Sisters
“Aw, come on!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, throwing her arms to the side. “Why can't I get a turn?!”
“'Cause I jus' got the wagon from Scootaloo!” Applebloom loudly retorted, a breeze blowing across the field and rustling the bow in her hair. “I ain't even had a turn yet!”
“You'll have it all day! I'm only here until sundown!”
“An' a lotta good a wagon'll be when it's dark out!” She put her hands in her overall pockets and gave a roll of her eyes.
“Besides, you're bigger—it'll be easier to pull me!”
Sweetie Belle recoiled with a gasp, then stamped her foot in the grass, pointing a hard finger at the girl. “Are you suggesting I'm fat!?”
“I ain't even said that, sheesh!” Bloom said. Her expression turned devious as she rested a hand on the wagon's handle and glanced past the wooden fence, towards the house. “But if you're the one sayin' it, who am I ta argue?”
“Why you... you...” Sweetie's face contorted in thought. “Clamhead!”
Applebloom scowled, stamping a foot. “Porkface!”
“Dummy!”
“Tubby!”
“Malcontent!”
Applebloom paused. “A what?”
“A jerk!” Sweetie exclaimed.
“Girls!” a haughty, cultured woman's voice proclaimed. Rarity briskly marched from the backdoor of the house, Applejack a pace behind her. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle each shared a glance befitting a man heading towards execution.
“We could hear y'all all the way from the cotton-pickin' laundry room!” AJ said, glowering as she approached the fence. She glanced at both of the girls. “What in the name-a pete's gotten into the both of ya?”
They quickly gestured to one another and spoke at once.
“She won't let me—“
“I jus' got my—“
“Got called fat—“
“What the hay's malcontent mean—“
“That's enough!” Rarity barked, crossing her hands over her chest and tapping at her elbow with one of her well-manicured violet nails. “I have not a care in the slightest who started the bickering, simply stop. Now.”
They solemnly nodded. After a beat, Applejack rolled her eyes and tilted her worn stetson back. “How 'bout y'all grab a snack inside? Got some apple juice an' crackers with yer names on it.” She glanced at the wagon. “After that, maybe me an Rare'll tug ya 'round some.”
They broke into a wide grin, blowing past the two woman and sprinting to the house. Rarity gave a good-natured sigh.
“I have no idea how you can placate them so quickly, darling.”
AJ smirked, moving a bit closer and putting a hand on Rarity's shoulder. “Practice makes perfect, sug. Ya jus' keep drillin' it inta them that ya mean business, an' eventually it sticks with 'em.”
Rarity smiled, the sun all but radiating the beauty's violet hair and dazzling smile. “I suppose that stubborn nature of yours comes in handy on occasion,” she conceded, entwining her hand with Applejacks and giving a small, preditory half-smile. “However, it's not without its faults.”
Applejack paused, narrowing her brow. “Oh boy. This should be good.” She held back from going for the throat. “What kinda faults?”
“Why,” Rarity began, glancing towards the children running toward the steps of the house. “Think about where Applebloom got her stubborn streak. She just doesn't admit to being wrong, even when she's insulting—“
“Now hold on a dang minute!” AJ replied, taking a step back from the woman. “It's yer lil' 'me first' attitude that's rubbin' off on Sweetie Belle that's the problem! She ain't even given 'Bloom a turn at the wheel!”
“Oh, I suppose your sister calling mine 'fat' was the way to go there?” she questioned, her eyes holding heat.
“Yer the one with the sister that called mine 'malcontent!' The hay that even mean?!”
“A person who's dissatisfied or rebellious—a troublemaker.”
The farmer paused, the building tension all but vapor in the air as Applejack laughed. “Eyup. Sounds 'bout like me an' Bloom. We're like peas in a pod!”
Rarity's brow twitched. She wasn't sure if Applejack's nature made her want to kiss or slap the woman sometimes. Finally, she decided on grabbing the other by the waist.
“Come on, dear,” the tailor said. “I'm sure the girls are waiting for you to pull their wagon around.”
AJ complied, walking in-step with the other towards the house before frowning. “Wait. Are ya sayin' ya ain't gonna help me?”
“Well, there's all that dirt and I just got my nails done, dear...” Rarity trailed off, playing with the necklace she wore. “Besides. I know you'd enjoy it far more than me—I'm not built for such physical excursion, after alEdit: Forgot my prompt word, oh shi--
n—“
“Another day in paradise,” Applejack grumbled to herself.
Next prompt: Mirrors