Blooming Seed

Apple Bloom jotted down some notes as she listened to Cheerilee lecture about math. Scootaloo was about half-asleep on her desk. Sweetie Belle was just plain confused, trying to understand all the numbers and symbols on the board. Babs was bored, her thoughts trailing away as she pretended to listen to the lesson.

Five minutes remained before the school day would finally be over. Five minutes felt like forever to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and most of their other classmates. Scootaloo’s head became far too heavy for the filly. Tired and bored, she fell face-forward into her math book with a soft thud. The pegasus fell asleep instantly, just like she had on Family Appreciation Day.  When Filthy Rich told the class about his business, nopony enjoyed it, except for Diamond Tiara. That had been even more boring than math.

Finally, the school bell rang and everypony burst out of the classroom. The fillies and colts headed off to enjoy their afternoon with friends, family or whatever else they wanted to do. The four crusaders trotted together outside.

Scootaloo leaned close to Babs Seed as they walked. Apple Bloom silently watched her cousin and best friend. She had gotten used to this, seeing her crush with her best friend. But the farm filly still could not help but feel sad, jealous, and a little bit angry with the pegasus.

Usually, Apple Bloom was used to those feelings and could control them and hide them well. But, today, it wasn’t so ear. She stared at her friends, her mind running wild. Apple Bloom’s eyes locked onto her cousin. She recounted all the things she liked about Babs: how brave and kind she was; her Manehatten accent; and just about everything about her. A slight blush spread across the yellow filly’s muzzle. She snapped herself from her haze and smiled to her friends, pushing away her earlier thoughts.

Her blush disappeared with her thoughts. Apple Bloom said, “Ah know what we should do today! Why don’t we try our cutiemarks in art?” The yellow filly forced a big grin as her friends turned to look at her.

Sweetie Belle smiled and seemed to like the idea. Babs and Scootaloo exchanged uneasy glances. Apple Bloom could easily tell that those two were planning something else, which disappointed the yellow filly. Scootaloo and Babs did spent time together all the time, even becoming lovey-dovey sometimes while crusading.

“Well,” Scootaloo began, “we—“

Scootaloo was suddenly cut short by an excited unicorn. “That seems fun! I love painting!”

Babs Seed sighed, looking first at Scootaloo, then back to her cousin.  “Sorry cuz, me and Scoots here have been planning to do something special, just me and her.” Apple Bloom pouted stubbornly and frowned. The others were confused and a bit concerned, surprised by the yellow filly’s odd reaction.

“But y'all ALWAYS spend time alone, just the two of you!” Apple Bloom could not hide her feelings anymore. She was annoyed that those two always spent time together, alone, far too often. She felt lonely during those times, crusading with Sweetie Belle failing to cheer her up. Apple Bloom was unable to contain her jealousy and sorrow, her emotions coming to a boil. Countless times, she had wished it was her instead of Scootaloo by Babs’ side.

The orange pegasus narrowed her eyes at Apple Bloom, stomping towards her with heavy hoof-steps, wings flared. “Excuse ME for wanting to spend time with MY fillyfriend!" she shouted, annoyed.

The farm-filly took a step backward, glaring at Scootaloo. “Fine, that’s fine! If y'all want to spend some stupid lovey-dovey time while me and Sweetie Belle go git our cutiemarks, that’s fine! Ya'll can stay blankflanks and Ah won’t even care!” Apple Bloom snapped without thinking. She surprised herself, unable to believe that she had said “blankflanks” so harshly. However, she did speak the truth; Babs and Scoots seemed to care less about cutiemarks since they’d gotten together. The friendship between the four of them was beginning to slowly fade.

Apple Bloom felt that she was not important to her cousin anymore. Babs barely spent any time with her, and wasn’t even on the farm that much. Babs was only on the farm to sleep and eat breakfast it seemed. The rest of the time she spent with Scootaloo, telling Apple Bloom that they wanted to be alone.

Apple Bloom felt alone, excluded, and abandoned. She felt the same way when Applejack had to do chores and Apple Bloom was unable to help, being far too young and not strong enough. Babs treated Apple Bloom more like a little sister than a cousin. Apple Bloom knew how badly Sweetie Belle felt when Rarity was too busy to spend time with her, but this was far worse.

Sweetie Belle hated when her hot-headed friends started a fight. The worst incident was when Scootaloo and Apple Bloom fought Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. The fight started when Scootaloo hit Silver Spoon in the face and Diamond Tiara pulled off Apple Bloom’s bow and threw it on the ground. Sweetie Belle was just standing by then, concerned but unable to intervene. After that fight, all parties involved had received detention for their trouble.

The unicorn watched Scootaloo and Apple Bloom aruge, hoping they would not start a fight or injure each other. “Girls…” Sweetie Belle said quietly, flattening her ears, worried for her friends.

Babs Seed had no idea what to do, not understanding why they were fighting. She was surprised at Apple Bloom's sudden actions toward her fillyfriend, unable to pinpoint the cause. The former Manehattan filly loved both her cousin and fillyfriend. She didn’t want to pick a side and leave the other pony hanging, though she had to, eventually. She decided she would pick Scootaloo's side because she loved her more than anypony, though she was still afraid that it would hurt Apple Bloom.

“We will find our cutie marks, but not today!” Scootaloo exclaimed, joining her fillyfriend’s side.  “Today, I want to spend time with Babs!”

Babs chuckled nervously and nuzzled Scootaloo, trying to comfort her and calm her down. She offered Apple Bloom a nervous grin and an awkward shrug.

“Ya even steal mah cousin, Scoots! When do Ah git mah time with her?!" Apple Bloom suddenly blurted. The filly covered her mouth with her forehooves. She blushed and hoped nopony would suspect anything. “Um, Ah... Ah mean...” Apple Bloom stuttered, sure that everypony was staring at her.

“Don’t be so possessive about her, Bloom. She’s your cousin, but she’s still MY fillyfriend. You can’t help that she loves me then you! She got a fillyfriend to get busy with." Those words made Apple Bloom’s heart ache. Had Babs told her about this? Well, of course Babs loved Scootaloo more. She was her fillyfriend.

Apple Bloom’s heart sank. The orange pegasus smirked with confidence, seeing the yellow filly crestfallen, defeated. She had won this argument. Apple Bloom was being too foalish and possessive. Scootaloo mocked, “Come on, Apple Bloom! You gotta grow up, don’t be such a ba-"

Scootaloo was interrupted by a strong, orange forehoof pulling her backwards. “Hey! Have you gone and become a bully now?!” Babs had to stop her and protect Apple Bloom. She didn’t want anypony hurt. Scootaloo felt a little guilty to have lost her temper so easily, though she was still annoyed. Apple Bloom was being quite foalish about this whole thing.

Apple Bloom stared at Scootaloo, holding back the tears brewing in the corner of her eyes. “Fine... come on, Sweetie Belle, we don’t need them. We can get our cutie marks without them." Apple Bloom shot a sharp glare at the two orange fillies a sharp glare. She turned around, giving them the final, cold shoulder, and trotted away.

Sweetie Belle rose to her hooves to follow after Apple Bloom. She first stopped to look back at the other two Crusaders, frowning. “I'm sorry,” she mumbled.

Sweetie trotted after the yellow filly, feeling guilty and worthless. She wasn’t the kind of pony to pick sides, but Apple Bloom would be all alone if she didn’t.  Scootaloo hovered a bit above the ground and shouted, “Fine! Our friendship is over! You’re such an annoying, childish foal!”

Babs bit her bottom lip, saying nothing. This was the worst possible thing. She watched the unicorn and Earth pony walk away. She knew this wasn’t her fault, but she felt guilty for just standing there, watching it all happen.

*****

Apple Bloom laid under a tree, sobbing quietly. Her thoughts churned in a mix of sorrow and anger. ‘How did this happen?! This is what Ah feared.... Tell me it’s just a dream! If it is, Ah wanna wake up right now,’ she thought, lying in the shadow of the tree. She regretted even starting that argument. It was her fault that she’d lost control of her feelings and raged at Scootaloo. Her friendship with the pegasus was over. Luckily, she hadn’t confessed her feelings towards Babs.

Apple Bloom felt so alone. Of course Babs would be on Scoot’s side and not hers. The yellow filly had galloped all the way to Sweet Apple Acres, ignoring Sweetie Belle calling after her. Fortunately for Apple Bloom, Earth ponies were far faster than unicorns.

Now she was lying under one of the apple trees in the orchard, hiding her face with her forehooves. Scootaloo, once her best friend, was probably her enemy—another Diamond Tiara. What if the pegasus turned Babs Seed against her, too? Apple Bloom willed such thoughts away, hoping that would never come to pass. The filly curled into a ball, her cries slowly fading away.

She felt a gentle touch on her back. She looked over her shoulder, finding Sweetie Belle there, concern on her muzzle. Apple Bloom sat up, meeting her friend’s gaze.

“You suddenly ran off…it took me some time find you, Apple Bloom. What was that all about back there?” Sweetie Belle sat beside her and wrapped a hoof around the farm-filly, hugging her in a comforting embrace.

Apple Bloom wiped away some of her tears, feeling a bit better now that Sweetie was with her. "Ah'm sorry... It’s all mah fault,” she said, sighing, staring at the ground. 'Why did Ah even fall in love with Babs? Ah shouldn’t have! It’s my fault. None of this would have happened if Ah didn’t fall in love with Babs.' Her thoughts made her cry a little more, but she quickly dried her tears, wiping them with a forehoof.

Sweetie Belle hugged Apple Bloom, gently stroking her back. “Apple Bloom, if you want to talk about it, you can tell me anything. That’s what friends are for.”

Sniffling, the yellow filly nodded and smiled slightly. "Thanks, Sweetie Belle. Ah'll tell ya, but can we go somewhere where nopony can hear us?" Her unicorn friend nodded. They both rose to their hooves and trotted towards the farmhouse.

*****

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sat in the farm-filly’s room. They closed the door securely behind them. Applejack and Big Macintosh were out doing some important chores outside anyway and Granny Smith was in town. Nopony would be there to hear them.

Apple Bloom had never told anypony that she liked fillies. Her family didn’t want any fillyfoolers or coltcuddlers in their family. How else would the family grow? While she wasn’t only afraid to tell anypony that she liked her own gender, it was even more difficult to admit to liking her own cousin. How would everypony react?

“Sweetie Belle, ya gotta promise not tell anypony, not even Rarity. Ya hear?” Apple Bloom asking, shifting her eyes nervously around the room. They were alone. She checked again, just to be sure.

Sweetie Belle spoke, her voice light and squeaky as usual, "I promise! I will even Pinkie Promise! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She performed the Pinkie Promise, putting her hoof to her eye after the last two words.

The yellow filly avoided the unicorn’s gaze, feeling that it was easier to tell when nopony was looking at her. “Ya see, Ah was feelin' very jealous that Babs was spending so much time with Scootaloo. Ah've been holdin' these feelings in…Ah'm so sorry... Ah suddenly let 'em burst out like that. Ah'm really sorry,” Apple Bloom confessed, embarrassed. However, that was not the only thing she wanted to tell her friend.

Sweetie Belle titled her head slightly, staring at her friend, concerned.  “It's alright Apple Bloom, I am still your friend. Don’t worry.” The unicorn wrapped her forehooves around the yellow filly and pulled her in a comforting embrace.

“That’s not all of it,” Apple Bloom, looking away from Sweetie Belle. “Ah... Ah have a crush.” A slight blush spread across muzzle.

"You have a crush? On who?" Sweetie asked, smiling curiously. "Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle guessed.

Apple Bloom paused and stared at her friend for a moment. Sweetie Belle was sure clueless. Why would she fight with Scootaloo if she had a crush on her? Apple Bloom shook her head. "No. But if Ah tell ya who, ya gotta promise to not think Ah’m crazy,” she stated seriously.

Sweetie Belle was confused. Why would Apple Bloom act so crazy just because she had a crush on somepony? 'Maybe it’s not a pony. Maybe it’s a dragon. Spike?' It took her a moment, but the answer was so clear once she realized it. "I promise, Apple Bloom. We are still best friends, even if you have a crush on a rock." She giggled at the joke and gave Apple Bloom a warm smile.

The yellow filly sat silently before taking a deep breath. Sweetie Belle would be the first pony she told.  Before she could shy away from it, she muttered, "Babs, Ah have a crush on Babs." Her blush deepened into a bright crimson. Apple Bloom tore her eyes away from Sweetie Belle, staring at the floor.

*****

Night fell. Everypony was asleep in the farmhouse, except for Babs. She was pacing back and forth in her room, trying to think of a way to fix the mess that happened after school. The former Manehattan filly was filled with guilt and regret. She hadn’t done anything to stop them, only watching helplessly by.

She hated seeing them argue. She hated how sad and angry Apple Bloom seemed to be now. Babs Seed loved her cousin. She was a part of her family. However, Scootaloo was her everything. Now, both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo was not friends anymore. 'And everypony says friendship is magic. Yeah, right. Maybe it’s not because we aren’t the Elements of Harmony,’ Babs thought, jumping up onto her bed.

She laid down and pulled the covers over herself . The filly tried to sleep but couldn’t, her thoughts keeping her awake. ‘Maybe an apology would help? Maybe that’s not enough.’ Babs wanted to apologize for doing nothing (other than then watching) and for Scootaloo’s rudeness towards her cousin. 'I must not have noticed it until now. Scootaloo is kinda…pulling me away from her, isn’t she? I know we haven’t been crusading for cutiemarks much lately. Maybe Scootaloo don’t want a cutie mark anymore.'

Babs Seed was confused. Somehow, there was something wrong with Apple Bloom, something she wasn’t telling anypony about. It looked like she was hiding something earlier. Maybe this whole thing wasn’t just about not crusading. Babs did really want a cutie mark as much as Apple Bloom did, after all.

The orange filly blew the mane out of her face and flipped over. She laid on her side and stared directly at the wall. Was it jealousy she saw on her cousin's face? Apple Bloom did seem somewhat jealous about Babs and Scootaloo being together. 'I am truly sorry for treating you like this, Bloom. You’re still my favorite cousin. I gotta fix this…but, how?’