Location: Sweet Apple Acres barn

Date and time: Lunch break following the Applewood Derby, Take Two

(Telephone rings)

(Big Macintosh answers)

BM: Apple residence.

CH: Hello, Big Macintosh?  It’s Cheerilee.

BM: Oh, good aft, Cheerilee, what can I do ya for?

CH: I’m calling about your sisters.  Not one, but both of them.

BM: What about ’em?

CH: Well, we’ve just completed the Applewood Derby — or rather, the second one. Apple Bloom got the Fastest Cart award, just like she said she wanted.

BM: That ain’t so bad.

CH: No, but the first race was a problem.  We explained the rules to the class.  They had to build a fully functional race cart for the derby.  But we let them have an older pony help out with the details.

BM: Seems simple enough now.

CH: But we also stated that the older pony would be the passenger for the cart.  And that’s where things got a little out of hoof.

BM: Lemme guess, she chose Applejack, and Applejack done got all stubborn again, eeyup?

CH: Yes.  Apple Bloom wanted a fast cart, but Applejack took over the whole project and never let up.  I heard Apple Bloom say it was practically an antique.

BM: And she didn’t speak up?

CH: Well, I heard she tried, but she was overwhelmed.  And I also learned that Applejack got rid of all the stuff she was planning on using for the design and replaced it with her own stuff.

BM: You’re kiddin’!

CH: I wish I was, Big Mac.  But it’s even worse.  Applejack was driving the cart, in clear violation of the rules.  When Rainbow Dash’s cart lost a tire and spun out of control, Applejack and Rarity crossed it at the intersection, at the exact same moment.  Every single competing cart was demolished in the process.

BM: Whoa.

CH: And on top of all that, Applejack was more concerned about the damage done to her cart than about Apple Bloom’s well-being.  Luckily, Apple Bloom suffered only a few scratches when she was cast free of the cart.

BM: Y’all mean to tell me there weren’t no seatbelts?

CH: We checked, and she had hers.  Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle also fell out of their carts despite having theirs.  And they were the only other ones not to be the drivers.  Needless to say, the three of them were… royally pissed off.

BM: Yeah, I can imagine that.  And y’all redid the race, I take it?

CH: Yes, that was Rainbow Dash’s idea.  This time, everypony got their preferred designs, and we had the older ponies sit it out.  We also gave the students a few extra days to redo their carts.

BM: Well, when I was doin’ the Sisterhooves Social with Apple Bloom, I got rightfully disqualified for violatin’ a lot of the rules… bein’ a stallion, for one.  But the officials are lookin’ at changin’ things up so we might see a few stallions and colts next time around.  Why didn’t y’all disqualify the three of ’em on the spot?

CH: We didn’t think it was particularly important at the time, especially since they were otherwise within the rules.  But we’re making this new rule with the older ponies on the sidelines permanent.

BM: That’s good.  

CH: But I’m really concerned about how this is going to affect Apple Bloom.  She looks up to Applejack, and I’m worried she’s going to take home the wrong lessons in the process.

BM: And ya want me to talk to ’em, eeyup?

CH: Might not be a bad idea.  Since your parents aren’t alive anymore, and I don’t know about Granny Smith, I don’t see what else is going to work.  And we don’t need Gabby Gums for this one.

BM: Nope, nothin’.  Well, don’t you worry none, Cheerilee.  I’ll straighten ’em both out.  Thank you for callin’.

CH: Goodbye.

(Cheerilee hangs up)