Applejack reared up and gave the apple tree a solid buck, pleased at the soft thumps of fresh ripe apples falling into the proper barrels. No matter how many times she heard their soft plink, it never stopped filling her with a sense of pride. The sun was getting low as the orange mare wiped the sweat from her brow.
“Where is that derned Apple Bloom?” The farm mare asked herself as she carried the barrel to the wagon, loaded the harness up and walked back to the barn. Apple Bloom would get such a stern talking to.
She could hear excited chattering from the other side of the barn doors. “I tell ya! Applejack is the best pony out there!” It was the excited voice of her younger sister.
Maybe not too stern. Applejack blushed at the praise. She still needs to learn her responsibilities. She’s still a youngin’ and needs to have some fun. Not like I didn’t do the same as a filly.
The earth pony opened the barn doors to see the yellow filly bucking a post, miss and fall onto her snout. Apple Bloom rubbed her nose, eyes growing at seeing her sister.
Before she knew what was happening, three excited fillies surrounded her and started jumping, all asking question at the same time.
“Now ya’ll calm down. One at a time.” Applejack pleaded, cart only halfway in the barn. Chuckling at their enthusiasm.
“Have you ever kicked a tree so hard it broke?” Asked the light orange pegasus.
“How many trees can you buck in an hour?” Asked the yellow earth pony.
“How often do you make new recipes?” Asked the white unicorn.
She blinked against the onslaught. They had kept to one at a time, just one after the other. “Only time I evar broke a tree was when it had completely rotten through from a wood nymph infestation. I nevr counted how many trees ah buck. And we are always makin small changes to recipes.”
“Ooh ooh ooh!!! Can I get one for apple pie???” Sweetie Belle asked in her high and squeaky voice.”
“A’course” Applejack pushed through the young fillies to put the applecart in the back. “Do you happen ta know where Rarity is? She was s’pposed to help with that new cider recipe for one of them fancy shindigs a hers.”
“We should go ask Rarity now if we really want to find out who’s better!” Scootaloo jumped into the air, wings keeping her afloat for only a few seconds.
“Hold it right there missy.” But the young ponies were gone on a flash of color, wagon trailed scooter bolted down the road. “Wonder what that was all about.” Applejack unloaded the apples. Dagnabbit Apple Bloom, Big Mac ain’t here to help and this is the busiest week a the year.
***
“I know exactly what you mean darling, now hold still.” Rarity muttered as she levitated straight pins around Applejack and the beginnings of a dress. “They stormed in here asking all sorts of questions. As if a dress could be compared by time taken and not quality. Quite like that delightful cider of yours.” She laughed. “Unfortunately I am so overwhelmed with orders and now my sewing machine is missing seems to have disappeared.”
Rarity’s design room was even more chaotic than usual. Stacks of fabric had toppled over, a dress form sat on its side, and the start of a fancy dress could be seen tossed on her bed with the pattern nearby.
“I know whatcha mean.” Applejack fidgeted under the rolls of fabric. “Lost an apple cart and some barrels of apples. We almos done here?”
“Don’t make me throw an apple at you.” The unicorn threatened. “Now stand still or this dress will be sewn to your flank.” Rarity reached out for her burgundy thread. “Now where did that thread go?”
***
The room spun. Rarity collapsed onto her bed. The last dress order had been finished; it now sat downstairs waiting for the mailmare. “No more triple…orders…” She moaned. Reality was fading, not needing her eyemask to fall asleep.
Scootaloo burst into the boutique, sweat poured over her face, leaving streaks in her orange fur. “Rarity! Sweetie Belle needs your help at Applejack’s farm!”
The unicorn’s heart nearly collapsed. Adrenaline and pure need had kept her awake the past few days, now it was pure panic as she ran to Sweet Apple Acres. She outpaced the scooter and ran through more than one mud puddle.
Sweetie would never ask for help, at least not from her sister. Rarity knew the small pony looked up to her, wanted her approval and wanted independence. Their tastes were different, they couldn’t always connect but they loved each other. And so the mare ran with everything she had.
Rarity got to the farm and knew her mane was a windswept mess and her pristine white coat flaked with dirt. Her eyes darted between the trees, looking for the destruction that always followed the three fillies’ crusading attempts. Scootaloo turned off and Rarity followed in close pursuit.
They burst through into an open field behind the orchards. Two paths were carved throughout the field, matching each other, and followed the same path. Every couple dozen yards were objects, carts filled with bushels of apples, two sewing machines stacked up with fabric at another, one even contained a pile of books.
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom jumped, waving their hooves to get her attention. Applejack stood next to them, pique and dour. Rarity slowed to a trot and glared at her younger sister.
“Sweetie Belle, I love you dearly, but you know you are not to take my things without asking. This was supposed to be my day off.” Rarity whined, walking towards the three.
“But this way you don’t have to worry about getting dirty!” Sweetie jumped, as if this were the most glorious idea ever.
“We were real careful with your things.” The pegasus piped in from her scooter.
“Apple Bloom! You know not to take things that don’t belong to you.” Applejack stood near her sister, a look of complete disappointment crossed her face.
“We needed to know who had the bestest sister though.”
“Is that what this has all been about?” Rarity asked, wooziness returning. “What have I told you about bragging?”
“You brag about yourself all the time though!” Sweetie yelled back, voice shrill to the sensitive ears of the tired mare.
“I kno I taught you better, Apple Bloom.” The older sister scolded. “You don’t go ‘round braggin’. Everypony can do things you can’t.”
“Exactly!” Rarity added her voice. “You need to take ponies for who they are and admire them for that.”
“We’re sorry.” The three fillies said at once, their heads bowed in the same manner despite not being at the same spots.
“You know AB you have a really good sister.”
“Not as good as you do SB.”
Applejack and Rarity exchanged worried glances as the argument started anew.
Author's Note
My next prompt, it must be over 1750 words: Rarity gets a letter from a secret admirer. Genres: romance and comedy. Expect it in two weeks. It was be a direct sequel to this one. Love a good challenge.
