Babs sat on the lush green grass, leaning her back against the rough trunk of the tree. With her eyes shut tight, she focused on the sounds around her. The distance chirping of birds, the noisy, yet calming, rustling of the leaves, each ambient noise that reached her ears only widened the growing smile on her lips. As she concentrated even harder, she felt that time itself slowed to a crawl. For weeks, even months, she would be focused on nothing but deadlines. Every second of every minute of every hour would be accounted for. Time was her enemy, and as it passed, she wished deeper and deeper for the power to stop the clock for just a few minutes. And while she sat under this tree, her wish felt fulfilled.
It was a type of peace nopony in Manehatten would understand. Everypony in the town hustled and bustled to their nearest job, their nearest assignment so that they could make bits. That was all that mattered in that insane town. Bits. Not ideas. Not opinions. Not kindness or generosity. Just bits. And it drove Babs insane. She wasn’t able to get away from the shouting, the yelling, at least, not until today.
For once, she didn’t need to think. She didn’t want to think. She just wanted to enjoy the sounds of the wilderness. But no matter how hard she tried, the peace she felt within her only brought up one thought.
I wonder how Apple Bloom and her friends are…
It had been years, possibly even decades (it was the one period of time she did not want to keep track of), since she had last saw her dearest friends. They had all grown up, gotten their cutie marks, their jobs...their life.
From what she had heard, Scootaloo had begun a scooter school for pegasi who weren’t able to fly, much like her. Babs had always know Scootaloo as the most determined, and arguably stubborn, filly she had ever known. She always assumed that the rainbow-colored pegasus she idolized was to blame, but if anything, that same pegasus gave Scootaloo the support, bravery and quick wit that allowed her to get where she was today.
Resting her head back on the trunk, she glanced up at the many bright pink petals of the tree as they danced in the wind. Several had been separated from the branches that they so desperately needed. The orange mare raised her hoof, catching a falling petal right in the middle. She felt the soft, fabric-like texture of the leaf, its pink glow almost radiating in the late evening sun.
Sweetie Belle. There was no doubt to Babs where that outspoken filly was. Half—no, three-quarter of Equestria knew. Her face was plastered on posters, walls, even the newspapers in every single town. Just as expected from a world-famous singer. The first time Babs saw her best friend on a poster, she could not believed how stunning she had turned out to be. Her light mulberry mane had grown long and curled, spilling past her shoulders down to her hooves. Her previously light grey coat had grown into a flawless silver and her harlequin eyes glowed bright, showing her confidence, her kindness and her Equestria-known generosity all at once.
Her voice had also been the topic of much praise. Entering any cafe in Manehatten was almost certain to be accompanied with Sweetie Belle’s harmonic voice resonating throughout, not that Babs minded. She was proud of her best friend, prouder than she had ever been before and she wished she could share that happiness with somepony, but every time she opened her mouth to tell her friends, the same few words repeated in her mind.
They’d never believe me.
Scanning her eyes to the horizon, Babs saw nothing but emerald fields stretching across her entire vision. Each breath that she took was crisp, clean and fresh. Air which is impossible to find in Manehatten. Closing her eyes, the only pony that her mind structured was one with a bow of the brightest pink.
She wore it even to this very day. At least, that was what Babs imagined. The last time she had saw her cousin was, like the others, quite some time ago. The Apple Family Reunions had continued, but Babs was simply unable to make it with the deadlines she had. She would hear stories about the crispy apple fritters, hot from the oven and topped with the sweetest glaze one could imagine, making the treat shine like a jewel in the sunlight as they danced and sang.
However, it wasn’t any treat, activity or even relatives that she missed the most about the reunion. It was hearing her cousin call her name excitedly the very moment her hoof would step through the gate.
“Hey, Babs!” The voice would sing. Those two words would bring the biggest smile to her face, and she would wear that same smile for the entire day. It would even last days after she had left Ponyville, but the hard work cycle and shouting Manehatten residents would quickly wipe that genuine grin off her face. Anything organic (except produce) would quickly be shoved away. The only things that were allowed were plastic. Fake and expensive. Everypony knew it was fake and expensive, but nopony dared to say anything. After all, they were wearing the very same thing, be it on their hoof, neck or faces.
She knew it didn’t do any good reminiscing about the past. Every happy moment was now a painful memory, each sound of laughter she recalled only brought pained cries and tears, and yet, she couldn’t help it. It was like a drug to think back to the ‘good ol’ days’ as Apple Bloom liked to call it. It was what got her through each day after all. Just that tiny spark of hope within her, that it would return. One day, she would gather with her Crusaders and it’ll be just like what she had recalled, it would be just like the good ol’ days.
Babs lowered her two hooves, ready to push herself up off the ground and leave. Without warning, she felt a light breeze blow towards her face, flipping the loose strands of mane towards the left side of her face. She tilted upwards, seeing the breeze carry the pink petals that had fallen from the tree away, spiraling the leaves upwards and into the bright azure sky.
Maybe just a few more minutes. It’s not like I’m in any rush. Babs reasoned, returning to the position she had been sitting at for… minutes? Hours? Years? She couldn’t quite recall.
She shut her eyes once more, letting the cool air brush across her face, when an unexpected call came from behind her.
“Hey, Babs.” Those two words should’ve brought Babs to her hooves, drawing tears of joy from deep within her sealed up heart and letting the locks around it shatter. However, the monotonous tone only caused her to turn the locks tighter.
After a few seconds, the voice spoke once more, “you’re here early.” Babs could’ve said anything, everything, right then. She should’ve jumped up, shouting, screamed to the world, lost in elation and sadness. The world would hear her cries, or at least, the mare behind her would. It would be the largest shout in Equestrian history.
There was only silence.
However, the next few words that came finally caused drops of tears to shed from her eyes. Whether it was tears of joy or heartache, even Babs was unable to determine. All she knew was her response, it would be a yes and it would be the start of something great. She wasn’t sure how long she, or even the mare, would remain in this place, but that hope she held onto for so long was finally starting to kindle, not die. There would be no question. It would be a yes. She repeated the words one more time in her mind,
“Can ah join you?”
Author's Note
Still working on that writing style. Short one but hope you guys enjoy!
