“Must you be so uncouth!”

“Don’t ya go judging a hard workin’ filly!”

Oh, Applejack and I gave each other such a hard time in our school years. I would arrive to school in a timely and orderly manner, well primed and prepared for my day. Applejack would come straight out of the fields, and…it showed. Recess most days were the two of us going back and forth like the immature fillies we were.

“Do Ah look like the kind of pony interested in that kind of thang? Ah spend mah mornin’s doing somethin’ productive.” Applejack would say.

And I would respond. “Making one’s self presentable is as productive as a lady could be. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to take a bath before coming to school!”

On our better days, we wouldn’t attract the attention of our fellow school foals. Sadly, I cannot say we had many. They would stare at our arguments when they should have been playing. Our own fault, I suppose.

“I can asure you, you don’t have to be such a mess.” I finally said one day. I wrapped a foreleg around Applejack’s neck, holding my other leg outwards. “Give me half an hour, and you will be the talk of the town.”

“Ya ain’t gettin’ me in front of a mirror with yer fancy makeup and perfumes.” Applejack continued to argue. But I was not willing to let it go, you could say I was far more stubborn during my filly years.

“Nonsense, Applejack. You will be thanking me when I am finished with you.” I examined Applejack thoroughly. I heard some snide remarks from the fillies watching us, but I payed them no mind. I was preparing myself for a challenge.

“Yer wastin’ yer time…”

“IDEA!” I exclaimed. “A single braid in your mane is nice, but you would look wonderful if it was knotted fully! Perhaps an ascot as well, that would look wonderful on you. Tell me, do you wear clothes when you are doing your farming work?”

Sadly I could not continue that day as the bell marked the end of that day’s recess. But I was not focused on the remainder of class, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I was going to make Applejack look fabulous. So much so I couldn’t stop staring at her from my desk. But it would seem I was getting on her nerves, because she decided it would be the best option to throw a crumpled up piece of paper at me.

“Ah ain’t doin it! So get those thoughts outta yer mind!” She whispered. Of course, Applejack’s voice was just as distinct ten years ago as it was today. The Doctor stopped his lecture….

“Hey. I don’t remember the Doctor being our teacher.” Pinkie interrupted.

Rarity took a long sigh, slumping back in her throne. Twilight, Spike, and Pinkie were likewise sitting in their own thrones, listening to her story. Pound was sitting on Pinkie’s head, half buried in her mane, while Pumpkin was chewing on Pinkie’s throne. Twilight turned her attention to Pinkie.

“Um, Pinkie, I don’t think it could have been Cheerliee.” Twilight noted. Rarity scrunched up her face.

“Of course not. She was one our classmates. All though by that point she was passionate about becoming a teacher herself.” Rarity’s ears lowered as she glanced away from the others. “But this is about my history with Applejack.” Rarity took a large gulp.

“Rarity.” Spike got out of his throne and walked over to her. “You can tell us anything.” Spike reassured, holding Rarity’s hoof with both claws. Rarity blushed as she let out a little giggle.

“How gentledragonly of you.” Rarity’s eyes darted over to the Cake Twins. “Of course I don’t’ believe this is a tale infants should hear.”

Pinkie reached over and picked up Pumpkin, rocking her back and forth in her forelegs. “Don’t be silly. Their with their mommy and daddy.” After an awkard pause, Pinkie spoke up again. “That’s me.”

They are not your children, Pinkie. Twilight thought to herself. She took a breath. “Go on Rarity.”

“Thank you, darling.” Rarity readjusted herself in her throne. “Well, The Doctor told us to meet with him after school hours. Our conflicts must have been tiresome. Fortunately, I reacted to this in a calm, rational manner.”

“Of all the worst things that could happen, this is the! Worst! Possible! Thing!”

Applejack paced back and forth in the empty school house, with a condescending glare. “Ah don’t like this any more than ya’ll. Ma, Pa and Granny ain’t gonna like me bein’ late.” She argued. But unlike her, I was not so confident. I swore to my parents I would be a good filly. Not a misbehaving little ruffian.

“My concern, Applejack, being in trouble. Aren’t you concerned about that in the slightest?”

“Course not. It’s the Apple Family work schedule that Ah care about. Little Applebloom’s has set us back enough as is.” That was the first I had learned about Applebloom’s existence. So of course, I was estatic.

“You have a little sister! Why didn’t you mention her sooner! She must be so cute! Not that your older brother doesn’t have a certain charm.” My voice must have sounded like Sweetie Belle’s I was so excited. Of course my attitude was quick to change as the Doctor finished saying his farewells to our classmates, closing the door behind him to face us. I must have ducked behind my seat, as he started to chuckle.

“Easy now, young lady. You don’t need to go hiding just yet.” His smooth voice uttered. “But the two of you must realize that the class room is a place of learning, not fighting.”

“We know that Mr. Doctor. Well, Ah know that at least.” Applejack noted. I took offense to that, immediately speaking up.

“Now hold up just a moment. What exactly are you implying?” I asked, getting out of my seat. Applejack glared back at me, her expression of irritation matching my own.

“Ya’ll we’re the one sayin’ Ah ain’t some fancy shmansy pony like yerself.”

“I was merely suggesting you at least try to be a proper lady.”

“Some of us don’t want to be a ‘proper lady’. Some of us like being a farm pony.”

“But of course, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look proper. Or at least take a bath!” By this point our faces were touching, letting me catch a full whiff of her scent. She smelled like a combination of a wet dog and sweat.

“Why do ya’ll even care! It ain’t like it affects ya!”

Finally the Doctor interviened, pushing the two of us away from each other. “Oh bugger. That’s enough. Both of you.” He demanded, his voice going from its usual calm to authoritative.

“Rarity started it!”

“I did not!”

“Enough!” The Doctor exclaimed. That certainly stopped us. He readjusted his tie before he spoke up again. And what he had to say was the exact opposite of what I wanted to hear. “This has gone on long enough between the two of you. Tomorrow, I want to meet with your parents before school.”

I felt like my heart was going to burst. I was a bad filly. And now I had gotten myself into a situation that required a parent-teacher confrence. I ran up to the Doctor, holding my hooves over his chest. “Please!” I begged. “Anything but that! My parents will never let me live it down!”

I didn’t see what Applejack was doing, but she was not happy about our current situation either. “Erm, Mr. Doctor? Mah folks are a little busy. They get up in the we hours of the mornin’ to go to work.”

“I have spoken to your parents before, Applejack.” The Doctor noted. “They will be willing to make an exception for this.” He gently lowered my hooves back down to the ground. “It is for the best.”

But I would have none of it. “Mr. Doctor! My parents won’t be able to handle it! They think I’m a good filly!”

“Which I am positive you are, Rarity. But this rubbish between the two of you cannot continue. It is getting in the way of your lessons. I will be expecting you to be there as well.”

But I refused to go back home that night. I was not going to become a bad filly. Instead I went to my boutique….

“I’m confused. You owned Carousel Boutique as a filly?” Spike asked. Twilight and Rarity both looked at Spike with slight irritation. “Sorry.”

“As I was saying. Instead I went to my boutique and put my skills to work….”

Using our class picture as a baseline, I practiced styling my mane so I could work my magic on Applejack the following morning. It certainly didn’t look good on me, but it wasn’t for my own benefit. At least, not in a direct sense.

“How can Applejack go out in public like this?” I asked myself. As the sun was going down, I started to panic. It occurred to me that Mother and Father would be too busy taking care of Sweetie Belle at the time to become suspicious of my disappearance, I was still scared of what Applejack’s parents would be like.

“This looks like an all nighter job.”

I began to sew together three vests for Applejack and her parents. My young mind rationalized a fashionable gift would be enough to put us on good terms, and prevent any more mishaps. I didn’t have a filly manquin at the time, so I had to swallow my pride and use my own measurements to make it. Once it was done, I looked in the mirror and felt sick. It did not match my style at all. And I still had two adult vests to make.

“Apples or not, I must do my best! Every pony deserves that much!” I continued to create vest after vest, using every material I could think of. I finally decided on vests made from nylon, acrylic, and polyester layerings. Magnifique! Well, for a filly at least.

“At last. And that only took…” I looked up at the clock. It was already five in the morning. “Goodness! I need to hurry!”

I made my way to the schoolhouse as quickly as I could. I was foolish to believe I could make it to school before the Apples. I took a quick glance to check and surely enough, Applejack and her parents were waiting.

For the second time, Pinkie interrupted Rarity’s story. “What were they like?”

Rarity sighed. “Well, Applejack is a spitting image of her mother. With a green coat and a mane style closer to Applebloom’s. As for her father, well you could certainly tell where Big McIntosh gets his good looks.”

“G-good looks?” Spike stuttered.

“You know what I mean, Spikey-Wikey.” Rarity reassured, holding Spike’s chin. “Even you must admit he is a most impressive stallion. But as I was saying, I composed myself, and prepared for our meeting.”

I slowly opened the door, performing my most gracious trot.

“Well, lookie here. Ya’ll must be Rarity.” Applejack’s Mother noted.

“Whatcha got thar?” Applejack’s Father asked.

I smiled with pride. “I am so glad you asked, Mr. Apple. A gift for the two of you. A stylish vest for the hotter days of the season.” I hovered the vests over to Applejack’s parents, who took them with intruque. As for Applejack herself, she was suspicious of my motives.

“What are ya up to Rarity? Where are yer parents?” I avoided the question, using my magic to put Applejack’s vest over her body. I held a hoof to my mouth, impressed with my work and how well it managed to fit her. I was tired, I didn’t have my beauty sleep, but it would seem I was successful.

“So? What do you think? Tell me!” I was so uncouth with that squeal, but Applejack’s parents seemed to like my vests.

“Looks good on ya, sugercube.” Applejack’s Mother said to her spouse.

“Right back at ya.”

Sadly Applejack was not as pleased. “Rarity. Can we have a word? Outside?” I hid my worry as the two of us stepped out of the schoolhouse, the russling of Applejack’s vest scrapping against ground.

“Applejack! Please! You don’t drag acrylic along the ground!”

Applejack pushed me away, closing the door behind her. “Rarity, yer not getting’ to mah folks by brown nosen em.”

I let out a large gasp in offense. “I beg your pardon? I am trying to set things right.” I snapped. Already I could feel another argument with Applejack coming on. I didn’t want it to happen, but there wasn’t anything I could do.

“Yer makin’ a bigger deal about this than ya need to. So go get yer folks so we can move on!”

I shook my head, confident I could get through this without Mother and Father getting involved. But then I smelled something burning.

“No.” Twilight muttered. “Rarity you aren’t suggesting what I think you are?”

Rarity was on the verge of tears. “Yes. In my tired state, I failed to remember that all three fabrics I made the vests from are very flamible. The Schoolhouse was in flames within less than a minute. Applejack tried to open the door, but it was no use.”

Spike had to take a step back in shock. Pinkie’s eyes grew bigger than her head. “That can’t be!”

“I’m afraid it is, darling.” Rarity couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. The others exchanged glances before walking over to her side. Spike put an arm around her, but was taken by surprise when Rarity gave him a big hug.

“It’s ok.” Spike gasped out.

“No it’s not! By the time help came it was already too late!”

Applejack had collapsed to the ground as the flames died down. The firepegasi were clearing debris from the ruins. Some of our classmates were happy the schoolhouse was gone, no doubt the following four week break from school while it was being repared had a lot to do with it. But not Applejack.

“Applejack!” I held Applejack tightly. She didn’t react, how could she? “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Rarity continued to wail.

“Rarity, that wasn’t your fault.” Spike said as calmly as he could, but it was no use.

“Yes! It was my fault!”

“No.”

Twilight and Pinkie spun around to face the throne room entrance. Applejack was poking her head through the open doorway.

“Applejack.” Twilight muttered.

Rarity wiped her eyes, giving her a better view of her friend’s arrival.

“Ah already told ya. Ah don’t hold it against ya.” Applejack stated. “I forgave ya long ago.”

Rarity watched Applejack walk away, at a loss for words, and how to feel.

Author's Note

A chapter with no zombies. They probably would have just killed the mood though.