Dominant Ideal

"Hello, mister! A glass of the tastiest lemonade in Equestria?" The white unicorn was standing behind the small crate that was acting as their sales table, holding her forehooves on the Cutie Mark Crusader cape, or in this case, the tablecloth.

"Well now, tastiest in ALL of Equestria you say?" replied the earth pony with a familiar hourglass covering his flank. Next to him, a confused young pegasus was trying to keep her eyes on a small bumblebee that was flying around her head.

"Uh-huh! We made it ourselves!" added the orange pegasus filly.

"In that case, I rather think I shall give it a try, now shan't I? Ms. Doo? Would you care for one too?"

"Does it come in muffin flavor?"

"Ehm... I believe the fact it's called 'lemonade' might actually hint of a taste of a more... lemony persuasion?"

"I like lemon muffins too!"

"I believe that'll be two glasses then. And how much do I owe you lovely young ladies for these beverages?"

"That'll be a bit for a glass, but I'll make a special offer for you! For three bits you get a free refill!" Sweetie Belle's expression had turned into one of certain cunning and business savvy. Or she might have been squinting.

"I see. And one might assume the offer expires as soon as this refreshment — fit for the Royal Pony Sisters, no doubt — passes my lips?"

"Yeah, cos you're gonna have to pay double for the second mug, pops."

"SCOOTALOO! That's not how you milk a customer for bits."

"But when they chug down the first glass, they just CAN'T NOT drink another!"

"Uggh... your grammar is almost as bad as your sales pitches."

"Hey Miss Dictionary! I'm one of the best pitchers in our school's softball team!"

"Is that what Miss Roseluck told you when you went to get your ball back from her greenhouse?"

"SHH! She never found out!"

Remembering their customers, the orange pony quickly turned her head in their direction while holding a forehoof behind her head.

"Ehh... you didn't hear that last part, right? Hehe."

"It'll be our little secret, young ladies."

"Thanks, pops. So how about the offer?"

"Let's just do the more traditional bit-a-glass offer for me and my friend."

"Coming right up!"

The two customers took their drinks, and after only a slight hesitation, downed them. A smile spread across their faces, one of content on the earth stallion's face, a more distant on the blonde-maned pegasus'.

"So? Did you like it?" asked the white unicorn.

"I must admit that I didn't expect such a taste from your products. You might be onto something with your claims of superiority."

The two fillies looked at each other in confusion.

"Was that a yes?"

"I believe it was."

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER LEMONADE BREWERS YAY!" the screaming fillies bolted up from behind their makeshif stand and high-hoofed each other. They then smacked their uplifted rumps together and turned to face their beleaguered customer.

"See anything nice? What does it look like?"

"I am not quite sure what you are asking but all I see is two fillies showing me their... ehm... bums."

"So no cutie mark?"

"I'm afraid not."

"OAWWW," the fillies grumbled in unison.

"Well... I'm sorry but I believe I need to go... over... there and... yes. Have a lovely day at the beach, ladies."

"Yeah. You too. And tell your friends!" The small white unicorn waved after them. After she was sure they were out of earshot, she swiftly gave a sharp swat on the pegasus' backside with her tail.

"Yeouch. Why'd you do that for?" the orange filly asked in surprise.

"You almost lost us our first customers because you were so greedy."

"Well sorry, Miss Business, but I need the bits for a new helmet."

"You still shouldn't treat customers like that! My sister always tells me to let the product speak for itself and make the customer want it! And also to make sure they like you so they come back to buy more. And you always hafta smile!"

"You're taking this awfully serious, Sweetie."

"Business is business, and bits is bits. That's what my sis always says."

"Fine, fine. You can do the sales pitches for now," she gave her behind a quick rub. "You didn't have to smack me though."

"I'm supposed to make sure you behave, right? Just make sure you don't cause us to lose any customers, or your butt's really gonna be sore." Sweetie Belle gave the cringing pegasus a wicked smile. She couldn't help but notice that the pegasus' wings had once more risen up, like she was flaring them. "Scoots, you're all stiff again."

"Shut up," came the angry answer.

"Huh?"

"It's a pegasus thing, okay?"

"Mmmh... fiiiine," the unicorn answered with a drawn-out voice, and added to herself. "You never tell me anything."

As they turned back to their stall, two of their pegasus classmates landed nearby, apparently on their way to the sandy beach.

"Rumble! Featherweight! How about some delicious lemonade?" shouted Sweetie.

The colts stopped cold in their tracks and turned to look at the stall. Sweetie immediately saw the two pegasi look wide-eyed at Scootaloo's wings. As they walked closer, their wings started unfurling as well, and a small blush rose on both of their faces.

"Hi Sweetie Belle. Didn't... see you there. Hi... ummm... Scootaloo," called the pale pegasus colt with the permanently windswept mane. The thinner pegasus just just gave a small wave at them.

"Pip and Chowder not with you today?" queried the unicorn.

"Nnnh," was all she could get out of the blushing colts, who were still staring at Scootaloo.

"Yoo-hoo. Ponyville to Cloudsdale, anyone there?"

"Oh. Yeah. Sorry. We'll we gotta be going. To the beach. To swim. At the... Yeah. Well... bye!" Rumble managed, while Featherweight only gave a weak smile. They both dashed off before Sweetie could say anything more to them. When the two pegasi got away to where they thought they couldn't be heard anymore, Sweetie caught Rumble saying in a raised voice: "Nu-uh. She was SO looking at my wings and not yours." The rest of the conversation was lost to her as they vanished from sight behind a few parasols.

"What was that all about. Any idea, Scoots?" she asked her severely blushing friend.

"Why'd you have to smack me! That was SO embarrassing!" The orange pony was blushing like mad as she faced the other way.

"Wha? They couldn't have seen that!"

"I'm not talking about that!"

"What in Equestria is wrong with you, Scoots?"

"Nothing... just. Argh." The pegasus had finally gotten her wings back down and was approaching her normal color.She poured herself a glass of lemonade and drank it down greedily.

"Hey! Don't mess with the stock! We only have that jug and the few bottles we could make. It's gotta last the whole day."

"I was thirsty, okay?"

Sweetie Belle could only throw her forehooves in the air. "Sometimes I think you're a colt and not a filly, cos I sure can't make any sense of you."

The business wasn't actually booming, but several ponies came over to their stand and were positively surprised by their drinks. Both of the fillies had ample time to go swimming while the other was minding the stall. For some reason all the sales seemed to be coming from the times when Sweetie was at the helm, while the lemonade still kept vanishing at the same rate between the both of them. The sun was almost at it's zenith and Scootaloo was doing her shift when she spied two familiar ponies coming over.

"Heya, squirt!"

"Omigosh. Rainbow Dash. Uhm. Hi Rainbow Dash!" the flustered filly said.

"Ahm here too, sugarcube," came the amused voice of the earth pony.

"Sorry! I didn't mean... Hi Miss Applejack!"

"Now lis'n here ya lil' varmint. There ain't gonna be no more namecallin' like that y' hear? It's just Applejack an' that's final!"

"Sorry... I didn't mean to—"

"It's all right, sugarcube," the orange earth pony said with another smile. "How's the business coming along?"

"Okay I guess. Could be better."

"Ah remember when ah was your age ah used to—"

"Who cares! Your stuff any good?" the cyan pegasus cut in.

"Yeah... I mean... I think?"

"Well then, hit me, squirt."

"Wha? Why'd I wanna hit you?"

The older pegasus slammed a hoof onto her forehead.

"What. I. Mean. Is: Pour. Me. A. Glass. Of. Lemonade," she said, stopping after every word to make sure the little pegasus could follow.

"Oh. OH! Coming right up!"

The cyan pegasus took a deep swig of the beverage, and slammed the glass back on the table. "Wow. That's actually really good. Didn't think you had it in you."

A small blush was starting to appear on the filly's face from getting compliments from her idol. "Thanks! But... we kinda made it together with Sweetie Belle. She's swimming right now."

"I think I'll have another, then."

As the pegasus downed her second glass, she continued: "So any cutie mark yet?"

Scootaloo turned around to show her bare flank to the older mares. "Nu-uh. STILL nothing!" her voice was laced with dark desperation and frills of panic.

"Now don'tcha be worrying about it like that. Y'all are sure to get yours in time. Now why don't you two jus' go have some fun an' not bother with your cutie marks?"

"I guess we could. And we can't really crusade with Apple Bloom being grounded and all."

"Oh that? She ain't grounded no more. Just got a case of some belly aches, that's all. Ah'm sure she'll be coming around The Clubhouse before you can say 'Ah told you to wash your hooves before dinner, lil' missy.'"

"Maybe we should come and visit her?"

"Ah reckon y'all just better steer clear for now. Wouldn't want you catching the same as what AB's having. She's barely had time to rest from runnin' to the outhouse and back for two days now, and she's got a mighty nasty fever to boot."

"That... doesn't sound like fun."

"You ain't just whistlin' dixie. Well lookie here. There come's your pardner in crime. Heya Sweetie!" The farmpony gave an energetic hail with her hoof to the small unicorn who was coming back to the stall with her mane and tail still hanging down wet.

"Hello Applejack. Rainbow Dash."

"Yo," the rainbow-maned pegasus answered finishing her glass of lemonade. "You've got some really great stuff here."

"Thanks. We worked real hard to make it yesterday."

"Well nothing tastes better than good lemonade after a swim. I must've drank at least five glasses by now," the pegasus said proudly.

"That'll be five bits then, please."

Rainbow Dash's ears perked up and her eyes popped wide. "Five... bits? I have to pay for this?"

Sweetie motioned at the sign next to the stall, declaring that the lemonaded did, indeed, come at the price of a bit per glass.

"But... I thought that you were just here trying to earn a cutie mark—"

"AND make some bits," answered the unicorn filly. Her friend was already blushing next to her, while the orange farm pony was seemingly enjoying the scene.

"Could you... maybe forget the cost for just this once? I mean I didn't bring any bits with me and—"

"ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE MOST FAMOUS PEGASUS IN PONYVILLE, RAINBOW DASH, WOULD NOT PAY FOR DRINKING OUR LEMONADE?" shouted Sweetie Belle in her high-pitched voice. Several heads along the beach turned to see what was happening, while the cyan pegasus waved her hooves in front of her while trying to shush the filly.

"Nononono! Of course! I'll pay. Just no more shouting!"

"Okay. So where are our bits?"

"Like I told you, I don't have any with me," the pegasus mare said, but before Sweetie could raise her voice again, she continued: "BUT I have an idea! Why don't you become my sponsors?"

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SPONSORS YAY!" The eager fillies shouted in unison. "What's a sponsor?"

"If I don't have to pay for the drinks, I'll tell everyone I meet how good your lemonade was, and they'll come running over and buy your lemonade."

"Like who?" asked the white unicorn filly.

"Well... umm... people I meet today."

"What are you going to do today then?" Sweetie's face had turned into a frown.

"Well... I was gonna go take a nap and maybe practice a few tricks and then i have the evening shift at weather patrol."

"So you're gonna sleep and fly around all day? Who are you going to tell about lemonade?"

"Well, I, uhh—"

"And what's more, you drank five glasses of lemonade, which means for us to make a profit, we'd need to sell at least six glasses. We don't have that much left."

"I... errr... "

"And don't go forgettin' the rainstorm coming in an hour or so, RD," added the laughing earth pony.

"There's gonna be a rainstorm?" asked Scootaloo.

"There sure is. That's why everypony's at the beach so early. It's gonna pour down soon."

"So... Rainbow Dash is going to tell six ponies to come buy our lemonade, while we make more with no ingredients, and she's gonna do it while she's napping? I don't think I'm liking this whole sponsor thing," the white filly said with a very menacing frown.

"Psst! Sweetie!" the orange pegasus pulled her friends ear to her mouth. "You sure we can't just, you know, forget the money? It's RAINBOW DASH! I mean... we'd be so famous if she even told one pony—"

"No, Scootaloo. She's just trying to avoid paying us," the unicorn whispered back. She looked the cyan pegasus directly in the eyes and said: "Five bits, please."

"But... but... I don't... " the grown up pegasus turned to look at her stetson-headed friend with a pleading expression. "Applejack?"

"Hmh? Was there something?"

"Could... you maybe lend me some bits? I'll pay you back from my next pay."

"Ah dunno. It's been a real tight month being the summer and all, and you already owe me quite a sum."

"I know! But this is an emergency. P-Please?" The cyan pegasus was already groveling in the grass with her forehooves outstretched to the earth pony's hooves."

"Oh shucks. Ah'll pay for you today. But you'll owe me for this, RD."

"Thank you thank you thank you! You're such a good friend, AJ."

"Y'all can thank me later when you come over to the farm and help me with Apple Bloom's chores now that she's sick."

"C-chores?" the pegasus asked with trepidation.

"Eeyup. Mowin' tha lawn, fixin' a fence, why I even think some of the ol' pigstyes need a good mucking and cleaning."

"You wouldn't make me, the fastest pegasus in Equestria, do... farm chores?"

"Well you're mighty welcome to pay your dues to these fine young fillies here."

With no way to talk herself out of her predicament, the cyan pegasus could only hang her head and mutter something about the world always being unfair for super-awesome ponies..

"Now maybe y'all will think twice before tryin' to take advange of other's kindness y'hear?"

"What are you now, my mom?" the pegasus grumbled.

"Nah, but ah wouldn't mind havin' a few words with her sometimes on how her daughter's actin'"

Applejack removed her hat and from somewhere inside produced six bits and put them on the table. She then poured herself a glass and drank it down slowly, all the while looking at her grumbling pegasus friend.

"You know what, girls? This is some mighty fine lemonade you've made. Maybe when the applebuckin' season kicks off I'll ask you two to come and make our workers some appleade?"

"Wow. You'd do that?" Sweetie asked, her voice breaking out of surprise.

"Ah sure would. But you two better mosey on someplace inside. It's gonna rain harded than that time Apple Bloom tried to build a waterbed in her room."

"We will! And thank you for your pardonage!" the unicorn filly shouted after them.

The fillies soon got to work packing their remaining stock and the crate onto Scootaloo's scooter-wagon, and headed for The Clubhouse.

"I still don't get it, Sweetie," grumbled the orange pegasus.

"What do you not get now?"

"Well... why couldn't we just let Rainbow Dash have the lemonade for free? It was just five bits."

"JUST five bits?" Sweetie stopped to look at her friend. "That's the same I get for allowance in a week! It's a lot of money!"

"It is?"

"Well how much is your allowance, then?"

"I don't have one. Mom just leaves me money when I have to stay home alone. Usually twenty bits or something like that."

"TWENTY BITS?" shouted Sweetie Belle. "And you get this how often?"

"Dunno. Almost every day when she's working."

"Then... then why did you wanna work selling lemonade? I'm sure you've saved a lot."

"Nah. I usually spend it all. I gotta buy food and the rest I use for snacks and comics and stuff."

"Scoots... " the orange pony seemed to completely miss the dangerous undertone in her friend's voice.

"Yeah. That's why today sucked so bad. I mean... we hardly made thirty bits. When we split it between us, I still need another forty for my new helmet. I was kinda hoping we'd make enough selling the lemonade and have some over for snacks but meh. Stupid rainstorm."

"Sucked? I thought today was super fun!"

"Meh. All that work for just dozen bits. Doesn't seem fair."

"Scootaloo, could we make a little detour on the way?"

"Sure. Where are we off to?"

"I think I left something at my sister's place. I think we can make it before the rain starts."

"Cool. So any ideas what we're gonna do today? I was kinda hoping we'd be at the beach the whole day making crazy profits."

"Oh don't worry, Scoots. I know exactly what we're gonna do today..."