> "Just Keep The Dang Change!"
>  by Vanilla Mocha
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> "Just Keep The Dang Change!"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rarity and Sweetie Belle came trotting into one of the best stores in Ponyville. As Rarity grabbed a shopping cart, she began to read her scroll. 

"Hmm, let's see. Pineapple, Ice Cream, Bananas, Pizza, Candy Corn... Sweetie Belle, darling? Where's my list?" Rarity asked, seeing that this wasn't her shopping scroll. 

"Fine. Here it is." Sweetie Belle said, handing her older sister another list.

"Thank you, Sweetie! Now this is a lot more like it." Rarity began to read everything on her list like she did before, "Ribbon, Yarn, String, Cloth, Needles, Gems, Buttons..." 

Sweetie Belle tuned out. As Rarity began to pile everything from her list into the shopping cart, Sweetie Belle eyed something from the aisle across from her. 

"Rarity! Rarity! Look! It's a Princess Celestia toy! Look!" Sweetie Belle squeaked, her voice sounding excited.

The young filly trotted up to the toy. "Look what happens when I do this, Rarity!" Sweetie hit the yellow button on the toy's cutie-mark. 

"Let's fly to the castle," The toy said. 

"Can I get it, Rarity?" 

"But this toy is too much-"

"You just put a new sewing machine in the shopping cart for five dollars more than this! Can't you spare something for me?" Sweetie Belle looked up at her sister with big, green eyes.

"That's because my old one broke, darling."

"What about the one I got you for Christmas last year with my allowance?" 

"Uh... well, darling, I must have misplaced it."

"This is no fair! I bought you something with my own money, now you won't repay me back?"

"Darling, I just need-"

"Fine! Instead of getting you something next time with my own money, I'll buy myself this toy."

"Fine. Now, come on Sweetie Belle."

"Ugh..."











As Rarity and Sweetie Belle stood in a busy checkout line, another cashier opened his own checkout. "I'll take somepony over here on number 5." A brown pegasus said. 

"Let's go. Hurry now, darling." The purple-maned unicorn said, turning her shopping cart around.

"How are you doing today, ladies?" The cashier asked, watching Rarity pile up her merchandise.

"Very good, thank y-" Rarity began.

"Not good. My old grumpy greedy sister here wouldn't buy my toy." Sweetie Belle interrupted. 

"That's not nice." The cashier looked up at Rarity.

"Now, that was a want, Sweetie Belle. These things are needs." The older unicorn said, looking down at her younger sister.

"I thought your element was generosity." Sweetie Belle mumbled, but loud enough to where the other unicorn could hear it. 

Rarity's cheeks turned a light shade of rosy pink.

"Do you like me, lady?" The cashier asked, "because I'm married."

"What? No, no, no! I don't-"

"Sure."

Apparently, the stallion had misunderstood why Rarity had been blushing. She was embarrassed of not representing her element. If word got to Twilight, who knew what would happen?

"Is that all for you today?" The stallion asked, closely watching his customer.

"Oh- uh, yes sir." Rarity fumbled her speech.

"I hope she doesn't like me," The stallion whispered to himself.

"What?" Rarity asked, wondering what he said under his breath.

"Nothing, ma'am."

"Uh-huh."

"Okay, lady. Your total is $49.99." The brown pegasus said, waving his hoof to another employee, hoping to find somepony to put the bought items in the bags.


"Here's some bits." Rarity said. 

"Alright, here's 50. Let me just get a penny for you..." The cashier said.

Suddenly, Rarity had an idea. "No, keep the change. I will be generous today, and there's nothing you can't do about it!"

"What?"

"Keep the change!"

"Oh great, she does like me!" He mumbled. 

"What was that?" Rarity asked.

"Oh, nothing. Here's your penny." He handed her the coin.

"Oh, no! You keep the change." 

"No, take it."

"Keep the change."

"No, I insist. Take it."

Sweetie Belle tuned them out. Does Rarity know shes making a fool of herself? If he doesn't want her 'generosity', she should just take the stupid penny and get it over with instead of being overly annoying!

"Ma'am, this is insane. Just take the penny and get it over with." The pegasus said.

"No, mister. Take the coin!"

"Keep it!"

"No, you have the change."

"Hey!" A yellow pony behind Rarity and Sweetie Belle yelled. "I thought this was the express line!"

"Yeah!" A green mare next to her said.

"Please be patient, Lyra and Bonbon! It's not like you two are all the way back here." A white unicorn with blue hair said, standing a few feet behind the two mares.

"Vinyl? Since when did you shop here?" Lyra asked.

"Ugh! Listen mare, just keep the penny." The now angry pegasus said. Sweat rolled down his face from not only frustration, but from worry, too. 

"JUST KEEP THE DANG CHANGE!" Rarity yelled. 

The whole store became silent. Everypony's eyes fixed on the purple maned unicorn. Rarity's cheeks became a bright shade of red. 

"Just gimme it." Sweetie Belle said. She snatched the coin from the cashier and walked out the door. 

"Have... a nice day?" The cashier said, his voice sounding nothing but puzzled.

Rarity slowly and quietly picked up her bagged items using her magic, and walked out of the store.