A Small Talk

by David Silver

1 - Sisters

"Ya ever think about it?"

"Think about what, darling?"

"You know. Ah was jus' wonderin' 'bout the things we got, and don't. You know, yer a lucky mare."

"Am I? Dear, every bit I have is—"

"—Not like that! Ah mean, ya got yer whole family, right at yer side."

"My mother wasn't always so easy to deal with, you know."

"Yeah, well, at least ya had a mother."

"Oh."

"Eeyup."

"I-I'm sorry. That was foalish of me. Darling, you really do need to stand still while I work. I'd hate to prod you with this needle."

"I'm not mad. Shoot, ah'm right glad not everypony's gotta deal with what we had to."

"But you wish, dear, you didn't either."

"Sometimes. Look, ah didn't come here to cry."

"And you aren't! Now, darling, you are a powerful and dear friend of mine. I may not be your original parents, but I do hope I count as something, hm?"

"Ah didn't mean it like that! 'Course ya count. Yer like a sister to me. Even if we fight once in a while, shoot, don't know many sisters don't quarrel 'tween themselves. It's how you know they're thinkin' 'bout each other."

"And I am glad to accept that. Now, put out your leg, there we go. You're going to look so very dashing at this rodeo of yours. You'll blow them away on sight, then a second time when you actually get moving. Oh, I wish I could go see it."

"Lookin' forward to it, but why can't ya make it again? Ah'd love to have you and little Sweetie cheerin' me on."

"Darling, I don't like to keep repeating myself, and you've been paying attention, right?"

"Ow! Sure, I have..."

"Oh, hush now. Suck it up. My apologies, your skin is far tougher than I'm used to working with, especially down underneath all that fur. Mmm, there, all sized up. Now, what made you start thinking about families, dear? Did something happen I should be aware of?"

"Nah. Just some jitters about this whole thing. I know we won a lot last season, and we did so much for Ponyville already, and—"

"Wait. Darling. You can stop right there. You don't owe us a thing. You worked extra at Miss Jubilee's place, tryin' to make up for what you didn't owe in the first place. Let me tell you, darling, you go, do your best, and come home with whatever trophies, or lack, you end up with. We love you, dear. Not the reward money. We'll figure out a way. We always do."

"Yeah, I—thanks, really. For everything. And hey, if it helps, I really like you bein' like a sister to me!"

"Well, that goes without saying, but it is nice to hear. Speaking of that, if you're willing to foalsit Sweetie Belle, I could see about getting the time off from school."

"'Course ah would! Little Bloom will be beside herself, knowing Belle'll be there! Shoot, um, it's just a heavy thought is all. Maybe you could see ah'm a little jealous, you havin' yer whole family 'round you. It's so nice to see. Whatever distance ya got, it's cause you wanted it, not 'cause ya had to."

"Wherever they are, they will be watching, dear. They'll see this wonderful mare doing her tricks, and they will be so happy they took the time to make her."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Don't 'maybe' me! Come on now, stand tall and smile! They'll be watching, like I said, dear. Make them proud by showing the world what a fine mare they shared with us. I'm glad they did."

"Sure! Sorry, sis. You know me. Too much thinkin', not enough doin'. Ya ready to help me show 'em?"

"We sure are! Now, don't you fret on a thing. I'll make this fit you just right so it doesn't get in the way of your rodeo stunts. I'd die of embarrassment if I made a dress that made you fail, dear. None of that."

"Oh, yeah? But it's okay if I fail?"

"Aww, don't twist my words around like that, darling. I just meant that failure and learning are sometimes part of life. And if I'm any good at what I do, then I won't be part of the reason why you're learning. Also, dear, I said if my dress is at fault. You come and you tell me exactly what went wrong."

"And then you'll learn."

"I'll certainly try, darling. You won't trust a seamstress that keeps botching that up, I imagine. Now, get that off you. I'll have to adjust it, but it'll be ready, mark my words!"

"Alrighty then! Oh, hey, is that a new set of patterns?"

"Hmm? Why, yes it is! I wasn't able to test them last week, what with the fashion contest and everything going on, and then I couldn't quite get my measurements right at first, and then I kept putting it off. You know how it is."

"Well, Ah really like the look of 'em. Think you could use 'em on mine? Maybe up on the hat, right about here?"

"Mm. That isn't an awful idea, like a band, going around so?"

"Exactly! Woo-ee, I can't wait 'till you're done! Gonna look fantastic."

"Darling, I assure you, I'll put every ounce of effort I can into making your look fabulous!"

"Ya do it with everypony else, ah don't doubt it'll be fine for me, too."

"Of course, darling. Now, look out straight ahead. Hmm. The colors in your mane really match the pattern you chose."

"Hay yeah! The reds match the roses, the gold matches the lace, and it all matches this silly yellow mane. Ah'll be ready to win this show and look good doin' it!"

"That's my little rodeo sister. Darling, you'll slay them. Mmm, perhaps in more than one way."

"Hee, you're such a card, Rarity! I'm so glad you're my sister."

"Not half as glad as I am, dear. Now, hold still while I take this off you. I'll get those adjustments, just as I promised, dear. It'll be ready in time."

"Thanks, fer everythin', chat included."

"As if I need such a thing. You come here anytime, dear."

Author's Note:

Done for a contest. I hope it was enjoyable.

You know who the two mares are, I imagine.

Comments

[Winter_Solstice]

Sweet and heartfelt. I can see I have my work cut out for me in this contest, but it would be an HONOR to lose to this tale...

[Kikio3000]

Wonderful and thoughtful story. Lovely to see Rarity and AJ as sisters - not shipped. Just pure show-like musings. This simple story delves into the characters' psyches - especially poor Applejack's (when it comes to her parents, unwavering love of her family, both girls' siblings, and her perfectionism during rodeos.) Rarity's encouragement was the icing on the cake - they really are lovely sisters! I wish we could see the intricately beautiful dress at the end!

Knock 'em dead, AJ!

[David Silver]

11894478

11894480
Both of your comments made my day. I did my best to be true to each pony as they talked. It was an interesting experience, not being able to do anything but the dialogue.

[Kikio3000]

11894486
You are welcome, sir! God bless you! :)

I am assuming this is the contest you wrote this for?: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/217629/dialogue-only-contest-d

i am sure you will do well!

[Teardrops]

David goes again spitting out perfect fics with zero editing or forethought. Perfection simply spewing from the pen out all over everything making a dime a dozen masterpiece. This is me giving a good comment for a very strange fic, consisting of only dialogue for some unknowable and mysterious reason. This utterly baffling fact does not detracted from the perfect writing that David can produce at 140 words per minute.
Fishes
Vicious
Viscous
Vistas
Visions
Versus
Voices
Vases
Vagas

[Winter_Solstice]

11894486
You're quite welcome! And you're right: it was MUCH fun to stretch my writing muscles and try something completely new, although, for me, a Comedy came to mind immediately. Who knows, I may try expanding into other genres in the future.

As an aside, I'm going to have to make time to read your other works. I don't know how your writings slipped by me after all these years, but I plan on rectifying that grave error.