BABS SEED
Manehattan, Equestria. We cut to the appartment of a young filly named Barbara Seed. But never call her Barbara unless you’re her mother. ‘Babs’ will do nicely…for the unhurt parts of you body. Among the other anthropomorphic equines, Babs was quite tall and buff for her age. Her coat was orange, but freckles were clear over her cheeks and arms through it. She had green eyes and magenta red hair with a lighter, almost pink streaks across it. The hairstyle appeared a bit punkish. She wore a purple sleeveless hoodie, a long-sleeved black shirt with ‘Bad seed’ written all over it, and grey pants with ‘Hooflyn’ on it.
And she was making her suitcase. The only things she deemed valuable enough to take with her are her video games and some clothes. There was nothing much else she would think she’d need or value. No objects with special memories of her family, because…well, she didn’t have happy memories. And to take anything else…just dead weight. Yet while she was sure she had everything, she couldn’t help but to think she may have forgotten something.
“Barbara!” a voice said from downstairs. Oh right, that was it. Mom didn’t know yet. No one else knew. Not that it was that dire anyways, it wouldn’t have made things easier if she had said from beforehand. It would actually made things a bit more difficult.
She sighed. Well, better get things over with. She just took the suitcase with her downstairs as she would confront her mother, Firewood. Firewood Apple…well, she was almost the splitting image of Babs. There were some differences. Firewood was smaller and not as bulky as Babs and her hair was longer and stuck in a ponytail. She was starting to get to get a few grey streaks in her hair, not because she was that old already but…well, she didn’t take good care of herself. She also had bags under her eyes as well.
“Barbara, there is a taxi driver in front of the door asking for you, are you going on a trip you haven’t told me about?” Firewood asked.
“Not a trip. A trip would imply that eventually I’d return to this dump. Ma, I’m gonna be frank. I’m leaving.” Babs said.
“Say what?” Firewood asked.
“I did not stutter. I’m leaving, I’m going away and never return, I’m leaving the nest, I’m spreading my wings and fly out.” Babs muttered, a bit annoyed her mom was slow on the uptake.
“You mean…just like that…but…you…Just why?” it was clear Firewood really had trouble processing things.
“Like I even need to say. This place is a dump, our family life here is a trainwreck and I feel miserable here. I’m leaving something where I won’t suffer moments of sheer depression. So bye.” Babs said as she walked past her mom.
“Wait a minute, young lady, what about me? What about your sister? You can’t just abandon us!” Firewood asked, a bit panicky.
“Since when do you care? Since when does Sunflower care about me except to make fun of me? You certainly don’t care enough to teach her manners. And it’s not that my contribution to the rent won’t be missed. All you have to do is use the budget you use for you late night outs and instead save it for the freakin’ rent instead of using it to lure another stallion in your bed every bucking night!” Babs said, her voice raising more and more until she was full out shouting the last part.
“And you shouldn’t be one to speak about abandoning people. You abandoned your family and you abandon each stallion you clop with after the first night. That’s how me and Sunflower came into existence after all.” Babs groaned.
“You are not one to talk missy! You are no saint.” Firewood said with a dirty look on her face.
“I know that. I did a few things that got me in trouble. I relentlessly bullied a few kids, including my own little cousin, and I abused my ressemblance to my own deceased aunt to get away scott free with Applejack…but unlike you I admit and own up to these mistakes. I didn’t deserve their forgiveness yet I got it…” Babs said. She wanted to cry at the terrible memories of what she was before…but she wouldn’t give her mother the satisfaction of seeing her like this. “…but I’m grateful for it. I’m going back, to someone who do welcome me with open arms and don’t shove me off somewhere else every chance they get and acknowledge my existence.”
“You hate it in Ponyville. You won’t be able to stay.” Firewood pointed out.
“I did hate it at one point. Or at least found it boring…that kind of changed when those Elements of Harmony were discovered, I get to see a glimpse of those monster attacks from time to time…and I found someone who cares…and after karma has bitten my flank a couple of times and I came around, I’m sure my cousin and her friends will tolerate me a lot more.” Babs answered. Her voice sounded a bit doubtful at the last part…but whatever, it would beat the alternative anyways.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I’m sure we could have talked things out?” Firewood asked. Now she sounded like she was getting desperate.
“There were many chances to talk things out, yet you never took ‘em. Why would now be different? And I’m not just talking about us…” Babs said. But this time there was no rage in her voice. “What happened between you and them, mom?”
“The farm was boring. I never felt at home.” Firewood said, knowing what her daughter was talking about.
“Then why did you sent me there? I’m sure it was for me to get clean air, and maybe to get me out of your hair was only part of the reason. No…do you regret leaving the farm? You deep down still care, but your pride can’t have you crawling back, so you act through me…” Babs said.
“They just couldn’t have it I didn’t want to go in the family business. I may be an Apple but Tartarus I’m not going to farm apples the rest of my life. I am not at fault.” Firewood said, half resentful and half sad in fact.
“I wish I could say I am sorry about this but I don’t believe any of the horseapples you are giving me right now. Aunt and Uncle Orange are not particularly close tot he other Apples but they still acknowledge their family. And as for me…believe me or not but they also have accepted I’m not going to be an apple farmer and they’re chill with it. So what excuse do you have?” Babs said.
Firewood didn’t respond. “I know deep down you still care, and as far to believe you do care about me. But you just don’t care enough to be a mother, daughter or…a good sister.” Babs said.
“She was the only one I ever felt sympathy for…but at the same time I may have resented her, because Felonwood was mommy’s favorite, a true Apple…” Firewood growled.
“Don’t you regret anything you’ve said or done?” Babs asked. “For once get your stubborn pride out of the way and answer me, honestly…”
“I…I can’t give an answer to that.” Firewood said.
“Then there is truely nothin’ keeping me here. Goodbye, mo-Firewood.” She said as she finally left. “And if you see Sunflower, tell her I said she can suck it!” Babs said. This time Firewood stopped all attempts to have her daughter stay.
Firewood’s expression didn’t change once up until she was entirally sure that her daughter was gone. Sad thing is Sunflower wouldn’t care much if she told her. She sat down in her couch, and much like her daughter, Firewood was feeling another period of depression, and finally let her despair catch up and bawl her eyes out. But sadder is that she knew she wouldn’t do anything to change about it afterwards.
Babs had taken her cab to the station, and has taken it to Ponyville, where someone was waiting for her. It was not the rest of the Apples. Not yet at least, she hadn’t let them know she was coming. She was sure it was not a good time now. Instead someone else was waiting. “BABTHIE!” she was then tackled to the ground by a little bundle of joy.
This little bundle of joy was Twist. And she was a great contrast to Babs herself. Twist was small for her age, a bit scrawny and a bit geeky looking with her huge glasses, her braces and even her lisp didn’t help. She had red, really curly and frizzy hair and light purple, almost pink eyes. “Good to see you too, Twist.” She said with a weak but honest smile.
“Let me help with thothe…” Twist said as she wanted to grab the suitcases…but they were heavier then Twist thought and dragged to the ground.
“I can take care of it myself. I don’t have much by the way…and thanks for giving me a place to stay for a while.” Babs said.
“It ith nothing, Babthie. But I wonder though why you are not thtaying on the farm?” Twist replied.
“They don’t know I’m here…and I’m sure it’s a bit too early for them to trust me fully to be on the farm again…They may say all is okay, but I’m pretty sure there is a lot I still need to prove.” Babs noted.
“I didn’t like lying to Applebloom about it. You don’t make it too long to let them know, right?” Twist asked.
“I won’t. Just…Not today.” Babs pointed out. They walked all the way to Twist’s place. Twist happily skipping along the way. She was always so cheerful and optimistic for the most part, despite all the conditions she had…she was the only one Babs went easy on back in her ‘bully’ days because of that…and the only one in Ponyville she at that point kind of liked. She always had a special fondness of her... “Twist…” she wanted to ask. “Why are you still willing to put up with me? You do know I’ve not been treating the rest of the Ponyville kids nicely.”
“Yeth, I know. I wath not really happy when I found it out.” Twist admitted. “But you thaid you were thorry right? I knew you meant it. That’s why I forgave you and I’m thure everyone elthe will.”
“But I hadn’t done anything to earn the forgiveness when you did.” Babs said.
“No, but I felt you needed it.” Twist said. For such a little mare, she had a big heart.
Babs smiled and…while trying to hold it back, this time it was too much, she shed a tear. “Twist…never change, you wonderful little ditz.” She muttered.
“Love you too, Babthie. Oh, thomething I have to thay first…it was quite recent that it happened. My mom hath a new thpecial thomepony. And that thpecial thomepony has a daughter as well. I’m getting an extra mom and a thithter. And that meanth tho will you!” Twist said.
“Really?” Babs said curiously. “Well, I’m sure she’s a lot better then Sunflower. Who is it?”
“Mith Ditzy, mom’s boss. And Dinky.” Twist said.
“The cross-eyed pegasus mare and her unicorn daughter?” Babs asked.
“Yeth, them!” Twist said. “They are really nice, and Ditzy always brings us muffins every time they come to visit and they tell funny stories…you’ll love them.”
“I’m sure I will…” Babs said. “But don’t tell everyone I cried okay? I am not comfy showing my emotions freely to them.”
“Your secret is thafe with me, Babthie!” Twist said with a wink with her non-lazy eye.
Babs has felt real empty as she left home, despite all the misery she left behind. But now the feeling had diminshed a bit. She looked in the distance as she could make out Sweet Apple Acres briefly. She would go back some day, but not now. Right now Applejack was busy making things up to Applebloom and the Crusaders for being so obvious to Babs’ actions. Babs felt responsible and she would help set things straigth somehow…if only she knew how because she wasn’t the touchy feely type. Little foal-steps she guessed.
They arrived at the front of Twist’s house. It looked really plain, but it was no biggie. Before they knocked the door and would let Twist’s mom and future step-mom know they were here, she jumped back onto Babs and planted a kiss on her lips. Babs enjoyed the moment, as in that moment she forgot all their worries. Once they broke apart, Twist said softly: “For a bit of good courage.”
“Thanks…I really needed that.” Babs replied. “Well, guess time to meet the future in-laws.”