Class.
"So... since yer new, where are ya from?" Applejack asked, as she looked next to the new filly sitting beside her on the swings.
What was her name again? Charity?
And as she noticed the little unicorn smile wide in her perfect sort of way, the farm filly couldn't help but feel a bit too low-class as she ran her tongue over the awkward space in her teeth.
In fact, compared to this new pony, she was everything Applejack wasn't.
She spoke with a refined accent, while AJ was getting a little too laidback with her slang.
The new filly wore a classy uniform that looked expensive, even if it wasn't required by the school's rules, and Applejack just had her good 'ole dust-covered Stetson that was a little too big for her.
Every pretty purple strand of the new filly's mane was combed back and carefully tied in a elegant braid, but AJ just liked her simple ponytail that refused to look professional.
"I'm from Canterlot," the new filly spoke up, with a bit of a flourish in her tone of her voice. "But I was born here in Ponyville - we just moved back here, because my mother and father don't like the city life."
Canterlot - so that would explain the fancy accent.
"Well, what 'bout you?" Applejack inquired. "Did you like it?"
With a nod, the unicorn smiled again, and flipped her mane fabulously. "Yes, I very much did, but my parents said to me, 'Rarity, the city is no place for a filly like you!' so here I am," she sighed. "But one day, I hope to go back."
Rarity - that was her name.
Well, Applejack didn't know a single thing about Canterlot, but she had heard it was full of snooty ponies.
This new filly didn't seem all that snooty, though. She almost seemed sorta nice.
"Well, d'ya like Ponyville so far?"
"It's all right, I suppose," Rarity replied. "It's a quaint little town, something I could get accustomed to."
See, that was the problem with city ponies. They said a bunch of fancy words nopony in Ponyville ever normally said.
"That's nice... I guess," Applejack said, as she titled back her hat. "What else do ya like?"
She was sort of determined to get to know this new filly better, and she just didn't know why. Rarity was almost like a puzzle, or a foreign language, and AJ wanted to know how to put it all together. She might have been different, but she was a good sort of different (if such a thing existed).
"I like fashion," Rarity piped up. "It's the center of Equestria, you know. Appearance is everything."
That statement caused Applejack to fiddle with her messy ponytail, and shut her mouth to hide the gap where her two front teeth should've been. She did like the way she looked, but with a filly so classy sitting beside her, she kinda felt weird.
Rarity noticed Applejack's slight fussing, and smiled wide as she began gently rocking back and forth on the swing. "But I like your appearance," she added. "Are you a cowgirl? You look like one."
The compliment caused AJ to return the grin, with a confident nod.
"You betcha I'm a cowgirl!" she replied. "I live on a farm and everythang! I even work sometimes."
"I don't like farms," Rarity said, as she wrinkled her nose cutely. "They're too messy."
"Ev'rypony says that," Applejack argued. "But when ya play in the hayloft, it's real fun, y'know."
Suddenly, the bell rang, and the two fillies looked to each other, ceasing in their swinging and conversation, slightly bummed out that their time together was already cut short.
"Well, I suppose we better get back to class," Rarity pouted, only before looking to Applejack. "Could we be friends?"
With a chuckle, AJ nodded. "Course we can," she responded. "Mah name's Applejack."
"It's nice to meet you, Applejack," the unicorn smiled. "My name's Rarity."
~ x o x o ~
A little colt was the last to bound out of the Ponyville schoolhouse, as usual, but today was the day he was a little bit later than usual. He balanced his saddlebags and pushed his wire-frame glasses further up his muzzle as he happily ran towards his family, who was waiting for him on the other side of the schoolyard.
His older sister let out a huff, and rolled her eyes. "Well, it's 'bout darn time ya showed up, Alexandrite," she scoffed, in her Southern Belle accent. "We were waitin' ages fer ya."
"Sorry," the little colt quickly replied. "I was sort of occupied." He looked up to his two parents, and smiled wide. "Guess what, moms? I made a new friend today!"
His mothers shared a grin as they glanced down to their son, who was now looking back to wave at a little shy looking earth pony filly standing in the doorway of the school.
"Bye, Harmonia!" he called. "I'll see you tomorrow!"
"I'll bet you he's going to marry her someday," one of his mothers softly murmured.
"Now, Rares-"
"Applejack, don't get me started. You know that anything's possible!"
"...Of course it is."
Next prompt: Sour.