I mostly focused on getting this out so it's unbeta'd. That means I've probably messed up with Applejack's accent and other such inconsistancies. Hopefully I'll get that done soon, but until then, enjoy!

The next morning oddly quiet, considering how momentous the day was. Hardly anyone was at the Ponyville Express. Rarity, who was the first to arrive at the station with her massive mountain of baggage in tow, found herself sharing the platform with a rather shifty brown-coated stallion. He had quite possibly the messiest mop of hair she'd ever seen and most definitely the strangest gizmo clutched between his teeth; after a brief and awkward staring contest she busied herself with thoroughly checking to make sure she had all her essentials. Among these included an emergency back-up dress (in case something dreadful happened to her current masterpiece), an emergency sewing kit (to fix whatever dreadful thing might happen to her current masterpiece), an emergency drawing pad (for late-night inspirations), an emergency make-up kit (in case something happened to the other four)… for every fashion-related emergency, Rarity had a kit (or two) for it. It was only after the third time she went through her belongings that she spotted Applejack trudging up the stairs. Carrying even more than she was. Big Macintosh followed, carrying a pile on his back that rivaled his sister's, and Applebloom trailed behind with by far the most reasonable amount of bags. That amount was approximately twenty-five.

"Good heavens," exclaimed Rarity as she gently lifted a few crates from the heaps that looked more than a little precarious. "I think we'll need an entire car for the luggage alone!"

"Don' worry, it's all part of the Princess' order. She practic'ly got us our own train, if you can believe it." Applejack set down some thirty-odd crates and gave a sharp whistle, signaling the stationmaster. In an instant, a fleet of conductors and engineers and other such workers assisted them in bringing in the apples until they were all safely stowed away. The Princess must've been paying them a king's ransom, as there was not a single complaint throughout the whole endeavor. Not when Applejack fussed about how exactly to stack the boxes ("No, no, no! The gala's go underneath the granny's! Now we gotta stack 'em all over again!"), or when Applejack got underfoot ("golly, did The Princess give you that hat? Is it 'cuz yuh gotta tend to them apples? Do we get hats?"), or even when Rarity elected to sit out after the first few crates ("Those crates are awfully heavy, even with my magic; I simply cannot lift another apple!"). At last, Applejack was satisfied.

"Welp, looks like we're good to go!"

To her complete and utter chagrin, Applejack was the common denominator that linked the three other ponies. The entire ride was spent swapping tales of Applejack's Greatest Hits.

Hours were spent reliving some of the most embarrassing moments of her life.

"…an' fer weeks afterward, she spoke like a real Manehattenite. Ah tell you, there's never been nothin' stranger than hearing Applejack speak all fancy-like. Every time she asked me t' pass the milk, I was sure the universe was pullin' a fast one on me." Applebloom giggled, trying to imagine her sister talk like, well, Rarity.

"Golly, wasn't she only there fer a day?"

"Dahling, you'd be completely floored if you knew how adaptable your sister was. Have you seen her on the catwalk? I hardly had to teach her anything at all! For all her abhorrence of anything she deems too 'extravagant' or 'feminine', she seems to have quite a knack for it." Applejack groaned, covering her face as her companions laughed it up. If they didn't arrive soon she was sure her brother would bring out the baby stories. Truly, he was without mercy. After a few more agonizing minutes, she perked up as she saw the distant outline of Canterlot and the towering silhouette of its famous castle. Finally!

"Hey gang shut up fer a moment, we're here!"

Her cohorts (finally!) shut up about the time she did something stupid, or silly, or froufrou, and looked out the window. Applebloom practically vibrated with excitement, taking in all the sights. There were the racetracks, and the Equestian Art Museums, and golly, they must've passed at least twenty coffee shops in the past three seconds! And the ponies! Sure there were a ton of 'em in Ponyville, but she knew all of them.

Big Mac got up and stretched. "Ah'm gonna go help 'em unload in the back," he announced, much to Applebloom's astonishment.

"Yuh mean you ain't gonna greet the Princess? C'mon Big Mac, you're supposed to be the polite one!"

"An' it's only polite to help out with our luggage," he shot back with ease. "Jus' make sure you tell 'er I said hi." He left the girls and moved towards the back car. Applebloom stuck her tongue out at his retreating back.

Within seconds the train slowed to a stop, wheels screeching in protest. The doors opened, and a familiar silhouette greeted the travelers.

"Nightmare Mngph!" Applejack exclaimed, getting a face full of Rarity's hoof in the process. The unicorn shook her head urgently, smiling brightly at her friend. It was a smile that would've sent a lesser pony flying back to Ponyville through sheer willpower. The midnight Alicorn eyed this exchange with uncertainty, wondering if coming to greet the element-holders was a mistake.

"Princess Luna!" The socialite beamed, kicking her friend's near faux pas neatly under the rug. "How good to see you, it's been far too long." Since the time you tried to plunge the word into eternal night, she didn't say. And tried to ruin Nightmare Night, she didn't add. "How've you been adjusting?" After your thousand-year nap in the moon was something she definitely did not mention.

The Princess shifted uneasily, still unused to friendly advances and how not to scare them away. "We have been adjusting perfectly fine; Our sister has been most accommodating. We regret to inform you, however, that she is unable to personally extend her hospitality as planned, as she is preoccupied with… preparations for the ball."

As Rarity and Applejack shared an apprehensive glance over the peculiar pause, Applebloom peaked from behind her sister's legs with palpable disappointment. "You mean ah don' get t' meet the Princess?"

After an awkward pause, Rarity cleared her throat. "Actually dear, you do! Applebloom, this here's Ni- ah, Princess Luna. I believe you two may have met during the last Nightmare Night festivities?" Rarity held her polite grin in place, trying not to jump when the Princess nodded her head.

"We are very pleased to meet you, Applebloom."

The filly stared long and hard. "Say, aren't you the pony my sister beat with friendship an' stuff?"

Applejack slapped her forehead just as Rarity came down with a sudden cough. Princess Luna blinked, slightly nonplussed by the young filly's candor. Remember Twilight's lessons, Luna; you can handle this…

"…yes, We suppose that would be us," said the Princess, baffled. "However, We would rather not be remembered under such circumstances."

"Oh." Applebloom continued to stare. "How come you talk all funny?"

Rarity interrupted before Princess Luna could begin her (indignant? amused? bewildered?) response with a laugh. A slightly hysterical laugh. "Oh Applebloom, why don't you help Big Macintosh with the apples? In fact, we probably should all help with that, wouldn't you agree, Applejack?"

The earthpony nodded a tad too eagerly. "Yup! Gotta get them apples to the castle quick if we want th' ball to be on time!"

"It was lovely seeing you again, Princess!"

"See y'all at the hoedown!"

"But wait, We were sent to assist you-"

"Not to worry, Princess Luna!" Rarity ignored the voice in her head screaming what are you doing you just interrupted the princess of Canterlot! "We know our way around the castle just fine, I assure you!"

With that Rarity and Applejack both grabbed one of Applebloom's hooves and fled towards the back of the train, leaving a very bewildered alicorn in their wake.

"Applebloom, dahling, please think carefully before you speak to royalty! One wouldn't want a statement to be misconstrued as offensive, or insulting. Heavens, what must Princess Luna think of us!" The unicorn paced anxiously in front of the piles of apples, going through various scenarios in her head. What if Princess Luna was so insulted that she kicked all of them out of Canterlot? Or, what if Princess Luna told Princess Ceslestia, and she kicked all of them out of Canterlot, and had them all banished from Equestira?! Or what if-

"Rarity, yer getting' ridiculous. Just, calm down fer a sec and help us out, alright?"

When did Applejack learn to read minds

"Yer thinking out loud again, Rare."

Oh.

"In any case, help is definitely what you need," Rarity continued with as much dignity as possible. "We'll have to have some lessons on etiquette for Applebloom. Goodness, how on earth could I have neglected this!"

Applebloom balked. "Y'mean I gotta take lessons now?" Applejack huffed and shook her head.

"Rarity."

"After all, the decorum regarding the upper class of Equestria is a very delicate and necessary skill to master, especially in these circumstances!"

"Rarity."

"After all, how could we just push dear Applebloom out into the world of debutants without instruction! It would be simply disastrous, and-"

"Rarity."

"What?"

"Ah meant with the apples."

"Pardon?"

"Help. With. The apples. Y'got eyes as good at Granny's when it comes to pickin' out the bad ones, so Ah'd really appreciate it if y' help Big Macintosh in the kitchen while Ah get everythin' set up with Applebloom. "

"Right, of course, the apples! Well, I'd better get started now so I can have time to properly acclimate Applebloom to appropriate conduct for the ball."

"Nobody said anythin' 'bout lessons," the filly mumbled, kicking sullenly at the ground.

"Hey now, yuh promised – best behavior. Ah'm not expectin' yuh to be a clone of Rarity for the night, but yuh gotta listen to her so yuh don't offend nobody, y'hear? Now get along Rare, Big Mac's probably done helpin' out with stackin' boxes on th' carts for some of the guards to take in right 'bout now."

"Eyup."

With an undignified squeak Rarity whirled around. "Big Macintosh, how long have you been there?" Her rather-frayed nerves simply could not take any more surprises!

With an apologetic grin, the colt gave a small half-shrug. "Didn' mean tuh startle yuh Rarity, ah just got finished up in the back. They're gonna take some of th' canapés to the princess for lunch, apparently."

"Wonderful! In that case, allow me to lead you to the kitchen. I could give you a brief tour of castle on the way - it's always good to have an idea of its layout, just so you don't get lost."

"Ah'd like that."

"Then it's settled. Off we go!"

Rarity took her companion on a meandering path through the palace, talking at length about the significance of certain rooms, halls, and various artwork they came across. Her enthusiasm was contagious and Big Macintosh was surprised at her in-depth knowledge on… well, just about everything. She never faltered throughout her animated explanations. She was just chatting about the history of a breathtaking portrait of Celestia ("given to her by the Crystal Kingdom's royal artist a number of years ago, far before that dreadful…") when she suddenly stopped, eyes narrowing into a dangerous glare. Following her gaze, Big Macintosh found himself under the scrutiny of a white unicorn positively radiating arrogance.

"Oh." Rarity curtly turned her head. "Prince Blueblood. How nice to see you."

The noble sniffed. "Rarity. I see the company you keep hasn't changed."

Big Mac had hardly known this pony for a minute and already he was grating on his nerves. But, well, Granny had instilled in him the importance of Manners, and that was not something so easily discarded. "Afternoon, your Highness," he greeted, meticulously elucidating each syllable. "Ah'm Big Macintosh. Brother of the cook."

The prince deigned to spare him a glance. "What a surprise, it seems there's somepony here who knows their place."

"At the very least, there's somepony here with some etiquette!"

By now their glaring contest had escalated to the point that Big Mac was sure the portrait they were admiring earlier would spontaneously combust if he didn't intervene. "Did you enjoy the meal?"

"Oh yes, I was quite impressed. Very admirable how your family overcame your, ah, circumstances." The farmhand placed a pacifying hoof over Rarity's as she bristled beside him. "After all, one could hardly expect much more from Ponyville's finest."

"Yes," Rarity echoed in a voice that could frost glass. "I suppose, if one happened to be an ill-informed-" And with that, Big Macintosh decided it was time they made their exit.

"-It was a pleasure meetin' you, your Highness, but we really must reconvene with my sister. Enjoy dessert," Big Mac called over his shoulder as he escorted a fuming Rarity back towards the direction of the kitchen, bidding a hasty retreat. Once they were out of sight, she exploded.

"How can you be so calm! Didn't you hear those awful things he said?"

Big Macintosh shrugged, hopefully in a placating manner. "It ain't much to get worked up about, certainly not worth getting' into any trouble over, Rarity. Folks'll say what they please, not much you can do 'bout it."

Rarity let out an almost-amused huff. "I don't know whether to be infuriated that you let that uncouth ruffian say whatever he nonsense wanted, or to admire your attitude. Really, that smug oaf deserves a hard hoof to the face, no doubt about that! Can you believe he had the nerve to be such a pretentious, arrogant, parvenu?" She began pacing back and forth in front of Big Mac who, for the life of him, couldn't figure what exactly a 'parvenu' was. "I mean, it just isn't right! Where does he get off, insinuating such drivel about the Apple family! Why, you're twice the gentlecolt he'll ever be. In fact…" a dangerous gleam entered those sharp, amethyst eyes. "I think it's time to show that stuffy, uptight snob what real class is. As Celestia as my witness, I won't rest until I give that farce of a prince and his entourage of simpering sycophants a face-full of humble pie!" As it were, I think Celestia herself would be quite interested in what her nephew had to say…

Not for the first time, Big Macintosh mentally thanked whoever was listening that Rarity was on their side.

So yeah, you can probably see where this is going. Man, I love how much of a dumb jerkface Prince Blueblood is, hopefully that'll encourage me to write more quickly. Until then!