“So, uh… Now what?”
Applejack was still sitting in Luna’s throne, and it was starting to dawn on her how awkward it was to do so when neither Princess was around. It wasn’t bad enough to make her actually get up, but the realization that she was on a throne in Canterlot surrounded by ponies she had only a passing acquaintance with had her eager to move on with her day.
“Would you like me to find Princess Luna for you?” Vim asked.
“Nah,” Applejack said. “I’m sure she’s busy with Princess stuff. I wouldn’t wanna get in the way.”
“I see… Um, miss Applejack, may I ask you a question?” Vim walked up beside the throne and looked up at Applejack.
“You don’t gotta get permission,” Applejack said. “I’m just a pony.”
“Well, that’s just the thing. Umm…” She thought for a moment, deciding how to word what she had to say. “Are you sure you’re actually prepared to become a Princess?”
“Pretty sure,” Applejack replied. “I can’t imagine whatever trial I gotta do to prove my worth will be something I can’t do. I ain’t afraid of a challenge.”
Vim shook her head. “I mean after that.”
“Well, like I told Celestia, I don’t figure it’ll be that big of a change once it’s all said and done.”
Vim pursed her lips. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that, Applejack. There’s nothing saying you’ll have to take an active role in leading Equestria, but you’ll still be a Princess. You’ll have a lot of responsibilities.”
“How do ya figure?”
“You’ll be a public figure. Everpony is going to know you’re a Princess, and they’re not going to forget that just because you’d like to live a quiet life. Equestria expects things from its Princesses.”
“I’m sure it can’t be all that dire.”
“Well, look at Princess Twilight, for example,” Vim continued. “She didn’t take an active role right away, but she still had to do things. Galas, public appearances, community service. I’m sure you saw it in Ponyville. When ponies had a problem, they probably started turning to Princess Twilight far more than before.”
Applejack winced. “You’re not wrong…”
“I’m not trying to make you change your mind or anything, I just want to make sure you know all of this ahead of time.”
“Nah, I get it,” Applejack said. “I dunno… I mean, you saw how excited she was. I don’t wanna say no just cuz I’m scared, y’know?”
Vim nodded. “If I may make a suggestion, it might help you decide if you were to spend some time now acting like a Princess.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“If you’d like, I could take you around Canterlot and try to give you an idea of what it’s like! I was going to have to find you later anyway to do some more preparation.”
“You sure you got the time to do all that?”
“Mm-hm!” Vim grinned wide. She had a goofy, toothy smile that broke through the mask of professionalism she always tried to keep up.
“Well, I can’t hardly say no to that, can I?” Applejack hopped out of the throne. “Lead on.”
Vim nodded, and they started walking away. As she passed the guards, she spoke up to Seabeam, saying “Could you please tell Princess Celestia where I went when she wakes up? Her schedule is in my cart, by her bedroom door. She should be able to find it.” Seabeam nodded to her, and she and Applejack went quickly on their way.
It was still morning when they stepped out into Canterlot. The sun was soft, the patches of grass around the city were damp with dew, and ponies all around were just beginning to fill the streets.
Vim wasted no time in taking Applejack deep into the city. With the way she moved, confidently turning down back roads and cutting through alleyways, it was clear just how well she knew Canterlot.
“So, where we headed?” Applejack asked when she felt thoroughly lost.
“Well, as Princess you’re going to be asked to settle a lot of disputes.” Suddenly, Vim walked up behind a building and opened a back door, ushering Applejack inside. “It just so happens that there has been quite the dispute happening here, and I believe you may be just the pony to solve it.”
“Where is ‘here?’” Applejack asked as she walked into a wide, dark room. Various props and lights were scattered around, and she could hear a crowd of ponies from the other side of a curtain hanging in the middle of one wall.
“Oh, it’s just a meeting hall,” Vim said. “It’s used for all sorts of things. Debates, town halls, school plays. Today, it’s… Well, you’ll see. Wait here.”
Vim slipped past the curtain, and the voices on the other side hushed. A few moments passed, and then Applejack heard Vim addressing the crowd.
“Ponies, I understand an interruption like this is unorthodox, and I apologize. If you don’t recognize me, I’m the personal assistant to the Princesses, and lately there has been discussion of a new Princess.” She paused as a murmur spread through the crowd. “Now, this pony is not yet a Princess, but I’ve been tasked with seeing if she is prepared for the title, and I thought that having her join the judges panel would be a suitable way to do that. As long as everypony involved is alright with it, of course.” She paused again. “Wonderful,” she said a moment later. “Could you come out now, please?”
At first Applejack didn’t respond, thinking she was still talking to the crowd. Then, she realized Vim was calling for her, and quickly trotted through the curtain and onto the stage.
The first thing she saw was, well, nothing, because the stage lights had been pointed straight at her and she made the mistake of looking back at them. She shook her head to clear the daze, and then looked out at the crowd. It wasn’t much of a crowd at all. They were several days into this ordeal, after all, and most ponies had stopped showing up. Only a select few were scattered around the seats.
Then she looked around the stage. To her left, there was a short brown stallion that she didn’t recognize. To her right—
She frowned intensely.
To her right was Flam, the smug scam artist who more or less served as her arch enemy, looking at her with a sly grin.
He was alone though, which was curious. Applejack had never seen him without his brother, not even when they were at odds with each other.
Then, Vim pointed her further back, and Applejack spotted the judges’ table situated at the back of the stage. There she saw a mare she couldn’t quite put a name to, sitting with an aggravated look on her face, and next to her, greatly disappointing Applejack, was the other half of the dastardly duo of brothers.
“Really?” Applejack asked dryly. “Whose idea was it to let Flim judge his own brother?”
Vim smiled apologetically. “I really have no clue how it happened, but they’ve kept this at a standstill for days.”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Well, alright, I’d say it’s pretty dang clear that whatever y’all are fightin about, Flam’s in the wrong. There, case closed.”
Flam gave an exaggerated gasp. “Why, you didn’t even hear my case!” He turned to the audience. “Do you all want a Princess who won’t even let her subjects speak?”
There was a murmur in the crowd, and Applejack hit her forehead. “Fine.” She stomped over to the judges’ table and sat between the two ponies. “Howdy,” she said quietly to the mare. “I’m Applejack.”
“Um… Yeah, I know.” The mare gave her an odd look. “I’m Minuette? Twilight’s friend? We’ve totally met before.”
Applejack groaned. “Sorry, sorry. I ain’t great with faces.”
“Oh, it’s alright,” Minuette said. “It just means I gotta hang out with you more!” She smiled, which brightened Applejack’s mood a bit.
Then it fell right back down when Flim turned to her, asking “Don’t I get a hello?”
“No,” Applejack said.
Flim scoffed. “Well. Some Princess you are.”
Applejack grumbled something under her breath and slapped her hat down on the table. “Now you two listen here,” she said, loud enough for the audience to hear. “I don’t know what kinda game y’all are playin, but you ain’t gonna use my reputation against me. Princess or not, I’m not stooge. Now tell me why I’m here!”
Minuette groaned and dropped her head on the table. Across the stage, the other stallion cleared his throat and puffed out his chest. “Yes, well, he did not give me proper change on a drink I bought. He owes me two bits!”
Applejack’s mouth fell open. “Y’all have been here for days over two bits?”
“Well, I’m not just going to let him slander my good name,” Flam said.
Applejack turned to Minuette. “Why have you not just sided with Flam so you can get out of here?”
“I tried!” Minuette threw her hooves in the air. “Every time I change my mind, he does too!”
Applejack furrowed her brow, then turned to Flim. “Care to explain?”
“Well, it’s a very nuanced case,” he said.
“Okay…” Applejack shook her head and stood up. “There ain’t a case here,” she told the audience. “They’ve hired patsies before, this guy’s probably one too. I don’t know why, but they’re just tryin to keep you here.”
“They’re selling concessions in the lobby,” Minuette grumbled.
“Wow.” Applejack sighed. “Fine, here’s my ruling. I say that all three of you,” she pointed at the three stallions, “each gotta give two bits to Minuette here for puttin up with you.”
“Hang on, you can’t just do that!” Flim argued.
“Minuette, do you agree with me?” Applejack asked. Minuette nodded. “There ya have it. Two to one. So, bye. I think I’m having an allergic reaction from being in the same room as you two.”
Applejack walked back through the curtain before any of them could respond, and as she did the crowd grew into an uproar. She found Vim next to the door they had come in.
“Well, that was… Expedient,” Vim said.
“Thanks?” Applejack shrugged and walked out the door with Vim close behind. “I don’t suppose you knew about my history with those two?”
“I may have,” Vim said with a chuckle. “There’s no such thing as being too prepared.”
“So, how’d I do?” Applejack asked as Vim started leading her along again.
“Better than Princess Twilight did at first.”
Applejack laughed. “Y’know, it’s funny hearin you say that stuff about the Princesses. I guess I expected everypony workin for them to be like Twilight, with the undying respect and all.”
“Oh, I respect them all a great deal. It’s just that it’s my job to help keep them on the right tracks, so I got used to looking out for faults and pointing them out.”
“You didn’t seem too keen to tell Celestia she was wrong earlier.”
“That’s family matters, though. They’re different. I can’t hurt her feelings by telling her that I think she should change a deal with some noble.”
“I guess that makes sense. How do ya plan to work all that with Nightmare Moon?”
“Ehhh, I’ll figure that out when I get there.” She gave another goofy smile. “I’m not that worried.”
“Good on ya,” Applejack said. “So, uh, where exactly are you draggin me off to now?”
“Oh, just some chores,” Vim said. “We have to order you a dress for the coronation, and I like to give her as much time as possible to design them.”
Applejack frowned. “Do I really have to wear a dress?”
“I’m afraid so. Don’t worry, though, the pony I go to is very good at her job. I’m sure she’ll have no trouble working with you.” For a second, Applejack thought she saw Vim’s smile take on a mischievous glint.