Letters from His Daughter
It's a beautiful day in Ponyville at Sweet Apple Acres as Grandpear takes a seat in his rocker when Apple Bloom comes into the room followed by Applejack and Big Mack. "Grandpearpear," she says with a smile, "do you have anything of momma's?"
"In fact, I do," responds Grandpear as he goes over to a secret cubby and pulls out a box. He then brings it over and sits back down and pops off the lid. "It's a box of letters your mother used to write me. She'd send one every week just about."
"Oh, read em! read em! read em!" says Apple Bloom as she bounces around happily.
"Okay," responds Grandpear. Apple Bloom sits back down and he begins to read the letters. "Dear daddy," he reads, "everything is going perfectly here in Ponyville. Bright Mack and I are so happy together. In fact, we're expecting our first foal. I sure wish you were here." He then picks up another letter. "Dear daddy, Big Mack is just the sweetest little colt, he's so energetic and talkative. He loves hiding in his father's hats. It's quite funny to watch."
"Wow, she missed you a lot, huh?" says Apple Bloom.
"Indeed," responds Grandpear. "She wrote me letters about all of you. Like this one." He begins to read again. "Dear daddy, I just had my second foal, a little filly named Applejack. She is such a stubborn little filly but I love her with all my heart. She and Big Mack get along so well. I wish you were here to see them." He then sets that one down and picks up another one and reads it. "Dear daddy, I just had my final foal, it's another filly. Her name is Apple Bloom. She looks just like her daddy. She gets along great with Big Mack and our little AJ. I'm so happy, I wish you were here." He then puts it down and picks up yet another letter. "Dear daddy, the older two began working in the orchard today with their father while I was out at lunch with Chiffon, little Apple Bloom tagging along as always. There's so much you've missed."
"Any other letters from mother, not about us?" asks Applejack curiously.
"Sure do, here's one that was quite memorable," says Grandpear as he pulls it out of the box and begins to read. "Dear daddy, Bright Mack took me to my first Grand Galloping Gala tonight and I had a blast. He's so light on his hooves and it was great. We danced all night and joked over the punch bowl. Big Mack and Applejack looked so cute in their gala outfits too. Apple Bloom stayed home with Granny though. Go figure. You've missed so much and I miss you so much. Please consider letting go of the feud and coming home to me, please." He then lets out a sigh. "That was the last one she wrote before she and Bright Mack passed." A tear then falls from his eyes.
"Oh Grandpear," say the children as they come over and embrace him in a hug. "Sorry if you made you look through the letters."
"It's fine," responds Grandpear with a smile. "You needed to hear them. I needed to hear them." He then wipes the tears from his eyes and begins to read another letter. "Dear daddy, Granny taught me how to make apple pies and apple fritters today. I had a blast. She's so nice. She's also such a good cook. We then went around town and gave our leftover goodies to the other elder ponies in the local nursing home and the children at the school. It feels so good to share something I made with other ponies. I hope you're proud of me." He then digs to the bottom of the box and finds one that's very special and dear to his heart. "Here's one that your mother wrote that she let you and Big Mack run wild on, Applejack. Wanna hear it?"
"Sure," responds Applejack and Big Mack.
Grandpear then begins to read the letter. "Dear daddy, it's your dear little Pear Butter. Applejack and Big Mack got a hold of this one and wrote little notes to you on here as well. For me, today's been good. I spent the entire day at the spa with Chiffon. It was great. It was some much-needed relaxation. Dear pappy, it's me, Applejack, today daddy taught me apple bucking and mommy taught me guitar yesterday. It was so much fun. I wish I could meet you. Dear pappy, it's me, Big Mack, I wish I could meet you. I'm strong just like daddy and calm and collected just like mommy. Hey daddy, sorry about those two getting a hold of my stuff. I didn't mean for that to happen but I see what they wrote you is actually quite sweet. I hope the letter didn't confuse you at all. Sincerely, Pear Butter."
"Yeah," responds Applejack, "we never did like to stay out of momma's stuff, did we, Big Mack?"
"Ey-nope," responds Big Mack with a smile.
"What's your favorite letter momma wrote you?" asks Apple Bloom curiously.
"Well, any letters mentioning you and your siblings, those ones always made me smile," responds Grandpear.
"Well," responds Apple Bloom, "that's so sweet. I'm glad those ones are your favorite. I just wish I had known mom and dad like big sis and big brother did." A tear then falls from her eye. "They died before I even really knew them. Now, hearing these letters, seeing their shooting stars every night, hearing those stories, the tree. I feel more connected to them than ever before." She then hops up into Grandpear's lap and he then grabs her and holds her close to him.
"Well, I'm glad you've enjoyed the letters," says Grandpear. "That means so much to me."
"And rightfully it should," says Applejack, "these letters make mom seem closer to us and that's all that matters."
"Indeed, it is," responds Grandpear. "Now, why don't we go out for a family walk together?" He then sets Apple Bloom down and goes and puts the box back in its place. The four then head out for a nice walk together. All the while, thinking about Pear Butter and Bright Mack and how much Buttercup tried to mend her relationship with her father and how honorable that truly is.
