Chapter 44 (One Bad Apple)
“Aren’t you excited, Spike?”
“For what Twilight?”
“The upcoming Summer Harvest Parade, of course.”
“Oh, right. I forgot about that. Wait a minute, isn’t it still spring right now?”
“Well, yeah. The ponies in Ponyville call it the ‘Summer Harvest Parade’ to wish farmers a good harvest for future summer crops.”
“Huh. I didn’t know that.”
Since the Summer Harvest Parade was around the corner, I knew this was when the events of “One Bad Apple'' took place. In the show, Applebloom’s cousin, Babs Seed, comes for a visit. She then ends up joining Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in bullying the CMC. It was later revealed that she herself was bullied in Manehattan. What bothered me was why most of the grown-ups in the episode played the “do nothing” card. I’m hoping I could try to find a way to prevent Babs from joining the two entitled brats before it’s too late.
I headed to Sweet Apple Acres to help Applejack out a bit. Hopefully, I could keep an eye out for Tiara and Silver while I was there.
“I hope you’ll get a good harvest this coming summer, Applejack,” I said as I helped her buck some trees.
“I’m sure we will,” Applejack replied. “The worst harvest we ever gotten was when we had a twittermite infestation a few years back, and even then we only lost a month’s worth of apples.”
“I see.”
“Oh hey. Didn’t anypony tell ya? Our cousin’s visitin’ us today.”
“Braeburn?”
“Different cousin. Her name’s Babs Seed. She’s a filly from Manehattan that’s just around Applebloom’s age.”
“Nice. Does she have her cutie mark?”
“Nah. She doesn’t have one yet. And...uh...” Applejack tilted her hat. “From what I’ve heard, she’s been gettin’ teased for it.”
“That kinda sounds like what Applebloom and the others are going through with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.”
“Yeah, it kinda does. Say, have you seen the float the girls were makin’?”
“Not yet.”
“Well, ya should. The girls have been workin’ their tails off on that float for weeks on end.”
After we finished, Applejack headed to the barn. I looked around for the two troublemakers, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Sure enough, I spotted them entering the farm. I quickly dove behind a haystack.
I got to make sure Babs doesn’t join Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. I could try making a break to the barn before they spot me…
I peeked from the hay to see Tiara and Silver passing some barrels filled with apples. That’s when my brain hatched an idea.
“Hey! Get away from that!” I shouted at the top of my lungs. “Applejack! Come quick! Some fillies are stealing your apples!”
Both fillies jumped in shock.
“Wait!” Diamond denied. “We weren’t—!”
Applejack busted out of the barn carrying a shovel. “Get yer flanks away from mah apples!”
“Miss Applejack, wait! This is all a—!”
Suddenly, Diamond bumped into a barrel behind her, spilling apples everywhere and sending herself tumbling to the ground.
“We better get out of here!” Silver said as she grabbed Tiara’s hoof.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon quickly galloped out of the farm before Applejack could reach them.
“Wait ‘til yer folks hear about this!” Applejack shouted. She then took a deep breath and looked at the mess the two fillies left. “Aw, great. Now these apples are gonna be bruised and spoiled.”
I quickly hurried to Applejack and helped her pick up some of the apples.
“Thank ya kindly for tellin’ me, Spike,” Applejack said.
“Don’t mention it,” I said. “I was glad I noticed them in time.”
“I don’t know what drove those two to thievery. I better tell Mr. Rich about what happened. There’s no way he’d let his own daughter steal from somepony he has business relations with.”
After we cleaned up, we headed to the barn to see what the CMC were up to. I noticed the giant pumpkin float up close. I was surprised that the CMC could have built something so massive all by themselves.
“Did ya get ‘em, Applejack?” Applebloom asked.
“Nah, they ran off,” Applejack replied as she put the shovel back. “Can’t believe Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon would do something like that.”
“It was those two?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Who are they?” Babs Seed asked. She was the brown, freckled filly with a red mane.
“Just some bullies who always tease us because we don’t have our cutie marks yet,” Scootaloo replied. “Never thought they would steal something. I thought Tiara’s family was rich.”
“Wow, this float is spectacular,” I said to the girls.
“Thanks, Spike,” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “We’ve been working on it for a while. The float is going to look smashing with the others.”
I then turned to Babs. “Is this your cousin, Applebloom?”
“Yep, this here’s Babs Seed,” Applebloom said as she put an arm around her cousin’s back. “Babs, this is Spike. He’s a dragon.”
“It’s nice to meet you Babs,” I said as I held out my hand.
Babs took a step back.
“Hey, don’t be nervous,” I quietly said. “It’s okay. I’m a good dragon. You don’t need to be scared.”
Babs timidly walked up to me and shook my hand. She cracked a tiny smile.
“Anyway, this float is looking pretty great,” I said. “I can’t wait to see it during the parade.”
It was a good thing I prevented the float from being demolished. As much as I liked the CMC’s “Golden Apple” float, I didn’t want to see their original get destroyed by Babs. That gave me an idea.
“Hey, Applebloom,” I said. “Could I speak to you in private?”
“Uhh...sure,” Applebloom replied.
We quickly snuck away from the group and headed to the back of the barn.
“What’s wrong?” Applebloom asked.
“I’ve noticed how shy your cousin is,” I whispered. “She is from Manehattan, right?”
“Yep. I’d thought she’d act a bit more...bold, but I guess you really can’t judge someone based on where they’re from, right?”
“Yeah, I remember saying that. Applejack told me she was having problems in the big city. Getting teased for having a blank flank and all that.”
“Oh, my. I didn’t know that. No wonder she was actin’ so shy. She must’ve been afraid of bein’ bullied here, too. It was a good thing Tiara and Silver didn’t come to the barn. We were gonna have Babs ride with us on the float so she could feel a might easier.”
I scratched my chin. “Why don’t you let her drive the float? She might enjoy it. Who knows?”
Applebloom scratched her chin. “Well, we did design the float so it would be easy to control... I guess we could show her some of the basics.”
I nodded. “Yeah, you should. Maybe afterwards, she won’t act so timid.”
When we headed back, Applebloom pitched the idea to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who both thought it was a good idea. Babs was a bit skeptical, but she was willing to try.
The Summer Harvest Parade arrived in a flash. Everypony was standing idly while the floats were being prepared.
I was munching on some hot carrot crepes when I noticed Diamond Tiara and her family close by. I stealthily eavesdropped on their conversation. It sounded like her parents were scolding her.
“Tiara, how could you do something like that?” Mrs. Rich said. “You know we have important associations with the Apple family.”
“I told you, I didn’t steal anything!” Tiara replied. “Silver Spoon and I were just walking by—”
“Don’t lie, Tiara,” Mr. Rich said. “Miss Applejack told us how she caught you and Silver Spoon stealing some of her profits. If you wanted an apple so much, you could’ve simply bought one. They’re not expensive.”
“But I was—”
“You’re lucky the Apple family was able to overlook this situation, Diamond,” Mrs. Rich said. “If you pull something like that again, we’ll see to it that you get a ‘pay-cut’ on your next allowance.”
Tiara gulped and remained silent. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. I quickly hurried to where the girls were.
“Isn’t this exciting, girls?” Pinkie asked. “I can’t wait to see what shapes the floats are! What shapes do you think we’ll get? Watermelon-shaped? Squash-shaped? Cucumber-shaped?”
“There’s only one way to find out, darling,” Rarity replied. “Say, weren’t you supposed to be driving one of the floats?”
“Yep.” Pinkie nodded. “Oh my gosh! I was supposed to be driving one of the floats!” She quickly zoomed away.
After a short while, the floats came rolling in. Most of them looked rather impressive. The other ponies did a good job designing them. I kept my eye out for the CMC’s float. I hoped that they didn’t crash or anything.
Thankfully, their float appeared moments later. I could see Babs driving and sheepishly waving. The CMC were by her side and waving as well, but with more exhilaration.
“It was just super sweet of the girls,” Applejack said, “makin' Babs feel so special.”
I nodded. “I agree. I’m surprised they picked a pumpkin. I thought they’d go with an apple design or something.”
“Applebloom and I made one last year. We designed it based on the summer rambo apple.”
“But why a pumpkin? Aren’t pumpkin’s fall crops?”
“Actually, since pumpkins take their sweet time to grow, it’s best if ya planted them in mid-summer, so they can be ripe when fall rolls around. If ya plant them too late, you’d have to wait until Winter Wrap Up comes until they’re ready. That’s assumin’ they survive the cold winter.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
I watched the other floats pass by. There wasn’t any trouble, at least not from Tiara and Silver. I was glad I was able to keep them away from Babs.
After the parade was finished, I hurried to where the CMC and Babs were. They were just getting out of the float. Babs looked like she enjoyed driving.
“Uh, thank you for letting me drive,” Babs said. “It was good to hear ponies cheering at me for once.”
“For once?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“I...” Babs sighed. “I would get teased by some ponies for not having a cutie mark. I was hoping I could visit Applebloom during Spring Break to get away from it.”
“You should try talking to somepony about it,” I said as I approached the girls.
“Huh? Oh, Spike,” Scootaloo said. “Good to see you again.”
“Babs, why don’t you tell someone about your bullying?” I asked. “It would help more than just keeping it to yourself.”
“I don’t know, Spike.” Babs rubbed the back of her head. “I don’t want to be a snitch...”
“‘Snitches may get stitches, but it’s better than keeping the itches in your britches for the witches,’” I said. “It’s an old poem I’ve read once.”
“Huh, I never heard something like that before,” Applebloom said. “Good advice.”
Afterwards, the CMC invited Babs to join their club and she accepted. I was glad I prevented Babs Seed from joining Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. The same went for saving the CMC’s first float. I also liked the bonus of Tiara getting scolded by her parents, even though one of them wasn’t somepony who I would approve of. I just hoped it doesn’t affect her redemption later on.
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I don’t really like that he got DT in trouble for something she didn’t do, it doesn’t feel right
Nice job Spike, you did it really good, but watch out, Discord is coming
Just like in the last chapter, instead of helping people with their issues, the MC self-righteously punishes the "bad" ones.
(I guess the author tries to stick close to canon so that future episodes can still play out as in the show)
At the beginning of the chapter MC even alluded to the issue just being ignored,
so I hoped he would get an adult involved and teach a lesson about bullying.
Alas nobody learned anything and the issue was just pushed down the road.
Also we now know that MC is willing to bad-mouth and lie their way to victory,
which to me makes him just as bad as some of the issues he is and will be solving.
I hope this, or something close to this behaviour, will backfire at some point so that MC gets their own lessons in good behaviour.
They should certainly not be the absolute moral compass of this story that can get away with this.
Looking forward to what happens next, thanks for reading my rant.
Oh, twittermites; I hate 'em. Always spewing such crap in 400 characters or less, thinking they're so important when they're not, costing people productivity (if not their jobs entirely) over stupid gossip and unverifiable accusations.
Something I find especially funny with this episode - the discrepancy between the "speeding, out-of-control" float and Applejack's casual stroll down the same hill. It's at 2:18, if the video doesn't start there.
Let me give you a piece of advice: skip the episode of the apple family reunion, i know spike appears but i dont think changing something would make a big change or a good change
Dave's been quite harsh with his revisions lately.
That was easy...
help make the redemption mean something then.
Considering all the crap DT and SS pull, this is just karma. Maybe being unfairly blamed will teach her some compassion.
And as we see in the episode, despite what Applejack says at the end about resolving the issue if she'd known about it, she then watches and does nothing as DT and SS try it on again.
Not that telling an adult has ever worked in the history of history, even in fiction. All it does is get the bully told off, who then takes it out on the victim, or the bully turns it around and makes it sound like the victim is the one who's bullying them, and for some reason the adults who never believe the actual victim instantly accept the bully's side of things and punish the victim.
10632332
THANK you. Somebody gets it!
Ehhh not to be rude really, but isn't one bad apple happened before wonderbolts academy. This is me helping you fix some timeline of this was on purpose then i get it
Sometimes avoiding a problem means avoiding development. Somehow I don't think the easy way was good for Babs in the long run. Plus, now DT and SS have a legitimate grievance. This wasn't good for them either.
10632576
Well, it has been mentioned in the fanfic that some events will happen out of order, and some events will occur sooner or later, so any minor inconsistencies with the timeline can be hand waved.
Oof, this chapter just rubs me the wrong way. The last thing Tiara/Spoon needed was a genuine issue to get righteously peeved over.
This is the worst chapter of the story in my opinion.
Have to see what comes of it as a result, though. Because if nothing ever does, then this would be the beginning of this story's fall from grace.
I speak from personal experience, went through a grade school where the teachers and staff practiced "the bully wants attention, don't give them any and they'll stop" which doesn't work because their 'friends' give them the approval and attention they want. I got away with some lies trying to protect myself by getting the bullies in trouble, it never helped anyone. Made things worse, in fact. Even my parents, who got on my side when my dad borrowed a camcorder and filmed the bullying happening and the teacher punishing me wrongfully, couldn't get the staff to change their practice. So my parents pulled me out and re-enrolled me in a different school. Things were better there, but the damage had been done.
Old school got drawn out of the school district map years later. I walk by it once in a great while, glad to see it's empty husk. No one else suffering there anymore.
In any case, if the adults don't do something about bullies, then nothing stops them. It would have been better to run and grab Applejack to bring her to the barn and have her come down on DT AND SS, even if Babs 'joined' them. Applejack could garb the delinquents, Spike could tell Babs she shouldn't join the ponies that hurt her in hurting others, the CMC would rally up and say they'd help her. And, once AJ dealt with the two, she could return to join in and show Babs that she was protected and supported. After all, she's family and the Apple Family sticks together. Roll the rest of the episode, Babs drives the float, DT and SS are in legit trouble with their parents for knowingly deciding to go over to Sweet Apple Acres (one of daddy's important clients) to cause trouble, and Applejack becomes the first adult to start an anti-bullying movement.
Far better for everyone.
So, like I said, this wrong had better result in something. Because this is a precipice, from which the story may fall drastically in quality if not addressed well.
10632930
I have to agree, sooner or later the truth will likely come out, and when it does, not only will it destroy Applejack's trust in 'Spike' it might damage her business relationship with Filthy Rich for not getting both sides of the story. And then when that spreads...well, Applejack won't be the only one losing trust in Spike.... Say...Fluttershy? Also Twilight might punish him with a grounding...perhaps during an episode that he REALLY wants to change to ensure things go better...
Even if none of that happens, DT and SS might start avoiding the CmC alltogether, which would end up with no cutie marks for the CmC, since they wouldn't be able to help DT, what with her avoiding them. All in all, there is a BUNCH of ways this can, and likely will, backfire. And sure, Luna might stick up for him, due to the 'I woke up in the past' bit he gave her after the wedding.... But what if she doubts it a bit...then checks his dreams....and discovers it's not Spike at all....
Well, since Diamond acts out due to the abuse she gets from her Mom, perhaps Spike’s meddling escalates the abuse, makes it a more serious situation than it was in canon?
10632678
Oh i think i might not remember things a lot so yeah sorry i forgot either that or im just dumb
10633010
While i agree on the first paragraph. I dont think DT and SS avoiding The CMC but avoiding 'Spike' cause 'Spike' is the one who make the lie about them stealing apple.
P.S. I think for a whil now that I that it's both fault David and DT and SS. I'm not saying this to approve my point but seeing some hole in people logic you see DT and SS could resolve this peacefilly by facing their consequences and telling AppleJack that they weren't stealing and they were just passing by the barrel
10633229
True, now that things have calmed down, granted that might involve mentioning the REAL reason they went there....which ties right into the whole 'Spike is outed as having lied.' And this is QUITE a big lie...not the worst, there are a couple others that are worse... But...well, part of him trying to make things better means the Mane 6 need to trust him...
10633229
I dunno, they're little kids, and Applejack came charging out of that barn with a shovel. I can't blame them for being terrified and trying to avoid the Apples from now on.
10405997
I had that discussion a few times and the best answer anyone can give to it is that males can do more damage than females so females are not seen as dangerous (talking about humans here).
Never mind that females are quicker to use violence to try and solve a problem nor that they are the majority of perpetrators of child abuse it is still socially accepted for females to act in that and are seen as "less violent", again talking about humans.
It is how people are educated and there is no changing that as humans are a gynocentric species since females are the bottleneck for population expansion.
10633458
Well.... eh I got nothing you outsmart me i guess
Ok its official i want more of this story it is amazingly written also i wonder will he do each season
Lying to element of Honesty and excuse a child of something they didn't do. You stoop so low on this one. Brony-Spike. You are adult, you should know better...
10633458
The problem for DT & SP is that they had no good reason for being there at all. And they can't deny they were sneaking up to try and locate the fillies, and to the ordinary eye, it would look like they might be about to steal something and were caught before doing so. Even revealing the "real reason" for them being there (to bully the CMC) is just as bad as what Dave falsely accused them of.
As Stainless Steel Fox said, it was karma.
That son of a B lied didn't he?
That and many more reasons why I grew to hate this episode. Let us see how Spike the brony dragon resolves this.
Not universally a good advice. Snitches would get into other people's business and get other people into trouble for no good reason, especially if the law that is being broken is an unjust law.
As for Babs. Going to an adult or some authority would be a good idea, but Babs would need to have a plan B if the adults she tells to don't really do anything to solve the situation. Government schools has taught me that when it comes to bullying, adults are not helpful. So one needs to be creative to handle the bullying.
That was very risky for Spike to commit slander. I would have chosen a different method if I was him.
Well. It does me some good that you fixed this episode, which is one of two episodes in the show I have a strong hatred for. Looking forward to see how you fix the next hated episode.
I know DT will have her redemption moment when the CMC get their cutie marks, but I blame the sins of the horrible mother.
10670368
A bit of the old spike still lingers
Not a fan of Tiara and with everything she keeps pulling?
Very well done!
10632114
Well can you blame Dave, after the way she treated the CMC, and was going to have Babs, her own family member, doing the same thing?
Besides, there's a little something called Karma. Guilty or not, she kinda had it coming. Key word, kinda.
DT get what she deserved. Silverspoon probability to.
I love the idea i read in another story that
Diamond Tiara becomes Cozy Glow.
I don't blame you for not approving of spoiled right I highly doubt anypony in their right mind would
For all 'Spike knows' they had no other reason to be there! ... ... ...
Inside foreign property ?
I doubt her cheap lie was any good. If they told the truth they would have my respect for showing spine, but if the don't get punishment for their misdeeds, it is still ironic to be punishment for her cheap lies covering up the truth.
I like Dave-Spike fixing stuff up.