> A broken seed > by The Force > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Times are changing > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the quiet confines of her home, Babs Seed was enjoying a moment of peace, playing and having fun all by herself. Suddenly, her world was turned upside-down by a dizzying sensation that made her stomach turn. Before she knew it, Babs found herself face-down on the floor, struggling to gather herself her eyes beginning to close. __________________ She struggled to open her eyes, beginning slowly to. The next thing she knew, she found herself in a hospital room with monitors beeping and vitals hooked up to her. A mare earth pony doctor, Dr. Storm Heart, stepped calmly into the room, accompanied by a stallion nurse. She spoke, her tone steady but compassionate, "Good afternoon, Babs Seed. How are you feeling? I understand you've had a nasty fall and I'd like to hear from you what happened." Babs Seed, who was from Manehattan, looked away nervously before responding. "I'm alright, I suppose. I don't know what happened, just a dizzy spell I guess." Dr. Storm Heart, looked to be a striking individual with a long, elegant mane and sharp features. Her intelligent gaze held just enough warmth and kindness to make Babs Seed feel at ease. As Babs Seed took in the doctor's presence, she couldn't help but notice her chic, professional attire, which fit her tall, athletic frame perfectly. There was no denying this strong, confident mare carried herself with a calm authority that demanded respect. "Babs Seed, I am very glad you seek comfortable now, unfortunately I need to let you know something. It's important," Dr. Storm Heart began, looking down at Babs Seed's file. Dr. Storm Heart continued, her expression becoming more serious now as she read through the file in her hooves. "It seems you have a very serious condition, Babs Seed. From everything I can see, it appears to be a malignant tumor." She paused for a moment, then continued, her voice soft but firm, "Unfortunately, the news is not good. The prognosis is not favorable. You don't have much time. Dr. Storm Heart kept a determined and happy face looking at Babs Seed with empathy. Babs Seed was stunned and terrified as she took in the devastating news. With a shaky voice and tears falling down her cheeks, she asked, "How long? How long do I have?" Dr. Storm Heart replied with solemn professionalism. "Your parents brought you here after you passed out at home. We had to keep you overnight for some tests. As for your other question, you only have about a month left." Seeing Babs Seed's pain and anguish, she added, "I'm sorry, but that's the reality. You still have time to make the most of your remaining time together with your loved ones." As Dr. Storm Heart continued to speak, Babs Seed sat frozen in shock and disbelief. Her mind was racing as she tried to process the news and come to terms with her own mortality. After a moment, she managed to say, "But....but I'm only a filly....I never even got to see the world outside of Manehatten... and ponyville...." Dr. Storm Heart looked at Babs Seed with kindness and compassion. "I know this is hard to accept, but you have to make the most of your time left. Spend it with those you cherish and do everything you've always wanted to do." Dr. Storm Heart felt a pang of sadness as she witnessed Babs Seed's reaction to the news. Over the years, she had seen so many ponies pass away in her care, and it never got easy. Meanwhile, the nurse, who had seen this many times before, worked efficiently to ensure Babs Seed's well-being. He checked the vitals and made sure Babs Seed had a fresh supply of water going into her IV, all while trying to maintain a veneer of professionalism. As the reality of her situation dawned on Babs Seed, the filly became overwhelmed with grief and sorrow. Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, she cried herself to sleep in her hospital bed. All she could think about was how she would break the news to her loved ones, the people she cherished the most. The following day, as Babs Seed's family came to pick her up from the hospital, she felt even more devastated. Waiting for her at home were Applebloom, Sweetiebelle, Scootaloo, Applejack, and Big Mac. They had all come to see her after hearing the news, and their presence only amplified her sadness. Applejack beckoned for applebloom to hug babs seed, she went over and hugged her cousin. Feeling comforted by Applebloom's hug, Babs Seed let loose the floodgates of tears as she finally began to come to terms with her situation. As Babs Seed's family gathered around her to comfort and support her, she felt a tremendous rush of love and affection from the ponies who loved her so much. However, she couldn't quite shake the sadness and emptiness she felt, as she now faced the reality of her limited time left. She wondered what moments to cherish, what secrets to share, and what legacies to leave behind. She also realized she needed to make up for lost time and spend as much time as she could with her loved ones before she was forced to say goodbye. Babs Seed decided to make the most of her remaining time by having one final. Adventure with her cousin and her friends. They had a blast catching bugs, playing pranks, and just generally having a good time together. Despite her illness, Babs Seed seemed to be having the time of her life, making cherished memories with her loved ones. The following day, Babs Seed went in for another check-up at the doctor, but sadly, the news she received was not the news she was hoping for. The doctor told Babs Seed that her tumor was continuing to progress and that the treatment was not working. Babs Seed hoped against all odds that she would pull through, but deep down, she knew the truth. As her fears continued to manifest, she spent a few days hanging out with her cousin Applejack and her brother, Big Mac. Despite her illness, she tried to make the most of her time with them. During these moments, she found herself coughing and sputtering, and sometimes even coughing up a bit of blood. These signs showed that her illness was progressing faster than she had hoped. She knew her time was running out, and with every cough and blood splatter, the reality of her situation grew more real and tangible. Babs Seed was on yet another adventure with her cousin and friends, but she was noticeably weaker than before. She could not keep up with their pace, and she had to ask the CMC to slow down and let her rest. Soon, Babs Seed collapsed and found herself back in the hospital. She could barely breathe, her body exhausted by the constant fight against the malignant tumor. She looked out at her family, and despite the bleak situation, she managed to give a weak smile. As a tear streamed down her face, she knew that her time was coming to an end and her loved ones would soon have to say goodbye. The words of Dr. Storm Heart were like a punch to the gut. In a flash, it seemed that Babs Seed's life was coming to a horrifying end, with the realization that her loved ones could only watch and say their goodbyes before the doctor administered a final shot to end her suffering. It was heartbreaking for everyone involved, but as they each said their goodbyes to Babs Seed, they expressed their love and admiration for her. In her final moments, she was surrounded by loved ones who cared deeply for her, and she would remember these as her most cherished memories. Babs Seed struggled to remain strong for her family, but the thought of saying goodbye forever was too much to bear. Her eyes filled with tears and her heart filled with sadness, she said her final goodbyes to her loved ones. As the doctor returned with a nurse, they administered a final shot into her IV. Babs Seed closed her eyes slowly, drifting off to sleep as she was crushed with a wave of sadness. The monitor beeped out and flatlined, officially declaring time of death. Her family was left broken and devastated, mourning the loss of their beloved daughter and cousin. The days after Babs Seed's death were filled with grief and sadness. The family went through the painful task of planning the funeral, trying to find comfort in their memories and cherished moments. As the burial took place, rain fell from the sky, reflecting the grief and tears of her loved ones watching her be laid to rest. Everyone who cared about Babs Seed cried that day, and she was buried with her favorite things, a testimony to the deep affection and love they all had for her. They knew they would miss her forever, and they would keep her close in their hearts even after saying goodbye. And with that, Babs Seed's life and story has reached its conclusion. As she said her last goodbyes and was laid to rest, her family and friends mourned her loss but also celebrated her life and all the memories she had given them. With her, they kept all the love and affection they had for her, knowing that even though she was gone, her spirit would always be with them, kept alive in their hearts. And with that, the story of Babs Seed has come to a close, her journey, while short, was filled with love and laughter that will always be remembered. > Epilogue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It had been two years since Babs Seed had passed away from cancer. Her death, though expected, still left a gaping hole in the hearts of her family and friends. Apple Bloom, who was quite close to her cousin, found comfort in discussing memories of her with her friend Sweetie Belle. She often reminisced over the fun times they had spent together, and the silly mistakes they made that Babs helped them fix. Their grief was softened by the memories of Babs' laughter and her playful teasing. At first, the sadness was all consuming. As the days turned to weeks, and the weeks to months, the Apple siblings found themselves learning how to cope with their loss. Although the pain never truly disappeared, it became manageable. They carried on with their lives as best they could, knowing that Babs would've wanted them to be happy. They continued to gather together annually on the anniversary of her passing, not out of obligation, but out of pure love for Babs and each other. Even if they never stopped grieving for Babs, they knew that they had to learn to live without her. But deep down, they were still terrified at the thought of losing each other. While they were confident that they would never be as close to anyone as they were to Babs, they found comfort in the company of each other. They knew that no matter what happened, they were always a family, and through their pain, they grew even stronger. Although life returned to somewhat normal, they couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness every time they remembered Babs and the happy moments they had shared together. But they kept moving forward, trying to find joy where they could. They knew that Babs had loved them and wanted them to be happy, and they knew that their love for her was unconditional. Despite losing her, they had gained so much from their time together, and their bond remained as strong as ever. The first anniversary of Babs Seed's passing brought up several different emotions for Apple Bloom and her friends. As they gathered together to remember her, they experienced feelings of sadness, gratitude, and nostalgia. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo found themselves remembering funny and sweet moments they had shared with Babs, while Apple Bloom struggled to come to terms with the loss of her cousin. As she reflected on the past year, she found herself missing Babs' presence and laughter, but she was also grateful for the memories they had made together. As the second anniversary of Babs Seed's passing approached, Apple Bloom and her friends found themselves thinking differently about her death. While still missing their cousin, they were starting to accept the fact that she wasn't coming back. They tried to focus on the positive memories they had made together and the lessons she had taught them. They knew that she would always be part of their lives in some way, and this helped lessen the grief they felt. Even though they missed her, they had found a way to move forward and continue living their lives in her memory. ○○○○○○○○○ Babs Seed's death impacted her entire family deeply. Her cousins, Big Mac and Applejack, grieved intensely, finding it difficult to cope with the loss of their beloved cousin. However, their grief was eased somewhat by the memories of their good times together and the bond they shared. Meanwhile, their great aunt Granny Smith also felt overwhelmed by sadness and struggled to process her feelings, but she was comforted by the knowledge that Babs hadn't disappeared completely, because her essence still lived on in their hearts. As the years passed, Big Mac, Applejack and Granny Smith had come to a place of acceptance and peace with their loss. They were able to remember their cousin Babs for all the good she had done and the joy she had brought to their lives. They also realized that although she was no longer physically with them, her energy and essence still lived on in the bonds they shared and the memories they had made. They had become stronger and more resilient for having known her and despite the pain of losing her, they knew that she would always be there with them in their hearts. They found comfort in the company of their friends. Twilight, Pinkie, rainbowdash, fluttershy, Spike, Starlight, Rarity, all made their way to the Apple family's farm to support them during this difficult time. The friends brought food, flowers, and kind words, and everyone spent time together sharing stories, reminiscing about better times, and helping each other heal. Applejack and her loved ones realized that even though Babs was no longer physically with them, her spirit still lived on in the hearts and memories they shared. As they moved forward with their lives and remembered their beloved cousin, they took comfort in the knowledge that she had shaped them into the individuals they were today. Even though the loss of Babs Seed was painful, it brought Applejack and her family closer together. They found comfort in their mutual love and support for one another, and they realized that her spirit would always be with them. Together, they remembered her legacy and continued to live their lives with pride and remembrance of the impact she had made on their hearts. Applejack and Twilight worked together to create a statue of Babs Seed to be situated next to the barn, so that all of the Apple family and friends could see it whenever they visited. A plaque was etched on the base of the statue, declaring her as 'the bravest and happiest filly who always spread joy with her presence, she will be dearly missed.' With the statue and plaque completed, Applejack and Twilight gathered the rest of the Apple family and friends to unveil the tribute to Babs Seed. They stood in front of the statue and shared stories, memories, laughs, and tears. Though Babs was no longer with them physically, her spirit lived on in their hearts and her presence still filled the barn with joy. After a heartfelt round of laughter and tears, Applejack and Twilight cut the ribbon, officially unveiling the statue to all in attendance. As the sun rose on the horizon, the Apple family, friends, and neighbors stood together at the Apple farm, admiring the statue of Babs Seed. With the statue and plaque unveiled, the entire community came together in commemoration of the filly who had touched their lives. With the bittersweet taste of loss still on their tongues, they resolved to honor Babs' memory by continuing to spread joy, love, and laughter, just as she had done in her life. And even though Babs was no longer physically present, her spirit lived on in the hearts and memories of all who had loved her dearly. THE END