I woke up at around the afternoon and my main interest was the upcoming Harvest Parade that was due to start tomorrow and with many ponies involved, it was sure to be a good one, especially since the CMC's are taking part this time. I wondered what their float looked like, so getting myself ready and dressed, I walked out of my home and trotted over to Sweet Apple Acres.

Along the way, I saw the CMC's, Applejack and another filly walking with them, she had a dark brown boat and dark pink mane, who could she be I wonder? I walked along closer and waved at them and it had been a while since I last saw them.

"Oh hey there Bond." Applejack greeted who had a travel suitcase in her mouth.

"Hey Applejack." I replied before looking at the fillies as we walked onwards to the farm, "Hey there CMC's. I hear you're apart of the harvest parade tomorrow."

"That's right, we finished designing our float just before bed time." Scootaloo replied.

"That's cool, mind if I take a look at it?"

"Sure, but we're gonna have Applebloom's cousin here, Babs Seed take a look at what we do before we get to the float." Sweetie added.

"Why is that?"

"Cause she doesn't have a cutie mark like us and we're gonna make sure she fits right in." Applebloom answered.

"I get you now...I'll hold on to that case for you, Applejack."

Applejack then placed the case down as I carried it with my magic.

"Thank ya kindly, sugarcube...we're just on the farm now. Why don't you fillies show Babs Seed around whilst Bond and I check on the barn?"

"Okay, sis, we'll be right back." Applebloom replied as they walked off through the trees, possibly to their clubhouse.

Applejack and I walked into her family home and I greeted myself to Big Mac and Granny Smith, before we went upstairs and into Applebloom's bedroom. I noticed her room was an absolute mess though but with me around, it can be cleared up shortly.

"So who was that filly again if you don't mind me asking?" I asked as I placed the case down on Applebloom's bed and began to use my magic to make the bed.

"That was Babs Seed, mine and Applebloom's cousin from Manehatten." Applejack replied.

"Oh, so she's not from around here?"

"Nope, she's the daughter of Aunt & Uncle Orange."

"Ah yes, the same ponies you visited when you went to Manehatten as a filly?"

"That's the one, Babs has come here to get some help in making friends, because she's been bullied by other fillies at her school in Manehatten."

"That's just a city away from Fillydelphia and I know how it feels, growing up without not much friends during the filly years....do the CMC's know about it?"

"They don't and ah'll let them ask me cause ah don't wanna become an overprotective relative, ah want them to stand strong for themselves."

"That's understandable...and we're done."

The bedroom was now cleaned up and looked very tidy.

"Thanks for doing that, sugarcube. Ah'll let you be on your way...feel free to come back if you need to tell me anything."

"I'll do so just in case...later, Applejack."

Applejack nodded as I left Applebloom's bedroom and then down the stairs and out of the house. By the time I was out, I saw the fillies go into the barn. I walked onwards and followed them to the inside.

"So CMC's, where is this parade float?" I asked them.

"Here it is! The official Cutie Mark Crusaders float for the Summer Harvest Parade!" Applebloom stated as she took down a cover that showed the float itself.

"Wow...that looks well designed, nice job, fillies." I complimented.

"Thanks...and what about you, Babs?"

"Umm, it's great mister..."

"Bond Racer." I said for Babs, although looking at her expression, I wasn't sure if she was completely happy at the moment.

"As a member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, you'd be able to ride on it with us! It'd be totally fun." Scootaloo said to Babs.

"Yeah..." Babs replied, laughing nervously.

I was wondering why she was worried until I heard two more voices come into the barn....uh oh, not Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

"More like funny...looking." Tiara said, giggling away.

I saw Silver giggling as well, but she seemed to be struggling to do it properly...I looked at her and noticing me and trying to remember what I said, she changed her tone a bit, looking at the parade float.

"What is that thing, a giant orange?" Silver asked somewhat innocently.

"It's a pumpkin." Applebloom replied.

"More like a lame-kin." Tiara criticised before noticing Babs, "Who's the new blank flank?"

"She's mah cousin, Babs. She's from Manehattan!"

"Manehattan, huh? Well, I guess you have that going for you."

"I suppose you're gonna join their little club...the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Silver asked nicely which Tiara didn't seem to notice.

"More like the Cutie Mark Crybabies!" Babs replied rudely before walking over towards them.

"Hey!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"Oooo, heh, big city attitude! I like it!" Tiara commented.

"Oh my gosh!" Silver yelled, "I forgot that I was meant to attend a catering service with my dad a few minutes. Oh he's gonna be so mad at me for being late...sorry Tiara but I've gotta go."

Silver then galloped out of the barn, leaving all of us surprised, wondering what just happened. I looked outside and saw Silver trotting off and leaving the barn, she turned around to see me and gave me a wink.

Ahhh, I thought to myself...good for you Silver Spoon, I'm glad you know better than to encourage a bullied filly to become a bully...she then carried on trotting till she was out of sight.

Suddenly, I heard loud crashes, so I hurried back to the barn and I found the parade float outside the barn in many pieces. I saw Applejack by one of the house windows who heard the commotion. I waved at her, telling her to come here quickly before I walked back into the barn.

"Looks like somepony's pumpkin just got squashed!" Babs said sarcastically

"Oh no, you didn't!" I said in a shocked expression.

"Oh yeah, she did." Tiara replied, laughing.

"When ah tell Applejack-"

"You gonna tell Applejack what?" Babs asked rudely, cutting Applebloom off.

"W-well, y'know, uh..."

"What're you, a snitch?"

"Come on, Babs, you should hang with us! Y'know, the cool ponies, not these babies!"

"Who are ya callin' my sister a baby?!" Applejack exclaimed as she showed up outside.

Suddenly, Babs's expression changed from confident to nervous. Tiara however was still no different...bad move, Tiara.

"Oh look, it's your big sister, come to save you again...what a scaredy blank flank."

"Get ya flank outta our farm, right now!" she demanded.

"Pfffft, fine...whatever I'm going." she then left the barn and on her way out of the farm, she turned back "Wait till my daddy hears about this, he won't like it."

"Your pa relies on my family's business so he can maintain his side of the deal by running Barnyard Bargains and the way you drag his family name around will certainly not help him or his potential customers."

I saw that Tiara couldn't think of anything to say, as if she got owned and had met her match. She growled before leaving the farm in a huff...good thing she doesn't know about Silver changing her ways, it would be much worse.

"Okay fillies, just tell us what happened." I said to the CMC's.

"Well, Babs Seed went and started messing with our parade float and then in a few seconds, it rolled out and smashed into pieces." Scootaloo explained.

I looked at Babs and she looked real guilty, she knew she was in big trouble for doing that.

"Babs Seed...ah'm very disappointed in you!" Applejack scolded, "When you said you wanted to visit us because you were bullied back home in Manehatten and that your parents weren't paying enough attention, ah took pity on you and have you be welcomed as a friend and a worthy cousin to me and Applebloom."

"I must agree, you had no excuse to be a bully yourself and wreck these fillies's parade float." I added. "They tried to make you feel comfortable cause of you having no cutie mark and this is how you repay them?"

"I...didn't want to be bullied..." Babs replied hesitantly.

"Well granted, Tiara and Silver have only said mean things to them, but they have never damaged other ponies's stuff, probably because they know it would get them in trouble straight away, whereas you on the other hoof had no problem in destroying something the CMC's worked so hard at designing."

"I'm...I'm...I'm sorry." she said.

"Too late for that now, Babs." Applejack replied, "Ah was gonna have you sleep in Applebloom's room but now it's not gonna happen. You'll be sleeping in the barn tonight and tomorrow morning, you're going back to Manehatten with no chance of seeing the Harvest Parade."

Babs sunk her head lower to the ground...sleeping in the barn and going straight home the next day is a worthy punishment. Cousin or no cousin, she had no right to do it, regardless of what happened to her back home.

"In the meantime, I suggest you can start serving your punishment by helping the CMC's clean up this mess." I added.

Babs nodded and began to pick up a few bits of broken wood around the field.

"Wow...that was..." Sweetie said,

"...amazing!" Scootaloo finished.

"It wasn't good for me to do, but ah had to stop playing nice in order to get my point across." Applejack responded.

The CMC's began clearing up the bits and pieces along with Babs...I saw her face, she was feeling full of guilt.

"So, I guess you have to go and write a letter to the Orange family?" I asked her.

"Darn tootin, ah think ah'll do it after my family's dinner...you can join us for that if you want."

"That would be good, thanks Applejack."

"Okay, just keep an eye on the fillies until then."

"Aright, I'll do that."

Applejack walked back to inside her home as I watched the clearing up taking place. When it was done, all the piles of pieces were stored in one corner of the barn. The CMC's seemed to be in good shape, but Babs on the other hoof, had a few splinters and cuts from picking up the pointy wooden parts.

Soon, it was dinner time and I was sitting around a big table next to Applejack, along with Big Mac, Granny Smith, the CMC's and Babs who hasn't said a word since the telling off moment. We shared a few stories together like one big family as we ate the food and after we were done, Big Mac and Applejack took the dishes to the kitchen sink, whilst the CMC's, Babs and I left the house.

It was almost sunset and I was going to call it a day when I saw Babs galloping into the barn leaving the CMC's confused and feeling worried about her for the first time. I sighed as I walked to the barn to see the CMC's looking over Babs who was resting on a pile of hay and sobbing away, thinking perhaps of how it all went horribly wrong and so quick.

"Err cousin, mind if we have a little talk?" Applebloom asked Babs.

"Go away...I don't *sniff* deserve to have...friends." she replied whilst sobbing.

"Listen, we're not gonna pretend that none of this didn't happen, but we've been thinking." Scootaloo said.

"Maybe if you can redeem yourself by doing us a favor, maybe you won't be sent back to Manehatten." Sweetie added.

Babs stopped sobbing and looked at them.

"Actually, they have a point. If somepony is either misguided or bullied as much as you have been, there are always ways to change or learn to be a better pony." I intervened.

Babs wiped away her tears and raised her head up.

"Well...what could I do?" she asked.

"Why don't you help us with building a new parade float for the harvest parade tomorrow." Scootaloo suggested.

"It's the least you can do to make it up for us." Sweetie added.

"And if we get it done before bedtime, we'll let my sister know and ask her to not send you back home tomorrow." Applebloom said.

"Alright, I'll do it..."

The CMC's smiled, but Babs to me wasn't done talking.

"...I'm really sorry I wrecked your old float...I hesitated when Tiara noticed me having a blank flank...I also didn't mean to bring shame to the Apple family...so... can we...start over?"

"Definitely." Applebloom replied.

"Yeah." Sweetie and Scootaloo added in unison as they all shook hooves.

I began to smile at this scene...I decided to watch over them as they went to work on designing their new float, but instead of a pumpkin, they went for an golden apple, which is quite fitting really since it represent the apple family right through...just hope Aphrodite doesn't find out her golden apple is missing...nopony should ever have to tolerate Hector and his voice.

When they were done, I was really impressed, it looked very...golden, but still worth watching to see it made and they finished it a lot quicker than planned. The night time had only just begun by then and I walked over to them with a smile.

"Nice work, fillies. I'm pretty sure your float would win if the harvest parade was a competition." I commented before looking at Babs, "You see, isn't it much better to work hard and be a great friend?"

"You're right Bond, it is a lot better and I do feel great about it now, I hope it's not too late for me to join the club." Babs replied.

Applebloom came forward and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"What do ya say girls, has she proved herself to be one of us?" she asked the other two.

Sweetie and Scootaloo nodded and smiled.

"Why don't you fillies welcome Babs into your club while I go to Applejack and tell her about the work you've put in." I suggested.

"Great, thanks for doing that, Bond." Applebloom replied.

I left the barn whilst the four fillies went off to their clubhouse. I walked into the house to find Granny Smith just walking slowly off to bed whilst Applejack was busy writing down something with a quill in her mouth.

"Hey Applejack, something great happened just now." I said to her.

"Oh, what is it sugarcube?" she asked.

"I think Babs Seed has learnt her lesson. After a quick talk, she was willing to help the CMC's build a new parade float in the shape of a golden apple and it didn't take long with the extra pair of hooves, it looked so cool by the time they were done. Then, Applebloom said that Babs has done more then enough to be forgiven and is now joining the club." I explained.

Applejack showed off a welcoming smile that was warming enough.

"So, are you still going to send Babs home to Manehatten?" I asked.

"Nope...in fact, she's gonna share a bedroom with Applebloom tonight and be apart of the Harvest Parade tomorrow."

"I think that's a great option. I should get going now, I'll be at the Harvest Parade tomorrow."

"Okay, have a goodnight sugarcube." Applejack then gave me a friendly hug which I always accept.

"You too."

I then left the apple family home and trotted back to my home, admiring the moonlight of Luna's work before heading into my house and heading to sleep, thinking of nothing but the upcoming parade the next day...

Waking up the next day, I looked out to see the parade about to start. I left the house and I was able to watch it all just in time. It was underway and on the other side of the pathway, I saw Silver Spoon who gave me a wave and I waved back. A few ponies down from her was Diamond Tiara with her dad Filthy Rich who showed a displeased expression towards his daughter, I guess he found out about yesterday and decided not to let her speak for today...good, she deserves to have her mouth closed.

As the parade carried on, I saw the golden apple float with the CMC's inside and their new member Babs Seed wearing the club's cape and driving the float as well. I didn't know Babs could drive at that age, must be a hidden talent or something she grew up with in Manehatten.

The harvest parade was then over by late afternoon and it was a big success. Turns out the parade float designs were all apart of a comeptition after all and the golden apple won first place, a huge achievement that I think all four fillies should be proud of. When the packing down was done.

Babs stayed in Ponyville for a few days and we all got to know her a bit before on her fifth day of being here, she told us she had to go home to Manehatten, but she seemed pretty confident. I was at the station with the four fillies and Applejack, she had her CMC cape on and her travel case with her as she was waiting for her train-ride to Manehatten.

"So you promise you're gonna start our Manehattan branch of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, right?" Applebloom asked.

"Yeah, and I promise to keep talking to my big sis about the teasing back home." Babs replied.

"Good. And if you have any problems, we've got your back too, y'hear?" Applejack said.

Then came along trouble...again...

"So you're leaving huh? Great! Now me and Silver Spoon, if she were here, are stuck here with these lame blank flanks." Tiara said, pointing her hoof out.

Applejack and I were hoping Babs had changed for the better.

"Hey! That's not how you talk to my friends!" Babs yelled.

"F-friends?"

"Yeah, you got a problem with that?"

"Well, what if I do? What are you gonna do about it?"

"Tell your father about your bad attitude!"

Babs then walked over to her causing Tiara to move backwards, Babs moved her head forward close, scaring Tiara slightly, causing her to fall off the platform...and into a puddle of mud with a pig beside her, we all shared a giggle together, she had that coming.

Babs then gave brohoof to the CMC's as the train arrived, it was time for her to say goodbye and we exchanged our goodbyes back as she boarded the train to Manehatten. She was gone from Ponyville, but I had a feeling that we'll be seeing Babs Seed again soon.

We left the platform whilst Tiara walked to her home a muddy disgrace...but we didn't care about her that much, we spent the rest of the day with a well earned treat at the cafe along with our friends. Those sundaes and milkshakes cannot be beat I tell you. After which, it was near sunset so we all called it a day and exchanged our farewells before heading our separate ways back to our homes.

Heading back inside mine, I took off my clothes and had a quick meal by the kitchen before calling it an early night and headed off to bed. Getting myself comfortably, I looked back at the last few days when Babs Seed came to Ponyville. At first, I really did not appreciate how she had to become a bully in order to avoid being bullied, but it seems that she had learnt a lesson and became a member of the CMC's, going back to Manehatten a happy filly.

Speaking of which, I am so happy that Silver Spoon is learning to become a better filly by distancing herself from Tiara more often now. I say that it won't be long before she becomes a fully friendly filly that the CMC's will surely want to get to know better. Next Chapter: Magic Duel Estimated time remaining: 15 Hours, 18 Minutes