The father of Babs Seed gazed at the door as his daughter walked in. She dumped her bag near the door and gave a small smile before heading up to her room. He was worried about her, and what the teachers had told him. Apparently some school fillies had decided Babs was an easy target. He just didn’t know what he should do. When he conversed with the teachers it was either; ‘Babs reacted and the fillies only acted in defence’ meaning Babs was the cause, or, like just this week when he had called up and been told they were ‘attempting a scheme to reduce bullying in the school.’
“Either option I don’t care, they’re hurting my daughter, I can’t just stand by but-“he trailed off, glancing up the stairs. Why didn’t Babs want to talk to him about it? He sighed, unable to understand his little Babsy as much as he used to. Dialling the only number he could think of, he decided it was time to call in for some family reinforcement.
“Howdy there, who may I say is talkin’?” spoke Applejack, her voice cheery as she answered the phone. He could hear the sounds of something being dropped on the floor and some voices in the background talking. As he shifted feet in the neatly packed kitchen, he forced a smile onto his face and spoke in a cheery tone as he greeted Applejack.
“Hey Applejack, surely you remember me?” He could hear her as she suddenly gasped as she realised who it was. There was the rush of shhh and sudden sounds of chairs being scrapped and doors closing. He couldn’t help but chuckle, Applejack had obviously missed their conversations.
“Well howdy Uncle, havn’t seen you since I las went ta’ Manehattan. How have you and everyone else been?” He had to smile; only Applejack would become more country sounding under pressure. As he quickly thought of the last time he had seen everyone around his area, he nodded to himself and began to catch Applejack up on recent events.
“The party was not something you would like, Babs didn’t show a keen interest either, but I’m sure she’ll eventually come around and enjoy them as much as we did as children. As for the celebration it went off without a hitch and we were able to give everyone their customary samples, they seemed to enjoy it enough because we got fifteen more orders.” He laughed in delight and then paused to give Applejack some time to reply.
“Well, we were rebuilding the barn when one of my friends got in tha way so we had ta rebuilt it again, but it worked out for the best. We helped save en entire empire, but ah didn’t do much besides stand beside a fake statue and try to make sure no one peeked at it. But it was nice ta help those Crystal ponies out ya know? I’d want tha same if it were me after all.” He could tell from her tone, she was happy it had all worked out in the end.
“I proud of you, you know. You go around with your friends protecting all of Equestria. Why, if it weren’t for you, I sometimes wonder if life would be half as exciting as it is receiving letters from you. I apologise if I don’t reply some of the time, you know I’m just mighty busy ensuring we stay afloat. That reminds me, I’ve got a nice cutlery set I have been just DYING to send down to you, I can send it up there soon, but for now we don’t really have the money to be spending on our families if we want to ensure our lifestyle.” He sighed, knowing he sounded slightly snobby, but Applejack should understand, she had experienced it after all. Even if she hadn’t enjoyed it was the time, she had at the very least given it her best shot.
“Of course Uncle, ya have ta look after ya family after all.” Applejack didn’t honestly know if she was telling the truth with her last words. It was true you had to look after your family, but what came first, family or the world? It was one of those impossible questions that had plagued her since Discord had come and gone. She decided it was time to change the subject.
“So how’s lil Babs Seed doin, she faring okay at school and that?” She heard the silence come thought the phone. She wasn’t sure what nail she had hit on the head, but she had definitely hit one on the head.
“You see right thought me once again Applejack, you see this is what I was calling you about. You see…Babs has a problem with…bullies” Applejack couldn’t help but notice he whispered the last bit, as if not wanting to be found out.
She frowned, but replied “bullies, tell me everything Uncle.” She heard him pause, and then, in the overdramatic way of the fancy, he began to explain it like it was the world was going to end. Applejack knew it was likely how Babs was feeling, but he still didn’t have to act like that. It made understanding what he was saying hard to understand.
“Calm down Uncle, slow down ah can’t hear you properly.” She heard him take a breath, and begin again.
“Babs has been doing fine at school. Her grades in presentation, snobbiness, and making herself look good in the nude-er I mean art class. However her grades in fancy could use some work. Well apparently all the other kids are teasing her because she still hasn’t found her talent, beaucoup de chagrin. “Applejack wasn’t sure exactly what that last part meant, but she got the gist of it.
"Babs is being bullied because she doesn't have her cutie mark?" she asked, getting a es in response.
‘Let's see’, she thought.
‘Here in Ponyville, we have two school-aged fillies that torment foals like that, calling them blank flanks. I know this very well, because one of the foals bullied is my little sister. It happens in school, and the teacher does nothing to stop it. Both of the bullies' parents don't do anything to stop it. And right now its summer and these fillies have neither school nor honest work to occupy their hooves.’
"Uncle, Ah have a great idea. Why don't you send Babs here for a few weeks?"