Being able to get up early and stay awake was a gift for schooldays but a curse on the weekends. After making his way to the bathroom to clean up starting with his teeth. Looking up after a good rinse into the mirror he noticed his mane was long and kinda messy, he needed a haircut. Antithesis reeled at the thought since Taupe gave him the same one every time. Needless to say cutting hair wasn't her special talent.

Doing his best he fixed his hair to hide its length. Finishing he ran down the stairs trying to pass his mother, in the kitchen but wasn't fast enough.

"Huh, looks like you need a haircut Mr." she said, catching him off guard.

"Really, huh I didn't notice." he said

"Nice try," Taupe said, rolling her eyes.

Antithesis opened his mouth to protest but was cut off "You're in luck, I have to drop something off at Maple's house" she said, basket in hand.

Staring at the basket he asked. “Maple’s house?”.

After a long and chilly walk into town Antithesis found himself in front of a small shop with a red, blue, and white spinning pole. The sign above the shop read "Wild Stylin'' under it was "Barber Shop / Beauty Salon". The bell on the door rang as they entered to see a peach colored stallion cleaning off a red chair. The smell of aftershave and flowery shampoos filled his nose causing him to sneeze.

"Taupe!" the barber said looking up. "You come for hair cuttin lessons finally."

He noticed Antithesis stepping out from behind his mother. "This must be your youngin' say I thought he was younger?". the barber questioned.

"Morn'n Styles" She replied with a giggle. "He's pretty big for only fourteen."

"Quit pull'n my leg, he ain't look a day under sixteen." the barber reckoned.

"Just an early bloomer I guess," Taupe said.

Shaking his head with a quiet laugh, "Don't make no difference to me, come on up we'll get ya seated son." He offered

Antithesis took a seat while Styles put a cape on him. His mother went to the other end of the shop where a mare greeted her and sat her in a similar chair. Styles proceed to turn on the clippers buzzing to life.

After inspection of his tool he asked "How you want it cut?".

Antithesis not knowing how to describe a haircut he stayed silent. "Well maybe you can just clean him up a bit that's what I usually do" Taupe called from her seat.

"Hm, long, medium, or short?". He asked.

Antithesis began to speak, having something in mind but didn't know how to describe it. Nervously he answered "Whatever you think looks nice."

Styles stopped and smiled, it had been some time since anyone asked his opinion on their hair. Everyone always comes into his shop knowing what they want regardless of whether it looks good on them. "I'll do it up real nice for ya". He went to take the first cut but right as he made contact the bright red crystal on the back powering it faded, turning off the clippers.

"Hm, guess it is about time to get a new set," he said while walking to a set of draws. "No matter, We'll just use these, you guys are in for a treat". He said while tapping his flank with the pair of scissors pointing to his cutie mark with a tuft of hair being cut by a similar pair.

Styles had poured over the young stallion making his mane perfect. After brushing off the pony he turned the chair to face a mirror.

Peering into the glass, Antithesis saw a short mane that combed up and towards his right.

Once Taupe finished her trimming she dropped seven bits in the tray before exiting the shop. As the bell rang Styles had called out "Y'all come back now ya hear". Antithesis to turn his head and nodded back letting his freshly cut head feel the cool breeze sweeping through.

Antithesis had never been to Maple's house though he had met her before. As they approached the medium sized lot he saw a dark red mare with a light brown mane tending to some seedlings before she noticed them coming towards her.

"Hey Taupe, long time no see girl." Maple called out.

Closing the distance and hugging each other, "You were over last week", she said with a laugh.

"Ya but it feels like forever since I visited my bestie." Maple said as she let go, looking over at Antithesis. "Oh my I haven't seen you in a while. You're definitely taller than Trella." she added "Taupe what do you feed him to get this big."

"Well, when you work the best wheat farm this side of Canterlot." Taupe replied with pride in her voice.

"I guess you're right, speaking of, did you bring it?" Maple asked her excited

"Of course I'm a mare of my word" Taupe said

"How about we go inside" Maple said approaching the house, when reaching the door she turned her head towards Antithesis who was behind his mother and said "Maybe I can get Trella to come down so you guys play or something"

After closing the door behind her guests Maple called to her daughter."Trella! Sweetie come down aunt Taupe is here, come say hi,".

"I'll be right down" came in reply, followed by the sound of light hoof steps.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs she trotted over to Taupe to give her a hug.

"You get prettier every time I see you", Taupe told her as she moved her main out of the way "Antithesis, come hear say hi"

Approaching he watched as a grey blue Pegasus let go of his mom. At her hooves was a white swirling pattern that went to her knees, and her hair was black with navy blue roots.

"Just like Astra" Antithesis said quietly.

Both Terra and Maple turned their heads and said in two different tones but in unison. "You know Astra?".

"Ya, we're best friends" Antithesis told them with confidence in his voice.

"Wait a minute, are you... Thees?" Maple asked, remembering her nephew had mentioned a friend with a strange name once.

"That's me, though I'm not huge on the nick name." Antithesis told her while following her into the kitchen.

"I have an idea why don't you go over to Astras house, he lives a few houses down Trella why don't you take him." Maple offered while grabbing a mixing bowl from a cabinet.

"Mom, I'm in the middle of something," Trella responded.

"You can pick it back up later for now just go over". she told her.

Trella gave a heavy sigh before saying,"Alright let's go." as she left the kitchen.

Making their way outside and reaching the end of the yard Trella turned around smiling and spoke, "My mom said to take you to Astra's house but that doesn't mean I'm gonna wait for you.". He stood there looking at her breath now visible in the cold not knowing what she meant, but realized as she spread her wings and took off.
Trella turned her head not seeing anypony behind her she said to herself "Loser got left in the dust".

"Who's a loser" she heard somepony say. Startled, she looked directly below her to see Antithesis who was managing to keep up with her.

While he was an earth pony he wasn't slow.

Astra had just finished doing some dishes and was drying his hooves off. Making his way up to his room he plopped himself onto the bed bored as always during the weekend. His best friend lived out of town, too far for either of their parents to let them travel by themselves.

Deciding to nap he shut his eyes to rest, but then he heard something zoom past his house. He jumped up opening his window and flew out of his house only to see a familiar brown earth pony chasing his cousin. Realizing who they were, he began following them.

Nearly catching up Astra called to them "Thees! Trella!"

Immediately recognising the voice Antithesis stopped dead in his tracks nearly slipping in some ice, while Trella pressed forward. Upon seeing that Thees had stopped Astra had slowed to meet him, the two brohoofed as they met.

"What are you doing here dude" Astra asked.

"My mom is visiting her friend Maple" Thees replied.

"Maple? You know aunt Maple, damn you shoulda told me." Astra said.

"How would I know she was your aunt? You don't look anything like her." Thees told him.

"Ya I guess, well it's my uncle Acrux that I look like" Astra told him "He has the same hair and face as me though his coat is like Tella's."

"Speaking of her" Thees said, they both watched as a pegasus with a sour look came racing towards them stopping a few feet shy of impact.

"Why'd you quit all of a sudden" she demanded.

"Well Astra called out so I sto--" cut off by Trella

"That doesn't mean you just stop, I went three blocks before I realised it!" she complained.

"You should have paid more attention idiot" Astra interjected.

"Shut it Mr. Shield" she shot back at him.

"Never gonna live that down are you" Thees said laughing at the two of them.

"It just means I'm super tough, what about you blank flank." Astra said playfully

"I'm sure when I get it it'll be something cool, ain't gonna be a farmer if I was it would have gotten it while helping at home." Thees responded.

During their walk back to Maple's Astra asked suddenly, "Thees have you thought of joining a sport?".

"HM." Thees sounded. "No, I still got to help mom at home so not really."

"I kinda want to join one," Astra added.

"Tell ya what could give us an excuse to hang out after school." Thees added.

Interrupting Trella told them "The clubs and sports have a three week advertisement period when school starts".

"They give out a list of clubs and sports teams in the first week then have older members set up stands in the Gymnasium during the second with a sign up sheet." She informed the two "The third week they leave sign up forms in the office for anypony that had trouble deciding."

"Huh, who knew you were so useful" Astra joked as they arrived at the lot.

Trella replied "I am a grade ahead of you of course I'd know." but the other two fell quiet as the smell of food came from Maple's house.

Recognizing the smell Thees ran for the door the other two followed suit also realizing what the scent was.

All three busted in the kitchen where Maple and Taupe were laughing. "See I told you he has a sixth sense about these" Taupe said while pouring a viscous brown liquid on five plates of steaming golden pancakes. She gestured offering a plate to the three.

Sometimes when Antithesis was at school Maple visited Taupe leaving pancakes for him after her visits, even cold he had never eaten a better dish in his life.

They all ate together sharing laughs and pancakes, eventually it was time to head back. Maple saw them to the edge of her yard giving hugs and goodbyes.

"Do you think you could come and hang out on the weekends again?" Astra begged.

"Next time we come in to visit Maple we'll let you know Astra." Taupe told them.

Beginning their trip home, the sun began to set and the breeze died down. Taupe looked down at her son, a smile on his face along with some syrup.

Author's Note

This was supposed to be #2.

Since its done I'll just put it up.

Thx again.