• Published 6th May 2015
  • 4,351 Views, 49 Comments

Swingset Conversations - TheNewYorkBrony



The first time Cadence ever babysat her.

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Chapter 1

Birds chirped high above, making Twilight feel like someone was playing the flute in her ear. She sat on a park bench, her knees drawn up to her chest as she watched the other kids play and run around.

There was the occasional sound of a car driving by, or the tune of the local ice cream truck making another one of it's mid-spring rounds. She heaved a heavy sigh. She didn't know why her babysitter insisted on bringing her here. All it did was make her feel depressed. She didn't have any friends to play with and it showed.

She looked over at the kids running around on the playground climbing, laughing, pretending and having fun.

Without her.

She turned away from the display, frowning.

It's not like she really cared. So what if she didn't have friends? She didn't need them. Everyone in her class already thought she was a freak. Why would she want to associate herself with people who wanted nothing to do with her?

She jumped when she felt a hand touch her, but relaxed when she saw it was the pink hue of her newly appointed babysitter, Cadence. Her brother had gotten a new position at his job and wouldn't be home to watch her anymore. That was where Cadence came in.

She was nice, she went to Shining's school, and she was really, really trying hard to understand why Twilight refused to go play with the other kids, but she still wasn't getting it.

Twilight didn't blame her. She looked like a social butterfly. The one to be head cheerleader, (which she was), while being class president, (which she was), and doing community service all at the same time. (Which she did.)

"You don't talk much, do you?" Cadence asked.

Twilight shook her head.

Cadence smiled fondly at her. "That's alright. We don't need to talk. Your parents told me you were shy,"

Twilight scoffed. "Shy is an understatement. More like geeky, awkward, boring and pathetic." she said, pushing her glasses up on her face.

Cadence frowned slightly. That had been the first thing Twilight had said to her besides grunts meaning 'yes' and 'no'. Suddenly, she got an idea. "Hey, do you wanna go on the swings for a bit?"she asked, nodding towards the empty area where the swings were.

Twilight sighed. "Sure, why not. Not like I have anything better to do," she got up and followed the older girl over to the swingset and sat down next to her, looking forward as she swung slowly.

"Hey," Cadence said, getting her attention. "Why do you put yourself down so much?" she began to swing too, matching Twilight's pace.

The younger girl shrugged. "I dunno. I guess when you hear stuff enough times you start to believe it."

Cadence's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean enough times? Who has been telling you things like that?"

Twilight turned to her with a dull look on her face. "Look, you're popular and all, so you don't know about this little thing called bullying. It happens to me. Everyday."

Cadence's face fell. "Oh, I'm sorry Twilight, I didn't know..."

"It's fine. It's not like you care anyway. I'm just some dumb kid you babysit for extra cash. You don't have to worry about me being teased on a regular basis," Twilight's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Hey now, you are not some dumb kid," Cadence protested. "You're a pretty cool kid who's probably smarter than half the people I go to school with," she ruffled Twilight's hair fondly.

Twilight gazed up at her with hope filled eyes. "You really think so?" she asked softly.

"Of course. And I'm not being paid to say that," The older girl replied. "This is the first time I've ever babysat you, and I'm absolutely sure it won't be the last. But I'm here for you, Twilight, and if there's anything you ever need to talk about, I'm all ears."

"You mean it?" Twilight asked excitedly.

Cadence smiled. "Heck yeah. I may not look like it, but I've been where you are now. When I was in grade school, I was the smart dorky weirdo that knew way too much about astrophysics and Greek mythology for her age and didn't get when girls called boys in their class cute." her smile grew. "I tried to fit in, but it made me unhappy, being a carbon copy of everyone else," she continued. "But then I decided that I was who I was, and that no one and nothing could change that,"

The swing sqeaked under her weight as she picked up speed. Twilight tried to keep up with her as much as her shorter legs could push her into the air.

"And when I entered middle school, I decided that I was going to forge my own path and do my own thing. And I discovered that I wasn't the only pretty girl into science and philosophy." Cadence slowed down and turned to Twilight. "My point is, kids are cruel. But you can't let them win. Don't shut yourself out because other people don't like who you are. Flaunt your likes. Be proud of who you are. Because you never know what equally dorky guy might come along and sweep you off your feet."

Twilight nodded thoughtfully, taking everything that Cadence had said in. "That dorky guy is Shining, right?" she asked with an amused smirk.

Cadence winked. "The one and only. And you know what, who knows? Maybe you'll find your dorky guy some day too." She smirked when she saw a boy about Twilight's age with blue hair approach them.

"Hey Twilight," He said nervously, twiddling with his thumbs.

"Hi, Flash," Twilight greeted back with a faint smile.

"I was wondering...I mean me and some other kids wanted to know, I mean if you want to, do you um, wanna play tag with us?" He finally blurted, a blush rising to his orange cheeks.

Cadence let out a quiet guffaw at the adorable display. She nudged Twilight when the younger girl hadn't said anything in response.

"I...uh...." Twilight tried, blushing herself. She looked to Cadence for help.

Cadence playfully rolled her eyes and whispered in her ear, "Go get your dork, Twilight."

Nodding, Twilight took a deep breath. "You know what? Yeah. I'll play tag with you guys," she said sliding off the swing. "You don't mind, do you?" she asked, turning to Cadence.

"Oh, pfft. You two go on ahead. I'm having way too much fun swinging here," The other girl answered cooly. "You can go on without me!"

"Sweet!" Twilight cried. She cleared her throat. "Uh, I mean, thanks Cadence. For everything."

Cadence ruffled her hair again. "Anytime, kiddo. Have fun."

"Will do!" Twilight said, before pulling Flash off in the direction of the other kids.

Cadence smiled as she watched them off.

Yup, she was going to be just fine.

Comments ( 49 )

Aw. This was a cute story, and understandable...just wish finding someone you like or finding friends was that easy...

I can't help but feel that this story reminded me about my own childhood. I used to have trouble making friends too as well as bullying, so I can relate to Twilight. :fluttercry:

"Never forget who you are, for the world will certainly not. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you"- Tryion Lannister:twilightsmile::scootangel:

This was adorable. A little short, though, and that bit at the end might raise a few questions regarding continuity, but I'd be interested in reading your explanation.

5945151 I'm practically twilight other than the fact that I'm not boring if anything I'm hyperactive and strange:twilightblush: so yeah it reminds me of my childhood too.

5945666 Well there is no continuity of course. It's a totally different universe from the one where Twilight ends up in a basement obsessively tracking paranormal activity and kind of neglecting her personal hygiene.

5945666 lol Well I'm more like Pinkie Pie to be exact. :pinkiehappy:

Adorably relatable! :pinkiehappy: True, Flash showed up at the end but adorably relatable nonetheless! :twilightsmile:

Nice. And I see you used my aunt's art as the cover art. :pinkiesmile:

5945136 My thoughts exactly

I'm not a fan of EQ Flash (big surprise huh ?), but seeing him as just a kid and not the "oh hi I'm rebel popular yet awkward dork" makes it works just nice. It's a short story so I shouldn't expect too much but I feel that it could have use a little bit more words to have more exchange than you know them saying that they are nerds and that Twilight need to be more confident in herself. Maybe letting Twilight talk more about her insecurity of being different from the other girls, we know that twilight is very intelligent but I feel you made her maybe a little bit too mature here (even if it is compensate in the end with her interraction with Cadence).

I may be picky about these since the story work well in itself and I liked it but I feel that it could have been even better if it lasted a little longer for more character development. ;)

5947046 the artist is your aunt? Cool! :pinkiehappy:

5947114
Yep. If you ever want a picture for cover art, I can ask her to do it if you want.

5947120 oh thanks! I was actually thinking about doing a on going story about the dazzlings! Do you think she could draw me something for that?

5945290
I counter with Hitler, Stalin, etc. etc.

5947126
Yep, just give me a rough outline of what you want.

5947137
How is that a counter to that quote?
Neither Hitler nor Stalin where ashamed of who they were nor what they did. If anything, they'd serve as examples.
(As an internet dweller, you should know that as soon as you bring Hitler into a conversation, you're wrong.)

5947208 alright, I'll message you

This was really cute and heartfelt. I normally just like these but there is the occasional jewel that I simply cannot not fav. So, with that said, have a like and fav.

You get all of my d'aaaww. All of it.

5947137 Wtf it was supposed to be a nice saying.

D'AAAAAAAAAAAWWW!

5947355
It counters "Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you".
Did I have to name famous people who were proud of the vile acts they committed? No. There are countless more, but I figured if I just said "murderers, drug pushers, gangsters, etc., etc." you wouldn't even care, but by bringing someone famous up, you actually pay attention.

But hey, I could just as easily Google "dictators of the past" or "serial killers who plead guilty" and use any name on those lists that came to a deadly end because of their actions, if that would make you feel better about using a website like TvTropes as your go to for laws regarding rational arguments.

Would you like me to do that for you? It wouldn't even be a bother.

5949425
Okay, first of all, yes, you are right. There are people who have done horrible things and are ashamed of themselves and what they did. Those people do indeed serve as examples for not armouring yourself with who you are.

Now, in regard to the 'it will not be used to hurt you', I think it would be necessary to note I interpret this as 'it will not be used to hurt you emotionally'. Seen that way, the examples you brought up in the first place (Hitler and Stalin) are, as I said, no examples for people who can be emotionally hurt by who they are.

About my last sentence, I thought it was clear it was no part of a rational argument, but a off-hand tongue-in-cheek comment since I was referring to a website like TvTropes. I understand that that isn't really clear from the wording and the context, so I shouldn't have posted it that way.
I'm sorry, and extra sorry if I got you worked up. Nothing like that was ever my intention.

5949810
Thanks and I admit I had been only looking at it as a physical pain, so it does hold a little bit of merit emotionally, though people in the MLP fandom probably have plenty of their own counter examples.

And yes, I had thought you were serious about the TvTropes thing, silly text based communication...

Yeah, people trying "argue" with things like that is one of my pet peeves, so I am sorry about the heavy sarcasm and condescending tone.

hasbro should do a subplot in EQG3 where flash meets the human twi & thinks she's having a memory loss

Cadence playfully rolled her eyes and whispered in her ear, "Go get your dork, Twilight."

Brilliant :pinkiehappy:

5952442 That sounds brilliant.

Everyone's already said it but… D'aaaaaaaaawe :twilightsmile:

5968452
I need not say anymore.

Favorited.

Nue

Short and simple with a very strong message. Can't get much better than that.

Also, you're never too old for a swing set.

Never.

A short and simple fic that doesnt try to be more than it is.

I've just reached my cuteness quota for the day.

Fucking
Adorable

I think the story is adorable.

"Or girl. I mean, we live in an enlightened society. Who knows, maybe one day some bad-girl with a leather jacket and a motorcycle will end up falling over her herself for you."

If only that ending was canon. "sigh" :ajsleepy:

Hey, NewYorkBrony, I don't suppose you would let me do a reading of this for my YouTube channel, would you? :pinkiehappy:

Twilight didn't blame her. She looked like a social butterfly. The one to be head cheerleader, (which she was), while being class president, (which she was), and doing community service all at the same time. (Which she did.)

Impressive :applejackunsure:

Twilight turned to her with a dull look on her face. "Look, you're popular and all, so you don't know about this little thing called bullying. It happens to me. Everyday."

Been there myself, been bullied most of my life and it's no walk in the park or great to deal with. Except for me it was a disability I had instead of what twilight had.

Cadence smiled. "Heck yeah. I may not look like it, but I've been where you are now. When I was in grade school, I was the smart dorky weirdo that knew way too much about astrophysics and Greek mythology for her age and didn't get when girls called boys in their class cute." her smile grew. "I tried to fit in, but it made me unhappy, being a carbon copy of everyone else," she continued. "But then I decided that I was who I was, and that no one and nothing could change that,"

That's something I've since come to deal with myself as well with my disability.

"And when I entered middle school, I decided that I was going to forge my own path and do my own thing. And I discovered that I wasn't the only pretty girl into science and philosophy." Cadence slowed down and turned to Twilight. "My point is, kids are cruel. But you can't let them win. Don't shut yourself out because other people don't like who you are. Flaunt your likes. Be proud of who you are. Because you never know what equally dorky guy might come along and sweep you off your feet."

I feel the same for what I like the most being trains.

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