//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Sisterverse Social // by brokenimage321 //------------------------------// “AJ! They’re almost here!” cried Apple Bloom. Applejack looked up and smiled. Apple Bloom stood on a branch high in one of the apple trees, shading her eyes and looking out towards the road leading into town. “C’mon, AB,” she said, “get down from there. They know the way, they’ll make it—” With a rustling of leaves, Pinks appeared on the branch beside Apple Bloom, her mane tied back in a red bandana. Applejack’s eyes widened. “Ooo!” Pinks squealed, bouncing up and down on the branch, which was already groaning under their combined weight. “There’s lotsa ponies this year, Jackie!” she cried in heedless enthusiasm, “I even see a couple pegasusses!” “Pink Pearl Apple!” Applejack roared. “You get down here this instant, before you fall and hurt—” “I ain’t gonna fall,” Pinks said indignantly from beside her. Applejack yelped and looked over at her sister, who stood two feet to her left, with a grave, earnest expression on her face. “I don’t never fall,” Pinks continued, as if nothing had happened. “I’m real good at climbin’ trees. Aint’cha noticed?” Applejack made a strangled sort of noise, then looked from her sister to the tree where she’d been standing not two seconds before—with Apple Bloom sliding, chagrined, down its trunk—then back to where Pinks still stood, watching her. Applejack decided not to think about it, then turned and walked towards the little craft market they’d set up close to the barn. Granny Smith was sitting at one of the stalls, nodding off, while Big Mac walked the aisles, setting down bales of straw at each stall for seating. A few of the merchants had already arrived, and were laying out their wares. After a half-second, Pinks trotted up beside Applejack and fell into step. “Everythin’ okay, Jackie?” she asked. “You don’t ordinarily mind me climbin’ trees.” “ ‘Course I do,” Applejack snapped. “I always mind when you’re actin’ a right’—” She stopped, then sighed. Applejack shot a furtive glance over at Pinks. If her words had hurt her, she was good enough not to show it. “Sorry,” Applejack added. “S’okay,” Pinkie said simply. The two of them walked in silence for a minute or two. Pinks scanned the little square, making sure that ponies were finding their spots, that all the decorations were in place and perfect, and that all the signs she’d spent weeks painting were just right. Beside her, Applejack plodded along with her head down, silent. After a minute, Pinks glanced over at Applejack. Applejack was good at everything, just like a big sister should be—but the one thing she wasn’t good at was stress. Anything out of the normal would get her linens all in a twist. With her linens twisted up, she had a hard time thinking straight. And, though she was good at hiding her feelings, Pinks could tell she wasn’t exactly in the best of moods at the moment. Pinks sighed. She knew that, as much as Applejack loved the farm, and as much as she loved her family, and all the traditions they had… she didn’t exactly truck with all this party nonsense. Not when there was real work to be done around the place. They walked in silence a little longer, before Pinks looked over at Applejack. “Hey,” she said, “if y’want, you could run the Obstacle Race with Bloom.” “Huh?” said Applejack, jerking her head up. Pinks shrugged. “I know y’miss it,” she said. “And I know you kinda need to stretch your legs a little.” She smiled, her eyes twinkling. “I know it was me and Bloom who was s’posed to run,” she said, “but if you want my spot, it’s yours.” Applejack stared at her blankly for several seconds, before breaking into a smile. “That sounds… real nice,” she said. “If you’re sure.” Pinks nodded. “I’m sure,”  she said. “Anythin’ for my bestest sister.” Applejack dabbed at her eyes. “C’mon, now,” she said. “Don’t go sayin’ that… Bloom might hear ya.” “Ah, I’ll make it up to her,” she said. “ ‘Sides, she loves ya, too.” Pinks nudged Applejack. “Now all you gotta do is keep smilin’ like that,” she said, “and everything else will take care a’ itself.” And, despite herself, Applejack smiled a little wider. “See?” Pinks said. “Just like that.” * * * “--so then, I went and saw the Princess, and she gave me a book on Crystal Resonance—” Radiance sniffed and straightened her sun hat, then stepped off the train. Behind her came her big brother, Shining Armor, and, prancing along beside him, little Twilight, who hadn’t shut her foundering mouth since the moment they’d got on at the Canterlot station. It was adorable, in its own way—but it ceased to be entertaining after about fifteen minutes. The train ride had been an hour and a half. Behind the two of them came their parents, followed closely by Spike and Moonlight Serenade, both chattering excitedly. “Pfft,” Spike was saying, “one whole pie? I bet I could eat two—!” Mother snorted, then looked back at the two of them. “If you think I’m going to give you money for a whole pie for yourself—” “I’ve been saving my allowance,” Spike added quickly. “Me, too!” Serenade piped up. Mother rolled her eyes. “Well, if that’s what you want to spend your money on… but remember,” she added, with a look at Serenade, “you and Twiley were going to run that Obstacle Race later on, Serenade—and they usually have a pie-eating contest as one of the events. You don’t want to fill up too early and not be able to run with Twilight, after all—” “That’s right!” Twilight cut in. “I’ve been practicing. This year, we’re gonna win! So anyway,” she said, turning back to Shiny, “Princess Celestia said that, since I’m an eighth grader now, she could start teaching me more advanced spells, like Bigby’s Bucking Hoof—” Radiance, trying to ignore her little sister’s prattle, glanced around. She spotted a knot of strapping young stallions, then stopped, waited for her family to walk past her, and waved. Two of the stallions ignored her, but the third waved back. She flashed him a winning smile, then turned and trotted to catch up with her family. And watched in horror as they walked straight through a mud puddle. Spike yelped and clambered up on Serenade’s back, but the others clomped right on through without stopping, like the uncultured swine that Radiance secretly suspected they all were. Radiance edged her way up to the puddle, then shot a spark from her horn. An ice-blue hexagon of glowing magic spread across the puddle, shimmering in the sunlight. Radiance let out a self-satisfied little noise, then trotted across it and up alongside Shining Armor. She caught up just as they crossed the bridge over the river onto the Sweet Apple Acres property, the river below flowing deep and fast. Shiny, with Twilight still bounding eagerly beside him, looked up and shot Radiance a smile. “You’ve been practicing those tricks I told you,” he said, over Twilight’s chatter. “I have,” Radiance admitted. “Well,” he said, “energy shields do run in the family—” “And then, I asked the Princess if she had a book on ley lines, and—” “Twiley, darling,” Radiance snapped. “Could you possibly quiet down for one minute? Shiny and I are trying to have a conversation.” “It’s fine,” Shiny began, “I kinda—” Twilight’s eyes flashed. “So are we!” she snapped. “I would hardly call detailing the contents of your personal library a conversation,” Radiance shot back. “Besides, don’t you do anything but read? And, of course, I’m not counting your obsession with—” she sniffed daintily “--your pulp adventures.” Twilight snarled. “Daring Do is not pulp!” she spat. “Besides, Daring Do is better than Shadow Spade!” Radiance whipped her head around. “She is not!” she cried, her sunglasses slipping down her face. “Shadow is a brave and mature detective, not some glorified tomb raider.” Twilight’s eyes flashed. “Oh yeah?” she cried back. “You just like her because you want to be a cop when you grow up!” “What does that mean for you, then?” Radiance snapped. “That you want to play in the dirt for the rest of your life?” Twilight’s eyes flashed. “At least Daring Do isn’t one of those saddle-rippers you read!” she spat. Mother turned and shot them an incredulous look, but Twilight was still going strong. “Those books are just--gross!” Radiance pressed her face up against Twilight’s, her eyes blazing. “You take that back, you little snot!” she hissed. Twilight opened her mouth to respond, but Mother stepped between them. “Girls,” she snapped. “We are going to the Sisterhooves Social. I will not let you tear each other’s throats out over books.” “But they’re not just books,” Twilight whined, “they’re—” Mother shot her a glare, and Twilight stammered to a stop. Mother looked up at the two of them. “Now, please,” she said, her voice strained at the edges, “let’s go and have a good time. And, if you don’t think you can do that, I’ll send you home right now. Don’t try me.” She looked up at Radiance. “And I think,” she added, “that we’ll need to have a discussion regarding what exactly it is you keep in your library, young lady.” Radiance harrumphed, then turned and walked away, nose in the air. Mother looked helplessly at Father, who shrugged, then hurried to catch up to her. * * * Flyby landed in the center of the market square, a little too hard, and stumbled forward several paces before she could stop herself. She pushed her flight goggles up onto her forehead, then stood there, breathing hard. Flyby glanced around, and noticed that a few of the merchants were already staring at her. Her eyes grew wide, and her breathing quickened-- “You okay, Fly?” Rainbow said, landing delicately beside her. Flyby turned at stared at her blankly for a second, then swallowed, hard. Her breathing slowed, and, finally, she nodded. “Uh-huh,” she added, unnecessarily. Rainbow chuckled a little. “I think you’re just a little too eager to see those chickens of yours, is all,” she said. “Don’t know why,” she added. “They’re just fat, cranky pigeons…” Flyby scowled and turned to Rainbow, but Rainbow just nudged her amiably and shot her a mischievous smile. Flyby sighed, rolled her eyes, and, finally, smiled back. She looked around; though it was still early in the day, most of the stalls already had vendors, and a few ponies were already milling about, checking out the merchandise. One or two of them glanced curiously at the pegasi, but they quickly went back to whatever they were doing. A whoosh and a clatter of hooves signalled the arrival of Windy Whistles, Bow Hothoof, and Surf. Flyby turned to glance at them, and, immediately, Windy yelped. “Ooh, Flee-Bee!” she cried. “Come here, let me fix your mane—” Without waiting for a response, she stepped forward and started fussing with Flyby’s mane. Where she had pushed her goggles up on her forehead, she had scrunched up her mane; Windy frantically tried to tease it out again, twittering anxiously as she did so. Under her touch, Flyby stiffened the slightest bit. Rainbow’s eyes widened, and she stepped forward. “Hey, Mom,” she said, “I got a look at the stalls on the way down. Lots of crafts and stuff. You might want to get going if you want to see everything.” She shot Flyby a smirk. “And I think I saw some of those hoof-painted plates you like—” Windy Whistles squealed, then pranced in place for a step or two. “Bow, she should go!” Windy cried. “They have plates!”  Flyby shot Rainbow another little smile, and Rainbow nodded imperceptibly. Surf groaned dramatically, and the two girls looked at him. “I hope the clerk is hot, at least,” he grumbled. “Then this trip won’t be a complete waste.” Rainbow snarled and stepped forward, but Flyby put out a hoof and stopped her. Flyby turned and met Rainbow’s gaze; as she stared into her sister’s eyes, she took a deep breath, then turned back to Surf. “I don’t think you should talk about mares like that,” Flyby said, her voice quiet and firm. “It’s disrespectful.” Surf scoffed, then rolled his eyes. “Nothing wrong with keepin’ an eye out for babes, Flea-Bag,” he muttered. “I mean, there’s nothin’ better to do...” Rainbow’s eyes flashed. “Surf, be real,” she cut in. “You’re, what—fifteen? And a hundred-twenty pounds, soaking wet?” She smirked. “How many mares d’ya think would want to have some fun with a quality specimen like you?” Surf scowled. “Aw, c’mon,” Bow said, putting a hoof around his shoulders. “Sure, he might not be a catch now--but at least he’s getting some practice in while he’s young, right?” Flyby rolled her eyes again. “Anyways,” Bow said, “Let’s get goin’. Gotta find those plates, after all!” He turned and steered Surfer deeper into the fair, Surf himself shooting his sisters a dirty look over his shoulder, and Windy prancing after them. Flyby took a deep breath, then looked around. “I wonder where the animals are supposed to be,” she said, taking a step forward. “After all, I—” Flyby bumped into something solid, something that grunted in alarm. Flyby leaped back as something crashed to the ground beside her. Rainbow charged up and, standing over her sister’s quivering, whimpering form, snarled. “Wheredaya think you’re goin’, you—you—!” Her eyes widened—and she looked up… and up… and up. “Oh,” she breathed. “Ohh…” The big, red stallion standing in front of them gave Rainbow a slow, contemplative look, colored with the slightest hint of exasperation, then bent down and picked up the barrels he had been carrying. They were only three of them, and they were all empty, but they still couldn’t have weighed less than forty of fifty pounds each. The stallion was picking them up and stacking them carefully on his back as easily as if they had been made of clouds. Flyby swallowed, then shakily stood. She snuck a furtive glance at the stallion, then reached up and pulled her flight goggles partially off her face, letting her tousled mane fall back into its natural peekaboo bang, before letting them snap back on her head. Beside her, Rainbow blushed and let out a girlish giggle. “So… handsome…” she said, tossing her mane, “what’s your name?” “Big Mac,” he grunted. “Big Mac, huh?” Rainbow repeated. “Ee-yup.” “Whatcha up to?” “Settin’ up for the race.” Rainbow’s ears perked up. “The race?” she repeated eagerly. “Ee-yup.” “When’s that?” Rainbow cried. “Later.” Rainbow waited for him to continue, but Big Mac just eyed the two barrels laid crosswise on his back, shifted his balance slightly, then reached for the third. Rainbow licked her lips. “Say, Mac—” she began. “—can I call you Mac?” He glanced at her. “Ee-yup.” Rainbow looked down, feigning shyness. “I—I’ve heard that you guys have some adorable chickens, but I don’t know where I can find them… d’ya think you could… y’know…” she looked up and grinned. “...show us where we can find ‘em?” Big Mac carefully balanced the third barrel on top of the other two, then turned and nodded. “Thataway,” he said. “Can’t miss ‘em.” And, with that, he turned and walked off. Rainbow stood stock-still and watched him go. Flyby, standing beside her, glanced furtively around, then let out a happy sigh. Rainbow looked at her sharply. “What are you doin’ that for?” she snapped. “I saw him first.” Flyby scowled. “Did not,” she shot back. “I ran into him. I saw him first.” “Yeah?” Rainbow retorted. “Well you didn’t say a word to him, I had to do all the work! He’s mine!” The two sisters glared at each other for a long, silent moment--until Flyby took a half-step backwards and lowered her head. Rainbow gave a self-satisfied little snort, then turned and trotted away. Slowly, Flyby raised her eyes and watched her go. A fresh scowl crawled across her face, and a tiny flame sparked behind her eyes. Flyby trotted after her sister. “I saw him first,” she muttered under her breath, her voice high and mocking. “I made a fool out of myself for him. That means I’m special—” Flyby, still muttering, disappeared into the crowd.