Life Off The Branch.

“I know I usually read “The Moon Says Hello.” but tonight I just need a loving ear to listen.” Smith sighed softly, her orange colored irises glowing in the dim light of the orchard.

Her short bob style mane had grown quite a bit lately, the stallion in her life enjoyed it longer. He even suggested she start wearing it in a bun, though at the moment she was on the fence about that.

Sitting down beside the largest tree in the orchard, the slender green mare curled up into a small ball under its protective branches. Whenever she felt alone or confused, this was a place where everything made sense and she could work out things at her own pace.

“My special somepony has gone and opened his heart to me. We were just doin’ nothing special in the first place, peelin’ some apples when out of nowhere he said the words.” Smith groaned and uncurled, her body falling back onto the ground with a thud.

“The L.O.V.E. word! I mean it caught me off guard like a hen in the bed pan! “ Smith felt a lock of golden mane fall over her eyes, the mare halfheartedly blowing it back.

“I L.O.VE. him too. But I just feel things might be movin’ too fast.” The mare gazed down in shame.

“Ma always did say to settle down and make a family. I just don’t know if I’m ready.” She folded her ears back softly, only to hear a loud chuckle.

“What stallion in his right mind, would marry an Apple!” The loud snort of Grand Pear rang out loudly across the orchard sarcastically.

“Grrr! I’ll have you know, stallions from around Equestria line up to court me! You old cocky rooster!” Smith slung up from her spot, sitting upon her flank and blowing a raspberry.

“Ha! Have you looked in a mirror lately? To wake up to you every morning, would be a fate worse than death!” Grand Pear chuckled as he was leaned up against a large Pear Tree, a simple fence keeping both ponies apart.

“I can’t believe you! Comin’ all out here just to mock me!?” Smith rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“Phst. Don’t go flatterin’ yourself, I was out here first covering my Pear Trees! Then you came out talkin’ to yer’s like some weirdo!” Grand Pear snapped back, shaking his head side to side slowly.

“I’m the weirdo!? Trees don’t need blankets! But it has been proven by science gizmos that a tree can listen, you old fool!” Smith stomped over to the fence and leaned over it glaring.

“Get off my fence! You hag of a nag!” Grand Pear snorted aloud as he stomped over to the fence, leaning high onto his side just as mad.

“My family built this fence with their own two hooves!” Smith shook the weak wooden frame firmly.

“You lie! It were the Pear’s that built it! If I remember correctly you Apples were too stingy to buy the parts to build it! Or If I had to say too dirt poor!” Grand Pear yelled back in anger to the pouty mare.

“Smack!” A loud pop echoed around the night air of the orchard.

Grand Pear hit the ground with a dull thud, Smith softly waving her hoof up and down from the punch, her hoof aching something fierce.

“My family is not poor! Now you stay down in the dirt, where you belong!” Smith turned around with a pout, walking away from the stunned stallion in silence.

“Grr! You hear this, you filthy harlot! An Apple will never be more than dirt! You all were born trash and will die that!” Grand Pear slung up from the ground, leaning roughly against the fence.

“Nopony can ever love an Apple!” His words echoed around the abyss, chasing after the young mare like a swarm of angry wasps.

The mare never replied to the wicked voice from the darkness, he did not deserve such a thing from her. Yet even as she galloped back to the family farm, she could feel tears running down the sides of her cheeks.

His words stung her deep, her family tried harder than most to make a mark in this world. Sure they couldn’t always buy the best of anything, but they were happy with what they had. Hard days working the fields, with longer nights in the orchard.

If she married now, that would be an extra work hoof on the farm. Plus with all his friends and family, they could maybe make a true go at expanding the farm. Her father and family worked so hard, though they never said anything out loud, she knew they wished for some relief.

The lights of the house were burning brightly in the kitchen, she could hear the voices of stallions talking and laughing away in the house. Her Somepony and Pa no doubt, sharing a glass of hard cider in the late of the night.

Gazing down to the ground, the aching in her belly leaving an uneasy feeling in her small frame. She quickly lifted her growing mane into a neat styled bun, tying it off with a old red ribbon near an empty stable.

Orange colored eyes reflected off the dim light of the house, her hooves slowly inching their way up the front steps of the porch. She would prove to The Pear Clan, that her family had the power in this world to make a change.

To lift up out of the earth they toiled in, they would rise high above the land and shine brightly to all in Equestria.

A sweet smile forming across her lips, she slowly opened the door to her home. Walking into the kitchen, she could make out the two figures gazing over to her in silence.

“You look as beautiful as ever.” Her special somepony spoke up in a loving tone, impressed by her new mane style.

“I love you too.” She smiled to her love in joy, life had to be lived fast and in the moment.

For those who waited too long, were left alone in the dust.