Blooming Seed

There they were, those two fillies in shades of orange fur, pink mane and purple mane close enough to touch. Apple Bloom didn't know how many times she’d done this. She couldn't help but steal as many looks at Babs as she could, even if Scootaloo was there almost every time. Even if it hurt so much.

Apple Bloom stood silently by Babs’ bedroom door. The door was slightly ajar, so she could see their heads, at least. The two fillies were facing each other: Babs lying on top, and Scootaloo on the bottom, sleeping soundly. She was wishing so badly that she was the one lying there instead of Scootaloo. The heartbroken  filly couldn't stand it anymore. She turned around and hung her head low. It was time to take another aimless walk through Sweet Apple Acres.

*****One Week Later*****

It had been a  week since Apple Bloom had lost her friendship with Scootaloo. In spite of everything, she regretted it. The four Cutie Mark Crusaders didn't go on any crusades anymore; they didn’t hang out as a group at all. This change wasn’t met with open hooves in the least.

Sweetie Belle had tried to talk to her three friends about the situation, speaking to them separately. Only Sweetie Belle and Babs Seed that wanted Scootaloo and Apple Bloom to become friends again. The two quarreling fillies dissolved into an argument whenever they were near each other in the beginning. By the end of the week, they stopped talking entire and keeping their distance.

Not wanting to be caught in the middle, Sweetie Belle spent time with all of her friends, even the two who were now enemies. Babs could not pick a side either. She loved Scootaloo and didn't wanna leave her, despite her feud with her Apple Bloom. Although she wanted to be close to her cousin, talking with Apple Bloom hadn’t resolved anything. In fact, it seemed to make things worse. As a result, Babs kept her distance from both fillies, wanting to resolve this petty fight soon.

On top of the fights with Scootaloo, it pained Apple Bloom to be in love with her cousin. Seeing Babs with her former best friend was hard to handle along with everything else being so rocky. Sweetie Belle being on her side helped a little, but she still missed when all four of them had fun and could trust each other. Despite Sweetie’s comfort and assurance, Apple Bloom felt as lonely as ever.

*****

By the end of the week, Sweetie Belle had enough. She formulated a plan to gather all the Cutie Mark Crusaders into the treehouse. The unicorn thought if she told them one by one to meet her in the treehouse by an exact time, she could talk to them, and force them to work things out with each other. She wanted to fix this and couldn't stand how Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had turned from best friends to enemies.

Sweetie sighed, missing the good ol’ times. Sitting inside the treehouse and waiting for the others, she decided to hum a song to herself to cheer up a little. "We will never stop our journey, not 'till we fin--"

The door to the clubhouse suddenly swung open. The first filly to join her was Babs Seed. Doubtlessly, the other two were coming soon and Babs was just a little early. "Hi Babs! Where’s Scootaloo?" Sweetie asked curiously.

Babs smiled. "She's comin’, I think in a few minutes.”

Sweetie Belle thought for a moment. She could talk to Babs before the others arrived, just to prepare her for what she wanted to discuss with her friends. "Oh. Well, you see, the reason I invited you all to meet me here is I that wanted to talk.."

Babs smile turned to a concerned frown. "Dis is ‘bout Scootaloo an’ Apple Bloom, right?"

"Yes. I want this fighting to end. I am trying to make them talk and befriend each other again," Sweetie Belle said, nervously digging a hoof into the floor.

"So do I. We can try togetha, right?" Babs asked. Sweetie nodded. Both fillies wanted Scootaloo and Apple Bloom to be friends again more than anything else, no matter the cost.

Hanging her muzzle, Babs Seed sighed. “Ma cuz has kinda been avoidin' me lately...Why? What did I do?” she asked, looking up at the unicorn.

Sweetie simply shrugged in reply. Although she knew the exact answer, she was bound by Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony...even the pony who needed to know most of all.

******

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were in Rarity's boutique. Rarity was out and about, shopping for some fabric. Not wanting to be alone, Sweetie invited her friend over. They were having a great time, sitting in front of the huge mirrors and doing each others manes.

Apple Bloom stared silently into the mirror as Sweetie Belle braided her soft, red mane into one long braid. "Ah wonder if Babs would like me in this manestyle. It’s cute,” she said, blushing slightly.

Sweetie Belle let out a high-pitched chuckle. Continuing to braid her mane, she replied, "Of course she would!” With a giggle, she complimented, “You look cute in braids. You should wear your mane that way more often.”

"Ah'm not sure. Besides, Babs doesn't like me anyway,” Apple Bloom dismissed, a sad smile on her muzzle. "Ah don't even talk ta her anymore."

Sweetie finished Apple Bloom's braid and tied it together with a pink ribbon on the end. "Why? Did something happen between the two of you?"

"No. Ah jus’ been avoidin' her lately." Apple Bloom turned around, unwilling to face either her friend or her own reflection. "It makes me too sad ta think ‘bout how she’s wit’ Scootaloo. Ah really miss bein' friend wit’ Scoots, but Ah really do want Babs ta be mine...” Her words trailed off and she looked at the floor.

Sweetie Belle wrapped her forehoof around Apple Bloom's shoulder, comforting her friend. "You can tell me anything, Apple Bloom. I can even Pinkie Promise to keep it secret."

The farm filly smiled at her friend as she hugged her back. "Thanks Sweetie Belle, Ah'm happy that Ah can always be here when Babs and Scoots are togetha at ma place.”

Sweetie blinked, confused. "Your place?"

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow and stared at her. The unicorn finally remembered and realized it. "Oh, right! Yes, Babs moved to Ponyville and lives at your place. I remembered that...”

The farm filly couldn't help but facehoof. Sweetie Belle could be so slow sometimes. Apple Bloom giggled gently and tickled Sweetie Belle, eliciting squeals of laughter from the unicorn. "Yer havin' bad memory ta-day, huh?" she teased, ceasing the tickling.

Sweetie Belle struggled to catch her breath after laughing so hard. Apple Bloom had accidentially uncovered one of her weaknesses--she was incredibly ticklish. "Heh, heh... sorry, Scoots just spends so much time with Babs, I kinda forgot where she lives."

Apple Bloom giggled briefly, then returned to the topic at hoof. "So yeah, what Ah was talkin' 'bout. Ah really miss all four o’ us bein' best friends an’ crusaders." She looked up at her friend and admitted, "Ah feel so ashamed an’ guilty fer havin' a crush on Babs. It’s the reason Ah got so angry at Scootaloo. This whole thing is all ma fault. Jus’ if...if only Ah didn't have a crush on ma cuz, none o’ this woulda happened.”

Sweetie Belle patted her friend’s back comfortingly. Apple Bloom smiled in gratitude and continued, “This whole thing is wrong in so many ways.”

The unicorn asked, gently and curiously, "How is it wrong?"

"Well ya see, Babs is ma cousin, first off. An’ it would be wrong o’ me ta steal a friend’s fillyfriend even if she wasn’t, right?” She truly didn’t want to know the answer, fearing Sweetie would agree and confirm her fears.

Sweetie paused, running her forehoof up and down Apple Bloom's back to reassure her. She took a deep breath and bega, "Well--”

“O 'course it’s wrong!” Apple Bloom pouted and stubbornly fought back her tears.

"No! It’s not! I mean...Well, you can't help how you feels, right?" Sweetie Belle asked, pulling her friend into a tight hug.

Apple Bloom sighed, relieved. Sweetie Belle did have a point. "Ah...Ah guess not.  Ah mean, Ah really do love Babs," she admitted, her muzzle growing warm. "Ah hope Ah can at least become friends wit’ Scootaloo again, though.”

They stood like that in silence for a few moments, holding each other tightly. Finally, the unicorn spoke up, her voice cracking, "I know!"

Apple Bloom gave her friend a curious and clueless expression, wondering what she was up to.

Sweetie explained excitedly, "I could tell Scoots and Babs to come over to the clubhouse tomorrow afternoon, and you can come too, tight? I’ll find a way to get us all back to being the amazing Cutie Mark Crusaders again! And don't worry, Apple Bloom. I will keep your secret safe with me."

Apple Bloom smiled and hugged Sweetie Belle. "Thanks, Sweetie Belle. Ah dunno what Ah would do without ya an’ yer great ideas."

*****

"Don't feel guilty, Babs. Apple Bloom has just been, uhm, sad lately,” Sweetie Belle said. She didn't want to reveal too much. It was up to Apple Bloom to tell her cousin the truth, after all.

"But we always talk ‘bout anythin’! She always used ta tell me everythin’," the bobtail filly protested with an irritated tone. Apple Bloom's foalish behaviour annoyed and confused her. Wasn’t Bloom angry with Scoots, not her?

Suddenly, two Crusaders became three. Scootaloo flied into the treehouse through the window. After extra lessons from Rainbow Dash, she was a stronger flier and felt more confident. Someday, she would be as fast as her idol. "Sweetie Belle! You called for a Cutie Mark Crusader meeting, right?” she asked, landing on all four hooves.

The unicorn nodded. "Yes. I want to talk about something.”

"Oh. Are you OK, Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo sat down beside Sweetie, concerned. "If it’s Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon bullying you again, I’ll kick their flanks!" She threw a few punches into the air, wings flaring with pride. "Right, Babs?"

Babs loved it when Scootaloo acted so confident and tough. A smirk spread across her muzzle "Heh! O’ course! We would kick 'em ta the moon!"

Scootaloo smirked and grinned. Both fillies turned their attention to Sweetie Belle as the pegasus probed, “So...tell us, then?”

Sweetie Belle took a moment to reply, looking at Scootaloo intently. She knew Scoots would be angry if she told her that they had to wait for Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle knew how Scootaloo disliked Apple Bloom now, but somehow could feel that she missed her old friend just as much. "We are waiting for Apple Bloom," Sweetie gently replied.

"But! I thought I told you..." Biting her lip, Scootaloo slumped down on her haunches and turned away from the unicorn. Mimicking her idol, she stayed as loyal as she could to her friends, and hated betrayal.

*****

School was out and everypony was leaving the building. Scootaloo wanted to talk to Sweetie Belle before she went on a little adventure with Rainbow Dash, taking Babs with her of course. Scootaloo caught up to Sweetie Belle and pulled her behind the schoolhouse to talk.

"Are you alright, Scoots? You seemed to take me back here in such a hurry." Sweetie Belle asked. She felt honored, being the one filly who her friends could always trust and talk to, even if she was a bit slow sometimes.

"Of course I am alright!” Scoots shot back confidently. "Kinda in a hurry though. I'm gonna hang with Rainbow Dash and Babs soon.”

Sweetie Belle nodded and tilted her head. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

Scootaloo sat down onto her haunches and folded her wings onto her back. "Do you think.. Apple Bloom is kinda stalkerish?"

"That’s not a word.” Sweetie corrected, "It’s ‘stalker.’”

The pegasus rolled her eyes and returned to the topic at hoof. "Whatever, dictionary! Anyway, I think she is! I mean, she’s kinda been looking my way whenever I’m with Babs.”

Wanting to guard Apple Bloom’s secret, Sweetie thought best to throw Scootaloo off the trail. “Hmm. Maybe she’s...bored?” The unicorn noted to herself to facehoof later. That was the absolute stupidest reason she could think of.

"Promise me something, alright?" Scootaloo lowered her voice and looked around, ensuring they were alone. "Please tell Apple Bloom to stop stalking me and looking at me like that. Please?" The pegasus put on her helmet and got on her scooter.

"Alright, Scoots." Sweetie Belle didn't know if she could make that happen. She felt a bit useless in this whole ordeal. Sometimes, she couldn’t do anything, no matter how much she wished to fix it all. She really missed the old times. The two fillies exchanged goodbyes before Scootaloo scooted off, riding her scooter at full speed.

*****

Scootaloo and Babs spent almost all of their free time together. However, when Apple Bloom looked their way and stared, Scoots found it a little creepy. She wondered if the farm filly was actually a stalker or just being foalish. Of course, everypony was foalish at times, but Apple Bloom’s outburst was beyond stupid and foalish.

The pegasu rode her scooter through town, enjoying the wind blowing onto her face. She was going to enjoy this weekend with her idol and fillyfriend. Still, she missed the way things used to be. They sure had fun then, but Apple Bloom was too confusing and strange now. She even seemed to avoid Babs for no reason at all!

On top of that, even when things were going well, Apple Bloom was so stubborn about going crusading. It almost seemed like she didn’t want Scootaloo to spend alone time with Babs Seed.  Cutiemarks were important, but to Scootaloo, her fillyfriend was far more important.

Yet, deep inside, the pegasus felt slightly guilty. Maybe Apple Bloom was right. The whole group had been spending less time crusading and just hanging out, all because Scoots and Babs wanted to be alone most of the time.

Scootaloo always thought that the most and only important things in her life were Rainbow Dash, Babs Seed, becoming a good flier, and getting a cutie mark. Scootaloo was loyal, just like Rainbow Dash. However, she knew she wasn’t being loyal right now. She was both angry and confused. She recalled the time Rainbow Dash told her to not ditch her friends for who or what she loved--that friends came first, above all else.

Fighting her thoughts, Scootaloo increased her speed and rocketed through town. She was going to enjoy this weekend and not bother about this nonsense, like she had been the past few nights. Soon, she reached her destination, where Rainbow Dash was waiting for her and Babs would soon be.

*****

"But I thought I told you to make Apple Bloom stay away from me,” Scootaloo huffed, annoyed and upset. Babs wrapped her forehooves around her fillyfriend and pulled her close into a comforting hug.

"I just wanted to make you and Apple Bloom get along,” Sweetie muttered, unsure of what to do. She was trying her best. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

"Yeah, she’s right. Please, can’t youze an’ Apple Bloom become friends again? Fo’ us? Fo’ me?” Babs ran her hoof through Scootaloo's mane to calm her down.

Scootaloo wriggled out of Babs’ grip and took a step backward. "If I want to be friends with Apple Bloom again, it’s my doing! Its none of your business, guys!" Spreading her wings and glaring at Sweetie Belle, she huffed, "That's it! I'm out of here before she gets here.” The pegasus quickly jumped to a hover and flew out the window before either filly could object.

"Wait here, Babs! I'll go after her,” Sweetie Belle called, running out of the treehouse. Before Babs could reply, Sweetie Belle was gone.

Babs intended to follow them, but she suddenly thought of something, Apple Bloom was coming any moment. She could take a chance and talk to her. She was sure Sweetie Belle would be just as good as herself to convince Scootaloo to give this another chance.

*****

Babs only needed to wait about ten more minutes before her cousin arrived through the treehouse door. When Apple Bloom came inside, only Babs was there, no sign of Sweetie or Scoots. Had Sweetie Belle planned this? "Where are the others?"

The farm filly  went over to Babs and sat beside her. She couldn’t avoid her anymore and gave up on trying to never speak to her again. It actually felt easier than she thought it would be when she actually spoke to her cousin again.

"Oh, they’re late,” Babs lied, giving Apple Bloom a warm and sweet smile. Apple Bloom felt her cheeks heating up and looked away, cursing herself. Babs was just too sweet..

"Ah'm sorry,” she mumbled, looking at the floor. She blushed deeper still as Babs wrapped a forehoof around her and pulled her close, comforting her.

Babs asked--one word filled with compassion--”Why?”

Apple Bloom felt her face get hot again. Although Babs was standing right in front of her, she was surprised by the touch, enjoying her comfort. As much the farm filly wished Babs would just pull her close and hold her the way she held Scootaloo, she knew that would never be. A tear ran down Apple Bloom's cheek and she pushed herself away from Babs.

Apple Bloom lied down on her stomach and curled her tail against herself, hiding her face behind her forehooves and fighting back further tears. "Ah'm sorry! Ah didn't mean ta have that silly fight wit’ Scootaloo! Ah'm sorry that Ah didn't talk ta you o’ Scoots! Ah'm sorry fer bein' in--"

Her apology was interrupted, a pair of strong forehooves pulling her close into another comforting hug. Blushing madly, Apple Bloom realized she was so close to saying it and was thankful that she didn't. Apple Bloom wrapped her forehooves around Babs and leaned into her.

"It’s alright, Apple Bloom. Youze are forgiven." Babs lifted Apple Bloom’s chin gently and looked straight into her eyes. "Will youze tell me what's goin’ on?”

Apple Bloom pushed herself gently away from Babs, thought she still wanted to hold onto her cousin. Blushing softly, she wondered if she should tell or not. After a short moment, Apple Bloom finally decided to say it. "Ah'm sorry, it’s jus’ that.. Ah was angry fer Scootaloo takin' so much o’ yer  time. Both fer wantin' more crusadin' time an’ let Scootaloo give ya some space ta be wit’ others, too." The farm filly said, biting her lower lip, "An’.. Ah... Ah'm i--"

The two cousins were interrupted again. Applejack trotted inside the treehouse. "There ya are! Ah saw Scoots an’ Sweetie Belle runnin' off, so Ah wanted ta see if ya'll are alright."

Apple Bloom replied with a smile, "Yes.. Ah'm alright.”

"How 'bout the others, Scootaloo an’ Sweetie Belle?" Applejack asked with concern.

"They were playin’ tag. I guess they had ta leave, heh,” Babs lied, not wanting Applejack to get involved.

“Well, glad that’s settled, then! Granny Smith made some apple pie. Guess ya'll are hungry, ain’t ya?” Apple Bloom and Babs Seed nodded and followed Applejack out of the treehouse towards the farmhouse, their stomachs rumbling for some apple pie.