It was a rainy day and had been raining off and on since that morning. The sky was filled with silver, rain filled clouds. The trees lining the road were drenched in water. The droplets sild from broad leaves and smacked the muddied ground. The road was wet. Everything was wet. The air itself was full of water. A seven year old Unicorn, not even having gotten her cutie mark yet, ran down the street. She had just wanted to play a little and it'd been sunny when she'd gone out! Her fur was soaked and she shivered despite the summer heat. Her wonderfully coiffed purple mane was a mess. All of Mommy's efforts in styling it had gone to waste.
All the curls had been straightened out and it hung limply from her head. She grumbled to herself as she trotted as quickly as she could without breaking into an unladylike gallop. The rain had come up quickly and seemed to have stopped, but she wasn't going to stop running until she was safe, sound and most importantly dry, things she could not have unless she was back home. She longed for her mother's embrace and the wooden hairbrush that would restore her mane to pre-rainstorm glory.
A giggle broke her from her reverie. She stopped. What had that been? A giggle, in this weather? It had sounded like a filly. What could a filly possibly be doing out here? And playing nonetheless? She could not even conceive of why anypony would be playing in this weather, unless they were a dirty colt who didn't know any better. (Colts were icky and had cooties.) That hadn't sounded like a colt.
There was another giggle. This time it was unmistakable. Her hooves twitched, preparing to return to her trotting. Since this was an emergency situation she even considered breaking out into a gallop.
Curiosity stopped her and she turned around. To her astonishment, there was another filly outside. She gaped. The filly was orange, her mane a beautiful golden color. Rarity could only stare as the Earth Pony splashed all in the mud, gleefully rolling around in it. Wild laughter broke from her lips as she splashed the mud.
Mud covered her fur, staining it. Her mane was splattered in it. Rarity gaped.
"Darling! What in the world are you doing?" Rarity tossed away what her mommy's magazine said about being ladylike and galloped over to the clearly deranged filly. "You're ruining your lovely mane!"
The mane was loose, spilling over her withers. She tossed it back. "Ah, shucks. My mane is fine. There's nothin' more fun than splashin' in mud!"
Rarity's jaw fell up and down. She glanced down the road. She should just run. Why stick around?
The orange filly grinned and laid back. The mud cradled her. "Come on in."
She was completely relaxed and clearly she wasn't joking. Rarity bit her lip.
The other filly rolled her eyes and grabbed her forelegs. Rarity screamed as she was yanked horn first into the mud pit. The thick, goopy substance wrapped all around her. She yanked back with a scream which only elicited laughter from her tormentor.
"You uncouth ruffian!" She struck the mud, sending droplets of wet dirt against the other filly's face. "You-you unladylike, ne'er-do-well!"
"I'm Applejack, by the way!" She shouted through laughter, gathering up clods of mud to toss into her face. "And I ain't no lady!"
"Well I am!" Rarity's horn lit up and deflected the incoming mud missiles. They struck the dead center of Applejack's face. Rather than squeal in outrage, this assault only brought more laughter. The mud was gritty, slimy, sliding down her face, covering her body.
Applejack was unperturbed by the constant assault of mud. Rarity directed her weapons, scooped up from the puddle, smacking Applejack with the mud. Applejack gave as good as she got pulling up the mud with surprising speed and flinging the balls as quickly as Rarity could gather them up in her magic.
A particularly large clod struck her right in the muzzle. Peals of laughter broke out of Applejack. "You should see your face right now."
"Oh, it is ON you big bully!"
With those words, she ripped up multiple clods of mud, bearing down on the hapless filly. They stung where they struck and Applejack yelped. "Hey now, I was just playin' around! Is that how it's gonna be?"
Applejack charged, knocking down Rarity. The clods of mud fell back to the earth and Applejack kept her forelegs around Rarity. Rarity squirmed and kicked, knocking Applejack back into the puddle so she was on top of her. Applejack yelped as the mud squished up around her.
"Say uncle, ruffian!"
"I told you, my name is Applejack, you prissy...priss!"
"That didn't even make sense!"
"Your face doesn't make sense!"
"Excuse me?! My face is a work of art!"
Applejack grunted and pushed up, throwing Rarity down.
Suddenly, Rarity laughed. Then, she stopped.
"See, I told ya! It is fun!"
A slow blush spread across Rarity's alabaster face. "I..."
"Come on, just admit it." Applejack's hoof threateningly hovered over Rarity's stomach.
Rarity's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare! Eee!"
Applejack ran over a particularly sensitive spit. "Say it!"
"Alright! Alright! This was...somewhat fun."
No matter how much she squirmed, she just couldn't seem to throw Applejack off. Applejack held her down. "Was that so bad?"
Rarity lit up her horn and grunted. Applejack flew off and fell into the mud. Rarity pounced atop her, keeping her magical grip on her, and started throwing clods of mud onto her exposed belly. Applejack shrieked, making a sound midway between a guffaw and a howl.
Applejack bucked her hips and Rarity was tossed away again, her magic not strong enough yet to challenge innate Earth Pony strength. She threw herself on Rarity, dug her right hoof into the mud while keeping Rarity down with her left hoof. Rarity bucked wildly, but was helpless against the barrage of mud that stormed down on her.
She couldn't help it this time. Each time a clod of mud fell on her belly, an answering chuckle tore from her throat.
This was not how ladies conducted themselves.
But boy was it fun!
At last, Applejack stopped. Golden rays poured through the clouds, filling the town with light. She extended a hoof and pulled Rarity up.
Rarity frowned. "I'm absolutely filthy aren't I?"
Applejack looked down to her hooves. "You ain't gonna be in trouble, are ye?"
"No. Mommy will just make me take a bath. And I quite enjoy baths. You?"
"Same. Would you like to do this again sometime?"
Rarity bit her lip. "Perhaps."
Applejack scratched at the ground. "Uh, I'm sorry. I do this. I get a mite stubborn and, um, sorry I pulled you in."
Rarity hesitated, then nuzzled her. "It's quite alright."
Applejack brightened. "You gotta be home right now?"
"No, I suppose not."
"Would you like to go eat some apples?"
"Certainly."
Applejack turned tail and started down the street. Rarity followed her.