Blooming Talent 2: The Apple Falls Far

Scootaloo carried on making funny faces at the young Carrot Apple as she had all afternoon. The toddler burst into a fit of laughter at each ridiculous expression the Wonderbolt made with her face. His favorite is when she had blown up her cheeks and pushed the air out quickly with her hooves whilst crossing her eyes.

Apple Bloom came back into the room from preparing dinner to see the silly sight. "I could a sworn I only had one kid just yesterday; where'd you come from little filly?"

"Har har," Scootaloo smirked. "I guess our sense of humor doesn't carry to your mommy, eh squirt?"

She poked his little belly with a hoof and he latched onto it giggling. Apple Bloom smiled; her son had always loved when Scootaloo came over and played with him. She even remembered one day that the poor babe had started whimpering when Scootaloo had to leave. She had come back and given him a quick kiss on the forehead, and he had turned a much darker shade of red. Old enough to be embarrassed already?

She continued looking on while her best friend twirled her son around carefully, causing him to shriek with happiness.

"Careful now, don't rile him up too much, Scoots." She said after a bit. "Ill never get him calmed down to sit and eat at this rate."

Scootaloo picked the little guy up as she sat down. "Ah, he'll be a good boy, wontcha Carrot?"

The young anthropomorph cooed in response and started to pat at the orange pegasi's cheeks.

"I'll take that as a yes." She laughed.

She placed the infant atop her back, and followed Apple Bloom into the kitchen. The scent of home style southern cooking filled her nostrils, and made her stomach rumble.

"I'm surprised Goten isn't in here gobbling all of this down already." Scootaloo joked. "Where is your husband anyway?"

"He's...out fixing up the barn." Apple Bloom answered.

That brief pause was all the Wonderbolt needed to know something was up between them again. "Please tell me you hguys aren't having another fight.."

The red haired anthro stopped moving for a second as she breathed in to explain. "Its not really a fight...we just...are disagreeing on something.."

"And what something would that be?"

"He...he picked up the bill for...for Armor's meds." She said.

Scootaloo sighed.

"What?"

"AB, you have to let this go..." Scootaloo told her earnestly. "I really do understand what its like losing family. My mother passed when I was little and--"

"And your father died in a training accident...I know, Scoots..."

The orange pegasus put a hoof around her friend's waist. "I know its hard...but life does go on, yknow? Holding grudges like this...dwelling on the past...that's no way to live life. I mean, how do you know where you're going if you're always walking backwards?"

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Its a figure of speech." Scootaloo explained. "It means; if you focus to much on things that have been, you won't have time for things that will be."

The two friends looked at each other for a moment before Apple Bloom broke the silence with a snort.

"When did you become so wise and word savvy?" She chuckled.

"Whataya talkin' bout? I'm a genius."

They shared a laugh right hen; a wholehearted and genuine laugh. It had been awhile since a moment like this had happened, what with all that had already been.

Apple Bloom calmed herself enough to speak before continuing. "I get what you're sayin' Scoots. Really, I do. But...I just don't think I'm ready to forgive him...or even if I ever will..."

" Well...maybe one day you'll be able to.." The orange pegasus said, shifting her body so Carrot wouldn't fall off her back. "Shining meant well, AB. But everyone makes mistakes."

Apple Bloom nodded and hugged Scootaloo, who returned the embrace without hesitation.

"You should a been a therapist instead of a Wonderbolt." She said with a grin.

"Blah, no way." Scootaloo responded with a mock look of disgust. "That would a been boring. I can hear the snoozeville train now."

Once again, the two friends laughed together. A moment in time without sadness...

***

Outside in the farm, Goten finished hammering his final nail into the support beam in the center of the ceiling. As he floated down to wipe his forehead and inspect his hard work, he sensed a few different ki signatures coming down the pathway to his home.

The half-saiyan turned around, and was not surprised to see Piccolo and Princess Luna, but he was surprised at the horses they has brought with them. The one at the head of he pack was wearing an all covering suit of golden armor which shimmered intensly in the sunlight.

"Hey!" He called out, floating over towards them. "Piccolo!"

The namekian, along with all those present turned to see what had spoken. The half-saiyan landed beside them, taking in the view of assembled horses.

"What's all this?" Goten asked.

Piccolo looked at Luna for a brief moment with concern, and what Goten thought was remorse. He turned back to Goten, and put a green hand on his shoulder.

"Goten," he started solemnly. "There's been a...decision made. And...you're not going to like it..."