
Granny Smith then headed outside where a nearby outhouse was located. Clay often wondered why Granny Smith still used it since, with the most recent barn raising, he had made sure to add at least two bathrooms inside the barn.
"I'm gonna go wash up for supper," said Granny Smith, "Be right back."
As soon as the door closed, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac sighed. Clay took notice of how relieved they looked and was no longer annoyed with them, but concerned.
"Is there something going on here that I don't know about?" Clay asked in a calm but worried.
"I'm just as curious 'bout that," Apple Bloom added.
"Listen, sugarcubes," said Applejack, "Anytime Big Mac and I ever asked Granny about the feud or the Pears, she'd get so upset she couldn't talk. Best not to bring it up."
"O-okay, but that Grand Pear was really nice to us, even though we are apples," said Apple Bloom. "I wonder what happened."
"I'm curious about that myself." Clay added with curiosity.
"Me, too," said Applejack.
"Granny Smith must know something," said Clay, "Something she clearly doesn't want to tell anypony about. Just why would she feel the need to keep the feud to herself? She can't expect to keep the truth from us forever. She had to expect us to ask her about it someday."
"If we can't ask Granny," said Applejack, "I don't know who - " Applejack then blinked, "We can ask Goldie Delicious! If anypony knows about the feud, it's the family historian!"
"I'm in!" said Apple Bloom, "What about you, Clay?"
"Definitely!" said Clay, "There's no way I could leave a mystery like this unsolved!" He gave Apple Bloom a hoof bump.
"What do you say, Big Mac?" Apple Bloom asked, "Siblin' trip first thing tomorrow?"
"Eeyup!" Big Mac replied as the three other siblings smiled. "Maybe we can ask Chase to come with us to help out what happened."
"Great idea!" Applejack said in agreement as Clay and Apple Bloom nodded in agreement.
(Scene changes)
The next morning, Clay, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Chase were walking down a path in the forest towards Goldie Delicious' place. The four had informed the alicorn master of everything and it was good thing to since he wanted to find out what happened to the apples and the pears.
"You sure this might work, guys?" Chase asked curiously. "I mean Goldie might get a little worried about this if we ask her about rivalry between the apples and the pears."
"Don't worry, buddy. If we ask her what happened, she'll understand." Apple Bloom assured Chase with a smile.
It didn't take the group long before they arrived at a small siding close to Goldie Delicious's cabin. Then they all approached the front door together. Apple Bloom wasted no time knocking on the door.
"Yoo-hoo! Goldie?" Clay called out.
It was then the five ponies all heard some rumbling and cat yowls. Chase then felt his protection instincts kick in.
"Uh, we're gonna need to step back a bit, guys!" Chase said just as the front door surged and Apple Bloom cringed fearfully.
The five ponies zipped away just as the front door burst open and a large collection of books and other trinkets came flooding out of the house, creating a tall mountain in the front yard. It was then a giant ball of cats came tumbling toward them.
The five ponies winced at the sight. Clay, Applejack, and Big Mac leaned back while trying to protect Apple Bloom as Chase covered his eyes as well. Before the ball could ever make contact with any of them, it fell apart to reveal Goldie Delicious in the center of it. All fine and dandy.
"Now, that's how you make an entrance!" said Goldie as she dusted herself off, "Or is it an exit?" She chuckled to herself, "Well, anyway, it's so wonderful to see you five. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Goldie then rubbed her white mane to make a white cat come out of it.
"Well, Goldie," said Applejack nervously, "we were hoping you could tell us about the, uh...feud with the Apples and the Pears."
Applejack bit her lip as Clay patted his wife on the back for support. Goldie cringed and sat down, on the tail of another cat.
"Oh. Oh, dear," said Goldie slowly, "Well, does Granny Smith know you're here?"
"No, ma'am," Apple Bloom answered as she walked up, "But Clay and I ran into Grand Pear yesterday, and he was really nice. Maybe the feud was a misunderstandin' or somethin', and we can fix it?"
Applejack, Clay, Chase, and Big Mac all smiled hopefully.
"Oh, well, I don't know about that, little one." said Goldie as she looked at Apple Bloom. "But if it's a story you're after, I suppose you have a right to know."
Goldie began to search through the pile of things behind her.
"Now, let's see," Goldie mumbled, "I got a stack of books here someplace...Oh! Apple Family History Volume 137!" She then opened the book and started to scan through it, "Hmm, hmm...Here we are. "Feud with the Bears", I mean, "Pears". My eyes ain't what they used to be."
Goldie then held the book open as the four siblings sat down to listen to her story.
"A long time ago, Sweet Apple Acres wasn't the only farm in Ponyville," Goldie narrated as she showed them an old picture of the farm, "In fact, there was another one just right next door."
Flashback
In the heart of the Ponyville market, was a young Granny Smith, who had a stand set up and was advertising her products to nearby customers.
"Come and get your apples!" Young Granny Smith called out, "Nothin' sweeter than bitin' into a crisp apple on a beautiful fall day!"
"Unless of course," said a voice as the ponies gasped and looked to see that it was young Grand Pear, who had set up his stand right next door to young Granny Smith, "you could bite into a juicy pear." Young Granny Smith scoffed and blew a raspberry.
"Please," Young Granny Smith remarked as she shinned an apple, "Pears are just what happens when you ain't no good at farmin' apples."
"Pears are nature's candy," Young Grand Pear remarked as he gave a customer their goods, "Apples are sour. Like the expression on your face right now."
Young Grand Pear chuckled impishly. Young Granny Smith took offense and soon the two family heads were arguing with each other. The other ponies eventually walked away, feeling either put off, annoyed, or uncomfortable at watching the two ponies bicker with each other.
(Scene changes)
"And so it went, "Goldie narrated, "Granny and Grand Pear were always at each other on who was the best farmer or who took better care of their trees. If Granny read to her trees at night..." The night, Granny Smith was sitting against the edge of the log, reading a bed time story to the apple trees.
"And then," Young Granny Smith read aloud, "the little tree reached his branches up to the moon, and the moon said, "Good night"." Young Grand Pear watched from the other side of a white picket fence and glared at the apple mare.
"...why, then Grand Pear had special blankets made for his trees so they wouldn't get cold," Goldie narrated as Grand Pear put some large blankets over the top of some trees.
"Good night trees," said Young Grand Pear as he patted a tree trunk and kissed it, "I've got you covered. Mm-hmm."
He then hugged the tree and gave young Granny Smith a smirk. Granny Smith growled, slammed her book down, and stomped off with a huff.
(Scene changes)
The next morning, Granny Smith had several other Apple family members bucking the apple trees and collecting them. Granny Smith and the others nodded to each other for a job well done, but then they looked toward a certain direction and gave somepony the stink eye.
That was the Pears, who were on ladders gathering the pears from the trees under the direction of Grand Pear. Grand Pear gave them a salute for a job well done and then gave Granny Smith the stink eye.
"In fact, all the Apples and the Pears were rivals to the core!" said Goldie as the two families growled and snarled at each other from the picket fence, "The only Apple and Pear who ever got along were Bright Macintosh and Pear Butter."
At the same picket fence was a yellow foal with red mane and tail along with a peach colored foal with orange mane and tail. Foal Pear Butter was just looking at some yellow flowers when foal Bright Mac tried to get her attention.
"Psst!" said foal Bright Mac in a whisper, "I'm not supposed to talk to you."
"I'm not supposed to talk to you either," foal Pear Butter whispered back.
"My mom says if you hold a buttercup under your chin, it'll make your chin glow," foal Bright Mac told her, "But it doesn't work on me. See? He held a buttercup under his chin to show nothing was different. Pear Butter did the same thing and her chin turned yellow.
"Does it work on me?" foal Pear Butter asked in a cute but innocent tone while making cute faces while sticking her tongue out. Foal Bright Mac thought she was absolutely adorable.
"It sure does, Buttercup," said foal Bright Mac.
"Buttercup," said foal Pear Butter, "I like that name." The two foals smiled and shook hooves.
"Wait an apple-pickin' minute!" said Applejack.
End Flashback
"Bright Mac and Buttercup?" Applejack continued, "Those are our parents' names!"
Big Mac, Apple Bloom had their jaws hanging out and Clay was in a complete state of shock. Chase was surprised by this as they were.
"Of course Buttercup was just a nickname your father gave your mother," Goldie explained, "Pear Butter - well, that was her given name." Chase, Clay, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac were now even more shocked.
"If...if what you're saying is true..." Chase said slowly.
"Are you sayin' our mother was a...Pear?!" Applejack asked. Apple Bloom and Big Mac gasped dramatically.
"Oooo..." Clay moaned as he fainted.
Chase wasted no time on using his magic to recover Clay as the Earth Pony stallion immediately woke up with a stutter before he recomposed himself.
"What?!" Clay asked in shock.
Applejack shook her head to try and recover.
"I can't believe it!" said Applejack as she nervously bit her lower lip, "How did we not know?!"
"Well, uh, nopony called your mother Pear Butter," said Goldie as she grabbed a mini chalkboard and making some cats meowed, "And her cutie mark was a preserve jar, but pear butter don't look too much different from apple butter, so no clues there."
"This mystery just goes much more complicated," said Chase, "If Pear Butter was a pear, how was she able to marry Bright Mac? It obviously didn't bring peace between the two families otherwise why would Granny keep this from her own flesh and blood?"
"Good point, Chase," said Apple Bloom.
Applejack just sighed.
"Is there a-anythin' else you can tell us about them?" Applejack asked.
Clay had a pleading look as Chase wanted to know more while Apple Bloom and Big Mac had hopeful smiles on their faces.
"I know they loved each other very muh," Goldie replied, "They had that magical, star-kissed, other-side-of-a-rainbow kind of love. You couldn't be around them too long and, and not feel a little lighter than air yourself." Goldie chuckled as she squeezed four cats in her forelegs and let them go, "A good example of that would be Chase and Twilight. They certainly have that kind of love from what I've seen."
Chase gave a flat and unamused look on his face, especially when Clay, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac looked and smirked at him.
"I wouldn't go that far," said Chase sternly, making the apples and Clay drop their smirks as they flinched. "Lately we've been getting on each other nerves and can't see eye to eye either. Plus I've been coming to realize she took me for granted all these years..."
"Those are just signs of a normal, healthy marriage, Chase," said Goldie, "And no relationship is perfect. Even your parents had their ups and downs and even plenty of flaws, but when they took the time to appreciate and cherish one another, it was something magical. Even when you have your disagreements, ain't those moments when you patch things up something magical?"
Chase thought about it before he smiled softly.
"Yeah...I do feel rather warm and fuzzy when we make up," said Chase, "I feel like I love her more because we were able to overcome and solve what was upsetting us. And I feel closer to her too."
"And seeing you two make up does makes us feel lighter than air, sugarcube," said Applejack and she turned to Clay as she hugged her husband with him returning the gesture for his wife, "Just like me and Clay. From what Goldie was saying, us four do have the same kind of love our parents had."
Chase and Clay smiled shyly. Then they saw Big Mac snickering. Clay glared at first before a devious smirk appeared on his face.
"So does Big Mac," said Clay, "He and Sugar Belle certainly know how to make others smile when they're having their dates in town."
Big Mac blushed deeply and chuckled nervously as he looked away. Chase laughed heartily while Applejack and Apple Bloom giggled to each other.
"Anything else?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Hmm..." Goldie pondered aloud as she rubbed her chin, "I'd need Volume 138 for that."
Unfortunately, there was a giant cheetah resting on top of it and grunted irritably at them.
"Do we wanna know how that got into her pile of...historical treasures?" Clay asked his family.
"Ennope," said Big Mac with a shake of his head.
"I'm sure I could wrangle it...in a, in a couple of days," said Goldie and went to go face the cheetah. The five ponies shared worried looks with each other.
"That's all right, Goldie," said Applejack with a sigh, "It was...nice to hear-"
"Ooh-hoo-hoo!" Goldie interjected, startling the five ponies, "I just remembered somethin'! Your dad and his buddy Burnt Oak would get in all kinds of trouble together as colts."
"Burnt Oak?" said Applejack in surprise, "The firewood salespony? I haven't seen him in ages."
"He and your dad were thick as thieves back in the day," said Goldie, "Y'all should talk to him."
"Okay!" Chase said gratefully. "Thanks for everything, Goldie! See ya!"
The five ponies waved goodbye and walked away. Goldie waved back before she tumbled down the pile of stuff, making several cats and even the jaguar to peek at her curiously. Clay considered going back to help, but the other convinced him that it was best that he not get involved.
(Scene changes)
When they arrived back in Ponyville, the five ponies found an ash colored pony with white and light grey mane and tail, a mustache on his face and a stetson hat. He was just waving goodbye to a customer when he saw the four pony walked up to him.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Apples, Clay, and Master Chase Young!" said Burnt Oak. "What can I do for ya? I know you're not here for firewood. You got more trees than anypony in Ponyville."
Chase, Big Mac, Clay,, and Apple Bloom looked at Applejack.
"You right," said Applejack quietly, "we're not here for that."
"Come to ask about your dad?" Burnt Oak replied
"Uh, eeyup," said Big Mac.
"How'd you guess?" Clay asked in a soft tone.
"I wondered if you might," said Burnt Oak as he sat on a nearby chopping stump, "Hoped you would. It's nice to talk about him." He gave a short laugh, "We had alot of laughs. In fact, this one time..."
Flashback
Teenage Bright Mac and Teenage Burnt Oak were racing through the Apple fields Each of them had a plow attached.
"...we were racin' to see who could till the fastest," Brunt Oak narrated, "and Bright Mac was leavin' me in the dust. He would've won our race too, if he wasn't so...distracted."
As teenage Bright Mac charged ahead, he saw teenage Pear Butter weeding the field on the other side of the fence. This caused him to make a very sharp left turn.
"Whoa!" Teenage Bright Mac yelped as he crashed through the fence, plowed through the field Teenage Pear Butter was working in and smashed head on into the water silo.
Teenage Pear Butter lifted her head when she heard the crash, but before she could react a huge wave of water overtook her. Once the water receded, Teenage Pear Butter spat some water out and saw the that the water silo was in smithereens. Teenage Bright Mac had just recovered when Teenage Burnt Oak grabbed and pulled him away to hide as Grand Pear appeared over the hill.
"Oh!" Grand Pear gasped as he rushed over to the wreckage and his daughter.
"Pear Butter, what did you do?!" Grand Pear asked sternly.
"I-I'm not sure," said Teenage Pear Butter timidly, still trying to process what was going on.
It didn't help that Grand Pear was starting her down. Teenage Bright Mac and Teenage Burnt Oak watched from a nearby bush. Teenage Bright Mac could stand seeing Teenage Pear Butter in trouble for his blunder. He narrowed his eyes and walked out of the bush before Teenage Burnt Oak could stop him. Grand Pear was still glaring angrily at Teenage Pear Butter when he appeared.
"She didn't do it, sir," said Teenage Bright Mac sternly.
"Excuse me?" Grand Pear asked sternly.
"The water silo," said Bright Mac as he removed his stenson hat from his head, "It was my fault."
Teenage Pear Butter couldn't resist a giggle. Grand Pear noticed and snorted indignantly.
"You owe me a new silo, boy!" Grand Pear told the teenage stallion before turning to Teenage Pear Butter, "And you, come with me."
Teenage Pear Butter quietly followed beside the aging stallion.
"No daughter of mine if gonna make goo-goo eyes at an Apple!" Grand Pear told her.
Teenage Pear Butter said nothing but looked back and gave Teenage Bright Mac a smile. Teenage Bright Mac was instantly smitten. Teenage Brunt Oak waved a fore-hoof to bring him back to reality, but it was no good. Teenage Bright Mac was gone.
End Flashback
Back in the present, Chase chuckled.
"I can see why Bright Mac loved Pear Butter a lot." Chase said as he chuckled a bit.
"No kidding," said Applejack with a giggle.
"Grand Pear never would've known it was your father's fault. But there was no way he'd let your mother take the blame for somethin' he did." Burnt Oak said.
"So Dad was super honest!" said Apple Bloom before giving Applejack a nudge, "Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?" Applejack smiled back in reply.
"Your Dad worked the Apple Farm all day and then headed over to the Pears on his breaks to fix the water silo," Burnt Oak continued for the three apple siblings as Clay and Chase watched as he started chopping logs in half, "I didn't see him for weeks! Not that he minded. Gave him a chance to get to know your mom."
"Did you know our mom, too?" Apple Bloom asked as the five ponies stood up.
"Buttercup was a real peach of a Pear," said Burnt Oak, "But if you want to know more about her, you should ask Mrs. Cake." The five ponies were stunned and looked at each other.
"Mrs. Cake?" Apple Bloom asked in surprise.
"She and your mom were inseparable when they were fillies," said Brunt Oak as he tied up a bundle of logs together.
"I see...," said Chase, feeling rather puzzled.
"Then let's go!" said Applejack, "Thanks, Burnt Oak!" The five ponies quickly took off, but then Big Mac stopped and walked back.
"Uh, would it be okay if we stopped by again sometime to hear more stories?" Big Mac asked timidly.
"I'd like that very much," said Burnt Oak, tears pricking out of his eyes as he watched Big Mac rush off to catch up with the others.
(Scene changes)
At Sugarcube Corner, Mrs. Cake was just busy doing her decorating when the three Apple siblings, Clay, and Chase allowed themselves in from the kitchen door.
"Well, cinnamon sugar on toast!" said Mrs. Cake, "Chase! Clay! And all three Apple siblings!"
"Hi, Mrs. Cake," said Applejack, "We heard you and our ma used to be real good friends, and we were hopin' you could tell us a bit about her." Mrs. Cakes frowned for a moment but then quickly perked up.
"Oh, I would love to," said Mrs. Cake, "I never knew the right time to bring it up. But I'm so glad you all came! Haha! Uh, for starters, did you all know that it was your mom who convinced me to pursue baking?"
"Really?" said Chase and Clay in amazement.
"But isn't your name, Mrs. Cake?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Who's full name is Cup Cake?" Applejack added.
"Not always," said Mrs. Cake, "Back when I was Chiffon Swirl, heh, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. But one day, your mom brought me some candied pears, eggs, flour, sugar, and vanilla, and told me to just be creative." Mrs. Cake then set up a bowl and put all the ingredients she mentioned into it, "Next thing I knew, I was whipping up pear upside-down cake, and I got my cutie mark!" She pointed at her flank to prove her point, "It was like she knew what I was supposed to do long before I did."
Apple Boom's eyes twinkled as she gave the baking mare a big smile.
"Just like you, sugarcube," Applejack told the little filly, "Or rather, you're just like her!" Apple Bloom just kept smiling.
"That was the first of many cakes for me," Mrs. Cake continued, "and Buttercup was with me through it all."
Flashback
Young Mrs. Cake (or Chiffon in this case), her mane in a pair of spiral pigtails and no apron, was with Pear Butter as she put together another mixture. Pear Butter walked up and sampled the batter before giving her a smile of approval.
"She'd be my taste-tester," Mrs. Cake continued, "help with the decorating," Chiffon was decorating a cake and then Pear Butter helped her switch icing tubes before continuing, "and prep new ingredients."
Pear Butter was then standing beside Chiffon as she helped the baking filly cut up some pears with a cutter.
"Over the years, I perfected my recipes," Mrs. Cake continued as Chiffon used a ladder to put the topper on top of a very large and very tall pear cake. Chiffon and Pear Butter smiled at a job well done.
(Scene changes)
"You're mom did so much for me," said Mrs. Cake as the flashback showed Chiffon carrying a pear cake on her back as she headed to the Pear Farm, "One day, I wanted to surprise her with a cake."
Chiffon then peaked out from a nearby bush and gasped when she saw Pear Butter and Bright Mac having a picnic together. They were currently sharing a chuckle together. Then Bright Mac grabbed a bouquet of flowers to give to Pear Butter. Unfortunately some of the pollen tickled his nose.
"ACHOO!" Bright Mac sneezed and then sniffled.
He then winced when he saw that his sneeze had blown all the flowers into Pear Butter's mane and face. Pear Butter just started wide eyed as she blew a flower from her face.
Then she broke out giggling. Bright Mac laughed as well. Once they settled down, they lean in for a kiss. Chiffon couldn't help but smile at the sight and tried to sneak away, but she accidentally stepped on a twig. Pear Butter gasped and Bright Mac stood up defensively until he saw that it was Chiffon waving at them.
"Oh. It's just you," said Pear Butter with relief as Chiffon came out of the bushes.
"Sorry," Chiffon replied as she walked up to them, "I just brought you a little something to say thank you. But I see you're busy. Heh." Chiffon gave Pear Butter a knowing smile. Pear Butter looked at Bright Mac. They both blushed as the former giggled to herself.
"Promise you won't say anything?" Pear Butter asked.
Chiffon gestured a fore-hoof across her lips to assure her that her lips were sealed.
Too bad it wouldn't matter. Because at that very moment, Granny Smith came walking by as she was gathering some apples. She took notice of Pear Butter, gave a shocked whinny and snorted angrily.
"What are in tarnation are you doin', Bright Mac?!" Granny Smith scolded, "We do not fraternize with Pears!"
Bright Mac just glared as Granny Smith spat on the ground definitively. Before he could say anything, Granny Smith grabbed him by the ear and dragged him away. But before they disappeared, he gave Pear Butter a wink to assure her that they would meet later. Pear Butter just smiled and waved goodbye as Chiffon walked up to her.
"You and Bright Mac?" Chiffon exclaimed, "Whew, I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes. Your families hate each other."
"I can't help it," said Pear Butter in her defense, "We just sorta...happened..."
Pear Butter then had a very lovesick smile on her face. Chiffon waved a fore-hoof over Pear Butter's face, but she was long gone.
(Scene changes)
"Then Pear Butter told me the sweetest love story I have ever heard," Mrs. Cake narrated as Bright Mac and Pear Butter were having a sunset picnic on the top of a hill. They were currently leaning against each other when Bright Mac pulled back and gazed into Pear Butter's eyes.
"Happy one hundred and thirty-one thousand, four hundred and fifty-six hour anniversary darlin'," said Bright Mac as he tucked a buttercup flower into Pear Butter's mane.
"What?" Pear Butter laughed, "That's way longer than we've been together."
"I know," said Bright Mac, "But it's the anniversary of the first time I called you, "Buttercup"." Pear Butter smiled as a light blush colored her cheeks.
"It's okay if you didn't get me anythin'," Bright Mac said in a teasing tone as he tipped his hat forward and smirked. Pear Butter smirked back and rolled her eyes.
"Actually..." said Pear Butter as she pulled out a guitar, "I did."
"A guitar? For me?" said Bright Mac as he grabbed it and strummed it, "I don't know how to play."
"Quiet, you," Pear Butter retorted as she grabbed the guitar back.
Then she began to play a lovely tune.
[Pear Butter - She gazed at the Pear Farm from her bedroom window. A little birdie appeared and gave her a drawing of herself inside of a pink heart. She smiled at the picture. Then Bright Mac was seen looking at the Apple Farm from his bedroom window when the bird returned with the picture. Bright Mac smiled when he saw that Pear Butter had drawn himself so they were both inside of the heart.]
We're far apart in every way
But you're the best part of my day
And sure as I breathe the air
I know we are the perfect pair
[Pear Butter - In the Ponyville market, Pear Butter was putting the labels on some jam as Grand Pear and Granny Smith were arguing with each other while the other ponies watched, as usual. Bright Mac looked very annoyed but then gestured discreetly to Pear Butter. Pear Butter smiled and gave him a nod as they quickly and quietly sneaked away. As they shared a milkshake together, their lips touched as they finished it, making them both smile and blush.]
On a prickly path that goes on for miles
But it's worth it just to see you smile
[Pear Butter - There was a dance going on and each family heads had set up a stand on opposite sides of the of the dancing area. Bright Mac was with Granny Smith. Bright Mac put a label on some apple jam before turning toward and bowed courteously toward Pear Butter, who was with Grand Pear. Pear Butter smiled and bowed back as they danced together from afar.]
And I cannot be pulled apart
From the hold you have on my heart
And even if the world tells us it's wrong
You're in my head like a catchy song
Back at the picnic, Bright Mac was literally blown away by Pear Butter's singing.
"Wow...It's just...wow," said Bright Mac.
"Do you like it?" Pear Butter asked, "Be honest now."
"It's the best gift you could've given me!" Bright Mac replied with blushed cheeks as sat down and gazed at Pear Butter as she kept singing.
[Pear Butter - She and Bright Mac walked side by side as the seasons around them changed from summer to fall to winter and then spring. (In winter, they cutely shared a scarf together.) It then started to rain as she ran under a tree to avoid getting wet. Bright Mac took a step further and put his stenson hat over Pear Butter. Pear Butter was so touched she snuggled up into his chest.]
The seasons change and leaves may fall
But I'll be with you through them all
And rain or shine, you'll always be mine
[Pear Butter - She was busy pulling weeds out in the Pear orchard when Bright Mac, pulling a cart, and Granny Smith came walking down the road. Bright Mac tried to wave hello when Granny Smith shook her head disapprovingly before looking away indignantly. Bright Mac just sadly watched Pear Butter do her work as they walked away. The next morning, Pear Butter returned to the orchard when she found Bright Mac fast asleep with a weed in his mouth. He had finished the weeding for her. Pear Butter smiled and stroked Bright Mac's mane as she let him sleep.]
On a prickly path that goes on for miles
You're the only one who makes it all worthwhile
And you should not blame me, too
As the scene returned to the picnic...
If I can't help fallin' in love with you...
The song came to an abrupt end with Pear Butter blushed heavily and cover her mouth when she realized what she had just said. Even Bright Mac was blushing as well. There was a brief silence.
"Hey, no fair," Bright Mac mocked whined as he leaned in towards Pear Butter, "I was gonna tell you the same thing."
"You're just mad I beat you to it," Pear Butter said smugly as she shoved Bright Mac away.
She was then taken by surprise when Bright Mac put his stenson hat on her head and tipped it forward so she couldn't see. Pear Butter readjusted the hat so she could see again.
"I'm tellin' ya, I was gonig to pull you up," said Bright Mac as he made Pear Butter stand up and tipped the stenson hat forward again before leading her down the hill, "cover your eyes, lead you over here...and say "Surprise!"."
Bright Mac then removed the hat so Pear Butter could see. Pear Butter blinked when she saw a large rock that hers and Bright Mac's cutie mark carved into it and enclosed with a heart.
"And then you'd say," Bright Mac continued as he appeared above the rock and started imitating Pear Butter, ""Oh, Bright Mac, I love it!"," He then went back to speaking normally, "And then I'd say I love you." Pear Butter smiled sheepishly.
"Too bad it didn't work out though," said Bright Mac with a smirk.
"Eeyup, too bad," said Pear Butter with a smirk of her own before they shared a nose nuzzle and then went in for a kiss.
Sadly the adorable moment was ruined when the screen suddenly ripped in two.
Grand Pear opened the door the Pear Butter's room.
"The Pear are moving!" Grand Pear announced sternly. Pear Butter, who had been reading a book, lifted her head, and gasped dramatically.
Back in the present...
"GASP!" Big Mac, Applejack, and Apple Boom gasped dramatically as well.
"NO WAY!" Clay exclaimed in horror.
"It can't be!" Chase said in shock, horror, and disbelief.
Applejack was the first to recover.
"I mean, I figured the Pears moved, but I didn't know all that stuff happened before with Granny Smith and Grand Pear," said Applejack.
"It can't be true, can it?" Clay asked with concern.
"It must've been really hard on our parents," said Apple Bloom sadly.
"Oh, it was," said Mrs. Cake before she continued her story.
Flashback
Pear Butter had managed to recover somewhat after hearing Grand Pear's sudden news.
"We're moving?!" Pear Butter exclaimed, "To Vanhoover?! But that's so far!"
"It's for the best," said Grand Pear, "There's acres of untouched land and a warehouse to make our jams. We'll get to expand our business..." Then added spitefully as he looked in a very specific direction, "...and get away from those gosh-darned Apples." Pear Butter than stomped off as Pear Butter threw herself onto her bed and face-planted her pillow.
"Pear Butter was devastated," Mrs. Cake narrated as Pear Butter lifted her head to show that she was crying heavily, "But seeing no way out of it, she did what she had to do."
(Scene changes)
Later that day, Pear Butter and Bright Mac were holding each other. The former had just told the latter the bad news.
"So that's it?" Bright Mac asked.
"What do you want me to do, Bright Mac?" Pear Butter replied with tears in her eyes, "We're movin'. I love you, but I have to say with my family." Pear Butter quickly walked off, leaving Bright Mac alone as he started the rock with the carving on it.
"Then Bright Mac did the most romantic thing I've ever seen anypony do," said Mrs. Cake as Bright Mac narrowed his eyes and rushed off.
Back in the Present. Mrs. Cake said nothing more as she pulled a freshly made pie out of the oven. All five ponies started talking at once.
"What?! What?!" Apple Bloom asked.
"Don't leave us hanging! I can't take the suspense!" Clay said anxiously.
"What?! What did he do?!" Applejack asked.
"What happened?!" Chase asked.
"Tell us! Tell us!" Big Mac said eagerly. Mrs. Cake remained calm as she place the pie on top of the oven.
"We're gonna need one more pony to tell that story," said Mrs. Cake. The five ponies shared puzzled looks with each other.
(Scene changes)
The group soon were inside the filing office of town hall to speak to Mayor Mare.
"Mayor Mare," said Apple Bloom, "you knew our parents?"
"Not as well as Mrs. Cake," said Mayor Mare, "but I did play a part in their love story. The night before the Pear family moved, Bright Mac asked me to meet him at the edge of Sweet Apple Acres."
Flashback
Bright Mac lead a very glum looking Pear Butter to the location young Mayor Mare was waiting. Pear Butter then gasped at what she saw. The area had been decorated with buckets filled with Apples and Pears, garlands and lanterns hanging from the trees, and right on the boundary between both orchards was an arch. Young Mayor Mare, with a pink mane and tail, no glasses, and a pink neck scarf around her neck was standing under the arch. Chiffon was standing on the left with Burnt Oak standing on the right. The place literally looked like an outdoor wedding chapel. Pear Butter smiled.
"I don't want to be apart from you. Ever," said Bright Mac, "I'm not sure what we'll do, but I'm sure of us. So sure that I'd marry you today."
Bright Mac knelt on a fore-knee and held up a fore-hoof in the air to propose to Pear Butter.
"I would, too!" said Pear Butter as she put her fore-hoof on top of his own. Bright Mac then gave young Mayor Mare a nod.
"I think that's my cue," said young Mare Mayor with a smirk.
"I had the honor of officiating your parents' secret wedding," Mayor Mare narrated as Bright Mac and Pear Butter walked up to her younger self, "and it was perfect. Bright Mac knew Buttercup wouldn't want a big splash."
It was then Bright Mac and Pear Butter each held a seed as they gazed into each other eyes.
"Reminds me of somepony else I know," said Apple Bloom, "two someponies actually."
"Eeyup," said Big Mac with a chuckle.
"Right you are, Apple Bloom," said Clay.
"So they had a special way to seal their vows," Mayor Mare continued as Bright Mac and Pear Butter each dug a hole and planted their seeds side by side.
"I now pronounce you-" Young Mayor Mare went to announce.
"What is goin' on?!" Granny Smith interjected as she suddenly appeared on the scene, "What's with all these here candles?!" Bright Mac and Pear Butter looked worried, but then cringed when another familiar voice came near.
"Pear Butter! Where are ya?" Grand Pear called out as he appeared on the scene, "You're supposed to be packing!" He then saw her with Bright Mac.
"What are you two doing?" Grand Pear asked in a grim tone. Then he and Granny Smith sternly approached the two ponies.
"Ma, Grand Pear," said Bright Mac firmly, "Buttercup and I are in love!"
"WHAT?!" Granny Smith and Grand Pear said in shock.
"And we'll be married as soon as Mayor Mare says..." Pear Butter said firmly as she looked at the mayoral pony.
"Oh!" said young Mayor Mare before saying quickly, "I now pronounce you husband and wife!" She then quickly backed away as Pear Butter walked up to her new husband.
"Doesn't that feel nice?" Pear Butter told Bright Mac before giving him a kiss.
Then they both kissed each other and nuzzled happily. At least until Granny Smith got between them and shoved them both apart.
"What are you talking about, married?" Granny Smith interjected angrily and made Bright Mac back up, "You two can't be married!"
"Finally, something we can agree on," said Grand Pear as he walked up and glared sternly at his daughter, "Pear Butter, enough of this nonsense. We're movin'! And you gotta stick with your family." He then turned to leave.
"But...the Apples are my family now, too," said Pear Butter bravely.
Granny Smith was stunned, which allowed Bright Mac to get away and stand beside his wife as they gave each other a smile. Young Mayor Mare, Burnt Oak, and Chiffon backed away quickly when they saw how furious Grand Pear looked.
"You can't be serious," Grand Pear replied angrily, "Are you choosin' to be an Apple over being a Pear?!" Pear Butter looked at Bright Mac as tears began to prick the corners of her eyes.
"Are you making me choose?" Pear Butter asked, her voice cracking. Grand Pear was taken aback for a moment.
"Yes. I am," Grand Pear said sternly, staring her down as young Mayor Mare gasped silently and put a fore-hoof to her mouth. Pear Butter began to cry, but she refused to back down.
"Then yeah, I guess I am," Pear Butter croaked. Bright Mac just held her close for comfort. Grand Pear was speechless for only a few moments.
"FINE!" Grand Pear snapped and then ran off.
Pear Butter broke down sobbing. Granny Smith walked over and lifted the mare's chin, giving her a soft smile. Pear Butter smiled back, grateful that at least Granny Smith wasn't going to reject her as well.
(Scene changes)
Next morning, Bright Mac had arrived in the orchard to do his chores when he saw Pear Butter weeping heavily in a patch of grass nearby.
"Buttercup? Honey?" Bright Mac asked gently as he rubbed a fore-hoof on her back.
"They're gone," Pear Butter sobbed, "they all left me behind, even Pa." Pear Butter cried even harder. Bright Mac gently pulled her up and held her close until she managed to calm down.
"I...I had hoped Pa would've come around," said Pear Butter, "but he abandoned me just the same. Now I'm just the black sheep of the family."
"I'm sorry," said Bright Mac sadly.
"Don't be, my love," said Pear Butter, "You're not the one who turned their back on me. At least Granny Smith hasn't thrown me off the farm. Not yet at least..."
"She won't," said Bright Mac firmly, "I had a long talk with Mom last night. She's actually impressed that you stood up to Grand Pear like that. The only pony she's angry with is him, but now it's because of what he did to you. And not because of some stupid feud..."
Pear Butter just sniffled.
"Even if your mother accepts me," said Pear Butter sadly, "the rest can't be said for your family. Many of them will know who I am. They won't accept me. Married or not, I'll always be a Pear to them."
Bright Mac snorted but then gave her a loving smile.
"Then we'll just have to show 'em how wonderful you really are, Buttercup," said Bright Mac. Pear Butter giggled as she snuggled into his chest.
"Now there you are!" said Granny Smith as she walked up to the newlywed couple, "I've been looking all over for ya! If you gonna be part of this family, you gotta do your share of the chores around here!"
"Sorry ma'am," said Pear Butter quietly, "I had...something I needed to do first." Granny Smith softened her stern look, especially when she saw how red Pear Butter's eyes were.
"Just up and left huh?" Granny Smith said quietly before muttering bitterly, "That prickly old pear...," then she sighed, "Awful sorry 'bout that, Pear Butter."
Pear Butter than snorted.
"Granny Smith," said Pear Butter sternly, "Just call me Buttercup from now on. As far as I'm concerned, Pear Butter is the black sheep of a family who no longer wants her. Buttercup is an Apple. An Apple to the core."
Granny Smith was stunned. So was Bright Mac, but despite Pear Butter's stern look and composure. They both could see she was fighting back a batch of fresh tears.
"If that's what you want, Buttercup," Granny Smith conceded with a sigh, "Now come on, dry those eyes and let's get to work. Those apples ain't gonna harvest themselves ya know!"
Buttercup just nodded as she wiped her eyes as she and Bright Mac followed the experienced mare to get to work.
"See? What did I tell ya," Bright Mac teased, "you're already winning ma over." Pear Butter, or now Buttercup, just rolled her eyes and smiled.
Her life as a Pear farmer were no more and her life as an Apple farmer was about to begin.
End Flashback
Back in the present, the three Apple siblings were most upset. Big Mac was holding Apple Bloom for comfort while Applejack, Clay, and Chase were just flat out angry.
"Why that no good-!" Clay said angrily.
"I can't believe Grand Pear just up and left Ma like that!" Applejack remarked, "No wonder Granny Smith never told us any of this."
"And all of this was because of that stupid rivalry the apples and pears had long ago." Chase added bitterly.
Big Mac, Clay, and Apple Bloom nodded in agreement.
"These things are never easy," said Mrs. Cake.
"And it's hard to know when it is a good time," said Mayor Mare.
"Guess that answers my questions why you never said anything to us before," said Chase as he wiped his eyes, "Seems that only Granny Smith was the one keeping secrets. We appreciate you telling us all this. Now we just need to find the right time to speak to Granny Smith about what we've learned today..."
Applejack put on a determined look on her face.
"It seems to me that now's as good a time as any," said Applejack.
"To talk to both our grandparents," said Apple Bloom as she and Big Mac stood up.
The five ponies began to leave while Mrs. Cake and Mayor Mare shared worried looks with each other.
While on the way to find Grand Pear, Chase had something on his mind.
All of the stories those ponies told us about Bright Mac and Buttercup were true, but what I don't understand is what really happened to them after those two had their kids Chase said in his thoughts with suspicion.
(Scene changes)
Back in the market area, most of the venders had closed up for the day as afternoon was coming to a close. Grand Pear was cleaning up his stand when the five ponies approached.
"Excuse me? Grand Pear?" said Apple Bloom.
"I'm Applejack and this here's Big Macintosh," said the orange mare, "But you already know who we are, don't ya?"
Grand Pear's smile flipped over as he looked away.
"Sure do," he replied sadly.
"Did you really move to Ponyville just for a change of pace?" Apple Bloom asked with Clay standing next to her.
"No..." said Grand Pear in a very sad tone, not making any eye contact with them.
"We...know about your...rivalry with our family and your own," Clay said in a calm tone, "And what happened with their mother..." Grand Pear looked at Clay with teary eyes.
If Clay had felt any anger or resentment toward Grand Pear, it melted instantly when he saw that the elder stallion's eyes were filled with pain and regret. Clay had to fight not cry looking into his eyes. Sadly, Apple Bloom couldn't hold her tears. Chase shed a few tears of his own as he kept a calm look on his face.
"Then you came here because you're sorry and that you wanted to get to know us, too?" Apple Bloom asked in a cracking tone as tears fell from her eyes. Grand Pear couldn't hold back his tears as he began to cry.
"I'm...so sorry," Grand Pear croaked, "I-I-I was just so angry, and...well, I-I never..." Grand Pear was too upset to speak.
"It's in the past, Grand Pear," said Apple Bloom sweetly as she, Applejack, Big Mac, and Clay all gathered around him and hugged him.
Chase stood behind to watch the seen with a smile on his face.
"Oh! Can I call you Grand Pear-Pear?" Apple Bloom asked. Grand Pear chuckled.
"Sure can," Grand Pear replied.
(Scene changes)
It didn't take long before the five ponies made their way back to Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith was busy feeding the chickens when she saw them.
"Now where'd you all get to?" Granny Smith asked, "I ain't seen hide or hair of ya's all day."
Big Mac and Apple Bloom looked worried while Applejack, Clay, and Chase gave her firm looks.
"We've been all over," said Applejack bluntly, "Learnin' about our parents while Chase was with us to help out what happened."
"Especially their love story," said Clay in the same tone.
"Guh..." Granny Smith stuttered as her eyes darted from side to side nervously, "Y-you have?"
Applejack and Clay both approached her and stood on opposite sides of the experienced mare.
"And our grandfather," said Applejack
It was then Apple Bloom and Big Mac split up and allowed Grand Pear to make his presence known.
"So...you're back, huh?" Granny Smith remarked as Chase, Clay, and Applejack shared worried looks with each other.
"Sure am," Grand Pear replied before mumbling sadly, "Never should've left."
"Findin' you and learnin' all about Mom and Dad," said Apple Bloom, "I feel like I found a piece of me that I didn't even know was missin'."
"Hearin' their story makes me feel closer to them somehow," Applejack added.
"I'm sorry," Granny Smith said sadly, "I should've told you all about 'em sooner."
"And I should've been here," said Grand Pear as he began to cry again, "Ah, I can't believe I let a silly feud keep me from my family."
"Nothing's keepin' ya from us now," said Applejack, "Let's not miss anythin' else."
Grand Pear smiled in agreement and wiped his eyes.
"Applejack's right," said Granny Smith, "Welcome back, prickly old pear. Heh." Granny Smith extended a fore-leg to shake. Grand Pear chuckled.
"Thanks, you old crabapple," Grand Pear replied and returned to hoofshake.
"Now that we're all together, there's somethin' we want to show you," said Apple Bloom, "Mom and Dad left somethin' to remember them by. Come on!"
"You know where it is?" Chase asked.
"You do too," Apple Bloom replied, "It's near the place you built that really cool racetrack for the Applewood derby."
"You designed an entire race course?" Grand Pear asked Chase, clearly impressed.
"Yeah, you'll see it along the way!" Chase replied and the group headed on their way.
Even with the pit stop at the now empty racetrack, it didn't take the group long to reach the outer edge where the Apple and Pear Farms met. Before them was a large tree, for the two seeds Buttercup and Bright Mac had planted had grown and intertwined into Equestria's one and only Apple and Pear tree. And there was even a gap between the branches and trunk in the shape of a heart. Grand Pear and Granny Smith were in awe as their eyes watered.
"Whoa..." said Grand Pear.
"It's beautiful," said Granny Smith.
"It's...impossible," said Grand Pear.
"If anything's gonna make it through," said Applejack, "it's apples and pears." Granny Smith and Grand Pear smiled as the others, minus Chase, gathered around them for a group hug.
"Come on, ya'll. Why don't we all go back to the barn so we can have some catching up to do?" Applejack asked as she led her family, minus Chase, back to the farm.
Clay was the first to see the alicorn master looking at the tree.
"You coming, Chase?" Clay asked, gaining Chase's attention.
"No, you guys go on ahead. I'm gonna heading back to Twilight real soon." Chase said as he turned his attention back to the tree. "I just need some time to think through things for what we've all learned today."
"Okay, then. See ya 'round!" Applejack said as the rest of the apple family, Grand Pear, and Clay walked back to the barn.
While Chase was looking at the tree, he kept having thoughts about what happened today, but he was still suspicious of what became of their disappearances.
"I know we've found all of the pieces, but there's still one more thing I don't understand." Chase said to himself curiously. "Where are Bright Mac and Buttercup?"
Then he saw a dim light behind two apple trees glowing in the shadows. Curious, Chase went to it and was surprised to see a familiar glowing white flower he found in his adventure in the Underground for the first time.
"One of these flowers." Chase said in surprise.
Looking around, he saw no pony anywhere to watch him before he turned back to the glowing white flower and placed his left hoof on it.
Just like before, the power surged into him as his eyes became white as he began to see a vision.
(Scene changes)
Chase moaned as his whole world was pitch black as he struggled to open his eyes. Suddenly, he gasped in surprise as his eyes went fully open.
He struggled to get up as he placed a forehoof on his head.
"I'll never get used to that kind of power." Chase said as he looked up, only to gasp in surprise to see the image of Nightmare Moon on the moon. "That's Nightmare Moon's image. Wait, is it night time already? Where am I?"
He looked around before he saw a familiar village with a big Well in the middle. It was the Hollow Shades, the only difference is that the houses were in perfect shape.
"The Hollow Shades?" Chase said in surprise as he walked into the area. "This must be how it was before the Quinkan took control over it."
Chase looked around to see no pony in sight.
"It's quiet." Chase muttered to himself while looking around. "Too quiet." The only sound could be heard from water dripping and the wind blowing in the air. "Where is everypony?"
BOOM!
Chase froze in place as an explosion came from behind a few houses in the village as he turned to it. Then he saw Earth Ponies heading his way while screaming in horror and fear. Chase braced for himself to not get trampled, but he was surprised to see the ponies go through him.
"Wait a minute. This is just a vision from the past." Chase said as he turned around for a moment before he shook his head and saw what the Earth Ponies were running from.
Jumping on the rooftops of the houses were a group of Pyroquin soldiers in the Quinkan army, growling at the fleeing Earth Ponies.
"The Quinkan!" Chase said in alarm before he glared at the monsters.
"Hurry, honey!" A voice came from the other side of a house, making Chase turn to see who it belonged to.
To his shock and surprise, Bright Mac and Buttercup were running from behind the Earth Ponies, trying to flee away from the Quinkan.
"Bright Mac? Buttercup?" Chase asked in surprise.
Suddenly, two Protoquin soldiers twirled some chains in their hands before they lassoed the two Earth Ponies, making yell in surprise.
Bright Mac and Buttercup struggled to break free as two familiar figures approached them.
"Oh no. Kai and Wuya." Chase said with concern as Kai and Wuya approached the Earth Pony couple with sinister smiles.
"Let us go right now!" Buttercup demanded angrily.
"You varmints won't get away with this!" Bright Mac added.
"Weak words will not get you anywhere." Kai said mockingly. "Your strength is very strong for Earth Ponies like you, Bright Mac and Buttercup. But it won't be enough."
"We will put it to good use… destroying everything around the world so you won't be able to see the light of days." Wuya added with an evil smirk.
"No." Buttercup said with utter fear.
Then footsteps were coming to them as Kai and Wuya stepped aside to reveal Zhao came into view with the rest of the Quinkan army behind him.
Buttercup and Bright Mac gazed at the evil Quinkan leader in horror. Chase saw this in horror as well.
"Oh no, Zhao!" Chase said in horror.
"With your energy, I will rebuild my army once more. And this time, there will be no one left to stop me." Zhao said sinisterly as he raised the palm of his left hand and points it at the Earth Pony couple.
Suddenly, he used his powers to suck Bright Mac and Buttercup into him as orange magical electricity surged through the Earth Pony couple, causing them to scream in pain. Then, they became engulfed into orange aura before they were sucked into Zhao's palm and he ceased his magic with an evil smirk.
Chase was terrified by what he saw and knows what happened to Bright Mac and Buttercup from before.
"Finally, now is the time to resurrect my army and steal Grogar's throne once more!" Zhao declared as everything around Chase became white.
(Scene changes)
Chase finally returned back to the present as he was still next to the white lotus flower, which now died down its magic.
The alicorn master couldn't believe by what he had just saw. Everything now made sense for him. Not only did Grand Pear leave Buttercup because of the silly feud between the apples and the pears, but she and Bright Mac were now held by the Quinkan.
"No wonder Bright Mac and Buttercup went missing." Chase said with a horrified look as he closed his eyes. "Grandpa, tell me how I can protect my family from the Quinkan. Please."
(Scene changes)
Later that night at the Castle of Friendship, Chase had just arrived back home to tell Twilight everything of what happened.
"And that's what happened, honey." Chase explained to his wife about the truth behind Bright Mac and Buttercup's disappearance.
Needless to say, Twilight was shocked and horrified by this.
"You really sure that Zhao stole the energy from Bright Mac and Buttercup?" Twilight asked in fear.
"I'm afraid so." Chase said as he nodded in confirmation. "Zhao's not only been gathering magic from alicorns and unicorns, he's been taking the power from the Earth Ponies' strength so that his army would become strong from the past."
"Did you tell Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac about this?" Twilight asked with concern.
"No. I don't know how they will take it." Chase answered with concern before he gazed out the window. "Tomorrow, we need to tell the others about this. Now we know that Zhao's been feeding off the magical strength from Earth Ponies, I've got a very bad feeling he'll still find a way to take Grogar's throne with a more powerful source of magic."
Twilight nodded in agreement with her husband as they knew their friends and family needed to know about this.
(Scene changes)
The next morning, Chase and Twilight had called the rest of the Mane fourteen, along with Apple Bloom and Big Mac, to the throne room to tell them the truth of what happened to Bright Mac and Buttercup.
Needless to say, they were all shocked and horrified by hearing that Zhao was responsible for the three Apple siblings' parents. All of them remained silent until Chase felt a hoof touch his right leg.
He looked down to see Apple Bloom looking at him with tears streaming down her eyes.
"Is it really true, Chase?" Apple Bloom croaked sadly, not holding back her tears. "I-is Zhao really responsible for Mom and Dad's fate?"
"I'm afraid so, Apple Bloom." Chase confirmed as he held Apple Bloom close as the yellow filly cried in his chest.
Applejack was furious by what Zhao had done to her family as she bucked her chair slightly as it rocked a bit before she settled down and hugged her legs.
"What do we do now, Chase?" Sokka asked with concern as he held Fluttershy close to him as his wife sheds a few tears from her eyes as the rest of the girls looked down in sadness of Bright Mac and Buttercup's fate.
"I don't know. It sounds like Zhao has never given up a fight until he gets what he wants." Chase replied back grimy.
"If what you said is true, do you really think he's gonna try to take all of us away from each other?" Jade asked with concern.
"I'd hate to see what he'll try to do he keeps coming back to haunt us." Sunray added with a bitter look he has against Zhao.
"All of us won't be able to stand against him even if we have each other to look after." Twilight said with worry.
Chase placed a hoof on his wife's shoulder with comfort.
"Maybe. But that no longer matters. It's clear now that Zhao is a problem that won't go away. So prepare yourselves, everypony." Chase said grimly as the others turned to him that some of them had worried looks while the rest had determined looks to defend their friends and families. "Because as of this moment… we are at war."
Author's note: Well, here's chapter 13 for you guys to look at. I decided to add a little twist for Bright Mac and Buttercup's fate. I hope you like it!