Time Changes All

Dear Apple Bloom

My mom said I should start writing you since we won’t get out to your farm very often. It ain’t like Ponyville and ~~Manha~~ Manehatten are right next to each other. Still, I didn’t want to stop talking to my favorite cuz. So how am I supposed to start one of these? I guess it would be like I’m just talkin or something but I don’t know. Ugh. I wish mom would just write this.

The reunion was fun. It was really good to see you again. I miss your positivity, but I doubt it’ll stay like that. I got my own Cutie Mark Crusadars to start running. We plan on going thrift shopping first. Not my idea, but I’m not about to shoot down newbies right off the bat. Gotta give em a reason to stay, just like friends.

I still don’t know how to end this.

School is gonna suck when it comes back into session.

Weather is nice here, though a little rainy.

You probably can tell I don’t do tis very often.

Mom just gave me a suggestion. I hope to see you when my hoofball team plays against Ponyville’s. Should be one hay of a match. It will be awesome to see my favorite cuz then.

~~Sincerly~~ ~~Sencerely~~ ~~Soncerely~~ Until next time,

Babs

======+++++======

“Apple Bloom, why are we out here?”

“Yeah, it’s pouring and I could be with Button playing video games.”

The short yellow mare glared at both of them while her hand shook from the cold. Once she noticed the rain that would follow the shakes, she tilted her hand to the side and poured some down Scootaloo’s back, while also allowing Sweetie to get rained on. “You two didn’t have to come. However, I am not missing Babs’ game.”

Scootaloo shook off the shivers running up her spine and glared at Apple Bloom. “I’ll get you for that and the fact that you don’t think we want to support our fellow Crusader.”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and sat back as she waited for the teams to finally come out. The other two could talk about other things, like Button Mash and Sweetie or Rainbow Dash, but she just couldn’t focus. She was waiting for her strong cousin. The cousin that could take anything and give just as much back. Man I wish I could be like that.

However, when the team burst out of their locker room, number sixty-nine wasn’t there. Apple Bloom searched the field, but saw no trace of her friend. She raced down from her seat to get a better view but then started to slide down the slick steps. “Hel-mph!”

Big Mac took a step back as his sister crashed into him and glanced down. ‘You need to be careful, it’s slick out.”

Applejack could see the sadness on the young filly’s face as she looked out to the field. “What is it sugarcube?”

“Where is Babs?”

Applejack bit into her cheek. “Isn’t she supposed to be on the field? What, did you expect her to charge up into the stands and hug you?”

“No! Well, maybe, but that was just for fun. I can’t find her though!”

Applejack looked back out and frowned. “You’re right, she isn’t. I hope–” She caught herself before she panicked Apple Bloom too much and instead stated, “Why don’t you go back to your friends and I’ll see what I can hear from the grapevine, alright?”

“Alright,” Apple Bloom said as she walked back to the bleachers one step at a time, her hooves sounding off on the pavement as the game started.

Dear Babs,

It sucks that you broke your leg before the big game. I hope it starts feeling better and that my cookies help. Sorry they’re a little burnt. I haven’t quite goten the art of cooking down yet. Then again, I don’t want my talent to be somethin lame like cooking. I want it to be fun, or funny, like clown lion taming. Also, don’t try clown lion taming, it didn’t end well for us.

Speaking of us, Sweetie and Scoots send their get well wishes and hope to see you soon as well. It is always awesome to see another Crusader and you came up with some pretty cool suggestions at the reunion, though I think we need soda jerk ecsplained to us again because I doubt complaining about drinks is going to get us anywhere.

~~Also I wanted to kn~~

Actually, maybe that would be a better question in person. I don’t quite feel right stating it here. On to less awkward topics I guess.

Oh, Sweetie and Button started going out with each other. Scoots is just saying it was always gonna happen, but you should have seen her face when Sweetie said it. Priceless. None of the guys in class have hit on me yet, though Granny says I’m too young to be thinking of such things. How about you? Are you having any luck?

Oh, rats. I can’t keep talking as sis says I have chores to do, but I do hope you’ll come for Scootaloo’s cuteciniera. And no, I’m not telling you what she did to earn it so you have to come.

Laughing maniacally,

Apple Bloom.

======+++++======

“What do ya mean I can’t go?”

Babs’ mother sighed as she tucked a letter into an envelope. “Just as I said. It is the middle of the school year. I am not allowing you to go all the way to Ponyville, goof around, and then maybe get your homework done on time. I told you you needed to get it done on Friday.”

“And I told you I couldn’t focus because I was too nervous and excited,” Babs Seed said as she stomped on the hardwood floors and clenched her fists to her sides.

“Well, you shouldn’t have been until your homework is done. Now take this out to the mailbox. It is a letter explaining why you weren’t able to make it.”

Babs’ snatched the letter from her mother and muttered, “Witch,” as she walked to the mailbox with tears in her eyes.

Dear Apple Bloom,

Hope Scoot’s party went well. My warden apparently thinks grades are more important than me having a life and I just have to suck it up. Not that I won’t complain anyways, but I don’t really have much of a choice in the matter. At least you seem to be the same bouncy mare I’ve known.

By the way, what was the thing you avoided? Is it something embarrassing? If you’re holding out on me cous then I’m gonna have to get back at your for it. Besides, I thought we were close. You shouldn’t worry about telling me anything.

Oh, tell Scootaloo she isn’t the only one done crusading. We finally got ourselves hurt while trying skydiving like you guys did once. Pin Prick was the only one feeling quite right and he helped the two of us get better. He got a needle on his rump while we were asleep though and I almost had to punch him out for it because I wanted to see him earn it.

Speaking of which, I won’t be coming to the reunion next week. I got into a fight with a guy who was teasing Prick and got a black eye, though you should definitely see the other pony though. Mom says I’m grounded for it. He deserved it though and I can’t abondan my friends like that, so I don’t regret doing it. I just wish doing the right thing hadn’t cost me a chance to see my best friend.

Sin cere ly

Babs Seed

P.S.: I didn’t screw it up this time!

P.P.S.: I do miss you though, and I mean that.

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Apple Bloom looked up from the letter with slightly misted eyes and felt Applejack's hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay, Sugarcube?”

She shrugged it off and beamed at her sister. “Of course I am. Just a little down Babs couldn’t come. Though, it ain’t like she’s my only cousin.”

Applejack watched her sister run off and sighed as the teenage mare put on a brave face. “You’ll be fine Apple Bloom, don’t worry. You’ll see her one day.”

Dear Babs,

Tell Pin Prick congratulations for me. It was also good for our two new members to hear that seeing as they were afraid that me and Sweetie might show that the that the Cutie Mark Crusaders don’t work. They’re now being quiet and we get to have a lot of fun with the fact that they’re identical twins. Opened up a couple doors for us surprisingly. That, and it’s just kind of fun having younger members now.

Applejack says you shouldn’t be so hard on your mother and I agree. She is looking out for your best interest and wants you to be the best you can be. It sucks that you couldn’t come for the reunion but we’ll see each other soon enough, right?

And as far that issue I was gonna ask you about, and I know you must have already, it’s just

~~I was wondering~~

~~I was curious~~

~~Why is this so difficult!?~~

I was hoping you may have gone through your first monthly issue seeing as I had and I wanted us to maybe help each other. Oh man is it embarrassing to think about you reading this! At least you now know I guess and while we’re on the subject, how have you been treated since then? I find the guys look at me a lot more than before and I hear sexy now instead of cute. I miss being called cute.

Maybe you would be willing to call me cute when I come by in a couple of weeks? Applejack has a busy schedule but she said I could swing by with her when she makes a delivery. It’ll be summer break so we can just spend the whole day together without a care in the world and maybe then we can talk about these issues.

Blushing like a madmare,

Apple Bloom

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Babs groaned as the teacher wiped off the black board and started the next part of her lecture. She was about to die of boredom if something didn’t happen and fast.

“Hahahaha!”

She immediately stood up and knocked her chair over when she heard the voice while one thought stood out in her mind. Apple Bloom!

“Miss Seed, please sit back down and do not interrupt the class like that again.”

Babs scowled at the teacher and slumped back into her chair. She lifted the curtain to the window and saw the end of a red tail flick around a corner. A small lowering of her head hid the tears forming in her eyes as she muttered, “Stupid summer school.”

Dear Apple Bloom,

I am so sorry but, well, you know how bad I was at school. At least we’re finally graduated and won’t have to deal with it, though my mom is saying I need to find a job and apartment soon. Sorry we didn’t invite you to graduation, but I thought it would be too embarrassing to have you there for me to just have to tell you I still had a bit to go through so I could graduate.

At least it finally got me my cutie mark. Yay for being the oldest pony to ever receive their cutie mark, right? But yeah some punks tried giving Mark Up crap recently for having found her calling as a tattoo artist. They were drunk on hard cider and tried to hurt her. I taught them a lesson and snarled as they ran. Looking back at my friend being safe I think finally did it for me as I knew I would always be trying to protect others. Tomorrow I get to audition as a bodyguard for some corporation. I probably should not be excited as I am.

As for your ‘problem’, I honestly was rolling on the ground for like a good five minutes. I don’t see why you should be nervous about having your period. As for the whole sexy thing, all that makes me think about is the fact that you must have been gifted with a real bust, unlike mine. Still, they say I look like one tough bitch, which I’ll take as a compliment for now.

I’ll make sure to make it to your eighteenth when it comes around, but I think I’ll be too busy. Life is still just getting in the way. If you come by Manehatten though, feel free to use the address on the back to hit me up. I would still love to see my favorite cousin.

Sincerely,

Babs

======+++++======

Apple Bloom sat at the train station. Sweetie sat by her side while Scootaloo was at home practicing some tricks for her party. She felt a soft nudge in her side and heard Sweetie say, “You alright, Apple Bloom? You look scared.”

“I’m fine, just nervous.” And scared and depressed and not wanting to– She cut off the thought and looked over. The train should have been arriving soon and on it would be Babs and her friend Mark. They shared an apartment and could both use a break, so Apple Bloom had been happy to let her come. But why does thinking about her worry me so much?

The train whistle blew off in the distance to alert the mares at the platform and Apple Bloom immediately stood as her sundress ruffled in the wind. Her heart was pounding, her mouth was dry, and she almost couldn’t stand still. She made it all the way to when the first passenger got off and immediately tackled the, into a hug.

The gray stallion under her blinked a few times before asking, “Do I know you, Miss?”

“Um, no, you don’t. Sorry.” She got off him and blushed deeply as she stepped away. As she turned around, she saw Mark Up standing on the platform with Sweetie, the black mare looking quite calm for having a black dress on. “Hey there Mark! Please tell me Babs is with you.”

Mark turned and blew her long purple hair. “Of course she is. She was right behind…” She stopped as she noticed her cousin wasn’t there. “Where did she go?”

Apple Bloom’s eyes grew wide as she heard the news. She rushed over to the train and attempted to peer through the windows for Babs. Finally, she saw a hand stretching in a window and just knew it had to be her.

She knocked on the window and screamed for her to come out, but all Babs saw was a desperate yellow fist that added to her confusion. The doors had already shut the doors by the time she had been able to process anything and the train drove away with her still in it.

Apple Bloom stepped away from the train with her head hanging low. Mark walked up and tried to place a hand on her before deciding not to. “I’m sorry, Apple Bloom. I’m so used to just letting her sleep when she can that I must have forgotten to wake her when the train stopped. I… I understand if you want me to go.”

“No, that will be alright. Besides, I consider you a friend as well. We should really be off.” She didn’t know that her higher pitch gave her away; she was just happy that she wasn’t crying, at least not yet.

Dear Babs,

I hope this letter reaches you while you are well. I’ll try to keep it brief as I think I will destroy my pen if I don’t or destroy the paper. I am sad, annoyed, and tired of all of this happening. We still call each other our favorite cousins but I just don’t know if that is true anymore. I don’t want to have to stop trying, but it’s starting to feel like trying to see you is almost pointless. One more chance is all I can give because we’re both adults now. We can’t keep chasing this fool’s dream of knowing each other and liking each other. We need to focus on our lives. Like I said though, I am giving this one more chance. Mark told me you have a day off a week from when I sent this, so I’ll be there then. I hope you are there, because I really don’t want to say goodbye.

Scared,

Apple Bloom

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Babs looked down at the letter and stifled her tears. Apple Bloom wasn’t wrong about all of this being hard on her, but she wouldn’t dare admit it, not like this at least. She didn’t want to screw this up though and flipped the card over.

The card had been mailed six days ago.

“Fuck!”

Mark stuck her head out of her room when she heard a crash. “What is it?”

“Why didn’t you tell me Apple Bloom was coming? This place is a mess!”

She smiled as Babs continued to work hard. “She wanted it to be a surprise and so did I. I’ll help you get ready though.”

Babs turned on her heel and glared at her roommate. “You are going to go stay with Prick for the next few days so I can have quality time with my cousin for this, got it?” She watched as her friend nodded and then resumed furiously cleaning the house.