Trial and Error

"You're gonna be my finest work yet, Mummy!"

"Oh, naturally, darling." Rarity let out a wistful sigh as her tiny daughter clambered over her. "You've got my genes, after all, fabulousity practically runs in your veins, my dear!"

In the background, Applejack watched Magnolia May turn Rarity's beloved, sleek mane into a hackneyed, uneven rat's nest. She wondered if she should say something.

"....Uh. Rares?" AJ said gently, "I know you wanna be supportive, sugarcube, but I think Maggie might be gettin a lil' um, exuberant-"

"Passion is the root of artistry, Jackie, darling." Rarity peeked out of her blindfold to shoot a coy wink at the farmer mare. "The more passion our daughter has, the better! Now let our little artist work, won't you?"

"But she's cuttin' off all your-"

"I shan't hear another word on it, Applejack." Rarity smiled peacefully, readjusting her blindfold. "Have at me, Magnolia! Give me a new look that'll make all the ponies in town stop and stare!"

Not the best choice of words there, Rare, Applejack thought.

Still, Magnolia was happy, and Rarity was happy, and that was almost enough for Applejack to hold back a wince as another hank of purple hair was crudely slashed off. Applejack trotted over and pressed a fond kiss to her daughter's forehead, then to Rarity's cheek, then ambled away, to hide from the inevitable hellfire and screeching that would be unleashed once that innocent, pretty blindfold was finally taken off.

~~~~
Magnolia May might be the greatest beauty artist that Equestria has ever known. Unfortunately, even the best artists had to start somewhere, and make a few mistakes along the way...ahem. Don't worry, Rarity. It'll all grow back. Eventually.

rarity of course freaked out once she got a glimpse of her destroyed mane in the mirror, but she had to stifle her screaming and feign satisfaction so as not to crush her filly's dreams of hair styling. Rarity and Aj are good mommas