A Rose by Any Other Name Would Look Just as Strange

Rosebug had admittedly been hesitant when Cheer first invited her to tag along on her weekly trip to the market. Though Rosebug had settled into life in Ponyville faster than even she‘d expected, she was still exceptionally hesitant to stray any farther than the orphanage’s front yard. Her nerves were soothed slightly when she learned Trinket and Grimoire would be tagging along as well, but she still wasn’t completely sold. Rosebug was finally swayed, however, when Cheer casually made note of a popular local flower shop as she rambled off the laundry list of businesses that comprised the Ponyville Market.

Though she was obviously excited at the prospect of anything to do with flowers, Rosebug’s trepidation was still obvious as they made their way down the dusty path that lead to the aforementioned market. Rosebug wasn’t alone in her trepidation though, as Trinket, who Rosebug has previously observed as being eternally upbeat and animated, grew noticeably more timid the further into Ponyville proper they ventured. Grimoire, while not sharing the other’s discomfort, was noticeably tired, his hooves kicking up plumes of dust as he begrudgingly dragged himself along. Rosebug’s apprehension all but vanished, replaced at least temporarily by excitement, when she first laid her eyes upon Ponyville market. A continues, double sided row of stalls stretched a far bit into the distant, a well worn dirt path falling squarely between them. Most of the stalls had at least some air of permanence to them, being sturdily constructed and, to at least some extent, decorated, but a few janky pop-up shops stood amongst them. The wooden based, colorfully canopied booths lined the currently overcrowded street, selling everything from fruit products to baked goods, and even some more niche items Rosebug couldn't make out from a distance. Even Trinket, who had long since taken to nervously huddling next to Cheer, and Grimoire, who was perpetually sleepy during the daytime, seemed to perk up once they laid eyes on the colossal collection of shops. Though their initial fear had subsided, the amount of ponies that filled the densely packed area brought about both new fear and some relief. Though the group was forced to huddle together lest they risk being separated in the jam-packed streets, the abundance of other ponies at the market actually made it easier for the less than conspicuous group to blend in, alleviating Rosebug’s anxiety somewhat. As Cheer worked through her decently long grocery list, the three foal’s began to fan out somewhat, having grown more comfortable with their immediate surroundings. Rosebug’s inhibitions were all but abandoned, though, when she saw the shop that had prompted her to even embark on this expedition, the flower shop.

Dozens of well crafted, freshly cut bouquets lined the stalls limited surface area. Though Rosebug’s imagination was initially captured by the vivid arrangements, her eyes soon wandered to an even more captivating sight. A small section of the stall’s counter space was dedicated to flower seeds, with various blooms planted in sample pots, each denoting the respective species of each seed. From golden petaled marigolds to sprigs of lavender, a veritable menagerie of flora was present on the small segment of counter. Among the almost innumerable types of foliage stood Rosebug’s most favorite flower, the one she shared her very name with, roses. As Rosebug gaped excitedly at the red petaled flower, the stalls shopkeeper, a yellow furred mare with a mane not dissimilar to Rosebug’s, returned from where she had been attending to stock moments earlier. Though at first she cast the hybrid a strange look, dusty green eyes clearly confused and conflicted, her look quickly softened as she watched the foal gaze enthusiastically at the shops contents.

“Can I help you?” She asked politely.

Though her tone was gentle, Rosebug was still noticeably startled, whirling up suddenly to look at the expectant mare. Rosebug held the mare’s gaze for an uncomfortably long moment before finally recovering her voice.

“How much are these?” Rosebug nudged the container of rose seeds with her muzzle.

“One bit per packet,” The shopkeeper replied helpfully.

It was at that precise moment that Rosebug realized a glaring flaw in her plans, despite having agreed to go to the market specifically to buy something from the flower shop, she didn’t have a single bit to her name. Thinking fast, she realized Cheer likely had a few spare bits on her, and hopefully wouldn’t be to against parting with one or two.

“I-I’ll be right back.” Rosebug responded meekly, backing away quickly into the turbulent crowd of ponies swarming the market.

As Rosebug stood among the swaths of ponies, she quickly realized, with sinking horror, that she had managed to completely separate herself from the others. After what felt like an eternity of staggering anxiously through the busied crowd, Rosebug finally managed to catch a gleam of something familiar. Engulfed among the congested walkway was the alabaster, stripe laden silhouette of Trinket, looking equally as lost, and even more distressed that he had been earlier. His face was instantly flooded with relief when he locked eyes with Rosebug, huddling up against her as he had previously down with Cheer.

“Do you know where Grimoire and Cheer are?” Rosebug questioned, raising her voice to be heard above the crowed.

Trinket shook his head in lieu of an answer, craning his neck to look across the overcrowded market. The foal's short statures made it so neither one could manage a good look at their surroundings. Wearily, Rosebug began fluttering her thin wings, managing to rise just high enough to see over the densely packed crowed. During her short bout of flight, she spied something amongst the visual static of over-saturated ponies. Stood checking out at a nearby stall was Cheer, accompanied by an ever familiar bat pony hybrid. Grimoire, who was slouched tiredly against the wooden side of the stall, had a look across his face only someone who was genuinely considering taking a nap in the middle of a market could accurately portray. Grimoire noticed the wayward foal’s before Cheer did, begrudgingly getting to his hooves and trotting towards them.

“Where did you two go?” Grimoire yawned.

Though Rosebug hadn’t the slightest idea of how Trinket had gotten separated, she all at once remember why she had bothered trudging her way back here. As Grimoire half- listened to Trinket’s side of the story, Rosebug began trekking towards Cheer. That was until she heard a jeering comment that couldn't have been meant for anyone else.

“Jeez Diamond Tiara, I heard there was a bug problem in Ponyville, but I didn’t realize it was this bad!” A grey-scale filly commented snidely to her friend.

Cringing, Rosebug swiveled around, finding two fillies sneering at them with half- concealed vitriol.

“And look at him, Silver Spoon!” Diamond Tiara leered at Trinket. “Doesn’t he know stripes are so last season.”

Rosebug stood, gritting her teeth in a fleeting attempt to keep herself from lashing out, as the bullies snickered to themselves. Her anger quickly dissolved into concern, though, when she felt Trinket huddle against her, sniffling quietly to himself. Upon realizing this, Rosebug gave the foal as reassuring a smile she could muster, taking a hesitant yet firm step forward to put herself between the bullies and Trinket. From the corner of her eye she spotted Grimoire ruffling his wings angrily, taking on as intimidating a stance his tired form could manage. Grimoire’s attempt seemed to only earn him the chagrin of the bullies, who swiftly turned their attention to him.

“Look at him!” Diamond Tiara giggled mockingly. “On top of being an absolute weirdo, he’s a blank flank!”

“How pathetic,” Silver Spoon agreed with faux pity.

Any fight Grimoire previously had all but vanished, leaving him slumped defeatedly as he cast a longing stare at his cutie mark-less flank. Rosebug was practically seething with rage, but no matter how much she compelled her body to move it simply refused, leaving her indignantly locked in place. Adding to that, Trinket was still firmly pressed against her side, leaning into her for support as he continued whimpering.

“What in tarnation is going on here?” A new voice inquired irritably.

All eyes fell upon the new figure, an orange furred mare with a golden, pulled back mane, as she adjusted her stetson hat and cleared her throat.

“What does it concern you, Applejack?” Silver Spoon spat meanly.

“Well,” Applejack began, “it would seem you two are making quite the uproar, and that don’t usually mean anything good.”

Diamond Tiara spluttered at the mare’s blunt response, before responding emphatically in turn.

“Are you trying to defend these freaks?” She asked, her voice full of venom.

The filly’s words struck Rosebug like a kick in the teeth. She’d been called some horrible things in her life, but never so openly. Her suppressed anger soon began overflowing in the form of stingingly hot tears, as she felt Grimoire tuck a downy wing over the still sniffling colt at her side.

“And so what if I am?” Applejack answered back as evenly as she could muster.

Even from a distance, Rosebug could see the growing disgust in the older mare’s eyes as she bore witnessed to Diamond’s unrestrained prejudice. Diamond couldn’t even finish compose a response before Applejack continued.

“I’ve had it just about up to here with you two’s bad attitudes,” Applejack gestured indignantly. “If you don’t learn to mind your manners, I just might have to rescind the deals my family has with your father!”

She punctuated her statement with a stomp of her hoof as Diamond’s pink coat paled considerably.

“C-come on Silverspoon, we have better places to be,” She stuttered quickly, all but dragging off her shocked companion.

Rosebug couldn’t even muster up anything to say before another voice joined the conversation.

“Excuse me,” Cheer muttered as she made her way through the still overcrowded market

“Cheer?” Trinket said through lingering sobs, calling to his caretaker in a watery voice.

“Are you three okay?” She asked, her voice as relived as it was guilty.

As they all managed a responded, voices hoarse from tears and anger, the stetson wearing stranger chimed in.

“Are these here foals yours?” She asked simply.

“I’m their legal caretaker, so yeah.” Cheer responded, wiping a few tears from Trinket’s still damp cheeks.

After Cheer finished affirming that the foals were now mostly okay, she stepped away momentarily to talk with the orange furred mare.

“I can’t thank you enough for what you did,” Cheer said gratefully, “I really appreciate it miss. . .”

“Applejack,” She added, her southern draw now far more obvious “and it wasn’t any trouble really, those two are nothing but bullies, they need a good bit of perspective every once and a while.

“Thank you,” A meek voice answered in Cheer’s stead.

Rosebug has finally managed to reclaim her voice, and thought it only right to thank the mare that had came to her and her friend’s rescue. Trinket and Grimoire each voiced their own gratitudes, as Applejack cast them all a kindly smile and some reassuring words.

“Best of luck to y'all now,” Applejack called as she made her leave, returning to her nearby apple stand.

Cheer sighed, obviously fatigued, casting a guilty grin at her wards.

“I’m so sorry about all of this,” Cheer apologized genuinely, “you three shouldn’t have had to go through that.”

“It wasn’t your fault Cheer,” Grimoire comforted, his voice it’s usual sleepy cadence.

“Yeah, it was because of those meanies!” Trinket chimed in.

“Thanks you two,” Cheer responded wearily, “but I still feel pretty rotten about all this.”

Suddenly, Cheer’s grim expression morphed into a much happier grin

“How about I do something to make it up to you guys?” She asked, her voice tinged with excitement.

The ragtag group of ponies - and half ponies - trotted along the main pathway of the market, the over-packed space having begun to clear as the day wore on. Grimoire, as he usually did, fell slightly behind, his nocturnal instincts leaving him eternally tired during the daylight hours. Skewered onto his sharpened fangs was a bright red apple - which had coincidentally been bought from the very stand of the mare that had helped him earlier - which he happily sucked dry as he trotted along. Trinket, in direct contrast, headed the pack, traipsing along with a huge smile plastered across his face. Clutched in his maw was the wooden sticked end of the frozen treat Cheer had bought for him just moments earlier. Though these special treats couldn't erase the less that stellar experiences the foals had gone through that day, they did do a fair bit to raise their spirits. Soon though the final location on the group’s agenda came into view, a quaint flower stall ran by a mare Rosebug had learned was name Roseluck. The red headed mare greeted the group with a smile, instantly recognizing Rosebug.

“I’ll take it that your looking for these?” Roseluck asked goodheartedly.

She nudged a few packs of rose seeds onto the counter. Cheer cast a look to the filly at her side, who’s wide smile rivaled Trinket’s in size as she eyed the flora filled shop. Giggling quietly to herself, Cheer placed down a few jingling bits onto the counter.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” Roseluck said in a cheerful customer service voice.

As Rosebug seized her treasured seed packets and the group began turning away to venture home, Roseluck called out a final time to Rosebug.

“Best of luck with you’re gardening!” She called, casting the filly a bright smile.

Rosebug smiled back at her in return, practically radiating happiness, before waving her goodbye as she trotted off to catch up with the others.