A few days later, I get a letter from Cowboy in the mail sometime after work and I promptly open it. “Dear Creativa,” I read, “you’ve missed so much, some good, some bad. I did well in the Mane Gait Rodeo, got two first places and a second. Oh, and one other thing, sis showed up with an abusive stallionfriend, but I and my brothers helped get her out of that situation. She’s now dating a good friend of mine and the Apples, Oak Root. He’s a relative of Burnt Oak, grandson I believe. He treats Sweetheart better than that abusive gray stallion Powder Keg ever did. That relationship was awful, big sis was covered in bruises and cuts from the abuse she suffered at Keg’s hooves. We’re all just glad and relieved that she’s safe now. I’m sorry it’s been awhile, but I’m going to be on the road with touring rodeos for another year, I don’t know when I’ll be back home to Appleloosa or up to visit Ponyville, but I’ll continue to write.” He finishes it as he always does, “yours forever and always, your Cowboy.” I take the letter inside the farmhouse and show it to AJ who reads it with a smile.
“Well, I’m glad he’s looking out for his big sis,” says AJ. “And Oak Root is a good kid, he’s Burnt Oak’s son and a close friend of mine and Big Mack.”
“Cool,” I respond. “I just can’t believe I won’t see my Cowboy for another year or so. He’s doing a rodeo tour across Equestria right now.”
“Well, at least he’s gonna write ya,” responds AJ. “And you can totally write him back.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” I respond. I then go and put the letter up in my room in the farmhouse.
Later that night, AJ and I go into town and join up with Pinkie, Dash, Rarity, and Twilight for a girls night. Fluttershy is out of town visiting her brother. For our girls night, we eat out at a fancy diner in Ponyville and go to the movie theater and enjoy a trip to the spa as well. I have a blast. We stay out until about 10:00 or so before all heading our separate ways. AJ and I return to Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity returns to her boutique after going to pick up Sweetie Bell from their parents house, and RD and Pinkie head off to pull some late night pranks on some ponies at a new place in town.
Back at the farmhouse, AJ and I sit and continue to talk for another solid hour or two. We talk about many things until we are interrupted by two young voices, it’s Apple Bloom and Babs Seed.
“Oh, hey sis,” says AJ turning around to face the fillies, “I thought you two were already in bed. What are you doing back up?”
“Couldn’t sleep,” responds Apple Bloom. “It gets lonely here when you leave since Big Mack is always over at the Cakes’ house visiting Sugar Bell.”
“Well, I’m home now, now go back up to bed.” The fillies nod and AJ walks the pair back up the stairs. Poor Babs is only in town for the time being because her parents are in court for divorce and child custody proceedings. AJ agreed to take care of the filly while her parents try to settle things the best they know how.
Once in Apple Bloom’s room, AJ tucks the two fillies back into bed. Once tucked in, Babs asks AJ the question AJ’s been dreading since the little filly came to stay with them. “AJ, are my momma and daddy gonna stay together? Do they still love me?”
“On the first one, honestly, I don’t know,” responds AJ, “but on the second, they do still love you, Babs, they always will.” She kisses the fillies on the forehead and heads back downstairs.
“I can’t imagine,” AJ says to me when she comes back downstairs, “I just can’t imagine.” She shakes her head. “Poor Babs, she just doesn’t understand. She thinks divorce means her parents don’t love her anymore. Her parents do still love her and getting her to understand that is just hard. I just wish I knew what to fell her.” AJ lets out a sigh. She then heads off to bed and I do the same. Maybe I could get through to Babs in a way AJ can’t, but I’m too tired to do that now. I’ll talk with the filly in the morning. Right now, all I want to do is sleep.