Blooming Seed

The orange pegasus sat on a hill near Ponyville’s town center and Sweet Apple Acres. She looked up at the sky, which came alive with shades of blue and pink as the sun set. Scootaloo wasn’t just enjoying the weather—she was also watching her idol soar through the clouds.

She wished to be able to fly and be just like the amazing Rainbow Dash. The filly’s eyes sparkled as Dash flew past, a rainbow trailing after the pegasus. Scootaloo loved everything about Rainbow Dash. Well, she used to, at least, until a certain filly came into her life.

Scootaloo's thoughts of Rainbow Dash and her dream of flying slowly trailed away. Instead, she started thinking of the first day Babs Seed moved to Ponyville. The Manehatten filly was living with Apple Bloom and her family at Sweet Apple Acres now.

The four Cutie Mark Crusaders would never give up their crusading, embarking on new adventures every day. None of them had their cutiemarks yet, but they would never give up.

One day, when Apple Bloom was busy with some chores on the farm and Sweetie Belle was on a picnic with her sister Rarity, Scootaloo and Babs Seed were the only ones in the clubhouse for their Crusaders meeting. It was the first time Scootaloo had been alone with the fourth Crusader, and, for a reason she couldn’t explain, it made the pegasus nervous.

*****

The Cutie Mark Crusaders’ treehouse was silent. Neither of the two Crusaders inside spoke or even moved, sitting quietly on the floor. Finally, the former Manehattan filly spoke. "So you have no idea how we’re going to earn our cutiemarks today?"

"Oh, sorry. No, I've just had other thoughts on my mind..." Scootaloo chuckled, nervously faking a smile.

Since the day Babs left Ponyville after meeting the Crusaders for the first time, Scootaloo had been having weird dreams and thoughts about the Manehatten filly. She thought of Rainbow Dash less and less often, her interest beginning to fade.

Scootaloo had a crush on the cyan pegasus for as long as she could remember. However, there were a few problems with this. They were more than eight years apart, and Dash seemed to be interested in the captain of the Wonderbolt, anyway. Yet, Scootaloo, would never give up her dreams to become just like the rainbow-maned mare.

‘C’mon! Think of something, just don’t sit there! Gotta find something to talk about!' the pegasus silently scolded herself. The Ponyville Crusader didn’t to bore Babs, and this was her chance to get to know her better.

Scootaloo was confused. Why did her heart beat faster and butterflies fill her stomach when she was around Babs Seed? Why did she feel so nervous? These strange feelings ambushed her the most when Babs protected the others from Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, or when Babs spoke directly to her. This was first time they were alone, and Scootaloo didn’t want to ruin it.

'Now or never,’ she urged herself. The pegasus rose from her haunches and trotted across the clubhouse, joining Babs Seed on the other side. She stuttered, "Babs... I... think I...um... lo-"

*****

Scootaloo suddenly snapped from her daydream. She looked all around the hill, nearly forgetting where she was in her panic."Wha?! Huh?! Oh…hi, Rainbow Dash." she giggled, not wanting to worry the mare she looked up to the most.

The cyan pegasus sat in front of her biggest fan, tilting her head and staring at the foal with a worried expression. "You where daydreaming again, squirt. Are ya alright?"

Scootaloo stared off towards the town below, thinking fast on her hooves. She laughed awkwardly and lied, "Um…Oh, look! I'm late for our crusading today! See ya, Rainbow Dash!”

The little orange pegasus ran off toward Sweet Apple Acres, leaving Rainbow Dash wondering to herself, ‘She is never late for their crusading…and didn’t she tell me earlier that all her friends are busy today?’

*****

Babs Seed laid against the grass, using her forehooves as a pillow, watching the beautiful blue sky above her. Nearby, she could hear leaves and apples falling to the ground. Apple Bloom was in the orchards, helping Applejack buck and harvest the trees. Granny Smith was inside the farmhouse, baking an apple pie for the whole family. Big Mac was out on a date with Miss Cheerliee. In her brother’s absence, Apple Bloom lent her sister a helping hoof.

Babs saw a blur of blue fur and rainbow mane flash through the atmosphere. She wondered if Scootaloo was done hanging out with Rainbow Dash for the day. Bored, the pink-maned filly rose to all four of her hooves and begin to trot toward the clubhouse in search of Scootaloo. The closer Babs Seed got to the treehouse, the more excited she became. The foal began to run towards her goal with a huge grin on her face.

She opened the door to the clubhouse slowly, disappointed to see that nopony was inside. A frown appeared on the orange Earth pony filly's muzzle as she closed the door. She decided to take a walk through Ponyville, leaving Sweet Apple Acres for town’s center. On the way to Ponyville, Babs Seed looked up sadly into the skies, wishing she was a pegasus who could fly and walk on  clouds. That way, at least, she could visit Scootaloo in Cloudsdale. ‘Rainbow Dash is probably givin' Scoots a lift home right now,’ Babs thought.

The only times when the bobtail filly could see Scootaloo were school, Crusader meetings and when they decided to hang out alone. Sometimes, they would share secrets and cuddle with each other down in the basement of Sweet Apple Acres’ barn. Come to think of it, the only times when they were not around each other were when Scootaloo was with Rainbow Dash.

Babs knew that Rainbow Dash was Scootaloo's hero, that the pegasus looked up to her cyan idol like a sister. Sometimes, this made the former Manehatten filly a little jealous. She didn’t want to worry or be possessve, but what if Scootaloo told Rainbow Dash things that the orange Earth pony foal would never get to know? What if Scootaloo still had a slight crush on Dash? Shaking her head, Babs Seed dismissed her worries. ‘No, they are just like sisters.’

*****

After a long day of helping her big sister harvest the apple orchards, Apple Bloom was disappointed to see that Babs had left from her spot under the tree earlier. The yellow filly figured Babs Seed probably was got bored of watching clouds and had to go and do something to entertain herself.

Apple Bloom returned to the farmhouse alone. After taking a shower (leaving her red mane to drip-dry), the yellow crusader trotted into her room and walked towards her window. Apple Bloom saw that it was starting to get dark, the sky turning shades of pink and blue.

Sighing, the farm-filly turned around and spotted her diary poking out from her pillow. Apple Bloom jumped into bed and removed the diary. The diary was red, with apples and a yellow heart on the cover. Locating the secret key to the book within a box under her bed, the yellow filly quickly unlocked her diary. She stretched under her sheets and began to read her past diary entries.

2012-07-15

Dear Diary,

It’s been a week since Babs went back to Manehattan. Ah can’t wait ‘till she comes back here. Me, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo already have lots of ideas for when she gets back. Like we will try tree climbin', dog walkin', gem cleanin' and so so much more to get our cutiemarks! We will have so much fun. Ah hope Babs finds some blankflanks to join the Manehattan Crusader branch. If she does, Ah cant wait to meet 'em, too! Ah wonder how many Crusaders she will find in Manehattan. Ah'm sure 'lot 'cus Manehattan is a big city.

2012-08-27

Dear Diary,

It’s been a few weeks since my cousin Babs was here. We really miss her, even if we send her letters every day. She found a few blankflanks in Manehattan, so there are three Crusaders over there right now. Ah can’t wait! We will have so much fun when she gets here! Oh, Ah hope they will help us get our cutiemarks if they got theirs already. Ah'm sure Babs has great times in Manehattan, that’s what she says in her letters.

2012-09-18

Dear Diary

Ah dislike the cold! Brrr! Gettin’ really cold… Means the winter is on its way. Guess who else is comin’ soon!? Not the winter but… Babs! There’s only one week left! Ah’ve been missin’ her more and more! We talk to Babs thought phone and we have even been talkin' to the other two Manehatten Crusaders. They are both fillies, a unicorn and a pegasus. Just like Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, they can’t do magic or fly very well yet.

2012-09-19

Dear Diary,

Scootaloo can fly and Sweetie Belle can do magic now. Not that much yet, but Scootaloo can fly for at least ten minutes and Sweetie Belle can lift stuff. Ah'm just an Earth pony and Earth ponies can’t do awesome stuff like that. Hmm... Guess what?! Hehe, Scootaloo has a crush on Babs!  Ah sure wish her the best. But… Ah wonder if Babs feels the same for Scoots….

Sweetie Belle says that Rarity told her that ponies aren’t supposed to fall in love with the same gender. Rainbow Dash is into mares so Ah guess Scootaloo's into fillies then? Not surprisin' at all. Ah'm too young for love and mushy feelin's like that, Applejack tells me. She says it begins when we are 14-15. Ah'm 13 and so are Babs, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Guess we'll have ta wait a year?

2012-09-22

Dear Diary,

Scootaloo has been talkin’ lots ‘bout Babs Seed. It’s not that Ah dislike it! She just talks TOO MUCH about how she like Babs and all ‘bout her… Makes me wonder if she even stops thinkin’ ‘bout Rainbow Dash, maybe? Seriously. Scootaloo still gives Dash the "in love" expression when shes lookin' at her. She is not even 14 and start crushin' on Dash ever since she was 11. To me and Sweetie Belle, only between us, it seems like Scootaloo has a crush on both Babs and Rainbow Dash. Is that even possible? Ah've never been in love, how should Ah know?

2012-09-23

Dear Diary,

Ah dunno why, but Ah feel ill and nervous! Babs Seed is here in, like, two days! Ah think… Ah’m becomin’ sick… Even my tummy feels full of butterflies. Why do Ah feel like this?! It’s just mah cousin’ comin’, just like any other family member… Maybe Ah'm nervous and worried that she will bully us again? It’s more like Ah'm excited to see Babs. TOO excited. Sweetie Belle thinks that Ah'm maybe gettin' sick. Whats wrong with me?! Ah'll ask Applejack tomorrow.

2012-09-24

Dear Diary,

Guess what?! Babs Seed is comin’ TOMORROW! Babs wants to move to Ponyville and she is goin' to live with us. Applejck and Big Mac changed the guest room into her room.

But today was an annoyin’ day…

Scootaloo was acting all dreamy, and talkin’ ‘bout Babs like she would if she thought about Rainbow Dash. Ah was alright when she just spoke ‘bout Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash. Right now though, the only thin’ Scoots talks about is Babs Seed, Babs Seed… BABSY Seed? Seriously? It’s getting’ so annoyin’! Why?

Ah feel somewhat... jealous. Ah feel jealous, and kind of worried. What if Babs gets too busy with Scootaloo to hang with me? Ah've seen love birds before, they’re always eatin’ each other’s faces and cant separate. Lovey-dovey stuff is gross, like Applejack said. Ah'm too young to understand those kind of things…Scootaloo seems too busy to go crusadin' 'cus she’s all 'bout Babs.

So later today, my belly felt weird…like Ah had lot of butterflies in there, and mah face was a little red. Ah felt very nervous and ill, but in a good way. Ah asked Applejack why Ah was feelin' that way. Ah  told her Ah felt like that when Ah thought of "somepony.” She told me that Ah'm fallin' in love. Me? Ah mean, why would Ah ever fall in love?

Ah love my family and friends already. Why would Ah need somepony to go all lovey-dovey with? Sayin' weird and gross stuff like “Shoompy-loompy-doo”?! No way! No how! Ah will mever say and act that weird like Big Mac did with Cherilee on Hearts and Hooves Day.

But Applejack said ponies feel this way when they are fallin' in love. But Ah can’t fall in love with my own cuz…it’s gross and weird. Seriously? Or is it possible? She is my cuz, how’s that even possible?! That mane... That accent... she is so beautiful. She’s is so fun and nice to be around. Ah wish Ah could handle bullies the same way she does. Like that time when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon fell into the mud, because she told ‘em off.

Ah think… Ah’m crushin’ … on who? Yes! Ah’ll tell ya on who!... Ya’ll will think Ah’m crazy, insane, disgusting' and stupid.

…

Babs Seed, yes, my cousin. It’s crazy!