It was still an hour until the sun was scheduled to rise but already the town hall was filled to the brim with ponies waiting to see their princess in the flesh. Among the crowd were Sunset and her new ‘friends’. They had arrived two hours prior to everypony else to help Rarity with her last minute decorations, which consisted of adjusting ribbons and inching certain banners into place.
“Oh this is simply gorgeous. I must say that I have outdone myself.” Rarity squealed. Looking around at her work. “The princess is going to adore it. Thank you girls for helping me out.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
“I don’t think she is going to notice the placing of ribbons. Why didn't you throw in something cooler like a statue or something. Maybe a sun.”
Rarity giggled at this. “Believe me my dear, I would have if I had been given the proper budget. You have to remember, this isn't Cloudsdale. We just don’t have the funds. The mayor was just lucky I was available to volunteer for this. I doubt anypony else here could have done better.” Rarity smiled smugly at this, while Applejack joined Rainbow Dash in rolling her eyes.
“Gettin’ a might bit cocky there don’t ya think Rarity?” Rarity responded to this by blushing. “Besides, we all helped set this whole thin’ up.”
Rainbow glanced over at Sunset. “Just curious Sunny, why exactly did Princess Celestia send you to Ponyville? Everything was going smoothly as it was.”
Sunset frowned at cyan pegasus. “I asked her the same thing. Besides, it’s not like I had a choice anyway. She is the princess and I’m...” She sighed. “I’m just her student.”
Applejack noticed the troubled look on Sunset’s face. “Hey Sunset. Do ya mind if ah talk to ya... in private?”
The orange unicorn looked at Applejack, confused, but reluctantly nodded her head “Uh, sure. I guess.” The two mares trotted over the side of the town hall, as most ponies were crowded around the center of the room, near the dais or balconies.
“What’s troublin’ ya?” The workhorse put her hoof on Sunset’s wither.
“Nothing's wrong.” Sunset said abruptly. She mentally kicked herself for sounding so defensive. Now the mare was going to know she was hiding something.
Applejack's features softened. “You can tell me what's wrong. We may have not been friends for long but you can always count on me for support. You can trust me.”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
“Please, Sunset. Tell me what’s botherin’ ya.” The workhorse nudged the unicorn with her shoulder. “Maybe if you tell me you will feel better.”
“She... she doesn't trust me.” Sunset looked at the floor, a tear forming in the corner of her eye.
“Don’t worry about her. I know Rainbow can be sligh-”
“Not her...” The unicorn shrunk closer to the ground, her ears flattening against her head. “The pr-” The rest of the sentence was mumbled. Applejack leaned in to hear better.
“You’re goin’ to have to repeat that.”
“The princess!” Sunset raised her voice. A few nearby ponies looked around the large room, thinking someone had spotted the princess. “She doesn’t trust me.”
Applejack started to laugh. “That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. You her prized pupil. If she trusts anyone, it’s you.”
“Then why does she only give me cryptic instructions, never give a straight answer. She’s always hiding things from me and never tells me the whole story.” Sunset’s sadness slowly boiled to anger. “She didn't even give me any advanced warning before tossing me into this.” She swung her hoof around the room. “She just threw me onto the chariot and sent me on my way, as if she couldn't wait to get rid of me.”
“Now just stop right there.” Applejack raised her voice slightly, but her tone was solid as a wall. “This is the princess you’re talkin’ about. She may not be direct with you but she probably has a good reason for doin’ so.” Applejack closed her eyes and sighed. “I wouldn’t be expecting my sister to be acting like this if I sent her on holiday, so why are you acting like this.”
“That is completely different! She is my teacher not my sister and this is not a holiday, this is menial work. I should be in Canterlot right now, relaxing. But she decides that I have to waste my time by making me check up on work that is already prepared.” A few ponies were now staring at the duo.
Applejack just stared at Sunset, barely blinking. No pony ever talked about princess Celestia like that. She glanced at the crowd around them. None of them knew who the topic of the conversation was, so none of them understood why she was so shocked. “I hardly think that this is a waste of your time. I mean, just look at all the friends you have made. Your pet dragon also seems to like it here as well. Besides, if you stayed in Canterlot, you wouldn't have been there to Fluttershy's dance.” Across the room, Fluttershy's ears folded against her head. She didn't know who but someone was talking about her.
Sunset let out a chuckle. “Yeah, she was pretty good, huh.”
“See? Not everythin’ the princess does is bad. If ya ask me, she was doin’ ya a favour by sendin’ ya here. If ya just get to know this town and its ponies, You may just come to like it.” Applejack smiled coyly. “Here a deal for you. You and your dragon stay for a little while longer, say a week or two. If you still think the princess is punishin’ you by sending you here, I will give ya a cask of Apple family cider for your troubles.”
“Only one, for a whole two weeks of waiting? I don’t know.” Sunset smiled playfully. “I don’t know if that’s worth my time.”
The workhorse frowned. “You really want to barter with me?” She rested her hoof on the bridge of her muzzle. “Fine, two should be enough.”
“Five.”
“Three.”
“Four. You can’t say no to that.” Applejack eyebrows furrowed. Obviously she could. “Oh fine, Three. You happy now?”
“I guess I could be happier. Fine. If you want three casks of cider, then I want to see you out with other ponies. No hiding at home while you are here.”
Sunset smiled at her victory. “Well, if I’m having to stay here for so long, I’m going to need a place to stay.” The library was nice, but ponies would be coming in and out to get books. She didn’t like her living space being intruded on. “Perhaps you could help me with that.”
“Nu-uh.” Applejack shook her head. “I’m already givin’ ya the cider as reward. You’re just goin’ to have to find your own place to sleep. Maybe you could ask some other ponies. But for now, it looks like you’re stuck here.”
“Guess that’s the best I can hope for, then.” Sunset trotted off towards the group. Soon the sun would rise and she could get some relaxation time in. “I may have to get Celestia’s permission though.” Sunset grimaced.
“You do what you have to do. But just understand, ponies do what they can to help those they love. Just give her a chance.” Sunset smiled a little.
"You have a lot of experience dealing with these kind of situations don't you?"
"You learn to deal with things like this when you have a little sister. Now if you're done, we have a party to get back to."