Babs Seed has been having a rough time in New York, so her mother decides that the best thing for her daughter is a change of scenery, and sends her to stay with her cousin for Thanksgiving. Whilst there, Babs will go on a journey of self-discovery, and learn that somebody always loves you.
Inspired by 'One Bad Apple', and takes place during my EG continuity between Railway Adventure Chapter 7 and Anon-a-Miss.
Babs slammed into the lockers on the back wall, wincing at the pain the impact caused.
There in front of her were her tormentors. The people who had made her life a living hell for the last few months.
“Time to pay up!” the first of them snarled. He rolled up his sleeves and his hands clenched into fists. There was no doubt that he meant business.
Babs pulled her wallet out and gave it to him. “I've given ya what ya want, just don’t hurt me!”
Her tormentor laughed. “Don’t see why we can’t have some fun.” He signalled. “Come on boys, we got a new game!”
Several minutes and new bruises later, Babs staggered back to her feet and headed in the direction of the Nurse’s Office.
Life wasn’t kind to the poor girl. Born into a dysfunctional family with a caring mother and workaholic father, Babs had had a tough childhood. Her skin was a light brown, and she had ruby red (or was it pink? Nobody was quite sure) hair, which frequently got in her eyes. As was usual, she was wearing a striped brown and red shirt and green slacks, paired with a pair of old red and white trainers. Puberty had not been kind to her at all. Having hit adolescence so quickly, she had become quiet and withdrawn, generally preferring to stay out of people’s way.
That is, until a group of boys had decided to start picking on her. It had started with them repeatedly asking her out; given they were lowlifes and slobs, it was of no surprise that she rejected them on each occasion.
Then the bullying had begun. It usually consisted of them mocking her over her name, or the fact she was related to folks out West (though, frankly, who isn’t?). When it had got the point of calling her fat (which she wasn’t), she had snapped, and gone as far as punching one of them as hard as she could, knocking him out.
In hindsight, it wasn’t the smartest of moves. Not only had it earned her an after-school detention, now on her record, it also meant her tormentors saw her as fair game. Now they simply punched and kicked her, or stole money from her. As a result, she rarely got any lunch and came home starving.
Even her home was no longer a refuge. She had taken to soccer and video games as respites from the grind of the day, and even made friends online with somebody called ZapApple. But the tormentors found her eventually. They infiltrated the chat of her favourite games, once interrupting a run of World of Tanks. She had blocked them as fast as she could, but they simply came back over and over again.
So, her days were the same, over and over again. Wake up, get dressed, have breakfast. Get on the train to school. Get beaten up upon arrival. Go to lessons. Get put into detention for lacking homework that had been stolen. Get her lunch money taken. End up in detention again. Attend a last few lessons, then go home. Do homework (or not bother, as it got nicked anyway), go to bed. Repeat.
The nurse applied some medication to Bab’s bruises. “You're having a lot of accidents lately,” she said.
“I’m fine, really,” Babs replied, in that mildly disinterested manner she always did.
“If you say so,” the nurse replied. Babs suspected she knew she was being bullied, but she didn’t tell anyone. No adult would believe her anyway. It wasn’t as if she’d been an angel when she was younger.
“OK, you’re ready to go to class,” the nurse finished.
“Yeah, thanks,” Babs answered, and walked out of the door.
After lessons had ended, she was walking down the corridor when one of her bullies walked in her way. “Fancy having some fun?” he said.
“If ya wanna go to bed with me, the answer is no,” she replied, shoving past him. “Chrissakes, I’m 12!”
He grabbed her shoulder. “I take it then you’d prefer the fist sandwich.”
Babs snorted. He was big, but sloppy. She could take him, no problem. She spun around, giving him a blow to the nose. He tumbled to the floor.
‘Now for the finishing move’, Babs thought, as she brought her foot down on his ribcage.
“Fuck...you!” he shouted.
“I hope you've finally got the message,” she growled, and walked away.
Babs finally got to her home in Edison, New Jersey, around 5. The snow was falling again, and the temperatures were dropping. She shoved her key in the lock and opened the door.
It was a fairly standard suburban affair. A two-story building, it had a sitting room, a kitchen, a laundry, and upstairs there were 4 bedrooms. One was a guest bedroom, one belonged to her parents, the Oranges, another for her sister Sunflower, and finally her own. Seriously, what was it with their family and naming their kids after seeds?
She ran up the stairs, dumped her bag by the door and sat down at her desk. As usual, her mom wasn't back from work. That meant reheated enchiladas, as usual. At least that meant she wouldn’t have to brace the local cafe again. The food there was greasy and soggy. Seriously, Babs hadn’t had a crisp piece of bacon in years!
Her dad often stayed over in Manhattan, as that was where he worked. As a result, he was rarely around and Babs didn’t really know him. Not that it mattered. He wouldn’t care either.
Just as she was about to start up her computer, there was a loud squeak as the door lock opened. Her mother stepped in, not looking pleased. “Babs!” she shouted.
“What?”
“I just got a call from the school saying you beat a student up! The Principal wants to see you in a meeting tonight!”
Priscilla Orange stepped up the stairs to talk to her daughter. She had yellow skin and orange hair, with blue eyes. She was dressed in the nondescript business suit she wore every day to work. “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.
“I wouldn’t have to do this if the school just dealt with the problem,” Babs replied.
“You shouldn’t do this at all!” Priscilla shot back. “Attacking other people is wrong!”
“So’s bullying, but the Principal seems to have no issue with that!”
Mrs Orange grabbed Bab’s wrist, and dragged her downstairs. “I don’t think your father will be pleased.”
“I doubt he’ll give a fuck!” Babs shot back.
After a train journey spent in absolute silence, the two of them arrived back at the school, with Babs scowling at the floor the whole time with her arms crossed.
The Principal invited them in through the door. “Good evening,” he said. He was a slim man with grey skin and black hair, dressed in a horrible red suit that made him look a business executive from the 1940s.
“Principal Neighsay, can I just say I’m sorry this happened, I thought Babs had got beyond this.”
“Not to worry, Mrs Orange, I can deal with this.” He turned his chair to look at Babs. “Why did you do it?”
Babs shifted in her seat. “Because he made inappropriate passes at me,” she said.
“So that’s why you punched him?”
“No, I punched him because he’s a creep, has been abusing me for weeks on end, and smashing his face in was doing the world a favour.”
Neighsay looked shocked. “I suspected they were causing you trouble, but I spoke to them and they said they weren’t causing any trouble to you.”
“You really think they’ll admit it to you?” Babs snorted. “If you’d bothered to check any of your cameras, you’d see that they’ve been beating me up for a while now! And it’s not the physical stuff, it’s the emotional abuse.”
Mrs Orange looked shocked. “I had no idea it was this bad,” she said.
“Yeah, well it is this bad,” Babs snapped. “Like saying I’m fat, or that I smell of pepperoni, or stealing my homework, or nicking my clothes. Yeah, they took my shirt once, and 3 pairs of trainers.”
“I can back her up on that one,” Mrs Orange said, the same look of shock on her face. “I’d wondered how you’d got through so many pairs of trainers!”
“Well, you coulda asked!” Babs told her. “It got worse when they drew my family into it. They claimed that Dad was fucking women in Manhattan when he stays overnight!”
“Language!” shouted Neighsay.
“What’s it gonna take before you do somethin’, huh?” Babs shouted in his face.
“If you don’t tell us, there’s not a lot we can do.”
“There’s loads you can do! You could, I dunno, block social media in the school? Limit use of the computers? What kind of a Principal are ya?”
Neighsay looked over to Mrs Orange. “Mrs Orange, I believe this meeting is over.”
“Good!” Babs roared. “Because I’m done with listenin’ ta yer shit anyway.” She stormed out without so much as a second thought.
When they got back home, dinner was ready. Mr Orange was sat at the table, reading a newspaper. He had yellow skin and green hair, and wore an equally drab business suit. He looked over, to see his daughter standing there.
“Good evening, Babs,” he said.
“Is that it?” she asked, confused. “I’ve had an absolutely crap day, and all you have to say is ‘good evening?”
“Please refrain from swearing,” Mr Orange replied. “And that doesn’t justify what you did today.”
“She’s being bullied,” Mrs Orange informed her husband.
“As if it wasn’t obvious,” Babs grunted.
Another girl appeared at the door. She was taller than Babs, and had pink skin and yellow hair. She was wearing a black skirt and a striped shirt, colours of red and black.
“Oh wow,” she said. “If it isn’t my little brother.” She was much more feminine than Babs, and had a habit of referring to Babs as a boy due to her behaviour.
“Nice to see you to Sunflower,” Babs retorted.
The family sat down to an evening meal, which as usual was reheated. The conversation mostly revolved around the day.
“So, it turns out she was simply retaliating for her treatment at their hands.”
Sunflower snorted. “More like, Babs can’t control her temper. Must be all those video games she plays.”
Babs looked up from her food. “You got a problem or somethin’?”
“Maybe you should get gender reassignment, given you basically are a boy.”
Babs’ fuse blew. Her gender was a topic she was touchy on, given she got the impression that her parents wanted two little girls rather than the angsty tomboy she was. The very thought of changing herself was anathema to her, and was the last straw.
“Shut the fuck up!” she yelled at Sunflower.
Mr Orange slammed his fist on the table. “That’s it!” he yelled. “Babs, you’re grounded.”
“What?” Babs exclaimed. “I’m the victim here, and you punish me? I don’t believe this!”
She ran for the door, and before slamming it behind her, shouted, “I’m sick of this bullshit! I HATE YOU ALL!”
The door crashed shut behind her as she ran upstairs.
Mrs Orange glared at Sunflower.
Babs simply jumped under her blankets, sobbing. Why did the world hate her so much? It wasn’t fair. Her parents didn’t give a shit, her sister constantly mocked her, and her school didn’t care!
There was a knock at the door. “Babs?”
“Go away!”
“I want to talk.”
“I said get lost!”
Her mother opened the door. “I think you need a break from it all.”
“How would that help?” Babs was incredulous. “Where can I go?”
Delta Airlines Flight 747 lifted off from John F. Kennedy airport, bound for Los Angeles International Airport. On board, seated toward the back next to the window, was Babs Seed, staring vacantly toward the open horizon.
The last two days had consisted of frantically packing for this journey. Down the hold was her computer, her suitcase with several changes of clothes and some toys, and her guitar. Her mom had suggested she take it with her. It had been hard to disagree.
“Hello ladies and gentlemen,” said a voice over the intercom. “This is your captain speaking. We have just lifted off from JFK, and are due into LA at 2:03 in the afternoon. Local time is 8AM in the morning, so please reset your watches now. Flight time is estimated to be about 5 hours.”
The seatbelt sign switched off overhead.
“You may now make use of the backseat Entertainment System, and we will be serving a selection of hot and cold beverages as the flight progresses.”
Babs snorted. She knew enough of flying to know that the food tasted of nothing, and by the time the trolley reached the back of the plane, the vegetarian option was all that was left. This was a problem, as it was essentially regurgitated puke.
Her mind began to drift as she remembered what had led up to this...
Her mother opened the door. “I think you need a break from it all.”
“How would that help?” Babs was incredulous. “Where can I go?”
Mrs Orange smiled. “I think I know a place...your cousin’s place in California.”
“What?” Babs asked. “I don’t even know my cousin!”
“You met her a long time ago, when you were both very young. I still have the pictures!”
Mrs Orange showed her an image of that day. Babs winced looking at it. There was a redhead next to her, but both of them were dressed in such embarrassing outfits!
“Who else has seen this?” she asked, worried.
“You scared it would compromise your tough girl image?” her mother teased. “Nobody outside of this family has seen it.”
“But how would a trip out to California help?” Babs questioned. “Isn’t it really urban, and full of hippies?”
“That’s the north!” Mrs Orange laughed. “Canterlot is a lovely place in the country. Besides, their home backs onto a railroad. You’ll like that.”
Babs couldn’t deny that. Although she knew the New York Rapid Transit system very well, New Jersey was a bit lacking in steam railroads.
“OK,” she said. “I’ll do it. But if you’re wrong, and I just get bullied by somebody else, I’ll hold it against you.”
“Canterlot is a lovely place! I’m certain you’ll have no problems.”
Babs very much doubted that. They had frantically thrown her stuff together in a day, and had travelled together to JFK that morning, where she had said farewell to her parents and headed into the checkpoint.
After having a New York style pizza at one of the restaurants in the departure lounge, as a way of saying goodbye to home, she had boarded her flight.
Now here she was, in the air over America, contemplating whether to watch a film or listen to music. She settled on flicking through the films, and came across a couple from that year.
“Yeah”, she thought to herself. "I can think of worse ways to kill time than watch Pacific Rim.”
2 hours later, and a surprisingly impressed girl later, Babs was served her lunch. It was, no real surprises, utterly horrible.
After watching a couple more films, including one that was utterly awful but had an amazing soundtrack which Babs committed to memory, the flight began its descent pattern into Los Angeles International Airport. Babs often got nervous on landings. She never liked the sensation of her ears popping. She slapped on some music to reduce the discomfort.
The flight touched down on the runway an hour late. Babs had never been more relieved to be off a plane. She was bored rigid, wanted to be out of the artificial air, and besides, flying gave her horrible backache. She’d have rather done this journey by express train, but sadly they’d canned the Super Chief many years ago.
She wandered through the airport toward baggage reclaim. There was snow on the ground in places, but the sun was bright and the snow wasn’t descending. Suddenly, her phone beeped, and she pulled it out.
It was a number she didn’t recognise.
“Hello?”
“Howdy there! Ha yoolahkCafornia?”
Babs looked confused. “Sorry?”
“Ha YooLahkCafornia?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
“Let me talk to her Granny!” said a voice further away.
“Good afternoon Babs!” said the second voice.
“Who is this?”
“Mah name’s Applejack! I’m yer cousin, and Ah’mlookin’ after you whilst you’re here. When you arrive in Canterlot, mah little sister will pick you up.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Babs answered.
“Nice to here. See ya!” With that, the call ended.
Babs groaned. “Of all people, I have to be related to a bunch of hillbillies.”
After grabbing her case and clearing security, Babs exited the airport and headed for the taxi rank.
“Where’d you like to go ma’am?” ask the taxi driver.
Babs was flattered. Nobody had ever called her ma’am before. “The train station please,” she said.
“Sure thing!” the driver replied. Momentarily, they set off for the station.
The railway station for the California Central Railroad was situated on the north of the city, near San Fernando. Babs had never seen place names like this before. Most of the place names back in New Jersey and Manhattan were either British or Dutch.
The taxi pulled up at the station. “That’ll be 10 dollars please,” said the driver.
Babs was stunned. That cheap? “Here you go sir,” she said.
“Thank you, hope to do business again!” After Babs had unloaded her bags, the driver set off.
The station for the California Central Railroad was undeniably impressive. It was a massive building, with an overall roof that spanned the entire ticket office. It almost felt like a pastiche of Grand Central back home. Babs wondered over to the ticket booths and joined the queue.
“Good afternoon ma’am,” the ticket attendant said.
“It’s evening in my head,” Babs replied. “I flew in from NYC earlier today.”
“That is a long way!” the ticket attendant smiled. “Where would you like to travel today?”
“Single to Canterlot please.”
“What car?”
Babs looked puzzled. “Excuse me?”
“We offer a number of different cars to ride in, based on price.” The attendant pointed to the list posted next to the ticket window.
The options given were First, Crown, and Coach. Babs frowned as she weighed up the differences. On the train back home, it was one ticket and that was it. True, the trains were often filthy, but that was the price you paid!
“Crown, please.”
“That’ll be 15 dollars, ma’am.”
Again, this railroad was a bargain compared to the ones at home! Babs handed over the dollar bills.
“Would you like a porter to help you with your luggage?”
“What’s the charge?”
“None at all!” the attendant smiled.
Soon enough, a porter came over to help. His name badge read Micro Chips, and he was dressed in a classic porter’s uniform from the golden age of rail travel. He picked up her case, leaving Babs with her rucksack and guitar.
“You’ll be in Coach E, that’s 5 behind the engine. I’ll help you load your bags and you can get settled down.”
“Thanks,” Babs said.
“It’s the least I could do!”
Micro Chips put her case, and her guitar, up on the luggage rack above the seats. Babs sat down underneath it.
At 4PM, the intercom in the carriage started up. “Good afternoon, this train is now ready to depart. The journey will take approximately 3 hours, with stops at Crystal City and Halfway. Conductor, do the honours.”
From the back of the train, a voice cried out: “AAAAALLLLLL AAAAAAABBBBBOOOOAARRRRDDDD!”
The train clattered forward with a rattle and a clunk, the engine easily getting into its work. Babs ran the math in her head. "3 hours huh,” she thought. She looked over another passenger. “Excuse me, but how far is it to Canterlot from here?”
“It’s about 300 miles.”
“About 100MPH then.”
Time passed extremely slowly. Babs must have nodded off, as she suddenly realised they were passing through Halfway.
She looked around her. The carriage was completely empty, apart from her.
“That’s odd”, she thought. “Hello?” she called.
Nobody answered.
Babs got out of her seat, and decided to walk to the carriage door. She opened it up-
-and standing there was one of her tormentors. The one who had tried to pressure her into...inappropriate activity a few days ago.
“Thought you could escape from me?” he laughed.
Babs simply swung around and ran, but she didn’t seem to be able to get away. The carriage seemed to stretch endlessly into infinity.
She crashed to the floor as he leaped on top of her.
“I’ve got you now,” he laughed.
“HELP!” Babs yelled out, but nobody heard her.
Her tormentor laughed loudly. “I’m gonna enjoy this.”
Babs suddenly jolted awake in the carriage. She looked around her, heart pounding in her chest as she looked for any signs of her attacker.
But sign there was none.
“Did I have a dream within a dream?” she asked.
Suddenly the intercom activated. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now arriving into Canterlot Station. If this is your stop, please have your bags ready. I repeat, Canterlot Central Station is our next stop.”
Babs gathered up her stuff, but failed to account for the train braking, and was sent flying when it stopped. Getting up, she rubbed her arms. “Yeesh, that guitar did a number on my arm.”
She stepped out onto the platform, with her bags in her hands. Just then, she saw what was on the front of the train, and headed forward quickly to get a snap.
The station was wreathed in steam, looking like something out of Brief Encounter. Locomotives and trains were scattered through the platforms giving the impression of the golden age of steam. New York wasn’t the best in that regard.
On the front of her train, was an engine that Babs had never seen before. It was long, with a streamlined casing and massive driving wheels. The tender was suspended on two massive bogies, and the engine had 4 leading and trailing wheels, and 6 driving wheels. It was painted silver, and had the letters NYC painted on the tender.
Babs smiled. "It’s from home!” she thought. She pulled her phone out, and hit record.
The engine whistled, a beautiful chime whistle that echoed through the station. It pulled away, a deafening exhaust beat as the engine rolled forward, steam blasting from its cylinders as this majestic machine shifted the coaches effortlessly.
When it had disappeared, Babs was left with a massive grin on her face.
“Howdy!” shouted a voice behind her.
Babs was so stunned, she jumped and spun around.
There were 4 girls standing there. The first had yellow skin and red hair. The second had white skin and candyfloss hair. The third had orange skin and purple hair, and the fourth had pink skin and blue hair, rolled up into curls.
“Are you Applejack’s little sis?” Babs asked.
“Sure am!” the first girl. “Ah’m Apple Bloom, and this is Sweetie Belle, and this is Scootaloo, and that’s Cozy Glow!”
“Nice to meet you,” was all Babs could say.
“Are you OK?” asked Scootaloo. “You don’t seem OK?”
“Sorry,” Babs replied. “I’ve been travelling for a long time, and it’s almost midnight back home in New York.”
“Oh, golly!” exclaimed Cozy Glow. “That is a long way.”
“Well, let’s help her with her bags!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle.
The girls helped her pull the bags onto a waiting streetcar. Babs had never seen streetcars before. Maybe they were exclusive to the West Coast?
As the journey progressed, Apple Bloom explained that they had formed a group called the Crusaders, who performed music and generally hung around together. It sounded fun, so Babs contemplated asking if she could join.
The streetcar arrived at the final stop, and the girls got off and hauled the stuff toward Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Cozy Glow headed back home after that, but promised to be back tomorrow.
Babs had seen houses like that before, in old pictures of the Deep South. At the door a woman was there to greet them.
“Howdy Babs!” she called. “Ah’m Applejack, I spoke to ya on the phone!”
“Nice to meet ya,” Babs replied.
“Applejack! Big Mac!” called another voice. “Get Babs’ stuff to the guest bedroom!”
“Eyup!” shouted a distant voice.
The second female voice came around the corner. “Hello Babs,” she smiled. “It’s been such a long time since you were last here. Ah’m Pear Butter, Apple Bloom’s mother.”
“Should I call ya Mrs Apple or Pear?”
“Pear, if you don’t mind.”
Later that evening, they gathered around the dining table for dinner.
Babs wasn’t entirely used to local conventions, and so picked up her cutlery when she got her portion.
“Put yer cutlery down!” shouted Granny Smith.
Babs dropped them in fright and recoiled.
“There was no need to be so aggressive Ma,” said Bright Mac. “Down here, ya wait for everybody to be served. Sorry we didn’t explain that to ya.”
“It’s OK,” Babs replied. “Back home, my family rarely if ever eat together.”
Once everybody had their food, which in honour of their guest was Manhattan Clam Chowder, grace was said, and they dug in. Babs was stunned at the taste. Freshly prepared! And it tasted amazing too.
“I hope I didn’t make it too strong,” Pear said.
“It tastes better than at home. Mom rarely has enough time to prepare food from scratch, as we are so busy.”
“When do you guys eat together?”
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack snapped.
“It’s OK,” Babs replied. “Not very often I’m afraid. My dad spends almost all his time in Manhattan, my sister is often out late, and my mom often works long hours.”
“So, what’s it like in the Big Apple?” Bloom asked.
She got no reply, for Babs’ face was in her food. She was fast asleep.
“Bless her, she’s had a very tiring day,” Bright Mac said.
“Could you guys get her upstairs and changed for bed?” Pear asked.
And so, Babs was placed into bed, utterly oblivious to all else that was happening, after a long a very tiring day.
Apple Bloom popped up quickly to see her afterwards. “Good night, cuz,” she smiled, and then headed off for her room.
The early morning sun rose over Sweet Apple Acres, bathing the world below in glorious light. And slowly did the farm come to life, the sun invigorating the land and causing light to reflect off the snow.
Inside, the inhabitants of the house slowly awoke from their slumber and set about their day. Apple Bloom jumped out of her bed and entered the hallway, wandering across the corridor and entering the guest room. In the bed, her cousin was still fast asleep, facing the wall and sleeping on her side.
Bloom tiptoed over to the bed, the floorboards audibly creaking as she walked over.
“Go away Sunflower,” Babs murmured.
Apple Bloom grinned. She stepped closer, put her mouth right next to her ear, and shouted “RISE AND SHINE, SLEEYPHEAD!”
Babs yelled in fright and fell onto the floor. Landing on top of Bloom’s feet.
“Hey! What was that for?” Babs shouted.
“Just getting' you up,” Apple Bloom smirked. “Life here starts early.”
“Whatever,” Babs grunted, as she got to her feet. “So, where’s the shower?”
Bloom pointed to the door next to the closet. “It’s through there. Thought you wanted some privacy.”
“An ensuite? That rocks!”
Bloom looked confused. “What’s an...onsweete?”
“That’s when you don’t have ta share a bathroom,” Babs explained. “It’s quite common in New York. Not at my house though, I have to share.”
Bloom sighed. “That must be awful.”
“I usually go in after Sunflower, which means it stinks.”
“Wha?”
“She has loads of perfume in there,” Babs replied. “It smells awful and makes me wanna puke.”
“OK, then.” Apple Bloom skipped over to the door. “Well, enjoy yerself. Breakfast is ready soon!”
Truth be told, the shower wasn’t too hard to use. Pulling the lever forward made the water appear, and turning the lever to the left heated the water up. Unfortunately, nobody told her the window was open, and the hot water reacting with the cold air produced a lot of chlorinated steam.
Babs started to cough loudly, finished her shower as fast as she could, and emerged from the bathroom coughing like a smoker.
Apple Bloom pocked her head in a few minutes later, when Babs had got dressed. “How was it?” she asked.
“Like a steam depot!” Babs gasped. “Only with loads of chlorine!”
“That don’t sound good.”
“It really isn’t,” Babs replied, pulling on her shoes. “So, where are we getting' breakfast?”
Bloom looked confused. “Scuse me?”
“My folks usually grab somethin’ to eat on the way into work, so I usually do the same. Often it’s really greasy.”
“Nope!” the younger Apple girl smiled. “Ma cooks it all, from scratch, every day!”
“Comin’ ma!” Bloom called back. “Whatcha waitin’ for? Let’s go!”
The family gathered around the table much like yesterday, to be presented with a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, maple syrup, and butter. Babs was overwhelmed by it all. How did they have enough time to prepare all this food?
After grace was said, Pear distributed food to the members of the family. The sun shone outside, reflecting off of the snow and giving a sense of warmth in spite of the cold.
"I never did get to ask you,” Bright Mac asked. “How are things in New York?”
“I live in a place just outside the city,” Babs explained. “I travel into school by train every day, and come back by train.”
“What’s it like in the city?” Bloom asked. “Ah’ve never been to New York.”
“Oh, it’s amazin’!” Babs exclaimed. “There’s light and sound everywhere, smells of food wherever you go, and people everywhere. But things do move very fast, so ya gotta have your wits about ya.”
“How’s Broadway?” asked Applejack. “Ah’ve always wanted to see a show on Broadway.”
“It’s a lot better than it used to be,” Babs told her. “It was once a dump, but so was the whole city when Dad was growing up.”
“How is your Dad?” asked Pear. “It’s been years since Ah last saw him.”
Before we go any further, and to minimise any further confusion, I shall take the opportunity to explain who is related to who. As you probably already know, Bright Mac and Pear Butter are the parents of Apple Bloom, Applejack, and Big Mac. Bright Mac is the son of Granny Smith and Great Apple (RIP). However, Pear Butter is the daughter of Grand Pear and his wife (RIP).
This is where the Oranges come in. Mr Orange is the son of the brother of Grand Pear, and Sunflower and Babs Seed are his children. Hence, through the Pears, the Oranges are the cousins of Pear Butter. This is how Babs and Apple Bloom are related.
Anyway, we shall now resume the story.
Babs shrugged her shoulders. “I see very little of him. I have to admit he spends most of his time in the city.”
“What does he do?” Big Mac asked.
“Advertisin’,” Babs replied sadly. She picked at her pancakes again.
“Let’s not worry about any of that now,” Bright Mac said. “I know that Apple Bloom and the others have a lot of fun stuff lined up for you.”
After breakfast was concluded, the family went their separate ways. Apple Bloom and Babs Seed went over to the barn, as apparently there was something that she wanted to show her.
Apple Bloom threw open the doors, and there it was, waiting for them.
One of the locomotives from the Everfree Forest Railway, lined up and ready for running.
“This is the pride of our collection!” said Apple Bloom. “Its name is Gaia Everfree. We named the engine after a local legend, and it’s quite the puller too!”
Babs simply nodded. They had steam engines here? “They must be well off if they can afford to maintain steam locos!”
Suddenly, two more individuals walked in through the door. “Hello there, Apple Bloom!” said the first.
Babs swung around, to look at them. One had pink skin and hair, the other light grey skin and dark grey hair with glasses. They both looked quite well off, from how they were dressed.
“Howdy Diamond! Howdy Silver!” Apple Bloom ran over. “This is Babs Seed. She’s mah cousin, and she’s stayin’ here for a few days!”
‘Diamond’ smiled. “I’m Diamond Tiara, pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She extended her hand. Babs shook it hesitantly.
“Where are the others?” Bloom asked.
“I don’t know!” said Silver Spoon. “Perhaps they were waylaid.”
Babs stepped backward, not quite knowing what to think. Unfortunately, she wasn’t looking where she was going, and stepped in a bucket.
She slipped back, slamming into a rake and sending it flying through the air. It slammed into the engine, scratching the paintwork.
Babs gasped in horror when she saw the damage. “Oh shit,” she gasped.
Bloom looked over. “Babs, are ya-?”
“I’m so sorry!” Babs cried, tears in her eyes and her neutral composure gone. “I’ll help ya fix it!”
Silver Spoon looked at the damage. “It’ll only take a quick application of paint to fix that,” she said.
Babs grabbed a green pot of paint. “OK, where do I apply the colours?”
Within half an hour, the engine was looking spotless once again.
“You’ve got a good eye for it!” Diamond complimented.
“How ‘bout we take her for a spin?” Bloom suggested. “There’s been no more snow, so the track should be clear.”
“We could take a carriage out and test the plush seats!” Silver added.
Diamond smiled. “Hey, maybe we should let our special guest drive?”
Babs mastered it in next to no time. With Apple Bloom carefully nursing the fire, Babs made good headway on the track very easily and got the engine up to a good speed.
Back in the carriage, Silver and Diamond started singing Jingle Bells loudly.
“Most folks don’t know the song is actually about Thanksgivin’,” Bloom explained. “It was later exported to Christmas. Speakin’ of which, what are yer Christmas plans?”
Babs laughed. “Me and my family are actually goin’ to Disneyworld for the Christmas season.”
“That sounds fun!” Bloom smiled. “I’ve only ever been to Disneyland, and that was when Ah was tiny.”
Babs whooped with joy as the engine sped along. It bounced along the rails and rumbled around bends. The driver had a smile a mile wide, and the loco was responsive on the track.
After the run was completed, the engine pulled up outside the house. Babs got off to allow for Apple Bloom to put the train away.
Suddenly, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Cozy Glow appeared.
“Hello!” called Babs.
“Sorry we’re late!” Sweetie Belle replied.
“Miss Rarity insisted we try some of her new items on.”
Sweetie Belle shook her head. “Cozy, this isn’t Gone with the Wind.”
Cozy laughed. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Scootaloo growled in frustration. “It wasted about an hour of our time.”
Sweetie Belle laughed in response. “You’re just annoyed that she put you in a dress.”
“I hate dresses! I don’t like the thought of guys trying to look up one!” She paused. “Besides, how on Earth could you wear a skirt in this weather?”
Cozy looked concerned. “I cope fine,” she said.
Scootaloo nodded. “Fact remains, I don’t like wearing them.”
Apple Bloom ran outside. “Howdy ya’ll!” she called.
“So, is it all set up?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“It’s all ready!”
“Is what ready?” asked Babs.
“The music room!” Bloom replied. “Seein’ as you play guitar, we were gonna invite ya to our band!”
The girls decamped to the house, entering the basement as they went. Inside the room was set up for rehearsals of all kinds. On one side was a stage, with microphones set up. On the other was a set of shelves on which to put instrument cases. Amps were positioned throughout the room, to allow for the best sound quality, and the room was soundproofed so that the sound of practices wouldn’t distract those up above.
“This is where the Crusaders rehearse!” Apple Bloom said triumphantly.
“The Crusaders?” Babs asked, unsure.
“It’s our band,” Scootaloo explained. “I play lead guitar, Sweetie Belle plays piano, Apple Bloom plays fiddle and banjo, Rumble is our rhythm guitarist, Pip plays bass, and Button is our drummer.”
Sweetie Belle cut in. “Rumble, Pip, and Button are friends of ours.”
“I often double the piano part,” added Cozy Glow.
“So, what do ya play Babs?” asked Bloom.
“Er,” Babs paused. Did she dare tell them about her taste in music? “I play guitar and piano. I can also sing, but not very well.”
Babs opened her guitar case, and took out a CD. “I made a couple of demo tapes at home, until my parents told me to stop playing because it was too loud.”
“That ought not to be a problem,” Sweetie Belle reassured her. “Do you want to play something for us?”
“Yeah, OK.” Babs plugged the ¼-inch cable into her guitar, ran it into one of the amps, and strummed to check her guitar was still in tune.
“That’s sounds acoustic,” Cozy added.
Scootaloo wandered over to the amp. “That’s because it isn’t switched on.” She threw the switch and suddenly the guitar roared into life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-mLr7Yfz4
Bloom took her hands off her ears. “That’s a bit loud.”
Babs smirked. “Well, welcome to NYC! Everythin’ is loud!” She swung her guitar onto her back, and handed the CD over to Cozy, who sat down at the mixing desk and popped the CD into the drive.
“Whenever you’re ready,” she told Babs.
Babs nodded. “I recorded this with my band in the Big Apple.”
The girls applauded after Babs had finished. “That sounded great!” Sweetie Belle said.
Scootaloo walked up to her. “I noticed you were strumming quite aggressively. Is that an East Coast thing?”
“It’s just how I play, that’s all.”
Apple Bloom coughed. “Well, shall we play somethin’ together? We have some songs we’re workin’ on and would like yer opinion.”
Suddenly, three boys walked in. “Hi!” they called.
Scootaloo ran over to one of them. “What took you so long Rumble?” she asked teasingly.
“Sorry, Thunderlane held me back.”
“Well at least you are here now,” the purple haired girl smiled.
Babs looked at Bloom. “What’s goin’ on between them?”
“Rumble is Scootaloo’s boyfriend,” Bloom explained. “Pip is mine, and Button’s got the hots for Sweetie Belle!”
“HEY!” shouted the chocolate coloured one.
“Well, are we going to set up?” Pip asked.
“Hey, yer British!” Babs said.
Pip hopped onto stage. “The name is Pipsqueak, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss...”
“Babs Seed.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Babs Seed. If you’re wondering about the accent, I’m originally from Nottingham.”
“What song are we gonna play?” asked Button.
“The new one, I’ll just get Babs some music,” Apple Bloom replied. “Cozy, we need ya on the organ!”
The rest of the band members set their instruments up, and Scootaloo stepped up to the mic. “This is one I wrote, with the other’s help. It’s called ‘Hearts Strong as Horses.’”
“Wow Scootaloo, you've got a great voice!” Babs said.
“You should have heard us in our early days,” Sweetie Belle laughed. “She could barely sing in tune!”
“OI!”
Apple Bloom was the next to speak. “So, what do ya think?”
“It’s a nice sound, with impressive production. I especially liked the percussion, but I found a few little problems.”
“Namely?”
“Firstly, the echo on Scootaloo’s-”
“Just call me Scoots, I don’t mind.”
“The echo on your voice could cause feedback, and the mics on Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are too quiet. I could barely hear the harmonies.”
“At least be glad there is harmony,” Cozy grinned. “’Cause there isn’t on their early ones!”
Her finger hovered over the play button.
“No!” Sweetie Belle begged. “Don’t play it!”
Cozy pressed down on the button, and for the next few minutes the group were assailed by a sound reminiscent of cats scratching their claws down window panes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI_b68RcdTo
“Sounded like Cheap Trick. Anyway,” Babs interrupted, once the torture had finished, “I also noted you keep referring to yerselves as ponies. Yer humans!”
Scootaloo grinned awkwardly. “It’s a stylistic choice.”
Apple Bloom interrupted. “Babs, Ah think ya should choose the next one.”
Babs thought for a moment. Then suddenly Applejack came in.
“Howdy there!” she said. “I was wonderin’ where y’all had got to!”
“Babs is now a member of the band!” said Sweetie Belle.
Applejack smiled. “Ah’m proud of y’all for bein’ so accomodatin’, ‘specially with what Babs-”
Babs frantically shook her head.
“-what with Babs bein’ our guest o’honour. So, what you girls singin’?”
“We were about to let Babs pick our next song,” replied Scootaloo.
Babs laughed nervously. “Well, I hope you don’t think me babyish for askin’ for this, but...It’s Gonna be a Great Day’”.
“From King of the Railway?” asked Apple Bloom.
“How’d you know that?”
Scootaloo laughed. “Dude, Thomas and Friends rocks!”
Babs relaxed. “Thanks for not laughin’”.
“That would just be mean!” Sweetie Belle added.
“And, you should get to do lead vocals!” called Cozy.
“Whooowee!” hollered Granny Smith. “I haven’t done that one in a long time!”
“Y’all still remember all the actions,” Big Mac laughed.
Apple Bloom turned to the others. “Fancy goin’ to Sugarcube Corner ta cool off?”
The 8 friends stepped in through the door, and into the warmth of Sugarcube Corner. Mrs Cake was at the counter, and greeted them.
“Good afternoon!” she said to them. “What can I get you girls?”
“The usual please,” Apple Bloom replied.
“OK, 3 vanilla, 3 strawberry, and a chocolate milkshake coming right up!”
“I’d like to order somethin’ too,” Babs asked.
Mrs Cake turned around, and looked at her. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you before,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Babs Seed. I’m Apple Bloom’s cousin.”
Mrs Cake beamed. “Well, any family of Apple Bloom’s is family of mine! What would you like?”
“Chocolate milkshake please,” Babs replied.
Once all the drinks were ready, Mrs Cake handed them to the girls. “That’ll be $10!” she smiled.
“They’re $1.50 each,” Babs said, confused.
“Loyal customer discount,” Mrs Cake explained.
After paying, the girls went and sat down at a booth and started chatting, when suddenly a commotion started.
2 people walked in through the door, to the jeering of a group of boys. “Hey look!” one of them shouted. “It’s Derpy McDerpface!”
The older girl looked hurt, but a younger one who resembled her stepped forward. “Nobody talks to my sister that way!” she yelled.
The boys laughed. “Clearly runs in the family,” one of them snorted.
“What, being retards?” another laughed.
“It won’t be long till she has the wonky eyes!” the third jeered.
Tears began to leak from the younger girls' eyes, whilst the older one had a neutral expression.
Babs had had enough. She knew enough of what bullying was like, and she got out of her seat and stormed over.
“That’s enough!” she yelled, loud enough that the entire café went quiet.
“What’s this, protecting Derpface?” said one of the boys.
“How'd you like it if people mocked you over how you looked?” Babs continued walking over, her hands curling into fists. “The way you spoke? The way you walked?”
She was eyeball to eyeball with one of them. “I don’t think you’d like it, would you?”
“What you gonna do, huh?”
“Ban you permanently from the premises!” shouted a voice behind them. It was Mr Cake!
“Dude, you’d be an idiot to do that,” the first boy said.
“We’d totally organise a boycott,” said the third.
“And tell the police you’ve violated our Constitutional rights,” added the second.
Mr Cake had turned a shade of red. “Your right to speak is overridden by Ditzy’s right to not be verbally abused in public! Now scram, before I call the police!”
The three of them stormed out of the door, giving rude gestures as they walked out of the door.
Mr Cake sighed, and went over to Babs. “I appreciate you wanted to help her, but you need to let the adults deal with problems like this. You could have easily started a fight there.”
Babs sighed as well. Again? “I can’t stand bullies,” she replied. “I know what it’s like-” she suddenly froze, realising she’d accidently let slip.
“I’m not blaming you, I’m just suggesting not to act so rashly, OK?” Mr Cake smiled. “Now go enjoy some time with your friends.”
Babs sat back down, when the two girls came over. “Thank you for standing up for me,” said the smaller one. “I'm Dinky Hooves.” She had purple-blue skin and blonde hair, and was wearing a green dress. “This is my big sister, Ditzy!” She indicated to the older girl.
‘Ditzy’ had grey skin and blonde hair, and was wearing a blue shirt and green skirt. However, Babs couldn’t help but notice her eyes were wonky.
“Could you move to the left a bit?” she asked Babs. “I can’t really see you?”
“Can I ask what happened to your eyes?” asked Babs.
“They’ve always been like that, I’m afraid,” said a third voice, coming in through the door.
This fellow had brown hair that seemed to stick up permanently, as well as stubble. He was dressed in a blue suit with a brown shirt and tie, as well as a pair of tennis shoes.
“Daddy!” Dinky exclaimed, and ran over to him.
“Howdy Professor Turner!” Apple Bloom called.
“He’s one of the science teachers at the school, he’s really fun!” Scootaloo admitted.
“But I’ve never figured out why he keeps a blue box in the lab,” Sweetie Belle added.
“That’s my equipment shed,” Turner quickly said. “You can call me ‘The Doctor’.”
The journey back to Sweet Apple Acres in Bessie had been a blast. Open top cars made things seem so much more immediate. That, and the suspension was a bit rough and Time Turner was a bit of a reckless driver. At least Ditzy and Dinky enjoyed the run, but they were clearly used to it.
After bidding Dinky goodbye, Babs and her friends trudged up the slope back to the house.
“How you feeling Babs?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Fine thanks,” she replied, in a monotone voice.
“I think it was really brave how you stood up to those bullies!” Scootaloo said.
“They had it coming,” Babs answered, a look of anger in her eyes. “They’re scum, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Shall we take our minds off them?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“What about the gaming session we had planned tonight?” asked Button.
“What have we got?” inquired Babs.
“Some racing games, two PCs with RTS games set up for LAN play, and we even put a train simulator in there.”
“Really?” Babs asked. “I’ve certainly racked up a few hours on Train Simulator 2013.”
After getting in and removing their coats, the girls decamped downstairs, and began setting everything up for the gaming meetings. Controllers were plugged in, and conversation turned to relationships and other things.
“Soup’s up, everybody!” called Applejack.
“Let’s go!” Apple Bloom called.
The meal was seafood, California style.
“How was your day?” asked Bright Mac.
“We played music, went into town for a bit, and even ran some of the locos around the yard.”
“Babs even scared off some bullies who were bein’ mean to Ditzy!” Apple Bloom added.
Bright Mac simply glared at her. “I do not want you to mention bullying in Babs’ presence, understand?”
Bloom was utterly confused. “Why?”
“Because I said so.” He looked to Babs, and his tone became infinitely more pleasant. “I hear you’ve got a good singing voice. Every true Apple does.”
“My parents can’t sing at all, and my sister never practiced the piano,” Babs replied.
“That’s a pity,” Pear Butter said. “I heard that the music there is good.”
Babs smiled. “If it’s music you want, I’d recommend Memphis or N’awlins.”
“Where?”
“It’s spelt New Orleans, but almost everybody on the east coast calls it N’awlins.”
“Oh!” Pear suddenly understood. “I’ve heard the food there is amazing.”
“That’s an understatement,” Rumble added.
“It certainly is!” Babs exclaimed. Happy memories filled her mind, of holidays in the Deep South, away from the concrete and in the warm air, the museums and food...
...all before the hell that her life had become.
Babs only realised she’d zoned out when she heard Bright Mac calling her name.
Later on, they went downstairs and started gaming. Scootaloo took on Apple Bloom at Mario Kart.
“Alright then ZapApple,” she laughed. “Let’s see what you can do.”
Babs froze. “ZapApple?” she said.
“Yeah!” Apple Bloom replied. “That’s mah Steam name.”
“Then we already knew each other before I came here!” Babs exclaimed. “I’m Uptown-Funker!”
“What a small world it is,” Button commented.
Meanwhile, Rumble and Pip went head to head in RTS combat, whilst Babs went for the simulator first.
“So, what am I doin’ here?” she asked. “I’m not used to the raildriver system.”
Luckily, Button was on hand to help her. “This lever controls the brakes, and this one handles the reverser. That one on the left is the throttle.”
Babs picked a NYC J3 on the Northeast Corridor route, and took the engine for a spin.
“Hey, this is really intuitive!” she smiled, as the engine rolled smoothly along the line.
Meanwhile, Apple Bloom roundly beat Scootaloo at racing, whilst Pip was victorious against Rumble. After a while, they tired of gaming, and chose to watch a film instead. After a vote, they picked Jurassic Park. This was what surprised Babs about Apple Bloom. Apparently, a cowgirl in training, she had a distinct soft spot for Steven Spielberg films.
After the film was ended, most of them headed home, whilst Babs and Apple Bloom went off to bed.
Babs trudged through the snow in a park, wind whistling all around her and the temperatures dropping rapidly. She pulled her coat closer to her, and tightened her scarf.
The park was totally deserted, and that made her nervous. Why would there be nobody around? It baffled her.
Visibility was poor to say the least. She took a few more steps forward, then slipped on some ice. She landed on her back with a bang, the pain searing through her back.
“Ow,” she moaned.
“I’ve got you now,” said a voice behind her.
Babs spun round and saw one of bullies standing right there.
“HOLY SHIT!” she cried, pulling herself to her feet and running as fast as she could. But she couldn’t escape. Walls appeared all around, made of snow, blocking her route.
She turned and ran across the field, only for a branch to trip her up. She staggered back to her feet and sprinted as hard as she could for the fence.
She vaulted it and ran for the railroad tracks, only for an oncoming train to stop her.
By which time, her pursuer had caught up. He grabbed her and slammed her to the floor.
“Don’t you get it?” he laughed. “You can run as far as you want, but you can never escape from us. You can never escape from bullies. You carry it everywhere with you, everywhere you go.”
“Get off!” Babs shouted, trying to punch him in the face. But her fist simply went straight through him.
“We will always win,” he laughed. “You have to face your fears, or you will never be free.”
Babs’ breathing intensified. “SOMEBODY!” she screamed, as loud as she could. “SOMEBODY HELP ME!”
Next thing she knew, there was a loud thump, and she hit the floor with a bang.
Babs looked around her, and heard an absolute commotion outside. She lay on the floor, with her duvet lying on the ground next to her.
Her door suddenly burst open, and Bright Mac burst in. “Good God!” he cried. “Babs! What happened?”
Babs pulled herself up from the floor, and sat on the bed. “I had a nightmare,” she mumbled.
“That is a poor choice of words!” Pear Butter remarked. “it sounded more like a full-blown panic attack, given how loud you were screaming.”
“Pear!” Bright Mac snapped. “I had no idea it was this bad.”
“What was this bad?” asked a voice nervously. Babs looked to see Apple Bloom standing at the door, dressed in a nightgown.
“Bloom, go to bed,” Bright Mac snapped.
Bloom stepped forward confidently. “No,” she replied.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough,” Bright Mac answered. “GO TO-!”
“No,” Babs interrupted. “She deserves to know. I can’t believe you kept her in the dark.”
There was a pause, but then Babs spoke. “You know the story about me being here for Thanksgiving? That’s only partly true. I’m really hear because...because back at home I’m being bullied.”
Apple Bloom looked utterly shocked. “Bullied?” she exclaimed. “Who’d want to bully you?”
“There are a group of morons at my school who don’t like me. I don’t know their reasons, and frankly I don’t give a shit.”
Pear looked shocked, but Bright shushed her before she could interrupt. “She needs to let it out,” he said. “Continue.”
“They did all sort of horrible things to me, such as call me names, sexually harass me, mocking me for being related to you, and so one day, I just lost it.” Babs’ voice began to quiver as she continued. “It only got worse for me from then on. They started punching and kicking me, and even steal my lunch money.”
She put her head in her hands. “And the worst thing is, my parents didn’t take it seriously. They just thought I was an angsty teenager struggling with the world. That last night before I came here, I...” Babs began to sob, “I...t-told them I h-hated them! Nobody loves me in this world!” Her words simply devolved into gibberish mixed in with her tears.
Apple Bloom walked over and hugged her. “No Babs,” she replied. “Somebody does love ya. We do, and yer always welcome here, no matter what happens.”
“Thank you!” Babs replied through her tears.
Bright Mac looked back. “I think we should leave them,” he said, and both parents exited.
“You’re a great gal to be around,” Bloom continued. “The way you took on those bullies was incredible. Ah couldn’t have done that!”
Babs sighed. “Thanks, cuz,” she replied. “I needed that. Could ya stay in here overnight? I’d rather not be alone.”
Bloom lay down on the floor. “Ah’ll stay with ya all night,” she said.
Babs pulled her blankets back over her, and drifted off to sleep once again. Tomorrow she had a tour of CHS to go on.
Meanwhile, 3 boys were seated round a chair.
“It’s not fair!” said the first.
“That bitch gets us kicked out of our hangout!” said the second
“We deserve payback,” said the third.
“Well, she’s coming into CHS tomorrow,” laughed the second.
“Then, it’s settled.”
Babs and Apple Bloom arrived into CHS the next morning, and popped by Celestia’s office to get Babs a visitor’s badge.
They met up in a corridor with the rest of the Crusaders, and headed toward the cafeteria.
Babs’ face suddenly collided with a large fist, and she fell to the floor, against the lockers.
Babs came two on the floor, with the three boys she had faced in Sugarcube Corner staring down at her.
“Hi there, shitface,” said the first.
“What the hell?” was all Scootaloo could say before the other two shoved them away.
“You ruined our little day at our hangout by defending Derpface,” he said angrily. “Now we will ruin yours.”
“I’m a visitor!” Babs groaned, having been kicked in the stomach. “When the school find out-”
“There won’t be anything for them to find,” the boy said. “Have at her boys!”
The three of them wheeled around and took out their anger of Babs, punching and kicking her. It was no different to home in any way. It went on for what felt like a minute, each blow hitting with the force of a jackhammer over and over again. “It’s all you’re good at, being a punchbag!”
Babs’ vision suddenly became hazy, when a distinct voice could be heard in the distance: “NOOOO!”
A girl leaped in her way...with blonde hair and blue-purple skin.
“Dinky?” Babs asked weakly.
“Skedaddle kid, before we mess you up.”
“Yeah, why not make her eyes wonky?” asked one of them.
“No,” Dinky replied firmly. “Nobody hurts my best friend!”
The first of the boys stepped forward, and grabbed Dinky by her collar. “You asked for it,” he snarled, throwing her at a locker.
Dinky bounced off the lockers like a ping-pong ball, before coming to rest on the floor.
“NOOO!” cried Sweetie Belle, sprinting over and checking Dinky for injuries. She was bruised, but very much alive.
Thoughts rolled through Babs’ head.
“Come on boys, we got a new game!”
“Fancy having some fun?”
“Thought you could escape from me?”
“You’re amazing! I’m so glad I met you!”
“You have to face your fears, or you will never be free.”
“It’s all you’re good at, being a punchbag!”
Babs spat the blood out of her mouth. “No,” she growled, and shakily got to her feet.
“What the hell?” the first boy said. “We just beat you!”
Babs laughed. “You don’t think I know the kinda shit you guys pull?” she replied. “I know my fair share of punks, but you picked the wrong day to piss off a kid of the Bronx!”
She lumbered forward, giving him a solid blow on the nose. “You tried to fuck with me, you failed!”
Another punch, and he lumbered backwards. “You tried to screw with my friends, you failed!”
The boy smashed into the locker and slid to the floor.
Babs stood confidently over him, popping her knuckles. “Here’s a gift from the Big Apple!”
A last blow to the face. However, it never connected.
A pair of arms grabbed Babs, and pulled her backwards, moving her away from the boy on the floor.
“What the hell is going on?” asked a very senior voice.
Babs came back to her senses, and looked at the scene before her. “Oh God,” she whispered. “I’m no better than them.”
The person who had grabbed her looked at her. “I want to speak to you in my office.”
The office was very dark. The blinds were down and most of the furniture had motifs of the crescent moon on them.
Two women stood at the desk, staring at Babs. One of them was the woman who had broken up the fight.
“Greetings,” she said. “I’m Vice-Principle Luna, and this is Principal Celestia,” indicating to the woman stood next to her.
“What happened?” asked Celestia.
“What happened?” Babs asked, incredulous. “Those thugs jumped me and beat me near unconscious!”
“So why did you fight back?” Luna demanded. “What makes you think that was appropriate?”
“I was defending myself,” Babs whispered. “Because I didn’t stand up to them back at home. I saw them attack Dinky, and I... I lost it.” Babs looked around. “Is Dinky OK?”
“Dinky’s fine,” replied Celestia. “She just had concussion, that’s all.”
Babs looked at the floor. “I know this is not the best of introductions. Do whatever you want with me. I’ve accepted my punishment.”
Celestia looked confused. “You say you're having problems at home? What school do you go to?”
“One of the urban ones, Edison Middle School?”
Luna looked up. “Isn’t that one run by Principal Neighsay?”
“You know him?” Babs asked.
“We...we went to college together,” was all Luna said.
“And we have some sway with him,” Celestia added.
“He’s not been taking it seriously,” Babs told them.
“I think we can change his mind,” Luna smiled. Her face then turned serious. “As you are not a student at our school, we cannot formerly punish you. However, we are going to ask that you leave the school site and not return today.”
Babs nodded. “That I can do.”
As Babs walked out of the office, she saw a rainbow-haired girl walk up to her.
“Hey, are you Apple Bloom’s cousin?” she asked.
“Yeah, so?”
“I hear you gave Hoops, Dumbbell and Score the dusting down they needed!” the girl replied. “I’m Rainbow Dash.”
“Uh...nice to meet you.”
“I really mean it! Scoots has taken a real liking to you.”
“That’s nice to hear.”
“Besides, anyone who’s a friend of my little sister is a friend of mine.”
“You’re her sister?!” Babs exclaimed. “Man, she’s lucky!”
“They’re not biologically related,” said another voice, and a woman stepped out of the staffroom. She had light pink skin and purple hair.
“My name’s Cheerilee,” she said. “I’m Scootaloo’s mom, and she’s told me all about you.” Her face grew serious. “For the record, I never said this, but you gave those bullies what they deserved. You’re welcome to visit us anytime you want.”
Rainbow looked at Babs. “Well, if there’s anything you ever want, just tell me and I’ll make it happen. I work on the railroad.”
Babs’ face grew into a smile. “You know, there is one thing,” she said.
Babs whooped as the Hudson roared along the line. She was seated in the driver’s seat and having the experience of a lifetime.
Rainbow Dash was there in the cab, ensuring the fire was properly stocked and kept up to temperature. This was one of the few engines in the collection that lacked an automatic stocker.
“You look to be enjoying yourself!” Dash called.
“There aren’t any of these engines left back home!” Babs shouted back. “So, to find one out here is a wonderful surprise!”
“The railroad built it in their workshop,” Dash replied. “Long before I was born.”
“Do you build many engines?”
“A couple. We’ve bought most of ours. We recently finished building a T1, and someday we’ll see if it can do 140MPH.”
At Halfway, the two of them swapped positions. Alas, all too soon there time together was over, and Babs was picked up by Applejack at the depot.
“Ah don’t know what those bullies thought they were doin’,” she conceded. “But it seems folks around here never leave each other alone.”
“I’ve made some new friends here,” Babs admitted, “and I’m not sure if I want to go back to NYC.”
“Nothin’ lasts forever,” the older apple girl said. “But you want to know what the good part about family is?”
“What?”
“There’s always room for more.”
Later that evening, Babs and Apple Bloom were playing a boardgame in the living room, when suddenly Bright Mac called out. “There’s somebody from the police here!”
Babs froze. What was going on?
A man dressed in a trenchcoat and hat stepped into the room. “Greetings,” he said. “My name’s Swift Order, and I run the local police department.”
He sat down, and look clearly at Babs. “With regards to today’s altercation, those three boys have been punished with 6 months community service. They are also forbidden from going anywhere near Sweet Apple Acres or Sugarcube Corner. We’ve tagged them to ensure that they don’t.”
His face grew stern. “But what I need to know is why you chose to act in the way you did.”
Babs explained the whole story, leaving nothing out. Swift Order nodded.
“I have friends in the NYPD,” he mentioned. “I’ll get some strings pulled. But you very nearly made the problem worse there, as they could easily have retaliated.”
“I’m sorry sir,” Babs mumbled.
“I won’t be charging you, as you are certainly the victim here,” the policeman answered. “But I want you to take this message to heart. If you ever end up in a situation like this again, don’t take it into your own hands. Tell a responsible adult.”
Babs nodded, to show she had understood.
“Good.” Swift Order straightened up, and headed out of the room. “This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with bullying, and it won’t be the last.”
Babs went to bed that night a wiser person. But it was almost the end of her stay in Canterlot, and Thanksgiving was nearly upon them.
The night of Thanksgiving was a beautiful one. Sweet Apple Acres was beautifully decorated, and everybody was dressed in their Sunday best.
Babs and Apple Bloom were on door duty, whilst Applejack and Big Mac were busy shipping plates and food to the table. The family had decided to invite Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and their families. That, naturally enough, meant Rainbow Dash as well.
Sure enough, there was a knock at the door.
“Ah’ll get it!” called Apple Bloom. On the other side of the door was Scootaloo and Cheerilee, dressed...somewhat less formally than the Apples.
“Happy Thanksgiving!” the girl said.
“Happy Thanksgiving to you too!”
Scootaloo stepped in through the threshold of the door, and hung her coat up. She suddenly noticed how everybody else was dressed.
“Did I miss something?” she asked.
“The dress code only applies to the Apples,” Apple Bloom informed her. “Babs is wearin’ slacks, so yer fine.”
Cheerilee suddenly looked relieved. “I’ve haven’t really had a chance to chat to her yet.”
“Good evening!” said Grand Pear. “Where’s yer dad, Scootaloo?”
“He’s still in Germany, and apparently won’t be back till Christmas.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I send him my best.”
Sweetie Belle and Rarity were the next to arrive, with Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles shortly after. They were rather...overdressed, with Hondo in a ridiculous suit of grey, Cookie in a long dress, and Sweetie Belle and Rarity looking they had stepped straight out of the pages of Little Women.
“Er...that’s a lotta finery,” was Bloom’s only reaction.
“Only the best will do for this sort of thing, darling!” Rarity told her.
“Only problem is I can’t see my feet,” Sweetie Belle cut in.
“Is that a problem?” asked Hondo.
“It is if I trip over something!”
“I’m certain you won’t trip over something!” Cookie reassured her.
The two kids shuffled into the living room, to see Babs dressed in her slacks and striped shirt from earlier.
“I told you we didn’t need to wear these ridiculous things!” Sweetie Belle complained.
Rarity just sighed. “At this rate, I’ll start calling you Repeaty Belle.”
Sure enough, everybody was there and ready, enjoying the Apple’s (strictly non-fizzy) cider.
“So, I here we have a New Yorker among us!” Hondo said. “I grew up there in the 1970s.”
“It’s got a lot better since then, I can assure you!” Babs laughed.
“Have they fixed the subway?”
“They’ve got some new stock, but it needs some more investment as its seen better days.”
“Do you understand any of this?” Cookie asked Cheerilee.
“Yes,” Cheerilee answered. “I suspect Scootaloo gets her fascination with it from me.”
“Soup’s up, y’all!”
The families gathered around the dinner table, ready for the evening’s festivities. Upon taking their seats, Apple Mac stood at the front of the table, and placed his hands together. “Could y’all please take a moment to join me in prayer?” he asked.
It was as he said.
“Dear Lord,” he said, “Thank you for providin’ us with the bounty of your beautiful Earth. Please guide and strengthen us in the days ahead, and for the rest of our lives. Help us to remember and appreciate the brave sacrifice of those pioneers who held the First Thanksgiving all those centuries ago, and ensure that we never forget that which we hold most dear, our Families. Amen.”
“Amen,” everybody echoed.
The meal proceeded without incident, and afterwards they trooped off to the barn, for another American tradition; the barn dance!
But the final proceeding of the day was a performance of the Crusaders, who had picked out a song just for the purpose.
2 days later, the Apple family gathered at the railway station.
“Well, this is goodbye,” said Bright Mac.
Babs smiled. “Thanks for the visit, it was nice you letting me stay for a few days.”
“No problem Sugarcube,” Applejack told her. “Remember, tell yer parents that they are welcome to come over too. And of course, yer always welcome here.”
Apple Bloom had tears in her eyes. She ran over to Babs and hugged her. “Ah’m gonna miss ya!” she sobbed. “And so will Dinky!”
“Hey, I’ll stay in touch, whether through Steam or through the landline,” Babs answered. “I’d never leave my favourite cousin in the lurch.”
“She’s yer only cousin,” said Big Mac, visibly confused.
Just then the train pulled in, and the family helped Babs load her baggage onboard.
The whistle blew, and Babs went to the window, pulling it down. She waved as the train pulled out of the station. Apple Bloom stayed and watched, as the train vanished into the distance, until it was little more than a tiny dot on the horizon.
Apple Bloom hauled herself out of bed. Two days had passed since the Apple Christmas Party, and it was now Christmas day. Not only that, but the Anon-a-Miss mess has been a bit of a downer on the holiday.
Oh well. The crisis was over, and Christmas could proceed as normal.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Apple Bloom!" called her father. "We've got somethin' to show ya!"
"I'm comin'!"
Apple Bloom headed downstairs. "What's the secret?" she asked.
She opened the door, and gasped in amazement at what she saw.
The tree was beautifully decorated, with a train running around the bottom loaded with cargo. Scattered around were brightly coloured and wrapped boxes.
But that wasn't the real cause of surprise. Sat there, in front of the tree, in her trademark green slacks and striped shirt, was Babs Seed.
She turned her head to face Apple Bloom. "Hi, cuz," she said, with a smile.
Cast-in order of appearence Richard Ian Cox-New York Bully, Taxi Driver, and Dumbell Brynna Drummond-Babs Seed Ashleigh Ball-New York Nurse, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash Tabitha St. Germain-Mrs Orange, Granny Smith, Cub Cake, Ditzy Hooves, Vice Principal Luna, Rarity, and Cookie Crumbles Maurice LaMarche-Principal Neighsay Brian Drummond-Mosely Orange, Passenger in Carriage, and Carrot Cake Laura Drummond-Sunflower Seed Tom Hanks-Delta Pilot Shannon Chan-Kent-Ticket Attendant and Silver Spoon James Kirk-Micro Chips Martin Sherman-Engine Driver Kerry Shale-Conductor Michelle Creber-Apple Bloom Madeleine Peters-Scootaloo Sunni Westbrook-Cozy Glow Claire Corlett-Sweetie Belle and Dinky Hooves Felicia Day-Pear Butter Peter New-Big Mac and Hondo Flanks Bill Newton-Bright Mac Chantal Strand-Diamond Tiara Vincent Tong-Rumble and Score Blake Swift-Button Mash Graham Verchere-Pipsqueak Kathleen Bar-Hoops David Tennant-Time Turner Nicole Oliver-Principal Celestia and Cheerilee Steven Lang-Swift Order William Shatner-Grand Pear
A big thank you to all of my readers. I couldn't have done it without you.
