[She did the only thing she could think of, what she always wished someone had done for her and gathered Apple up in her arms and hugged her close, stroking the back of her hair. She let her cry as much as she needed and listened.]
Oh, Apple dear... I never want you to think you can't cry and make a fuss. You cry as much as you need whenever you need. You see, there's a reason you might never see me cry. It's not that I don't, I very much do.
But...
Well, the reason I don't cry much is a bit hard to explain.
[She continued to stroke Apple's hair and rubbed her back, quite happy to have her daughter in her arms and being able to offer comfort in this way.]
Oh yes, when I was first told by the huntsman that my stepmother wanted to kill me, I was terrified, Apple. I must have cried at least half the day away when I finally ran far enough away from the castle. But crying wasn't going to solve my problem of now being homeless! I needed to find somewhere to stay, but I was still quite upset.
So I sang a song to cheer myself up. But I don't think I would have been ready to do what needed to be done, if I hadn't at least cried a little.
I'm very used to taking care of myself by myself, and no one ever drying away my tears. This was no different except now I needed to find a roof over my head.
But I don't want you to ever have to feel like the way I felt when I was growing up, Apple. You see, I couldn't go to anyone about any of my fears or problems, I couldn't turn to my stepmother about any aches or pains. That's not something I want for you! You can come to me, especially when you're upset, even when you're not, you can always come to me.
["But I'm not supposed to", Apple almost says. Because if Snow didn't have anybody... then...
... Then what? Apple can't say she has nobody. She has so many friends at at Ever After High, and if she ever needed help, they'd probably stampede towards her. Not to mention this place is different from everything she knows and everything she was taught.
Meeting your mom when she was your age is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Perhaps it's a chance to do other things one normally doesn't do. Is there really any harm - as long as things go the way they should in the end?]
... Thank you. I've... I've been trying to keep a lot of stuff inside, because everyone expects me to smile and just take it on without complaint. It's not easy, and sometimes I do want to cry and complain and everything. And this place has been really frustrating! And I miss my school, I miss my teachers, and most of all I miss all of my friends!
[But, thankfully, saying all this doesn't bring any tears. if anything, it makes her feel better to admit the stuff she's been holding back.]
So... so I'll come to you, whenever I want... right?
I don't expect you to always smile, not here and not now. I don't know what I'll say when I'm older, but here in Verens, you never have to force yourself to perk up. You show exactly what you feel Apple, and you say exactly what you need to.
It's more than alright to miss your friends, your school, your teachers, and everything else. [She kept stroking Apple's hair.]
Whenever you want, no matter what. May you never know the pain of having no one to dry your tears away, Apple.
Careful... if you say things like that, I might come crying to you about everything. I'll wind up talking your ear off!
[A small way to let Snow know she's all right. She leans on her a little, calming down and relieved. Okay, so not absolutely everything has to be solved and resolved right this second. It's scary, but also kind of nice...]
Everything was just fine. We managed to handle all the sales perfectly... Fluttershy left us for a bit, but it was only to go with everyone else who were getting the new crystals for your amulets. She was so brave!
Well, I think we can certainly forgive anyone who left to go help with the crystals or were affected by the crystal theft.
And she is! Her and Minnie and Allura and so many of our friends. You were very brave too. I'll have to make something special as a thank you for all their hard work, and yours too!
Oh no you don't, you do not get to jump into a project that fast after everything that happened! And I don't want anything from you, I'm just happy to have you back to normal.
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Oh, Apple dear... I never want you to think you can't cry and make a fuss. You cry as much as you need whenever you need.
You see, there's a reason you might never see me cry. It's not that I don't, I very much do.
But...
Well, the reason I don't cry much is a bit hard to explain.
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You... you do? But... you always have a smile on. Everyone looks up to you as an inspiration...
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Oh yes, when I was first told by the huntsman that my stepmother wanted to kill me, I was terrified, Apple. I must have cried at least half the day away when I finally ran far enough away from the castle. But crying wasn't going to solve my problem of now being homeless! I needed to find somewhere to stay, but I was still quite upset.
So I sang a song to cheer myself up. But I don't think I would have been ready to do what needed to be done, if I hadn't at least cried a little.
I'm very used to taking care of myself by myself, and no one ever drying away my tears. This was no different except now I needed to find a roof over my head.
But I don't want you to ever have to feel like the way I felt when I was growing up, Apple. You see, I couldn't go to anyone about any of my fears or problems, I couldn't turn to my stepmother about any aches or pains. That's not something I want for you! You can come to me, especially when you're upset, even when you're not, you can always come to me.
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... Then what? Apple can't say she has nobody. She has so many friends at at Ever After High, and if she ever needed help, they'd probably stampede towards her. Not to mention this place is different from everything she knows and everything she was taught.
Meeting your mom when she was your age is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Perhaps it's a chance to do other things one normally doesn't do. Is there really any harm - as long as things go the way they should in the end?]
... Thank you. I've... I've been trying to keep a lot of stuff inside, because everyone expects me to smile and just take it on without complaint. It's not easy, and sometimes I do want to cry and complain and everything. And this place has been really frustrating! And I miss my school, I miss my teachers, and most of all I miss all of my friends!
[But, thankfully, saying all this doesn't bring any tears. if anything, it makes her feel better to admit the stuff she's been holding back.]
So... so I'll come to you, whenever I want... right?
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It's more than alright to miss your friends, your school, your teachers, and everything else. [She kept stroking Apple's hair.]
Whenever you want, no matter what. May you never know the pain of having no one to dry your tears away, Apple.
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Careful... if you say things like that, I might come crying to you about everything. I'll wind up talking your ear off!
[A small way to let Snow know she's all right. She leans on her a little, calming down and relieved. Okay, so not absolutely everything has to be solved and resolved right this second. It's scary, but also kind of nice...]
You'll be sick of me soon enough.
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Hardly. Now then, I know I left the bakery in the best of care with you in charge, but how did things go while I was asleep?
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And she is! Her and Minnie and Allura and so many of our friends. You were very brave too. I'll have to make something special as a thank you for all their hard work, and yours too!
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[She didn't know how to respond to that, no one had ever cared for her like this.]
Well... I mean- are you sure?
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... Yeah. I can stay As long as you want.