Zephyr was attempting to cook a mushroom quiche one morning after he was given the idea by Zecora. While Scootaloo did tell him his pancakes were still great, he wanted to get more variety into her diet in the morning. While it was a work in progress, as his failed attempts in the kitchen could attest to, he managed to make one that he deemed good enough to feed to his little sister.

"Wow, a moment of silence for all these fallen warriors, huh?" Scootaloo walked into the kitchen to see the massacre of all the failed quiches.

"Don't sugarcoat it, you might hurt my feelings." That got a snort of laughter from Scootaloo as she took the 'good' quiche Zephyr marked for her. He took some of the 'better but not good enough' attempts for his own consumption. "Hopefully it'll please your refined palate."

"Now who's sugarcoating it?" The two siblings, despite Zephyr's kitchen mess, were clearly in a playful mood. "Mmm! This is good! Now you just need to get to the point that you can make it without 10 failed attempts!"

"Everypony's a critic. Jokes aside, I'm glad you liked it enough to make learning the recipe more worth it. While the menu expansion will be slow, I'd rather master a dish first before trying to learn a new one."

That got a smile out of Scootaloo, but both were surprised by an excitable knock on the door. "Is it Pinkie Pie?" When Scootaloo answered the door, the actual culprit surprised her. "Applebloom? What's gotten you so excited?"

"Mah' cousin from Manehattan is visiting and ah' want my friends to meet her as well! She might be willing to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

That definitely got Scootaloo's attention. "Wait, that's huge! Hold on, lemmi finish my meal and I'll join you!"

Zephyr saw a slightly worn-out Applejack behind her excitable sister. "Do you want me to come with just so you're not babysitting three excitable foals by yourself?"

That got a sigh from the farmer. "Ah' would appreciate it... Applebloom's been in a tizzy since she heard about it and that filly can't sit still on a good day."

"Scoots isn't much better when she's worked up."

"Am not!" That got a laugh from the two adults.

After picking up Sweetie Belle, with her parents mentioning that they were going to be busy and won't be home, the three fillies were excitedly bouncing around on the station platform while Zephyr and Applejack discussed plans for the day. When the Manehattan train stopped, Applebloom kept trying to guess which pony was her cousin, only for Applejack to remind her they've never met.

When a brown filly with red hair exited the train, Applejack smiled. "There she is! Yer' cousin, Babs Seed!"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders immediately greeted her and got rather close, much to Babs' discomfort. Zephyr quickly stepped in. "Personal space, you three. If you really want to make friends with her, step number one is to not scare the poor filly away."

Babs looked at Zephyr in frightened confusion. "W-who are you?"

"Zephyr Windstorm, big brother to Scootaloo... one of the fillies who forgot the concept of personal space." That got a pout from the mentioned filly as Zephyr bowed using a wing. "A pleasure to meet you. I'll get your luggage for you."

With that, Zephyr picked up the luggage using his left primary wing, much to Babs' shock. Scootaloo smiled at the sight. "Isn't my big bro cool? He's a Falconite!"

"What's... a Falconite?"

The three were about to answer when they realized they really didn't know either. Applejack shook her head. "Don't worry yer' heads none over it. Simplest explanation is that he's a type of Pegasus."

"I suppose it IS the simplest explanation."

Sweetie Belle remembered something. "Oh yeah, Zephyr once lived in Manehattan as well!"

That got a surprised look from Babs as Zephyr shook his head. "For most of my life, but that's in the past. I'd much rather look forward to where life in Ponyville takes-- Scootaloo, please refrain from covering her eyes. What did I say about scaring away foals you want to be friends with?"

That got a small "Erk" from the Pegasus filly as she nervously chuckled. "I-I just wanted to help bring her to our clubhouse!"

"Do it normally!" Babs already got the impression that Zephyr was an attentive, yet firm brother to Scootaloo.

As the group got to Sweet Apple Acres, Zephyr handed Babs' luggage off to Applejack and bid the group farewell before flying off. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, deciding that the element of surprise was ruined anyways, took Babs to the club house to get her acquainted.

While the trio missed the trauma in Babs' eyes when it came to their blank flanks, Applebloom giggled nervously. "We... wanted to surprise you more, but ah' think we should give ya' room to breathe like Zephyr said."

Babs remembered him gently scolding Scootaloo and felt a pang of loneliness. "You and yer' brother looked close, Scootaloo..."

"I love him to bits, though he's not afraid to get upset at me if I do something wrong. While somepony else is my idol, he's been important in my life ever since he adopted me."

"A-adopted?! T-that means you were..?"

Scootaloo gave a sad smile. "Yeah, I was an orphan for most of my life. Even after I got good friends in Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, it felt like I still was missing out on a part of growing up. He was able to change that and adopted me with his family on my birthday!"

With how upbeat Scootaloo sounded, Babs let out a small sigh of relief. "Ah'm sorry I brought that up. It's just... the last foal that I knew was an orphan was bullied relentlessly for not having parents. One day she vanished and nopony knew what happened to her..."

Sweetie Belle had a thought. "This... happened in Manehattan, right?" When Babs nodded Sweetie Belle looked concerned. "Didn't Zephyr have a lot of issue with bullying when he was growing up there as well? It's what lead him to think friendship was pointless for a long time..."

"So it's happened to him too... even that long ago..." Babs covered her mouth in fear when she realized she said that out loud. "I-I didn't say--"

"Babs... are you..?" Now Applebloom was concerned as she held her cousin's hoof in hers. "Please, even if we made a bad first impression, let us listen to your problems. We might not be friends or close cousins, but ah' don't want you to suffer in silence over this!"

"Plus, we've been bullied as well. Though... from what big bro has said, Manehattan foals sound so much more cruel than what we went through. Even so!"

The comforting held hoof from Applebloom and the supportive smiles from Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle made Babs' lip quiver as she tried not to cry. "Al... alright. Ah' want to trust you three..."

With that, Babs revealed that the reason she took the trip to Ponyville was because she wanted to escape from the relentless bullying. Regaling all the torture she went through, she was almost in tears because of how painful the memories were. When she finished, Applebloom looked incredibly sad, Sweetie Belle was horrified, and Scootaloo looked furious.

Babs began wondering if she should have kept her feelings bottled when Applebloom hugged her. "Ah'm so sorry you suffered so much, Babs! If we had known, we wouldn't have been so overbearing with you!"

"We really had it much easier... compared to those Manehattan foals, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon feel like friendly rivals!" The fact Sweetie Belle said that was an accomplishment considering she really doesn't like them.

"Or they haven't ramped their attacks up to that level, but that's besides the point!" Scootaloo punched her hooves together in frustration. "I really wish we could've been there to help you through all that..."

"Ah've decided!" Everypony looks at Applebloom in surprise. "Forget about showing you our float for the Harvest Festival... unless you really want to see it, but ah want to show you around town first!"

"Applebloom, just to make sure you know, our float isn't finished yet." Sweetie Belle made sure to put that out there.

That made the farm filly shake her head. "If we miss it, oh well. Ah' want to spend some time with my cousin doing fun things!" With that, she drags Babs out the door with her amused friends following shortly after.

The 4 foals went all around town to show Babs all the Ponyville landmarks. The first stop was Sugar Cube Corner where Pinkie just so happened to be hosting a party. She expressed regret over missing throwing one for Babs, but the Cutie Mark Crusaders convinced her to hold off until she opened up to the town a bit more. The quartet had a fun time regardless.

On their way around town, they ran into Fluttershy who let Babs interact with some of the baby bunnies she was escorting through the town. The big city filly felt soothed by the innocent curiosity of the animals.

After some more exploring, Scootaloo saw somepony that made her excited. "Mom!"

Harpsong looks around and sees Scootaloo approaching at high speed. "Hello, Scootaloo! Going around town with your friends?"

"Yup! Applebloom's cousin is visiting from Manehattan and we're showing her around!" Scootaloo wrapped her tiny legs around her mother's forehoof

"M-my name is Babs Seed..."

That got a smile from the mother, but it quickly dropped when she noticed the nervous gait she was far too familiar with. Bringing the foals to Zephyr's home, she gives the filly a worried look. "Babs... what's wrong?"

"Huh, oh I'm f-fine--"

"I can tell you're not. I may be a stranger to you, but... I can tell you're going through too much for a filly..."

Applebloom shot a worried look at her cousin. "Mrs. Earthwing... what is it you see?"

"It's Mrs. Windstorm now, Applebloom. Anyways, I see a filly from a bad Manehattan school getting ruthlessly bullied." Babs was shocked at how accurately she guessed it. "I would know... I raised a foal that went through the exact same thing for most of his life."

"M-Mr. Zephyr?"

"So you have met him. Indeed, throughout all his school life he couldn't make or keep any friends because it felt like everypony was out to mock or ridicule him for being 'different'. No matter how many ways I tried to help, none of it worked. It was only after coming here... was he finally able to start healing from those wounds."

Applebloom looked uncertain of herself. "Ah' wanted to show her around so that we could get to know each other better... but is that the best way to do so?"

"Certainly. While it can be easy for fillies like yourselves to get overexcited, the most important part is simply being there for the ones you care for. Even when it feels like the world is against you and everything you do, as long as you have the support of ponies who care for you, you can do anything! Even rise above what kept you down."

Harpsong kneeled down so she was eye-level with Babs with a motherly smile. "You're here now, Babs. You have a cousin who really cares about you and you have friends who want to help. No matter what had happened in your past, just know... that you're safe here."

Throughout Babs' mind, all the torture she went through replayed itself in an attempt to dissuade her from believing Harpsong. Yet the memories of her overexcited cousin and her friends wanting to know HER and the older brother doing his best to keep them from scaring her off flowed as well. Applebloom's sorrow over her cousin's experiences, Sweetie Belle's concern, and Scootaloo's frustration at not being able to help.

Even at home in Manehattan, while her family did love her, what they were going through prevented her from feeling safe there. Despite only having been in Ponyville for a short while with ponies who are basically strangers, it was the safest she felt in forever.

After keeping it all in for so long, Babs' anguish finally burst out as she started crying, letting out all the pain and sorrow she had kept bottled up. Applebloom, not knowing what to do, hugged her cousin and closed her eyes with tears threatening to spill out. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle put their hooves on Babs' shoulders as well.

Zephyr was going to go into his house for something, but heard Babs crying and figured out what was going on. Letting them have their moment, he backs off feeling like a foal just had her life saved. Turning around, he saw Applejack coming down the road. "Howdy, pard'ner. Have you seen the fillies?"

"I think my mom took them inside for a small discussion. Were you aware Babs was getting bullied at school?"

That got a depressed sigh from Applejack. "Eeyup... it was to the point she didn't even feel safe at home. Ah' told her that she could come to our farm to escape it, but ah wondered if Applebloom and her friends would be too much for her. Too far in the opposite direction, as it were."

Zephyr smiled as he looks back at his house. "I don't think you need to worry. Perhaps they discovered something that caused them to take it easier and make Babs feel more welcome?" His expression darkens when he adds, "But to think Manehattan schools are just as bad as ever with bullying issues..."

"Ah' think it got worse because more recent teachers don't really care about anything but their 'public image' nowadays. From what ah' heard from my relatives, the schools have 'zero-tolerance policies' for bullying."

"Let me guess, it didn't take long for the worst of the bullies to figure out they didn't have to worry about the first action, only the last action that gets caught by the teacher." Zephyr growled when Applejack nodded. "I'm so glad Cheerilee takes her job seriously. If we still lived in Manehattan, homeschooling sounds much better than public schools right now."

"As much as ah' agree, that comes with it's own problems, but let's think more positively." Applejack suddenly remembered something. "Did ya' want to come to the Summer Harvest Festival? There'll be a parade with floats!"

Zephyr put a hoof to his chin in thought. "Sounds interesting, sure. I'll see if Rainbow is willing to come as well, it's been a while since we last had a proper date."

"Alright, lover colt. Ah' know there'll be an open mic session part-way through, so be sure to sing a ballad to yer girlfriend then!" Applejack chortled as Zephyr glared after her with a blush.

A bit later, Harpsong and the 4 fillies exited Zephyr's house with Babs feeling a lot better as she smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Windstorm. Ah' had been bottling it up all this time because ah' thought I couldn't show weakness..."

"I'm just glad you vented it that way instead of becoming what you hated. I've seen foals become bullies after being bullied for so long themselves and all it does is perpetuate a cycle of suffering..."

Applebloom shook her head rapidly. "No more sad talk! Ah' still want to show Babs the Cutie Mark Crusader's float for the Summer Harvest Festival!"

"Show me! I really want to see it!" Babs had a brighter look on her face now as the quartet ran off towards Sweet Apple Acres. Harpsong smiled after the fillies before heading out as well.

When the fillies arrived at the barn, Babs saw what her new friends had made which confused her a bit. "It looks great, but... aren't pumpkins usually a fall crop?"

Sweetie Belle giggled. "Yeah Scootaloo and I thought that as well. According to Applejack, they can be planted and harvested in the summer as well! We just THINK they're a fall crop because of Nightmare Night!"

Applebloom looked the most excited to show the float. "So you think it'll be great?"

"Yeah it'll be great... at looking ugly in the parade!" Babs whipped around to see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon grinning maliciously from the entrance.

Scootaloo was having none of it right now. "Don't you two have anything better to do?"

"Certainly, but we made time just for you blank flanks! Don't you feel honored?" Silver Spoon snickered into her hoof.

Diamond Tiara looks at Babs with a sadistic smile. "Who's this blank flank?"

Applebloom stiffened up, knowing what was coming. "She's my cousin from Manehattan. Now go away, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!"

The two bullies ignored the demand. "I suppose being from Manehattan gives you some points..."

"... but don't tell us you're going to join their pitiful little club! What was it again? The Cutie Mark Crusaders?"

"I am joining their club, so do shove off." Everypony, including the Cutie Mark Crusaders, gave Babs a shocked look as she made a shooing motion with her hoof. She had also switched from her country accent to her rougher Manehattan dialect.

Diamond Tiara wasn't expecting a foal with a spine considering how meek she looked earlier. "Don't act so high and mighty, blank flank! You should--"

"I have a name and it's Babs Seed. You'd better remember it."

Silver Spoon was getting a bit nervous while Diamond Tiara decided to try and press a few buttons. "Babs Seed, huh? What are you, a bad seed?"

"Diamond Tiara, huh? What are you, a vanity item?" Babs, feeling confident with the support of her friends and family behind her, was more than capable of clapping back now.

It was clear Diamond Tiara didn't get what Babs was saying because she put a hoof on her chest proudly. "Why thank you, I am quite beautiful!" She gave a start when Sweetie Belle started laughing. "What's so funny, blank flank?!"

"One of the few times I'm proud to be a walking dictionary!" Sweetie Belle coughed a few times but maintained her smug grin. "You're half right, Diamond Tiara. Vanity does mean 'pride in one's apperance'. But it also means 'worthless'." That made Diamond Tiara sputter in aggravation as the Cutie Mark Crusaders laughed.

Right before Diamond could get anymore aggressive, Babs put her hoof down. "I don't care for what you're trying to do to my cousin and friends. So unless you want your mothers to know what you're doing to them, I'd suggest backing off." Recognizing that the new filly wasn't easy prey, the two bullies decided to cut their losses and just leave with glowering looks.

"That was amazing, Babs!" Applebloom felt very proud of her cousin.

"Thanks... but ah' wonder if I was going too far using some of the bullying tactics ah' was subjected to..."

"What goes around, comes around." Zephyr entered the barn with Applejack in tow. "Regardless, your float isn't finished yet?"

Scootaloo shook her head. "It's mostly done, but there's some things we still need to add before it'll work properly."

That got a small smile from Applejack. "Ya' can leave it to us. Ah' know what still needs doing and Zephyr's here to lend a hoof. Go and enjoy some more time with yer new friends, Babs!" The fillies all beam and run out the barn while the two adults nod at each other.

The parade was a success and the Cutie Mark Crusaders even let Babs drive their float as their newest member. When it was time for the 'open mic' portion of the festival, there was announcement that confused a lot of ponies. "Before we begin, there's a pair of ponies that wish to kick the event off with a duet. Give a round of applause to them!"

As the song started up, everypony was surprised to see both Zephyr and Harpsong on the stage together. Nodding to each other, Zephyr picked up his mic. "This is for all the parents who had their foals leave the nest and for friends, new and old, who may not have much longer to spend together."

I wanted you to know, that I love the way you laugh
I want to hold you high, and steal your pain, away
I keep your photograph, and I know it serves me well
I want to hold you high, and steal your pain.

Because I'm broken, when I'm lonesome
I don't feel right when you're gone away.

You've gone away, you don't feel me here, anymore.

The worst is over now, and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, and steal my pain, away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high, and steal your pain.

Because I'm broken, when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
Because I'm broken, when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away.

During the instrumental, Raindrops revealed a banner that all could read:

Whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow.
But that parting need not last forever.
Whether a parting be forever or merely for a short time,
That is up to you.

Until then, treasure the good moments you experience with them.
They will be your motes of golden light
illuminating the darkness of life.

The Crusaders, feeling like the whole thing was in honor of their experiences that day, all hugged as Babs made sure to hold these feelings close to her heart. Rainbow, realizing her parents were next to her, couldn't help but lean against Windy with a smile while Bow hugs both of them. A lot of families did the same as Zephyr and Harpsong finished up the song.

Because I'm broken, when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
Because I'm broken, when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away.

Because I'm broken, when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone...

You've gone away, you don't feel me here, anymore...

As Applejack finished up some chores that kept her up later than usual, a thought crossed her mind to check up on Applebloom and Babs. When she opened the door to her little sister's room, she saw the two fillies sleeping together peacefully, with Babs especially having a soft smile on her muzzle. Nodding at the sight, Applejack quietly closes the door with a light-hearted smile of her own.

Harpsong... the Apple Family owes ya' a lifetime of gratitude for everything you and yer' family have done fer' us. Thank you...

Author's Note

Initially I didn't know how to write this one. In the original episode I felt Babs got off easy after everything she did to the Crusaders, but I also recognized that she's just a filly.

I decided to scrap Zephyr bearing down on her from his overprotectivness of Scootaloo and instead made it a 'what if Bab's bullying issues were inadvertently brought up before she turned bad?'

'Broken' is made by Seether in collaboration with Amy Lee from Evanecence, I do not own it.