“No way!” Apple Bloom gawked, her surprised voice echoing across Sugarcube Corner. “You convinced Rarity to join ya at the Sisterhooves Social tomorrow?”
“Yup yup yup!” Sweetie Belle grinned with proudly glinting teeth. “She's even got a 'country ensemble' to show off when we arrive together!”
“How in the hay didja convince her to get her hooves all muddy'n'stuff?!”
“Mmmm... well...” Sweetie Belle squirmed. “She isn't exactly participating in the events...”
“But she's yer big sis, ain't she?” Apple Bloom scarfed down the second half of a muffin, gulped, and squinted at the other filly. “Seems like an awful shame to show up and not at least do the potato sack race!”
“Well, you know Rarity.” Sweetie blushed slightly. “She's not going to do anything that'll cause her to suffer a drop of sweat. And you know what? That's fine!” She squealed a bit. “Just having her around makes a world of a difference!”
“Well, shucks, I reckon that is mighty swell of her to do, considering... well... she's her.”
Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle giggled as one.
Sweetie Belle glanced over at me, smiling. “How about you, Scootaloo? Are you gonna show up at the Sisterhooves Social with your—?” A yellow hoof slapped over her mouth. “Mmmmf-mmff!”
“Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom hissed. Then, nervously, she threw a sweaty glance my way. “Uhm... Of c-course yer welcome to show up, Scootaloo! I mean... it's n-not like everypony who'll be there is a sister! After all... uhm... Fluttershy's gonna be there!”
“Mmmmf—” Sweetie Belle yanked Apple Bloom's hoof away. “But I thought Fluttershy had—like—five older sisters—Mmmmf!”
“Uhhhh...” Apple Bloom held a vice grip over Sweetie's muzzle as she stammered, “Big Macintosh! Big Macintosh is gonna be there! And last time I checked, he ain't no mare... or a sister!”
“Heheh... It's okay, girls,” I said with a soft smile. “Every year, the Sisterhooves Social happens and... y'know what?” I shrugged. “It just isn't my thing. I mean... besides obvious reasons...”
“Ptooie!” Sweetie Belle shoved Apple Bloom away, rubbed her muzzle, and stared at me with doey eyes. “But you're our friennnnnnd.” She kicked at the tile floor of Sugarcube Corner. “Awwwwwww... I want you to go...”
“Well... I dunno...” I scratched my head and shrugged once more. “If it'd make you two happy...”
“Sure thang!” Apple Bloom said with a smile. “I've always wanted you to see what a real shindig is like on the farm!”
“Ooh! Oooh!” Sweetie Belle hopped in place. “I just thought of the most awesome idea!”
“What's that?” I asked.
Sweetie Belle grinned wide. “Why don't we be each other's sisters?!”
I squinted. “Wat.”
She wrapped a hoof around me. “Come on! Why not! We're both crusaders! Neither of us have a cutie mark! We're both super adorable!”
“Ew... really?”
“You guys can totally be sisters for a day!” Apple Bloom said.
“Heh...” I couldn't help it. My cheeks burned slightly as I avoided their looks. “You sure that isn't—I dunno—lame?”
“Not at all!” Apple Bloom smirked. “That way all three of us would get to compete!” She proudly rested a hoof over her chest. “Of course, I'm already competing, seeing as Applejack and I compete every year.”
“Oh!” Sweetie Belle grinned once more. “Or perhaps Applejack and Scootaloo could be sisters for a day so that—”
“NOT HAPPENIN'” Apple Bloom stared daggers. She blinked, then winced as she saw everypony in Sugarcube Corner looking. “Erm... that is...” She cleared her throat and stuck her nose up. “We'll... uh... ask my big sis what she thinks. Yeah.”
“Yaaaaay!” Sweetie Belle and I clapped hooves together. “Cutie Mark Crusaders: Sister for a Day!”
“Come on, y'all!” Apple Bloom scampered off, followed by the two of us. “We should get on over to the farm and practice! Tomorrow ain't comin' any later!”
“Heh! Alright!”
“Weee!”
As the three of us blurred out the door, I was scarcely aware of a prismatic figure hovering above us.
“Whoah, there... stampede season's over, ain't it?” Rainbow Dash remarked. She watched the three of us speed across Ponyville. “I swear, those kids are gonna carve a ravine through this town.”
“Oh, let them have their fun,” Mrs. Cake said as she trotted by with a tray full of sundaes. She delivered them to a table and came shuffling back to the front counter. “They're excited for the big occasion tomorrow.”
“Oh yeah?” Rainbow muttered, floating over and fiddling through her saddlebag for bits. “And what's that?”
Mrs. Cake opened her mouth to speak—but Pinkie Pie came bursting up from behind the counter, nearly knocking her over. “Why, the Sisterhooves Social, of course!”
“Hey, Pinkie Pie—Whoah, h-huh?!” Rainbow Dash did a double-take. “That's tomorrow?”
“Yup! Ten o'clock in the morning! Bright and sharp!” Pinkie blinked, then stared at the ceiling as she rubbed her chin. “Though, that's two hours before noon, so I guess it's not bright or sharp. More like 'Ten o'clock Dull,' like a butterknife.”
“Wow...” Rainbow shook her head. “For some reason, I thought it was later on this week.”
“Mmmmm...” Pinkie Pie drooled. “Butter...”
“Well, you really can't be faulted for not knowing, dearie,” Mrs. Cake said with a smile. “From what Pinkie says, you're an only child!”
“Heh... true that.” Rainbow nodded. She blinked, then glanced behind her shoulder at the door. “I used to think I was unique for that.”
“Well, why wouldn't you think so?” Mrs. Cake smiled. “You're from Cloudsdale! And everypony knows that pegasi breed like—” She grimaced at herself before she could finish the sentence. Seconds later, a ding emanated from the furthest part of the kitchen. “Oooh! Waffles are done!” She swiftly trotted through the swinging doors and into the back.
“Errmmm... right...” Rainbow slapped two bits onto the counter. “Two fruit bars, please.”
“Coming right up to your fruit mouth!” Pinkie reached into the pantry.
“Say, Pinkie...” Rainbow leaned against the counter, nearly slipped on account of her numb forelimb, and chose to hover instead. “Will you be going to the Social?”
“Hmmm? Me?”
“Yeah. I mean... you've got sisters, right?”
“Oh, totally! Three of them!”
“Ah...” Rainbow nodded, then blinked. “Wait.... I thought you had two sisters and a brother.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Cuz you showed me a photo before! Y'know? Inkie, Blinkie, and Clyde?”
“Heeheehee... silly Dashie. Didn't I tell you?” Pinkie slapped two wrapped bars onto the counter. “That's just typical life on a gravel farm! Clyde bashed two too many rocks together and suddenly one afternoon he became Maud!”
“Uh huh. Okay.” Rainbow scooped the bars into her saddlebag and about-faced. “Bye.”