//------------------------------// // The Fight // Story: Trouble With a Treble // by Clover Skies //------------------------------// It was a scorching hot summer day in the bustling town of Ponyville. Dozens of ponies were trotting about the streets of Ponyville, buying products from local carts and stores. The fillies were playing outside. It was almost summer vacation, so the fillies didn’t have much homework. Three little fillies- Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, also known as the “Cutie Mark Crusaders”- were chatting amongst each other. “Maybe we should go swimming at Applebloom’s pool!” Scootaloo suggested. “Great idea, Scootaloo! Maybe swimming is our special talent!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “C’mon, y’all! Ah know Granny Smith won’t mind- she’s probably knitting. Big Mac will probably be in the fields buckin’ apples… and AJ is out with her friends. Last one there is a rotten apple!” The Cutie Mark Crusaders bolted through town. Scootaloo was first to arrive at the glistening pool. “That ain’t fair, Scoots! You gotta use your scooter!” Applebloom panted. “Haha, you never said anything about not using scooters!” Scootaloo laughed. “You really are like your big sister, Scootaloo…!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, arriving last. “HEY! Nopony insults MY sister! At least I’m not the sister of some fashion-obsessed snob…” “It wasn’t an insult. Well, it wasn’t really a compliment. I guess it was a… compliminsult? And touche… hey! Nopony calls Rarity a “fashion-obsessed snob”! She is anything BUT a snob. You take that back, you… you…!” “Ha! You can’t even think of a good comeback!” “Were you born on the highway, ‘cause that’s where most accidents happen!” Scootaloo opened her mouth to say something, but instead she closed it and looked despondently at the ground. “Hey, hey, hey! Calm down! Friends don’t fight!” Applebloom said, giving the quarreling fillies a disapproving look. "Let's go swimmin’!" “Yeah, I guess you’re ri-” Scootaloo began, but was interrupted when Applebloom pushed an unsuspecting Scootaloo into the cool, refreshing pool. “Applebloom!” Scootaloo yelled happily as she grabbed Applebloom’s leg and pulled her in. “Wah!” Applebloom yelled. Sweetie Belle stood laughing on the edge of the pool. She felt a bit like a third wheel when Scootaloo and Applebloom were playfully splashing each other- that is until Applebloom pulled her in. The three fillies splashed each other for a long time, until Scootaloo spoke up. “Hey girls, we came here to swim. So let’s do it!” “Ya! Okay, first one to the end of the pool wins!” Sweetie exclaimed. “Alrighty. Ready… set… GO!” The three fillies raced to the other side of the long pool. “Huzzah! I win!” Scootaloo cheered just as Applebloom followed Scootaloo. “Nice job, Scoots! Sweetie Belle is only half-way here…” “Yeah. She isn’t as athletic as us.” Applebloom didn’t respond. All 3 of the fillies were growing up and developing new personality traits. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were developing a small trace of sassiness. Scootaloo started to be a bit more defensive and assertive. She also didn’t think too much before she spoke. Scootaloo’s budding feistiness was beginning to worry Applebloom. “Woohee!” Sweetie Belle panted as she finally arrived at the end of the pool. “You guys are really fast!” “Thanks!” Applebloom and Scootaloo said in unison. “Hey, do you know what time it is?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Uh, I think around 1:30 or 2. Why?” Applebloom asked. “Oh, I gotta get to a singing recital! It starts at 3. I better go! Do you guys wanna come?” Sweetie Belle said, hopping out of the pool. “Naw, I can’t. Rainbow is gonna give me flying lessons later today. But thanks for the invite!” The pegasus said. “Sorry, Sweetie. I can’t come either. AJ and I are gonna buck apples.” “Okay, bye guys!” “Bye!”